Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

ABE-RAVO-N, CORPORATION. ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS. Borough Accountant's Office, Town B all, A benwon. June, 1914. To tho Chuinnan and Memliers of the Financ.-e Committee. Gentlemen,-—I submit herewith the annual Abstract, of Accounts and Statisti- cal ivejKirt.s of the Corporation for the year ending 3lst March last, and my report. thereon. Borough Fund Account. The total income accrued during the year on revenue account was JJ 1,917, as cotnpared with k-,0,12 last year, a decrease of chief source of income was rJerind fron t he Borough Rate calls, which amounted to £1,.i5ï, as compared with £ 1,610 last ear, a decrease of .£18:1, practically a Id. rate. The Justices' Clerk's fees earned during the year amounted to being an increase d < £ 42 over the 1912-13. The net inccvnf) over expenditure in connection with Administration of Justice was £ 104, its compared w itli Y,60 in 1912-13. The sum of Jc4Q was expended in con- nection with the Branch Post Office :n excess of income, an increase of £ S over 1912-13. 'rhe chief items of expense were in con- nection with the Margam Gas Act arbitra- tion proceedings and the opposition to the U.W.E. Biil respectively, the sum of ct2:1() being expended in theee Parliamentary matters. The total net cost to tlx" Corporation in connection with the Margam Gas Act and the resultant arbitration proceedings amounted to J;Z,:31.J, 13s. 6d., practically a 1s. rate The excess income over expenditure during the year was .£61:3. The sum of £ 5,011 was received on capital account for the building of the new Municipal Hall, and the sum of was expended on this undertaking during the year. District Fund Account. Revenue.- The total income earned, fr- cluding departmental transfers and grants from the Gas Works undertaking towards rate aid, was as oompaied with -£7,9"20 last year. Of this sum < £ 6,193 12s. d. M derived from the G.D. Ratpc; and £2,600 from Gas Works rfweniies. T h,- other chief items of revenue, were received from the County Council towards repair of roads and (jffj, salaries. The. tota! expenditure, including depart- mental transfers and A640 grant to xrater revenues, amounted to £ 8,910. leaving an excess of income over expenditure of « £ 430 168 M-, as compared with an excess ex- penditure hist year of The grant io VVater Works Revenues was increased during the year by £ 172. Roads ex- penditure decreased during the year "9. but on the other hand scavenging house refu-ee and the maintenance of sewers in- creased, the fOnUf!f .£121. and the latter by £ 86. The Stable Account also showed a decrease of X.58 Os. Od. This decrease, how- ever, was brought about, by the fact that no horses were purchased daring the year. The working expenses connected with the Stable \ecount were really in excess of those of 1912-13 by £ 54, Capital Account. During the year Xtl,859 was expended on works of a capital nature, the chief items lifting £ 1,200 for the acquisition of a por- tion of the Avon Vale Hotel for street wi«iening.£1.012 for motor tire engine, .£:1iO for the erection of Fire Station, £ 108 for the provision of public conveniences, and the balance for street improvements and the construction of a sewer in Vic- toria-road. was received from the Owners of the Avon Vale Hotel towards the widening improvement. Revenue Account. Gas Works Accounts.—The total income derived during the year, exclusive of d. partinental transfers for public lighting, j was .£t:I))4A), as compared with = £ 12,829 ill 1912-13, an increase of < £ 711. Sales of gas to ordinary consumers and the Margam U.D. Council increased from £ 7,549 in 1912-13 to á"-8,()Z7 last year, an increase of .