County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

It WOLVESNEWTON. THE RECTOR AND THE NEWPORT HOSPITAL OFFICIALS. At a Meeting of the Newport Town Council, on Tuesday, the report of the Sanitary Committee contained the following extract:— "A letter from the Local Government Board, ask- ing for the observations of the council on a letter, a copy of which was enclosed, addressed to the board 'by the Rev C. Carne Williams, of Wolvesnewton, had been read. The Rev Mr Williams had stated that his daughter Gwenllian, aged sixteen, was at- tacked with scarlet fever whilst in school in Newport, and was compulsorily removed to Allt-yr.yn Hos- pital on the 15th of December, where she remained till discharged, as alleged, free from infection, when she was sent home in a peeling stage, and in less than a week scarlet fever broke out in the rectory, -resulting in the loss of her sister, who died on the ',Hh of February, that deceased's other sisters were all suffering from scarlet fever on the 16th of Feb- ruary, and the servant was also attacked, and that, oh the face of it, it appears to have been a case of culpable negligence on the part of the officials of the institution." The Medical Superintendent of the hospital re- 'ported that Miss Williams was not compulsorily removed, and that the peeling was not due to the -scarlet fever. Every precaution was taken to re- move all infection in the case of Miss Williams previous to her discharge, which was delayed one week beyond the usual period, that the alternative would have been an indefinite retention in hospital ior which there would have been no justification. The report further states that the medical officer of health for Wolvesnewton district, who has visited the house, informed the medical superintendent that he was of opinion that the outbreak did not arise 'from the alleged condition of the skin that it has been ascertained that there have been suspicious oases in the Wolvesnewton district, and also oases in other parishes in that neighbourhood; that whether the outbreak was due to local infection or to Miss Williams' return home it is impossible to say, but tnat the medical superintendent can confidently affirm that it was not due to culpable negligence on the part of the officials. The Committee regretted the outbreak, but were • of opinion that every care had been taken for the ,disinfection of Miss Gwenllian Williams and her -clothing

Cricket. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEWPORT CLUB. The annual meeting of members interested in "cricket" was held on Friday evening. Councillor Fred Phillips presided. Mr A. J. Gould proposed, and Mr Williams seconded, the ra-election of Mr Stedman as captain of the first eleven for the ensuing year, and the motion was carried unanimously.—In returning thanks, Mr Stedman said that last season bad been, he believed, the most successful the cricket section had ever had, a result due, be explained, to the very happy manner in which the members of the team had pulled together. The captain testified to the useful work done to cricket by Mr A. J. ^Gould.—Regarding the election of a captain of the Seconds it was stated that Mr A. C. Morris was going abroad before the season commenced, and lie was called upon to nominate a successor. He proposed Mr W. G. Jones. Mr H. T. Williams seconded, and Mr Jones returned thanks. Mr Gould was unanimously re-elected hon. sec.' and the committee was practically re-elected. Mr Gould proposed, and Mr Stedman seconded, ,a hearty vote of thanks to Mr A. C. Morris for the work be had always put in for the benefit of the -club.-The motion was carried with hearty applause.

Markets. I MONMOUTH, CATTLE, Monday.—There was a good attendance, and trade was better, especially in beef. The supply generally was good. Owing to promising weather, the trade in stores was unusually brisk, and remunerative prices were ^realised privately. Good cows and calves changed hands privately at from £ 15 to £ 17 10s, common sorts from Y,10 to zCI3 15s, Sows and pigs made oip to .£8 10s. Quotations Bast beef 6d to 6!d, coarser qualities 5Jd to 6d; veal, 8d to 8fd s 2 wether mutton 8d to 8td, ewe ditto 6id to 7d 4 lamb, Is Id to Is 3d per lb pork, 10s to 10s 6d (per score. Auction prices: -The following prices were realised under the hammer of Messrs. Nelmes, Poole, and Atkins (Monmouth, Newnham, and Stroud): Heifers, £ 14 15s to LIG; bullocks, £ 15 to £ 19 12s Sd fat calves, £ 3 12s to £ 5 store ditto, Xi 28 to X3 5s wether tegs, 43s to 50s 6d ewes, oGs to 31s; lambs, 23s to 34s 6d; porkers, 30a 6d. CHEPSTOW, CATTLE, Tuesday.-Beef was in short supply, and mutton only moderate. Best beef made from 61-d to 7d per lb, with 5!d to 6d for second quality, veal being rather dearer at 9d per lb. Choice tegs showed an upward tendency, and made fully 91 per lb, and some even more, whilst heavy sheep made from 7td to 8d per lb, lamb fetching Is per lb. Porkers made about 9a per score, and bacone rs about 8s. NEWPORT, CATTLE, Wednesday.—The supply of attle was fair, of sheep very short, and of lambs and calves large. The trade was exceptionally brisk, and there was a good attendance of buyers. Quotations:-Best beef G^d per lb; seconds,' 5M to 6u cows, 54d to 5ad best wether mutton 9d to 9 £ d; ewe, 7^d to 8d, lamb, lid to lljd; veal Sd to 9d. Porker pigs were at from 9a to 9s 6d' and bacon pigs 8s per score. NEWPORT, CORN, Wednesday.—It was reported "that the corn market here to-day was dull and 'quiet, wheat being 3d to 6d cheaper, and other graille having no change. Flour (fines) was at 26s per sack. CHEESE, Wednesday.—There was a ftf-flndam-P y' a fair demand, and an average 4fS°to^ fancy ^dairies ==- -=:

POTTED DONKEY.-In a case at Burnley, where the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Companv ■were fined for cruelty to galloways and donkeys by allowing them to be overcrowded in a railway truck on the way to Goole for Antwerp, the .owner of the animals admitted that they were not high-class, and that some of them were being eeat over for potted meat purposes.

Pontypool Rural District I Council. The monthly meeting of the above Council was held at the Sessions House, Usk, on Friday week, Mr W. Marfell (chairman) presiding. There were also present:—Mr R. W. Spencer (vice-chairman), Rev W. W. Jones, Messrs. S. T. Griffin, W. H. Charles, J. T. Turner, R. Williams, J. Williams, J. James, T. Watkins (clerk), and R. Derrett (surveyor). The balance in hand was reported to be L265 9a. Tenders for the supply of stone, hauling, &c., were opened and dealt with. SURVEYOR'S REPORTS. I The Surveyor, in his report, stated that he had furnished the Clerk with the cost of the maintenance of the road from Little Mill to Llanover boundary. He had inspected the footbridge over the Soar Brook. below Llandegveth, referred to at the last meeting by Mr R. Williams, and he thought that with four or five good, strong piles it would last another four or five years. The dram, ot old stone construction, underneath the road at Whitehall, Coedypaen, was choked up with mud, and should be re-placed by a six-inch sanitary pipe drain. The stile alongside the road leading from Penpellenny to Nantyderry. had been removed about 17 yards nearer to Peupellenny, in consequence of the building of two new houses for Merrick Jenkins. He understood that no objection had been raised in the parish. Continuous floods had washed away the bank underneath one end of the footbridge over the Olway Brook leading to Graigolway, and it required some good strong piles and watlings to remedy the matter. The magistrates of Caerleon bad granted the applica- tion of the Clerk, authorising the division with the Llantarnam U.D.C. of tiae road at Pontnewvdd. He (the Surveyor) had had the Church road, Llanfrechfa Lower, and Mr G. W. Williams had promised to consider the question of assisting them in the matter. SANITARY REPORT. As Inspector, Mr Derrett, reported that at Caerleon Petty Sessions, on March 31st, the magistrates convicted John Gillingham of occpying his new house without a certificate as to the water supply. At eleven o'clock that morning he had received from the Medical Officer a certificate of a case of diphtheria at Wainypwll, Llandegveth. The cost of the maintenance of the road from Little Mill to Llanover was stated to have been, in round figures, 1:420 in the last three years. No action was taken with regard to the shifting of a stile in the parish of Goytre. The Surveyor was instructed to do the necessary work at the footbridge over the Olway on the path to Graigolway. It was decided to proceed against a man in the parish of Goytre for occupying a new house without first obtaining the Council's certificate as to the water supply. VOTES OF THANKS. I At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr S. T. Griffin remarked that this was the last meeting of the old Council, and the last occasion upon which they would have the pleasure and privilege to meet the chairman (Mr Marfell) and vice-chairman (Mr Spencer), as well as Mr J. T. Turner. It was no mean task to adequately express the indebted. ness of the Council and district to Mr Marfell, who had served them faithfully and well during the last quarter of a century, or to Mr S encer, who had sat at the Board since its formation. Both were now resigning. As to Mr Turner he had ably voiced the views of Llanfrechfa Lower, and worked in harmony with the other members in the general business, and they would all be sorry to miss him. As chairman, Mr Marfell had brought to bear upon the work of the Council his business qualities, to the interest of the ratepayers and the good conduct of the proceedings, and in Mr Spencer he had hai a good lieutenant. They would also miss Mr Marfell very much at the Board of Guardians and in connection with the Assessment Committee, with which he had been so intimately connected for so many years, and this was especially a cause for regret, so ably and efficiently had he rendered his services. He therefore moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the very conscientious, business-like, unbiassed, and fair way in which they had presided over the Council's proceedings during the period those present had had the pleasure to be associated with them, and also to Mr Turner for the assistance he had rendered them. Mr Charles said that, as one of the oldest members, he had great pleasure in seconding the proposition. The Rev W. W. Jones. ill supporting, said that whilst he had not been a member of the Council long, he could say that during the last three years the gentlemen named had attended well to the work before them, and had shown very great zeal and shrewdness in their labours for the public weal. Whoever the new members might be, he did not think that they could better those whom they re-placed, and he could only hope that they would be as good, (Hear, hear.) Mr Bevan also supported, and The Clerk asked to be allowed, as one of the officials, to be associated with the proposition, speaking especially with regard to the Chairman, whom he had known and been connected with for from 20 to 30 years. The proposition having been carried unani- mously, The Chairman thanked them very heartily for the very kind and flattering way in which they had referred to his connection with that Council and the Board of Guardians. It was 26 or 27 years since he became a guardian, and about 20 years since he became associated with the sanitary and highway authority, of which that Council was the representative. The work had been a labour of love to him, and it had been very gratifying to find that they had all got along so well together without disagreements or bickerings. He was sorry that the Council were also losing other friends. Mr Turner had to make way for a lady, and, no doubt, being a gallant man, he did not feel very disappointed in doing so. In one respect he was sorry to see constituencies not represented by ratepayers. He feared that the tendency was to place people upon the Board of Guardians and that Council who would look after the poor and spend money, but who would not sufficiently con- sider the people who paid the rates. They wanted people on such bodies who would look after the ratepayers' interests. He certainly felt sorry at having to leave them, but he was now leaving the House of Commons for the House of Lords, if he might say so, having been elected a member of the Usk Urban District Council. He thanked them all for their kind expressions of opinion. Mr Spencer said he felt his severance with the Council very much, but it was due to circumstances over which he had not the control he would like to have. He had no doubt that the new councillors would act as well as the old ones had in the con- duct of the business of the Council. Still, be must say that those who lived in the agricultural parishes of the Union, especially, would suffer a great loss in the retirement of Mr Marfell from the Poor Law sphere, but what was the rural districts' loss would be the urban district's gain. He had always felt that whenever, and from whatsoever cause, Mr Marfell retired from the Board of Guardians and the R.D.C., it would be a great loss to the district generally. On his own behalf he thanked them for their kind vote. Mr J. T. Turner also acknowledged the compli- ments paid him, and the meeting concluded.

