Evening Express

NOTES. BY "OBSBfcVEB CARDIFF, Saturday Morning. The Exhibition authorities do wisely in not allowing the grass to grow under their feet. The various sections of management-com. mittees and sub-oommitteæ-are constantly meeting, and solid work is being quietly pushed forward. Moreover, work at the Cathaya Park is to be commenced forthwith, go it will not be long before Cardiffians have before them a thoroughly tangible sign of the coming exposi- tion. Thefts on a scale of the first magnitude are the order of the day, both local and general. We have, for instance, the Langtry jewel rob- bery, the silver ingot robbery, the Greenmeadow jewellery mystery, and, amongst other local sen- sations, the "conveyance" of no less than fifteen large pigeon baskets from the Cardiff Great Western Railway Station, and two from the Rhymney. Surely some hypnotic influence must be abroad in order to render such whole- sale seizures possible! Of a ttill more sensational oharaofcer is the case of Captain Beckerleg, who, if report be correct, v>as treated at Ilfraoombe more after the style of the old-time wreckers than of the civilised and humane beings of to-day. It is well for poor Jack that the reception he gets on British soil when his poor, battered, half- dead body is washed in after a fierce battle with the elements is usually of a. more kindSly character than that alleged to have beer^ meted out to the iU-fated captain of the Lonisley. Sir.—Now that the Cathedral-road district has become so populous, may it not be a matter for the consideration of the tramways com- pany to place, at any rate, a couple of 'busses on this route, as far aa Pontcanna, which will he a welcome addition to the town's improve- ment?—I am, &c., A RESIDENT. Oct. 10. The funeral of the venerable Mrs. Studt calls public attention somewhat sadly to the srreat children's universal provider in South Wales. There is not a little boy or girl from St David's Head well nigh to the Severn whose face does not brighten and whose heart floes not beat faster when informed that Studt is in the neighbourhood, Studt being a bynonym for round-abouts, swings, and the million other delights so dear to the juvenile heart. The Studts have become rich through their successful catering for young Wales, and, to rlo them justice,, they have showered their money with lavish hand on many a charity and de- serving object throughout the sphere of their operations. It would be a good thing if other roublio caterers of the kind were as generous and sympathetic as these trusty friends of the rising generation. The Carlylian Sooiety are finding the Bute- street Bridge a harder nut to crack than they anticipated. The Secretary of State confesses himself powerless, and has referred the matter to the Board of Trade, which is still consider- ing the matter. If the Carlylian Society can succeed in bringing adequate pressure to bear they will deserve right well of their fellow- townsmen but they are much more lika to catch a Tartar in the Great Western Com- pany. "Crime and Insanity" was the topic discussed by the Cardiff Social Reform Council yesterday. At any rate crime, though one looks well nigh in vain for amy reference to insanity. Various jiapera were read, but one fails to see at first blush the practical value of such a conference. It is one thing to air immorality, and quite another thing to root it out, and there ù; always the danger of pandering to mere sensation with- out any useful compensating result. If an im- provement in the moral and social condition of the masses follow yesterday1^ conference, good and weli, but it is not likely—it was a mere parade of evils, whilst feasible suggestions all to reform seem to have remained in the back ground. The other day Mr. Ralph Insole wrote me on the subject of the disgraceful waste of fruit that has been going on this year.. The "Parish Councillor", referring to the same matter, says: —"Our attention has been called to the deplo- rable waste occasioned by the immense quan- tities of apples which fall from the trees in our English orchards, and are left to rot un- fathered on the ground. In the interests of fruit-growers we have sought the opinions of two high authorities an fruit culture—Mr. B. H. Wells, F.R.H.S., of Crawley, and Mr. H. Hobday, of Rook-road, Cambridge—as to the best method of treating such fruit. Mr. Wells tells us that in America the primitive way is to pare and cut the fruit, string the pieces together by means of a darning needle and thread, and hang them up to dry around the kitchen. Thousands of tons are still treated in this manner, but for dealing rapidly with large quantities machines have been invented both for the paring and emitting and the evaporating processes. These ^ary very much in prioe, the former costing only a few shillings, whild the latter are to be bought for £ 7 and upwards. Mr. Hobday says that artificial desiccation is necessary in this country, and that the sugges- tion to usa dry sand for the purpose is worth consideration; this is the method adopted in Germany for extracting the moisture from the everlasting flowers, which wa import thence in large quantities."

