The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties of Brecon Carmarthen Radnor Monmouth Glamorgan Cardigan Montgomery Hereford

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, before G. LEWEL- LYN, Esq., and H. L. PRICHARD, Esq. NON-PAYMENT OF RATFS.-Henry Sherwin, the correspondent of the Swansea Herald and the Cam- brian newspapers, was summoned by the overseers of Neath for non-payment of poors' rate amounting to 8s. The case was adjourned from last court day to give the defendant an opportunity of settling the claim, and a promise to pay was tendered in writing to the collector at his residence. This was, however, refused and the case came on for hearing on Friday. —William Morris deposed I am collector of rates for the parish of Neath; defendant is the occupier of a house in Osborne-terrace, Neath, of the rate- able value of is I produce a poor rate made for the parish of Neath on the 1st of August, duly allowed by the justices, and the allowance duly published the rate on the defendant is 8s. I have applied for payment, and the demand was left with the defendant on the 20th of August; the rate has not been paid; he has promised to pay several times. -At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Payne, solicitor, intimated that the claim would be met, and that he would guarantee the payment of the same.- The Bench enquired of the collector, Mr. Morris, if that would satisfy him, and he replied that a promise on paper was of no use to him, as the money was required.—The Bench thereupon suggested that Mr. Payne might not perhaps object to pay the rate.- That gentleman consequently very kindly paid the rate and costs for Mr. Henry Sherwin, without further comment. LAEtCENY.-Lewis Jones was charged by Evan Allen with having stolen a pair of trousers, valued at 5s.—He was convicted, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. POACHING.- William Williams was charged by John Thomas with poaching.—Defendant did not appear, and a warrant was issued for his apprehen- sion.-Daniel Powell and William Lewis were charged with the like offence.—In defence, Powell said Lewis came to our house, as he often does on Sunday mornings we heard that an old horse bad died, and we went there, and the dogs followed us we thought it no harm, but we did not go to look for game it was Lewis' greyhound, and my father- in-law's bitch.—Lewis said I can only corroborate v-hat this boy (Powell) has said.—The Bench con- victed the defendants, and fined each 20s. and costs. -John Bowen was charged with Sunday poaching. He did not appear, and a warrant was ordered to be issued for his apprehension. David Griffiths did not appear when called on for the like charge, and a warrant was ordered to be issued. DRUNKENNESS.—Thomas Lloyd was charged with the above offence, and pleaded guilty. He was fined 5s. and costs. ASSAULT.-David John was charged by Mary John with an assault. Defendant pleaded autrefois acquit, and produced a certificate of dismissal of the same charge by the Aberavon justices. BOROUGH POLICE COURT, MONDAY, before the MAYOR and EX-MAYOR. G. J. MAY versus W. M. REES. This was a charge brought by Mr. George May against Mr. William Rees, ironmonger, for damages caused through an alleged trespass. George J. May, sworn, said I am a chain manu- facturer, residing at Ravensworth Villa, Neath last Sunday week, about one o'clock, I was walking across a field which is in my occupation, near the Cymla I saw defendant, his wife, and child, walking along a new road made by Dr, Lewis when they got about the middle of the road they went across the field I called, and told defendant there was no road that way; he told me to mind my own business; I said that was my business, and told him that if he did insist on going I would summon him he told me to do what I liked he said to his wife, Come along, don't mind that fellow, it's no use talking to him;" I told him I had been there all day keeping the people back, and that if he went that way he would only get in a mess with the tar on the railings; I also cautioned him not to trespass on my ground I said a man in his position ought to have known better, and set an example to others he insisted on going, and tried the fence in several places, to find an easy place to get over he tore down some wire which I had put from the fence to a tree; he put his foot on it, and pulled the staple out of the tree he dragged his wife and child over after him I told him he would have to come back, as be could not go that way; I called my servant man out to witness it, but he was changing" at the time, so he did not come out directly; the damage I complain of was tearing down the wire, and the damage done to the fence in trying to get over is worth about three shillings I don't bring the case forward to have Mr. Rees punished, but merely to show that I have a right to stop persons from going that way; I have lost about £2 per week from people taking their horses and cattle away because of the hedge being broken. Cross-examined by Mr. Kempthorne I was in an adjoining field when I first saw him—down below, —on the grass the road is not so nice as a turnpike road,—it is a stoned road; there is a bank about two feet high where Rees got up there is not a road the other side of the fence there is an old tramroad the wire i., there