The Merthyr Express

Preliminary 1ST otice. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF YOUNG LIBERALS (Merthyr Branch). DRILL HALL, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1910 INAUGURAL MEETING Branch. .s SPEAKERS E. G. HISMMERDE, Esq., K.C., M.P., and EpGAJt JONES, Esq., M.P. SILVER COLLECTION IN AID OF BRANCH. FURTHER PARTICULARS LATER. MOUNTAIN ASH COTTAGE HOSPITAL. 16th ANNUAL EISTEDDFOD Will be held on EASTER MONDAY, MARCH 28th, 1910. CHIEF CHORAL (150 to 180 voices) "Thanks be to God," 2100 SECOND CHORAL (60 to 80 voices) "0 Father, whose Almighty power" J625 CHIEF MALE VOICE (60 to80 voices) "The Rising Storm" p. R30 SECOND MALE VOICE (30 to 40 voices) Hymn before action" £10 GIRLS' CHOTR (40 to 50 voices) "The Shepherd" £10 BOYS' CHOIR (30 to 40 voices) The Fairies" £ 8 ACTION SONG, Own Choice £ 5 BRASS BANDS (Class A.) "Schubert" B41 BRASS BANDS (Class B.) "Robin Hood" £20 ELEGY to the late Dr. R. W. JONES, Penrhiwceiber JB15 ,Soprano, 2 Mezzo-Soprano, 3 Contralto, 1 Girl's, 1 Boy's, 3 Tenor, 2 Baritone and 2 Bass Solos, Bg 2s. and £1 Is. each. 2 Open Recitations, £1 Is. each; Children's Recitation. 10/6 FJ8say, £2 2s. Epglyn, 5/ Mining Examinations, F,4 5s. 7 Pianoforte Solos, L2 2a. and BI Is. each. Violin Solo, jBl Is. 2 Harp Solos, £ 1 Is. each. Ambulance Competitions, E5 5a. Adjudicators-Dr. H. WALFORD DAVIES, London; Dr. W. W.^FTOODWOBTH, London; Mr. H. C. Moiiiis, St. David's, Pem. For full particulars see Programmes, now ready, 2d. post free. D. T. EVANS, Secretary. T. HUGHES, Assist. Secretary. THE EYENT OF EASTER. —- ARCDPAl/rNNV chafr Eisteddfod, ADLnUftVLHm Band Contest and Fete, EASTER MONDAY, March 28th, 1910. NEARLY M400 IN FRIZES. Seven Choral Competitions-Several Vocal and Instrumental Solos-Poem, Essay, Recitation, and Art Tests. CHAMPION BAND CONTEST and CORNET SOLO COMPETITION for Two Silver Challenge Shields, One Silver Cup, and Cash Prizes. EXCEPTIONALLY ATTRACTIVE FETE, including the Famous La Dor Troupe of Seven Marvellous Acrobats, and Mddle. Tudor with Troupe of Peiforming Ponies. SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE FAMOUS FULL MILITARY BAND OF THE ROYAL ENGINEEBS. GRAND DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS. Entries close 14th March. Programmes 3d. Sec., Mr. R. H. JACKOON, 11, Priory-rd., Abergaveiiny. THE MERTHYR SELECT SKATING RINK ANGEL BUILDINGS (Entrance Gillar Street). .r. RICHARDSON'S and WINSLOW'S BALL-BEARING SKATES. FINEST QUALITY and MOST PROPERLY LAID FLOOR WITHIN 100 MILES, HIGH-CLASS ORCHESTRA. REFRESHMENT and CLOAK ROOMS. SESSIONS-10 a.m. till 1. 2.30 till 5 p.m. 7 till 10 p.m. Special Session for School Children and Teachers, 5.30 till 7 p.m. CENTRAL SKATING RINK Wellington Street, Merthyr Has Electric Light throughout. Most perfect. -v. Skating Surface in Wales. Only Richardson and Winslow ball-bearing Skates used. PRIVATE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION BY APPOINTMENT OPEN DAILY. Morning-xo to i Admission Free Afternoon-2.30 to 5 Ladies Free. Evening-7 to 10 Admission 6d. Use of Floor with private Skates, 6d. Hire of Skates, Is. Floor Manager-Prof. JOHN J. ROPER. HOPE CHURCH, MERTHYR TYDFIL. RELIGION and SOCIALISM SECOND ADDRESS OF THE SERIES BY THE REV. J. MORGAN JONES, M.A. "On SUNDAY EVENING NEXT, MARCH 13th, 1910, i SERVICE TO COMMENCE AT 6 P.M. ALL ARE CORDIALLY WELCOMED. FLOOKS' LUCKY WEDDING RINGS J i Should be worn by ALL BRIDES who wish for Everlastinf Happiness. 1 |[ — Joys are hidden-joys untold, IfflHK In these little hoops of gold, So remember, charming fair one, 1' I nBlgi 0 When the right time comes to wear one, m (I Hovers love with fairy wings »Irrtr O'er FLOOKS'S lucky wedding ringa. If a suitor you have found, To FLOOKS'S quickly take him round, V BKl In the window you'll behold Plain but beauteous hoops of gold, (> 0 Then you've only got to say, I "Take me in, I'll name the day I" J And when you become his wife, <1 You'll remember all through life, How upon your hand you wear %"—Lucky gold to ward off care, \&hL,.y' Love as well for ever clings 41 To FLOOKS'S Lucky Wedding Ring* PRIVATE ROOM AND ENTRANCE FOR FITTING. 