The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

MR. BRADLAUGH AND THE OATH. ONCE more the question of Mr Brad- laugh's right to affirm or take the oath forms a subject of discussion everywhere. Having been duly re-elected for North- ampton, Mr Bradlaugh presented himself at the table of the House of Commons, on Tuesday night, to take the oath, but Sir Stafford Northcote, the leader of the Opposition, opposed the proceeding, and the members present, by a majority of thirty-three, decided against Mr Bradlaugh. A scene ensued, and the House adjourned. He again entered on Wednesday night, and had to be escorted outside the bar by the Sergeant-at-Arms. To Mr Bradlaugh's infidelity we are entirely opposed, but as he has been elected an M.P., we consider he should be allowed to take his seat in the House. It is difficult even to see what right the House had to question his eligibility to take the oath, so long as, on the platform of that assembly he does not avow his atheistic opinions. But as things have taken their present course we see no better solution of the difficulty than to allow people of Mr Bradlaugh's detested opinions the right to affirm instead of taking the oath of allegiance. In order to do that a short Bill will have to be introduced to Parliament. No doubt such a Bill will be strongly opposed by the wily Tories who desire to pose as champions of religious dignity, but it is bigh time that the last remnant of religious disqualification to a seat in a purely political assembly should be swept away. Dissenters, Catholics, and Jews have fought for, and obtained, liberty, and they must jealously guard against giving back to their political opponents one inch of the territory they have woe.

NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS. LET THERE BE PEACE AT HOME." This was the point of Lord Aberdare's moral to the members of the Mountain Ash Local Board on Monday. His lordship has been fighting his country's battles on the floor of the House of Lords and weighing and balancing the education question here, there, and everywhere; but where- ever he went he was haunted by the local papers containing reports which convinced him that the little local parliament at Mountain Ash, of which he is Prime Minister was full of turmoil, and his mind was uneasy. His opportunity came. There was a vacation in Imperial legislation, and there wended his way to the last named, evidently thinking that if the members failed to agree about the way to mend the roads they would divide on the question of who should be chairman, and he read them a lesson in his usual cool, calm, fatherly way. Said he, in effect — If dogs delight to bark and bite, Let there be peace at home; Where sisters dwell and brothers meet, Quarrels would never come." But the members had come to a subject upon which there was perfect unanimity, "and there was a great calm.' Once home peace policy had been declared, though, the Board commenced to look for new matters, and they determined to send out scouts to see if it is not possible to annex some portion of the coalfield of the Rhondda Fach Valley. It proves that they are a wide-awake lot of members, and other Boards had better keep an eye to Number One." PONTYPRIDD BUCKET HKK.ADK." A very ancient but useful institution of the town of Pwntypridd has been doomed Who can say too much in praise of the past services of the "Bucket Brigade" which has always been so useful at iires in Pontypridd, but its glory has departed, and the Local Board have come to the conclusion that it shall be superseded by a chemi- cal extincteur." In the town proper the new engine is intended to aid the reel and hose but outside, where the "Backet Brigade" had real work to do because the pipes could not be tixed, the engine is to stand on its own merits. The experiments made on Friday prove that even in the town it was absolutely necessary to have an engine of some kind, for the pressure of the water differs very much in various places. Of course, it may be said that the experiments were made on a Friday, when there is no pressure, but it is equally a matter of course that an outbreak of fire may take place on a Friday in any week. CARDIFF LIBERALISM VetSUS PONTYPRIDD TORPIDITY. In the town of Cardiff a man cannot easily pnmn without coming in contact with people who take an interest in the public questions of the day, and whatever shade may be his, political opinions he must somehow or other give them expression, so that his colours may be known. Sailing under false, or even neut. al, colours is an exceedingly difficult matter. Politics appear to enter into every branch of business, either directly or in- directly, and one turning a little in society cannot help feeling the spell of the political inspiration. But as for Pontypridd and ihe Rhon- dda Valley, one may travel the place for a month without hearing of the existence of a spirit of 'Liberalism. This is not consistent with the re- ligious and moral position of the neighbourhood. The district is overflowing with people who pro- fess to be followers of the martyr hosts who in times past fought the battles of liberty and paved j the way to religions and political freedom till I tyranny and oppression yielded to the power of jtublic opinion. The present race, however, do not reflect the honour of the pioneers who wore soiccessful in abrogating oppressing laws, such as The Test Act," "The Five Mile Act," The Con- venticle Act," &c. Every man of light and leading" should look upon it as a part of his duty to educate the people not only in the principles of religion, but also in the principles of citizenship aud politics in general. Man is certainly a re- ligious being, but Man's a man for all that," and he must to a greater or less extent act the part of a, "citizen of the world." We have before now sean a-working man in his fustian jacket addressin" art English assembly in a political meeting, pri^sido<i over Pl. M.P. who was supported by < some of the leading men of the day. We hope to hail the day when our colliers and miners shall be so well versed in the political questions of the day a" to be able to do the same thing. Let every newspaper reader rouse his felloworkman from lethargy till every one feels that he has an interest at stake in the election of every member of a Local Board, or a Board of Guardians, or a member of Parliament. A PRODIGIOUS KATKR. A WOMAK who was suffering from an incurable disease in America, has just starved herself to death, and it is probable that her relatives will be called to account for allowing her to do so. By way of contrast we may quote the following from the "Derby Mercury," for December, 12, 1745 :-The following account of the great quantity of meat and drink ate and drank by a boy of eleven years of age, son of a gentlewoman at Barnsely, was kept by herself by order of the doctors, who sent the same to Dr. Mead for his advice. He eats and drinks as much every day, and yet is so weak that be cannot stand alone, and is not perceivable to be either better or worse for the last two years; he cannot keep anything down above ten minutes. Thursday, October 11, 1744, beer, water and milk, 52 lbs. 4 oz.; bread, uieat, treacle and fruit, 171bs. 4 oz.; total 69 lbs. 8 oz, Friday, October 12, bread and meat 15 lbs. 14 oz.; beer, water, and milk, 41 lbs. 8 oz.; butter and sugar, 2 lbs.; total 59 lbs. 6 ox. The total on Saturday was 58 lbs. 8 oz.; on Sunday, 76 lbs. 8 oz on Monday, 58 lbs. 12 oz.; on Tuesday, 55 lbs. 8 oz. the quantity ate and drank in six days being 379 lbs. 2 oz. A READING ROOM FOR THE GREAT WESTERN (JOLLIKRY WORKMEN. We are very glad to learn from a report in another column that the employees in the above collieries are aiming at intellectual and moral improvement as well as at the Black Diamond. The officials are also worthy of praise for the en- couragement given to laudable efforts. We hope that the young especially among the mining popu- lation will avail themselves of the opportunities laid before them by the establishment of their library. The time wasted at the corners of streets and railings of the bridge can be advantageously employed in enriching their minds among the books and papers of the reading room.