I Mon. Main Roads Committee. At a meeting of the Main Roads and Bridgeti Committee, at Newport, on Thursday, Aid J. D. James and G. R Harris were appointed Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. The Committee decided not to interfere with the twenty milea an hour limit for motor cars, which the Act allows, provided that the speed be such as not to constitute et danger to the public.

I Russia in Asia. It is interesting at the present moment to glance at that portion of the Russian Empire through which troops are passing on their way to the theatre of war, and to endeavour to form some opinion concerning the character and condition of the people by whom this great country is thinly popu. lated. It might be supposed that on this subject it would be very easy to obtain information, because Russia in Asia has been visited by hundreds of persons from Western Europe, and many of them have published the results of their observations. But while of the making of books there is no end, at the same time, anybody who seeks to form an impartial opinion finds the task beset with difficul- ties, because nearly all the writers who have visited Russia in Asia, and particularly Siberia, seem to have gone there with pre-conceived opinions, either that the government of the Czar is wise and benevolent, or that it is short-sighted and cruel. There is every reason to believe that both sets of observances are perfectly honest, and that, to a large extent, they see the stme things, but some- how or other they see them with very different eyes. THE POPULAR VIEW with respect to Siberia is, that it is largely a barren waste, with a climate which is terribly cold, and that the inhabitants are mainly prisoners from European Russia, who are treated in a manner very different from that which obtains in the prisons of Western Europe. With respect to the soil, there are vast areas in the northern regions which are unfit for tillage, and in the cultivated portions agriculture does not appear to be carried on with implements of modern construction. That agricul- ture is not in a particularly flourishing condition seems to be indicated by the fact that something like half of the agricultural population engage also in non-agricultural pursuits. Next to agriculture, the principal occupation is gold mining, which provides fortunes for many people, chiefly those who do not do the work. The summers are fine, and warm, but in the winter the cold is very severe, and rivers are frozen to the bottom. As to the popula- tion, Prince Kropotkin says that only five per cent. are exiles. The idea of the Government in sending prisoners to distant parts of Siberia appears to be that the majority of them, upon their release, will not attempt a journey of some thousands of miles to their homes in Europe, but will remain TO COLONISE THE COUNTRY. As to whether or act this policy deters free coloni- sation is fair matter for discussion, but at any rate, a good number of immigrants arrive every year in Siberia, and the total podulation is estimated at about seven millions. Of the treatment of the prisoners much has been written, and the accounts vary to such a marked degree that it is impossible to form any opinion as to the exact truth. The Rev Dr Lansdell considers that the condition of Siberian prisoners compares favourably with that of convicts in England. Mr H. de Windt says that the oppressed and persecuted exile is more or less of a myth, a creation of modern friction and sensational journalism." Mr Geo. Kennan tells us that the prisoners are cruelly treated, and Mr Lionel F. Gowing largely corroborates Mr Kennan. All these writers speak from their own observations on the spot, and one scarcely knows whom to believe. It is probably safe to say that cruelty, oppression, and bad management, hare existed in the past, when convicts were compelled to make the whole journey, which in some cases occupied two years, by road, but that considerable improvement has taken place in the condition of the prisoners, and that attempts I have been made to obviate the TERRIBLE OVERCROWDING which was one of the worst features of Siberian prisons. One cannot leave the subject without some reference to the devotion of the voluntary exiles, the thousands of women and children, who, even when the whole journey was made by road, accompanied their husbands and fathers to the far off Siberian prisons, even to the barren, desolate, island of Saghalien, which used to be reached by a march across the whole Continent of Asia. To this island only, criminals, as distinct from political prisoners, are sent. Many of them are condemned to work in the coal mines, and of the few who escape from the prisons, the majority are frozen to death.