1» .1 USEFUL PRESENT GIVEN WITH EACH WEDDING RING. |j 8 8 W}' T.t:"U AM MVæ=:" .4 ;rFt. .ft, 1!1' Ctl/'DQ, 'WI!&.t.Il.. Branches-54, Tligh 72, Taff Street, Pontypridd. 49 & 50, Pontmorlais Circus, Merthyr )( Tel. P.O. 4a. I BARGOED "S™. EISTEDDFOD WILl, BE HELD ON EASTER TUESDAY, MARCH 29th, 1910. CHIEF EVENTS:— Hale VOICES: "Lead, Kindly Light," C. Morello James ■ • • • £ 25 0 0 MIXED CHOIRS: "How Great is Thy Good- less," Edwin .lonea ■■ 15 0 0 •UVENILE CHOIRS: "Onward," D. Jones, A.C., Bareoed 6 0 0 AWDL (ODE) (and a. Vahrable Chair) 2 2 0 Jfaethawd, L2; Ambulance, £ 5; Quartette, R2 2s. ~Uet, 30s. Solos and Pianoforte Solos, £ 1 Is. each p°etry, Recitations, Musical Compsltions, &c., &c. Pull particulars see Programmes, ld, each (by post lid.), 5?»y be obtained from the Secretaries, W. WILLIAMS, 5, ^est-street. Bargoed; E. W. JO.VES, 40, Greenfield-street, *»*oed.. ST. JOHN'S HALL, Troedyrhiw. Cynhelir EISTEDDFOD Yn y lie uchod DYDD LLU N, EBRILL 4, 1910. ^PRIF DDARN: (a) "Adgyfodiad" (o Lyfr i°Qau y M.C.); (b) "Nantgau" (J. Webber, ^•T.S.C., Abercanaid). j. Unawdau 10s. Adfoddiadau, Barddoniaetb, ^enyddiaeth, Celfyddydwaith ac Ambulance. Rhagleni, Ie. yr un; trwy y post, lAc. Ysgrifenydd; EDWARD MORGAN, 35, Yew-street, Troedyrhiw. PRELIMINARY NOTICE. A CHAIR EISTEDDFOD õ will be held at MAESTEG, TUESDAY, 2nd AUGUST, 1910. j CBIKF CHORAL—1st, £ 70; 2nd, £ 20. ) &^COND CHORAL, £ 20. MALE VOICE, £ 20, 2nd, £ cL Pt AGGREGATK PRIZES NEARLY £ 200. grammes shortly. Secretary, 15, Brynijiawr-place, Maesteg. s New Progressive Spiritualists' Temple, TRAMROAD NORTH, PONTMORLAIS. NEXT SUNDAY. MARCH 13th, at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Prof. TIMSON, of Leicester, will occupy the Platform. Clairvoyance at each Meeting. Also MONDAY, MARCH 14t.h, at 2 and 7.30 p.m.. The Ven. ARCHDEACON COLLEY (Dia Natal), Rector of Stockton, Warwickshire, will occupy the Platform. At 2 o'clock Prof. Timson and Archdeacon CoHey will address a Meeting for Ladies only. 7.30 the Ven. Arch- deacon Colley will deliver his famous Lecture, Illus- trated by powerful Oxy-hydro Lime-light Lantern, assisted by Prof. Timson, F.B.P S., Chartered and In- corporated Brain. Nerve and Mental Specialist. Subject, "Psychic Science." Spirit Photography taken by the Ven. Archdeacon Colley. Admission-Front Seats, 6d, and Back Seats, 3d. Proceeds to the Funds cf the Merthyr Spiritualists' New Temple. Horeb Welsh Congregational Church, Penydarren. I THE above Church is prepared to receive Applications for the Post of ORGANIST. Applications, with Testimonials, to be in the hands of the SKCRETART, Mr. J. Lloyd, 15, Peny- bryn Villas, Penydarren, on or before FRIDAY, March 1t;th, 1910. from whom terms and conditions may be obtained. March 8th, 1910. PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, THE WALK, MERTHYR. PREACHER NEXT SUNDAY: Rev. J. Lloyd Williams, Pastor. I Services at 11 and 6 c'cic^'u I MERTHYR TOWN MISSION HALL I I (Shiloh), CHURCH STREET. j —— j NEXT SUNDAY, GOSVEL ADDRESSES by ( Rev. H. O. JiUGlI&S, Missions. i BOWENs Dowlais. I ^ELECKIOUSLTF OFVLIESTRAL Baud6 J ■ ]| KliiSSli'l II I ■'■h!II"i11 | a«BmtOL I TrBririTlJUSaani'i I II I SSSSZ i 117 DTI* EASTER I fair WW I# EXCURSIONS J W W i £ EVERYWHERE | 8 VISIT THE 0 CORNISH RIVIERA, | y BRITTANY or IRELAND c M Via Plymouth. Via Fiiihguard. !l I Send to nearest G.W. R. Station or Office for full particulars of a EASTER FACILITIES Holiday Haute" 1910 (illustrated, 600 pa.ges), giving lists of Hotels, Apart- ments, &c.r