£478. The- receipts from prepayment mett-rii amounted to j.3,009, as compared with < £ 2,743 in 1912-13, an increase of <6266. The aggregate sale of residuals remainoed practically stationary, although coke sales advanced from £ t,6K5 in 1912^13 to Ji 1,721 this year. Tar and Liquor sales, however, fell from -Cfi33 in 1912-13 to £ 596 in 1913-U The total expenditure, exclusive of loan and interest repayments, amounted to £9,981, as compared with £ 8,920 in 1912-13, an increase of £ 1.0(>1. The chief items of expenditure wen coal iC,5,989, as compared with < £ 5,3-11 in 1912-13, increase '£t.:l-8; wages, of carbonizing as against £ 1,283 last year, increase Distribution ex- penses amounted to < £ 247, as compared with .£158 last year, increase ..t18. The expenst?? in connect ion with Main- i.editnee, of Works and Plant" amounted to 42965, as compared with 4766 a year ago, au increase of £ 199. I The gross profit earned was 44,284, as ( witn £4,768 in 1912-13, a decrease of £ ^04 The net profit, however, after discharging loan and interest repayment, income tax in ProIitS, il,-d making provi- sion for depreciation of revenue assets, was £ 3,775, :)C compare*! with 43,3:{0 in 1912-13, balance in liartd of t8$6. Th« existing Mw capital charges arc mainly responsible for such a high net profit. The capital outstanding at the 31 si Mar^h last was only 45,144, as com- pared with 429,427 in 1911-12. During the year 42,600 was transferred to tho District Fond Acoount in relief of the G.D. Kites, equivalent to a Is. 5d. rate, aud 4750 placed to Reserve Account. At the 31st March last this account showed a balance of 4886 On hire purchase (cookers) account a suns, of 4158 was expended io purchasing cookers and cooker sundries, etc.. and a s'.un of 4270 18s. 6d. eajned in hire pur- chase rents. There was a liability to the bank on this account of 414 at the end of the year, but the income earned was 457 in excess of the capital indebtedness, and this has been carried to the credit of the net revenue Capital Account. The Main Capital Account shows that during the year 43,272 was expended under the following beads., viz. Boundary Walls find Offices 41,147 Mains and Services 1,153 Meters I (io Slot Installations 601 Exhauster dnd Fittiags 151 43,272 Water Works Account. lievenue Account.—the income derived during the year, including departmental transfers, was 41,908, as compared Aith 41,674 in 1912-13, an increase of t234 com- pared with that year. There was an increase in consumers' rents of 4193 ever the year 1912-13. Th-i working expenditure, excluding loan and interest charges, amounted to 41,584, as compared with £ 1,377 last year, an increase of 4207. The sum of 4477 15s. Od. was paid to the Neath R.D. Council and 411 lis -id. to the Margam U.D. Coun- cil for water received from these anthori- Me. during the year. A sum of 4285 was ilL, -.Amended in working 1 he well ot the rear of the Abattoir. Reservoir and Watershed expenses amounted to £11)2. or 42 per week, an unusually high expendi- 1ure compared with previous years. Thf g.'f) proh) c.irTt<d ???t ?32' a8 comparRd with n!) in (912-13. ar, inor?a? of ?27. ACt^r pro?idm! hrnvwar, for Joan and interrs* charged ,i P, I interest on bank I overdraft, a loss WM incurred of 4518, as compared with a deficiency in 1912-13 of 4510. During the year this loss was made good out: ot the U.D. rates, equivalent to a IIcl. rate, and a sum of 4300 was placed in your March estimates to meet in part the anticipated deficiency for the year under rev iew. As the loan charges on this account are now becoming a serious burden, taken in conjunction with the Corporation's com- mitments to he "Neath K.D. Council for the purchase of water, the greatest care is required to be exercised over the ex- penditure, and wherever possible owners should he made liable to repair all lea-ky fittings and taps.' It will be observed that the sum of 459 was expended in wages last year in this respect, or practically 01;;1 3s. oct. per week. I Capital Account. This account shows that during the year I ?,0!W v.n? expended in capital work, nz.; New Main from Tynywain to Reservoir 4406 New Main to Baglan 914 Town Mains and Service Pipes 952 New };1Iine 793 Legal Charges 22 National Health Insurance. 