The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

BLACKWOOD POLICE COT-IRT. I FRIDAY. —Before Joseph Davies, Esq, ChairmaH., and J. G. James. Esq. The Chairman, Mr Davies, has been indisposed for some time and his appearance on the bench gave satisfaction to his brother justices and friends. STEALING A SHOVEL.—Cotter r. Sullivan. Prosecutor said he left his shovel in a certain place in the works at Tredegar, and on going for it next day it was gone found it in prisoner's possession knew it by certain marks; had it from his gaffer piisoner refused to give it up went for P.C. Evans, and the shovel was then given up. In reply to the magistrates' clerk prisoner said he never stole the shovel he had it nearly twelve months, and bought it from a man who was gone from Tredegar. Committed for fourteen days. UNDERHAND GAMES.—Two young men named Morgan and Long were charged with neglecting work at Ebbw Yale whereby the puddling furnaces were stopped.—It ap- pears' some of the underhands have shown a spirit of oppo- sition on account of some bounty money not being paid them, and to annoy the puddlers they neglect the work and thus cause some loss and annoyance. Long did not appear, and a warrant was issued to fetch him up. Morgan was fined 5s. and costs. A WILLING LEADER.—Jones f. Leader. This was a case of affiliatiou which was not disputed by defendant.—Miss Jones, a prepossessing damsel, said Leader was the father of her child, and the policeman having proved service of summons, and having stated to the bench that Leader ad- mitted the paternity, the usual order of half a crown weekly was made. APPLICATION.—Thomas Edwards, late grocer. Church- street, apt died through Mr C. R. Harris, for a warrant to recover possession of a certain tenement in the rear of No. 39, Church-stree. Applicant said he had allowed his son- in-law to use the premises during his (Mr Edward's) occu- pancy of the front part; had since demanded possession, which was refused, and had sent notice to the son-in-law who bad said he would fight it out. The Bench granted the applicant an order to recover possession in three weeks. AFTER THE SESSIONS.—Timothy Keating v. Patrick Foley. This was an assault case at Briery Hill, and was a finishing match after last Blaina sessions, at which latter place Keating was fined 5s and costs, for allowing Mrs Foley to run her head against a stone he held in his hand. Mr C. R. Harris for defendant, asked complainant a few questions anent the case at Blaina, and as to the feeling it haJ engendered. Keating said he had been punished by the Blaina gentlemen, and was not going to be tried in two court-houses he said if he called Mrs Foley a w-e it was only what was true some other replies were equally saucy and insolent but did not at all disconcert Mr Harris, Complainant called a witness who declined speaking till Keating paid 3s 9d, for his (witness's) loss of time the cash was handed out. and the witness^ deposed to seeing a quarrel between Keating and Foley, who were entangled in each other.—Jeremiah Murphy, a. shaky old man, with a plaister on his nose. ascended the box as a witness and be- gan to chatter. -The Bench: Kiss that book. Witness Where's my wages first? (Laughter).—The Bench: What do you demand ?—Witness Half-a-crown is little enough one day in "Tredaygar" and one here, he only gave me sixpence at Tredaygar. — Complainant paid the money, and the witness kissed the book loudly. -The Bench W hat have you to say ?—Witness Good day to you jintleinen. (Laughter) -The witness then began. On the morning of the twinty-siviath of April I saw a row, and a great crowd of min and wimmin, yes, they was inside the house jintle- men.-The Bench: Is that all? A. Yes.—Alf Harris said he did not think he was called upon to make any remark, the case did not prove anything against Foley. Case dis- missed. complainant to pay costs.—There were a number of assault ca..es arising out of the affair at Blaina. Patrick Foley, Thomas Harrington, Ihotrias Keating, MicbealCon- nelly, Jane Naigle, and Betsy Ldwards, were among the litigants. —Mr C. R. Harris appeared for Patrick Foley, complainant in the first summons, for Mary Connelly de- fendant in the second, and Timothy Keating defendant in the third case. The women told long tales, and called on heaven to assist them in telling what was true. To put all on a level, the Bench settled the dispute by putting all the parties under sureties of the peace. EBBW YALE. EMIGRATION.—On Monday last a. number of families left ] his place on their way to America. A number leave every { veek, but the majority generally make it convenient to go I n batches, and that also on a pay Monday, when from i hirty to forty persons leave their native place to try their ortune the other side of the Atlantic. The station was ( :rowded with the friends of the emigrants, who wished them ( Lll the success imaginable. PAY DAY. -Saturday was the pay, after five weeks' hard f abour, and it is painful to state that an unusual amount of t lissipation prevailed. Better times ougnt to secure more t )eef and bread to the families of the working men, but it is f o be feared that in this direction the advance of wages do s lot tend. The various disgraceful fights and drunken srowds that were to be witnessed on Monday in front of i jublic houses, in different parts of the town, loudly call for lome effectual means for the suppression of drunkenness, ] specially at our pays. [Whatour religious and social re- ormers are doing, may now with propriety be asked. The .emarks made in a recent leader on Alerthyr and Dowlais < iii-Ilt with equal force apply to this district. When will j .his abominable traffic, with its baneful influence on the < working classes and their families, be checked? Echo msvvers when ] CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.—On Sunday the English jn(je. j jendeuts of Briery Hill held their chapel anniversary, when ;hree sermons were preached by the Rev. B. Hughes, BA., c >f Tredegar. The congregations during the services were t rery good, and the discourses were practical and appro- i wiate. The Rev. Mr Edwards remarked at the close of the iervices that the chapel had been built over 20 years, and luring that time £ i00 debt had remained, the church and :ongregation having paid in the shape of interest more than he principal. He strongly condemned the practice of milding chapels by borrowing large sums of money, for which he public were perpetually appealed to, merely to meet the xpenses of interest, when the principal was seldom re- luced. They had determined to try and payoff the £ 100. ind that was the special object of the Services. Liberal elections were made at each service towards reducing the 1 imount. <> A GREAT GATHERING ON THE MOCNTAIN.—The Welsh 3alvinistic Methodists at Silo Chapel, Victoria, held their innual tea party in the Crick, a field near the Duffryn Inn. A larse marquee was erected on the field, in which was served the tea to the crowds who assembled on the occasion. The day was brilliantly fine, and it being Monday after the pay, and all the works of Victoria and Ebbw Vale idle, large crowds flocked to the field to enjoy the refreshing cup provided by the ladies, who did everything in their power to cater to the tastes of over 1000 people. The serving «f such a large number, coming as they did at different times, necessarily occupied a long time, and it was about nine o'clock before all had been sit pplied. No public meeting took place, but the young folks engaged in the usual rural sports, which were witnessed by the older part of the assem- bly with great interest and amusement. It is satisfactory to learn that after all expenses are met. the financial result will be very large, and will tend considerably to reduce the debt on the chapel. A DODGE. -In one of the many houses in New Town there resided three families, one of which was held respon- sible for rent and firing to the house agent, and therefore the other two families were only lodgers. It appears that this person had gone considerably in arrears with his land- lady, owing to many untoward circumstances. For con- venience sake he wished to leave his l,dge," bat the land- lady insisted on having all his arrears paid up before moving an article, or Ithat sufficient should be left behind as secu- rity for what was owing- He was unable to pay the cash, but agreed to leave a large box fm^ 0 ,Vf,|uable things, amongst which was a concertina- ine landlady went to visit a friend a day before the lodgers left, when the man's wife hit on a scheme to dodge her landlady. She got the key, opened the box, and took everything out and safely secured it, and for the purpose of not awakening suspicion, she placed a number of old bricks in the ox instead of the valuables she had extracted. For a time things went on quietly, but as the cash was not forthcoming a threat to sell was made, and for this purpose the box was opened, when, to the astonishment of everyone, inseadot the UJusic and other things being there, the old bricks presented them- selves. The trick led to a large number of the neighbours attending the house af the dodged landlady to condole with her-though in some instances ironically in her misfor- tune. The trick has caused much excitement and merri- ment in the not over aristocratic districb in which it occur- red, and all declare that for the future not only shall lodgers' boxes be left, but also the keys as well. I BEAUFORT. A NARROW ESCAPE. -A number of people who work near and about the incline which lets down coal had a narrow escape for their lives last Monday. The rope which works the incline was snapped, and consequently two trucks were let free, which went down at a wonderful speed, and carried all before them. Luckily the men, women, and horses who work at the bottom of the in- cline were out of the way at that moment, otherwise many lives would have been lost, as s, a great deal of damage was done. One of the trucks wa" 8-asbed to atoms, and the other did not fare much bett The great speed at which the trucks came down and the ore and coal flying in all directions, m ave caused much more injury and damage ha a :little time before, and many children wmiLl have also suffered. The well of water, which is not far fr0.