The Western Mail

METEOROLOGICAL NOTES. I SOUTH WALES TIDE TABLE. I i i §! i « < £ s I s O m z a I _j3 (■Morning 6 44 I .4 36 6 30 4 55 4 46 ?'?y i 39 416213514 7 1 366011336235 1 22 52tj1 Dec. 22 (.Height 54 6 f 31 4 | 36 0 33 5 g 11 Satur- f Morni'g | o 40 5 36 6 30 6 56 4 45 day. 35 5 1 33-2 1 6 59 6 23 6 20 Dec. 23 Heh:ht 35 5 ) H 2 35 9 34 1! 24 0 S d (Morni'g 7 36 6 33 6 301 6 50 6 4 Dec 241 Evening 534 6 1,3 71 13 659?716 7 1 Height 36326 35 9 1 34 6 24 1 Monday f,Morni'g 8 30 7 29 8~23 7 42 Til moi 4.y on i?136 6.32 8 8 8 9 ?ec. 25 eig88 6.3501 7 5?3 1 38 7 0 41 5a128509 Tnesdv fMorni'g 9 19 8 17 9 11 | 8 33 8 20 1Sd!¿ Evenng 11561318 1 9 33 I 8 55 8 55 ?- jr?ight M 6 31 8 Mo MH) 24 7 WeAnes rMorni f 10 4 9 6 9 27 1 9 21* 9 14 Jay 1 Even ?,gg i10 311 1106 11 50 9 43 9 45 DeY 27 (Height 33 n >g IIi 5 3j 4f 2 4g Thurs- (Morning 10 49 9 54 I 10 48 110 6~ 10 3 "Y ,li ,321293 31 2t101 10 25 6111 0 D.  28 li?ig, ,l,t 11 11 10 16 31 D: 28 :rg M J ,712 011210 Roath-Basin fEast Dock Sill JAlexandra. Dock Dock Sill.

BAROMETRICAL INDICATIONS. Appended is b-t of the barometrical rmdin?B f.? !t), C 48 hours .I?d Th.?dy midnight, regis- tered at the Western Mait Office, Cardiff. The instrument is 33ft. above sea level.

——— i WEATHER FORECAST. YESTERDAY'S FORECAST. North westerly winds, backing later; change- able some cold showers ¡YESTERDAY'S WEATHER. l??orth westerly wiuds; morning ..ttl?d afternoon fai3?; colder, The forecast of the weather throughout the West of Eneland and South Wales for to-day (Friday) is us follows:—SouM-u-esferly and westerly tcinds, etrOll9 ¡ unsettled;$01,ic rain.

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. DATII'Ma;¡i,AT;í:n. ^INFALL. 'ridav 115 58 -3õ"o-(}.õ() Saturday |16 54 40 47'0 O'OO Sunday 17 53 40 46'5 0'00 Mondtty.??M 58 40 4?0 0'S T", ?l9 ? 42 50 0 0 29 Wednesday 20 57 40 48'5 0'41 Thursday \21 58 37 47'5 0'06 The Temperature represents extreme readings of th thermometer for 24 hours ended 9 .t.k..ith" shade at Cwrt-y-Vil, Peuarth, t The Rainfall registered at C-t-y-Vil, P. th, for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m.