A FIRE ENGINE FOR PONTYPRIDD. On Friday evening, 22nd inst., a special meeting of the Pontypridd Urban Sanitary Authority was held in accordance with a resolution of the previous board meeting for the purpose of considering the advisability of purchasing a fire engine for Ponty- pridd. Before entering into the question the members present, at the suggestion, of Mr Super- intendent Mathews, went on a tour of inspection over the town to see the hydrants and pipes and judge of their efficency, or rather inefficency to supply the hose with water in a case of an out break of fire in the town. Th ehose and reel were brought into use at the following places:—at the bottom oi ill-street, at St. Catherine's-str«et; at Market-Street, near Messrs Jones & Co's establish- ment; in Taff-sreet near Mr W. H. Key's shop; and iu High-street. The only place at which tne water was sufficiently powerful to be effective was at the Taff-street hydrant, In Market street, High-street, and St. Catherine-street, the firce was totally inadequate. At the Colliers' Arms, it was fair. These experiments having been concluded the Board proceeded to their offices at Mill-street to discuss the whole question of the fire-extinguish- ing apparatus. The chair was taken by Mr C. Bassett, and there were present: Messrs 1). Davies, A. Cule, U. J. Penn, W. Griffiths, R. Smyth, M. Cule, and D. Leyshon. All agreed that the present appliances were inadequate, and that an engine ef Mgffie^or V. a' chemical extinct'eur ToulT be purchased, and which would be the most suitable. Mr Superintendent Mathews, as head of the local fire brigade, gave his opinion in favour of the manual water engine. Ultimately, Mr D. Leyshon moved that the Board at its next meeting he ve comended to purchase Messrs. Sinclair's Chemi- ca Engine at £ 35. This was seconded by Mr D Davies. Mr Penn moved that a manual water engine at £80 be obtained, but the motion was not seconded. Mr W. Griffiths proposed that both a Wa^eM en8*ne anc^ a chemical engine be obtained an Mr Penn seconded the proposition. The pro- position and amendment were put to the vote, and Mr eyshon s proposal to have a chemical engine only was carried. The meeting then terminated.