™, f V?.cllne, is a great attraction at the present time, an< 11,Jren who congregate there would have been instantly kitled by the coal and mine which fell about, bu^t, on°.us to relate, there was no one close to the we e accident occuired. DISCOVERY OF A CHILD IN 'THE ORT NEW CHURCH. This district has been thrown into considerable excitement, from a very strange discove y newly-born infant girl, supposed to be about six ^a)parti- ally buried state in the ditch, at the bo church- yard, at the back of the garden of W. Needham, Esq. The body was placed in an old raisin box, the feet as also the body being carefully wrapped in a ne ed piece of Welsh flannel, over which was placed a clean ntw print dress, which covered the feet, ana was evidently made for the purpose for whieh it was used. That part of the box in which the bead rested, when discovered, WIIS not closely fitted, and therefore it is generally supposed that rats must have got in, and have eaten the neaa, as it was entirely knawed away, except the skull e. and there- fore will considerably embarrass the investigations of the medical men, and tbe jury in ^Satisfactory conclusion. The first public notice ..Was on Sunday morning, when the Sexton s ( ) ntion was called to the matter, and having anr1°^f ^eoted the attention of Mr Morgan, themcum » JrmCottle, the church warden, to the matter. Mr ;f?-, dvised Mr Cottle to communicate with Sergean e su^* ject, which was done at once, r Promptly visited the churchyard, with Mr o eeks the Sexton, and the box with the body ww.taken»p by Weefs and brought to the Bridge End Inn- ale, the church being in Monmouthshire. Dr Ke g «'for, and examined the body externally, when conclu- sion that the child must have been week. old when placed in the position found, and ^composi- tion which it had undergone, must baveoeen in the place where it was found about three weeks. On Tuesday mid- day an inquest was held at the Br r, pf°re W. H. Brewer, Esq., when the following witnesses were exa- mined hy the Coroner. Jane ^Cooper, wi,fe 'of °h<? Cooper, said she lived at the New Church cott^°ef; ,Be^ufort. Her attention was called to the matter by a lad, who was in the yard for a bird's nest; was not certain whether it was Wednesday or Thursday, but thought it was Thursday could not remember the name of the boy, but knew he would come before them if tney wished. He was working u-ider-ground then. He said that his foot kicked against the box in the yard; thought it was something strange, 1 and found the lid or top of the box there. She weqt in the company of two more women to the churchyard, and found the box at the place described found the lid of the box slightly risen at the head.—By the Coroner: What space was there between the lid. and the side of the box? about an inch. Could a rat or a dog have got to the head through it? Was sure a. rat could have got. in, and a dog might have got its paw and scratched the head. The top was exposed. and the lid a little on one side Did not see it again till the police took it away on Sunday, about three o'clock. By the Coroner Don't know whose child it is. No child missing to her knowledge. She was a midwife, and con- fined several women about two or three months ago. The children are all alive. Had not confined but one two months since the child was living.—A -Turyman Could months since the child was living.—A -Turyinan Could you put your fingers between the lid and the side when you first saw the box ?—Witness Yes. I opened it sufficiently wide, to see that it was a child inside the lid was not close at the head there wa.s no earth on the cover.-By the Coroner: Why did you not make the matter known before Sunday ? Had to work very hard all day sir, and thought to tell Mr Morgan thu clergyman of it when I saw him.-The Coroner: This case was known on Wednesday or Thursday, and kept from the police till Sunday. He certainly thought that witness ought to have acquainted the police sooner of the- circumstances.—Sergeant Griffiths I had no knowledge of the circumstances till Sunday after- noon, when made acquainted with it by Mr H. Cottle.— This concluded the evidence at this sitting.—After a short consultation between the coroner and Jurv.it was agreed to adjourn till Tuesday, the 17th instant. The Coroner and jury examined the body minutely in all its parts, and the clothes in which it was wrapped, which are to be retained by Sergeant Griffiths, as they may, it is hoped, form a clue to the identification of the'parties who placed the box there, as also to whom the child belongs, and how it came by its death.—The Coroner ordered a post. mo item examination of the body, which was being effected when the jury rose, by Messrs Ked,g'pr and Hall, surgeons, of Ebhw Vale, and Beaufort. Next week important evidence will we hear be tendered by several witnesses, prominent amongst whom will be Master Xeedham, son of W. Needham. Esq who will testify to have seen or heard three men. about three weeks ago, near the spot, where the body was found. tfull particulars of this mysterious affair will be published in next week's TELEGRAPH ]

A CARMARTHENSHIRE GENTLE VIAN CONFINED IN A MADHOUSE. A case of disputed lunacy was heard on Saturday at the Brentford Petty Sessions. John Henry Jenkins, a gentle- manly-looking man, of about 45 years of age, wa3 brought up on remand, charged with being found sleeping in an un- finished house in Cambridge-park, Twickenham, on Sunday, the 1st of May also with being a wandering lunatic. At the last hearing of the charge prisoner stated that he was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge that his mother was a widow, who possessed an income of £600 a year. and his father was for over twenty-four years chairman of a bench of magistrates at Whitehaven. Stephen Bentlifl said I am an attenoant of a private lunatic asylum kept by Dr Lowry. at West Mailing. I know the prisoner he hiis been under my especial charge as a patimt in the establishment. He escaped from the asyluja on Friday morning, April 29. The Chairman (to the prisoner): You bearwbat the witness states have you any objection to go back quietly with him ? Prisoner: I'll go back quietly, your worship; .but 1 am not a lunatic, and have been iliegally detained at this asy- lum these three years. I have been at the asylum nearly seven years, but ought to have been discharged fully three years ago. I was first detained on religious grounds. I took a tirst-class certificate at Jesus College, Cambridge, and 1 believe i am capable of discharging some of the various duties connected with the Church. I was under a delusion some years aa;o, and fancied myself to be Elias or John the Baptist sent in the latter days. This was some years ago, but the Cotnmis ioners of Lunacy told tne three years ago that I ought to be discharged, and finding they would not discharge me I got over the walls on Friday week, and made my escape, and when 1 was apprehended I was on the read to my friends in Wales. I am a son of the late Rev George Jenkins, who was chairman of a bench of magistrates in Cumberlaud for nearly twenty- five years. The first witness was now re-called, and, in reply to the Bench, stated that the commissioners saw the prisoner about four months ago. Witness further stated that the magis- trates of the county visited the asylum every three months, and sometimes six times during the year. Mr Thomas Arthur Lowry, M.D., said: I am the prin- cipal of the private lunatic asylum at West Mailing. The defendant is a patient who escaped on Friday week, at about half-past seven in the morning. He has been over six years in the establishment. [Witness here produced the authority under which he held him, which was signed by his mother, "a lady living in Carmarthen.) The de- fendant has not been discharged, nor has he been in a fit state to be. Prisoner Was I not in a fit state three years ago ? Wit- ness That was decided ty the commissioners at the time. Prisoner now repeated the question, and witness replied— I cannot say that you were. I do not think you are at the present time. A magistrate We have not observed anything indicative of insanity in his replies.—Witness No, but sometimes he is more rational thin at others, It is quite true that the county magistrates visit our establishment six times a year. The commissioners will shortly make another inspection. The chairman now told the prisoner that, Dr. Lowry having produced the authority for detaining him, the Bench were bound to give him up but they hoped at no distant date to learn that he was discharged, and said he would have the opportunity of communicating with the Lunacy Com- mission and his friends. Prisoner thanked the Bench, and left in charge of the doctor and his attendant. 11 O j EIOUSE OF COMMONS.