South Wales Daily News

HALF-YEARLY MEETING. NEW STOCK ISSUED. FUSION CONTEMPLATED. The 28th half-yearly meeting of the share- holders in the Barry Railway Company was held at the company's offipes, Cardiff Exchange, on Friday afternoon. Lord Windsor presided over a small attendance. In moving the adoption of the directors' report and balance-sheet, which have been reviewed in detail in our financial columns, the noble Chairman said he could not help considering it a very great misfortune to have to meet the shareholders under circum- stances different from those which had ever been his lot since the company started. The fact that the directors had found themselves unable to recommend the payment of any divi- dend on the Ordinary Stock put them in a position which they had tmsted they should have avoided, at any rate for a great number of years. It was not expedient or right for him to make any comments upon the merits of the different sides in the most lament- able labour dispute now going on, and the only remark he wished to make was to assure the shareholders that the directors had been and were fully alive to the absolute necessity of keeping down the expenditure as much as possible. (Hear, hear.) It was the directors' intention to continue this policy, and they fully realised the necessity of doing all in their power in looking carefully after every detail to minimise as much as possible the very serious results which must inevitably follow in consequence of this most unfortunate strike. He took it that so far as they were all concerned there that day the shareholders would consider the action of the directors as satisfactory, and that the board were doing everything to the best advan- tage of the company. His Lordship then referred to the great loss sustained by the company in the death of Mr J. W. Insole, who apart from his genial presence and the great regard everyone had for him as a personal friend, was, he said, a distinct loss to the company owing to his con- spicuous shrewdness in general matters and his devotion to the company's business. The* directors had elected Mr George Frederick Insole as his late brother's successor on the board. (Hear, hear.) The noble Chairman, proceeding to deal with the report and statement of accounts, said that in any case this would not have been a very favourable opportunity for comparing the receipts of the company with its total capital. As they were aware for he' had mentioned it before for some time past they had been spending a vast sum of money on capital account, which up to that moment had not had the opportunity of being productive. Under present circumstances, however, this money spent on capital account did not make s very much difference, because the difficulty for finding work now for a great under tailing like the Barry Company was quite apart from any such consideration as tbat, and if they had been working as they generally had in ordinary times he thought that their new dock in which so much of this capital had been sunk would have been completed by this time. He had ventured to prophesy that the dock would be ready for open- ing this summer, and while he thought it might have been he pointed out it was obviously unneces- sary for the directors to make any urgent effort to complete it under present circumstances. They had taken advantage of the slow times to thoroughly overhaul and repair the outer gates. This was a work much wanted, there having been a serious leakage, which he was glad to say was now stopped. As they were doubtless aware the company had had a Bill which they had intended to promote in Pa-rliament for a line from Cogan to join the Great Western, but that was with- drawn in consideration of arrangements having been made with the T.V.R. to increase facilities for Barry traffic between Cogan and Cardiff, and also in the agreement was an undertaking by the Tatt to reduce their charges. The liarry Uom- pany had succeeded in obtaininga short line to join the Brecon and Merthyr Railway, and the directors trusted that considerable benefits would accrue to their shareholders when that small rail- way was completed. These were the only matters of importance he considered it necessary to touch upon and he would formally move the adoption of the report and accounts. Mr ARCHIBALD HOOD (vice-chairman), in seconding, endorsed his Lordship's statements, &nd added, with regard to the new dock, that at a preliminary meeting of directors held that morning in Lord Windsor's absence the engineer had told them that the works would be quite ready for opening in six weeks. Mr JOHN R. KIRKUS, of Hull, supported the proposition, and expressed his pleasure at the advantage taken of the slackness to repair the outer gates, advising that ths general stock and machinery could now be thoroughly examined. The proposition was carried unanimously and without further discussion. Mr ARCHIBALD BOOD then referred to a ques- tion put to the directors at a recent meeting by an esteemed shareholder as to the desirability of reducing the qualification for the directorate. A promise had been given that the board would consider the point, but as they had been so busy with other thiugs the matter had not been formally discussed. While acknowledging that there was much to be said on this point pro and con., he believed it was wiser that directors should have a substantial stake in the concern. (Hear, hear.) Alderman CORY having endorsed Mr Hood's observations, the CHAIRMAN declared the business of the ordinary meeting closed. It will be remembered that the report already published announced that though there was a balance in hand of E6,558 after paying all pre- ferential charges, the directors would not recom- mend any distribution upon account of the Or- dinary Stock. NEW CAPITAL. An extraordinary meeting followed, at which the following new issues were authorised :— 150,000 Debenture Stock at 3 per cent., to be tendered for as usual, and E420,000 New Ordinary Stock at a premium of £ 100 per cent, to the present holders of Ordinary Stock pro rata to their holding, payable in two instalments on October 1st and April 1st next. FUSION WITH THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN. Mr Hood stated that there had been some con- versation among the directors with regard to fusion with the Vale of Glamorgan undertaking. More than that he was not in a position to say at the present time. It must be obvious to all that there would be a con- siderable saving in the expense of management, the two concerns being so closely connected. The directors were not able to propose anything at present, and therefore it would be unwise for him to say more.

