The Welshman

MICROBES, GOOD AND EVIL: THEIR I MIGHTY WORK IN THE WORLD. I LECTURE BY DR. ARNAULT JONES. At the dose of the "? meeting of the Car- m^.+t'n'S;a Association on the night of the ?h K? ? -?"'? '?"? of Port Talbot, d?'?t ? -?? a most interesting lecture on Bacterio- ioov l, r Um" t+ e ( hnica 1 language as far as pos- Jogy. ? '? technical language as far as pÕ.s- fmn,' P. presenting the subject in a popular form. Part  the report is here given, and we  strongly advise readers to cut it' out and I J3;, •siti, ong ? h a a vise read ers to cut it out and' preserve ,t. so that the lecture may be read a? whole. and not i.n disjointed portions. For people who know but f.ttte of science tins IS an excellent opportunity of acquiring some useful knowleu° o-e of a most important and attractive subject. Dr. Arnault Jones, at the outset, referred to the aiscovery of the first germs (animafcu?, in water ".??"??"?"?. ? Dutch linen draper in ??1 H? ?"?'? = V 'V '?' ?-Y from 16/1 to lSfiV ?92 years), neady two centuries vet that was the time which elapsed between the first dis- covery of Leeuwenhock and the arrest and con" viction of the first germ in C(muection with in fectious disease in man-that was the germ of ?a I thrax or woolsorter s disease discovered b, D, • aine S,„ 1863 fresh Reveries followed d are following m quick succession. In 1866 wni f?undthe germ callsmg suppuration or inflamma- tion of wounds and bloodpoisoning- 1873 re? sing fev?r—Ii-ish famine fever; 1880. tvphoid enteric fever: 1882. germ of tu?rculosi? germ of chafer a, and many others since—and now a miMion microscopes are exploring the new world of Leewenhoek What I want to impress on you is that each of these two events--the discovery of the first microbe in 1671 and .the conviction of the hist miciobe of disease in 1863—marks an epoch in the history of mankind as important as Water- loo or Sedan for about the latter date (1861, bv 1stem) the ancient doctrine of the spontaneous generation of germs was overthrown. The great principle of Biology is now proved, accepted and established that every germ springs from a pre- ceding germ. and that without parent germs the microbes of putrefaction, fermentation, and dis- ease cannot occur. This, with the discovery of the first germ of disease has conferred on the study of germs, i.e., Bacteriology, a practical im- portance which cannot be exaggerated, for it was at once obvious that if germs did not arise spon- taneously. then germ diseases might be prci vented by barring the entrance of microbes or cured by destroying the microbes after entrance Bacteria. are classified according to their shape lilto:- 1. Cocci or spheres, and these may exist singly or in pairs, chains, or clusters. 2. Bacilli are rod-like bodies. 3. Spi riIia are twisted like corkscrews. All these are members of the vegetable king- dom and belong to the lo" est order of plants; the, ,i i-a really huigi and consist of protoplasm en- closed in a definite membrane of cellulose resemb- ling in character the woody fibres of trees. Thev multiply by fission, each individual cell dividing into two and the two daughter cells take the r>1c of the or.g.na parent ceH. and although the o?gmat parent has lost its identity, vet there has been no death, and no dissolution, t there has of the parent exists m the prnQenv. so that each germ is really a chip of the old block, and it is a "Hise germ that knows his own father. And set- ting aside accidents, bacteria are immortal, and under favoura ble conditions they can multiply so rapidly that sixty generations mav be developed in thirtyTsix hours. Indeed, it has been estimated that a bacillus (lividing once every hour would in J4 hours have increased to 17 millions. and the mass in three dsfvs would weigh no less than 7,500 tons. Do not the miracles /)f the widow's cruse and that of the loaves and fishes pale into insig- nificance by the side of this eternal miracle of digestion and duplication. By the reservoir of life in one infinitesimal small cell, tons of dead matter can be transmitted into living organisms. During the last quarter of a century we have witnessed the rise and progress of the moderf ,?i?,-)ratoi-y. There are now established labor? tories imparting instruction in the study of yeasts and mould fungi, agricultural stations, foresting and dairy schools, and so on-all indications of our latter-day progress, and demonstrating that utility is the one powerful incentive of modern specialization. The digestive capacity of germs shewn in their power of multiplication is (V great economic importance—where the microbes abide there they digest, and where they digest they cause various chemical changes, and these changes differ according to the breed oft he microbe, its food, and the conditions surrounding it. and this chemical versatility though sometimes vicious can often be turned to profitable account. Thus mil- lions of microbes are engaged in the jute and flax industries—they digest the cement substance be- j tween the fibres of the plants and so help the manufacturer. But for these industrious little, mill-hands Belfast and Dundee would he mere villages to-day. So we find different bacterial have different missions, and commercially some are of the utmost importance, for without them I .