THE RAINFALL FOR NOVEMBER. 1893. £ ||l g | I !'? ItÎ ¡;¡ I'S' .g, .g ¡;i, <; ta |l § {If | I I | a "| ■s i 1 !g >- o ¡::I 1=1 !E;t¡ ? ° |(S I ||| ??  o| jto _ry .fc) IL (? jo o) Ht. Ht.m'? Ht. Htj Ht.'1 Ht. Ht. Ht. Ht] '256ZI7!N)031S700825! In. In. In In. In. In. In. I In. In. In. 1 0-53 — 0-31 0 025. 10-57 2 0-0710*65 0-10 ?o.05;0 :0. ,)'35?0'01 3 0,0710 '04 0 1?3,0.02 0:1 -06 4 0*0-0*11 — — 0'05 — 0-030-09 5 0'12 o.010.04- 6 7 —— —H—H—II 8 0-M -o'M- 9 — — zzzzzz 10 11 -———— B Q-————-————? n == == É == o:: == 14 O'M—S g 0-03 — 0-240-28 — 0*29 15 —0-28 g g 0-01 — — 0'010-23 — 16 0'05 0* *olso? 102 140'010'22 17 °'5010'03 io015 0'100*540'170,61, .63 18 0 0'47 g D 0*01 — °'5111°'18 19 — — H E — — 0 *110'06 — 20 « 21 g g 0*01 0*02 22 ? 0*081 — — — — 0*03 23 0*02 — 0'1410'080'08'°'121- I 24 — — 0-131 — 0 *02t0 *02 — — 25 ? -6-2 0 0. 82 1:4010 4";o 55 o-65 26 0'48 0200:0210,010,83? 27 — — 0 '210 '29 0 13i0 '02 — — 28 0'01 0*0810*11?0:22,0101 — — 29 0'03 0*01 — 0'02l — 0*08 30 0'09 0'22 — 0-.M!o'2o!o'010?10 ToM.. !2'26 2 '211= =1:3 '08:Ioolz:95JI2 '73 T.t., 12,262,21 ?-04! !4-14i2?9i (a) Mr. A. Pettigiw, Castle Gardens. Cardiff. (b) Mr. Lnncelles Carr, Cwrt-y-Vil, Penarth. (e) Mr. W. Law, 8, Harbour Trust, (d) Mr. Walter E. Hogg, The Woodlands, Pontyi^ridd. (?) Mr. J. ??ms ?nk. ° (/) ?.' D. Herbert Lewis, ?n-? AUt. (a) Mr. Daniel Owen, Ash Hall. (7t) Mr. W, BOI"?U D&vie's, H?dri?S. (i) Mr. T. H. BMloy:  Bach ]k. Merthyr. ? Mr. E. J. It'y F.B.S., k;hi,?-wt.. Hall, near c?pt. e:

TEN YEARS' RAINFALL IN NOVEMBER. I Thefollowing is the rainfall in November for the last I ten years, as registered by Mr. Daniel Owen, Ash HallI Years. Days. Rainfall. Years. Days. [ Ra 1883 25 7'04 1888 27 7'97 1?MS 4 ? 12 2'76 1889 13 2'44 ?E 18 5-77 1890 24 5'69 I880 21 6'39 1891 17 4'29 1887 20 3'85 1892 19 4'14 96 24-81 t 100 24-53 24'81 196 49-34 Average for ten ye 19*6 4*934

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS. I HARRIERS CmCKHOWELL.-Saturday, December23, WmntMh, 0 mdii Tuesday, December 26, Hill Gate, Peny- rhiw, Llangattook j Saturday, December 30, Lim. gumder Village-ll. FOXHOUNDS. c THENSHI .-Friday, December 22, Glan- i-hydu Gate; Tuesday, December 26, yd?i.; Fri. day, December 29, AUtyfenn (breakfast at 10)-10 30 O'-?MANaHtM.-rr?, De?em?e? 22, Si?i.y: yll -10.. LLAKHAKAN.—Tuesday, December 26, Pencoed: Friday, December 29, Pentyrch-11. LLANBIUBY.—Friday, December 22, The Bhadyr; Tuesday, December 26, Llangibby Castle: Friday, December 29, Lodge Wood-10,30. MO"IOOUTHSHI"FridAy, December, 22, Llanvair Grange—11. PEMBBOSKSHIEE. —Tuesday, December 26, John. stone Station; Friday, December 29, Treffearne i.-Bridge—11. MB. SSTKODE ALLKW'S.—Friday, December 22: Bishop's Bridge; Tuesday. Demm r26,f30dgeton, Friday, December 29, Llandissilio-IO.30. f TIVTSIBB.—Tuesday. December 26, Guildhall, r-Cardigan-, M'W. December 29, WangunlloGorse -10,46..

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. f Friday, December 22.—Parry in hymn, 436. S ?toK)? D«M<itbar 23?3o S[ ia e?T*M?m

EDITORIAL COMMENTS. 1 "Arlunydd Pe».ygara"—EngHsli readers of the "Daily Graphic" will not imagine for a moment that -the iinpooing name con- ceals the identity of one of the gentlest of men and mort competent of Welsh art critics —has a bone to pick with the committee which had charge of the wedding gift of Wales to the Duke and Duchess of York. The silver and the cost of this national pre- eent came from Wales, but the designing and the modelling were done by Englishmen. With such artists as Mr. Gosoonibe John and Mr. Mito Griffith available there was no need of this, argues "Arlunydd." One result of the nagkot of Welsh artists is the intro- duction of grotesque errors in the design. As the watchful "Arlunydd" points out, the harp sbown istlmoet asinoorrect in a Druid's bands as would be a Straiivarias fiddle.

