South Wales Daily News

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHfe Notices of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, It each, not exceeding tO wor&. and 6d for each extra 10 worde. DEATHS. DAVIES.-On Sunday morning, 29th inst., Daniel Davies, aged 48. Printer and Publisher, and pro- prietor of the Rtiondda Valley Printing Works, Treorky, at his residence, the Boar's Head, Treorky. after a brief illness. Funeral on Thursday afternoon next, at Treorky Cemetery. 9176 MORGAN.-On March 31st, at Duffryn Cottage, Bed was, Mary, the widow of the late Joseph Morgan, Duffryn Isha Farm, Bedwas, aged 85. Funeral on Saturday, 2 p. in., Bapti-t Chapel, Bedwas. URRY.—On the -9th March. 1896. at Oakhurst, Pen- arth, George Frederick Urry. aged 72. 592

The LONDON OFFICES of the South Wales Daily News are at 46, Fleet-street (opposite Fetter-lane), where Advertisements are received up to 4.30 p.m. for insertion in the following day's issue. The South Wales Daily News may be obtained immedi- ately after the arrival of the 10.15 train at the Offices. 46, Fleet-street at Messrs W. H. Smith and Sons' Bookstall. Paddington Station at Messrs Everett and Son's, 17, Royal Exchange and at Messrs Everett and Son's, Bells Buildings, Salisbary-square, Fleet-street. 1 NOTICE. The SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS will NOT be published on FRIDAY NEXT (Good Friday). The First Edition of the CARDIFF TIMES and SOUTH WALES WEEKLY NEWS n-ill this week be published on Thursday Morning, and the Second Edition as usual on Saturday Morning,

THE NATIONAL INCOME. A NATIONAL income of more than a hundred and nine millions sterling Everyone is rejoicing over the wealth indicated by the enormous in-gathering announced yesterday, and particularly over the fact that the con- tributions have been made to the Exchequer without any undue strain upon the taxpayer. Free Trade, so far as we have adopted it, is fully justified by this magnificent return and in it we find encouragement to go on and complete the work which BRIGHT and COBDEN began, and to supplement ic with freedom in dealing with land. Single- standard currency, on a gold basis, is also justified by the manifested national prosperity and the fact should infuse new energy, as it furnishes a new argument, to those who are contending against the mischievous bimetallism theories of Messrs BALFOUR, CHAPLIN, and Company. The new departure in taxation initiated by Sir W. HARCOURT is also justified. That right hon. gentleman's tapping the accumulations of the rich has led to an increase of more than three millions sterling in the yield of the Estates Duties; and here, too, is to be discovered incentive to strenuous per- severance in a right course of action. The day will come when, reactionaries having been swept aside and their pretty little dallyings with petty sectarian enterprises trodden under foot, the democracy will tap other accumulations of wealth, and will-by appropriation of land values, royalties, wayleaves, and other inventions of wa- the great pickpocket-general—be able to meet freely all local demands. For whatever the nation needs, the revenue can easily be raised. But when it comes to local requirements, to the circum- stances where occupiers have to bear all the burden, every project for public welfare has to be regarded in the light of the ratepayers' demand-note. Good work cannot be done because the whole charge will come on the heavily-burdened ratepayer, because the exploiter of enhanced values skims all the cream, being allowed so to do, while contributing little, if anything, to local rates. Just as Sir W. HARCOURT'S reform in national finance has yielded nearly a half of the enormous surplus now in hand, so will local authorities find that reforms in the incidence of local taxation will furnish them with abundant means for carrying out all requisite works of sanita- tion, education, poor relief, &e. No country in the world has such a vast accumulation of realised wealth. No country-not even excepting the United States—has greater promise of future accumulation. No similar area has proapeot of crvatiog so large an amount of unearned increment in value. There is consequently an incumbent duty of making such legislative provision as will ensure the appropriation of part of this wealth to public purposes.

SALVATION PER PARSON. THE Conference which is to assemble at Neath next week will not lack snbject of exciting debate. Thanks to Sir JOHN GORST, the education question has leaped at one bound into the forefront of topics contentious and for some time to come it must keep that position. As a scheme for endowing the parson, the new Bill could not be improved upon and Sir JOHN expressed very clearly the reason why that estimable individual is to be further endowed—" the only salvation of the rural district is the parson." We have, therefore, frank confession as to who is chiefly to benefit by the scheme for disestablishment of School Boards. It is a very clever scheme-one not without certain good points and the duty of Radicals will be to retain the good points while striving for elimination of the bad ones. Fear of the democracy runs all through it. Because the majority of County Councils in England are Tory, these bodies are to choose from among themselves the controlling educational authority. Because the County Councils in Wales are Radical, these bodies are not to be allowed to choose. This is simple and direct action. There can be no mistake about what the Government of great majorities means. Wherever, under the main provisions of the Bill, the Church cannot be served, there must be some special and different provision to prevent the detestable Dissenter placing education in front of episcopacy. It is a Bill which not merely invites, but which provokes and sustains, criticism a carefully devised scheme, perfected to the smallest detail, having the sole object of hindering a national system of education, and of diverting public funds to sectarian uses. Take, for example, the provision that forty parents may require religious instruction of a particular kind to be given their children here is the opening for salvation per parson, and no disguise about it. The State- religioner can send round his agents in the villages and, to parents detenceless against him, make demand that they shall number themselves in the fateful forty. Hey presto The thing is done and thence- forward all the tax-paid staff of the schools is converted to Sectarian use. The School Boards are to be stifled by the dominance of Tory over-lords. The quality of education is to be lowered through free- dom given the committees to vary the Code. Voluntary schools are, in most cases now, little more than a name -and under the new regime that glaring example where the voluntary contribution is a halfpenny per year per head need no longer agonise in raising the ha'penny. We can but tender hearty welcome to the new proposal, for the clearer and stronger these reactionary tendencies are manifest, the sooner and completer will be the rebound. With its great majority, this Ministry could do much mischief if it set about business in tactful style but as the parsons have taken the bit between their teeth and are dragging the statesmen to destruction, the outlook is all the more satisfactory for those who distrust the Ad- ministration and detest its principles. It is eminently serviceable to have, thus early, a demonstration of how far the Government will go in tying people to the tail of the Church. It is most gratifying to discover that they have bound themselves to a Bill which will take nearly all the time of the present Session, and will therefore debar them from entering upon any other legisla- tive exploit. It is, above all, most satisfactory to see once again how greatly they fear the democracy, with- drawing from the people that control of the schools which has, on the whole, been so wisely exercised, and exhibiting a desire to lower the educational status by abandoning the first principle if State oversight.