will be published shortly before Easter, Price 3d., at all Stations and Offices, or 6d. post free from the office of Mr. J. MOKXIS, Superintendent of the Line, Paddington Station, W. JAMES C. INGUS, General jkimager. i~i 1) jm.. 111 —1 ill 111 ■" 11 "B 1 —J CHRISTIANS' MEETING HOUSE, OLD PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, MOUNT STREET TREDEGAR. Mr. W. WEBLEY Evangelist, Cardiff, Will D.V. deliver a Series of Addresses. Lord's Hay, March 13th, at 2.30 p.m., Subject "The Leader of Peoples." Fl.ibjec* t 6 p.m., "The WorMand World-enduring Com- migri"'r! fhn King of Kings." Tuesdays-FRF.F LECTURES for the People. MARCH 15th, at 7 p.m., Subject • Believing a Lie." All Seats Free. No Collection. All are Welcome. HEY, JOHN T. WHITEHEAD, Of LONDON, all Market Square Church, Merthyr Tydfil, « — ON — SUNDAY NEXT, 13TH MARCH. Market Square Congregational Church. MERTHYR. The Choir of the above Church will render the Sacred Cantata:- "THE BLIND MAID OF BETHANY" on GOOD FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 25th. This work was composed expressly for the Birmingham Festival Choir, and first produced in the Town Hal!, Birmingham, Oct., 1906. Com- posed by the Rev. Carey Bonner. Adjn:9sioR—2s., Is., and 6d. Tickets may be I had from Members of the Choir. i TOWN HALL, MERTHYR. By kind permission of The Mayor. Madame LOWTHER KNIGHT, England's Premier in Fiv, and Itiventr-ess of the only Simple System of C'lttinp and Fitting: will five one of her interesting: and instructive DEMONSTRATION'S, on Thursday, March 17th, when she wi;: u Lady from the audience freni her Latest and Visi System- THE NKW EUROPEAN HYGIENIC. The Chair will be taken by Mrs. F. T. James, The Mayoress at 3.30 p.m. Madame Loivther lCnig-ht's System has been awarded Highest Honours, includinglThe Silver Medal of the City of London Guilds and the B onze and (Silver Medals of the Sanitary Institute of London, Gold Medal, Man- chester, &c.. &c. Classes will be formed at the close. One Lady Agent wanted. Teachers trained for Technical Schools, and System supplied. Private Interviews arranged by letter to EXPRESS OFFICE, Merthyr, or Park Hall, Cardiff. Aberdare Town Association Football Club, Ltd. GRAND Football Tournament (Second and Third Division Teams). EASTER MONDAY, MARCH 28th, 1910. PRIZES.-Winnem of Final to receive 11 Go'd Medals. JKunners up to receive 11 Silver I Medals. Entrance Fee, 5B. Entries close Marob 24tli, 1910. Entry forms may be obtained from Secretary, 10, Canon-street, Aberdare. ABERGAVENNY. EASTER TUESDAY, March 29th: GRAND AMATEUR ATHLETIC FESTIVAL ¡ NEW ATHLETIC GROUND, I Prizes, J3130 Prizes. I FIRST COMPETITION for the STRAKER I TROPHY, in 3 MILE OPEN FLAT I RACE. OPEN TROTTING & PONY RACES, 24 Quivers Prizes. Z. WHEATLEY, Hoy. SKO HIGHFIELD SCHOOL, i 9, NINIAN ROAD, ROATH PARK, II CARDIFF. THE PRINCIPAL, MISS CARYL, HAS VACANCIES FOR A FEW BOARDERS IN HER OWN HOME. NEXT TERM COMMENCES APRIL 25TH. HIGHEST REFERENCES. MODERATE FEES. PROSPECTUS SENT ON APPLICATION. CHARLES L. STEWART ACCOUNTANT and AUDITOR, VALUER, HOUSE and ESTATE AGENT MORTGAGE and INSURANCE BROKER Tradesmen's Debts Bought or Collected, Rents Collected. Accounts Regularly Posted by Special Contract, Profit and Loss Accounts and Income Tax Claims Prepared, Quarterly and Annual Audits Undertaken. Bankrupts' Statements of Affairs; Atfangement with Creditors, Valuations for Probate, etc. Agent for the Chief Life, Accident, Fire, and Plate Glass Insurance Companies. OFFICES :—MILBOURNE CHAMBERS, MERTHYR TYDFIL. THE TREDEGAR & DISTRICT Permanent Money Society Registered under the Friendly Societies' Act. T rtfl T1 q can *>e Obtained by Tradesmen and other JJUOIIIO persons in Regular Employment upon a Promissory Note on asy Teems, namely s. d. For a £10 Share the Repayments are l 2 weekly R20 tt „ 22 £ 30 M „ 3 2 » £ <0 „ „ 4 2 £ 50 5 2 Applications for Loans received at any time by tb« Secretary THOMAS JONES, 86, Commercial Street, Tredegar. Branch Office: 25, BaRrucAR TKRRACS, EBBW VAL ANEURIN REYNOLDS, I Late Jonathan Reynolds, Coachbuild'er and Wheelwright. Established 70 years. Heavy and Ligfht Vehicles Built and Repaired. Only Bes Materials used. Waterproof Covers, Lamps, and Rubber Tyres of ail sizes and prices fitted. MOTOR CARS Repaired and Painted. CARS Repaired and Painted. 