South Wales Daily News

LORD TREDEGAR'S SHOW. I SECOND DAY. THE HonSE PRIZES. The second day of the above show commenced ina.uspiciously owing to the cold rain which fell throughout the morning, and rendered th. ground sloppy, and judging, or looking on at the judging from the cordon of rope, the reverse of agreeable. The judges in the horse section got early to their work, and finished shortly before 1 o'clock. Lord Tredegar, Sir Heury Jackson, Col. Lindsay, and others of the house party at Tredegar Park, arrived shortly before midday. The attendance, however, was not so large as last year, when the weather was more auspicious for the second day's proceedings. The judges were For thoroughbreds, Col. E. M. Curre, Chepatow, and Mr G. B. Parker, Melton Mowbray and for cart horses, Mr A. C. Skinnev, Taunton, and Mr John Shaw, Garafcaug. Their award was as follows HORSES. £10 for the best c&rt stallion (restricted to the counties of Monmouth, Glamorgan, and Brecknock)— 1, Mr ,f. A. Doyle, Peudarren, Crickhuwell, Gatterton Prince. B10 for the best cart mare in foal, or with foal at foot—1, Lord Llaiigattock, The Hendie, Monmouth, lninsroore Cui Bono. £ 5 for ihe best tvro year olu cart colt—3, MrL. Jo?es. Wenvne, near Cardiff. Champion. I i "\e two year old cart, tilly—1, Lord Llan- R'altock, Tho Heudre, Monmouth, Hendre Charming Lass. £ 5 for the best yearling cart colt-I, Mr D. Evans, Newcastle Eiatyii, Emlyn Esquire. £ 5 for the best yearling cart filly—1, Lord Llangat- tock, Monmouth, H end re Brilliant. B8 for the best sucking cart colt or filly-1, Mr P. Rees, Peterstone, Newport. S5 for r.he best pony stallion, not exceeding 12 hands 2 inches high — 1, Mr J. fe'tone, Bath, Koval Lion Ex- press. A cup for the best pony, not exceeding 12 hands hJh-l, Mr E. S. Gods ell, Stroud, Hard to Find, B5 for the best. pony, over 12 hands, but not exceed- ing 13 hands high-I, Mr E. H. Naish, 8, Saville- place, Clifton, Bristol, Bantam. £5 for the best cob over 13 hands, but not exceeding 14 hands high-l, Mr E. S. Godsell. Stroud, Nobility. £5 for the best cob, over 14 hands, but not exceeding 15 hands high-I, Mr D. S. Carr, Hope Cottage, Twerton-on-Avon, Hath, Mermaid. £ 5 for the best galloway or hack, over 14 hands, but not exceeding 35 hands high—1, Mr E. J. Pillers, Ksynsham, Speciality. £5 for the best yearling colfc or Ally, got by either of Loid Tredegar's thoroughbred wires—1, Mr B. S. Foresiiier-Walker. Castletou, Lady Rose. A cup for the best yearling colt or tilly, for hunting purposes, got by a thoroughbred Mr F. A Barling, Ross. £ 5 for the bast two year old colt or filly, for hunting purposes, got by a thoroughbred horse—1, Mr TV. Till, Treworgan, Ross, Fugitive. ES for the best three year old colt or filly, for hunting purposes, get by a thoroughbred horse-I, Mr T. J). John, Chaldeans Stud Farm, St. Faga.n's, Enthusiast. £ 5 for the best brood mare, calculated to produce hunters, in fo;tl to or with foal by her side by a thoroughbred horse—1, Mr R. S. Forestier-Walker, Castleton, Cardiff, Julia. £ 20 for the best weight-ca.rying hunter up to 14st. at least, to be proved a good and straight fencer over such fonees,s ttiejt,(Tge nity select, and 210 for the second best-1, Captain Courtenay Morgan, Ashford Court, Ludlow, Zit; 2, Mr T. D, John, Chaldean's Stud Farm, 3t. Pagan's, near Cardiff, Colonel. S20 for the best light-weight hunter up to 12st., to be proved a good and straight fencer over such fences as the judges may select, and B10 for the second best- 1. Mr C. Lee Campbell, Glewstone Court, Row, Here- fordshire, Blossom 2, Mr T. Phillips, Kemerton Court, near Tewkesbury, sire Valida. THE DINNER. SPEECHES BY LORD TREDEGAR AND COL. MORGAN, M.P. The dinner in connection with thefibowwas held at the King's Head Hotel. Newport, on Wednesday evening. Lord Tredegar presided, and he was supported by the Mayor of Newport, Sir Honry Jackson, Bart., Col. Morgan, M.P., Hon. Arthur Morgan, Col. Ourre, Col. Justice, Capt. Courtenay Morgan, Capt. Reed, Messrs J. Lawrence, L. Walker, R. F. Walker, C. D. Phillips, T. Parry, T. B. Gower, H. J. Parn»H, T. Duttield, R. Stratton, A. M. Pilliner, T. M. Phillips, T. Canning, Fred Phillips, J. S. Stone, F. Phillips, R. Laybourne, W. Blackburn, H. L. P. Lowe, and J. Linton. Councillor T. Parry proposed the toast ot "The Borough and County Mec:b«rs." Colonel Morgan, M.P., in responding, said that he was thankful to have to ib-spoud to the toast upon that occasion, for it was the yetr of his majority as one of the representatives of the county. He had never attempted to make a record in the division lobby, but whenever any question or measure affacting Monmouthshire or the Southern Division was under consideration^ he was always present. (Hear, bear.) He hoped that during the coming Parliamentary Session something would be done, no only to relieve agriculture, but to relieve the distress which exiatad amongst other sections of the community. (Appiame.)- Lord Tredegar, in responding to the toast of his health, which had been proposed by Mr John Lawrence, said that the present show had been a very great success. There was no show in the kingdom in which a better olass of animal was exhibited. He was gh\d that one of the features of the show had been an exhibition of fruit. He thought that if agriculturists took a greater iutoresb in the Llnlt-ivatioti of fruit and the packing of it tor the market they would do a Ireas deal to keep out foreign production.— lord Tredegar afterwards proposed the toast of The Mayor and Corporation of Newport," to which the Mayor (Councillor J. R. Riehards) and the Deputy Mayor (Alderman Parnall) 1 respond ad.