-there would be no fermentation, and the wine, I beer. and indigo industries would suffer, and the J ripening of cheese and like processes would not occur. Municipal bodies in the treatment of sewage harness for their use mriads of bacilli, and set them to work on the sewage in septic tanks, converting the sewage into a harmless and in- nocuous residuum, and a liquid effluent which can be admitted into running streams of water. The word "fermentation" usually recalls the ordin- ary processes concerned in the brewing of bee' 1 and making wines and spirits; but we must not forget that the word connotes all decompositions or alterations induced by the life-activity of fungi —;>ne kind of fungus aids us in the disposal of refuse, another helps to prepare our drinks. Al- coholic fermentation is the oldest bacteriological experiment. Those of you who find solace and in- struction in the greatest of all books will recollect what is written of Noah after the Flood, how "he began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard, and he drank of the wire planted a usual too familiar sequel. Through Hansen's work at Copenhagen, the brewer can now work with yeasts of uniform type, and he has learned to know the diseases of beer. and how to treat and avoid them. In tanning, the steeping of skins in water involves bacterial action fiv which the hair and skin surface are removed; the bacillus is introduced by the pine bark, and is responsible for the proper accidification of the tanning solu- tion ,and is much valued in the making of certain leathers. Bacteriology plays aprominent nart in the dairy. Milk is a great transmitter of disease, and there are few medical practitioners who have not geen enteric fever, scarlatina, diphtheriaf or tubercule conveyed by its agency, and if we ac- cept the statement of a Continental authority that each time we eat a. slice of bread and butter we devour a number of bacteria equal to the popula- tion of Europe, then we have good grounds for demanding information as to what these bacteria. are. and what they are doing. The souring of milk is caused by lactic acid bacteria. Originallv when left to itself, the process often went wrong, because other putrefactive bacteria, were present. Now. pure cultivations of lactic acid bacteria are employed, and all goes well in butter making. A few years ago Storch found that the peculiar aroma of a good butter was due to a bacterium which he isolated, and Weigmann has now culti- vated two races, one of which produces an excel- lent lfavour and aroma, but the butter keeps badly while the other develops less aroma but has good keeping qualities. In America pure cul- g of a bacillus which develops the famous June flit hitherto met with only in butter of certain districts during a short season of the of ('erh'u. been isolated, and this fine flavoured year, is e: prepared in scores of American hnt.er IS no haP a hundred years hence our We?sh farmers wiH do likewise. Properly con- Welsh farmers f cture of cheese is a form of sldered, t?e manu.a even more complex than "smidicerroesd c' opic g:lIblenmgFrom the outset the cheese-  ? coc his milk. till his stock is maker guards and all he knows to keep down the ready. and he does he then adds rennet, and the growth of g;1rms.; he å. on whi¿.h with the curd treated as. a me fi and bacteria are 'necessary precautions, fungi -n1 grow?o&ctmg them against the in roads of ani- mal and plant pests, against ull-stlit-able tempera- ture. moisture, access f light, etc. H? ?suc ceeded in grow ing the right iiiiero-organi.sms On h? curd, his art then deman ds that 1lie < +P their growth ? the critical moment, when his cheese is ready for the market. (To be continued).

Blue CrosS I IS THE POPULAR Tea. I 1 Ask your Grocer for it. In Packets. [ ?,, [6287

TERRITORIAL PRIZE MEETING AT CARMARTHEN. WINNERS OF TRADESMEN S PRIZES. The following is a list of the winners and donors of the Tradesmen's prizes shot for on the range at Danyrallt, Carmarthen:- Sergt.-Instructor J .Burns—Messrs. H. Thomas, Emporium, and C. Finch, Nott Square. Sergt. T. Thomas—Messrs. Masters and Co. and J. O. Morgan, grocer. Sergt. W. Morris—Messrs. Cash and Co. and T. Negus. 1 Col.-Sergt. D. Rogers—Messrs. Wright, up- holsterer and Colby Evans, stationer. Corpl. J .Greenwood—Mr. Thresh, Guildhall Square. Pte. D. Rees—Mr. Davies. chemist, Guildhall Square. Sergt.-Instructor W. H. Williams—Mr. C. H. Carpenter. King Street. Corpl. J. Evans—Messrs. Lipton Ltd. M essi, Pte. T. T. Lewis—Mr. Rees, chemist. Pte T. N-egtis-Nlr. T. Thomas, jeweller. Corph J. James—Mr. Lewis Evans. grocer. Pte. O. Rogers—Mr. LI. Arthur, Priory Street. Corl)t. E. Duckfleld-\Ir. CoiiiA-il Evans, King Street. Sergt. J. Seillo—Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son. Pte. R. J. S. Jones—Mr. Heddon, Guildhall Square. Pte. F. G. Lewis—Mr. Giles, photographer. Pte. G.Davies—Mr. Reeves, jeweller. Pte. T. Thomas—Mr. Davies, Cloth Hall. Pte. R. Tawse—Mr. Thomas, Plough Hotel. Pte. S. Astley—Star Tea Co., Guildhall Square. Pte. Thompson—Mr. H. Berry. Nott Square. Pte. Halliday—Mr. Harris, draper. Sergt.-Majar A. R. Davies—Mr. Davies, Regent House. Pte. S. Thomas—Mr. Palmer, jeweller. Pte. B. Grififths—Mrs. Hodges, Guildhall Square. Pte. A. V. S. Davies—Mr. A. Arthur, chemist. Corpl. Bowser—Mrs. Budge. King Street. Sergt. G. Jones—Mr. Llewellyn, chemist. Pte. A. E. Lewis—Mr. Latham, Mansel Street. Pte. A. C. Thomas—Mr. Cole, saddler. Pte. H. Berry—Mr. Joshua, grocer. Pte. T. Evans—Mrs. Phillips, ironmonger. Pte. A. Harries—Mr. D. Rogers. Lammas Street. Pte. D. H. Evans—Messrs. Fruit Co.. Dark Gate. Pte. A. R. Duckfield—Mr. T .Jones, iron- Corpl. "W. Morris—Mr. Davies, Half Moon. monger. ,Y. Morris-1fr. D,lvies, Half .Moon. Pte. W. Daniel—Messrs. Eastman's. Ltd.