1. Old Church Place, Merthyr Tydfil. Grocers', Furnishing CO.'s, Greengrocers' and Contrac tors' Tipping Carrs, 1 Pony Wagon, and Hooded Cee Spring Gig, and 2 Milk Floats for Sale cheap. ar: y AF HER rHYARCHER^ E GOLDEN RETURp j| HI in nun 11 IIII'IIM I'll mi11 Facsimile oj Om-Ourtfe fackst. Archer's ¡ GoldeD Retuns i jf^rtestlou cf Tc'-Jfceeo, I COOL. 8"0:21', U¡r> I'1Il.Il..wr. I H' rr" ATHLETIC GROUNDS, Treharris FIRST ANNUAL MAY-DAY SHOW AND PARADE Thursday, May 26th, 1910. GOOD PRIZES FOR OPEN AND LOCAL CLASSES. Schedules and all particulars from IVOR G. BRINSON, I Joint Hon. TOM HOWELLS, Sees. MAKE A NOTE OF THIS DATE. IMA Y 9th, X910. BARGOED & DISTRICT 5th ANNUAL MAY-DAY SHOW AND PARADE TAKES PLACE AT BARGOED. Splendid Classes, Local and Open, Cash Prizes. Fire Brigades Tournament. Ambulance Competitions. Timbering Competitions. Fancy, Novel and Comic Classes, SPECIAL CLASS FOR BOY SCOUTS. Schedules and Entry Forms may be obtained from D. G. STAPLETON, Sec., cr ALF. THOMAS, Assist, BAK'iv/ED. LLANGADOCK HACES EASTER MONDAY, MAk'J** 28th, 1910. Prizes £100, including Silver Cup. List of Events and full pa.ilars, apply— J. GRIFFITHS HARRIES, Penyboj-it, Llangadock. WELSH ROMANCE- "TRAGEDY IN GELLI WOOD." Being a translation or the noted hoo): '■ E.Ifrtiddiaeth yn Nghoed y Geili," by Craisfryn Hvighes. By all Booksellers, or by post, 7id. fiom D. DAVIES, Bookseller, Ferndale. —

"Merthyr Express" Diary. All fixtures advertised in the "Express" will be included in the diary free of charge. Sunday, MARCH 13. I Special Service at Market Square Church. Spiritualists' Tsmp'-e, Merthyr; also Monday. Address, Christians' Meeting Be-use, Tredetr&r. "Socialism and H.eligion"-Hope Church, Mer- thyr. Anniversary Services at Zion, T :ynyrodyn. Monday, MARCH H. Palace, Ebbw Prodigal Son." Central Skating Rink, Wellington-street—Daily. Skating Rink, .L\nge} Buildings, Merthyr. I' Tuesday, MARCH 15. Free Lecture, Christians' Meeting House, Tre- degar. Thursday, MARCH 17. I Carnival, Pavilion RLnk, Blackwood. Scientific Cutting and Fitting Demonstration— Hall, Menhyx. Good Friday, MARCH 25. Cantata, Market-square Church, Merthyr. Easter Monday, MARCH 28. Llangadock Rafeefc. Eisteddfod at Abergavenny. Eisteddfod, Mountain Ash Cottage Hospital, Aberdare Town A.F.C. Tournament. Easter Tuesday, MARCH 29- Eisteddfod at Biirgoed. Athletic Festival at Abergavenny. Wednesday, MARCH 30. Eisteddfod at Bethania, Dowlais. Monday, APRIL 4. Eisteddfod, St. John's Hall, TroedyrMw. Saturday, APRIL 10. National League, Young Liberal&-DrIB Hafl. Tuesday, APRIL 19. I.L.P. Lecture at Workmen's Hall .Abercynon. Monday, MAY 9. Barjroed May Day Show Whit-Tuesday, MAY 17. Eisteddfod, Cwmaman, Aberdare. Thursday. MAY 26. Atbletio Grounds, Treharris.—May Day Show. Tuesday, AUGUST 2. Eisteddfod at Maesteg.

Notice to Subscribers. Three editions of the "Merthyr Express" are printed every week one for the Aberdare Vat ley from Hirwain to Abereynon; one for the Dot- ouph of Merthyr Tydfil and East Glamorgan; and one for West Monmouth, inclusive of the Hhymney Valley. Subscribers in one district desirous of obtaining the edition in another district can be supplied with it through their regular events by sending a pest-card to the publisher, Glebeland- street. Merthyr, intimating their wishes and nam- ing the agent.

