South Wales Daily News

| LADIES' FASHIONS. ECIDEDLY the most delightful association, and one which is equally suitable to young faces as to those no longer enhanced by the glamour and dia- blerie of youth, is the mixture of black and white or black and cream. Colours FOL'V upon colours in the thousand and one vagaries turned out continually by Madame Modus, and it is quite a relief, in the midst of a crowcl of gay millinery, to meet someone sufficiently sensible to appreciate the unfailing charm of the Magpie blend. In some of the most swagger bats of this season we find black plumes shading off to white at the tips, and large velvet shapes, richly appliques with creatn lace of a very fine cobwebby make. But to our minds here is one of the daintiest examples of white associated with black. As a lining to the velvet shape, there is a fine plaiting of the new chenille, in which the sable material is picked out with cream, this A MAGPIE BLEND. I interweaving of the two contrasting tones being eminently effective. Tucked into the folded velvet band round the crown are two black ostrich plumes, divided by an osprey. Then come a trio of large cream rosettes, that, if preferred, might be replaced by three huge white chrysanthemums— one of the favourite flowers employed in this winter's millinery. However, it is just bylits very simplicity and absence of floral decoration that this hat will appeal to all who fully realise that to be merely clothed is a very different thing to being dressed. On many of the latest shapes the milliner n.erely neatly folds a piece of velvet, in some cases draperies of different colours being laid round the crown. This is to be essentially a year of fur tippets and capes, that have been so long knocked off the list of that which is considered smart and fashionable, firstly, by the boa, and then by the tours-dc-aou, which last winter became so common that ordinary ones could be obtained for a few shillings. Our second sketch illus- trates a cape, in peltry, designed on the same lines as a confection figuring in the newly.made Duchess of Marlborough's trousseau. III is of sable, I THE MABT/BOROUGH TIPPKT. I I with small tails of the same fur, forming a kind of fringe. In front the tippet fits quite closely to the figure by means of a couple of patent hooks fastened to the eyes stitched on the bodice. One of the niost original and at the same time chtc features of this smart little garment is the lining of ermine, which continned, as it is, inside the Medioi" collar lends so charming a framo to the face. Thts fur, generally associated with Royalty, and which indeed has a certain regal air about it, is not to be so frequently employed this winter as a narrow bordering, but rather in the way exem- plified in our illustration and on some very handsome mantles we may find revers of ermine. Should the "Marlborouh" model be rather beyond the majority of one's means, the black and white fur might merely be used for the collar, the remainder of the cape being lined with wadded satin. The open coat worn over a blouse is hardly considered "good form" at present, the olose- fitting or loose-fronted double-breasted jacket having taken its place. We close this column with the delightful model of a walking-gown in powder-blue cloth. The coat—under which a thin silk corsage can be worn-fits perfectly to the figure, and is braided with broad black military braid. This kind of trimming and "frogs," that have been out of fashion for so long, have returned to increase the long list of various garnitures so 'much in favour this year. The braiding introduced lengthways on the top of the sleeves is one of the latest ideas in the tailoring world, and very dainty, too, is this additional touch, which prevents the gown from having any pretence to be mannish, or rather new womanish." I POUR LA PROMENADB. The baggy style of corsage is still de mode and, especially in the case of blouses, thit look all the better for being full and fussy, ona of the favourite materials being red currant coloured chiffon, combined with rose-patterned brocade.

THREE GENERATIONS IN COURT. The Newport magistrates, at their sitting oa Monday, had before them a detachmentof relations which included three generations. John Young, A sturdy looking young fellow, stood on the defendants' stand, whilst just behind him stood his sister, and his wife, a pale, delicate little woman, with their infant child in her arms, brought up the rear. On the opposite side of the court stood Joseph Griffiths and his wife, Young's father-in-law and mother- in-law. Mrs Young went to her mother's house the husband followed and had a dispute with the old people, and struck Griffiths. The mother-in- law defended her husband and struck Yonng on tee head with a poker, and Young then struck his mother-in-law. After hearing the whole of the relatives, excepting the infant, which slept peacefully amidst the strife of tongues, the bench fined Young 10s 6d or 14 days' imprison. ment for assaulting his father-in-law.

DROWNING OF A NEWPORT SEAMAN. Information has reached Newport of the drowning of Thomas Coakley, seaman on board the s.s. Cyrene, of Sundeiland, which occurred late at night recently whilst the vessel was moored off Deptford cattle pier, in the Thames. Deceased was walking along a jetty when he fell between it and the vessel's side and was drowned. Coakley formerly resided all 28, Raglan-street, Newjport, bub his wife (now his widow) left that residence some time sinct.