NARBERTH BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual fortnightly meeting of the above Board of Guardians was held at the Workhouse, Narberth, on Monday, 1st inst., Mr. R. H. Buck- by presiding. Also present were Rev. D. E. Wil- liams, Mr. J. Bowen. Mr. Wm. Thomas, Mr. Ed. Thomas. Mr. Win. Perkins, Mr. B. J. Howells, Mr. Owen James, Mr. Wm. Richards, Mr. Thomas Davies (Llanglvdwen), Mr. Wm. Lewis (Llawt- | haden); Air. J. Lawrence, Mr .T. David. Mr. Wm. Thomas, Mr. Benj. Thomas (Jeffreyston); Mr. Lewis Thomas, Mr. Wm. Melchior, Mr. J Phillips, Mr. Jos .Phelps, Mr. Geo. Killa, Mr. Benj. Jones, Mr. J .Griffiths, Mr. J. D. Williams; and the clerk (Mr. H. Lewis). RELIEVING OFFICERS' REPORTS. I The reports of the relieving officers were as fol- lows:—First week Mr. Rees's district, on the list 157; relief, £ 29 Ils. 6d. Mr. Tlios. Howell's dis- trict, 160, and £ 27 6s. 6d.; Mr. J. Griffiths's dis- trict. 115 and t22 5s. 6d. non-resident paupers, 29, relief £ 3 6s 2d.total relief tS.,3 5s. 6d. as against £ 79 6s. Total number of paupers (in- door and out-door) 508. Second week: Mr. David Rees's district, on the list 157, relief t28 lis. 6d. Air. Tlios. Howells's district, 160, and £ 27 19s. 8d; Mr. J .Griffiths's district, 115 and t22 5s. 6d.; non-resident paupers 29, relief £ 6 2s.-totat relief £ 84 18s. 8d.. as against £79 18s. 2d. in the corres- ponding week of last year. Total number of paup- ers (in-door and out-door), 507. MASTER'S REPORT. I The report of the Master was as follows:—On the 19th October Mrs. Stuart Jones, Saunders- foot, visited the House and kindly brought grapes for the sick. Mary Ann Foote discharged herself this morning. She came back at 7.30 p.m. drunk. She fell down outside the lodge door and cut her head, and she was obliged to be assisted into the House. On the 23rd October Miss Allen. Cilrhiw, visited the House and gave the children their usual lessons for one and a half hours. Dr. Dewar certified that some of the children in the House were suffering from whoop- ing cough, and he thought it would not be ad- visable to send these children or the others to school until the epidemic passed off. On the 25th October Mrs. S. Jones. Saundersfoot, kindly gave papers for the use of the inmates. On the 27th October Dr. E. Price, Narberth, visited the House and found a case of phthisis in the House. On the same date the Narberth District Nurse, Miss Beresford. attended to the sick. Oh the 28th October an old man, Wm. Evans, aged 76 died that morning. On the 29th October P.S. Thomas and P.C. Williams, Narberth, visited and took samples of milk which was supplied to the House, to be analysed. On the same day Aliss Jones Gwarmacwydd. visited the House and gave two of the sick a jacket each, also two knitted capes to an old woman. Mrs. Jones. Llangan Vicarage, Whitland, sent tobacco for the men and sweets for the children and old women. On the 30th October Miss R. Allen and a lady friend gave the children their usual lessons for one hour and a half On the same date divine service was con- ducted in the House by the Rev. J. H. Phillips, Amroth. The number of inmates in the House for the first week of the fortnight was 47, as com- pared with 52 in the corresponding week of last!, year; 51 vagrants were relieved. In the second week the number of inmates was, 46, as compared with 51; 48 vagrants were relieved. The Chairman said that at the last meeting the relieving officer was directed to attend to a case of an old woman at Ludchurch ,who was suffer- ing from cancer. They had, however, failed to get someone to look after her. The neighbours would not go into this old woman's house, but food was put outside the house for her. He be- lieved that a. portion of the expense of getting a- nurse would be borne outside, and he would ask the guardians to contribute one third of the cost. They as guarctians would not be justified in let- ting the case go hy. The woman's nose and eyes were gone through this disease, and it was a very terrible case. If this woman died and if the guardians cud not make an effort to help her they would be very much to blame. He thought they were bound to do something to help her. The Rev. D. G. Williams moved that they con- tribute one-third of the cost. Mr. David Davies seconded ,and it was unani- mously carriefl. The Clerk read a letter from Mr. H. B. White, solicitor. Carmarthen, stating that he would be there that day to say a few words on behalf of the porter. Charles Thomas. Mr. White, who Was present, then said he wished to say a few words on behalf of Charles Thomas. He came there with quite an open mind and not a word of bias would leave his lips. If they remembered there was a meeting held at the union a fortnight previous, when certain charges were brought against the Master, who had been there for a number of years. At that meeting it was thought fit to call in Charles Thomas to as- certain