Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

NEATH. I At a meeting ff the Neath Borough Education Committee on Tuesday, it was decided, with a view of economy in the gas bill, to curtail the dinner interval to one hour, and close the schools at four o'clock instead of 4.30. The wedding of Mr. W. Vernon Wil- liamg, eon of the late Mr. James Williams, Neath, and Miss Susannah Bowen, daughter of Mr. Philip Bowen, Tai- lhvyd:ui. was solemni»ed on Thursday Muttuiuii in Liie Parish Church, Dynryn, I by the Rev. A. R. Da vies. The bride was' given away by her cousin, Mr. Thomas Dunem, and was attended by her sister, Miss Catherine Bo wen, and the Misses Maitie Duncan and A. G. John. Mr. D. f J. Dunem was best man. The happy couple s'ibsKiupndy left for Milford IIaven. Mr. Morgan R. Morgan, Windsor-road, Neath, president of the British Under- takers' Association liars just returned from 1ful1. where he addressed a large gathering of undertaker; on Association Work." The address was instructive and convincing, for at the close ii was unanimously decided to form a. "Htùl and District Undertakers' Association." Eighty per cent. of the bona- fide undertakers of the city gave the new association a fine send-off by signing on as mem bel's A DEAR RIDE. George Davies, 7, Mary-street, made no appearance at Keath Police Court on Monday to answer a summons for travel- ling from Landore to Neath without a ticket. Mr. Rupert Lewis, Swansea, prosecuted on behalf of the G.W .R. A fine of 2tte. was imposed.

I PORT TALBOT. On Tuesday evening, a miscellaneous concert was held in the vestry of the Grove-place C.M. Church, Port Talbot, under the jiresldeney of the pastor (Rev. J. E. Rees). Most of the items of the pro- gramme were rendered by the children, who acquitted themselves admirably. The characters in the sketches and dialogues were well pourtrayed. The proceeds of the concert will be devoted to purchasing comforts for the soldiers. Great credit is due to the secretary- (Mr. Hector Jones). The meeting concluded with the rendering of the Welsh National Anthem by the well-known singer, Mr. G. T. Llewellyn, A.R.C.M., the choirmaster of Grove-place Church. The shipping at the Port Talbot Docks for the week ending November 27th (showed c. sulwtantial tonnage of 37,399 tons, made up of 33,638 tons exports and 3.761 tons im- ports, which wae an increase of 6,363 tons on the corresponding week of last year. There were in dock on Saturday 35 veaseJe— 20 steam, 5 sail. The following were the de- tails of ohip-ments:- Exports: Coal and coke (foreign ports), 32,206 tons; tinplates, 604 tons; galvanised &hæts, 50 tons; angle*, 656 tons; pitch, 122 tons. Imports: Iron ore, 1,895 tons; copper ore, 1,090 tons; pig iron, 582 toii-i- pitwood, 194 tons.

SKEWEN. I Amongst the speakers at the recent Sk-ewen recruiting meeting, when Sir Henry Jones spoke, was the Rev. Griffith Thomas, Carmarthen. At Tabernacle Welsh Independent Chapel on Sunday, the Rev. Peter Price, M.A., P.D., of Rhosllanerchrugog, delivered special ser- mons in connection with the half-yearly sen-ices of the church. They will conclude on Monday evening. At English Wesley Chapel on Sunday, the foreign missionary anniversary services wer3 held, when Pastor G. Jarrett and Mr. C. Talbot officiated. The Llansamlet and Skewen Brass Bands attended the funeral of the late Mr. Tom Griffiths (bandmaster).

TONNA. A presentation meeting was held at the St. Anne's Church Hall on Wednesday evening, when Pte. Rees Rees, Seaman Arthur Barwick, and Pte. Glyn Davies were each given a gold medal subscribed for by the public of Tonna. Councillor William Jones, J.P., Tynyrheal, presided, and the speakers included the Rev. Chaloner Lindsay, Councillor Ll. D. Howells, and Mr. David Edwards, Tonna. The presentations were made by Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Lindsay, and Mrs. Clinch re- specively. A musical evening followed, -the following contributing: )Ir6. Clinch's children's party, Miss Edith Matthews, Mr. Tom Taylor, Mr. D. T. George, and Miss Linda Smith, the pianist being Miss Mona Edwards.

