Evening Express

EIGHT HOURS A DAY WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT ON TRADE? BY MR. WILLIAM BRACE, M.P, [Vice-President of the South Walei Miners' Federation]. The Departmental Committee ap- pointed by the Government to inquire int-o the probable economic effect of a limit of eight hours to the working day of coal miners" has held its first meet- ing, and, according to press reports, the evidence of Mr. Cunynghame, the Assistant Under-Secretary of the Home Office, was of an interesting character. Mr. Cunynghame is a personality that compels notice, if it is only from the versatility of the man. Although, of course, he has at his command the assistance of a trained staff, it is wonder- ful the amount of work upon many different subjects he is able to accom- plish. In putting his views of the pro- bable effect a shortening of the miners' working day to eight hours would have I cannot think he can be fairly charged with a bias for or against, and while one would not agree with all his conclusions, it is something to be able to feel that a witness is, at any rate, endeavouring to fairly gauge the facts of a case as they present themselves to him. Why this Committee should have been empanelled at all I confess has never been quite clear to me, inasmuch as during the last twenty years the miners' eight hours day has been subjected, both inside and outside the House of Com-j mons, to the most searching criticism, and, therefore, upon the records of par-I' liament one would have thought there would have been an abundance of infor- mation at the disposal of all parties. Taking this view, I spoke strongly against the appointment of the Depart- mental Committee when the Home Office Vote was before the House of Com- mons, and it was in reply to my speech upon that occasion that the Home Secretary (Mr. Gladstone) made the declaration that the Departmental Com- mittee would have nothing to do with the question whether the miners should have an eight hours day by Act of Par- liament or not. That would be outside their reference altogether. All that the Committee would undertake was an investigation into the economic aspect of the question, and, whatever their report, the Government would carry out their pledges and introduce as a Govern- ment measure an Eight Hour Bill for ¡ Miners, and this at an early date. Having received this official undertaking from the Minister whose department would be responsible for the measure, my feelings towards the appointment of this Departmental Committee under- went some change, for, while even now I do not realise the necessity of such a I Committee of Inquiry, I have not that hostility which I certainly had before the explanation, and which I as assuredly would havo now were it the intention of I the Government to allow the conclusions of that Committee to determine their attitude towards a proposal which is I backed by the vast majority of the miners of the United Kingdom, who have shown their sincere desire for this reform through a score of years of Can. stitutional agitation which has cost Q immense sum of money. It is sometimes cynically stated that the most sensitive touchstone of a man's sincerity for a particular object is his pocket. If there be any truth in it, then the miners over the area covered by the Miners' Federa- tion of Great Britain have proved to demonstration their claim that they are in deadly earnest in this matter. In the course of the evidence the chairman expressed surprise that the county of Monmouth and some other portions of South Wales gave a return of working four short days per fortnight, but to those acquainted with the method of working in operation in the South Wales coalfield there is nothing of an extraordinary nature about it. The rule of hours in this coalfield is 54 a week, and to secure short working days on Mondays and Satur- days the workmen work more than nine hours a shift on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the general system being seven hours' working on Mondays and Saturdays and ten hours a shift upon the four days named, which means fourteen hours for the two short shifts and forty hours for the four long shifts, or an average of 54 hours a week. At some collieries the hours on Mondays are more than seven, but the other days are that much shorter, so that 54 hours may be" the maximum for the week. The particulars given as to the pro- duction per person employed place the United Kingdom in a most favourable position, taking everything into con- sideration. Accepting Mr. Cunyng- hame's basis, it will be seen that during the period from 1893 up to date, although there has been a diminution in the number of hours worked, the out- put instead of decreasing—as many parties claimed it would if the miners were given an eight hour day- has actually increased. Then, no comparison of productive quan- tity per man employed can be fairly made between the United Kingdom and other countries unless the whole question is carefully considered. Take, as an instance, the United States, with its 1529 tons per man per annum, as against in the United Kingdom 361 tons per man per annum. In calculating the proper relationship of these figures it must be remembered that, as compared with Britain, the coal measures of America are thicker, and that not only is the larger proportion of the coal in the American coalfields mined by machinery, but that every ounce of coal is sent to bank, large and small, bad, good, and indifferent. These particu- lars are of vital importance if anything like a reliable estimate is to be made, for without differentiating it is absolutely impossible to come anywhere within range of a standard of calculation that by any stretch of imagination could be said to compare like with like. In the majority of collieries in Wales, and also in many of the other coalfields of Britain, it is only large, hand-picked coal that is sent to bank. Thus enormous quantities of coal, viz., small coal, are thrown in gobs as waste which in America and other countries are part of the output. I note that coal-cutting machines were discussed, and that the coalowners of Wales were not given the same credit for enterprise by the witness as the coalowners of Yorkshire. I met this matter as a member of the Royal Commission on Coal Supplies, and I was surprised at the amount of misconcep- tion prevailing as to the relative value of coal-cutting machines. Indeed, some people held the opinion that the reason why more coal-cutting machines were not in use in Britain was that the workmen opposed their introduction, whereas the real and only reason for the smallness of their number in the mines of the United Kingdom is that the coal measures in this country do not lend themselves to cutting by machinery. The vast majority of the collieries in Wales, for instance, could not cut coal by machinery anything like so cheaply as by hand labour. It is all a question of pront and loss, and I have had sufficient experience of South Wales coalowners to testify that they are not to be found in the rear when an opportunity presents itself for reducing the cost of produc- tion.