LOCAL LAW CASE. SEQUEL TO THE PURCHASE OF THE SWANSEA TOWN TRAMWAYS. JACKSON, SAINT AND COMPANY, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, v. BBITISH ELECTKIC TRACTION COMPANY, LiillTrD.-This action was in the list for hearing'at the Liverpool Assizes, before Mr Justice Bruce and a special jury. Mr MoColl, Q.C., for the plaintiffs, announced that the parties had arranged terms, and his Lordship consented to the same. It is understood the -action arose out of the purchase of the Swansea town tramways by the defendant company, and was a claim for services rendered by Mr Arthur E. S. Cook, a partner in plaintiffb' -flrm, and who is well-known in Swansea. We understand the terms agreed upon between the parties was a pty ment to plaintiffs of £ 750, the paying the coa&of ths.ftatitHi.

NEWS IN BRIEF. The Jews at Nicolaieff, Russia, are threatened twith expulsion A general strike of railway employees through- out France is threatened Villa Mediana, Spain, has been ravaged by a terrible storm of wind and rain, many of the in- habitants being killed. An authentic David Teniers has been unearthed by a Paris picture collector in a secend-hand shop at Montmartre. The Canadian Marine Department has received a cheque for 473,000 dollars from Washington for the Behring Sea claims. Work in connection with the Simplon Tunnel will be begun simultaneously at Brieg, in Swit- zerland, and Iselle, in Italy. Owing to the operations of a daring gang of daooits terror prevails in the Tanna and Nasick districts, says a Bombay telegram. Marshal Abdullah telegraphs to Constanti- nople that he has now subdued the rising in Yemen, and is master of the situation. Owing to a violent storm the Lammbach has burst its banks near Brienz, Switzerland. Traffic on the Bruenig Railway is interrupted. Subscribers to the Anglo-American League are requested to forward their remittances to the-horu secretaries, 6, King's Bench Walk, Temple. Mr John Kensit declares that he will not make a protest in any church until November let, by which time he hopes the bishops will have inter- fered. The Colombian Congress has submitted to Italy's demand, and adopted a resolution to de- posit a sum equivalent to E60,000 as security for the sums du to Signor Cerrati's creditors. A man who has been in receipt of outdoor re- lief for 173 weeks at Edmonton called upon ono of the relieving officers and repaid the whole of the money he had had from the Union. The Jolly Japs," a party of London artists who have enjoyed much success at Henley Be. gatta doting the last three seasons, have ser- enaded the Prince of Wales on board the Osborne. There is no foundation for a statement thai: Messrs Wilson, of Hull, the shipowners, are pro- moting a great combination of Atlantic steam. ship owners with a capital of 10 millions. There is still hope, says a Simla telegram, that a conflict between the Nawab of Dir and the Bajauris will be avoided, although 12,000 men are now assembled on either side eager to fight. A Church Army worker recently found two S,5 Bank of England notes while sorting waste paper. Bond, stock and share certificates, interest war- rants, and the like are by no means uncommon finds. A telegram from St. John a, Newfoundland, states that the Norwegian steamer Fortimat was crushed in tho ice a fortnight ago. Her,orew were rescued in a half starved and almost frozen condition. ¡. The Parliamentary Committee of Maryiehone Vestry have recommended the latter to oontribute one-third of the balance necessary to complete the purchase of Golder's Hill, such contribution not exceeding E2,000. The body of Mr Gough, a leading tradesman at York Town, was found in an ornamental lake at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, on Wednesday. He is believed to have lost his life in endeavouring to save his dog. While passing through the Peak tunnel on the North-Eastern Railway, the stoker on an engine was rendered unconscious by sulphur fumes. He was plaecd in the guard's van and taken to Scarborough, when he recovered. Exhibitors complain of an alarming slump in Academy pictures. This year about 10 per cent, of the exhibits have been sold for not quite £ 14,000. That is zE2,500 less than last year, and nearly jE7,000 below the record of 10 years. Among the unclaimed goods at the London Docks, which were sold on Thursday, were 7 cwt. of orange peel, some dismembered elephantine skeletons, three-quarters of a ton of shank bonea. 140 buffalo horns from Bombay, and hoofs and horns of the same bovines. Matlock District Council yesterday took ovec the undertaking of the Matlock Water Works Company, Limited, which has been in existence since 1860. Price was Z8,550, By a new reser- voir on Matlock Moor it is calculated that provi- sion will have been made for the supply of the town for the next 50 years. 'The Newfoundland delegates are well satisfied with the result of their mission to England. They have gained Imperial penny postage, Newfound- land's representation upon the Canadian Ameri- can Arbitration Conference, and the formation of the fishermen at Newfoundland at St. John's into a. Royal Naval Reserve. President Faure some time back refused to pur- chase a piece of vacant land in front of his villa at Havre. He now regrets that he did not ob. tain possession of the land at any cost, for its owner has begun the erection on.it of a building of six floors, which will effectually block the view from the President's villa. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has decided to establish a botanic garden in Uganda. Its object will be the better examination and de- velopment of the agricultural resources of the Protectorate. The curatorship has been given to Mr Alexander Whyte, who started a similar enter- prise in British Central Africa in 1891. After having stripped the Atlantic Coast, the whole of Florida and he Gulf Coast of egrets, terns, and hundreds of thousands of other birds acceptable to milliners for hat trimmings, the plume hunters are now at work along the coast of Mexico and Central America, Lowel California and the head waters of the Orinooo and Amazon. Dr. Welldon is to be the new Bishop of Cal- cutta. The appointment comes as a surprise tc all who know Dr. Welldon's position in the edu. cational world, and his active participation in English public life. He is only 44, and has been Headmaster of Harrow since 1885. He was born at Tonbridge, and educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. The Prison Reform Department of the Humani- tarian League at its last meeting passed tha following resolution :—" That the Humanitarian League records its strongest disapproval of both the barbarous sentences passed by Mr Justice Day at the York Assizes and also the intemperate language which he is reported to have used from his place upon the bench." The Yankees have got hold of a fresh idea to: licking creation. They are going to run up in New York an extraordinary composite building, which shall reproduce on a huge scale the archi- tecture and decollation, manners, and life of the Egpytians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens, and so forth. For one thing the great hall of Karnak will be copied fgll size-the pillars being 7ft. high and 12ft. in diameter, and the Assyrian Throne room from Nimroud will be on the same scale. Professor H. H. Turner gives an interesting account in his Oxford Note Book of a curiosity in beer mn#s which Captain Noble obtained in Germany. The pattern was made up of the backs of astronomical books, such as Archimedes, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, &c. Each has his volume in the pattern Gauss has a good fat one, and Leibnitz two. A little corner is kept for Newton who is represented by a small Arith- metica Universalis."