3 I Markets and Slaughter-house Account. Revenue Account.—The income on this account, amouuted to 41,064, compared with 41,146 in 1912-13, a decrease of 482. Market tolls declined 451 during tbe year, and tho slaughtering toils 443. The expenses of the Abattoir exceeded the income by 441, as compared with a deficit last year of 417. The expenditure, excluding loan and in- terest charges, amounted to 4529, as com- pared with 4560 1 a -ft year, a reduction of 43i. Tim gross profit earned was 4534, compared with 45S5 in 1912-13. After pay- ment of loan and bank: charges and de- preciating stock in trade, a net protit was earned of 4224, compared with 42S4 last year. For the first time for a number of years no portion of the Market profits were allocated to rate relief owing to same being net aside to meet the loan charges on the new Market Arcade dining the current, fi rta ncial yen r Capital Account- --Th sum nf 42,617 lOb- iOd. was expended in and about the erection of the new l. rcade. and 481 for building t.h e. boundary wall enclosing the south side of the Abbatoir and legal charge,; in connection therewith. I Total Loan Capital. The total, loan capital of the Corporation at the 31st. March last. secured on mort- gages of the rates was 458,944 16s. Id., and tlte bank overdrafts for capital purposes amounted to 46,351 9s. lOd. making the total loan capital outsfanding 465,296 5s. lid. Interest on Loans. Tho average rate per cent, for interest on loans owing at the 31s? Mlmh la?t was ?t.?.7d. Aggregate Balance Sheet. This acmitt-q shows the whole ifnancial position of the borough, and by rcference thereto it will be seen that on the 31st March last the, total capital outlay, property and assets, including stocks and stores on hand, amounted to 4136,392, whilst the liabilities totalled 467,676, leaving a surplus of 468,716- I am. Your Obedient Servant, FRED E. BAKER, Borough Accountant.

NEATH AND DISTRICT EVENING CLASSES. The Local Committee invitp Applica- tions for the Posts of Teachers of Evening Continuation School s and Technical Classes, to be held in Neath Borough and Neath Group Area during the next Winter Session. Applications musi reach the undersigned on or before Tuesday, the 21st instant. For further particulars and forms of applicati<)Ilc, apply to. UW] C. THOMAS. (Solicitor), Secretary. 52, Queen-street, Neath, July 14th, 1914.

FOR 8ALE. CHICKENS.—Fiiveat Strains ying, 30a. dw. Two Months Old, ICte.; Three Months, 15s, doeen; last free; live delivery u,nywb.ere.-Goodwin. Stratford, EÆsex. OHOIiTltOHN Calves for R<-ahn?. from ? D&ep-mHking Ch<?.hir? Dairy Wws by Pune-bred Buths; quotation to any station; no fancy r>rk*»; correspondence a pleasure. —Frank Dobie, Littleton, Chester. "I>ULUSTS.—Laying. 3es. each; Week old, 6».; Two Months old, 10s.; Three Months. 511, dozen. Thirty Breed-s Eggs, 5s. sitting; 12 Prize Buff Or^ingtone and Mother, 12a. 6d. Turkey Egfff", 9d. eacli; 7e. 6d. sitting.—List, Goodwin, Stratford, Essex. -3. TO LET. HOUKE or Apartments to Let from July ? 14?h 1o 27th; Trith, Cardiganshire; 2 mine. to beach; ideal bathing; terms low. -Ar,.Pl,.r Prondi!-ion, Treaaath, Tanygroea, M.O., Cardiganshire. L —— i' 1 J ——- j—urn.—n LOST. L OF-IT or Strayed from Blaen-yr-olchM f wr. a. Yearling Mountain Bam; pitaX niark W.O." on bath sides.-Finder re, warded 000 returning same to W. Clement, Blaen-yr-olohfa fa,wr, Salem, near Morriston. '_L J -i.. 11 U. MISCELLANEOUS. OLL TICKETS. Is. 1,000, for Eteieddfode, t Conoerte, (ial". etc.; poet f. on men- tioning tihie r-aper,—Boeera' Printing Works, Arcade. Bristol. I ADrE' Hair (3oomb?np Wanted.—Value ? by return. Any quantity.—Uorrocks, 32a. Portland Street, Brighton, 4 RT?ndAL Limœ, Orutoh- Ky- ?