Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

I PARLIAMENT. I THE KING'S SPEECH. I The first arrival at Westminster on Tuesday was Sir Henry Norman, who reached the House of Commons at seven o'clock, and waited patiently tor an hour until eIght, o'clock, when theooors were opened, in order to reserve his seat by attaching his card to it. Colonel Wil- liams next arrived, and was followed shortly atterwards by Sir Arthur Bos- cawen. Among other early arrivals were Sir Edwin Cornwall, Mr. Will Thorne, Mr. Robert Harcourt, Mr. Shirley Benn, Sir H. Dalseil, etc. After an interval further members arrived, including Mr. Goutding, Mr. I/eif Jon-e-s, Mr. Ronald McNisll, Mr. Fitz Alan Hope and Sir Clemen tKinloch Cooke. At eight o'clock, the official time for opening, there was quite a rush of mem- bers, and from that time onwards there was a fairly constant succession of arrivals. At 10.30, the Yeomen of the Royal Bodyguard carried out the usual search of the vaults beneath both Chambers, and it was officially announced at the conclusion that all was ready for the assembly of members.

THE SPEECH. I I His Majesty's impending Visit to I France. His Majesty the King read his speech, which was as foliews: My lords and gentlemen,—My illa- tions with foreign powers continue to he friendly. It is a cause of much, plea- sure to me that I shall he able m the rtear future to visit, with the Queen, the President of the French Republic. <)"d that I etaall thus be afforded an opportunity of testifying to the cordial relations -which exist between our i wo countries. Foreign Affairs. I My Government has be-en in consulta- tion with the-other powers respécting I the settlement of Albania and of the -Jigvan Inlands with the view of giving effect, to resolutions adopted by the Powers during the conference held with Ambassadors in London last year. I hope that these eonsiritationfc will con- tribute to the maintenance of peace in South-eastern Europe. Measures have been adopted by the International Commission of Control in Albania for the purpose of establishing order and security, and on the arrival of the new ruler I trust that progress will be made towards the institution of an efficient and stable administration in that country. I ary happy to say t.bat my negotiations, both with the German Government and the Ottoman Govern- ment, as regards matters of importance to the commercial and industrial in- terests of this country in Mesopotamia are rapidly approaching a satisfactory issue, while questions which have long been pending with the Turkish Empire in respect to regions bordering on the Persian gulf art) in. a fadr way towards an amicable cnt. -1 Safety at Sea. It gives mR great gratification that the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea. which recently met in London at the invitation of my Govern- ment, has resulted in the signature cf an important convention which will, I trust, do much for the protection of life, especially on ocean-going passenger steamships. A Bill to enable me to fulfil the obliga- ioi-is of the convention will be laid before you. < In India. I regret that in my Indian Dominions the early cessation of the seasonal rains last autumn has impaired the prospNt,6 or agriculture over considerable tracts. The area visited by c>e*i ere drought is fortunately restricted, ,I-rd in it tTmeily measurte have boon taken by my officers for the relief of the distressed popula- tion.