Russian Disaster. I Official reports of the Port Arthur disas- ter on Wednesday leave no doubt that the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk was de- stroyed by the direct attack of the Japanese, and not by accidental contact with a sub- merged mine. Admiral Makharoff, with practically the whole of his crew, numbering from 700 to 1,000 officers and men, perished, The Grand Duke Cyril, a cousin of the Tsar, was saved. The following was issued from the Japanese Legation in London Admiral Uriu, in command of the cruiser squadron, reports as follows :— 11 According to the report of the third destroyer flotilla, our fleet attacked Port Arthur on the 13th, and sank one battle- ship of the Petropavlovsk type, and one destroyer. Our fleet is quite safe. No official report has yet been re- ceived from Admiral Togo." 0 ST. PETERSBURG, Thursday, April 14th. The following telegram has been re- ceived from Rear-Admiral Prince Ukhtom- sky, dated Port Arthur, April 14th At ten o'clock yesterday, during man- oevres in the roadstead at Port Arthur, in face of the Japanese fleet, the Petro- pavlovsk, carrying the flag of the Fleet Commander, capsized after an explosion. The torpedo-boat Bezstrahni, which was sent out yesterday, with other torpedo-boats, on a night expedition, was unable to return owing to stress of weather. She was surrounded by the enemy's torpedo-boats and sank fighting. Five men were saved. After the sinking of the Petropavlovsk I took over temporarily the command of the fleet. While surrounded by the enemy's squadron, the battleship Pobieda was torpedoed on the starboard side amid- ships. The Pobieda succeeded in making the harbour without aid. None on board were killed or wounded.—Central News. ST. PETERSBURG, Wednesday. The disaster to the Petropavlovsk has created a profound impression in the official world, especially in naval and military circles, where the prevailing feeling is one of stupefaction. The Czar and Czarina on Thursday atten- ded a memorial service for Admiral Makharoff and the victims of the disaster. Their Majesties were both obviously much moved, and were in deep mourning. The Czarina was touchingly attentive to the widow of Admiral Makharoff, and kept her constantly by her side. Admiral Makharo:ff's death has been re- ceived in Japan with the most remarkable expressions of sorrow and regret. There is p not the least trace of exultation.

