Evening Express

The Old haill Murder. 'a'- EXECUTION OF MELLOR. Joseph Melior, 33, a factory operative, was executed at Strangeways Prison, Manchester, at eight o'clock this morning for the murder of his wife Mary Jane at Oldham. The murder was of a peculiarly atrocious description. The woman was last seen alive on the 3rd of September. On the 18th of October her body was -discovered under a staircase, the throat being cut and the body stabbed in several piaces. In the in- terim prisoner had used the house regularly. Throughout his trial and during the period that intervened between the sentence and the execution Melior maintained a stolid indiffe- rence to his fate. He was visited once or twice by his relations, and as recently as Monday last, in an interview with his father, expressed the hope that bis friends would keep their pluck up. He would keep his up. he added. Reporters were not admitted to the execution. A crowd of several hundred assembled out- side the gaol, but when the black flag was hoisted on the last stroke of eight there was no demonstration of any kind. The crowd hung round the prison gakzs for some time in the evident expectation of seeing the executioner Billington, but be remained indoors to attend the inquest. Major Preston, the governor of the gaol, informed the reporters that the execution was satisfactorily carried out in every respect. The drop was 7ft. Melior made no statement of any kind on the scaffold.

HIRING AND PAWNING A WATCH Magisterial Comments on Hiring Agreements. This afternoon at Cardiff Police-court (before Dr. Paine. Alderman David Jones, Major Sloper, and Mr. C. H. Evans) Arthur White, carpenter, was summoned for illegally pawning a watch which came into his possession under an hiring agree- ment with Messrs. Skarratt and Co., watchmakers and jewellers, of Worcester. Mr. Belcher appeared for the prosecution, and in opening the case said his clients were large manufacturers of watches in the City of Worcester and were in the habit of hiring out watches to enable people to purchase them by an easy system of instal- ments, but until the payments were completed the watches remained the property of Messrs- gkarratt. The present, was a flagrant case, becauwe defendant obtained a perfectly new watch from MeasrsSkarratt on the 29th of October, and pawned iL the same day. Under these circum- stances, defendant had been brought there under the Pawnbroker's Act, section 33, which set forth that any person who knowingly and designedly pawned the property of another, not being employed or authorised by the owner, should be guiltv of au offence against the Act. Section 32 of the same Act, which he asked the banch to enforce, laid it down then upon such a. t-onvitfcion the property might be ordered to be delivered to the owner on payment through the pawnbroker of the loan or any part thereof, A representative of Messrs. Skarratt. was called, and produced the hiring agreement, which defen- dant, however, denied having signed, and also said that the stamp it now bore was not on the agree- ment when lie first saw it. The clerk and magis- trates, having inspected the agreement, objected that it was only signed at the foot by defendant, as a receipt, and that his signature in the body of the diAjument, had been put there for him by the plaintiffs' representative. The agreement, it was stated, was in the usual form. The alleged pawning having been proved, the Chairman said t.hat under the circumstances they had no other alternative than to dismias the case.

STEPNEY ELECTION PETITION. Justices Cave and Vaughan Williams resumed the hearing in London this morning of the petition presented against the return of Mr. F. Wootton Isaacson, Conservative member for the Stepney Division of the Tower Hamlets- Thomas Alfred Macve, election agent, said he lirst saw the Stepniy Fathers cards on the night nf June 23. He bad not. ordered them, and they came on him as a surprise. He oi>jfcted to them, and they were promptiy called in and sent back to tiie printer, who was directed to publish PRKVIOUS ELKCTIO-W. 1885. 1886. Uurant. (D 2.Hi Isaacson (C) 2,237 Isaacson (C) 2.119 j Wright (L) 1.735 Lib. Majority 22 1 Con. Majority. 502 1392. Isaacson (C) 2,290 Thompson (L) 2,204 Con. Majority 86

SAD SUICIDE NEAR-GLOU- CESTER. Sequel to Parental Interference With a Love Match. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE EVENING EXPRESS."j Edwin Barnes a member of the Gloucester (Gordon League Baseball Club, committed suicide V on Monday night by placing himself in front of a goods train near the City. The head and limbs were completely severed from the body. From an unposted letter to his sister in service at Bawtry, Yorkshire, there is but, little doubt that ilio reason was on account of the opposition of his parents to the marriage of deceased with a girl inferior in position. All arrangements had been made for au early marriage, which, however, had been post- p >ned.

BOARD OF TRADE PROSE- CUTION. A False Declaration. At Cardiff Police-court this morning (before Dr. Paine, Alderman David Jones, Major Sloper, and Mr. C. H. Evans) Patrick Gilliauie, 25, was charged with making a false statement as to the name of his last ship, and also of his own name, when engaged as a seaman of the steamship Camrose, on the 8th of October Inst.—Mr. Ivor Vaohell, who prosecuted on behalf of the Board of Trade, stated that defendant was shipped as a fireman on board the British vessel Eveline at Fleetwood, where he received an advance in wages of -22 5s. On the vessel coming to Cardiff defendani. deserted, and shipped on board the Camrose, getting another advance of wages to the amount of £ 2 2s 6 i., and giving the name of his previous ship ns the Scotia. -Captain Harrison Wood, niar.ter of the Eveline, SMVB evidence as to the facts supporting Mr. Vnchell's opening statement, and defendant was filled 40s. and costs or 21 days.

MR] GLADSTONE Off to the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone and Miss Helen GIMl- Plena left Charing Cross Station this morning for Folkestone on thfr way to Biarritz. Mr. Glad- stone was in excellent health, and conversed with a number of personal and political friends who < assembled to wish him farewell, amongst, them boing Mr. John Morlev, Lord Acton, and Sir E. Watkin. A large crowd of the general public gathered on the platform and heartily cheered the Premier as the train left. Mr. Gladstone expects tc arrive in Paris at six o'clock to-moriow even- irg. The party will then join the night express, which isttmedtoreach Biarritz at seven o'clock I on Thursday morning.

BANKRUPTCY OF AN ACTOR. A receiving order was made in London Hank- ruptcy Court this morning against Mr. J. J, Dallas, the well-known comedian. The debtor attributes his fdlure to losses with touring companies. fi'

The Liberator Society, I —————————<?,————————— fiRST MEETING OF-CREDITORS..1 The first meeting of the creditors of the Libera- tor Building Society was held this morning at Holborn Restaurant. Mr. C. J. Stewart, Official Receiver, presided, and tbe Venetian-room was crowded to overflowing. The Chairman first pointed out the steady growth of the society since 1869, which he said had been occasioned by the balance sheets that bad been sent to depositors and sharehol- ders. Then, turning to the directors' twenty- third annual report, he said the director* stated that they had paid interest a the rate of 5 per cent, per annum to shareholders but that money had been provided by being bor- rowed at the rates of from 6 to 22 per cent, per annum. (Uproar.) The report also stated that the revenue from the properties in hand continued to be satisfactory, hut the fact vms those proper- ties amounted to about £ 31,000, and the incnmts from it wouid awioont to about £ 2.500 a year. That was a fmall itelll compared witll the very large sums which the report should deal with. During the year 1891 dividends at the rate of 5 per cent. and interest at the rate of 4 and 5 per, cent, were paid to shareholders and depositors. He then gave figures showing how the dividend was earned. The large profit earning account of the society was from interest and premiums, but during the last four years over £687,000 had been credited to profit and loss account. Of that amount, £635,000 represented amounts charged to companies linked with tho Liberator. and only jE52,000 charged to ordinary customers- The business of the company was in- sufficient by £10,000 a year to pay the working expenses. A scheme, for developing the properties of the society without, cost to the creditors had b. en devised. The Official Receiver was appointed liquidator, and a. statu!ary committee elected to act with him.