1. i HOME AFFAIRS. References to Home Rule and Wltshi Church BUls. Gentlemen of the Bouse of Commons, j —The estimates for the service of the coming,year will be laid before you m due course. My ].A)rds and Gentlemen, — the measures in regard to which t h ei-e were differeccer ia.st Ses-sion be-, tween the two Houses will fce again sub- j mitted to your consideration. I regret that the efforts which have been made to arrive at a solution by agreement of the problems connected with the Govern- ment of Ireland have so far not suc- I ceeded. In a matter in which the hopes and fears of so tnany of my subjects are I keenly concerned, and which, unless handled now with foresight, judgment, and in the spirit of mutual concession, threatens grave future difficulties, it is my most earnest wish that the goodwill and co-operation of men of all parlies and creeds may heal dissention and lay I foundations of a lasting settlement. Proposals wiil be laid before you for reconstructing the Second Chamber. Tbe. Royal Conunisblon wbidi was ap- pointed to enquire into the delay in the w.fitin-is-trat-ion of justice in the King's Becnch Division has now made its re- port.. Propositions will be made to you to carry into effect certain of the re- commonaatiow which require the con- currence of Parliament. The con- sideration of other recommendations r d er& which can be effected by administrative action- is already well advanced. A Bill which has been prepared in consultation wit-h the Governments of tho self-governing dominions relating to British nationality and providing for Imperial naturalisation will be laid before you. w', A Bill will be introduced to autho- rise the making of loans to the Govern- ments of the East African Protecto- rates to enable them to carry out cer- tain public works which are urgently required for the better development of their territories. Housing Legislation. t Measure*, will he presented dealing I with the housing of the industrial and igrieultural population; to give effect to the proposals rilich were announced test session for the development of a aational system of education to amend the law with respect to tie treatment and punishment of young offenders; and otherwise improve the administra- tion of justice, and if time and oppor- tunity permit for further purposeei of social reform. Your labours ispon th ese and all other matters I humbly commend to the blessing of Amighty God, The Amendments. It Amongst the amendmeut.s to the Address will be one by Mr. William Brace, M.P., on the Senghenydd dis- aster. It is probable that in the course of the discussion on this amendment (for which facilities are likely to be afforded by the Government), points that came up during the recent enquiry (fully re- S>rted at the time in the "Cambria Qiy Leader ") will be raised by several of the Labour members. Their Majesties' Progress. I Tb?tr M?jesttf? proceeded m State from Buckingham Pa\ace to West- minster to open Parliament. Large crowds asisembled to witness the start -of the procession in delightful spring- like weather, and cheers were raised as the great gilded Royal coach, drawn by six cream horses moved out into the Mall. The King wore Naval uniform, and flie Queen, on his left, A-t-aring a dress »f gold and an ermine rloak, included i:* htr :v • Is the ( uiiiii-in diamond, in a uuiiioliujuijL w South Africa.

I UNWAITH ETO, CYMRU ANWYL!" I DAME DISESTABLISHMENT: How are you, Bill Bach? We're getting to know London pretty well. I THE IRISHMAN: Begorra, we are that! But we shall need to make no more troublesome journeys after this!

I SCENES IN THE HOUSE. I Black Rod's Summons to the Commons. By noon nearly all the eat.s in the House of Commons had been appro- priated. At a quarter to two the House begsi-n to fill, and a. few minutes later the Speaker, wearing his handsome black and gold State robes, and full bottomed wig, arrived, and prayers were said. There was then a short wait for the appearance of Black Rod to summon the members to the House of Lords to hear the King's speech Among the ministers present we.re Mr. Asquith, Mr. Buxton, Mr. Har- court, Mr. Montagu, Mr. McKinnon Wood, Mr. RúU, and Mr. Robertson. Mr. Bonar Law occupied his customary "eat on the front opposition bench, Mr. .Tessa Collings, Mr. Arthur Lee, Cap- tain Prftyman. and Mr. Pike Pease sitting alongside. The Summons. Black Rod made his appearance at ten minutes past two, and in response to the message delivered by him the bulk of membi-ra; present fell in behind thp Speaker and proceeded to the House of Peers. The Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition, who shook hands a.s. they met in front of the table, leading. The member returned to the chamber after a brief absence, and the ,itting was automatically suspended until four o'clock. When the King in the course of his speech came to a reference to Ulster, it was noticed Mr. As-qllith was separated trom Mr. Bonar Law by only two other members. His Majesty read the pass- age with great deli beration. At the close the King handed the document to Lord Chancellor and left the chamber. The return journey to the palace was accomplished in safety. By special permission of the King a number of poor east end girls viewed the spectacle from the palace gate. When at four o'clock the Speaker re- turned to the chair, the House pre- sented crowded and animated appear- ance. The following members returned at bye-elections during recess took the oath and their seats:-—Chesterfield, Mr. Kenyon; West Lothian, Mr. J. V. Pratt, Reading, Captain Leslie Wilson i Keighley, Sir G. O. Buckmaster (Volici- tor general*; Wick Burghs, Mr. Munro .N t r | !Lord Advocate) South Lanark, Hon. W. Watson: and N.W. Durham, Mr. Aneurin Williams. j I Captain Craig's Appeal. After Sessional Orders had been one tlirough, Captain Craig appealed to the 1 SpHakeor as to whether it would not be possible this session to make arra-nge- ments more suitable for the seating r members than those at present in (X- istence. The Opposition constituted J the la.rgest party in the House—(Mini- | sterial cries of Oh" and Opposition cheers)—and they were entering upon this eventful session with the National- j ist party sitting, not only on their left flank, but also actually bo- hind a. great many of his colleagues and friends. The coming debates must necessarily be of very heated character. (Ministerial cries of "No" and laughter.) And conse- quently it would be more for the dig- nity of the House if the Nationalist party were to betake themselves to the other side of the House. (Opposition cheers and Ministerial laughter.) The Speaker said the House was not large enough to hold all the members returned to it, and he was afraid a cer- tain amount of inconvenience must therefore arise. If the honourable and gallant member would, however, cast his eye on the crowded benches opposite. he (the Speaker) did not see how he could imagine that it was possible to accommodate another 84 members there. He hoped the con- tingency which the hon. gallant member seemed to anticipate would not arise. but that debates would be conducted with that mutual forbearance whirh i bad been s hown in the past. (}1inis-1 terial cheers.) I Debate on the Address. Mr. Roch, moving the address in re-1 ply to the gracious speech from the throne, paid a high tribute to Sir Edward Grey's part in the negotiations: whch have brought about peace in the i Balkans. Referring to the Irish quas-I tion he expre?-??d the hope that thel wild prophesies iittered in the past would not be reaped. I

