South Wales Daily News

WALES IN PARLIAMENT. (By Our London Welsh Correspondent.) LATE DR. FD vV ARDS, OF BALA. London, Monday -Nicht.-A meeting of the Welsh mjmbars specially convened for the purpose of expressing their feelings of sor- row upon the detth of Principal T. C. Eiwards was held in Committee Room No. 15 this afternoon. The attwndance was small, as several members were away at the Assizes and at Not- tingham. but included Messrs Alfred Thomas, "Vanghaii Davie-, Lloyd Morgan, Wil- lians Jones, Bryncnor Jones, Herbert liobeits, Sryn Koherts. R. McEenna. and Sir William Ha-conxt. Mr Hnmphreys-Owen and Mr Herbert Lewis sent letters expressing their regret not being nbl'" to be present to show their regard for the memory of the i«.te principal and their sympathy with his relatives. Mr Alfred Thc:n is proposed "That the Welsh Liberal members place npon record their sense of the grea1: loss .sustained by Wales tiirough the deaifc of Principal Edwards, of Bala, and, whilst they desire to express their full recognition of the many services which he rendered to his coan.,n, they wonl d especially acknowledge their debt to him cs a champion of the cause of higher education, and trust that the inspiration of his example may long continue a potent force in the life of Wales. They farther desire the secret^ri^ of the party to forward a copy of the resolution to the family of the late Mr Edwards, together with ao expression of their sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement." Mr Thomas referred to Dr. Edwards's great influence in moulding the characters of many meu who ha.d played distinguished parts in the public i;fa of Wales during this generation and massed a high tribute to Dr. Edwards's great qua lilies. Mr Yaughan Davies, as one who had worked for years with Dr. Eilwards in connection with Aberys:.w7-h College, seconied the motion, and, Hndo:8¡1! the chairman's remarks, dwelt on the conspicuous fairness towards students of all creeds displayed by the late principal in con- ducting the affairs of the college, and his siugle- mindei devotion to promoting the culture of his pnpils. Mr William Jones, as one to whom Principal Edwards had been a frit-cd, and as an old pupil in supporting the motion, acknowledged the debt 'I he himself ovved to his teaching and inspiration. Other members briefly spoke and concurred. Sir W. Harcourt said he bad heard of Dr. Edwards's death with very great regret, and spoke highly of the work of the late principal. The motion was carried unanimously. PORT TALBOT MALIGNED. Port Talbot has been unjustly charged with neaping, and Mr Brynmor Jones means to put the matter right. It has been stated that her Majesty's transport steamship Durera6 was neaped ai. th? port for three diiys, the fact being r that scaring the whole of the time during which the Donera. lay in port thera was ample water a.na width of channel for her to h:w-: departed in safely on any tide sfoer completing her loading of -o--I. The attention of the Secretary to the Admiralty will oe called to the matter on Thais- ,d.y. THE LANGUAGE QUESTION. On the same date Mr -u,-h2,n Da vies will ask the Home Secretary jf it i" correct, as stated by a Cardiganshire Coroner, that Welshmen who arc not abie to speak the English language j are not eligible to serve on juries. SOLICITORS' CLEKKS. J In the interests of 3diciLor. articled clerks, Sir John Jones Jenkins proposes to ask the Attorney- General to introduce a Bill to remove any dis- abilities for adoai.ision as solicitors by reason of employment in the anxiliary forces.

SNOWSTORM IN NORTH p WALES. MOST SEVERE WINTER EXPEEI- KNCEi> FOE MANY i'EAKS. A blinding si owstorm broke ov .r North Wales on Monday afternoon, and concmucti throughout If the evening, accomp^n:ed by a strong north- easterly wind. The anow has drifted to great depths i'i exposed places. Many of the moun- tain roads i're rendered impassable by the drifts, and the upland f!eierr, fear serious losses among the sheep and lambs. This is the most severe winter experienced in North Wales for many years.

SKLNS ON FIICE SKINS ON FIRE I With tcrturing, disfiguring eczemas and every species of itching., burning, bleeding, scaly, and blotchy akin scalp, and blood humours, with loss of hair, ate instantly relieved and 3peedily cored by 9 warm baths with CUTTCTIEA SOAP, to cleanse the K ,iun of crusts suid scales and softer, the thickened K sk; n of crusts suid scales and softer, the thickened < Cuticl,, gentle anointings with CUTICUBA, the o-reat cure, to allay itching, irritation, and i. -"nfiaaia:io; and soothe and heal, and full doses, N of CGTICTJKA tO cool and cleanse the f blood, 'i'i.'ia simple and inexpensive treatment will ;■"fiord instan; rel'ef. permit rest and sleep, j and £ oint to a speeay, permanent, and economi- ec.1 m; in tba moat torturing and disfiguring of itching, btirning, iind scaly skin, scalp, ,na blood humours, with 10"s of hair, when nil alee fails. PPIOV, SJE-C. 6s or SOAP, Is OXNTMEMT, I jjgfc'i i4 £ soi.vE.NX, 2:3 6'i, all chemists; or post 1. SteWBAKS A JuQftiWh £ .C, o