,— } FOB CHRISTMAS PBBSENTS in Solid Gold, REAL 1 Silver, or Best Electro-Place,. go to Henry Tainsh. 8, St. Wwx-Stewfo CftrcUS, 3W3—W*

CORliESPONDENCR VENDOR AND EXECUTOR (Anxious).—The vendor cannot possibly be entitled to the rent of the property for the whole month of April, if it was sold to you on the 3rd. It is extremely doubtful whether he is even entitled to a proportion oi the rent for the first two days. This must depan 011 the date in the body of the deed, and not the actual day of signature. EXECUTOR (Cyinro).—The accounts of an executor are not filed in Somerset House, bnt with the Probate Division of the High Court. The penalty for a false account would depend on whether the falsehood was wilful or not. If it amounted to perjury or embez. zlement the penalty would be imprisonment. CHANCERY (T.F.V.)—You do not forfeic your claim to a tund in this Court Ijy lapse of time. But if you have got the deeds, why not take the fund out of Court LANDLORD AND TENANT (Constant).—No, you are not a constant reader, or you would know t,hat these anwers do not appear in the Echo. You may put ill a legal distress on your tenant's furniture, but you must not take possession of it by merely locking the door and locking the tenant out. You mnst apply for a legal order of ejectment against them. The law does not encourage violence on the part of either landlord or tenant. PROMISSORY NOTE (E1"IIest).-This is surely a very simple question, which common sense will decide for you. If a man his promised to pay money on demand surely you cannot sue him for not paying before it has been demanded. It is in cases where a simple debt is owing, w: ich it is the debtor's duty to pay of his own accord, that there is no need for a demand before suing. APPRENTICE (D. O. W.).—No, you Me not bound to make up for time lost through illness by working after your indentures have expired. HOUSE AGENT (Stow Hill).—If the agent has failed to find you a tenant, and you have had to find one yourself, he is not entitled to any commission. RECOVERY OF RENT (A. W.).—It looks to us as if you had no legal right to make a distress after the tenant left your honse. But why the bailiff has not explained this it would be hard to say. If he has not asked you for any fees we do not see that YOll need trouble about him further, but simply take out a county court summons against the tenant.

THE VENEZUELAN DISPUTE AND COLONIAL OFFICE DIPLOMACY. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—The promotion of Sir Augustus Hemming, late permanent official at the Colonial Office, to the post of British Guiana, in the place of Sir Charles rosigned, is not so great A surprise to those who know how matters are worked at the Colonial Offic, as to the average British citizen and taxpayer. Your London correspondent refers to the above appointment as a pleasant surprise in his letter of Thursday night last, which appeared in the South Wales Daily News of 27th inst. He adds, The appointment is Mr Chamberlain's own, and be made it because of a belief that Sir Augustus is just the man for the plac. Naturally, the Colonial Office is delighted with A precedent which gives personal hopes of promotion." In my letter on the Ashanti Expedition and the Colonial Office," which appeared in your issue of to-day, I referred somewhat fully to the peculiar and unparalleled power possessed and exercised by the permanent officials at the Colonial Office. It is therefore a matter of no freat surprise to many of us that Sir Augustus lemming's promotion from a Colonial Office clerkship ot £1,000 per annum to a governorship of £6,000 per annum should have occurred at this significant junction of affairs, even in spite of the fact stated by your London correspondent, that for a clerk in the Colonial Office to rise sud- denly to the governorship of a colony ot such rank as British Guiana is unprecedented." Of course the Colonial Office is delighted, sir, not necessarily at this so-called appointment of Mr Chamberlain, for that is all bogie, but at the success of its permanent officials in again success- fully working a Parliamentary secretary to establish so satisfactory (to them) a precedent. Mr Chamberlain had, in reality, no more than Davy Jones to do with this appointment. He cannot be expected to know what is behind and underneath the recent resignation of Sir Charles Lees. Only* the permanent officials at the Colonial Office know that, and Mr Chamber- lain is only made aware of as much as they choose to enlighten him upon. Of one thing, however, we may be certain. Mr Chamberlain has been compelled to assent to the appointment of Sir Augustus Hemming on account of the influence of the Colonial permanent officials. Thus we observed that the administration of the territory wheron our most important dispute has arisen is now intimately associated with one of those peculiar shuffles of the cards on the part of the permanent officials at the Colonial Office, which it behoves us to follow and watch very closely. Here, broadly, are the facts of the case Relations for some years past have been very much disturbed between our Colony of British Guiana and Venezuela. llecently, as all the world knows, matters have come to a head, and the outlook has assumed a very serious aspect. So serious, indeed, that the great Christian communities of the United States of America and Great Britain have deemed it necessary to unite in common prayer 10 order to avert a terrible war between the two nations. British Guiana has, since 1893, been under the Governor- ship of Sir Charles Lees, a most competent and experienced official, who has served his country loyally and well in various public capacities since June, 1854, but who is, nevertheless, dependent for promotion on the Colonial Office. Apparently all goes well untllllhe present crisis in the affairs of British Guiana and Venezuela. We now suddenly bear oftherosigaatiuu of Sir Charles Lees, and of the appointment of Sir Augustus Hemming, a permanent Colonial official who, no matter how useful he may be in his own particular capacity, is comparatively inexperienced to perform the duties which at present: devolve upon him. Sir Augustus Hemming, K.C.M.G., a gentleman whose official experiences are un- recorded since 1890—even in the official Colonial Office list of 1894 — is thus appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of British Guiana, ostensibly as the most suitable man for the post Other experienced Governors and Administrators, who have had 10 times the experience of Sir Augustus Hemming, are absolutely ignored — passed over, and a permanent official of the Colonial Office is appointed, as it were, to supersede them, not possessing one-tenth of their experience. Naturally the Colonial Office is delighted That Mr Chamberlain has acted on the advice of the permanent officials is evident, and goes without question. Nor could he do otherwise. A Parliamentary Secretary for the Colonies, under the present system, remains in office practically at the pleasure and at the mercy of the Colonial permanent officials. He is bound to take their advicQ-compelled to do what they wish—or things will go wrong. In short, he is a mere puppet, and under the existing regime could do nothing else, no matter what party happened to be in power. Now, sir, has the British public not a right to know why Sir CharlesjLeesjresigned so suddenly ? Surely, if he was fitted when appointed to administer British Guiana, he was qualified to remain in his post. SIr Charles is not a man to throw up the sponge just when his country most requires bis services—even though his preference and promotion absolutely depend on the perma- nent officials at the Colonial Office. And if pressure has been brought to bear on Sir Charles Lees by the Colonial Office, ought not the British public to know, sir ? Again, why have the permanent officials compelled Mr Chamber- lain to promote Sir Augustus Hemming to a governorship when other deserving and more highly capable governors naturally, and very rightly, expect and are outitled to promotion ? Does this promotion incident not go strongly to illustrate the truth and value of my observations anent the power of the.permanent Colonial Office officials, published in your issue of the 28th inst. ? And what, sir, does it all mean, but that the Colonial Office needs immediate reformation and reorganisation ? That its permanent officials now constitute an autocratic ring, prejudicial to all interests save their own. can clearly be perceived. At this present moment the Chancellor of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George-a British Order attached to the Colonial Office and devoted to the recognition of Colonial services—happens'to be an ex-Permanent Secretary of State for the Colonies, and a. director of public companies. Let the people look at borne and not to the colonies for much of the troubles which they experience.—I am, &c., 28th December, 1895. ALEC RUBIE.

