The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

LETTERS from Tlirace describe a sad condi- tion of things ia what was recently one of the most prosperous |>arts of the Ottoman Kmpire. Until lately the ilistriets round Kirk-Killise, a town of some 20^000'inhabitsMs about twenty- ffve milesfrom Adf ianople;1 itvcl udinir Seopos and Skepaston, with a population of 5.000 and 4,000 respectively, have produced immense quantities of excelje^ty re<l wine which was -either sold to Bordeaux, merchants or imported into Eastern JRoumeiia, But the French now 41 manufacture" tliei* owr*iow-priced wines, and the high tariff set up by the Bulgarian Govern- ment has excluded thS-produce of Turkish vineyards. To sell tiitf Wine in Turkey has -always been impossible, ijtfiiuty has to be 'paid 'On home-grown wines wli £ 'u .shipped'front or landed in a port of the empire, besides the Iheavy perquisites exacted by the ill-paid ser- vants of the Government «>Consequently the ■whole of last year's vintage remains unsold, and excellent wine can be bought on the spot at 3d. per gallon. ■»——

A LABOUR registry which in one year deals with nearly 60,000 applications of one kind or another at a total -cost! for working expenses of £ &7Q deserves respectful notice) But it may be 4oubted Aether the main features of, the Stuttgart registry described byMr. Conyngham 'Greene are capable of reproduction here in England. In 1887 the society answered 44,617 inquiries from workmen respecting the condi- tions of labour elsewhere; the bulk of the applicants being, we are told, not ordinary labourers, but "artisans and men engaged in special branches and handicrafts." In England it is safe to say that much the larger proportion of this class would bef members of their trade Society, and, as trade unionists, woald naturally mely on the very full reports prepared and tir- culated monthly by the if own sbciety rather than on information to be obtained from out- siders, however benevolent and however intelli- gent Bat the Stuttgart institution also dealt with 13,702 applications for and. from work- men and on this business it charged a maxi- mum agency fee of 2d. for one application, and even this, in tba case of the workmen, is after- wards refunded, either wholly or in parix Perhaps the best lesson we can learn from the report is the necessity of organising new ven- tures in charity on a modest scale, and not handicapping them at the outset.with elabor- ate plant and heavy working expenses.

As this is the age of Jubilees, it is surprising that no one has proposed to celeb Rite the com- pletion of fifty years of steamship communica- "ttol1 between. this country and America. It wottld. be u-vw-styiti,what too late to organise .any festivities in connection with that great -event, and after ;a|l they could cphsist of little mere tlujw a dinner, with speeches appropriate to the occasion for an exhibition-of the Atlantic fit6a n?hips of 1838 and of 1888* would be im- pra :ticab!e. The Sirius, a i-tcauisliip, •left Cork on the fourth of Apt if, 1838, and the ateamer Great Western set out from Bristol iour days later; but they both arrived at New York on the saint day. The commander of the Sirius, Captain Roberts, watt luted to meet -with an untimely end three years later, for it was he who commanded the steamship Presi- dent, which disappeared on her voyage from New York to this country, and like the base- less fabric" alluded to in the "Tempest left not a wrack behind." It is interesting to re- call that the President had but twenty-hine passengers on board—a. contrast to the number usually carried by an Atlantic steam liner in these days. When last seen by Captain Cole, of the Orpheus* who sailed at the same- time, the doomed steamship was inidway between Nantucket Shoal arid St. Gaorge's Bank, and .abe was labouting heavily in atremendoaasea. It is pretty certain that she did not weather that heavy storm.

THE Foreign Office i* not, always in a' hurry -to publish official papers that are intended to be made public. Among the Parliamentary papers which have just been issued we find a copy of the convention between this country and the-United States for the extradition of criminals. This convention was signed nearly two years ago, and it has only no & been made public along with the dispatch which Lord Kosebery wrote to Her Majesty's Minister at Washington when forwarding the text of the convention. We must assume that there have been adequate reasons for so long postponing the publication of this dispatch, with the terms the agreement between the two Governments regarding the extradition of criminals; but those reasons are not apparent to the lay mind. The object of the convention in question, was to extend the scope of the tenth- article of the Treaty of 1842 so as to embrace certain crimes which that article did not specify and it was .agreed between Lord Rosebery and Mr. Phelps, -&s plenipotentiaries appointed for the purpose, to make this extension. Few people, we Imagine, will be inclined to doubt the propriety of' the agreement thus arrived at The crimes not mentioned in the Act of 1842, but now brought within the category of those involving extradition are (1) manslaughter, (2) burglary, (3) embezzlement or larceny of the value of fifty dollars or ten pounds and upwards, an/1 {4) malicious injuries to property whereby the life of any person shall be endangered, if such injuries constitute a crime according to the laws of both the high contracting parties. Any person, therefore, who now commits any of these crimes, and escapes from England to America, or from America to England, will be properly subject to extradition laws. But another article of the convention provides against the surrender of any fugitive criminal whose offence is of a political character, or if he can prove that the requisition for his sur- render is made with the object of punishing him for a crime of a political nature. It will thus be seen that, while surrender is provided for on account of ordinary crimes, precautions are taken to prevent the convention from being used as an instrument of political oppression. .There would really be no danger of such use, or abuse, of the convention, but the fact that it is specifically guarded against affords In indication of the spirit in which the agreement was negotiated. • i ———————,