f GLAMORGAN ASSIZES. The business of the Glamorgan Assizes was continued at Cardiff on Monday. CRIMINAL COURT. (Before Mr Justice Backnill.) BIGAMY CASE. His Lordship, who had deferred sentence in the charge of bigamy against Wm. Ed. Price scenic artist, ordered him to be imprisoned for foar months with bar I I ibour. ASSAULT AT PONTLOTTYN. Daniel McCarthy, a yontb, was indicted for unlawfully wounding William Albert Morgan, lancilord of the Picton Arms, Pontlottyn. Mr Allen Upward prosecuted, and Mr Hugh Jones iinstructcd by Mr M. Roberts-Jones) appeared for the defence. It transpired in cross-examination that prisoner bad had a row in the public-house with a man who was alleged to have behaved badly towards his sister, aud that after being turned out McCarthy bad returned and struck the landlord. The wonnd was a jagged one on the left temple, and Dr. Clement Davies stated positively that it had not been inflicted with a knJIe, and that it might have resulted from a fall. His Lordship bad a consultation with counsel, with the result that prisoner pleaded I guilty to a common assault. Prisoner waa then liberited on agreeing to bo bound over in the sum of £ 10. ARSON AT OXWICH. I Jane Bowen, a cook, aged 55, was foand guilty of feloniousiy and maliciouslv setting fire to a stack of wheat, the property of David Ed tvards, her brother-in-law. The value of the stack was £10, Prisoner was not actually seen betting the wheat afire, but was notic-d in the vicinity, and when taxed with the offence said, I can do what I like with my own," Mr ful. Williams conducted the prosecution. Doubt was raised ?s to the saneness of the prisoner, mainly by her manner during the trial, and his Lordphip in sentencing her to three months' imprisonment without hard labour directed that her mental condition should be inquired into by experts. A BAD START. Herbert Humphreys (15), a labourer, and Fred- erick Leach (12l, his half-brother, were indicted for stealing a number of firebars, the proDertv of Charles Davies, on the 50th of January, at Cnr- diff. Mr Ivor Bowea prosecuted. His Lordship ruled that there was no evidence against the younger lad, and he was discharged. Herbert Humphreys showed no little intelligence in cross-examining ba witnesses. The police evi- dence showed that he had been btrched on three occasions for theft, and his Lordship hav- jug given prisoner advice as to his future cou- dact sentenced him to three months' imprison- ment with hard labour. FOWL STEALING AT CARDIFF. George Matthews (36), gcoom, and Mary Anv Matthews (41), charwoman, were charged respectively with stealing and receiving p:geons, the property of Mra Lacy Ihrtlett. Mr Ivor Bowen prosecuted. The male prisoner pleaded guilty, and exonerated Mary Ann (hip sister-in- law) from guilty knowledge. The police had found two fowls in the woman's house, one being ia a saucepan on the fire. The jury returned a Not guilty verdict against the woman, his Lordship expressing his satisfaction at this. ■ sveral convictions for felony were proved by Detective-Inspector Scott against the prisoner. Examined by the Judge, Scott said that prisoner was not a member of the criminal class, Pri- soner could not have been very drank on the morning of this theft, as he was able to drive his cab. His Lordship making farther inquiries elicited that prisoner was a well-conducted man when sober, but when in drink behaved like a madman. His brother-in-law stated that pri- soner had been under tre".tment in an asylum, and the son of the prosecutor, who had employed him occasionally, said that prisoner drove a cab away from the mews without consent and with the fowi3 loose inside. Under these circumstances his Lordship said he would take a leciei'S view of the case, warning prisoner about thj danger a per- son of weak intellect incurred by indulgence in strong drink. Three months' imprisonment, with hard labour. BLINDING A WIFE. James Buss (43), described as a carpenter, was iidicted for unlawfully cutting and wounding his wile, Sarah Buss, at 166, Cajra-street, Cardiff, on the 3rd Harcn, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. Mr Douglas Lewis prosecuted. The circumstances of the affair as narrated by the witnesses for the prosecution, were that prisoner a.nd his wife,abot 10 o'clock in the even- ing of the 3rd March, while out talking in Wood ville-road, had some dispate, which ended ia the former going home alone. In a short time prose- cutrix went home and found her husband asleep. On awakening he resumed the quarrel with his wife and after an oral warfare prosecutrix saw something coming towards her like a bird," and after it had struck her she felt dazed. Ernest Bass, prisoner's son, said his father threw his pocket knife at his mother, who was taken to the Infirmary. Dr. Arnold said both lids of the right eye were cat. and the optic itself injured so greatly that the eyeball had to be removed at the Infirmary. Prisoner urged that it was all through drink and the provoca- tion given by his wife throwing something at him, Prisoner, who was found guilty, was declared to be a man of very drunken habits, and his Lord- ship, in passing a sentence of 9)X months' hard labour, declared that it was bast to separate pri- soner from his wife, seeing that they were ,atwtbys quarreling. CARDIFF THEFTS. William Ha-»ies was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for stealing articles from outside shops at Cardiff on March 10th. No evidence was offered against the wife, who was also charged. NOT GUILTY George Grant s'ncl Eii Miles, two Aberdare col- George Grant s'ncl Eii Miles, two Aberdare col- lier", were acquitted oa a charge of robbery with violence. A CONTINUAL COURSE OF CRIME. William Haines '29), painter, and Elizabeth Haines (29!, a hawker, maon. and wife, who for- merly resided at 40; Railway-street, Cardiff, were I' indicted on three separate cor,r;t3 for stealing and receiving respectively 40 yards of serge cloth, the property ot Francis Hearv Bass two fowls, the property of Minnie Llewellyn and a coat, the property of Joshua Abraharason. The whole of the articles constituting the subject of these charges were found beneath a bed in prisoners' house by Detectives Rankin and Davey. Mr St, John Francis Williams, who prosecuted, offered I no evidence against the female prisoner, who was discharged. William Haines was eventually found guilty of receiving the goods knowing them to have been stolen. There were no less than seven other indictments against prisoner, who had a long list of offences recorded against him ror felonie3. Justice JBnckuiil, addressing pri- soner, said from 18S2 to 1S96 his career had besn one continual course oi crime. Prisoner was sen- tenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. ALLEGED ROBBERY AT ABERDARE. George Grant (22) and Eli Miles (13), two Aberdare colliers, surrendered to their bail charged with stealing 15s from John Francis and using personal violencetowardshim. Mr T, Waiters Williams appeared to prosecute. Mr Si.. John Francis Williams defended. Francis 'said that after drinking together in the Lamb Inn, Hir- wain, and having another pint in a pablic- honse on the way home with prisoners, who, he declared, were perfect strangers to him, Miles asked him how much money he bad on him. Prosecutor replied, What's that to do with you and with that Grant struck out and hit nim down. Grant continued beating him on the ground, while be felt the other man busy rifling his pockets. Prisoners were eventually found not guilty, and discharged, NISI PRIUS COURT. (Before Mr Justice Channell.) AN ISSUE OF FACT. Williams v. Richards and Othsrs.—This action I i:i which a special jury had been empanelled, had been remitted from the Court of Chancerv. The point in dispute was whether a sum of £ 8C0, admitted to have been paid to the plaintiff by John Richards, deceased., husband of the testa- trix, Eleanor Richards, was any of it, and if so what part, paid to plaintiff by way of loan. The plaintiff contended that the money was a gift, but the defendants claimed that it was a loan. Mr B. F. Williams, Q.C., and Mr Arthur I (instructed by Mr C. Danncey, Tredegar) represented the plaintiff, and Mr Abel Thomas, Q.C., M.P., and Mr S. T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Mr R. J. Lloyd, Swansea), were £0': the de- fendants. Me B. F. Williams, in opening the case, said I' the plaintiff, Mr Thomas Williams, was a draper in a good basinpss at Crickhowell, Breconshire, an3 was a member of the County Council. In 1878 he married Miss Frances Richards, who car- ried on a business at Liecbrj d, Cardiganshire as a grocer and draper. A post ofiice was attached to the premises, Mr Richards was a Calvimstic Mutbodist minister, and bi3 duties called him away from time to time, and up to the time of her marriage to the plaintiff Miss Richards managed the business, taking a gJ.'e-t part in makiug it a successful one. ihe marriage took riace in January, 1378. Previous to that Miss Richards had been engaged to another gentleman, but her parents wete very much averse to her leaving them, and by promising to give her £ 1,000, the same amount which had been left by a grand- father to another daughter who had left and got married, they got her to remain with them However, in 1878 she married the plaintiff. A sum of £ 800 was given by the father of trances Richards to the plaintiff. The Rev. John Richards died in 1881, and his will waa proved in April of that year.In&n affidavit by his widow, Mrs Eleanor Richards, 'here was no mention of the 1800 as being a portion of the estate or of the interest. On September 25tb, 1881, Mrs Eleanor Richurds also died, having made her will on the 22nd. The will waa provxd in Octo- ber by the plaintiff aud one of the defendants, Mr j. S. Richards. By her will sho devised the property among tho six children, Helen, Frances, Margaretta, Martha, James, and Thotnas. in 1891 Mrs Williams b ranees Richards) died. II In 1895 the plaintiff married again, and in Octo- ber of that year be received an Intimation on behalf of the defendants that the sum of XSOO he had received from the itev. John Richards was a loan and not a gift. Thomas Williams, the plaintiff, said be was brother-in-law to the defendants. He never paid any interest on the 1800 nor was he asked tor any. The first intimation that it was regarded a loan was received by letter on October 31st, 1895, the first morning after he had returned from his honeymoon, and the letter made him so angry that he threw it into the fire. The letter I was from Thomas Richards. By Mr Abel Thomas Mr John Richards and his wife were getting on in years, and had ..orne children still dependent on Ihexn. It was quite true that without any request on his part he was called into a room, and Mr Richards Bwe's Iii": -J9Q. It _dk1, 'c.i>d-' not strike him as being an extraordinary thing that his father-in-law should give away a quarter of his property during his lifetime. The money was given to him as part of bis wife's portion, which was promised to her some years before. His Lordship pointed out that all thev had to do in that court was to decide whether, as a matter of fact, the money was handed over as a loan or a gift in 1878. Mr Justice Stirling; in the Chancery Court would decide all other points after.vards. Mr Dauncey, solicitor for the plaintiff, gave evidence, daring wniob be said one ot the defen- dants d the pkmtiff ox intercepting a pro- missory note for the £ 800. Mr Abel Thomas, for the defence, said the plain tiff's case was extraordinary, and almost ridiculous. What did the jury think of a minis- ter, aged 68, having at the most £ 4,000 worth of goods, deposing of his property in thit way ? The real fact was that tJ:¡ money was lent as a loan. Mrs Helen Harris, wife of W. Harris, Argoed Farm, near Newport, one of the daughters of the late Mr Richards, said she approached her father for a loan of £ 800 at the request of the plaintiff, I' and then left them to arrange it. Plaintiff ad- mitted having the loan; and many times said he intended to return it. He further said he would pay back as much as would make all the shares equal. I By Mr B. F. Williams He seemed particu- larly anxious to impress npon her that it was a loan. and would say, Mind, it's a loan." (Laughter.) She admitted that no interes', had ever been paid by plaintiff or asked for. After their parents' death they left all those matters I in the hands of the plaintiff. Margaretta Prytherch, wife of the Rev. H. E. Prythercb, Swansea, sister of the last witnes3, also deposed that the plaintiff had repeatedly said I that the S300 was a loac, and also that he had promised to make good the shares. The keys of the bureau in which her mother ased to keep papers were handed to plaintiff at his request. She waB not present when he opened it. By Mr B. F. Williams She understood him to mean that if the shares of the others did not come up to "00, the amount Mrs Williams bad had, he would make up that sum for each of them. She did not say to Mr Dauncey that Mr Wiiiiams had destroyed the promissory note. She saw Mr Llovd and denied to him the accusation to that effect made by Mr Dauncey. What she said to Mr Dauncey was that if Mr Williams could charged for an account that had long been settled, he might take private papers from a bureau that did not belong to him. Did you think the note for £ 800 might be there ?-I might think, but I did not say so. I meant the private p ^pers of 1!'ÿ parents. James Stephen Richard?, living at Argoed, said when his mother died he was ?. draper at Aberavon. He had to go to Australia. for hi health. Whilst his fiher was alive he lent wit- ness £700, in sums of X300, -1200, and X200. The money was net a gift. He was to:d that the plain- tiff said it was a gift, as the X800 was to him, but he never nnderstood it to be so. Before his father's death he had a conversation with regard to the £ 800. Witness was left out of the shares after his mother s death. He left the carrying out of the will to the plaintiff, as b3 went tc Australia. He bad sworn in an affidavit that the money he got from his father was a gift, in respect of his share of hi3 estate. Mr B. F. Williams Is that true ?—I intended to repay it. and I have repaid it. If the shares did not come up to Z700 each I was to account, for the C700 to that c-ylent. You haven't got euoogh to do it now, have you ?-No. Therefore yonr willingness to account for it iIl't worth a :3pper, i-i It ?-Yts. Could yon pay JE700 or zcioi ?—Perhaps not. Could you pay JE50 ? -Yes, I have some friends. Mr Abtl Thomas Wa3 it a loan or & gift ?—A I And you gave promissory notes ?—Yes. His Lordship What interest was to be paid ? There was no talk about interest. What arrangement was made as to repayment, for I set- he first became security to the bank for you ?—There was no deed, but he told me I must pay it back. When I made that affidavit in London I was very poorly. Nothing was arranged by your father about his death or his property ? -No, my Lord. Thomas Richards, who was only 15 when his mother died, said he remembered np into the bedroom where the bureau was. The plain- tiff was there aione, and so far as witness coald see be was examining the contents of the bureau -the documents. He spoke to witness and said, Don't worry, my boy you shall never want while I live." By Mr B. F. Williams: The matter was brought forward after plaintiff's second war. tinge. Snch things generally cropped up after the second marriage utiles:- fcuey bad been settled previou-'ly. (Laughter.) This concluded the evidence. His Lordship said the issue from the Court of Chancery directed the jury to find (1) WRB it a loan ? and (2) if a loan npou what te„ia3. Many items might be included in the word terms, such as whether it was to bear interest, and at what rate, how lolJg it was to bear interest, when it was to be repayable, and whether the repay- ment was to be made in connection with the re- mainder of the estate. There bad been no evi- dence as to the terms, and so far it seemed as if they must tell Mr Justice Stirling so. Mr B. F. Williams We can dispose of that if the jury 3ay it was a gift. Coausel addressed the jury, and His Lordship proceeded to sum no. He said the estate of the late Mrs Eltancr Richards had nevar yet be-.n completely woun-i up. After a lapse of years disputes arose, and the plaintiff took proceedings, which resulted in the estate going inio Chancery. He must say that a lot of dispute migt t have been avoided by obtaining a little proper advice at the proper time. The Judge ia Chancery had sent down to be tried by the jury the question of the terms upon which Mr Thomas Williams originally got the jE800 His Lordship reviewed the evidence at length, and then the jury delibsrated for some time in the box and afterwards in private. They sent in to say that they could not agree, and His Lordship, reading from the piece of paper handed Gp. said it was 11 to 1. The judgment was not to ho delivered by himself, bat by Mr J ostice Stirling. The jury went out again, and said there was no probability of their agreeing, and they were discharged. Eleven of the jarors were for finding that the money was a gilt and the other that it was a loan. TOBACCO CASE ARRANGED. In the caaa in which W. D. and H. O. Wills, tobacco manufactcrers, brought an action for in- jur;c'k j and damages against Geo. Hawkins, Mr I Abel Thomas, Q.C M.P., addressing his Lord- ship, said that as the result of negotiations be- tween the parties, and following up his Lordship's remarks at the conclusion of the similar case of Lambert and Butler, Limited, v. Cardiff Tobac- conists Supply Company, arrangements had been come to under which the defendant undertook not to tamper with any of the plaintiffs' tobacco or to 11 sell packets from which their tobacco had been abstracted, and the action would be dismissed without costs. His Lordship consented to the arrangement. AN ACTION WITHDRAWN.—" ABSO- LUTELY WITHOUT FOUNDATION." Lucas v. Spencer, Corbett, and Ev-ius--This waa a case in the special jury list, in which plain- tiff alleged negligence against defendants, well- known solicitors in Cardiff. Mr S. T. Evans, I M.P., aldresiing his Lordship, said he held in his band a statement signed by plaintiff in which he submitted to withdrawal of the action, ad- mittel that it was absolutely without foundation, and that the action should never have teen brought. The case was struck out. The Court adjonrned till 10.30 tc-rtay (Tues- day). TO-DAY'S LIST. The following special jury cases are down for to-day :-Poedt v. New Patent Candle Com- pany Hornbiow v. Hill and Son; Jones v. Davies and Stephens v. Martell. Cress v. Austin.—A letter referring to this case has reached us, but we cannot give space for dis- cussion in these colnmns.

