Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
15 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, WESTMINSTER.
COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, WESTMINSTER. [Saturday, May 6th, before Blackburn, Mellor, and Lush, J. J.] CHAPMAN V. GWYTHBR. This action was tried at the Guitdhat) sittings, London, in December last. The plaintiff, a horse dealer at Chel- tenham, sought to recover from the defendant, a farmer, residing at Trewent, near Pembroke, damages for breach of a warranty on the sale of a horse. The sale took place at Trewent, on the 5th of June, 1865. The price of the horse was £90, and the sale note given hy the defendant to the plaintiff contained the words 4 Warranted sound for one month.' The plaintiff alleged that the warranty was broken by reason of the unsoundness of the horse, and produced witnesses who proved that on the 8th July following the sale, the horse was lame, and suffering from •navicular' disease The jury found that the horse was unsound at the time of sale, though not to the knowledge of the defendant, and returned a verdict for the plain- tiff for £82, subject, however, to a point reserved hy the learned judge (Mr Justice Blackburn) who presided at the trial, for the opinion of the Court, as to the true con- struction to be put upon tbe warranty. Mr Giffard, Q.C in last term, obtained a rule calling upon the plaintiff to show cause why a nonsuit should not be entered, on the ground that the true meaning of the warranty was, that any unsoundness in the horse was to be discovered and complained of within a month. It was also made a part of the rule that counsel for plaintiff should be at liberty to move for a new trial, on the ground that the warranty ran from the 12th of June only-the day of the actual delivery of the horse to the plaintiff- and not from the 5th of June, the day of the sale. Mr H. Matthews, and Mr Moir, now appeared to show cause. They stated that in June last Mr Benjamin Chapman, the father of the plaintiff, went with a friend to the house of the defendant, at Trewent, and there bought for the plaintff the horse in question for £90. A warranty was drawn up by the friend, to which there was no demur, and ultimately it was arranged that the warranty should be for one month only, and the words 'Warranted sound for one month' were written by the defendant. On the 8th of June the plaintiff sent to the defendant a cheque for the money, upon which wa" en- 1 doried another wrrranty, containing the words 'War- I ranted sound for one month from the delivery,' and on ( the 12th the horse was in fact, delivered to the plaintiff. On the 8th of the following month of July—which was after the expiration of a month from the date of the first warranty, lvui within a month from the actual delivery— Ihe horse was found to be lame. The learned counsel contended that the words • Warranted sound tor a month* meant that the horse was sound when the warranty was eiven, and would continue sound for a month, and that consequently the defendant was liable, because the jury had found that the horse was unsound at the time of sale. On the other point, the plaintiff's counsel contended that the warranty written on the cheque, which was to run from the actual delivery, was the warranty which the plaintiff accepted, his father not being authorised to ac. cept any other, and was therefore the one by which the defendant was bound. Mr Ben T. William*, for the defendant, argued that the interpretation of the warranty contended for by the J plaintiff's counsel, extended, rather than limited, the iial,ilityof the defendant. An ordinary warranty with* out any limitation as to tfine would he good only a8 against any unsoundness or seeds of unsoundness exist- ing at the time 01 sale, but if the plaintiff's contention* were correct, the defendant's liability would extend not only to disease or unsoundness in existence at the time of sale, but also to any which might be originated witbitt j f\ month utter the sate—a supposition which was raa"i* I festly unreasonable. The defendant, on the other hand, contended that his intention in giving a warranty for a month was to restrict his liability to unsoundness existing at the time of the sale, and which should be discovered and notified to him within a month from that time, arid that inasmuch as no notice of unsoundness was given to him, nor any unsoundness discovered within the month, his liability on the warranty was at an end-Bywaler II. Richardson, 1 A. & E. Liddiard v Kain, 3 Bmg. Oli- phant, on horses. He then, on tbe other point, read several letters which had passed between the parties, from which it appeared that the defendant had through- out relied upon the warranty of the 5th of June, and wholly repudiated the warranty written on the cheque, and contended that the warranty of the 5th of June, and not the subsequent one, was the basis of the contract. Blackburn, J said his learned brothers agreed with him in his opinion that the binding contract between the parties was the warranty of the 5th of June. There would, therefore, be no new trial on that point. With reference to the other question, they were of opinion that the defendant in giving the warranty of the 5th of June intended to limit his liability to any unsoundness exist- ing at the time of sale, and which should bo discovered and complained of to him within a month afterwards. Such contracts were nor. unusual or improper. The learned Judge then referred to the authorities cited ill the argument, and concluded by saying the rule lor nonsuit would be made absolute. Mellor, J., and Lush, J., concurred. Rule absolute for a nonsuit accordingly. Attorney for plaintiff, Mr Marshall, of Cheltenham. Attorney for defendant, Mr William John, of Haver- fordwest.
ROOSE PETTY SESSIONS.
ROOSE PETTY SESSIONS. Thefe "essions were held at the Shire Mall on Saturday* before A. B. Starbuck, Esq, J. P. Jones, Esq, 8. Harford* Efq, and the Rev P. Phelps. MOYIMG CATTLE WITHOUT A LICENCE. Thomas John, of Haverfordwest, was charged with moving cattle without a licence. The defendant admitted the charge, stating that be drove the cattle for another person, who should have met him at Johnston with a licence. The defendant was fined Id and costs. Arthur Bees, of Upper Market Street, was charged with the same offence. The defendant, a boy of about eight years of age, waS discharged on account of his youth. John Thomas, of Keeston, was charged with moving a calf without a licence on the 27th ult. The defendant stated that he had a licence, but it wa' not with him when he moved the animal. He produced a licence, bearing date the 2Cth of April, signed by the County Inspector, Mr D. E. James. P.C. Davies deposed that he was on duty at Camro.8 parish on the 27th ult., when he saw defendant with cart containing a calf. He asked him if he had a licence. when he said he had. He asked him to produce it, wh"a he said 4 I'll tell you the truth: I have notoneatalL: don't say anything to them in town about it.' The defendant said that he told the policeman that b* had one, but that he had left it at home. The Bench dismissed the case. STKAYING ON THE HIGHWAY. David Reynolds, of Trooper's Inn, was charged with allowing a cow to stray on the highway. The defendant's wife admitted the offence, and he wft* fined Is and costs. Ann Phillips, of Langum, was charged with allowing an ass to stray on the highway. The defendant did not appear. P.C. Griffiths proved the offence, and the Bench the defendant 2a 6d, and costs. ASSAULT. Philip Hire Hitching*, farmer, of Bicton, was charged with assaulting Thomas Richards, a servant in bu*' bandry. This case had been adjourned from the last sessions (ot the production of evidence by the defendant. David Bowen deposed that Mr Hitchings went to tbe complainant in rage, and shoved him with a stick. Conn* plainantsaid Drop thatand the defendant struck bird. three or four times over the shoulder. He might have struck his head, but he did not think defendant aimed blow at his head. The defendant was explaining to him (witness) and the others present what the com- plainant bad said of him the day before, when the coJJ)- plainant said, 4 So you are a b— old rogue.' Mr Hitch- ings then struck him three or four times over the side. William Harries deposed that he was on the top of I mow, and on looking round he saw complainant dolfli on a pile of turnips. He saw the defendant giving hiØ) a few stripes with a walking stick. The Bench fined the defendant 20s and costs. Philip Mathias, of Wolfsdale, was charged with assault* IDp; William Morris. The defendant did not appear. P.C. Price proved the service of the summon*, adding that defendant said he told complainant to go out of the field, and on his refusing to go he gave him a shove. Complainant, a boy fifteen years of age, deposed that bl went to defendant's field to set potatoes for Mr Mathi'1' the preacher, who had borrowed his services for tblt occasion of his master. The defendant told him to out of the field, when he said that he bad been lennhere. After a little while, the defendant asked him which wai the biggest lool-defendant or be (complainant). He told defendant that he thought he was a big fool that day. He afterwards knocked him on the chest, and kickedhin* over the leg. The Clerk What was the beginning of the row? Complainant: He keeps a girl in the house, andthC and I quarrelled. (Laughter.) Clerk Is he jealous of you ? Complainant: I don't know, but be has been on to øø ever since. (Great laughter.) Clerk What did you quarrel about ? Complainant: She took my pocket handkerchief oøt; of icy pocket one Sunday night, and I went up to th? house about it. She said she tore it to pieces. I her why she did it. Clerk: Did anything take place about the girl tb.t; day? Complainant: No: he said nothing about it that d«f* A female in Court,, who stated she was defendant sister, said tbat the defendant two months ago forbad the complainant to come on his premises, teUing hlØ if he did so, that he should summons him. The complainant denied that he had been ordered poC to po on the premises by defendant two months ago. Mary Davies deposed that she saw the defendant the complainant a blow that felled him to the ground, and that he kioked him afterwards. The Bench fined the defendant 10s and costs, expression their strong condemnation of the defendant's conduct kicking the complainant. NON-PAYMENT OF POOR AND HIGHWAY RATES. John Thomas, of Burton, was charged by the Oversee1'* of Burton with non-payment of poor and highway rat* The defendant did not appear. The case was adjourned for a fortnight.