News reached Pontardawe on JJtfonday that Private Hatch, of the Somerset Light Infantry, has been killed at the front. IVceased was 21 years of age, and was ei.gaged, prior to enlisting, at the Pontar- dawe Brewery. The news ivaf received 1 from lik> comrade, Private Fclchal.

LOCAL POLICE COURTS I AMMANFORD., I Monday.—Before Messrs. Dd. Richards (in th-3 chair), W. J. Williams, and Thos. Morris. On being found drunk and incapable at Garnant, Wm. Evans, Llangyfelach, was taken into custody, but owing to his in- jured condition, was released the follow- ing morning on bail. However, ho did not surrender to his ball, and a warrant had to b-j issued. For the drunkenness he was fined 10s., and, on a, further summons to show cause why his recognisances of £5 should not be estreated, was let off on pay- ment of 5s. 6d. costs. For having been drunk and disorderly in Penygroes-road, Thos. Davies, Bankyffyn- non, Llandebie. was fined 10d Ily. Pugh, Wernos Farm, Tycroes, was fined 10s. for driving a oa-fc without lights. Pugil was also summoned by Mr. W. Pop- kins, relieving officer. for not contributing towards the support of his wife, Ellen Pugh, who. being an inmate of the Joint Counties Asylum at Carmarthen, was chargeable to th5 Llandilo Union. The application of the Guardians for an order of 2s. 6d. a week was granted, the Chairman observing that it was a very reasonable sum—Defendan": Well. I can't got work in any colliery, because I have broken my hip." Tho,.i. Thorn as, Powell Ddu Cottages, Ohn- amman. was summoned for not contribut- ing towards the maintenance of his mother, who was chargeable to tho Llan- dilo Union.—An order for the contribution of Is. a week was made. Thos. Morgan, Ogmore Villa, Cwmamman, was proceeded against fo* disobeying a maintenance order of ;Pl Ca.. a week in fa- vour of his wife. The arrears came to P,9 168. Defendant had recently sold his house, and, after fettling with the mortgagees, had X30 or L240 in hand.—Tho Bench made an order to attach sufficient from that sum to pay off the arrears.

GOLDEN RETtlRHSy 1 |FH^archer&C<?™ .? ?t?RECtSTE.REB?g'-?L ? "11'. facsimile oj One-OURee Padtet. Archer's I Golden Return51 Tfio rerfection of Pipe Tobacco. II J COOL, .I,J ,#