PUBLIC TMPBOVEMKNTS AT PONTYPRIDD. The narrow and in some places steep approaches to Pontypridd have long been a subject of careful consideration by the members of the Council, and it is gratifying to note that steps will shortly be taken to effect an improvement. Especially narrow are the roads from the Rhondda and Ctlfynydd, and considering the great traffic which passes over them daily, and the large number of brakes which ply to and fro, it is a matter of surprise that accidents do not frequently occur. Fortunately they are rare, but when the con. templated improvements have been accomplished the existing dangers to vehicles will be minimised. The Council is about to spend 222,400 in the improvement of streets and ronds and part of this sum will be devoted on widening the bridge which spans the river Taff-beside the famous old bridge. The present stone parapets will shortly be taken down and replaced by iron lattice work, whilst the bridge will be widened by footpaths 6ft. 6in. wide on each side. This will be a distinct improvement, as the traffic over the bridge, particularly on S-,iturday nitrhts, when scores of brakes rnn to and from Cilfynydd, is very great. The Council will also widen other roads, and they have under contemplation the much-needed widening of the exceedingly narrow and dangerous bridges which cross the canal all Trailwn, Coedpenmaen, Ponfcshonnortoo, and Treforest.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES NOTIFICATION ACT. According to a report recently issuer) by tbft Glamorgan medical officer, Aberdare is the only district in the county whizh has not adopted the above named Act, and it appears that a letter sent by the clerk of the County Council to the Aberdare Council urging them to adopt the Act was simply read by the clerk and ordered to be laid on the table. Several cases of smallpox have been reported in the Aberdare district, some of which have been allowed to leave the town ere the symptoms fully developed, and others have been treated in the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Is there no danger that the inhabitants of Aberdare may find out one of these days that prevention is better than cure. At present the medical gentle- men do not report any cases of infection because the Council has not adopted the Notification Act.

HOW THE DISCHABGH NOTIC DISPUTE AFFEOTED TRADESMEN. The introduction of the discbarge notes caused a dislocation of trade in various districts, and a large number of tradesmen were bitterly com- plaining of their takings having fallen off considerably. This was attributed to the miners keeping portions of their earnings to prepare for a general strike. The result of Monday's confer- ence gave great satisfaction to all the miners, and more especially to the various shopkeepers. The Coalowners' Association are complimented for their judiciousness in suspending the system, and the miners' representatives are also congratulated for their coolness and discretion and determina- tion throughout the serious crisis. If the crisis had once culminated in Down tools," great disturbances would have unquestionably imme- diately followed.

SHOW CARDS TWENTY YEARS AGO. About twenty years ago the miners of South Wales adopted a system quite novel in its charac- ter with a view of establishing a thorough union among the colliery workmen of the various mining districts, and their methods of procedure were strongly condemned by the employers in oonss- quence of the men interfering with the alleged rights of hundreds of honest and practical miners. At a large number of the pits every collier or workman employed underground was not allowed to descend the shafts unless he produced a card or note showing that he had joined the Union. Shenld a section of the men decline h become members of the Union the majority of the miners would protest against allowing them to go down the pits, and if these were allowed to do so by the management the majority of the colliers would strike. But the show card system collapsed; and it was condemned by a large nnmbee of the men themselves.

AIDING MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES. The decision of the Cardiff committee to insist upon employees Joining a Friendly Society is a aatataiy one I and the committee are quite withia their right, seeing that they propose that the! Corporation shall add 50 per cent. to whatever the men's subscriptions may gain them. Care will be taken not to penalise the older men but all those under 33 years of age, and all who may hereafter be employed. will be required to become members of some Friendly Society, sothatintimes of illness they will have a sick allowance and to this the Corporation will add 50 per cent. To encourage thrift is wise policy and the incident is proof that something more than the mere "cash nexus" unites the Council and its servants.

THB SWANSEA WATCH COMMITTEE. At Tuesday's meeting of the SwanseA Waich Committee one of the members complained of the ridicule which has been heaped on the committee. Well, considering the many extraordinary things this committee has done, and the recent fact that the Home Secretary has found it necessary to bring it to book in the most severe manner pos. sible, this ridicule is hardly to be wondered at. It is to be hoped the committee will profit by the caution, and that in the future the good and efficient management of the force will be the prevailing feeling. On Wednesday the committee showed a strong disposition to adopt a consistent attitude in the future but in view of recent events it would hardly br believed by non-residents of Swansea that after it bad been decided to promote officers by examination, after the examination had been held and after the result bad been declared, there could be found a minority who desired to go behind the examination altogether and get the vacant sergeantship for an officer low on the list, merely because he was the senior. Fortunately, reason-combined with a wholesome fear of the Home Secretary-prevailed, and the result of the examination was accepted by 7 to 3.