1iirtl¡s, Marriages, attfc lotatts. Notices of'Birtht, MarriogeStM,nd Deaths, Is each, if not exceeding ZtHoords, and 6d for each extra lO wordx. DEATHS J ONES.-68, Alfred-street, Mary, wife of William Jones, master mariner. Interment Tuesday, 2 o'clock. Friends please accept this-intimation. 435 WILLIAMS.—On the 2nd inst. (at Danyderi, Ystrad- Rhondda., theTesidenee of her niece), Phoebe, aged 69, widow of the late Edmund Williams, Penycaia Farm, near Crumlin.

SATURDAY. AUGUST 6, 1898. RUSSIA AND BRITAIN. DISQUIETING stories have been in circula- tion. It is alleged that the relations of Russia and Britain have become so strained as to occasion real concern in responsible quarters. On the other hand, a London correspondent known to be .closely in touch with a prominent • member of the Cabinet, announced yester- ,day that an endeavour would be made altering the family gathering at Copen- hagen to initiate a good understanding between London and St. Petersburg, both capitals being well represented in the suites of the Empress Dowager of RussIA ,-and of the Princess of WALES. It may be' that this country has, in the hands of Lord SALISBURY, fallen so low as to revert to ¡$\be purely dynastic, in this case Tthe feminine, element in foreign xelations; but even were this the -case, estimable as the two ladies-may be, they are scarcely likely to be able to accomplish much in the absence of good- will on both sides. If goodwill, or any real desire for an understanding were in existence, their services would not be required at all. Numberless pretty fictions revolve around certain names, and great influence is attributed to quarters that are probably more than averse from even a :disposition to interfere. The complicated 'issues of current international questions- are quite beyond the sphere of mere personal arrangement; and the less ,of meddling there be, the better for all parties. In this present difficulty with Russia concerning China there is a plain course of policy, though by no means an easy course to follow and most of the existing complication is due to responsible Ministers seeking to shirk the heavy and constant duty that persistence in direct policy entails. Lord SALISBURY has evidently reached that state of mind which Mr GLADSTONE so eloquently set Hocib ,NQ" as hia tJXSt "W&&i*U campaign; and he sees now what the late Liberal chief clearly perceived twenty years ago, the vast and; ever enlarging responsibilities of the. Empire. There the resemblance between.. the two statesmen ends. Mr GLADSTONE, though he foresaw all that was involved, hesitated not a moment when the call for action came in Egypt. Nor did he shrink from other acts, also fraught with additional burden, when the time of needf arose. As a consequence the Liberal;! leader never made a humiliating surrender, and he was strong enough to make that, retrocession after Majuba, which has savedf us from the existence of an Ireland in South Africa, the serviceable tool of intru- sive foreigners at the heart of our great Cape dependency. Lord SALISBURY, on the con- trary, has followed the apparently easy road of evading difficulty, and has found' — as everyone so acting finds — that the difficulty is only intensified by i evasion. The nation has been de- graded by cheap bluster, hollow brag, humiliating exhibitions like that of Mr GoscHEN when announcing the expen- diture of eight millions more on the Navy. What more discreditable spectacle could there be than this vulgar flaunting of money-bags ? Real danger is not to be repelled in that way, nor by family talk at Copenhagen.