OMNIBUS NOTES I Queen Alexandra celebrated her birth- day on Wednesday. Aged 101, Mrs. Eliza Dart hae died at Uff culu-io, near Tiverton, Devon. Lord Dunraven, who has been engaged on hospital work in the Mediterranean, has returned to London. The Police Committee is recommending the London City Corporation to provide special constables with overcoats and boots. News has been received that Captain Arthur Jacques, the Hampshire cricketer, who was previously reported missing, was killed in action. During the salmon fishing season, which closed on Tuesday, the biggest fish is be- lieved to have been taken from the Tay. It weighed 53lb. Two women gardeners have been engaged to work in the Birmingham public parks, and it is hoped to employ others as soon as they are available. The v Central Committee of Poor Law Conferences has resolved to defer the hold- ing of the Central Poor Law Conference until after the war. Bristol Stock Exchange on Tuesday adopted a new by-law permanently ex- cluding German and Austrian-born sub- jects from membership. At Preston on Wednesday, Mary Wood (29) was sent to jail for three months for obtaining J;6 9s. by false pretences under Army separation allowances. The funeral of Mr. Som Woods, the Lan- cashire miners' first M.P., and for 11 years secretary of the Trades Union Con- gress, took place on Friday at St. Helens. At Barry on Monday. Elias Fonarlis, a Greek captain, was fined El and costs for having on board three Genoese sheep without a license from the Board of Agri- culture. Boys, it was stated at a conference of Scoutmasters ou Saturday, were now get- ting twice as much money as before the war, some earning aS much as £1 and S2 a George McNaught, seaman, was sent to prison for one montli by the Barry magis- trates for failing to join a transport steamer in June last, after having signed articles. The Home Secretary has declined to advise the reprieve of Young Hill, negro, sentenced to death at Liverpool Assizes for the murder of a shipmate in a ship in the Mersey. Nehemiah Churchill, 14, working by the side of his father in the Cwmcarn Col- liery, South Wales, was buried by a fall and killed on Monday night. The father was uninjured. The two Birmingham Y.C.'s. Lieutenant H. James, 4th Worceaters, and Private A. Vickers, 2nd Warwicks, arrived in the city on Saturday. They were unexpected and had no public welcome. In consequence of the scarcity of labour. Wandsworth and Hackney Borough Councils will ask residents to remove snow from the footpaths in front of their premises in the event of a fall. On and after December 21 the importa- tion of all machine tools and parts, ex- cluding small tools, is prohibited into the United Kingdom except such as are im- ported under the licence of the Board of Trade. The wedding of Rifleman Patrick Mac- Gill, the navvy poet, to Miss Margaret Gibbons, grand-niece of Cardinal Gibbons, took place at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Holly-place, Hampstead, on Sat- urday. Major Lead bitter, for over thirty years chief constable of Denbigshire and a noted angler, who introduced into the Dee a salmon which was a. cross between the Scottish and Cheshire fish, died on Saturday. Damage to the extent of many tliou- sands of pounds was caused by fire at Sunderland last night, when the timber yard, machine cliopc-, and saw mills of Messrs. Young, Sons and Company were burnt out. By 22.909 votes to 1,300, the members of the Northumberland Miners' Associa- tion—which has a bank overdraft of £ 14,000 to £1.5,000 due to the 1912 strike- have decided to raise their contributions from 6d. to Is. a fortnight. On Sunday morning the Balham firemen were called by a fire alarm to Hoyle-road, Tooting, where they found five persons partially unconscious as the results of poisoning by coal gas which had accumu- lated in their bedrooms from an escape. Mr. Justice Kenny, at the Ulster Win- ter Assizes at Belfast on Wednesday, said th? reports of all the county in- spectors showed that peace and good order prevailed throughout the north of Ireland. and that general criminality had declined. Mr. Henry Morgan Bees, the well- known Cardiff solicitor, died at his residence at Penarth on Tuesday morning at the age of 52. The deceased gentleman wras a eon of the late Mr. Daniel Rees, wli4. for mai v years was magistrates' clerk at Cardiff. New Zealand women who have the privilege of exercising an equal vote with tho men at elections, are keen politicians, and it is a common sight to see bands of them listening to debates in the New Zea- land Parliament while knitting steadily for their boys at the front. Archibald A. McLachlan, a dentist on the -Panama hospital ship, was charged at Newport on Monday with failing to join the ship when she sailed on the 18th. Defendant said that he met with an accident to his hand, and sent to tell the captain. Defendant was fined £5. An illuminated address and a cheque for F,720, subscribed by 138 clergy and a large number of the laity in the diocese of Birmingham, were presented to Arch- deacon Mansfield Owen on his appoint- ment as Dean of Ripon. The Bishop of Birmingham made the presentation. The King has expressed his sympathy with the desire that all Christian churches throughout the country should observe Sunday, January 2nd, as a day of special intercession. The National Free Church Council advises the hearty co- operation of Free Churches in the idea, and have prepared a special form of ser- vice. In a written answer to a Parliamentary question, Mr. Pi-io Peaeo states the amount of deposits in Post. Office Savings Banks in England and Wales, according to the la6t returns, dated December 31st, 1914, was £ 169,377,169, and the total for the whole of the 17nited Kingdom £ 190,633,208. It is estimated that the total at the pre- sent time is about E10,000,000 lees. A double execution took place at Liver- pool Prison on Wednesday, the con- demned men being Young Hill, a coloured cattleman, aged 28, of Louisiana, wh6 j killed another man on board a Leyland liner; and John James Thornsley, aged 26, a railway lampman, of Macclesfield, who killed .his sweetheart, who, it was alleged, had jilted him. A solemn service of requiem was held at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday morning to the memory of British soldiers and sailors and to the men of th* allied armies and navies who have fallen during the war. Mass was celebrated in the pres- ence of the Cardinal Archbishop of West- minster. Cardinal Bourne occupied a seat on tin throne, and Mass was sung by Bishop Butt, and there were present members of the Metropolitan Chapter and the Bishop of Southwark. An alarming explosion occurred in Dub- lin, early on Saturday morning, in the electric lighting district station in the neighbourhood of Eorbas-stveet and Sir John Rogerson's Quay. The whole of the brickwork of the building was scat- tered a distance of a hundred feet inf every direction. The force of the explo- sion caused much damage to adjacent premises, and many people in neighbour- ing houses were pitched out of their beds. When the firo brigade arrived the oil tanks and switches were a mam of fire. The cause of the explosion is unknovmu