LOCAL SHIPMENTS. Coal, Patent Fuel, and Tinplate Exports. The coal export returns for January which have just been issued, s how some interesting facts and figures. The shipments foreign and coastwise) from the principal Wesh pprbs a-mounted to 2,847,847 tons which, compared with January 1918, shows a failing off of 147.680 tons distributed among Cardiff, Newport, Sw&nsea. and Port Talbot, whi?e L?Mieity produced hi?**ar -ota6.. The shipment.s of coal from the more local ports (foreign and coastwise) for the months of January 1913 and 1914 compare a.s followsSwansea,- January 191::) (foreign), ;<<#>, 195 tons; (166ast- wike), 29,30<; January, 1914 (foreign) 317,394; (coastwise), 30.970, showing an increase of 1,663 in coastwise and a decrease of 47,801 foreign. Port Talbot, Jan. 1913 (foreign), 175,105; (coastwise) 10,300. January, 1914 (foreign), 139,495, (coastwise), 11.922; increa.se in coatwise of 1,622, and de- crease in foreign 3.5,610. Llanelly, January, 1913 (foreign), 21.326; (coast- wise), 3,165. January, 1914 (foreign), 26,049; (coastwise), 6,209; increases (foreign), 4.723 and 3,044 (coastwise). The shipments of patent fuel and coke at Swansea and Port Talbot com- pared as folws :-Swans{a J anuar, 1913 (patent fuel), 118,362 tons; coke, 3,571 tons. January. 1914 (patent fuel) 80,059; (coke), 1.118, showing decreases of 38,303 tons (patent fuel) and 2,453 tons (coke). Port, Talbot, Jan., 1913: (Patent ful) 23,914 tons, (coke) 346 tons. Jan., 1914: (Patent fueh 23,143 tons, (coke) 634 ton, increase of 288 tone, (coke) and decrease of 771 tons (patent fuel). Galvanised Sheets). I According t-o the Board of Trade re- turns for January, the exports of gal- vanished sheets for the United King- dom in that month totalled 77,427 tone, an increase compared with January, 1913, of nearly 14,000 tons. Thero was also a big xain in values, while the shipments to India were doubled. ,V= of tinplate* from the United Kingdom during January amounted to 43,164 tons, a decline of 3,096 tons as compared with those of January, 1913. There was also a falling off in values to the extent of over £ 81;000. The decline was genera, and would have been more serious but for the increased trade with the United States, Canada, Russia, France, and Australia. According to the coal exports returns the shipments (foreign) from the United Kingdom in January showed a decline of about 300,000 tons. Coke exports were heavier, but patent fuel and bunkers slightly reduced.

MOODY MANNERS OPERA COM- PANY AT SWANSEA. The Moody-Manners Opera Oompany opened their week at the Grand Theatre, Swansea, with Wallace's evergreen "Atari- tana." There was a comparatively 6malf, house to hear this old timer, but those who wers there were not lacking in demonstra- tiTenees. "Maritana" probably contains more well-known ballads than any other opera, and it is merely a question of wait- ing for them to come along. The applause that greeted Don Csesar de Bazan (Mr. Al- bert Bowyer) as he staggered on showed the relief felt at the appearance of one really human character, for Don Jose's vil- lainous asides wea" more reminiscent of Captain Hook, the pirate chief, than any- thing otkae Miss Florence Morden sang and acted charmingly in the title role, winning the audience with "The Rarp that once," aU'l bringing the honee down with "Scenes that are Brightest." aliss Olive Westwood. who took Lazarillo, secured the first encore of the evening with "Alas! those Chimes," and after this. Mr. Albert Bowyer was re- called for "Let me like a Soldier Fall," and Mr. Charles Moorhouse. who played the vil- lain,1 Don Jose, for a fine rendering of "In Happy Moments." Herr Hans Winter con- ducted an augmented orchestra, which wm applauded for it.8 playing of the overture. Mr. Charles Manners, in a speech appealing for support for the three new operas, said he oould not. lose, as he was in Swansea under a guarantee.