SWANSEA AND ITS RATES. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—There are many of the ratepayers of Swansea who will thoroughly agree with the remarks made to your reporter by Dr. Griffiths, and set forth in your paper of to-day's date. There are few men in Swansea who possess more intelligence and business ability than Dr. Griffiths, and any conclusion he may come to after careful consideration may be relied upon as being strong common sense and to the point. There can be no doubt that before entering (into further expensive schemes the Corporation should, and also those they represent, be satisfied as to their absolute and pressing necessity. The rates now charged are simply a disgrace to the town and anybhing but a credit to those who were the means of creating them, and ridiculous a.nd inexplicable to those who know how rich a Corporation Swansea is, and who do not know how money has been spent and lavishly wasted on fancy schemes and fads and the repeated failure of these undertakings. The members of our Corporation have always baen strainers at gnats aud swallowers of camels, wasting their time and that of the officials in pettifogging disputes, and, on the other hand, agreeing to schemes which are momentarily attractive, but) ultimately failures, with extremely unpleasant results to those who have to pay the bill. Every candidate for a. seat on the Council comes out with a flourish of trumpets as to what he is going to do with regard to a reduction of rates and other high-sounding reforms, but invariably, after he has been elected some time, his voice is either silent or only heard on the side of further expsnditure. There may be some reasons, but it is difficult to see them, for spending thousands of pouuds in laying pipes from the Cray Reservoir seven or eight years before they are required and I understand that operations at the Cray Reservoir works are at a standstill. If it is necessary that the reservoir should be built, why not push on with the work and have it completed ? If, on the other hand, it is not necessary for so many years, why start operations until the time necessary for the completion of the work. Every month's delay now, after so much has already been spent, means a considerable addition in interest alone to the total expenditure. I was at Weybridge, Surrey, a few weeks ago, where the electric light had been put up at considerable expense, and had been in use for some time. The Corporation were then taking it down and relaying gas pipes, as they found the cost of electric lighting so much in excess of gas as not to warrant them in continuing this system. I do not think the time has yet come for electric bghb AS an economy, but only as a luxury. STTEQFCRIGFTJF is DWL* FTDTWWIJIF* A»4 J FEEI that shortly some new and much cheaper method of producing it will be found, and as it is not a necessity for either health or comfort, why not wait until the system is perfected, or, what is of even more importance, until we can afford it? Wit regard to the tramway, it is in good hands now, and the fares could not well be cheaper or the cars better. In my opinion the Corporation have far too much to do already IN manage satisfactorily. Why, therefore, saddle themselves with further work and responsibility ? -I am, &0.. A RATEPAYER. Swansea, DecernV~^R 28th.

CAERAU DISPUTE. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—Would allow one a small space in one of your next issues to reply to Maesteg," who has been showing off his ignorance of the above dispute in your popular paper on the 27ch inst. ? Had he been acquainted with the facts of the case, he would have known that the men worked for several months at Is 5d per ton before the commencement of the strike in March, 1894, with the fallowing results :—Out of 41 places working on the coal at the commencement of the dispute, 24 received 2d or 3d allowance, with the Is 5d per ton (the majority of the 24 places received 3d), with other items put in as extras, while the percent. age of small coal deducted by William was also suspiciously small; and when we consider the other advantages, such as the closeness of work- ing places to bottom of shaft, sufficiency of trams, no falls from the roof to interfere with the filling of coal—" well," you naturally say, these colliers must have been earning extremely gqod wages with all these advantages." But what are the facts? During the time they worked on those terms their wages dtd not exceed 5s a day at the beginning of 1894, when wages were higher than they are now. I hope these few facts will prove to Maesteg" that his suggestions are unworkable. As for the correspondent who signs himself Sympathy," his letter proves where his sympathies lie, when he calls pure justice claimed for the men prejudice." This question affects not only those who may start working the seam under the new arrange. ments, but all that may work this seam for the next 25 or 30 years. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that the settlement should be a fair and just one between master and man-the master to get a. fair profit, and the men a living wage.—I am, &C., ONE OF THE MASS. Maesteg, Dec. 30bh, 1895.