A Momentous Message TO A World of Sufferers Portrait of Mr. King, of 81, Southgate Road, Old Swan, Liverpool, whose mother writes:—" I have much pleasure in sending you this testimonial as I feel I cannot speak too highly of your wonderful Clarke's Blood Mix- ture,' and would fully recommend all those suffering from Tubercular Trouble to try it, as my son has been cured through it. He is now just on 20 years of age, and has been suffering with it since he was 14. It commenced in his leg, for which he had five operations; after that it formed a swelling in his knee. He wore irons, and had a long course of tubercular inoculations, but never seemed to get really right. After that it settled in his spine, and at the end of last year he fell very ill, and the doctor said there was no hope of him ever getting better. He gradually got worse, and was 18 weeks in the hospital; he lost tbe use of his left arm and was not able to walk when I brought him home from the hospital. He lav very ill for some time when we tried your Clarke's Blood, Mixture,' and after taking the second bottle he was able to walk without a stick, lost all his pain, and all the swellings left his feet. He still kept on for some time with your mixture, and has now been working for the last three months, feeling quite well and with no return of the old complaint. I shall cer- tainly recommend your Clarke's Blood Mixture' wherever I go, and speak of it wtih the highest praise. (Signed) (Mrs.) R. KING." If It's Any Disease Due to Impure Blood Such as Scrofula, Bad Legs, Abscesses- Ulcers, Glandular Swellings, Eczema, Blotches, Boils, Pimples, Sores of any Kind, Piles, Blood Poison, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Lumbago, Gout, etc.? Don't waste your time and money on useless lotions and messy ointments which cannot get below the surface of the skin. What you want, and what you must have, is a medicine that will thoroughly free the blood of the poisonous matter which alone is the true cause of all your suffering. Clarke's Blood Mixture" is just such medicine. It is composed of ingredients which quickly attack, overcome, and expel from the blood all impurities from whatever cause aris- ing' and by rendering it clean and pure can be relied upon to give speedy relief and lasting benefit. Clarke's Blood Mixture By reason of its remarkable I Blood Purifying Properties is universally recognised as THE WORLD'S BEST REMEDY FOR SKIN AND BLOOD TROUBLES. It Clarke's Blood Mixture is pleasant to take and warranted free from any- thing injurious to tlpe most delicate constitution of either eex. Over SO yea.ra» succeM. Sold by all chemists and stores, 2'9 per bottle, and in caee* containing six times the quantity, 11/ or post free o:i receipt of price direct from the, pro- prietors, The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Co., Ltd., Lincoln. REFUSE ALL SUBSTITUTES.