T E N B Y.
T E N B Y. The cuckoo has been heard this season on Caldf Island. The boatman belonging to the islani, km)*" far and wide as' Ned of Cddy avers that the 4 barbingfr of spring 'does not always visit them; but that, io every year its note is heard, a wedding is sure to tak* place among the inhabitants. The much vexed question of compensation between Mf and Mrs Lock and tbe Tenby Corporation ba..t length been decided. The award is that the Cor' poration pay to Mrs Lock £35. and to Mr Lock £21Of, The expenses, we believe, of the first award will fat! oø the Corporation, and of the latter Mr Lock will hava*0 bear bis own proportion. POLICE COURT, MAY 7, 1866.—Before the Mayor, Df Dyster, and Rev. T. H. Dunn.—Mr William Noot, l*t# assistant overseer, made an appeal against the poor r*1* for the parish of St Mary, Tenby ln-liberty, on tb" ground of inequality in the assessment. As Mr Noot failed to comply with the Act 27 & 28 Vict. c. 39, wbf« £ requires tbat all appellants should give notice of the" intention to appeal to the Assessment Committee, twenty' eight days before such appeal is to be heard, (in order' give the committee, if so disposed, the opportunity 0 defending their assessment,) the Bench did not enter 0 the merits of the case, but dismissed the appeal for IØ" formality, ordering the appellant to pay costs. PEMBROKE AND TENBY RAILWAY EXTENSION.— Saturday last the inhabitants of Templeton, Coldblo*' Redford, and Crinow, were agreeably greeted with W sound of the steam whistle for the first time in the.t immediate localities. About 3.30 p.m. E. Roberts, Eaq, accompanied by Messrs J. Lewis, resident engineer, D- Evans, and J. Roberts, foremen, and several workmen, mounted the ballast engine near the Boar's Head Bridle, at Templeton, and proceeded slowly through Temple*^ cutting, passing Merrivale, Chapel Hill, Coldblow, on to Gloyne, where, as well as at several intermeJ¡- points, they were loudly cheered by the speotator" Here some gentlemen from Narberth joined the partlb and returned with the engine to fempleton, IDPs pleased with their first trip over the new line. GENKRAL TOM THUMB.—On Monday last, General Thumb and family, Commodore Nutt, and Miss Warren, visited Tenby. The afternoon and levees were attended by a numerous audience. Most the elite of the neighbourhood visited the GateHof" Assembly Rooms in the afternoon while in the ev«nW £ | though not so select., the company was still more merous—his Generalship will not have occasion to regr his visit to Tenby. A neighbouring dwarf came to • them, and afforded many of the company an opportuni of comparing them. The largest of the General's c0.?a pany was considerably smaller than their visitor, and tjj symmetry of all their proportions contrasted very strong J with the deformity of the country dwarf. Cotnoiodo Nutt. i*, besides his extremely small stature, one of cleverest little beings we bare ever seen: bis ry talent would be sufficiently evident if he was of jj jj stature, his performance on the drum was well .v°f g the admission money to witness. Mrs Stratton's £ liei pleased every one, and their perfect enunciation persons to hear every syllable even in the extreme P" of the house. fofg I SAUNDERSFOOT PETTY SESSIONS, May 8, Dr Dyster and the Rev. T. H. Dunn,—Three PerjoD- | were summoned by the police for allowing tbeir y j keys to stray on the highway, and were ordered t° P costs, 4s 6d each, and to enter into their own reC° Q %o zances to appe ir to receive judgment wben called on do—Timothy Donovan,who had been repeatedly d for allowing a mischievous Honkey to stray. again to answer a similar complaint, bnt as n opF" I
HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY.
HOUSE OF LORDS.—MONDAY. The Prosecution Expenses Bill, the Dockyards Ex- tensions Act Amendment Bill, and the Contagious Diseases Bill, were read a second time the Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Bill passed through committee and the Exchequer Bills and Bonds Bill was read a third time. A short discussion arose on the proposal to go into committee on the Selling and Hawking Goods on Sun- day Bill, and it was finally agreed to postpone this stag? for a week, Lord Teynham announcing his intention to move that their lordships go into committee that day six mouths.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY. On the motion of Colonel Taylor, a new writ was ordered for the election of a new member for Aberdeen- shire, in the room of Mr Leslie, resigned. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave notice that to- morrow he should move for leave to introduce the Government bill for the abolition of the compulsory pay- ment of church rates. In reply to a question from Mr Alderman Salomons, Mr Layard stated that it was not in his power to give any satisfactory information or assurance with respect to the present aspect of continental affairs. The opinion of the Government on the causes and events which had led to that state of things was well known. It must be evident that it was impossible for Ministers alone, and without the co-operation of other Powers, to tender their good offices with the nations who now appeared to be on the eve of war. The house would see, too, that in the present critical state of affairs it would be undesirable and imprudent on his part to enter into any further detail. The orders of the day having been postponed, The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose to ask leave to introduce his promised Bill for the Redistribution of Seats in England and Wales. In doing so he observed that the ground upon which be took his stand was the fact that there were large and important communities, many of them growing communities, whilst others were stationary, but both having this feature in common, '■'at they were not now represented in the House of Commons in proportion to their just demands. In searching for means to make their representation more adequate it was clear that these were to be equitably obtained only by resorting to a restraint upon the super- abundant representation of small boroughs which still prevailed in this country. This being the case, the object of the Government was to consider in what way they could most justly apply this principle to the small boroughs, and they had come to the conclusion that it would be most agreeable to the equity of the case that no borough should be absolutely extinguished, but that in lieu thereof recourse should be had to the system which answered so well in Scotland, that of grouping such boroughs. The number of seats, then, which he proposed to obtain for the purposes of redistribution by ihe bill was 4D. And this would be done by a double operation. He proposed, first, to withdraw one member from every borough having a population under 8,000, by which process 30 seats would be placed at the disposal of Parliament, and these boroughs be still left in the possession of one member each. The second part of the proposal was to group as many of those boroughs as could be joined together with geographical convenience. The population of the groups would differ, and with re- spect to that difference he proposed to assign one or two representatives, as the case might be. Where the popu- lation of a group was less than 15,000 there would be one member, and where it was above 15,000 there would be two members for the group. The lowest of the population of the groups would be a little under 10,000, nnd the highest of them 2J,000 or 21,000. The right hon. gentleman then read a list of the proposed groups, after which he passed on to the operation of the en- franchisement. He proposed to give 26 seats to counties in England. First, by dividing the southern division of Lancashire, and giving to each division three members. Then, taking every county or division of a county, with one exception only, not now having a population above 150,000, and not having three members already, he pro- posed to give each of them an additional member, so as to raise the number of their representatives to three. This arrangement would absorb 23 seats. He excepted 'Middlesex from the scheme, because, upon the whole, that county ought to be regarded as ha"ing an affinity to the metropolis rather than to the rest of the country. Further, he proposed to give a third member to four boroughs having a population exceeding 200,000 each. These were Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds, and a second one to Salford, which bad a popu- lation of 100,000. He would next divide the borough of the Tower Hamlets into two sections, each to return two members, and unite Chelsea and Kensington into one borough with two members. He proposed likewise to give one member to each of all unrepresented muni- cipal boroughs having a population exceeding 18,000. These were Burnley, Staleybridge, Gravesend, Hartle- pool, Middlesborough, and Dewsbury, By these arrange- ments 11 seats out of the 49 were disposed of. The forty-second seat he proposed to confer on the University of London. Forty-two seats being thus distributed, they bad resolved that the remaining seven seats should be transferred to Scotland. An additional member would be given to each of three counties—Ayr, Lanark, and Aberdeen—a third member to the city of Glasgow, a third to the city of Edinburgh, a second to Dundee, and one member to the Scottish universities. So far as the Welsh constituencies were concerned, he did not pro- pose to interfere with the existing arrangements, the boroughs there being grouped and the system worked satisfactorily. With regard to the question of the boundaries