the character of the Master. His client fearlessly answered certain questions put to him, and he did so without any malice or ill-feeling. He understood there was no friction between the Master and Thomas. His client had a good char- acter. and he had testimonials in his hand, one of them being from the Chairman of the Board him- self. He put it to them that if during the three years Thomas who had been their servant did not behave himself, he would not have been permitted to remain there. A gentleman by the name of Mr Cotlitis, whom he greatly respected, was also called into the mom, and he stated that Charles Thomas was seeking to oust the Master from the institution, and when he had done this. to put himself in the Master's place. This member also said that the matter should not be passed over so easily, but should be probed to the bottom. If the matter was allowed to drop it would be doing injury to Thomas. It had been stated that Thomas had been up to St. Clears and Whitland canvassing for the Master's place if it became vacant. Mr. T. Williams, Whitland. told Mr. Collins that Charles Thomas had been canvassing in the town, and said it was a scandal. He ad- mitted that if this was so it would be a scandal, but Charles Thomas had not done so. Thomas I had never thought of having the Master's posi- tion. and had not asked one of the members to favour him. It was also stated that Thomas had influenced a pauper, Benjamin Duckfield, to write a letter to the Chairman of the Board, making a complaint against the conduct of the Master. He wanted fair play, and if he had to leave the room he would ask them to caM Charles Thomas in aud ask him whether he had asked a guardian for a berth which was not vacant, or whether he had anything to do with the letter condemning the Master. It was perfectly true what Mr. Wm. Thomas said that they should look into the matter.  He understood that not one charge had been made against his client, not even by the Master. What Thomas had to answer he answered fairly. Ho (the speaker) had been attached to the Carmar- thenshire Infirmary for very many years; and whenever there wp" any little friction between the inmates and the off ¡cia l the matter was thor- oughly thrashed out. It was perfectly right that Thomas should becaDed in. This man might have had occasion to apply for another berth, and it was true that lie had applied for a situation at < A beravon. and on that occasion he was given tes- timonials by the guardians. The Alaster might be there for many more years, and if Thomas, who it was suggested tried to get the position behind his back, he would not be a. fit person to repre sent them as a porter of theinstitution.. Air. White-was then asked to retire. Air. Wm. Richards said he did not know wliit to say. When it came up for discussion he did not think the matter would again crpp up. He ) did notice that Air. Collins did mention some things which he ought not to have. j The Chairman—It is a personal matter. Mr. T. David—I am of the opinion that we ought to call Thomas in and that would end the matter. The Chairman—No, that will not end the mat- ter. Air. Collins is not here to refute it. Is it a matter for the Board of Guardians to take up Is it not a personal matter between the Porter and Mr. Collins? Mr. Wm .Perkins—What are we here as, a Board of Guardians or a court of appeal? Mr. B. J .Howells—Thomas is a servant of this Board, and 1 think it does concern the Board. It is a personal matter more than anything else. Perhaps Thomas has not got the means to stand against Collins. The Chairman—The man must show—to go to law—that there has been damage done. A Afember The damage depends upon the guardians. Mr. Richards—T would not like to injure Mr. Collins, but I say lie was not right in what he said. For my own part I should like to get the matter over. I j The Chairman—We have not got Mr. Collins here. It was proposed that the matter be deferred for I a fortnight. The Chairman moved an amendment that the matter be referred to the House Committee. ? Mr. Wm. Thomas said he would like to say a few words as his name had beenbrougnt up by Mr. White. He thought the matter ought to be probed to the bottom that day. They should not leave such things like this, but sliotild bring them forward and thorough investigations made. He would a dhere to that. The Chairman—There is nothing in that. The Rev. D. E. Williams said he did not think it was fair to discuss the matter in the absence of Mr. Collins. When he read the report he j thought that was the end of it. Thomas was -i. servant of the Board, and he should have the op- oortunitv to sea whether they had confidence in I him or not. He would be against discussing it any further in the absence of Mr. Collins. Tr. Lewis Thomas said that there was some- thing wrong with the moral tone of the place. There was no doubt a bout that. They had occa- sion to think