SOCIAL AND PEKS0* INTERESTING yARS. ABr, r IN- TERESTING PBOPL Aocordiug to "Woman," it is ;< • than probable that during the next fev, (ys we shall hear of the engagement of T-y Ran- dolph Churchill to a well-known oiiue, in the Army. Sir Algernon Borthwick, proprietor of the "Morning who w &o soon to become a peer, has a great penchant for collecting every sort of counterfeit pig; he has more china, silver, ar.d other kinds of pi?9 than one oan possibly reckon up. Exoiting n'1WR Prince Edward of York can now stand erect without assistance. His grand- father, the Prince of Wales, who has had the vouaig man at Marlborough Borne each day that he has spent in town, was the first to make the discovery, and information of their child a achievement was at once. telegraphed to the Duke and Duchess of York. M Paderewski, who is now in England on a flying visit, will not be seeri^ in London during the coming season. Next week he will leave England for New York to fulfil an engagement, which will be quite on the grand scale of Americ-.in enterprise. M. Paderewski has arranged for a series of eighty performances during his Amtrioan season. The Earl of Rosslyn, who was some time ago credited with an intention of going upon the stage (an intention the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland are believed to havehad ahai>d 111 smothering), has arranged to give two matinee performances of "Diplomacy" at the Empire Palace Theatre, Edinburgh, on October 30 and November 2. His lordship's fellow actors will include Lord Ktlmorey, Colonel FitzGeorge, and Lady Mar.joviWinks. They intend the proceeds for the benefit of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and other charitable institutions. Princess Louise has b» en taking advantage of the semi-emptiness of Battersea Park lately —such times when she has been in town—to continue her bicycle lessons. She drives 'usually to the Trafalgar Club. aligiits there, and t'hen, putting herself into the hands of the moet fashionable instructor of the moment, goes round and round the JXtrk in the iuoa energetio way possible. Occasionally, sjiU accompanied by her instructor, of ocairge, her Royal HighntM ventures out of th*> soiitude > the purti. into the traffio of the streets. Prinoees i auife ydes in the neatest boat and ftkirt, and holds herself splendidly-

A Cruise in the Channel OUT "SEEKING" WITH A CARDIFF PILOT. How Some Steamer Captains Treat the Couriers of Our Coa.st when Pursuing Their Perilous Calling. --i. The discussion of the "amalgamation" ques- tion has retarded me in my description of my trip down Channel. which was now drawing to a close: however, I may mention that I shall shortly have to return to the question of "steam" versus "sail," as opinions amongst the Cardiff pilots as a body seem to be greatly divided. I gave expression when discussing this important question to certain facts which struck me, and I inquired into the details attaching to the reform in a careful and conscientious manner; if, then, those who read it and approved of i., but could suggest improvements, would communicate with me, I should feel greatly obliged. Need I say that I shall at the same time cordially welcome contributions on this vexed question of amal- gamation from those of the pilots who disagree "in toto" with my views of the inner details of the calling? I cannot hope to ever have the insight that a pilot of long standing has had; but, looking at the "combination and co-operay- tion" scheme for pilots from a business point of view, I must confess that the members of that honourable and useful oraft" are very much behind the times. Whilst other professions have advanced and kept apace with the times, the pilots, from one oause or another, still work on lines that half a century ago mighit have suited the requirements of a port like Cardiff; but which to-day leave them at the mercy of masters and owners of vessels. "Rome was not built in a day," and no reform, however bene- ficial it may be hereafter, can ever be intro- duced without strong opposition; still, if those of the Cardiff and Barry pilots who were caught in the storm in their frail crafts last week had been "in steam," not only would they them- selves have been in much greater safety, but, by their assistance, they could, with profit to themselves, have saved property and rescued some who now are no more. Well- we were cruising—at the time I branched off into the amalgamation question— off Hartland Point, speaking to such ships as came within hail. I have never seen a prettier sight than I saw that afternoon. There was a light breeze, which just faintly rippled the azure surface of the Channel; the sun was shining on Hartland Point, showing up the lighthouse in bold relief against the rugged background, and, between