THE COLLIERY DISPUTE AT TREDEGAR. SATISFACTORY TERMINATION. The strike of colliery workmen under the Tredegar Company, which threatened to assume serious dimensions, has arrived at a satisfactory termination. Three meetings of the men were held on Tuesday without any decision being come to. The committee, however, had on Tuesday evening an interview with the officials, who exhibited every desire of treating with the men in a conciliatory spirit. The management expressed their readiness to withdraw all their original proposals, with the exception of a portion of the box scheme, and the men were at liberty to proceed to their work under the old arrangements. No man would be sent for out of the works for dirty filling, and each man would be allowed discretionary power to use the basket. The only demand the management made was that every man should provide Inmself with a basket by Saturday next. The employees further would have the power of appointing a working collier for each district to act as an intermediary between the employers and the employees in deciding where it was practicable for bringing the basket into requisition. These proposals were exhaus. tively discussed, and eventually it was decided to accept them and proceed to work on the following day (Thursday).

THE TINPLATE TRADE. THREE WORKS IDLE AT LLANELLY. The refusal of the younger hands to accept a 15 per cent. reduction is now responsible for the idleness of three of the Llanelly works-the Old Castle, Old Lodge, and the Burry, and there appears to be very little hope of an early settle. ment, the behinders showing no disposition to go in on anything but the 1874 lisb. THE VIEWS OF MANUFACTURERS. A SERIES OF GLOOMY FORECASTS. Speaking on the condition of the tinplate trade at the new Town Hall ceremonial at Llanelly on Tuesday, Alderman Gwilym Evans said that the industry had never been in a more serious condi. tion than at the present time. But if the masters and men came to an understanding he believed that Llanelly would continue to have a fair share of the trade. He did not ask for a reduction, more or less, than was given elsewhere, but fair treatment only. He would advise them to see if they could not brine to Llanelly some of the industries of the Midlands. A little had already been done in that direction in the way of tin-stamping. There were copper and other industries in the district, and he did not see why they should not develop the art metal work and other allied industries in conjunction with the copper nnd brass works. Ib was quite possible to carry on works of that description in Llanelly. He was pleased to learn that several companies were contemplating the erection of galvanising works in the neighbour- hood. (Applause.) Mr J. S. Tregoning, during the course of '¡is address, said that the unfortunate coiiditioivof the trade of the country-and more especially the tinplate trade, which was the staple industry of Llanelly-had been very much commented upon. No doubt the tinplate trade was in a most disastrous condition. He hoped that the young men would take the advice of Mr GWllym Evans and try and forget the tinplate trade, and endeavour to build up another industry in their midst to take its place. He urged young men to go to Birmingham and see if they could not bring back some new industries to the town. The old men had done their work, and they could hardly be expected to go back and start afresh. He hoped that the younir men would take the mat er seriously into consideration. There were splendid railway facilities at Llanelly, a good coalfield, and an adequate water supply, and if they could not succeed with those advantages he had no hesitation in saying that tliey were not up to their work. He hoped that in the meantime L'anelly would not depend solely upon the tinplate trade. but that it would become a town of many trades. (Applause.)

LIBERALISM IN SOUTH GLAMORGAN. FORMATION OF A NEW ASSOCIATION A meettng of Liberals of South Glamorgan possessing electoral qualifications in Cardiff was held on Wednesday evening at the Liberal Offices, St. Mary-street. The meeting, which had been summoned by circular, was presided over by Mr Charles Clarke, who has for some years taken a very active part in the organisa- tion of the polling district.—On the proposition of Mr Charles Morgan, B.A., it was unanimously resolved to form a Liberal Association for the Cardiff polling district, Mr Clarke being appointed chairman of the new organisation, and Mr Gwyn Morris secretary. Mr Clarke was also elected a member of the Executive of the South Glamorgan Association, and the following gntlpmen on the Liberal "Five Hundred," viz., Messrs C. Morgan, B.A., D. E. Davies, Lewis Ellis. George Griffiths, Augustus Lewis, jnn., D. E. Lewis, J. A. Jenkins, jun., M. Molyneux, R. Sutherland, and R. H. Seel. A feeling of determination to place the organisation of the districb on a more satisfactory footing was expressed, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman both for his excellent services in the past and for presiding at the present meeting.

NEW MAGISTRATES FOR CARMARTHENSHIRE. The following gentlemen have just been added to the Commission of the Peace for the county of Carmarthen, viz. The Hon. Hugh F. Vaughan Campbell, Golden Grove. The Hon. Walter Fitz-Urien Rice, Dynevor Park. I Mr Ernald E. Richardson, Glanbrydan Park. Major Thomas, Moreb, Llandilo. Mr A. F. Du Buisson, Glynhir. Mr John Jones, Penrock, Llandovery. Major Bythway, Llanelly. Mr H. Coulson Bond, Llanelly. Mr Cyril Davies, Froodvale. Mr W. Lewis Philipps, Clyngwynne.

GOVERNMENT'S PROMISES TO FARMERS. At Edinburgh, on Wednesday afternoon, Lord Balfour of Burleigh received a deputation from the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture. The deputation was introduced by Mr McKillop, M.P., who spoke in favour of relief of taxation and on agricultural subjects. His Lordship said the questions raised had been fully considered by the Government during the past tew months, and up to the full extent of any pledges which re- sponsible Ministers had given, an earnest and sinoere effort would be made to carry out the promise.

ECCLESIASTICAL. At a special service held at the Palace Chapel, Llandaff, on Wednesday morning, the Lord Bishop of Llandaff instituted the R^v. Robert White to the vicarage of Nash, near Newport, Mon., and the following curates were also licensed :-The Revs. Isaiah Roberts, B.A., to St. Catherine's, Cardiff { Edward Blennerhaasett, to St. Fagan's, near Cardiff j John Morgan, B,A., to Aberdare!