—MoxDAT, May 7. THE BALLOT AND THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS BILL. Colonel Knox called the attention of the First Lord of she Treasury to the notice given by the Marquis of Har- rington to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to the procedure at Parliamentary elections, which, be said, seemed to he a Ballot Bill in disguise, and asked when it was to be brought on. Mr Gladstone said that it was certainly a Ballot Bill. but not in disguise It dealt with several other matters, which would be stated by the Marquis of Hartington. The Marquis of Hartington then in asking for leave to introduce the Parliamentary Elections Bill said that it was founded mainly but not entirely on the recommenda- tions of the Select Committee which had sat during the present session and over which he had himself presided. In one particular the Bill was directly opposed to the recom- niendation of the Committee, but he believed that the House had never considered itself bound to follow implicitly the suggestions of its Committees, and besides this par- ticular Committee had been appointed f(ir the purpose rather of collecting infonnation and of hearing opinions than of coming itself to any definite conclusion. He therefore felt no hesitation in proposing a measure which was opposed to the recommendation of the Committee. The point upon which the Bill differed from the recommenda- tion was that of public nomination, and he would proceed at once to explain what was the recommendation and what would be the proposal of the Government. The Committee stated in its report that at some places of election the addres- ses of candidates were rendered inaudible by r.oise and tumult, and serious disturbances were often continued throughout the day In his (Lord Hartington's) opinion that was not a too highly coloured description, for in his opinion public nominations were too often nothing but a mischievous and useless farce, tending to bring our con- stitution and our representative institutions into contempt, and disgust intelligent people with everything connected with an election. (Hear, hear.) Notwithstanding this, how- ever, the Committee gave reasons for continuing th-i prac- tice, but Government differed with them, and proposed another plan which he should proceed to explain. They proposed that the returning officer should announce that on a certain specified day he should at a specified place proceed with the nomination. He would announce that within two hours on that day he would receive the nomina- nation of candidates, such nomination to be effected by personal delivery, and not by sending in the nomination paper. The nomination would be signed by the proposer and seconder, and by eight other electors of the county or borough. The House would by and bye see the object of requiring that the nomination paper should have the signa- tures of not less than ten electors. The delivery of the papers would be made either by the candidate or by his proposer or seconder, and the candidate by his proposer or seconder would be permitted to withdraw those papers within the two hours specified. If at the end of that time no more candidates appeared, the returning officer would announce the result, and advertise it in the manner de- scribed in the Bill. These proceedings would take place comparatively in private the only persons present being the candidate, acccompanied by one friend, besides his pro- poser and seconder. No other porson would have a right to be present, except by special permission of the returning officer. The result of this plan would be that the candi- dates and their friends would meet face to face they would know before the expiration of the specified time who were their opponents, and they would have the opportunity of deciding there and then whether they would go to the poll, or withdraw from the contest. The objections which the Committee stated to doing away with public nomina- tion were five. The first, that it would tend to fetter the free choice cf the electors appeared to be entirely opposed to one of the subsequent objections, which was that it would be extremely difficult to prevent the putting forward of candi- dates fcr the mere purpose of annoyance. He could not see how the free choice of a constituency would be fettered if ample opportunity were given to any ten electors to bring forward the candidate of their choice, and ample opportunity was afforded to demand a poll on behalf of that. candidate. That it would deprive a candidate of the opportunity of setting himself right with the constituency in the event of mis-statement he must admit, but that was the one solitary objection which he knew of to the abolition of public nominations. He believed there was some ad- vantage in certain cases in that public nomination which enabled the candidate to meet his opponents face to face before the whole constituency-(" Hear, hear," from the Opposition)—and to challenge them in public in case mis- statements had been made, but honourable gentlemen must be aware that in the great majority of cases in which pub- lic explanation was necssary or desirable the opportunity for it did not practically exist. (Hear.) Where reckless and unfounded assertions had been bandied. about, and a state of great excitement prevailed, the candidate might just as well talk to the wind as endeavour to set himself right at a public nomination. (Hear, bear.) As to the ob- jection that it would be difficult to prevent the putting for- ward of persons for the mere purpose of annoyance, that might be so if the system proposed was the mere sending out of nomination of papers without the personal attendance of the voter, and if the poll followed as a matter of course upon the sending in of the nomination papers but when the candidates and their supporters were brought face to face, and had the opportunity of seeing whom they were sjoing to meet, and of considering how hopeless would be the contest in which they were about to embark, it would very much tend to check the practice of noinina- nations for the mere purpose of annoyance. The Govern- ment did not intend to propose to make any alteration in the existing law as to the incidence of the necessary ex- penses of elections. (Hear, hear.} The candidate or his proposers and nominators would be still liable for the expenses, and that also would act as a considerable check upon putting forward candidates for the mere purpose of annoyance. (Hear, hear.) Another objection was that it would tend to the fraudulent withdrawal of the candidates who were unfavourable to the electors, but that he was unable to see. Of course corrupt compromises might be made between the various candidates in future, as now, but such compromises were not made upon the I hustings, but always behind the scenes, and he did not see £ jiOTv they were to be prevented. The laet objection was that in the majority of cases the nomination was orderly, and the return was made on the day of nomination. If he had made clear the proposal of the Government, it would be found that the same advantages would attend their system, and if there were not more candidates than' vacancies, the return would be made complete on the day of nomination. If there were more candidates than vacancies of course it would be the duty of the returning officer to announce that a poll would be taken, to name the day of the poll, and to make the necessary preparations. He had alluded to the eviis which did continually attend the pub- lie nomination of candidates, but those evils were compara- tively small as compared with those which were reserved for the polling day. On the nomination day there was riot and disturbance, but it was generally mere senseless, purposeless, and objectless riot, and for the polling day was reserved violence with an object and intention. It was for the polling day. and the day immediately preceding, that was reserved the arts of the briber and moral intimi- dation, or intimidation by an armed and violent body. (Hear, hear.) These facts were so patent that it was hardly necessary to accumulate proof. Although the Committee were considerably divided on certain points of their report, and certain of their recommendations were only made by a bare majority, they were tolerably agreed as to the facts and although the draft report was considerably altered, the report as it stood was agreed to without any great difference I of opinion. The committee stated that at the last election corrupt practices prevailed in many elections to such an extent as to invalidate the election. The noble marquis then quoted the report of the Committee as to the pxtent of intimidation at county elections in England, and as to undue influence exercised in Ireland, and the conclusions to which they had arrived, that according to the present system of conducting elections, there was in many boroughs and counties no real freedom of election. Those statements I of the Committee gave sufficient proof that there were evils in the present mode of conducting elections which I imperatively demand a remedy. For those evils there had I only been three remedies proposed — the use of voting papers, the increase of polling places, and vote hv ballot. 'u" Now as to the use of voting papers, he thought he might dismiss that remedy as shortly as tbe Committee dismissed it in jtheir report. They said that in their opinion it would tend to aggravate some of the evils of the present system, by the increase of bribery and certain forms of intimidation. In that opinion of the Committee he entirely agreed. The multiplication of polling places might be a desirable thing, but he did not think any voter would imagine for a moment that it would be anything like an adequate remedy for the evils which exist; and besides, there were ample powers in the hands of the magistrates for the increase of polling places if they thought that necessary. The third remedy was that the votes should be taken by wTay of ballot. This was not the time nor the occasion for him to consider the abstract argument for or against secret voting. The Com- mittee said the principal objections that had been advanced against the ballot were that the act of voting was a public duty which should involve a public responsibility, that it would lead to hypocrisy and deception, that it would do little to restrain the practice of treating, tb-;t it would in- crease bribery by making it more difficult to detect it, and that it would increase intimidation such as that alleged to exist in Ireland. Well, the first objection, that the act of voting was a public duty, was, he thought, the great and main objection to the ballot. It was one which he was willing to admit he had always felt, and which had hitherto induced him to vote against the