Evening Express

The Man in the Street The snow that swept down upon South Wales yesterday points to the possibility that this prolongation of winter is due to one of two reason?. Either Nature is striving with all the bitter force at her command to bring Christmas and other seasons forward three months, or she is taking a mean advantage over spring poets. The latter seems to be most pro- bable. What rhymester can stroll out into the lanes to listen. for the cuckoo and let his wits go wool-gathering when his fingers are frostbitten and his thoughts are dragged to tho cosy nook at home and rounds of well-buttered toa«t? Unfortunately, there are no hanging and flogging laws for the sup- pression of poets, and Nature is, un- doubtedly, overwhelmed with her sense of responsibility in this very serious matter. But it is A question whether the cure is not worse than the ill, and very m-any of us would suffer the other inflic- tion if the sun would come out to usurp his jolly supremacy. Lines to spring, Armida's nose, and tho gentle tint of the primrose would be suffered willingly if we could have with them some prolonged samples of genuine late spring or early summer weather. While walking the streets of Cardiff yesterday in the thick of the snow-cvpn- sleet storm, I got into conversation with a gentleman who was buttoned up to his ears in a regularly Christmassy overcoat. He babbled of "spring, lovely spring," and I shivered as we passed over the cold, turbukt waters of the Taff. It seemed to me that the conversation would have been more appropriate if it had been of ska-ting or snowballing—ot, at least, of football. Anyhow, when I got home and had warmed myself at the roaring fire, I thought of the revenge that "lovely spring" had taken in her heavy toll on t,he lives of eminent poets. Southey, Goethe, Longfellow, and Walt Whit- man died towards the end of March; ther, Goldsmith, Rossetti, Young, Matthew Arnold, Byron, Shakspeare, Wordsfworth, Taeso, Racine, Otway, Chaucer, and James Montgomery flickered away in the showery month of April; and Whittier, Hood, Schiller, Chapman, Fitzgerald, Keble, and Pope obeyed "the last call" in May. True, that monotonous flatterer, James Thom- son, who addressed spring as "Ethereal Mildness!" did not die until August. However, this list ^suggests that the poets have some influence on the weather, and, perhaps, after the recent Arctic experiences, the Poet Laureate and his confreres in word-juggling will seriously consider the desirability of appreciably mending their dubious ways, with the view of helping to bring back the lamented sunny days of yore. Early rising may be a mt. desirable I virtue, and those who are forced unwil- lingly to adopt it may crow in their glfe at presumed superiority, but in cold, diabolical practice it is another matter. Who gets up early these skivering late spring moniings who is not obliged to do so? Those who have formed the unhoty habit by cruel compulsion are the insuf- ferable ones of the earth, and none are so pleased i9 the "worms" snugly ensoonced between sheets and blankets when, as the sun gets round towards its complacent central heights, they he-ar that another "early one" has been pounced unon by the bird whose con- science sent it on the prowl at the time jolly old Sol was rising from his eastern bed beyond the glimmering horizon. There is little danger of the newest Tas- meniaii fashion taking root in this part of the world. A leading social enter- tainer of Hobart has inaugurated "at homes" at five o'clock in the morning, presumably for the benefit cf those people who have had insufficient of the "9ma -11 an d e?ar l iles" "small and earlies"' at other houses ofil • entertainment. Though the climate of j Tasmania is a different quantity to that! enjoyed in the British Isles, the only explanation of this apparent freak of I, hospitality is that" Dow n Under" our 1 cousins are going the whole hog by turn- ing night into day. The old folk at. I home draw the line at nine o clock break- fasit—and that is too early for many of us. PontypooJ has been showing a good example to Carnarvonshire and the rest of Wal es in tho matter of its birth-rate. Other districts may be bemoaning the I falling off in "interesting events," and; there may be general wailings as to the future outlook because very few more people come into tha world to take toe place of those who leave it. But at yesterday's meeting of the Pontypool Council it was reported that the birth- rate was 4.1).1 per 1,000 inhabitants, or three and a half time3 higher than the death-rate of 13.1. This is as it should he. and the future of Pontypool is all the more promising in -n?:Cqllfnce. I ¡ trut the clerk of the council will take] the na.ry st?ps to inform the bishops who will bo meeting at Lambeth Palace [ shortly to discuss the restriction of I population. It is also to be hoped that! I Pontypool will continue to maintain its! wpll-wmi fame as the town where the babies come from. Possibly, the air has something to do with the achievement, but in any case it is not surprising that tho council and people are equally proud of their healthy, aspiring town. I As the Lord Mayor remarked at the opening ceremony of tho Cardiff astro- nomical exhibition yesterday, it is a good thing for the city that they not only have such a handsome home for the museum, but they can also make such capital use of it in the forwarding of science. The Astronomical Society of W ales has accomplished so much excel- lent work in an unostentatious manner that it is good to see it coming out of its quiet, modest devotion to private study to publicly demonstrate its useful existence. The study of the heavens is well calculated to ennoble and purify the Student, and it is difficult to imagine that any person who devotes hours to peering at the stars through telescopes can possibly be a bad man—ccrt £ ^nly, we seldom hear of astronomers in polind bankruptcy courts. The exhibition is a most interesting one to the general observer, and, while it, reflects general credit on the society, special praise is due to the hardworking hon. secretary, Mr. Arthur jlee, one of the most enthu- siastic amateur astronomers in the Prin- cipality. v

Men of the Day's March. LAW AND COMMERCE ON THE WAY TO BUSINESS. I Snapped at Cardiff G.W.R. I ICR. JOITX ISAAC. I I Mcssts. MORGAN REES (Solicitor) and 1 J. A. TELFORD.