of boroughs, the bill proposed that the parlia- mentary boundary should be coeval with the municipal, and that the enclosure commissioners should consider the proper boundaries for the enfranchised towns, and the limits which shculd divide the two sections of the Tower Hamlets. After some observations from Mr Disraeli and other h%r.. members, leave was given to bring in the bill, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stating that he should propose its second reading on Monday next. The Lord Advocate obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the representation of the people in Scotland, which was based upon the same principle as the fran- chise bill for England by lowering the qualification in boroughs to a jE7, and the qualification in counties to a JE14 occupation. The former proposal would have the effect of increasing the borough constituencies by about 26,000 electors, of whom 17,100 would be of the working class. He could not state with accuracy what the operation of the measure would be in the counties, but he believed it would result in nearly doubling the num- ber of persons who now held the occupation franchise. The bill would also reduce the property franchise in counties from £10 to £5, with the conditions, however, of personal residence. Mr C. Fortcscue then submitted his Irish Reform Bill, which, in an apologetic exordium, be described as not of a very large or extensive nature. In the first place, it would not make any alteration in the county franchise, owing to that question having been dealt with so re- cently as the year 1850, by the bill of Sir W. Somer- ville, then Secretary for Ireland. With regard to the boroughs, however, where the constituencies bad greatly diminished in numbers since that date, it proposed to reduce the rating occupation franchise from £8 to JE6, the effect of which would be to add about 5,500 persons to the borough register. The bill also contained a clause creating a lodger franchise, also a clause creating a savings' banks franchise on the model of that in the English bill. There would be a transfer of three seats, by a grouping of boroughs, which he conferred on Dublin City, Cork County, and the Queen's University.
TUESDAY. CHURCH RATES.
TUESDAY. CHURCH RATES. The Chancellor of the Exchequer,—I rise to move for leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of compulsory church rates (hear, hear), and in so doing 1 shall not have occasion to trouble the house at any length. It may be in the recollection of the house, that during the debate on the second reading of the Church-rates Bill I presumed to offer certain suggestions which it appeared not impossible, from the state of opinion in the house and from the progress that had been gradually made towards a union or approximation of sentiments on this question during a course of years, might so far meet with approval as to afford hope for the conclusion of a long and vexatious controversy. What followed in that debate gave me the opinion that it might be my duty to put those suggestions in form, and, aided by my right hon. friend the Attorney General, I was enabled to do so. When the matter assumed the form of clauses it was submitted to my colleagues, and they were of opinion that if there appeared any fair prospect of th¡ ir ireetini?, not with universal approbation, but with so large an amount of approbation as that they were likely tJ become the basis of a settlement, that then thev should be introduced as a government measure. Doing »ni3 will add one more to the subjects of protracted con- troveray which we have on our hands this session. It is obvious that we are sufficiently charged with matter of that description, and in laying on the table of the h':U3U the biil which I will now ask for leave to intro- duce, anxious as ve are to prosecute this biil by pro- ceeding with it, in the present state of public opinion its prO¡(reS8 must nccessarily depend on the manner in hich it is received, and in the pressure of demands on our time for yet m"re urgent and important subjects, ifowever, I communicated individually with some gentlemen upon the opposite side of the house, whose declared < pinions upon this subject appeared to make it j roper 'o submit to them that which the government invnded, and particularly with the hon. member for St .lie (Mr B. Hope), who took part in the debate upon the second reading of the bill, and whose language formed one of the earliei-t elements of encouragement lip>>n ibis question. I communicated also with my trirnd who had introduced the bill f„r the absolute aboli- tion of hurch rates (Mr Hardcastlc), and with another hop. member whose absence from the house I deplore alike on personal and on general grounds, Mr Morlev '( T. f:c:Ir), in whose removal I think we have ex- pevier.red a very serious loss, not only on account of the rtspect in which that gentleman was held f.-r his talents anil Li* i;i:i-IHgonce, hut on account of the singul\"x r uglier In which it was given to him to unite decid. d j; =;pr n' uncfd opinions on those questions that most ot all interest dissenters, with a character and mode of trea'ment that was essentially conciliatory, and a dis- position never to crme to issue or to enter into contro- versy except for some real and vital object (hear, bear). Both my hon. friends the hon. member for Bury, who had charge of the hill on this subject, and likewise Mr iloiky—on seeing and considering the clauses which constitute my bill bave arrived at the conclusion that my I proposal ought to be entertained. My bon. friend the g member for Bury, after consulting with his friends out of doors, made a communication to me which was sub- S stantially this-that in the spirit of peace, and with a disposition to sacrifice all that could be sacrificed for the sake of peace, those of his friends who were in favour ot the abolition of church rates were willing to accept this measure (bear, hear). Of course, I did not understanl from my hon, friend that in the event of the failure of this bill he or his friends were to be precluded from falling back on their original ground. Such an under- standing as that it would be unreasonable to expect (hear, hear). I will now simply state the provisions of the clauses, and call attention to the points upon which they differ as referred to in the suggestions which I ventured to make on the second reading of the bill of my hon. friend (hear, hear). The first clause is, that, after the passing of this act, no suit or proceeding shall be taken in any ecclesiastical or other court, or before any justice or magistrate, for the purpose of enforcing or compelling the payment of any church rate in England and Wales (hear, hear). That will be the basis of the subsequent enactments. The second clause is similar in its general aim to a clause in the bill of my hon. friend the member for Bury—namely, a clause to provide for the discharge of those debts contracted upon the security of the church rates. The third clause relates to the same subject. The next clause will provide that, not. withstanding anything in this act provided, relating to J the abolition of legal suits and processes in courts of law, it shall be lawful—with the exception of parishes where church rates are already sufficiently provided for in the shape of endowments or other funds—for the parishioners lawfully assembled—subject, however, to the disability named at the conclusion of the act—to assess a volun- tary rate upon the inhabitants, tbe proceeds of which are to be made applicable to all those purposes to which church rates are at present applied. There is then a provision in the bill to indicate and define the classes of persons who are to enter into the discussion and proceed- ings connected with this voluntary rate. The sixth clause is to this effect, that if any such discussion or difference should arise upon this subject at such meet- ings, and if a poll b9 demanded, that poll shall be en- tered in writing in a book or schedule, which shall have a heading declaring the willingness of the persons giving their votes to pay their quota of the rate in case of its being passed by the majority (hear, hear). I think I am correct in saying that this bill is not intended to make the payment of church rates compulsory (bear, hear). The next and most important clause of the bill is that which provides the compensation or counterpoise to the first provisions of the bill abolishing compulsory pay- ment of the rate. I will here state the difference between I this bill as it stands and the suggestions which I tendered to the house on the occasion to which I have alluded. These suggestions were two. One ot them, which received, I think, the almost unqualified assent I of the house, was this—that the persons who do not think fit to take part in any proceedings for the support of the church by a voluntary rate should be excluded from taking part in any proceeding, connected with the voluntary rate or the application of such rate. That was so obviously grounded upon the whole nature of the proposal, that there did not appear to be any difference of opinion respecting it (hear, hear). My hon. friend the member for Bury, acting cn the part of those dis- senters with whom he co-operates, assures me of the unequivocal feeling of those with whom he acts—not of jealousy, but of the abandonment on their part of any interference in such proceedings, and also of their anxiety to give effect to their abstinence from any such interference (hear, hear). But in the proposal which I made there were one or two suggestions of another