ballot. He was willing to admit that there could be no more worthy spectacle to a free and constitutional country than the spectacle of a constituency electing its members of Parliament in an open, and tranquil, and free manner. But freedom of election be conceived to be the essential characteristic of an election That was not mere matter of opinion, but he believed the common law of the country laid it down. Baron Martin, in giving judg- ment in the case of Beverley, said if it were proved that the votes were given under undue influence, that at common law would be sufficient without any particular statute to void the election. It was incumbent on those who opposed secret voting to prove that elections could be made more tranquil and free without it. In some of the colonies where it had bei-n secret for some years the necessity for secrecy no longer existed, and it disappeared because no one was found disposed to take advantage of the knowledge of how a man voted, and he was not without hopes that the same result would in course of time ensue in this country. It was said that hypocrisy and deceit would be encouraged by the bal- lot. He confessed himself unable to decide the nice moral I point involved in the argument whether it was more wrong to act a lie than to speak one; but if they assumed the ballot would encourage hypocrisy and deceit, they would assume that the voter had some object in telling those who asked him that he should vote one way and then voting another but the same system might be pursued under open voting, and persons who were once deceived would be chary of asking again, t dear, hear ) It had been alleged also that the ballot would not do away with treating, but it would, at least, discourage it. Then it was said that it would increase bribery, and afford facilities for personation, but he did not see how it would do so He quite admitted that, under a system of absolutely secret voting, where it was impossible for a court of justice to ascertain how a man voted, there might be some additional inducement to bribery and per- sonation, and the great objection remained that they would not be able to strike the fraudulent vote off, because they would not know for whom it was given but the hon. mem- ber for Huddersfield had shown there were some systems of secret voting in which bribery and personation were quite as easy to detect as under any open system. Of course it would be said that what a court could discover would be as easily discovered by others most interested, but the perfec- tion of secret voting was to invent such a system as that the vote should be discoverable before a court of justice, and yet that there should be a difficulty, amounting to impossibility, of detection by other persons. The plan of the Government was this. The returning officer, on the demand for a poll, would provide a sufficient number of polling stations, whether in one or separate buildings, each booth being a station. At each of those stations he would have to appoint a deputy returning officer to preside over it. He would also have to provide a sufficient number of polling papers for each presiding officer at the station. He would not pre- side over any of the polling stations, which would be pre- sided over by his deputy, and agents who would be appointed by each candidate The polling papers would somewhat resemble a cheque in a banker's cheque book. They would have a counterfoil, and on the face of the counterfoil they would be numbered either consecutively or in different series, and the counterfoil would bear on its face the same number as the paper would bear on its back. The presiding ofticer would give to each voter, on establishing his claim t.) vote, a polling-paper, entering at the same time the number of the voter on the register upon the counterfoil. The voter would retire into a private compartment for the purpose of marking the polling paper, after which he would fold it up in such a way that the names of the candidates on its face would not be visible, though the number on the back would, and would then place it in the presence of the returning officer in the ballot box. At the elose of the poll the pre- siding officer, always in the presence of the agents of the candidates, would open the ballot box, and taking out the ballot papers unfold t Vie to and place them on their faces in such a way that neither he nor those assisting him would see anything except the numbers on the back He would then make them up in packets, affix his seal to them, and the agents having done the same thing, he would transmit them to the returning officer. When the latter had received all the packets and voting papers from the different voting places, he would, also in the presence of the agents of the candidates, proceed to open them, placing them in the re- verse way to that in which they were arranged by the pre- siding officer, with their faces upwards, so that the names of the candidates should be visible, while the numbers on the back would not be. He would then count the votes for each candidate, and would then, as now. announce the re- sult of the poll, and publicly advertise it in the manner pro- vided for in the Bill. In the case of voters who were blind or could not read, the voting papers would be marked for them by the returning officer. He should have stated that at the close of the poll the presiding officer would at once seal up and send to the Clerk of the Crown the counterfoil papers which bad been used, and it would be the duty of the returning officer, having counted up the votes for each candidate, to re-seal the packets. and send them also to be preserved by the Clerk of the Crowu. The advantage of this system would be that everything would be done in the presence of the f.gents of the candidates, so that any attempt on the part of the returning officer to defeat the object of the Act in any way would be immediately detected. They proposed to insert in the Bill a provision that no vote should be identified unless it had been proved before a com- petent court to be a bad one, and it would then be simply on comparison of the counterfoils containing the number of the voter on the register with the voting paper containing the same number. When the Bill was seen it would, he thought, be admitted that the plan proposed was not only simple but easily understood. There would be a clause in the Bill to provide that no room should be hired in any pub- lic house -(cheers) -as a committee-room. Public houses would not be permitted to be used except for public meet- ings at which the candidate attended, and this reservation was made because in many places the public house was the only place suited for a meeting. The Committee had found that the provision already made for ascertaining the whole expenses of an election was not sufficient, and therefore it was now proposed that any payment which was omitted from the account should be declared to be a corrupt practice, and should invalidate the election. The clause founded on this recommendation would, he admitted, be a most stringent one, but he hoped it would not only purify elec- tions but would relieve candidates from-many dangers caused by the action of injudicious friends. With respect to the expenses of the returning, officer, he had found it to be a most difficult question, and although he did not des- pair of ultimately arranging it he must for the present post- pone its consideration. Muuicipal elections were, he believed, as much in need of reform as those for members of Parliament, but he found that they would require a special Act for themselves. He must therefore postpone this part of the question for another year. He had now explained what the Bill did and what it did not, and hoped that with the assistance of the house it would become an efficient and practical measure. He knew that no act they could pass would be of any use unless supported by the public opinion of the country, but from what he had heard and seen during the sittings of the Committee be believed that there existed amongst intelligent electors a sincere and earnest desire to put down the monstrous evils that now prevailed. He be- lieved that this Bill would stimulate su6h electors to acts of resistance of coirupt practices, and would enable them to do -what he believed they evidently desired, namely to secure the regularity, tranquility, and purity of Parliamentary elections. (Cheera) Mr Leatham rejoiced that the ballot had become a Cabi- net question, but regretted that the Government had thought it necessary to complicate it with other matters of an irrelevant character. Nor was the ballot proposed by the noble lord in accordance with the recommen- dation of the Committee, whose opinion was that the votes should be absolutely inviolable. What this Bill proposed was in fact the Victorian ballot. He was dis- appointed also that the Government had not endea- voured this session to deal with the question of muncipal elections. Mr Fawcett said many members would be surprised and disappointed at the noble lord's speech. After what took place in the House three or four years ago, and after what took place in the Committee, it was to have been expected that the necessary expenses incurred at elections should no longer be paid by the candidates, but should be paid by the constituencies. That proposal was originally supported by the Prime Minister, and he gave it the majority. He believed there would be great disappointment oil this subject. All the other proposals, be thought, were m the right direction. Mr Gladstone returned his thanks to the Committee and his hon. colleagues for bestowing so much labour on this subject, and for the great advance they had made in the solution of the question of public secret votmg; and, secondly, for the valuable suggestions they had made. With respect to the absence of any provision for relieving the candidate from the expenses of an election, and placing