THE TRAIN MURDER. The Case Again Adjourned. John Starchheld, the uewsvendor who is charged with the murder of his tip)- year-old son Willie, in a train on the North London Railway on January 8th last, agajn appeared at Old-street Police Court on Monday. This was prisoner's tiftit appeaxa-nce at the Police Court, and, as on the previous occas ion, a large c ro wd ast>em b! ed out- 6ilde the court. A number of fashion- ably-dressed ladies, were present in the crowd. Immediately the case was reached, John Moore, the timber porter who last week deposed that he saw the prisoner with a ht.tle boy near Camden Town Station on the afternoon of the murder, was recalled. In reply to Mr Bodkin (for the prose- cution). witness said that before being. in his present employment he worked; i.n Tottenham Court-road, ne-ar the! Central London Railway, and had gotS to know Starchiield through seeing "iiro every morning. On the day of the i murder he said he was waiting with another man named Cbadwick, and being in need of a "galley pot," he j went to the High-street, for it. Wit- ness said he had his lunch after one I o'clock, and left, the shop about twenty minutes to two. I It was customary for him to take his daughter to sc hool in Hawley Crescent, which led into Kentish Town-road. It was while he was going there that he passed Camden Town Tube Station. Where N%-ae, it that you saw Starch- 6eid?" ask ed counse l. Near Camden Town Tube Station, walking in the opposite direction to me," was the reply The Meeting, Mr. Bodkin Just tell us what oc- curred when you met him. Witness I looked at him and recog- nised him in a moment. I waid, "Hello!" and nodded at the same time, and he, in recognition, nodded back. Mr. Bodkin: And what did you do next ? Witness: I passed him, and az I did so I saw that he had a tittle boy with him, whom he tEad hold of by the right hand. J looked round at the little boy. and did not recognise him, as I had) never seen him before. Witness added that he noticed the boy was tidily dresised, and he momentarily stopped. The man, however, walked on, and then witness continued on his way to the shop. Mr. Margett.s took up the croos- examinaton of the witness at this point. In reply, witness said it was while he was working at Frascati's Restaurant in Oxford-street that be used to sea Starchfreld at his post sell- ing newspapers. At times he bought newspapers from Starchiield. That was not his only acquaintance with him, however, for he had seen him before he went to work in a beerhouse. Did you speak- to him Ye6, occa- sionally. How often,—Every morning. A Casual Acquaintance. I You don't pose as a friend of hj, do your' You don't suggest you are an intimate friend of hi.s:-No.sir. Just a casual acquaintance ?-Ye6. I have seen him at his station. Is that the extent of your acquaint- ance with him.C;ei-tainly. Witness agreed that during the three yeans he had been working away from the vicinity of Oxford-street he had not come across Starchiield. When did you first make up your mind that you knew something about this master?—1 knew I 6aw him at tbe station, but could not call to mind why I should see him there.. Mr. Margetts repeated his questiou. and witn thn said it was about two weeks after the murder. It took hun a week to recollect how he did tyeo Starchfiold. In reply to the magistrate, witness r. said he did not at first like to come for- ward. Further cross-examined, Moore said I he had read very little about tb? murder. He did not know Starchiield'« first name. When you were reading and talking about this sad tUtl it not occur w. j you that it was a friend of yourd?— Certainly. The photograph he saw later made him cure, Mr. Margetts asked witness who was the first pensou to whom he spoke about the meeting, but Moore replied that it was very hard to say. Mr. Margetts asked a young man who had been standing at the rear of the court to step- forward. Witness in- stantly recognised the man, but told Mr. Margetts he was not the first man he spoke'to about the affair. The case was adjourned till Monday.