Socra WALES ART SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION of PIOMYCei, open at the New Gallery, Queen xtmt. 4 617

NEWPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I Ab tfce meeting of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, held ah the Town Hall, Newport, on I Wednesday, the President (Mr W. M. Fuller), who was in the chair, reported as to the result of the deputation ot Chambers of Commerce to the First Lord of the Treasury on the subject of adopting the metric system of weights and measures.—Mr G. H. Llewellyn asked whether he thought, the Government really intended to bring in a Bill dealing with the metrio system.— The President: Certainly: I believe that in the early days of the Session a Bill will be prepared and brought in.—Mr G. H. Llewellyn said he recently had to remit money to France, and found it difficult to deal with the francs and centimes.—The President: The decimal coinage is not included in the metric system. Mr Llewellyn doubted the value of the metric I system if the ooinage was not included.—The President subsequently announced certain changes and accelerations in the railway services which the Great Western Railway intended to make with the new year. The 10.19 a.m. train would run from Newport to Paddington without stopping, arriving in London at 1.5. The 6.34 a.m. would arrive at Paddington at 10.15 instead at 10.40 as ab present, and the 9.15 a.m. from Newporb to Swansea would arrive ab 10.50. The train at midday from Swansea would reach Cardiff at 1.20 and Newport at 1.50 p*m, Tho Great) Western Railway direc- tora were also making provisions for dining cars, and the 5.50 p.m. would leave at 6.5 p.m. from Paddington, and have a dtaing car attached, reaching Newport at the same time as at present, namely 9.48. There was to be a train to Porthcawl from Newport at 2.50, reaching at 4.7. The Bill for the now line from Patchway, which would save 11 miles' distance and be a much better gradient, would be pushed forward, but there was a tunnel in it two miles long, and it would probably be three years in construction. Another advantage was that the gradient was 1 in 300, whereas around Stapletoa- road it was 1 in 30.—Ib was decided to appoint as delegates to a conference arranged by the United Chamber of Shipping on the subject of coal charters, Messrs J. H. Winn, W. E. Heard, F. Morgan, and R. L. Watson,—The Chairman said that one of the Newport newspapers had declared that the decrease of coal shipments from Newport for the past month was equal to 4'79 per cent., whereas the secretary informed him that it was not a decrease at all, but an increase of 9'23 per cent. Mr W. L. Heard flagellated the unhappy srentlemen of the Press" who had copied the paragraph, and the chairman enjoyed the pastime.—Mr J. H. Heybyrne referred to the projected loop line which the Bute Docks Company intended to make at Basaaleg in order to get access to the Monmouthshire ooalfield. Mr Henshaw asked if the chamber was prepared to engage counsel, &c.—Mr G. H. LleweUyn said the chamber could provide a witness to represent the chamber and assist some other body.—Mr Henshaw was old-fashioned enough to be inclined to wait until the notices were published.-Mr Llewellyn proposed that the executive deal with the matter should the notices appear on or before the 30th inst.

CARDIFF FREE LIBRARY. THE NEW READING-ROOM. Although the public reading-room in the now portion of the Cardiff Free Library has not been formally declared open it was in consequence of the changes to be brought about in the old building thrown open to the public on Monday morning, and, to judge from the enormous number of people who have been to sea it in the course of the last two days, has aroused consider- able public interest. The new reading-room is nearly five times the size of the old one, and affords ample accommodation for about 300 readers. Every attention has been given to the cotnforb and convenience of those who use the room. All the periodicals are provided with fixed location, and this is clearly indicated by an enamel plate. Papers and periodicals are fixed to certain places, and can always be found there, so thab ib is easily ascertainable whethet tbe paper is disengaged. Selfishness— a thing by no means foreign in a free library- cannot be indulged in the shape of keeping two or three periodicals at the same time. The room is lighted with electricity taken from the town supply, and all the lamps are so arranged that every reader is provided with ample light, whilst the general illumination of the room is all that can be desired. The ladies' room, which was opened at the same time, is a replica on a smaller scale of the general news room, with the addition of cork carpet. This room is also about four times the size of the old one, and has met with general appreciation from the ladies who have already used it. There is no better gmde of public appreciation at a place of this sort than the attendance, and this has been abnormal. In the old newsroom a daily attendance of 3,000 was a good one, but now the number has gone up in two days to 5,000, and judging from actual appear- ances, 6,000 or 7,000 will ba an average attendance in a month or two. Temporary provision has been made to enable the public to consult the direc- tories. The Cardiff Directory—a much-used book —is fixed to one of the reading desks in tho general newsroom, and so are all the time tables. Every care has been taken, and successfully taken, to give the attendant complete supervision over the whole of the room. In a room of this character (the general newsroom) the lighting is a most important feature, and every attention has been devoted to this head. Considerable tima and trouble were expended by the librarian and the committee to make the lighting efficient, and the arrangements they have made appear in every way satisfactory. Elechricity drawn from the town supply is used, and the lamps are so placed that every reader can peruse his book ia comfort.

