The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

WELSH COAL TRAFFIC TO THE METROPOLIS. The importance of obtaining a cheap supply of coal for the Metropolis has often been referred to, and within the last two years especial attention has been paid to securing improved railway communi- cation from the various colliery districts to London. Although the South Wales coal-field is the nearest to the metropolis, it did not supply more than 3 per cent. of the total comsumption in 1865, and, according to the opinion of those practically ac- quainted with the matter, this is mainly to be at- tributed to the want of adequate railway facilities, and more especially to the absence of a direct nar- row-guage communication from South Wales. The Great Western Company have a broad guage to the district and also a narrow guage via Worcester, but the latter is a long way round, and it is but just to add that during the past twelve months they have made energetic efforts to develop the traffic. The rates have been considerably reduced, and for the six months ending the 31st of March last, they conveyed of Welsh coal to London 104,375 tons against 71,735 tons in the correspon- ding six months of 1864-5. These figures show that the trade is capable of great extension, once proper facilities are afforded and moderate rates of tonnage are charged. It is satisfactory to add that the Great Western Company are in Parlia- ment this session for powers to lay down a narrow- guage rail on their broad guage, and once this ac- complished the colliery proprietors will be enabled to send their wagons direct from the pit's mouth to the metropolitan markets without break of guage, and the result will be a material benefit to both seller and consumer. It is expected that the price of Welsh coal in London will then be 3s. to 4s. per ton lower than at present. -Tinies.

LORD BROUGHAM & THE BEER-H01 To the Editor of the Brecon Reporter. | Sir,—There is a misconception abroad t<ha t Brougham was one of the responsible aut-i what has proved an unmitigated curse country, namely, the present beer-house s, I therefore claim your aid in removing so [ an accusation against that veteran statesm&j philanthropist. Nearly a generation Brougham—when moving the second his Sale of Beer Act Repeal Bill in the B'rJ Lords—described the beer-houses as "pollut( soil of the country, casting a dark shade minds of the people, and infecting and P0' I the atmosphere which the people ought to br. It is no insignificant fact in our pai-lia eil I tory that when Lord Melbourne, the minister, announced the intention of hisca. A resign, Lord Brougham, in reference to'llS,J beer Bill, said, I consider that bill to be importance as regards the public morals J resignation of any ministry and I shall P J whoever holds the office of minister of this in my endeavours to obtain the repeal «J which I believe to be permanently j mischief to the character of the country- ci course of his eloquent speech, Lord Broug'iac J Some of my noble friends have charged "Vjj having changed my opinions upon this rj 'How can you,' ask the writers of the lettefe a daily receiving, 1 how can you be against t Bill who originally brought it in' 1 1 brought it in, and found that I had bee" that would be a good reason why I should (! my opinion. But it so happens" that 1 ]10 did not bring it in, but I opposed it in tRi I could. I brought in a Beer Bill, but it. cop$, a clause prohibiting, under severe pen11], i consumption of beer on the premise off. Brougham produced overwhelming eviden^ immoral effects of the beer-houses, and sa further examples which were too shocking iijJ to read to the house. These related to ^e0f S4 abhorrent cases of female prostitution aI1 ,efij profligacy and crapulous vice a.° he had or heard of before He then delivered been termed a withering and eloquent against merely palliating evil. The r but a summary :—" To what good, or jJ consistency, could the clergy occupy theft18? y I inculcating piety and morals on the visiting their parishioners, in order to J 11 te visiting their parishioners, in order to J flocks and keep them in the right path -"T ptf! good was it that the legislature passed i punish crime, or that their lordships shou1 J then.selves in finding out modes of imPr° morals of the people by giving them edu<ja what, in the name of heaven, could be tfl all the education they could bestow,w^. J of sowing a little seed here, and phic weed there, if these beer-shops were to be coi that they might go on to sow the see1cb i ignorance, but of that which was ten times J immorality broadcast over the land, gerrPal the most frightful produce that ever 0V6 allowed to grow up in a civilised country t1r, was ashamed to add, under the osteri Parliament, and throwing baleful infiu6" the whole community." Then, as