us and the land, there were five schoorera, with all sails set, making down Channel. The latter appeared, to a landsman's eye, to be engaged in a game of "tip." First on3 would draw ahead, only to be immediately followed by the remainder, this continuing until the little fleet had rounded the point and been lost to our view. I little thought when I saw the schooners thus disporting themselves that the time was near at hand when one of them would become a prey to "Father Neptune's" anger; yet it was even 80. She was lost with all hands on her return voyage in the Bristol Chanel, in the terrible gale which created such havoc in the shipping world at the commence- ment of last week. There are some of us who would like to pry into the future which an All- wise Providence has hidden from us. Joking and lausrhing that sunny afternoon, the crew of the ill-fated vessel, unconscious of their im- pending doom, would have acted other- wise had they known how soon their time was to come. It. is one of the most distressing things to contemplate. We see a ship sailing proudly along, with all her canvas set; all goes as merry as a marriage bell, until the' gale springs up, and then that vessel, in which so many hopes are centred, which is followed in her voyages by so many anxious hearts, has to con- tend against the fury of wind and water, only later to be reported "Lost with all hands" at Lloyd's. Round the point, Stoke Church tower was pointed out, and "Secundus" told me it was sup- isosed to be the highest church tower in England. We went cruising down for about another two hours, and, not seeing any vessels in sight, put about and returned to Hartland Point. I was wondering whether we should be enabled to get a ship that night, and was chaffing my host about the bad luck I had 'brought him, when, on the stillness of the air. was borne to us the throbbing noise which the screw of a "light'' vessel makes. In spite of our being at our tea, business came before pleasure, and, putting about, we ran down—for the breeze had now freshened—towards a large steamer which was rapidly "hulling up." Out came the binocu- lars, and before I could much more than make out that it was a steamer, Chalkeand "Seeun- dus" had settled in their minds, not only what line she belonged to, but also her name. We hailed, seeing no pilot flag astern—generally a sure indication that a pilot is aboard—and naked the master whither he was bound. I must confess that I should like to meet the captain of that steamship again, if only for the sake of reminding him how he treated the pilot on board whose cutter I was. First, our bail was not answered, and then, after consulta- tion with others on the bridge, the master re- plied, "Cardiff. I only give roads pilotage." We agreed to take it, and asked him to stop his engines, but, with a sarcastic smile on his face, and flippantly throwing his cigar butt in our direction, the steamship ploughed on her way to Cardiff. My camera, in anticipation of our going aboard the steamer, was not ready, otherwise I should have liked to have taken a photograph of the captain, and immortalised him through the columns of the "Eveninqr Express." I said as much, but "Secnndus" mournfully remarked that he feared suoh an attempt would destroy my films. When I returned to terra firma I commented on the way we had been treaited, and was told that it was nothing unusual among a certain class of vessels. "You see," said my informant—who was the master of probably one of the largest steamers sailing from Cardiff— this is how it stands. Some ves- sels—a good many more than people imagine— sign on a "coasting pilot" as third mate. Well, he is Qualified to conduct the shi™ round the coast to the commencement of private pilotage. I need hardly tell you he very often brings the ship either into port- or to some point where the local pilots' fee is small." I asked was this sort of practice common, and whether there was no way of putting an end to it. "It is wrong and dishonest," was the reply, "and it is a cui- tom I should have thought that L'^d's and the underwriters would have investigated in their own interests, for it stands to reason that the only man who oan know the ins and outs of any particular place is a local man, or else one who has been at it for years. Yes, there is some sort of law to prevent the coasting pilot bringing a ship 1"+" a port where there are local pilots. If thp T can prove the presence of the former "heir waters they can sue the ship- owner for the usual pilotage fee, but it is never, or hardly ever, done. Myself, I have the greatest admiration for the pilots as a body, and my owners are never averse to my taking one from the extreme limit. But to return to the cutter, we were naturally sore at the manner in which we had