- Deformity Boots, Flat-foot Supports Steel less E-aeiflt" Tru«6e€, etc.; lady aot, t«fi<iant; Beits. Bel*-Corsets, Elastic Stock- ings, Trueees, etc. I)aill, ID—6; Wed., 11; Sa.t.. -8. Liet free. Tel. 1283.—Allea Pearce, 2.), Cbajrles-atreeL, Cardiff. TXLSAS. MOTHP, LICIE, BUGS, BLACK- BEETLES and all other inaeete ajveedily exterminated by using HA BiR-1 SON'S CIMOB^VJIE, the New Insect Killer. Harm- lees to animals. In tine, 3d., 6d.. and le. Post Id.—HarriaOn, Chemist, Reading. Sold by Chemiets. Agents for Neath, J. G. Isaac; Aberavon, G. D. Loveluck; Bridgend, E, H. Griffiths; Britonferry, W. W. Trick; Maeeteg, "Morgan and Co.. Ltd. All Ohemtate.

AUCTION SALES SUMMARY. of freehold residence at Aberdare by Messrs. Stephen and Alexandra at 2.30 p.m July 21.—Sale of Properties at Royal Dock Hotel, Briton Ferry, by Messrs. 'on, at 7 1? .in. W. Harry Rees and Son, at 7|}y.m. July 22.-Sale of Contractor's Plant at Cwnillvnfell, by Mr. W. N. Jones, at 2 p.m. July 3.-Sale of Household Furniture by Mr. R T. C. Bevan, at 5, Asm-strect, Port Talbot, at 3 o'clocV

The- Rev. Thomas Davie>i, pastor of Broadhavon English Baptist Church, Pembrokeshire, has resigned the pastor- ate, having accepted a call from two Welvh churches in Merionethshire The Marquise dp Heaumont entertained at luncheon on Tuesday at the Royal Pa lace 110fl-1. KenSingt"7-n. flll- Duchess (Je Lotisado. Lady Tenterden. Lady Margaret Campbell. Lady Mond, Lady Tangye, Lady Younger, and Mrs. Walsh.

The Amending Act. For several days past the House of Lords has devoted its attention to the Home Rule Amending Bill, and their action has been both amusing and instructive. Led by Lord Lansdowno, the Opposition, which holds the majority in that House, has blundered in its tactics, and shown at once a lack of statesmanship and a .,till greater lack of regard for the opinion and decision of the electorate of the country. It may be of service just now to recite what the present conten- tirons of the two parties are. The Govern- ment; proposes that any county in Ulster shall be free to vote itself out of Home Rule (Ireland), and, if it does so, shall remain, out pending two general elections. That at the end of six years such county shall become part of the, Irish Kingdom, unless in the meantime the country shall dc-cided differently. The reason for this form of procedure is the refusal of the Liberal party and i 1;8 1 risn. allies 10 becorai- parties to any permanent division of Ireland. But if. makes the final result absolutely dependent on the continued prevalence of Liberal rule in Parliament for ;P--t years to oomo. As the Unionists have never regarded the Liberal tenure an good for six months to come, let alone six voars, they ought, logically, to re-t very content that they will be able before long t) remove the six years limitation. The question of the six years is senti- mental on both sides. A much more important difference is The contention of the Unionists, that. instead of beinii; allowed to vote itself out by counties, Ulster should as a whole be excluded by the Bill. This is a very big surrender, as compared with the time when the Unionists would not bear of anything leys than the retention of the whole of Ireland as part, of the United Kingdom. It'is a proposal calculated greatly to intensify whatever evi is might; bi., looked for from a self-governing Ireland. As to the fair- ness of it, the Liberal position is that any part of Ulster that so wishes may remain out of the Irish Kingdom, while the Unionist position is that the remainder of Ulster, say two-thirds of it, shell be forced out of Ireland whether it wishes or not. It is too absurd to question which is tba most fair of these two proposals. The only answer to it that the Tories have been able to offer takes the form of fretful words and threats of war to enforce what justice refuses to demand. Thai, there is something in this persistent