The Merthyr Express

Railway Pooling. L. & S.W..AND G.W.R. AGREEMENT. Sir Charles Scotter, chairman of the London and South Western Railway Company, presid- ing at the half-yearly meeting of the company on Friday, made an interesting statement as to the pooling agreement which had been ar- rived at with the Great Western Railway Com- pany. The agreement, he said, was signed by both the companies on the 13th of May. It was for a period of 90 years, subject to ten years' notice in case either party wished to depart from iL The essence of the agreement was the pooling of all competitive traffic, and the pooling would be hased upon their 1908 figures. He had no hesitation in saying that he considered that this was a splendid stroke of business for both companies. Combination of this kind sometimes took place with commer- cial undertakings, with the object of getting better terms from the public. But this was a combination not to arise either rates or fare3, but owing to the friendly working many facili- ties would be given to the public by both rail- ways, which could not be done with the two companies as rivals. Practically they were now partners with the Great Western Railway Com- pany, for 90 years, instead of competitors, and that cowed a very large portion of the traffic carried over their railways. As a result of .this arrangement, they had already been able to effect some reductions in their revenue expendi- ture. But necessarily it would be some years before the full effect of the agreement would be realised," but its advantages would accrue through the whole period of 90 years. The Executive officers of both companies were loyal- ly working together to make the agreement a sucoess. Instead of perpetually fighting the Great Western, as they had done for so many years, they would now, he hoped, Sfcure fW&e aud ftinitj, unity, and ——~

CORRESPONDENCE. The Editor wishes it to be distinctly understood that he will not hold himself responsible for the opinions or statements of correspondents, nor under- take to return rejected manuscript. Correspondents MUST write on one side of the paper only. Correspondents are requested to condense their re- marks as much as possible as. owing to the very great demands upon our space, we cannot undertake to publish letters of great length. Letters of a personal character will not be inserted.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. R. M. Williams, Merthyr.—We cannot insert your letter, as it contains very serious reflections upon the person named. If you can substantiate the charges you make you should communicate with the Town Clerk or some member of the Corporation.

EXPENSES OF THE BOROUGH OF MERTHYR AND HOW TO REDUCE THEM. Sir,—Permit me to suggest that first the Council should publish for the benefit of the ratepayers a statement of accounts showing what is the amount paid on the Cyfarthfa Castle Estate per week, and what is received as income from the venture, so that the rate- payers may see how the money goes. It is high time that this question was cleared up. The item of expense for stones for road-mak- ing in the Park may be saved by getting the stones from the cemetery instead of fetching stones from Cwm Taff at from 3s. 9d. to 4s. 3d. per load. This should be stopped, and the cemetery improved and cleared.—Yours truly, JOHN OWEN. 80, Brecon-road.

JUNIOR CLERK IN THE BOROUGH CONTROLLER'S DEPARTMENT. Sir,—It is now two or three months since ap- plications were invited for a junior clerkship in the Borough Controller's Department, Town Hall. I understand that about thirty applica- tions were received, and the Council appointed an "Examining Board" for the purpose of test- ing the oandidates. What I should like to know is why nothing has been heard of the matter since. Does the "Examining Board" meet periodically to. discuss the paper to be set? Cannot they agree upon what "puzzlers" to give? It is hoped that something will be done in the matter soon, otherwise the Council may have to re-advertise for juniors, as some of us will be juniors no longer.—I am, ONE OF THE APPLICANTS.

A GRATEFUL MERTHYR MAN. Sir,—Will you allow me to trespass on your valuable space for the purpose of thanking the very many kind friends who so strongly sup- ported my candidature in the "Western Maif holiday competition, and enabled me to occu}. such a fine position in the first prize list. Never for a moment did I dream that I had so many kind friends, and I am just appreciating what I have now found out, that the "world is not such a bad old place" after all. Friends rallied round me from all parts, and in such numbers that it is impossible for me to thank them all individually. Will they please accept through this source, therefore, my most grateful thanks to them for their kindness—kindness which I can never forget. Amongst numerous others I would especially like to thank the following: Mr. P J. Kivilin, Mr. M. Kivilin, Mr. Morris (bookstall), Mr. Frank Danvers, of Messrs. Haggar's Bioscope, Mr. Tom Dancer, the mem- bers of the C.Y.M.S., and also you, Mr. Editor, for space in your valuable paper on several oc- casions. I would also like to thank those ladies and gentlemen who so kindly assisted at my concert. In a few days' time I hope to be enjoying the first view I have ever had in my 1 life of the sea, at the Mumbles. Again thank- ing every one most sincerely, I beg to remain theirs gratefully, W EDWARD COLLINS. 35, Grawen,\ Brecon-road, Merthyr.

PENDERYN BURIAL FEES. Sir,—I am not prepared, beyond noticing one or two things, to waste any more of my time and your space by following Mr. George into the farrago of nonsense that he has penned about the fees in Penderyn Churchyard, ete. and his idea as to an imaginary cemetery in. that movable bog, or quagmire, at Hirwain. This is the place, according to that scribe, which is so suitable for vaults (?) and which, by some supernatural intervention, is, in the near future, to "blossom as the rose." It would be difficult to find language sufficiently strong to characterise the stupidity of such assertions. I am not concerned about this perpetuity, he says. There is a good reason why. Children over a month old have been buried under cer- tain circumstances in Penderyn Churchyard for 10s. and 12s. during the last 20 years. Yet, in face of that fact, he tries to make himself believe that he has reduced the fees when nothing of the kind has taken place. He is endeavouring to gain the applause of a certain section of the community without due regard as to the means, ()f obtainIDg that end. He is like our modem Dogberries and bugesses whose | willingness to undertake the work of local ad- ministration is greater than their capacity to perform it. I am content to leave my explan- ations and his statements side by side for the judgment of the public.—I am, sir, your 'obedi- ent servant, LLEWELYN JENKINS, Rector of Penderyn. August 9th, 1910.

COLLECTION .OF GELLYGAER RATES. Sir,The Brothers Jones and five ex-coun- cillors are now in prison, and the ratepayer of Gellygaer are experiencing the fruits of a. more modern system. This modern system ,has been long: enough in practice for the ratepayers to find that there are yet some inequalities. I' should like to know why it is that in some cases 15 per cent. is allowed off the rates to occupiers who pay their own rates, while in other cases the 30 per cent, which the rate- payers are entitled to is not allowed. I hope the Council will took into this matetr, and 800 that the ratepayers are treated with justice. A SEEKER OF JUSTICE.