so. Whenever a. boy or girl went out of the house there were always complaints made. The discussion at the last meeting did not help the House at all, and lie quite agreed that these things ought to be farobed to the Bot- tom. He was very sorry for the man in charge of the Workhouse, seeing that he was an old man j and was near to having a pension, but at the same time he thought that a sharp look out ought to be taken of these matters, which were coming up continually. There was something really wrong with the place. The Chairman—And we will never get right until the whole place is cleared. That will not be very long. Mr. T. Lew is—If they go on as they are your words will come true. The Chairman—I am going to take some very I drastic steps against these scandals. Mr. Wm. Thomas said they were there to look after the poor of the House. 1 The Chairman said that during his 40 years' service on the Board of Guardianshe had never come across such a. scandal. i Mr. Thos. Davies said something ought to be done with the administration of the House. Which way it was to be done he did not know. Rev. D. E. Williams—Perhaps Mr. Collins was not correctly reported. The Chairman said that as this matter was a personal one between Air. Thomas and Mr. Col- lins the matter should be dropped. He moved that. j Mr. J. Phillips seconded. After some more discussion the matter was adjourned for a fortnight in order to enable Mr. Collins to appear. The committee which had been appointed to estimate how much paint it would take to paint the Workhouse said they had come to the con- elusion that 2601bs. would be ample. It was stated that 6t cwts. had been used for doing it. and the members wanted to know where the paint had all gone to. The Master said he did not know. A Member wanted to know why the Master had not had a contract for this paint instead of buying it in small quantities. The Master said that sometimes painters came into the House and he got them to paint the House. When they came into the House lie did not have any paint so lie sent for a quantity, and the same he did for every painter who was ad- mitted. The Clerk read out the dates and quantities of paint bought. They were as follows: 12th July, t cwt.; 9th August. 1 cwt. 23rd August ,1 cwt.; 6th Sept., 1 cwt.; 20th Sept., 3 cwt. The Chairman said it was never anticipated to paint the House. Rev. D .E. Williams—If we did pay rather too much for paint we did not pay for the labour. Mr. Wm. Richards moved That the lessons now given to the Workhouse children every Sat- urday by Miss Lewis, Henlls^n, be discontinued." The members all voted against the motion, which fell to the ground. Mrs. Stuart Jones wrote a letter in which she stated that at 11.30 a.m. on the previous day when she visited the House she saw Mary Ann Collins having her leg dressed, and the smell was quite overpowering. She wished to call the at- tention of the guardians to the excessive cruelty of placing Ann Williams in that room. Mrs. Flook had told her that Dr. Dewar had ordered her to be put there because she was a consump- tive. Surely some other place might be found for her,, as to compel an old woman to be day and night in such a siciening stench, and eat her meals in it, seemed to be one of the most inhuman things she had ever come across. A letter was then read from Dr .Dewar. who stated that with regard to the consumptive patient occupying the ward with the inmafft with a bad leg, he understood that there had been a complaint made by one of the lady visitors. When he discovered a few days previous that this patient was suffering from tuberculosis there was one or two alternatives for hi mto choosither to leave her in the ward where she had been, which was occupied by several other aged female inmates and a child 2 years of age. or to put her in a ward where she was now with one patient. where there could be better air and more ventila- tion. It was tli ecase of choosing the least of two evils. The odour from the bad leg was lather offensive on that particular dav. He visited the ward the previous week and there was absolutely no unpleasant odour in the ward. He did not think the condition of this patient was so horrible or inhuman as the letter of Mrs. Jones would lead them to believe. Nevertheless strictly speaking the patient should not be where she is providing there were any means of isolating her as tuber- culosis was now considered as an infectious dis- ease. If it could be done, he would suggest that another room be prepared for her and that she should be isolated, as it was desirable to prevent the infection of the other patients and inmates as far as possible, especially in an institution of this kind. The Chairman—Uhat is plain enough. Have- you got another room? The Master—An infectious ward for efmales. The Chairman—^Where is that situated ? I The Master—In the girls' yard. The Chairman—Is it isolated? The Master-tes.