I —— I PAYING FOR HIS PALS William Jorirg (22), a Troedyrhiw collier, was a, visitor to Hocsroed Police-court to-day on a charge of stealing a china cruet from the shop of William Denham, Nelson. The evidence of a son and daughter of MT. Denham was to the effect that defendant and a, crowd of other young men walked into the shop on Tuesday (tbe eisteddfod day) and bought sweets, hut after they had gone the cruet was missed, and was latw found in a 1110.9 by Actincf-aergearrt Jones. Defendant was said to have told others that he threw the cruet over the hedge. Defendant now said that his friends stole the cruet, and the Bench, while regarding it in the nature of a holiday lark, asked the I young man to pay 10B, I

I A MATRIMONIAL BOOT I Tosha Haiudritoh, a Belgrade lawyer's clerk, was If"8;ving a tramway car, when he ctuinbio-i over a woman's eighteen-buttoned boot. He toolt it home an4 advertised, requesting, if tho owner was not a myth, to be allowed to dÐli-r-er it in person. Mips Farkash, who had rermo-ved it because it was haii a eise too sip a 11 and left the tram too hMy to reoorer it, corpsensted to rec-eivo his vi=it. This was a month ago, and tdie wedding day is now fixed. I

LEFT HIM DANGLING Joseph ^xiirphy, a inan wit-h a bad word, was gent??d t? three myths' imprison- mMt ?t Derby y<-t?da.y fcr b<i?g found on I premises tor an TrndaWfU] purpose Prosecutor found pri?om>T hanging head d<?-w&rM irom the fanlight, which had fa.11? as ho was e?eotd? his unlawful entrance. ana h?ld him by t.h? fct.. Ho as?d to be released under promi? of a co!ife7???a. but pro.ocuto.r made him ren?? daB?iins until the police arrived.

CARGO OF EXPLOSIVES J A Deal correppondent reports a peculiar incident whicu occurred porta a. peculiar &?nd. in tho early hours o:;r the Goodwin ing. Seeing ? ?a.?e stea hUl'sday in, a boat's crew from North D mer close in, to her under the impression thaI went out to assistaac?. and they leD athe required steamer had been an{',horeu.ned that the on board a cargo of eXPI' order to take German tu. towing a li"'bTes. Later a explosives, came alongside the r laden with the -argo having been taken e steamer, a.nd open sea, the stea ior, a German in fh. rfport?d to be bound for Ans' ran ,eI. her voyage. In ?sw of the ;raha, resume>d which the explosives were n;sual wa;y 1D j' destination is a matter of cos lpped, their

SIPY ARD STRIKE In connection with the strike of ,later" at I the shipbuilding Y? 0 f Mes'Srs f plater! at Clark, and Co. (Limited I, 1faf!t' Workma.n, of the men wae ue.d on m f 0 f the men was held on Th meeting I adjourned.. ay, and The dispute, which bad reference to I certain cla'f of work which is being per. formed by carpe!lt.e. and which 109 per. consider should be allotted to the pla:ters fair way of being 6e^le^ Over 200 18 10 a idle ae a result of the strike. men are

BIG = SOAP PURCHASE '1 The business of R. S. Hudson, dry soap manufacturers, carried on at West Broin- wich and Liverpool, has just been acquired by Messrs. Lever Brothers, of Port RunLight. It was established more than sixty years ago by the lute Mr. Robert Iludsoll. and is regarded a3 one of the finest of ita kind in tho country, having a very extensive con- nection. The workpeople will be in no way affected by the chuxise.

I DARING CLUB OUTRAGE A telegram from Hot Spr*ugs (Arkansas) statf-s that four masked mm, with ierel,,E,-d revolvers, entered -the Indiana Club there, and, after forcing the R.(-npent..g to lille up along a wall, looted the place- The men tb-en eaoa.pe>d, leaving the members of the club locked in a room. The eiub ic eitwated OG tbe tride of a mountain* aud "e guaxud.. by detectivesEeut#v»