A POSSIBLE COMPROMISE IN THE COAL TRADE DISPUTE. THE resolution arrived at by Messrs Nixon's workmen is apparently finding echo in -other parts of the coalfield, and even in those places where no formal expression of opinion has been made the proposal has been discussed not unfavourably. At the same time, it has to be noted that in other parts of the coalfield the miners stand I firmly by the Conference resolutions. There is no new departure in the terms suggested by Messrs NIXON'S workmen. On the contrary, it has been an open secret for a long time that this would be the probable line of settlement, and it is as cer- tain as anything can be—apart from actual accomplishment—that had the good offices of Sir EDWARD FRY been accepted an agree- ment on this basis would ere this have been arrived at, and the whole coalfield now been busily at work. We have taken some pains to ascertain the real objection which the employers have to the interven- tion of the Conciliator at the present time, and the answer given is that if Sir EDWARD FRY'S services were accepted now, it would establish a precedent for per- petual interventions hereafter—interven- tions not limited to simple con- ciliation, as would be the case with Sir EDWARD FRY himself. We cannot accept as sufficient the reason assigned. Even if the anticipations were well-founded, would it not be better, in view of the enormous amount of suffering now borne by non-combatants, to have the present difficulty settled by conciliation, and leave the future to take care of itself ? It is clearly apparent that in regard to all industrial affairs-and especially in regard to industrial conflicts-the procedure of the future will differ widely from what has taken place in the past; and it is scarcely a businesslike procedure to prolong the agony of the present strife solely for the sake of preventing some possible development of official intervention in future. The difficulty of to-day has to be dealt with to-day, and whilst ordinary prudence suggests the exercise of care that no injurious precedent be set up, it is scarcely justifiable to accentuate pre- sent troubles in order to minimise future risks-it is paying too high a price for precaution. By accepting the services of the Board of Trade's nominee, the Coalowners would help materially the more moderate section among the men and the men's leaders- those who most effectively fight against these extremists whom the masters con- demn. Unfortunately thus far it has been the extremists who, though so strongly con- demned by the employers, have been most helped by them. Now, however, when amongst the workmen some larger measure of initiative is being manifested, it rests with the employers to help forward the men's proposals, or to repel the advances towards peace as unfortunately they have repelled them before. It has been well known for weeks, having been made clearly apparent in speeches of certain leaders, that the umpire was a secondary matter, but that the minimum was of primary concern. An agreement upon this basis might have been arrived at on that unfortunate July 16th. Another opportunity of settlement approaches. How will it be dealt with ?

NEW DOCK AT LLANELLY. FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF £ 11,000. The construction of the New Dock at Llanelly is being steadily proceeded with, too steadily, in fact, to satisfy even some mem- No. nf tha Harhour Commission. Several meetings of the Commissioners have been held from time to time in camera respec- ing. the scheme, one as recently as Thurs- day afternoon. Mr Trubshaw presided. The consulting engineer, Sir Alexander Rendelof London, came over on Wednesday to inspect the estuary, and the opportunity was taken to invite his views on the questions Which were brought forward. Tenders having been sought for the supply of a hoppenbucket dredger and dock gates, nearly 20 tenders for dredgers were received. Acting on the advice of Sir Alexander Rendel, the Commissioners decided upon one design, .provided it should torn out satisfactory on trial. The dredger in question has a capacity of about 400 tons, and the price asksed for it is £ 8,000. If purchased it will be put to work in the courae of two or three weeks. Six tenders were submitted ,for te supply of dock gates, and the one sent in by the Thames Iron Company was accepted, the "stipulated cost being "000. Sir Alexander's report of the estuary will be received later. ¡

THE TINPLATE TIRADE, I THE POSITION AT MOREWOOD'S. As we stated a few weeks ago there is every Erobabiiltv- that before the end of this month forewood's Works will once more be in full swing. Several difficulties have presented them- selves from time to time, but these have been overcome, and the one great question, how to <meet the creditors, has been satisfactorily solved. It isjpractically certain that an offer of:10s in the 19 and the rest in debentures will be accepted by the court, and when this is done the way will be opened for a speedy resumption of operations. The committee of inspection have worked hard, and it is to their credit that such an arrangement, which is sure to be satisfactory to everyone con- cerned, has been arrived at. The committee of inspection are :-Mr Martin, of the Dowlais Company, or his nominee; Mr Lazurus, of London; Mr Evans, of Evans and Co., Llanelly Mr W. E. R. Thomas; snd Sir John Jones Jenkins. Of course, a great deal-of preliminary work will have to be done before all the hands are resily once more employed, as during the long period they have been idle the machinery has considerably depreciated. It will be welcome news to Llanelly and district that the time is so near when the clang of Morewood's works will be heard again. The distribution of relief three times a daj? is still proceeding, and by this means much suffering has been avoided, although the distress now being experienced is very keen.