them on the shoulders of the constituency, on whom they ought more naturally to fall, he might state that the rea- sons that had governed the Cabinet as a whole in refraining character. The fact was. that there were several difficulties in the way of giving effect to so equitable a principle, and the real consideration of the Government which guided them in abstaining from introducing a principle so theoreti- cally perfect and practically advantageous was, that it would have greatly diminished the chance of carrving the measure this session. His hon. friend in his sanguine view of the subject ought not to forget that the proposal he submitted last year did not survive a second reading, but was rejected at that early stage, though he admitted only by a small majority. There was therefore in the House an expressed opinion of the great difficulty which would be experienced in carrying that proposal. He would leave it to the House to say whether, as practical men, the Government did not arrive at a wise conclcsion when they determined to abate their measure, and postpone at all events the consideration of a subject such as that, in order to obtain the best chauce they could secure for carrying linto effect the important purposes contemplated by the Bill. (Hear, hear.) Mr James regretted that the Bill of the Government wa* to be deficient in what must be regarded as the chief virtue of the ballot, namely, perfect and inviolable secresy (Hear, hear.) The secresy was made to depend on the side upon which a paper was placed. (Hear, hear ) Leave was given, and the second reading was fixed for Monday, 22nd May. THE CONDITION OF THE INDUSTRIAL CLASSES AT HOME AND ABROAD. A series of documents have recently been laid before Par- liament in the shape of Reports from her Majesty's Diplo- matic and Consular agents abroad, respecting the condition of the industrial classes in foreign countries, the whole of which are contained in an interesting Blue Book of 600 pages. The value of this book at this moment is that it brings out into great clearness the peculiar position of the United Kingdom in the great world of industry with res- pect to wages, this is analogous to our geographical posi- tion We stand between the Old World and the New in hoth cases. Our artisans can earn on an average from 25 to 40 per cent. more than those of the Continent, though it may be doubted whether the difference is practically so great as it seems at first sight, having regard to the com- parative cost of all the necessaries of life. On the other hand, in the United States, Mr Ford's tables show us that the wages range from 24 to upwards of 90 per cent, higher than in England- One instance will suffice to show why German workmen are leaving their Fatherland by thou- sands for the land of promise in the West. In Prussia a first-class puddler is only earning £4;) a year, while in the States he gets El, 6,. Id. a week. In England the rates of puddlers vary considerably, but even in the Welsh iron- tield, where wages are lowest, a puddler can earn his clear thirty shillings a week, while in the English and Scotch iron districts he may average two pounds. We have heard a great deal of late of the decay of British industrial pros- perity, in consequence of the disputes between employers and their workpeople, and the extravagant rates to which wages have risen in our staple manufactures. In the teeth of the Board of Trade Returns, we have been assured that Prussia and Belgium, and France, are taking more and more of our trade every-year. We are not, however, going to question altogether the truth of these statements. There is no smoke without fire, and undoubtedly some contracts have been taken from our manufacturers in fair and open competition by their Continental rivals. Nor do we care to deny that this been owing in some cases to the struggle between labour and capital, which has ranged with such virulence amongst us for the last eighteen years. But if any of our gr^at ironmasters, or coal owners, or manu- facturers, are still desponding, and require encou- ragement as to our prospects in the immediate future, we would strongly recommend them to consult this Blue-book. There they will find that, from one end of Europe to the other, there is a movement on the part of the workpeople for an increase of wages, which is threatening to disorganize industry far more seriously than anything we have ever had to face at home. The Socialist party are organizing strikes everywhere which are daily increasing in frequency and seriousness," so writes the Secretary of Legation at Berlin. The picture which MrMalet draws of the implacable feel- ling of the French ouvrier towards the whole class of em- ployers. and of the rapid strides which trade organizations are making in the Empire, is even more ominous while in Belgium we know that. twice at least in the last three years, the military have been called to suppress strikes. In a fortnight from this time the Central Committee of the League of Peace and Liberty meet to arrange for their fourth yearly Congress at Geneva, and, laugh or sneer as we may at their proceedings, no one who knows anything of the matter can deny that they have begun to exercise very considerable influence on the working classes in Germany, France, and Italy. The Congress will have before it the last proposal of the French Socialists, for a universal strike. We doubt whether even M. Jules Barni and his friends will undertake to father this precious scheme, but the dis- cussion of it at Geneva by the delegates will not improve the prospects of the labour question on the Continent. At home, on the other hand, our prospects are improving, so far as regards the wages question. We are a generation at least before all other manufacturing nations. We have nearly fought through the battle upon which they are just entering. Our trades are nearly all organized. Employers' Associations and Trades' Unions have tried their strength over and over again against each other. Both sides are sick of strikes, and are ready to accept any reasonable compro- mise, as the happy termination in the disputes in the iron trade of the Cleveland district and in the cotton trade at Bolton within the last three months show very clearly, We have only to bring public opinion to bear steadily upon both sides, to insist on the establishment of Boards of Arbitration, and on the reference of disputed questions to them, and to encourage the system of industrial partner- ship in our staple industries, and there can be, little fear that we shall not only ride safely enough through the industrial storm which is evidently gathering over Europe, but have an excellent chance in the course of the next few years of more than recovering our old manufacturing supre- macy. THE CONVICT ROUPELL.—In giving a description of con- vict life at Portland, to which prison the Prince of Wales paid a visit on Tuesday week, the Sherbournt Journal al- ludes to the life of the convict Roupell, formetly M.P. fjr Lambeth, who has been at Portland during the last six years. Our contemporary says: "Roupell seemed to have looked skywards whenever he had the chance. and proved himself so different to the majority of the prisoners that be was entrusted with the position of hospital nurse. Here he was very attentive to the poor wretches who came in. One young convict was very ill and there was every likelihood of his dying. the doctors having very little hope. To this young fellow Roupell, as he did to others, gave every instruction, and directed him how to prepare for the great change. But the ex-M. P. was practical in matters of this life, and sat up with him night after night, bestow- ing such attention upon his fellow-prisoner that eventually the latter recovered. On the Eth instant an inquest was held at the prison on a convict who had died of cancer of the lung, and Roupell was called in to give evidence, which he did in such a decorous and intelligent manner as quite won the cornpassion of the coroner, and the jury. After the witness-s had retired, and the verdict had been returned, a long conversation took place between the governor, the coroner, and the jury. Mr Clifton said that Roupell was worth a thousand of the others in his position aa nurse. The governor also went on to tell of the attention bestowed by him on the sick con- victs, of his efforts for their temporal and spiritual wel- fare, and said that his letters to his friends were so full of true religious fueling that they were well worthy of being published. The governor said that if ever a criminal had reformed, it was Roupell; but unless a special reprieve were granted he could not be liberated until he had served twenty-one years at least. The jury also compassionated Roupeil. In the opinion of the coroner it would be a credit to any government to bs merciful in this case, and allow Koupell to go free for the convict was really peni- tent, and had shown himself anxious to do all the good he could, and that not only during his hours of duty, bat night after night, as well as d*y, doing all that one man could do for another. The governor and officers, while agreeing that Roupell was a most useful person in tbe prison, said that he was in delicate health, and this strongly increased the wishes for his release." ALARMING EPIDEMICS IN MONMOUTHSHIRE.