A CORRECTION. TO THE EDITOR. SIB,I hasten to correct an error which crept into my letter of to-day's date. I should have said that the danger of infection from a small-pox hospital extends to a distance of 3,000" feet," act yards.—I am, &c., T. GARRETT HORDER.

POOR CHILDREN'S DINNER FUND. TO THR EDITOR. SIR,—So many friends have of late been asking me when I propose recommencing the above work that I am constrained once more to appeal to a generous and sympathising public to help me to carry it through fo" the fourth time. Last winter, so well L«rriembeied for ITS excessive severity, we gave 31,300 free meals to hungry children, the actual cost of which was not more than three farthings each, and, small though this sum appears, we were able, through many gifts in kind, to supply both plenty and variety in the food that was dispensed. The tickets are distributed by many of the teachers in our elementary schools, as well as by Christian workers and visitors amongst the poor, and I am sure I may say from my personal knowledge of these kind-hearted and self- sacrificing men and women that they add to their zeal the necessary care and discrimination in order to ensure the best results. Contributions to myself or to Mr John Cory, J.P., the hon. treasurer, will be gratefully received.—I am, Itc., G. PERCY THOMAS. 72, Claude-road, Cardiff.

ADVENTURES WITH A LIONESS. EXCITING NARRATIVE FROM SOUTH AFRICA. A PLUCKY MISSION BOY. A correspondent who is surveying in South Africa sends to the Daily Graphic from Loma- gundi the following account ot his adventures with a lioness:— On Wednesday last when I had just turned into bed a lioness came into camp and collared a leg of an ox which I had been obliged to shoot, owing to its having been mauled by the same lion on a previous visit. I had just got inside the blankets and S was writing. Hearing a tremendous rush and the barking of the dogs, I bounded out and seized my rifle, but could see nothing. I had just come inside and was sitting on the bed filling a pipe when there was a horrible row—dogs, boys, lioness, all in a heap the boys, four in number, were sleeping by the cart within six feet of us. I blazed in the air and the lion cleared. I just caught sight of him as he bounded away. One boy had a marvellous escape, having only two or three nasty scratches down the back and one in his hand. They were all, of course, in a horrible state of mind as they rolled and tumbled into the tent. There being a loli more meat hanging on a tree about two or three yards away, it seemed likely that the lioness would return, so S—[AND I Slit up. Our tent is a lean-to, the front being about 15 feet long and open with the cart drawn up at ono end. I got up on a tree which formed a corner post, and S tried the other corner, but afterwards sat on the cart, which brought his head well over the top of the tent. We faced the direction in which we judged the lioness to be, and soon beard her at the meat she had taken, not more than 30 yards away, but hidden in the grass, so that we could make nothing of him. This was about 11 o'clock, quite dark, the mcon not having yet risen. My position proved most uncomfortable, so I tied the level legs across to get my feet on. I was then fairly comfortable, but was chaffed a good deal about tho risk of falling off. At about midnight the moon was giving a good lieht, andlsuddenly saw the lionessabout 10paces off, and somewhat behind me, coming up fairly quickly. I let drive at her with a 450 Express. The recoil shook me a. bit, and in recovering I went head foremost to the ground, just getting an arm out in time to break my fall slightly. I came down with a bang on my face, giving my side a bad twist, and knocking all thf wind out of me, so that it was quite a time before I could speak. Half-stunned by the fall I made a half roll, half crawl on all fours round the corner into the tent, and on to the bed. A horrible fright it gave S and the boys. Everyone was in a heap in the tent. S thought I had been knocked off by the charge' of the lion but luckily for me the lion had gone 10 the opposite direction. It was altogether too funny. S kept asking Is he there ?" I was gasping like a fish out of water, and after some time recovered my wind and managed to bawl" Yes." When I got my wind I seemed right enough, except that I was cut about the face and had a sore side I didn't find out until next day that I had broken a rib or two. It was evidently a large lioness. I saw her quite dis- tinctly. When we paced the distance next morning we found she was only 10 paces off, and the moon was shining right on to her. For the rest of the night I sat on the top of the cart, and S on the wheel. We heard the beast at the meat and walking through the grass, but did not see her again that night. We watched for the next two nights, and on th" second night, about 11 o'clock, when we had given her up, and had just made up the fire into a regular blaze, she suddenly appeared going straight for the meat, not caring a bit for the light from the fire. She WAS going fast, silently, and with head well up. I had a capital shot, but missed, thanks to my having put a bit of white rag round the barrel of my rifle to enable me to see it in the dark, I must have been just over her. No more of her that night. It was becoming a bit more than a joke—we couldn't work in the day and sit up allnight. We theodeterroined to poison her—put strychnine in the meat, and keep a good fire going on the next night. She. of course, did not appeal although we found her "spoor" within a few yards the next morning. I then went away for a couple of nights. On the the 16th I heard from a Mashona a long tail of a lioness being shot by the Mission boy while it was carrying off another joint .from tho waggon. I arrived in camp about 9 p.m., and it seems that she had been shot the night before, and was in her last gasp when found in the morning. I found that S had well barricaded the Mission hut to which he retired when I left, laying the whole battery of the establishment out on the floor. S behaved very well. He is young, but was very plucky. E wrote over and said it was rough on him that we should get all the fun Hang the fun, says S and I perfectly agree with him. She turned out to be a very old female, 8ft. long. They are most dangerous when they get too old to capture game. She was stuck full of porcu- pine quills about the face and ohes, this showing her age. S says when the natives found her in the morning not quite dead they all opened fire in their excitement, and eventuaily shot her, breaking her law. She bad been wounded slightly in the nose, apparently by my shot from the tree, and this, by Africausporting law, makes her mine.

