Evening Express

A tiiually voracious London correspon- dent has the following:- I am informed that, in a telegram which has reached an official quarter here from Berlin, it is stated that instructions have been given to various German and other Continental firms under contract with the Russian Government postponing for the present the delivery of large quantities of stores, it being significant that the con- tracts affected are for the supply not only of clothing, hut of warlike stores, including both large and small ammunition. If this be true, it may well mean that Russia at last intends calling a halt. She will be well advised to do so. Every step she takes has up to the present meant success for the Japanese, and the longer the war lasts the more successful they aget The admissions made at the last meet- ing of the investigation committee are not likely to increase public confidence in the way things are conducted by the Cardiff Corporation. It has to be noted that the admissions we are speaking of, were not wrung from those who made them as the result of a severe inquiry or a rigorous cross-examination. On the contrary, they were lisped forth as though they were the most natural things in the. world. Yet the statements tvere of a most serious aud damaging character, and the Cardiff public would be shortsighted not to make careful note! cf them. We are told now—when it is too late—by officials aud councillors alike that seven or eight years ago the staff was so inadequate that the proper inspection of new buildings was a matter of impossibility. In other words,- at a rime when new houses at Cardiff were being built at a rapi 'd rate honest and respectable builders found the greatest difficulty in getting the inspectors to attend to their 3uties, simply (it is alleged) because they Aero overworked. If that be tho case, what of those builders who were un- scrupulous aud who had no anxiety at all that the inspectors should oversee their work? If this information, so tardily j given, is really true, the prospect opened out is an alarming one. In an i ideal community no new house would be certified as complete until its drainage and other points—but particularly' its, drainage—had been pronounced satis- factory. Unfortunately, errors of drainage have a cumulative effect, and, is pointed out in our articl'e of Saturday, ;he town will suffer for years to corne: trom the policy that made it possible for: any number of new buildings to be certi- I fied without the careful and thorough; inspection to which they ought to have jeen submitted. Many are the delinquencies of the various departments under the control of the Cardiff Corporation. Some of them have been dealt with in our columns, and others still remain to be considered. But, whatever their sins of omission and of commission, they. at any rate, cannot plead guilts to harbouring amongst their; number an official of the name of Don I Juan Xeponiuceno de Bunonagonatotore- cagaeazcoecha! A gentleman with this distinctive appellation is (or was) in the finance department of the Madrid local administration. Don Juan Nepomuceno de B-a n d-So-Oll Why, it is enough to i turn Mr. Greenhili green with envy. According to the almanac Spring com- njenceo to-morrow. We are able not ouly to give the date, but the very hour. lit the "Xautical AImanack" the period is I v e. ii as March 20 days 1U hours astro-1 nomical time, which, being interpreted, is seven o'clock on the morning of Tues-I the 21st. Why this excessive! tccuracjl" inquiries the curious reader, ] We shall probably see no difference to-morrow from to-day, and, as to seven o'clock, isn't this cutting things just a little fine ? Dear critical reader, the mystery is' explained when it is known that the astronomer calls the commencement of spring the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator in its northward journey. At that moment day and night are of equal length; from then till the autumnal equinox day in the northern j hemisphere is longer than night. The position, therefore, has very little to do with spring in its ordinary sense, save that the lengthening of the day and the; increase of sunshine brings vegetation forward. Of course, the beginning of spring in this latter sense can never be stated to an hour, or even a week still less can it be predicted as in the Nautical AlmanacI,- Salt Sprays" is the somewhat awkward yet characteristic, title of the annual report- of the John Cory Soldiers j and Sailors' Rest, an institution which! has during the past few years done a, vast deal of good amongst the seafaring population who touch Cardiff. Cardiff is said to have more sailors within its borders at any one time than any other port on the face of the earth. If this I be the case, a great opportunity is afforded to religious, philanthropic, and social workers. As a matter of fact, a great deal is done in this way at Cardiff. Yet we do not know that the field is I even now adequately covered. The insti- tution under notice has during the time I or its existence done solid work, and within its new home promises to do far more than has ever been accomplished I in the past. People v-Iio realise the nature of the life which poor Jack leads—even under the greatly ameliorated circum- stances of to-clay-can form some faint idea of the importance of such sheltering places lis the Cory Rest. There is pro- I bably not on the face of the earth a man who is more grateful for any little kindness than the average sailor, and we know full well that'the privileges of thel I Rest are talked about wherever the British flag floats. Wherever the British! seaman gccs and he goes all over the! world—kindly thoughts and prayers for! the welfare of the Sailors' Rest are wafted j to "headquarters." It is the knowledge) o: this that proves such an encourage- ment to the friends and supporters ofi this admirable institution. The Great- Western, with its usual care I and thoroughness, has just been conduct- ingan interesting experiment. A train resembling in every respect the ill-fated- express that met with an accident, at Loughor was driven over that portion of the line under conditions as nearly as the under COP- d i possible resembling those that obtained on the day of the accident. All passed off well and without mishap, as, of course, had been the case daily for a long time before the accident. On the train was a set of apparatus for determining speed, oscillation, and the like, and, no doubt, the results recorded will be discussed a.nd conclusions drawn therefrom. Lest people be unduly elated by the glorious conditions of yesterday, it may be as well to mention that a well-known prophet says British weather will be very unsettled in tho last- ten days of March, that then we shall have a touch of frcst and a fall of snow, and that both April and May will open with snowstorms! The prophet in question is one of the empirical order; nevertheless, lie haa made one or two lucky hits, and, of course, it will be impossible to contradict him—till afterwards!