HEROISM IN COLLIERY LIFE PRESENTATION OF MEDALS AT DEAN FOREST. Sir John Dorrington, M.P., presided on," Thursday evening at Coleford, over a public meeting called to present the Royal Humane Society's bronze medals and certificates to three colliers for saving the lives of five comrades in November last. The Chairman briefly narrated the circumstances of the rescue, from which it appeared that on November 20th, while 100 men were at work, the Wimberry Colliery was flooded. All but five men safely reached the pithead. An appeal was made for volunteers to go in search of the missing men, and John Dftviea. Philip Watson, and Samuel Mansfield were selected from those wishing to undertake the ressue. The five men were found in a remote part of the work- ings and safely brought to the surface. The medals and certificates were presented to the recipients in tile presence of a large audience by Mr Bayiifij and Mr Prank Bnmxepii9&0n their; I beta)*

THE BUTE SCHEME. CANAL RAILWAYS REJECTED. DOCKS ACCESS GRANTED. THE TREFOREST JUNCTION. RUNNING POWERS OVER RHYMNEY REFUSED. (FBOM OCB SPECIAL BEPOSTEB.J liomDoN, Friday Night. Readers who have followed these introductory observations from day to day upon the progress of the Cardiff Railway Bill in the Lords would be fully prepared for the decision of Lord Leven's Committee to-day. I have urged that, accepting the principle of Parliament's finding last year, authorising the Bute line from a point on the Khymney's system below Caerphilly up to Tre- forest, necessitating an exchange of traffic both at Treforest and Llanishen Junctions, one was bound to admit that the proposals of the Cardiff Railway Company's Bill of 1898, establishing independent access to their own docks, were justi- fied, and I had the greatest confidence in predict- ing that the Loms' Committee would sanction it. With regard to the canal railways, however, I have shown that the promoters' case was woefully weak, and in all probability would never have received the sanction of the Committee of the first House except as a quid pro quo for the Windsor Dock, a scheme which that Committee also adjudicated upon and approved. On both these heads my prophecy is fully borne out by the actual decision of Lord Leven and his colleagues to-day. The preamble of the Bill was found proved so far as the Cardiff local railways are concerned, and not proved in the matter of the conversion into railways of the Aberdare and? Merthyr Canals and the greater portion of the Glamorganshire Canal. Railways No. 1", to No. 7 have passed. These are lines giving direct access to the Bute Docks from the southern or Llanishen end of the authorised Bute line of last year, which continues No. 7 of the present Session through Whitchurch, past Walnut Tree Junction, across the Rhym- ney Railway onward into Treforest Junction, and thence by an eastern course to Pontypridd over the Pontypridd, Caerphilly, and Newport Railway. Here the Bute's railway system ends, as authorised last year and this. It will be remembered that a big fight took place in the Session of 1897 as to the workable charaction of Bute's junction with Taff at Treforest, the opposition contending that it was utterly impracticable. It found favour, however, with the Committee over which presided Mr do Tatton Egerton, himself I a gentleman who has had some engineering training. Subsequently the promoters came to the conclusion that there were some grounds for the objections, and in their latest Bill they submitted a short line, called No. 10, in order to get over the engineering defects of their original design. After the Committee had given its decision on the preamble to-day, counsel for Bute urged that No. 10 did not come within the scope of the finding as to the canal railways, seeing that it was not actually on the bed of the canal; but after the room had been twice cleared, the Com- mittee intimated their adhesion to their decision not to sanction any but the seven lines bringing the Bute Docks into direct connection with the 1897 railway. Beyond this they would not budge an inch. Thus the promoters are thrown back upon their old junction, the unsatisfactory nature of which they have themselves Admitted. It remains to be seen how they will manage with it. Another feature of the Committee's finding had reference to a clause which was inserted by the first House with a view to protect Bute against the so-called coquetting of Rhymney. Clause 45 of the Bill. it will not be forgotten, provided that the Rhymney Railway Company should not grant running powers to anybody unless a similar privilege was given to the Cardiff Railway Co., the unbusinesslike nature of which is transparent. I have already pointed out the far-reaching effects-the unintended effects—of the clause. Well, Rhymney's vigorous protest has prevailed, and Clause 45 goes out. The promoters profess to be well satisfied with what they have got. If the profession be sincere, it only shows a policy of asking for more than you need, and you will likely get all that you want." Having constructed their seven short lines to their docks, they will save the Rhymney tolls, and the difference between the capital expenditure on railway-making and the toll relief will constitute the degree of financial benefit which is theirs, apart from questions of accelera- tion of traffic and other advantages, by reason of a clear run from Treforest to the Roath Dock and the dock in course of construction. The running powers over the Rhymney obtained last year are retained so as to get access to the East Dock and the Roath Basin. It is just a question whether the Bute would not have been in a better position at the present moment if the Windsor Dock had received Parliamentary sanction. They would then be in possession of an independent access to their docks and have running powers over the whole of the Taff system, these powers being offered by the Taff Vale Company, to take effect on the opening of the Windsor Dock. This would have placed them in a splendid position, taken in con- junction with the opening of their new dock— which will be quite equal to the capacity and equipment that the Windsor Dock would have been. The canal railways would have let Bute into only the Aberdare and Merthyr Valleys, but the offer of the Taff would have given them running powers into the Rhondda Valleys, whence comes the great bulk of the coal shipments at Cardiff. Assisted, however, by their hired assassins," as Mr Balfour Browne described Barry, they pre- ferred to smash the dock project at all costs. It is a coincidence that the time occupied by the Cardiff Railway Bill in both Houses is the same—nine days in each House. Both Com- mittees took great pains over the proposed measure, the Lords' Committee showing special care and intelligence. For an hour prior to the muster of counsel and parties this morning their Lordships consulted together in an adjoin- ing apartment to that in which the proceedings of the Bill have taken place. Shortly after the public proceedings opened in Committee-room No. 1, Lord Haddington was seized with illness and bad to retire for a time, looking very indis- posed. Fortunately his Lordship was Boon able to return, looking better. Yesterday Mr Pember, Q.C., resumed his address to Lord Leven's Committee on behalf of the promoters of the