description. I contemplated that inasmuch as certain accommodations were afforded both in the church and in the churchyard, which will be under the bill if it become law provided by the contributions of Churchmen only, or by the payers of the voluntary rate—those who do not contribute to the payment ought to be made liable to an extra charge in respect of any use which they might be disposed to make for the accommodation obtained by means of that rate (hear, hear). I think in equity no just objection could be taken to that proposi- tion, and I am bound to say I do not know that any such objection would be taken on the part of those in whose interest and by whose desire the abolition of church rates has been put forward. But on looking further into the question it did appear that there was something of an invidious character in any attempt to apply practically those suggestions, and I was the more encouraged to abandon them because the persons whom I consulted and who might be disposed to consider the question in a point of view sympathetic with the Estab- lished Church, attached no value to them. I willingly, therefore, abandoned those suggestions, and no trace of them is to be found in the bill. No extra demand will be made for payment for any use or service from the non-payers of the voluntary rate (hear, hear). Those persons who decline or omit to pay the voluntary rate shall, after the lapse of a certain time, be deemed to have elected to become, and shall become, ineligible for the office of churchwarden for ecclesiastical purposes (hear, hear). But we have been careful to provide that the disability, if so it is to be called, shall not extend beyond its immediate or legitimate purpose. There are many functions which are now committed to the hands of churchwardens by law from which it would be invidious to exclude such persons as objected to ohurch rates The whole matter, for example, of the distribution of parish charities. All matters with the exception of the disposal of church rates and the proceedings connected with them-all these functions remained untouched by the bill. There might be a churchwarden elected by the parish to perform all the other functions, but he would not be entitled to vote at any meeting of vestry assembled upon any question relating solely to the election of churchwardens for ecclesiastical purposes, for the repairs of the Church, or the maintenance of the churchyard, not having a cemetery vested in a burial board. But if a person who has neglected or omitted to pay the voluntary rate shall make a tender of the amount of such voluntary assessment made within three years, he shall be entitled to take part in any proceedings iu reference thereto as if he had in the first instance volun- tarily made such payment (hear, hear). The next clause provides for the separation of duties of officers, to which I have already referred. There is nothing else material in the bill except the definition which is necessary for the special purposes of the bill, or what are to be deemed ecclesiastical purposes. This bill, I hope, will be printed and in the hands of members to-morrow morning. But, on account of the great interest felt on the subject, I thought it desirable to state the substance of the bill, and especially to call attention to an important difference which I made in the bill as compared with the sugges- tions which I offered on the second reading of the bill to which I have referred. On the present occasion I abstain from all argument on the subject, confining my- self to placing this proposition in the hands of the house. My desire will be in any subsequent stage of the mea- sure that it shall assume as little as possible of a contro- versial character (hear, hear). At any rate this is not the time for considering its faults or its merits. It is an offering made in the spirit of peace—an offering which has been already accepted by my hon. friend the member fur Bury, and by a large proportion of those who have been engaged in this controversy. And, being made in the spirit of peace, I sincerely trust that the attainment of peace may be its destination (cheers). ♦
DREADFUL FIRE AT SWANSEA.
DREADFUL FIRE AT SWANSEA. EIGHT LIVES LOST. About one o'clock on Thursday morning a fire was dis- covered in the shop of Mr H. D. John, draper, Temple- street, Swansea. The premises have been entirely burnt down, and eight of the inmates have lost their lives. This, briefly, is the summary of one of the most terrible fatalities that has occurred in Swanse and its neighbour- hood for many years, and we will now give the particulars as gleaned from various soarces. Sometime about half-past twelve on Thursday morning a girl was brought to the police station in a fit; she stated that she had lost her broooh in coming to the station, and P.C. Johns, who was on duty, went into Temple-street to see if it had been dropped on the pavement. When opposite Mr John's shop he thought he heard sounds of wood burning, and he knocked at the shutters to arouse Ljl0 '"mates. This knocking attracted the attention of Mr Clayton, confectioner, who resided opposite, and he went across to the policeman who appealed to him as to whether be could hear the crackling noise. Mr Clayton, knowing the premises rather better than the policeman, said he would ascertain whether fire was there, and immediately pat his eye to the opening for the letter box in the shutters, and there saw flames near a spiral stair- ca«e in the shop. An alarm was immediately given by P.C. John's at the police-station, and Inspector Ball communicated the fact to Inspector Crockford. The latter inspector rang the fire bell and got the engine-house ready for the fire brigade. The Head-constable who resides in Goat-street, was also called and then Ball returned to the shop. The fire escape, whicbSis kept in the Castle-yard, at the top of Temple-street, a distance of a few yards from the buriiinir premises, was on the spot not later than about ten minutes past one o'clock. By this time not more than 20 or 30 people in addition to the I police and fire-brigade were present. Inspector Ball went np the fire escape, which had been placcd at the second storey window nbove the t-hop, and on the side nearest to Mr (J urndall's house. It had been placed at the window because Mr Clayton had seen Mr John there in his night-dress, and who had recognised Mr Clayton in the street. Mr John shouted from the window at the time of this recognition and said Clayton for (iod's sake where is the fire-escape.' Mr Clayton replied 'Keep quiet, Mr John, all of you stand where you are and you will he saved; they have gone for the tire-escape.' In a minute or two after this conversation the fire-escape came up, and as ( we have said, Ball ascended it. He saw Mr John at the window, who handed him a little girl, his daughter about three years of age, named Nelly. The child was asleep at the time, and Ball handed her to some one else who was on the escape, and she was received at the bot- tom by Mr Wi'liams, a chemist, of Temple-street, who bad her conveyed to his honse. Mr John then left the window, and the next person Ball saw was a young lady, one of the assistants named Wooton. He asked her where Mr John was, andshe said, 1 He has gone to fetch the child.' Ball urged her to come down the escape at once; and though she was not wearing anything but her right- dress she yielded to his entreaties and put herself under his care, He told her to lay bolll ot the sides of the ladder ot the escape; hut she did not do that, at first, but threw her weight entirely upon him, ami it was with some difficulty, for a mornput, that he maintained his balance. Miss Wooton took hold of the escape, and Ball handed her to P.C. John:, who received her. and she wa« also taken to Mr Wiihams's, in Tetup'e-street. The crowd had gradually increased, and during the rescue of'hese two persons the excitement was intense. After this the smoke ard the flames seemed to obtain such a complete command over the entire building that all fur- ther effort tor tho saving of life seemed out of the power of any man however heroic. Inspector Ball, however, got on the ledge of the window where Miss Wooton and the child had left, and shouted again and again, Mr John, where are you? come out; come here.' Ball says he could hear some persons making a noise as if they were groping along the floor; he tried to get further into the room to see if he could reach the person, whoever it migh be; but the smoke was so stifling that he could not do it. At this time there appears to have been some information given in the crowd, that the servant girl of Mr John had come out of the house by some means, and that she had said that all the inmates wero saved, and were out. A cry was given 4 All saved,' and the excite- ment of seeking others lulled down. There is no doubt that this arose from some misapprehension, and that if any maid-servant did say this it had reference to the inmates of the houses adjoining Mr John's. Unfortu- nately no opportunity occurred afterwards for saving any further lives, and out of the ten inmates eight were literally burnt and stifled in the ruins. We append a list of the names of those who were saved and of those whom it is known were in the house at the time of the fire, and who are killed. SAVED. Miss Annie Wooton, a young lady from Batb, an assistant, who joined Mr John's establishment on Fri- day. Nelly John, daughter of Mr John, a little girl about two years and a half old. KILLED. Mr H. D. John. Mrs John. Mr John's infant daughter about seventeen months old. Miss Margaret