AN APPEAL TO TREDEGAR CHURCH PEOPLE. Sir,—May I bo allowed, through your valu- able paper, to draw the attention of the Tre- degar Church people to the probable departure of the Rev. Daniel Williams from the parish, and to ask whether church people cannot do something towards retaining his services? The number of curates that have left this district during the last fifteen years is appalling, and surely something ought to be done to improve the lot of these men. After being in the neigh- bourhood for about two years and just when he has become most useful in all work of the church, especially in temperance work in con- nection with St. George's Church, he is going away. Surely, the churchwardens can do some- thing. Could they not put before the church members some reason for the continual de- parture of these men when they are becoming most useful, so that the members of St. George's Church could have an opportunity of doing something? Our Church is empty enough—vacant seats are plentiful—so there is every necessity of retaining the services of a good, upright, useful Christian servant of God in our nuast.—Yours truly, ELLEN THOMAS.

IS IT SENTIMENTALITY? Sir,—It is a long time since Mr. Evan Da- vies was induced into the press, and now he comes witb the old sentimentality, "The work- er's child." I should like to know does Mr. Davies know some of the causes of the worker's child being so poorly clad? I will givo one—it is excessive rates, which mean exorbitant rents, which he wants to increase. It is bad enough 'to know that the worker's child is poorly clad without putting1 an additional shilling to boil them in their sodden rags. Mr. Davies eays twopence will do, but every school would re- quire the same equipment. That would mean, according to the better authorities, a sixpenny rate payable twice a year, and an additional sixpence for the rent-racker. More interesting would be a few lines from Mr. Davies on his action during the recent rate discussion, and the cost of summonses. A READER.

THE SHOP ASSISTANTS. Sir,—I can assure your correspondent, "Trade Unionist," that I am free from any kind of "disordered imagination." The evil conditions which surround the shop workers are partly of their own making. The bulk of them are strongly prejudiced against reform, and take pride in their profound ignorance of industrial history. The hours of labour are limited by the law of nature. No class can violate these laws with impunity. It is true that we are in an age of greed, and that profits are pf more value than human souls, but the nation must pay the penalty in the end. Still, had the shop workers given the same attention to unity a3 they have given to classifying themselves into as many varieties as there axe plants and fl.nima.la known to science, we should now hear less about "long hours." Ever since 1850, great meetings have been held all over the country with Parliamentary Committees to in- vestigate the conditions of labour; but to be honest, what interest have the workers in themselves? Football or the brutality of a prize fight seem all that they live for, while the shop assistant is such a superior character who will not even touch his brother at the lowers end of the counter. My last word to "Trade Unionist" is for him to rest his plotting brain. Capitalism will bring the revolution soon enough, and when it comes, the workers in. general need take no credit in ending the. present system of wage slavery. Thanking you,, Sir, for much favour,—Yours, etc., J.M. D. <,

"TALES OF THE TARIFF TRIPPERS." Sir,—A few weeks ago the Free Trade Union published a penny booklet, entitled, "Tales of the Tariff Trippers." No fewer than ten anonymous letters, written with the desire to abate the force of ita attack on the Tariff Re- form League's .reports on the working man's tours in Germany, have appeared in the Pro- tectionist Press, broadcast throughout the country. The strength of the Free Trade Uaioa attack lay ifi tbs piippte &qp<ag\grgi gf the self-contradictions of the trippers as to what, they saw in Germany. The writer of the anonymous letters, calling himself "A Tariff Tripper," makes no effort to meet the attack, but strives to give a wrong impression of its nature. He repeats a false accusation made against a fellow-tripper, although the leader of the trip has publicly withdrawn that accusation. He concludes a letter objecting to a statement in the bookJet about the bias of the trippers— I said, "Most of them are Tariff Reformers at all hazards"—by implying that the booklet said they were all Tariff Reformers. He does not attempt to meet the criticsm that no Free Trader has come back converted to Tariff Re- form. In "Tales of the Tariff Trippers," extracts are given from the reports of two fellow- trippers, one of whom said that there were no slums in Dusseldorf, while the other declared that "slums as bad as any in the East End were observed" there. "A tariff Tripper" draws attention to the omission of a comma and of the addition that these slums "appeared to be small," and were inhabited (so they were told) by foreigners. The main point is the contradiction; and, in seeking to sand it over, "A Tariff Tripper" merely accentuates the existence of the "slums." Similarly, about a photograph, in which my booklet reproduced the interior of a "slum" dwelling in Berlin. It was a room 13 feet long by 11! feet wide, occupied by seven people. "A Tariff Tripper's" sole observation on this is that "there are pictures, a clock, mirror, and a fine German stove" in the photograph. Not a word is said to deny the truth of the picture. Would it please the Protectionists better if the room contained no stove, no clock, and two more human beings? On the subject of horseflesh, the booklet re- produced an advertisement of a Chemnitz horse- meat shop. "I visited the very shop," declares "A Tariff Tripper." And he adds that the impatient proprietor "told the party I accom- panied that his customers did not patronise his shop on account of poverty." My only comment on that record is a quotation from this- very shopkeeper's own advertisements: "Of all animals used for human food, horseflesh contains not only the most albumen and there- fore the greatest amount of nourishment, but is half as cheap again" (Volkstimme, June 3rd). In another attempt to parody the booklet, the letter-writer tries to make us believe that the animals in the German menageries go to the shops to buy their own meat. If not, why should we be asked to imagine that the shops are not there for human customers—not even the one in Chemnitz? The blackest spot on the volume of reports (which were published by the Tariff Reform League) was the wilful omission of an official photograph of a great room full of unemployed male adults in the Berlin Labour Exchange, and the inclusion of the picture of a small room partly full of unemployed youths (the conscrip- tion army takes most of the German youths), as representative of unemployment in the capi- tal. "A Tariff Tripper" realises the destruc- tive effect of this exposure. His only reply is a sneer. He says the volume printed five out of the sixteen photographs given in the annual offioial report; and whereas my booklet said the reports reproduced "all but one" of the pictures of the "various departments for the unemployed, ho deems my criticism demolish- ed when he asks bow long sixteen mines five has been equal to one. This is his only reply, his only excuse. One scarcely has the patience to repeat that of the sixteen official pictures he mentions, only three are of "departments for the unemployed," and that tho reports omitted one of the three, a.nd that one he worst.—I re- main, dear Sir, yours very truiy. THE AUTHOR. OF "TALES OF THE TARIFF TRIPPERS." Free Trade Union, 8, Victoria-street, Westminster, August 9th, 1910.