READING ROOM FOR THE GREAT WESTERN COLLIERY. A mass meeting of workmen of the above .l0r?pWaS on evening of the 22nd inst. a e lypicca House, Hopkkistown, for the pur- pose of selecting a committee to arrange for the opening of a reading room. Mr Harrison, the 0 ,le^ ag0nt, was unanimously voted to preside, an a ter a few preliminary remarks, a committee consisting of 21 members was organized to carry out the resolutions passed at the meeling. It was also resolved that every person connected with the works contribute halfpenny each per week for its support. The committee met on the following Monday night when the following business was transacted: 1. Appointment of Officers—Mr Harrison, president; MrThos. Williams, (manager,) vice-president; Mr E. W. Randall, (under viewer ) treasurer; and Mr W. M. Jones, (surveyor,) secretary. 2. The choosing of papers &c. 3. The making and passing of rules for the proper management of the institution. 4. That everyone not connected with the colliery pay lid per week. 7. mat the rooms be open from 9.a.m to IO.p.m. ihe reading room will be open on Friday next at o o clock in the evening, when an entertainment will be given in connection with the institute. Several local artistes have kindly offered their services.

MOUNTAIN ASH LOCAL BOARD. The annual meeting of this Board was held on Monday, when there were present Mr T. Yeo (chairman), Lord Aberdare, Mr D. Coleman, Mr T. Edwards, Mr W. Prichard, Mr C. V. Gray, Mr E. Evans, Mr H. W. Martin, Mr W. Little, Mr. G. Jones, Mr L. Edmunds, and the Rev. J. Howells. All the new members signed their de. claration as to qualification. The chairman vacated the chair, and on the motion of Mr Edwards, Mr Little was voted to the chair p)-o tern. Captain Gray moved, and Mr W. Morgan seconded, that Mr T. Yeo, the late chairman of the Board, be re-elected. Lord Aberdare here remarked that he hoped there would be no opposition to the proposition before the Board, as the chairman should represent the whole Board. He was a constant reader of the local papers, and was sorry to see that the Board had re- cently very much divided. No amendment beino- pro- posed, Mr Yeo was unanimously re-elected. Mr Yeo in taking the chair thanked the Board for re-electing him, and also thanked Lord Aberdare for his kind remarks reepect^ng himself, and also with regard to the duty of the Board. The rating committee recommended a rate of Is in the £ to be levied in the district for the next six months. The total rateable value of the district was £ 55,160 17s but the bearing portion rateable on which the'rate would be levied was £33798. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Griftiths, it WfiS resolved that the surveyor be instructed to ascertain how near the Board's boundary coals were worked in the Rhondda Vach Valley. On the motion ot Mr Edwards, seconded by Lord Aberdare, it was resolved that the proposed public improvements in Commercial. street stand over for the present.

LLWYNPIA. PEXYGRAIG EXPLOSION FUND.-Per the Rev J. R. Jones, Llwynpia, £15 has been sent to the fund bv the members of the Llwynpia Steam Coal Sick Fund.