and lurid threat of war no one seems altogether to question. One would think that, with the opportunity to mako tlleir own choice, there would be no occasion to fight. But there is the great f;:d that for many months racial and religious animosities have been cultivated by the Tories with tbe utmost diligence, and that: a proportion of the more ignorant people have been led to expect an opportunity to fight. There are one or two counties, notably Londonderry, in which the two parties are pretty evenly divided, and in which, as a consequence, enlisting has been specially keen on bott sides. The Government has cffered to consider reasonable amendments that would learl io an amicable settlement, but Lord Lamscowne finds that this would not suit his plans, so he calla the Government offer shabby and undignified." This shows that the real object of the Tories it- not to easure a means of governing Ire- land according to peaceful methods, but that, 0:1 the contrary, they are willing to j.)bn ducks and drujkes with ettat.e?manship for the purpose of trying to gain a mean party advantage. Thvir first hope is to delay settlement, in th" ever iiarrowing hope that something: may happen to defeat the Government.

LOCAL LADY'S DEATH IN QUEBEC, Last week we published some parti-, culars of the demise of Mrs. E. M. I Morgan, widow of the late manager of the i Cwruni Masnachol y Gainwy, Patagonia, i The early details forwarded to this i country, however, appear to bo erroneous., The facts leading up to her death are as! follow. Mrs, Morgan left Chubut. in November last, her health being far from satisfactory. After her arrival in Wales she improved wonderfully, and when visiting some friends (Mr. W. Roberts) at JAnttdJLy in May last she was iu excellent spirits. Prior to returning to Chubut she intended visiting Canada, whore a sister of hers lived, whom she had not seen for several years. About eight dovs after visiting her Llanelly friends Mrs. Morgan set sail for Quebec in the best of health. On the second day ol the return voyage she was suddenly taken unwell. She was attended by the ship's medical officer, who discovered that his patient was suffering from peritonitis. Notwith- standing the best medical attention and attentive nursing the disease rapidly arrival of the vosspl at Quebec on June 12th Mrs. Morgan was removed to 4the Jeffrey Hale Hospital, but within 24 hours after, she breathed her last. Her body was subsequently removed to her brother- in-law's home in Atwater, Saskatoon, where the burial took place. The deceased was born in North Wales, but was brought up in Chubut, Tatagonia, and her relatives in this country reside at Worcester, Brecon, and Llanwrtyd. In far off Patagonia she leaves an aged mother and two brothers, with their respective families. Mrs. Morgan was well known and highly respected and beloved. She, will be sorely missed by relatives and friends, also in the little Welsh chapel in Trelew, Patagonia, and missed from the Wladfa Gymraeg," of which she was a member. Mrs. Morgan was an earnest, faithful, and true-hearted Christian, and was just a little over 30 years of age. .n'- _-n- ._n.n'-

I At a meeting of the Metropolitan Asy- lums Board it was announced that, owing principally to the large number of fever cases, it would be necessary to increase the rate from 3d. to 3Jd. in the pound. The City Medical Officer reports that among a mass of 37,422 tons of meat de- livered at Smithfield Centra Markets during four weeks ended June 13. 77 tons 16 owtS. 1 qr, were found to be unsound and were destroyed. A meeting of the Executive Committee of tho Liberal Social Council was held on Tuesday at 92, Victoria-street, Westmin- ster. fr. Harcourt (President) took the r.haar, and aqaongst. those present, were the following: Marie Larly Evans, Lady Her.. bert of Llar-artli. Lady Brynwor Jopee, M'r, McKennit. and Lady Emmott (hon. secretary).