—The state of some parts of Monmouthshire, as regards sanitary ar- rangements, is at the present time most disgraceful, and has led to alarming mortality in several districts, and de- mands most serious attention. The want of privy accommo- dation (this prevails to an extent that will scarcely be credited), the defective drainage, the proximity of pigsties to dwelling-houses, &c., have done, and are doing, just what might be expected. Pontne wnyndd and Cwmbran, vil- lages between Newport and Pontypool, have suffered fright- fully from typhoid fever, and the efforts of one gentleman, Mr G. W. Williams, to stamp cut the causes of the pest and arrest the march of death, has actually been rewarded by-opposition to his re-election as guardian for the parish of Llanvrechfa Upper! Blaenavou, a town numbering some 8,000 inhabitants, is in a deplorable state; and measles are carrying away the chilren at the rate of six or seven a day Such was the number of deaths there last week, that it is computed that the death-rate had risen to the frightful figure of 163 per 1,000 instead of the usual proportion of about 22 per 1.000. To cope with this awful visitatiou, this awful mortality, there are but three medioal men, namely, Dr. Steel and his two assistants. Dr Steel has forced the matter on the attention of the Local Board and that body has at last held an extraordinary meeting, and a committee has beeu appointed to go round with the inspector of nuisances, "to inspect the existing nuisances, and to take, such steps as they really deem neces- sary for the removal of the same at once." It is to be hoped that they wili do their duty, for this slaughter of the in. nocents must not be permitted to arc on. At Abersychan, however, Dr. Davies has repeatedly raised the warning voice to the Local Board on the same subject, and has not succeeded in eradicating the abomination, which threaten the place with the usual consequences. At the last meet- ing he again appealed solemnly to the Board to go round with him and see for tbetiasaves and the result was that thepsurveyor was ordered to call on all owners of property to rovide proper, privy accommodation at once. The chair- man, Mi C. J. Parkes, J.P., is a man of business habits, and expressed himself as devoid of sympathy for and anxious to proceed against the owners of property who neglected those matters which were necessary for common decency and for health It will be well to inquire whether any members of the Board itself have houses in which these disgusting conditions exist. In some parts of the town of Pontypool, as in Gibson's laae for instance, there are the same objectionable features and St. Giles's in its worst days would have had hard work to compete for filth and un- healthiness wi h the hy-olaces of these distant Monmouth. shire towns and villages. DUNVILLE & Co., Belfast, are the largest holders of whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is recom- mended by the medical profession in preference to French brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or ex. portatmn. Quotations on application to MESSRS. DUN- v ILLL & Co., ROYAL IRISH DISTILLERIES, BELFAST. 3065

THOSE LADIES who have not yet tried the GLEXFIELD f T-n are resPectfuHy solicited to give it a trial, and care- tully follow out the directions printed on every package It is rather more difficult to make than other Starches, but when this is overcome, they will say like the Queen's Laundress, that it is the finest Starch they ever used. BREAKFAST. —EPPS'S COCOA—GRATEFUL ANL COMFORT., ING. —The very agreeable character of this preparation YAr • rendered it a genH.i1 favourite. The Civil Service Gantfte remarks :—l he singular success which Mr. Epps -attained by his homoeopathic preparation of cocoa has rxdTer surpassed by any experimentalist. By a thor tut ledge of the natural laws which govern t^ luperations of digestion and nutrition, and by a eareft^ application of the fine properties of well-selected Coco* ilr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a 'oOiosttely flavoured beverage which may save us many Weavy doctors' bills." Made simply with boding water or «uik. Sold by the Trade only in ifbfr packets, labelled—-Jakes Epps 3e Co., ^opathic Chemists, Load. 29Cíf

assistant to Mr Freed man, pawnbroker, Aberdare, stated that he received one pair of the boots in question in pawn from a man that was a stranger to him, but who said be was pawning them for the prisoner who was standing at the time by the shop Hoor. — P.O. Melhuish said he arrested prisoner on Thursday night, and told him he was charged with stealing two pairs ofaboots the property of prosecutor he replied, "Yes, I am guilty, I did steal them." Prisoner pleaded guilty and asked for mercy. The Bench in con- 9 sideration of his old age sentenced him to two calendar months' imprisonment. d FURIOUS DRIVING.-Two lads named William Edwards and James Roberts were summoned for furious driving in Dynevor-street, on the 30th ult. P.C. Williams proved the charge, and defendants were fined 5s each and costs, or seven days' imprisonment.. THE CAT AND DOG'' NUISANCE.—Thomas Davies, and Isaac Smith, lads, were summoned for playing this on the Pandy-road, to the annoyance of passers by. "-C. Witney proved th<? charges, which were admitted. Joined 2s 6d and costs. No PROSECUTOR.—Gwenllian Thomas and Hannah Wil- liams, prostitutes, were charged with stealing a sovereign, the property of David Davies. No one appearing to prose- cute the prisoners were discharged. "THE DRINK" DID IT.—William Handley, shoemaker, was brought up charged with stealing portions of the mate- rials if tws pairs of boots supplied to him for making up," the property of Mis Evans, Castle-street, Merthyr. The prosecutrix stated that the prisoner came to her shop on Saturday, and afterwards on Wednesday morning last, and asked for work she gave Lim materials to make two pairs of boots there was no specific time named for his returning them when seen later in the day he could give no account whatever of the uppers she then took a con- stable with her to try ar.d get them back, but he still could not say where they were.-P C. Olding said he went with Mrs Evans to where the prisoner lodged, and asked him about the uppers he was very drunk and would not say where they were, but said he would make it all right again on this Mrs Fvans gave him into custody, and after bring- ing him to the station he was charged with the above offence, to which he replied, "they were done away with, but I do not know huw. Prisoner said he had been in three or four public-houses during the day named, and had a drop too much, and whilst in that state they were done away with be was willing however to pay the prosecutrix for them.—Mrs Evans in reply to the Bench said she could not trust prisoner to do anything again.-The Bench reman- ded prisoner for a week, in order that in the meantime to have enquiries made respecting the uppers. MONDAY.— Before- J. C. Fowler, and E. J. Davies, Esqrs., CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—A woman named Mary Ann Terrell, was brought up charged with the man- slaughter of her child on the morning of the 5th instant.—Prisoner who seemed to be very ill, was ac- commodated with a. seat during the hearing of the case. The following evidence was then adduced. — Anne Murphy said, I am a married woman, my husband is in America, I lodge in the same house as prisoner, who came there last Wednesday night about eleven o'clock her husband was with her I knew her before, but I did not i?°v husband > ghe evidently had been drinking, but she knew what she was doing very well she had a baby in a shawl in her arms, when she came in I nursed the baby for her, until she. went into bed the husband was also in beer, and if anything worse than prisoner; neither of them said anything, when I gave them the child in bed; next morning a little after six she called me, and said the baby was dead 1 ran down immediately, and found the baby lying on its side quite dead it was discoloured on the side and breast; prisoner did not say anything but was crying there was nothing the matter with the child the nnrht before, when I gave it to the prisoner.—Mr Rees Miles surgeon, said I was called in to see the child, and I am of opinion that it died from suffocation if it had any weight on its face, such as a blanket, it would be the means of stopping respiration.-P.S. Thomas said: I arrested prisoner at Pontmorlais yesterday morning about eleven o'clock, she was very much excited, I Uro"«ht her to the station, and told her she would e etained this morning I told her she was charged with causing the death (if her child, whilst in bed on Wednesday niu'lit or Thursday morning, she replied, I had the chil l outside me 1 gave him the breast about three o'clock it }mQha l"" t^len> t]36 other little <<irl was between my husband and me, and when I woke in the morning about nVt1s 0R. arm outside, quite dead." Mrs \vhpncJ re"c*a;'e^ sal(l the child was not on the outside tinn »• le m bed.—The Bench, after some considera- tion, remanded prisoner for a week. DESTRUCTION OF r200 WORTH OF PROPERTY. William Palmer, James Hill, and John Jones, respectably e i' «PPa;ently .about 1G years of age, were brought Monertv tf +b H01],10 y se"'lll2 fire to a plantation, the property of the ^ellygaer Charities Trust, and doin* damage to the amount of £ 200. ° James Cross, platelayer on the Rhymney Railway, said On U ednesday last I was working about half a mile from Bargoed; about middle day I saw the prisoners walking together through the river; one of them ran from the others with a match in his hand I believe it was William Palmer I saw him light it on a box that was in his hand I was near enough to see the fire the othrrs were the other side of the river when he lit it he put it in the fern, which took fire they then walked off together out of my sight: there were some men with me, and we went to put the fire out, but when we arrived there the fire had spread into the wood, and it was impossible for us to put it out; there were about from 20 to 30 acres of wood burnt; I can swear to the tnree prisoners.—By prisoner Palmer I saw you light the matcii.