Glove Fight in London. A NUNC WALLACE v. PORTLEY. 24 Rounds Fought. VICTORY OF WALLACE. Nunc Wallace (Birmingham) and JoePortleyJ (Walworth, London) met on Monday evening in j the West-end to box for a purse of £300. They each scaled about 8st., but Wallace looked lighter, though both were wonderfully fit. Wallace was seconded by Bob Kerby and Sam Bkcklock, while Portley was attended to by Jack Harper and Dick Roberts- From the outset Wallace took a lead; he kept plugging his rival with his left, and although Portley countered well at times, the Midlauder always kept in front. Portley showed great clever- ness in avoiding punishment, but he was terribly slow in getting to work on Wallace. After 21 rounds had been fought the Londoner seemed I to wake up and for the first time he put in some telling blows. His strength, however, waa slowly but surely failing him, and in the 23rd round he received a right hand blow which brought him I down, time saving him from defeat- Portley I struggled up for the 24-th time, but J:1e was again met with a right half-arm blow, which sent him down. This time he failed to rise within the stipulated number of seconds and Wallace was declared the winner. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Though a protracted contest, the struggle must Certainly be described (says the Sportsman) as dis- appointing. In all 24 rounds were fought, but on several occasions we have seen twice as much I' punishment meted out in less than half the time. Just on the stroke of seven the men were reported as nearly ready, and ten minutes later Wallace, clad in dark-blue drawers and canvas shoes, entered the ring. Portley came almost on tho heels of his opponent. The Camber well lad wore black tirfus and lace-up boots, and he had for seconds Jack Harper and Dick Roberts, while Wallace was attended to ny Bob Kirby and Sam Blukelock. The principals now wagered a '• tenner on the result, and Stanton Abbott was elected timekeeper. The Battle. At eighteen minutee past seven lime was called' and the battle began. Portley looked quite slim compared with his opponent, but both were evi- dently in the pink of conditio: Nunc, in fact, appeared twice the man he was when lighting Woolley, but, though the Bruin's good biceps pleased his supporters, 11 to 10 was offered on Portley us they squared up for the first round. With yout.h nact strength on his side it was thought Portley would force the exchanges. The Surroy-sider, however, ml1st have been fighting to orders, for he adopted entirely different tactics. So much caution wall exercised on both sides that. in the first round only two good blows were struck. Wallace dodged and slipped back, and veered in and out, trying all he could to draw his man. Portley would not have it, however, and for the first four rounds Wallace did all the leading. His left was a little wide of the mark, though the side of Portley's face showed where the other man's glove had brushed it. Wallace continued to box in the most careful fashion. He never threw away the slightest chnnce, and with Portley strictly on the defensive nothing startling occurred in the first eight rounds. It was early seen that Portley was handicapped by the boots he wore. Several times he all but came down on the rosined floor, and in the ninth bout he came fairly on his nether end. Wallace kept popping in a little one for nothing, but the excitement did not commence until the eleventh round. In the last minute of this Portley swung a vicious rigbt, and catching Wallace on the "point" he dropped Nunc to the floor, Wallace was soon on his feet again, and the Londoner lost what advantage he had gained by his wild and impetuous fighting. Rushing in he was countered fairly on the chin and knocked off his pins, amid much excitement. Then the business went back into the old groove, and when they had been in the ring an hour both were almost as strong as at the start, though Portley showed most marks. In the seventeenth round Portley slipped and squirmed round the ring like a bad skater on ice. At last bis friends took in the situation, and during the minute's interval they endeavoured to cut off his boots. Only one foot could be freed, and Joe took the middle with "ene off and the other on." Had this been done ten rounds previously Portley wouid have had a much batter chance of pulling through. The remedy, however, came too late. Slowly but surely Wallace wore his opponent down. Yet, strange to say, the last round but two proved the best of the lot. Portley, too late, made a supreme effort and in the twenty-third round he received a half-nnn hit on the jaw that laid him low. The Camberwell boy was dead out, but the round ended before the ten seconds expired and another had to be called ere Wallace put on a finishing touch. Remarks. As stated, the winner fought throughout with the greatest caution, and his generalship and ring tactics were far in advance of Portley's. The tatter's display was disappointing in the extreme. He lacked ail the dash and vim he is noted for, and would assuredly had made a better show had he adopted different tactics. A young, strong man should always bustle up an older opponent, espe- cially one who has seen such service as Wallace. This is the very thing Portley did not do, and he lost the battle.

Social and Personal. o Madame Patti will leave Craig-y-Nos Castle on Thursday for Nice, where she is to appear in a limited number of representations before con- tinuing her winter holiday in the Soubh of Europe. Heuter's Agency, dating from Rome, December 19, states that the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain had an interview, of considerable duration, with Signor Crispi on Monday. Mr. William Watson, the poet whose sad story created so much sensation in the literary world last week, has, it is stated, been removed from Stone Lunatic Asylum ana placed under private care and treatment. It is also said that he is better. I Lieutenant T. P. C. Cumming, Milford Haven Division Submariue Miners, R.E.M., having been seconded for service with the British Honduras Constabulary, left Liverpool on Friday for Belsize to take up his appointment. Captain the Hon. Ronald Greville, eldest son of Lord Grevilie, is lying seriously ill of typhoid fever at bis town residence. The disease is of a severe type, but is running a normal course, and the strength is well maintained. Judge Mftckonochie, brother of the late Mr. Mackonochie. tie well-known clergyman, died at Kenilworth, Bournemouth, on Sunday night. He was born in 1823. and was the eldest surviving son of the hue Colonel George Mackonochie. Tho marriage arranged between Reginald Brooks-King, elder son of the late J. Pearce King, of The Elms, Monmouth, and Jessie, fourth daughter of the lute Richard Bagnall, of Severn Stoke, Worcester, will take place on the 11th of January at St. Peter's Church, Bournemouth.

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. TlCMPltHATUHK. DACE. j Max. Miri. j Mean. RAINFALL. Wednesday. 14 5'> 34 42 0 0*1] Thursday )5 53 ^8 fc0'5 027 Friday 16 n3 42 47'5 U 10 Saturday 17 53 170 O'CU Bunrtsy '-8 49 « 47'0 0-P2 Mondny 1') 50 4-1 47'0 O'CO Tuesday 2U 45 ><0 42'5 Q'OO ¡ The Temperature represents exiieme readings »( ti thermometer for 24 hours ended 9 a.m.. taken in the shade at Tredelerch, near Cardiff. The Uainfall registered at l'redelercli, near Cardiff, rr n 9 «.m.

ii ED TO, "GO" FOR HIM, « So far as I am concerned, unless Sir E. J. Reed is prepared to withdraw the letter which he has written, I have no alternative, as an Irishman, but to go dead straight against him. No matter what position the Liberal Thousand may take, I am bound to join with my fellow-countrymen in obtaining their just rights for Ireland."—Extract from an interview with Alderman Carey. I

Pearson's Competitions. Q THE" MISSING" SHILLINGS' How the Competitors will be Traced. Probably (says the Morning Leader) everyone who invested a shilling (or more) in Pearson's last competition will get his money back. Every effort is being made to trace the competitors. In the case of those who sent cheques this is. of course, an easy matter, and the senders of postiil orders may be traced in the majority of cases by means of the orders themselves. Mr. H. H. Crawford' the city solicitor, has told an interviewer that he is fairly confident that in this way every individual remittance will be properly returned. But as to who is to bear the expense of all this Mr. Crawfoi-d is silent. Meanwhile the Citv authorities have made it apparent that they mean to be nrm in this matter. The under-sheriffs, Messrs. Thomas Beard and G. Rosa InneM, jun., have thus written to the directors of the Bank of EnRl-.ind M'e are directed by Mr. A)dcr:ma and Sheriff Renals and Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wilkin to give you notice that they consider, as sheriffs of the City, that the money in your hands from the Missmg Word Competition' ought not to be parted with without notice to them, in order that they may consider who are the persons t,) whom the property in the fund is vested by law."

FATAL ACCIDENT AT CARDIFF DOCKS. This morning, shortly after seven o'clock, Richard Carauog James, aged 23, of -7, Donald- street, Cathays, was admitted into the infirmary with both his legs so badly crushed that they had to be amputated. James, who is a brakesman in the employ of the Rhymnev Railway Company, was at the docks with his engine, and was attempting to remove a lamp from the near wagon, when he fell on to the line, and the wheels of the truck passed over him. James died at the institution about mid-day.