Monmouthshire Standing Joint Committee. & I ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Monmouthshire Standing Joint Committee was held at Newport on Wednesday afternoon, Alderman G. R. Harris presiding. CHAIRMAN. Alderman Grove said that following the usual practice, that the chair should oscillate between the County Council and the Quarter Sessions, he had much pleasure in proposing that Mr G. R. Harris be appointed chairman for the eiisuing year.—This was agreed to. VICE-CHAIRMAN. Sir Henry Mather Jackson, Bart., was unani- mously appointed vice-chairman for the ensuing year, and a vote of thanks was parsed to him for his past services. ADDITIONAL CONSTABLE WANTED AT CAERLEON. Application was received from the Caerleon Urban District Council for an additional constable during the erection of the Newport Borough Asylum. III reply to the Chairman, the Chief Constable said that he and Superintendent James, of Pontypool, had both come to the conclusion that an additional constable was not required. The application was refused. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. Mr Victor Bosanquet, Chief Constable, reported that the total number of apprehensions was 405, as against 389 last year. This increase was principally under the headings of Poor-law offences. The total number of persons summoued was 1,060: number of persons proceeded against for drunkenness was 379, as against 282 in the corresponding quarter of last year. Twenty-two licensed holders had been proceeded against, thirteen fined, four ordered to pay costs, and five dismissed. He recommended that the force be increased by one sergeant and six constables. The last increase of the force was on the 1st January, 1900. Since then three of the four reserve men had been sent to Maesycwmmer, Varteg, and Malpas. A sergeant was required at Griffithstow n in addition to the two constables now stationed there, and constables were required at Victoria, Bargoed and Ynysddu. Constable Samuel Davies, aged 50 years, had resigned, after 27 years of approved service, and would be entitled to a pension of £52 14s 5d per annum. Duriug the quarter 94 inquests had been held. INCREASE OF POLICE FORCE. Alderman Jacob asked upon what basis the Chief Constable asked for an increase of the force. The Chairman replied that the districts referred to as requiring additional constables were growing very rapidly. Alderman Jacob said that he wished to protest against the gradual increase of their expenditure. It was questionable whether a man was wanted at Ynysddu at present. Alderman Grove pointed out that the present increase of the force, and the resignations, would cost the county X700 a year. He wished something could be done to induce these men, who were in the prime of life, and had a large experience, to stop in the force. The Chief Constable said that he asked for the augmentation of the force upon the grounds of increased population. If the increase was granted they would have in Monmouth one constable to every 1,234 of the population. In Glamorganshire the proportion was one to 1,226. Hereford one to 1,159, Gloucestershire one to 1,020, Somerset one to 1,072, and Wiltshire one to 1,033. It was decided to adopt the report. RESIGNATION OF SUPT. JAMES. The Chief Constable said that he had received with great regret the resignation of Supt William z, James, of Pontypool, who had completed 31 years of approved service. He was in receipt of X240 per annum, and he was entitled to L160 per annum as a pension. His services throughout bad been most exemplary, and his retirement would be a great loss to the force. Mr T. Parry proposed a resolution expressing regret at the resignation of Superintendent James, which Mr A. A. Williams seconded, and Mr W. P. James supported, saying he thought the magistrates were going to make him a present to mark their appreciation of his services. Mr F. J. Mitchell, chairman of the Caerleon bench, endorsed this, and the vote was unani. mously agreed to. SUNDAY CLOSING. Alderman Grove gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that a memorial be sent to the Government showing how the county was inconvenienced by the Welsh Sunday Closing Act not applying to Monmouthshire. THE RECENT QUARTER SESSIONS. The application of the Clerk to the Newport Petty Sessional Division to allow payment of expenses incurred by the licensing justices in connection with the recent appeals, led to much discussion. Alderman J. R. Jacob said he could not compliment the magistrates on the result of their efforts. At Newport the Superintendent recom- mended that sixteen licenses should be discontinued, but nothing came of it. At Quarter Sessions, too, a strange change came over the magistrates in connection with the announcement by the Prime Minister that he was going to bring in a Licensing Bill, and they came to certain decisions. He greatly deplored that the mere threat of such a Bill should paralyze the efforts of the magistrates, and if there were any expenses which they could disallow in connection with such an abortive movement, he thought they should do so. Mr W. Thomas said that he would like to find out who the magistrates were at Quarter Sessions, for it was high time that they should find out who composed this Tory caucus, who were obeying the behests of a Tory Government. Alderman Grove said that he also wished to express his regret at the action of Quarter Sessions. He was not able to be present himself, and if he had been, it would have been of no use, as there was a large majority against the pro- gressive, sensible, and temperance views of the citizens of tha country. They had a right to condemn actions of that sort, and as strongly as they could possibly do so. Alderman S. N. Jones said that it was a slur upon the local magistrates, who had the welfare of the people at heart in the action they had taken. Their intention was not the closing of public-houses, but the closing of such houses as were not fit for human beings to live in. Mr T. Tarry protested that Mr Jones was out of order in discussing the action of Quarter Sessions. Those magistrates were quite capable of answer- ing for themselves. Alderman S. N. Jones referred to the large attendance of magistrates at Quarter Sessions, and said that it was out of the ordinary and intended for a particular purpose. It was resolved that the accounts for the maps, etc., be passed.

——-——-—-—- Mr. Ponsford's Affairs. The public examination of Mr Thomas Ponsford was continued on Thursday, at Newport Bankruptcy Court, before Mr Registrar Hornby. This case has been adjourned from time to time since November, and was now further adjourned till May 19th. The gross liabilities were returned at 965,740 14s 9d, but those expected to rank for divi. dend at £ 27,002 10s 8d. Subsequently Mr S. G. Lushington applied for an order to annul the adjudication and rescind the re- ceiving order, on the ground that debtor was solvent. Mr Corner appeared for the petitioning creditors, and Mr T, R. P. Herbert for the trustee. The Registrar held that no case had been made out to induce him to alter what had beea done, and dismissed the motion with costs. Mr Lushington intimated that there would be an appeal.