been treated. An offer had been mide by the captain of the steamship which we accepted, and, with a contemptuous smile, he sailed away. I know, of course, that there was nothing to compel the master of the steamer to take us; but if he did not intend to avail himself of my host's ser- vices. why did he state he would only pay "roads pilotage," and why, when the offer had been accepted—his offer, mind—did he sail awav? It was a childish trick, to use no harsher term, and one very much on par with that of those who, beckoning beggar to them, and when the latter, thinking he will cret a small donation, hurries up. laugh in his face. Had it not been a fine night, -and had the Bristol Channel been a seething, turbulent mass, with a raipiHly falling glass, I do pot doubt but that we should have been more cour- teously treated. There was nothing, however, to he done, so we returned to our tea and discussed our recent experience. I was told that such a thinar, fairness to masters of vessels sailing in and out of Cardiff—by n") means the rule, yet was not uncommon. Who in responsible? However, it is not for me to say; some, fater on, Mod the master; others the owner. Now. as I mid a short while back. I wonder the under- writers with whom the shin is insured do lot make it a 8;ne qua uon that as soon as private waters are entered the local pilot should be tak»n aiboard. Such a course wouldi at leasit minimise the ohanoe of anything happening to the ship, and, in t'he end, would pay all ooncerned. As a case in point, not very long after my return, a ship discharged her pilot at the Nash, and, proceeding down Channel, ran ashore on Lundy Island. Now. had the pilot been on board, not only would such an accident have been in all probability prevented, but there would have been the saving of the huge expenses incurred in connection with salvage operations, the loss of time, and, as a natural consequence, the loss of money to th owners. Nfight, a ib«fcutiful starfiigflit night, was coming on when we again heard the throbbing of a screw; our flare was prepared, but unneces- sary) v. for the incoming steamer, seeing we were a n'lot-cntter, stopped and awaited our arrival. "What did I tell yon?" sa.idl Chalke. "I knew we should get a ship home." and, sure enough, as we approached the dark mass the ladder was thrown over her side. I do not think I ever had a more uncomfortable two minutes than when I contemplated the side of the vessel up which I had to damb. Luckily, the night was fine, and, although the breeze had freshened considerable, I made my preparations to folKw the pilot. Up went Chalke. as nimble as a lad or sixteen, then up went my belongings, and then I went lljJ. I gripped hold of the "rv* .i ropes" with <. determination to atick to them through tSggitl and thin, but, luckily for WJW 41* » >t)r> hard iJ ftg,d mounted to about the third step, and was think- ing that the ship's company would either take me for an ex-first mate or something oonnected with a seafaring life, when I happened to look up. If any of my readers have ever had a. similar experience they can understand the start I got. One minute the ladder was lying on the vessel's side, the next—as she swung towards me —it separated and left a gaping chasm below. I shuddered, and wondered how on earth — perhaps I should say, on sear-on a really bad night a. pilot managed this "climb." However, there was no time for ruminating, as several heads were peering over the bulwarks, and several pairs of hands stretched—guessing, pro- bably, that I did not care to mount, and still less felt inclined to descend—out to collar me at any part that offered. Up I went, as ginsrerly as if I was treading on a highly-polished floor, until I felt myself lifted over the bulwarks on deck. Of course, then. I was all right. Who would not have been? Yet I did not quite care for the friendly way in which my two "rescuers" told me the number of steps ieading to tho bridge, and the manner in which they advised me to step over the steam pipes which worked the winches. Chalke had preceded me, and, hawing acquainted the cap- tain with the cause of my being with him, I was introduced to the latter, who proved—but this must come in the next instalment—to be one of tho moat entertaining aad most original characters that, it has ever been my lot to come across. I have spoken of the manner in whioh we were treated by the one steamer; but be- fore I left the Efulip we had just boarded I could not help feeling that Providence must have put it into the captain of the former vessel to serve us as he did in order that I might enjoy the company of the skipper, whose ship was now carrying me—leaving my late home but a. scintillating speck on the water—rapidly to- wards Cardiff- THE "WANDERING JEW." (To be continued.)