HEALTH OF THE LARGE TOWNS, LOCAL STATISTICS. The return of the Registrar-General for the "fee!c ending Saturday last (23rd November) shows that ia 33 of the largest towns of England and Wales, which include Cardiff and Swansea, and contain each upwards of 35,000 persons, there were registered 6,311 births and 3.863 deaths. Tho deaths corresponded to an annual rate of 19 0 per 1,000 persons living The rafcos of mortality in the several towns, arranged in order from the lowest, were as follow Brighton 12 • Bolton 17*9 Norwich 13'1 Plymouth 18-1 Croydon., 13'2 Huddersfiekl 18-9 Bristol 14-3 Cardiff 19 1 Sundevlaiui lb-I Dirinin-liani 193 Preston 1;V7 Newoasrle-on-Tyne.. 20-1 Preston 1;V7 Newoasrle-on-Tyne.. 20-1 1>sice.ster 16'1 Sheffield 21'9 Nottingham lo'l Swansea 22"6 West Ha-m 16-3 Burnley 23'0 Portsmouth 16*7 Manchester 2.VQ V>erby 17*2 Wolverhampton 23*1 Bradford 17 3 Birkenhead L:4-7 Gateshead. I7 4 Oldham 26-2 Leeds 17'7 Liverpool 27-2 London 1 17*7 Salford 27-6 Halifax 17'8 Blackburn 32'3 Hull 1.7-3 10 the principal zymotic diseases, 548 deaths were referred in the towns, and gave a rate of 2'7 no death was referred to any of these diseases in Plymouth, and among he other t')Wn3 the rates ranged upwards from 0 4 in Brighton and in Bolton, to 4'7 in Burnley, 6 0 iu Salford, and 11'8 iu Blackburn. The highest rates from each of the diseases ,vera: -From measles, 2'5 in Salford, 2 6 m Burnley. 3 0 in Wolverhampton and in Oldham, and 9*4 in Blackburn; from scarlet fever, 1*0 in Birkenhead from whooping couQ;h. 10 in Cardiff; from "fover,"|10 in Salford, 11 in SundBrland ;and from diarrhoea, T6 iu Black- burn. The deifchs from diphtheria numbered 111, and included 69 in London, 8 in Birkenhead, 6 in West Ham, and 4 in Srvlford. One death hom small-pox was recorded in West Ham. There were registered in the borough of Cardiff last week 84 births, as compared with 103, 83, and 104 in the three preceding weeks the 84 Oirths last week comprising 41 boys and 43 girls, and corresponding to an annual rate of 28'1 per 1,000 of the population, which was estimated to amount to 155,637 persjns at the middle of this yonr. The deaths, which had been 62, 62, and 55 in the three preceding wefks, rose again to 57 lasb week, and included 31v of males and 26 of females they were equal to an annual mortality of 19*1 per 1,000 persons living, against 19 0 during the same period in the large English towns. Among the 57 deaths were included 19 of infants under one year of age, and 9 of persons aged upwards of 60 years, the former being the same as, bub the latter 5 fewer than, the number in the previous week. Three deaths were referred to whooping-cough, 1 to diphtheria, and 1 to diarrhoea; or, in all, 5 deaths were due to the principal zymotic diseases, and corresponded to an annual rate of 17. or 10 less than the average for the:33 towns. One violent death was registered, and 3 inquests were held during the week 6 of the deaths occurred in public institutions. In Swansea, there were registered 59 births (24 boys and 35 girls), which were equal to a rate of 31'7 and 42 deaths (27 males and 15 females), equal to a rate of 22 6, or 3'5 per 1,000 more than in Cardiff. The deaths included 11 of infants under one year of age, and 10 of persons aqed upwards of 60 years. Five death? (including 2 from measles and 1 each from scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and diarrhoea) were referred to the zymotic "d and gave a rate of 2 7, or 10 more than in Cardiff. No violent death was registered, but 2 inquests wert held during the week. Oae(death occurred in ?. public institution, -A J/8"

Mr L. Homan, a recent acquisition to the turf, intends to patronise Andrews, the Arundel trainer. Santa Luna, whom Mr Homan bought out of Jewitt's stable, has arrived at the Arupdel establishment

CORRESPONDENCE. J. NEALF,. -We have no record. INQUIRER (Postal aud Telegraph Guarantees in Rural —^n^er the eighth Section of the Post Omce Act, 1391, any rural sanitary authority is empowered to make good to the Po: tinaster-General any Joss he may sustain by the provision of postal and telegraphic facilities at places within their districts. The section is as follows 8. Where any rural sanitary authority consider that it would be for the benefit, of any contributory place or places within their district that any post or telegraph office should be established or any additional facilities (postal or other) provided by .-haPostmaster-General 111 sucli place or places, such authority may under- take to pay to the Postniaoter-General any loss he may sustain by reason of the establishment or main- tenance of such office or the provision of such facilities and any costs incurred by the authority under such undertaking may be defrayed as special expenses legally incurred in respect of such con- iributory place or places, and shall be apportioned between such places if more than one autf Sections 229, 230, and 231 of the Public Health Act, 1875, and Sections 232 and 233 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, shall apply accordingly."