VENO'S Lishininfi; COUGH CURE I Th* purest and surest Temedy obtainable for ACUTE COLDS I INFLUENZA CHRONIC COUGHS I WHOOPING COUGHa BRONCHITIS NASAL CATARRH CHRONIC ASTHMA WEAK LUNGS At.bert Smith. Ksq., M.S.B.Sc., the "lebrated london an?vst. pav,Veno's LtaaT?txo Codob 8cre 13 nompoMd of pure ingredients, and Is & most excellent :i¿íft:[å.a 11 1I;itr:à' Price 91d., 1/1 and 2/9. of aU Chezpbts. [6171 S. H. of. SILKS.—Use warm or cold water not hot. Soak and rinse don't rub or wring. Iron when quite dry under a damp • cloth. That's all I LACVS. Soak rub gently squeeze the water out (don't tw, ist),, and rinse. Wind small fine laces around a bottle rub and squeeze with the hands, and'rinse while still on the bottle. Stretch and dry. That's all .—— -1 ———— J —— » Fels-Naptha for delicate fabrics. Never think that Fels-Naptha soap is only good, for white and coloured clothes. It is equally as good for the finest silks, and linens, and laces, that ever had to be cleaned. With the Fels-Naptha way of washing there's NO HARD RUBBING. That's why!, A lady's dainty wear may be washed, washed, and washed again, with Fels-Naptha. There'll never be the slightest suspicion of a break or tear, and it will always dry spotless and clean. i SOAP 1. d I [5936

-i-" KNARBERTH RURAL DISTRICT I COUNCIL. This Council was held immediately after, when Mr. Wm.. Richards presided. Dr. Price sent a report, in which he stated that i the school at Templeton would be closed for six weeks owing to whooping cough. The Chairman asked the Surveyors if they had brought their diaries as lie wished to see some- thing. The Surveyors said they did not happen to have the books that dav. When they did bring them nobody looked at them.. Instructions were given to the Surveyors to bring the books at the next meeting. Mr. J. Phillips moved That steps may be taken to alter the dates for holding the fairs at Alaenclochog." A letter was read from Alaenclochog Parish Council with regard to the same matter. They expressed a. wish that the matter would be brought forward, and they trusted the Council would be kindly disposed. At present great dissatisfaction existed with the dates of the fairs. They passed a. resolution at their meeting in which it was stated that the local fairs be changed to the Tues- day following Lettrston fair, and that a pig fair be held on the same date as the ordinary fair with the exception of September fair." It was decided to change the dates.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT j In the House of Lords on the 26tli ult, the re- report stage of the Development and Road Im- provement Bill gave rise to considerable discussion and several amendments were carried against the Government dealing with the powers of the Road Board. The Bill was afterwards read a third time and passed. Their lordships then adjourned till November 8. In the Commons, the consideration of the Fin- ance Bill was resumed on the report stage, when Mr. Younger moved to omit the clause which im- poses the new scale of duties on Excise liquor licences. This proposal was resisted by Mr. H. Samuel and Air. Asquith, who defended the pro- posed taxes as founded in equity and in justice. Mr. Balfour, on the other hand, contended that they penalised a particular trade, and that ttty were brought in because of the rejection of the Ministerial Licensing Bill. On a. division the amendment was defeated by a majority of 122. Further proposals were made by the Opposition with a view to mitigating the severity of the taxes I on licence-holders, and on one of these Mr. Peel stated that the result of the duties in London alone would entail the ratepayers in an annual loss of £ 208,000. The amendments were all negatived on a division. In the House of Commons on the 27th ult. Mr. Asquith announced that the final stage of the Fin- ance Bill would be reached on Thursday next, and on the folowing day. after the Lords' amendments to the Irish Land Bill had been put as a whole from the Chair, a motion would be made to ad- journ the House until November 23. File Fin- ance Bill was again considered on report, and amendments were moved to reduce the amount of the new licence duties or lessen their injustice. Air. Balfour and other speakers pointed out how the proposals of the Government would penalise hotels in London and the ereat towns and threaten important enterprises with ruin. Ministers, how- ever, refused to make the changes asked for. The licensing clauses were disposed of, and those re- lating to the death duties afterwards discussed. ,In the Commons on the 28th ult. further pro- gress was made with the report stage of the Fin- a nee Bill. The clauses relating to the Income- tax proposals were disposed of, the Governjnnt. in an amendment moved from the Unionist benches, agreeing to make a concession to thieve landowners from the tax under Schedule A in the case of expenditure on farm buildings and other works necessary to maintain the existing rent. Other amendments were moved to mitigate the Ministerial proposals in regard to the spirit taxes I and the tobacco taxes, so that the increased bur- dens should not press so heavily on the working classes, but the Government resisted the amenrl-I ments, which were defeated on divisions. In the House of Commons on Friday .the pro- ceedings on the report stage of the Finance Bil! I were resumed, the clauses relating to the duty on motor spirit and the remaining clauses being dis- i posed of. together with the schedules. On an 1 amendment moved by Mrl Hobhouse, on behialf of i Mr Lloyd George, and eventually agreed to, re- ducing the permanent annual charge for th" National Debt from £ 25,000,000 to £ 24,500,000, the Chancellor's further encroachment" on the sinking fund tf". the extent of £ 500.000 was criti- cised by several Opoosition speakers. The report stage was concluded .and the third leading of the Bill