PROPOSED PILOTS' UNION. THE EXPENSE OF A STEAM-CUT- TER DISCUSSED. To the Editor of the "Evemng Express." Sir,—In a recent issue I observed an article headed "A Pilots' Union at Cardiff," and signed by "Wandering Jew." Being a. dlirootly interested party, I at once commenced its perusal, and soon found it was not from the pen of a Cardiff pilot, but from one who had been instructed by a member of the Cardiff pilotage body. On the earlier part of this effusion I shall make no comment other than to say that tlhe combination and oo-operaitiion he mentions have no reference to the system of amalgamation of pilots in their profession and working nroperty, bat, rattier, to the system of Trades Unionism of which we hear so much from time to time. But to come to the prac- tical part. "Wandering Jew" gives us no infbmuattiion as to aimoumt of purchase or cost of working on the linea he advoesutes. He meirely alludes to a custom prevalent among steamship owners—of a small sum down and the rest on mortgage—not a word of what per- centage on the amount mortgaged. Of the Latter I have had a little experience, and in future, if possible, intend to keep clear. Once the steam outteT is adopted the £ 35,000 worth of prapeatty ai hid eld" to in the article is albso- lutely worthless. Then, whence will come the small saim d'owm ? Next, for the smaK item of expense of working tfhe steam cm titer. Thie present pilotage system from Cardiff to Lundy Maud cannot be worked by less than four cutters. I shall not take into consideration one to be kept in reserve. Put them aft th* lowest figure— £ 8,000 each, carry- ing fourteen hands; J61,400 per annum for wages and provisions; £ 1,605 for coal. oil. and wear and tear, a.nd insurance at 7 per cent., £ 560. Multiply this by four; then I ask "Wandering- Jew" how he arrivf-s at tlhe saving of £ 12,000 of the present JB18,000 expended in wages and provisions. Further sums to be added to the aixm- puiniha.se money are JB32,000 at 8 per oent., i.e., £2,560 per annum, and £ 35,000 on obsolete beets at 5 per cent, per iniium, i.e., :r.l, 750, amd the tatter sum would haw to be paid annually for twenty years, un'ess on suoh boats as may be sold during that period. I wouJd ask the Cardiff pilots to total Up those figures, or calculate for themselves what the cost may be, before rushing into a system of working as to which they have no ideia either of the cost or what the ultimate result may be. In the above estimate I have mot taken into consideration j6350 a year for manager and j6250 each for two agents to look after the business ashore. I could mention TtiAnrr more substantial objections to the system beside the crowding of a targe number of pilots and a orew of fourteen into one vessel. Pro- bably I shall shortly give a more detailed and accurate account of cost after making neces- sary inquiries.—I am, kc., A CARDIFF PILOT.

A JEALOUS SISTER. EXTRAORDINARY DEATH OF A CHILD. An inquest was held at Charing Cross Hospi- tal on Friday* evening into the dearth of Thomas James Hughes, an infant four months old.—Ellen Hughes, of 7, Bedford-place, St. Martin's-lane, wife of a shoemaker, said she left the infant with its little sister, aged three years, while she went out to get some milk. She returned in a few minutes and found the baby choking, while a piece of coarse blue paper, which had contained sugar, was missing from the table, and the sugar was scattered on the floor. The little girl said, "I done it," and at the hospital the baby's throat was found stuffed with the paper, which had apparently been chewed to a pulp. Witness knew that the little girl was jealous of the baby, and she had pinched it on previous occasions. She would not have left t.hejga alone together if she could have helped it, but the WOIDltn upstairs had gone to a mothers' meeting.—Dr. Inoe, house surgeon, and Mr:. Nasmyjth, dresser, gave evidence that the infant was dead when ad- mittad to the hospital; that a. moist mass of blue paper, almost a handful in quantity, was extracted from its gullet; and that the cause of death was suffocation.—The Coroner pointed out that a child three years old had no criminal responsibility, and the jury returned aD. open verdict. --?-

THE KAFFIR "BOOM." A PEEP INSIDE THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. A representative of the "Westminsler Gazettee, who managed to obtain an entrance within the sacred precincts of the Stock Ex change, thus describes the seen in the Kaffir market:—"I found myself in a great buildiuyj irregular, in shape, with all sorts of odd angles and recesses; the walls were covered. w."th a light-toned marble, which the nwuibtrs face tiously call Gorgoiwola; the column* war a of red granite, and there was a great dome in the roof. But this dome was obscured by the drapery hung to break the waves of soim.l, which would otherwise go wandfiing rouo.d and round the inside of thie great hollow above. Under this dome the floor was covered with a seething, struggling, excited crowd of m9a, packed together like herring in a barrel, and yelling like mad creature. It seemed to me that every member of this crowd was struggling to fight his way into the T ortex or out of it, and everyone, too, appeared to be sci earning a.t the top of his voire. I tried to at aJyse the .