Winter in Spring SNOW SWEPT COUNTRY An extraordinary result of the unseason- able weather experienced on Thursday was the postponement of racing at Newmarket on account of a heavy fall of snow. Flat racing has been, on the whole, singularly free from dislocation by the weather, for in the most unfavourable con- ditions it is generally possible to ge through with a race. Thus Hermit's Derby, in 1867. was galloped in a blinding snowstorm, and this af1 late as June. Only four years ago. too, St. Amant' passed the post in a wild storm of lightning, rain, and hail. The con- ditions prevailing at Newmarket on Thurs- day, wnich absolutely prevented the racing being continued, must, therefore, have been of almost an unprecedented kind. Bacing was begun in the midst of a heavy fall of rain, and tho race for the Column Produce Stakes was decided in a torrential downpour. Even the bookmakers were van- quished by the elements, and in many caees sought the shelter of the stands, doing no business in the race. The programme was, however, persevered with to the extent of running the race for the Babraham Plate. On its conclusion the stewards held a consultation, and in view of the state of the course, and the failing light, it was thought prudent to abandon the rest of the afternoon's events. Perhaps the most memorable occasion on which a great race was postponed because of the weather was the Cambridgeshire of 1882, but that occurring late in the autumn was less remarkable than Thursday's occur- rence. Spring Snow I Snow fell in the Midlands, North of Eng- land, and over practically the whole of Scot- land and the North of Ireland. From Bath it is reported that enow and sleet fell heavily, and that the hills arc thickly covered. At Northwich enow fell to the extent of an inch, and one had the novel experience of hearing blackbirds and thrushes singing in a snowstorm. A great snowstorm also swept the Lake Dis- trict, and the mountains are covered. A blinding snowstorm swept the Curragh Camp, and General Lord Grehfell's farewell inspection of the troops had to be postponed. Seven to nine dc-grees of frost were reported in the North of Scotland and under the influence of the cold blasts and snow, every trace of vegetation has been ruthlessly cut down over the whole of the northern portion of the kingdom. No change to milder weather is expected for two or three days. When the sky clears the frost early to-day will be very keen over oentral England. Havoc Among the Lambs I The Arctic weather has piayea navoo among the lambs, and reports from the agricultural districts point to heavy losses by farmers. This is especially unfortunate, as the lambing season has been one of the best on record as regards numbers. The yield from tho flocks in Leicestershire, Shropshire, Lincolnshire, and tho southern counties ia reported to have been more satisfactory than it has been for some years. The lambs have fared badly in the ley winds, snow blizzards, and rains. On one farm in Leicestershire 30 were lost out of a total of 120 in five days. On six farms in Buckinghamshire the death-roll reached 110, and in Lincolnshire the fatalities have been even greater. Some of the larger breeders have lost a quMter of their total yield. Damage to Potato Crop I Heavy faus of snow took place In many parts of the United Kingdom during "I night, and GnPrnsey, where snow is seldom seen even in the winter months, did not ¡ escape. Damage has been caused to the Jersey potato crop Ly recent severe weather. Wiork at the shipyards at South Shields had to be suspended during tie early part of to-day, and the incoming vessels at Lowes- toft report very bitter weather at sea. The telephone service in irast Herts i en- tirely suspended. Sunshine Follows Snow I A considerable quantity of snow fell in North Wales on Thursday afternoon, the Snowdonian range being covered for a depth of some inches. Tbe snow, though falling in heavy flakes, did not remain on the lower 'levels, where it melted as it fell. The snow- fall was followed later by brilliant sun- shine. The wind has been easterly and north-easterly for three weeks past without intermission, and all crops are correspond- ingly backward. A Big Drop in Temperature Tne maximum temperature recoruea at Pe-nylam yesterday was 39.2, which ehows that it was the coldest day since February 13. when the same temperature was recorded. On Thursday of last week the maximum tem- perature was 60. The minimum temperature rooorded this morning was 26.1, being the lowest temperature since January 12. It will be noticed that there waa a drop of over twenty degress in the maximum temperature in one week. Flookmasters Anxious Time During the greater, part of the night a snowstorm has raged over East Lothian, and this morning it ha,d not ceased. On the Low- lands snow lies fully twelve inches deep, while in the Lammermoor Hill district the ground is covered to a depth of three feet in some places. Flockmasters had an anxious time during the night, and it is feared the loss of lambs will be exceedingly heavy. Many of the roads are blocked. Rivers Overflowing Six d-egrees of frost were experienced in Cleveland district of Yorkshire during last night. Mid-Essex last night experienced the heaviest fall of snow for several years, last- ing without cessation fifteen hours. Telepho- nic and telegraphic communication is inter- rupted, and the rivers C'belmer and Black- water are overflowing following the thaw. Serious floods are threatened. Races Postponed Snow has again fallen heavily in various parts of the country. At Newmarket the course is covered with nearly a foot of snow, and racing to-day is inupoesible. A blizzard is raging over Cornwall this morning, an~ it is feared that the fruit j crops, which were in a forward condition, will be totally ruined. Snow Fall in London I Sno-iv fell heavily in and around London during the night, and in the saburbf3 this morning the trees and fields are covered with a thick mantle. In the Hartlepools this mo ~iing enow covered the ground to a depun of three inches. I Snow at Cardiff and Newport I Snow fell heavily at Cardiff and Newport on Thursday afternoon and night. From Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany come reports of heavy enow- storms and severe frosts.

CAMBRIAN RAILWAY FINANCES I The Cambrian Railway shareholders, at 3.1 meeting in London to-day, approved of the Bill in Parliament authorising the creation f!l.'nd issuo of £ 150,000 "A" Debenture and £ 150,000 B Debenture stock.

EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMAL With Lord Croln" as president, the Research Defence Society has been formed to make known the paving of human life and health attributable to experiments "n animals, and it has already q, membership of close on a thousand. Among the vice- presidents are Lord Avebury, the Dean of Canterbury, Sir James Crichton-Browne, the Bishop of Exeter, Principal FairLairn, Lord Halsbury, Mr. Walter Long, and Lord Strat henna. Lord Cromer has written a letter mention- ing various advances in medical science of enormous value in the prevention of suffer- ing and the cure of disease and saving of life, which have been made possible only by experimentin.g on living treaturas.

SCOTTISH COAL CRISIS As a consequence of masters and miners failing to come to an arrangement, a special sitting of the Scottish Coal Trade Concilia- tio-n Board was held on Thursday in Edin. burgh, Lord Ardwell acting as neutral chair- man. Tlhe masters claimed 124 per cent. reduction, equal to 6d. per day. About 100,000 miners are affected. The proceedings were private. At the close it was stated that Lord Ardwell had reserved his judgment, which he will issue in a day or two.

Major H. R. Baker, of the Indian Army, writes to the press from TV?ign,mouth to the effect that on Easter Sun diay be eaw a pair Of Swallows hawking (WI' some meadows just toutside that towu.

Charges of Inactivity I PROFESSOR EDWARDS AND GUILD OF GRADUATES off A. ddressing the Welsh University Guild of Graduates at Bangor. Professor Edward Kdwa.rds, warden of the guild, said the founders of the university had a very lofty conception of the functions and duties of the guild, and intended that the guild (should have an important voice in the government of the university through its numerous representatives on the University Court. They looked to the guild as its best support in popularising the university and other Welsh educational bodies, and in sha,ping and guiding public opinion on the question of general education policy. He considered that in all these respects the graduates had not fallen short of the char- ter's noble idealfl, for he waa sure no body of studente; anywhere was more loyal to its alma mater or did more solid work for the cause of education, and no keener, more enthusiastic, or m6re thoroughly-trained men were turned out anywhere than out of the Welsh University, but they were told tho Guild of Graduates did very little to justify its existence or the hopes entertained of it. He challenged that assertion, and affirmed that in spite of many and grrat^iiiffeulties the guild had done a good deal, a nd intended doing much more work of a solid and per- manent character. Its literary section had done admirable work by publishing re-prints off Morgan Llwyd's, Theophilus Evans's, and Morris Kyffin's works. The work of that sec- tion alone was enough to justify the guild against the virulent charges of inactivity. I (Cheers.)