A telegram from Buenos Ayres states that the premium on gold there has Mien to 44'25 per •cent ..¡. The new baths at Hootle, which have been erected at a eosb of £ 13,500, have been duly opened by the Mayor, Alderman Howard. The other morning a prisoner escaped from Loughrua Gaol by piling up tables until he was able to reach the top of a twenty feet wall Part of a small boat haa been washed ashore at Allouby, Cumberland. It is believed to be a portion of the smack Agnes, of Mary port, and that her crew of two have been drowned. Bishop Donelly writes to the Irish Times, declar- ing that the sontitneuts atttibuted to him are entirely erroneous. He never advocated the Plan of Campaign. Manitoba is the destination decided upon by the Government for such crofters as may elect to take advantage of the subsidy proponed to be granted in aid of t heir emigration from the Highlands and islands of Scotland. According to a Sydney telegram, M. Pasteur's method for the extirpation of the rabbits is to be put to the tost on an inland selected for the pur- pose, the other proposed remedies being tried at the same time. Richard Hughes (18), labourer, has been found guilty of breaking and entering the shop of John Harwood, at Liverpool, and stealing two boots. He was sentenced to fifteen calendar months' hn- prisonment. John Bennotb, a oollier, residing at 3, Bryn- street, Ashton, was somewhat the worse for drink, And in endeavouring to got upstairs to bed lie ^tumbled and fell, causing concussion of the brain, from which he died. Sir John Gorst has written to a constituent that the proposed addition of twenty per ccnt. to publi- cans' licences will only be imposed when a licence is taken uway in a district. It is stated that Sir James Fitzjames Stephen was robbed of a gold watch worth jE35 while the anti-wheel tax procession Was passing Hyde Park the other afternoon. Some riotous demonstrations have occurred at Brisbane to protest against the admission of Lttinese labour into Queensland. Several shops occupied by Chinese were attacked by the mob, and eotno wrecked. George Dickson (27), labourer, has been sentenced to eighteen montlis' hard labour, for having, at Bootle, broken into the dwelling-house of James Hutchinson, and stolen two silver spoonts, a feilver brooch, and other articles. The other morning, while a collier named George Cross wart descending the shaft of No. 4 Pit, SII. Helens, belonging to the Rainford Coal Company, he slipped out of the cage and was instantaneously killed. Michael Conroy (18), labourer, previously con- victed, pleaded guilty to having stolen, at Liver. pool, a drawer and 3s. 4d., belonging to Joseph Garner. He was sentenced to twelve months' hard labour. James Kirby was hanged in Tralee Gaol the other morning for the murder of Patrick Quirke, at Liscahane, near Ardfort, Kerry, on the 8tb November lust. The murder was of an agrarian Joseph Henry Dyer (24), butcher, pleaded guilty to bigamy, oommitbed at Manchester, on June 22, by marrying Sarah Jane Jackson, while his lawful wife WHO alive. He was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. It was discovered the other morning that a burglary had been committed at Chapman's Vege- tarian Restaurant, corner of Stan ley-street and Dale-street, Liverpool. Between £4 and t5 worth of spoons and forks were abstracted. James Conway (19), labourer, pleaded guilty to stealing, at Liverpool, two pairs of boots, the property of Casper Charles Nathan. He also pleaded guilty to previous convictions, and was sentenced to nine calendar months' imprison- ment. A Now York telegram reports a terrible explo- sion on the Philadelphia and Reading Railway, near Forest Gap, Pennsylvania, by which much Eroperty was wrecked aNd eight persons were urned bo death. At the adjourned meeting of the Hull and Barnsley Railway Company it was announced that the motion to proceedwith the bill incorporabing a working agreement with the Midland Railway Company had been lost by 3,991 votes. The Liverpool steamer Benison reports having been in collision with the large freight steamer Eureka, which sank soon afterwards. TheEu-reka carried a crew of eighty, all bold, and nothing was seen of them after the collision. Delhi and Moradahad, in India, have been visited by a territic hailstorm, in which it is reported that a hundred and fifty persons were killed. Some of the hailstone* are alleged to have weighed two jtonnds, resembling melons in size. Edward Day (33), labourer, pleaded guilty to having, at Liverpool, stolen a coat and cap, the property of Jeremiah Macdonuld, a fellow-labourer, with whom lie was working on board the same ve-wel in dock, lie was sentenced to twelve calen- dar months' imprisonment. The Afghan, with bhe Chinese emigranbs on board, has arrived in Port Jackson from Melbourne. The Chinese vessel Tsi Nam has also arrived, bringing 133 Chinamen. The police have pre- vented their landing, pending the final decision of the Government in the matter. General Boulanger has been elected municipal councillor for the Tulle department of Correze, his election being determined by the spontaneous ac- tion of the workmen in the arms factory in the town, who all voted for the General without any solicitation from outside. The White Star steamer Baltic, which left Queenstown the other (Jay with 300 emigrants, has returnee to repair damage, having had her valve spindle carried away. The repairs occupied eight hours, after which the Baltic proceeded on her voyage. At the Warrington Police Court, Samuel Strin- ger was ordered to pay the costs for working a horse which was in an unfit state.-Albert Ather- ton and James Newton were also summoned for working a mare which was lame. The summone was dismissed. Upwards of twenty vessels of various classifica- tions and sizes, at presenb in reserve at Chatham are ordered to be disposed of by private contract). The powerful armoured ship Sanspareil, built by the Thames Shipbuilding Company, is ordered to be sent to Chat/ham to be completed for sea. An inquest has been held in London on the body of a midwife named Louisa Mary Blake, who was described as the greabeeb chloroform baker in the world," her dose being sometimes a pint a day. She had died while under tho influence of the drug, and a verdict to that effect was returned. A Shanghai telegram states that the French squadron in the Eastern seas had received sudden orders to rendezvous at Yokohama and proceed under scaled orders to an unknown destination. A Paris telegram, however, emphatically denies this statement. Prudence Painter (22), a married woman, wot residing apart from her husband, pleaded guilty to having, at Manchester fraudulently retained a Eosb letter containing a bank cheque for £ 4 19s. Td. tis Lordship said the circumstances were such that lie would only order the prisoner to come up for judgment when called upon. At the forbnighbly meeting of the Congleton Board of Guardians, Dr. Fox, the medical officer of health, congratulated the board upon the fact that that was the only union in the district where smallpox had not broken out. In the Northwich and other unions in Cheshire the rural sanitary authorities had been much bothered with the disease. Sanil. Skelling (18), painter, and Richard Barnes (19), scaler, pleaded guilby bo having sbolen, at Liverpool, two jacltebs, the property of George Hague. Skelling, who had i been previously con. vicbed, was sentenced to nine calendar months' imprisonment; and Barnes, who had previously ) borne a good character, to one month's imprison- ment. The other night Mr. Sbolces, farmer, of Halton, near Runcorn, was driving in histrap near Dares. < bury, when the horse stumbled, and Mr. Stokes was thrown out on to the road. He alighted on bis head, and was very seriously injured. He was ai, once taken to the" Warrington Infirmary, where lie at preeent lies in a critical condition. Patrick M'Garry (20), labourer, has been sen- tenced to eighteen months' hard labour for having unlawfully and maliciously damaged to the extent of x4 4s. Id. a window, the property of William Barrett, Liverpool. The learned judge expressed regret that he was nob able to sentence the pri* soner to be whippod, as he had been frequently j convicted, and he waa a great nuisance t6 j society.

CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opiaivhs of our correspondents.] SUNDAY COKCKRTS AT PONTYPRIDI). To the Editor of the Chrmrcli. —I crave space is your valuable paper to "b(lld up to judgment" a matter which should, at the present moment in p&iticulsr, engage the most serious attention of till true Chrifttians who ha.ve at heart the smallest inkling rf resoect for t; e glorious sanctity of the 8abbath feaj. I refer to an occurrence which, if eooouraged, and allowed to deVelepe into a prxetice. will form a dangerous precedent for the violation of an institution which 18 as ancient as it is sacred and soul-inspiring. On Sunday evening last scores, yea hundreds, of persons could be seen wendiug their way towards Howard's Hall at Powtypridl, where a "aacred" ec-neert was anaOnneed to be given by an itinerant company of operatic lingers. The hall was soon crowded with an audience the composition of whieh I should like to be permitted tu si-al.) se. Well, I have obtained sufficient infor- mation on this score to meet the requirements of oty oontention. The large majority of those p-esent consisted of that vacillating and indifferent "lIulk óind rabble" class of young people who cure little whether they go to any plaoe of worship at all on Sttodays, and eare less as to what particular (Tttorcu or chapel they perchance frequent. There were certainly a few more respectable" persons present, but unfortunately there is a tendency ttraongst a certain section of society in the present day to observe the fashion" of ooaeentratiag tho ^h^bvof. th<»ir devotional duties into one solitary tiotIni06 on Sahday morbing, and they may da What they think proper with themselves daring the emainder of the day. To attend divine worship more than once a week is to them not fashionable It cannot, therefore, be woadered at if they should he found patronising the proceedings of music- halls O" Sunday evenings. There were a few, however, present whom I should lika to have seen conspicu- ous by their abeenoe. 1. intimate connection with various plaees of worship in the town would have been better marked by an example which would tend to stamp ont, rather than foster. an innovation which will doubtless, prove pernicious aud sacrilegious in its effect. Having alluded to the natnre of the audience present on Sunday evening, I may ask what was the ftbjeot ol the promoters in giving the entertainment ? Waa it a pore desire to afford treat of sacred music to the pnblij, or wss it for the baser purpose of monetary gain P If the former, then I am sorry to think that the congregational singing of our churches or chapels bas(sefar degenerated in quality and efficiency that the rendering c-f the same cannot affoid hal- lowed gtatification,to the hearer; but if the latter, them it is far more regrettable that an audience of professing Christians should be fonnd willing to encourage a travelling group of theatrical perfor- mers to do a "roaring trade" on the strength of [heir alleged desire to afford a treat of socn class "f music. I hope, wir, a!l ministers of religion will take up the matter, and dejonnoe it with a consci- entious earnestness worthy of their high and rever- ent calling. 1 devoutly hope, air, that the day has not yet dawned in Christian England and Wales when in. novations such as tbeee (intended, I assure y)n, for no laudable purpose, and harmless as they may appear in their infancy) will be tolerated by the i-e< pie. Under the sheep's clothing of "sacred" cot oerts lurks, I teel convinced, the raving wolf of Sabbath secularised and Sabbath profaned, even- tuating in worldly soenes as cabimitable to our enviable national character for religion and piety as che French Derby and the Spanish bullfight. I am, sir, yoars truly, ♦SABBATARIAN." Pontypridd, May 8, 1888. <?