q asked, How about the revenue ?" To t Vj J tion Lord Brougham made the fitting rey» he dealt with this subject on high m° gious grounds, and that he really felt as /( treat it as a mere "petty question of financ J if he did sink down to that, he would say (fJ was "perfectly confident that, instead o of this bill being an injury to the revenue, i cause an increase of it." The great IDuke lington supported Lord Brougham s^ measure so did not the noble Marquis 0 Jj minster, who feared it would "ruin the v < keepers he was in favour, however, of pression of "gin-palaces and "ardent which, in the words of Lord Brougham, he Vi ted, were the parents of "crimes of hî '1 description," namely, crimes accompany jJ violence. The Duke of Richmond suPP°r| Brougham, and said that if he were in 0 'fl first thing he would direct his attention f" f be the correction of this detestable eV1_' .,>>1 Earl of Hare wood said he had never he<f from any human being but a complain*j °f,st V beer-shops. His words were—" This is a ,5 4 only subject I ever knew on which universal feeling expressed throughout the c 5; Following the example of Lord Brougham; id I shall not consider the subject as connee oplel e revenue at all. For the benefit of the Ve rPc" 0 all risks, do away with the system which lSi(jnp! the greatest evils that ever has been infli^^of the people. It is absolutely essential to the ,it of the people that it should be done t Unfortunately, Lord Brougham's warning been disregarded, and "at all risks" the been continued but I believe the present ment will not pass away without an atteJllptdge made by the Government to redeem its pIe vstel a rectification of our anomalous licensing s«„f The beer-houses are indeed universally coTl L v. Even the licensed victuallers condemn the^| their condemnation, though deserved, is not wholly disinterested. I quote it for its p«n« tl)- The Guardian of their interests lately s^lten.,ni? Never was an Act of Parliament more thor unsatisfactory in its working than y enabled a host of beer-shops to be opeIie,'g c.y find too frequently that the person who <j,Pe()^i ft beer-shop is a man whose character will 11 i investigation, and who deliberately layS e ".j plans to make as much as possible out of tn jj. earn their money like horses and spend j|eCJ asses!" Again, "the beer-shop keeper. about him the very dregs of society. ItlS 1 g places that robberies are planned and crin1 trived. The beer-shop keeper is too freql,eI1.■ banker of the thief, &c." This is the chara j. these places as painted by their respeC brethren. But what is the chief attraction beer-shops ? And what causes the mischiet ) they inflict upon their frequenters and the P It is the poisonous and maddening drin^'T j burning alcohol which is neither food nor p J j and which, in even stronger doses, is the s trade of the public-house and the gin-pa^aC^ raise my voice therefore against the cause evil-demon drunkenness and its deadly believing, with Lord Brougham, that it is dart, roup and criminal for a state to rely for any or of its revenue upon such a polluting source, 1 ,,<1, upon the people to support those legislators k will give them a veto power for the suppre3S1 this prolific cause of national demoralisation. Yours truly, Manchester. HENRY PITA

mftt% a | On Wednesday, the 23rd ult., the wife of .jj Thomas L. Watkins, painter, plumber, &c., of i,f town, of a son. -j Printed and Published by DAVID WILLIAMS, his residence on the Bulwark, in the ChaP^; of Saint Mary, in the Parish of Saint John. Evangelist, in the County of Brecon —SATUr i JUNE 2, 1866.t

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. All Correspondence and Advertisements to be ad- dressed to the Editor, "Rp,porter" Office, Bulwark, Brecon, on or before Friday.morning. The Editor will not undertake to return rejected communications, and wishes his correspondents to understand that whatever is intended jor in- sertion, must be verified by the name and address of the writer,

THE Government have had an unexpected ad- dition to the already ample labours of passing a Reform Bill placed before them. On the motion of Sir Rainald Knightley, it has been decided by a majority of ten against the Go- vernment, in a full house, that it be an instruc- tion to the committee to make provision for the better prevention of bribery and corrup- tion at elections. This is a subject somewhat difficult to deal with at any time and, when it is taken in connection with the adjustment of the franchise and the redistribution of seats, it will be evident that the House of Commons has yet several months' work before it, if the new Reform Bill is to pass this session. No one will dispute the abstract importance of the subject which has thus been appended to the other features of the bill. IVe have had since the