To the "Mid-Glamorgan Herald" be the glory of haying discovered a new evasion of 4he Sunday Qfosing Act. The "Hotel de Marl" mttahwd its legal right to existence, but collapsed for the wast of an opea space and 4a indulgent landowner. By the new plan the diffioolty is overcome. Limited liability companies are being fonned for the exprvv patpwe of evading the Act. The procedure is- of the unpiest character. Seven lmmbm-awrt the company, apuoint a board of directors, and issue shares at half-a-crown each. A ehilling only of the capital is called up, aad the subscriber be- comes entitled to all the privileges of a share- holder, which privileges begin and end with, presumably, the legal right to do the illegal thing in the matter of Sunday drinking. We are assured that the new movement is "boomiag," which will surprise no one, having regard to the charming simplicity of the proceeding. One of the few real advantages of Sunday Closing is educative. It is popu. larising knowledge of the licensing law in Wales much in the same fashion as war teaches geography.

The latest and, it is %o be hoped, final discussion on the market question at Swan- sea Town Council on Wednesday resulted in one interesting suggestion. Mr. Freeman does not consider it absolutely certain that the bequest of the site prohibits the erec- tion of shops along the frontagt:s-a thing which would produce sufficient revenue to provide the whole of the interest on the loan for a new market. The point seems to be this, that the condition was evidently imposed by the Calvert Jones family at a time when they had contiguous land for disposal for building purposes, and, as those circumstances no longer exist, it is quite possible that the right of erecting shops could now be justifiably acquired. We always desire to respect the interests of bene- factors, but if this be so, then, as the land was given for the benefit of no section, but of the whole community, and could be turned to their greater advanta-ge, there seems to us no logical reason against obtain- ing the legal power if it can be done. The Swansea Corporation are having bitter ex- perlence of expenditure just now, and the award of the arbitrator respecting the land required for waterworks at Cray is regarded as so "monstrous" and "exorbitant" that the outcome of it is a suggestion to the town- clerk that he should move the Municipal Corporations Association to introduce a Bill which would put a check upon arbitra- tors -in their oavalier treatment of public moneys. We are afraid this is too old a grie- vance to be effectually grappled with by any such change as that proposed.

The rowdyism of certain members of the Cardiff Football Team on Wednesday even- ing was too flagrant and serious to be over- looked. It is time that footballers of rowdy tendencies should be taught that they are not privileged to set the ordinary laws of decency and good conduct at defianoe. That one may be a distinguished footballer and yet remain a gentleman is a truth which far too many players of the game are trying to render doubtful. Already the majority of the best hotels refuse to put up football teams. And with good reason, it must be added. Too many of ttieseyoung men get their heads turned by popular flat- tery and imagine they enjoy a license denied to other people. Reporters, touched by the common enthusiasm, are apt to ignore actions which would be deemed unpardonable if done by ordinary folk. During the last couple of weeks one batch of rowdies from a distance and another batch from Cardiff (we regret to say) have disgraced themselves and the game in this borough. These re- current outbreaks have to stop. It is not unlikely that the scenes on Wednesday even- ing will have one result deplorable from the point of view of the public. The latter may have to suffer in consequence of the misdeeds of a few flighty youths. We hope not, as it would be a pity if the punishment fell on the thousands who interest them- selves in an innocent and manly pastime. If an example or two were made occasionally by the managers of places of entertainment and hotel-keepers, and the culprits were re- minded in an effective way that the ordinary laws apply to the footballer, we might hear less of these unseemly scenes. In the past we confess to some degree of complicity in permitting football rowdyism to go un- punished. But the limit of endurance has been reached and passed, and footbaJI rowdies who gave way to these weaknesses may in the future discover that rowdyism, even where they are concerned, carries certain dis- agreeable consequences.