Memorial to Sir E J Reed LORD MAYOR OF CARDIFF TAKES ACTION A circular letter has been issued by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff in regard to a pro- posal to establish, a permanent memorial to the late Sir E. J. Reed, K.C.B., for many years the representative of the united boroughs of Cardiff. Oowbridge, and Llan- trisant in Parliament. The Lord Mayor encloses with his letter one which he has received from Mr. Thomas Andrews, J.P., ex-mayor of Cardiff, and states bis entire agreement with the proposal. That a, memorial should be established," writes his lordship, in this city in honour of one whose untiring efforts on her behalf cannot readily be appraised, must surely take the form of a general conviction. It is, therefore, my intention to make afrangements to carry out this laudable proposal by convening) a public meeting, to be held at the old Town- hall on Wednesday, the 23rd inat., at eight o'clock in the evening." The letter addressed to the Lord Mayor by Mr. Thomas Andrews states:- "I have been very deeply impressed with the overwhelming testimony of the English press to Sir Edward Reed. great ability, sincerity, and long and unparalleled services to the town which he served so well, and more especially by the various articles in the two leading Cardiff morning papers, which both rose to the occasion in such a gracious and handsome manner that I wish my dear old friend could have been con- scious of the kind sentiments expressed therein. "He was an Englishman, true to his King and Empire, and fully loved and trusted by the people; a stalwart fighter, who aJ ways fought fairly and well, and, in my estimation, he shone much more in his defeat than in vic- tory. A strenuous worker from boyhood, and, strange to say, he performed some of his best work after he was 70 years of age, to wit, the Triumph and Swiftsure, and afterwards practically died in harness. "During the mayoralty of Mr. Alderman Edward Thomas, at a dinner given by that gentleman, Sir Edward Reed, replying to a toast, expressed his great love and indebted- ness to the people of Cardiff, and also expressed the hope that he would be buried at Cardiff amongst his many friends, but, unfortunately, this did not take place. I am anxious that some permanent memorial oi»ttir Edward should be handed down to posterity. Can you see your way to call a public meeting and inaugurate a shilling subscription fund towards, say, a bust and tablet, with a suitable inscription thereon, to be placed in the new City-hall? "As you, my Lord Mayor, by your high office are quite out of the arena of party politics, I should like the memorial to be 1 strictly non-political, and that the spirit displayed by the 'Western Mail' and 'South Wales Daily News' should be adopted, and the man and his work only remembered and handed down to generations unborn. "There would be no difficulty in obtaining the necessary funds. Personally, I would much perfer 10,000 shillings from 10,000 people ih-xn the same amount from one man."

Laird: Weel, M/Aldstcr, and have you found a.ny of those strayed eheep yet?—M'Alister: Yabb But I was finding them all again, sir, witaifwer- And I did find two by itself and ow. tcg, ajid three ajnong one of Poach."

MAKING FOR PEACE NEXT HAGUE CONFERENCE MR. W. T. STEAD'S MISSION The Paris Matin publishes an interview with Mr. W T. Stead, who is beginning in France a tour of Europe. Although not charged with any official mis- sion regarding the forthcoming Hague Con- ference, Mr. Stead has had interviews on that subject with Sir Henry Gampbel 1-Bannerman and Sir Edward Grey. He declared the one supreme question for the Conference was whether civilised nations might not come to an understanding such as would render war as rare as possible, and he had been aesure-d by Sir Edward Grey that that question would be raised by Great Britain. Her plenipotentiaries would ask two things—first, that every country should vote a small sum annually for the interchange of friendly visita and otherwise propagating peaceful ideas; secondly, that Article 8 of the Conference, which says that in the event of a conflict between two countries a third Power may offer mediation, should be ren- dered obligatory. Mr. Stead expressed his wish that an addi- tional article might be enforced by which neither of the two belligerents might' open hostilities within twenty days of declaring war on the pain of being boycotted by all Powers signatory throughout the war. )1 Mr. Stead declared that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerrn.au attached great import- ance to the now Hague Conference, which is to take place in. four months, so great that it is said to be not impossible that, following the precedent created by Lord Bea.consfleld, he might himself sit at the Conference as first Minister Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom. Sir Edward Grey a,go supported with all his authority the efforts of his chief.

I Y.500 Farm Fire BOY CHARGED WITH INCENDIARISM Thomas Morris Jones, an Abertridwr school- boy, aged eight. was summoned at Caerphilly on Tuesday for setting fire to a barn, the property of Mr. Edward Thomas, Aberfawr Farm, and doing damage to the extent of £ 500. The premises were insured. Mr. C. S. Goodfellow prosecuted. William Galpin, a lad of seven. related how the defendant and himself, with other boys, were on the farm, and Jones asked him to go for a box of matches to a shop in the square and told him to tell the man that lie would pay to-morrow. Mr. Goodfellow: He is starting to trust early Witness, continuing, said he did not go, but Jones secured two boxes from a grocer's shop, and they adjourned to the barn door, where paper was lit and kicked about. The wind blew the papers about, and the bam vas set alight. The paper was blown into the barn by accident. The Clerk said that Mr. Goodfellow would have to satisfy the court that the boy set the barn alight with intent to injure the owner. o{ipon the father promising to give the lad a lecture the defendant was allowed to g,

A LADY EDUCATIONIST. Chairman Too Bashful to Give His Casting Vote At a meeting of the Llanelly Urban District Council, Mr. D. R. Edmunds presiding, the advisability of filling the vacancy caused on the education committee by the death of Mrs. Captain Thomas was discussed. Three names were submitted to the meeting, viz., Mrs. Elizabeth M. Thomas, Lakefield; Miss Hettie Thomas, daughter of ex-Councillor Dr. Thomas; and Mrs. Jane Evans, Goring-road. Mr. Nathan Griffith, in moving the election of his candidate, said that she was not a suffragette. (Laughter.) Mr. Tom Harries, in seconding, said that he was sorry she was not a suffragette. Eaoh lady had good qualifioatioms, and was given splendid testimonials by the members supporting them. Mr. D. J. Davies: Now is the time to give a good testimonial to a young lady, and I have a good mind to propose one myself. (Laughter.) Mr. Griffith: I dare say no bachelor will vote for a married woman. (Renewed laughter.) Mrs. Thomas and Miss Thomas secured seven votes each in the final stage. The Chairman: I am not going to run the risk of giving my casting vote. (Loud laughter.) In consequence of this the matter was adjourned. Mr. Joseph Roberts was elected to fill the vacancy on the governing body of the intermediate school.