—The prisoner referred to stated that he was lighting is pipe, and after he had done so he threw the match away, and he supposed it caught fire,-it was done accidentally, In reply to the Bench, the witness stated that he did not see any pipe or tobacco with the prisoners saw some fern urning before, a little higher up saw them about an hour oetore on the Graig, which is about a quarter of a mile from the Bargoed they also then lit a match I think it was tbejame prisoner (meaning Palmer) threw it down on the tern, which also took tire I did not see any tobacco or pipe with them then after igniting the fern they walked out of my sight I am sure they were the same three prisoners. In reply to the Bench, witness said that it was two of his men who put the fire out in the fern on the Graig, but whilst they were so doing he called them to put out the fire at the other place, for he thought it was of much more Consequence. John Llewellyn said—I am a wood warden under the Gellygaer Charities Trust. I have seen the burnt wood; there Was about 20 acres of it it belongs to the trustees of the above charity the damage done is about £ 200 it was a copse; there are seven trustees, amongst whom are G. T. Clark, Esq., Dowais, The Bishop of Llandaff, and Mr Thomas. Ystrad P.C.Wil!it!ms(99)said—I arrested the prisoners James Bill at the Bargoed factory, Palmer at Bryn Ynys Llwyd, 1 Monmouthshire, and Jones at Caerphilly I told them they 'Were charged with maliciously setting fire to the wood on the above property Hill was about saying something, but gave him the usual caution lie then said, "it was not I that set fare to the fern, but it was Palmer on Palmer being told the charge, he replied that he lighted his pipe with a match which be threw down by the fern, and it was done quite unintentionally; the prisoner Jones, in reply to I the charge, also said that Palmer had done it, and that he < \ones) and Hill had asked him not to do so, but that Pal- JUer should reply, never mind, let us have a spree." I The Bench thought there was no evidence against the prisoners John Jones and James Hill, so they would there- fore be discharged. John Jones was then put in the box as a witness, and said-I started that morning from home. together u ith Pal- mer we went for a walk and passed the Graig William Palmer set tire to the fern there he did not say anything when he did it or afterwards I told him not to do it for to get me into a hobble he was lighting his pipe; I did not try to put it out; we afterwards walked down the river; he crossed it. and again lit his pipe I spoke to him from the 1iovT+r ft-' a ^im not to liyht the plantation he hls. P\P? and smoked it there; he had a box of when W1' him, but they would not light on the box tVm Pa e § i° u,s look at the fire."—In reply to &ct int^u ^im nw^ se* fire there for fear it will did nnt v,. B Wo"^ > he did not make any answer to it; we the funtr, rfuany afterwavds, but we had some talk in sairl Pi t s,ame day after the plantation was burnt; I :said, look, Jack, there's a hre I" Palmer then said, we I had not HLP ;+ i I then told him to confess that i-nan(led until Wednesday, when'the following evidence was Mr Thomas E. Cook said—I atn cWlr ( the Gellv.rt.or ni-omf,. T cierk to the trustees of Buildin«s°Npwi)i H- ym, r r^ide at Commercial is the nvo, + hv, 16 W°0d wWre thi« fire took place eight ve^rs ifj tu th1 trUS«eeS is wood Ibout contact with a *Le flaine from fern would come in whkhon y°u"S but I believe that the stools havincr i i0Ver e wood w0"1(i tirst talie fire, from from th^bn all about them the greatest loss is _+■»»,.n urmng of the stools X estimate the loss at over -irpoiv n,.?re about 20 acres of the wood burnt; there are six acting trustees, G. T. Clark, Esq., is one of them all the six act in trust. of ,u l)ris,°"er Palmer was now committed to take his trial the next Quarter Sessions. DRUNK AND RIOTOUS.—D. Jones was summoned for this offence on the Zthinst. P.C. Morris proved the charge, ani defendant was fined 5s. and costs.—William Waldron, jvas summoned for a like offence at Ynysgau on Saturday .I J, ? °harge was fully proved by P-S. Jennings, and the defendant was mulct in 5s. and costs.—Henry Jones and B. Evans were charged with a similar offence, rw clpS Saw, them fighting on Sunday morning in ynevor Street, they were also very drunk. Fined 5s. and costs each. a Toss. -A young man named Morgan Thomas inn? ln answer to a summons, charging him with play- Tmlh wf J* w1' ca\lec* pitch and toss on a public <laren i Coles said he saw defendant on the Peny- Ditch ln cotnPany with several others playing in the air • tlle defendant throw some money up but hp soon I?eVAeiy saw bim (the officer) they ran away, to fnrtv vr.nr.' *be defendant there were about thirty miniit-rva n re > saw him there for about five fmr.. v,-defendant handed to the Bench a character him —ti^p e«ip3oyers, which spoke very highly of -wird<< it! i? 1 {"m ls" and costs, but directly after- Tne n.m f V!le-rre^arked.that tbey could not fine any dant's o-rin^r v °^eri^e> in consideration of defen- fhk tiuie i ?racter the-V would not send hini to prison thri"SottoTul'ii;hrfoPbe,'i,cba'ged,- H with this offence Erc P ™aS "*1 *h° f „ (i uHrtfT V C°les stated that he saw him at path way leadihg up to^th pl;ying P'tch and toss on the \vDefend! i e tips by the Penydarran Iron remimandpH tted the offence.—-Mr Fowler severely repi nded defendant for playing at pitch and toss ni<>re especially on a feunday, Uen other people were at places of w orship. He would be sent to prison for three days. ASSAULT.—A bov named John Blake was charged with assaulting another lad named John Colling at Dmvlais on Saturday the 30th ult. Inspector Hees stated that he had seen the lad Collins last of an ye8tcrday morning. he was then delirious; he had been attended to bv Dr Cresswell, who said he was not to able attend there were no marks on him for he was hit, on the forehead. (lhe wit. ?ess) on arresting prisoner told.nun the charge, to which he replied that he was playing bai1.' whcn Colhns came and threw his ball away; he (the pnsoper) then called him som» names, upon which Collins struck him a blow ]lis temper then got up and he struck him with this (producing f P'ece of stick, somewhat of the shape of a bat, and used }>y the lads to strike the ball).-Wi'liam L theItraet ne layer at the Dowlais Works, was ConiiDg «P the street near the Plough Inn, and saw a lad who was Playin" others strike one of them on the side of his bead. James Murphy a lad who was playing with theni at stated that the prisoner struck the lad Collins on tn with the stick The Bench adjourned the case for a i Slight in order that the boy Collins might appear. I ALLEGED THEFT.—John Crowley, a lad about 12 years old, was charged with stealing » coat value fo, fcha property of Sarah Rogers. It appears that th? prosecutrix's lad who is only seven years old and the prisoner were playing toge- ther with their coats off, anil whilst so doing the coat was lost' there was no one else there beside-: the prisoner and the prosecutrix's lad, whose statement therefore could only be taken, but as he did not know the nature of an oath, the Bench thought it would be best not to examine him. The prisoner therefore was discharged. DisoRDERLY. -Harriet Williams, a prostitute, was charged with being a common prostitute, and wandering about on the highway, and behaving in a disorderly man- ner. P C. Smith fully proved the charge, and the prisoner was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment. A TRAMP IN DISTRESS. —James Murphy was charged with wandering abroad, and sleeping in an unoccupied building, and having no visible means of subsistcnce.- P .C. Hopkins said that at two o'clock that morning he found the prisoner sleeping between two boilers at the Plymouth j Works he took him into custody and charged him with the above offence, to which he replied that he had walked from Brecon, and not having any money to pay for a, night's rest, he had gone to sleep there. The Bench sentenced him to one week's imprisonment. UNDUTIFOL HUSBAND -Morgan Prosser was summoned to show cause why he should not pay towards the mainten- ance of his wife. who is an inmate at the workhouse infir- mary. Mr Meredith the Master stated that she had been admitted by order of the relieving officer on the 23rd of last month she was very ill, and could not appear there that day the defendant had not been there once to see her he earned about jLl 3s per week.—Mr Price, relieving 1 officer, stated that his attention was drawn to the case lie visited defendant's house and found his wife in bed very ill, with no one to attend to her the defendant wa3 lodging in the same row, and co-habited with another woman seeing P.C. Bell just then he told him to tell the defendant that unless he attended to his wife he should be obliged to re- move her into the Union the next day he called again, but defendant had not been to see her he then got her re- moved to the Union. -Sir Meredith stated in reply to the Bench that the cost of maintaining her was 6s per week, and costs. Defendant on hearing his Worship's decision declared he would never pay, but would rather go to caol. Mr Fowler remarked that he would soon get tired of being there, and advised him to pay at once. BEGGING.— Mary Ann Jones was brought up charged with this offence in Victoria-street.—Supt. Thomas proved the charge, which was gone into on Saturday. During the whole of the time that defendant was in the dock she kept making a hideous noise, which we supposed was intended to lie a kind of crying, to melt the hearts of the Bench, who however did not endeavour to stop her, but let her indulge in her weakness to her heart's content. The prisoner was an old hand." Mr Fowler remarked that her acting was very well executed, but it did not effect them, and she would be sent to prison for 14 days. WEDNESDAY. — (Before J. C. Fowler, Esq.) A man named William Reid, a sweep, was brought 'up charged with leaving his three children chargeable to the Merthyr Union.—Mr T. B. Meredith, the master, fully proved the charge, and stated that some time since the prisoner had been sent to prison for fourtetn days for a similar offence, and he had not yet fetched his children out of the house. The prisoner begged to be let off this time, and he would inimedately take the children out. The Bench sent him to prison for one calendar month with hard labour. DRUNK AND RIOTOUS. — Mary Ann Hooper was sum- moned for this offence.