A ROUGH NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT. I Parliament has not been allowed to rise for its brief Christmas holiday without a succession of exciting scenes and incidents which vividly show how severe the strain is between the Premier and his followers. It has been very plain throughout the session that Mr. Labouchere has been "nursing his wrath to keep it warm" with the intention of letting it loose upon Mr. Gladstone when a good opportunity arose. Whether rightly or wrongly, the senior member for North. ampton chose to believe that Mr. Gladstone only excluded him from his Administration when it was formed in order to please the Queen. The Prime Minister claimed the responsibility for Mr. Labouohere's non- invitation to join his Ministry, and refused to allow any other version to be re- ceived by the public. With all his cynical assumption of indifference Mr. Labouchere has not succeeded in quite disguising his anxiety to be, if possible, at quits with Mr. Gladstone. He did what he could to embarrass the Government over the appointment of the Duke of Conuaught to the Aldershot command, and, when nothing more could be done in that direction, he evinced disconcerting freedom of speech in various matters which Ministers were anxious to get through as quietly and promptly as possible. During the course of yesterday fate put another opportunity in his way which, from his point of view, was too good to be lost. Mr. Gladstone, in reply to a. question put to him, said the Duke of Edinburgh would surrender 216,000 of his annuities, and retain £10,000. Im. mediately the member for Northampton put the mischievous inquiry was the Duke of fiaxe-Coburg a. Britith subject, and would he be removed, if not, from the Privy Coun- Qil. Mr. Gladstone curtly told the Radicals, who by this time bad plucked up courage to follow their leader, that on the first part of this question they must inquire from the law officers of the Crown. Other irritating demands -were launched at the head of the Prime Minister, who forthwith assumed his most courtier-like attitude and tones, and simply defied his recalcitrant supporters to do tbeir worst. Tbeceupon Mr. Labouchere accepted the challenge, and attempted there and then to move the adjournment of the House. Failing to get tiie fall forty mem- bers to support his motion, he went to the extent of demanding a. QWÎeiOØ, and got over fifty to vote with him, 60 making the breach between the Government and the Radicals irreparable. There was mother most ex. citing scene a little later, arising out of African policy, and here again, although Mr. Veeey-Knox handsomely apologised for his reflections on members of the House, the Radicals let it be understood they were ill. content with the attitude of the Govern- ment. All through there was discontent, mutiny, turbulence on the Ministerial tenches, and when the result of the Accring- ton election oame the supporters of the Government were plainly more demoralised than they have been at any time since the formation of the present Administration.

I THE ACCMNGTON ELECTION. I I An evaMng of gre" "dteamt in the I i Hous o of Commms was amompasw 6b-y 1 I some hours of keen anxiety in political circles all over the country. The result of the Acoringtonelection did not reach Cardiff until after eleven o'clock at night, although it is well-known the authorities of these Northern constituencies pride themselves upon their extraordinary smartness in getting out election returns. The long delay in itself suggested a re-count in the Town-hall or something of the kind, for the Accrington Division, with the exception of the Clow Bridge district, is a peculiarly compact one. However, when the news did come at last it was everything short of actual victory, that Unionists could wish. If ever there was a moral victory that ought to count as a material factor in the politics of the day, this Accrington election is it. What Lan- cashire thinks to-day," the rest of the coun. try is being continually told, England will think to-morrow." We can only trust it will be so in this case, for then the Gladstonian Administration is doomed to quick death, without any hope of an early resurrection. A change of political opinion in all the British constituencies to the same extent shown by the poll at Accrington yester- day. would mean oblivion to the Liberal party. The Liberal majority fell from 547 last year to 248. In spite of all the feigned interest in tho Home Rule Bill of Mr. Gladstone, the Liberal majority to-day is 300 save one less than it was some eighteen months ago. The Lords are sup- posed to have angered the country by their amendment of the Employers' Liability Bill, yet the supporter of the action of the House of Lords has reduced the vote of the anta- gonist of the House of Peers to the extent of 300 votes. This is a ca^e in which figures are more eloquent than words, and the little table below will show at a glance how the Unionist vote lias grown and the Liberal vote declined since the country has been put in possession of Mr. Gladstone's ill-starred scheme of Home Rule: I 1886. 1892. 1893. Con. vote 4,971 5,472 6,574 1 Lib. vote 4,751 6,019 5,822 The result of the poll at Accrington yester- day shows the Liberal vote itself to be actually 197 less than it was last year, while, on the other hand, the Consesrvative vote in- creased to the wonderful extent, in the cir- cumstances, of 102. If, therefore, there were any abstentious yesterday, they were all Liberal abstentions; if there were any deserters of their party, they were Liberal deserters. The Gladstonians lost, the Unionists gained all along the line. Mr. Hermon- Hodge is to be heartily congratulated on his gallant fight. Every time he has championed the cause of the Unionists at Accrington he has built up the Unionist vote higher and higher. Mr. Leese is the member to-day for Accrington, but Mr. Hermon-Hodge, and not lie, represents the English opinion of the town, hiswoefully reduced majority being, undoubtedly, Irish. And it must not be for- gottttfi that there are few stronger Noncon- formist centres in England than Accrington is. It is the scene of the daily labours of that redoubtable Liberationist, teetotal Home Ruler, the Rev. Charles Williams, and yet the Liberal majority in one short eighteen months has declined by considerably more than half. Let all England go and do like- wise, and there will be an end to Liberal Govcrwnents for many a long Y-ax to come.