THE LATE EIST.EDDFOD AT PORTH. To the Editor of the Chronicle. Sla,-Kindlyallow me space in your valuable paper to contradiot a few statements m'ide by certain youug men at Tonyrefai 1, who ran away with the idea that wherever they take, part in a compe- tition they will rank high above their rivals. The facts are these :-0. the 25th of April an eistedd- fod was held at the English Baptist Chapel, Pwth, where a prize of d62 was offered to a party of vocalists who beat rendered "Y Ffrwcl." Five -hoirs, or parties, competed, and the adjudicator, Mr John John (Alawydd). Pontypridd, awarded tne prize to the Porth choir. No one disputed the iwpartial decision of the adjudicator, but the dieput,e,is as to which of the partieis from the abovd place would have been entitled to a second prize had there been one..However, there was no second pi ize, therefore the other competitors had to be satisfied on being second in the contest. and only one of the remaining four could figure thus accord- ing to the adjudication. The chief topic of conversation for the last few days is concerning the parties which had been competing for the above prize; the "Exoelsior" party wished to claim the superiority over the Welsh vocalists- both were from Tonyrefail—although the adjadi cator, in his award, clearty pointed out that the singing of the first three parties (tbe Excelsior party being included in that number) ieminded him of street organs. They had imitated the nurdy-gurdy most completely. Such a oompliment did nut give much credit to their singing, that is to say, the first three parties lacked all the good qualities the adjudicator expected to find in the ringing of suck a popular glee as the Ffrwd." Now, such plain speaking is clear to evety unpre- jadiced mind that neither of the first three parties achieved great credit in the singing they had rendered. The adjudicator said that the singing was not worthy of praise until the fourth and fifth party sung, and that he would award the prize to the,fifth party. It is quite evident that the fourth was the second best, and to prove that the following is a copy of a letter received from Mr John. PODtypridd, May 1, 1888.-Dear Sir,- I beg to confirm my statement, as I answered some one that enquired for such information, that the fourth choir was second best. I still maintain the same decision.—Yours truly, JOHN JOHN." I The reason of the above letter being published is that the Excelsior" party disbelieved the state- ment of tbe person referred to iu the adjudicator's letter. I sincerely hope that those who are second iu merit will strive to tell the truth, whatever may be the result. I also trust that the Excelsior" party will follow in their footsteps. I am a lover of uiusio, and am delighted to see young men cultivating their musical talents,but let everybody adhere to the truth before music. 1 detest those j who will stoop so low as to apply base falsehood as a cloak to deceive the public into believing that they are ia fact what they are not. I trust that the Excelsior" party will get the word truth" painted on their banner before they climb any higher. I may here say that the fourth party were Welsh vooalists. I am, Ac., A LOVER OF TRUTH

A chief of the Utah Indians on his deathbed, recently, requested his brother to kill, at his burial, one Pi eae woman, to strangle two Pi-ede girls, bury alive one Pi-ode boy, and kill sixty horse* und six sheep as a sacrifice, that he mij^ht pass in peace to the happy hunting erounds of tho Indian. A man out West, Who married a widow, has in- vented a device to cure her of eternally praising her fbrmer husband. Whenever she begins to descant on his noble qualities bliis ingenious No. 2 j merely says, Poor.dear^ won!

KMDDA JOTTINGS. (BY KAMBt-ttt.) Some time since a suggestion was made that a public park was needed in this valley, and I thought at the time arrangements wonld have been made to adopt the scheme forthwith. However, hitherto the idea has lain in oblivion, as I have not heard anything that tendfc to substantiate tbe fact that the noble idea is likelv to move farther in the direction of re&li> I tion. Many thousands of young and old peeple would gladly enjoy recreation after a hard day's toil. The summei has dawned upon ns, and nothing in the way of innocent pleasure has been provided for ns. We must be content with wonted customs. By next yuar I hope a movement in this respect will have general attention. When anything that tends to enhance public eomfort is suggested, sympathy should be ex- pressed with it, otherwise people who are anxions to better our circumstanoes must feel discouraged for want of public support. I find that at Aberdare the inhabitants value the publie ptuk there as a great boon. Why could not tbe people of the Rhondda see their way clear to establish a public park as well ? All woald hail such news with satisfaction if this was done. I hope this important subject will have further attention from those who have already expressed themselves ia favour of the laadable movement. Perseverance is the mother of success. V Pleasure seekers are bent upon making tbe most of it this summer again. Recently I saw a uamber of semi-intoxieated individuals conveyed in a trap, and the poor animal attached to it received bat "scant mercy at the hands of those in charge. The trap was overladen, and foal language was indnlged in. This was on the Sabbath day. There is in the Rhondda a splendid staff of police, and I hope their vigilant eyes will centre upon such people who practice drun- kenness, cruelty, and profanity on the Lord's Day..