now, and was yesterday and the days before the fence is about four feet to four feet six inches from the field he tried several times before he got through the fence he climbed over the bank the bank is from four feet to four feet six inches high where he got out at last; I should have no difficulty in getting over the damage I saw was. pulling down the wire, and the staple was pulled out of the tree I did not actually see the staple pulled out, but it must have come out before the wire would have given way; no one else was there to do it; I have been living there the last month; I have stopped a couple of dozen from crossing the field; I say nothing about the road I go up and down it myself; I was at first about three or four yards from Mr. Rees when I cautioned him; I have said all that passed I used no abusive lan- guage whatever I did not say, D- your eyes, you b- b-, I'll give you a d- good thrash- ing," nor anything of the kind; there was a lady present, and I should not therefore think of using such language; he went down the ravine, and did not return by the field the wire is put up I put it up myself one day last week, but some wire and a hurdle are lying on the grass now I put defendant in the County Court lately; there were cross-sum. monses on a disputed account. The complainant then called George Holway, who said I am servant man to Mr. May my master called me out of the house yesterday week, in the afternoon, to see defendant crossing his (Mr. May's) field I did go, but not then, because I was changing;" I saw defendant and his wife crossing Mr. Randall's ground. This completed the case, and Mr. Kempthorne then intimated to Mr. Rees that the Bench were ready to hear his statement in reference to the alleged damage committed by him on the occasion referred to in the summons. Mr. Kempthorne wished Mr. Rees to be sworn, but the Clerk referred to a clause which barred that. Defendant then said On Sunday week I went for a walk with my wife and child, between one and two o'clock after going about 200 yards beyond Mr. May's house, I found the road became very rough and uneven; my child could not walk, and I was obliged to carry him my wife suggested to go back we were going towards Melincrythan; I said, No, let us cross this field and get on the old road;" when I was on the grass Mr. May was about twenty yards in my rear; the first thing he shouted out, very coarsely, was "There is no road there;" he again called out "There is no road there he then said, D- your eyes, I'll give you a b- good thrashing he then commenced d-g me, and said he would summon me; I went on, and did not take any notice of him had he spoken in a respectful manner I should have returned; he still kept on d-g, and said he would summon me it was then I made the remark that he had better summon the child; I then came up to the fence, which is nothing more than a common low embankment, about three or four feet high I first of all lifted my child up, and then got up myself; I then gave my hand to my wife, who got up with the greatest ease that is the only place I tried I have taken the trouble to measure it, and for 43 feet there is not a bush so big as the pencil case I have in my hand; I intended to go to Melincrythan, but found the bridge removed, and a gate about eight or nine feet high, so I crossed over Mr. Kenway's land, and came back on his carriage road. The Magistrates' Clerk here wished to ascertain where the actual damage was done, and if the broken wire could be traced to any particular place or tree. Mr. Edward Evans, sworn, said I reside on the Cymla; I saw the fence yesterday and this morning, about three hours ago; the fence, in fact, was no fence at all, but merely an embankment; the going over the gap pointed out to me as being the place where Mr. Rees got over could not have been done by simply getting over the place has been notorious for gaps. Complainant, recalled by the Bench, deposed I saw the wire in this place on the Saturday I am not sure that I saw it on Sunday before I saw Mr. Rees go to it; I did see him pull at it, and I saw it come out in his hand I do not think he pulled it down wilfully I think it gave way accidentally. Mr. Kempthorne then rose to address the Bench. He said In addressing your worships on behalf of the defendant I shall be very brief, beeause, in the first place, Mr. May has come to the wrong place to obtain damages, and, in the next, you will see that Mr. Rees did his best to prevent an assault, or a breach of the peace; Mr. Rees being but a little man, and Mr. May being well up in the art of self- defence," there is no doubt he would soon have "polished" him off. Mr. Rees does not come into court with the view of avoiding payment of the alleged damage, but as a respectable tradesman to vindicate himself, that it might not go forth to the public that he was trespassing on Sundays, either on Mr. May's property or elsewhere, After a few more pertinent remarks in reference to the case, The Bench consulted, and the Mayor said We have given this case our most careful consideration, and have decided that the charge must be dismissed. THE PPCKET-PICKING GANG. -James O'Brie alias Patrick Newry (vocalist), and John Lawrence (vocalist), were charged with pocket-picking in the Neath market on Wednesday.