DON'T MJS8 SEEING THE CARTOON IN TO-IDAIES "EVENING EXPRESS.- Subject WJUT CARDIFF HAS TO BE THANKFUL FOR. I

We ba tile pIINtiat fw t;he. Loam 1 CBiTtMi? the nttttto ot A. Wma?he? en.MB' B.S., Lond. UMT., F B.CS. Bog. -6

LONDON LETTER. I [FBOM: OUR LONDON CONRESPONDXW". I I LONDON. THURSDAY. RADICAL DISAPPOINTMENT. The Radicals who usually support Mr. Labouchero were much annoyed that the Irish members did not all of them rise in support of the motion for adjournment to-night. The Nationalists appeared to have about evenly divided, and the split was apparent in the division. Neither were the Welsh Gladstuiiians at one. Two of them abstained, two voted with the Government, aud five against. The Unionists enjoyed heartily the way in which Mr. Gladstone dished the Radicals. His followers hitherto have regarded him as opposed to Royal grants, but to-night nothing- could have been more loyal and courtier-like than his defence of them, and nothing more subtle than his-- rangement of procedure, by which the ground was cut from under the feet of the Radicals. Not only does the division on the motion for adjournment to-night bar Mr. Labouchere, but it bars any other member from attempting a similar motion oil the same subject this session. It is, however, probable that the Radicals will to-morrow night endeavour to secure discussion of the sub- ject on the motion to adjourn for the holi- days. CLARENCE HOUSE. Clarence House is not the private property of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. It W3 granted to hi.? m a residence by her Majesty. It is situated in the Hall, not very far distant from Marlborough House. It is a spacious and comfortable residence. liiie- was some talk of handing it over to the Duke of Con- naught in case of hit; brother giving it up. Probably it will be arranged for the Queen's soldier Bon to occupy it when tile Duke of Saxe-Coburg is not in residence. MR. BRUCE WENTWORTJI ILL. He took his seat in the afternoon and the influenza at night." This is the reply rØvn to an inquiry as to the health of Mr. Bruce Wentworth. His case is, I think, evidence that influenza infection lurks ill the House. He was quite well when he came down to tho House, and at night he was knocked ovar. The case is, I believe, a record. It h cer- tainly an unfortunate incident in the life of a new member that lie should be lat; up almost immediately after taking his _t, and should be prevented from voting with his party. Mr. Bruce Wentworth is lying at his father's town house. PARLIAMENTARY GUINEA-PIGS. I As a sequel to the discussions that have taken place in the House con- cerning the South Africa Company, I be" that Mr. John Burns intends moving that a member's acceptance of the directorship of a public company by a mem- ber of Parliament shall vacate the member's seat. By this I understand Mr. Burns means to absolutely disqualify all directors from sittmg in Parliament. This should strike tenor into the bosoms of Ministers, for the Treasury bench is crowded with guinea-pigs. THE QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS. I The Queen's Christmas is spent in the good old-fashioned style. This year one cf the society papers announced that her Majesty was going to make a change by Christmasing at Windsor. Windsor certainly would lend itself more favourably to her Majesty's idea of a good English Christmas. She has, however, adhered to the unbroken practice of a long succession of years and has gone to Osborne for Christ- mas. But Windsor is not left out of it. The great open fire in the Windsor kitchen has the privilege of roasting the Royal baron of beef, which is cut from a beast 'bred and fed on the' Quecii's farul at Windsor. The baron weighs 1601b. It is being roasted to- day. It. is actually roasted before the fire, not steamed out of all flavour in a wretched gas oven, as our so-called i-oa.st meat nowadays is usually cooked. When cold the Royal baron will be sent across to Osborne, and there, with the boar's head and the vast game pie, will constitute a leading feature in the Christmas fare of the Queen's table. THE PARLIAMENTARY HOLIDAY. The mockery of a holiday which the Government is offering to Parliament is already commencing as regards Ministers themselves. They expect members to be in their places, but ara not above snatching extra holiday themselves. For instance, Sir Charles Russell has to-day gone off to Monte Carlo. This is a specially bad case, inasmuch as, Sir John Rigby Ix?ing absent on account of the death of i'i?F brother, the House is deprived of the services of the two law officers, who between them receive salaries of £ 13,000 a year, exclusive of fees. I think the Tories never left the House without the presence of at least one law officer, unless absent on the service of the State. Some of the questions put down for to-morrow are addressed to the Attorney-General. All the questions on to-day's ]lot,-aper, except ::fur- o\1:ä:C 27th, and they are not all in the names of unionists. MR. JOHN MORLEY'S ILLNESS. Mr. John Morley's illness and his absence from this cotuitry while he continues to dis- charge the duties of Chief secretary for Ire- land are causing the country some incon- venience and oonsiderab