I USK. I I COUNTY COURT, FRIDAY WEEK. f Before His Honour Judge OWEN. I I JUDGMENT SUMMONSES. j Melton Jones v. Wm. J Walters claim 215.- Plaintiff said defendant was a farmer and bad stock. —The Registrar (Mr A. E. Bowen) said defendant, before the Court on a previous occasion, bad stated that he was only a bailiff.-New order made for the payment of Ll per month. A. and J. Davies. Woodbine, Usk, v. Alex. J. Jones, Usk; claim, X4 12s 6d.— His Honour humorously referred to the incorrect spelling of defendant's Christian name as Alexandra in the summons, and asked plaintiff to alter his books. His Honour said he could not commit the man after th, lapse of time tbr;> had heen.-Plaintiff said he hid t iken out a judgment summons before, but had withdrawn it. The order was for 8s. per mouth.— Defendant said he could not pay that amount. He had eight to provide for. viz., five children, his mother, sister, and himself, and he had not earned 10s. a week since the fortnight before Christmas, as work had been very btd.-Plaintiff said be had himself offered defendant work at 5s a day. but he I would not take it.-In the result His Honour made a new order of 8s per month. THE BOOK-DEBT BUYER NON-SUITED. W. J. McMurray, of Swansea, assignee of E. T. Collins, trustee of the Estate of E. J. Williams, draper, Raglan, sued several people from Usk, Raglan, and Monmouth, for various amounts. At the outset His Honour asked why a Swansea man wanted to come up to this part of the country to harass poor people, and called for the deed of assignment, which was produced. He then asked how Collins became the trustee, and was told by plaintiff's representative that Williams was in difficulties and assigned his debts by deed, but he had not that deed. His Honour It is no good coming here, then. I want the deed assigning the debts from Williams to Collins. Plaintiff: I have not got that. His Honour then entered a non-suit with costs in each case in which the defendants appeared, and a non-suit without costs where defendants failed to answer to their names. The defendants were William Morgan, Alfred Rosser, Robert Knight, James Knight, William Knight, Arthur Moore, John Aines, and William McLeod. In one case, plaintiff said he had a letter admit- ting the claim, but His Honour replied that he did not care about a dozen letters, plaintiff must prove his title to the debts. CLAIM AND COUNTER-CLAIM.* A. and J. Davies, Usk, v. Luke Waters, Llan- gwm; claim, 7s. I)d.; counter-claim, 2s. 6d. Waters had paid 6s. into Court. Plaintiff (A. Davie-), askel by His Honour if he would accept judgment for that amount, pointed out that there was a counter-claim. Defendant, asked by the Judge if he would withdraw that, replied that he could not do so, whereupon His Honour sententiously observed: It is a mistake sometimes to be too greedy. You will probably have judgment against you for 7s. 61. and costs. Plaintiff was then asked to prove his claim, and His Honour asked for his book. Plaintiff said he had not brought it. His Honour You are very foolish not to have I done so. I shall have to give judgment in the action for 6s. instead of for 7s. 6d. Defendant then proceeded with his counter-claim which Was for a scaffold rope stated to have been lent to the defendants for use in the pointing of a lent to the defendants for use in the pointing of a stack at the Woodbine Works. Davies said he knew nothing about the loan of the rope. Waters replied that plaintiff had offered him a shilling that morning. Davies Yes; I told him I would pay him a shilling to settle the matter. In reply to His Honour, Davies said he never asked for the rope, nor did he know that; the rope was at the works. Waters admitted that in a previous claim in respect of the work done at the stack he had made no claim for the rope. In the result, His Honour said he should give judgment for 6s. in the action, and judgment for the plaintiff on the oounter-olaim, as he did not I believe Waters' story one set of costs-on the 6s. I THE WRONG PERSON SUING" Edwin W. Gwatkin, agent for the Rev J. Davies, Goytre, v. Richard Drinkwater, Llanvihangel, Pontymoile. This was a claim for tithe rent charge and plaintiff sued as assistant-overseer. His Honour told plaintiff that the owner of the tithe must be the one to sue. Plaintiff I am his agent. His Honour: Oh, yes; but if I give judgment for you the Rector may come here and sue defendant again. Why on earth did you take proceedings in this way ? You are very foolish to have done so in your own name. Plaintiff: I make the demand in my own name. His Honour: But you don't sue as agent, but as assistant-overseer. Defendant: It has not been paid for 50 years. His Honour: You will have a difficulty in prov- ing that. He would amend the claim to make it regular, by substituting the Rector's name for Gwatkin's. if defendant wished, and then by giving judgment for 3a 6d, no further claim could be made against him. But he was entitled to have the ap- plication dismissed, because it was wholly irregular. Which would he have ? Defendant: Have it dismissed, sir. His Honour thereupon dismissed it with costs against Gwatkin, but said this would not prevent the Rector coming to some arrangement with him and bringing another aetion.