COMPETITION AT BRYNMENYN A success-fill competitive concert was held at the Congregational Chapel, Brynmenyn. The chairman was the Rev. H. Eynoll Lewis, who also adjudicated the recitations; musical adjudicators, Mr. Rhys Williams, A.C., and Mr- H. Leyshon, A.C.; accomptamist, Professor W. Leyshon, Bridgend. The awards were ws f,ollows:- Children's eolo: Ist., Ag-nes Phillips; 2nd, Ceinwen Davies—both of Pontycymmer. Pianoforte solo (under sixteen): 1st, Willie Francis, Gilfach Gooh; 2nd, Myfanwy Mills, Nfintymoel. Soprano solo: Miss Litzie Kinsey, Ogmore Va.le. Tenor solo: Mr. David Thomas, Ponty- cymmer. Open recitation: 1st, Mr. William Morgan, Pontycymmer; 2nd, Mr. Edwin Paxry, Gil- fach Goch. Baea solo: Mr. Jenkln Reee, Maesteg. String quartette: Coity. ,Open solo: Mr. D. Thomas, Pontycymmer. Four mixed choirs sang, in the following order:—Aberkenfig (Mr. Evans) Brynmenyn (Mr. H. Leyehon), Tabernacle, Pontycymmer (Mr. D. Llewellyn), and Nebo, Blaeagftrw (Mr. W. Roberts). The prize was awarded to Blaenga,rw.

I i TIMBERMAN'S FATTY HEART i Mr. M. Roberts-Jones, coroner for South Monmouthshire, conducted an inquest at the Police-station, Aberoarn, on Thursday respecting the death of Job Drew, aged 61 years, colliery timberman, Abercarn, who died on Good Friday.—William Chorley, labourer, said he was engaged with the deceased in one of the main roads putting up some timbers and an arm. In lifting up a "colJar" it slipped and fell on deceased's shoulder. Deceased complained of having wrenched his side, and went home before the end of the shift. Dr. J. R. Smith, Abercarn, said that, in conj unction with three other medical men, he conducted a post-mortem examination. They did not think the strain caused by lifting the "collar" had anything to do with the cause of death. Deceased was generally of ill-health, and death was due to a diseased heart. Dr. E. M. Griffith, Abercarn, said deceased was suffering from a fatty heart, and was Liable to drop dead at any moment before the accident.—The jury returned a verdict that the deceased died from heart disease.

I TREHARRIS ARCHITECT I I Judge Bryn Roberts was occupied for a considerable time at Merthyr County-court on Thursday in dealing with a case in which Mr. William Dowdeswell, architect and sur- veyor, Treharris, sought to recover £ 100 from Mr. James Jenkins, Blackwood, for profes- sional services rendered in preparing plans for a scheme of building eight shops in High- street, Blackwood. and in surveying and [ plotting eight acres of land on the Tirphil- kin Estate. The plaintiff, for whom Mr. F. Sydney Simons appeared, claimed to be really entitled to £ 106, but £6 was knocked off in order to bring the action within his honours jurisdiction. The defendant, who was represented by Mr. Ivor Bowen (in- strncted by Mr. A. E. Bowen, Pontypool), had raid ten guineas into court.—The learned I Judge came to the conclusion that thirteen guineas would be a fair and reasonable sum to allow the plaintiff, and he gave judgment accordingly.

MERTHYR'S AMBITION I I At a meeting of the general purposes committee of the Merthyr Borough Council held on Thursday, under the presidency of the mayor (Mr. D. W. Jonee), the borough I surveyor produced plans showing the altera- | tioxis proposed to be made in the county- court in the Town-hadl in order to adapt it to the purposes of a permanent council- chamber and temporary police-court. The plans were approved, but it was decided that the room should not be used for a police- court so long aa it could possibly be avoided. The question of laying out the Castle Fields, recently acquired by the corporation, was brought up and referred to a sub-committee. The Mayor said there was ample room there for putting up courts of justice, a free library, public baths, and a museum, and he hoped to see a technical school erected on the Bite of St. David's Schools. ¡

ART AND MANUAL WORK I Mi • H. Thomas (Arlynydd P'enyg'arn) opened the Art and Manual Exhibition, organised by the Glamorgan County Council, at the Boys' Intermediate School. Cardiff! to-day. He &ate that drawing was instruc- tive in a child, but as recently as twenty years ago the inclination to draw was repressed. Education authorities now deve- lopod that, instruction, with the admirable result which they found in that exhibition. He hoped that in fut-ure Cardiff and Swansea would join the county, and hold an exhibi- tion which would be representative of the whole of Glamorgau. Votes of thanks were aocorted to Mr. Thomas, and to Councillor Evan Thomas, who presided.

t —————— > RELEASED ENGINEERS I j The four English engineers, who were un. conditionally released on Wednesday after being in custody for a month on a charge of stealing designs and plans belonging to tho Bell Telephone Company, will probably return to Englamd to-day (FiAday). They a-re highly indignant over the imprisonment, and, 50 far as being satisfied with the assurance -that tho matter will be dropped, they are talking of taking action against I the Antwerp authorities for damages for illegal arrest.—Central News. I

i" PETER PAN" AT CARDIFF TbÐ piece which hae been so brilliantly su'-I cefleful in London, "Peter Pan," will he. p!ayed for the first time at the New Theatre, Cardiff, next week. The original company and entire production from the Duke of York's Theatre are engaged, including Miss Pauline Chase, Mr. Robert Harwood, and Mr. A. E. Matthews. Matinees will be given on the Wedneeday and Saturday.