THE BURRY PORT CENTENARIAN.—AN APPEAL FOR A PENSION. TO THE EDITOR. Sin.-Ti-)e pl:opri.t,)rA of Tit .Bits .re offariug a pension of B2 per week during 1896 to the old couple whom its readers consider the most deserving. Each issue contains a ooupon to be signed in favour of the aged couple, whoever they might be, and those who obtain the largest number of coupons or votes are to be declared the winners of the prize. I should like to draw the attention of your readers who take m Tit-Bits to the effort that is being made to place the Burry Port centenarian, Mrs Sarah Thomas, and her widowed daughter (Mrs Grylls) at the head of the list of candidates for the pension; and in order to ensure success collectors in different parts of Wales are invited to secure as many as possible of thtle forms signed for these deserving old women. I might add that thev are litirg together ill a small cottj^e, tu(i entirely depend on the relief received trorn tho parish funds. Mrs Ihomas, as is new well-known, is in her 103th year, while her daughter is ovor 70. The matter is already receiving appreciable support from several energetic friends, and it is hoped that stationers will induce their customers to cut out the coupon and assist materially in se. curing a large number, and mnke success certain. I will be glad to receivo additional coupons up to December 7. Thanking Jyou m anticipation for inserting this appeal, I am, fen, •J. VAUGHAN EVANS. Guardian Office, Llanelly, Nov. 26th.

SEEKING FORTUNE AT THE TABLES. BEHIND THE SCENES AT MONTE CARLO." Nearly a million pounds per annum has been realised during the past few years from the gambling tables at Monte Carlo. In the Christ- mas number of the Pall Mall Magazine Mr J. J. Waller contributes a paper showing how the money is made and how it is spent, and gives other interesting peeps of life as it goes on under the shadow of the notorious Casino. With regard to profits, the earnings of a roulette table during the wiutnr average B400 a day. und during the summer J3550. For the trente-et-quarante tables the averages are JS350 and £250 respectively, Sometimes a player has a run of luck, and not only prevents a table from making profit but forces the cashier to advance more money to keep it going, which is called "breaking the bank," but all such winnings find their way back to the tables. Pere BUnc remarked, He who broaks the bank to-day will be broken by the bank to-morrow." It was so with LUCKY CHANCE WELLS," whose play I watched closely from day to day, and who undoubtedly won nearly £50,000 during two visits of 10 days' duration he lost not only the whole of it at two subsequent visits, but also £10,000 of the money of people whom he duped with bis bogus patents. So with a well-known London money lender, one of the best customers at the tables, who visits Monte Carlo every season. He generally plays the maximum 12,000f. (£480), a coup at trente-et- quarante, and has won large sums from time to time. He informed me, however, last winter that he was almost always a loser at the end of his stay that he made £10,000 his limit of loss, and that during the last 10 or 12 years he had left at least £100,000 on the tables. One of the most curious things in connection with the revenue from the tables is that the bishop and clergy and the religious and educational institu- tions look to it for the wherewithal to carry on their work in the Principality. "Strange anemaly," exclaims Mr Waller, that the Bank should band over £12,000 per annum for the propagation of moral principles directly opposed to the indulgence of those passions which keep the doors of the Casino open! Prince Charles was much more consistent at the time he imposed those obligations upon the Bank. After inducing Fere Blanc to pay the bishop, he demanded the resignation of Monsignor Flugi, the then prelate, kept the post vacant for several years, and pocketed the salary. In like manner with the new cathedral, the construc- tion of which was carried on durmg Prince Charles's time with receipts from the tables. Prince Charles exacted payment of a certain sum yearly for the purpose, and by an arrangement with the contractor the work was dragged leisurely along so as to leave a good margin of profit for his Serene Highness." The theatre, orchestra, and other amusement.* connected with the Casino cost the company £30,000 per annum, and large sums are expeuded in other ways. One of these ways is BRIBING THE PRESS. For this purpose no less than £60,000 per annum is expended. Tbree.fourths of this sum is handed to newspapers in the way of annual subventions the rest goes to stop the pens of publicists who write blackmailing books and pamphlets, and to the squaring' of enterprising persons who plaster the walls of Nice and neighbourhood with placards and pictures portraying the more ghastly results of the gambling passion." In 1893-94 the French Press received from the company £58,000, and £2,000 was paid to Euglish newspapers on the Continent and to half a dozen correspondents who performed certain services in the way of encouraging sport on the Riviera and 'correcting' reports of irregularities in the management of the Casino which may appear in the English Press. It was asserted categorically in an English magazine some time ago that only French newspapers accepted money from Monte Carlo. Would that it were so! At the same time the honour of the British Press is strangely touched by the acts of a few of its representatives abroad who have acquired the habits of Continental journalism, and who stoop to methods which, as recent scan- dals have proved, are only too common in the management of foreign journals." Among other interesting items of expenditure is the" Viati. cum," which is a fund provided to send home players who have been cleared out at the tables :—" A player who can prove to the satis- faction of the miuagerthathehaslost all his ready cash in the gambling-rooms, and that he has no means of getting home, has hitherto seldom appealed in vain, though the conditions of obtain- ing this relief are often humiliating. Unless he has made his play conspicuous, he is escorted round the room and placed before the chefs de parte, who are asked whether the gentleman is really a bona tide loser. If they support his claim, he obtains the required sum for his railway journey. An Englishman is usually given j38 to J612, representing the second-class fare and expanses to Loudon."