FA IRPLAY AND THE THEATRE. To the Editor of the Pontypridd Chronicle." SIR.-When a "D.D." set about the task of annihilating me I thought I should soon require another D.D. to pronounce peace to his pieces over me and my broken arguments. However, on reading his production, I felt assured that my friend was not an apostle specially gifted for des- troying the theatre or annihilating myself, but that he was only a self-elected, and not over- original, apostle, intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity." What an extraordinary mode of arguing (?) that was of his, to say that those of your readers who had not forgotten their English History would maintain that much of my previous letter was a concoction of my own fancy -especially as he did not in his first letter at any rate, refute a single point. At the outset I will frankly admit that D.D. appears to have had a more intimate knowledge of a certain class of theatres, actors, and actresses than I have, and the kind of people whom he has mixed up with seem at last to have sickened him and he fran- tically cries, The grapes are sour." I contend that the object of the drama is not to "set off vice by every charm with which it can be adorned but to hold the mirror up to nature," just in the same way as the Bible gives accounts of the sins as well as the noble acts-the vices as well as the virtues-of Old Testament characters. The very description the Treforest Doctor gives shows how accurately bad and good characters are shown up on the stage. Sobriety may be put out of coun- tenance and modesty langhed at by hot-lipped lechers who go to the theatre, the concert, the lecture, aye, and the church and chapel to feast their crocodile eyes on beauty and innocence but surely, my friend will not hold that the drama is !tccountable for that, any more than the lecture, song, or sermon. Of course, the theatre is not meant as a place to make men religious—it is simply a pUce of entertainment in the same way as the Opera, the concert, the eisteddfod, the lecture, &c, and a.t such a place it remains with an intelligent audience to put down oaths and curses, though it were better far that they should be uttered there than at a chapel dedicated to the Lord, and I have heard cutging in such a place more than once. Talk about words and phrases of double meaning! Why it was only at a neighbouring eisteddfod, hold at a chapel, not more than a fortnight ago, that I heard an innocent question asked by the chairman, but, like D.D., some of the youngsters thought they would give it a double meaning, and one of them shouted a double-meaning reply (an indecent one) which caused the beardless boys and giggling girls around him to roar with laughter. Yet the people who decry the theatre will take the funds of an eisteddfod, or even an amateur dramatic performance, to defray their chapel debts. Noble consistency There, certainly, you have a double. meaning—giving pleasure to the young people and profit to the clapel. BUt it is only where a theatre is so opposed by the religious bodies as to be obliged to pandir to the lowest tastes that there is a tendency to the bad—to the double-meaning, if you will have i— in the plays, and it is nothing but the chatter of irresponsible frivolity to say that the language of the majority of the plays acted is as bad is their sentiments. Where are Shakspeare, Sherian, Matthews, Toole, Irving, and a host of other as authors and actors ? Are they all, as D.D. wluld have them, black as hell itself ? Are their Wtrks as unhealthy as stench from the bottomless oit ? Common sense answers, No." Fairplay 8tyS, '• No." D.D., when he looks at it squarely,will say "No." Well, but the songs are foolish aid lewd persists my friend. Let us look at that agin, I pitch up I saw Esatkisaing Kate, And the factis we all three saw, For I saw Esu, he saw me, And she saw saw Esau D.D. will doubtless recogise his "country cousin" in that; but is there moreharm in those lines than in the glorious and soul-intnring hymn :— The Devil and me yg can't agree, He hates me and I hae he He had me once, but t) let me go, He wants me a^ain, ^bt I say no." some religious enthusiasts (1 eduction which offensively) sing with gusto:— mean it Kick the Devil around the stump, Glory Hallelujah Give him a kick at every jump, Glory, Hallelujah! Finally D.D. maintains that if some actors are not the brightest of characters the theatre must be bad and the arama rotten to the core. In reply I can ™ t 8a^, thf andiences do not necessarily make a, theatre bad, and that ungodly actors do not quite bring the stage down to their own level any more than an unruly set would make a chapel bad, or an ungodly minister bring religion down nn<Wn0M? i J' • • C°Uld brin* forward cases, unfortunately, of ministers who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ being found guilty of drunkenness and the grossest immorality, but no man in his *™Z\T 8Ey ™ *heir religion which made them so. They were bad naturally, and though there are bad actors and wicked theatre. goers it is not the theatre that has made them so I know a man now who goes to chapel, and if he hears an indifferent sermon will hold his head down out of sight in the pew; if a good one listen intelligently, until, as the plot is unfolded- The big round tears Coursed one another down his innocent nose In piteous chase." Then he will go out and walk in the counsel of the ungodly," and sit "in the seat of the scornful" at a public-house parlour, until urv• 8*^ starts home, drunk. Which is to blame—the man or his religion ? T™?' his religion! Then why should the theatre and the drama be blamed for the bad conduct of some of those who frequent the theatre P Nonconformists often make fun of the idea of consecrating a building or consecrating a bllriikl ground, yet, it seems to me that some of them repose an implicit belief in their own great consecrating powers, for when the dramatised parabie of the Prodigal Son is acted in a chapel they will go and listen to it on a Sunday afternoon and utter a solemn Amen" when the principal th I lY8 flU 5,8e and So to my father," but if the Shepherds of Bethlehem" wero acted at JNoakes theatre those same people would lift their bands upward. in pious horror. To go and see ? Ydfa P%ed at the plank and canvass theatre is a terrible sin, but to see Esther the Beautiful Queen acted to swell the chapel funds is not a sin. What is the difference ? Echo answers, What ?» If a well-known tall woman goes to the aniversary services at a Con- gregational Chapel it is a good sign, but if the same woman is seen going to the theatre at the Market Place people are warned to keep away from there. What is the difference ? I have no desire to use unjust language to an opponent, or I might call him "The Treforest Pet;" I will not cry Shoemaker stick to your last," for in these days of fre criticism in a free press, every man has a right to constitute himself the champion of anti. theatricals, Good Templar Skittle Alleys, or Coffee layerncard-playingj and I will not complain of the conceited way in which D.D. writes, for the theatre, he has attended have distorted his imagi. nation in such a manner as to make him see himself very great and everybody else small. I cannot trespass longer on your space this week, but I hope to deal in your next issue with D.D., JLeC°nd letter> and in th° Meantime let ushope that •' Jeremiah shall have had suffi- cient time to collect his thoughts so as to write on the subject and not treat us to a childish exposition of the word Theatre as he did in his last letter, which read more like "a half-penny book" than anything else. FAIRPLAY.