REVIVALIST'S MOTHER. Death of Mrs. Roberts at Loughor. I The news ot tne death at her ikauic at Island House, Loughor, of lrs. Roberts, mother of the famous revivaJ- ist, Mr. Evan Roberts, is contained in a message from a local correspondent. Her death, which was a peaceful one, occurred on Friday afternoon. It was while Mrs. Roberts was at the Swansea Hospital, where she under- went an operation for cancer, in Novem- ber, that public interest was once more I turned towards Mr. Evan Roberts, who. it will be remembered, refused to leave Leicester to see his mother who was then believed to be dying. At the time, however, she recovered a little, but w hen she returned home her case was regarded as hopeless. At the time we published an exclusive interview with the father and brother, describing their visits to Leicester, and the efforts they made to get an inter- view with Mr. Fvail Roberts that they might induce him to see his mother, who hMl continually expressed a desire that they should eiid for him. Great sympathy is felt with the family in their bereavement.

MR. THOMAS HARDY WEDDED TO I HIS SECRETARY. Mr. Thomas Hardy, the distinguished I novelist, was married on Tuesday at I Enfield to Miss Dugdale, who acted as his secretary.

t.. ;rf:f1 c  l!j &< :\?n,¡;  ta L ?f A<<? ?s ?BB?   -'? jL? ¡,e ifir The food proved to possess a body- building power; of 10 to 20 times the amount taken. >< 1':> :]:;<??\(-<<?.

THE PAGEANTRY OF PARLIAMENT. SCENES IN AND AROUND THE, I HOUSE. WITHIN a few hours of the time at which this is written, the pageant of opening Parliament will have been gon-9 through once more. There will be the procession from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords, the King and Queen riding in the State coach drawn by the famous team of "creams," the crowds of sight-seers in the streets, the brilliant assembly of weU-known men and ladies within the precincts of St. Stephens, the somewhat cumber- some formalities within what is known as the Gilded Chamber, the utterance and publication of the great secret known as the King's Speech, the dis- peh.1 of the pageantry, the re- assembling of the House of Commons, and then (in theory) the business of the session will commence. Leaving the Palace. As a matter of fact, the greatest of th3 pageants commences at Buckingham Palace. There the King and the Queen don some or their ceremonial robes, and, much to the delight of the multitudes lining the route, appear in public, thus giving the outside world some idea of what is sometimes described as the "panoply of State." The coach it- self is an object well fitted to open the eyes of country cousins up for the day. It cost many thousands of pounds many years ago. And the procession from Lthe Palace to the House makes a goodly show, with its Life Guards in full uniform coming before and after the Royal coach. When they arrive at the Victoria Tower both King and Queen, after being received in full ceremonial, retire to their respective robing rooms, where the preparations are completed, and the ceremonies of the day within St. Stephen's commence. In the Cilded Chamber. It is an honour, of course, to be ad- (mitted to either of the galleries in the House of Lords. Next to it comes the Royal Gallery, through which the Royal procession passes. Here, amid the gor- geous furintiye of such a hall, the crowd of men and. women eminent in all branches of life, are ranged on each side. The word is given that the King approaches, and the hum of conversa- tion ceases. All bow low as the'King and Queen pass slowlv through, fol- ? lowed by the chief .ers of State, I within the Hou?e uP Lords, where two thrones are set upon a dais, railed off. To these the King and his consort ascend. The Speaker and other mem- bers, summoned from the House of Com- mons, take their stands at the Bar and, after the due formalities of obeisance, His Majesty reads his Speech," which has, of course, been prepared by the (Cabinet. The Speaker bows and re- tires, the brilliant assembly of smartly dressed peers awaits the withdrawal of the King and Queen, the Gilded Chamber becomes a gilded chamber only, tho Royal procession returns to the Palace, and Parliament once more be- comes the scene of hum-drum debates and sudden excitements. In the Commons. Theoretically, the House of Commons assembles before Pariaraent is opened. There is a formal meeting, when a use- less Bill, such as the old stock docu- ment on outlawry, Ú; read a first time. This is done to show the independence of the Commons, and to preserve their right of action apart from the K.ng's initiative. It has its convenience aisc, in that it gives a House to which Black Rod can be sent with a definite sum- mons to the presence of the Black Rod is a majestic officer, who, at the bidding of the Lord Chancellor, carries State message's to the other House. Preceded by the chief of the House of Lords police staff, whOèe duty is to walk in front and shout "Hits off, strangers!" until the door of .the Lobby is reached (when the chief of the House of Commons staff takes up the same cry), and accompanied by two or three other officials, he marches be- tween the divided ranks of on-looker" to the door of the House of Commons, which is closed against him, and there knocks three times with the end of his roo, "Black Hod" is announced, and, at the bidding of the Speaker, is admitted to the Bar, from whence he announces his message. The Speaker then forms his procession. Preceded by the chief of the police, the mace bearer, the sergeaut-at-arms, and his attendant, and followed by as many members as care to join, the First Commoner is ad- mitted to the Bar of the Upper Cham- ber to hear on behalf of the faithful Commons the Royal pleasure. On Commission days wheu Parlia- ment is opened or closed without the King's attendance, or when the Royal Assent is given to Bills that have been passed—the ceremonies are similar, ex- cept that the Peers who form the Com- mission sit, attired in their scarlet and ermine robes, on a bench behind the woolsack outside the space railed off from the throne. Enter the Speaker! A pageant ou a minor scale, enacted every day that the House of Commons is sitting, is the entry of the Speaker. This is a procession formed at the Spea.ker'lS rooms. Preceded by the attendant and the mace-bearer, and followed by the chaplain, the First Commoner walks in most stately order through the corridors to the Lobby, where privileged visitors are expected to render due homage to the solemnity of the occasion, and thence into the House. With regard to the maoe, which is the symbol of office for the Speaker 4lid also the signal as to when the House of Commons is in session, there it, one peculiar rule. L'pon every occasion except one it is taken to the Upper Chamber when the Commons are isum- moned. and taken back to be replaced upon the table. The exception is when the session is prorogued. Then, having heard the announcement by the Com- Uiission, the leaves the "bauble" in charge of officials in the Upper Chamber, by whom it is con- veyed to a. certain tower (not the Tower of London) for safe custody until it is wanted by the Speaker when the House of Commons re-assembles.