Davies; 21, from Newport, Pembroke- shire, and niece of Mr John Divies, 1, Christina-street, Swansea. This young lady became an assistant at Mr John's establishment on Tuesday week last. Miss Deacon, 23, an assistant. Miss Smith, 18, from Llanelly, an assistant. Two maid servants, named Kate, and Annie. The remains, if so they may be called, of those who lost their life in the ruins, consist only of a few bones, utterly undistinctive, of any of the unfortunate victims of the fire. It is believed that the remains of Mr John have been distinguished from the rest, by the fact that melted into the bones have been found a number of sovereigns and silver, amounting to about £100. It is thought that Mr John secured this sum by placing it in his pocket, before he left the ruins with his wife and child. Miss Wooton states that she saw Mr John as she passed into the room from where she was taken, and that she heard him call his wife. That was the last time she saw him. She states also that she was awoke from her sleep by a young lady who slept with her, and that she was thus enabled to make her escape. The young lady who awoke her is unhappily among the victims. Mr John Edwards, draper, who was at the scene of the fire about ten minutes past one o'clock, assisted Miss Wooton in her rescue, and ultimately secured her lodgings in the town until her friends were commnicated with. The arrangements of Mr John's establishment were such as to prevent the necessity of the young men sleeping on the premises. They slept at the house of his mother in Bellevue-street, and, therefore, they have escaped their probable doom. The house, like all the houses in Temple-street, is substantially built, and including the basement is a five-storey house, with attic. Means of escape along the roofs of the houses is provided by a large trap door, which enables the inmates to get very easily and safely upon the parapet, and which has an ornamental stone frontage. It is not likely that this mods of escape was thought of by Mr John, for it was not thought of by the inmates of the houses adjoining until it was pointed out to them late in the day of Thursday, some hours after the fire bad taken place. That a similar fatality did not befall Mr Watkin Hurndall's house and stock is somewhat remarkable. He and his family were aroused; and with the assistance of the Head Constable, Mr Superintendent Alison, were taken to Mr Clayton's, confectioner. They had no time to dress, but were covered as they passed into the street with led clothing, or anything else that could be hastily obtained. There was a fresh breeze from the West, and the fire blew steadily on to the upper stories of Mr Hurndall's house. The flames burst through a closet and the door and its supports are burnt away. Mr Hurndall's furniture and stock has sustained considerable damage by water, and the falling in of part of the roof of his house. Mr Evans, whose shop and house is on the other side of the burnt down premises, has also sus- tained damage both to stock and furniture. The roof of his house is burnt through in one part of it, and so fierce-- was the heat that it has melted the lead and zinc of the spouting of his house, covering the mirror in the bed- room with the molten metal. The water has penetrated into every room. The cause of the fire is at present a mystery. There seems to be very little doubt that it burst out in the back show room, which communicates with the shop by a spiral staircase. Within about a quarter of an hour of its discovery volume? of black smoke burst out from every aperture, and this was speedily succeeded by flames from all the windows. It spread then with a rapidity that was truly surprising, and which has had no parallel, except in premises that contained especially inflammable materials. The burning rafters threw them- selves in a continuous shower into Castle-square and Castle-street, and Mr Copoys, who had some timber on the top of the roof of his house which adjoins the Post. office, was engaged for some time in throwing water upon it. At two o'clock the roof fell in with a crash that might have been heard at almost any part of the town, and the flames shot out above the roofs of the tallest houses in the neighbourhood, lighting up the ad- joining streets with a terrific glare. About three o'clock the fire was got under, and all fear of its extending to the adjoining houses was allayed. The supply of water at the early part of the fire was defective but at a subsequent period there was an abundant quantity. Mr John had insured his stock in the Law Union In- surance Company for £3,000, of which Mr Handy, of 17, Dock.street, Newport, is the agent. Mr Handy arrived in Swansea, in order to make the necessary ar- rangements. Mr Hurndall's and Mr Evan's houses, stock and furniture, are also insured. On Thursday evening a large body of men were engaged at the ruins in clearing away the debris, under the direction of Superintendent Alison and Inspector Ball, at a late hour, and at seven o'clock the charred remains of a seventh body was found, and immediately afterwards 4 the cat' jumped up alive and kicking, the only inmate who had survived the terrible and desolating calamity since the rescue in the early morning of Miss Wooton and Nelly.' It is expected that the inquest will be opened this day (Friday,) when there will be the most complete enquiry as to the cause of the fire.
A MEDIAEVAL HYMN.
A MEDIAEVAL HYMN. The following lines are the conclusion of a poem by Hildebert, Archbishop of Tours, (A.D. 1057-1134), the original of which will be found in Archbishop Trench's I Stcre(i Latin Poetry,' under the title 1 Oratio ad S.S. Trinitatem.' Dr. Neale in his 'Hymns on the joys and glories of Paradise,' says, 'This malrnificent poem Is, with the single exception of the Dies Ira, the very hardest of Mediajval Hymns to translate.' A translation appeared in the Lyra Mystica, by the Rev Orby Shipley; and also one in Dr. Neale's Mediaval Hymns.' The accompanying translation is an attempt to follow the original as closely as possible:— 0 that Sion may receive me! Sion, David's peaceful city Founded by Him who made the light, High o'er whose gate the crost shines bright Whose keys are words from Jesus' voice; Whose ransomed people aye rejoice; Thy walls of living stones endure, The bridegroom-prince thy guardian sure. There the daylight is perpetual, Endless peace and spring eternal; There the songjwith incense blendeth, There the banquet never endeth There can enter nought defiling, There no want is, all are smiling; None are etunted-none deformed, All to Christ in all conformed. Blessed city! bride arrayed Upon the rock of ages laid Within the harbour's safe recess, Thee far-off I greet and bless! Weary I long and sigh for Thee, 0 when shall I thy beauty see. What the glad congratulation, What th festal celebration What the ecstatic song of those. Whom the jasper walls enclose; What the mystic ffems which glow, Only they who dwell there know! 0 may I walk the golden street, Where all the saints made perfect meet; And lIinll with Moses and Elijah, The endless-endless Alleluia! E. F. WOODMAN. Walton West R., Dio. St David's.
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INTERESTING TO LADIEs.-At this season of the year the important process of bleaching and dressing Laces and Linens for Spring and Summer wear commences, we would therefore particularly rail the attention of our fair readers to the GLKNFIELD STARCH, an article of primary importance in the getting up of these articles. The IJLE^FITLD STARCH is specialty manufactured for family t"-e, and such is its excellence that it is-now exclusivt ly used in the ltoyal Laundry, ai d Her Majesty's Laundiess pronounces it to be the finest Starch she ever used. Her Majesty's Lace Dresser says it is the best she ha-tried, and It was awarded two Prize Medarls for its superiority. The nianutacturers have much pleasure in stating that they have been appointed Starch Purveyors to H I: H. tte Princess of Wales. The GLENFIULD Starch is Sold in packets only, by all Grocers Chan- dlers, &c, &f. TOOTH ACHE arises from various causes, but the most common kind is that where the enamel and bony sub- stance is decayed and exposes the nerve, which is then liable to be attacked by cold, or injured through coming in contact with some foreign substance; and in sueb cases BITXTKK'S NERVINE will give INSTANT RELIEF. Testimonial from E. Smith, Esq., Surgeon, Sherston, near Cirencestpr. I I have tried BUNTEU'S NERVINT* in many cases of severe Tooth-ache, and in every instance permanent relief has been obtained: I therefore strongly recommend it to the public.' HUNTER' NERVIXE may be had of all chemists at Is 1*1 per packet, or post free for 15 stamps, from J. R. COOPER, Chemist, Maid- stone.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. is particularly requested that all remittances be mil. after this date to the TRUSTEES, Herald Ofllce, Higb street,.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
TO CORRESPONDENTS. As ELECTOR.- Wales is not affected bv the Redistribu tion of Seats Bill. The Chancellor of tbe Exchequer in asking leave to introduce the Bill, said' Neithei have wo thoucht it necessary to make any proposal i respect of Wales. The general representation ii already grouped, and is working satisfactorily.' No notice can be taken of anonymous communications Wha ever is intended for insertion must be authenti- cated by the name and address of the writer; Dot necessarily forpublication, butas a guarantee ofgooi faith. ccannot undertake to return rejected communication
SUMMARY.