THE CRISIS IN THE COAL TRADE. IT is extremely difficult for outsiders to proffer advice that may be acceptable to the disputants inTso momentous a controversy as that which now exists between the colliery owners and their I workmen in tlje South Wales coalfield.When it is done the parties intervening must make it clear that they have good and justifiable grounds for their action, and not merely their own selfish interests to serve, otherwise they may arouse resentment on one or both sides, and simply aggravate the situation. A feeling of profound anxiety is extending amongst all classes of inhabitants in the colliery districts as to the possible and probable outcome of the present deadlock in the negotiations between the two sides, and it is intensified by the circumstances that the sands of time are fast running down without any satisfactory prospect of the disputants being brought together again in the chamber for conference and reasonable I discussion. No doubt both sides are, for the moment impressed with the conviction that all that can be said for and against their respee- tive claims, has been urged with the force of the. strong intelligence and perfect familiarity r the. strong intelligence and perfect familiarity with. Jacts and arguments appertaining to every aspect of the qnestftftSf "dividing them, I conspicuous amongst both employers and workmen. They may feel that unless there: is something absolutely new and fresh to be! submitted for consideration they may as well remain apart. But that is just where the oufeider may safely venture to suggest that it is the duty of both sides to endeavour to discover something new, something fresh, aa a new (point of departure from which the argument for I a reasonable arrangement of differences, without resort to the last terrible weapon of strike and lock-out, may be resumed. < IT would be impertinence for any journal to presume that it knows as much about the fundamental causes of the dispute as the employers and workmen themselves. It cannot possibly have this knowledge. It can only gather its facts and form its own opinions h: a general way from the reports which .e ¡ publi&ej Of the tivat anji tte debates j held upon them. We can oiler no opinion and no advice to them as to what they should do in a great crisis which they both believe to affect their material welfare and interests to an incalculable and even vital extent. Yet, without thrusting advice upon them in an offensive manner, we are justified, as represen- ting in some degree the enormous array of miscellaneous personal and public interests, in which the whole community are concerned, to appeal to employers and workmen alike to make immediate efforts to find some way out of the dangerous situation presented by their present attitude. We can fully understand that such a middle way can only be discovered through concession, and we put it to both Capital and Labour whether it is impossible to discover some points for concession which will entail upon both sides infinitely less sacrifice of means to ends than will surely be involved by a suspension of work and wages for an indefinite period. If the dispute should be carried into actual war that will not settle it. j Resolute feeling on both sides may suffice for carrying it on at most disastrous cost for weeks or months but in the end there must be peace i again, and the sacrifices submitted to in the course of the struggle will have to be met by compensatory sacrifice in the new terms of J peace. Usually the honours and the gains are not all on one side. Is it not better, safer, wiser, more humane to make the mutual) sacrifices now, before a blow has been struck, while the hand of friendship is still mutually j grasped, and before bad blood has been gener- ated. It is not only the families of the hundred and twenty thousand workmen directly con- cerned who will be plunged into the depths of suffering, but a larger army still, dependent upon the activity of the principal industry will be reduced to unwilling idleness, and the misery and distres-s will penetrate to an incalculable number of homes. Then there is something to be said for b tradesmen who minister to the requirements ( the vast population of work • people. Striker, and lock-outs try them M no other stress of business does, and DO p.reat; convulsion of industry ever happens without, bringing down many an independeot trader, whose kindness has prompted bim to give credit beyond his resources in the vain hope of getting it all back. The evil effects of these calamitous events in the industrial world are so vast in their extent and ramifications that it may be 3,.¡d, without fear of overstating the facts, that any reasonable compromise involving material concessions on both sides without war is incomparably better for all than the war which enforces them at the end of a struggle as the necessary fruits of exhaustion.

GOSSIP. The withholding of the payment of the income tax by such large numbers of taxpayers is; placing the Government in a great difficulty, and at the same time giving the Unionists an occasion for desperate efforts to shift the blame from the shoulders of the Lords to those of Ministers, who refuse to split up the Budget, I to facilitate its collection. There is a great principle at stake, for which the Government are fighting-the absolute control of all finance by the House of Commons, and they must be supported in that line by all Liberals. It ) seems to me, however, that that can be done without preventing the payment of the tax. Every Liberal can help the Government by paying his tax voluntarily, and every Unionist can prove the honesty of his principles when he is clamouring for the passage of a special i Income Tax Bill, by voluntarily paying his!; tax without such a legal force behind it. The tax has got to be paid—the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said so—and the leaders of the ( Opposition have made it equally clear that they will impose the tax as it stands the moment they have the obligation to do so as a Government. Therefore, it is clear as noonday that the tax as it stands will have to be paid sooner or later, I; and the right thing to do, from the patriotic point of view, is to pay up now. ♦ • At the adjourned Licensing Sessions for the At the adjourned Licensing Sessions for the Borough of Merthyr, held on Monday, the i ■ police objected to the renewal of numerous I licenses. After a long sitting the magistrates j1 refused two licenses, and deferred six others for compensation. In several other cases in which the licenses were renewed, the holders i; were warned that if convictions were recorded against