FAIRPLAY AND THE THEATRE. Jo the Editor of the Pontypridd Chronicle. SIR, As your correspondent D.D." expresses some surprise at "Fairplay" trying to-what he calls-" make foul appear fair," so, I, in common with many of your readers, am doubly surprised at his futile effort to make us believe that white is black," since he so malignantly sets up his back against anyone presuming to "persuade the people of the nineteenth century. Bigotry and narrow- mindedness from an integral portion of so many of our would-be teachers and critics, that I was not surprised in perusing the somewhat lengthy and disjointed epistle of "D.D." to find, that even so impartial a critic, as he would have us believe him to be, is also imbued with the common failing. It is not my intention to follow his letter through all its mazy windings. The bubblestwill burst without hurling stones at them. Suffico it to say that D.D." seems to have taken the dross from some petty plays, which he has not thought fit to enumerate, and after vividly colouring this scum, hurried to the conclusion-and he would have us agree with him-that dramatic representations "pervert the imagination" and "corrupt the morals of those who attend them." Were, what is known as the legitimate drama, so radically bad in its tendencies, as "D.D." would have us believe, I, for one, would join him in a 40Jrusade against the corrupters of morality, and perverters of imagina- tion; but, knowing full well that "D.D." has only analysed one side of the question and that impartially, and that side-the question is many sided—being only an iota in the factors of tragedy, comedy, and the drama, I am constrained to defend friends from the calumnies which "D.D." would heap upon them. Yes, the secret of D.D's" wrath is the man, not the work. Can any good come out of Nazareth ?" seems to be his cry from beginning to end. That he has been to see we infer from the fact of his reference to a swinish multitude," (I suppose he means the people, or some of them, of Pontypridd) which he saw issuing from the "wooden shanty." Argument has indeed sunk very low. and it must be a sorry cause, when its champion has to call his respec- table fellow-townsmen pigs. But this must be the effects of a perverted imagination." Why did not "D.D." soar higher and attack the "swinish multitudes" among them men of light and leading who nightly crowd our London theatres ? Why did he not include in his list of madcap hare-brains the names of Shakspere, Shelley, Sheridan, Fletcher, Beaumont and Tennyson ? Why has he made no reference to Irving, Toole, Bancroft, Neville, Warner, or Phelps ? Why, simply because it would have defeated his purpose to have done so. It is something to be thankful for, that the bark of such critics is worse than the bite. They bay at the moon, and bite at a file. A perfect judge will read each work of wit With the same Spirit that its author writ Survey the whole, nor seek slight faults to find Where nature moves aud rapture warms the mind." Trusting D.D." will digest the foregoing ere he again rushes into print, I ain> &c., ROMEO.