—Mrs. Mary Dore, wife of Mr. William Dore, the secretary of the New Gas Company, deposed that on the 21st instant she was in the Neath market, and had in a purse in her dress a sum of money between ten and fifteen shillings she noticed the prisoner Lawrence, and felt some one push against her and a kind of twitch- ing at her dress she turned round, and two girls ran across the market and said, Mistress, that man has had his hand in your pocket;" on making a search she discovered her purse protruding from the pocket of her dress, but none of the contents were missing.—Mr. Thomas Jones Bennett deposed that he was a draper, and on Wednesday last, while attending the Neath market, he saw the prisoners in the centre of the bustle, both near Mrs. Dore they had been dodging her for some time, till she came up to a small crowd, and then O'Brien stepped in front and pretended to slip his foot and fall back against her; the other prisoner then slid his left hand backwards, carrying his coat skirt with it till he got his hand under Mrs. Dore's dress.—Jane Lougher, and other witnesses, gave corroborative evidence, and O'Brien, in defence, said On Wed- nesday morning I came into Neath by the 10 o'clock train from Swansea I walked through the market place with Lawrence, and separated from him after being with him about five minutes, and I was not with him when the case here stated occurred, or took place.—Lawrence said I have nothing to state I know nothing at all about the case I never saw the woman till I saw her in court.—The magistrates decided on committing both prisoners for trial at the next Swansea assizes. MAGISTRATES' CLERK'S OFFICE, TUESDAY, Before J. H. ROWLAND, Esq. CUTTING AND WOUNDING. John O'Neil was charged by Superintendent Matthews with unlaw- fully wounding Thomas Taylor of Briton Ferry, with a candlestick. The case was remanded to Friday, for the attendance of Dr. Evans and other witnesses.—The prisoner was admitted to bail, him- self in X20, and one surety in ze20. Before the MAYOR and Ex-MAYOR. CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS.—Joseph Drummond was charged with being drunk on the Parade at 12.30 a.m. Defendant pleaded not guilty. P.O. James Keirle deposed I was on duty this morning, and saw the defendent; I had seen him at half-past eleven, and P.S. Hopkins was then with me; we ordered the defendant off the streets then because he was drunk he said be lodged at the Cranes, and we saw him go that way I again saw him at half-past twelve he was stili drunk, and I ordered him to go away home to his lodgings; he refused a dozen times; I then laid hold of him to take him to the station he became very violent, and tried to trip me up I threw him and handcuffed him. Cross-exam- ined by the defendant It was half-past eleven when I first saw you the sergeant and two constables were with me he asked you where you lodged you said at the Cranes we were not going to shew you where to get lodgings when I saw you at half- past twelve you were with two men of Melyncryddan; they said they wanted you to go with them I said you were to go I did not shove you nor knock you down, nor strike you with the handcuffs in the mouth; I entered a charge at the station that you were drunk the sergeant told you the charge I did not kick you in the cell, nor call you a dirty dog there was another constable present I did not see you the night before another constable did; he did not tell you in my presence that he would learn you how to go about prying into what the police were doing when on night duty;" David Williams was the constable; I did not know till he told me that you were the person who was out the night before.-By the ex-Mayor He was able to walk, but was obstinate I did not see him misconduct himself in the square.— P. S. Hopkins was then called, and he corroborated the other officer's state- ment, and under cross-examination stated as follows I requested the men on the square, in your presence, to look after you; I did ask you, when I saw you, what were you doing there with the men you said something about lodgings I did not see you taken to the cell, but I saw the officer search you-not "rifle you;" he drew my attention to you having no pockets to your coat; that is generally the case with pickpockets; you refused your name; you gave me a card with a name in print on it; I can't say whether it was your name or someone else's.— The defendant on being asked what he had to say in reply to the charge preferred by the officers, made the following statement I went down to Briton Ferry yesterday I went to Tyler's, next to the Cranes, for lodgings, then to the Mackworth Arms, then to Mr. Shilling's, then to the King's Head, but I could not get lodgings at either, and at five minutes to eleven I went to the Vale of Neath Arms, and could not get lodgings there the land- lord of that house knows me well, and can prove I was not drunk it is because I was watching the police to see that they did not neglect any part of their duty that they took me into custody.—The Bench, after consulting over the matter, dismissed the defendant with a caution. MAGISTRATES' CLERK'S OFFICE, THURSDAY, before J. H. ROWLAND, Esq. A WEAK CHARGF,Paul Beddoe was charged by Evan Jones with having stolen some money, his property.—After hearing the complainant's evidence, the defendant was at once discharged.