LIABILITY FOil A WIFE'S DRESS. Thecal of Nicoll against Hilton came before Judge Luniley Smith and a jury in the Westminster County Court. Ie was a claim for j615 odd for dresses supplied to the defendant's wife as far back as 1889. The case bad been tried and judgment given for tbe plaintiff, but his Honour set aside the verdict of tbe jury. Mr Biackwall, who appeared for the plaintiff, said defendant, was travelling superin- tendent of the London, Chatham, nnd Dover Railway Company, and tho roods were supplied to the wife whilst she was living with her husband" at Christchurch and Folkestone. An assistant manager in tho employ of the plaintiff stated that they inquired 01 the reference which Mrs Hilton gave, and the tradesman said she was I safe but long-winded. That they thought satis- factory. (Laughter.) Mr Glasooe called lrs Hilton, who said her father allowed a year and her husband had settled £8,000 upon her. He fcrbade her to pledge his oeaifc, and she had to provide clothing tor the childreu. Hsr father made her many presents. Besides the father's allowance she had £350 a year. and her husband kept house. She had been in an asylum for five years, and omy been out two months. His Houour. in summing up, said ladies cow stood upon their own legs, and by and bye they would have matters all theic ow n way. The Jaw I clear that if a husband supplied his wife with ¡ means and forbade her to pledge his credit, she must obey. The plaintiff was in a. large way of business, and these tradesmen all knew the law, and it paid them bstter to allow ladies to spend their incomes and sometimes lose than to make inquiries. He thought it was right that the husband should have the power to prohibit his wife from pledging- his credit. It equally important ior the poor as the rieh.— The Jury found that the goods were supplied to the wife, and that she had a sufSeient income, but they were not satisfiod that the husband had for- bidden her to pledge his credit.—His Honour deemed to enter judgment lor either party, stating that in his opinion the parties should cry quits and pay their own costs. On the last trial it was stated that the lady's debts amounted to £14,000.

COULD FIND NO ONE TO LOVE HIM. The body of George Packman, aged 22, a tram conductor, of 23, Selkirk-road, Tooting, was found in the Tuanies. At the i.iquest was produced a letter fouud in his pocket, which threw some lighten the mystery of his death. In this letter he said :— Dear Fa ther,—I was very happy a little while Mo with dear Rose, but now I have Jost, her—in fact, she has broken my heart. Nothing gives me any pleasure. Even at my work I dazed. All is on my mind is llose. When I first, knew her I worked wit-It a will, but now T care not whether I work or not. Ihave tried to forget her, but cannot. I feel I hall do nCl good in this world. I cannot get a friend. There is no one who will have tne, arid I do not care to bear the worry and trouble since I have lost her. My God, wnat am I ? There is something 011 me people notice and when I try to get a partner in life I am foiled. It Is to be—I am now finished. bless you and me and all and ma.y I be forgiven for iliis terrible thing.—Your unhappy son, GEORGE PACKMAN. The jury returned a verdict of Suicide whilst of unsound mind,"

BANKRUPTCY OF A PYLE FARMER. A meeting of the creditors of Morgan Jones, farmer, of Ltaiimihange! Farm, near Py|« was held at the Bankruptcy Offices Cardiff, on Wednesday. Mr 1. J. Hughes, solicitor, Bridgend, represented the debtor. Phe creditors decided not to pass a resolution, and left the matter in the hands of the Official Receiver. Aainmnaryof debtor's state. the assets being estimated by him to produce £559 0s 9J. there thus being a deficiency of £539 18s Id, The debtor alleges his causes of failure to he depression in trade and damage by game." The following observations have been made on the case by the Official Receiver :—The debtor filed his petition in consequence of an execution levied on his effects for £193. After the receiving order was made a distress was levied at the farm for £ 116 10^, one year's rent. I have demanded the return of half this sum on the grounds that the landlord is only entitled to recover six months rent. So far the debtor has not lodged any proposal for a composition. He informs me he/jomnienced farming nbont 25 voars ago. waen lie had a capital I of between £500 "and that he has been on tho Llanmihangol Farm for over 17 years, and states that he has going back gradually ev^r I shice he wont too this farm, principally in conse- quents of heavy loss through damage by for which he got no adequate compensation that m order to continue trading he had to borrow money from time to time, and his liabilities include JB500 in respect of these debts, the remainder of the liabilities being for seed, manure, rent, and other expenditure on the farm. There are no books of account, and the debtor's bank account was closed about two years ago since whioh date there is no record of his trans- action. and there is no record of his financial position at any date, but be admits he has been insolvent for some years, ihe public examination is fixed for the 20th December, at tho Town Hall Cardiff.