them during the coming year, the j licenses would be jeopardised. While Mr. W. E. Thomas, the landlord of the Red Lion, Castle-street, Merthyr, who, it was said, had served in the South African war, was being examined by the Chief Constable, he fainted, and had to be assisted out of the witness-box. ( Mr. B. Francis-Williams, barrister, remarked that the Chief Constable's cross-examination j ■ seemed to be more deadly than the war. » » The policy of the Chief Constable in trying: to get rid of objectionable houses will meet with the approval of the majority of the people. That there are too many public houses in the borough will be admitted by all. Many of them can be spared without much inconvenience to those who frequent them. As to which houses are least required to meet the requirements of the public the police and ipagj^tratea are best able to judge. In objecting to the renewal of licences the police must not go to extremes, and due regard must be paid to the claims of owners who have money invested. No fault j will be found with the Magistrates in closing disorderly houses, but where the only question is that of necessity and no conviction has been recorded against licence holders, then the owners and tenants should be considered. It. is desirable that the number of houses should be reduced, but it must be done with discretion. If there were fewer drinking facilities it is reasonable to suppose that there would be less drunkenness, and the community at i' large would benefit. The moral tone of ] the district would also be raised. A great: improvement has taken place in recent j years. i gentleman with whom I had a con- • versation the other day, commented on this fact, and caid Ú: moral tone was infinitely ( higher than it v»is ten or s» dozen years ago. i He also paid > ci'buve uj the Cliier Consh.ble J r M.a the po::co iG.-c- gCiU'V&Hy, &>:• vezakiUeti >" riuit there? h.< bee- vast irapioi: ment sinOe j s the force came ':ndc;' the coutrq) of tfap loc&»! 1 Watch tyjBmktafc~ J 1 The Board of Trade returns for February show a considerable improvement in nearly every branch of trade. As compared with February last year the '■ •: 1 increase was £ 6,067,000. Imports rose t>y E690,000 to £51,158,000; exports of British goods rose by £ 3,667,000 to f 31,692,000, and exports of imported goods rose by il,711,OW to In the two months now completed, January and February, imports rose by £ 3,111.000 to f 107,079,000; exports of British poods ro;e by E9,667,000 to £ 66,495,000, and exports of imported goods rose by £ 3.170,000 to £ 18,332,000. Welshmen are taking an active part inthecin-ic and political life of London. For the County Council elections, which took place on Satur- day, Welshmen stood as Candida tes in no fewer than nine divisions. Mr. D. R. Thomas ,of Merthyr, was a candidate in the Hammer- smith division, which has always been a Tory stronghold. He made a good fight, but he was defeated. Mr. A. A. Thomas, formerly of Swansea, standing counsel for the N.U.T., who was one of the selected Liberal candidates for the Merthyr Parliamentary Borough, was elected for East Islington. One of the defeated candidates in the Stepney division was Mr. W. S. Glyn-Jones, formerlv of Aberdare. The Rev. J. Morgan Jones delivered the first of a series of discourses at Hope Chapel, Merthyr, on Sunday evening, on Religion and Socialism." There was a large congrega- tion, and Mr. Jones' remarks were followed with close attention. He will be criticised, no doubt, for dealing with such a subject form the pulpit; indeed I have heard it sug- gested already that the question ought to be debated on the public platform rather than preached about from the pulpit. However that may be, the discourses are likely to create great interest. There were many Socialists present on Sunday night last, when Mr. Jones confined himself to a general introduction, and an explanation that his object was to show that Religion and Socialism were recon- cilable. In later discourses Mr. Jones will probably raise controversial points, and some of his hearers might desire to ask questions. I have suggested this to Mr. Jones, and he aays he will endeavour to answer any questions which are sent to him in writing. Perhaps a week night meeting could be arranged for this purpose. The subject of next Sunday even- ing's discourse will be found in our advertising otumns The schoolmaster was having a bad time with the worst boy in the class. What is your father ? he asked. Dead, sir," was the lad's reply. No. I mean what was he ? Buried." Well, what was lie before that V Alive, sir." And the schoolmaster gave up the task. The National Eisteddfod, which is to be held at Colwyn Bay in September next, prom- ises to be very successful. It has been decided that the arts exhibition shall be open from August 25th until September 16tli, and to invite Lady Augusta Mostyn, to perform the; inaugural ceremony. A design by Mr. E. Lewis Evans, of Rhyl, has been accepted for; the prize certificate. Mr. Lloyd George will preside on the chair day, Lord Mostyn will take the chair on one of the meetings, and Colonel Cornwallis West has promised to approach the Duke of Westminster with a view i to his being invited to preside on* another day. A further effort is to be made to induce Mr. Carnegie to become president of one of the meetings. Llew Tegid and Llifon have been appointed conductors, and Mabon, M.P., will also be invited to act as a conductor. Llew Wynne will act as stage director. The total amount promised to date in subscriptions and prizes is £846, The Musical Committee have decided that no singer in the .juvenile chov competition shaH be over 16 years of age on the day of the contest. It is expected that choirs will compete at the Eisteddfod from Chicago, Dublin and the Isle of Man, and the secretary says there. will be competitors from all parts of the world. I During the service at the English Wesleyan Church, Merthyr, on Sunday morning last., the pv. H. Andrew said an idea seemed to be prevalent that some great change in the Wesleyan -;rcuit would take place at the beginning of September. He had authority for denying that; io change would take place. As for the follow- ing year the negotiations, he added, were in a nebulous and hazy state." I presume he had in mind a paragraph wlu< h appeared in this column last week. If so, i can only say that it was based on information obtained from official sources. It is evident some change is contemplated, as negotiations have been going on for a long time. An inquiry was held at Wesley Church more than a year ago, represen- tatives being present from the Churches in both the English and Welsh