expense. Mr. Morley's telegraphing alone costs the country R10 a day. This is quite an income in itself. Unhappily, the extra revenue does not accrue to tho Post Office. Mr. Morley is out of the country, and in postal and tele- graphic traffic exchanges foreigners always manage to get the best side of the bargain. Mr. Morley's £ 10 a day for telegraphing will help the French revenue, but will not help Mr. Arnold Morley's revenue state- ment. THE LAW OF LUGGAGE. A decision of peculiar importance to rail- way traveliers or persons sending their luggage by rail was given to-day in the Queen's Bench by Justices Lawrance and Wright. It was an action against the Great wWesTte1 rn Company to recover £ 250, the value of jewellery belonging to a clergyman's wife. It had been stolen by a railway servant from a portmanteau while in transit. The port- manteau was delivered, but the jewellery was gone. The unsophisticated traveller would naturally jump to the conclusion that w such a case the company was liable. But ri: law is fearfuUy and l'fl; made. It appears that the company are not hable for theft and the risk of the road. The learned judges said this was common law. As a layman, I would respectfully venture to suggest it is uncommonly bad law. LADIES' CLUBS. We have more than one ladies' club in London in a flourishing condition. I do net know whether I cau extend the adjective to the Addison Ladies' Club (Limited), which was mentioned in a cage before the Official Receiver to-&y. The managing director of t?he '?Addison Ladies' Club is Lady Rose Gunning. Lady Rose has had a receiving order filed against her, and she to-day explained to the Official Receiver that she had sold the lease of her house ia Kensington and her furniture to the etab, and that she had no other assets than her shares in the club. Of course, the failure of the managing director does not involve the failure of the club, and it is quite possible that its shares may be a valu- able asset for Lady Rose's creditors. But the times are hard, and plenty of people of position have found themselves unable to make both ends meet, and in society it is a desperate thing to try to economise. KENSfirorroN 'Busmen HAPPY. Busses running to and from Kensington to-day are decorated with Mr. Leopold: de Rothschild g colours. Streamers of blue and yeUow fly from whip and bell-cord, and rosettes decorate the driver., and con- ductors, coats, foi every Yuletide this gentle- man presents to the Jehus and their assis- tants who drive past his door seasonable gifta in the shape of turkeys and geese cheeses and hams, and similar pals table fare. Hence this rejoicing just now. Jarvey knows ST. PAUL'S NEW CLOCK. I St. Paul's is once more in possession of a elock warranted to keep accurate time. It was started at noon to-day by the dean's yowageet daughter, who mounted the geo- metncal staircase for the purpose, in COm- pany with the resident clergy, the choir, and a few favoured visitors. The clock. which waa reedy for bing in the autumn of 1992, is 19ft. in length, and it has been so constructed that GfeatPaul is used as the hour-striking belL In 1892 it was dis- covered that it would not be safe to fix it then, aa Lcri Grimthorpe had proposed to swing the bdl in the upper lantern. The clock W to'bwaltered in consequence, and re-adapted to strike the hours and dirq dong quarters upon the bells which 1re", previously used. These bell s have now hZH raised in the lantern over and heavier hammers attached to th» Trustworthy clocks are at a sreat uiscfn? in the City, and this will ?..e a, a boon. It will need to be wound un 2!Z; day. T CATERING FOR THE CHILCKEX One of the most fashionable audience ° T have ever seen assembled vesterdav ift noon at the Comedy Theatre to test the Christmas fare provided by Mr. cw £ Can*. It js made up of a f?sU- op?  two acts, founded on the storv of Th, piQ ??'' of ??"'?" ?? a .u.-aet Mn,i? skit, Sand ford and M?r?.t." adapted from hat famous book i qu(??tic?ii and an ??ich stn Rn.? favour in u.f? ?'' Bo. h Pkotches appeal especially the juvenile intellect. Mr. Buchanan's adai>t -ui,„ of a thirteenth century sixtry is exe clever, and Mr. AUwoou s music b Wh JlwJoùimls and skilful. Mr. Buchanan ¡Wda to the original tragic tale :L pair of N-oull lovers, with the mayor as an unde«ira„u father-in-law. The piper is represented as a benevolent demon, who eventually restores the children to their sorrowing parents and compels the miwly bm-guinastor to confab to Lmza, marrying tho object of her a(Ie< a cooper by trade. Thus all ends as children desire. Mr. F. C. Buraandhas been very free with Sandford. anù Merton." These model youths are turned into mis- chievous ras'als, who play no end of prank, on Barlow, a gentleman who by the way, falls an easy prey to the wiles of a buxom French ?'?"' The ?'?edy? Theatre will be a very attractiv? place of entertainment for the youngsters this Christmas. THE ALHAMBRA BALLET. For the convenience of suburbia and country visitors, all afternoon lJèrîorll!8.llce (the only one that caD bo given) of the new ballet" Don Quiote," supplemented by 110 complete chan;fO in the variety entertain.' ment, will take place at the Albainbra Theatre on Boxing Day.