SUMMARY. The complementary measures which complete the scheme of Reform—the Redistribution of Seats. Bill and the Bill for Scotland and Ireland-were all introduced on Monday; and Mr Gladstone, after a long pause of what seemed indecision or reluctance, during which Mr Bouverie obligingly spoke against time, has agreed to move the second reading of the fprmer on Monday next. In effect, therefore, all that was refused before has been conceded and conceded so unreservedly that the House begins to complain of its leader for rushing into the other extreme, and surrendering too much of his control over the conduct of business, instead of pushing that control too far. It is too early to judge of the character of the Bill, but first impressions seem to be not un- favourable. It has some moderate features. No borough, however small, is to be disfranchised utterly, and partial disfranchisement is applied of those only whose population fell short of 8,000 at the census of 1861. Of the latter class the majority are to be grouped in clusters, like the Scotch and Welsh districts of boroughs, and one member sriven to each group containing altogether under 15,000 people, and two to every larger group a few boroughs, which cannot well be submitted to this process, will remain as they are, only docked of a member apiece. Forty-nine seats will thus be gained; and these are distributed among populous counties and large towns, one of them being reserved for the London University, another for all the Scotch Universities put together, another for the Queen's University in Ireland. In the allotment Somerset, Devon, Essex, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Kent will obtain an increase but the larger share will naturally fall to the manufacturing and mining counties. A few very large towns are to have three members each. The metropolis is to receive four more-two for the Tower Hamlets, and two for Kensington and Chelsea. It is not contemplated to include in the groups of boroughs any places now unrepresented. To estimate this project fairly it must be examined in connection with the Franchise Bill. The pros- pects which the two measures have of making their way through Parliament this summer are uncertain of course and nobody's opinion on the subject is at this moment of much value. When the wheels begin to move, we may be able to form some conjecture whether they are likely to reach the goal, to be upset, or brought slowly to a standstill. The Budget this year comes in but as an interlude in the course of a far greater performance, and gets very little attention. A vague impression that Mr Gladstone proposes to abolish the duty on pepper and pay off the National Debt, is perhaps as much as most people have gathered from such a cursory reading of his speech as they have had patience for, or from the gossip of their friends. In fact, there is about £ 1,300.000 of surplus, part of which goes in certain reductions of the timber and wine duties, as demanded by the Commercial Treaty with Austria with a portion of the rest pepper is set free, and the imposts on stage carriages and posthorses are lowered, to the advantage, Mr Gladstone hopes, of those who travel in omnibuses these minutiee disposed of. he plunges, with as much energy as if he had nothing else on his mind, into the awful subject of the National Debt, adopts and enforces the views urged by Mr Mill, and propounds a plan which, by conversion of stock into Terminable Annuities and a certain amount of manipulation, will, he computes, extinguish about forty millions of it in the next twenty years, at a cost of about half a million a year. Probably it is new to many of us that, within the fifty years that have passed since 1815, not less than a hundred millions (indeed, counting what has been borrowed in the meantime, a hundred and fifty) has actually been rubbed out. This is encouraging. Two unpleasant thoughts, however, obtrude themselves. One is, that a con- seientious resolution to begin a long operation on the public debt is rather apt to be followed by unexpected demands which lead to an opposite result. The other is, that, if Mr Jevons is a true prophet, we have so ruinous a decline to look forward to that there is little satisfaction even in diminishing our encumbrances. Prudence and honesty require it; but the process of gradual and inevitable impoverishment, though it may be met with fortitude, cannot be provided for with alacrity. People talk of wars and rumours of wars as storms and clouds and prose itself, be it never so prosy, cannot help sliding into such metaphors in the presence of that great gloomy expectation which has been hanging over Europe for some weeks past, just like a cloud in the sky, now seeming to lift and break and to be about to disperse itself, then thickening again, and at last growing, all of a sudden, so black and threatening that at any moment the worst may come. For some days past it has been clear that, as between Austria and Italy, the much-talked-of armaments were no mere shows or demonstrations, and that the Italian Government and people were really bent on war. The quarrel in Germany seems to put within their reach the opportunity they have long panted for; and, with their heavy and increasing debt and insupportable taxation, they are not nice about opportunities. Whether they are actually leagued with Prussia, does not appear certainly the two are confederates in interest; and, wbilst remonstrances and recriminations, charges of being the first to begin, and assertions of being merely on the defensive, are being bandied about from Florence and Berlin to Vienna and back again, the facts stand out that the whole military forces of all three Powers are being hurriedly placed upon a war footing, and any day may bring news that hostilities have begun on the Mincio and in Saxony. Count Bismarck, it is evident, is using Italy to obtain what he wants from Austria and he would probably be well content to do this, if possible, without involving Prussia herself in actual conflict; but, should war break out in Germany, it will open projects of a for larger kind, tempting to a man whose type of character is that of thelpoliticians of the last century rather than of those of the present. As for the French Govern- ment, it asseverates that it will remain neutral, but with entire liberty of action for the protection of the interests and honour of France-a. declara- tion which all men may construe exactly as they please. It throws on Italy the risk of any war she may begin but, should Italy meet with disasters, it will have a voice in whatever may follow. Meanwhile the Emperor makes an opportunity of publicly confiding to the maire of a country town (Auxerre) that he agrees with the Auxerrois in detesting the treaties of 1815.
THE CABINET MAKERS, HOUSE…
THE CABINET MAKERS, HOUSE BUILDERS, AND JOINERS. A meeting of the cabinet makers, house builders, and joiners was held at the Bridge End Inn on the 9th instant, for the purpose of considering the hours of labour of, and also the rates of remunera- tion paid to, the workmen in the above trades in this neighbourhood. The meeting was well at- tended, and the subjects were discussed in a calm and temperate spirit. During the discussion, full information was given by the various speakers with reference to the wnges paid in other towns, and also as to the hours of work observed, from which it appeared that the workmen in Haverford- west were in both respects in a much worse posi- tion than their brethren in other localities. It was ultimately resolved to present a petition to the employers, asking for a reduction of the hours of labours on Saturday from six to four in the after- noon, and also from 7.30 to seven on week nights during the winter months. The rate of wages was also considered, but it was decided to separate it from the time question, and that each workman should make an application on his own behalf. The following is a copy of the memorial which will be presented to the masters to-day :— 4 To the Master Cabinet Makers, House Builders, find Joiners of Haverfordwest. L At a meeting held at the "Bridge End Inn on the 9th instant. it was resolved that we the under-signed journeymen in your employ, agree to submit the following to your notice, in the hope of arriving at an amicable arrangement; and seeing that our numbers are decreased to less than one-fourth by men leaving for places where greater advantages are offered them, few remain to receive the boon we crave. Taking into consideration the high prices we have to pay for the common necessaries of life,and believing our condition requires attention equally with that of our fellow workmen in neigh- bouring towns, where there are higher rates. or wages and fewer hours of labour, we feel justified in asking a little of the concessions granted by employers to employed in all towns throughout the United Kingdom, even where competition in our trade extensively prevails. We, therefore, most respectfully ask that our hours of labour may be diminished from six p.m. to four p.m. on Satur- days, and also from 7.30 p.m. to seven p.m. on the week nights of the winter months we are em- ployed by candle light. We also respectively ask for an increase of wages on the present rates.—We remain, with the greatest respect, the journeymen in your employ.' [Here follow the signatures of the workmen.] We understand that some of the masters have expressed themselves in favour ot the reduction of the hours of labour as asked in the petition, a definite answer to which will be given on Saturday evening. The request of the workmen is a very moderate one, and when the arguments which are advanced in its favour are fully considered, we have. no doubt its justice will be universally ad- mitted. In each of these branches there are a number of highly skilled workmen, whose remu- neration is almost trifling in comparison with that paid in the large towns of the kingdom. Within the last two years, numbers of workmen have left Haverfordwest for London, where their services have been readily engaged at sums exceeding thrice the amount paid to them at home, and this increased rate of wages is also combined with a considerable reduction in the hours of labour. The Saturday half-holiday is generally observed, even in the Principality; and surely if masters in other towns can give their employes higher rates of wages with less hours of labour, the employers of Haverfordwest may try the experiment of grant- ing a part of these benefits to their workmen with- out incurring the slightest risk of injuring their interests or in any way endangering their own prosperity.