SWANSEA. Friday—Before Mr. Gwilym Morgan (in the chair), Dr. Neleon Jones, Aid. J. Devonald, Mr. D. Griffiths. Jamas Collins (48). labourer, who ad- initted drunkenness and indecent be- haviour in High-street the previous after- noon, said he was an Irishman, had never been in the country, and, travelling all night on hie way to work on munitions, took too much. He was discharged. Saturday.—Before Mr. A. H. Thomas (in (the chair), Major Morris, Mr. J. H. Rosser, and Mr. T. Jones. Rose Young (28), charged with drunken- ness and incapability near the North Dock the previous night, said she remem- bered nothing of the matter. She only came out the previous morning. There were several previous convictions. The Bench said they did not know what to do with defendant. She behaved well in prison. They would give her another chance in fining her 10s., and giving her a week to pay. Rees I/ewis (35), charge wheeler, charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct in High-street the previous day, was fined 10s Bert Mills (27), labourer, admitted being a deserter from the Midland Brigade R.F.A. since August. Detective Gubb, who saw defendant in plain clothes in the Palace Theatre, said defendant admitted his wife and family were in Birmingham Workhouse, and that the woman with whom he was living was not his wife. The w l ini-n be W, Bench remanded Mills, and recommended that the detective be paid 10s. Edward Williams (34), labourer, charged with arrears of £ 2 on an order for the maintenance of his wife, Sarnh Catherine, was ordered to pay or go to prison for 14 days. George Evan Mason admitted using ob- scene language nt Gowerton railway station (L., and N.W.B.) and assaulting William John Bound, a booking clerk, on the 27th October. Mr. Rupert Lewis. prosecuting for the company, -aid there was a crowd on the station, and defend- ant used disgusting language. When very .properly remonstrated with by the book- ing clerk, lie struck the latter in the face. and but for the intervention of a. police- man and another officer he would have again struck him. He had been drink- ing. Defendant told the Bench he was very much the worse for drink. He had had none since he returned from the front some months since. He had been dis- charged, suffering from heart trouble and gastritis, and with an excellent character. He met some friends, had several drinks which upset him, and he remembered nothing of the matter. He had never been in the police court before, and he had apologised to Mr. Bound and to the com- pany. The Chairman said there was no doubt somebody plied him with too much drink. He bore an excellent character. The offence, however, could not be overlooked, tnd he would be fiUNl A11. Monday.—Before Mr. F. Koclce (in the chair), Mr. Hyam Goldberg, Mr. R. W. Jones, and Mr. J. Wignall. Thornns Williams, munition Worker, Tlio 111114nit i ?Dn Wor k (-r, admitted drunkenness and incapability in Wind-street on Saturday evening. He said he only had a drop of rum in a friend's house, and was very sorry. One of the conditions of toeing bound over in August, said the police, was that he should not visit a public-house, and defendant said he had not done so. Warned and fined 7s. 6d. James Sweeney (3i), labourer, admitted drunkenness and disorderly conduct in King's-lane, and was fined 7s. 6d. Wednesday.—Before Mr. A. H. Thomas (in the c-bair), Dr. Joseph Davies, and Mr. J. H. Rosser. Harriett Barrett (28), denied riotous con- duct on the Strand the previous night. P.C. (68) Davies gave evidence, and the policy said there were 52 convictions, of which 19 were for this offence and 19 for drunkenness.—The Bench, for prisoner's own sake, sent her down for a month. Frederick Charles Thomas (23), trimmer, charged with being a deserter from the Navy, said he had had his discharge, and lie was an absentee from the 12th Welsh. He had, unfortunately, lost his discharge papers.—P.C. (17) Harris said prisoner first escaped from the house when lie went to search for him.—He was ordered to be sent back to the Navy. County Cases. I Wm. John Hilher was remanded for a week on three charges of larceny, in order that the police might complete inquiries, and the same course was adopted with Charles Armeshaw, charged with mali- ciously setting fire to a dwelling-house ibt Louglior the previous day. Henry King was fined 5s. for drunken- ness at Mumbles, and young men named Johns and Aubrev 10s. each for drunken- ness and disorderly conduct. James Connors (14). hawker, admitted cruelty to a mare at Treboeth, but his father, Daniel Connors, denied ownership and permitting the cruelty.—The evidence was t JIt tho. agod mare had an old sup- purating, raw wound, the 8i. of a half- crown. under the ,;addle.-W. J. Connors, an R.F.A. man, who was put out of court for interrupting, said he bought the pony and left, it with his little brother. His father had nothing to do with it.-The boy was fined 10s., and the father (the summons against whom was dismissed) was ordered to pay the fine. Engrique Carruthers, greengrocer. Dun. vant, was summoned for selling vinegar 16 per cent, deficient in acetic acid.—Mr. David Clarke, defending, said the vinegar was sold as purchased, and the deficiency was very slight, hein? the difference 'be- fween f?m' grammes .md ?..? grammes per 100 cubic centimetres. The vinegar l must have evaporated, although this was only the second pint drawn from a 12-gal- lon catk.—Fined 10s. Thursday.—Before Mr. W. Thomas (in the chair), Dr. J. A. Rawlings, and Mr. J. Lovat Owen, and Alderman Ben Jones. Margaret Jane Taylor (45), married, admitted drunkenness and incapability in Swan-street the previous evening, and was fined 5s. John Philip Lambert Gardiner, timber merchant, admitted using a motor ear not registered.—Mr. H. llieid prosecuted for the Corporation, and said an old number was transferred to a new car. lie did not press the case, since defendant gave him a very frank explanation. He believed he committed the offence in ignorance.— The Bench believed the defendant's ex- planation, but stated that it wa,s neces- sary for the authorities to bring such cases as a warning, and ordered defendant to pay only the costs. Emilia Hughes summoned Albert Wm. Hughes, her husband, from whom 6he lived apart, for assault on Nov. 29th. The man cross-summoned for abusive language in Neath-road. Mr. H. Thompson for the husband. The complainant appeared with two black eyes, and said these were caused by defendant's fist and a ring on his finger. She had other bruises on her shoulder, and lie also kicked her. I The defence was that the woman pelted defendant with stones, struck him and ran after him shouting offtilsive remarks, and" that the marks under her eyes wero caused hy a fall on to the rail of a bridge. This was denied. The Bench believed there had been an assault, and fined defendant 40s. or a month. They warned the woman to leave him alone, and dismissed the cabO against the woman.