A WOMAN'S LAST THOUGHT Mrs Keating Hill Wires for Black Dress However much of a suffragette a woman may be, she is still a woman. Mrs. Keating Hill, the Cardiff suffragette who will be liberated from Holloway Gaol to-morrow (Thursday) morning, wired on Tuesday night to her husband: &nd up my black dress immediately." Mrs. Hill is, no doubt, think- ing of to-morrow's reception in her honour. It may be m-ention-ed definitely that Mrs. Hill will arrive in Cardiff at 6.30 on Friday even- ing. Elderly Lady's Protest at a Meeting A women's suffrage demonstration in the Music-hall, Edinburgh, on Tuesday night was presided over by Lady Frances Balfour, sister of the Duke of Argyll, and addressed by Mrs. Cobdcn Sanderson and Miss Theresa Billing- ton. Lady Balfour said an enormous change had taken place in regard to the part women were expected to take in political life, and how could they be denied the right of citizen- ship? Mrs. Robertson, an elderly lady, the wife of a clergyman, and for 25 years an advocate of women's suffrage, protested against bad- gering the Government, and provoked some diversity of opinion in the meeting.

NEW OFFICIAL RECEIVER Mr. Ellis Owen, the newly-appointed Official Receiver, conducted for the first time the public examination of debtors a.t Pou-typridd Bankruptcy-court on Tuesday. Mr. J. E. Spickett, the registrar, at the commencement of the proceedings, remarked that he was sure they were all glad to welcome Mr. Owen at that court on his first appearance in his official capacity. Mr. Ellis Owen, in acknowledging the welcome extended to him; thanked the registrar for his kind words, and expressed the hope that he (Mr. Owen) would be privi- leged to receive the same measure of assist- ance and guidance from the registrar as his predecessor. It would be his (Mr. Owen's) earnest endeavour to so discharge his duties as to merit the approval of the court, and also to heartily oo-operate with the members of the le-gal profession.

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LITIGATION THREATENED At a meeting of the streets committee of the Swansea Corporation on Tuesday a letter was read from the Abera,von Town Council again complaining of the washing up on Aberavon beach of rubbish barged out to sea from Swansea, and threatening to apply for an injunction against tie corporar ti-on. It was agreed to appoint a ooIUJDittee to visit Aberavon beach.

I Inhabitant: Healthy? Lor' bless yer, zur! we've only had one death in five years.- Visitor: And who wae that, my good mau?- Inhabitant: The doctor. Zttr; he died of Jlhistra/twd Btta.

Infuriated by Red. I BULL GOES FOR GIRL AT TALGARTH. As a full-grown bull, belonging to Mr. Price, Llanberyd, was being driven through Tal- garth towards the station it suddenly charged at a little girl who was near, but was turned off by some farmers. who had the presence of mind to rush in between the animal and the little girl, and who beat it off with their sticks. The infuriated animal then made an attempt to get in the Swan Hotel. Mr. P. Price, seeing the danger, rushed in through another door, and before the bull got fairly in he drove it out. The bull was then driven to the station and trucked without any further mishap. The little girl had a red coat and hat on.

I EXCITED BY A PLAY I Lover Driven to Murder & Suicide ———— A problem play at the Broadway Theatre, Xcv, York, excited George Fallon, an impres- sionab-le young florist, to commit a murder and attempt suicide. Fallon Eat thr4aiigh the first act of the play reflecting that the circumstances of the prin- cipal characters were identical with his own. He loved the wife of his friend, John Wiede- man, with whom he lodged at the Hotel Endicott, in Columbus-avenue. Fallon did not wait for the author's solu- tion of the problem, but rushed home aft-er the first act, and begged Mrs. Wiedeman to elope with him. She refused, and looked herself in her room. The slighted lover then battered im the door of her chamber, and fired two shots at- her, one of which was fatal. The revolver shots brought Misa Pauline Ratel, a lodger izi the same building, out of the parlour, with her fiance, Frederick Bremen. He attempted to disarm Fallon, who stunned him with the butt-eaid of the revolver, and then fired at Miss Rated. After this FaJlon attacked Bremen with a razor, which he took from tho dressing-table, and when he thought he had killed him he began to hack the prostrate body of Mrs. Wiedeman. In the meantime the hotel authorities had summoned the police, and when a constable entered Fallon cut his throat with the razor, and then fired the last cartridge in the revolver into his body as he was struggling with the policeman. Fallon and Ratel are now in hospital, and it is believed that. neither of them will recover. Bremen is not dangerously injured.

NEW CHURCH FOR CATHAYS J In his annual statement to the parishioners of St. John's, Cardiff, the vicar (the Rev. A. Henderson) says ;At last I can announce with considerable confidence that a site for a new church has been obtained in the Cathays district. Viscount Tredegar, with his usual magnificent generosity, is exchang- ing a piece of ground for an admirable sitp between the Gladstone Schools and the road leading to the Barracks. Once the Cathays site is legally conveyed- we must lend our energies to building a church on it. The population has in that part of the parish increased by between 5,000 and 4,000 people."

AID FOR CARDIFF INFIRMARY A very simple method of aiding the Oardiff Infirmary, and one which might well be fol- lowed, seeing that there is no trouble or loss of time attached, has been carried out during the last four years by a Cardiff li.d= victualler. Mr. Burris, the landlord of the Blue Anchor Hotel, in Wharton-street, placed in the bar of his hotel a Cardiff Infirmary collecting-box, which when opened by the official collector was found to contain the substantial sum of £ 12 10s., contributed in one year. The total sum contributed through this box in four yeard reaches £ 50.

I BILLIARD PRODIGY A twelve-year-old schoolboy who can make a, break of 139 at billiards is something of a novelty, even in these days of infant pro- digies. This feat has been achieved by Master T. Newman, of Leytonstone, who cla-ims to be the boy champion of the world, and who, on Wednesday nc-xt, is playing a mat-ch of 750-up against Mr. Weiss, the champion of Aus- tralia. Questioned as to h;s achievements, Master Newman said that the losing hazard was his best stroke. "I once made 76 at this alone," he admitted.