STRIKE AT ENGINE SHEDS I A strike has occurred at tho Great Western engine sheds. Penrhiewtyn, Briton Ferry, where 36 cleaners are employed. The cleaners last week asked for all all-round increase. 6d. a day being demanded in some instances. The company refused the demand, and seven- teen of the cleaners are out on strike. It is. expected that, the matter will be amicably settled to-d-ty (Friday).

An adjourned ease wa3 heard at Porth Police-court on Thursday, John Rcardoii, Mardy, being fined £ 3 for assaulting George Gwyther. manager of the Mardy Hotel, on the night of April 6, when the district council elections were held. Mr. W. p, Nicholas was for the complainant, and Mr. Thomas Phillips defended. THE DOKOTH> CHOCOLATES. — Thirty e'sht varieties and flavours. Made fresh every liour. Pro- nounced to & perfect chocolates. Certiacate or .P.?,o?i 1hst time exhihiting in London. Only 2?. per Ib. Tte?h every hour. rMK's post. Steveae, French Confec- Uon?r, CMdit? el • '0-

Roman Catholic Schools I ■ p I LORD NJNIAN STUART OPENS A BAZAAR i At St. Peter's Roman Catholio Guild-hall, Koath, Cardiff. on Thursday afternoon Lord Ninian Stuart performed the opening cere- mony of a three days' bazaar cn behalf of the schools of the parish. The undertaking is on an extensive scale, and the fancy fair, in which form the stalls were set out, is extremely attractive and pleasing. The ladies who presided included Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Dearlove, Mrs. M'Kelvey, Mrs. Higgins, Mrs. Cashin, Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Courtney, Mrs. Malley, Mrs. Niblett, Mrs. Soanlon, Mrs. J. Hollan, Mrs. P. Brailli, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. Pockett. Mrs. O'Gallaghan. Mrs. B. Turn- bun, Mrs. Moody, and the Misses Turn-bull, Ver- non. Adams, Courtney, O'Callaghan, &e. The object sought to be promoted was one in which the Catholic community in the dis- tinct take a keen interest. It will suffice to re-call that, to ward off the threat of the Education Department of the withdrawal of the grant, the clergy in 1902 had to enlarge and improve the existing schools at a cost of £ 3,500. The congregation set itself cheer- fully to the task, and now, after six yp- .-rs, £ 2,800 has been paid off the debt, feri ring «€700 still to be found. There was a large attendance, over which Father Hayde pre- sided. Lord Ninian on rising to open the fancy fair was received with loud applause. His lordship expressed the gratification it afforded him to take advantage of that opportunity, the first he had publicly, of associating himself absolutely and whole- heartedly as a Catholic with the Catholics of Cardiff. Having studied the education question, he came there as a Catholic to say how much lIe hated and abhorred the methods suggested by the Bills brought before Parliament to destroy what the voluntary schools had done. He argued tha.t. in pure and simple fairness, Catholics should keep the schools they had built with their own money and educate their own children in their own way. (Applause.) Why, he asked, should they give up the three and a riuarter millions that had been spent upon schools in the last few years? (Applause.) His lordship again expressed his interest in the schools, and as a token of that interest he had, it may be mentioned. already handed a cheque to Father Hobson towards the reduction of the debt. Mr. Henry Heywood proposed a vote of thanks to his lordship for his eloquent and encouraging addresB. Mr. Dcarlove seconded, and his lordship, in reply, said he would be at all times ready to assist his co- religionists. The opening ceremony to-day (Friday) will he performed by Alderman Lewis Morgan.

CONCILIATION BOARD WANTED I The local branch of the Amalgamated Association of Tramway and Vehicle Workers (which has a Cardiff membership of 300) wrote appealing to the Cardiff Tramway Committee to-day to agree tt the formation of a con- ciliation board to deal with the raite of wages, hOruTS of labour, and any other mattet which could not be amicably settled by the manager of the tra-inways department. The Chairman said they did not anticipate any dispute on thos-e matters, but if any dis- pute arose they would be prepared to con- sider the situation. Mr. ElLiB said they had had no trouble in the past, and in the casd of any misunder- standing the representatives of the Ti-am I waymen's Union now caIDie before him to dfecuss the paints in question. If the sugges- tion was adopted it may be that when he dismissed a man for neglect or misconduct, or any other reason, the men's union would net acknowledge Iris authority, and would be conetanttly appealing to the board. In the past there had been no trouble. Mr. J. Ghappell did not think that the men would support any colleague who was guilty of misconduct, and would only see-k the assistance of the conciliation, board when a misunderstanding existed. It was decided to a&k the association to explain more fully to the committee what they deisired the committee to approve of.

MARRIED WOMAN'S CLAIM I I don't know," was the puzzled ex. pression of Mr. R. Y. Evans (clerk) at Hen- goed Police-court 'to-day in con- ^ring the Paternity claim of Mrs. Emily Jwendoline Lovelock, of Bargoed, against Arthur Henry Jones 08), a sinker, of Featherstone, York. shire. Truly, there was something to ponder over. Mrs. Lovelock stated that four years lago she left her husband. Since then she had never seen *him, and she had lived with I Jones. The baby girl was born in Yorkshire, as complainant went there in response to the man's request. After making many inquiries as to the I husband's whereabouts during that time, the chairman (Mr. W. Ware) made an order l of 3s. 6d. a week until the child reaches t'hir- teen.