THE SM<LL POX EPIDEMIC AT GELLIGAEB. At an adjourned meeting of the Rural Sanitary Aa- thority of the Merthyr Union, held on Saturday tinder the presidency of Mr Jeakin Mathews, an exhaustive report upon the history of the small-pox epidemic in the parifh of Gelligacr was submitted by the medical officer He stated that from the oomraeneement of the outbreak 85 cases had arisen. No fresh cases had occurred since tho 80th of April. The patieuts in the temporary hospital were well, and would prob- ably be able to leave in the course of the week. He suggested that the hospital should be permanently established. Had there been such an institution ready to receive the first case he believed the disease would have bean stamped out at once, but, unfortunately, it had a start of 31 days, and, consequently, it became very diffieult to overtake.

THE CtFARTJLFA WCRKS. Th) third of the blast furnaces put np. at the Cy- farthfa Works about three .years ago will be started for the first time in the course of the present week, and a fourth blast furnace is now in course of erection.

ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE AT PONTYPRIDD. A "FROG'S MARCH" TO THE POLICE STATION. At Ystrad police-court, en Monday, (before the Sti- pendiary), James Green, Joseph Rosier, and William Ellis were charged with assaulting the police, •refi.ai P.C. Liwis said on Saturday night, at 9 o'clock, lie was called to the Horse and Groom, where he saw Green at the door, kicking it. T no men asked him to go away, but ho refused. He went to him, and tola him to go, but he again refused. He collared him, and took him with assistance to the Police Sta- tion. Defendant did all he could to resist, and the other defendants assisted him. There was a large erowd there at the time. P.O. Eaatment said on Saturday night he went to the assistance of P.C. Lewis. Saw Green on his back kicking, and three or four men holding him down. On seeing witness, Green said "Here's another," and kicked him on the leg. Took hold of him, and helped tc get him along. He received another kick from Ellis. Green said he would not walk a step. He was carried, and was kicking all the time. About twenty yards from the police station Rosser lacked him twice. Cross-examined by GreAn: I assisted in taking you a "frog's march." I don't know when your boots came off. There is no mark of the kick. Ic Green: I kicked you as hard as I could, and there is no mark ? That's a miracle; such evidence speaks for itself. Mr Superintendent Matthews said he was going in the direction of the Taff Vale Railway Station, and met a man running for assistance, as Green was re- sisting the police. Went to the place, and saw the prisoner Green, and told Lewis to raise him up. Told Green to walk quietly to the station. He threw him- self down, and would not go. Appealed to the crowd to assist, but they would not. He never saw a more violent man than Green. The police carried him. It took nearly half an hour to take him to the station. At the bridge he first saw Rosser, and heard him say "It is a, shame to take the man." He remonstrated with him. Rosser then said the police were acting unfairly to the man. In Mill Street he saw Rosser run up to the police, but could not say what he did. In St. Catherine Street saw Eastment seize Rosser, and heard him charge him with kicking him. On Sunday morning Green said he was very sorry for what he had done. He had not drank, he said, for 12 months. He complained of having lost half a sover- eign and eight shillings. He also said he lost his hat, boots, and muffler. His Worship said he thought Green was very drunk, and resisted being takea to the station. He did not think he meant te injure the police. He re- garded Rosser as worse, because he had no business, to interfere. ,«rjgj| obTtft Green was fined 203, or 14 days; Rosser, 30s, or 121 days; and Ellis fined 10s.

RHONDDA STEAM: COAL MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Rhondda steam coal delegates, held on Monday at the Windsor Castle Hotel, Ton, a resolution was passed expressing the pleasure of the meeting at the announcement made by Mr W. Abraham (Mabon), M.P., that the Prefer- ential Payment of Wages Bill and the Weekly Wages Bill had been read a first time, and urging colliers and other classes of workmen to pass resolutions and petition Parliament in favour of tha measures. The resolution concluded by thanking the labour members for bringing these matters so promptly before the House.-The Bwllfa, Blaengarw, and Cwmpark Col- lieries of the Ocean Company were formally received into the district.—"Mabon" was asked to write to the managers of the Navigation and Penrhiwceiber Oollieriea asking them to carry out the clauses of the Mines Regulation Act, which provided that the man- agement should send timber into the working places. Regarding the strike at the Albion Colliery, a report was submitted by the agent, and the meeting thanked him for the great trouble he had taken in the matter. A long discussion ensued on the report, and a resolu- tion passed, the nature of which was not made public. res°lved that the district should not undertake to defend cases of dispute in connection with the Per- manent Relief Fund.

LLANTHI31NT SCHOOL B01&D. the monthly meeting of this Board, held on riday, there were present—Mr Josiah Lewis (in the chair); Messrs Ishmael Williams, W. Stewart, J. P. ™.ila^8' 1?&ne8> aud D- Williams ;Bwith Mr W. John, the clerk. t> w for £ 32 48 3d wa8»on the motion of Mr J. f'u J m?' seconded by Mr Stewart, ordered to be drawn in favour of Mr Samuel Evans, contractor. Tonyrefail, in settlement of his aocoQnt. Mr J. P. Williams proposed, and Mr J. Davies seconded, that a precept be issued on the rating au- thorities for £ 1,500, for the ensuing half-year. This was agreed to.