HABITUAL CONSTIPATION and kidney and liver ills, depending on a weak or inactive condition of the kidneys. liver, or bowels, are successfully and permanently cured only by the use of the gentle yet effective laxa tive and diuretic, California Syrnp of Figs. Its advantages are evident it is easily taken, pleas- I ing to the taste, acceptabls to the stomach, harmless to the most delicate system, and truly benefiobil in effect. The genuine is manufactured by the California Fig Syrap Co., and bears their name and trade mark. Of chemists everywhere, 13 1 d :4LJd Is 9d.

FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT 'AT I MERVALE. I Whilst a journey cf 20 trams was ascending an I incline in the Merthyr Vale Colliery on Satur- day 14 of the waggons became detached and ran back, knocking down and injuring fatally a collier, David Davies, of Pontygwaith, and Patrick Doyle, assistant timberman, of 6. Mackin- tosh-street, Aberfan. Doyle died whilst being conveyed home on an ambulance, and Davies died after being taken to the Merthyr Hospital.

IT is WORTH KNOWING if you have a cough that the quickest and simplest remedy—let alone its cheapness—is Keating's Cough Lozenges. One alone relieves a cough, asthma, and bronchitis. As a Cough Kemedv they itre simpiv unrivalled. Sold everywhere in tins 13Ud each; free for stamps.—Thomas Keating I Chemist, London.- EADVT.] SECBETS OF SUCCESS.—Ellis Daviea know Tea and try to satisfy individual tastes at" whaterer ) rouWe. People c; appreciate eflort, 4(je

| CARDIFF TELEGRAPHIST i Cx. AT PAARDEBERG. ENTERING THE BOER TRENCHES. CRONJE'S REVOLVER SECURED. Among the Welshmen who are at the front in Sonth Afiica is Private Arthur Evans, of the Cardiff Post Office, who, being attached to the 24th Middlesex, has had the good fortone tc get on Lord Roberts' field telegraph stpff. Before proceeding to South Africa (writes The Major ") Evans promiped me some news of his experiences, and Monday morning's mail has brought me the following long and interesting letter :— Paardeberg Drift, 25th February, 1900. In accordance with my promise made at Alder- ehot I am sending you a few lines. I little expected to get quite so near old Cronje, but here I am actually within l miles of his laager. The ser;ous business commenced last Sunday, since when we have been driving him np country, and now he is said to be fairly cooped up. Ho is occupying a position in the river bed, so difficult of access that no description or artist can con- vey any idea to the mind of the difficulties which are being experienced. His men are quite heart- broken and desire to submit, but the old general seems to have a will of iron, and will not submit. I We captured his convoy a few days back, and it would appear that he cannot hold out much longer. On the 22nd 85 Boer prisoners (whites) and an army of coloured men were brought in. PRISONERS BROUGHT IN. They were a motley crowd-every nationality being represented. I witnessed a most interest- ing harangue between one of our war correspon- dents and one of the prisoners, an Englishman. The latter was a. most intelligent man, and defended his strange position with great skill and fervour. On the 23rd ^uother batch was brought in, including three field cornots-fine- looking fellows indeed. rhe pictures you see in Engiand purporting to represent the Boers are very accurate. And now I will give you a slight idea of my movements. We arrived at Table Bay on the 12th inst., and on the 13th we commenced onr journey np country. By the I way, at Fori Knokka, Cape Town, I heard rather an interesting bit of information about Dai St John. On of the wounded was describing the battle of Belmont, and quite casually mentioned how the poor fellow died. He was found with five dead Boers round him, and his bayonet and a portion of his rifle was forced through a sixth. I PRICE OF FOOD. In the Karoo Desert train loads of Boer pri- soner.-j and wounded passed cs on the road. As we entered the various stations the people clam- oured for oar badges, offering money, fruit, and tobacco in exchange. We found provisions rather dear, a smtdl pot of jam costing Is 6d, and other articles something like 300 per cent. above the prices whichobtalnin England. We reached De Aar after a journey lasting some 40 hours. The first sound that reached our ears was the Dead March in SaaJ.' One of the Australians was bsing bnried. There were many wounded Worcesters in the hospital, and all sbemed anxious to go to the front again. I saw several cases where the wounds (received from Mansers) had heated in three days. I had hardly settled down when I was warned to procsed to Modder River. Wt1 travelled in open wagons, and about midnight a storm broke out and saturated as to the skin. IN CRONJE'S QUARTERS. We passed through the battlefields cf Enslin, Graspan, aud Balmont. At Graspau we were joined by an armoured train, which acted a3 &r: escort for a considerable pertiou of the joarney. Just outside Modder River the train was stopped p by a iarlons sandstorm, which quite blotted oat everything, The Boers had just evacuated Magerafontein—which was quite discernible from the Modeler—when we arrived. Mr James Jones, of the Cardiff P.O., with much daring entered the Boer trenchss, and found an enormous quantity of stores left behind. In Cronje's room Jones c a me across the old gentleman's revolver, which you shall no doubt have the pleasure of seeing when the war is over. I had hardly made myself comfortable on the open veldt when I was ordered to prepare for up country. Here I left all my fellow passengers behind, and was soon trek- king across the veldt. Before leaving Modder River I managed to visit poor Bunt Kelly's grave. We had hardly covered three miles when we were pulled np smartly by an officer, who ordered us to retreat as the enemy were in force in the kopjes in front. We struck another trR il,anct soon we were swinging along accompanied by an 6scora of mounted infantry, some 50strong—rather weak I thought. The sun new became very oppressive, and towards noon we all got very fatigued. Wo were fairly in the enemy's country, and each kopje was carefully examined by the scouts, and ourselves in open order ready for attack. The ex- citement became keen when we came across a laager, but we found the Boers had evidently been alarmed at our formidable appearance—yon see we had 10 wagons of apparatus and stores, and as each wagon was drawn by either 10 mules or 20 oxen our appearance was rather deceptive. IN A BOER LAAGER. We soon entered the laager, and fonnd the place full of stores, ammunition, clothing, medicine chest, etc and we- soon made short work of it. The ammunition, which consisted of soft-iiosed '303 socrting, by Kynoch, of Birmingham, was held by us for future investigation. 1 have a sample, which you shuil see when I return. My loot consisted of a Boer cornet's slouch hat (which I have been wearing ever since), a Dutch Bible, some letters, aud a spent Lee-Mctford ballet. We were not allowed to take asvay any- ballet. We were not allowed to take away any- thing which we conld not carry in our pockets. I am afraid you Nvoul I hardly recognise Tommy I Atkins now if you saw him. Nearly every man is in rags and tatters, and a good many have no boots,or rather the boots are held together by bits of wire ana string. If the war lasts mach longer of wire and string. If the war lasts much longer they will have to go about in the altogetlier I I Scon we bad another indication of the hurried flight of the Boera in the shape of a hospital j containing many wounded. By thi3 time every man was parched with thirst, bat we dare not drink the water, which tasted too strongly of dead Boars J We picked up several of ocr scoots who had lost their horses. The steeds, like Tommy, at the most only get half rations, and hundreds are dying from overwork and starvation. At nightfall we outspanned near the Reifc River, and at 3 a.m. were on the move j again. Now learn we are with the flying column to Bloemfonteiu. We pass several farms, all ¡' deserted and looted—probably by natives. Oar ritiens consist of half a pound of bully and a hard bison.it—positively starving and forced to ir-arch nuclei- a burning sun. In the afternoon have brief rest and proceed to have bathe in I Modder, where we surprise Boer, who swam down j -;Lream, leaving clothes on bank, which we eeenre, A TERRIBLE STORM. I For the first time we experience a terrible storm, and in a few minutes every man is wet to the skin, and the veldt is converted into a huge pond. I Dry river beds are now raging torrents. Our line of telegraphs gets destroyed. Party has tore- turn, and five of us are told to trek to the next camp. Wearily we trudge along, dying for a bite, when we run up against two Tommies lost on the veldt. We soon capture a goat and light a fire, leaving the place with lighter hearts after our first taste of cooked meat for a week. We come across another farm richly furnished. The main body of troops has just passed forward, un- fortunately destroying everything except a beautiful organ, on which Tommy had been amusing himself. With grim humour he had placed a china dog near the door firmly chained, with the notice written in chalk, Beware of the dog." We had to ford a stream, and find our way into a vineyard. We refresh ourselves with grapes, tigs, peaches, &c. We arrive at Stink- fontein just in time to see the finishing touches of the battle. From the summit of a kopje we see the Boers being peppered with shrapnel until darkness, when the filing ceasea. ON THE BATTLEFIELD. The British and Boer positions were clearly dis- cernible in the distance, and jast at our feet the battle, earlier or, raged the hottest. The plain was dotted with dead horses, and the effluvia was terrific. Am placed on guard. On Wednesday we moved on here, and I am new attached to Lord Roberts' staff. The shelling of the Boer position has continued this last three days, and to-day the balloon was sent up to locate their I position. It is a queer sensation hearing the shrapnel shrieking over our heads, and the put, put, put of the quick-firers (Vickers- Mnxim) repeats itself every day. The troops are suffering terribly in this wet weather. We imagine v.e know what rain is in Wales, but it ia nothing compared to what we experience here, I and unfortunately, as you know, we have no teuts, and are not enabled to have any change when we get wet. All men are on half rations, and the horses, rrules, and oxen go days with nothing whatever to eat. Nearly all the war correspondents are with us here, and nothing they say of the hardships we are suffering—which to the people at home may seem overdrawn—ia in any way exaggerated. The City of London Volunteers are having a particularly rough time of it, having to go whole days with nothing to eat. We have a detachment at oar office acting i as orderlies." I