FIXING HIS OWN FINE I I would be very grateful if you would I let me pay the ftllb on Saturday," a man arrested for drunkenness said immediately on entering the dock at Marylebone Police- court yesterday. "iTow much," asked Mr. Plow den, "do you think it ought to be?" "I don't know," the supplicant stammered in surprise; "let's say ha-lf-a-crown." Mr. Plowden said he had exaggerated the matter, and fined him one shilling only.

I FAMOUS VIOLINIST ILL I Hcrr Fritz Kreisler the famous violinist, i has been serionsiy ill, but is now slowly recovering. It was at first feared that he was attacked by Typhoid, but later it was ascertained that it was an intestinal trouble. Iferr Klreislcr ha3 been touring in the United States since November last, and when his ¡ tour is over next month he will take a pro- longed rest on the Continent.

I EXCITEMENT AT AMOY I The Shanghai correspondent of the New York Herald" cables ttiat six Japanese war- sh-ps have arrived at Aimoy, wiiere their apli-earance has caused intense excitement among the townspeople and Chinese omciais, coinciding, as it does, with t.he re-opeming of the Ghientao dispute. iHe arrhal of tne warships is naturally extremely disquieting to the Chinese.

I DANGEROUS MOruR RACE Thousands of enthusiastic motorists started from JSew York yesterday and aij last night, going northward to various advantageous points, from wiiicih to view the dangerous Briaiieiiff international race, interest in the contest has been intensified by the large number of accidents which have ocourr--et during the practice spins in the course of the past few days. The course is an irregular oval 26 miles in iengtn and extremely tortuous, crossing many frail bridges and four railway crossings.

— BUNDLES OF "FORGED NQTE8" An Italian, who gives his name as Count I Marchetti, and is said to be an ex-oflicer, was arrested with his wife at Boulogne yes- terday on a charge of uttering false money. Aocorditag to the "Figaro," a search made at idarohetti's premises at Englisen. led to the discovery of several bundles of forged notes of the Bank of France and photographic pla/tes for printing others. Other arrests are believed to be imminent.

NEW RAILWAY LOAN Senor Reuben Dairo, the new Nicatrtuguan Minister to Spain, left New York by the Ka.iserm Auguste Victoria yesterday. Senor Daro is proceeding to London on his way to Madrid with the object of negotiating ii, Nioara,gua.n Government Loan of one million sterling, to he used in the development of railways in Nicaragua.

CHIEF  MINES CHIEF INSPECTOR OF MINES The Home Secretary has appointed Mr. n. A. S. Redmayne, professor of mining in Birmingham University, to the newly-created post of his Majesty's chiof inspector of mines. P,rofessor Redmay-ne will take up his duties at the beginning of May. I

l Four womert and a girl were removed to i Edinburgh Infirmary yesterday tfufferiug from OUt; eustained in a cable tramway- j car, accident.

OVER THE BORDER OVER THE BORDERI -————— I Indian Frontier Trouble I TROOPS HURRIED FORWARD I Simla, Friday.—^MajoT-general Sir James Hillooeks had a conference with Sir Harold Deane, the Chief Commissioner of the North- \Vest Provinces, yesterday, and subsequently returned to Shabkadar. Major-general Ander- son reported yesterday evening from Shan- kangarh that the whole line of foothills had been occupied by the enemy, who had kept up a desultory firo throughout the day. A body of tribesmen advancing on Gazhisadar has been dispersed by shells. General Anderson also reported that the Sufi Mullah and his son, with 3.000 men, had reached Gundafmulla, and that the general attitude cf the Mohmands had become more aggressive. A novel feature in the tribal warfare reported from several sources, is that the enemy was possessed of organised transport a-nd a eupjjly train to bring food, ammuni- I tion, and cash, mostly from Afghan territory. General Willcoeks consequently ordered to the front the lath Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, two guns of the Deragal Mountain Battery, 600 men of the 1st Seaforth High- landers, and 200 Sepoys of the 23th Punjabis, making the total now at the front 3,200 men and eighteen guns. Between Abazai and Michni tha telegraph was cut at eleven o'clock last night. A telegram from Sir James WiUcoeks received this afternoon states that the enemy attacked Adisai fridge, and were repulsed. One Sepoy was wounded. Shabkada-r was also sniped, and a sharp attack made on Mot a, one Sepoy being wounded, A stampede of horses occurred, and several blundered among the barbed wire entangle- ments and were killed. The enemy looted the village of Katozai. five miles inside the British border, and aL-o attacked Gardi Sada.r, losing four killed and seven wounded. There is now no doubt that the tribal Lash- Is ars' ttaacks are of a fanatical and aggres- sive character. Political reports point to the whole Area between Kunar River on the west, and Panj. kora River on the cast, up to Jandol on the north, as affected by the preaching of a holy war. A large band of Afghans and Bajafris, led by prominent Mullahs and Shaks, are reported as joining the Hohmands. Two com- plete brigades are being ordered, with guns, cavalry, engineers, and divisional troops, to concentrate ultder Sir James Willeocks en the border. A third brigade has been ordered as reserve to P«^diawar. while the Khyhdr and Mala-kand .moveable columns are to be brought up to full strength.—tress Association For-eign Special. Attempt to Rush a Post Simla, Friday.—The Mohmands attempted to rush the Abazani post last night, but were repulsed with loss. Lord Minto and Lord Kitchener will arrivo here to-morrow. The British will assume the offensive as quickly as possiblk,P-euter.