THE GREAT CUBE FOR CORNS.- Munday.s Viridine—Still further testimony. A Chemist writes Will you send me a bottle of your Viridine ? It is for my own use. I get plenty of corn cures of the same colour, but none of them appear to equal yours. No one ought to say his corns are incurable until he has used" Viridine." Thousands have bepn cured, most of whom had suffered for over 50 years Bowa. i o nutations Sold in bottles Is, by post J.s 2d, by the proprietor, J. Mnnday, Chemist Engh-street Cardiff and all Chemis: 1079

LONDON LETTER. [FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT*J SPECIALLY WIRED. LONDON, Wednesday Night. THE EDUCATION BILL. Now that they have the Education Bill in their hands, I find among educational experts a strong disposition to discover verv considerable compensation from the evila it inflicts in the benefits, if not immediately, yet ultimately, it must confer. Some of high authority who take this view point especially to the facc that the setting up of education committees of County Councils is the first stage in the establishment of universal School Boards. These they say, may be somewhat embryonic, but even in their initial stage the light that we have brought locally to bear upon the doings of Voluntary school managers, and the pressure that can be exerted by an aroused public opinion, will be a very difficult thing from the centralised administration of Whitehall, where, even if the Minister be not largely inclined to wink at clerical devices, he has very little power to stop them. But beyond the immediate advan- tage derivable from the new order of things in parishes where there are eyes watching closely the doings of irresponsible managers, the establishment of these all-pervading education committees is the foundation upon which—when next the Liberals come into power-universal School Boards in essence, though not in name, must be erected. TORIES PLAYING THE RADICAL GAME. This has been the ultimate goal of educa- tional reformers. No Liberal Government would ever have had the power of reaching it. No Tory Government could have attempted it directly and confessedly, even on the incredible hypothesis of any desire to try, but now a Tory Government, in grasp- ing at too much and not quite seeing how far it is going, puts in the thin end of the wedge, which the next Liberal Administration will drive finally home. From this point of view the advantage may be held to be cheaply purchased by the increased capitation grant to be paid to Voluntary schools. Especially will this be the case if the House of Commons insists on making it clear that the financial super- vision to be exercised over school accounts shall involve a thorough public audit. If that be done, it is expected that dark things will be brought to light to an extent which will make the parsons think their 4s a head dearly purchased. Nor is it at all likely that rectors and vicars will be very enthusiastic over that new conscience clause, under which they will be compelled to provide facilities for the hated schismatic to come into their schools and give religious instruction to Nonconformist children. AUTHORS OF THE BILL DIVIDED. This reopening of the religious difficulty looks very much like a boomerang destined to recoil on the heads of those responsible for reopening it. When this has been said and when all credit has been given to Sir John Gorst for raising the time limit to 12, all the good features, of the Bill or those that may be made good are exhausted. All else is bad, especially the power given to the local authority to veto expenditure in increase of the rates. The abolition of the 17s 6d limit, besides checking voluntary contributions, must necessarily stimulate unwholesome cramming in the desire to make schools a source of revenue towards parish expenses. There is a belief that the Bill as presented to Parliament is the com- promising outcome of very severe conflicts among its authors, and the suspicion is general that neither Sir John Gorst nor the Duke of Devonshire nor Mr Chamberlain will be heartbroken at the free use of the pruning knife in committee, and the parts whose sacrifice they will see with most com- placency are precisely those whose rejection will best please Liberals. If the Opposition is well engineered the day on which this Bill was introduced may in the end prove to have been a blank one for sectarian educa- tionists. GOVERNMENT'S MUDDLING FOREIGN POLICY. The evil fate which from the early days of its existence has dogged the footsteps of a Government whose advent was to be the sign for universal harmony abroad continues to follow hot on the track of those blazing talents which preside over our Foreign and Colonial Offices. The news from Egypt and Abyssinia points to the fact that in ordering the Nile Expedition the Government courted the deluge which follows on a gratuitous letting out of water, and the tidings from Matabeleland shows that Mr Chamberlain may yet have to his heart's content the fighting which was denied to him in Ashanti. The opportunities afforded on all hands of pouring out the treasure bequeathed to it by its predecessors are effectual preventions of any danger of the Treasury suffering from a surfeit of gold. The optimistic assurance with which Mr Balfour met Sir William Harcourt's misgivings as to the omens of the recess is in a very fair way for being signally falsified. NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY. After being bandied from pillar to post- from George-street to South Kensington, and from South Kensington to Bethnal Green-the National Portrait Gallery is at length housed in a permanent habitation worthy of the country. By the liberality of Mr William Henry Alexander, a handsome building has been put up on land given by the Government behind the National Gallery, and here there are now arranged a long series of English worthies extending over five centuries. It is gratifying to think that, thanks largely to the magnificent portraits painted by and given by Mr G. F. Watts — including Carlyle, Tennyson, Cardinal Manning, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, Matthew Arnold, Lord Lawrence, Mill, and others-the British portraiture of the end of the nineteenth century suffers nothing by comparison with the great works of preceding ages. One of the most interest- ing rooms is the earliest, when, beginning with Henry V., the series descends to the r Tudors and Stuarts. Here four portraits of Queen Elizabeth afford scope for more instructive study, but the Gallery is some- what weak in representations of that much- painted lady, Mary Queen of Scots. If criticism of the building be permitted, one may be inclined to say that it is too much broken up into small rooms. The collection has been open for private view this week. The doors will be open to the public on Saturday next. WILLIAM ROGERS* TESTIMONIAL. There are rumours in the City that a sur- prising appointment will be made to the post of rector of Bishopsgate, and one which is hkely to excite a good deal of criticism. Meanwhile, the William Rogers' Testimonial Fund is making excellent progress. Among the subscribers are Messrs Rothschild, who have given a hundred guineas, and Mr J. P. Gassiot, one of the late rector's oldest friends, who has put his name down for fifty guineas. Lord Rosebery has also promised to subscribe if the memorial is of a substan- tial and permanent character and there is no doubt that this condition will be complied with.

COVENTRY AND VACCINA- TION. Coventry Board of Guardians on Wednesday rescinded the revolution passed four years ago suspending the operation of the Vaccination Act. There are 6,000 unvaocinated children in Oo*eE' try.'