THE AFFAIRS OF AN ABER- KENFIG GREENGROCER. Creditors' Meeting at Cardiff. A meeting of the creditors of James Jones, 116, Bndgend-road, Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, green- grocer, was held at the offices of the Official Receiver, Cardiff, this morning. The gross liabili- ties were returned at £ 271 Os. 3d., which were expected to rank for dividend. The deficiency was put down at L210 16s. 4d. The debtor alleged his failure to have been due to inability to collect his debts owing to depression in the dis- trict. of Aberkenfig and heavy household expenses. —The Official Receiver's statement was to the effect that the receiving order was made upon the debtor's own petition, and upon which he was adjudicated a. bankrupt. From information forthcoming at a preliminary examination it appeared that the debtor started in business as a greengrocer about three years ago at Aberkenfig. He had had no capital to, commence with, and from time to time had been obliged to borrow from friends. In August, 1891, his landlord commenced making alterations to the premises in which he carried on business, and these had not yet been completed. This, be states, materially interfered with his business, and, together with his inability to collect the book debts, caused his failure. He had kept no books of account. The stock and furni- ture have been sold, and realised £ 26 11s. He had not lodged any proposal for a composition.—No resolution was passed, and the Official Beceiver remains trustee. d.

THE RETIREMENT OF POLICE- INSPECTOR JAMES, OF CARDIFF, Proposed Public Testimonial, TO THE EDITOR OF THE EYENISO EXPRESS." SIR,—Having been requested by a, large number of friends to form a committee for the above purpose, we beg to inform the inhabitants of Cardiff that arrangements are being made to call a meeting at an early date after Christmas to take the matter into consideration.—Yours, &c., W. BRADLEY. FREDK. H. JOTHAM.

AT "DiCKENS'S~GRAVE, A Boy's Tribute. On Saturday evening a little fellow, apparently about ten years of age, was seen to enter West- minster Abbey shortly before evening prayers. Going straight up the main aislo towards Poets' Corner, with a directness that showed his know- ledge of the position by custom, he stood bare- headed and reverently over the grave of Charles Dickens. Then, looking around in evident doubt as to whether his action might giveoffence to the authorities, lie produced a tiny bunch of violets with an envelope attached, and kneeling down placed his tribute tenderly, upon the tombstone. The little fellow hovered affectionately round the spot for a few moments, and glancing round to see that his tribute remained undisturbed, went with a happy, satiftfied look aud took his place for the service. Curiosity led a press representative, who happened to be present at the time, to examine the childish offering, and this was what he found written in half-formed charac- ters on the envelope attached to the unassuming violets" For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a. child Himself. Dickens's 'Christmas Carol.' Blylon, Christmas, 1892."

THE DEFAULTING JUROR. The Treasury have sent a communication to Mr, James Asplin's solicitors stating that they canuot remit the fine of £50, nor reduce the amount of the tine inflicted upon him for leaving the court during the trial of Macrae at tlia assizes last month.

DRAWING ROOMS. The World has reason to believe that the Queen will not herself hold any more drawing rooms.

FOOTBALL GBANGETOWS FIHST FIFTEEN have open date on Saturday next, December 24, and Boxing Day,Decem- I fcer 26, for gooa team home.—Parsons, Cardiff. 14867.21

ACTION FOR BREACH OF II PROMISE. Leamington Schoolmaster Jilts I the Mistress. A PROSAIC COURTSHIP. I Mr. R. C. Heath (under-sheriff for Warwickshire) sat with a jury at the Victoria Courts on Monday to assess damages in an action for breach of pro- mise brought by Ellen Pullin, schoolmistress, Red- ditch, against Charles Henry Savage. schoolmaster, Haibury, near Leamington, in which judgment was allowed to go by default. Plaintiff was repre- sented by Mr. R. H. Amphlett (instructed by Mr. J. W. Hobson, Droitwich), and Mr. J. J. Parfitt, instructed by Messrs. Mill ward and Co.) repre- ¡ sented defendant. Mr. Amphlett, in opening the case, said the plaintiff was a schoolmistress at Redditcb, where she kept a private day school, and defendant was master of the National Schools and organist at the parish clturch at Heronry. Iu 1888 the parties were engaged together a.t a sci-ool near ReUditeb, and the intimacy which then arose led to a courtship which in 1839 culmi- nated in a marriage engagement. A targe number of letters passed between them, and until May la^t plaintiff had no idea that defendant, was about to break off the engagement. The courtship had been of a. somewhat prosaic character, and most of the letters were uninteresting. In 1889 defendant wrote 94 letters to ulaintiff, in 1890 57, and in 1891 53. On March 19,1889, he wrote :— I had my letters brought to me as usual. I wish yon had brought them up, instead of someone else. Would have given you full permission to have come into my room. and should not have considered it infra dig. now. We won't tell anyone when the event comes off. will we? Lt t them suppose and think what they like. I wrote to Benson's last week for their catalogue of watches, rings, &c., as I told you I should. I intend giving you a good engagement ring. Will you accept it giving you a good engagement ring. Will you accept it from Charlie? X wish I had you here to aek mj-aelf. Two days afterwards he wrote to her :— I only wish I was in the position to ask yon the ques- tion this year. Should I get, a refusal? I dent think so. However, you must give me the answer in your n-xt on Monday I have also written Mr. Benson, London, about an engagement vi ng, asking him if he will send me samples to make choice from. Don't you think I have you in my thoughts frequently ? There is no room for anyone else, You sitv my letters are part of our existence. I am delighted to hear it, and believe they arc the outcome of all love a.nd sincerity. Again, on April 5, he addressed My own loving Nell" as fellows The parcel containing the slippers came safely to hand: this morning. The3' are beautifully worked, and I shall always value them for your own sake only. Accept j my fondest love and thanks for them. I have already a warm hand and a warm heart, and there is no doubt I s, all have a warm foot. [After • referring to a friend's wedding he continuedj: Emily will make a good little wife, although she looks some- thing like a halfpenny doll. I know someone else who will do ditto. Won't you.jlove9 I am very happy, and extremely comfortable. I shall always get on well with Mrs. Dewitt, and I hope I shall not leave here until the great event takes place. It will be some day. lou are now. and have been for some time, the dearest one on earth to me. and there is no oue else I shall think or trouble about. On May 9 last he wrote '.to My darling Nell" a long letter, in which, after declaring that the en- gagement had better be broken off, lie stid Some few months ago I became acquainted with a young lady whom you do not know. She is very musical,and has played for me on many occasions. From the very first I contracted a very fond regard for her the regard became reciprocal, and now it has deepened into strong love and affection for each other. I honestly admit that she has the largest share of my iove and affection. Under the circumstances won't it be the best for us to break off the engagement, and for each to be free, That letter, Mr. Amphlett said, utterly prostrated the plaintiff, and she was for some time very seriously ill. She was attended by Dr. Smith, of ReddLicti, and for some time was confined to the house under that gent tessan's care. The expenses of that illness amounted to JE35. and he would ask the jury to award the plaintiff such damages as would compensate her for her loss and tor the cruel treatment she had received at defendant's hands. Plaintiff, in her cvidance, bore out her counsel's statement, adding that defendant had shown bar his bank-book, from which it appeared that lie hud a balance of £ 170. Dr Smith gave particulars. of her illness, which he attributed to a violent shock to the nervous system. Mr. Parfitt said that defendant did not deny the^ breach of promise, and was willing to p iy! any reasonable damages which the jury mi -iir, assess. He submitted that defendant had intenur-d to marry her, but he had found his position was not improving, and so had endeavoured to releise her from an engagement to which there was no reasonable prospect of any other settlement. The jury assessed the damages at £100.

FAILURE OF A NANTYMOEL BUILDER. I Heavy Loss on a Contract, This morning a meeting of the creditors of Daniel Price, 12, Osborne terrace, Nnntymoe!, builder, was convened at the offices of the Official Receiver, Cardiff. There was no crediror, however, in attendance. The debtor's gross liabilities were returned at, £ 4,,695 16*7d.,of wfiicii-c2,867 4s6d. was expected to rank for dividend. The deficiency amounted to £2,867 4s. 6d. The debtor attributed his failure to loss on a contract for the erection of 34 cottages at Tynewydd. The receiving order was made upon the debtor's own petition, upon which he was afterwards adjudicated bankrupt. He was formerly employed I at a colliery in the Bridgend district [ as a weigher, and superintended the buildina: of workmen's cottages for his employer. In 1883 he commenced business on his own account i as a speculative builder and contractor with a capital of about jE50, and erected 114 cottages, all of which he sold, except 32, which lie kept, but, being unable to meet his payments regularly the mortgagees took pos-! session, and he estimated that, after payment of the mortgagees' claim, there would be no surplus. In June, 1891, he entered into a contract to erect 34 cottages for the Tynewydd Building Club at £ 144 per house. Eleven of these he finished, and was paid for seven he got under cover, but through difficulties I in obtaining workmen the woik was delayed, and on the 25th of August, 1892, the contract was can- celled and all the plant and material seized. The contract was re-let. to the debtor's foreman at £ 32 per house more. The debtor estimated that upon this contract he lost £ 1,008— £ 56 per house. He expanded, according to his statement, a sum of £ 500 or thereabouts upon opening the ground, making reads and quarries for this particular con- tract. He had kept no books of account of any kind. His household effects were sold to satisfy an execution in August. 1892. No terms for a composition had been lodged.—The Official Receiver remains trustee.