A CATHOLIC CANNOT BE A SOCIALIST. Sir,—Your correspondent, "One Sanscuilote, after being entirely routed from the position which he formerly held, viz., that a Catholic can be a. Socialist, is now of opinion that the proper course for him to take is to pick holes in the Catholio religion. I am sure that any religion that has stood the test of several hun- dreds of years is not likely to be much injured by the little bit of mud which your Merthyr Vale correspondent may fling at it. He asks for instructions on some of the Catholic forms of worship. As the "Merthyr Express" is not an organ for the conveyance of religious instruc- tion, I shall not have the audacity to trespass on its columns with the same, but if your corres- pondent, who, after my invitation to publish his name and address, had not the courage to do so, will send his address to "A Catholic Social Reformer, The Catholic Hall, Morgantown, Merthyr Tydfil, I shall be very pleased to send him some books containing Catholic instruc- tion. Your correspondent now considers the sub- ject of Socialism and marriage is something which should be dealt with. This may certainly be the case, but as my wife and myself are not Socialists, and as the percentage of practical Socialists is so small, I am at present entirely indifferent as to whether any of them marry or not, but as he has used my non-de-plume in dealing with this subject, I consider I am justi- fied in giving him all the information I can, on the subject from which he has entirely withdrawn. As a social reformer I am surprised to find that your correspondent believes that woman should be placed on the same level as man, that she should be made a soldier in the battle of life.' What a horrible feeling would possess me if I knew that my wife, whom I love very much, had to work beside me down one of the Merthyr Vale coal pits or on the top of one of the Dowiais blast furnaces. My respect for woman inspires me to treat this belief of your correspondent with contempt. Socialism, though Atheistic, contradicts this belief, and to me and to every intelligent reader of your paper, this will show how utterly ignorant of Socialism your correspondent is, and how much it is necessary for him to study it before attack- ing Catholicity, as he says, in the interests of Socialism. Furthermore, your correspondent has never heard of the command given by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden or he would never make himself the object of so much public criticism. Inside the Catholic Church wo- man receives protection, outside it she is regard- ed as a toy, as can easiy be seen from the proceedings of our divorce courts and some classes of proceedings which take place at our i smaller courts. In years which have passed, when the church ruled the thoughts and actions of man, the piti- ful cry of the bow-legged, pigeon-breasted and paie-faced babe who inhales the poison of the rubber tube whilst its mother has to work in the factory to find herself bread, was not to be heard of, and is it not terrible to think what suffering the animal passions of man let loose and have brought on the weaker sex and on their most precious of God's gifts? I have proved beyond question that a Catholic cannot i be a SomalIst, and in doing so I have always given authorities for my quotations and state- ments. This, your correspondent has not in any way done; he ignores all authority on Social- ism, and tries to make the readers of your jour- nal believe that the Socialistic movement rests entirely on his own shoulders. This, I feel convinced, none of them will. He has made no attempt in any other way during the time this correspondence has been going on to controvert any of my statements, and in the end he flies to the protecting- arms of Socialism and marriage. In conclusion, may I remind your correspond- ent that Catholic priests, more particularly those whose jpoHtical principles are on the demo- cratic side, will not bo left at the meroy of any Socialist who is prejudiced against Catholicity. I beg to thank you, sir for alio win ? me to tres- pass so much on your valuable space. I shall always remain a cbnstant supporter of your very valu- able paper. >

A CATHOLIC SOCIAL REFORMER. WELSH APPLE CULTURE. Sir,—Thirty years ago, when I initiated the fruit-growing movement, I insisted! that tbe future of the home-grown- apple was better than ever. An interview lately with a gentle- man who is growing fruit on my lines showed that he receives 40s. a bushel for his dessert apples each season. Many of our fruit-growers obtain faom Ie. to 4s. a dozen for their apples, yet we import 10,000,000 bushels of these fruits yearly. I never magnify profits. At 10s. a bushel, the returns are handsome. This year- I have seen apple trees with crops worth 60s, upon each tree. The possibilities of hardy fruit oulture on business lines are wondmilll. t As to strawberries, 200 berries of good size have this year been grown upon single plants. Groins returns of from JB50 to JE150 per acre under special intensive culture can be secured from open air grown fruits. Good livings from small areas devoted to fruit can be depended upon when planned on disinterested lines. Fruit-growing colonies, small fruit farms, and commercial fruit gardens offer at the present time brilliant inducements. When the simple secret of productivity is learned, the mainten- ance of magical fruitfulness is easy and natural. Under my system, after the start, all heavy labour is absolutely banished from the fruit farm, thus rendering the business suitable for women as well as me>n.—Yours trull, Sevenoaks. SAMPSON MORGAN.

TORTOISES SOLD IN THE STREETS. Sir, I beg the favour of a small space in your columns on behalf of our interesting friends, the ordinary "land" and "water" tor- toises. At this time of the year, large num- bers of these animals are exposed for sale all over the country by itinerant vendors, who, owing to afaaùty knowledge of natural his- tory, or a determination to push their trade at all hazards, assure their customers that the creatures will live almost entirely on slugs, or on oockroaches, beetles, and other forms of insect life. That is the idea generally given. by the wHy or ignorant travelling dealer. Noth- ingcould be further from the truth so far as these two specimens asre concerned, but the assuraiiee is often accepted, and as a result many tortoises are condemned, so to speak, to slow starvation in cellars, kitchens, and other places by their deceived purchasers. These tortoises are, in fact,. entirely vegetarian in tbeir habits, and will eat no insect food what- ever. The staple diet consists of lettuces, eab- bages, and other farms of vegetation, while they are particularly partial to dandelion and the yellow-flowers of buttercups when these can be supplied. The tortoise should be kept as far as possible in the open (care beiiur taken to exclude it from the kitchen garden"), but where f(k9. a scorching g#n is avail- able. In winter the tortoise will hibernate, and may either be allowed to bury itself in the ground in the autumn (in which event the spot should be marked to avoid disturbance), or, J when it is beginning to burrow, may be taken indoors and placed in a box of leaves or mould and stowed away in a cellar or cold room till the spring. It is important to note that the tortoise should be well fed through the summer to ensure the creature having sufficient stamina for the long winter sleep, from which it will in due course awaken eager for more lettuces and cabbages—but not for cockroaches and beetles! A tortoise well treated will live for many years, especially with a companion, for these sluggish animals are. capable of strong feelings of attachment, and in spring some- times show signs of restlessness when kept alone. I have ventured to give a brief sketch of the requirements of the common land and water tortoises, principally to warn purchasers against the erroneous idea that they will live on insects, and also because people have com- plained to us of the loss of their pets, only to find, alas, that they ha.ve been the innocent cause of their untimely death. I ought to add that there ia another branch of the tortoise family, the North American box-tortoise, which will take insects, but this little creature is too expensive for general importation, and is never found in the hands of itinerant hawkers as are the two specimens I have referred to.—Yours faithfully, EDWARD G. FAIRHOLME. Secretary of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 105, Jermyn Street, London, S.W.„ August 4th, 1910.