PONTYPRIDD. THE PENTBB THEATRE.—At the Pontypridd police-court, on Wednesday, (before Mr G. Wil- liams, Stipendiary, Messrs. T. Joseph, F. R. Crawshay, and Dr. Leigh), a license was granted on the application of Mr W. Williams, solicitor, to Mr S. Noakes, to carry on theatrical performances at Pentre Mr D. Rosser appeared on behalf of the Pentre Good Templars, and about 25 churches and chapels to oppose the application. BOARD OF GUARDIANG.-The first meeting of the new Board of Guardians for the Pontypridd Union was held at the Workhouse on Wednesday after- noon. There was a very large attendance. On the motion of Mr Gwilym Williams, seconded by Dr Leigh, the Rev. D. W. Williams was re.elected chairman. Dr Leigh proposed, and Mr Thos. Morgan seconded, that Mr Josiah Lewis be re- elected second board vice-chairman. This resolu- tion was heartily endorsed, as was the next resolution proposed by Mr A. Cule, and seconded by Mr Thos. Thomas, that Mr T. Williams, Glog, be elected first board vice-chairman. The list of the elected members was then formally read, and committees appointed. Mr Josiah Lewis moved, Mr A. Cule seconded, and it was agreed, that Mr. William Rees, one ef the old committee members, should be superseded by Mr E. Edwards. A letter was read from the Local Government Board, intimating that they would shortly issue an order for a special election for the parish of Llantwit Vardre. The treasurer's balance was said to be £ 2,641 9s 2d. The Clerk (Mr Spickttt) laid before the Board the memorial of the Guardians of the Saifurd union, In favour of abolishing the office of overseer of the poor. Mr D. D. Joseph gave notice of a motion That a business agenda be sent to each Guardian before the meeting. Mr Thomas Jones gave notice also that at that period he would move the appointment pt an asylum visiting committee. ABOV^ WONNO SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting of the pridd, was held at the Vestry Hall, Ponty- chairm&n, Se.^7th. Present: Mr T. Edwards, c alrmh n, .l\e.. Rev. T. P. iVH- Protheroe, Rev. G. Thomas, Edwards, T. Be van; Messrs. D. Matthias, D. Jones, Idris Williams. Jo8«jh, D. Evans, J. W. of the two previous nieet.Clerk refd t^e m^otes confirmed. The leport of th*& a subsequently and clerk was read by whioh fetendanc« oflicei deficiency of accomodation to the T^r of 75 exists in the neighbourhood of Perth. of providing accomodation at Porth was ^Xred to the next meeting of the Board. On the motion of Rev. G. Thomas, seconded by Mr Edwards, it was resolved to appoint a building committee to be composeti of the following members, Mr Matthias, nf th»rZ™*D' aDd Idri8 WiUiams- The motion ke^rmT'°d,rntinae the Infant Sch°o1 WirS 1 u 18 d at fcho Assembly Hall, drawn Th by ?avieB and Sons, was with- drawn. The motion of Mr Edwards, desiring the LlS™°f u Board t0 rele#se the parish of Llanfabon from being contributary to them was deferred to the next Board meeting. It was resolved that a foot-bridge be built art Navigation IZ lTVlDWaue °f Chi,dren attending school, Build in!? r W°fk 1,6 legated to the w?thonTrf«?°MMIA F!.T0 HAYE THE BRIDE° erected without delay. A letter was considered from Mrs Rees, Pontypridd, asking for compensation for vr nn?S "!Cy1VL ,to her child bJ the falling of the Mill-street School Bell. The matter was referred to the managers of Pontypridd Schools. It was untifetht° dhferi "T P°la,m °f tb° late «urveyor until the school at Penrhiwceibr be completed. Reading of correspondence, and reports of school managers, and finance committee occupied the remainder of the time of the Board. BOOTS and Shoes for the million, at Geo. Oliver's, 80, Taff-street, Pontypridd. Sale prices for 21 days longer.

YNYSYBWL. ♦hA uKW wa" commenced on Monday on the Monaehty Estate Ynysybwl, formerly the property of the late Mr Gomer Williams. It is also currently mmoured that the eminent ironmasters^ iiU»«"»»» on their Glyn M«nych, C.ibyndu, and Vanheulog ESEZSfi the D6W railWa-V i8 anciently advanced to convey materials, which is said on the in J ™ COmpleted to their property m eight weeks. There is no doubt as to the exis- tence of the celebrated No.3 Rhondda underlying the whole valley.

LLANTWIT FARDRF. DEATH OF AN OLD INHABITANT.—Last week, Wm" Howell, of Dyffryn Dowlais, died at the age of 79. He had only been ailing for about a week. His funeral took place on Saturday, when a large number of friends accompanied his remains to Salt m Baptist chapel burial-ground. The Rev. J. Williams, Treforest, preached on the occasion. Our departed friend spent the greatest part of his life at Cymmer, Rhondda Valley, where he worked as a collier. But by dint of industry, and per- severance, he accumulated a comparatively large amount of monoy, which enabled him some ten years ago to purchase the farm called Dyffryn Dowlais, which has been the residence of the family since.

PORTH. SAD CASE OF DROWNING. —On Thursday last a sad case of drowning occurred in the Rhondda River, at Porth. It appears that while a little boy named George Bedell Morgan aged 5 years whose parents reside at Jenkins Street, Porth, was playing aloncon the river side, he fell in, and before assistance arrived was drowned.