°oun M into words, but I could only catch them now and then. 'Ranis! Rands I heard one noarse voice shouting, as if a dog were yapping ;n the last stage of hydrophobia. Then T caugM names like 'Chartered,' 'Mcddt-rs.' 'Simners,' 'Wolhuters,' mterpersed with vociferous offers and bids—'At .I.e ♦' ree « Chartelfd! uy a thousand at the three! Set! a thou' a.t a. quarter Chartered!' and so 011. I asked my friend who all these struggling, perspiring men were, and what they were trying to do, and he explained to me thst these wer;) jobbers, and that the men with bats who hovered, round the outskirts of the crowd, and who were every now and then rushed at, seized, and taV.en aside, to be whispered fl), were thst brokerr. It appears that the members nf the House are divided into thesa two classes. The brokers act on instructions from their c-li«nt«, making their profit by the commissions charged on the operations, and they amnec^ssarily peripatetic, passing to and fro between their clients and the maikets. The jobbers are stationary, or they' confine their wanderings to the limited area of the floor occupied by the particular marked in which they deal. Their business is to give quotations to the brokem, and to make prices, a.nd they make their living on the margins bA- tween the prices at which they have dealt with the brokers and the prices at which they can undo the bargains elsewhere. Presently a gen- tleman wearing a hat came towards us, and a jobber.—no change in Chartered?' inquired him—'Anything to do, old chap?' asked the jobber.—'And change in Chartered?' inquired the broker with a nonchalamt air.—'An eighth to a quarter: anything to do? How many do you want to deal in?'—'Whatll you make me in 500?' said the broker. 'It's all I have to do.' —'An eighth to a quarter,' was the jobber's prompt reply. Then some conversation fol- lowed, the broker trying to induce the jobber to oome a little closer; but it ended by the broker having, 'All right. Ill sell you S00 at ar. eiphth.' TTie two opened their note- books and recorded the operation, and the job- ber dashed off into the thick of the melee, as if be were playing in a football match. He vorked his way in towards the oentre of the crush, and just as he got there someone near him nhouted :—'At the three buy Chartered— buy 500 so!'—'Yes!' yelled the iobher, gesticu- lating wildly towards him with his jobbing book. The two stood on tiptoe for a moment, looked at each other so that there should be no mistake of identification, acd scratched some- thing in their books as wfl they oould for jostling of the crowd. 'There, you see.' said my friend, 'he boueht SCO shares at 8* and sold them at 8 3-16, 60 that his prdfit on the transac- I tion is :£31 5s.

KBWPOST'S LIGJlT. The new corporation ete^trio lightepg works I for the borough of, .Njawjoort wifi be etattrd cu Monday

FOR FOOTBALLERS Gossip About To-day's Games. WHO SHOULD BEJVICTORIOUS We have an all very fine and large selection of matches to choose from to-day. Cardiff, New- port, Swansea^ &c., are all in full swing, and within another week or two we ought really to be able to form some idea as to the relative positions the various clubs ought to occupy at the end of the season. Football form—how often shall I repeat this?—is deceptive, and until all our principal teams have interplayed there is no knowing what might happen. For example, Newport a week ago simply romped round Barnstaple, whilst the North Devon men were very nearly as good as Cardiff the week before. Pa.per form, of course, brings out that when Cardiff meets Newport it will be very soft snap for the Usksiders, yet who would be brave or foolish enough to suggest that there is anything like the difference between the teams that these matches would indicate? In days of old, When Gloucester bold 'Gainst Cardiff held the sway, sirs," matches between the two towns used to be looked upon as one of the big games of the Season, but, alack and al8."3 Gloucester, from a football point of view, has gone the way of all flesh, and for the last two or three years has been but a. very so-so combination. So far as the present season is concerned, they are practically an un- known quantity. They might make things warm for the blue and blacks, but, like the Scotchman, "I ha* ma doots" of their ability to put Cardiff to very much trouble. I know practically nothing about the Glouoester names, and so will not risk anything by prophesying as to their abilities. There will be two changes in the Cardiff team from that which represented the club at Ply- mouth on Saturday last. Biggs resumes his plane on the left wing, vioe Thomas, whilst Oravoe stands down in the forwards to allow W. Phillips to come back into the pf-ok. Taken all round, they are a. sound, fairly clever fifteen. The trouble, of course, is at three- quarter, where the talent is not, on the whole, up to that averasre attained by Cardiff in former years. Invariably, it tas been the case that Cardiff were exceptionally strong at three- quarter and weak in front. This year things seem to be entirely reversed. I do not wish im. any way to speak slight- ingly of the Cardiff three-quarters, for I con- sider them really smart, oapable men, who may turn out into tip-toppers. The only thing that can be urged against them for the present is that they are young