A Dalziel telegram from Rochefort says:—An accident occurred here on Monday >>,< t.0 Cardiff steamer Gollivaud. During the tlllk-, "nig of her coiil cargo the crane cradle got detM i il and tell on the dr.ak limn a height of ijiKt., seriously in- juring two coalhetivers. They were sent to the hospital.

The Morning Papers, » HOME RULE. It is iikelv enough that before the end of January some sort of a measure will be tinkered into a. presentable shape. BUI; it is only then that the real difficulty will be beginning. We do not care to anticipate the interchange of views that will t;ike place to-day between Sir E. Keed and his constituents; but it is admiitad that this approach to the public discussion of the vital issues of Home Rule has already, on the one hand, bred the gravest distrust in the camp of the Irish friend- lies," while it has sown the seeds of conscientious ,misgiving in the minus of the more thoughtful and valuable elements of the Liberal electorate through- j out. the country.—Standard. The end of six mo/nhs' mysterious boasting I is to be found in the fact that some half- dozen Cabinet Ministers are labouring over a. Home Rale measure which Mr. Gladstone may or m»y not approve on his return from Biarritz. It would bs absurd to consider such a measure itS the mature result of coiisctive wisdom. If there is one thing certain about the entire proceeding it is that Mr. Gladstone, altheugh he may leave the tnsk of making this political pudding to his col- leagues, will flavour and cook it precisely as he wishes when he. again turns his attention to it. Up to the last moment it will be a questiou of pull devil, pull baker."—Morning Post. OUR RESERVES. When we are inclined to compare sadly the huge armaments of the foreigner with our own "thin rad Jim;" it must not be forgotten that, while our Volunteer Force "hows an effective strength of 200,000 men, there are behind these at least a million trained Englishmen who have been through the ranks; of the Citizen Army, and of whom a large proportion wouid iu time of need he more or la-s readiiy serviceable. And better fighting stuff than these young and middle-lged Britons does not f-xist, as everybody knows who knows anything at all about good material for war. We believe that, apart 'r >m the home defence, for which they are specially enlisted, there could and would be found, in tine vase total of trained citizen¡¡, the willing substance of more than one strong army fnr services abroad or in tile Colonies and India. Excellent, therefore, in spirit aud in significtwce as was the cerealony of Monday, leL not the militaryautholÎties be content with banging an oak wreath on the breasts of their twenty-year meu and officers. Let them disregard imbecile economies, and make all ther can by good and generous trtatmeor, out of this force, which costs them less than £4 per head, and which is the present reason why, in the Councils of Europe, England is not to-aay a negligible quantity/'— Telegrcqjh.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING AT CARDiFF. Meeting of the Corporation Committee. A meeting of the lighting and electric committee of the Cardiff Corporation was held at the Town- hall this morning, when the mayor (Mr. W. E. .Vaughan) presided. There were alw present:— Aldermen P.jW. Carey, A. Fulton, and T. W, Jacobs, Messrs- T. Andrews, W. J. Trounce, W. Evans, J. Gerhold, M. Morgan, J. L. Wheatley (town-clerk), W. Hssrpur (borough engineer), and W. H. Massey (electrical engineer). The TOWX-CLEBK read a draft agreement between the corporation and Mr. Masse), by which Mr. Massey's remuneration as consulting electrical engineer was to be 5 per cent. on the outlay of the corporation. The agreement; was ordered to be signed. Mr. MASSEY sLated that he had been instructed in conjunction with the borough engineer, to pre- pare plans and specifications for the new electrical station, so that the Locai Government Board inspector might come down. In making the esti- mate they had allowed for a building twice the size needed for present requirements, and a chimney-stack 150ft. higb, five times the size of present needs. Allowance had also been made for extra mams, to avoid taking up the streets a second time in the near future. The total cost of the ifrst installation centre would be a.bout£32,500, allowing £1,000 for contingencies. This wouid cover all requirements for six or seven years, and the single chimney would serve for ten or twelve years. Mr. Massey sa.id he was rather surprised at the cost of building in Cardiff, which was 30 per cent.gdearcr than in London. After a brief discussion it was agreed that ths estimates be adopted, and that the nece'-snry stpps be taken for obtaining the sanction of the Local Government Board for borrowing the money. The borough engineer was instructed as soon as this has been done to adver- tise for tenders. A discussion took place on a letter from the gas company on the lighting and repairing of the lamps, ana Mr. ANDRETTS proposed that the present contract be terminated, and that the corporation engage men tor lighting, cleaning, repairing, and putting out the public lamps, and th st meters be provided for the purpose of measuring the actual quantity of gac censuroed. The MAYOR said it would cost the corporation about double to do tha.t. The gas company paid about 16s. a week for lamplighter^.but if the work was done by the corporation they would have the trades unions down on them, and would have to pay 24s. a. week. The matter was deferred, and the meeting terminated.

THREE DAYS FOR STEALING A H SLEEVER." This morning at Caidiff Police-court (before Dr. Paine, Alderman David Jouos. Major Sloper, and Mr. C. H. Evaus) Annie Wood, a young woman, who appeared with a shawl over her head, was charged with stealing a "sleeve!,7' value 3d., from the Crwys Hotel, the property of Edwin Chrke, on the 19th inst. — There were five witnesses to prove this charge, viz., the landlord and the landlord's brother, two little girls, and apolicanmu. The lanclloid swore to the glass, which had his mark upon it, and be saw it on the counter iust before it was taken. The landlord's brother served defendant, who drank the bier and walked off with the glass. She was seen with it by the little girls outside the hotel, and was given into custody.—Her defence was that, being slightly under the influence of driok, she took the glass in mistake, but, sent it back by one of the girls.—The landlord said he was a heavy loser through people stealing glasses constantly, and defendant was sent to prison for three days.

SPORTING CHAT. The boxing kangaroo has soon found rivals. Mr. George Sanger announces Professor Reuben and six boxing kangarooe amongst the Christmas attractions at the Royal National Amphitheatre, London. Mr. G. Rowland Hill, the hon. secretary of the Rugby Football Union, has been presented with a handsome gold hunter watch and aibert and a silver tankard, suitabiy inscribed, by his fellow- workers and admirers. The Inman Line steamer City of Paris and the Cuoard steamer Etruria sailed from New York at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. It is intended that the race across the Atlantic shall be well con- tested. The vessels are expected to reach Liver- pool on the morning of December 24. A horse met his death in a. queer way at Nuneaton on Monday. It appears that a coal hig- gler was delivering some fuel at a bouse, and that just prior to tipping upthe cart he had loosened the belly-band. then when he went to deposit the cosl on the ground the weight of the enrt lifted the horse from the ground, and in that fashion he was hanged. The horse was a valuable one. The Australian cricket team for England next summer is expected to be made up as follow :—J. Me. C. Blaekham, W. Bruce, R. McLeod, B. Trumble, and H. Trott. Victoria; C. T. B. Turner, A. B. Bannerman, S. C, GrAeorv, S. Callaway, and S. Coningham, New South Wales G. Giffen and J. J. Lyom, South Australia. The thirteenth man will probably be either A. H. Jarvis, South Aus- tralia, or C. H. Ross, Victoria, both of whom can keep wickets. At the Press Club games, Madison-square- gardens, on Monday afiernoon James Mitchell, who made the world's champion record of 35ft. 6gin. in throwing the 561b. weight, beat his own best performance by hurling the weight 35ft. lO^in. As this achievement was not accomplished in a competition, but only as au exhibition of skill, it will not stand as a record. Mitchell states tha.t he is open to play Peall for the championship of English billiards witfiin six weeks time for £100 and the cup presented by the Billiard Association, under the conditions appertaining thereto. The game to be 15,000 up, all in, and the cloth to be changed every day.