WAGON SMASHED BY ENGINE At Swansea County-court on Tuesday the case wag concluded of Tomms and Co. v. Row- Lands, in which the plaintiffs claimed £5 dama,ges in respect of a wagon smashed by an engine belonging to defendants at the Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea. Mr. Lleufer Thomas appeared for plaiiitiff and Mr. Villierr. Meager for defendants. His Honour gave judgment for plaintiffs.

CRACK SHOT'S SUICIDE William Goodall, many years a rate col- lector, who was found shot in. his room at Fast Molesey, was stated at the inquest yes- terday to be an old Volunteer. Ho had been a crack rifle shot, who had taken part- in the Queen's Sixty at Wimble- don. He had a cupboard full of shooting prizes, and his recreation was the cleaning of firearms and taking them to pieces. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."

PENNIES FOR A Y,20 WATCH For breaking the lotteries Act the Rev. D. H. Brodie, minister of Parkhead Parish Church, Glasgow, and his session clerk and secretary were yesterday fined 5s. each. A P,20 watch was raffled, children paying one penny each to guess the particular second on the dial which would decide the winner.

EX-CONVICT'S BOMB" A cardboard box containing gunpowder was t-hrown into the police barracks at Rome on Tuesday, and exploded, but without doing any damage. The thrower of the box, who was arrested, is stated to be an ex-convict, and to have been formerly confined in a I mM-housc.-Reuter.

CARDIFF GARDENERS' ASSOCIATION The Cardiff Gardeners' Association opened its 1907 session at the Philharmonic Restau- rant on Tuesday, when Mr. Harold Evans, of Li an,isbc,n, gave a Lecture on "The Herbaceous Border: How to Mainta-in It." Mr. R. Mayne presided, and a debate which followed the lecture was opened by Mr. Malpass.

) PNEUMONIA AND ACCIDENT A verdict of "Death from pneumonia, accelerated by an accident to his eye," was returned at a'n inquest held at Abercarn on Tuesday on the body of James Morgan, 45, collier, 15, Feeder-row, Cwmoarn, who died after injuries received at the Celynen Colliery on October 13.

SENGHENYDD LAD'S THEFT A boy named Thomas Cooper was charged a.t Caerphilly on Tuesday with .stealing a watch from Mr. Albert Fine, general dealer, Semghenydd.—The boy was chased by nroseoutor's housekeeper, Afm. Adelina James.—Hie was fined 11, or fourteen days.

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WOMAN'S FATAL FALL AT SWANSEA Sarah Aim Thomas (40), residing at 11, Port Tennant^road, was admitted to the Swansea Hospital 0Jl Tuesday suffering from injuries to the head, received through falling on the tiles of her kitchen. She died later in the afternoon.

CARDIFF GUARDIANS AND CITY HALL The building committee of the Cardiff Union on Tuesday discussed the question of approaching the corporation for board-room, committee-rooms, and offices at the City-hall, and agreed to inspect the rooms and report.

SUICIDE AT CAERWENT Edward Salter, of Caerwent, has committed suicide by hanging himself. Deceased, who lost his wife about two -ea.r8 ago, was found hanging from a rope suspended from the stair banister.

PONTYPRIDD COLLIERY FATALITY George Gough, collier, Thompson-street, Hopkinstown, Pontypridd, was killed by a fall of coal at the Hetty Pit, Great Western Colliary. on Tuesday.

STEVENS' RKEAJfc— Demandec. Z-4 tYA&-4FWI

I A Cruel Rumour. I'MAN'S FUNERAL STOPPED BY CORONER L?MAN'S F UNERAL STOPPED BY CORONER Considerable excitement was caused in the Garw Valley on Tuesday over the death of Jacob Davies, a butcher, of Pontycymmer, which occurred on Friday last. The death had been certified by a medical practitioner, but, owing to a rumour gaining currency that death was due to a wound caused by personal violence, the district coroner (Mr. S. H. Stockwood) ordered an inquest at the last moment. As Mr. Stockwood was pro-I ceeding to the institute where the inquest was to be held people were assembling for the funeral. The formalities were gone through with the utmost despatch. The first witness called was Mrs. M. J. Davies, the widow, and she appeared to be very agitated. The Coroner told her that the rumour referred to her, and that she could choose as to whether she would give evidence or not. Mrs. Davies deposed that her husband had been ill for a week, and camplained of head- ache. He applied to his head a lotion pro- cured from the chemist. She knew of no injury to her husband's head then. They had had quarrels, but not lately. She had never struck him on the head with an um- brella or anything else. Ceinwen Davies, the thirteen-year-old daughter of deceased, deposed that her farther told her one day t-hat he had knocked his head against a hook in the slaughter- house. Dr. M'Cutcheon said that Davies had been suffering from a punctured wound on the forehead—so small that it might have passed unnoticed. There was no fracture of the skull. The injury was consistent with the statement of the deceased to his little girl. It could not have been caused by an umbrella. Death was due to tetanus, follow- ing upon the injury to the scalp. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death, due to knocking his head against a hook in the slaughterhouse."

SUGAR FOR HEALTH I Immunity from Consumption I Sweet factories and sealing-wax factories, where there is plenty of resin dust in the air, are the finest health resorts for oon- sumptives imaginable." The above is the opinion of an experienced West End physician, who talked to a press representative yesterday on the snbject. Take sealing-wax factories first," he can- tinued. Study the girls that work in them; they are invariably strong, robust, and cheerful. Why is it? All day they are breathing the most stimulating air imaginable—it is not very dissimilar from the pine-wood sanatoriums of Germany. The resin dust is the essence of the pine gum, and is especially good for 1aryngal troubles. In sealing-wax factories the workers can. not 'help absorbing a little of the vermilion (red sulphite of antimony) into their systems, and, although this is a virulent poison, it has a good effect on anaemics. Now take the case of sweet factories, where the girls can and do eat a lot of sugar. Have you ever noticed their com- plexions—how pink and white and fresh they look? My experience has taught me that a sugar-eater is proof against consumption, and cannot possibly become a drunkard. Furthermore, for a girl who is sallow and yellow-skimned, there is nothing more sure to make her complexion clear than the con- sumption of plenty of 6ngar. All children should be brought up to like eug-ax--t,hey should be allowed plenty in their tea and have a moderate allowance of sweets. This would do away with the vast army of consumptives and degenerates. I should recommend as a. health pre- server that every person in the United King- dom should eat at least twenty lumps of sugar a day. The difference in health would become apparent in a few days."