FORGE RY BY AN AMALGAMATE] ENGINEERS' SECRETARY. Amos Wood, 52, oft bail, was brought befor Baron Pollock to receive sentence fur forging re ceipts and falsifying books belonging to the Leedi South Branch of the Amalgamated Society of En pincers.—His Lordship told the prisoner that tilt jaw drew a distinction between offences commitbec by ignorant persons under the impulse of the moment or the temptation of poverty, and cases ir. which |>eoplo of position and truet abused thai trii«t. The prisoner's offenoe came within the latter class, ami he could not do less than senbcnct him to 12 monbhs' hard labour.

THE LOST GAINSBOROUGH. A correspondent, who gives bis name nno address', is responsible for bhe following Wliil* a gang of men were engaged in dismantling fome premiees at the rear of Messrs. Harb's coach-build ing establishment in New Bond-street, a roll o! canvas was discovered in a disused collar, which on examination proved to be the portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire Whiclf Was cut out of its frame some years ago, and disappeared under mysterious circumstances. It was in a filthy con- dition from the accumulation of duet, buL ifother wise not seriously injured. How it came to Lht: position in which it was found is at present in vol ved in the greabesb mystery. It may be remembered that it was valued at over f 10,000."

MURDER BY A FATHER. Ab the Yorkshire Assizes, Leeds, before Mr. Justice Mathews, William Henry Emeris Burke, 42, a surgeon, who had hid a large practice among the oolliery population of South Yorkshire, was indicted for the wilful murder of AUeen Ethel Oona Burke, nine, his daughter, at Monk Bretton, uedr Barnslcy, on Feb. 4. The accused seemed to position acutely.—The evidence wenb to show that some time prior to tlie tragedy the accused had given way to drinking habits, by which he had injured his health and had brought about unpleasantness with his wife. A great part) of Saturday, Feb. 4, he passed at the Norman Inn, close to the Manor House, where he lived. As the customers were being turned out at five minutes to eleven o'clock Mrs. Burke rushed out of the parlour ahd appealed to a policeman named Emsley to go iiito tlie room ahd take from the prisoner a revolver which he had in his pocket. The con- stable hurried into the parlour, where he saw the prisoner standing within a yard or two of his daughber. Burke moved a step towards the girl 11111 pointed towards her left breast, this action being followed by the discharge of his revolver. Emsley blien saw him turn the pistol towards hitn- ielf and fire, after which he said I have missed," Mid threw himself on a seat. His waistcoat was )n fire, and blood was oozing from his left breast. The girl fell on the floor and immediately expired. Prisoner was removed to the Beckett Hospital, Barnsley, where he lay in a dangerous state for tome days. A letter addressed to his wife after- wurds came into the hands of the police, in which be upbraided her for leaving him.—Mr, Mel lor, who defended, pleaded that the prisoner's brain was sodden wibJi drinK, and that the^ revolver, which he was in theliabtt of carrying with him on his lonely journeys, wenb off by accident or through negligence.—The jury found the accused guilby, and his lordship sentenced hini bo death Jif bhe usual form, observing that if an example of th £ awful effects of intemperance were needed the prisoner supplied it.