TIRED OF LIFE. Leopardi's maxim that "life is only worth des- pising" was evidently the motto of the man who jumped off the Pont des Arts aud was drowned in the Seine on Sunday afternoon. The person who thus opposed the slings and arrows of out- rageous fortune" by ending them is described AS a well-dressed, serious looking citizen. He went up to another man, whom be met midway on the bridge, and said to him, Here, take "this packet of banknotes, and do what you like with the money. I give it to you, hoping that life may be sweeter to you than it is tome." Betore the person so addressed could recover from his surprise, the unknown pessimist had vaulted over the bridge, and was soon lost to view. Barge- men tried in vain to bring his body to the surface with their grappling irons. The recipient of the banknotes gave up his suddenly inherited pro- perty to the police, who are looking for the family of the deceased.

MABON, Maelgwyn, Cadravvd, Dafydd Mor I ganwg, Mynyddwr, all write for the Cardifi Times and Scruth Wales Weekly Netes, which is a magazine and a newspaper in one. The best and brightest pennyworth of fiction, gossip, news, and special articles dealing with Welsh subjects published. Order a copy to-day and read the opening chapters of Miss Braddon's last new story. A complete novelette, each week BY a f."9t

A YEAR'S POSTAL WORK. I THE IMPROVEMENTS AT CARDIFF. A GOOD RECORD. Cardiff is fortunate in having at the Post Office such a chief as Mr Geo. Fardo, who, during the half-dozen years he has been in the town, has almost revolutionised the conduct of business in T his department, and has made Cardiff an EXAMPLE in many respects to other provincial towns. During the year now rapidly drawing to a cl03e- quite a record One in the history of the Cardiff dlstrict-numberless improvements have been effected, some of them being first experiments. Under such circumstances AN EPITOME of the year's work, and especially of the accelerated service in the delivery of letters and 1 other improvements, reference to which has from time to time been made, will prove interesting. So great has been the increase in the work and so many more letters have been posted from and to Cardiff, mainly in consequence of this accelerated service, that the evidence is par- ticularly striking of the wisdom and foresight of the authorities in hastening on the new and hand. I some structure in Westgate-street. One of the chief distinctive gains has been the adoption in Cardiff of the district system which London and only a few provincial cities enjoy. The letter delivery offices in Cardiff are now St. Mary-street, Bute Docks, Canton, and Roath, between which offices mail carts are continuously exchanging mails throughout the day, and distributing local letters with a celerity hitherto unknown. The substitution of the more rapid cart service has reaped for the public a material benefit. The DISTRICT OFFICES in Canton, Roath, and Bute-street being worked by officers on the P.O. establishment, assure for the public better attention than could be expected from shopkeepers, who, however well posted in their official duties, could hardly be expected to resist paying better attention to shop customers than to P.O. callers. Twelve pillar and wall boxes have been added in well-chosen spots, and the present total is 174. New post offices have been opened at Sengenith, Gilfach, and Angus- streets, and there are now 104 post offices in Cardiff, and thedistrict telephonic communication has been vastly improved, as is undoubtedly shown by the inauguration and completion of the backbone of the trunk line system. This places CardIff on "speaking terms" with London and towns in England, Scotland, and Ireland. On July 2ud the mayor, with the leading townsmen and officials, addressed communications with the most distant commercial centres, and a con- cert given in London was heard with the greatest distinctness at Cardiff. Soon after he came to Cardiff, Mr Fardo was known to have determined that a free delivery of letters should take place at every cottage in the district, and during that year a free delivery of letters has been accelerated to Rudry, Waterloo Tin Works, Ely, Fairwater, and Bedlinog, and new mails added. The important locality of Penrhiwceiber has been annexed to the Cardiff district, with advantage to some 6,000 people there. Thus the Cardiff postmaster, if he has not yet attained his object, has come very near it, and it would be hard to discover the most remote hamlet without a free delivery. The acceleration of the LONDON NEWSPAPER TRAIN now arriving at Cardiff at 10.30 instead of at 11.20 a.m. has led to interesting experiments being tried at Cardiff, via., the non-stamping of letters on re- ceipt. Thisisaninnovation which hs been agitated for. and particularly by Mr Fardo, who, while at Liverpool and Wdiverhampton, fought hard for a trial of the experiment. Unfortunately common sense business ability is not always so often possessed by men in high authority in Government Depart- ments, but what has now been granted is the abolition of what to only the official mind was a necessity, viz,, the second stamping ot letters. Thus is the stamping of letters at the office of receipt as well as at the office of delivery prior to their distribution. Far too much Conservative spirit has been manifested in the control of the Post Office. The great bar to much needed reforms has been the presence of officials who do not move with the times, and who apparently like still to serve the public through a slit in the wall. The letters arriving with the 10.30 newspaper train are not now re-stamped, and are delivered an HOUR AND A HALF EARLIER. In other words the town, through the Chamber of Commerce, has said it would rather receive letters free from unnecessary ornamentation on the back 90 minutes earlier than with the embellishment which, however comforting to the official, does not commend itself to the practical mind of the hard-headed Cardiffian. This stoppage of stamp- ing has also great accelerated the service through- out the district, the whole of the arrangements working satisfactorily. All letters now bear the datie and time of posting in plain figures, and not as up to recently in characters which to the un- educated were as intelligible as letters on a tea- chest or the hieroglyphics on Cleopatra's Needle. It is most flattering to Mr Fardo and his staff that Cardiff has now secured more deliveries per day than the majoricy of the larger provincial towns. Owing to the phenomenally rapid growth of Cardiff the Postmaster-General has authorised the addition of 20 postmen to the force. Barry Dock has not been forgotten, and where, in 1888, there was one postman, a man with a soli- tary beat at the dock side and one sub-office, there are now some 45 officers eight branch and sub- offices, 25 pillar and wall-boxes, and a tele. graphic and telephone system. Letters posted in Cardiff up till 6 p.m. are delivered in the 8 p.m. delivery at B.\rry, Letters formerly held over at Cardiff are delivered by the 8 p.m. delivery, while letters are sent out at 830 instead of 930 p.m., and a new dock delivery is made at 2.30 p.m., making five deliveries during the day. As giving an idea of the strain upon the post office people during the Christmas time, we have elicited that 59,000 parcels W^RE dealt with at tha temporary parcels office off Penarth-road, and that 2,000 baskets were received and despatched. This is business for which provision has been made at the new Post Office.