JpHERE'S THE T POIHT? i 3 I 0 H ■ wSSfc SEE PALMER'S I 7 ADVT. -■ — — .»

GRAIN & FLOUR TRADES WEEKLY REVIEW. During the past eight or ten days the weather has continued very cold, withshax-p fl'os for most of the time, but little or no harm has resulted to agriculture, roots and potrtoch being mostly under cover, taiid seeding- wheat is nearly completed under generally favourable conditions. All kinds of live stock continue healthy and to do well. Tho fat stock markets have been fairly brislc and prices maintained. Beef, 8d. to 10J(i. mutton, 8d. to Is.; pork, 8id. to 1M. per lb Trade in wool has continued lively, and prices are again dearer. Washed, is. 6d. to Is. 7d unwashed, In. 2*d. to Is. 3id. per lb. In North America farmers are very busy threshing cereals of all kinds, and ship- ments from the United States and Canada are exceptionally large. Planting winter wheat is nearly completed, and the earlier &own is up and looking well. In spite of the war, reports on agriculture in the principal European countries are, in the main, satisfactory, and the acreage un- der winter wheat shows no diminution. The harvest in the Southern Ilemisphere is now onward, and will soon be in full swing Up to the present the crops in both Argentine and Australia hav. done remark- ably well. Given fine jvoather for the in- gathering, and the yield will be abnormally large. In India the agricultural outlook con- tinues very good. Experts of wheat from foreign countries to Europe are increasing, and exceed requirements. Suplies of native graia are large; warehouse stocks growing. THE FLOATING GRAIN CARGO TRADE. Wheat.—fcteady. Russian, ml; Australian (new crop), 60s.; Plate, 56s., 58s. 6d. Cali- forrJan, 58s., 59s.; Indian, 59s., COz, Ameri- can Spring, 52s., 58s.; Winter, 52s, 57s., both according to position. Maize.—Dearer. Russian, flil; American, nominal; Plate, 38s.. 38s. 6(.1. Barley.—Firm. Indian, 42s.. 43s.; Ameri- can. 41s.. 43s.; Persian, 39g., 39s. 6d. Oats.—Quiet. Russian, nil; American, 33s., 34s.; Plate, 28s. 6d., 31s. SPOT PRICES AT MARK LANE. Wheat.—Steady. Australian and Russian, nil; Plat", 59s. 60s.; Caliiornian, 59s., 61s.; Indian, 60s., 61s.; American Spring, 57s., 59s.; Winter. 55s., 58s.; English 'White, 56,3., 59s.; Red, 55s., 58s. Ma.ize.-Dearer. American, nominal; Rus- sian, nil; Plate, 38s. 6d., 39s. 6d. Barley.—Firm. American, 42s. 6d., 43s. 6d.; Indian. 43s.. 44a.; Persian, 39s., 40s.; Malt- ing, 50s., 57s. 6d. O,ats.-Qiiiet. English, 33s., 34;1. 6c:L; Foreign. 25s., 34s. 6d. Feeding Caltes.-Steady, fair demanfl. FLOUR, Cold, brr" appetising weatherr and vegetables aer scarce, tend to increase the eonsunij .ion of 'bread. As ''I. conse- qucnce, the flour trado io brisk, and prices fully maintained, particularly on the spot. Town Whites, 48s. 6d., 49s. 6d.; Households, 47s.; Country Patent, 42s., 43s.; Whites, 40s., 41a.; American Spring Patents, 44s. 6d., 46s.; Manitoba Patents, 44s.. 45s.; Kansas Patents, 43s. 6(1., 44s. 6d.; Spring Bakers. 40s., 41s.; Hungarian Patents, nominal. WHEAT FORECAST. Sllrplies of native grain and shipments of foreign wheat arc increasing, and crop prospects in the Southern Hemisphere con- tinue excellent; but excessively high freights and a scarcity of spot stuff keep price J very firm. At the present higlevel of values a prudent coiirso is the one to pursue—regulate purchases by require- ments to speculate is risky. As regards the war, the outlook since posting my last re- view is distinctly brighter for the Allies— and it will continue steadily to improve.