I HOUSE AND LOBBY. |  GOVERNMENT hi?ETING OPPOSI- TION TACTICS. » I [SPKCIAI- TO THE Having decided upon a rather unusual j and bold course with re-gard to the conduct of business, in that the present Session is to be ended and a new une commenced at an early date from now, the Government seem determined upon completing that line of policy with regard to the Iriah question. The 11 o'clock rule is to be suspended for the rest of the Session. It is a provision made when business becomes congested, and gives the Gov- ernment power to keep the House sitting until a certain amount of work has been got through. At the same time, it gives a recalcitrant and turbulent Opposition. chances to create scenes. and to subordinate the transaction of business in decent order to the. demands of factious obstruction and useless waste of time. Upon several occasions during the life of the present Government, the all- night sitting has been used by the Tories simply and solely for the purpose of annoying the Government and its supporters, whilst the House of Com- mons has been turned into a scene of disorder where members have been sprawling ahout on the half-empty benches in attitudes more suggestive of a pothouse than of a respectable deLiber- ative legislature. A Difficult Corner. That there is a difficult corner to turn must not be overlooked. Much will de- pend upon what the Government decide to do with regard to the Amending Bill, and then will come the question whether or no the Ministerial ranks will accept the decision- At present the trend of thought, seems to be in favour of making any reasonable concession, but beyond a certain limit in that direction the party will expect the Government; to con- tinue their policy of determination not to let the Lords rule the country. Awaiting the Government's Decision. Parlia/nent is now waiting for the Government's decision with regard to tht Home Rule Amending Bill. After several days of debate, in which they have tinkered with it to their J f &rt's n, tent, the Lords have passed the Amend- ing Bill with a large number of amend- ments, the effect of which is. to rob tbt Bill and also the Home Rule Bill of all the features that were essential to the Government's plan. The position it that a Home Rule Bill was passed by the House of Commons embodying all that the. country and its representatives had agreed to for the future governance of Ireland. There were in the scheme great principles for which Liberals have contended through a large number of years. and for which the majority of the people of Ireland had asked. All this is now to be nullified if the House of Lords is to have its own way. A small faction of Tories claim the right to dominate the whole of the United Kingdom. The Government's Position. The position will. no doubt, be con- sidered very carefully by the Govern- ment. Their attitude au the way through has been one of willingness to agrol-. to reasonable tprres of settlement, but not to a settlement at the I main principles. So far as can be seen at present, when the Prime Minister makes his statement on Friday, it will hfl found that the whole negotiations" have been brought to an abrupt con- clusion and the Government will go on with its original schema. A Corollary Case. At the same time, it should be noted that the House of Lords is playing the same game with regard to Wales as it followed with regard to Ireland. The Select Committee now considering Churcb affairs that, if there is anything in them. ought to have been raised throe yeari: ago. is going forward with its grotesque proceedings in the hope that delay might be occasioned in dealing with the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill. Here, again, however, the Government is in a fairly strong position, and nnless any very strong reaaon should be forthcoming the Bill will be passed into law as it stands at present. An instructive inci- dent happened at Tuesday's sitting of the Select .Committee. One of the witnesses complained that Convocation was not consulted before the Disestablishment Bill was decided upon. Lord Sheffield (better known in Wales as Lord Stanley of Alderle?) deitroyPd that complaint by asking if, supposing Convocation had been cona?ltfd and its adviee not talrm it would then have agreed to the Bill ? Meanwhile, some hope is entertained that when the question of alleged Non. emiformvtt petitions against the Bill is reached, some evidence will he forth- coming as ho the manner in which the signatures