PILOT'S LIABILITY. I Mr. Justice Bargrave Deane on Mon- day gilvt judgment in an action for ,rijm.ige, by the Douglas Hill Steamship Company against IMr. Siman C. Bart- lett, a licensed pilot, who was volun- tarily in charge of a vessel when she grounded. The pilot had been taken on board to navigate the vessel from a certain point. but before that point had been reached be obliged the captain by taking cdn- tioi. His Lordship found for the defend- ant, but deprived him of costs, because he was not satisfied with his conduct.

I Miss EVA MOND. I ? 1 A Debutante at their Majesties' Court. Sir Alfred and Lady Mond, with Mi ss Eva Mond, have returned to 35, Lowndes-.squa.ro, from Algiers. Miss Ira Mond is t-o be presented at their jjesties' Court OIl Friday by her j, tothcr.

SKETTY POSTMASTER. I SERVED UNDER FIVE VICARS. The death took place on Monday, at Sketty Post Office, of Mr. Joseph Gwyn, postmaster of Sketty, and a well-known builder and under- taker. The deceased wa.s a native of Llangennith, Gower. from where he came to Sketty at the age of eleven, and has resided at Sketty Post Office for oo years. His wife predeceased him 13 years ago. He leaves one daughter, Mrs. W. G. Barron, of Sketty. He was a Churchman and had been a member of St. Paul's, Sketty, since its foundation. He was a member of the choir, also a bell-ringer and sidesman, and was a member of the Sketty branch of the Society of Oddfellows. I Late Mr. Cwyn. "Old Skettyite" writes :-For con- siderably over half a century, Mr. Gwyu carried on the business of builder and undertaker to the village and dis- trict, and had satisfactorily performed the latter undertaking for all the JU- habitants and principal families of the neighbourhood, including those of Vivian ind Talbot, besides superintend- ing the duties of Sub-Postmaster, which he took over on the decease of his wife, who in turn had succeeded her aunt, Mrs. A. C. Howell, whose family afforded hospitality to the Rev. John Wesley, when passing through Sketty on one occasion. His family connec- tion with Skettv Church dates from its election, and he himself, his deceased brother, relatives, and the late Brothers Edwards, with one or two solitary ex- ceptions, comprised the whole of the male choristers and bellringers. After his retirement as chorister, and on the introduction of Sidesmen, both lie and his deceased gifted son became two of its earliest officials. The Gwyn family have for several generations been inseparably connected with the church and village, xand older inhabitants and visitors to Sketty Church will retain vivid t'ecoliectionh of his mother, who acted as caretaker and {►ew-opener from its opening day until her death Mr. Joseph Gwyn bad served under the whole of the five Vicars of Sketty, and had witnessed the rise of the place from comparatively a small village to its present high dimensions. I -One of his daughters was the late M rs. T. R. Robinson, junr. his only surviving daughter being Mrs. W. j Barron, of Sketty, whose late husband was at one time harbour master at Port Talbot.