fixed for Tuesday. ) Mr. Owen Philipps (Pembroke and Haverford- j west) asked the Secretary for War in the House of Commons on Monday if the Army Council pro- posed to sell any War Denartment land in the i neighbourhood of Pembroke Dock. and, if so. whether he would favourably consider 'he ques- tion of selling it in small lots suitable for work- men's houses, or offer it to the small holdings committee of the Pembrokeshire Countv Council. Mr. Haldane—It is proposed to sell certain War Department land near Pembroke Dock by auction in small lots, in order to give the small purchaser an opportunity of buying. The department has been in communication with the county land agent and has informed him that the date and particu- Irirs of the sale will be notified so that the SmaH Holdings Committee of the county council may have an opportunity of bidding, The last stage of the Finance Bfll began in the • House of Commons on Tuesday, when Mr. Austen Chamberlain moved the rejection of the measure in a speech of some moderation, which drew a tri- bute from the Government front bench. He said | | the thirty new clauses introduced during the com- mittee and report stages had done nothing to make the Bill either more just or more logical; and after this criticism of the entire basis of the scheme, he said that the Unionist party had in Tariff Reform a better way of meeting the neces- sities of the country. j Air. Philip Snowden, the ablest of the Socialist speakers in the House, declared that the Budget was Socialistic, but did not go quite as far as he wished. I

CORRESPONDENCE. I WANTED: CAREER OF AN OLD MINSTREL. tTO THE EDITOR OY THH •' WELSHMAN."] I ;SIR,—Can any of your readers kindly furnish me with any information respecting Lefi Gibbwn, the celebrated strolling fiddler and ballad singer of a generation ago ? He was, I believe, a native of North-East Pembrokeshire, but lived tne life of a nomad, going about from fair to fair through- out the western counties singing ballads and play- ing the fiddle. His name was a household word in the Welsh part of Pembrokeshire when I was a small lad at home, and there must, be any number of people still living who can remember him, and who can, if they wish, give interesting particulars of-liim. He is said to have possessed a remark- -ablfine tenor voice, and I heard my mother relate many a time that she once heard him at Pun- cheston fair while crossing the Trefnewydd moun- tain at a distance of three miles away. When did this old worthy bid good-bye to ballad and fiddle? And where were his mortal remains laid to rest ? If an^ of the readers can furnish me with the smallest scrap of information I shall be grateful. I hope one day to publish a volume entitled Strolling Fiddlers and Ballad Singers," and I shall be glad to have any and every kind of material relevant to the subject. Yours, etc.. WM. MEREDITH AIOURIS. The Vicarage, Clydach Vale, Glam. [1 t is a little curious that more than one of our friends have lately been recalling the memory of Lefi Gibbon, and a few days before the above let- ter was received a gentleman of the district had been reciting to us a few stanzas of the old man's poetry. Lefi used to frequent the fairs at Narberth, Maenclochog, Llanboidy, and many other towns around here. Many people, not yet very old, remember seeing and hearing him fre- quently at Carmarthen fairs. He was a tall man, seemingly almost blind, with the whites of his eyes conspicuously turned up. He was a well-known figure some fifty years ago, say about the years 1858, 1859. and 1860. We here subjoin a few of I the verses we have lately heard quoted. In the meantime, as our knowledge of the man is so I limited, we trust that some reader, or readers, will supply further information.—ED.] I SPECIMENS OF LEFI'S RHYMES. I The Doctor. Ewch mewn i siop y doctor Cewch yno foddioo drud, Cewch beth a wnai ddaioni I ddynion yn y byd. Fe sigla ei bottelau, Fe gadwant y fath stwr; Cewch dalu, fallau, gini Am lai naphint o ddwr. What of this translation ? Go into the doctor's shop expensive drugs y'ou'l! find, Some indeed that may do good to poor distressed man- kind In taking down their bottles there with awful noise and clatter They'll make you, p'rhaps, a guinea pay for half a pint of water. The Lawyer. I Fe welwch rhyw gyfreitbiwr, ei wallt yn bowdr wyn, Ei ddyben ar ddrygioni a'i ddwy law yn cyd fyn'd Pan elech mewn i'r office fe fydd eithaf mwyn, Fel dyn yn cosi mochyn cyn myn'd i gwirsio ei drwyn. Attempted translation You sometimes meet a lawyer. with prim and powdered hair; His mind is aye on mischief bent, for no one will he spare; When you go into his office, they're pleasaat as a rose, Like him who strokes poor piggy's back before he rings his nose. The Farmer. Y ffarmwr yw'r dyn goreu sydd yn rhodio ar a ddaear, Am gynal gwaith i'r gweithiwr-yr hooper, gof, a saer I dalu treth tlodi yn cynal y byd a'i hul, Mae'n wir os tor yr extri mae cwympo wna y wheel. That is to say: The farmer is the best man that round this earth does dwell, He finds the work for labourer and artisan as well He pays the rates, maintains the poor, and keeps the world all round, If once the axletree is broke the wheel goes to the ground. When he saw the train coming first into Milford in 1854, Lefi composed verses which contained something like these words:- Bydd Harri fawr a'i gefn cam Yn bwyta'i frecwast yn Llangan, A chyraedd Llundain deg ei dawn Yn gynar erbyn te prydnawn.

Sir George Armstrong in presenting his chal- lenge cup to the Tenby Cricket Club said the only way to fight a politieal fight was what was called to play cricket." He had the satisfaction of knowing that his gallant opponent would play cricket in the coming struggle. The fact that they could use the word crioket in regard to their relations to one another was eloquent proof of the attributes of the game of cricketin our country.