meeting of the new Parliament, a continued series of revelations of electoral corruption, sufficient to prove that the present generation is little, if at all, better than its forefathers in the days of Gatton and Old Sarum. It is true that we do not hear in the present day that an election for Middlesex, for instance, has cost the defeated candidate £ 100,000; but probably this is because such constituencies have increased in number with the growth of population, until they are now too large to be bribed at any price under the ruin of a millionaire. But wherever a consti- tuency is of "manageable" proportions, as election agents say, we find its honour is by no means above suspicion. Mr. Staniland in- forms us that within the past few months fifty- four petitions against the return of borough members have been presented to the House of Commons, and of this number four-fifths con- tained allegations of bribery and corruption. In many instances the petitions have been fully supported, and the new members unseated. But besides these cases which havecome before the House, must be taken into account the others on both sides, which were prevented from proceeding into inquiry by compromise and arrangement. At the meeting of every Parliament, the petitions so "arranged" be- tween the agents of the Carlton on the one hand and the Reform on the other are a long- list in themselves. Add all this under, current of evidence to that which comes fully before the public, and we shall form something like an estimate of our electoral purity. Nor is it likely that we shall see any mate- rial improvement in this respect, while candi- dates are found willing to pay an enormous price for the privilege of attaching" M.P." to their names, and innocent enough not to ask how the money goes. The "men in the moon," and the "gentlemen from London" will always find methods of disbursing it, and it is their business to encourage the feeling which leads electors to look at the summons of a new Par- liament as a perfect godsend—as something like a legacy from their aunts or uncles. In many constituencies the electors are known to count upon relieving themselves of their little pecuniary liabilities "at next election." The poor man cannot be blamed severely for falling when his superior in education and position comes open-handed to make him a tempting offer. How tempting and how common such offers are, we may gather frem one instance also mentioned by Mr. Staniland. There is a certain borough which possesses a constituency of ten or eleven hundred electors, and at a recent election no less than seven hundred of these were bribed. The average price they received was about £ 35 per head-a consi- derable sum to small tradesmen and others who are constantly running a neck and neck race with pecuniary difficulty. But some of the electors received even as much as £ 60— and this is a case in which no petition has been presented against the return of the member. It was complained that no remedy for elec- toral corruption was pointed out by the mem- > bers who introduced and supported the motion on which the Government suffered defeat. Sir Hugh Cairns, however, retorted that it was the proper object of an instruction to com- mittee not to lay down a specific proposal, but to give it power to deal with the general sub- ject. The views of the Ministry, as set forth by Sir George Grey, and afterwards by Earl Russell in the House of Lords, are that the existing law is already sufficient to deal with the subject, and that all that is needed is a more stringent application of that law in cases where corrupt practices may be proved. Dis- franchisement should be applied without re- morse to persons and places found guilty of such practices, and until this is done it is, say the Government, idle to assume the ineffici- ] ency of the existing statutes. Mr. Bright points to remedies of another kind—to the formation of large constituencies and the in- 1 traduction of vote by ballot. lIe asserts that such practices are scarcely known in the United States, nor among Continental nations, where small constituencies are unknown, and the ballot is almost universal. Here the mat- ter is left for the committee to deal with as best it may, the House having had a foretaste only of the points that will arise upon the question. It appears that a very extensive robbery has taken place at Manchester. During the night of Sunday the Stamp-office was broken into, and stamps were abstracted to the value of £7000. No clue has been obtained of the thieves, and a reward of X400 has been offered for their appre- hension. Another extensive failure is announced, the firm being Messrs. Enthoven, of Moorgate-street, Lon- don, with liabilities estimated at £ 250,000. The liquidation, it is said, is likely to be favourable.