A FEMALE TRAMPS CRUELTY. MERTHYR WOMAN IMPRISONED. Elizabeth Edwards, a widow, who is a native of Merthyr, but who for some considerable time has had no fixed abode, appeared before the Newport magistrates all their sitting on Monday, and they decreed that for the next two months she shall reside at Usk. On Friday the woman with two children, a girl aged 4 and a boy AGFD 6 years, tramped from Caerphilly to Newport through the snow. Both children are diminutive, and the woman carried the girl and the boy tramped at her side. At the Newport Cemetery gates she accosted the Rev. Charles Ayliffo and asked tor alms. Mr Ayhffe noticed that the boy was pale, pinched with cold, and very wet; the heels had been cut from his boots, and the feet were exposed and showed sores. Mr AyliffJ directed the woman to a lodging-house. From subsequent inquiries it appeared that the woman was in the habit of tramping about the country, and persisted in taking the children with her to excite the sympathy of the public. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children therefore prosecuted the woman for cruelty to the children with the result stated. On the application of Ir- Lyndon Moore, solicitor, the children were given into the custody of the society.

THE NEW JOURNALISM. POLICE REPORTS IN DOGGEREL. To the Court of old Southwark came Margaret Declury. I'm only a poor, battered widow fhe cried. "My husband, God rest him is clothed in clay, sir and black comes the face of each lone Christmas-tide." Like poor Mrs Gummidge, all things are agin me. Oh sad are my lodgings in wild Falcon- court. The deputy,' burly old Mary Anne Dickson, bashed my face with a beer-can—for curs'd Christmas sport.' I was wringin' my towels. She stood at the wash-tub. The beer-can flew out like a bolt from the blue. Theu she scattered my hair like wild leaves of autumn. One cry to the high gods—no more sir, I knew." 0, wicked old woman said Mary Anne Dickson, You spat in my face, and you dared me to fight. That tongue in your jaw is a blot on creation The licking you got served you jolly well right." 0, Borough-bold wranglers," said sad Mr Fenwick, The lava-like wrath of your red tongues must cease Depart For a change see some good in each other, And canse no more pangs to the Angel of Peace"

LION TAMER'S END. AN AWFUL DEATH. The death occurred in St. Bartholomew's Hospital arly on Monday morning of thecoloured lion tamer named William Beaumont. Whilst going through a psrformance with the lions at the Agricultural Hall on Chritmas Eve he was attackpd by one of the lions, who tore A large piece of flesh from his arm as well as injuring his spme. The poor fellow was at once taken to the Hospital, but symptoms very similar to hydrophobia supervened, and ho died in very great agony on Monday. Towards the last he became violently delirious, and had to be watched by two attendants. An eye-witness present at the World's Show when Beaumont was injured describes the scene as most horrible. With his usual sting froid the tamer entered the cage and had already performed several tricks when one of the lions suddenly gave a loud growl and sprang on his back aud seemed to bite a piece of flesh out of the poor ftllow's arm. When, after a consider&b e amount of trouble, and amid the greatest excitement possible, he was extricated from his perilous position, his arm presented a shocking spectacle, the flesh appearing as though it had been torn away by pincers. I