I CWMBRAN. I PETTY SESSIONS, THURSDAY. Before F. J. MITCHELL, Esq (in the chair), A. M. PILLINER, Esq., and E. H. CRAWSHAY, Esq. MAINTENANCE. George Power, brickmaker, Cwmbran, who had been summoned for non-pay- ment of £1 68 arrears of maintenance of his son, Willie Power, in an Industrial School, was ordered to pay the amount in a month. Ox LICENSED PREMISES. Edward Williams, wire drawer, Oikfi-ld, was summoned for being drunk at the Oakfield Inn on the 23rd March.— P.S. Morris said that he followed Williams into, the Oakfield Inn, after he had been turned out of another public-house. He was drunk, and the landlord said that he bad not supplied him with any liquor.—There were three previous convictions for drunkenness, and a fitig of 10s was imposed.— Mr Crawshay did not adjudicate in this case. GAMBLING.—William Relihan, 21, James Sly, 21, Herbert Ridout, 21, John Pask, 17, Thomas D^nnell, 22, labourers, were summoned for gaming with cards in a public place, at Cwrnbran, on the 27th March.—Relihau was fined 15s, and the others 10s each. DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT.—Llewellyn Hughes and John Ryan, labourers, Cwmbran, and William Ryan, labourer, Newport, were summoned for damaging a window, glass, and frame, at the Moon Inn, Cwmbran, on the 12th March \Villiam Ryan was also charged with being disorderly and refusing to quit the Moon Inn, and also with assaulting Daniel Piaystead, the landlord, on the 12th Niarch.N,lr Lyndon Cooper, Newport* prosecuted on behalf of the landlord, and said he had been instructed that William Ryan was the worst, started the whole affair, aad that there was a disgraceful scene in the house.—William Ryau, against: whom there were eleven convicthn, was fined 30s for breaking the window, 30s for the assault, and 20s for refusing to q lit, the alterna- tive being a month's imprisonment in each of the first two cases, and fourteen days in the third. The cases against the other two men were dismissed. ASSAULT AT CROESYCEILOG.—William KitIO, annealer, Pontnewydd, pleaded guilty to assault- ing James Dommett, Poituewydd, at Oroesyceilog, on the 7th of April. Dommett seated that he was in the Cambrian Inn. Croesyceilog, on the 7Gh of April, when King came in. The landla.dy refused to supply him with liquor, and he then turned round to witness ana began to abuse mm because he had been to the Quarter Sessions to give evidence for the police in the case of the Lower Cock Inn, Croesyceilog. He then challenged witness to fight, and took him by the scarf and struck him a blow in the face.-P.C. Goodwin said that Dommett came t) the police station and complaied of having b^eu assaulted by King. His nose was bleeding freely, aud the blojd dis- coloured two pails of water before it stopped.A, fine of Z-2, with the alternative of one month's imprisonment, was imposed.

I PONTYPOOL [ POLICE COURT, SATURDAY. AsSA-ULT.-folati Paillips, collier, Talywaii, was. summoned for assaulting Henry Parry, at the Blaeusychan Colliery, on March 26th, -Pro,;¡ecutor said that when he was about to enter the cage to ascend the shaft on the day in question, Phillips pushed him, and he almost fell into the sump, which was about 8 feet deep. Witness remonstrated with the defendant, and he thereupon struck him twice in the face.—Wm. Blake corroborated.— The defendant, a powerfully built man, cross- examined the witness, and then addressed the Bench. He asked that the case should be adj ourned to enable him to bring witnesses, bit the magistrates refused to do this. Then he asked that the case should be dealt with "in an exceptional manner, as it was an exceptional case."—The Bench fined him 40s or one month's imprisonment.—Phillips looked round the Court: and smiled. PAUl SUNDAY AT TREYKTHIN. William Luffman, landlord of the Masons' Arms, Trevethin, was summoned for permitting drunken- ¡ ness on his licensed premises on Sunday, March 27th.—Mr L. H. Hornby, Newport, defended.— P.O. Shott said that at 9.5 p.m., in compauy with P.C. Shuker, he visited the house, and in the smoke-room he saw a man named John Evans sitting down near the table iu a drunken con- dition. Witness said, "Evans, you are drunk." He made no reply, but tried to rise, and fell full length across the room. Witness spoke to the person in charge of the room, who told hLu that hEr had been trying to eject Evans for about an hour, but had failed to do so.—Cross-examined It was Palm Sunday, and as the house was situate near Trevethin Cemetery, a large number of people who had come to the Cemetery were in there drinking. —PC. Sbuker corroborated.—Mr Hornby, addressing the Bench, said he did not deny that the man was drunk, but he argued that it was impossible to be able to properly attend to the business when there was such a large number of people in the house.—The defendant, sworn, stated that he had held the license for three years, and this was the first complaint he had received.— Robert Luffman, eon of the landlord, sa.id he was in charge of the room in which Evans was found, drunk, and that Evans had only been served with, one pint of beer whilst he was in the house.—Mrs Luffman was called, but had to retire without giving evidence, as she almost fainted on entering the witness box.—A fine of 20s was inflicted. A GUNPOWDER PLOT.—J. Morley Edwards, labourer, Pontypool, was summoued by his wife, Sarah Jane Edwards, for desertion and neglect.— Complainant said they were married on December 12th, 1899, and there were two children. He deserted her on March 14th, 1903, but before leaving the house he put half a reel of gunpowder in the coal-cellar, and then put a fuse to it, at the end of which he put a lighted candle. He threatened to blow up the house, bat witness put him out. He was earning 21,1 per week.—A separation order was granted, and the defendant was ordered to contribute 103 per week towards his wife's maintenance. --=- r--