CONTINENTAL AGRICULTURE By J. L. GREEN, Author-of Allotments and Small Holdings," Rural Industries of England*" Old Yeomen," &c. MARKETS, ROADS, AND RAILWAYS. For the sale of farm or garden produce it is, of course, necessary to command an outlet, and this imphes communication by the ordinary highways, railroads, and navigable rivers and canals-sometimes called roads in motion." No nation need have, or has, any superiority over another in the means of transport; the divergency lies rather in the cost and quantity. As the cultivator is a large or small proprietor or occupier, so he will be able to arrange for the carriage of his outputs. Nor is there any very great difference in the mode of selling the produce of the aoil in any country. Contiguity to a market town or purchasing centre is the aim of every holder of land who wishes to cultivate his land to the beat advantages. The means taken to achieve that end demonstrate the importance of the role of communications in the carriage of produce. Farmers in France consign their potatoes, fodders, cereals, &c., to sworn market auctioneers, whose licence depends upon having no interest in what they sell, in addition to being liable to a heavy fine in case of fraud in this respect. The books of these auctioneers must show their sales, the names of the purchasers, and the amounts of the purchases; and they must also remain, for a period of three months, open to free inspection on the part both of the authorities and of the consignors. Now, without roads, the produce of the farm could not, of course, reach a place of sale hence their close connection with the prosperity of agriculture. The making of roads and their main- tenance in a proper state of repair constitute a primary duty of ail Governments. A well-known Continental agricultural economist laid it down that for thesui table development of acountry thereought to be three-fourths of a mile of road for every three-fourths of q mile of its square surface. On that calculation France would appear still to lack no less than 87,003 miles of road. In addi. tion, however, to the roads of that country which already exist, she has some 6,000 miles of navigable rivers, nearly 3,000 miles of canals, and 20,000 miles of railways. The water agencies mentioned are really those which compel the great railway companies-nine in number-to observe a certain MODERATION IN THEIR TABIFFS and this is a feature to which, we believe, eome serioas attention might be given in our own country. The road system in France is as interesting as it is peculiar. It may seem some- what complicated, though it is not so at all in fact. Putting aside railways or railroads, the land" roads are divided into three groups, viz., national, departmental, and what may be termed the local or vicinal. The national or grand highways have a total length of some 25.000 miles. all inter-communicating. These are maintained by the State, and are under the surveillance of its own engineers. The State also has oharge of all roads in the forests and in the vast waste lands of Sologne and the landes of Gascony. The departmental roads have a total length of about 28,000 miles. They are made by the 86 Departments, or counties, and those in each Department are administered by the local Council General, or, say, the local County Council. Let it be borne in mind that the lowest as well as the highest administrative act in France is subject to the veto of the Government. The third erroup --i.e., the vicinal roads—comprises some 284,000 miles of various categories and widths, based on the importance of the districts they are to serve, or the back grounds they are to open up. They are the, so to speak, hinterland branchings of the national and departmental roads. It is the Department which decides upon their construc- tion, aids their making, but throws most of THE EXPENSE upon the several localities. The Government— when a district is at present too poor, but which presents material resources meriting development -occasion.-tily renders financial aid out of the Budget. In 1880, convinced of the importance of opening up the roads of the communes—a com- mune is the territorial unit in France, just as the parish is in England-ttie Government made itself, or rather the nation, security for a loan of 63 million francs, and never was money more profitably invested. The railway system in France is, however, very complicated. The lines are largely owned by great companies; some have been constructed by the State, and a few by private individuals. Public opinion is. contrary to that of Enllland. rather inclined to favour the State becoming the proprietor of all the railways but for the fact that the lines it does work are not in all respects models of economical management. The prin- ciple of the French concession of railways to a company is that after 99 years the lines revert to the State. But the State has borrowed to the extent of hundreds of thousands of pounds sterhng for public needs from the railway com- panies. The Government is really the prisoner of the companies, and cannot well enforce such CHEAP FREIGHTS as the French cultivator, like his friends on this side of the Channel, clamour for. It is also held to explain why a mileage tariff, based upon grouped distances, or zones, per ton, after a certain initial number of tons, with rates self- whittling, so to speak, as the distance augments, is well nigh impossible. Only the up-to-date Chemin-du-fer du Nord has, we believe, adopted the system over its own system. Small, narrow gauged, or light railways may be said not to exist in France. They are not viewed favourably. There are about 125 miles of such lines, chiefly, however, employed for passenger traffic. The provincial districts are too overtaxed to support additional burdens for even the lightest of railways, and thA State can do nothing, not having the means. Lowering the traffic rates on all the existing lines is what the agricultural community of Frame demands, as a sort of rate- in-aid for the agricultural depression which is almost, if not quite, as acute there as in Great Britain.

SHIPPING FEDERATION BILL. ITS OBJECTS AND PURPOSES. A statement in explanation of the objects of the Shipping Federation Bill, now before Parliament, has been issued. Atter setting out the purposes of the benefit fund, to which it is proposed to get Parliamentary sanction for its constitution and per. manent basis, in which event the members of the Federation are willing to subscribe sums amount- ing to 250,000 to be invested as a source of per. manent income, the statement goes on to point out that there is no compulsory clause of any kind in the Bill. With regard to Clause 4, re the engage- ment and supply of seamen, it is shown that the Federation seeks power to supply:seamen to any its members. Under Section 111 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, only a bona fide servant in the constant employment of the shipowner can engage or supply seamen and it is maintained that a servant in the constant employ of an association of shipowners is in fact in the constant employ of any individual member of such association, and should be allowed to engage and supply crews. This, it is affirmed, has been practically admitted by the Board of Trade when, in 1891, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach stated that ho would not put the law into force in any way as regards the Federation of Shipowners. The section, it is contended, was only intended to operate against crimps who have no interest in ships whatever, and not against an association whose officers' interests are identical with those of the seamen. The establishment of the registry offices has done great good in suppressing crimping and raising the tone of the sailor.