THE INDIAN FAMINE. OFFICIAL REPORT. The Secretary of State for India has received the following telegram from the Viceroy on the subject of the famine:—Situation unaltered Number of persons on relief work and gratui- tously fed have both decreased blightiy in some provinces. Number of persons in receipt of relief: -Bombav, 1,250,000; Punjab, 230,000; Central Provinces, 1,425;000; Berar, 321,000; Ajmer Merwara, 111,000 Rajputana States, 441,000; Central ludiau States, 123,000; Bombay Native States, 454,000; Baroda, 61,000; North-West Provinces, 3,000; Punjab Native States, 7,000 Central Provinces Feudatory States '47 000 • Hyderabad, 197,000; Madras, 7,000'- total' 4.677,000 a'

ACCIDENT TO A LIFEBOAT CREW. SEVENTH VICTIM SUCCUMBS. Allen Easter, one of the crew of the lifeboat Aldeburgn, has succumbed to the injuries he ceived in the accident at Aldeburgh last Decem- ber. He is the seventh victim. Easter was a. yachtsman, and had sailed in the Rainbow and Gudrnn and other well-known racing boats.

HEROIC DAUGHTER. Mary Jarman, who was badly burned in a fire I at Barmondsey on Friday while endeavouring to- rescae her mother, died in bOI'Pi.YJ:J¡

I WITH THE 3RD WELSH. INTERESTING INCIDENTS. TOLD BY THE LATE SERGT..MAJOR MURPHY. Monday's mail from South Africa has brought to a member of our staff two letters which have a most pathetic interest, for the reason that they were written by the late Sergeant-Major Murphy, of the 3rd Welsh, whose death at De Aar from dysentery was announced on Saturday. The first of these letters was posted on arrival at Caps Town, and the second after the arrival of the 3rd Welsh at De Aar, where they are at present stationed, and they describe the experiences of the Welsh Militia up to March 5th, just thirteen davs befort) the writer's death. The letters are as follows R.M.S. Majestic, Nearing Cape Town. On 19th February the Majestic left St. Vincent with its rugged mountains, its outlined figure of Napoleon reclining on the top of a mountain, its lighthouse on a solitary and precipitous rock situated in the middle of the harbour entrance, its bumboats with their lovely fruit exposed for sale,and with the crew of H.M.S. Cambrian cheer- ing most lastily. We made very good running, but have not, since leaving England, experienced a really calm day. The ship, notwithstanding her noble proportions and many excellent properties, is certainly not adapted to voyages in the tropics, and as she neared the line life between decks became quite unbearable. Toe stokers daily came up ex- hausted and unconscious, their places being taken by men of the 3rd Lancaster Regiment. Oar Welsh bays will have something to talk about when they get home. On two occasions whales have been sighted. Then four large sharks played about the ship's bow, and (as if to carry oat the old yarn) two days after Private Doolan of the Lancastera, an old soldier of Roberts's Afghan Army, died from pneumonia, following in- fiaerrsa. He died at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 27th, and was buried at sea at 6 o'clock the same night. The troops are exercised daily, firing over the stern of the vessel at pieces of wood, tins, or other targets, so that they are all in excellont trim for potting the Boers. It is expected thst the Majestic will arrive at Cape Town on Taffy's Day, the 1st of March. Taffy, the regimental goat, bleats to those he has left at home —That all hands were grieved to see the colonel laid up with snch a severe attack of influenza.. —That there has not been a cross word, much less a quarrel, on board the Majestic, notwith- standing the couple of thousand troops of dif- ferent nationalities represented. —That Darky, Dick Foster, and Toff were in. visible for four days after embarkation. —That then they took off their pntties. —That when Toff waa inoculated he had plenty of Job's comforters. —That the sergeants will not have three conrsea for breakfast when they land. H n —That all the boys keep on talking of the girls at Landore with the hot coffee and other good things they distributed. —That the Cardiff tobacco and cigars were better late than never and are duly appreciated. -Th.tt no parson was aboard, bat that the pur- ser made a good substitute. Taffy bleats bis warmest greetings to the butties of the 3rd Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea, the Rhondda, and Merthyr Valleys, in the full assur- ance that the women and children entrusted to their care arereceiviingthe friendly attention and protection which wtft promised them. De Aar, March 5. March I.-The Majestic dropped anchor in Teble Bay ac 9 a.m., having made the run from St. Vincent in 9 days 12 hours 5 minutes. News of Cronje's surrender, signalled from shore, was received with choere. No orders re- ceived as to destination. March 2.—At 10 o'clock a.m. news of the relief cf L-arlysmitti was signalled, guns finug, all ships decked with banting. Still no order as to des- tination. March 3. --Welsh Regiment delighted ordered to entrain for Orange River at 10 a.m. Captain Ellory, Second Lientenant Hill, 5721 Private Murphy*, 283 Private Griffiths, 9607 Private Jones, too ill to proceed up country, are left in Cape Town, also a basa party of Lieutenant Ryder, Colour-Sergeant Kerr, Dr. Cross, with Taffv," the goat, and six privates.. They will remain at Cape Town permanently. At 10 a.m. boarded the first train for a railway journey of two days and two nights, packed eight a compartment, and started at 11 a,m. Reached Wellington at 1.45 stopped an hour for dinner. Passed two trains with 1,300 Boer prisoners. Welsh lads particularly gratified to see these ill- visaged dirty crew, who certainly did not seem much depressed, but hope that some work may be left for tbem to do. March 4.—Still tram travelling. Stopped an hour a. Prince Albert's Road for breakfast. When the regiment were leaving Cape Town they were most kiiidly treated to bags of grapes (about 2ib each man), bread and cheese, and most excellent draught ginger beer by the ladies of Cape Town. Thanks to the generous treatment on board the Majestic the battalion is in fine fighting trim, fit as a fiddle, in capital spirits, and taking kindly to their iron rations of hard biscuits and bnily beef." March 5.—Welsh Militia. arrived at De Aar, and were warned that this was their destination for the present. Here were met some of the 1st L Welsh who were wounded at Paardeberg. Among them were two men of the Glamorgan Militia ileserv^, who are now serving with the 1st Bat- ziiliit),Private Broom, of Merthyr Vale, shot in two places, and Private Wintle, shell wound ia shoulder.

CARDIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ANNUAL DINNER. SPEECHES BY JUSTICES CHANNELL AND BUCKNILL. The annual Council dinner in connection with he Cardiff Chamber of Commerce was held at the Park Hotel an Monday. The president (Mr John Andrews) was supported by Mr Jnstices Channell and Bucknill, now on circuit at Cardiff, ct' r and their marshals the Mayor of Cardiff (Mr S. A. Brain), Messrs J. W. Courtis, II. Wood-Davey, F. H. Lambert,. J. L. Wheatley (town clerk), Humphrey Wallis, Robert Hooper, J. M. Jen- nings, F. W. K. Hybert, W. R. Hawkins (secre- tary), &c. The toaat of li The Qaeen" having been honoured with enthusiasm. The President gave Her Majesty's Justices." He said he was sure they all felt that the institution of the judicial bench was one of which they might well feel proud. The administra- tion of justice in this cpuntry was snch as com- menced not only the adhesion and admiration of their feilow-couutrymen, but he believed was con- sidered by the whole world to stand on a higher I elevation than that which obtained in any other country. (Applause.) The judges of this country had been for a great many years absolutely above suspicion of any sordid motive. (Hear, hear.) Well, they were exceedingly glad to have two such representatives of the Beach at their board fas Justices Channell and Bucknill. (Applause.) In his opinion her Majefty's judges bad very hard work to do, but he believed that their work would be harder in the future owing to the growing complexity of both civil and commercial life. The idea was prevalent some time ago that arbitration would relieve the congestion of the law courts, but he was sorry to say that arbitration was not making much pro- gress. There was one gentleman in that room who had bad such an experience of arbitration that he was quite sure he would not 10 the future recommend any ot his friends to go to an arbitra- tor in preference to a judge. (Laughter and hear. hear.) The great complaint against the law was the expense, but he believed that litigation would not be nearly so costly if clients would not insist upon the employment of excensive counsel. (Laughter.) If clients conld conduct their own cases—he had no doubt the advocacy would be poor-the law would not be at all expensive. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Speaking in compli- mentary terms of the judges present, he said he was sure their decisions gave satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) Even a defeated litigant felt his grief assuaged by the kindly words of Mr Justice Channell, whilst in the criminal court a prisoner almost thought it a pleasure to receive a sentence I of six months at the hands of Justice Bucknill. (Laughter and applause.) Mr Justice Channel!, who met with a very cordial reception, made a most interesting speech I iu reference to the growth of legal work and the method of coping with it. He was glad to think that, the administration of the law gave satisfac- tion. Their predecessors had established a system which enabled them to do their duty with comparative ease. Their president had said that the growing complexity of our life would lucrease legal work in the future. That was quite right. Canes were much longer than they used to be. Everybody was anxious to get the best counsel and to go into every small detail. All thia j added to the expense of iitigatioD. The ease of I il. judge's work depended to a large extent upon the slüll of the advocates engaged ia the cases' If litigants conducted their own cases ha was afraid the work of the j adges would be made much harder. (Laughter.) His Lordship j dwelt upon the growth of legal busi- ness throughout the country, and especially at Cardiff, eince he first came to it as marshal to his father, and said that what was required was an increase in judges. This would enabie solicitors to advise their clients within reasonable limits as to the time their cases would come on. This would save anxiety and expense. (Hear, hear.) M: Justice Bucknill, in response to load calls, made one of his characteristically witty speeches. The work at Cardiff was very heavy, but the plea- sant way in which they were treated went some wa.y to make amtnda for keeping them away from their domestic hearths so long. (Laughter and applause.) Mr J. A. Jones gave 11 The Mayor in a, neat little speech and his Worship in response paid a tribute to the liberality of the Docks men. He said that the duty of the Corporation was to see to the government of the town, and that of the Docks, men to develop the trade of the port. Without the docks Cardiff would be nowhere. Applause.) Mr Humphrey Wallis gave The President." He said that however worthily the presidential chair had been filled in the past he WM not going too far in saying that it had never been more worthily filled than during the past year. (Loud applause.) In conclusion he paid a glowing tribute to the intellectual and business qualities of the retiring president. The President made suitable response. The harmony of the evening was contributed' to by Messrs Wood-Davey, F. H. Lambert, J. A. Jones, W. R. Hawkins, and Percy Wheeler, accompanist. fjk

Abchebs INFANT PLANT CitrAKETTES pro;, neunced by, 14-R the Prince/of .Wales to b6; the;,

CARDIFF. Barning Accident.—On Monday afternoon Ethel Trefuel, aged 8, of No. 8, Brethway- terrace, Ely, was admitted to the infirmary suffering from severe burns. She was attended to by Dr. Williams and detained. Free Church Meetings tiais NVeek-To-niglit (Tuesday) in the }>.rk Hall the annual public meeting of the Cardiff Free Churches Council will be held, when addresses will be delivered by the Revs. J. F. Greenhough, M.A., of Leicester, and Thomas L*w, of London, and Mr J. Comp- ton Rickett, M.P. for Scarborough, To-morrow and Thursday also meetings will be held, when addresses will be delivered by Gipsy Smith and others. Sudden Death.—On Monday morning Henry Purks, a well-known boatman at Cardiff Docks, was walking towards his heme in Adelaide- street shortly after tide time, when he was seen to stagger and fall A doctor was brought, and he pronounced the man lifeless. Parka was 67 years of age.

ABERAVON. Iiqnest.—On Monday morning Coroner Oath- bertson held an iuquiry at Aberavon touching the death of Ctptain Gregory, who was found dead on the Rbondda. and Swansea Bay Railway on Sunday. A verdict of Accidental death was returned. The jury expressed their strong dis- approval of the manner in which certain gates were closed across the road to the docks, urging that the gates should be so constructed as to shut across the railway. The Coroner promised to communicate with the Board of Trade.

ABEHDARE. British Women's Temperance Association.— The monthly meeting was held on Monday at the Trinity Schoolroom, Mrs W. floyd. Highland- place, in the chair. Mrs C. Reed gave a report of the doings of the County Union at Cardiff, and Miss Lloyd read an excellent paper on Cold Meat Cookery." On the motion of Mrs R. H. Miles, seconded by Mrs C. France, and supported by Mrs W. Lloyd, a vote was passed in favour of the proposal now before the Merthyr Board of Guardians in favour of appoilltiog district nurses.

HIRWAIN. Amateur Theatricals.—At Victoria Hall, on Saturday night, the Hirwin Dramatic Society gave a highly successful performance of the drama, Llewellvneiri Llyw Olaf. The principal characters were taken by the fol- lowing •,—Miss M. Hopkins, Miss E. Jones, Miss M, A. Jones, Messrs T Forstor Jones, J. Morgau, W. J. Evans, M. Jones, and G. Hprries. Jannet Davies and Miss Agnes Rhy3 accom- panied.

PEN ART H. Pablic Y/orks Committee.—The usual monthly I meeting of this committee was held on Monday evening, Mr R. Guy presiding. Plans were passed of a new drainage system for the Glamorgan Golf UIUI). Tenders were accepted a? follows — Fodder, Messrs Sanger, Tacker ironmongery, Mr Emlyn Jones new water cart, Mr Thomas King, ironmonger.

SWANSEA. F, aneral of Mrs Jabez D&vie.-).—Much sympathy has been extended to Mr Davies and family in their sad bereavement through the dentb of" Mrs Davies, which took place at their residence, Bryn- road, on March 16th. The funeral took place on Wednesday, the corpse being taken by rail and interred at Siloam Pontargothi's burial-ground. The funeral sermon was preached on Sunday evening by the Rev. W. Gibbon, from 1st Cor. xv. 55-7, at Capel Henrietta-street, Swan sea., where Mrs Davies had been a worshipper for many years.

THEATRE ROYAL. To Mr Robert Bedford, the lessee of the Theatre Royal, the piav-going publi is indebted for tht. excellent class of his bookings. Lord and Lady AIgy" is one of a series of excellent light comedies which that gentleman has brought to Cardiff in recent months. The local audience asks for light entertainment, and gets it. There is no plot to speak of in Lord and Lady AIy," macli depends upon how the lines are spoken, and much upon how the audience take the lines. I It is what is known as a modern drawing-room play, with no special motive, but one that appeals to the head, ani especially to the hcnt. Lady J Algy is a woman of the world, yet she is true to the man she loves, who is her husband. He ia by no means a sailt, but not a bad sort. And there you have the whole motive Commonplace, perhaps, but sympathetic. Lady Algy is dis- tinctly tiie heroine of the play, without a shade of poetry in her nature, but full of practical common-sense and womanly sentiment and ] instinct. Lord and Lady Algy," therefore, appeals to tho average audience with wonderful snccess.

GRAND THEATRE. I Rass Cliaiiis's comedy drama, entitled The Curate," was performed at the WeBtgate-street playhouse last evening before a full house. I The Curate has been staged at the Grand on previous occasions, but never before has it been so cordially welcomed. This is partly due, no doubt, to the attractiveness of everything jusc now which has a military flavour about it, and also to the presence in the cast of Mr Alfred Paumier and Miss Hodgson.

THE LYCEUM, NEWPORT. The dmllltt," Her Wedding Day," in the new form given to it by Deba;iwas superblv mounted last evening for the first performance at the Lyceum. The four acts of which the drama consists are redolent of English life and charac- terisation, and get a splendid delineation at the hands of the specially-selected company which has the piece on tour.