THE DEATH FROM CHOKE DAMP: THE INQUEST. An inquest was held on Tuesday before Howel Cuthbertson, Esq, coroner, on the body of John Ewins, whose death we briefly referred to is our last issue. The first witness called was James Hodges, who deposed I live at Bryncoch, and I am an overman at the Main colliery I knew the deceased he was a coal miner, working at Cwm-clydach colliery; I saw him on Wednesday morning last (21st October), about half-past six o'clock, at the top of the Cwm-clydach pit; he was going down the pit to his work-to clear out the pit, which was an old one I saw him again about nine o'clock at the bottom of the pit; he was by himself when I went down I stayed there about a quarter of an hour; I had been down the pit early in the morning, previously to deceased going down, to see if the place was all right; it was perfectly right then; when I went down at nine o'clock it was all right too I did not notice anything wrong at that time; I afterwards went up to the top of the pit, and in about four to five minutes after I went down again with James Vincent, and I then found the deceased lying down on his belly when we were about ten to fifteen yards from deceased going down the pit I called out to him, because Vincent said he was dead Vincent had gone down the pit after I came up, and he afterwards came up and told me that the deceased was dead I cannot say for certain if he was dead when I went down I found some foul air when I bent down to reach the deceased; in about ten minutes we took him up from the pit so far as I can say he was dead when we brought him up I cannot say how long ago it is since the pit was last worked it is about five weeks ago since we commenced working there; the deceased had been working there from the commencement, with the exception of a day or two he never told me he had come across foul air; some foul air came off on the Tuesday afternoon previous the deceased and Vincent were down there at the time; as soon as the foul air was discovered on the Tuesday I stopped them working there I told deceased the pit was all safe on Wednesday morning the body was taken to Neath. In reply to the Government Inspector of Mines, Thomas Errington Wales, Esq., the witness further stated There had been symptoms of foul air pre- viously, but I never knew the men to come out before in consequence of foul air I put the lamp down in the hole, but found it all right the second time I was down I found no ill effects that time the ventilation was done with canvass about two feet wide, and about forty yards from the bottom I don't think if it had been canvassed lower it would have made any difference the deceased never com- plained to me of the foul air affecting him; there has been no one working there since we worked the first day and night I told him the place was Î free from foul air before he went down. The next witness called was James Vincent, who deposed I live at. Neath Abbey, and am a coal miner, and work at the Cwmclydach pit; I remem- ber last Wednesday morning I went down the pit at nine o'clock Hodges had just came up and said the pit was quite right; he gave me some tools and two lamps to take down with me; the deceased, when I reached the bottom, was standing up, but was not doing anything I spoke to him I found the pit, so far as I could understand, free from foul air the deceased sent me up for a sledge, another lamp, and a "moile I took the tools down, and saw the body of the deceased at the bottom of the pit, but I cannot say in what position he was I spoke to him, but received no reply the foul air affected me; I called out to the banksman "go on and the bucket was hoisted up; I had almost fallen down in the bucket; as I went up I held up my head, and recovered a little; I saw the last witness, and told him that the deceased was dead; I went down with Hodges directly, and found there was foul air there then I first felt the body, and we went up the pit again the reason we did so was because of the foul air; we went down again directly, and found the foul air so bad that we went up again I could not go down any more because I was not able, and I did not go; I could not get the deceased's body up either of the times I went down or I would have done so Hodges did not go down again he was affected by the foul air two other men went down, and took a chain, and tied it round deceased's arm, and brought him up I saw him, and he was quite dead. By the Inspector: I went down again about nine o'clock in the morning the reason I did not go down before was because I called for the banksman; when I went down first the deceased did not com- plain at all; I was with him about two or three minutes; I don't know if the deceased had his lamp lit or not when I went down I do not know what put my lamp out on the Tuesday, but it did go out; I stayed about a quarter of an hour after the lamp went out; the deceased did so also, and we both felt dizzy; I did not feel so on the Wednesday morning when I first went down I have never been taken away for foul air being there before. By the Coroner I told Hodges on Tuesday night that we could not stop there in consequence of the fo-jl air; I cannot say what time it was when we came up. By the Jury: There is noway of communicating with the banksman except by speaking; I know that if the lamps go out we ought to be gone. Dr. George Ryding was next examined, and said I am a physician and surgeon practising at Neath I made a post mortem examination of the body of the deceased on Thursday last (22nd October) the body was well nourished, and there were no external marks of violence I examined the head, and found the vessels of the membranes of the brain full of dark fluid blood the substance of the brain itself was not congested; I examined the chest; the lungs were loaded with dark fluid blood the substance of the lung itself floated in water; the heart was empty in both cavities; the man had died from blood poisoning in some form inhaling foul air would have produced death there is no doubt the deceased died from inhaling the foul air described by the witnesses the death would be immediate. Thomas Erriugton Wales, Esq., Her Majesty's inspector, in reply to questions, then said I am the Government inspector for this district; I visited the pit on Friday afternoon last; I did not consider it safe to go down candles were sent down, and they were put out; the safety lamp was put out twice out of three times; I came to the conclusion that there was foul air there, and did not go down. The Coroner having briefly summed up the evidence, the jury returned the following verdict Accidental suffocation, and that no blame attaches to any person. The jury recommend that signals to the banksman be attached to such workings, and that two men be employed to work together that the canvass tubes and air boxes be carried lower, in accordance with the suggestion of the Government inspector."