ta those petitiona were obtained- Probable Fate of the Bills. So far as the two great Bills before Parliament are concerned, the course of events is eertaiu. The session is 10 end in August, and if .h", Lord", d". not pass Home Rule and Disestablishment, they will have no furtlvr opportunity for delay, but will find the two Bills named passed under the Parliament, Act. At the same time, rumours of an early general election are set at rest. The decision to commence a new session early in the winter—a very unusual rourre--suggests thát the Govern- ment will press forward with the Chan- cell >r of the Exchequer's proposa ls and j also give an c??rlier opportunity to deal with Plural Voting. To men all round, Mr. ASQuith"s statement is taken to mean business." At the same time, the arrangements proposed go to counteract the machinations of the Torieg against democratic government. Land and Housing Reform. Meanwhile, matters are progressing favourably in connection with the prepar- ations for a reform with regard to Land and Housing. The committee of the Welsh Parliamentary party appointed to consider a report on the subject is doing good work. Its full report on the rural aspect of the question will be published, it is hoped, before the end of August, and the section dealing with urban conditions is to follow soon afterwards. Welsh Affairs. Meanwhile the Welsh members are con- sidering the Home Rule for Wales Bill. A number of alterations have been made since the document was drafted first, but they have met the views of all members of the party, so that the Bill is now put forward with full approval of the members interested. The chief alterations are with regard to finance and the judicature. Wales is to be treated as a country that can afford to pay some- thing to the Imperial Exchequer, and it is possible that when the details are put forward they will show that the Welsh Parliament will have a large measure of autonomous power in the matter of levy- ing taxes if the Bill becomes au Act. ( n- less anything happens to divrrt attention into other channels, the autumn will see members of t.be Welsh Parliamentary Party buty explaining the proposals to their constituents. Plural Voting. Once more the Lords have thrown out the Plural Voting Bill. This was expected, because > keveryone in politics kjaowa that the j Tories hate the Bill only a little ore than they do the parliament Act. 'he Bill has now to he put through Ke more. Then it will be ripe for the ir- liament Act. It is possible that it ill come up early in the new sessionia November or December—so thatlE Parliament Act may be applied to itli necessary) before the end of January n-

I FREE CHURCHES. t Separate Union Question. Carried. I At the annual meeting of the Wd Wales Federation of Evangelical Fr» Church Councils, held at Burryport o Wednesday, all interesting discussion too place with reference to the proposed for mation of a separate Welsh Free ChurcL Council. The discission arose on the question of tho election of secretary, when it was stated that the present secretary—Rev. J. Evans, B.A., of Cardiff'—was awo the sug- gested secretary for the proposed new Welsh Council, which Council would ap- pear to be antagonistic to the West Wales Federation ot Evangelical Free Chiit-ch Councils. The Chairman (the Rev. J. E. Rces), Port Talbot), at the outset stated thai Mr. Evans hai served them for many years, but it lad been suggested that aa ho was likely to be appointed as secretary of another movement in Wales, there might be a desire 1A1 have a new secretary. Dr. J. Adams Lawlings, Swansea, stated that according to the newspapors Mr. Evans had been appointed secretary of a new organisation, md li c, personally, could not see how Sr. Evans could act as secretary to what was equivalent to a rival organisation. He thought it better to discuss the matte-. It was decided to tiko the report with reference to the Centi-tl and Welsh Com- nxittees before consid<ring the appl)1fi1; meat of secretary. Mr. Evans's Heport I Tho Rev. Jaines EvaD;, in giving the report, stated that man: attempts bad hoen made to form a "E.1.sh body, which would have the power to give auexpression of opinion on matters aftVjting the Free Churches in Wales and other Welsh questions. He was interested to hear when the advisory committpi was formed that, it would be a committee for Wales with its old ofifcers and with power to deal with all Welsh questiois. The speaker then proceeded to recount in detail all negotiations rhich had taken place between the Welst Councils and the Hev. F. B. Meyer. Dr. Rawlings asked, on a point of order, what was the use of ther going into a long discussion on past history. What Mr. Evans was talking abut was a closed topic with them that daj and it Mr. Evans persisted in dragging mt thu past, he vDr. Rawlings) wouli also claim the right to do so. He lad IIC Jneans of knowing whether Mr. 