circuits. And I believe it was intonded that the change should take effect from the 1st of September next. From what Mr. Andrew said that idea seems to have been abandoned. What he meant exactly when he said the negotiations were in a nebu- lous and hazy state," I don't know. This I do know, the members of Wesley Church have for some time been anticipating the change. The second Court, of the year was held by the King and Queen, at Buckingham Palace, last Friday night, this being the last Court function until their Majesties return from abroad. There were about 900 guests present. Lady Aberdare wore a gown the corsage and petticoat being of Brussels lace, over which was draped an ivory broche moire in ivy leaf design, the corsage arranged with paste embroidery. The train of chiffon velours in Saxe blue was lined I' with satin duchesse trimmed with a lace scarf. To help their best, scholars between 14 and 16 years of age to obtain good situations, the Sheffield Education Committee and the Sheffield Head Teachers' Association have co-operated in the establishment of a Children's Labour Bureau. A striking fact brought to light has been the disinclination of the most promising scholars to take up artisan occupations. Re- munerative work of that kind has been offered, but there have been no acceptances. In the case of the girls, too, the joint committee io not seek to find them domestic employment. Commercial work with a definite object in view is most favoured, and in the scheme's three months' existence 30 such situations have jl been filled. « A Parliamentary vacancy has been caused in Mid-Glamorgan by the appointment of Sir Samuel Evans to the Presidency of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court, in succession to Sir J. Bigham, who croes to the House of Lords with the rank of Baron. It is only two years ago that Sir Samuel was appointed to the coveted post of Solicitor General. He is a typical Welshman, and though his supporters in Mid-Glamorgan will regret the severance, his numerous admirers throughout South Wales will be proud of the new honour conferred upon him. Sir Samuel took silk after having been only nine years a junior. Even Mr. Rufus Isaacs, who succeeds him as Solicitor General, wore stuff" for eleven years before he was singled out for silk." Sir" Sam "—as he is generally known in the House-has been a great Parliamentary I favourite, and his excellent physique and almost inexhaustible vitality have helped him to gan a fine record in regard to all-night sittings in the House. It will be remembered that an attempt was made to induce Sir Samuel to stand as Liberal candidate for Merthyr at the recent slection, but he declined to leave Mid-Glamorgan which he has represented for about twenty years. At the recent election his majority was nearly ten thousand. 1 Mr. Evan Roberts, the evangelist, who has been living in retirement in Leicester during the last five years, is about to return to South Wales. The other day he was interviewed by a London Evening News" representative, and he said he had learnt a bitter lesson. Asked whether he thought men who sacrificed their health in their enthusisam for religious work might not be acting quite wrongly, and from an erroneous view of what duty demanded, Mr. i Roberts, said I agree. There is a po nt at I which a man ought to consider himself." He went on to say he would never forget the lesson he had learnt. It is one advantage," he added, that I have had it so early in life. I shall be careful for the future. Never again shall I undertake a six weeks' mission—you may be sure of that. I am going to Wales in a week or two. At present I have no fixed plan. I am going to see what the need is, and I shall be guided by circumstances. There is no doubt," he added reflectively, of this—the multitude is cruel. It is merciless to those of whom it makes heroes. I have been able to sleep well, and that has helped my recovery. I am quite well again now. Here in Leicester I have been very quiet. People have been kind—they have let me alone." I A special meeting oi the S-.iv.iwea Town | Council was held on Weu:t £ *u..y, ccolder the propo«U agreement Mcsti.yr and Swansea for a Joint Mental Hospit&i, near I Sketty. The terms of the agreement were i:: out in a eimilar wLieh accompanied the culice convfc.i-n.^ the meeting. This slated tnst I it is ..ro\1 14at tixe espouses in providing buildings, the furnishing and fittinq up, as well as the cost of the land, shall be defrayed two- thirds by Swansea and one-third by Merthyr. these proportions having been fixed according to the probable exetnt of the accommodation required respectively for the pillAper lunatics of the boroughs. The cost of repairs and maintenance of the asylum and the travelling and other reasonable expenses of the Merthyr Visiting Committee are to be borne on the sama basis, the number of pauper patients being ascertained quarterly. A committee of visitors, made up of thirteen representatives of Swansea and twelve of Merthyr, is to superintend the building erection and management of tha asylum. The only probable difficulty presenting itself was as to the poossibility of the asylum being included at a. future time within the borough boundary, which would mean an increase of rates to the injury of Merthyr, also as to the advantage Swansea would gain by the vicinity of the institution. Merthyr desires to equalise these things by a financial arrange- ment. A discussion took place, and it was ex- plained that Merthyr wanted an undertaking that the Swansea Council would pay the Merthy* Council JE300 should the asylum ever be included' in the Swansea Borough area. Eventually it was decided to give the Asylum Committee plenary powers to conclude the agreement witb the Merthyr Council. The results of the Monmouthshire County Council elections give the Progressives a majority of nine. There are 33 Progressive members, 23 Conservatives and one Independent. In the House of Commons, on Tuesday, Mr" Lloyd George made an important announcement in respect to the financial chaos. He said th& loss of revenue in the current financial year dus to the rejection of the Budget by the House of Lords is estimated appromixately at £28,500,000 During a fire that took place on Sunday evening, in Dowlais. some chicks in an incubatof were smothered. A solitary one was saved by a police sergeant. It was a bit scorched on the foot and on the beak, and is being carefully tended by the police, and is in clover. Ths sergeant is a. highly-certificated ambulanca man, and he acts as doctor, nurse and "mother." Under such care, the chick should do well. Mr. W. J. Davies, of Pontypridd, has beeir appointed