MABON, Maelgwyn, Cadrawd, Dafydd Mor- fanwg.Ap IdanfTyn, all write for the Cardiff Tinas and outJi Walts Weekly News, which is a magazine and a outJi Walts Weekly News, which is a magazine and a newspaper in one. The best and brightest pennyworth of fiction, gossip, news, and special articles dealing with Welsh subjects published. Order a copy to-day and read the opening chapters of Miss Braddon's last now story A complete novelette each week by A govebot,

SOUTH WALES TRADE, OPFRATIONS DURING THE YEAR. The year 1895 just terminating has been an eventful period in the South Wales trade. All •■HE advent of the year a fairly satisfactory state IF business in the coal and kindred trades existed, and trom lis to 118 3d was quoted for first-class descriptions of steam coal, 10s 6et for seconds, 5t 6d to 5s 9el for first-class small, but ere many veeks had elapsed the trade grew depressed and toppages were frequent at the collieries. Taking the average for a few days at the end of January and the beginning of February the prices for steam coal were reduced. For first-c'ass descrip. tions the quotations were from 10s 6d to 10s 9d seconds, 10s to 10s 6d; drys, 9s to 9s 6d and small coal, 4s 9d to 5s per ton f.o.b. At this TIME work at the collieries was seriously affected by the scarcity of waggons. Towards the latter end of February, however, the market generally opened out, and contrary to expectations there was a. considerable demand for first and second-class steam coal, and the market for first-class Monmouthshire coal had an upward tendency. The improvement had every indication of permanence, and by the beginning of March the price of first-class steam coal advanced to lis to lis 3d seconds, 103 6d to 10s 9d and drys from 9s 9d to 10S. Small steam coal was at this time very scarce, and for first. class descriptions unusually tall prices were demanded, namely, 6s 3d to 6s 6d, the highest) point touched throughout the year. From this time to near the middle of the same month the market continued in an excited state, and all most of the leading colliery proprietors had disposed of their output for the time being the article was most difficult to obtain, and the prices paid were governed almost entirely by the circumstances attending each transaction. Shortly after this, however, A state of unsettlement was experienced, owing to the Sliding Scale dispute, which was happily settled by the 1st of April. But stocks had accumulated in view of a lock-out, and naturally until this was got rid of no upward movement WAS expected, and for some time business was extremely dull, and short time was worked in many of the collieries, while at others no coal was raised for at least a week or ten days. Under these unfavourable circumstances it is not to be wondered at that sellers were willing to make considerable concessions to prompt buyers and that prices for every description of steam coal eased down. The quotations at the beginning of May were for first-class steam, 9 9d to 10s 3d J seconds, 93 to 93 2d drys, 813 9d to 9 first-class small, 5s to 5s 3d seconds, 4s 3d to 4s 6d while first-class Monmouthshire was 8s 9d to 9s. This was the worst point of the year, and further reductions were nipped in the bud by the pro- prietors, who insisted that rather than submit to t further fall they would stop the works until such time as better prices were obtainable. Towards the end of May things assumed a brighter aspect, and the market displayed a healthy tone; first-class steam coat rose in quotation to 10s 9D^—lis, and other descriptions advanced accordingly. A strike of railway men, however, had a slight adverse effect upon future business. Throughout June and July for the most part a season of unabated activity was experienced, but the market shorsly afterwards felt the effect of the reduced output; occasioned by the progress of the General Election in the mining districts; but later on things improved, and again in September the trade maintained a firm, vigorous tone but in Occober rough, boisterous weather seriously militated against further progression. In fact, for some time afterwards the market was ham- pered by a scarcity of prompt tonnage. The major portion of the large contracts for delivery over 1896 were now conciuded, and so far as first- class steam coal was concerned the prices obtained for the most part compared favourably with the prices obtained on the last occasion; bus an influential sectiou of the commercial fraternity entertained the most sanguine opinion regarding a speedy and lasting improvement in the trade, and rather than conclude CONTRASTS for the coming year at the prices then ruling they abstained from bueinass roo far as the large contracts were concerned. With reference to the contracts concluded fOl Monmouthshire coal, it was apparent that these were concluded at a considerable reduction, at evidenced by the last arrangement made with the Egyptian State Railways, which was let at a lower figure than that obtained two yeari previously, and it is doubtful whether 13s 6d Pel ton c.i.f. will leave any real margin of profit Throughout November, and oven to the Christmas holidays, rough squally weather seriously hampered any progress in the trade that otherwise have been probable, and, at the close ot the year, the ruling prices were AS follows First-class steam coal, 10s 31 to 10* 6d seconds, 9s 3d to 9S 9d dry, 9 to 9, 3d first-class Mon- mouthshire, 8s ici to 8" 9d; and seconds, 8 to 8", 3d first-class small steam, about 4s 6d; T-ecands, 4s to 4s 3d; and inferior sorts, from 3s 9d to 4s per ton f.o.b. The pitwood market, after being extremely dnll for the first two or three months, towards AprH showed signs of improvement, and the price moved upward from 13A 6d, 13s 9d, to 14S 6d, 14s 9d ex ship. The trade became much firmer towards the close of the year, 17s being firmly quoted during December, but at the close th. market had a weaker tendency "and closed about 16S. Patent fuel manufacturers began the year with good prospects, and 10s 6d tc lis being quoted. These figures were fairly well maintained, but at tbe close of the year the price fell to 10s, 10s 6d. There has been an average inquiry for coke AT prices ranging from 12s to 20S, according tc quality. House caals were sold at 12 6d, 12s 9d in January last, while in December the quotation stood 10s 6d, 10s 9d the other description* of house coal being—No. 3 Rhondda large, 10s ( small, 6s 3d, 66d; No. 2 Rhondda large, 7s 9d to 8s and small, 4s to 4s 6e1 PER ton f.o.b. In the iron ore market (the early part of tht year) Rubio was quoted lis, Tafna 10s 9d, and Garrucha 10 9d per ton c.i.f. Cardtff. At tht close Rubio was 11* 9d to 12S Tafna, lis to lis 3d and Garrucha. lis per ton. Steel tails, heavy sections, fluctuated betweee £3 12* 6d to JE4 10-, and light sections £4 7s 6q to £4- 15s, closing firm. In the freight market a year of intense depres- sion has been experienced. Outward and home. ward rates have been low, especially for the East and Mediterranean ports. Of late years outward rates appear to have been taken at almost anything in order to secure remunerative home. ward ones, but these have been few and fai between. The following w<,re the closing (sfonmer) rates to the respective ports -Peritn, 10s 6(1 Aden, 10? 61 Bombay, 10* 9 Ceylon, 10s 6d Singapore. 12s Batavia, 14< Gibraltar, 5s 3d Genoa, 6< 6d; Savons, 6s 9d Civita "Vecchia, 6s 91 Malta, 5s Brindisi, 6s Venice, 7*61; Port Said,6^61; Constantinople, 7s; Odessa, 6" Rates for sailing vessels were as follows :— Colombo, 9s 9VL CAPE Town, 12S; Algoa Bay, 13S Pernambuco, lls 6D Bahia, 9s 6J Rio Janeiro, 14s Santos. 17 Para, 12s 61 Monte Video, lis Bnenos Ayres, 10s RU»ario, lis Rio Grande, 24 6d Jamaica, 8.. 6d Barbadoes, 6* éd Callao, 15s Acapulco, 16<; San Francisco, 14s and Valparaiso, 12s 61. In the homeward market ore freights from Bilbao to Cardiff closed at 4s 3d, and for the Tyne 5s.