BRECON. BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. These Sessions were held on Monday last, at the Town Hall, before John Prothero, Esq., (Mayor) George Cansick, and Joseph Joseph, Esquires. A DANGEROUS PP.OCEFDING. -David Davies, a militia-man, was summoned, but did not appear, charged by Mr. Cunningham, inspector of the Hereford, Brecon and Merthyr Railway Companies, with having jumped on to a luggage train which had started for Hereford on Saturday, the 9th ult. P.C. Watkins proved the service of the summons. Mr. Cunningham deposed that on the day named a luggage train was leaving Brecon for Hereford, when the defendant jumped up on one of the car- riages he had the train stopped, and having remonstrated with him forgave him, but on its again proceeding on its journey he repeated the offence he then gave him in charge. (Here the defendant appeared in custody of a sergeant of militia, and on being asked by the Bench to account for his conduct, he admitted the charge, and was sorry for it.) In answer to the Magistrates, Mr. Cunningham produced the Company's Bye Laws. Their Worships having perused them, told defen- dant that he had subjected himself to a penalty of 40s. The Inspector said, as he had pleaded guilty, he thought the company would not press for a heavy fine, but an example must be made.—The Mayor told the prisoner that he ought to be obliged to the inspector, and trusted it may be a caution to the public in future; as he may, through his foolhardi- ness, have lost his life and brought parties into trouble they should therefore fine him 10s. in- cluding costs. SUNDAY TRADING.-Thomas Powles, Crown Inn, Ship-street, was summoned, charged by P.C. Wil- liams with drawing beer on the morning of Sunday, the 19th ult. Mrs. Powles attended, and on the charge being stated to her, she declared that although it was true that the beer was drawn, yet it was done without the knowledge of her husband or herself, as she was in bed and her husband had gone out for a walk. It was the fault of the ser- vant girl. P.C. Williams stated that on the morning named he visited the house about a quarter past 10 o'clock and found four men drinking there they had a, quart and a pint of beer before them, and on his questioning them they all said they were lodgers he knew different; two of them were men belong- ing to the town; he was about leaving when the landlord came to him and calling him on one side, offered "him money not to say anything about it; he refused, when his wife called him and offered him money also he saw half-a-sovereign and some silver in their hands; they had been cautioned many times before. In defence, Mrs. Powles denied offering money, and said that she always kept the key of the bar with her, but the girl had it that morning by some means. She then called the servant girl, named Evans, who, on being sworn, stated that the men had been drinking at their house the mght before, and one of those present on Sunday morning had promised to come and show two of them the road to Builth that day, and had only just come in be- fore the police; the other man came in with her master when they came down in the morning she asked them if they would have any breakfast, and they said they would have some bread and cheese and a quart of beer, which they were drinking when Williams came in. In answer to Mr. Joseph, witness said she could not account for the pint; it was all done without her master and mistress's knowing, as the one was in bed and the other out. Mrs. Powles again assured the Bench that she always took the key with her in her pocket to chapel on a Sunday morning, and- often 'met the mayor when she was going this was a spite got up against her by some of her neighbours because she sold more beer than them. The Bench- Y os, you mean that you sell more on a Sunday morning than them. Mrs. Powles—Oh! no, not that. Mr. J oseph- Well I know before you went to keep this public-house you used to come to me as a magistrate and complain that your husband was getting drunk at some of the piiblie-hoiises, and now here you are proved to be guilty of that very faulty Mrs. Powles—Oh! sir, but it was done un- knowing to me. Mr. Lee the superintendent said that complaints from the neighbours and others had frequently been made to him by letter and otherwise, of the bad conduct of the house. The Mayor I have warned your husband many times as to the^ desirability of keeping a proper house. The magistrates are determined to put down Sun- day morning drinking, and in the hope it will be a caution to you, we shall only this time fine you Xi including costs. FOWL STEALING. Sarah Higgins was charged with stealing a fowl the property of Sarah Cun- ningham. The prisoner who was in custody said she did not steal it; the fowl came into her house; and broke some earthenware, and in her passion she struck it with the poker and killed it, and being frightened, concealed It. The owner of the fowl said she did not wish to prosecute on account of her children. The Bench reminded the prisoner that she had been before them on a former occa- sion, and she had better be cautious.—She was then discharged. THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT'S SPORTING- VICTORIES. -We hear that the tenantry, of his Grace the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton were so elated at the success of Ceylon in Paris and Rustic at Ascot, that they celebrated the double event yesterday with great rejoicings.