A YEAR'S REVENUE. AN INCREASE OF OVER SEVEN MILLIONS. As reported briefly in our issue of yesterday the Treasury published on Tuesday night an account of the total revenue of the United Kingdom for the year ended March 31st, showing the total paid into the Exchequer to be £ 101,973.829, and paid to local taxation accounts £7,366,117 The total revenue for the year was therefore £ 109,339,946. In the year ended March 3101t, 1895, there was paid into the Exchequer £ 94,583.762, and paid to local taxation accounts £ 7.013,542, the total revenue being £ 101,697,204. The net increase of revenue for th e year just end was £ 7,642,642. The Customs produced £ 20,959,490, an increase over the previous year of £ 648 815 Excise, £ 31,510,085, an increase of 9795,277 estates, &c., duties, £14.052,542, increase £ 3,180.483; stamps, 27,350 000. an increase of £ 1,629,000; land tax, 21,015,000. no increase or decrease; house duty, P,1,015,000, increase £ 60,000; property and income tax. £ 16,100.000, increase £ 500.000; Post Office, £ 11,380,000, in- crease 2620.000; telegraph service, B2 840,000. increase 4260,000 Crown lands, £ 415.000, in- crease RS,000 interest on Suez Canal shares, 2689,525, increase 2276,549; miscellaneous, 2153,304, decrease £ 332,482.

A WEATHER PROPHEOY FOR EASTER. A weather prophecy for the Easter holidays is hazardous, the time being so near and the number interested so large. Mr Clements, however, has been daring enough to run all risks. According to him the barometer will fall to-day and to. morrow, and will be low on the 3rd, on Good Friday, and on the following day, with somewhat unsettled weather on those days. On Saturday, however, there will be a recovery of pressure, so that Easter Sunday will be fine. The barometer will oontinue to rise, and attain its highest point on Easter Monday or Tuesday, after which it will immediately begin to fall, initiating unsettled weather that will continue until the following Friday, during which period there will be more or less rain or snow. Easter Sunday and Monday will be M fine and partially cloudy (cirrocumulus), with fog or haze and hoar frost in the morning, and a cold northerly or north-westerly wind will prevail in moderate force."

AN." Stqht of South African Liftt and Adventure, entitled The Golden Bock," will he ceni- menced in the eolnnuia of the Cardif Times and South Wales WttUy Newt of Satnrday, April 4th. The best I newiy pnbti«be<t