Rhymney Railway. DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CYLLA. Mr. Godfrey L. Clark presided at the half- yearly meeting of the shareholders of the Rhymney Railway Company, held at the Angel Wotel, Cardiff, last Friday. The other directors present were Messrs. W. Heward Bell, E. F. North, E. P. Martin, H. G. White, and W. J. Tatem. The report of the directors showed that the total receipts for the half-year amounted to £183,648 13s., an increase of JE883 19s. 5d., com- ered with the corresponding half of 1909. The net revenue account showed a balance of £65,519 2s. 3d. available for distribution, as com- pared with £73,439 in the corresponding period last year. The sum required to pay 4 per cent. dividend on the Preference Stock was £191861 16s., and there being a balance of £45,657 6s. 3d. a dividend of 9! per cent. per annum on the Ordinary Stock was proposed, the balance of £7,65768. 3d. thereafter remaining to be carried to the next account. The capital expenditure of the company during the half-year amounted to £17,256 2s. 3d. Mr. Godfrey Clark, in moving the adoption of the report, called attention to the increase in the revenue, and said that the dividend was the same as last year. The directors, he said, recommended the appropriation of £10,000 for new engines and £2,000 for special renewals of the premanent way. Dealing with the capital expenditure, Mr. Clark stated that a new goods yard was in course of erection at Caerphilly. A considerable amount of filling was required, and they were getting the material from the land purchased at the south end of the tunnel, where the space excavated would be used for sidings. Works going on in connection with the hew sinkings at the lla branch were attracting a considerable population, and the general man- ager seemed to think that the time had come when a motor halt could be put up a.t the present rail head. Probably it would be neces- sary to extend the line for about a mile up the Duffryn to Gelligaer, where the population* seemed to be establishing itself. Land for thi3.i extension had been bought and fenced in. The expenditure on maintenance of way showed an increase of £5-,103, due largely to the increased length of line which had been relaid with heavier rails. There was an increase of £589 in carriage and wagon repairs, due chiefly to passenger breakages. The traffic expenses were lip £900, chiefly caused by the reduction of hours ef duty and in meeting the demands of the Board of Trade, who had put their foot down very firmly in regard to anything approaching overtime. Parliamentary expenses showed a decrease of SI,179. There was a decrease of 600 miles in the passenger traffic and an increase of 63,296 in goods traffic mileage. The decrease in passenger receipts (£985) appeared to be chiefly in third- class traffic-te result of the Eight Hours Act giving less money to the district. There was an increase of £888 in the merchandise receipts, showing an increase of population on the line. The quantity of coal carried to Cardiff was 1,819,000 tons. Speaking generally, Mr. Clark said that the coal trade was in a very disturbed oondition during the early part of the six months, and even at present it did not appear to be all that they could desire. They carried 8,000 tons more iron ore to the hills, but there was a decrease of 37,000 tons in finished iron. It ap- peared from this that the works on the hills were in hopes of a revival, as they were stocking iron ore. The men employed by the company had given no trouble, and had made no com- plaints, and it had not been necessary to call the Conciliation Boards together at all during the half-year (hear, hear). The company owed the bank £782,000, but at' present the directors did not think it necessary to ask the shareholders for power to issue new stock. The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. W. H. Bell-and carried. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Bell, the divi- dends proposed were adopted. Mr. Jennings congratulated the directors upon the position, and upon hia motion a vote of thanks to them and to the officials was carried.

Taff Vale Railway. COSTS OF THE FUSION BILLS. The half-yearly meeting of the Taff Vale Railway Co. was held at Bristol, on Tuesday,, Mr. R. L. G". Vassall presiding. The Chairman, in proposing the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, said that the company had received £20,000 less than in the cannesponding faaif- • year, but had also spent between £15;008 and £16,000 less, and the directors recom- mended the declaration of the same dividend aa previously, viz., 4 per cent. Comparing 1900 with the previous year, Mr. Vaasall stated that the revenue in 1900 was 29,655, and this had steadily increased until the Eight Hours Act came into force. During the last half-year the revenue was £496,541. being £6&,886 more than in 1900, or an increase of 15.56 pert cent. In 1900 the sum avail- able for dividend was £130,209, whilst in the half-year ended June, 1910, it was £ 186,059—an increase of £55,850, or 42.89 per cent. In regard to dividends in the June half of 1900, the company paid 3;1, -and also for the two successive June halves; but in 1903 (June half), the amount. WAS 3i, and since then up to the present time they had paid and were now paying 4 per cent. This was satisfactory both as regards revenue and dividend; and they might take it that the financial position of the company was now' as strong as it ever had been during the time that he had bad a seat on the Board. The returns for the current half-year had shown an encouraging and substantial increase. The Pontypridd Station improvements had during the half-year been put down at The total decrease in the passengerN traffic receipts was £2,988, which he attributed to the fact that there was less money to spend in the district, and the decrease in coaching traffic was %1",823. In regaod to minerals, the company carried 524,824 tons of coal and coke lees than in the correspond ing period. The decrease in money was £16.492, but hav- ing regard to an increase of £138 in the car- riage of other minerals, the total decrease in mineral traffic was £16,354. Dock and har- bour receipts showed a decrease of but there was an increase in rant of JB679. The total decrease in receipts during the half- year had been Parliamentary expenses were as against £7;8&4; and as they might wonder what this sum was for, he had to inform them that it was the remains of charges incurred, in the unsuccessful promotion of the Cardiff Vesting Bill in the last Session. They had also 'had to bear the cost of the promotion of the Rhymney Railway Vesting Bill. The former cost £17,000, and the latter £9,000. The whole of this £9,000 had been paid, and of the £17,000 there remained a sum of £9,002. Of this £4,502 had been charged in the last half-year, and £4,500 would be chargpd on the current half-year. In addition to this, over £1,200 had been spent in opposing tha Barry Company in their a.ttempt to obtain a repeal of Section 23 of their Act of 1907. The Barry Company had failed twice; and it would appear from their rejection of the offer of the Parliamentary Committee this Session that nothing would satisfy them except a positive repeal of the clause free from any condition, leaving them absolutely free to deal with traffic as they might think fit. The looaJ companies all felt that such a state of things would inflict a great hardship and injustice upon them; and he was pleased to say that this view had been taken by all the Parliamentary Committees which had bed the matter before them. The balance to be carried forward to the next half-year showed an increase, being £28,154 as compared with £Z1,768 in the corresponding month. In regard to tram mileage, that of passenger trains showed a decrease of 24,142 xmles, and in mineral traffic of 49,095 miles, whilst the number of ton»carried had decreased by 482,903 tons. Resolutions were carried, approving of the .1 payment of a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent, per atnnom on the Preference Stock, and at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum on the Ordinary Stock (equivalent to 10 per oent. per annum on the Old Ordinary StocUh carry-