CONFESSION OF THE ROCHDALE MURDERER. James Burrows, the son of a publican at Slat- tocks, near Rochdale, who stands charged with the murder of a man named Brennan in a stable, has confessed his guilt to a companion named Taylor. Burrows, who is only 19 years of age, but who ap- pears to have led a dissolute life, and to have been a considerable trouble to his parents, states that he killed deceased wich a crowbar. He had struck him three or four times on the head because he would not lend him half a, sovereign. At an in- quest held upon the deceased, the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against James Burrows." It has now transpired that three or four weeks ago a workman employed by the prisoner's father was found in the barn one morning dead. An inquest was held on the body, but no definite evi- dence was given as to the cause of death, and it was, therefore, surmised that he might have fallen from the hay loft over the barn on to the floor below.

ANOTHER ATTEMPTED MURDER AT PRESTON. A butcher named Joseph Day made a desperate attempt a few evenings ago to murder his wife in a beer-house in High-street, Preston. Day and his wife had been living apart for a few weeks, and at the time referred to he met her after she had left work in High-street. He told her that he was going to leave the town and asked her to have a glass of beer. She refused. He then dragged her I into a beer-shop, called for some ale, and began quarrelling because she objected to stay with him. When she told him that she would not remain with him that night he jumped up in a passion and said, Well, then, you shall not live another night." He then pulled a knife out of his pocket, seized her by the hair of her head, and attempted to cut her throat. The woman, however, held up her hand, caught the knife, and screamed out for assis- tance, which she speedily obtained, before her husband was able to get to her throat. Her hand alone was cut, through grasping the knife, and it was not injured seriously. Day was afterwards apprehended. He produced the knife which he tried to cut his wife's throat with, but said he had only been using it to cut some tobacco, and that he had no intention of injuring her. He was com- mitted for trial. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT KIRKCALDY. A heavy casting was being executed at Brown's foundry, when a quantity of liquid escaped, and the spark- ling on the hands and arms of the workmen caused them so much pain, that they quitted their hold of the ladle, which instantly capsized, turning the whole of its contents, about three tons weight, on the floor of the workshop. The workmen ran to save their lives. Two of them rushed to the door, but it had been closed some time before in conse- quence of the easterly winds, and could not be opened at once. Finding all their attempts to get out at the door fail, the men in utter desperation faced the fiery sea, which had now all but enveloped them, with the resolution to run through it. One of them, Andrew Brown, fell in the midst of the terrible journey, and bad to creep through on his hands and knees, reaching the end of it almost roasted alive, and so much disfigured that he could scarcely be known for the man he was but a few minutes 'before. John Robb, the other man, was quite as much disfigured. Two other men were also severely burned, but Brown and Robb seem to have suffered so much that their recovery is almost hopeless. MOWING MATCH.—An interesting mowing match took place on Wednesday last at Banwell, Somer- set, between four machines and two young men. The best that could be found were put to mow in an adjoining field. At the conclusion it was found that one machine, in one hour, did as much work as one of the men working 12 hours. NEWPORT CATTLE The usual weekly market was held on Wednesday last, when the fol- lowing prices were realised Beef, 7id. to Sd. per lb. shorn sheep, 8fd. per lb. lambs, 10'-|d. to lid. per lb. calves, 7d. to 8d. per lb. porkers 10s. 6d. to lis. per score,.