and lack experience. That, however, will como with time. Of course, it has been a. great loss to the club Selwyn Biggs' getting laid up, and so the necessity arises for Elliott to go half back. Both Nioholls and Huzzey, however, are centres a goodish bit above the common—fairly clever in attack, and with excellent defence. This was thown at Devonporfc ffi1 Saturday last, when both mon did remarkably well. Biggs, on the left. wing, is the only old 'uu in the quartette. This season he is playing a sound, steady game. House, on the other wing, is a sprinter of undoubted ability; in addition, he plays remarkably good football, shows good defence, and kicks well. I think that is about all there is to be said about the composition of the Cardiff team, for all the others are experienced and tried men in their positions. Taking Gloucester on trust from last year's form, I should think Cardiff ought to win to-day by a couple of goals and a couple of tries to, perhaps, one try. I should say that Moseley will give New- port a very good game to-day on the Uskside enclosure. It cannot for a moment enter our calculations that the Midlanders will get the upper band, because, from the way in which Newiport opened its season a week ago, the team, taken collectively, seems to be playing auite up to its best traditions, and that, we must all confess, is saying a lot. There is only one change in the Newport fifteen from that which let the Barnstaple boys drop so heavily last Saturday. I see that Wallace Watts is not included in the list of forwards, and Pook, who was unable to turn up to time against the Devonians, makes up the eighth scrimmager. I hear a rumour that Wallace Watts is about to leave Newport, but so far there is no autho- ritative statement upon which football par- tisans can place much reliance. It is to be hoped that Bert Gould has not permanently lost his dexterity as a centre three-quarter. So far, however, since his return from the Indies he has not been brilliant. Still, a man ought not to be condemned on one or even two exhibi- tions. He may to-day come off as he used to do in the old days. Whether, however, Bert gets back to his old form or not, the Newport committee would not make a. mistake iin occa- sionally playing other three-quarters as reserve men. James's business engagements at Abergavenny are more pressing now than they were hitherto, but his heart is still in the game, and it would be well if he, occasionally at any rate, joined the Newport rear division. He has all the inclination. W. Needs, of the second team, might also be given an occa- sional trial with the premiers. His capabili- ties seem to fully warrant a rise when a vacancy occurs. In trying to foreshadow the result we have to remember that Moseley defeated Manchester last week, at Manchester, by two tries to nil. As I stated at the outset, however, I do not for a moment anticipate their even holding their own with Newport, and I shall prophesy that the Usksiders defeat them by a matter of fifteen or twenty point3. In all probability, the Neath tew that meets Penarth will be a fairly representative one to- day. Generally the first match of the season between Neath and Penarth has been played on the ground of the latter, and has resulted in favour of the home team. The black brigade are going strong just now, vide the match against Swansea on Saturday last, and it is hoped and believed at Neath that the visitors will be defeated, and by 9. substantial score. At the time of writing it is 'eared ttw.* A'eo Cross will be unable to turn out, because 0\ the injury to bin eye, but it is understood thit Johnny Williams wiU i'r:*ln don the irvsey. The pack will be the saire an fha.fc which d'd duty against the all whites, and if the Penarth eight can hold their own against them ihev must be a smart lot. In the event of the home club's putting a representative team into the field, I predict a victory for them by about five points. ?- Those old rivals, Llanellv and Swansea, are to cross swords five times during the season, and the first encounter will be decidediat Stradey this afternoon. Extraordinary interest is centred in the match, and there is expected to be a record gate. When Llanelly meets Swansea then comes the tug of war. and this afternoon's tussle is certain to be an exciting thing. Both teams are in strict training, and will take the field as fit ae the proverbial fiddles. The fact that the two teams are on the most friendly terms does not lessen the rivalry one whit, and every nerve will be strained on either side to secure victory. Time was when matches between the scarlets and the all whites used to raise the worst passions of tJie players, and discreditable scenes were frequent. Happily, however, that time is now paesed, and. let to- day's game be ever so keen, the plflyerfl will not lose their tempers nor adopt unsportsinan* like tactics. With one exception, the home team will be identical with that which has already done so adnvi»-ttbsy this season. Dai Morgan, the brilliant half baok, is now well again, and will resume hie places the frinaw of the scrujxv He '-? has been giving his knee a rest during the last^ three weeks, and, barring any accident, he will; give a good account of himself to-day. It was^ at one time thought that Badger would turS ) out