WELSH COAL PIT DISASTER. TWENTY-NINE LIVES LOST. Twenty-nine men lost their lives on Friday by an explosion in the Darran pit, which belongs to the Rhymney Iron Company, and is situated in. the Rhymney Valley, near Bargoed. Five of the victims lost their lives while trying to rescue the imprisoned miners. The explosion occurred at 4.30 in the morning, just as the men were actu- ally preparing, after the night shifts, to leave for home. They felt a sudden inrush of air, and made. for the outlet, but a. deadly barrier of afterdamp drove them back, ai#l their only hope of safety was to reach the shaft of the Gilfach pit, four mHes away. by the underground workings. An oH miner led the way and eventually eighteen men made their escape. On the road they passed four of their comrades, who had been overcome by afterdamp. They were terribly injured, and an the men could do was to place them by the road- side and' leave them to meet their death. The in- habitants of the village were awoke by the noise of the explosion, and a rescue party was organ- ised and hurried off to the Gilfach shaft. The first rescue party consisted of the manager of the mine; Mr .G. Bowen, and four other men.. They went down shortly after 6.30, and three of them never returned. They lost iheir lives in their attempt to lescue their comrades. These. three heroes were Mr. Bowen and two firemen, named Gower Griffiths and David Morgan. la- the words of the survivors of the party they dropped like ninepins. Then came a second rescue party, of which Mr. Watkins. manager of 'the Bargoed pits, took charge. They were able to do but little. The afterdamp covered a distance of about 21, miles underground, being as much felt in the Gilfach mine as in the Darran. When the second group found the members of the first party they were ly- ing on the ground helpless from the afterdamp. We saw them lying dead, and had to leave them and run for our lives," said one of the second group. Four men came running to meet us. and shouted to us to go back at once. We made three attempts to reach Air. Bowen and his com- panions, but were driven back each time, and had at last to give up the attempt." Early in the afternoon a rescue party succeeded in descending the Darran pit itself by means of spliced ladders, so that exploration work was carried on from two sides of the mountain beneath which the Gilfa.ch and Darran pits lie. Dr. Turner, a local medical practitioner, went hand over hand down the perilous ladders, pre- ceded by Mr. David Lewis, the under-manager. and others. The doctor became unconscious, ami when found he was well within the zone of the afterdamp. Two attempts had to be made to rescue him, and it was not until the life-saving II apparatus was brought intooperation that he could be brought back to safety. The latest official accounts state that 26 persons have lost their lives. The King has sent a mes- sage of sympathy Mr. David Lewis had helped in sending back five or six of the dead bodies which had been discovered and he was then lost sight of. A few hours later a party who had gone in search of him found his lifeless body in one of the air ways. His own son was among the first to discover him. The first three bodies brought out were those of Joseph Vincent, of Brithdir. John Tovie, of Deri, and Harry Edwards, of Deri. In the opinion of mining experts the afterdamp is of the most deadly character ever known in the Welsh co%ilfield.

A Canadian farmer states in a message which he placed in a barrel of apples that he wishes to correspond with some fair maid." Two Englishmen and three Chinamen were recently eaten by cannibals of the Admiralty Is- lands. A third Englishman escaped. It is proposed to build in London a new Jewish synagogue whose followers will throw over many of the old traditions. On Saturday a successful eisteddfod was held at the New Public Hall, Pont'ardawe, under the auspices of the Congregational Church. The pre- sident was Mr. F. W. Gilbertson, and the musical adjudicator Mr. P. Meudwy Davies, Llanelly. In the chief choral competition for a first prize of tl5 four choirs competed. First prize was awarded to Skewen Music Lovers, and the second prize to Plasmarl Choir. BKRMONDSEY ELECTION.—The polling took place on Thursday, 28th ult., and Conservatives claim the result as a decisive victory for Unionism and Tariff Reform, as well as a blow to the Budget of the Government. Mr. Dumphreys, the Tariff Re- form candidate, has been returned by a majority of 987 over his Liberal opponent, Mr. S.' L. Hughes; the Socialist candidate. Dr. Salter, pol- ling the meagre total of 1,435. The official figures are as folows:—Dumphreys (U.). 4.278; Ilught)., L.), 3,291; Salter f,Soc.), 1,435; majority over Liberal, 987; over Socialist, 2,843. The results of three previous elections were as follows:—190C: Dr. Cooper (L.), 4,775; H. Cust LV.), 3.016; Lib- eral majority, 1,759. 1900: H. Cust- (U.), 4,017, Sir J .Benn, 3,717 Unionist majority, 300. 1895: A. Lafone (U.), 4,182; A. Barrow (L.), 3,822; Unionist majority, 300. There is no doubt that these figuies show an increased Unionist vote of 1,262 as compared with the result at the general election; a decreased vote cast for the Liber.-I candidate of 1484: while the total vote for the Liberal and Socialist candidates is 49 lees thnn that cast for the Radical-candidate in 1906.

GOOD NEWS. If you are troubled with Indigestion, Constipation Bile, Wind, Piles, Gravel, Nervousness, Pimples, Excema, and all Liver and Stomach Troubles, have a Exceomf La, LOYD'S WIND AND WATER PILLS, and you box will be surprised with the result. Sold in boxes, Iili and 2/U. [ WALTER LLOYD, CHEMIST, CARMARTHEN.