BARROW IRON TRADE. BARROW, Monday.—There is a steady bnt quiet tone in the hematite market, although commercially and industrially men are tnostlj on holidays. There is an increased business expected in iron, and arrangements are in progress for a fuller production. Prices are steady at 4715 nett cash, warrant sellers; d less buyers; and nominal quotations of makers' iron stand at 49, 6d nett f.o.b. for mixed Bessemer numbers. Iron ore is a quiet trade, but sellers are firm at 10s for ordinary qualities nett at mines. Steel makers are well sold forward in rails, especially heavy sections; and so soon as the engineers' strike is settled there will be increased business in ship and boiler platns. Shipbuilders and engineers will not begin work till next week, but they hold good orders, and expect a busy year.

THAT" PECULIAR PROBLEM. The problem of Ashanti, the problem of Armenia, the problem of America, may all be brought within reasonable distance of SETTLE- ment, but the problem of the Peculiar People stands ever stiff and uncompromising in our path. "No; there was no medical man called in. We are peculiar people." Thus Susan Connell to Mr Baxter on Saturday at Poplar during the inquest on her thild, John Daniel, who bad collapsed in life's third year in the old home in Wilson-street, Broinley-by-Bovv. An "elder" had anointed the child, but bronchitis was not stayed. "They might drop their peculiarities at Christmas," said the un- imaginative British juror. Anointing a person who was at sea in a boat with a hole in it would not save him," said tha sage Coroner. The jury looked wise and grave, and said "Natural death."

"OH, TOMMY, TOMMY ATKINS Mary Ann Hopkins and Catherine Hughes, two young worn"Il, were assisted over the barrack wall into the Newport Barracks by one of the corporals in the early hours of Monday morning. The guard was attracted by the noise, and one of the officers was informed of it. The civil police were called in, aud the two girls were escorted to the Police Station and lodged in the cells. Later in the day the ijirls want up from the cella into the Police Court and inter- viewed the magistrates. They were charged with breaking into the barracks by climbing THO wall, and the officer in attendance declared that such incursions were frequent. The Bmch pointed out that girls were encouraged and aided by the soldiers, and that it was impossible for the girls to get into the bnrracks without assistance. The Bench then cautioned the women and discharged them.

-=- WORK COMES EASIER when the system has been refreshed and stimulated by a cup of Cadbury's Cocoa, which for old and young, rich and poor, is a perfect boverage. Tuic most marvellous pennyworth of new;- and fiction published is to be found in the Ctrrdif Tim's and >outh Wales Weeltly News. A11 the beet and (»r»- most novelists of the day havt conttfiMtod T* ltd 'tI'uuml$, OrdAt a copy qt once.