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SAINT MARY'S CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOLS.—The an- nual sermons in behalf of the above schools will be I preached at Saint Mary's Church, on Sunday next—in the morning by the Rev J. H. A. Philipps, M.A.; Rnd in the evening by the Rev John Bowen Rowlands, B A. ROYAL COLLKGE OF SURGEONS.—We are happy to state that Mr Essex Thomas Williams, son of David Williams, Esq., of Penberry, in this county, has success- fully passed his Primary Examination in Anatomy and Physiology, at the College of Surgeons, on Wednesday, the 2nd instant. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.- In the Times of the 18th ult, we find that, at the last examination for prizes at the University College, Hospital, Mr David Havard, Newport, Pembrokeshire, obtained the first silver medal and certificate in the senior class of Anatomy, and a Certificate of Honour in the senior clans of Physiology. This is the third medal besides Certificates of Honour which Mr Havard has taken in the space of eighteen months. GENERAL TOM THUMB.—MrStratton, gerfferally known as General Tom rhumb, accompanied by his wife and daughter, and also by Commodore Nutt and Miss Minnie Warren, paid Haverfordwest a visit on Friday, and gave two entertainments at the Shire Hall to crowded audi- ences. The General and his party were most warmly received, and the entertainment, which was of a very amusing and varied character, gave great satisfaction. LIVE STOCK IN THB UNITED KINGDOM.-A return has just been issued from the statistical department of the Board of Trade, which gives several particulars respecting live stock in the United Kingdom. It appears that, on the 5t.h Vfarch lait. there wero in the United Kingdom 8,316,990 cattle, 25,794708 sheep, and 3,800,39.9 pigs. Up to the 21st of April last 181,443 cattle either died or had been killed on account of the plague, being a loss of 3-68 computed upon estimated ordinary stock. The paper also contains a statement of the population and numb r of live <tock in the United Kingdom and in various foreign countries ROYAL PEMBROKESHIRE ARTILLERY MILITIA.—This regiment assembled for its annual training on Tuesday. The muster was very good, the number present falling little short of the required strength. During the week the instruction of the men has been carried on with great vigour, and the progress made is very satisfactory, creditable alike to the sergeants and men. The officers persent are Major Lewis, Clynfiew, Adjutant Willan, Capt Jordan, Capt Wells, Capt Edwardes, Capt Owen, Lieut Walcott, Lieut Graham, Lieut Owen, and Lieut Bowen. The last named officer also attended the in- struction of there cruits, who assembled on the 1st inst. THE LATE Miss LEWIS.-It was with much regret we had last week to record the decease of Miss Jane Lewis, of Brunswick-place, [formerly of Haverfordwest] where she closed a long life ot active and uutiring benevolence, at the advtineed age of 89 years. To her exertions Swan- sea, Morriston, and the Mumbles, are greatly indebted for the infant schools, and for the benevolent and clothing societies, the benefit of which are so well known. It may truly be said of her that while ability lasted she went about doing good. and to the end her intere3t in the poor and every cause that promoted the advancement of the knowledge of the Saviour in whom she trusted, was unabated. Her loss will be much felt.-Cambrian. HAVERFORDWRST FAIR.—The annual fair will be held on Tuesday next, the 15th inst. Last week, misled hy incorrect information, we announced that the fair would be held on the 8th-all error which we very much regret, as it was calculated to occasion great inconvenience to many of our readers. As we stated on a former occasion, no cattle will be permitted to enter the fair, owing to the existing order. of the Privy Council, and it will be con- fined entirely k sheep, horses, and pigs. The subject of cattle fairs was brought before the notice of the House of Commons last night, when Sir George Grey paid that the Privy Council had not fully decided what alterations it would be necessary to make in the present order, adding that it was extremely improbable that the Privy Council would authorise the unrestricted sale of cattle at market, fairs, and auctions, after the first of June, but what restrictions ought to be imposed would have to be further considered. NEYLAND PENNY READINGS —One of these meetings was held at the Baptist Chapel, Neyland, on the 1st in- stant, under the presidency of the Rev T. Davies. The attendance was numerous, the room being crowded. The Chairman opened the proceedings with a few appro- priate remarks, when the programme followed, and on the whole was rendered satisfactorily. The recitations were excellent; but in the singing there was a great im- provement. Two pieces are ebpecially deserving of men- tion, and were performed in a highly creditable manner: —' Praise the Lord,' sung by Miss Owen, Miss A. Owen, Mr R. Owen, and Mr S. Payne, and Love at Home,' by Miss H. Merchant, Miss E. Lloyd, Mr G. Merchant, and Mr W. Lloyd The accompaniments were played by Miss Pearn, who performed her task with great ability. The proceedings were well conducted, and the audience at the close testified their approbation by long continued plaudits. HAVERFORDWEST RIFLE CORPS.—The competition for the prize given by Col. Peel for attendance at drill during the month of April took place on Monday evening. There were twenty-five competitors. The ranges were 200 and 500 yards, five shots at each distance; Wimble- don targets and scoring. The following are the highest scores:- _h 2UU 500 Total. ] Sergt T. L. James (10s) 15 17 32 2 Private Geo. Davies (1st). (5s) 14 15 29 3 „ T. Rogers (3s) 15 13 28 4 „ R. I. Jones (2s) 14 13 27 09 James Owld 12 15 27 „ Geo. Morgan 13 13 26 James Mathias 14 11 25 John Jones 12 12 24 D. Phillips 14 10 24 On Monday evening (weather permitting), a set of cleaning implements for the Rifle will be shot for at 500 and 600 yards, five shots at each disdance, Wimbledon targets and scoring. Squads of. ten will be formed at five and a quarter past six o'clock. The entries (which close on Saturday evening) are to be made to Mr James Owld, High Street, of whom further information may be obtained. THE CATTLE PLAGUE.—A second supplement to the Gazette, issued on Saturday, orders that cattle may be removed from the Liverpool New Cattle Market to the public slaughterhouse belonging to the Birkenhead Im- provement Commissioners, there to be slaughtered within forty-eight hours after arrival. The weekly return of the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council Office shows that of the counties in England, exclusive of the metro- polis, 2 are free from disease, in 17 counties no cases are reported as having occurred during the week, 7 show an increase of 390 cases, and 21 a decrease of 370~cases. In all the counties there ha" been an increase of 2(1 cases. The 'metropolis' has an increase of 3 cases. In Wales, 10 counties remain free, 10 have no cases reported as having occurred during the week, and only 2 counties show an increase. The total decrease in Wales was 84 cases. In Scotland, 10 counties are free, and from 26 there are no new cases reported. Three counties show an increase, nnd 4 a dtcrease. There was a total increase of 3 cases. In the whole of the United Kingdom 22 counties are free, 53 have had no new cases reported, 10 and the • metro- polis show an increase of 418 cases, and 27 a decrease, 476 cases. The total decrease in the week ending April 25, wa48 cases. t CLERKS OF JUSTICES BILL.—In the House of Com- mons on Wednesday, Mr Colville moved the second reading of the Clerks of Justices Bill, the object of which was to render clerks of county magistrates irremoveable except for misbehaviour secondly, to enact that hence- forward they must be paid by salaries and not by fees; and thirdly and mainly, to disable them for the future from conducting the prosecutions of persons commitled by magistrates under whom such cleiks s rve. The in- tention of this, the principal provision of the bill, was to withdraw from county magistrates' clerks all tempta- tion to have persons imprnperlv committed for trial. — Mr Goldney moved that the bill be read that day six months, which wasseconded by Mr S. Cave.