TREORKY. LECTURE.—On Thursday evening at the Bethania Congregational Chapel, under the presidency of the Vicar of Ystradyfodwg, and to a large and appreciative audience, the Rev. Joseph Cook the Boston Lecturer, delivered a very interesting lecture on Does Death end aU." i

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MoRDAT. The House re-assembled to-day after the Easter Recess.—Lord R. Grosvenor gave notice that on Mon- day week Mr. Gladstone would move an address to the Queen praying her Majesty to cause a monument to be erected in Westminster Abbey, at the public expense, to the memory of Lord Beaconsfield.—On the motion for the second reading of the Irish Land Bill Mr. Gibson denounced the measure as the most confueed and confusing that had ever been presented to ths House; it was obBcure, involved, vague, uncertain, and often unintelligible. In those parts of .the bill that dealt with the occupation and tenure of land in Ireland the confusion was appalling. The right hon. gentleman proceeded to criticise various portions of the measure, and invited the Government to elucidate their meaning where obscure.—Mr. Wharton moved the adjournment of the House to enable the Government to make up their mmds on the points referred to by Mr. Gibson.—Mr. Glad- stone objected to the adjournment, and explained that the Government had been in consultation with the law officers on the points raised.—Sir S. Northcote maintained that the House was en- titled to an explanation on the qaartious mooted, and if the Government were not prepared to give it, let the debate be adjourned until they were able to do so. -Sir W. Harcourt argued that, as Mr. Gibson had denounced the measure as one of confiscation, he should have moved its rejection. Instead of this being done, however, the Opposition had commenced "the tactics of judicious adjournment* Let them know whether the majority of the House was in favour of a policy of obstruction.—Sir R. Gross warmlyprotested against the insinuation thus conveyed, and in the event the motion for the adjournment of the debate was withdrawn, but a motion that the House adjourn was immediately tnade.-Mr. Forsfcei intimated that the Government were willing to give the desired explanation, but they must take time for doing so.—The motion having been withdrawn, the right hon. gentleman proceeded to reply to the criticisms of Mr. Gibson. The most important of these, as the Speaker understood it. was on the as- sumption that the Government definition of a fair rent implied that the value of tenant-right was to be carved out of the existing rent. "That," Mr. Fonter declared amid cheers from the Opposition, "would be manifestly unfair," and he could not conceive how it could be arrived at in a dispassionate ¡otudy of the wording of the clause. On the other main question of what compensation was to be provided for land- lords, he shewed how in various ways the operation of the bill would, by improving the value of their pro- perty, compensate landlords.—The debate was then adjourned, and the House soon after rose.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS. Lord Norton in a letter to the Timtt raises the ques- tion of abolishing the distinction between reform* atories for juvenile convicts and Industrial schools for those whom the law considers in danger of entering the criminal ranks from the absence of proper domestic supervision. He condemns that distinction as the fruit of a mischievous tendency iu minds devoted to a special subject to refine. When a child old enough to be responsible violates the law, Lord Norton would punish him. Unless on the face of things the child's conduct be traceable to domestic inability to keep a him honest, Lord Norton would return him to his natural guardians. if the character of the home be manifestly related to the behaviour of which a magistrate has been forced to take cognisance, Lord Norton, though he would, as now, remove the child from an incompetent dis- cipline, would mix with such a course no penal impu- tation. In respect of the child, he would have the schooling regarded as simply the bounty of the State.

ALLEGED MURDERS. Isaac Brittan, a sub-contractor under the local board of St. George's, near Bristol, has been arrested on a charge of murder. Whilst intoxicated Brittan vio- lently assaulted his wife, and this fact having got abroad a number of boys congregated outside his house, and on his appearing commenced hissingat and jeering him. Amongst the boys was one named John Holly, aged 15, who, on running away up a narrow lane, was pursued by Brittan, who had previously seized a hockey-stisk from one of the other boys. In going through the lane Holly ran against a cart, and was thus knocked down. At this moment Brittan came up with him, and kicked the lad in the stomach so violently that the blow lifted him bodily from the ground. He was taken home and a doctor sent for, but after suffering intense agony he died next morning. Another report states that Brit- tan knocked Holly down with the stick before kicking him. At the Southwark police-court, London, James Laver, 26, a labourer, has been charged with causing the death of Lydia Came, with whom he had lived. Her death arose from injuries caused either by falling down a flight of stairs, or being knocked down them, and the evidence given was not sufficient to prove which was the actual fact. The case was adjourned.