IMPORTANT COLLIERY CASE AT PONTYPRIDD. CLAIM FOR WAGES AGAINST THE FERNDALE COMPANY. Considerable interest was shown in an action which was heard before Mr Stipendiary Ignatius Williams and Mr James Roberts at the Ponty- pridd Police Court on Wednesday, in which two brothers, David Hill Pendry and Wm. Pendry, colliers, of Farndale, sought to recover the sum of j37 45 each from Messrs David Davis and Sons, proprietors of the Ferndale Collieries, iu j lieu of notice. Alderman Walter H. Morgan appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Vazie Simons, solicitor to the South Wales and Monmouthshire Colliery Employers' Association, defended. Mr W. Abraham, M.P., and Mr W. Evans, agents, were present on behalf of the Cambrian Miners' Association, and Alderman Morgan, in explain- ing the circumstances, said that the: plaintiffs claimed wages at the rate of 6s per day for a month, and that the case had aiisen over the ripping of the top at the No. 6 Colliery. Tht 1?' r?PPinff was to ba done by a collier, for which he was paid at the rate of one penny par inch thickness per lineal yard, and after he had ripped and timbered his stall he considered that his work was done, and that the second ripping was to be done by the company's repairers or rippers, as they were called. The company, however, had sought to alter this custom, and to make the collier do the second ripping for the same price aa the first, but the cellier replied that he would do so provided be was paid a fair day's wage for a fair day's work, bud declined to do so for a penny per inch, as the work the seoond time was exceedingly dangerous, and required men of skill and special knowledge to do it. David Pendry explained to the Bench that ha had been working at the No. 6 Pit, 5ft. eeam, and it appeared that on the 1st of last October he was asked by the manager and the fireman to do the second ripping upon the same terms as the first ripping, but he declined to do so unless he was paid extra, as he considered it was not his duty to do so. And, besides, the workmen bad in meeting assembled passed a resolution that it was not a collier's dutv to do second ripping unless specially paid for it. Tho result was that Pendry was given at month's notice, but as, on the following day, be still declined to rip the top upon the usual terms, he was not allowed to proceed with his work. hence the claim. His brother William gave a similar story, and a number of workmen were oalled tc support the plea that it had been the custom ie the defendant company's various collieries that the rippers, or the men employed by the company to attend to repairs, should do the second ripping, and that in cases where colliers had done so they received special allowance.—Evidence was giveu for the defence by Horace Thompson, fireman, and J. W. Evans, manager of the No. 6 Pit; D. W. Thomas, manager of the No. 5 Pit; and D. Hannah, general manager and agent to th& company, all of whom gave evidence which went to show that it had been the custom for tht colliers to do the first and second ripping at a penny per inch oer lineal yard, and that this sum had always been paid in all the collieries, except in exceptional cases.—Mr Hannah, replying to Alderman Morgan, denied that tbe company were attempting to introduce a new innovation, and referred as a proof of that to a dispute which had occurred in another of thwjeompany's collieries last year. Several instances were given where colliers had been paid for second ripping the same as for the first. Special attention was directed by the defence to General Rule 17, which provided that every travelling road should be of .sufficient dimensions to allow a horse or other draught animal to pass without rubbing against the root or timber, and it waa contended that the defendant's stall did not comply with this rule at the tune referred to.—The case occupied several hours, and eventually the Stipendiary observed that he wished to look over his notes, and that he would give his decision next Wednesday.—Four similar cases against the company were also postponed pending the decision.

SWANSEA BANKRUPTCY CASE. AN UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE GRANTED. the Swansea County Court on Wednesday— before His Honour Judge Gwilym Williams—Mr Villi era Meager (instructed by Mr Leyson) applied for the discharge of Mr Richard Hughes, J.P., late managing owner of the Landore linplate Works and maltster, and now manager ^rlrnu ndmre Works- The Official Reoeiver Thomas) reported that the debtor in became a partner in tbe Landore Tinplate Works and at various times put £ 3,000 into the concern. The works flourished. eon bc\r\n°n%i his Rh.are was at £ 20,000. The value of this had, however depreciated to such an extent that the debtor's interest bad been sold for £1.20ü. Iu addition to this the debtor had incurred liabilities to the extent of £15,000 by speculating in a business with his brother, a tanner ,in North Wales. He did not see bow such » course could be justified, for the interest alone must have seriously diminished the actual profits in the business. Debtor, however, bought lease- hold public-house property. He must have known he was insolvent 12 mouths at least before he attempted to make an arrangement with his creditors in 1392. He had kept no profit and loss- accounts. He had made out no statement of his financial position for some years, and his drawings for personal expenses were not shown in his books. The assets were not 10s in the Debtor bad omitted to keep such books of account as wert proper in his business, and he bad continued fce trade after knowing he was insolvent. A letter was read from Mr Ij-yfon combating some of the statements in th" Official Rjcmver's report. M. Meager addressed the Court, contending that the chargcs mn.de by the Official Receiver could not be sustained, that the liabilities of the debtor's brother were incurred 20 years ago, and since that time the debtor had b. en iu possession of shares valued at over £20,000, but owing to the bad trade and the McKinley tariff they had diminished in value to £li200, He also contended that the books kept by the debtoi were such as ware required by the Act. Mr Hughes was examined on the points raised at some length, after which the Judge said he did not consider that the otftnees were j-uoved, and consequently he granted an unconditional dilP charge.

CARDIFF CORPORATION ACCOUNTS. REPORT OF THE ELECTIVE AL DI a ORt. At the Cardiff Finance Committee m<stieg or. Wednesday a bill for £22 Is from the elective auditors was received ia rexpect of the auaifc tc the end of March last, but the question wac raised whether the auditors were entitled to anything beyond the customary fees up to Maroij las.t.—The Town Cierk pointed out that the audit referred to took six or seven days, and tbt committee at that time gave a sort oi u hall promise that that should be paid for. A long discussion 011811&1 as to the method of procedure adopted by the elective auditors, and the ma.t.ter was referred to ft sub-committee.—The elective auditors, in their report of the audit UJJ to March 31st, 1895. said thab they had a more thorough examination of the accounts this yeal than on any previous occasion. The auditor! recommended that the accounts of the Corpora- tion be made up half-yearly Jin accordance with Section 27 ot the Municipal Corporation Act, 1882 that rat<s-colIectors' costs books he closed and balanced up a the end of each half-year, which had not previously been done; that vacancies accounted for by rate collectors be properly authenticated by prcpertyowners upon forms supplied by the borough treasurers, other. wise that they be not allowed.*—The matter referred to the sub-committee.