I ALCOHOLIC HOWLERS Some amusing schoollboy howlers were given by Mr. W McAdam Becles. who pre- sided at a meeting of the Society for the Study of Inebriety last night. Mr. Eccles quoted extracts from essays written upon the subject of alcohol by Hull schoolchildren, of which the following are a iew examples:- Seafaring men who are in the ha)bit of drinking arc liable to collide with other vessels." To-day many people are in gaol for com- mitting suicide while under the influence of drink." 1. Some people think that the abuse of drink is right; some take it as a medicine." "Alcohol is a mockery; at last it biteth like a servant, and stingeth like a hatter."

I DOGS TO HELP POLICE The Prussian Ministry of the Interior has sanctioned the general use of dogs to aid the police in their work. A start has been made in Berlin by the addition of dogs to police station No. 79, which is entrusted with the maintenance of order in the Tiergarten Park, covering 600 acres. The dogs are thoroughly trained to per- form various kinds of police duties. They accompany the policemen on patrol duty, chase and seize fugitives, and aid the police- men in fighting "sailants or hunting hidden criminals. They are alsp trained to hunt down fugitives after the manner of blood- hounds.

I A 130,000 FIRE A fire broke out on Tuesday morning in the extensive factory of Cooper and Co., grocers and dealers, Herbert-street, Glasgow, and one of the buildings used for confectionery- making was destroyed. The damage is esti- mated at £ 30,000. A fire occurred in the new south wing of Marischal College, Aberdeen, on Tuesday morning, and before the brigade could extin- guish it two rooms were completely gutted and a connecting staircase destroyed, the adjoining panelled corridors being also damaged. The conflagration, which originated in the photographic room. caused about X500 damage.

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I WHY THE BRIGADE WAS LATE The stables belonging to Rotherwas, the Herefordshire seat of Count Louis Bodenham Lubienski, now occupied by Mr. R. H. Mack- worth-Praed, were burned down on Monday evening, but the mansion and the Roman Catholic Church, which are within a few yards, were saved. The Hereford Corporation Fire Brigade were summoned, but, as the town council has decided not to allow it to go to districts which do not contribute towards its up-keep, it could not start. A hurried meeting of the council was called, and in view of the exceptional circumstances the fire brigade was allowed to start two hours after it was called.

COTTON GROWING IN WEST INDIES The steamer Port King-ston arrived at Barbados on Tuesday. A most cordial reception wae given to Sir Alfred Jones and bis party by the cotton growers of Barbados and by the delegates to the spin- ners and planters' committee in Jamaica who are going on to Jama-ioa. on the Port Kingston. Sir Alfred Jones states that the Cotton Growin,g Association owes much to Mr. Chamberlain's administration of the Colonies and to Sir Daniel Morris's management of affairs as Imperial Commis- sioner of the West Indian Agricultural Department.—Reuter.

I RESIGNATION OF A VICAR The Rev. F. G. Jones, vicar of the com- I bined parishes of Llanrhos and Eglwys-Rhos, Llandudno, has tendered his resignation owing to ill-health.

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Schools Burned Downl I BOYS CONFESS INCENDIARISM I 1BOYS CONFESS INCENDIARISM I l At Stratford on Tuesday Frederick Dudley (thirteen), Albert Dudley (ten), and Harry Brown (eleven), schoolboys, of Walthamstow, were charged with maliciously attempting to fire Edwiard-street Council School. Waltham- stow. Frederick Dudley was charged with breaking into a house and school at Walthamstow. Recently Markhouse road School, Walthamstow, was burnt down, the damage being estimated at 112,000. The police evidence was that when Frederick Dudley was told he was suspected of breaking into a house he admitted it, and also that he and others had broken into Edward-street School. He further confessed to breaking into Markhoose-road School, and while searching in the cupboards for money a lighted candle he was carrying caught fire to a teacher's pinafore. He could not put it out, so he ran from the school. Three nights later he went with his brother and Brown to Edward-street School, where the last-named tore open a. doll's bed. set it alight, and put it under the teacher's desk. They turned on the gas, and waited outside to see if the place would blaze, but as it did not they went home. He 'also confessed to entering two other schools. Brown on being apprehended admitted setting fire to the doll's bed. He added that Frederick Dudley said if the school caught fire he would break the street alarm and get half-or-crown for it. Albert Dudley told the police that it was his brother who pulled the doll's bed to pieces and set it alight. I The accused were remanded to the work- I house.

BOY DROWNED IN THE TAWEI At Swansea County-court on Tuesday com- pensation was claimed by Caleb Joseph Williams, Landore, against Messrs. Vivian and Sons, of the Hafod Copper Works, for the death of his son, David Williams, by drowning on September 5 last in the River Tawe, whilst following his employment. Mr. Yilliers Meager (instructed by Mr. Edward Harris) was for the applicant, and Mr. Parsons (instructed by Mr. Rowlands) for the defendants. It was stated that the boy assisted the coppermen, and was told to empty certain ashes from a window into the river below. Underneath the window was a quay wall, and the boy apparently went down on to this wall to shovel away some ashes which had accumulated there, and in this way probably met his death by flailing into the river. For the defence evidence was called to the effect that the boy had no occasion to go on the quay wall, and had been instructed not to do so, as it was dangerous. His Honour said he could not regard the conduct of the boy as serious or wilful mu- conduct in going on a quay 4ft. wide, and he awarded the family £19 compensation, including 17 funeral expenses.