NOTICE TO NEWSAGENTS. CHRISTMAS DAY. In accordance with the usual custom there will be no Issue of the WESTEKS MAIL on Christmas Day. TO ADVERTISERS. The Advertisement Department of elg WESTERN MAIL will be Closed for the Receipt of Ádverti8e¡¡¡nt'frollt Six o'clock on Saturday Evening till Six o'clok OH Monday E "Cit; nil.

BARRY'S NEW DOCK. THE INTENTIONS OF THE PRO. MOTERS. TWENTY ACRES TO BE COVERED BY THE FIRST SECTION. Have you seen the announcement regarding the proposed new dock at Barry published in the' Watem Mail a few days ago ¡" inquired cue of our reprefieutatires of a gentleman prominently connected with the Bany undertaking at Cardiff this week. "Yes," was the reply. "But YOIl: raight have gone further. The directors Lavsi definitely decided to go on with the first section of the work, and the contract will, in all pro. bability, be let within the next five or stf weeks. What will be the extent of the initial per tiou P" queried our reporter. Well, it will cover about twenty acres, that in itself will be an important accession .1 the present shipping capacity of the compuy Besides, the work will be finished in such Ii w- 0 that the second section may be commenoed with,, but little trouble or expense." What number of tips will be placed on tio opening portion?" was the next question. "Ten, I believe." And the interview II1d. denly terminated by a Barry director appearing on the scene.

THE PONTYPRIDD EXPLft SION. DISTRIBUTION OF THE WESTERN MAIL FUND Following the practice adopted in the ew a, the Park Slip Explosion, wedecidednoi topermi the money collected by us to be merged in tbf common fund, but to distribute it directly among the families of the victimr, aleo to vrith* hold the money until the relief whiah flow* in copiously enough at the beginning bad become exhausted. In accordance with this decision, the money held by us in tru.t fat the afflicted families will be distributed undetf* the direction of Morien to-day (Friday) Thai distribution will take place at the parish offlem., Pontypridd, at four o'clock to-day (Friday), aniT the widows are requested to attend in perscni wherever possible.

THE SANTA CLAUS FESTIVAL. CONSOLATION FOR THE DISAPPOINTED. A number of children secured admission the Park-hall on Wednesday who had no tickets* They shared in the feast by the in3u3?cnce 01 the door-keepers, who did not foresee how tbf additional number would affect the distribution of bags. &c., at the dose. The result wd that, s provision had been mace fo j 1,000 childron only, some of the latter wh8, possessed ticketa had to go without t" share. We greatly regret this and are em deavouring to make the omission good. If tbl ticket-holders who suffered the disappointment will secure letters (endorsing their claim) from trustworthy persons—that is to tho«e| entrusted with the distribution of the ticfeetiH and will call upon Sergeant Farrell, at our. Tudor-road Offices, he will take their names aal addresses, and arrangements will be made dividing a fresh lot of gifts among them.