THE EMPIRES. CARDIFF. A capital company is engaged at the Queen- street hall this week, and on Monday night their efforts to please met with hearty appreciation. Miss Maggie Duggan, a great favourite wherever she goes, sang several new songs, and with one in which she apptmred in a khaki costume quite fetched the house. Biuns and Binns, two excellent musicians, varied their performance by some very quaint bv-play which caused roars of laughter. Miss Efii« White gave some kaleido- scopic dances very skilfully, and the Donatos, one-legged acrobats and vaulters, proved very interesting. Wingaid maintained his repnta- tion as a man of mystic doings, and further excellent tarns were provided by the Sisters Vanderbilt, duetrists and dancers George Barron, quaint character comedian; Mark Anthony, humorist and ventriloquist and Bert Cass, vocalist. At the second performance the members of the English and Welsh teams who had met during the afternoon, together with the official* of the two Associations, were present at the invitation of Mr Stoli. To-night Mr William Lea, the popular manager, takes his benefit, and Lea, the popular manager, takes his benefit, and the present company will be augmented to 15 turns, who will appear at each house. Miss Marie Lloyd is due next week, and Little Tich the week after. NEWPORT. A great show was given at this popular house on Monday evening by Hurgmi, the juggler, who stands in the front rank of his profession, and some of his feats were of a most startling chrac- ter. Colby and Way gave an excellent turn, in which there was plenty of fun, and Miss Florrie Forde, a young lady of considerable personal attractions, gave several songs in capital style. Phil Herman, of The Last Grip fame, also had some excellent songs. The Keziahs demon- strated wonderful skill in their doings on the lad- ders, and the contributions of Miss Alice Maple, Blora and Lola, and Manuel Woodson were much I enjoyed. SWANSEA. A great bit was made at the Swansea Empire I en Monday night with the bio-tableaux illustra- ting dCoin/ls at the frout in South Africa. The enthusiasm of the audience wa.s roused to a very high pitch by some of the pictures, particularly the repie ciuation of troops in action. Miss I Annie Cohen sang and danced in excellent style, and an amusing show was given by Tony and Frances Ryder. Ryan and Hall proved to be very fanny comedians, and tho Vezaeys and their Russian poodles were most interesting. The Sisters Emerald secured a very appreciative reception, aud the Randallcs gave an exhibition of dancing which was rewarded with much 7 applause,

MERTHYR CHOIR IN LONDON, I The concert on Monday night at the Queen's Hall, London, in aid of the Castle-street Welsh Baptist Church, was a brilliant success. The Merthyr and Dowlsis Choirs, led by Mr Dan Davies, occupied the platform, Among those present in the audience were Lord and Lady Wimborne, Viscountess Duncannou ami party. Mrs D. A. Thomas, auci Mr Alfred Thomas, I M.P. The choir were listened to with close atten- tion and applauded enthusiastically. The beau- tiful lullaby, 11 Sleep, little Flower," was heartily eucored Mid:tma" Belle Cole's rendering of Promise of Life," and Mrs Mary Davies's of a French pastorale, won encores. Solos by Mr M. Janeii and Mr Hirwan Jones produced a very satisfactory impression. The violin playing of Misa Edie Reynolds with Mr Stanley Hawley as accompanist, was superb. Mr Harry Evans played the pianoforte and organ accompaniments.

KRUGER'S MISSION TO AMERICA. THE "STAGGER HUMANITY" THREAT. New York, Monetay.-The London correspon- dent of the Herald, in a despatch to that paper, states in the course of an interview with a relative of President Kruger, whom he does not name, regarding the mission of tho Boers' delegates to the United States, the person in question said that the mission was of the utmost international interest. He also said that by the Stagger humanity" threat the President meant that the loss of life woald be stupendous. Events would follow shortly which would startle the world. Mr Lanter Wessels denied there was anything like religious persecution either in the Transvaal or the Orange Free State. According to a Washington telegram to the Jjes^atch it is remarked there that the offer of the United States to use its good offices in the Transvaal war may render nugatory the pro-. visions in the Hague Treaty, in which the Powers ^recognise.the aQÇQ ,ia jirtflU fqRO: ('Be" -t¡.

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your Wednesday's it-'sue you say the Colonial Secretary was driven to offer clearly and plainly in his last despatch a guarantee of the independence of the Republics. The Boers launched into war bv invading Natal." I am altogether 'puzzled at yonr statement when I remember the speech of Mr S. T. Evans in the House of Commons on October 18th He said, On the 22nd of September the British Government absolutely closed the door to further negotia- tions. lie was loath to say of any British Minister that he so conducted the negotiations that he intended the negotiations to end in a. resort to force, but he couid not help saying that the methods adopted seemed to have tended to that most deplorable result." lie concluded bis speech by saying, The war must inevitably be an inglorious one, and an ignoble one, and their only hope was that, having been made inevitable by the course of these negotiations, it would be carried to a. speedy aud merciful conclusion." In a leading article on the following day you eulogise Mr Evans, thus seeming to approve of his action. The sa.me issue reports a speech of Sir W. Har- court on the same occasion. Sir William aaid, The critical point which led to the present diffi- culties was the despatch of the 22nd of Septem- ber, in which her Majesty's Government declined to go on with any discussion on the franchise, and said that they would formulate their own proposals for a final settlement, and communicate them in a despatch, He could not understand why these proposals were never made. The President of the Free State pressed to have them communicated, stating that if they were commu- nicated he believed there would be a good chance of peace. They had been told by the Dake of Devonshire that the proposals were most mods- rate and would remove any apprehension on the part of the Transvaal Government that there was any intention to invade their independence. Tf that was so it was most important that they should not have been communicated." How your statement can be accepted as correct against Mr Evans aud Sir W. Harcourt, the former of which you apparently endorse, passes my com prehension, and I will not attempt to set myself up as a judge between you. As regards the righteousness of the war, you have told us that Englishmen have no greater rights in the Transvaal than Dutchmen, or Frenchmen, or Germans have in Grvnt Britain." I am content to accept yonr decision on the matter, given before Daily Mailia became so infectious, and whether I am called a pro-Boer, Little Eng- lander, traitor, or any of the epithets that are used in lien of argument, I cannot set my sail to catch every wiBd. I must thank you for the out- spoken articles in defence of free speech, and I trust that the questions which so keenly divide us may soon be settled amicably. I trust, too, that the Christian ministers will restore the suspended Commandment, Thou shalt not bear false wit- ness against neighbour," to its former posi- tion. and tho law of love again be proclaimed to those who have not been too much disgusted at its supposed possessors to sit and listen to them. Never has the Christian ministry been dragged into the gutter more than at present, and the name of Christ dragged behind the chariot of the God of Mammon. The only consolation we have is that there is a remnant left who have refused to bow down. Thanking you in anticipation—I el am, Lte., A RADICAL. [Our correspondent does not distinguish. His own quotation from Sir William Harcourt should solve his difficulty. The British Govern- ment declined, aa Sir William states, to con- tinue negotiation on the franchise but they intimated their intention to submit further proposals. The Boers commenced hos- tilities before those proposals were submitted. With regard to Christian ministers,.the obser- vations of Hadical" are moat unjustifiable. Who among them has borne false witness ? What does Radical know of Transvaal con- dittonF that he should defame reverend gentle- men who have lived there for years and speak oat of, full knowledge of the faztg ? Who is Radical "to prate of the law of love and cl thtie to libel gentlemen whose profession and life entitle thm to the presumption that they speak truth.—Editor, S. rv.D..Ñ.J

INDEPENDENCE. TO THE KTiLTOli. Sir,—I do not ask yon to insert this letter. You have already allowed me more freedom than I expected, and than most others would have done in yonr place, and I don't wish to be pertina- cious, but I should like to say a few last words. The term independence as applied to States, and without any qualifying words, surely means freedom from external interference in in- ternal affairs. This much at least was conceded to the Republic by the Convention of 1884. Suc- cessive Secretaries of State," said Mr Chamber- lain, have repudiated all right of interfarenco with its internal affairs." Now the Boers wished to maintain this inde- pendence. This is shown, among other things, by their offer to concede our extreme claim in the matter of the franchise on condition that the present intervention should not form a precedent, and that in fature no interference in the internal affairs of the Republic will take place." But Mr Chamberlain wished to establish the right of intervention. This is shown by his raising the question of suzerainty,, and by his reference to convenions in his bat despatch. And the Boers. believing that the claim would be enforced by an invasion of the Transvaal, anticipated it by invading Natal. Now this being the ease I do not think it right to say that the Bors refused independence and preferred war. It is, to say the least, a fa!lacy— the fallacy of an ambiguous middle term." The reasoning is Thoho who refuse inde- pendence and prefer war deserve to lose independence. Bat the Boers refused inde- pendence therefore, &c." Put in the middle but the Boers refused independence subject to intervention," and the premiases are trne, but the desired conclusion does not follow. The Boers may be bad and foolish, but give them fair play. Thanking you for your patience, and repeating thit I sliall not feel surprised or aggrieved if this goes into youc waste paper basket—1 simply wish to make my position clear-I air, &c AN OLD LIBERAL. rWe do not defend Mr Chamberlain's blundering, but have, on the contrary, many times de- nounced his attempted revival of the suzerainty. We do hold, however, that the Boers are blame- worthy as well as Mr Chamberiziri more blameworthy, because they transformed nego- tiation into war. While condemning Cham- berlain there is risk of losing sight of the original misdoings of the Boers—which pro voked British intervention—and of their final misdeed in resorting to war.—Editor, 8. W.D.N.\