I SHOP ASSISTANTS AGITATE I A meeting under the auspices of the local branch of the National Union of Shop Assistants was held at Merthyr on Tuesday, Mr. G. P. Roberts, Pontypridd, presiding. Mr. P. C. Hoffman proposed a resolution expressing approval of the inclusion of all shop assistants in the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, protesting against the living-in system, demanding for all shop workers the protection of the truck laws, and calling upon employee to join the Union. Mr. J. A. Seddon, M.P., sa-id that under the living-in system shop assistants were denied the franchise. It was vicious from a. moral, physical, and social standpoint, and it was dishonest. To hie own personal knowledge shop assistants were being robbed of an amount sufficient to give an old-age pension to almost every one of them upon reaching the age of 60. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. W. T. Rees proposed a further resolu- tion condemning radius agmements.-This was carried.

1 EFFICIENCY OF OUR NAVY I Lord BrasBey, speaking at a Liberal demon- stration at Ramsgate on Tuesday night, said he solemnly protested against any attempt being made to turn the administration of the Navy into a party question. The facts were clear. Germany could not accept a position of inferiority to France or Russia. Our Navy was far beyond the two-Power standard, and he could give the public an assurance that our naval supremacy in European waters was beyond the possibility of challenge. (Cheers.) The training of officers had been perfected by assiduous care. In the grand manoeuvres last year as many as 319 ships mobilised without straining the organisation. In gunnery and the meohanical branches the advance of efficiency was conspicuous. Admiral Fisher and the Admiralty had done well, and the Reserves should be encouraged. I- I

I PIER FOR BURNHAM. I The Burnham Urban District Council had under consideration at their meati-nng on Tuesday the Bill which has been deposited for introduction into Parliament next session to transfer to a company the powers granted to the Burnham Investment Syndi- cate to construct a pier and other works at Burnham. Of the £ 30,000 capitil necessary the preamble of the Bill states that the Barry Railway Company are willing to assist the company in finding money to the extent of £ 15,000. The pier committee of the council recommended that counsel's opinion should be obtained as to what steps the council should take, and this was agreed to.

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I BOY'S LIFE VALUED AT £ 45 A cLaim under the Workmen's Compensa- tion Act was heard at Swansea County-court on Tuesday (before his Honour Judge Bryn Roberts) by William John Jenkins, Albert Cottages. Port Tennant, against Messrs. Top- ham, Jones, and Railton, contractors to the new Swansea, dock, for £60 for the loss of the life of his son, Robert Jenkins, who in October was crushed between two engines whilst engaged in clean'ng one of them. Mr. Meager appeared for the applicant, and ifr. Parsons for the respondents.—His Honour i awarded C45.

"HAD" VERY SIMPLY, I David John Williams, landlord of the White Lion Inn, Caerphilly, was summoned on Tuesday for permitting drunkenness.— Inspector Davies deposed that defendant called at the police-station and confessed that he had been "had" very simply by allowing a man who was drank to remain on the premises. The Benoli fined the defendant f,2 and costs. An appeal was lodged. Thomas Thomas, the man found on the premises, was fined 10s. and costs.

I DUBLIN POLICE-COURT SCENE I A sensational incident occurred at Dublin Police-court on Tuesday. A bootmaker, named John Maguire, was about to be con- ducted below, after being fined 20s., when he struggled violently. In shaking himself free from a police-constable's grasp, he over- balanced and fell heavily on his head on the dock steps, having to be taken to the hospi- tal in an unconscious condition..

VALUABLE PIGEONS STOLEN Geo. Good win. 17. collier, Tredegar, WM at Tredegar Pohoe-<x)urt on Tuesday com- mit-t?d to prison for t.hrM months forstealin,- ? six homing pigeons, valued at £ 7, the pro- perty of John Dennard, Tredegar, and a tame i rabbit, the propefty of Thomas Tippings, Tredegar.

COST OF SNOWFALL AT SWANSEA I At a meeting of the Swansea Corporation I Stroot.s Committee on Tuesday, the borough surveyor reported that the cost of removing snow from the streets on the 26th, 27th, and 28th of December was 974 2t! and tjie number I of loads of enow carted away waa 317. t

I STEVE?S' BUEAD- I CoœwUr8 8l I.I-' I i

Autocrat of the Kitchen I COOK'S "REIGN OF TERROR" I At Brompton County-court yesterday Mary Mead, a cook, of Keppel-street, Chelsea, claimed a month's wages in lieu of notice and balance of wages said to be due from Mr. H. Cridlan, of Gloucester-terrace, Hyde Park. The plaintiff, in cross-examination, denied that she used bad lang-nage in the kitchen, neither did she object to other fcervants being in the kitchen. She admitted telling the par- lourmaid fahe could not have her sewing- machine on the toible. She was mistress of the kitchen. Miss Cridlan said she was obliged to dis- charge Mead on account of the terrorism she sought to exercise over the other servants, and because of the fearful language she used. Lucy Horden a house-parlourmaid, said the plaintiff started her reign of terror a.s soon as she entered the house. She used a,bomina,ble language about the milkman, and on one occasion 6wo re at the servants whilst at' pm, yera. Judgment was given for the defendant. The piamtiff had to be escorted to the door of the court by a policeman.

BURIED IN WRONG GRAVE I At the Mountain Ash District Council meet- ,ing on Tuesday the Clerk presented a report on the subject of a body having been buried in the wrong grave at the local cemetery. It was explained that a, person named Stephen wae buried in a grave numbered 215, and that the body of Elizabeth Davies, which was to have been in,terted in grare No. 115, was buried in grave 215 by mistake. Mr. E. T. Williama asked if the original o-wner of the grave had asked far the removal of the body. The Clerk replied in the negative, and started that the mistake was made fifteen years ago. It was decided that the council should re- place a headstone which it had removed from the grave. A letter was read from Mr. Edward Lewis, cemetery registrar, accusing an official of receiving money for interments which waa not accounted for.—The official was ordered to see the clerk about the matter.

SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAY In connection with the inter-Colonial con- ference Oil railway questions which is to be held in South Africa in the near future, we are officially informed that Mr. John Cona- cher, late general manager of the North British Railway Company, has been appointed to proceed to South Africa and prepare for the information of the confer- ence an expert report on the traffic statistics of the various through routes to the Transvaal, and on the working costs over those routes. Mr. W. A. Fiddian, of the North Eastern Railway, has been appointed assistant to Mr. Conacher.

GALLANT DEED REWARDED. Captain Edward Knollys, a, nephew of Lord Knollys, Private Secretary to the King, attended at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, and received at his Majesty's hands the Albert Medal awarded for saving life. Sir 'M'Kenzie Chambers, of the Home Office, was present on behalf of the Home Secretary. The gallant act for which the medal was awarded was performed in India, where Captain Knollys, while on service, saved, at great personal risk, persons who had been overwhelmed by, and would, undoubtedly, have, become victims of, an avalanche. His Majesty pinned the medal to the gallant officer's breast, and warmly con- gratulated him upon his pluck and resource.

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LABOUR PARTY'S TRIUMPH Sir Charles Dilke, M.P., addressed a large meeting of Trades Unionists on Tuesday night in Cork City. Having reviewed the changes made by the general election, which realised the expectations of the Labour party, and having touched on the principal measure of the session as affecting Labour interests, the lecturer said there was nothing in reason that the La,bour party could not now secure by legislation. The Wages Boards Bill and the Shops Bill ought to oe made objects in view next session. They also hoped for some advance in the direction of insur- ance and for the report of the Truck oum- mittee.

I TOOTING'S SENSATIONS The governors of the Church Institute at Tooting held a further meeting on Tuesday afternoon for the consideration of the affairs of the slate club and savings bank. It was decided that both branches of the slate clab —that at Upper Tooting and that at Batter- sea—should continue to be carried on, but on a new basis, and safeguarded for financial purposes. The governors have decided to put an end to the savings bank. The depositors will get their amounts back, with fair interest, but not the 3 per cent. which had been the rule. The educational work of the institute has been resumed.

I ENGINE-DRIVERS' PAY A conference of delegates associated with the Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen was held at Leeds on Tuesday, delegates attending from all parts of the country. A number of resolutions dealing with the hours and conditions of labour were adopted, the principal being a demand for time-and-a-half for Sunday work, wages of 6s. to 8s. a day for drivers, 4s. to 5s. 6d. for firemen, and 15s. per week for cleaners, with is. increase yearly. A resolutiou of sympathy with Driver Gourlay, who was in the Arbroa,th disaster, was passed.

"DIRTY, BODY AND SOUL." An inquest was held at Richmond on Tues- day concerning the double tragedy which occurred at Richmond on Saturday, when Elizabeth Marchant, wife of a foreman road- sweeper, drowned her four-months-old child in a, bath and then hanged herself. The husband said in December deceased wrote him a letter saying, "I am not fit for your wife. I am neglecting the children. I feel dirty, body and soul.A verdict of "Murder and suicide during temporary insanity" was returned.

BABY'S BODY EXHUMED Quite a sensation has been created in the usually quiet little village of Llangammarch Wells, Brcconshire, through the exhumation 1 from Salem graveyard of the infant child of Mr. Thomas Davies, Tynypantbach. The child, it seems, was born on the 15th ult., and lived nine days. There does not appear to be any suspicion of foul play, but the infant was buried unregistered. An inquest will be held to-morrow (Thursday), when the result of the post-mortem will be made known.

STARR-BOWKETT DIVIDENDS. We are informed by the trustee that Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P.. has agreed to forego participation in the division of the assets of the Cardiff Starr-Bowkctt Building Socie- ties, which are now in liquidation. This deci- sion w,Lll sensibly increase the amount avail- able fOT distribution among the other mem- bers, more especially in the fiTst society, in which Mr. Thomas's interest was propor- tionately larger than in the second society.

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RAISULI NOT A PRISONER I At a Council of Ministers in Paris on Tues- day the Minister for Foreign Affairs read a telegram from M. Regnault, the F'-emch Charge d'Affaires at Tangier, announcing that Raisuli is with the Oued Rass tribe, whose chief was now negotiating with El Guebbas with a view to surrendering the brigand. Two Spanish prisoners who were carried away from Zenat by Raisuli have arrived at Tangier.—Central News.

LEADER OF BREWING CHEMISTRY Mr. Cornelius Sullivan, F.R.S., died on I Tuesday at Burton-on-Trent, aged 65. The d°oeased was chief brewer to Messrs. Bass, latoliffe, and Gretton (Limited), and waa I regarded as the loader of brewing ohemiete I throughout the world.

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Honeymoon Trip to Paris, UNHAPPY ON BOARD THE BOAT A honeymoon incident engaged the attctb tion of Judge Willis at Southwark County- court yesterday. Arthur Smith, described as a financier, of Knatchbull-road, Camberwell, sought to recover from the Liondc-n, Brighton, and South Coast Raiilway Company £ 1 for damage to a drcss-basiket. Mr. Smith said that on October 8 he paicl a viedt to Paris with his wife. At -Newhave-.a their dre«?-basket was pmt on board the Arundel, and he saw the crane descend upon and "rub" the basket. He was too far away to see whether any damage had been dome, but when the basket was handed over to him at St. Lazare Station on-e of the handles had been wrenched off, there was a large slit down the centre, the top was broken, and ai caster was missing. It was a new dress- basket. Judge Willis: Was thi3 your marriage trip?—Plaintiff (hesitating a little): It was, your honour. Well, say so and be joyous," said the judge. A Barrister: Telepathy! Your honour is '<is good as Zancig! (Laughter.) The plaintiff said he conld not wait at the Paris Railway Station to halVe the matter investigated because his wife waa "suffering from the crossing." His Honour: You are not the first married pair that have been unhappy on. boaJrd a boat. (Laughter.) Plaintiff: I was all right. His Honour: I have seen both bride and bridegroom quite unwal: after crossing. Giving judgment for the railway company with costs, his Honour said the evidence < t the plaintiff was go unsatisfactory he could not come to the conclusion that the damaga oocurred at Newhaven where the defendants' liability praotically ceased.