Mainly About People. I Everybody hopes that. Lord Peel may recover quickly from his indisposition, for he is one of the most popular figures in the gra,ver and more intellectual sect-ion of London society. Since his retirement- from the Speakership in 1895 Lord Peel has lived very quietly at liis home in Bedfordshire, reading a great, deal of liietory, and leaving the life of action to his clever- gone, all of whom are doing very well. Now, as in his hard-working days, Lord Peel is a singularly dignified man. He was the only man who ever kept the House of Commons in order. A marvellous example of his power was seen when the "free fight" took place while the House was in Committee over Gladstone's seoond Home Rule Bill. Somebody was shaking his fist at Mr. Gladstone; Mr. Oha.mberiain had been insulted; Colonel Saundersou was in the mids.t of an alarming; meles of infuriated members. It was a terrible scene. Then somebody thought of sending for the Speaker. He came into the House with his usual marner-a little calmer than usual, perhaps—with his Speaker's robea and wig. As soon as he appeared there wae, a hash. Members ceased pallimg each other's' hair, Golonel Sauuderson put down the bench with which he was meditating an attack upon j a, weli-kuown opponent, everybody slunk back to their seats. There was dead silence as the Speaker got into his chair; you could I have heard a pin drop as he began to &pealk. and the speech itself, a pained, yet courteous,' rebuke, was received with an air of deep eon-! trition by the Parliamentary prize-fighters J who listened to it. Lady Ross, whom the Ducheos of Suther- land presented at a. recent Court, is a. charm- I ing American, a native of Kentucky, who married Sir Charles Ross, of Balnagowan, as his second wife three years ago. Lady Ross has a most beautiful and well-trained voice, and has often sung at Highland concerts in aid of the Duohess of Sutherland's philan- thropic- schemes, or in other good causes. Sir Charles Ross owns between 300,000 and 400,000 a.c.re., in Ross-shire, and is by far the largest landowner in the kingdom under the rank of a peer. Next to him, probably, comes Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, oometimes nick- named the King of Wales." Lord Braokiey has been making quite a victorious tour of the West Indies with his amateur team of cricketers, but although ne has been smashing up the local' players in all directions, he and his party have been enjoying a hearty and pleasant reception. In Georgetown (B.G.) the other day they had a heavy task, only beaming the British Guiana. team by 42 runs. They were apparently saved by Captain Wynyard's carefui yc-t brilliant second innings of 80, and Thomp- son's securing seven wickets for 65 runs in the Georgetowners' seoond innings. Still, most matches are won in this way, amd Lord Braok'iey's latent victory can by no means be called a fluke." I Marshal Oya-ma and Admiral Togo have been the meu of the moment in Japan ever since the war broke out. When Togo had done his part at sea. Marshal Oyama began i his work on land. Not for one moment has he been at fault, either while bo was organ- ising at home or since he has actually directed the forces at the front. His life's business has been wa,r. He has studied it in Europe and applied it in the East. To have twice captured Port Arthur, once from China and once from Russia, is a feat not likely to be equalled. He is tall for a .Japanese, aud stout, and his round face is quite boyish, at a distance. When one is near him one finds that lie ig (ie-eply pitted with small-pox and i that. his eyes have a. decided cast. He loves all animals.—especially cats. Children hold out their hands to him by instinct, and do-gs follow him in the streets. Mr. Herbert G rover has been for some years one of the most popular of English tenors, but he began life as a journalist. He was always the same kind-hearted, jolly, Bohe- mian soul, always ready with a song for his friends, and with that hearty manner that makes him so popular with everybody. lie is a thorough Londoner, and he is proud of it For several years Mr. Groyer had worked as a reporter on the City Press," when he was introduced to Mr. Vert and the late Mr. Sims Reeves. Mr. Vert was not long in mak- ing up his mind, but promptly gave the young singer a good contract, while Mr. Sims Reeves gave him encouragement and good advice. "Never let people try to make you what they call a robust tenor, said he. Go on singing as you are singing now, and always let them hear you sing Tom Bow- And that is what Mr. Grover did. Mme. Blanche Marchesi, who is among the singers at St. George's-hall, is a Parisian by birth, her father was an Italian from Palermo, her mother came from Frankfort- on-the-Main, and her early life was spent at Cologne, where both her parents were teachers at the Conservatoire. The English have long admired Mme. Blanche Marchesi, and the sentiment is reciprocated. Madame once said, indeed, that there was nothing stiff about us but our collars, but perhaps other artistes whose triumphs have not been so great consider us less unbending. I left France," said Mme. Marchesi on one occa- sion, because there is no career open to a singer except in opera. I declare I will be eternally grateful to England, for it has made a concert singer out of the poet and teacher who was too modest to call herself a singer. England has understood the heart that heats in my little songs." Lord Hugh is one of the cleverest of the Cecils. He hag also a full share of Cacil determination and obstinacy. His family used to take the greatest delight in the way in which Linky," as they called him, proved himself from his earliest years to be no respecter of persons. Even now the story of how Lord Hugh told the truth once to no less a person 'than Mr. Gladstone is remembered by them with delight. He was five years old at the time, and had not arrived at an age to dissociate political from social enmity. Therefore, when ho was introduced to Mr. Gladstone, whom he klJW to ba Lord Salisbury's rival, his first words were: You are a bad man." Mr. Gladstone was startled. How can I be a bad man," he said, when I am a friend of your father's?" Oh," said the little boy contemp- tuously, my lather's going to cut your head off with a great big sword!" Since that candid age. Lord Hugn has probably felt the same thing about other opponents without permitting himself to express it so directly. The Ra-jah of Sarawak, otherwise Sir Charles Johnson Brooke, is at present in England, and is residing at Chesterton House, near Cirencester. His Highness, who is now in his seventy-sixth year, succeeded his uncle, the late Baja-h, nearly forty years ago as ruler of Sarawak, with a popu- lation of half a million, inhabiting forty thousand squaro miles of territory. He is married to a Wiltshire lady (sister of the explorer, Mr. Harry de Windt), whom the late Queen received with Sovereign honours when she visited h??r Majesty at Windsor some years ago. The Rajah himself was accorded by King Edward, soon after his .%cce%ion, the rank and precedence of the greatest Indian feudatory princes. Pater- nally he is a, Johnson, having adopted the name of Brooke when he succeeded his uncle. The Rajah and Ranee have a son, known as the Rajah Mudah, who was educated at Win- chester and Cambridge, and has assisted his father in the administration of the Government of Sarawak for a good many years.

A Long Courtship I ENDS IN A LEEDS MILLINER GETTING I DAMAGES Marian Lucy Mary Dixon, a milliner and dressmaker, told a story at Leeds Assizes on Saturday of what she described as nine years of happy courtship cruelly ended, and she was awarded JE150 damages against Horace Wheatley, a commercial traveller, of Norton- on-Tee3, for breach of promise. Now 27 years of age, the young lady said she had been the object of defendant's attention since she was sixteen. At her eighteenth birthday she became formally engaged to him, and she was introduced as her intended husband. In July, 1904, Miss Dixon heard that defen- dant was beginning to walk out" with another young lady, whom ho had since married. She questioned defendant, who at first denied it, but subsequently admitted that it was true. Plaintiff denied that she had asked to see this lady, and make complaint to her. Mr. Justice Ridley It is a most inhuman proposal to ask the young ladies to meet each other. It is an old adage, Tou should never get on with the secoud girl until you have got off with the first." Plaintiff was questioned as to this extract from a letter which she wrote defendant I forgive you, but I cannot forget, though you know what happy hours we have spent together, not only lately, but in times past. If you will be happier with her than one who has every right to you we will let it be so. Time will tell. Those who live the longest will see most. However, I do not wish you any harm, as you know, neither do I wish another girl to suffer as I have done. Remember this and bear in mind, A faithful lover is hard to find, But should you find one good and true, Don't change the fild one for the new. I love you just as much as ever, If separation be our lot, Dearest to me, forget me not." Plaintiff denied that she intended. the letter to convey the idea that she would not proceed further in the matter. For defendant it was contended that plain- tiff had agreed to release him from any promise of marriage he had made.