WORKMEN'S CARS At the Cardiff Tramways Committeo to-day, when Alderman Carey presided, Mr. A. Good agato brought forward his plea for the run- ning of early morning workmen's cars over the Cathedral-road route., and stated that, according to his imterpreta-tion of the com- mittee's Act of Parliament, they were com- pelled to run workmen's oars to and fr0 on all the routes the city. A report presented by the town-clerk stated that the committee were compelled to run workmen's cars "each way," and Mr. Good held that "each way" meant "each route." Mr. Ellis (tramways manager) said he did ,e.r) Faid he did not agree with that.. Mr. Lloyd George had laid it down that no corporation was com- pelled to run workmen's oars at a loss. He suggested that they appeal to the Board of Trade on the point." If Mr. Good's interpret t a tion of the Act was correct they would have to start 90 workmen's cars every morn- incr and evening, and, if they did that, where were they going to have cars to carry the ordinary traffic. A voluminous report on this and other matters was presented by Mr. Ellis, and the consideration of the subject was deferred until a copy of Mr. Ellis's report had been circulated amongst the members.

CHILDREN SLEEP IN PIG-STY I Not being under proper control and sleep- ing in a pigsty was the charge against Harry Gee, thirteen, and Daisy Gee. eleven, of Ham Common, who were remanded at Kingston yesterday. A police-constable said that just after mid- night he found the two ohildren sleeping in a pigty on allotment ground. When he awakened them and told them they would be better at homo they said: "We are afraid to go home." Witness had found that the mot-her was in the local infirmary, and he had seen the father, who refused to attend' the court. An officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children paid there were some scratches on the throat of the girl, who said she had been using a razor to cut her throat. The Bench directed the police to take pro- ceedings against the father, and to ensure his attendance at the adjourned hearing.

LOST FAITH IN GUARDIANS I With her 1 head wrapped in a red shawl, Mrs. Wood. a tiny, aged woman, applied at the Brentford Police-court yesterday for help —substantial help, she said-from the poor box. Questioned by Mr. ::Hootagu Sharpe, the chairman, she said her husband died and left he.r five copyhold cottages, but her solicitor robbed her, and she could not recover the deeds. Her wlidtor, she declared, was in prison. The Chairman: Wouldn't the guardfans help you?—I laid my ease before them, but just then they broke up for their holidays. Then I saw in the papers that some of tho guardians had been arrested for misappro- priating money, and I lost faith in them. (Laughter.) Mr. Botswell, the police-court missionary, said the ola lady suffered from delusions. The court missionary was advised to give her a little meat and as much help as he could, and she left the court.

RACING ON THE ROAD I A constable in givipg evidence at M.aryle-1 bone Police-court yesterday in support of a summons against a motor-car driver, named James Hennery, for driving a car in a manner dangerous to the public up Fitz- john's-avenue, Hampstead. said the way the car was driven across the cross roads was simply monstrous. It was also stated for the prosecution that the car was on the off side of the roa.d, was travelling at a speed of over 30 miles an hour, and appeared to be racing another car. The defendant denied racing or travelling ¡ at more than eighteen miles an hour. I Mr. Plowden, in imposing a fine of £ 3, with 2s. costs, said that in the whole of his expe- r,nc'e he only remembered one instance in which he ?ras able to say without hesitation that the police had made a mistake. I

INEBRIATE'S OPINION l An inebriate, who had been through a home, was oiiarged at Marylebone yesterday with drunkenness. "I wish," said Mr. Plowden. "I could see some prospector sending you to an inebriates' home. Unfortunately, there are no such honjcs available." Prisoner: 'fhey don't do much good. Mr. Plowden: Is that your experience? Prisoner: Yes; you come out niad. Mr. Plowden: No. you go in mad and some- times come out cured; but I a-m sorry it is not so with you. Forty shillings, or one m<mth. Prisoner: You might cut it a little finer. (Laughter.) j I

SHOUTING NOT SUFFICIENT 1 Chauffeurs, cabmen, and others think that they have done all that iH necessary an avoiding an accident when they have shouted, but the road is public property, aud- it, is the duty of drivers to pull up as II well as rhout.-The WEt London coroner, at an inquest yesterday on a tnau who was k kroci.cd. down by a, motor-car.

Chopping Up a Wife A BASKETMAKER'S CRIME A terrible cr!nie was discovered y?''? ?near Weimar. A human foot in a chane condition was found in a quarry. Suspicion pointing to a basketma named Koch, he was arrested, and soon made a complete confession. Qn the 1lo-ttynP0 £ April he was chopping wood in a shed, Ile had some words with his wife, and struck her over the head repeatedly with the axe until he believed that she was dead.. On the woman feebly moving ho fetcn a larger chopper and completed the work. Then he cut tho body into small Pieces. saturated them all with petroleum, and burnt them in the kitchen fire. The charred remains were buried in the garden excepting one foot (says the ")Iorn- ing Leader") which be threw into a cluarry. The murderer feigning to he disconsolat went to the police on the following day say- ing that his wife was nowhere to be found- Koch, who made his confession with c0 blooded indifference, is suspected of tWO more murders. He has already undergoD nine years' hard labour for atteinpte murder.

PARISH DEADLOCK A deplorable deadlock, which is having bad results for both the church and the peoP e, exists in the parish of St. Mark's Hudders- field, where the Rev. J. Pilling is vicar- te At the annu&l H'stry a year ago a ai9Pu arose between the vicar and the churC officials. Since that time the rev. gentleman has rried on the parish work practica.Dy singly < handed. and has enlisted the services 0f choir boys to make collections in the ehurcb', Last Sunday mcrui?? the vicar posMd p a written notice (signed by himself .only) 1: the church porch, that the annual n,t-r. would be held at nooti yesterday. Tho-n W" attended yesterday were four reporters and member of the choir who is not parishioner. Upon ascertaining the nature. of tho gathering when in the churchyard the vicar retured home without put,ting in aJ1 appearance at the vestry. Tho pariah is a thickly-populated -one, a^ the population consists of poor wo rking-ela6 people. The church and Sunday School were formerly in a flourishing condition, but tb8 comgregation and the number of scholars 18 1fast dwidling away in the preseht UDha-PPI I condition of things.