SALES OF WORK AT CARDIFF At the Richmond-road Congregational School' room. Cardiff, on Wednwday afternoon, a sala of work was held in aid of the church funds. Tin congregation intend to build a chapel on the vacant ground possessed by them in Richinond- road. Thestallbolders included Mrs Barron, Mrs D. E. Jones, Mrs Davies, MrsLeng, Mrs Perry, Mrf Sam Jones, Mr* Jone*. Mr«= Vv, Tb^mas, Misses Rees, Mrs Morgan, Miss Morgan, Jones, Mrs Windsor, Mrs James, Mrs Price, Mr D. Davies, Mrs T. Rees, and Miss :M;1.s. The sa!e was opened by Mr Alfred Thomas, M.P. —A public meet.ng was in the evening, which there was a pleasant incident. Tnis was a presentation to tbe late pastor, the Rev. J. A. Jenkins. Mr Noah Rees, in making the presenta- tion, which consisted of a nice marb!e timepiece with accompanying ornaments, made a few complimentary remarks, to which the recipient rephed in suitable terms. The same afternoon a sale of work was held io Clifton Uhpel, attached :)0] the Presbyterian Church of Wales. In this case, it is the current funds of the chnrch which are in need of support. The sa e was opened by Mrs Henry Jones. Tin stallholders include Mrs Dew, Misses G. and N. Jones Mrs Lewis, Me G. Thomas, Mrs Davie* Jfrs Hin kvans, Mis* James, Miss Davies, *irSm A R, Williams, Miss Hasfe*??, Me 1. G, Dew, Mr R. R. Morgan, and Mr. Mutt-hews;.

EMBEZZLEM EN i; AT CA RDIFF. Before A'derman T. W. Jacob, and Mr R. Benjamin :\1; Cardiff Police Courr. on Weilnesdaj 1.. respectably-attired man named Wtn. MurreU was brought up charged with embezzling the 15m., of £2 the money* of his employers, Louie and others, on the 18th inst. Mr 0, A. J. Ward appeared for the prosecution. Prisoner when arrested and formally charged by Detective John Stephens admitted his guilt. lis now elected be dealt with summarily, and was put back it order that he might obtain a surety for his future good behaviour. Subsequently the defendant wat again brought up, aad was bound over in theeun of £10 to come up for judgment if called.

OUR HEALTH IN WINTER.—IU THE course of s Lecture on Foods in Winter," llr. Andrew Wilsof laid great stress on the necessity for plenty of fat being included in the dietary of the coid months. lie said Fat is a heat-producing food, and it is more it is nece.isary for the nourishment of brain and nerve, and is, besides, an energy-producer of the highest degree of power." He adder. One way of increas- ing the fat in our winter food is certainly to substitute Cocoa—good sound Cocoa-rich in tat, for tea and coffee." Relatively to this it may be said that ElMts. Prepared Cocoa retains all the constituents of the Cocoa, including the natural fat or Cocoa-butter, intact. 7081

MONMOUTHSHIRE WELSH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. QUARTERLY MEETINGS AT NEWBRIDGE. lha above association held their quarterly wXefdav IS1* Ghapel on Tues^ay ^nd Wednesday. At the various preaching services leio lo™B ministers officiated :-RevS. J. A. Evan., E 3bw Vale • — Thomaa, Victoria; D. Te^km^ ^onT^Pao1 J. Meredith, Blaenavon J GimbJett Blama; G.Evans, Newport; W. Williams, Llanwenarth P. Williams, Tredegar and Lr. (*r:fhtlis, Khymney. The conference ot delegates was held on Wednesday morning, and was largely attended. The matters discussed were subjects of church government, and were not of general interest.

FRENCH COAL CHARTERS. TO THE EDITOB. Sia,—A shareholder in a coasting steamer has jusb handed mo the copy of a charter recently entered into for a cargo of coals from a Bristol Channel port to France. My friend has ask^d me to criticise and dissect this Document XXX., which I have done with the following: result. The nominal freight to be paid to the steamer is 6s 9d per ton, which would be a remunerative rate the way things are going if it were not for the pickings, or plunder, or wbatarsr you like to call it, that goes into the pocket ot the charterer and the receiver, and takes the gilt off the ginger- bread. In the charter under review the following items go to swell the pockets ot the merchants here and abroad (1) If the captain wants advance of freight he must pay 2% per cent. upon it for interest and insurance. The insurance will cost about 5s per cent,, so there is a clear gain of 2X per sent, to the merchant in the shape of interest for three days, which is the time occupied by the vessel before earning it. (2) Then the captain must employ the'mer- chants trimmers at the port of loading. At Cardiff and Newport the merchants make a profit of per ton out of the trimming, that is to say whilst the steamer pays 2%d for trimming the trimmers only roceive 2^d, tbe ^d being sweated out of them. At Swansea and Llanelly the mer- chants charge 3d per ton for the same- work that the Cardiff and Newport merchants charge 2d for. It would be interesting to know what proportion of this 3Vad per ton actually finds its way into the pocket of the trimmer. For the purpose of this calculation I shall estimate that the Swansea or Llanelly trimmer receives the same as the Cardiff and Newport trimmer, and as the boat loads at one of the former ports I put down one penny per ton on the trimming that goes into the merchants' pockets, because why should the Swansea trimmer be paid more than the Cardiff trimmer ? (3) All coal taken on board at port of loading for ship's use to be purchased from the charterers at 103 per ton for through and through coal, i.e., coal containing about 70 per cent. of small and 30 per cent. of large, and actually worth on the open market not 10s but 63. (4) 65 hours are allowed the merchants for loading and discharging, and they are to be paid 4s per hour for every hour saved out ot 65. Now, the average time occupied in loading such a steamer is 12 hours and 36 at the outside for discharging so there is a nice little proht in despatch money. (5) The merchant at Rouen deducts 1% par cent, off the bill of lading weight when he pays the captain hit freight; and not only that, but there is a further 2 per cent. discount. (6) The next pretty little item in this picturesque charter is that the vessel is consigned to the receiver of the cargo or his broker, paying him 15 centimes per ton for doing the ship's business. This amounts to about jM 4s for the same amount of work that any English broker would be glad to do for Bl Is. Of course, the receiver divides the plunder with his broker. (6) The merchant on this side receives one- third of 5 per cent. brokerage. (7) The consignee's stevedore is to discharge the vessel at one franc per ton, whioh operation, if put np to public competition, could be performed for hnif a franc, and does not cost the merchant any more, perhaps less." Having briefly summarised these charter pickiiigs. I will now deal with them arithmetically and seriatim £ s. d. 1. :dlj" Vei- cent. interest on one-third advance freight 115 5 2. Profit on trimming 700 tons at Id 2 18 4 3. Profit on Bunkers supplied, 30 tons at 4s 6 0 0 4. Despatch Money, i7 hours at 4s 3 8 0 5. 1^4 per cent,. off Bill of Lading weight in lieu of Weighing 310 0 6. 2 per cent. Discount off Balance Freight, viz., two-thirds 3 3 0 7. Divided with flerchant, Broker 220 8. one-third of 5 per cent. Brokerage 3 18 8 9. Profit on Stevedoring, say lid per ton 11 13 4 3q R S These deductions are <:qu&! to Is Id per ton on the freight, so you will see that although nominally and ostensibly the steamer is being paid 6 9d per ton, actually and really she receives only 5s 8J. Or, to put it another way, nearly 16% per cent, of the total freight, accord- ing to my calculations, is frittered away in merchants' pickings. These items represent a handsome profit to the merchant and a serious loss-wlich does not appear on the surface—to tho shipowner. My object in setting out the above details is to call attention to the snockiugly rotten condition of these French charters, and to inquire when— 0I1, when-do shipowners intend to carry into effect the new Welsh coal charter ?-I am. fee HOPE DEFERRED.