CHARTER OF THE BOROUGH OF BRECON AND THE TOWN OF LLUELL. Of the same kingdom may and ought to be inquired, so that the same bailiff and recorder of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, and their successors, to the determination of any treason, murder, or felony, or any other matter touching the loss of life within the borough aforesaid, the suburbs and pre- cincts of the same, without the special mandate of us, the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, in any wise for ever do not proceed. And nevertheless, all and singular other trespasses, offences, defaults, and articles, which to the office of a justice of the peace, within the borough aforesaid the suburbs and liberties of the same, appertain to be done, they shall have power and be able to in- quire, hear, act, and determine, as fully and entirely, and in as ample form and manner as any other justices of the peace of us, the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, in any county of our kingdom of England, by the laws and statutes of our same kingdom of England, may hear and de- termine, so thai the justices of the peace to the laborers and artificers of us, the heirs and succes- sors of us, the aforesaid Queen, in the county of Brecon being, do in no manner intrude themselves, or either of them, for ever, for any felonies, things, causes, matters, defaults, and other articles what- soever, to the office of justice of the peace of labo- rers and artificers belonging or appertaining, within the said borough of Brecon and town of Lluell aforesaid, the suburbs, liberties, and precincts of the same, or in either of them, from whatever cause issuing or happening, except in default of the same bailiff and recorder, and that the common clerk of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, from henceforth, for ever, be and shall be clerk of the peace of us, the heirs and successors of us, the a aforesaid Queen, within the borough aforesaid, the suburbs, liberties, and precincts of the same. We have, moreover, granted for us, and the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, to the afore- said bailiff, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough sforesaid, and their successors, that the bailiff of the borough aforesaid for the time being, during the time wherein he shall happen to be bailiff of the borough aforesaid, be coroner and escheator of us, the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, within the borough and town aforesaid, the suburbs, liberties, and precincts of the same and that the bailiff of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, have and shall have full power and authority to do and execute, within the borough and town aforesaid, the suburbs, liberties, and pre- cincts of the same, all and singular those things which to the offices of any coroners or escheators, within any counties of this, our kingdom of Eng. land, by the laws and statutes of the same kingdom appertain, or ought to appertain, be done and ex- ecuted, and that no other coroner or escheator of us; or the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, to do anything which to the office of coroner and escheator, or any of them appertaineth to be done, in the aforesaid borough and town, the sub- urbs, precincts, or liberties of the same, do enter, nor any or either of them, do presume to enter, or for anything to the office of coroner and escheator, or either of them, appertaining or arising, within the borough and town aforesaid, the suburbs and liberties of the same, do in any manner intrude himself or themselves. And moreover, we grant to the aforesaid bailiff, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough aforesaid, and their successors, that the said bailiff, aldermen, and common council of the borough aforesaid, or the greater part of the same, for the time being, for the necessity and ,,I utility of the same borough, among themselves, with the assent of them, the council, upon their goods, within the borough aforesaid and town of Lluell aforesaid, as well upon rents as upon other things, and as well upon taxes as in any other manner which they shall see the better to pursue, shall and may assess and levy tallages without the interference of us, or the heirs or successors of us the aforesaid Queen whomsoever, and that the pence of such tallage, coming into the keeping of the aldermen of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, remain and be in the custody of them for the necessity and utility of the borough aforesaid, and not otherwise be expended and that all men abiding and residing within the aforesaid borough and town, the suburbs, liberties, and precincts of the same, or any part of the same, be at scott and lott with them, the burgesses, and be partakers with the same in all and all manner of aids, talla- ges, and taxes whatsoever; and that no inhabitant there shall claim any liberty or franchise within the borough or town aforesaid, unless he be con- tinually resident and commorant within the same borough or town aforesaid, or either of them. And moreover, we have granted for us, the heirs and successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, to the afore- said bailiff, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough aforesaid, and their successors, that neither the said bailiff, aldermen, nor burgesses, nor their succes- sors hereafter, nor either nor any of them, at any time hereafter, be or shall be collectors, assessors, taxers, or surveyors whomsoever of tithes, fifths, tenths, subsidies, tallages, contributions, or any other costs or taxes to us, the heirs or successors of us, the aforesaid Queen, by the Commons of our kingdom of England, hereafter to be granted, without the same borough and the precincts of the same, to be levied as Jong as they shall make their abode in the same. And moreover, we have granted for us, and the heirs and successors of us, the afore- said Queen, to the aforesaid bailiff, aldermen, and burgesses, that they and all the burgesses of the borough aforesaid, for the time being, their heirs and successors, for ever be free and quit through all our territories, and power from all toll, custom, passage, pontage, stallage, rickage, and carriages for all their merchandizes wheresoever they shall come. (To be continued.)