WHEEL TAX DEMONSTRATION IN HYDE PARK. A demonstration organised by the Van and Wheel Tax League to protesb against Mr. Gos- chen's proposed Van and Wheel Tax, took place tho other afternoon, when something like 500 vans and curts of various descriptions assembled on the Thames-embankmenb. Among the vehicles were many of a very dttapidated order, arid fclrty twere for the most part Hie property of srriall caimen artd tradesmen. Great puins had been taken to make the parade as imposing as possible, and certainly the League succeeded in making a display alto- gether unique in its composition. The circular convening the demonstration fixed the hour for utixembling at two o'clock, but vehicles began to arrive as early as twelve o'clock, and when, three hours laber, a start was made for Hyde-park, the line reached from Blackfriars almost to the Houses of Parliament. Every class of conveyance that comes under the denomination of vans and carts wan represented, but the vans of railway com- panies, brewers, and other large firms were con. spicuous by their absence. It was stated that one large firm of brewers had been written to, asking them bo take part in the demonstration, and they Imll replied declining to do so, and stating that they had 75. vans in use and were perfectly willing to pay the tax upon them. The van which offered the greabest attraction to the crowd was one con- taining a large wheel with an effigy of Mr. Goschen IH^IKKI Ixion-like to it, and which was kept revolv- ing by those inside the vehicle. Some of the vans were fitted up as workshops, in which the various .operations of the wheelwright's craft were carried :>11. Wheels without tires and carcasca of carts were exhibited, and in one van was noticed a wheel painbed in bright colours and in full swing, bearing the inscription "Not taxed." whilst side by side with it was a wheel painted in black and draped with crape, quite motionless, bearing the word Taxed. The occupants of another van carried )t targe black flag bearing the inscription Death to the tax." Others carried banners containing mottoes, such as the following :—" Taxation is starvation and death "If you tax our trade you 'uH to the unemployed;" "In memory of the Wheel Tax;" May the wheelaof progress run tree;" "No taxes on English implements of hibonr," and "No one-sided exemptions." In one of the wagons was a very small cart, specially con- structed for the occasion, to which a donkey was yoked, this being labelled "The cart of the future." When the procession started on its journey several thousand persons had assembled, the bulk of whom followed to the park, where a mass meeting was held. A contingent of the City police headed the procession until it arrived at Holborn-bars, where their places were taken by a body of the Metro- politan police. Only four vans were allowed to enter the park, and these proceeded, followed by the demonstra- tors, to the Reformers' Tree, to which a mounted olficer conducted them by a circuitous route. Three of the vans were then placed in position and used as platforms. At No. 1 platform, Mr. Gay- ward, chairman of the Cart and Wheel Tax League presided. In commencing the proceedings he said lie was convinced that if Mr. Goschen's monstrous proposals were carried they would have the effect of throwing a very large number of men out of employment. After all bhab had taken place he believed Mr. Goschen would be very pleased to get out of the difficulty. His modifica- tions had made the proposed tax more unjust than if he had left, it as he first proposed it. By exempt- ing vehicles under lOcwb. he allowed butchers and many other tradesmen bo escape without paying anything, whilst the poor carman struggling along with 11110 or two horses would have to pay the Aill amount. That Mr. Goschen had made a mistake was clear, and it was to be hoped he would have the honesty to come forward and say so.—Mr. A. If. Swaine moved the following resolution :—" That this great muss meeting of wheelwrights, smiths, painters", and men of other trades, here assembled in Hyde-park, expresses its strongest probest iigainsb the proposal to tax vans and carts, as it ie iigainsb the proposal to tax vans and carts, as it is a rebrogade movement., and will throw a large number of workmen out of employmenb, and will cripple trade and hamper indusbry. This meeting therefore calls upon her Majesty's Government to immediately withdraw this obnoxious proposal." He said that the principle laid down by Alr. Goschen, that those who used the roads should pay for them, was undoubtedly a sound one, but he did not carry out the principle in his scheme of baxa- tion. If the tax was pub on it would seriously cripple industry, and it would be taxing the poor to benefit the rich. There were many poor carmen who did not manage to earn more than jEl a week, and the tax would press very hardly indeed upon them.—The resolution was seconded by Mr. Ryder (wheelwright) in a very energetic Bpeech.—Mr. Welch (blacksmith) and others supported the resolution, which was unanimously carried. -The same resolution was carried at each of the other platforms, and the meeting dispersed in the same orderly way that had marked its assembling.

The traffic receipts of the Alagoas Railway for the month of March were 1:2,451, ngainsb JE1,987 for the corresponding mouth of J1887.