SUCCESS OF A WELSH LADV, VOCALIST. Miss Mary Thomas, daughter of Mr. GwilyM, Thomas, Ynysbir, has just won the Westmore- land Scholarship at tho Royal Academy rA Music. The prize was open to the contraltos and sopranos of the whole world. Twenty-five yoonf ladies competed. It will be recollected that Miss Mary Thomas a short time ago won a goli ftedal at the Royal Academy of Music.

GENERAL ROBERTS TO VISIT CARDIFF. We understand that a suggestion haft boo made that General Sir Frederick Roberta shall distribute the prizes to the Glamorgan ArtiOG4 Volunteers at Cardiff, and should he undertaki the function it -is possible that the question 01 conferring upon him the freedom of the county borough of Cardiff will be taken into eoDlIiderfoo tion.

NEW RAILWAY FACILITIES AT BARRY. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW WORK4 AT CADOXTON-BARRY. At a meeting of the public works oommi" of the Bxoy aad Cadoztœ Local Botfd,M? Tharød&y O, at Cdoiton, Mr.N. Tho inivs (auctioneer ) in the chair, 'DO.Toim tion la:ø <Nr::rM:: tlù prop6et- a the Old Village Brickworks, Cadoxton, tpply? for pomiesion to lay a line of railway Al?? the road adjoining his works. After ? oi?' sion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr..»•. Lewis, seconded by Mr. rge Tbom:l, '-? the application be la:to:d:g: jL?t? t. t<* e.ova?of t4h t?ter twelve now* r hn 1 0 iD- of -.itr.

WORKMEN ON WAGES. I The conference, or whatever may be the correct designation of the gathering which took place in Swansea the other day to consider, among other things, "the living wage," was a consultation of a most satis- factory character. We say this more especially because it was an assemblage of working men. The problems of labour are so all-important at the present time that nothing but good can come from considera- tion of the subject by representative bodies of any kind. The Jerusalem Chamber con- ference of divines was a failure so far as practical results were concerned, but it, at any rate, established a new era as to the moral responsibilities of ministers of religion, and that is a gain in one direction. To find a body of Welsh miners calmly discussing the subject of "the living wage," not under panic or excitement, not in the face of a strike or lock-out, but as an incident of ordinary business, was most gratifying. It will be a. happy thing if their example in this respect is generally followed by Trades Unionists. They will blunder, they will fall into economical heresies, they will make all kinds of mistakes in logic, but they will be still moving onwards through it all in the direction of the solution of the problem, and their errors will be slowly corrected in the painful school of experience. Such dis- cussions must always bring a little light, and always help to make a, little safer the morass of doubt and mis- trust existing between employers and em- ployed. It is easy to see already a little progress in the discussion of these wage ques- tions. The old Manchester school laid down the principle that a capitalist has a right to buy labour, as he would buy anything else, in the cheapest market. But the cou- science of mankind is beginning to demand a. modification of that principle, so far as to make the rule run that a capitalist hae a right to buy in the cheapest market con- sistent with "a living wage." That is a great advance, undoubtedly, although nobody is able to say just yet what oonstitutes a living wage." A shelter from wind and rain for themselves and their fadilies, and por- ridge, and milk, and potatoes, and bread, with rough clothing, would be considered by many capitalists a sufficiently generous stan- dard in kind- of "a living wage." While thousands of workmen would be thankful to have the chance of accepting it, the great majority of workmen above the level of the roughest labourers not un- reasonably think they are entitled to reoeiro very considerably more than that in return for their work. Mr. Daronwy Isaac stood stoutly out for the sliding- scale, not as the provider of an ideal "living wage," but as the best known ex. pedient for securing the working miner the fullest advantage of the higgling of the market, with the least possible clash, and struggle, and loss, and suffering. As to the principle of the sliding-scale, it is hard to see who can reasonably object to it. The points at which it begins to operate, above which it may not rise, below which it can- not fall, are still, however, elements in the matter that will have to be thrashed out before a real working hypothesis can be arrived at. In order to get at this, the methods and plans of foreign countries should be brought to the knowledge of our work- ing classes, and it is to be hoped that every means will be adopted to spread the light.