Lord and Lady Wimborne arid family ItilF Wimborne House fH1 Wednesday ibtr dattfbfd House, Dergeiii Dr. Joseph Parry,fon Tuesday, conducted M the Masonic Hall, Llandudno, the first rehearsal of Cambria," the cantata composed by him far the Nainonal Eisteddfod. Lord Llangattock has given the vicar, the Rev, G. Guise Lewis, another £100' towards the com- pletion of the restoration of the ancient Abbey Church of Llanthony, Monmouthshire. Tho name of the Rev. Charles Berry, of Wolverhampton, is being openly suggested as the sucoassor of the Rev. Morlais Jones, president of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. The Duke of Devonshire, who visits Swansea on the 20 h of May, to give a counterblast to Mr Asquith'a meeting, will not be the guest of Sir John Llewelyn, but of Mr Graham Vivian, at Clyne. Lord Danraven's new racing cruiser, Cariad, now lying at her moorings in Southampton Water, will weigh anchor at the end of the week for Ireland. The yacht, which is of 120 tons. new measurement, has a complement of 14 hands, which will be increased to 20 when racing. Mr D'Oyly Carte having been instrumental in 1 bringing out many Welsh vocalists, it is interest- ing to note that at the annual general meeting of the Savoy Hotel, just held, Mr D'Oyly Carte in the chair, the directors' report was adopted, and the dividend of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares, with 2% per cent. bonus additional, was confirmed. In order to keep before the public the question of the taxation of unerrned: increment," Mr David Evan Williams, J.P., of Cartref, Hirwain (who has devobed much attention to this question, which he was the first to raise on the Mertbyr Board of Guardians over ten years ago), has now placed at the top of every envelope and every postcard used"-by him the following Royalties, Ground Rents, and Wayleaves should be rated for level purposes." Red-tapeism is as rife as ever. The portals leading to the seats of the Great Unpaid are jealously guarded against the intrusion of the democraoy. By a recent ruling of the Local Government Board, a District Council Chairman, who by virtue of his office becomes a J.P., must, if elected for a second term, take the oath a second time before he can be allowed to sit upon the bench. His oath is only binding for one year, and must be renewed every time he is re-eleoted Among other trophies laid on the'tomb of the late Lord and Lady Llanover on Palm Sunday was a memorial card, in the centre of which was the Red Dragon on the right, orossed leeks and on the left, a Plume of Feathers. Under. neath, Welsh mountains and lakes were depicted, with the sun setting. There was then the follow- ing inscripbion:- Cymmrodorion Mynwy a Brycheiniog. Er cof am LLANOVKB, A'hunodd yn yr Iesu Ionawr 17th. 1896. Er wedi marw, etto yn Uefaru. Coffadwriaeth y cyfiawn sydd fendigedig. Gwyn eu byd y meirw sydd yn marw yn yr Arglwydd, canys maenti yn gorphwys oddi wrtb eu llafur. Thecard was executed with great skill and taste by Mr R. Williams, jun., Globe Stores, Bryn- mawc. For many years Lady Osborne Morgan has been an active worker in connection with the Welsh poor in London, and on Tuesday evening she gave another practical exemplification of her sympathies with the Welsh Auxiliary of the London City Mission by a lecture in aid of the Mission funds. The gathering took place at the King's Weigh-house Lecture Hall, Thomas- street, Oxford-street, under the presidency of Mrs Henry Richard, another well-known worker on behalf of poor Welshwomen in the Metropolis. The lecture, which was illustrated by lantern views, was entitled Life in Welsh Castles," and at its conclusion a cordial vote of thanks was tendered to Lady Osborne Morgan on the pro- position of Mr Humphreys-Owen, M.P., Sir George Osborne Morgan, Q.C., M.P., on behalf of his wife, acknowledging the oompliment. During the evening selections of Welsh music were admirably rendered by a choir of Welsh ladies. A correspondent of a Liverpool contemporary says :—I have in my possession, and have had for 40 years, a watch bearing the name of the maker, 'Riohard Griffith, Denbigh.' This watch be. longed to my grandfather, a celebrated preacher of the last quarter of the last century and the first quarter of the present century. I mean Edward Williams, Tan Lan, Cileen, a man who exercised extraordinary spiritual power over bis audiences throughout North and South Wales, as lately described most feel- ingly and graphically by the venerable Rev. Edward Adams, of Cilcen (himself now in his 86th year) in Y Cymro,' If this old watch could speak it could tell strange tales of the past life of Wales, of spiritual victories almost incom- prehensible to the people of this age, and of other things that made the angels weep. I know not in how many pulpits, in what number of strange open-air assemblies, in what goodly company of noble, self-sacrificing makers of Welsh religious history this old watch has ticked, but it lies before me now silent and disjointed. Yet I know that if I could make it pulsate with life, and give it a living tongue, tipped with the fire of its former owner, we should hear stories that would make our hearts burn within us, and crown the Clwydian hillsi with the glory of. Drumtochty." 7 ———— Readers of the South Weeks Daily News bad opportunities extending over a considerable period of reading the journalistic chit-chat of the late G. A.S." which appeared in its columns weekly. An appeal is about to be made to the public and the friends and admirers of Georete Augustus Sala, who died last year at Brighton, leaving his financial affairs in an embarrassed state and his widow involved in debt and liabilities. His work was not calculated to encourage in him the spirit of Poor Richard.' He was sent over two-thirds of the civilised globe with the wages of an ambaesadOf," He was here to-day and somewhere else to-morrow-the honoured guest of Princes and Statesmen, the idol of a hundred clubs. Humdrum domesticity was not within his reach his home half his life was the palatial hotel, with its palatial charges; his health was never sound life Msurance was barred to him by medical veto his chronic blindness became more acute during the last years of his life, but he preserved one virtue. The most commonplace drudge that ever existed could not compete with him in industry—steady, per- sistent, and unflagging industry. The Duke of Aberoorn has thought the object (the relief of G. A. Sala's widow) a worthy one, and haa con- sented to act as trustee and treasurer, A penny subscription from the millions who have been Sala's readers for so many years would be a just and proper tribute to a writer who, prolific as be was, wrote nothing that his most scrupulous friend would wish to blot. Still another effusion re the famous running match to-morrow :— Welsh gossip, my boy—'twill fill us with joy. If you print our reply to the poet, Who thinks that his man is a bit of a Dan," But he can't run for nuts—'cos we know it. Oysters and stout will blow the chap out. And oockles may strengthen his back, But 'bwix yon and me and the gatepost you'll see Goliath behind on the track. The moral is plain, a fellow can't train On trotters that come from the pig He may struggle to gain till his jugular veiq On the nape of his neck does a jig. But slowly and sure. as the tortoise of yore, Young David will gain, stride by stride, Tili the sixteenhalf stun is left in the sun Exhausted -defeeted-defied. So ladies, pray come, its worth it by gum, To see such a lump try to race, And oysters or not, you'il say its all rot, 'Cos why ? well, he can't go the pace,

C.M.P. Forward, with a joyful feeling, Glanced the tenants every day, But a great cloud came, and darkened All their prospects with dismay. All their hopes, their glad rejoicings, Suddenly take flight, and leave Hundreds in a peaoeful district O'er a fearful loss to grieve. To Maesgwynne they turn In sorrow, Scarcely see it through their tears, As they think of her who blest it With her presence many years, Goodness there had found a dwelling, Made its presence felt for miles, Turned all gloom to brightest sunshine, Looks of sadness into smiles. Bright examples of perfection She unconsciously displayed, 4nd to her good work, unstinted, Our best praines shall be paid. Titled truly, Little Lady, None could admiration win Jiifce the daughter of the squire, Aye remembered at wJnQ" SILURIAN.