manager of the Labour Exchange at Merthyr. Mr. Davies, who is secretary of thtf Pontypridd Cymrodorion Society, has had much experience in the superintending of public works under the Pontypridd Urban District Council, and was for some years in the office of Mr. R. P. Wilson, the well-known consulting engineer, of Westminster. The Exchange will probably be opened next Monday. In th. House of Commons, on Wednesday, Mr. Hardi. asked whether it was intended to open a. central office especially for the mining district. :\1r.. Buxton, in reply, said it was not an easy matter to decide off hand, but it was under consideratioat A distinctly better tone preyails M the SoutJ., Wales coalfield as a result of the conference of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, whicit was held in London on Wednesday. Th. conference was called, at the request of th. South Wales Miners' Federation, to consider the Welsh crisis, the negotiations with th. coalowners having resulted in a dealdock. conference met first in the morning, but decisio was deferred, it being thought desirable the M.F.G.B. Executive should submit recommendation. The conference re-assembler at night and unanimously adopted the course suggested by flie Executive, namely, tha. negotiations with the ooalowners should resumed, the workmen's representatives on Conciliation Board to have the assistance-of the officials of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain. It is believed that the existing wage agreement will be extended pending completion of the negotiations for new terms, and that there will be no stoppage at the end of thig month, as was at one time feared. The Mayor of Merthyr (Councillor F. T< I .i;) in an appeal for peace, says N. one knows better than myself the experien which Merthyr and district passed through during the disastrous year of 1898. and I trust sincerely that the catastrophe of that yeaz will not be repeated. Upwards of was then absolutely thrown away on labour yards alone in the Merthyr Union, apart from the enormous loss to tradesmen and the work. men themselves." The methods of the Merthyr Board of Guar- diaas in the administration of the poor lawt form the subject of some scathiag-eriticism in the Appendix to Volume XVIII. of the Report4 of the Royal Commission on the 1>001" Lawa and Relief of Distress. The Merthyr Union was visited by two lady inspectors appointed by the Commission—Miss Longman .and Mist Phillips—and these ladies allege that Out- relief is given in comparatively large sums and very freely. The whole administration is laa in the extreme, and the character of the recipient* and their homes, on the whole, very low." Tl1. report speaks of their finding that in strict. unions it is the practice to give relief in money and not in kind in lax unions it ifthe reverse f but in Merthyr "a very loosely-administered union," it is a rare thing to give food and not money. The report should receive the serious attention of the new Board, presently to t. elected. The arrangements and condition8 at the workhouse and at the Aberdare Training* School are criticised with great severity, and the Guardians should endeavour to remove the, grounds for these animadversions upon theif administrative shortcomings. & According to Mr. Haldane, the Minister off War, who 6poke upon the Army Estimates in' the House of Commons, on Tuesday, tha Territorial Army is now within less than 30,00(1 of its full establishment, and recruits are still joining in such numbers that before the summes is over the force will probably be completed m numerical strength. This year the autumn manoeuvres are to be on a larger scale than ever. and a Canadian Regiment will be brought over to take part in them. » f Progress is being made with the Y.M.C.Aij new building at Pontmorlais, but subscriptions' are not coming in as fast as the committee would- like. The arrangements for the town's are being pushed forward, and it is hoped by j this effort to realise a substantial sum. Whether; the committee are wise in dispensing with th. services of Mr. Alfred Young, the secretary may be doubted. The committee are notj unanimous on the point, but from what I hear; Mr. Young will sever his connection with Y.M.C.A. about the end of May. He wac: engaged as secretary two years ago, and Welsh National Council undertook to pay hit salary for the first two years, providing the local committee would take the responsibility after- wards. Owing, no doubt, to the depression ijj trade, the contributions to tiie building fun" have fallen short of what the committee antici. pated-many of those who promised donation^ when the scheme was first mooted have not yet paid in the amounts—and it is felt that expense* should be curtailed. It is a bad policy, however, to swop horses when crossing a stream," and I question whether the decision of the committee to let Mr. Young go will meet with general, approval. < The Licensing Justices at Gefn had to deal^ with a peculiar case on Wednesday. Mr.' F. P. Charles applied for the transfer of licence of the Greyhound's Head Inn, but its transpired'that some difficulty liad arisen with the outgoing tenant, who would not consent to the transfer. The Magistrates declined to go into the dispute between the tenant and the. Brewery Co., and eventually granted tlls. transfer without the production of the existing licence. The meeting in connection with the British Red Cross Society was a great success, on Tuesday night. It was decided to form a local branch. The Mayoress (Mrs. F. T. James) is chairman of the local committee, and Misa. Alice Harrap was elected hon. secretary The lecturer made some passing allusions to possible battles at Dowlais Top and in the Cwmtaff Valley, where be thought an enter- prising enemy might attempt tof cut off the water supply of Merthyr and Cardiff. Nothing is impossible, I know, but I think we might term these ctherial flights of fancy as highly, improbable events. He then alluded to Cardiff, where the base hospital would be. Why Cardiff ? ourelv a more bracing and healthier spot than Cardiff could be selected—a.part from, strategy. Besides, it is obvious that Cardiff" would be in the danger zone, and very likely to have a visit from the enemy's fleet. Shells falling on and around the base hospital would, not be conducive to an early recovery of the inmates. I consider Cardiff as a basil is un- sound, and that some place further inland would be better. The climate of Cardiff is enervating, not bracing. Cardiff ie a shopping centre, not a health resort. POLONIUS.

Jam-as Jones, an itinerant saddler, was found drowned in the Glamorgan Cana-i at Pontypridd on WedLneeda/, —^