RAID UPON A BOARDING-HOUSE. A week or two ago the screw steamer North, owner and captain Samuel Peter, arrived in the Victoria Docks, London, from Calcutta. A large proportion of her crew consisted of Lascars and Chinese, who bad signed articles for the double voyage, but shortly aft<T reaching the dock a number of the Asiatics, who had received a considerable advance on their wages, left the vessel, and although every effort was made to discover their whereabouts, for some dayoi nothing could be seen or heard of them. At last the "serang," or boatswain of the Asiatics, re- turned to the vessel, and after expressing contrition avl for having gone away without leave, informed the captain that the rest of the men were at the house of a well known crimp and boarding-master in Lime* J^use-causeway. In consequence of this information, f Peter, acting on magisterial advice, applied 1 police for assistance under the provisions ot tne Merchant Shipping Amendment Act to enaoie niu. to recover his men and to send them on to Glasgow, -*rherej in the meantime, the ship h*d gone. Two otuera antj a body of men of the K divi- sion accordingly ^companied Captain Peters to the master of which denied having a °j musmg m«i on his premises. The police entered one of the rooms,,here &ey {ound two £ f tha men smoking opium. The. wer8'at once secured. Other rooms were then eu<re(i, but the alarm had reread, and the unwtjin» Asiatics had to dragged from under beds and ta^es, behind cup- boards, &c.in fact, from every ,not which had seemed likely to afford a hiding placTi^ the sM matters assumed a very threatening aspeu. A crowd of Chinese, Malay, and Lascar seamen had eol. lected, and it was feared a rescue would be attempted. The police, however, succeeded in getting the men to Broad-street railway station, where they wtre placed in the train under guard, and started on their way to Glasgow to rejoin their ship. This is believed to be the first oase under the new Act in which men have been taken out of a so-called board. ing-house and banded over to their employers.

PERFORMANCE OF "ESTHER" AT PONTYPRIDD. "C On Thursday two performances, of the above opera were given in character at the Market Hall The following are the characters represented: Jews: Queen Esther, Misa L. Williams; Maids of Honour, Miss M. Powell and Mrs. J. Edwards* Mordecai, the Queen's Uncle, Mr D. D. Hughes • Mordecai's Sister, Miss E. Gronow j Prophetess.. Miss M. Jenkins; Prophet, Mr T. Williams High Priest, Mr T. Davies; Hegai, Mr E. Llewelyn. Persians: King of Persia, Mr Anthony Griffiths; Haman, the Prince of the Realm, Mr James Chick Zeresh, Hainan's Wife M hs R James Her Attendenta,tMiaa J. Morgan and Miss L. John: Harbona, Mr J. Edwardl; King's Scribe, Mr E. Richards; Herald, Mr D. Williams; Guards, Mr M. Davies, Mr J. Williams* Mr H. Davies, and Mr L. Williams; Jewish Maidens, Miss C. Davies, Miss D. Williams, ){Î18 A. Jones, and Miss E. Morgan; King's Pages Master J. T. Llewelyn, and Master E. Williams • Queen's Pages, Master E. Williams, and Master W. Huntley. Instrumentalistrc Solo Violin Mr E. T. Roberts, Cardiff. Solo Cornet, Mr T. Edgley, Newport. Contra Bass, Mr T. Whitp* Cardiff. Piano, Mr W. H. Mills, Pontypridd! Harmonium, Mr W. A. McMunay, Pontypridd" The choir numbers about 50 voices. In addition to which there is a child, en's chorus containing children picked from the Mill Street, Graig, and Coedpetmien Board Schools. The different characters in the opera were so well rendered that we could scarcely believe our own eyes that we were in the presence of young local artistes. Young men and young women who had never before taken part in such performances. We -.L ",W" congratulate Messrs. ttughes Brothers for the noble discovery of so much talent in our neigh- bourhood. We never before had any performance or concert without the aid of professionals. And we do not hesitate to affirm that some portions of this sacred cantata were better rendered by far than some we have heard by these paid artistes. If the different congregations in tJie neighbour- hood are alive to their interest they will enoourage and cultivate every talent among their people and utilise the some to secure funds for their general objects. I he fact of it man being a stranger is not of itself sufficient to prove that he ;8 talented neither doi s the fact that he is well known prove him to be deficient of genius. Theie was a fair aitendanco in the aftornoon bnt in the evening the spacious market hall was crowded, nnd the sight was the most imposing we ever witnessed.