Eilhmn; FOR ACHES AND PAINS Ellimati ELL I MAN'S Kiliman UNIVERSAL hUitnan g £ r EMBXtOCATION Mim*n For RHEUMATISM. SPRAINS, Klhman LUMBAGO, CUTS, Llliman hhUISES, CHEST COLDS, Llhman gORE THROAT from COLD Eluman STIFFNESS. Elliimut Eliiman Prepared only by Llhroan Eiiimau Eliiman, Sons. & Co., Slough. ISUiman Eliiman Is. lid. and 2s. 9d. Of all Chemists. mtthf E1355--1

DISTRICT NEWS. f W LATES, 28 and 30, Royal Arcade, for Ladies and Children's Underclothing, Corsets, Hosiery and Gloves. Special delivery in In f nts' MiHinery, Pinas, Frocks, Costumes, and Choice Assortment of Fancy Aprons, Silk Handkerchiefs, &c. Ladies' Umbrellas. CHOiCE ASSORTMENT of Ladies' and Children's Fancy Aprons and Pinafores, suitable for Christmas presents; also Mob Caps. Gloves, Ties. &o-i 4c.: Pelisses and Costumes Ladies' and Children's Millinery, at Re. tÎneedPriceB.-All Impeetion invited at Mrs. Williams's. 25. Royal Arcade, Cardiff. PHIVATK GBKETIXGS CHRISTMAS CASOS.—Ordera Taken and Executed on the Premies..up w> Five P.m. December 24, hp? W Jones nr*" 2719

====- The Altfagrp Tragedy. I RE-TRIAL OF MACRAE. I ANOTHER INTERRUPTION. I Andrew George Macrae, 36 years of age, sales- man. was again put upon his trial at, Northamp- ton (before Mr. Justice Kennedy) this morning'. It will be remembered that at the last Northamp- ton Assizes tiie trial of this prisoner had made some progress, when it was abruptly arrested by the discovery that a juryman, during the luncheon interval, had escaped from the care of the bailiff, and had been absent nobody ;knew where, or with whom, for some time from the court precincts. The Prisoner, The prisoner stepped into the dock quite briskly, and affected an easy, self-possessed air. He scanned the jury, the judge, and indeed all who sat before him, quite complacently, seated himself on a chair in the dock, placed one leg over the other, aud folded his arms composedly. He is spare built, with a pale and rather hollow-cheeked visage, slight moustache and beftrd, and hair combed up high over the forehead. He was attired neatly and respectably, and seemed fond of airing a corner of his handkerchief from his outside dress pocket. Another interruption. Some fatalism seemed to be attached to this trial, for the senior prosecuting counsel had a second time begun his opening of the case when it was announced tha.t a juryman was too ill to pro- ceed. The jury had to be temporarily discharged, the aiiing- juror allowed to leave the box, a more competent twelfth man summoned into it t.\ take his place with the eleven otbers, and then the whole twelve sworm anew. The Charge. The charge was again read that Andrew George Macrae did, in the county of Northampton, on or about the 20th of July, kill and murder Annie Pritchard, aged 30. Opening Statement. Mr. Buszard, after some opening sentenced about the gravity of the case, said the circumstances of this trinl commenced with the finding on Sunday, 'Icf' August 6, of the headless and armless boay of a woman in a deep ditch on the left hand side of the road from Northampt.o to Rugby. It smelt very offensively from purification. It was purtially clothed, and over the clothing were two or three folds of sacking, in the inside of which was a label with the directions, 14 Macrae, Northamp- ton. Loudon and North-Western Railway." Some iime surrounded the body. Counsel rapidly sketched the history and relations between Macrae (a married man) and Pritchard (a single woman), tiie woman's seduction and depar- ture from the house of her friends in Bir- mingham after the man had removed to Northampton to manage a warehouse for his brother there, and their cohabitation together under the names of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson in lodgings in St. John's-stteet from March 25 onwards. The artful means to make the woman's friends believe that she had gone away to be married and live in America were detailed. Pritchard was confined of a boy on June 13. A month afterwards Macrae. Pritchard, and the baby, which a girl, named Elizabeth Elliott, had under- taken to carry, left St. John-street. At the corner of Bridge-street, the prisoner remarked that they had a verr shore distance to go before getting the tramcar for the place they were going to, and sent tbe. girl Elliot away, frum that hour no human being saw Annie Pritchard or the baby again until the headless body was found. The theory of the prosecution was that the prisoner took the woman and baby to his warehouse in Dychurch-lane and murJerea On the following morning the prisoner went into the Palmerston Hotel where he was known. Toe landlord said,"You look bad," to which he replied, I have been up all night washing bacon." Hadn't you the boy to help you ?" No, I have done it all alone." The prisoner would be shown to have passed the next night also at the warehouse, no doubt dieposing of the body. (At this saggestioa the prisoner turned to the jury with a con- temptuous smile on his countenance). On the 22nd of July he took fresh lodgings at a house where lie was known not as Anderson, but previously known as Macre. His disposal of the woman's clothes and the purchase of lime were next described. The paisoner had rid himself of everything baloug- ing to the woman Pritchard, and had sought to remove every trace of her identity, but one thing he had forgotten. While tearing out the flyleaf of a Bible bearing her name he overloobed another leaf which bore a record, dot only of its late owner, but of the birthdays of all her relations. The inquest, with its verdict against some persons un- known, and the circumstances that afterwards gave risft to suspicion, and the prisoner's arrest were uot loid before the jury, counsel dwelling much on the prisoners contradictory state- ment respecting the woman and her property all of which were held to be utterly inconsistent with his innocence. The finding in the prisoner's warehouse of colcined bones belonging to a human arm and hand, and the finding also of human hair among the greasy matter in the boiler copper were some more of the horrible circumstances of the story. He believed the jury would find that, the body was that of Annie Pritchard, and that the was murdered by the prisoner. The prisoner's motives for getting rid of the woman were appa- rent. His wages of 30s. a week could not main- tain two estalishments with a wife and iamily in each in the two different towns, and af:t\t' three months' absence the lawiul wife in Birmingham getting clamourous. (These suggestions caused a renewal of the prisoner's contemptuous smiles,) Plans of the Scene of the Tragedy. Edward Law, surveyor, put in plans of part of part of the town of Northampton, showing the position of the prisoners' warehouse and the rooms of this warehouse.

THE UMEMPLOVED AT CARDIFF Meeting of the Parks Committee. A meeting of the parks committee of the Cardiff Corporation was held at the Town-hall this morn- ing, when Mr. J. Ramsdttle presided. There were prepent-Aldermcn R. Yorath and T. V. Yorath Messrs. l'ir, Lewis. F. L. Shore, B. John, J. M. Ger- hold, Cornish (committee clerk). W. Harpur (borough engineer), and — Pettigrew (head- gardener).—Alderman D. E. Jones attended as a deputation from the propertv and markets committee with reference to making the roads on Ely Common, which the park1; committee were requested to by out.-The Chairman said they had obtained sanction to borrow £10,000 for laying out the common, but he contended that the property and markets committee should construct the roads, as they were the property owners.- After a brief discussion, it was decided that plans and specifications should be got out, the question of who should make the roads to be deferred.—The Chairman said they were employing a number of the unemployed at the park. but they were not giving labour equal to the amount the committee was paying.—Mr. Andrews: Do you say they are not earning their wages ?— The Chairman They are not.—Alderman Cory: Then they ought to be ashamed of themselves.- The Borough Engineer said only about 25 per cent. of the men were earning their moner. and the remaining 75 per cent. were not earning more than three-fiths of the amount paid them. In many Instances it was owing to the men not being used to the work, but where a man was evidently not doing his best he was sent to the stoneyard.—Mr. J. M. Gerhold in- cidentally mentioned the advantage of having soological gardens at Cardiff, which would find amusement for hundreds of thousands of people and would also be a valuable means of education.