Cardiff Railway Bill, replying upon the whole case. Learned counsel said his clients were the only dock company from Newport to Port Talbot who had not got lines of their own-who were not allowed to approach their own docks in the best possible manner. After all, the promoters were the parent and the most important of all undertakings of the kind in South Wales. What was good for the least important companies and undertakings was doubly good for the owners of the Bute Docks. Parliament had already recognised the principle of the Act of 1897 and all that was now sought was in the direction of amelioration and improve- ment of last year's legislation. The canal lines were merely country extensions of the scheme which was then authorised. Why should the pro- moters, who were a railway company, and not asking to be made a railway company for the first time, be in an inferior position at their own docks to that of other railway companies coming to those docks ? He contended he had called evidence which clearly proved that the canals were not only useless but dangerous. There were two alternatives. There was the alternative of the lines being made and closing the canals, and; there was the alternative of neither lines nor canals. The traders of the district knew the alternatives perfectly well, and they had come to Parliament to astfor the lines instead of the canals. The County Council was utterly unsup- ported by the local authorities of the district mainly affected. He should like to know whether the Glamorgan County Council thought they could compel Lord Bute to keep open the canals, at a continued loss of L3,000 a year. It might be that Lord Bute, having in his rpind the conversion of these canals, might have thought it worth his while to submit to this loss in the past; but he could not be expected to do this for ever, and nobody could compel bim. He did not believe that the people of Glamorganshire would stand their County Council buying these useless and danger- ous canals, going to the heavy cost of putting them into repair, and carrying. them on at an increasing annual loss. Much had been made of Lord Bute's influence. Lord Bute's great influ- ence did not stop the making of Barry, of the Caerphilly and Newport Railway, or the Penarth Dock, nor did it stop a considerable number of traders giving evidence for the Windsor Dock during the past two or three years. The truth was they could not drive Cardiff merchants and ► Glamorganshire coal masters into the witness- box like sheep into a pen they were not the kind of mien to be coerced into giving evidence" which they did not believe was to their own interests. All the arguments used about Lord Bute's influence were used last year, when Parlia- ment conceded to the Bate Company the prin- ciple of owning railways. If Lord Bute's influence was so great how came it that notwithstanding the opening of his Roath Dock in 1888-89 the trade of the Bute Docks had remained practi- cally stationary, while tho total increase at the port had been so large ? How was it that the Bute Docks only paid 3 per cent., while other companies made 8, 9, and 10 per cent. ? If the original construction of the Bute Docks was in the public interest their preservation was surely beafifit. XfeaJBiB was notao attack, nnless to strike in one's own defence could be considered an attack. The Bute Docks were the earliest enterprise of the kind in South Wales, and were of the largest capital value. They were threatened in every direction, simply because they had no railways of their own worth talking of to bind their traffic to them. There was not a railway company trading to the Bute Docks whb had not got some antagonistic interest to the Cardiff Railway Company there was not a dock from Port Talbot to Newport which wag so defenceless. The Bute Docks were like a great whale, with the fleshers all round. The promoters feared the Rhymney Company for its weakness and its consequential infidelity. It had negotiated with the Bute Docks Company for amalgamation and thrown them over it had negotiated with the Taff, and there bad been pourparlers with Barry. They knew not what might become of the Rhymney Company, Mr Lundie himself having admitted the probability of an amalgamation with somebody or other. Then there was the Barry Company, whose principal shareholders had an immense output in Glamorganshire, and which was now pushing itself into the Rhymney Valley, to tap the last of the streams of traffic which might come down to Bute. Learned counsel concluded by asking the Committee not to listen to the suggestions of railway companies, who had destroyed the utility of the canals, that those canals should be kept uselessly open, or allowed to be shut without being utilised in a practical and beneficial way. DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. At the close of Mr Pember's speech, at 12.15 p.m., the room was cleared, and after about 20 minutes the public were readmitted. The Noble Chairman The Committee have weighed all the evidence with the utmost care and with all the consideration which they could pos- sibly give to it, and they are of opinion that the preamble is proved as far as concerns railways No. 1 and No. 7 inclusive, called the Cardiff lines, bat they do not find the preamble proved as regards the other lines, known as the canal lines, north of Pontypridd. Mr Erskine Pollock There is No. 10, my Lord, the railway that improves our line of^last year. The Noble Chairman Does that run on the canal ? Mr Pollock: No, it is within our limits of .deviation. Mr Balfour Browne It joins the ftmallines. Mr Pollock Yes, but it is not made on the bed of the canal. Lord Haddington This would be a better and more direct line than that passed last year ? Mr Pollock It would improve the gradients and the sidings beyond the junction with the Taff line. Mr Balfour Browne contended that No. 10 did not join last year's line at all. Mr Pollock urged that it could join either last year's line or the Taff. The Noble Chairman said the Committee had approved of the Cardiff lines and disapproved of the canal lines. He did not think the question could be reopened. Mr Pollock undertook that they should not touch the canal at all. After further observations the Committee ordered the room to be again cleared, and after consulting in private for about a quarter of an hour asked counsel to address them on the point. This having been done the Committee again conferred in private, and eventually decided against the retention of railway No. 10, adhering to their declaration that only in respect of the Car- diff lines, from No. 1 to No. 7, was the preamble found proved. CONTINGENT RUNNING POWERS OVER RHYMNEY. Mr Moon applied that Clause 45 should be struck out of the Bill. This clause was inserted by the Committee of the First House, and under it the Rhymney Railway Company were prohibited from granting running powers to any other com- pany without similar powers being given to the Cardiff Railway Company. The Committee ordered the clause to be struck out. WATER ABSTRACTION FROM THE TAFF. Mr Freeman presumed that every clause in the Bill relating to the canals, the taking of water, &c., would be omitted.-Mr Spens (Parliamentary agent to the Cardiff Railway Company): Cer- tainly. The Committee then considered clauses.

BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRIES PROPOSED REMOVAL TO NEWPORT. ACTION BY THE CARDIFF SHIP- OWNERS ASSOCIATION, The report that by direction of the Board of Trade inquiries into shipping casualties were to be removed from the port of Cardiff to Newport engaged the attention of the Cardiff Shipowners' Association at their meeting yesterday. As no official intimation of such intention had been received by the shipowners, either through their association or by individual members of the body, it was considered undesirable to discuss what action should be taken to prevent the carrying out of any such removal in contemplation by the Board of Trade or any other authority. For the purpose of ascertaining definite information on the point, the secretary, Mr W. R. Hawkins, was difected to communicate by wire a request from the Shipowners' Association to the member for Cardiff, Mr Maclean, that he should, on behalf of the association, ask the question in the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity. We under- stand, however, that Mr Maclean has been forced to temporarily relinquish his parliamentary duties owing to ill-health, and that he is now recruiting on the Continent, having paired for the remainder ot the session with Mr Justin McCarthy. General opinion among the shipowners of the port, as well as among the members of the associatibn, is that any such removal is wholly unnecessary, and that it would be very greatly to their prejudice owing to inconvenience of taking business men outside the port, as well as causing extra expense in the matter of wit- nesses. It is felt, however, that there is some cause for objection to the continuance of the practice at Cardiff of postponing Board of Trade inquiries—a course prolific in expense—because of the pressure of Police Court duties upon the Stipendiary Magistrate, and it is likely that at an early date, steps will be taken with a view Of making arrangements under which Mr T. W. Lewis will be relieved of his ordinary magisterial duties at times when his attendance as president of the Board of Trade Inquiry Court is necessary. Indignation is beingfreely.'expresaed at what is called the presumption of the Board of Trade in arrogating to itself the right to interfere in such manner without consultation of any kind with the people affected. INTERVIEW WITH MR D. A. THOMAS, M.P. Mr D. A. Thomas, seen on 'Change yesterday morning on this matter, said As far as my knowledge upon the subject goes, I regard it as a most extraordinary step to take, and I can't help thinking that there is a good deal moie behind it than meets the eye that is to say that some influence has been brought to bear that we do not know of."

NEW STATION FOR ROATH. STONE-LAYING BY THE MAYOR. His Worship the Mayor of Cardiff, Alderman Ramsdale, J.P., yesterday laid the memorial stone of a new station which is being erected in Roath by the Great Western Company. The residents of this ever-increasing district have for years agitated for the accommodation which is thus on the point of being provided. The company at length have decided to meet the wants of the locality, and the contract, which amounts to im,,Om, for the erecticfa of the new station has been entrusted to the well-known firm of Messrs Mackay and Daviefe. of Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. The site selected is in Pearl-street, near Splott Bridge. Yesterday the weather was fine, and there was also a display of bunting in the locality, when the Mayor took up his position on the platform. Supporting him were Aldermen David Jones (the deputy-mayor), R. Cory, T. W. Jacobs, and W. Trounce; Councillors George David, Gerhold, R. Hughes, Fox, T. Andrews, Veall, J. Jones, Chappell, Good, Grossman, Buist, Mildon, Symonds, and Courtis Dr. Treharne, J.P., Dr. Walford, medical officer; Mr Harpur, borough surveyor Mr J. Allen, Messrs Mackay and Davies, the contractors and others. The Great Western Railway Company was represented by Mr Leaning, divisional superintendent, Cardiff, and other offioials. His Worship, called upon by Mr Leaning, immediately proceeded with the eeremony, a silver trowel bearing an appropriate iascription being presented to him by the con- tractors, and after declaring that the stone was well and truly laid, delivered a short address, in which he congratulated the inhabitants of the district upon the realisa- tion of their hopes. He added that the company had done much towards improving the Cardiff Im I Station, and the next thing he should like Was to m see it so far altered and improved as to make it commensurate with tho needs of the town, with Temperancetown bought up for warehouse accommodation.—Councillor T. Andrews pro- posed a vote of thanks to the Mayor, which was seconded by Councillor George David and carried unanimously.—The Mayor then proposed a vote of thanks to the company, couphng with it the name of Mr Leaning. The latter in replying said the company and their officials were desirous of doing everything they possibly eould for South Wales, and every encouragement was given to him by the chairman and the general manager to make everything as efficient as possible. (Cheers.)—The proceedings then terminated, ana the gentlemen named above and a few others subsequently drove to the Mansion House, where they ware entertained by the a few others subsequently drove to the Mansion J' House, where they were entertained by the mayor.