METROPOLITAN BANK (OF ENG- LAND AND WALES), LTD. The forty-eighth ordinary meeting of the Metropolitan Bank (of England and Wales), Ltd., waa heLd at the Grand Hotel, Birming- ham. Mr. Fredk. Wm, Naeh (chairmazi and managing director) presided, and the other directors present were the Right. Hon. the Lord Glantawe (deputy-chairman), Mr. Wm. Hartland Banks, Mr. John GWbrook, Mr. Loftus Balfour Moreton. Mr. F. Ernest Muiitz, Lord Ernest. J. Seymour, Sir Joseph Weston-Stevens, with Mr. F. J. Hughes igeneral manager), Mr. James Smith Wood Secretary i, and Mr. Arthur Job neon leoli- citor). The Chairman, in dealing with the balance-sheet, eeid £ 11,761,265 was due to the public, XW.434 more than at the close of 1912. This was entirely, owing to the ex- pansion of business, and was a far larger increase than they had ever experienced before. It was equal to about 8 per cent. Their liquid aaeets. including bills of ex- change. were £ 5.752,429, which was i!. th. proportion of '-3.7 to their deposit. Their a-dvanoes to customers, £ 6,691,425, were only £ 43,(jOO larger than a year ago. Their total figures now closely approxima.te £ 13,000,000. Whlbt. he said, your board had a larger balance of profit to deal with, they were confronted with a further fall in the market values of your investments amounting to £ 68.500, largely in excess of any figures hitherto. Our Consols, which stood at 751 at the oommenoemeut of the year, had fallen to 713, a drop of £ 3 15s. per cellt., and there was a proportionate fall in our other securities. I should like to emphasise the fact that this is a fall in the market values. and not in the intrinsic values, for your investments are as solid and as safe as they ever were. You will recall that up to the present time we have occupied the almost unique position of having met our deprecia- tion entirely from profits. We have appro- priated from this source a sum in excess of £ 164,000. It would have been possible to d'eal with the whole, or nearly the whole. of last year's depreciation from the Mime souroe, but it seemed inexpedient to further penalise the profit and loss account to meet a requirement which we may reason- ably believe is not of a per- manent character- Your Board, there- fore decided tb transfer Z70,000 from the Guarantee Fund to the Suspense Ac- count for Depreciation and to utilise the ircreased profits, the exceptional character of which I beg the shareholders will not low sight of, in strengthening our private reserves and our carry forward. We there- fore only show you a profit of approxi- mately the same amount as last year, namely, XIZS,493 12s. 8d.. and we add £ 40,685 to the undivided profits, raising the amount carried forward to £ 50,982 8s. 9d. We -hus start the current, year under favourable auspices, and with a substantial reserve of profit in hand, and if at the end of the year we should experience further deprecia- tion—which I cordially hope will not be the ewe-we have the means to meet it.

LICENSINC APPEALS. Heathfteld and Whyndham Give Notice. j At Swansea on '1 uesday notice of ap- peal was given by the licensees of the Heathfield Hotel, and the Wyndham Hotel, against the dcision of th Licensing Magistrates at the recent Licensing Sessions, to refuse to renew the licenses of ttio two houses. Mr. C. H. Newcom be appeared tor both applicants.

The Rev. Jonathan Brierley, who was a Congregational minister, and an essayist known to thousands as J. B." of the "Christian World," died sud- denly yesterday afternoon. A correspondent to-day suggests that in these days of dictionary- mongering, new word may he added to the language to join burke and boycott —namely, po j'O+h:l: to repress by force a l&trik'i aeramst the community.