MR- STOLL'S EMPIRES The Proposed Guessing Competi- tions. Wo understand that Mr. Oswald Stoll, of the Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport Empire Music- halls, has abandoned his proposed guessing com- petitions by which the patrons of the hulls were to be afforded an opportunity of winning a S5 note by guessing the number upon a note or giving the nearest guess to the number. This decision has been arrived at by Mr. Stoll in conse- quence of the police at Newport giving him notice that, if carried out his proposal in that town they would take proceedings under the Lotteries Act. In order to avoid any apparent infringement of the law, although no representations had been made by the Cardiff or Swansea police, Mr. Stoll. as stated above, has decided It would be wiser to abandon the proposal.

I Tis* (isiur CITIIIC FOB CORNS. — Munday's ¡ Vsiidine.—Still further testimony. A Chemist writes;—"Will you send me a bottle of your Viridtne? It is for my own uee. I get. plenty of com cures of the same colour, but none cf them appear to equal yours." No one ought to gay his corns are incurable imtil he has used h Vítidille." Thousands have been cured, some of whom had suffered for over 50 years. Beware of imitations. by the Proprietor, J. Monday, <Jheir»ist, '1.. IUgu-nre$,- and F\1I Chemists K2323 T ) !l li j i

THE SOUTH WALES COAL TRADE. I FEDERATION K SLIDING SCALE. THE CASE FOR THE FEDERA- j TION. THE OUCJNT1 ORGANISATION SCHEME. BY MR. W. BIWCE, MIXERS' AGENT, CRUMLIN. ARTICLE V. 1 propose in this article to set forth the aims and objects of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and then to discuss the proposal to establish a county organisation for South Wales and I Monmouthshire miners. Before doing so, how- ever, I should like to put Mr. Abraham, M.P., right Ion one point. In his speech 1\1 Ferndale, Mabon '= said that, according to my own showing, the federation of Great Britain had allowed the Cumberland mine-is to accept a reduction in wages, not ou the advances I secured by them, but on the standard. This is not so, however. As I pointed out—and (as I thought) clearly pointed out, the reduction was taken out of the 3d per ton advance on the cutting price of coal and the 2-d. advance for day work, 80 that the reduction was not a reduction on the standard, neither was it a reduction from the 40 per cent, secured by the association. As for his charge against the federation of allowing the Cumberland'meu to receive a reduction, I give that a complete and emphatic denial, the federa- tion having bad nothing to do with the advancing or the reducing of tbe CJmtJerland men's wages in this instance. THE OBJECTS OF THE FEDERATiON. The objects of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain are, briefly, as follows:— 1. To provide funds to carry 011 tile busiueS3 of this1 fed., ratioll, and the sameto he disLmrstd as provided in the rules. 2 To take into consideration tbe question of trade and wages, and La protect miuEo.8 generally. 3. '1'0 seek to secure mining leg¡6lation affecting all miners connected with this federation. 4. To call conterences to deal with questions affecting mmers. both of a trAde, wage, and Jegislh!iv6 char cter. 5. '1'0 seck to obtain an eigl1t hours day from bank to bank in an mines for all persons working underground. 6. To deal with and watch all inquest8 upon persons killed in tbe milles where mal" thau three persons are killed by anyone accident. 7. 10 seek to obtain compensation where more than thæe persons are injured or killtd in one accident, ill alt cases where counties, federations, or <1Ístricts have to appeal, or are appealed against, from decisions in the lower courts. According to the rules alt counties, federations, and districts are eligible to join and form a part of the national organisation by paying aD entrance fee of £1 per thousand or fiactional part thereoi, and the ordinarv contributions to the society are at the rate of Id. per quarter per member. Whenever any general stoppage of collieries occur arising out of any action ti-kaa by a conference, « special conference is called to deter- mine whether support shail be given to any county federation or disirict. The conference shall, after duly considering t'ach dispute, have power to raise by levy upon the members of the society such sums as are necessary to meet the requirements of the dispute. No county federation or district is I entitled to society supporL uníess more than 15 per cent. of the said county federation or district is rut of work consequent upon any action taken hy a general conference. The widely-tiiscussed 20th Rulo ea.d.. as follows :— That whenever any county, federation, or district, is attacked on the question, or any action taken by a general conference, all members connected with the society shail tender a noiice to terminate their contracts -if approved of by a confereuce Cliiletl to consider the advisability of web joint action bein¡; taken, THK PHOPOSKD COUNTY ORGANISATION. The suggestion that a coun ¡ V organisation of miners slwuld be established seems to have found favour among the South WaLs labour leader?, and is being advocated frOll a number ot quarters. Th8 representatives of the workmen of South Wales and Monmouthshire have from time to time endeavoured to establish an organisa- tion of this charactsr, but, u;) to the present have failed to bring the projec' to a successful issue. The secret of this fai lure appears to me to he the impossibility of formiug a cmnty organisation, while the sliding-scale system is recognised, and I feel confident that whatever scheme mav be ses on foot II will never flourish as long as wages ace regulated by the operation cf a slidmg-scale. Then, what would I suggesi ? My proposition is that the miners of South Wales and Monmouth- shire should connect themselves with the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and sigree to take action with that body upon the genera! wage question, and if this is done, there would not be the slightest difficulty experienced in Sounding a county organisation which would be successful and effective. The fundamental b isis of any suc- cessful workmen's organisation must be the wage question, and if the county organisationjs founded upon this basis, the workmen will no! fail to take a practical and active interest in its welfare. THE CONSTITUTION OF A COUKTY OSGANISATIOK. The county organisation wnicii I would feel dispoeed to advocate should be composed of se manv sub-districts, and it could be called the South Wales and Monmouthshire or Monmouth- shire and South Wales Brauch of the Miners' Federation of Great, Britain. The sub-districts should be mapped out iu something like the following order:—The anthracite coal sub-district with one executive member on the central bonrd Neath, Swansea, and Llaneliy Sub-district, with one member on the c: utrai board; Aberdare, Mertbyr, Dowiais (and, possibly, Mountain Ash) Sub-district, with two members on the central board; Garw, Maesteg, and Ogmore Valleys Sub-district, with one member on the central board; Rhondda House Coal Sub- district, with one member on the centi. board, and the Rhondda Steam Coal (or Cambrian Miners' Association) Sub-district, with ons or two mem- bers, according 10 numbers, on the central board. Thecounty of Monmouth could be formed into a sub-district, and other smaller localities could amalgamate and form themselves into sub-districts for affiliation with the county organisation. Mon- mouthshire, in my opinion, should, according to its are*, have two members on the central board. The central board should, of course, be the re-og- nised wage or conciliation committee, and all dis- putes would be dealt with by this central or executive board. THE FINANCES. Each member should pay 1e. per month at least. Threepence of this should be kepr at home for lodge expenses and the remaining 9d. should be sent to Ule centra! offices to be disbursed in the following manner:- Threepence for the district fund, to clear dis'rict expenses, snch as the wages of tbe various agents, organisation expenses, &c., and the other 6d. for the strike fund for disburse- ment. in the cases of strikes only, so that instead of, as under the present system, work- men having to wait until levies are called in to support them while on strike, the funds would be ready uuder the control of one J central board, to be dispensed wirliout any unne- cessary delay. Should the strike fund be too small to meet the necessities of the case, a levy could then be made. Assuming that we would be able to organise 60 per cent, of the South Wales miners, and that in the meantime there were no strikes necessitating payments out of the fund, we should have, in round numbers, something like £20,000 in the coffers of the association at the end of twelve months. This is how districts in the North and the Midlands have been I able to amass large sums of money ready for use in the case of emergencies. This is the only method, in my opinion, by which we could build up a strong organisation. LOCALE OF THE CKNTRAL OFFICES. Coming to the question as to where the central offices should be located, I certainly think Cardiff should be selected, and tor more reasons than one. In the first Diace, it would form a good centre for South Wales, and in the second place, we should have the daily press close at hand. This would be a great advantage, as the press has always been used as a medium between the miners' leaders and che workmen, and anything of importance could be got out at very short notice through tbe columns of the daily newspapers. THE TREATMENT OF LOCAL DISPUTES. Having settlod the general question of wage government, we might now discuss tbe method that should be adopted in dealing with local dis- putes. I would be prepared to agree to any kind I of system by which a wages committee, concilia- tion committee, board of arbitration, or any body of that kind would be established. This committee or board should consist of an equal number of the representatives of the employers and the workmen, and should meet as often as required and deal with local cases very much in the same way as the present sliding-scale committee. Should the board be unable to agree, the represM)- tatives of either side should have the right, to call in an umpire—a county-court judge or eojue other unprejudiced person—to settle the question in dispute. 1 had hoped to exhaust the subject of organisa- tion in this article, but I find I have already ex- j ceeded tbe space allotted to me, an<! must reserve I further observations upon this question for another letter.