SEQUEL TO COUPON GAMBLING I Fourteen men were arrested by a police raid at the Beehive Inn, Accrington, on Saturday, and charged under the Betting Acts. A large number of printed forms used for betting on football matches were seized, bearing, as is alleged, the initials of bookmakers, who since the suppression of coupon guessing competi- tions in newspapers have done an enormous business in this kind of gambling all over Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the North of Eng- land One firm in Liverpool alone is credited with making a profit of £800 in a fortnight.

CARDIFF COAL TRADE I The general coal trade outlook at Cardiff is distinctly brighter to-day. Since Satur- day over 60 vessels have docked at Cardiff and Penarth, and 40 at Barry, and there are several overdue vessels known to be within easy reach of the port. This large accre- tion of tonnage has had a beneficial influence on the coal market this morning, but as the accumulated stocks standing on the sidings are sufficient to meet the requirements for some days to come. no appreciable improve- ment in prices is recorded.

TENBY TRAWLER WRECKED I The trawler Elizabeth M. 180, of T" I drifted ashore on Saturday on the ?orth Tail, Bideford Bar. The crew were saved by the I lifeboat.

At, the Railway Temperance Hotel, Cardiff, on Saturday the Cardiff Branch of the Com- mercial Teir-)erance League held a successful smoking concert. Tbe musieal arrangements were under the care of Mr. Shepherd. Mr. R. $. Jenkins was the accompanist.

CARDiFFS ACCOUNTS Elective Auditors Make Serious Complaint. SAY BOOKS ARE IN ARREAR AND THEY ARE HAMPERED. Mr. F. J. Beavan presided at an ordinary meeting of the finance committee of the C;a,r-diff Corpora tion this mornil:g. when the Town-clerk read the following letter from the elective auditors: — I A SERIOUS COMPLAINT Auditors Say They Are Hampered 2, Frederick-street, Cardiff. .March 18, 1905. Gentlemen,—We desire to call your atten- tion to the fact of our not having been furnished with copies of the printed minutes, after applying for same, and at the same time to set out the present position as far as the audit is concerned. We have dealt with the accounts of the urban authority, waterworks, and electric lighting as far as is practicable at the moment, and are unable to bring our work to a completion for the half-year ended 30th of September, 1904, on account of the books not having been closed, as it is provided they should be, in accordance with the Municipal Corporation Act, 1882. We may say that the time already occupied on these matters has been eighteen days, and the Borough Fund (which we are now proceeding with), Electric Tramways, and other departments will occupy a like period. During the audit we have made sugges- tions for the more correct keeping of some of the books, the better vouching of the wages books and sheets, patty cash accounts and postage accounts, and the collection of the rents, some of which are allowed to run much into arrear. I The cash book of the urban authority shows a balance in hand of L101 5s. 6d., which has been brought forward for the past twenty years or more, and treated as au asset in the corporation accounts, although we have been unable to discover that such a sum exists, and we shall be bound to see that this matter is cleared up before the end of this mouth (the close of the financial year). We note that the charge by the electric department l'or lighting the corporation buildings, such as the town hall, sana- torium. baths, fish market, and other premises, is at the same rate as for private individuals, though it appears to us that some reduction should be made, if the quantity used is taken into account. A number of the books of the corporation, we consider, are very much in arrear; in some departments the books for the half-year ending September, 1904, were at the 1st March, 1905, still unbalanced and in an unfinished state, and unless prompt measures are taken, we see no prospect of the books being closed for the financial year ending 31st inst. until four or five months after- I wards. I The refusal of your committee to allow us, the auditors, individual access to the books, and obtaining them from the borough treasurer. greatly hampers us in our efforts to proceed with the audit in ail expeditious manner, and it appears to us an injustice that such an attitude should be adopted. May we a.sk that the provisions of Section 127 of the Municipal Corporation Act 1882 be carried out, yy the books being properly closed and statements of accounts and balance-sheets prepared for the half-ye*r ended September, 1904, to enable us to com- plete our work for that period?—Yours faith- fully, (Signed), OSWALD COLEMAN, JOHN S. TAYLOR, Borough Auditors The Chairman and Members of the Finance Committee, Cardiff Corporation. The Chairman: There are several items in that letter of which I know nothing. I don't know that any books have been refused; certainly they have not been refused by this committee. They say they have been refused also to proceed with the audit individually. Mr. C. H. Bird: The committee did pass a resolution refusing to a.llow the elective auditors to proceed separately with the audit. They were to attend together. The Chairman: Then they say they have not been furnished with copies of the printed minutes after applying for the same. I suppose they mean the monthly minutes of the council. The Borough Treasurer; They have never applied to me for them. Mr. Vivian: I move- that they ha-ve copies of the minutes. Mr. Robinson; But I am not satisfied. The auditors make a charge, which ought to be cleared up. They say they were refused certain information. The Chairman: Are they here? Mr. Lewis (deputy-ti-eaeurer), after inquir- ing, said they were not. The Chairman stated that when they made a complaint about not being able to audit the books separately, he told them they could attend the meeting. Mr. Greenhill said he also told them they could come, and they are not here. It is a serious charge that they make. Mr. Mitnin: Can they prove that they have applied for these minutes? Mr. Greenhili and the Town-clerk stated that they had not applied, to them. Alderman David Jones; Why should they not have access to all the books they require for their purpcic? There is Growling tverlasting I 'L alJout somctning or orner; wny cannot tney have access to all the books they require? Mr. GrNmhill: So they have. Mr. Lewis; They have asked me for copies of the ectimat-es and I have supplied them. Mr. Vivian moved a resolution to tho effect that the committee could not ascertain that copies of the minutes had been. applied for, that they oertadnly have not been refused, but they certainly had not been refused, supply them on application, Mr. Munn seconded. The Chairman then pointed out that the auditors complained that the books had not been closed for the half-year ending, Septem- ber, 1904. Mr. Greenhili: Wo have all the books balanced to that time, but v e don't make up a. printed statement. That is done annually. The Chairman: They state that the books are not made up as required by the Corpora- tion Acts. What does the law stipulate? The Town-clerk: The Act states;- The treasurer shall make up the accounts half-yearly to such dates as the council, with the approval of the Local Government Board from time to time, approve, and subject to any such appointment to the dates in use at the commencement of this Act. The treasurer shall within one month from the date to which he is required to make up his accounts in each half-year submit them, with the necessary vouchers and papers, to the borough auditors, and they shall audit them. The Chairman: The auditors say they have made certain suggestions to improve the system of book-keeping? Mr. Greenhill: They have made many suggestions and we have met them. They have questioned the legal charges and things of that sort which have been before the several committees and sanctioned by the council. The Chairman: Then they refer to a sum of -clol 5s. 6d. which has been brought for- ward for twenty years, but they cannot dis- cover that it exists. Mr. Greenhill: It has been brought forward for twenty years to my knowledge. It is made up of small balances which have accu- mulated, and is still used in the revenue. It is brought forward from year to year. Mr. Vivian: If so, it is in hand. Mr. Greenhill: It is in hand. The Chairman It appears in the Blue Book last year as E41 5s. 6d., belonging to the district fund account. I don't see how we can proceed in the Absence of the Auditors I I move that they be requested to attend the next, meeting to explain their letter. }1r. C. H. Bird: It would be muoh more satisfactory if this balance of £ 101 were banked at the end of the ye-ar, and such sums as are required draw-n out afterwards. Mr. tireenhill: That is the balance brought forward, aud is in the accounts. Tho Chairman: Why is it not in the bank? 3ilr, Greenhill: It is "banked. Mr. C. H. Bird: It wo old be weil if all J money were banked on the 31st of March, the end of the year, and, if necessary, ask for a cheque for petty cash at the com- mencement of the new year. The Chairman: I cannot understand why that is not done. Mr. Robinson: It has been going on for half a century; you cannot expect an altera- tion at once. With reference to the balancing of the accounts, the borough treasurer said it was done as required by the Act. Mr. Robinson: Is it done half:yearly? Mr. Greenhili: Yes, and printed yearly. Alderman David Jones: If it were not done, how could wo get a supplementary estimate ? The chairman's motion, to' request the elective auditors to attend the next meeting, I was then agreed to.

STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. OFFICE, 2.10 ..t-a.;l..J' .1-1.1. L} "l;J 1.1. SLLEGZD CJul £ HT RCBEEXY. i TV cl"a ntr. 22 y.'jrs 1-; t g: wn.s indicted i!\t, r, h e- Gla-nv)rr.;ri A-ixcs to-day f'.r the vcVoPry < i 1.Cl1 M<\n-crafe, a ailor, who atU'-?i'(l was taken by ',u 1 '1' and a sic. 1 t > 81. C irniirV and f:-„auiud, a.ut r.>- cd £7ill ill111(,S; and various articles. -c t.:din.) :-I.TC!lFT;X- "HANDICAP RESULT Crania c t111 ;1 it' Crescent .ittie- Teddy :WEST KXHANGEE, HCEDLL IŒlLT¡ To'iN worth Little Gar.tox» Glenftnella 2.50—LIVERPOOL TRIAL BESTTLT. ■RaTmri cuius Noble T.ass CaxtiiU5<,

Duplicate Train I TESTED ON SCENE OF LOUGHOR 'I DISASTER. ) One of the theories advanced to account for the accident on the Great Western Rail- way at Loughor on October 3 last, when five persons were killed and eighteen others seriously hurt, was the oscillation of the saddle-tank engine attached at Llaneily, causing it to be jumped off the metals, Lieu- tenant Yorke, R.E., who was appointed oy the Board of Trade to conduct the inquiry, stated that he was unable to report with certainty the cause of the derailment, but the probability was that it was due to one of two causes, viz., the fracture of the side- rod or oscillation of the saddle-tank engine in consequence of too great a speed. Colonel Yorke expressed the opinion that engines of the saddle-tank type like the one in ques- tion were not suitable for attachment 1U front of express trains. On Sunday an interesting experiment was made by the Great Western Railway Com- pany over that portion of the line where the accident occurred. On the previous day a train in all respects similar to the express from Milford. which was partially wrecked at Loughor was made up at Swindon. It consisted of an engine and ¡' nine coaches, in the first of which an intricate apparatus for measuring speed, ¡ oscillation, Ac., was fixed. The other coaches were loaded with old axle-boxes to represent as near as possible the weight of the passengers in the train which came to grief. On Saturday evening the experimental train was driven down to Carmarthen, and on Sanday morning started on the up-line in the direction of Landore. At Llaneily a saddle-tank engine was put on in front of the express engine, so that the situation on the night of the 3rd of October was re-pro- duced as nearly as possible. The test, we are informed, gave satisfactory results, there being no oscillation or bumping of the saddle- tank engine at the speed at which an express train would usually proceed between Llanelly and Cockett, where the smaller engine was detached and sent back. Mr. Dawson, Pad-! dington, assistant superintendent of the line, was in charge of the train, and was accompanied by the locomotive superinten- i dent at Swindon and others. After the experiment the train returned to Swindon, stopping a few minutes at Cardiff.

MILLION YEAR CLOCK I Explaining the four types of radio-active; substances at the Royal Institution on Saturday, Professor J. J. Thomson showed how the Beta substance attracted and repelled an object much in the style of a pendulum. Unless the object were removed, he said, it would be made to swing so long as the radium lasted—say, a million years—so that with some clockwork attached to the pendu- lum we should have a clock that would require winding up only once in a miU/on j years.

Although there is considerable delay in beginning the work of building the new post-I office at Newport, some indication of what it1 will be when .complete 1-s now available. The first steps to be taken are the excavations in the ,front for the construction of a new cable chamber. It is hoped that this will soon be taken in hand. When it is complete the work of taking down the old premises and building the new will be begun. The new building is designed in the free Renaissance | style. It will have a frontage to High-street of 109ft. and to Thomas-street of 128ft. There [' will be three floors besides the baeement and attics. The whole pIau will be lit by elec- tricuy.