UNITARIANS AND THE Y.M.C.A. I TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—I have perused with interest the corres- pondence in your columns re the above. I think the Rev. T/ssil Davis very properly points ont the sectarian character of the Y.M C.A. Mr Waiter Price says, The Scriptures are our only authority." iudeed I wiil defy Mr Price to prodnce any authority from the Scriptures upon this particular point for the barrier erected by tbe Y.M.C.A. If Mr Price reads ecclesiastical history, he knows—or ought to know-that this particular doctrine is the resuit of formulated creeds by which Mr Price no doubt considers a corrupt Church handed down from the Roman Catholic to the Protestant Churches, without any valid attempt to establish it upon Biblical grounds. The accepted interpretation of the terms is without, not within, the pages of Holy Writ. Lei the Y.M.C.A. erect what fences they like, but not sush Scriptural authority for unscriptural doctrine and methods.—I am, &c., BIBLE STUDENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—I do not think that the able secretary of the Y.M.C.A. has succeeded in his effort to free thi3 excellent institution from the charges of sectarianism brought against it by the Rev. Tyssil Davis and Mr Legassick. On tbe contrary the declarr-tion of the theological test imposed on members leaves little doubt as to tho particular shade and colour of religious opinions one must profess to qualify lor member- ship. Mr Price asserts that as the candidate is not bound down to any Wesleyan or Calvinistic interpretation of the dogmtt that Christ is God," therefore the institution may claim to be unsectarian. We are not, he myf, bound by Wesley or Calvin, but by the "Holy Scripture" interpretation of this dogma. But surely Mr Price knows there a,r3 multitudes of Bible-loving, Christ-loving people who cannot find by honest interpretation any doctrine such as this revealed in Holy Scripture, and for the Y.M.C.A. to demand such a declaration of faith is equivalent to saying that although the Wesley or Calviu interpretation will not be insisted upon the Y.M.C.A. interpretation must. If then according to the term of Wesleyanism or Calvinism it is I sectarian to require etioll a confession of faith, what is it according to the terms Y.M.C.A. ? No matter how honestly and reverently I may ¡ Keek the true interpretation of Holy Scripture, if I do not arrive at this same conclusion regarding this difficult and perplexing doctrine as the rulers I of tho Y.A.C.A. I am debarred from membership. There are many loyal Christians besides Unitarians who have failed to find in Scripture I any declaration that is God, and there are many Christian sects bssiaes Unitarians who have ceased to require such a confession of failil from their members. Surely it is time that the doors of the Y.M.C.A. should be opened at least wide enough to admit to aJØ the privileges of membership all who believe that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto HitnsM." That is a clear and Scriptural definition of the relation of God to Christ and Christ to God. Is it not enough ? I. affirm that the Scriptures, when properly interpreted, nowhere teach the doctrine that" Chriat is God," but every wbe that Christ was Divine, was the Son of God, that Christ represented God in and to humanity. This I understand the Unitarians, with other liberal and loyal Christians, believe and teach. Why then deny them the privilege of becoming members of a Christian institution ? As the Rev. Tyssil Davis has said, the association which closes its doors against such Christians of the character of a Martiueau," a Channing," a Brookes," is sectarian in a very narrow sense indeed. Theological Christianity has had its day, and to say the least the re&nlts are not very encouraging. Is it not time to usher in the better, the truer, the more Scriptural, viz., the ethical, the Christianity of Christ ?" And as one who has derived help from the Y.M.C.A. I trust that ere long it will be,found in the van- guard of this new order. —I am, &c., 45. Oakfield-street. THOS. CAREY.

ROATH PARK LAKE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—I should like to appeal to Mr Harpur, as an angler, to pat more men on the wall that is being built on the side of the lake. One solid weak has gone and the wall has not^been touched ^-only > JMe* J men bave been engaged shovelling up earth, an<| if the masons only take as long as the labourers, then we shall have no angling for a month. I if the masons only take as long as the labourers, then we shall have no tnglitig for month. I am an angler, and speak only from that point of view. The boatmen, model yachtsmen, rowers, Iand visitors car. no doubt urge their points. But I am sure each of them is moat anxious to gel the witter back in the lake, which has been a miser. able, stinking hcie for the past week. Nobody grudges the bathers their bit of stage, but why they should incon venience people who pay directly for their sport aDd amusement beats me. If the work had been put in hand a month ago nobody would have been inconvenienced, or if some temporary staging had been erected in- stead of this permanent work. But I think it a downright shame to interfere with people in this way. ihe bathers have managed all right before, and they might have waited until next year for this stage. It is most unfortunate that the time chosen is the very time when iake anglers hope to do well. The weeds will soon interfere. I should like to point; out that if the wall take, another week to erect, which it will sure to, there will be still another week for the brook to till the lake, making three weo-k3 in afti. Prtr" meat berg Courtis, Allen, and Thomas ana, of conr.se, the chairman of the Parks Committee, Mr Alderman Beavan, should give tnis littie ma.tter their attention, and oblige a considerable number of their constituents.—— I am, &c-. ANGLER.

A WELSH COMPANY'S PROMOTION. PUBLIC INQUIRY AT THE LONDON BANKRUPTCY COURT. A pablic inquiry was opened on Monday (be- fore Mr Registrar Hood) at the London Bank- ruptcy Court into the promotion of Anthony, Birrell, Pearce, and Co., Ltd., which was regis- tered in January, 1898, to purchase as a going concern the business ol brewers, wine and spirit merchants, &c., carried on at Maesycwmmer, Wick, and Cardiff. The winding-up order waa made last May nt the instance of a creditor, and accounts were subsequently filed howing groBs liabilities £ 19.317,,a deficiency of X3,532 of assets to meet the liabilities, or a total deficiency to the shareholders of £ 23,123. Mr Lewis Harris, the first witness, stated, in reply to Mr G. S. Barnes, senior official receiver, that he appeared on the prospectus as the vendor who sold the property to the company for £ 35,000. He agreed to par- chase it from Mrs Morley, who had previously carried it on, and to give her £ 30,000, ao that he was apparently to m, ke a profit of £ 5,000. The whole of the £ 35,000, however, went to Mra Morley, who made him a present subsequently of £ 1,000 worth of debentures. Mrs Morley's. husband was Samuel Victor Morley, whom wit-, ness had also k^own as Marks. Applications for shares were made by witness, by hia wife (who ia Mr Morley's daughter), and by bis three children. Witness paid the application moneys on those shares, buc nothing further, and it was probable that the further sums were provided by Mr Morley, The Official Receiver asked the witness who was Mr Tudor Harris, and elicited the reply that it was the witness himself. He used both names, and was not ashamed of either. The nominal capital of the company was X20,000, and P,5,000 was the amount of the working capital. The sub- scriptions, including those of witness and his family, amounted only to £1,900, and upon being told by the company's solicitor that it was a necessary step he signed an application for JE3100 debentures to make tip thts amount of £ 5,000. He certainly was not in a position to take up those debentures, but undertook that Mrs Morley would assist him to do so. An extra- ordinary general meeting was held on May 14tk 1898, at which the old directors were removed and replaced by others. The Official Receiver pressed for the reason for that step, and pointed out to the witness that he seconded the resolution. Witness S3jid he understood that theremort agreed was the incompetence of the directors. (Laughter.) He admitted, however, hearing at the meeting that the; removal was due to their refusal to pass the transfers. The Official Receiver Was not ons of the new directors a geutlemau who drovo one of the company's drays ? The witness dissented from that view, and said he regarded that director as a brewer. (Laughter.) Shortly before the meeting was held a call of 10a in the £ had be--a made on him in respect of the X3,100 debentures for which he had applied. Tho new director agreed to cancel the call, and in consideration of the surrender of 3,100 fully-paid shares held by Mrs Morley they released him from all liability upon the deben- tures. Mr J. H. George, oae of the directors who replaced the old board, atated that by a resolu- tion passed at tho first meeting which he had attended Mr Samuel Victor Morley was ap- appointed as superintendent; of the company at a bala.ry of E300 a year. Other evidence having been gone into, the inquiry was adjourned until Monday next.