Vancouver Welsh Malé Voice Party PROBABLE VISIT TO WALES. If the negotiations now on foot mature the renowned Vancouver Welslj MaleVoice Party, British Coloumbia will visit Wales and a few English cities durinjj the autumn. This choir has a great reputation in Canada, and at the World's Fair, last year, in Seattle came a close second for the big prize to a professional choir from Chicago. The adjudicator, Dr. Daniel Protberoe, described the party as possessing the best voices in the oqmpetition. The press has also greatly eulogised its various performances. The Party will nrst of ail tour the States and then cross the "herring pond." Wales should •feel proud of her colonial sons who will travel six thousand miles over land and sea to demon- | strate at home that although living amidst a foreign element they still retain their Welsh characteristics of love of song and chorus. The conductor is Mr. E. S. Jones, late head of the South Liverpool male choir, whilst Mr. Lewis Roberts fills the dual position of secretary and accompanist. The secretary will be "to answer all queries inspecting open dates This being the first Colonial choir to visit the old country, there is every reason to hope that to Welshmen will belong the honour of composing the party. Great care has been exercised in the selection of voices, and when the personnel ia complete, it will embrace the best voices on the continent. Whilst not exclusively Welsh it .will be Welsh, enough to impart that famous Celtic fire to its renditions. So far the following Welshmen are in the ranks E. T. Jones (conductor), Holyhead, Lewis Roberts (Festiniog), E. Bodycomb (Merthyr), Johnnie Evans (Carnarvon), awarded second place at the World's Fair; Treharne (Carmar- then), Llew Williams (Maesteg), Evan Thomas (Dolgelley), Arthur S. Davies (Pontypridd), S. Roberts (Kidwelly), E. Gravel! (Kidwelly), R. Williams (Oswestry), Da.vid Williams (Ystrad), J. Pritchard (Abertillery), David Rees (Llanelly) W. Young (Llanelly). When the party reaches Liverpool it will number twenty-seven to thirty voices. The actual date of departure from Vancouver has not yet been decided upon, but it will be in October or November

St. Winifride's "Cure." ANOTHER 'REMARKABLE CASE. The "miraculau»" cure of a girl suffering from a spinal complaint is reported from Holywell. It is stated that among a largo party from Preston which visited St. Wini- fride's Well on Tuesday, was a girl named Margaret MiUioent Bradley, of Robinson- Street, Fulwood, Pnestan, who was carried I to the spring on a spinal support Having been dipped in the water, she*said to her mother^ "I can stand up straight," and did so, afterwards jvalking about all day. I

William Chopping, a ninetoen-year-old. milk- I man, of Ulchaino Farm, Lstcmngdon, died 1 on Monday from injuries received from a bull which attacked him, and catching him on its horns ran several times round the farm- yard with him. j

THE SUCCESS OF A HOLIDAY; It is not thelmer. going away—the change— which makes for the success of a holiday, as mucil: as whether an individual is physically capable Qf benefiting by the sojourn in new surroundings. Usually change is sought to counteract a run-, down condition'; but add to this latter the tnavel disorders and the heat nausea of summer, and often the gain in health is small compared to the time and money expended. To make sure of a holiday that will do real good, be fully enjoyed at the time, and remembered with pleasure after- wards, readers cannot do better than adopt the expedient of Mrs, Palmer, and fortify themselves with Phosferine". "When I was going for a sea- side holiday," says this lady my nerves were constantly giving way. I took Phosferine for the whole-of my holiday, and owing to that the holiday was a success. Whenever I feel run down, or have extra strain on the nerves, I turn at'once to

tf* u r -M————M I — LAST WEEK —— I 4 OF THE 1 Great Summer Sale — — AT — R, T. JONES & Co. J MERTHYR. I I Further Reductions in all Departments; I I REMNANT SALE Begins To-morrow (Saturday;, AND CONTINUES DAILY FOR ONE WEEK Our Remnant Sale is not a Sale of a few Odds and Ends, a but a Clearance of Hundreds of Useful Lengths, Oddments, i Discontinued Numbers, and Articles Slightly Soiled from K Window Display, and from Handling. It is, in fact, a B Clearance of Goods which are Worth Ordinary Prices, but S which must be Sacrificed Regardless of Cost. B Don't miss this ueat opportunity, | R. T. JONES & CO., Market Square, Mertnyr Tydfil. I