MERTHYR BANKRUPTCY COURT. (Wednesday—Be'ore Mr Registrar D. R. LEWIS ) WARRANT ABSCONDED BANKRUPT.—Mr W. L. Daniel, official receiver, referring to the bankruptcy examination, which was fixed for that day, ot Walter Harris, sack collector, Dale House, Plymouth-road, explained that the bank- rupt was not present. Nothing was known of his whereabouts, but there seemed to be some reason to believe he had left this country. He asked the learned Registrar to grant;a warrant for the arreat of the bankrupt and to adjourn the examination sine die. Then in the event of the bankrupt returning to this country he could apply for the reopening of the examination. The application was granted in respect of both orders. A FRUITERER'S Failubu.—Rk EVAN HOPKINS. —Bankrupt stated he was forn.erly a collier. He .et with an accident, and received from the .L Miners' Provident Fund £ 25. Six or seven months ago he started business as a greengrocer. The liabilities were £ 133 17s lOd. An adminis- tration order was made against bim five years ago. He had not obeyed ib longer than for two or three months. He believed the order was to pay 15s par month. He had six children, and only oue—a boy—was earning anything. He had included in this list all his creditors. The assets were JB7. Upon the requesb of the Official Receiver, the learned Registrar ndjourned the examination in order that the bankrupt might come up and sign a transcript of the notes and pay the shorthand writer his expenses—about £ 1.

TRIPLETS FOR AN UNEMPLOYED MAN. Caroline Jones (35), who lives at 3 Court, 3 house. Stoke-street, Birmingham, gave birth to triplets, a boy and two girls, on Tuesday evening. It is said that she is now the mother of 11 children, and that her husband, who is an omnibus driver, is out of work.

ENGLISH GIRLS IN DANGER.—A serious danger to which girls and youtig men are subjected, for want of proper precaution, is set forth in an interesting letter slated front Ida Villa, Wycombe Marsh, Bucks, on the 12d: or November. It runs fis follows :—It is not because I am auxious to have my name published that I write to you, but because having received height I should like ofchsvs to benefit also. About fourteen months ago I received a severe shock to my nerves. From that time I began to run down in health even after a rotsz at the seaside I continued to grow worse and worse, and btcamo too 111 to travel. My health was so bad that I could not retain my food, and I was often too weak to speak, and was prostrated by violent attacks of neuralgia- A friend acquainted with the remark- able cures of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills persuaded me to try them. I followed the directions very minutely, and shortly began to feel very much better. I was able to walk a considerable distance, though formerly even a short exertion utterly tired me out. After taking the third box I was as well as ever, and able to resume my employment. All my friends wera very much surprised at my recovery, as they thought I had gone home to die. I have witnesses to prove that this is my trua experience. Sarah L. Abbott. To people of ordinary health Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People are the best possible tonic, and they cure paralysis, locomotor ataxy, influenza, rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, nervous headache, scrofula, chronic erysipelas, and sallow complexion. Sold by chemists also by Dr. Williams' Medicine Company, 46, Holborn Viaduct, London, at 2s 9d a box; six boxes 135 9d, post free. A specific for the female sex. and in men they cure all cases from worry, overwork, or eQØIIeS.

AN EXPLANATION. We make a point," remarked Mrs Ownway to n neighbour, who had called in for a few minuses' gossip, of never quarrelling before the childron. Should we have a discussion on that is likley to become animated they are sent out of the room." "Ah!" softly breathed the caller, "I often "rendered why they weie ia the street ISO much." .:t