A-BFSAVON. I On Sunday afternoon Miss Margaret I Bondfield delivered an impressive lecture on Let my Country Awake." Council- lor James Price presided. At Aberavon on Thursday, Frederick Withers, lodging-house keeper, Water- Btreet, was charged with keeping an un- registered seamen's lodging-house. Mr. L. M. Thomas prosecuted, and Mr. Dan Per- kins defended. Inspector W. E. Rees de- posed to visiting the premises on October 26th, 4j;(1 finding six seamen present, who 6tirted that they were lodging there. The defendant had applied for a license, but it had been refused on two occasions. A fine of c £ 2 was imposed. At A bora von, on Thursday, Alice Zapettis, Tiow of Maesteg. summoned her husband, Nicholas Zapettis, a Greek, keeping a restaurant in Cwmavou-road, Aberavon, for pei-is>tent cruelty. Mr. Dan Perkins, for the woman, said the parties were married in 1893, and there were two children. Four or five years later, defendant deserted ber, and in January, 1908, she obtained a separa- tion order against him at Cardiff, but he did not pay her any money under that order They lived apart for over seven years, and in April last, while the woman was engaged as a housekeeper at Swansea, defendant persuaded his wife to return to him. Defendant was a man of violent tem- per, and after resuming cohabitation, de- fendant re-commenced violence towards his wife She eventually left him in August last. The Bench granted a separation order, "with 7s. 6d. a, week 'allowance, and advo- cate's fee.

ABERDULAIS. The energetic Sewing Guild of Forest Chapel, under the supervision of Mrs. Howell, Sunny Bank, are to be congratu- lated for their services in connection with comforts for the boys now serving their King and country. A number of parcels have been sent, consisting of shirts, muff- lers, helmets, mittens, and belts, at a cost of 15s. per parcel; also a large consign- ment of cigarettes, etc., are sent every alternate week by the choir and boys of the village. A concert will be given in aid of the funds of the guild at the Baptist Hall. Eminent artistes are giving their services free, and it is hoped a good re- sponse will be given to this deserving cause. The Aberdulais Tinplate Company have given handsome donations to the fund. A "social "and presentation meeting was held at the Baptist Hall. After a successful tea a musical evening followed, during which the Rev. E. Parry presented to Mr. Jestyn LI. Rees a marble clock, subscribed for by the chapel choir. The speaker" indlloe-d Messrs. T. Samuel. D. P. Richards, W. Morri, W. Stamford, and M. E. Jenkins. Songs were con- tributed by Misses E. Matthews, E. Francis, B. Jenkins. Mrs. Tom Isaac, and Messrs. Griff Griffiths, D. T. George, D. Wliitelock, W. Walters, and the Aberdu- lais Music Lovers; recitations, M. Mor- gans; and penillicm, Dd. Jones. Mr. Rees, with the assistance of his choir. has been successful in assisting the chapel fund6 to the extent of £ 200.

BRITON FERRY. On Friday evening a presentation, con- BidmK of an illumin?t?l address and photorapb, was made to Mr. William Richards by the workmen of the Briton- ferry Steel Works, on his promotion as fore- man of the producerg at the Albion Steel Works The presentation waa made on be- half of the men by Mr. John Edwards, who referred to the eplendid qualities of the re- cipient, tn which the latter replied. On Sunday evening, through the peierosity of Mrs. Phipps-James (the pro- prietress). a saored cinema concert was given at the Britonferry Picturedrome, the proceeds of which were to help in the pur- chase of equipment of the local St. John .Anibulsmce Brigade. There wae a large attendance The members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade at Britonferry, under Mr. J. hipton. marche d into Neath on Saturday, when they were inspected by Mr. Herbert Lewis, the Deputy Commissioner for Wales, after which Mr. Lewis addressed th > men comprising the brigade of the district. It was decided to form two corps, one to be called the Swansea, Corps and the other the West Glamorgan Corps. The Deputy Commissioner complimented the Britonferry Brigade, which had sent twenty of its members to hospitals in this country and at the front, and had aug- mented their ranks to a further member- ship of fifty. Efforts are to be made to raise j;30 in the district for the funds of the St. John Society.