VALE OF GLAMORGAN RAILWAY. PORTHKERRY VIADUCT. THE SUGGESTED FUSION. Mr Archibald Hood presided at the meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company, held immediately subsequent to the Barry meeting. The report and statement of accounts, which have been already published, show no dividend available. These were taken as read, and they were adopted without discussion. The CHAIRMAN then said that that proceeding exhausted the business of the meeting, but if he had had anything to observe, his mouth would be closed upon the first thing uppermost in his mind. The noble chairman of the Barry Company had just said that he would not refer to the strike, and he (Mr Hood) was still less free to make reference, for be was more closely con- nected with the conflict that was devastating the district. There was, however, one subject to which he might refer, and that was the everlast- ing viaduct at Poithkerry. (" No, no, not ever. lasting," and laughter.) That was a subject never absent from his mind. He had no great progress to report, but the directors were not idle on the subject. They had a loop line around the viaduct, and by it continued the passenger traffic whilst the viaduct was being repaired and the amount of traffic that came upon it showed the propriety of their having made the loop line. (Hear, hear.) Unfortunately there was no mineral traffic at present; but the pas- sengertraffic had developed very much, justify- ing the statement that the existence of a railway developed traffic. He believed it would do so in that district—at any rate, to a considerable ex- tent. The report showed that only £ 5,332 had been spent on capital account; but if they looked at the tables, shareholders would find that much more money had been expended. As, therefore, it was not certain who would have to pay that outlay eventually, the sum had been carried to a suspense account. He dared say some of those Eresent might wish to be enlightened upon what ad been mentioned re a fusion with the Barry company. At the present moment, however, he coula not say any more than had been said at the other meeting. No definite arrangement bad been made but when one was proposed it would be such as would be equitable to both parties. (Hear, hear.) By the amalgamation the enter- prise could be conducted more efficiently and more cheaply and he thought everyone was pre- pared to admit that the two concerns were so closely connected that they could very effec- tively be nnited. Mr C. H. JAMES (Merthyr) said he thought the suggested fusion a very good idea, and he had no doubt it would be carried out on equitable terms to the shareholders of the two companies. The usual vote of thanks ended the meeting.

COMPLIMENTING THE COUNTY POLICE. LETTER FROM JUSTICES WILLS AND PHILLIMORE. On Friday morning, at the Swansea Asautea, the High Sheriff of the County (Mr Roe Thomp- son) informed Sergeant Stanfield, the drill instructor of the county, who is in charge of tho judged escort that a letter had been written the Chief Constable (Captain Lindsay) containing a, compliment from Justices Wills and Phillimore, as well as the High Sheriff himself, upou the splendid escort that had been provided, the general bearing of the men reflecting great credit upon the county force. The High Sheriff requested Sergeant Stanfield to make-this known to the six mounted police and 14 javelin montbat form the escort, as h9 thought it might prove a little encouragement to them.

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S BANKRUPTCY, At London Bankruptcy Court yesterday the public examination of Sir Robert Peel, Bart,, was further adjourned till November 4th. Accounts filed show gross debts £.316.000, of which MOM is unsecured, and assets nil. Debtor states that owing to the absconding of his late solicitor he is absolutely unable to give an account of the many transactions condncted by that gentleman. air .Robert also clabms 110,000 from the Peel estate trustee for permanent improvements.

COST OF DURHAM ELECTION. The expenses of the Hon. Arthur Elliott (Conservative), successful candidate at the recent Parliamentary election for Durham city were £ 360, while Mr Boyd's were £ 479.

CAUTION. IRRESPONSIBLK AND J^BBOKBOW A STATEMENTS, made by unqualified persons concerning the action of COIl Liver Oil upon the human system, are to be deprecated in the interest of the invalided public. Compounds and Emulsions contain only a •proportion of Cod Liver Oil. Dr. de. Jongh, the greatest authority upon the mode of administration and effect of Cod Livet- Oil, emphatically states that, the full curative effect of the remedy can only be obtained when it is administered in a pure and natural state.' See corroborative opinions by the elite of the medical and chemical world, together with Instrontfewts for taking the Oil, contained in paniplilet which Rnrrounda each bottle. DR. DK JOGIt Lioirr-BuowN OOP LIVER OIL is sold only in capsuled Imperial Raif- pints, 2s 6d Pints, 4s 9d Quarts, 9s, by all Chemists, Sole Consignees, Ansar, HatfQld aud Co., Ltd.210 High ttoibotn, jLqndon. lflatF