WIDOW'S NIGHT OUT MERCHANT'S ADVENTURE IN THE WEST END. Artist's Model and the £10 Notes Mr. Plowden was on Saturday again occupied at Marylebone with the case of Rialsigh Hyma-n, aged 54, a cigar merchant, of 205, Shaftesbury-avenue, who was charged with stealing two 110 Bank of England notes, the property of Mrs. Louisa Hodgens, a young widow, resid- ing at ;)3, Boufidary-road, St. Tohn's-wood. Mr. Nonweiler prosecuted, and Mr. Freke Palmer was for the defence. The story for the prosecution was that about mid.night on February 23 Mrs. Hod- gens and an artist's model named Agnes Moore were in the King's Head Hotel, Leicester-square, when the prisoner, a stranger, entered with a lady. They all got into conversation, and after a time drove away in a cab to Hymau's place of business. The lady parted with them there, and Mrs. Hodgens, Miss Moore, and the accused then drove to 55, Boundary-road. On entering the house Mrs. Hodgens took the two 110 jiotes from her stocking, and having put them on a table she forgot all about them. Prisoner left shortly afterwards to see Miss Moore home in a cab, and on the way, it was said, he produced the two notes from -his pocket, put one of them in the lining of his silk hat, and gave the other to Miss Moore, who, in the excitement of the moment," accepted it. Then, hearing from Miss Moore that Mrs. Hodgens had more of them," he, it was alleged, exclaimed, I'm back after it," and having alighted from the vehicle he hired another cab and drove back to the house, where he remained the night. Mrs. Hodgens, re-called, said the numbers of the bank notes were 89,945-6. Mr. Richard Hills, bank-note inspector at the Bank of England, produced the note 89,945, which was returned to the Bank, he said, on March 8, from the London and Westminster Bank, and bore the endorse- ment of Short's (Limited), Fryett, mana- ger." Written in pencil on the note was "L. Elstein," or Eilstien," 48, Regent's Park- road. Mr. Archibald cwton, a solicitor, of Chanccry-lane, said he was with Hyman in St. Paul's Churchyard on March 6. They went into Short's, and had drinks, which the prisoner paid for with a note. Accused received a handful of gold and silver in change. He was not aware of the name of Eilstein." A Professional Lie I Cross-examined: He had told the accused that Inspector Bower had asked if Hyman paid for the drinks with a note. Witness did not tell the prisoner that he had replied that he did not recollect what they were paid with. As a matter of fact, he told the inspector he did not recollect what took place. At that time he was- not on his oath. Mr. Palmer: Is your explanation, as a solicitor and a gentleman, that you told the inspector a, lie because you. were not on your oath?—What I told the inspector was a. lie. Mr. Plowdeoi: 0 wilful lie, do you mean?— No. Mr. Plowden: Then what kind of lie was it? Mr. Palmer: A professional lie? Witness: Yes; a professional lie. You don't always show your hand at once when an inspector comes to you. Walter Fryett, manager at Short's, said the £ 10 now in question was paid to him in the course of business, but he could not say by whom. He did not recognise the pri- soner or the previous witness. John Heywood, bar attendant at the King's Head Hotel, Leicester-square, said he had known the prosccutrix about two years. She entered the house, with Miss Moore on the night in question about ten or eleven o'clock. The prisoner entered later with a Miss Trixy Herbert. Mrs. Hodgens had drinks, which she paid for out of her purse. She had some notes, which she asked him to take care of, but he shoved them back and told her to take them and not make a display that she had paper money on her. Ho saw her—well, put them into her stock- ing, and he then asked the prisoner, he being the only gentleman there, to see her into a. cab, as she had a, lot of money upon her. Hyman consented, and did so. The following day, in consequence of what Mrs. "Hodgens told him, he telephoned to the accused, telling him he was "a scamp," be must know something about the oney, and if he had it he had better give it up. Prisoner then came round and saw him, and he told him to his face he was "a cad," and he (witness) thought he had the money. If he had, he added, he had Better" Cou h it Up" I Mrs. Evelyn Herbert, of 14, St. Oswald's-road, We3t, Kensington, deposed that she was at the King's Head Hotel on the night in question with the prisoner, who had invited her to hare a glass of wine. They got into conversation with Mrs. Hodgens and Miss Moore. The former took the two notes from her stocking, and, having appealed in vain to the last wit- ness to take care of them for her, she returned them to the same place. All of them then left the hotel together, and went in a cab to V19 prisoner's shop, where witness remained twenty minutes, and then left. Detective-sergeant Moore said Hyman, on the way to Albany-street Policc-station, remarked: On the 25th of last month I met the two women at the King's HEad. We had two drinks, and then the women went to my shop and had cigarettes. We drove to 35, Boundary-road and had drinks. I left the house with the young lady, and after driv- ing a short distance I left her and went back to Boundary-road and stayed with Mrs. Hodgens until twelve o'clock the next day. Nothing was said about money when I left iH^r. tvaeii tii8 two women came into my shop to-day I thought th?y were blackmail- ing me, so I sent for a, constable. The story is an invention on the part of the women. Now that one of the notes has been traced to the young woman she is putting it on to me. Cross-examined: During the remand he and Inspector Bower called upon the accused. 1 Detectives Unusual Move 1 Mr. Plowden: That is rather unusual. When a prisoner is in the custody of the court the mission of the detectives is at an end. Inspector Bower: It was to assist him that I called, Detective-Inspector Bower stated that he called first up-oin Mr. Newton, the solicitor, and then en Hyman. He said to the latter, As you have protect' your innocence so strongly have you any objection to give me a specimen of your handwriting?" He said, Not at all." Witness said, You have a perfect right to object, as it may be need m evidence for or against you. It may be my much. in your favour if what I am told is true." Accused asked what he was going to do with it, and he told him he intended to compare it with tho endorsement on otue of the £ 10 notes. It might, lie sa-id, be the means of proving the prisoner's innocence or his guilt.. Prisoner then wrote at witness's dictation. Cross-examined: He had not submitted the hand-writing to all expert, and he preferred not. to give an opimon upesn it himself, in the interest of the prisoner. Mr. Plowden remarked that if objection had been truken he should not have admitted the evidence of the inspector, a,s he held a strong opinion that. when once a prisoner was in the custody of the court the functions o the police were at an end. Inspector Bovier said that if he were allowed to say what lie was told the oourt would see that it was all done in the pri- soner's interest. Mr. Plowden replied that, he did {!ntlht that the inspector's motives were admirable, bnt it might so easily prejudice an accused person. At this point. Hyman was further remanded.