NEW YORK PRICES. (Renter's Telegrams.! New York, Monday. On to-day's Stocft Market heavy purchases for foreign and domestia account were leading features. These with advances in t nicriuan Slncks in London caupei advances i't [I, large yof Railway Issues hers The market fell into considerable lethargy in the afternoon, when the sustaining powerof London's purchases had been removed,and enormous profit-taking by local interests became apparent, but onlv made itself felt in cases where manipulative activity had been suspended. Balti- more and Ohio Shares made a sensation in the a.dva.nce, and a number of new high records were established in other things. No such foreign interest in American stocks has been shown since the autumn of 1896. The market closed comparatively quiet, but firm, with net gains as a rule. Government Bonds were irregular and Railroad Bonds strong. Atcbinon Shares and North-Western Pre- ferred advanced J; Atchison Preferred, Reading Fours, and Union Preferred, §; North-Western Ordinary, Milwaukee Com- mon, New York Ontario, Northern Pre- ferred. and Reading Shares, 4 Baltimore Shares, li Canada Southern' Erie Shares, Lonisville and Missouri-Pacific, Canadian, Pacific, 1J Quincey and Union Pacific Shares, Is llock and Kansas Shares, lj Erie General Lien, New York Central, Nortbern Common, and Reading First Preferred, § and Lake Shore, 5. Western Unioa and Lackawanna declined 1 i and Norfolk Preferred, ít. Money steady., Sterling Exchange firm. Silver—bare, down. Cotton declined under more favourable weather report and closed steady; spot qciet. Cotton oil quiet and unaltered—crude, 33c.; yellow, 36c. Petroleum refined steady. Lard -cr.sh steady, at 5 points gairi. Wheat advanced on covering, then fell off under realising, closing weak; spot steady. Flonr quiet. Corn met with a more active speculative demfad and advanced, closing easy; spot steady, Sugar firm at unchanged rates. Coffee firmed up oil larger United States warehouse deliveries «*>»} closed steady spot dull at reduction. Tirf dull and 25 points down, Iron quiet and un", changed. Copper firm at advance. Mar. 26 Mar. 21 Call Money U.S. Gov. Bonds 4p.c. 4 p.c. Ditio, other securities 4 p.e. 4 p.c. Exchange ontiondon,60 days'sight j 2},I 4 82 -Ditto, Cable Transfers '674 4 85% Exchauge Paris, 60 days'sight ;\21?3 5.21% Exchange on Berlin 9* 93Jg Kour per Cent. U.S. Funded Tjoan H7 117 Western Union TelegrapH Shares S3 84 Atchison Topefra, and S. Fe 27% 28% Do. Do. 4 p.c. Mor 102 101% Do. Do. 5 P-c Preferr. 71% 70 Baltimore and Ohio j 80¡ 76" Co. Do. S.W. 4 p.c.j — — Canada Southern Shares^ 52% 5l} £ Canadian Pacific !!6¿ 95 Central New Jersey 117 117% Central Pacific Shares — — Chesapeake and Ohio Common 31 30% Chicago, Buriingtoo and Quincy.. 129% Chicago and North-Western Ord. 163U 163 Chicago and N-Western Preferred 197 195 Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul >23% 123% Chicago and Itock Island i 113% 112 Cleverd. Cin., Ch., & St. Ls. O. 62"1 63 Delaware and Hudson j 116) £ 1l6 Delaware Lackawanna j 181 182 Denver ?,nd Rio Granue Shares .j 23?g 23% Denver Preferred 75^ .75jg Illinois Central Snares 115% 115 Lake Shore & Michigan Southern; 200 r.5 Louisville and Nashv ille Shares.j Jliehigan Central Shares ICS l(j$ Missouri, Kansas, and Tozag 12 iqis 49% j 48« New York, Lake Kne, (fe Western 11 13 Ditto, Heii ..■■■• •• 731, 73 New & Hudson IVy. J37 New YorkOntario & Western Ord. 'l&L 4^ Northern Pacific Common 57^ £ 5?? Northern Pacific Prelei'red. 7634 7&W Norfolk .Western Preiotxed 77 77^ Pennsylvania and PhiUideiphia! J >39^ 139% Philadelphia and Leading Shares lS^l 1»« Philadelphia <&Iteading5p'c,lstinci 6o' 59)4 g| «7 t Do' Preferred 77 76% Waoash, bt. Louis, and Pacific TA 1% Wabash, ho. Louis,etc. Pref. Shi'. 22b& 22% feilrer bullion 59% 60 OOEKON AND PRODUCE MASEESS Cot ion. d ay 'sreceipts at U.S. ports 5,00a 10^89 ■potion, day's receipt.? atGul ports 8 COO 6.000 C'OUon,day's export to u Britain. 33,01' 0,080 Ooitou,day's export to Continenc 27/ 5,000 Cotton future April delivery 55 941 Cot/ton future June delivery 2d 9-53 Cotton middling upland N. York. 97s 9% Cotton middling New Orleans 9 9" Petroleum,refined, in cases 1119 11.19 Pefcroleum.sta'dard WhiteN.York 9.90 S,gg I'etroieum.st'd whitel'hiladelphia 9.85 9,85 Petroleum, Pipe Line Certs 168 lS Spirits of Turpentine -6 56 Lard. Wilcox' sp.)t 2 55 6.50 Tallow, Prima City s Y, 5 Sugar, fair refining Mosccvado 3jjj 31a Do. 96 p.c. Centrifugal Com,New raised. Western spot. 44% 43^ Corn Futures May 43% 431^ Do. July <13% 4j £ Spring Wheat, No. 1 spot 78% 7g 'Wheat, red winter on the spot 78^ 73 Wheat delivery May ?2;.i 72U Wheat delivery July 72^/ 7214 Coffee Kio No. 7 • — 8 8J £ Coffee Rio No. 7 Low Ord. April.| 6 £ 0 Coffee ditto delivery June q g.gQ Jb'lour ex State Shipping Brands. 2,76 2.76 Iron, No. 2 Northern 21,31 21J1 Tin, Australian 30.75 31.50 Copper 17 Steel liails ■■■■ 35 J5 Freight Grain Liverpool steamers 3%d 3Vd Freight Grain steamers London 4< 4? Freight, Cotton to Liverpool ct2 r_~ Wheat Chicago,Mar. delivery ^5 £ £ Com, Chicago, Mar. delivery 353/ S5? Turpentine, Savannah 52 53

BE WisE To-DAY. Sufferers from Gravel Lumbago, Pains in the Back, Dropsy and Wind* Water Complaints, Diseases of Kidneys, Bladder^ Urinary Organs, Stone, Ssciatica, Kheumatism, anc £ Gout will find a positive cure iu Haldroyd's Gravel Pills. Try sniail box > if not satisfied money mw turned. Is ljd all chemists. Post free 12 gtMwwS d's Medical HaJJ. Clecfcbeatcn, y

jarpoee3 of the grant the average attendance R shall be calculate'! according to the Code for the | m. beinsr. and not in accordance with the Code for Then it proposed to give guardians I 1 power to contribute to the expenses of pablic ele- | I menta-y schools wharc the expense was gnat. There was a farther provision relieving the I I parishes ia which there w%,s a Board school from r < contributing (a- they did now) twice over to the p i yoaug blind or deaf children in their district. | | There was powtL-g v_i to S;ho'I Board* to pay I ihe expenses oi: conveying c.'iiidren who wars I committed to industrial schools bat perhaps the t ino!iz impo?'iit clause was cne which amended 4 the IaN" relating to compulsory attendance at schools. First of all the maximum penalty was 1 raised trvm 5s to 20s, and the local authority was empowered to make oye laws raising the age from 13 to 14. Amongst other amendments of the 1 law thezb was a proposal to raise the attendaace tv certificate from 250 to 350. (HeM, hear.) I Tile Bill was btougb; in and read a first time. t BURIALS ACT. 1 Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY proposed } to introduce a BIU based upon tb.; recommenda- lion of a Commut e that sat in 1S98 in order to ■amend the form of the iiaiial^ Acts. The state ox the law had for several years been a vexed ques- tion, and time Committee had come to a sub- atantial agreement, and he thought it would be a (l great pity :f the House did not now sudeavoor to jettle the question. The Bill was re',u a first time. SEA FISHERIES ACT. Mr RITCHIE asked leave to introduce a Bill i to ate fed the Se:». Fisheries Act. He said is was ? Bill wli eh had bean already before the House ander a different name. The object of the Bill I to introduce a Bill based upon tb" recommenda- < lion of a Commut e that sat in 1S98 in order to mend the form of the iiaiial^ Acts. The state oi the law had for several years been a vexed ques- tion, and time Committee had come to a sub- atantial agreement, and he thought it would be a (l great pity :f the House did not now sudeavoor to jettle the question. The Bill was re,d a first time. '< SEA FISHERIES ACT. Mr RITCHIE asked leave to introdnee a Bill i to ate fed the S-A Fisheries Act. He said is was ? Bill wli eh had bean already before the House ander a different name. The object of the Bill jg} was to prevent tho destruction of small fish, in i accordance with the recommendation of a Com- mittee which rsported in 1890. Mr BUCHANAN: Does it pat any restriction Bpo:: !ra -vling '? Mr RITCHIE No, except the size of the fish, The Bill was read a first tirce. FINANCE BILL. The House having gone into Committee on the J I; finance Bill. ■j M- ) KEDMOND moved aa amendment to 1 ihe first clause with She object of exempting f Ireland from the increased daty on tea. The | Budget,if a fair one for Great Britain,was glaringly L anfair as regarded Ireland, becaase in Ireland I the direst taxation would be only 33 per cent., and the indirect taxation 67 per cent, of the £ whole, whereas in Great Btkain th3 proportions j B) were reversed. (Hear, h^ar.) ■ Stir SWIFT M ACNE ILL gave his support to | the amendment. L.t t hem not talk a.bout the L. svertaxatiou of the TJitlaaders of the Transvaal when the British Government were over-taxing l|: the starv.rg peasants of Ireland. j I Mr FLYN observed that the increase of 2d a ii. pound in the tea duty wonld produce ia Ireland j f, £ 250,000, which was a sta,rtlic.g sum to levy upon a. po veri v -stricken people. :• TheCSANCELLOKof the EXCHEQUER { iasid that the standpoint from which the sap- porters of the amendment approached the inatter so entirely different from his that he found ): it impossible to argue with them. They persisted ij hi treating Ireland m regard to questions of taxa- non as a separate conutry, wheverihe dealt with the question from the point of view of j the individual taxpayer irrespective of the part of the kingdom in which be lived. j ¡r W. HA.RCOUi"tT supported the clause andt r ihedntv, though it was apart of the Chancellor ■' of the Exchequer's proposals that he supported |; most unwiilingly, but it was a war tax. If it had | not been for the war they might have looked for |i the redaction in tne tea. duty rather than an ? j Increase, but this being a war tax it seemed to ? him essential that all classes of the community I ihomd contribute towards it. I.. Mr TV". KEDMOND vigorously protested against what he described as the bugandage of "orcinsj the \ery people who were most opposed to ihe war to pay an undue proportion towards the cost of ir." f f MrPINSEHTON demanded the removal of ihe incrca^ea duty on tea, and the imposition of more taxes upon intoxicants, in order to hit the peonle who had lore, i on toe war—the drunken patriots who cheered Jingo songs. (Gil.) Mr WM. JQHNSXO.N That is a slander upon Belfast. Mr PINKERTON The "Revenue retnrns tell their own story. ( cheers.) L The House divided, and the amendment was 1 y rejectc-d by 135 votes to 62. Another amut'Uinsnt to Clause 1 was defeated. The Committee divided, t-cd the claase was carried by 172 votes to CII). On Clause 2 Mr V/. KEDMOND proposed an amenameDt excluding Ireland from the addi- tionai duty of 4d per pound cpcn tobacco. t Sir W. HARCOUKT admitted that a tax of this kind feil with the greatest weight npon the poorest people, but the re were a large numbar of | poor in Engiaud as well as Ireland, and he could not how justice would be done o poor people in Esgiand by excluding Ireland from this tax. (Hear, bear,) A division was taken. with the result that the rf amendment was rejected by 210 votes to 56. ji Mr DILLON moved an amendment the effect £ of which was to leave the tobacco tax at its i present fig-are. 'J The amendment was negatived by 179 votes to 29, an the claase was ordered to stand part of the Bill. | Clause 3, dealing with the Customs duties on > beer, v/as ?iso agreed to, sfter which progress waa the Bill. ( Clause 3, dealing with the Customs duties on beer, v/as '0 agreed to, sfter which progress w., reported. Mr FIELD obtained leave to bring in a Bill to ji junsnd the Merchant Shipping Act, and it was f. introduced and rec.d a first time. The House adjourned at 25 minutes past 12 I j'clock.