AUGUST 13TH, 1910. Antiquarian Column. "BLODAU GABDD Y BYWYD." The following ia a good translation by "Ryehan ap Rhys" of the Welsh epitaph in "Gwiexai Jottings," July 16th:— PThis fair bloom of oar mortal clay, Nipped m its budding strife; JEkufa emblem of everlasting day— rilumr hloomB is the Garden of Life." TALFTBTDDL FOR J J ABEEFAN. Sir,-In yow AntiquarAn Cohmn a fort,. night ago, I note a letter from "J.J. Aber- rant If be cam to write to 16, TT- oa", -Merthyr, he can have the desired information. 0fZ!6. sincerely, W, ISAAo. THE FIRST WELSH BIBLE. Sir,-Acoorchng to what I have read in a- Welsh essay on the Order of Ivorites, written by Mr. John Garaon (Ieuan Ferddig), Merthyr Tydfil, and published here forty yeans ago, the celebrated antiquarian, lolo Morganwg, main- tained that the first Bible in the Welsh lan- guage was translated from William Tyndal'a English version by "Thomas Llewelyn, the bard and preacher, of Glyn Tiithinog, Rhigoa, GAamorgaji." The author also states that a lecture he heard delivered by Tydfylyn con- tained "clee.1" proofs" to the same effect. Can anybody reproduce those ''proofs" in this oo.lu.mn ? TALPTBTDD. MERIHYB'S POPULATION—100,0001 Sir,—The following is an extract from a rail- way guide, under the place-name "Merthyr Tydfil," issued by Meam OMael and Co., Xiondan, twenty-SAX years w. "Although known in very ancient times as A place where iron waa smelted, it remained an out-of-the- way obscure little village until about the middle of the last century, when Mr. Anthony Bacon obtained a k>ng lease of a luge tract of country upon which he speecbly established mrnintr and foundry works, finding estensrve employment in the manufacture of camtona for the Government. The town has a population of about a hnndred.tbot.NMMi!" That is nearly doable the estimated population «& .that time (1884). TAUTBYDD. PLACE NICKNAMES. Sir,-ne following addition may interest some of your readers:- Liadron DetEaid—Rreconshire men. Die Shan Dafyddion—Monmouthshire do. Rebels Bedwellty—Bedwellty do. Gwyr y Cswl Erfvn—Qasraarthenshire do.. Moch Daon—Pembrokeshire do. Own Daon—Denbighshire do. Gwyr y LLaetb Enwyn—Caariiganshire do. Crwyddau Llannefydd—LLaonafydd do Ca.owns-Gwyr Bedw88. y, ie Cawcis—Gwyr Caerphilly. V,U" draw can y Cbwci,—ei gaiac i Nid yw gu i'n lloni: bob mbwd maer nod i mi Hoff eilon tief CaerphilE." v—Who? Mygod Iianfair—Gwyr Llanfair. "Mi welaia neithiwr drwy fy hun, Lygod Llanfair bod ag un: 1 Rhai mewn uwd, a rhai mewn llvmro, A rhdi mewn buddai wedi boddL" —Talhaiarn. BRICHAN AP Ress. AN ANCIENT BRITISH CHISPTAIN. The following is copied from an old Welsh MS., and may be taken as the description of Hthe accomplishments appertaining to the char- _er of an ancient British chieftain (Pryse, VWeleb Interpreter) ^'Saith Gamp a ddyty fod ar WT-bo-ddig. Bod yn fardd ar ei fwrdd; Bod yn oen yn ei ystafell; Bod yn feudwy yn ei egtwys; Bod yn baeu ar yx hecJ; Bod yn ddoeth yn ei ddadl; Bod ya liew ar y maeg; Bod yn athraw yn ei dy. F&eve-n Qualities that ought to be possessed by a Gentleman: To be a bard at his tahie; To be a lamb in his chamber; To be a hermit in his church; To be a peacock on the highway; To be wiae in his discourse; To be a lion in the field; To be an instructor in his house. "Y Tri Oedran" (Gan Iolo Gooh). -T-ri oed pawl a femir yn oedran ci; Tri oedran ci yw oed march; -] Tri oedran march yw oed gwx; Tri oed gwr yw oedran hydd; Tri oed hydd yw oedran gwaich; Tri oed gwalch yw oedran dar; Tri oed y derwen a fernir O'm gwarant i, aT y grwn tir." ,bc Three A gee," (by 1010 Gooh. Domestic Bard to Owain Glyndwr). ^Tkree times the age of an alder pole are judged to be the age Of & dog-i Thrice the age of a dog makes the age of a horse; Thrice the age of a horse makes the age of a man; fFhrice the age of a man makes the age of a stag; Thrice the age of a stag makes the age of a fcawk; Thrice the age of a hawk makes the age of an oak; An oak'w reputed age, when three times old, Describes the tenure of the land I hold." BBTCHAN AP RETS. "ROLLY LLANBRADACH." enquiries were made in this column a few tpaeks ago concerning Holland Thomas, known to his contemporaries as "Rolly Llanbradaob." He was born in 1789 in the neighbourhood of Aberystwyth, and when a young man tramped iwith hia cousin, "William Davies, the cele- brated bard of Coedycymmer" (1776-1834) to I Clwydyfagwr, where a large number of his de- scendants may stiil be found. A geologist of no mean repute, be held peculiar notions anent .&is favourite study. Believing implicitly that stones, like animated objects, grew and devel- oped in magnitude, it ie said that he once, in order to satisfy his curiosity, buried a stone in ie ground for twenty years, at the expiration ior which time he found to his chagrin that in eize it remained the same. He was evidently diAaapnd ig, the rojigh., In 185J, ojgr the t t ..t signature of "Idris Ddu," his bardic title, he published a Welsh pamphlet, entitled, "Traeth- awd ar Gawg Mwnawl Deheudir Cymru; befyd Cyfansoddiad o'r Gwahanol Fwnau a'r Achos o Lo Caj-reg, Glo Rhwym, etc." This pam- phlet is recgonised as the work of an expert, though the writer was, in the phraseology of the time—"yn ddyn heb addysg," which means "a man without learning." He wae also a poet of no low standard. His "Song to the Hounds" ("Can i Gwn Hela William Thomas, Yaw., o Lys Merthyr), published in 1854, though per- haps not the best of his poetical compositions, wae very popular fifty years ago. In the first- verse, he describes^the fox in hiding at Giraig- y-Lan, near Gethin, and then proceeds in this wise:— "Pan clybu Meistr Williatn Thomas Am y gwr egar ag oedd mor agoe, Fe alwai atto'r cwn a'r cynnydd I gael myned at y mynydd: Ac yn fuan buan yho, Fe glywyd gwaeddi, "How! how!" arno. Y own yD oadw yn nhrail y cadno, Nes oedd y coed a'r creigiau'n eoo: Ac am ei hoede) y pryd ga'dd ymado. 'Nol methu cadw yn mhhth y coedydd, Cynygai, mynai ben y mynydd, Heb ofni goIwg clawdd na gwelydd, Ni orphwysai ar y ffosydd, Dwfr y llynau a nofiai'*v ufydd." In the sixth verse he informs us who was in the haut.- "Y mae medrus hwylus helwyr Eto'n ddiau yn mharthau Merthyr: Thomas Dafydd a Mr. Harm an, Ac Esquire Lewis Morgan, Howell Richard, ben redegwr: William Harry, heiny' henwr, A Howell Dafydd, mawr ei gTyfdwr: I'r wlad o gwmpas y mae'n ben campwr, Wedi ei brofi a'i wneud yn brif-wr; I'r wlad o gwmpas y mae'n ben campwr, Wedi ei brofi a'i wneud yn brif-wr; Meistr Davies, Pantysgallog, Thomas Miller, gwr calonog, A Meistr Thomas, ieuanc, fywiog; A William Stephen, anian enwog, Oil yn ddiddan arhwyddlan rhywiog." The most widely sung of his bardic effusions, possibly, was "Cleowydd Tai Mawr." Space forbids my giving it this week. Roily and his cousin, the before-mentioned W. Davies, it seems, made a covenant to the effect that the first to die was to bequeath his works to his survivor, and that the survivor was to bury the other. It was Davies who died first. The MSS. of both poets are still in Clwydyfkwr in the custody of a" descendant of Roily. "Idris Ddu" wrote occasionally over the nom-de-plume of "Tubal Cain." He expired on the 26th of December, 1856," a.nd his remains were interred in the graveyard adjoining tha Hen-Dy-Cwrdd, Cefn. On his tombstone is inscribed the fol- lowin "englyn," made now almost unintellig- ible through the ravages of time and weather: "Ow! edrych, dyma fedd Idris-anwyl, Enwog bor uchel bris: Awr ddybryd Gwalia ddibris. Oedd marver bardd mawr ei bris." MAB Y MYNMX). REVIVAL OF THE WELSH MUSE AT MERTHYR. "On the 19th inst., an Eisteddfod of Welsh Bands and Minstrels was held at the Bell Inn, Merthyr, and many excellent compositions on 'Bywyd y Mab Afradlon' ('The Life of the Prodigal Son') were recited by young votaries of the A wen.' The mooting was well and respectably attended, and the company were highly pleased with the recitations, the singing of pennillion after the ancient Welsh manner with the harp, and above all with the magic tones of the Welsh harp, performed in a mas- terly manner by that eminent Cambrian lyrist, Mr. J. Jones, of .("Ca.mbrian. April 30, 1820.) Cardiff. MEE. PROCLAMATION OF KING WILLIAM IV. July 6th, 1830.—"Hie Majesty King William the Fourth was proclaimed at MerthyT Tydvil, amidst a concourse of upwards of 2,000 people, assembled on the occasion. The proclamation was read by John Bruce Brace, Bsq., of Diaff- ryn, and several gentlemen and above 200 of the most respectable inhabitants of Merthyr and its vicinity walked' in procession through the streets to hear the King proclaimed, which was done with excellent effect and every mani- festation of joy by the people. Upwards of 50 gentlemen met at diimer at the Castle Inn, where Col. Bruce presided, and several loyal toasts were drank, amongst which were: 'King William the Fourth, and may be be a blessing to his people and thereby produce the greatest happiness to himself'; The Electors of Great Britain, and may they exercise their invaluable privileges in furtherance of civil and religiouølibertiee,' etc., etc. The chairman retired at 10 o'clock, but the company did not separate until a late hour, and in the course of the evening they were used with several speeches and songs."—"Cambrian," July 9tb, 1830.) Cardiff. ARTHTTB MEE. Are you looking: for anything? If so, a Want Ad. in our column* will get it for you.