THE AFFAIRS OF MR. A. C. POKSONBY, OF NEWPORT AND CARDIFF. At London Bankruptcy-court on Monday a meeting was held for the adjourned public exami- nation of this debtor, steamship owner and ship- broker, lately trading as Ponsonby and Gibson in London, and at Newport and Cardiff a.8 Ponsonby and Co.—Mr. Ledain Hough, Official Receiver, I staled that ht was satined with hiis investigation, aad the public examination was owiei'rd r.o be concluded upon accounts showing grosa liabilities £ 17,247, of which £ g,aQ 13s. is *r?s*«<er»d, end ;£17.247. of which S:,110 13s. is ,illWn58IIØAd.ad assets £2,4C5.

Cuttings and Comments: Pink and peach colour are a favourite combina. tor evening dress this winter. In rl f;Qp;;i';a fVè WC>ID8D. have recently beel1 fti-uiiined to the ministry of the Congregational to ly. wn young Americans, travelling simply for the love of adventure, have readied Pekin from Paris »n biccclet. I It is declared by a Moscow correspondent that daring the pa.t two years 18,000 Jews embraced the Orthodox faith. No ogbre than one couple in IOJOOO live to cele- brate their diamond weodii'g—the sixtieth anni- i versary of their marriage. ¡ Part- head cooks have organised a culinary academy, its purpose being to conserve and foster the tine art of the kitchen. I A new turret clock, striking the hours upon a I beil weighing 26cwt„ has been fixed in the tower of St. Paul's CnurcD, Knights-bridge. Mr. Asquith is reported to be anxious to establish an additional cla^-s of inspectors or assistant in- spectors of factories at a lower salary than tbe i200 a year which is now the minimum. In fining the reputed son of the late King Theo- dore of Abyssinia 10s. for drunkenness, the Brighton magistrates on Saturday told the young man lie was making himself a public nuisance. 1 lo!- veral hundred persons ab)ut to emigrate from Russia to America bave been sent back across the Prussian frontier. Some of tne emigrants, how- ever, are now leaving Russia by way of the Aus- trian frontier. Out of eleven candidates who presented them- selves for a medicai decree in the University ol Out of eleven candidates who presected them- selves for a medicai decree in the University ot Brussels a few days ago three were young ladies, all of English birth, and all three passed, whilst five out of eight men were rejected. The mortality of those termed the titled classes has been very heavy this year. In the ptst twenty years 451 peers, 377 peeresses, three archbishops, end twelve bishops have died, be- sides 664 baronets and 692 knights. A strange scene happened at the Tivoli, London, on Friday night. A lady of unconventional attire drove up to the central door. She had powdered hair, and was dressed in silk plush ksickcrbockers- j After interviewing the management, who strongly objected to the Sady's costume, she left in a ban- som. Little Freddy was undergoing the disagreeable operation of having his hair combed by his mother, and he grumbled at the manoeuvre. "Why.! Freddy," said his mamma, you ought not to make such a fuss when your hair is combed." "No.; mamma," he replied "but your hair is not bitched to the skin of your head as mine is." The church of St. Jude's. Moorfields, Sheffield. was broken into early on Sunday morning. The thieves made four attempts to enter the edifice, and -xere at last successful, bursting open the vestry door by using a powerful j-jmrny* They failed to find the plate or any money, but drank three bottles of sacramental wine while in the vestry, and took seven other full bottles away with them. A sarcastic man writes this to the Star: Several of the weekly periodicals offer £ 1,000 to anyone who gets killeci in a railway accident the following week. I wish to point out that this is purely a lottery, because one may travel by rail fill day every day of the year and even then not draw a priz?. Will not the Public Prosecutor take up this glaring encouragement to persons to get smashed on the railway ? It is expected th:it James Egan, who was oon- victed of treason-felony at the Warwick Assizes in August, 1884, and sentenced to penal servitude for twenty ytjars, will soon be released from Portland Prison. At the trial it was urged that Egan was the dupe of John Daly, who was on the same occasion sentenced to penal servitude for life, anu when Daly believed bimseif to be dying in prison he solemnly declared the iunoc-ence of Egan. Tuere is no probability of Daiy's release. Much excitement is evinced in New York over the prospect of a race nest year for the America Cup. Mr. Archibald Rogers, who represents a syndicate of wen-known yachtsmen in that city, has ordered a imputing unohaslity or ndultery to any woman or girl shall not require special damage to render them actionable. The jury awarded the plaintiff JE50 damages. A miner holding a. workman's return ticket between Sheepbridge and Grasmere on the Midland Railway, presented himself at Sheep- bridge Station in time to catch a feraiu wbicn should have left at 5.18 a.m. Owing to an accident the train did not leave until about eight o'clock, and in the meantiue. the would-be passenger, having waited till seven, had gone home I He sued the railway company, and the county- court judge awarded him 6s. 6ct, a day's earnings. The Court of Appeal have now affirmed this award. There are 700 similar claims against, the company. "The working days of different, nations" forms the subject of some interesting data just published by a Polish statistician. The names of the coun tries enumerated, with the number of their statu- tory working days, are thus given:—Interior Russia, 267; Canada, 278; Scotland, 275 England, 278 Portugal, 283: Russian Poland, 288; Spam, 290; Austria and the Russian Baltic Provinces, 295; Italy, 298; Bavaria, Belgium, Brazil, and Luxembourg, 300 Saxony, France, Finland, Wur- temberg, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway, 302; Sweden, 304; Prussia, and Ireland, 395: United States, 306 Holland, 308 and Hungary, 312. Alter 50 years as a theatre—where Macready, Ben Webster, Mr. and Mrs. Keeley, Charles Mathews, Buckstone, T. P. Cooke, Madame Celeste, Mr. Irving, Mr. Toole, and Mrs. Kendal have appeared—the Maryiabone Theatre will be trans- formed into a music-hall. It was built in 1842 by John Loveridge, who left Devonshire and walked to London when a little boy, and became vestry- man, churchwarden, commissioner of taxes, and by his own hard work the possessor of a large fortune, with which he returned home and pur- chased tbe house of the squire in whose employ he had been an apprenticed orphan ploughboy- It was learnt with something like a shock the other day that the only soo of Michael Mfe-com- poser of "The Bohemian Girl and The Rose of Castille," to mention only two of his operas-had been found in a refuge and was in a state oi the utmost distress. Measures were at, once taken for his relief, and for this end a committee has been formed, including Sir Arthur Sullivan, Sir Augustus Harris, Celonel J, H. Mapleson, Surgeon- General Scanlan, Mr. F. H. Cowan, Mr. G. A. Sak, Mr. Sutherland Edwards, and Mr. Thomas Ward, secretary and treasurer, to whom subscriptions may be addressed at the office of the London Music Publishing Company. 7, Great Marlborough-street, W. It is not generally known that it was through the unsolicited influence of Lord Macaulay that the late Sir Richard Owen was appointed superin- tendent of the Department of Natural History at the British Museum. Lord Macaulay, writing on this subject, said that he was desirous that some- thing should be done for Owen—that be hardly knew him to Bpeak to. and that, tnoug his pursuits were different to his, Owen's fame was known all over Europe. A poot, a novehst, a painter, or a sculptor who stood in his own line as high as Owen stoo amongst men of science could never be in wan^ except by his own fauit but the greatest nai philosopher might starve while bis own country- men were boasting of his discoveries, and while foreign academies were begging or of being allowed to add his name to.their hst. Professor Owen was eventually j^g^j-ory in o.i [1856, with a salary of £ 800 per i saId was opulence to hhu. I :c-