STEVENS' J!v.u\Wl "f) yon eat it you do not renuJn axe c< jcx rIIbå" finkttsat cc T-k IIVZZ I

HERMIT OF BROMLEYI NINE YEARS' RESIDENCE IN AI HUT IN THE FOREST. I In Li primitive shelter built of dead leaves and tree branches, heaped about a rough framework of hurdles aaid sacks, Old Jimmy" has lived an Scott's Wood, Sun- dridge Park, for the past nine years. He is dubbed" Old Jimmy" out of the affection which the people of Sundridge Park and the Bromley district bear him, his real name 'be-iug James Long. A reporter on Saturday sought him at Bromley. There he was, crossing the road, towards his favourite house of call, with ain old hamper on his back: a short, thickset man, with a heavy dark beard and a great deal of dark hair, comibed up into a neat roll at too back, like a. wig. He was quite willing to conduct the reporter to his quc-er house: so he led the way up to SundTidge Park. I Wrecking the home I As we pushed through the trees a couple of small boys, looking seraphic ally innocent, strolled into sight. "Young rascals! exclaimed Jimmy, wrath fully. Bin meddlin' with the place agen, that's what they bin up to! Can't leave nothin' alone, you know. Always pul- lin' away the la,ves and draegin' out the rocks. But I'll 'ave 'em one of these days, Shall 'av'O to make ano example of one of them, that's what it is." It was truç-a, lump of matted leaves had been dragged away, leaving a large hole in. Jimmy's bedroom." But the. advantage of having a. house of dead leaves is that you can soon 'mend it, and Jimmy had merely to armful of new leaves from the ground and thrust it into the breach to repair it. The home is a substantial and commodious structure. The remote end, against the tree which forms of the walls, is the sleeping apartment, aibout 4ft. high and 9ft. broad, almost ent-irely water-tight, aind furnished I with a mattress of sacks; while the unroofed end is where Jimmy does his cocking. Never Had a Day's Illness I And I've never had a day's illness in my life," he declared proudly; "nor never tasted doctor's medicine. And I'm 66 year old." He is a.n Essex man, born at Maldon, near I which town his uncle kept au inn, quaintly I named, "Tho Badger Inn. and Badger Out. Twenty-two years ago he came to Bromley with his stepmother, to work on the con- struction of the old Bromley railw ay line for the South Eastern Company; and for thirteen years they lived in a cotta,go not far from where his present hut stands. Then his stepmother died; and Jimmy quitted the cottage and built his hut, choosing to earn his living by the sale of flowers, herbs, blackberries, and mushrooms. Does it pay, Jimmy?" At the best I can make 15s. or 16s. a day, and at the worst only 5s. a week. The herbs pay best—white mandrake (that's for givin' people a. appetite), wcodsage, colts- foot leaves (they smoke ',em like tobacco for consumption), ground-ivy, and nettles (they mix 'em with lard and make an ointment for curing burns a.nd scalds), and agrimony for makin' tea with. I don't sell 'em to 'erbalists: no, I get orders for 'em from doctors hereabouts." Sometimes the old man is a,way five or six days at a. time on his collecting rounds, getting sometimes as far down as Lewes and Newhaven.

Church Work in Cardiff GENEROUS GIFTS BY THE I MACKINTOSH A crowded public meeting of Church people wae held on Saturday in the Assembly-rooms at the Town-hall, Cardiff, in aid of the build- ing fund of St. Martin's Parish, Roath. His worship the mayor (Alderman R. Hughes) pre- sided. The Mayor said they all looked with envy at the type of houses in Roath, and felt indebted to The Mackintosh of Mae kin or h for giving instruction for the erection of such admirably planned artisans' houses. Both The Mackin- tosh of Mackintosh and Mrs. Mackintosh showed an interest quite as deep in the spiritual welfare of the people in that part of the town. They were there now to assist the vicar and his excellent staff in liquidating the St. Martin's debt, which had been reduced from S,6,400 to £ 3,800. He proposed that the meeting pledged itself to do its utmost to raise the sum still required for the building funds of St. Martin's, Roath. The Ven. W. C. Bruce, in seconding, spoke with admiration of the noble and devoted lives of the men who had ruled over the destinies of Roath, and pointed out that the object that day was to strengthen their hands and perpetuate the good impression they had made. The Yen. F. W. Edmondea Eeconded the resolution, which was supported by Mr. W. S. de Winton. Tb-o Rev. E. A. Sutherland then made a statement aa to tho progress made in the parish. The Mackintosh of Mackintosh, on beha.lf of Mrs. Mackintosh and himself, moet heartily thanked the speakers for their remarks, and forcibly put before them the needs of the parish and the work that was done. The right note was struck by Mr. Sutherland when he said there was a great future before them if the clergy would all work together. and. sinking minor differences, stand shoulder to shoulder. (Hear, hear.) That v.as tho true principle of religion in these days. The Vicar of St. Martin's announced, amidst applause, that The Mackintosh of Mack- intosh and Mrs. Mackintosh had generously promised an additional E500. The Mack- intosh, said the vicar, had just pencilled on a bit of paper tha-t if it would be any relief to their council The Mackintosh of Mack- intosh and Mrs. Mackintosh, in addition to their £ 2,000, would give £500.

CWMBRAN COLLIER KILLED I At the Owmbram Collieries of Messrs. Guest, Keen, Ne'ttlefold, aind Co., when the day- I men were going in to their work this morning they found that, a. large stone had fallen on an examiner, named Joseph Taylor, of Woodside. Death must have been instantaneous. He was on the night shift, and the fatllity occurred as he was pro- ceeding through the return way,

1AFF ROWING CLUB I The annual general meeting of the Taff Athletic Rowing Club was held at the Mitre Hotel, Llandaff. The outlook for the ensuing season is very favourable, and a. successful year is confidently looked forward to. The following were clected officers for the forth- coming season:—Captain, E. Gallon; vice-cap- tain, W. Clarke; joint secretaries and trea- surers, W. Hamlet and E. Mitchell; commit- tee, J. S. Williams, E. Crafter, W. Grafter, and F. Kelly. The club opens on the 1st of April, and it is the intention of the commit- tee to pay more attention to the coaching of novices.