CUSTOM OF CHAUFFEURS. Sandow's Prosecution A precedent was established at the Clerkenwell Sessions yesterday, when a chauffeur successfully pleaded that he was entitled to the uniform provided by hia master as part of his wages." Donald Slater, twenty, motor driver, appeared to answer a charge of having stoleai a leather-lined motor-coat, value jt.5, the property of Mr. Eugene Sandow. In August the accused entered the prose- cutor's service, and he left on November 30, taking away the overcoat in question, which had been provided by Mr. Sandow, aad had only been in use a'short time. When arrested he said, "I had no intention .of stealing the overcoat, because those that have been supplied to me on previous occa- sions in other situations I have always retained." Mr. Sandow, in cross-examination, said he did not know of any custom by which ohauffeurs retained their uniforms on leaving situations. The defendant, on oath, declared that a chauffeur's uniform was supposed to be part of his wages unless there was an agreement to the contrary. George lies, who for five months was in the prosecutor's service as chauffeur, said he had always retained his uniform on leaving his employment. If he was given a new titii. form he would take it away as part of his wages. Th,e jury returned a verdict of Not guilty." The accused was released, and tho coat was retained by the police, Mr. Love land, K.C., saying he certainly thought thE acquitted man should have it.

WELSH EDUCATION OFFICE Silence at Whitehall The Education Department officials neither deny nor confirm a report published yester- day to the effect that an official announce- ment will be made this week as to the estab- lishment of a separate and special education department for Wales at the Bom-d of Edu- cation, with a Welsh expert at the he-ad of the department. I A number of inquirers who sought informa- tion at the offices in Whitehall yesterday were informed that the department had nothing to say on the subject." The London "Daily Xews" states that Professor Henry Jones, of Glasgow Univer- sity, and formerly professor of philosophy at the University College of North Wales, will probably be appointed head of the Welsh department of the Board.

STORY OF A SNOWBALL  An amusing case wa? heard at Pcngo POUœ-OaUrt, yesterday, in -hic?h OYh?o.p.hcf Tidy, a youth, of Rosendale-road, West DnI- wioh, was summoned for throwing a enow- ball. A policeman stated that he was walking along Anerley-road, when the youth dolibe- rately snowballed him, and then rushed into a, house and closed the door. The Magistrates^clerk: Did he hit yon2 The Witness: No. sir. (Laughter.) The youtih denied aiming at the officer. Ho said tlle had been snowlnalliiig with a friend, and when the policeman came along ho had one snowball left. Not wishing to take it into the house he waited until the officer had passed by, end then he threw it into the road The Clerk: You think you would have hit the pO'icama.'i if you had thrown at him:>— Yes, sir. (Laughter.) The Bench imposed a fine of 10s., inoluding 006t.s.

TALE OF TWO WILLS There has been alar sequel in Parij to the tragic death of M. Oscar Maatz. a man of independent means more than 70 vears old, who died as the result of falling downstairs at a dentist's last November. M. Maatz some time ago succeeded to a fortune of X,40,000, and after the funeral M. Doerriee, the dentist, handed the notary a will in which M. Maatz had made him the sole legatee. This was a, cruel surprise for Mme. le Bouc, an old governess who had been in jkl. Maatz's household for fifteen yea-re, and who also possessed a will dated some time before that of M. Doerriee, leaving her everything he possessed. As in the opinion, of Mme. le Bouc the cir- cumstances under which M. Maatz s death occurred demand investigation, the authori- ties have caused the body to be exTiumed and taken to the Morgue for a post-mortem examination.

JUDGE AS PHYSICIAN A man named Bradbury applied to Judge Willis, K.C., at Southwark County-court yes- terday, to set aside a committal order under which he was liable to be arrested in respect of a debt for money lent. lie had been the "necurity." His Honour: Better make your friend a present and have done with it. The Plaintiff's Representative: There has been nothing paid for two years. His Honour: Oh, what a wonderful thing it is you are alive to tell me. I will suspend the committal order on condition tha.t the applicant pay 2s. a month. (To the appli- cant): You fed better, do you? (Laughter.) The Applicant: Yes, I am a bit easier, sir. (Laughter.) His Honour: That's right. I am one of the best physicians. (Laughter.)

LOVER SHOT BY RIVAL Mario Martinelli, a young Italian tenor, falling madly in love with Charlotte Raleigh) a Parisian, residing in Florence, tddre",c to her several letters expressing his passion. The first letters were unanswered, and sub sequent ones were returned. Yesterday Martinelli knocked at her door, forced an entrance into the house, and found in the lady's apartment a well-known Florence barrister, Guiseppe Pugi. A quarrel ensued, Pugi seized a revolver, and in the lady's room firod at Martinelli, inflicting severe wounds in the head. The occurrence has caused much stir in Florence, where the parties are well known.

NURSERY MOTOR RHYMES Nursery rhymes up to date are provided in the current number of "The Car": — Little Bo-peep has met some sheep, And doesn't know how to dodge them, Leave them alone and steer for home, Your coining will soon dislodge them. Iiittlo Boy Blue, oome blow your horn, The sheep's left the meadow, the bull's left the corn, They wait for your car with a look that means biz. If you don't use your horn, tho bull will uoo his.

EMPRESS AND EARLY MARRIAGES It is said to be owing to the German Empress's advocacy of early marriage fcr men that her nineteen-year-old eon, Prince August Wilhelm, is about to marry. This Prince will continue his training in ,.møiL-to the .satisfaction o £ the Emora*.