'yvans told them exactly what took place from beginning to end-or not, but he lad a copy of the minutes with him there that day, and had a consideiable amount Lu add to what Mr. Evans would tell tl-pm. It was for them to say whether t'tey should debate the past, as no value would come of it., and there would proli. ably be a great deal of warm discussion let loose. Formation of Separate Body. I It was decided to allow Mr. Evans tit continue his explanation, and Mr. Evans said he was only giving them what le4 up to the formation of the new body. He was quite willing to fall in with tha meeting, if the meeting showed any de- sire to let. the matter rest, but some px- planation was needed, and he pcraonailjt had nothing to hide. Mr. Evans then proceeded to recouui the nieetin;;n Hiet led up to the forma- tion of a on-'Wales. Tho Ro\ is (.Swansea) said he understood that the new organisation had been formed, and that the new ofticor4 had been elected. The Rev. James ] £ vans said that was ai,t correct. After Mr. Evans had further proceeded with the account of the formation of tha new body, Dr. Rowlings, interrupting, asked whether they were going to debata the whole history cf the affair that day. He did not want to go back to the begin-, ning of the whole affair. The Chairman said that the position iva,s exactly this. The best thing for them to have, as a little area, was a Central and Welsh Committee. Mr. James Evans said that at a meeting ield some little time ago at Shrewsbury, tt was decided to recommend that the new Welsh body should be formed, and it wa* desired that the churches should consider the question and send representatives to the meetings to be held on the 17th and 18tli of September at Llandovery, when the whole question would be decided once and for all. Who are the Officers? Dr. lUwlings again said that the ne« organisation had already been formed and its officers elected. The Rev. Jameri Evans said that the officers were the officers elected by tha Central Committee. The Chairman suggested that the best thing to do would be to have a resolu- tion one way or the ot her. He licpcl they would not run back and fore on Hut question. The Rev. D. M. Davies, Waunarlwydd, proposed, "That we do not sever out, selves from the National CounciL" Dr. Rawlings seconded- He did not want to go further into the question. Thi National Executive had been good t i them, and, if they severed themselvej now, 1 hey would feel the loss. They had had help in all forms from the National Executive. The Rev. E. Tlngoed Thomas, of Car- marthen, moved a direct amendment That this meeting approves of tin movement to form a Nitttonal Union 01 Evangelical Free Churches in Wales, anc recommends to the Councils to send rn presentatives to the Llandovery Confer ence. A Dectsien. In the course of a protracted spee^n, b" said that the English, however good they were, could not really understand, and lie responsible for the true feelings of WaW. After further discussion the amend- ment was carried. Referred to Local Councils. A subsequent resolution was carried re- ferring the whole question to the local councils.

Queen Olga of Greece left London on Wednesday for Russia. Immigrants into the United States in 1913 numbered 1,197,,892, an increase of 359,720, as compared with 1912. The death is announced of the Hon. A. M. Cathcart, Earl Catheart's uncle, who served with distinction in tha Crimea as Lieut.-colonel in tho Grenadier Guards. About 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday, a man named Harry Ashford, a crane driver, of Tymawr-street, Swansea, was working at the King's Dock when he fell into the water. lie was rescued by his fellow workmen, who were lowered on the end of a rope, down to tho water. A Her being rescued he proceeded home. The Hon. Mrs. Wood of Hengrave gave a gardon party on Tuesday afternoon at 52, Gv'svenor-gardens. Among those present wpre: The Marchioness Douro. Dora Conn tess of Chesterfield, the Countess of Lind- sey and Lady Muriel Bertie, Sir Owen and Lady Philipps. Lady Cory, and the Han. Mrs. Charles Coventry.