Dr. R. K. Shepherd, of Cardiff, has offered I big services to the Church Missionary Society for missionary work, and his offer has been accepted. The Church Missionary Society requires an additional contingent of men and womeli-evailgelistic, medical, and arti- øan-to commence work in that large tract of land betwoeu the Soudan and Uganda in response to the invitation lately sent to the society by Lord Cromer. Agriculture is likely to prove a very useful form of industrial work in the first instance, and a medical missionary is indispensable to each station opened. BATONS, 8 for 6d.; a new delicious Breed, AI eaten la tU the beat jiotaii in L<cadaa.—Stevent, CXmJectiattor,

IMPROPER LETTERS; SENT BY A COLLECTOR TO A RATEPAYER. The eccentricity of a rate collector was the subject of scathing magisterial comment at Nottingham on Saturday. The rate collector, William Coope, had summoned Mr. James Acton, of Goodwood House, Arnold, for non-payment of a rate, In reply to Mr. Barlow, the defending solicitor, Coope admitted that he received a cheque from Mr. Acton the day after the demand was made, but he returned the cheque because the demand notes had not: been enclosed with the cheque. In doing this, Coope wrote in the follow- ing terms on official notepaper Dear Jimmy Acton,—Your cheque to hand, with thanks, but tell Alice Acton to be good enough to return me the demand notes for the rates. I. return you the cheque, you dirty old pig, but your race is run. Be born again, and don't try to do any more poor or. for the matter of that, any- body. Good luck, Jimmy Acton, you dirty, old villain.—Yours truly, W. COOPE. Return cheque with demand notes to your humble servant, W. COOPE. The Presiding Magistrate It is a very improper letter to be written by an official. Mr. Barlow then read another letter written by Coope to Mr. Acton. It was as follows If your rate is not paid by Wednesday I shall be compelled to take out a summons, and you may depend upon it they know your character at the Shire Hall. I shall be pleased for you to get or for him to get someone else to defend you, and you may depend upon it justice will be avenged upon you for all your villainy not only to me and mine, but to others you have wronged. Don't think you will escape punishment. Describing Coope's conduct as that of a madman, Mr. Barton asked the bench to express their opinion publicly of the man's behaviour, and to penalise him with the costs. Mr. Barlow then handed Coope the full amount of the rate-LI9 7s. ltd.in cash. Coope went to the solicitor's table to receive the cash, and on returning to the witness box he made violent statements in regard to Mr. Acton. The Presiding Magistrate You are getting towards the end of our patience. If we have any more of this you will find yourself in trouble. He (the chairman) could hardly believe that Coope would ever come there again in his capacity of assistant-overseer.

Young Cardiff Robber, THE VALUE OF A GOOD CHARACTER At Glamorgan Asaizes at Cardiff to-day G+rge Thomas was the first prisoner to be put up. He was only a young man of seven- teen, and the charge against him was the serious one of robbery with violence at Car- diff on January 9. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and his counsel (Mr. St. John Francis- Williams, instructed by Mr. Harold Lloyd) put in evidence of good character. Mr. Lovat Fraser (briefed by Messrs. Cousins, Botsford, and Phoenix) gave an outline of the circumstances leading up to the charge. The prisoner and two other men went into the house where the prosecutor lodged, and after a quarrel the accused snatched a watch out of prosecutor's pocket. He then ran away, and was arrested next day with the watch in his possession. Having considered the certificates of good character put in on the prisoner's behalf, the Commissioner said he would not inflict a term of imprisonment, but would bind him over in the sum of £10 to be of good behaviour in the future. He advised the prisoner to be a teetotaler.

CARDIFF MORALS GETTING BETTER. Five Women Charged No Man I There was only a short list to be disposed of by the magistrates bitting at Cardiff Police-court to-day. The culprits were five in number—women, young and old-and they all had been previously convicted and were all charged with disorderliness in the streets. The oldest of the group was Bridget Doherty, a match seller and a widow, of Mary Ann-street, who had attained the patriarchal age of 74, and had put in pre- viously ten appearance at court. The pre- sent charge was drunkenness on Saturday night in Bute-street. A constable described the old lady's condition as helpless. She sorrowfully admitted having taken a few glasses to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.—Dr. Taylor, in discharging prisoner, warned her not to have another St. Patrick's Day until next year. Rose Hughes, 29, complained that follow- ing upon prison life intoxicants had an unusually strong effect upon her, and go far as she could see she would be in prison all her life at this rate. The bench Isympa- tbised with her, and at the suggestion of Mr. Dcvereux, police missionary, paid her fare out of the poor box to Bristol, where she had a sister, the object being to alienate the young woman from her surroundings in Car- diff. It speaks well for the purity of St. Patrick's Day festivities, that not a single representative of the inferior sex was charged before the justices.

A NEW PAPER I Ideas." the new penny weekly paper pub- lished by E. Hulton and Co. (Limited), con- tains in its first number, issued to-day, Our future King's Politics; A Bachelors After- noon, by Pett Ridge; Cranks in Parliament; Why? By W. L. Alden; Are Music-Halls Vulgar? By George Robey; "Rabbity Sam." Short Story by Edwin Pugh; Those Silly Spelling Books! By Basil Tozer; The Ghouiiehnese of Gorki; Why Bank Clerks are Uugallant; The Suburban Critic of Morals, by "Rita"; Serial StoryFairest Among Women," by William Le Queux; What "Tommy" Wants, by Edgar Wallace; How Poor Men can save Money; etc. I

SPORT OF THE DAY. I T. Heppell will ride Rosebery in the Lin- colnshire Handicap at 21b. overweight. Mr. W. H. Pawson is bilving norses sincel his Waterloo Cup win. His latest purchases are Lady Oorea and A.N.B. The fences at Aintree will be exactly the same for this year's Grand National as when Moifaa won twelve months ago. The published statement that Mr. Wilkinson is removing his horses from Martin's stable may cause misconception. Martin only took them to oblige the owner until the latter's place at Foxhill was ready for occupation. The Turf Club and Irish National Hunt Com- mittees have removed any bar of disquali- fication which may have existed on the follow- ing persons:—Messrs. D. O'Brien, Joseph Byrne, P. Lynch, Timothy Lynch, and E. Fiannery. Although Mason had promised not to ride again in public after Saturday before the Grand National (in which he rides Kirkland) b j will endeavour to obtain permission to ride some of Ooulthwaite's horses at Birmingham to-day and to-morrow. The veteran Mr. II. Beastey, who is now in his 53rd year, rode a capital race on his own horse, Lively Lad, when he beat Captain Stac- poole on Ascetic'^ Silver in the Regulation Plate at Baldly la There was tremendous cheer ÎI: "ll vlie winner returned to the scale