EMPLOYE'S INGRATITUDE At Westminster Police-court yesterday Robert Pitman, aged 26, of Battereea, hosier's assistant, wae charged with stealing marked money from hiS employer, Mr. Herbert Henry Wagstaif, (If Chelsea. In consequence of suspicion as to practices, Mr. Wagstaff called in a dêtcctie, who bought goods with niarked coins. Pit- man was caught directly after with t,"O florins and a sixpence iB his pocket. lie pleaded guilty, and said he was sor'? bMauee Mr. Wagstaff had been a ki employer. Mr. Wagstaff said he did not wish to prs5 the charge, though he had dope ei,eryt-hiilg hooould to keep Pitman honest. He ga"6 him five guineas when he got married, < £ when his wife was ill, and a consideration Bum when he went on his holidays. ILO wages were over E2 a week. Mr. Curtis Bennett (the magistrate): .And this is the way he has treated such kindne^ -syst,em,a.tic robbery! Two months' liarli labour.

BRAVE CENTENARIAN'S DEATH There died on Wednesday at tb-e pensioners' home at Ivry a ccntcna,ri:t-O known famlliarty as Pere Sardou, who >va born at Marseilles in 1804. He was decorated with the Legion of Honour as long ago as 1848 for his mau1 deeds of gallantry in effecting datitlg rescues of people in danger. In 1832, when a. young soldier at, Castlc- naugary, he won his first medal fot rescuing a woman from a fire. His second was for saving two people from drowning- In 1848 when General Menard de t. Martin was reviewing his troops at Mar- s?iUes. his horse bolbed and dashed into te sea. Sardou at on<? jumped in, and had t 10 satisfaction of saving the life of his general, which act won for him. too coveted cross- In later years he saved many other liveSt but his numerous acts of bravery did nO win him riches, and for many years he .ba: been ar inmate of the Assistance Republic11 Home at Ivry.

SEALSKINS IN CHURCH SPe?%kinv at t?& annual EasterC01JY" sazione in connection with St. JobJ1'S ChurCll, Boscombe. the vicar, the Rev. E. ?- 3Kcnncdy, offered some plain words of exh<??? and a,d?oe to the v?or-shippers." --DU, ladies," remaned the rev. gentleman, "hoW dearly you love your o-m way. But yOU are not going to get it, even if I have to come down in my surplice to prevent it. mus have order in the church, and there IS nothing more unseemly than t-O. see people. when proceeding up to the Holy Table, resort to all sorts of little tricks and contrivances to get there first." Mr. Kensedy also asked ladies to use a little coannionsense in tho matter of wearing apparel. It was no use sitting in a church in a. heavy coat and corn- plain of feeling faint in oonsequence of the temperature of the pla.oe. They would not sit in their drawing-rooms in sealskin jackets, and they should do their eeo* sible thing in church—they should either take off their cloaks or not wear such thick garments

THE KAISER'S MOUSTACHE A curious explanation is given for the change in the Emperor William's manner of wearing his moustaches, which are nO longer turned up almost at right angle5 towards the eyes, but cud in a shorter and more gradual ascending curve. It is said that one day, while lighting a cigarette, hi9 Majesty had the misfortune to singe away half of one of the upturned points, and tilis- of course, necessitated the trimming of the other to match and a temporary alteration of style. The involuntary change met with the approval of the Empress, and the Monarch thereupon decidod to adopt it definitely for the future. One of the first portraits of his Majesty in which the nflif mode is apparent is t-hat which has been painted for presentation to Oxford University.

FINANCIER SHOOTS HIMSELF An Austria.n financier, named Fritz Perugia who has been residing for some weeks at the Grand Hotel, Paris, committed suicide ytel" day by shooting himself with a revolver. He went out early in the morning in a motor ca,b, returning to his room shortly before eleven o'clock. He wrote a number of letters, which he gave to the hotel messenger to ixjst- A few minutes later the sound of a shot was heard proceeding from his apartment. When one of th* attendants entered he found M. Perugia lifeless ou the floor, with a revolve1, in his right hand. Tho deceased was well known on the London Stock Exchange. No motivo is assigned for the act. A quantity of documents, including a number of private letters, which were found in his room, hava been placed under seal by tho police.

ROYAL GIFT STOLEN A gift from King Edward was among the booty secured by burglars who rangaoke4 Westonirg Grange, the Bedfordshire resI- dence of Mr. Cecil Brown, of Broad Ball" tu?ry, Westminster. tuary, E?en royal gift was a silver aa?' shaped to fit the breast pocket, with tb£ cipher of his Majesty as Prince of Walc3 jO relief. Among the other valuables stolen were:- 12 family miniatures in gold fra.mes. A medal of the Humane Society, dated 1793. 15 antique gold seals. A quantity of silver plate is also mi £ siu6-

SECRET OF LONGEVITY The Viœr of Wat fM-d. Uje Rev. R. Do James, who is over 80 yeLrs of age, and 1?? held the Uvia.? more than hatf-a-century? speaking at the Y?stry mcetio? yesterday told t,he parish itinera what he believed to b the Apret of hia loB?gevity. He ea?d ho never alfp?moro thau Fix hours at night all& 6trktly dieted mmsnif. When he was 60 hb knocked off one-third cf what he ate  drank, and at 70 ndu?d this by aJlotbe4 third. He nevcT felt an ache or pa.in, a had on)y been to tho doctor's twice IB year*. Ml III "» .J

DUTCH CAFF,, ;ta7' 7:-? Sa i 106, r-00 the qualatftt Ui Vnt* ??r!d. AftetNCon 'K« wi9, deUfioM Bread M<< butter.-Sto?e?S.Cootect?O?j,? UmitMl. Cardiff. 1.40