GARDENING FOR MAY. Extracts from a Gardener's Diary. Sowed Cineraria of a good strain for blooming, next. winter and the spring following. Placed t square of glass over the pan, and set it its a mit.1411 i>art of the projiagating pit till the seeds germinal e 'ricked oft Primulas sown in March I want thest for blooming next winter, and have pricked then into thumb-|>ots; ehall grow them on, and get them into cold frames by-and by turned bo tin north. Potted off winter-blooming Begonias Justicias, Eranbhemums, Plumbago rosea, Thyrsn canthue rutilans, scarlet Salvias, and other winter flowering, soft-wooded plants. Ihe Salvias wil. be plan ted oub by-and-by. Pruned haek railu-i hard a number of Eupntorilllh odoiRtum Lln;t also will be planted out in a w< <;k or two, and. lifbed it, September, full of flower-l'iids; a light, loamy soil, not. very rich, suits t hi- < lass of plants best in summer. Potted off Bul-nina; the best plants will be grown on for the conservatory, and the others hardened oil' and plantcii out. Thej look nice dotted about over some low-growing sub- ject. Baletams in beds or borders nro very hand- some subjects, generally more effective than when grown in bhe greenhouse, unless well done. Sowed- #«#ds in the iiobbed of the pyramidal Celosia, and kiso of the old-fashioned Cockscomb, for I still like to grow a few of the latter; there is nothing beats the old-fashioned hot-bed to produce good combs. Sowed a collection of Delphiniums in a bed in the reMfve garden the seeds will grow more quickly in a pan or box in the frame; but it ie not a good plan to get too many irons in tho fire, and these and other similar things will come on steadily hue, and will not take much harm if not pricked out the moment they require it. Shifted on young plants of palms, Caladiums, Crotons, Alocasias, Draca nas, &e" in. stove also putting fit cuttings of vm iaus t,hings to raise young stock. Trained shoot* of Al'.iman- das near the glass to induce a free-floweiing luibit. Elevated specimen Crotons into tho full light near tlie glass bo get the rigiht colour ill the leaves. Thinned the fruibs of Strawberries in potfl to about 12 or 14. I have given up artificial means of fertilisation, as it is not roquired, except itt the early season afterwards igeiityof vetitilistioti, and the bees which find their way into the houses from tin apiaty near do the work as well, if not better, than I can do. It ie necessary in most establish- ments, where proper means are allowed to keep up a regular succession of ripe Strawberries; ib is only a question of space and plants, a fresh batch from50tol00 being introduced every fortnight, starting at a temperature of 50 degs. to 55 degs.. and when the fruits are set moving on to a warmer house. Gave liquid-manure to Melons swelling their crop pinching surplus growth. I have a little sulphur on the pipes-in fact, I always keep a little dn without any reference to the presence of the red spider; but I may say, having plenty of piping, I can get up the requisite temperature without getting them hot enough to fuse the sul- phur. Night temperature for plants with their crop approaching maturity, 65 degs. to 70 degs., falling to the lowest figure in the morning; bottom- Jieat 80 degs. Top-dressed .early Cucumbers in house these have been in bearing since February, and require some extra support, so I have given them a couple of pounds of Clay's manure to eAch bushel 6f turfy Ibaih. Sowed Chou do Burghley, Rosette Colewort, Brussels Sprouts, Tom Thumb, Savoy, various kinds of Broccoli, and other winter Greens. Sowed Snowball and Red American Stone Ttrrnips, little and often being the best plan with these at present. Use bhe hoe frequently among the plants just up there is no better way to keep 011 insects than to keep up a frequent Mbirrinj^of the surface. Pinched the young wood of Plums in pobs in orchard-house back to five leaves. Fumi- gated with Tobacco as a precautionary measure, using the engine freely every fine afternoon. Sowed a little more Beet for late use; moderate sized roots are best for table use. Planted dwarf French Beanr and "Scarlet Runners; these will be safe enough from frost now let us hope. Pruning specimen Cypress, Irish Yew, Junipers, &c. Prepared ground for new plantations of Violets. Planted several beds of Yellow Calceolarias in flower garden, sheltering for a few days with evergreen branches. MAKISG A STKAWBSRRT BED.—Plants of these put out now will not fruit jnuch this year, but will make good, strong, bearing plants for next season, and will be better by that time than if pub ont next August. I usually grow Lettuce between the rows of young Strawberry plantations. SKKDLING TDHKHOUS BEUOKIAS.—As soon as. the libble plants that have been raised from seed sown a short time hack have got large enough to- handle, they must be immediately moved into boxes or pans. Put bhem in moderately close together, as they will need to be moved again in a few weeks. WJKKWOBMS AND ROSES.—Bury some slices of Potatoes, or Carrots, near the roots cf. the Roses, and about an inch below the surface of the soil*, and examine them every morning, the enemy (if wireworms) will be found eating their way into the baits. A smooth wooden skewer stuck into each bait enables them to be handled better, and shows their position in the pot. I would not lift the Roses as they are coming into bloom. PLANTS FOR NORTH WALL OF A GREHSHOUSE.— Neither Roses nor Pears are suitable, both requir- ing plenty of sunshine. If you prefer fruit you can plant Morello Cherries and Red Currants, which, in such a position, are more easily pro- tected from birds. In the way of flowering plants, Clematises of the Jackmani type will do very well, and you can cut them down hard every year to keep them in bounds. The yellow-flowered Kerria japonica and the scarlet Pyrus japonica do remark- ably well on a north aspect. PEACH TREES DROPPING THEIR BLOSSOMS.— There is more than one cause for Peach-trees cast. ing their blossoms, but the mosb probable causo when trees under glass fail is dryness at the root—- i.e., if tho trees have not been dressed with any deleterious substance. When the trees outside cast their blossoms it is more generally owing to unripe wood. If one could see and examine the trees it would be a comparatively easy matter ta say what was the true cause. If the trees are ever allowed, at this season or later, to become infeeted, with insects, thereby injuring this firsb growth, this may be an indirect cause of the blossoms fall- ing. ROSES IN AUGUST.—There is not much hope Q4 your retarding your Roses by late pruning; the character of the summer weather, may throw y om out of your calculations altogether. It appears to me that your only chance is by preventing the- plants opening the first lot of flowers by cutting Nle flowering shoots back half their length as soon MS the flower-bads are formed. This would be the means of reserving the strength of the roots, and also to hasten on the second growth on which you must depend for flowers in August. Of course, you will keep the rootlS of your Rose-trees well- supplied with liquid-manure in dry wnabher all the summer. DESTROYING FIELD-MICK.—The long-tailed species is not diffictilb to trap, but the short-tailed species is. I once had some valuable plants de- stroyed by the labbcr, and failed to coax them into any kind of traps used for mice. They say "Necessity is the mother of invention," I, there- fore, had an ordinary flower-pot, stoppered at the bottom so as to hold water. It was filled half full, and a piece of newspaper was tightly tied over tho top. I made three slits in the paper, so thab if mouse trusted its weight on it it would fall through. The pot was sunk in the ground, the rim level with the surface. Some short Grass was lightly scattered over the paper, and in this way I cleared off the mice in a few days. They fell through the slits and were drowned, Ft cHsiAS.—The ability of these plants to keep on flowering for a long season depend* much on their being kept regularly supplied wibh manure- water, and on the foilage being preserved from the attacks of aphides and red spider. Fuchsias will not bear manure-water nearly so strong as many things if it is not sufficiently diluted it will cause the buds to fall off before they open, and injures the leaves as well. It is, therefore, better for those who have not learnt the strength the plants will hear whatever they use in this way, to keep on the tafe side by giving it weak enough. Nothing is so simple as fresh horse-droppings, with a lit tle soot added. The plants may have it every other time tlwy require water. Syringe overhead freely once a-<tay, and if, notwithstanding this, aphides or red: epiders appears, dip or syringe the plants with tobacco-water, with, to deatroy the spider, a little Uiehuret added.