ROADSIDE TRAGEDY. ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER AT TONGWYNLAIS. Jeffs Acquitiled at the Assizes To-day. Francis Thomas Jeffs, the young coliier accused of killing David Davies at lais on December 26, was placed in the dock at the Glamorgan Assizes this mornipg (before r. W. English Harrison, coraniiS" sioner). The charge was that he feloniously did kill and slay David Davies on Deceinbet 26, 19C4, at EglwysiLan." He was also indicted on the coroner's inquisition for manslauSk" ter. Mr. Arthur Lewis was for the prosecu- tion, and the prisoner was undefended. Mr. Lewis briefly told the story of the tragedy. Prisoner, he said, had been a cus- tomer at the Lewis Arms, Tongwynlais, for two or three months, and he was in the habit of assisting the licensee by serving 10 the bar. On the afternoon of December Z6 Davies (the deceased! came into the house, and whether he was under the influence of drink or not at the time was uncertain. But, at any rate, deceased remained there until about a quarter Past eight, and at that time he was in a very quarrelsome mood, and made himself offetl* sive to the prisoner. The landlady persuaded the deceased to go out, and he went out to the road. The prisoner, who was at that time assisting in the tap-room, followed binl out to the road, and two or three others followed at the same time. Prisoner and deceased fought on the road, and both fell to the grpuiid. After being on the ground a short time they both got up, and the figll" was resumed. Prisoner then struck a blow which caused deceased to fall down on tile road, and He Never Moved Again Deceased was carried into the public-house from which he had come out a. short tilde before, and when seen by a. doctor wa.3 found to be dead. A post-mortem examina- tion showed that the deceased was sufierilli; from congestion at the base of the brain, his lungs were not healthy, and his general condition of health was not particularly good. The opinion of the doctor was that the effect of the blow which caused the fall produced or accelerated congestion of the brain from which death ensued. Evidence bearing out this statement was given by Selina Beatrice Thomas, landlady of the Lewis Arms Sarah Jane Williams, wife of a Tongwynlais labourer; Mrs. Fanny Ford, and W. Chappell, a local labourer. Mrs. Ford added positively that deceased, when fighting, was under the influence ()f drink, and prisoner was sober. Chappell said lie heard deceased, before going out to the road, challenging the company in the tap-room to fight. lie then had his coat and vest off. Deceased particularly mentioned the prisoner, and said he would fight bin* for £ 20. After the two men had fallen do%ll the first time they were picked up and Put to "Spar Out." The last blow given by the prisoner caugk" the deceased full on the left side of the ja*' Dr. Daniel Rees Thomas said that he was called to the Lewis Arms about twenty minutes to nine on this particular night. He saw the body of David Davies, who had beeu dead twenty minutes or half an hour. Ih0 only marks of violence were a slight abra- sion on the forehead, a razor mark on tbe left side of the neck, and a mark on one of the knuckles. The congestion of the brain was recent, and the fall would accelerate the bleeding. The heart, kidneys, and liver were enlarged, and the right lung was out or order. Death was caused by heart failure, due to the congestion of the organs men- tioned. Witness, in answer to the learned sioner, said he did not find external evidence of any blow. Evidence of arrest was given, and prisoneT, when charged, said that deceased was mak- ing a general DISTURBANCE IN THE HOUSE, and had challenged him to fight. He asked deceasetl to leave the house, and he refused to do so unless he (prisoner) went out witu him. He went out and prisoner stood before him in a fighting attitude. Then the fatal blow was struck. Prisoner, when invited by the Clerk of Arraigns, said he had no wish to give evidence or make a statement, but he would like to call George Carpenter as a witness- Carpenter came forward immediately, and, giving his version of the row at the Lewis Arms, said that he saw the deceased kicking the prisoner. Then ensued the fight, which* added witness, was provoked by the deceased. In cross-examination witness made a statement which was at variance with the evidence of the other witnesses. This waS that the deceased, when he received the lagt blow on the jaw from Jeffs, fell on his face and not on his back. When asked, in the ordinary way, if he had any statement to make, prisoner replied: "All I wish to impress upon you, gentlemen, is that deceased continually challenged me to fight. I went out to fight, not with the intention of killing, but to see which was the best man between the two That is all I wish to say." In his summing up, the Learned Commis- sioner said that the first question they bad to decide was whether they thought the blow which the prisoner gave the deceased brought about or accelerated his death. The Tilow was struck in the course of this fraY and not in self-defence. THE VERDICT, The jury, after a minute's deliberation, found the prisoner not guilty, and he was thereupon discharged.

RHYMNEY WORKMEN'S DOCTORS The question of Rhymney workmen's doctors has been a, very vexed one fot some time owing, it appears, to a good deal of friction connected with the Cottag0 Hospital some time ago. It was brought by the doctors' committee before a. mass meeting of workmen at the Rhymney Public-hall, when it. was decided that Dr. Robert V. P3 Acton i.Redwood), one of the assistants, should. be prohibited attending the Cottage Hospital- At a subsequent meeting of the workmen it was decided that the salary of the chief medical man, Dr. T. Hall (Redwood) bØ reduced to £ 500, and that an assistant be appointed to attend the hospital and assist the chief (practically superannuating the chief with £ 500 per annum). The new assis- tant was advertised for, and 30 applications were received, and the following four were selected to submit to a mass meeting of the workmen on Saturday:—Dr. Lambert-(wigan), Dr. Williams (Oakham), Dr. Anderson, and Dr. M'Donald.

CONCERT AT TREORCKY A- The second annual concert in connection with Bethania Chapel, Treorky, came off oil Saturday.Mr. J. B. John acted as chairman Mr. J. Evans treasurer, and Mr. 0. H. Davies general secretary of the committee. con- siderable interest was taken in the first; appearance to the Rhondda, of Mr. NN NVOI- fi ten holme, Mus.Bac.( Oxon), the we,11-1,nowl, bling organist, HS improvisation of lon-y hotel was highly appreciated, as was ali?o fantasia, played at the inspiration of the moment. Miss Annie Tout formed another attraction, and her expressive and beautify renditions of excerpts from Haydn's creLI- tion," "Calvary," and "Roberto" fairly brought down the house. Miss Eva myl-Ott, the, Australian contralto, proved anoth great favourite. The American Welsh coca-list, Mr. Gwiljm Miles, an old Treorky boy, waê heartily weloomed.

Mr. T. Hurry Riches, locomotive superuite dent of the Taff Vrlle ilai!v;ay CompaJ1Y, h: been for -soiu,- time confined to his house t Penylan. Cardiff, suffering from indisposition. On Saturday he was much better. On sunda ho was able to leave his room, and his man. 3r friends will be pleased to learn that thee 19 every hope of his soon being about a