G.W.R. and South Water. I .LARGE SUMS TO BE EXPENDED. Extensive developments in South Wales are foreshadowed in the report of the Great Western Railway Company for the half-year ended JuHP 30th last. The report states that in, view of the developments at Fishguard Harbour, and to enable the traffic to be worked more economi- caDy the time has arrived for completing the construction of the new up-line between Fish- guard and tterston authorised by the com- pany's Act of 1903. Under the powers of the G.W.R. (General Powers) Bill, which received the Royal Assent in February last, the Bala and Festiniog Railway Company became amalga- mated with this company,, from the 1st ult. The shareholders of the G.W.R. Company win be asked at the half-yearly meeting -to sanction, the expenditure of i.250,000 on account of the Swansea district lines, and £QO,OOO on account of the construction of "the Fishguafd and LetterSton up-line. The capital aeooont that during last half-year £27,000 was expended on the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbour, bringing the total amount laid out to £1,190,000, while on the Swansea tines the amount. spent daring the half-year ended June last was jEll2,203, which with previous outlays make a total of £461,530. £ 16,519 was spent on tipping appliances at ^King's Dock, Swansea, and additional aecom- modation, and the sum of £ 34,484 was in respect of additional accommodation at Newport and Cardiff, Cwmcarn branch railway and widening the line at Risca. An item of £24,500 is also included in the acctacot for the provision of an additional tender for Fishguard. Included in the sum of £225,000, estimate of the further espenditore on capital account during the half- yearended December 31st next, is the cost of the- erection of coal tips, &c., at the King's Dock, Swansea, for quadrupling the line at Newport and of additional accommodation at Cardiff, Cwmcarn branch railway, and sidings and increased accommodation at Pon tnewynyd and I Pontypool road.