GAS No, 2.—OIL AND OIL LAMPS. To the Editor of the BRECON COUNTY TIMES and NEATH GAZETTE. Dear Sir,—All substances used for lighting purposes are compounds of two gases, hydrogen and carbon; hence the use of the term hydro-carbons when this -.n..ØIIII.II class of substances is spoken of. Your readers will please to be good enough to bear this in mind, as the term will be frequently used in the subsequent portion of these papers. These hydro carbon compounds present themselves in an almost infinite variety of form. Sometimes they are solid, breaking up into small pieces when struck with considerable force, and requiring heating to a comparatively high temperature before they begin to change their form. We have an instance of this in coal. Again, they are present as solids at ordinary temperatures, slightly changed, when heated to 100 degrees Fahr., and liquid at temperatures not much higher than that of boiling water, as for instance resins, pitch, and wood tar. Descending, we find them solid at the ordinary temperature of the atmosphere, but liquid with a degree of heat very little above that; for instance, tallow. Lower down we find them semi-liquid, with considerable viscidity, and not much disposition to become solid on cooling, as for instance coal tar. On the other hand we have hydro carbons which are liquid at ordinary temperature, with a strong disposition to solidity on cooling, instanced by the case of all vegetable oils. Then we have liquids with no disposi- tion whatever to become solids by change of tempera- ture, as brandy, rum, and the whole class of spirits; others again, usually presented as liquids, have a great tendency to run away by evaporation, as do ethers others have this character of volatility so strongly as constantly to emit inflammable vapours at low tem- peratures, as napthas, or even at the ordinary tempera- ture of the atmosphere, as benzoline or benzote; or lastly, we have them in the form of vapours, permanent, as, for instance, coal gas, and whose forms are converted from that of vapour to liquids only when subjected to the action of intense cold or enormous pressure, as do some of the constituents of coal gas. These hydro carbons are not always presented to us in the form in which they are immediately available for use, but require to be subjected to various processes for the purpose of making them so. Of these various processes, that which next to the manufacture of gas ranks first in importance, is the production of burning oil, by the slow distillation of bituminous coals, in closed retorts heated to faint redness. However much it may be disputed whether this mode of obtaining oil for burning and lubricating purposes was practically known before the date (October 17th, 1850) of the patent granted to James Young, wherein he claimed the invention of obtaining paraffin oil, or an oil containing paraffin, and paraffin from bituminous coals, by treating them in the manner," (described in the specification attached to the patent,) there can be no doubt that he did introduce, at prices which made them generally available, substances which, properly used in suitable vessels, did give lights very much superior in intensity and cheaper than they could previously be obtained by the use of candles or oil lamps. The new substances thus introduced had also the great merits of being more salubrious to use, and giving out less heat for equal quantities of light pro- duced than did any of the substances previously used. The results of a series of experiments, conducted with a view to determine these points, showed that in the production of a light equal in intensity to that obtained by burning twenty sperm candles, at the rate of one hundred and twenty grains per hour each, and which was taken as the unit of comparison, that the burning of the necessary quantity of Paraffin oil rendered 100 volumes of air unfit for breathing, and produced 100 degrees of heat; Paraffin candles rendered 223 volumes of air unfit for breathing, and produced 228 degrees of heat; Sperm or wax candles rendered 277 volumes of air unfit for breathing, and produced 283 degrees of heat; Tallow candles rendered 337 Volumes of air unfit for breathing, and produced 345 degrees of heat, A comparison of the value of the lights produced shewed that it required the consumption of 361bs. of the best mould tallow candles, or 29|lbs. of composite, or 18jibs, of paraffin candles, to obtain the same quan- z tity of light as was produced by the consumption of one gallon of paraffin oil, carefully burned. The use of paraffin oil has, however, been almost superseded by that of the American rock oils-oils composed of the same constituents and possessing the same distinctive properties; they are also applicable for burning purposes. These oils are natural produc- tions, found by boring, in the same manner as for an artesian well, when, on tapping the natural cave or passage in which the oil is contained, it flows over, as does a spring of water, until the supply is exhausted. During this present year seventy millions of gallons of this oil was exported from America between the 1st of January and the middle of September, and the extremely low price at which it is delivered in this country enables the importers to compete successfully with the manufacturers of coal oil. Following the indications given, the first of these wells was bored at Titusville, in Pennsylvania, in 1859 but the most important of the oil springs, regard being had to the quantity and intrinsic value of the oils, is, perhaps, the one at Enniskellen, Western Canada. Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, when analyzing some samples submitted to him, found that they yielded 20 per cent, of benzoline, having a specific gravity of '794, 50 per cent. of ordinary commercial naptha, specific gravity '837, that of water being 1,000, 22 per cent. of lubri- cating oil, tar 5 per cent,, and charcoal 1 per cent., the remaining 2 per cent. of oil being lost in the analysis. The English standard for the best petroleum oil is a specific gravity of 0'830. Naptha, obtained by the distillation of coal tar, is also largely used for burning, a special form of metal (usually tinned iron) lamp having been devised for using this substance, the heat from the flame volatilizing the naptha and causing it to burn freely. This form of lamp is almost invariably seen in use by stall keepers at markets and fair grounds, where the use of gas is not readily available. There is yet another substance, benzole or benzoline, a product of the distillation of coal tar naptha, or petroleum, which is used for lighting purposes, of which more will be written hereafter. None of these oils are simple compounds, but are all of them complex substances, that is, they are constituted of a variety of oils each have its chemical constituents in their several different proportions, consequently possessing separate and distinct characters; they differ in their densities, their boiling points, and the tempera- ture at which they throw off inflammable vapours. I have before me a list of these oils, of which the specific gravities vary from 0-628 to 0'825, that is, from three- fifths to four- fifths of the weight of water; their boiling points vary from 86 degrees Fahr. to 5 27 degrees Fahr., giving off inflammable vapours at temperatures ranging all the way from 43 degrees to 265 degrees Fahr., that is, some of them will flame up when they are nearly as cold as ice, while others require to be made hotter than boiling water before they do so: hence the necessity of separating from the crude oils all the light volatile matters which they contain. Crude petroleum oil is not explosive, but it must not be taken for granted that all the burning oils offered for sale are safe to use; many of them will take fire at temperatures not above the usual heat of the atmosphere during the summer months. Now it is much more easy to separate these light vola- tile substances from oil obtained by the distillation of coal than it is to separate them from the natural rock or petroleum oils; therefore the latter oils, or refined oils obtained from them, are less reliable on the score of safety. This source of danger is also aggravated by the popular demand for oil as white as water. This is a matter of so much importance, as regards both private and public safety and the security of property from damage by fire, that I strongly recommend all persons to test every sample of oil before permitting;« to be used. The means of doing so are simple enough: Take a half-pint basin, nearly fill it with fine dry sand, place it in the oven until the sand has attained a tem- perature of 100 degrees; remove the basin containing the sand away from the oven, and place it i'1 a larger basin; on the top of the sand place a sma11 shallow vessel containing a teaspoonful of the oil. to be^ tested, fill up the space between the inner amd outer basin. with boiling water, insert the bulb of a thermometer in the sand, taking care that it is completely covered with the hot sand; then from time to time apply a lighted match at about a quarter of an men above the surface of the oil, noting exactly the temperature at which the vapour takes fire; if that be not less than 120 degrees the oil is perfectly sate to use with ordinary care; even if it inflame; but burns slowly and sluggishly, it still may be admitted tor use but if it inflame at a temperature any where between 100 and 120 degrees, it requires considerable caution in the handling if it infl-ames at temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 degs., it is a dangerous oil to place in the hands of any uneducated person; if at less than 80 degrees, it is exceedingly unwise to permit it to remain within any dwelling-house, orjin any place where other inflammable goods are stored. I have recently tested two samples of oil, one of which gave off inflammable vapour in the open air, the thermometer then standing at 56 degrees the other oil did not do so though heated to a tempera- ture of 130 degrees. Another and exceedingly simple test, which may be made by any person without a thermometer, is to fill a pint basin with boiling water, let it stand until the water has cooled down so that you may bear to insert a finger in it, then float on the surface of the water a common tin tea or table spoon filled with the oil to be tested, wait a little while until the spoon has become heated, then try the liquid with a lighted match, as before described if it takes fire it is an unsafe oil to use. After the first pi February next no dealer will be allowed to sell burning oil with- out at the same time giving a certificate at what vl temperature the oil will give off inflammable vapours if that be at less than 100 degrees, very stringent restrictions will be imposed as to the storing of such oil; and the dealer who retails oil giving off inflammable vapour at less than 100 degrees, without giving the necessary certificate, or who falsely states the igniting temperature, will be liable to the infliction of heavy penalties, and be under grave responsibilities. 