-P.S.Thomas stated that he saw her very drunk and riotous near the Patriot Inn on Satur- day night last there was a large crowd around her, and she was making use of very bad language. —Mr Fowler fined her 7s. 6d. and costs, or seven day's imprisonment. STEALING IRON.-Two little girls named Mary Rvan and Elizabeth Callaghan were charged with stealing 23lbs. of old iron, the property of Messrs The Plymouth Iron Company.-P,C. Hopkins stated that about a quarter past two yesterday he saw Ryan and Callaghan at the Plymouth Works, and that the first named was stooping down and picking something up; be went to her and found the iron (pro- duced) in her possession he told her he should take her in custody for stealing the iron, she replied, "I found it by the side of the pond by the blacksmith's shop." He had watched them for some time before he arrested them, and saw both of them picking some of the old iron up. Mary Ryan had in her possession when arrested about nine pounds, and Elizabeth Callaghan fourteen pounds all of it was the property of the Plymouth Iron Company, and was worth 3.'d.—Mr H. W. Lewis appeared to prosecute, and proved the ownership of the iron. It appeared that the prisoner Ryan had been fined by his Worship 5s. before for stealing coal: this time she was sent to prison for fourteen days, and the other prisoner was discharged with a caution. SIMILAR CHARGE. Ellen Brian (13), and Bridget Brian (9), sisters, and Ann Barry (9), were charged with stealing 83ft. of old iron, the property of Messrs the Plymouth Iron Company. The charge was again fully proved by P.C. Hopkins. Mr Fowler fined Ellen Brian 10s. and costs, or one week's imprisonment, and Ann Barry 2s. 6d. and costs, or three days' imprisonment, and the other pri- soner he discharged. 1.1 STEALING A COAT.—John Donovan was charged with stealing a pilot coat the property of Mr E. Buckley. The prosecutor stated he was a pawnbroker at Aberdare the coat (produced) was his property yesterday morning he hung it outside his shop for sale, and about four o'clock he missed it it is worth about 18s. -George Edge, assistant at Mr Freedman's, pawnbroker, said he received the coat (produced) in pledge from prisoner yesterday about two o'clock he gave the name of John Crouin he afterwards gave it to the police constable. P.C. Jenkins said he re- ceived the coat (produced) from last witness, and last night he arrested prisoner in the Lord Raglan, and charged him with the theft, which he denied. Prisoner now pleaded guilty, and Mr Fowler sentenced him to two months' imprisonment. I STEALING EGGS.—William Evans was charged with breaking into a fowl house, and stealing therefrom nine eggs, the property of H. W. Lewis, Esq engineer, Ply- mouth Works.—John Evans said he was a fitter at Ply- mouth Works, and resided at Cardiff Road, Troedyrhiw knew Mr Lewis's fowl house on the 10th instant, about four o'clock, he saw tho lock of the hen house broken, and the prisoner coming out he followed him, and when he saw him (the witness) he ran away he however caught him ar.d found in his pocket nine eggs he drew them out himself, and asked to be let free this time and that he would never do it again he (witness) then took him to Mr Lewis, to whom he said the same thing. The eggs were the property of Mr H. W. Lewis.-P.C. Hopkins stated that he took prisoner into custody at six o'clock the same evening, and charged him with stealing nine eggs, the pro- perty of Mr Lewis. He replied that he was going that way to look for work, and seeing the fowl house he went in and took the eggs. Mr Lewis stated that the hen house was his property, as well as the eggs the prisoner had to trespass through some gardens and a field before he got to the hen house. The Bench committed prisoner for trial. ABERDARE INTELLIGENCE. THE NEW HIGH CONSTABLE.—Mr Rees Williams, of Cefnpennar, was sworn as High Constable for Aberdare « for the ensuing year, at the Aberdare Police Court, on Tues- day last. Mr Fowler, in complimenting Mr Williams on his appointment, said that the office of high constable was 1 retained for the large towns of Merthyr and Aberdare because they had no mayors, and the duties of the gentle- j men selected for the office would be conflned to presiding at public meetings. <> TEA PARTY—On Monday last, the church and congrega- tion meeting in Calvaria Baptist Chapel held their annual tea meeting, when several hundreds met to testify their re- gard to Dr. Price and his church. The chapel was beauti- fully decorated with a. great variety of flowers and ever- greens, but most admired by all were the large number of pictures, mottoes, &c., &c., presented through Dr. Price to the Calvaria Sunday School. In the evening a public meet- ing was held under the presidency of the Rev. Thos. John, Ynyslwyd, when several of the neighbouring ministers ad- dressed the meeting, and Dr. Price gave a special address upon the Sunday school work in America. Taken altogether this was one of the most pleasant meetings ever held in this chapel. The fine and liberal gifts of so large a number of presents from America must be very pleasing to Dr. Price and his friends, as a memento of his visit to the States. THE PARK.—With the return of long evenings, the re- creations of the park have re-commenced each night large number* of young and old people may be seen enjoying themselves in various ways. The cricket game has been re- newed with great energy and much delight; and jumping, racing, and a number of other innocent games are partici- pated in, while the old people content themselves with looking on and viewing the different eambols of the young. An additional charm has been added to the park also by the appearance of the Volunteer Brass Baud on Thursday evenings, 011 which occasions numerous crowds repair thither to hear the music, and to witness the graceful and dancers to the strains of the martial song. Some young ladies have several times endeavoured to make up a game of kiss in the ring," but their success has been only partial. We hope that nothing will occur to mar the pleasures of these evenings, but that during the summer time they will be increasingly appreciated, and that the fullest ad- vantage will be taken of this delightful piece of .ground, the trees and shruos in which are now budding forth in great beauty. ENGLISH WESLEYAN SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.— On Sun- day last the above services were celebrated at the Wesleyan Chapel. The Rev. R. M. Spoor delivered two sermons, in the morning at eleven, and in the evening at six o'clock, to large congregations and in the afternoon lie gave an address, specially to the school children, on the words "The Household of God." He spoke very impressively upon the nature, duties, and privileges of the household, asking many questions, which were answered by the children in a satisfactory manner. Hymns, appropriate for the occasion, were sung. under the leadership of Mr. G. Hodges and Mrs. C. Reed, in a very creditable way. We may remark too that the appearance generally of the scholars was neat and clean, and their behaviour excellent; facts which speaks loudly in commendation of the training they receive rti this school. The collections during the day amounted to £ 8 0s. 6d., which was about 16s. above those of last year. THE SALE OF LIQUOB ON SUNDAYS.— In connection with the Central Association for stopping the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday, a public meeting was held at the Temnerance Hall on Monday evening last, R. Bedlington, Eso in the chair. T. B- Jones Esq., attended as deputa- tion and addressed the meeting, explaining in detail the obSct of tbe biU introduced into PMiam.nt by Me„rs, Rylands, Candlish, Birley, and G. O. Morgan, for the pro- hibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors on Sunday. The following resolutions were put and carried unanimous- ly — 1. Proposed by the Rev. J. Rees seconded by Mr. £ Pardoe, and ably supported by the Rev. 1. glands, That this meeting believes that the sale of intoxicating liquors, as permitted on Sunday, is highly preju lcia o the welfare of the people and is further of opinion, inasmuch as it is enacted that other trades sr'lH pursued on Sunday, it is both impolitic and unfair that, e sale of such drinks on that day-should be sanctioned by the laws of this realm."—2. Proposed by T. B. Jones. Esq., and seconded in a spirited address by the Rev. W. Edwards, That this meeting begs to express its grateful appreciation of the steps taken by Messrs. Rylands. Candlish, Birley, and G. (). Morgan, by the introduction of the Sale of Liquors on Sunday Bill,' for extending to the whole of Sundav the present restrictions on the sale of beer, and other fermented and distilled liquors, and hereby pledges itself to lend to their efforts a hearty, energetic, and per- severing support, in order to secure its speedy enactment -3. Proposed by Rev. W. James, and seconded by Rev. J. Davies, That an auxiliary to the Central Assc-ciation for stopping the sale of liquors on Sunday be formed, and that the following gentlemen be the officers and committee thereof. j The names were here read ] 4. Proposed by Mr D. Jones, and seconded by the Rev Joshua Thomas, That copies of the resolutions adopted by this meeting be signed by the chairman, and forwarded to the Home Secretary, and the members for the constituency, and that a petition embodying the same be signed, and sent for t presentation to Pa.rliaDseat; It was stated that about f ninety important Boards of Guardians bad favourably taken the matter up. the Merthyr Guardians being include) 1 There was a fair attendance. A vote of thanks to the chairman and a worthy response brought the meeting to a close.