CWMAVON. H. S. Arnold wishes to announce that he has a large Stock of Bibles and Testa, inents in English and Welsh, suitable for Church use and Sunday School Prizes. Also II}'mn-Books in both languages used in t-he several churches, Pulpit Bibles, and Common Prayers.—High Street, Cwmavon.

GLYN-NEATH. At Ebenezer C.M., Pont-Ncath-Vaughan, the cantata Under The Palms" was per- formed by the chapel choir, conducted by Mr. Tom Lewis, A.T.S.C. The Rev. 1>. G. William? presided.

KENFIG HILL. I At Aberavon, on Thursday, Martha Williams, a young married woman and a native of Keniig Hill, but now of no fixed abode, was sent to prison for seven days for being drunk and disorderly. She was remanded on Monday last with a view ot being sent to an inebriates' home, but it was now stated that this course was

PONTRHYDYFEN. I Some excitement was- caused in the little I mining village of Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot, on Wednesday, when :t young lad named John Collins, employed as a greaser at the Argot d Colliery, Pont- rhydyfen, and living at Pontycymmer Cottages, was shot in the leg. It appears that about ten o'clock a young collier, named Tom Evans, living at Underbcidge, went to the colliery pre- mises with a revolver, and while playing with it, the lad asked him to fire it. Evans did .50, and immediately the boy Collins fell to the ground, and it was found that: he had been shot in the thigh. Eva.ns, with the assistance of sfmie workmen, conveyed Collins to his homo, where he was attended to by Dr. Rees, but the latter was unable to locate the bullet, and Collins was afterwards re- moved to the Swansea Hospital. Mean- while P.C. Rogers arrested Evans -it Collins' home, atul recovered the revolver, which contained* three spent cartridges, at Evans' house. Collins remains in a eerious condition.

PEARS' ANNUAL FOR 1915. I 25th Anniversary Issue. For twenty-five years this bright and choery Christmas visitor has been welcomed in hundreds of thousands of British homes, and th,3 present celebration number is of outstanding interest and value, giving as its literary fire a collection of stories by eminent writers, while, on the art side, on which it has always made an especially high appeal, its attractions are of a very liberal and distinguished order. There are six presentation plates, the largest being a superb mazsogravme, "The Beauty of the Glade." by A. Dampier May. There are* beautiful reproductions in colour of paint- ings by J. Shaw Crozapt-on, Arthur J. msey, R.I., and R. Anderson, and a pair" of coloured Ba.rtolozzi prints after famous pic- tures by F. Wheatley. Further art features are four coloured pages illustrating Cld Christmas Carols. The tales by Max Pem- berton, J. Cuteliffe Hyne, Barry Pain, W. L. George, and J. J. Bell, 911 of which are fully illustrated in colours and tints by wcli-known artists, are fully up to the high reputation which this annual has- so long ■■enjoyed. The whole is enclosed in a pic- turesque Christmassy cover in colours, after a drawing by Frank Dadd, R.I. Peers' An. nual for 1915 is in every sense worthy of the success it so bounteously celebrates.

KILLAY COMPETITIVE MEETING. On Saturday evening a competitive meet- ing was held at Siloam Baptist Chapel, the Rev. J. H. Davies (pastor) presiding. The adjudicators were: Music, Mr. T. Roderick. Dunvant; literature, Mr. T. E. Rees, Kiilay. The awards were: Recita- tion (girls), Phyllis Hutchings, Killav. Solo (boys), S. Jeffreys, Upper Kiilay. Reci- tation (boys). Stanley Reynolds. Bass solo, T. Morris, Upper KiHay. Soprano solo, M. A. Matthews, Killay. lienor solo, Christy Jam as. Dunvant. Contralto solo, C. Isaac, Killay. Reading, first sight, W. Williams, Upper Killay. Open recitation, M. Price. Open solo (girls), Olive Richards.