&EWS IN BRIER The Etnperer of Ghitt* is of Ptkiit Gazette; Twelve bicycles are to bought for the p Ihe Easb Ridingi iwalrf The annual cattle crop of Netof South Is about 400,000. — The Duke of Saxe*Coburg orossed from to Ostend yesterday.. vj i Mr Cecil Rhodes thinks things will come right in South Africa in 25 years. Women holding foreign medical now be registered in Austria. General Simon Sam, Minister for War, been elected President of Hayti.. Li Hung Chang, on his way to 1 coming via the United States. The serum treatment for diphtheria has beeD pronounced a brilliant success in Berlin. The German Coal Syndicates are making cpltt* plaints about British competition in Germany. The annual rate of mortality in the 33 towns of England and Wales last week 18 8 per 1,000. i. Preparations are already being made at J:i1.JØ Novgorod in view of the forthcoming visit Q' .8 Czar and Czarina. The great Yerkes telescope, which is now bsiog built, will bring the moon within an OPPerot distance of 60 miles. The women of Abyssinia have their separ.- portion of the house, where they cook, grind ootft and tend their bees, A splendid series of more than 990 eggs of t* cuckoo has just been presented to the Britisb Ornithologists' Club. The diplomatic callers at the Foreign yesterday included the Austrian Ambassador aød the Belgian Minister. In a recent sketch of Joel Chandler Ilartim, 00 creator of "Uncle Remus," it is said that hiS greatest passion is roses. The German Emperor has appointed a Fraud" man as the tutor of his two eldest sons at Pleodi and another for his third and fourth boys. There are not many uproars in this world more dismal than that of the Sabbath bells itt Edinburgh. So wrote Robert Louis StevenfOfe The fees payable to the various professor* the Guildhall School of Music, for the term Jøø8 ended, amount in the aggregate to close oø 28,500. "Itt my own district," remarks a LondoO census enumerator, 1 per cent. was the pro tion of occupiers who could not write their ø1tll name." South Australia's revenue for the past three months amounted to £696,306, an increase of 231,169 compared with the first three months of last year. The new battleship Mars is lighted throughOU0 with an installation of about 900 e!ectrio lights and equipped with six searchlights of 30,000 candle power. The Bishop of Worcester, who has been indis" posed for several days, is going abroad to recruit his health, and has cancelled all immediate engagements. The revenue of Victoria for the past three months amounted to 21,729,530, a decrease of 428,006 as compared with the correspoipdips quarter last year. > All the Vienna firemen went out on strike at noon yesterday as a protest against the dismissal of e;ght of their comrades for insubordination fof an increase of wages. In response to a request by the Republic of 80 Domingo the Spanish Government has agreed 1!0 send officers to command the new Dominican flAP ships and transports. Admiralty officials arrived at Gibraltar 011', Tuesday, and inspected the works of the dock. They embarked to-day for Malta on H.M. cruiser Arefchusa. This season's seal fishery catch is a failure, catch not being half that of last year. The ice the heaviest that has been experienced for '/JI' years, and the weather was stormy. The directors of the Highland Railway yes day resolved to recommend a dividend of 1% pttI' cent. for the past half-year, against 2 per oeø, for the corresponding period last year. President Cleveland yesterday signed the AØ" repealing the old statute under which those who fought on the Confederate side in the Civil VVAO were excluded from posts in the Army and Navy*|, The President of Mexico in his message on opening of Congress yesterday stated that 6110" revenue from July 1st to December 31st last has exceeded the expenditure by more than IWO million dollars. This year, on the occasion of the Czar 1600rol3af tion festivities, the Russian Railway Adminis tion will for the first time issue through tickeW from the principal towns in Russia to foreilm watering-places. Yesterday the Flying Squadron, whieh bafl been manoeuvring on the West Coast of Ireland for some time past, arrived in QueenstoWO Harbour from Berebaven. They will remaill hi the harbour for 10 days. A message from Melbourne, yesterday, that the Cabinet has decided to strike off the roU J of honorary Justices of the Peace, Messrs Rap*] port, Baxter, and Bird, who were recently found guilty of corrupt prtetices. The mail steamer Amazona, which haa at Marseilles from Madagascar reports a cyclone has devastated the Isle of Maritius, drought has destroyed the residue of the whioh tbe cyclone spared. Princess Christian and Princess Victoria Schleswig-Holstein called yesterday on Empress Dowager of Russia at VllIefranohe oø board the yacht Samitza. The Duke of a. bridge also visited her Imperial Majesty. t The Civil and Military Government 0 Erythrea has been transferred from Maasowab f/Ø Asmara. General Baldissera has already e" palled from the Colony over 500 persons of varioot nations, black and white, and of both sexes. f Admiral Seymour had the honour yesterday lunching with her Majesty at Nice, and Ypti, Edward Cecil called in the afternoon. At o'clock the Queen, accompanied by Henry of Battenberg, and attended by LAd, Southampton, went for a drive. Intimation has been received in Berlin ffirmit4 that the commercial treaty with Japan has befØ duly signed. The abolition of ex-territorial jurisdiO" tion is, however, not absolute, as in some matters jurisdiction is reserved to the German Oonsuls. Japan agrees bo important diminutions of Custoto duties. At Montreal yesterday the annual meeting 0 the shareholders of the Canadian Pacific was held. The old board was unanimously M elected. The report stated that the new YOO opened with much promise., the gmss incrow of the first two months being 637,000 doJla** showing a net increase of 276,000 dollars over Obf corresponding period last year. The German Emperor and Empress, with $JleiI' two eldest sons, arrived at Palermo at h»lf-P^s* 10 yesterday morning on board tbe yacht Hohenzollern. The Italian squadron fir*0 several salutes, to which Kaiserin August replied. Hohenzollern on casting anchor surrounded by a number of small boats fil' with sightseers, who cheered enthusiastically. Some criticism is being directed against *b6 sale of several Italian warships to the jkrg-Mli320 Republic, some journals even going so far as p openly allege jobbery. Signor Cavallotti has expressed his intention of bringing up matter in the Chamber, and professes his beltf1 that the Minister of Marine will withdraw big authorisation for the sale given by his predecessor. The Kaiser has presented Prince Biums-k- 00 the occasion of his birthday, with a large Picture beautifully framed in bronze of the whole family. The Prince received at 11.30 yesterday the congratulations of the various members of family and his friends. Innumerable preJøa and thousands of telegrams have been received Friedricbsruk. Prince Bismarck enjoys health, but regrets that the weather forbids h' going out. The West Indies liner Para brought to mouth yesterday the mate and seven men of t Norwegian barque Emmanuel, wrecked at 9 Lucia on March lltti on the journey to Mexico The Emmanuel, driven out of her couise, ran 011 a reef. The crew were driven off during night, but were able to transfer all their below ings to the shore by several perilous boat "fF" The crew remained on the island several and were afterwards taken off and brought fivo Barbtdoes by the steamer Para.

"0/ REDUCING SWANSEA'S RAT0 The Streets Committee of tion met on Wednesday to estimates of expenditure jU(| i* As a result they off l*" the 8,

INTERESTING TO ISRAELITES JEWrSH METHODS VINDfCATEP- A case of great interest to the Jewish munity came before »the Bolton Wednesday afternoon. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals proseooWU butcher and his assistants for kill'nff a cutting its throat and letting it bleed to Several prominent butchers and a veter' surgeon testified that that was a humane of slaughtering animals, and the magis taking the same view dismissed the case.