ROYAL LINE To CANADA CANADIAN NORTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM. Atlantic Steamship Service. TURBINE TRIPLE SCREWS. FASTEST AND MOST LUXURIOUS STEAMERS. Cabins-de- Luxe. Unrivalled Service. SOMETHING lfEW in THIRD CLASS TRAVEL. From /ROYAL QEORQE. An*. BRISTOL. I, ROYAL, EDWARD, Sept. I passengers and Freight from Bristol booked to all parts of Canada and U.S. For full information write to the Com- pany's Offices, Bond Court, Walbrook: 65. ) Haymarket, S.W.. London; Chapel Street. ) Liverpool; 141, Corporation Street. Birniinil- I ham 65, Baldwin Street, Bristol; or to Local Agents: James Lever, Post Office Chambers, | MerthynTydtil; Taff Valley Coal Co., Mountain I Ash. 111" 11 1 Avoid the pitfalls of this month with its changes. Get a bottle of Wincamis to-day-for your health's sake. It is sold throughout the world by all who have a wine license. Trial Bottle Free on receipt of threepence to cover M I Addne- carriage. I I "OLEMAN & Co. Ltd. fl H- 173SS "1.1inearnis Works, NorwielL n .JT, <dkSlL There's many a 1**2* one lost who would be ■JTj lw±-Te$to-day if their Mothers W'f not neglected them. pitiful scream? and restl^ neas by day and night deD°j pain which can be stopPr: a\ and tb» danger removed JONESc RED DROPS ;| vvSa&fiPT VHMI The Famous Specific, i fiBByf W'nd, Gripes, J flu as a soother and healtb^^ JERBM 1 KgSjS Where there's a baby to* HiWl fi IKflffl should be Jones' Bed Prwr ||jjj Save Pain and A POOM Tfi B Dowiais, Mr. EVANS, k A dUUIM i *J ■ Chemist, Union Street B Troedyrhiw, Messrs. S JONES & S(JNS, CANT°TF (Beaufort Mr. Price, Post-office- Bargoed Mr. Pritehard, Chemist* Caerau Maesteg Mr. Howells, Chemist- Pontypridd Prom, all Chemists- Tonypandy—Mr. Emrys Richards, Chemise- Llwynypia—Mr. J. W. Richards, Chemist- Treorchy Mr. Prothero Chemist- Treorchy Mr. Davies! Ciiemisj- Ferndalo Mr. Burgess, Chemist- Tylorstown..Mr. \V. R. Williams, Chemist- Abercynon—Mr. W. C. Williams, Chemist- Mountain Ash Mr. Williams, Chemist- Mountain Ash Mr. Jones, Chemist- ■ Porth Prom all Chemists- ■ JONES & SONS, Manufacturing | Treorchy.Mr. Prothero Chemist- Treorchy Mr. Davies! Ciiemisj- Ferndalo Mr. Burgess, Chemist- Tylorstown..Mr. \V. R. Williams, Chemist- Abercynon—Mr. W. C. Williams, Chemist- Mountain Ash Mr. Williams, Chemist- Mountain Ash Mr. Jones, Chemist- ■ Porth Prom all Chemists- ■ JONES & SONS, Manufacturing | Chemists, LLAXIDLors. ;l-I"¡.¡ A FOOT SAVED. l Suclff Is the experience of Mr. A'. AiJd.0, Caftiley-street, West Melton, who states that was a long sufferer from a diseased ankle,j°r.ac o» he received the best medical skill, but it » no avail, for his foot was amputated. xed# A few months later the other leg became a° Jfi when the Doctors 6aid they could do no moISopP^ his extremity he resolved to tjy the "Grassu^^ii Ointment, which he had seen advertise^- g i» soon began to have effect, and after contn iio* has completely cured and saved his foot. oPe .Ob. that I bad tried it before." I CAN CURE YOU. I DON'T SAY PERHAPS; BUT I WILL- Because ethers have failed is no reason .im Send at once a P.O. for 2s. 6d. to M. E., Ah^pth Albert House, FARRINGDON STREET, LOW fox a box of Grasshopper Ointment AND PILLS, which is a sure remedy for thZjLth of Bad Legs, Housemaid's Knee, Ulcerated Carbuncles, Poisoned Hands, Tumours, Absc^jj. Sore Throat, Bronchitis, Bunions, and Ring"" Also sold by Chemists and prug Stores. IMPORTANT TQ ALL- A UNIVERSAL REMEDY-, Through indisputable proof from tnvlia, Asia, Africa, and America, The jis* NINA" Herbal Ointment can lay claim to tinctiou for healing all manners of diseases to the human body is subject. 10, J. It is prepared in three distinct strengths—As Full, for Cancer, Tumours, Lupus, etc. As /ayeff Medium, for Poisoned and Virulent Wounds o1 description, Rheumatism. Piles, etc. As No. 3šc'!dS- for all manner of Skin Diseases, Burns, Sc Sprains, etc., etc. olf. The Prices per pot for No. 1—2/9, 4/6 and 4/6. ». Nos. 2 and 3—1/1%, 2/9, aj^yts. And is sold by the following Dispensing Co^vQgt' viz.Messrs. V. A. Wills, 3a, Victoria-stree't, uy; thyr; T. Davies, Forth; D. E. Davies, iZt'+ret. Emrys Evans, Aberdare; Oliver Davies, Pontypridd; Mr. D. George, Dispensing 153, Bute-street, Treherbert; Mr. T. MJE.P.S., Consulting Chemist, Cash Drug Co., Treharris• Mr. D. Williams, M.P.S.. ing Chemist, Commercial-street, .Mountain As"' or can be obtained direct from the M, Cole Proprietors, The Mannina (Trade Mark) Main Street, FISHGUARD. Please write for Free Booklet. Canadian Trade Returns. I —— lIjS The total trade of Canada for $66,000,000, an increase of$10,354,623 June of last year. For the first quarte'jj the present fiscai year the total trade ha* 8171,173,690, representing an increaSe $36,606,000, or 25 per cent. over the éJ period last year. Imports for June to a Jfc33,705,2o»7, an increase of$8,363,675 over ci last year. For the three months totalled$109,384,187, an increase of J&rports of domestic products for the qiw* '^iotallecl$37,648,937, an increase $8,321,933.. ifi The principal increase in exports w iir agricultural products which showed an téd crease of nearly six millions &s coTOP"- ■with con"rdspondii>g period of 90" The Customs revenue for June was io' and for tk three mmtbs $16,568,41L,Peo, creases of $1,004,647 and$3,675,352 r tiwty. Printed and published by the Proprietor, ø WOOD SOTJTHET, at GlebeUnd-etfoe'i #*&■ i&br lSlo. :t 1.- -I.