ILLNESS OF DR. EDWARDS, BALA COLLEGE. We repret to learn that the Rev. Dr. Edwards,, principal of Bala Theological College, had another serous attaca of illness. Alte c,e.. <-eung his cloairt- lecture fcr this term, which he <ud on I Friday last, there was a total collapse, and tor some time hii state caused great anxiety. 1 v Sunday he was better, and op. inquiry late on I Monday n correspondent was informed there w;s } marked improvement. The eminent divine I quite free from pain,but prostrate. The medical sttendarrta rnsiRt on his having perfect quietnes*

| j locai sport, m England Thinks th-ê Four Three-quaKsr Game a M Frost,"—*Gapd»ffs Vfctory Over Black heath a Meritorious One,— Ths Pontypridd Tour.—Zimmsrman is j Coming Baok—^ Elirs and Black Makes a Suggestion. 119 Speaking of t.he North South match, a writer in the Pall Mall Gazfite says Those over- zealous reformers who would have the orthodox formation of It Rugby Union team altered by ilr,, creasing the number of three-quarter backs at tbe expense of the forwards receivtd a timely rebuff on Saturday at Richmond, when their pet theory was puL to a practical t»vst. The opportunity tar this occurred by accident, or rather a series of accidents, for the Southerners had copied the Northerners in selecting four three* quarters, but as Gowans. who has played so brillinntly for Cambridge, was injured in the 'Varsitr match, and Hubbard, of Blackbeatb, was not sound enough to take his place, the selecting committee agreed 10 adhere to the usual style, and chose another for- ward instead of a fourth three-quarter. The wis- dom of this was demonstrated during the match, for, while the three three-quarters were as (success- ful in defence as the four on the Northern side, the nine Southern forwllrds quite outplayed their eight opponents, carrying scrimmages and rushes with little difficulty. The success of the Newport team, in which there are four three-quarters, has iosieied the heresy which proved fatat to the hopet of the North," So far as the non-success of four three-quarters goes in the above mentioned match, I am inclined to agree with the writer that it was a frost." Bat the writer upight have gone further and told us why. Toe reaSOn is probably not so difficnlt to find, and cannot be better explained than bv say* ing ihat, first of all", they do cot understand tbe four three-quarter game, and, further. the centres on Saturday were not capable of properly ex pounding it, even supposing they did understand it. It is like a medium billiard player, theoretically understanding the" spot stroke," but having no practical experience, he feels quite sure be under. stands the whole busirross, but when be attempts to put his knowledge to a practical test be fails hopelessly, Bímply for want of experience and practice. Three three-quarters are selected certainly, but I am willing to lay odds that England will bring out a fourth man before the game on January 7Lh very old. The same writer, speaking of the forthcoming international match, says as followsWe refrain fiom criticising the individual play in the North t. South match, because the members of the Rugby Dnion committee, Who watched the match, have ciearly shown who were the better players by seleeting them to represent England against Wales at Cardiff on the 7til prox. The lesson of the day was laid to heart, and: onlv three three-quarter backs were cboeec. The elected fifteen are „ follows Back, E field (Cambridge University) tiiree-quaner backs, A. E. Stodd»rt (Black- heatu) R. Alderson (Durham), end R. E. Lock- ^cks, R. F, C. Do Win ton (Blackheath; and H. Marshall -Biaefcheath! for- wards, S. M J w0c>(i8 (Somerset), F. Eversbed (Burton-on-rrent), T. Kroftdk>v (Yorkshire;. F. Greenweli (Nortbuabe^nd^, W. loot .ill (York- u o' t r0I?et (Riciimond), P. Maud (Black- h» r F'V Lar'dea (l-ackheatfc;, and A. Aiiport (Blacktieath). Seven of the fifteen—namely, Field, De Winton, Marshall, Broadley. Greenwell, Maud, and Lobden -recetve interna;i0tJui honours fot the first tame." From this team, t00j may better be adjudged tta value of Cardiff's Win against BUckheatb, espe- cially when it is s'en that out of the above fifteen nO less than si" were in the Riackbeath team that played agaiast CardifE on the 10th inst, vis I quarter ranks. SinCfc iggg ue ilttB made tremen- dous strides, and twQ yearg for the Caniabs against Newport, he scored no fewer than live tries. I" 1889, on becoming head-master of Hartlepool Grammar School, be assisted the Hartle- pool Rovers. I The match between Cathayt: and Qrangetown » I Catbays on Saturday was a verY' close tussle Grangetown were poorly [epresented. whilst Cathays were without their captain. For tbt. I visitors Evar, M'Carthy and Uysn in the hacks and Vokes, layior, and Jp-tmeii in the forwards,. I played a guod game. Fc-t the konuesters Charlw I and Alexander in Uie bncks, and Emery aofr Hughes were the pick. CJrangetown are in wan;t of a match for B-jxing Day. I Zimmerman i. coming ilk nexl vear to defend las title to the championship and wjn the & miles. Ke is to train before he comes over. Now. i Messrs. Osmond, Schotield, lidwards, Harris, ana C0„ puil off your jackets for the honour of the old I country. By the way. bow wlii Zimmerman'? race for the almighty C;O,!a.I'S affect his amatsur status in this country ? The winter edition "Rufts Gui<3e to the Turf." ]ust to hand, co £ ,taiJ)S a comply return of past racing in ail the L'ait,d Kingdom, carefoUy indexea up to date. A Hõlufn d the prlQCIp*l Continental racing is also included in the volume, 'which contains a. mass of sUtisticsa and ,thtr I information unobtainable ia auy ot(4er turf publication. The wicuirg ,^ord for 1832 shows at a ghn:e trery winner on thr flirt ouring the season, the amount wen by each and the description of race won_weigh< 1. age, handicap. or selling-an invaluable tab;e in the calculation of penalties. The sales of blood stock in A L ave been CAREFULLY revisod and in,, dexed, ana an interest™ c, xsresnr-.c; summary is appended, The nominations for v •. jr idbo embrace ail the race? that have closed to -■ .i ana the uidtxing (a work. of considerable i looking at the numbee of èuga,gea and the mul, pliciir of thettt engftgemerl!f) it's biezi closely cl,„k«l tc; ensure correctness. A „ „ A useful ieature is tne. Racing Diary for IBC^ "•->, which is k perfect kev ta next years racing cvp.ucs. istjd from which ODJT tbe date of IV.. "y '"eeoing is seen at a gknee. but also tL- date and dn .r c u °«iy ol running of every race ot mprnMce. I„ tl„ „illc5i,„eoo« taAum „ M new ru es oi racing, 115 administered by the com* mittees of the Jockey Club tind National Kuei t Committee The wo^, published at 5" is clear!? printed and well hn„.H n°url(j, and will be sent post fref from the Sportsman office for 5s. Ud. ¡¡ A correspondent, writing aner t the Mountair. 1 A«li '• a.ts.own ma>ch on Saturdav, says '"Tilt field was the wom for foolbai: ever saw, be»f qui e un „ or the game. It -was about fortf yar s Siiort of the stipulated length and width ana a perfect m to start at advertise* to four befo'p oD„r. 1 ,en would do welt ^r*on8.comaiet'c«». The skip** future mea Up to t'noe iD tl* B.uc and Black" writes a« follows —" In read- ing your notes r-r 'TV- Q L- T n LOua' Sport' in Saturday'* b.T' p' 968 you th* of A. F, Barbarian30"' E8C°tl hkely to aesist th* 27th It T, n'*t"h Wlfh Ne^'ott ;S«tb w^rt1 opuiion ia « £ a lowered on that dav I ^1 tremelv bad tauP tv UlerefoPe' th'E^st bine their stren-th » '° the hope of Beein<» ? tbat °f Barbarien# i«~ lo interfere with -7 d#teated' Hrd iike^ good feeling at present exiat* mg between C*cdiC Kewpo* tour is £ or the Pontypridd football plav Wort.ev T on F»d»J. Monday. H«.;i £ Sowerby Bridge on Wednesday < Tue>d»y, HuneJet on moroir-r r *ln £ at ?ontyprid<3 on fhiartit^ j headquarters at Leeds will hi thv f." R ^oteUCoB-iane, and »t Hull frtr I? ^tv-h*rkW«treet. 1' HmU be fffc# 1 at Sri8tm^iCUJar8 tlom oU*» <5,bbs VVELSER &Tmr-,Tv. 1" ,#