—Mr Scour- field, as a member of tbe committee that sat in 1855, would remind ihe honourable gentleman who had moved the second reading that the question then raised was that of the appointment of a public prosecutor, and it was in reference to that question only that the present Lord Chief 'i Justice of tbe Queen's Bench pronounced the opinion,which f the h n. gentleman had quoted. If any improvement in | the law on this subject were necessary, it ought to be attempted hy a general measure brought forward on th., responsibility of the government; and not by such patchwork legislation as was now proposed. As chair- man of quarter session* for a period of eighf-een years, he could bear testimony to the ability and integrity of rhe magistrates' clerki. Pnrinu the whole of that time hardly any ca-e had come to his notice where corrupt motives could be even inferred in the prosecutions con- ducted by the magistrates' clel ks. lie did not think it wa" the vice of the age to prosecute persons improperly, and one against which it would be necessary to take precautions. He hoped that the hon gentleman would not press bis moiion to a division.—After some discuf- sion, the amendment was agreed to, and the bill was consequently lost. NEW MILFOUD CONGREGATIONAL CIIAPFL. — The first anniversary of the above chapel was held on the 3rd instant. I he morning service was commenced by the Rev H. C. Long, of Haverfordwest. Dr Rees, of Swansea, preached a powerful and interesting sermon. In the afternoon, the Rev J. Griffiths, of Saint Florence, introduced, and the Rev David Bateman preached in Welsh. At five o'clock a tea party was held in the schoolroom, which was very numerously and respectably attended. At sev<>n, a public service was held in the chapel: the Rev Caleb Gwion, of Milford, introduced the service, and Dr Rees preached. Tbe weather was fine, the sermons were very good, and the collections very liberal. After the morning service, the ministers and others sat down to a culd collation under the pre- sidency of William Trewent, Esq, of Pembroke, and as the chapel is a bicentenary one addresses were delivered on subjects connected with it, by the worthy Chairman, Rev T. Davies (the minister), Rev E. L. Shadraek, and Dr Rees. There were also present at the different ser- vices, the Revds. D. Salmnn, Pembroke; J. Williams, Haverfordwest; E. Thomas, Rhosemarket; M. Williams, and D. Lewis, New Milford and William Evans, M.A, Pembroke Dock. The ministers of tbe county, both of the English and Welsh districts, take a great interest in this young and rising cause; they rejoice that harmony and g"od feeling prevail amongst the people. It is only four years ago since preaching was first commenced here, and tbe church now numbers about ninety mem- bers. The spirit of bearing is on the increase; many members have been added to the church during the last six months. May the Great Head of the Church con- tinue His favours and benediction to minister and people — Communicated. ROYAL MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE, EP-OM.— The anniversary festival of this association, founded by our countryman, Dr. Propert, was celebrated at Willis's; Rjoins, St. James's, on Thursday week. Sir William" Ferguson's appeal on behalf of the college was a most masterly effort, and will long he remembered by those who heard it. This institution was founded by the medical profession, as an asylum for those of their brethren who, from ill health, want of professional suc- cess, or other adverse influences, have sunk into poverty, and for the widows of medical men in reduced circum- stances. With it is combined a school, devoted, in part, to the gratuitous education of orphans of medical men. There are, at the present time, resident in the college at Epsom, 24 pensioners, being aged medical men, or their widows, each of whom is provided with three comfortably furnished rooms, and an annual allowance of three and a-half tons of coal, and a pension of £21 a year. There are also resident in the college 200 boya, the sons of medical men, 40 of whom, being the foundation scholars, are educated, boarded, clothed, and maintained entirely at the expense of the institution, while the remainder are charged £40 a year for an education of the highest class, board, washing, use of books, &c. There are also some day scholars, who need not necessarily be the sons of medical men. Since it was first opened in 1855, the institute has gone on increasing its number of supporters. Already a goodly number of boys have been trained and sent out, well prepared for the battle of life; many, as in the great public schools of our country, have, through the bounty of benefactors, received gratuitous education; and maRy of the weary and invalid of the medical profession have, in the college, already found the solace and com- fort of a borne. The committee appeal for increased tort of a home. The committee appeal for increased means to extend the good work, and they make their appeal, not to the medical men only, but to that public in whose service the medical man spends his days, for whom his time and energy, and too often his life are sacrificed They appeal to a public, who, daezled by tbe stars of the profession, overlook those lesser lights, who humbly, earnestly, truthfully, and unselfishly, study to benefit their race by the diffusion of the blessings re vealed by science. From no class ot men does the country derive so much advnntageat so little cost. There is no body of men, who, with so little regard to aggran- disement, and under so heavy a load of moral responsi- bility, physical discomfort, and actual clanger to them- selves and families, do so much unknown and un- requited.
BRISTOL BANKRUPTCY COURT.
BRISTOL BANKRUPTCY COURT. MONDAY, (Before Mr Commissioner Hil1.)-Re G N. HASSKLL, Haverfordwest, auctioneer, &c.— Mr Black- burne (of the firm of Bramble and Blackburne), ap- peared for the assignees, and stated that there was no op- position. The bankrupt accordingly passed his last examination, and was granted an order of discharge. TUESDAY, (Before Mr Commissioner Hill.)— Re E. B. GIBBS, late of Haverfordwest, wine and spirit merchant. — This was a prison case. No creditors'assignee had been chosen, and no opposition was offered. Mr J. Inskip appeared for the bankrupt, who passed her last examina- tion, and was granted an order of discharge. Up M. LEWIS, late of Pembroke Dock, licensed vic- tual'er.—This was a sitting for last examination and discharge. No creditors' assignee had been appointed Mr Hen- derson opposed for Mr Thomas, wine and spirit merchant, of Pembroke, a creditor for £14283 9d Mr Inskip ap. peared for the bankrupt. The grounds of opposition were the vexatious defence of an action brought against the bankrupt by the oppos- ing creditor, the withholding of certain papers and re- ceipts which were alleged to be forgeries, and the con- tracting of debts without reasonable or probable expec- tations of payment. The whole estate was said to consist of an amount of debts to thB extent of £6. The bankrupt was examined by Mr Henderson, and it appeared in the course of the proceedings that she bad been a petitioner in the Divorce Court, and had obtained a decree of judicial separation. Mr Henderson abandoned the oharge of the withhold- ing of papers, and said he would take tbe judgment of the court on the other grounds of opposition. His Honour said the case was a very unsatisfactory one, and he did not know that be ought to pass the last examination on tbe present accounts. Mr J. Inskip said he could not justify the bankrupt's conduct in defending the action of Mr Thoma?, nor could he say that some of the debts had been contracted with reasonable and probable expectation of payment. But he reminded the court of the position of the bankrupt, and also of the fact that she bad been out of business for a year and had been subject to these debts since May, 1865. His Honour said the case was one in which he could not but feel sympathy for the bankrupt. She had been obliged to petition the Divorce Court for a separation from her husband, and was certainly much to be pitied. How much of the large amount of debt might be owing to the misconduct of her husband, or might have been the result of ignorance on her part, he could not tell. The court, however, felt bound to give su?h a judgment as should intimate its displeasure of a defence being made to an action where there was, and where there could be, no defence, and also of debts being contracted where certainly there seemed to have been, if the bankrupt bad examined into the state of her affairs, no probability, and scaroely a possibility, that they could have been paid. Looking at both sides of the case, he thought justice would be done by a suspension of the order of discharge for six months, and he hoped the bankrupt, instead of entertaining any ill feeling towards Mr Thomas, would reflect that he was an injured person, and that he had not opposed her in a manner in which many injured persons opposed bankrupts of whom they had to complain. Mr James Inskip applied for protection during the period of suspension, to which Mr Thomas consented, and His Honour said the course taken by that gentleman did him great credit.