1\iIDJIto\t,n_ An oil is now being offered for public use under the name of benzoline, so exceedingly volatile that it cannot be used in the ordinary mode, but only the vapour arising from a sponge, or from some fibrous material, previously saturated with it. Now this very fact, as well as the extraordinary precautions which you are instructed by the manufacturer of the peculiarly constructed lamps you are required to use to take, are sufficient evidences of its dangerous character in the hands of uneducated and unthoughtful persons. First, you are cautioned not to use any of the ordinary petroleum oils, or petroleum spirit; secondly, to stow the benzoline in "safety cans," specially contrived for the safe keeping of the articles. The vapour arising from the benzoline in the lamp ascends from the fibrous material saturated with it, and passes up a narrow tube, having six minute holes, pierced at intervals in a lin round the upper end of the tube on the outside oe the tube there is a sliding cover three quarters of an inch in length. The lights issuing from these minute holes may be extinguished by passing this cover over them, and you are instructed, thirdly, To covet the holes directly the light is put out, so as to prevent the gas from escaping." The danger which may arise from the incau- tious handling of such materials has very recently been illustrated at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a lament- able loss of life being the result: Mrs. Hunter, a witness at the coroner's inquest, is reported as stating that she bought two gallons of the oil, together with some lamps, expecting to find them saleable;" her hus- band keeping an ironmonger's'shop; she described the oil as a "gas" which came out of some holes in a tube on the top of the lamp, the holes being so small that the point of a needle would hardly go into them." Curious to see how the oil would act, she proceeded to light one of the lamps, when the match slipped out of her fingers and set fire to the oil under the tube." The immediate consequence was that the lamp exploded, the fragments flying about in all direc- tions, and sending a flame, as the witness expressed it, "as high as the roof." Mr. Stokoe, a neighbouring blacksmith, had a small shop, attended to chiefly by his wife and daughters, in which groceries and draperies were sold; he also was induced to speculate in a couple of gallons of this oil, which was described as diamond oil,"—a superior sort of American oil. This jar of oil was put out of hand, under the table in the house, truly a very unsafe place; but it must be remem- bered that the dealer had not cautioned them as to its dangerous character, or instructed them as to the pre- cautions necessary to be taken for its safe custody. The unfortunate family sat down to dinner, using the table under which the gas had been placed one of the children accidentally kicked the jar over, which broke, and consequently the oil spread over the floor until it extended to the hearthstone under the fire grate, when it immediately burst into flames. There were at the time nine persons in the room, ranging from eight to fifty-one years of age. Instantly they were attacked by the flames, and appear all to have ran to one corner of the room. Presently, one by one, the sufferers made a run for their lives, the females rushing into the street enveloped in flames. Abundance of flame, and rolling clouds of black smoke poured out from the room. At length an entrance was effected, and two children, a boy and a girl, got out, each of them piteously burned. Four of the sufferers afterwards died. The heat within the room had been so intense that the frame of a set of castors was partially melted. Mr. Stokoe, in his evidence given at the inquest, stated that the oil ran along the floor until it reached the fire, and then we were all at once enveloped in flames." I do not think a cinder fell on it, but I think it was the gas that ignited at the fire." When common coal gas is mixed with six-and-a-half times its volume of atmospheric air, it is then in a con- dition to exert its greatest explosive force, which is equal to 14'6 atmospheres, or a pressure of two hundred and nineteen pounds upon the square inch. The explo- sive power of benzole, when mixed with its most mischievous proportion of air, is equal to 62-8 atmos- pheres, or seven hundred and ninety-two pounds on the square inch. So that intense inflammability is the only source of, or measure of, the extent of the danger that may arise from the use of these highly volatile liquids. As, however, the object of these remarks is not to raise a cry against, or to prevent the use of, burning oils, but simply to put your readers upon