-= s 31ILK ADULTERATION.—Thomas Perkins, & milkman of Sketty, near Swansea, was fined £ 5 on Monday for adulterating his milk with 23 per cent. of added water.

CHEPSTOW. I COUNTY COURT, MONDAY. I Before His Honour Judge OAVEN. I A RUNNING-DOWN CASE.—Paul Duffield, a farmer, of Tidenham. sued Oliver Corner, a retired engineer, of Stroat, Tidenham, to recover L2 7s 6d damages alleged to have been sustained to his trap in a collision. By a cross-action Corner sued Duffield for damages amounting to about Xig arising out of the same occurrence for damage to his horse, harness, and trap. In December last plaintiff was returning from Chepstow, and the two parties, driving in opposite directions, came into collision. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount claimed and for the defendant on the cross-action. COMPENSATION AWARDED.—His Honour allotted compensation to the widow and orphans of Joseph Thomas, of Woodcroft, who was killed by the explosion of a charge which had missed fire in one of Sir John Aird's quarries at Tidenham. His Honour directed that, of the S211 5s awarded. Llll 5s should be paid to the widow, and £ 50 each to be invested for the benefit of the two children. PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY. I A CRUEL FATHER.—George Webb, mason, of Cbepstow, was charged with unlawfully assaulting his son, William, aged eleven years, and, further, with neglecting his two children. Edward Gilbert, and William, aged twelve and eleven years respectively, in such a manner as to be injurious to their health.—Defendant pleaded guilty in the assault charge, but said he acted under provoca- tion. In reply to the second charge, he said he was guilty, but did not intend them bodily harm. Mr Lyndon Cooper prosecuted on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.—Defendant earned on an average 365 a week, but spent his money in drink, and returned at all hours of the night, leaving the children to the tender mercies of such kindly neighbours as chose to do something for them. Since 1901 defendant had been several times warned but without apparent effect. The children were left all day, sometimes without fire, and only some bread in the house. On the 23rd of Maroh Inspector Sparks again called, and found the children literally covered with vermin and rash and dirty, and only dry bread in. the house. The | younger boy had a large bruise on his head. The elder boy was subject to epileptic fits, which were alleged to have been brought on or accelerated by neglect, and was removed to the Workhouse, and had not bad fits since. Both children were insured. The Bench said it was a disgraceful case, and sentenced Webb to three month8 imprisonment, ordering the children to be detained at the Workhouse.

!r. LyMeUoa oil Chinese Labour. Speaking at Stratford, on Wednesday, the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies said that the criticisms which had been applied to the Transvaal Govern- ment on the Chinese labour question had been almost entirely based upon defective knowledge of the sub- ject. Beyond one small meeting at a somewhat remote place in the Transvaal, there ha¿ been not one single representative meeting, and not even a petition had reached him. against the proposal. He wished to point out to English Nonconformists that in the Transvaal THE FREE CHURCHES passed a resolution in favour of this proposal by 30 votes to one. The Government had been accused of instituting under the British Flag a system of sla- very, but a Liberal Administration had helped to maintain, with the co-operation of the Government of India, a system similar to that now proposed. For 50 years such a system had been in existence in British Guiana and Mauritius, and if it were true that the Government proponed to introduce a system of slavery into the Transvaal the same was true of THE LIBERAL ADMINISTRATION which had sanctioned a similar system in other countries. If 10,000 Chinese were introduced to do the unskilled labour in the mines he nudertnot- the number of white men engaged would be in. creased by at least 800.

-the amount of rates they paid. He hoped when lie made the appeal to the inhabitants of the district that it would be generously responded to, .and that no unpleasantness would occur. (Hear, hear, and applause). +