11 DESPONDENT WITH I SHATTERED NERVES." HOW NcRVE-WRECkED MORTALS GAIN NEW ST..ENUIH THROUGH b,R. WiLliAwS' PIHK PILLS. Overwork and anxiety soon gave risfl to IS'orvou.s Weakness, of wbirh. the most pioniintnt signs: aro sleeplessness, head- aclio and great depression. General weakness and pjun in the back, with nervous dyspepsia, also afflct the victim, a.nd if .matters are neglected a complete breakdown of the nervous sv&.t«m follows It you are thus afflicted, remember that 1>r. Wiiliams' Pink Pills are a powerful and prompt nerve-tonic, he- rause they enrich tho blood, through which they feed the overwrought and starved nerves. Under this influence Nervous Exhaustion, and all the result- ing evils disappear, and tho despondent sufferer enjoys New Strength and Nerve-Vigour. Here is proof: Mr. R. de Kuyper, of "Oakdene," Beechfield-icad, Catford, champion of liandstroke billiards, states; My exhibi- tions are very trying to my n e r ves, and some time ago Neura. sthenia, took a firm liolij of me. I had tti j. best medical advice but nvodicino did not help nio very much. I w a is growing more and more despondent with sha ttered nerves "J was trou- bled with In- J • I'ltypcr. I somnia. Nights and nights on end I never got more than a hare snatch of sleep. Tho result was I turned out in the uiorning.s 'lagged out.' Breakfast was seldom touched, for the nerro- C-i-otible. affected my digestion. from being one of the most energetic of men I became slack and indifferent to monfc matters. "It was here that Dr. Williains' Pink Pills became the t5-alvationoi my health. Though over 50 I feel-as fit as I did ten years ago. I was recommended to fcake a course of Hies. pills and dad so. Almost with the first lew doses of Dr. Williams' Pink fills my appetite began to revive and my digestion gradually imptoved. Then my nerves steadily .grew strong. I ate well and slept well. My whole system wa-s'benefitted, and my general health strengthened, and in Dr. Williams' Pink Pills I found a, perfect nerve-tonic. They made a good cure of me." FREE HEALTH CUIDE.-Send ]>ostcard t.) Dr. Williams' Co., 46 Hol- born Viaduct, London, for free copy of treatise on the Nervous System. Men and women alike have d; d tho powerful and prompt hlo< 1 nerve refreshing powers of Dr. Pink Piib, which have cujed in n.ble instances of Ansemia (Bio, > ivws), Indigestion, Neuralgia, Neuras- thenia, Insomnia, Sciatica., St. Vitus* Dance, and Rheumatism. nf most dealers, aLso dirtet from Dr. ,¡ïllia.ms' Medicine Co., 46 Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C., post, free 2s. 9d. one box, or 13s. M, for six boxes. Never accept, any shopkeeper s substitutes.

KENT REEKS MURDER, Coroner's Inquiry Into His Death. Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown," was the verdict returned at Bil-ston on Tuesday at the resumed coroner's inquiry into the mysterious death of Kent Reeke, a young Australian ship's engineer, whose body was found with bullet wounds in the head, cl cee to the top of a disuse d pit shaft at Ettingsiiall, near Wolver- oampton, on January Wth last. it has been ascertained that Reeks, whilst staying in a Liverpool hotel, made the acquaintance ana Wíi(s often in the company of a man who signed the hotel register as J. H. Chicago, Illinois, and who has since vanished. Uncle's Story. The evidence of Thomas Kent, of Chorley-road, Swinton, Manchester, an. uncle of Iteeks, showed that the de- ceased man was in the ion of plenty of money when he last visited hia relatives shortly before the crime waa apparently committed. Reeks had nv relatives of friends in the neighbour- hood of Wolverhampton, and his pre- senr-e there was, to hilS uncle, unex- piai liable. The first meeting of Ramsden and Reeks was described by Catherine Stantcn, who keepti an hotel in Lord Nelson-street, Liverpool. Reeks en- gaged a room for three weeks, and Ramsden. who came in a little later, engaged a room for two or three nights. Reeks and Kamsden met at breakfast the next morning. When Reeks heard that Ramsden had left the hotel be answered, "Oh." Reeks then tied up a brown paper par- cel. and after stating that he would be hack in a few days, left the hotel about an hour after Ramsden. He did not say where he was going, and witness ,"y )v h t-re he wa.8 ft<e)r he saw Rams- was not aware whether he saw Rama- den after breakfast that day.

WHO CAVE THE £ 35r000? Sir Ernest Shackleton stated on Moe- day that the announcement by the "New York Times" that Sir J. M. Barrie the novelist, was tho anonymous donor of "the £ 10,000 which made the Shackle- ton Antarctic Expedition possible," is incorrcct. "Sir J. M. Barrie," be said, is ne4 the anonymous donor, while the amount stated is also incorrect. The donation which has made the expedition possible is one of £ 35,000, but I am uot at liberty to give the name of the democ."