their guard against the incautious use and handling of them, by explaining the dangers of doing so, and how they arise, I will conclude what I have to write by freely admitting that, carefully used, they are the cheapest source of light, except gas, available for common use, and that by the observance of proper precautions they may be made also equally safe. To reduce the danger to the smallest amount, I recommend your readers, first, to reject, absolutely, all burning oils which give off inflammable vapours at the temperature of the open air. Secondly, to reject all lamps in which the oils are contained in metal chambers or vessels. Thirdly, clean, trim, and prepare the lamps by daylight, away from any fire or burning light. The reason for the second of these precautions is, that unless the oil to be used is contained in a vessel which is a slow conductor of heat, such as glass, earthenware, or porcelain, it becomes unduly heated. If it is contained in a metal vessel, so much of the heat of the flame is apt to be communicated to the oil as to lead to the rapid evolution of vapours, which, escaping from some defect in the filling of the lamp, are apt to cause explosions. We will now leave the special consideration of this portion of our subject, and in my next letter, proceed- ing to the consideration of the distillation of coals at a higher heat, I will describe HOW GAS IS MADE.—I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully, WILLIAM DORE. Neath, October 16th, 1868.

4 THE ABSTACTION OF WATER FROM THE USK, To the Editor of the BRECON COUNTY TIMBS. SIR,-It must be a subject of congratulation to us all that the late dry summer has passed away without any visitation of cholera or other epidemic disease. We all know, and no one should do so better than Prestwood Lucas, Esq., M.D., that impure and polluted water will encourage disease, especially cholera and I well remember, when that dire disease spread along the banks of the Madrel a few years ago, there was no person more active than himself in urging the Corpo- rate authorities to cleanse and flush with pure water that filthy brook. If a few years previously to that outbreak I had ventured to assert that the state of the Madrel was injurious to the public health, possibly then, as now, Dr. Lucas would have quoted Infirmary satisfies to show that the health of the town had not been affected by it. Prevention is better than cure, and the real question to be considered is, not whether the general health of the town has been more or less injuriously affected, but whether the state of the river this summer, smelling badly, so that numbes. complained about it," was or was not likely to be injurious and prejudical to the public health- At the same time, I must confess to not placing the same rehance on the statistics given as Dr. Lucas does. Even if the records of the Infirmary afford any accurate test of the general health of the town, yet they certainly cannot of the localities immediately adjacent to the river, neither are they any index to the nature of the disease, whether zymotic or otherwise. The inexorable logic of facts," and the death rate of our large cities has long ago taught the ablest living physicians that zymotic diseases, such as fevers, especi- ally typhoid, diarrhoea, and cholera, are sure to prevail, when from any cause the water of a river, or a brook, adjacent becomes fouled. I would ask Dr. Lucas to study the able papers read at the late meetings of the British Association and Social Science Congress on this subject. As long as the Canal Company have power to, and do divert the entire volume of the river just above the town at Newton weir, it will be impossible for the best intentioned Board of Health to keep the river's channel in dry summers free from pollution. It is, in my humble belief, all-important to the health of those parts of the town adjacent to the river to secure the flow, at all times, of a fresh current of water along the natural course of that river. The right of the Canal Company, even if legally exercised, should be subservient to, not overriding, those of the town, especially when it is reraembered that our ancestors expressly stipulated that the powers given to the Canal Company, of abstracting water from the Usk, should be exercised according to the true intent of the Act, and without injury to mills, houses, or lands, heretofore supplied by such water. '^aB Sencral views expressed by the Mayor, myself, and other Conservators, are, I am glad to find, approved of by Dr. Lucas. I must, however, express my regret that one whom I looked upon as a leading authority in sanitary matters in Brecon, should seek to prove that the filthy state of the river has not, and, inferentially therefore, will not injure the public health. A statement of so retrograde a nature, coming from a member of the medical profession, naturally created at the time in the minds of Mr. Walpole, and, I believe, of nearly all present, feelings of sur- prise and disappointment.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN LLOYD, JUN. Printed and published for the Proprietors by WILLIAM HENRY CLARK, at the Brecon County Times" Office, Church-street, in the chapelry of St. Ilrary, and borough of Brecon. -BATURI)AY, OCTOBER 31, 1868,