for this" grate fite." but an interesting: family event which comes off to-day will keepi him out of the red jersey for yet another week. Luckily for Llanelly, they can regard the; absenoe of the international with tolerable equanimity, for Every is an admiraoie substi- ti'te. Tt it no easy thing to adequate! fill the place of a man like Badger, but Every has more than realised the expectations of hi8 nUUleroua atlmirers, a-ud is now tit to take a place in any third line. On paper form, Llanelly ought certainly to< win, but one has to be very chary in taking account of this, especially where Llanelly and' Swansea are concerned. It is a well-known: fact that the scarlets never do well against the all whites, but you must not ask why this is so. The all whites rarely fail to rise to the occasion against Llanelly, and no doubt they will wage a fairly even fight to-day. Yet one cannot help coming to the' that the "boys" ought to win, and I shalL be surprised if they don't. The home team will be made up all follows: —>, Back, Morgan Williams; three-quarters. Cliff Bowen (captain), Evan Lloyd, Will Davies, and Every; half-backs, Ben Davies and D. Morgan; forwarde, W. Morris, Jack Evans, Ben Jenkins, Ben James, D. Thomas, W. J. Thomas, P. J. Davies. and Jack Jones. Pontypridd will meet Ferndiale on tha j ground of the latter, and the fact that the lada from the upper part of the Khonada Fachdrew witk LLwynypia last Saturday adds additional interest to the game. Local seers anticipate juat a slight victory, but one thiing is certain: Pontypridd will have a. hard nut to crack" for the Ferndalians are a strong lot thiai season. I am sorry to say that Jim M*Gregor, who' played a clinking game behind the pack during the recent matches, has been somewhat severely j injured, in coneequenoy of whioh he will 1 not be able to play for some time. His absence should not, however, make the difference between winning and losing, and I expect Pontypridd to render a good account of themselves by a twelve or fifteen points vie* torv over their opponents. Penygraig and Aberavon should prove a rather tight fit. Neither team has been play-, ina exactly up to the mark this year, and Ii should say there cannot be much between them. In suggesting a victory for Penygraig I am influenced mainly by the advantage the home t team always holds by playing on their own 1 ground, an advantage that is generally worth a try, and by about this score I should say Penygraig will defeat Aberavon. Just a word about the Cardiff Association team. They play Swindon to-day, this being their first league match away from home. The Wiltshire men are a fairly sound combination, hut I have received good accounts of the Car- diffiane, and shall be rather surprised if they J Ho not hold their own against their opponent# J of to-day. Apropos, I have not received the! |j fixture lists of any South Wales Association' n teams, and I take this opportunity of asking | them to send them in. Efforts are now being made in Llanelly ta get up an Association, team. There are seve- ral good Socke" Illm in the town who would from the nucleus of a likely team, but there ia absolutely no publio interest in the game- Just now the exponents of the Rugby style aregoing. great guns, and all the publio sympfttiiy ia monopolised by them. This, however, o'ltfht; not to discourage the Association men from going forward, and I am hoping' that they will form themselves into a ciub very;1 soon. Two seasons ago there was rather a strong Socker team in the town. It is true that several men who played then have now left the town. Still, others have come in, and: I happen to know half a dozen fellows in thai town who would be a credit to any team ifli South Wales. The racing season closed at Llanelly oni Tuesday with the 25 mile championship, which, aa my readers know, was a bit of a fiasco. The* weather, too, was simply vile, and made racing almost impossible. I am afraid that the pro- prietors of the Half-way Grounds have noti made very much money on the season. But,< of course, th" trapk is new and not known just.) yet. It is certain that the more it is knownj the better it will be liked, for it has been,; admirably laid and ia quite a model of its kind. The gvmnasium in connection with th»j Llanelly Football Club ia a great success. The room has now been fitted up with the latest) appliances, and is the nightly resort of a large*! number of players. Apart from its advantage«1 aa a developer of muscles and sinews, J "gym." Las also lis social side, which is at thej |g bottom of not a little of the success now attend-' ja ing the Llanelly team. I am sorry to see sport so dead as it is Ïôi Swansea. Cricket was a.^ain poorly supported this season there was only one athletic meeting, and that of a mediocre mature for a benefit,, and football looks on the wane. The baths have given rite to the cultivation of swimming among the youths there, but it really appears that the up-county youths can "take it out of them" in this branch of sport afl well. At the baths on Thursday night there was a gala for the benefit of genial Professor Morris. The Swansea polo team had managed to snatch a win at Penarth, but, lo and behold! the posi" tion was reversed when the Swanseaites got their "chests upon their native water." (Im- piovised alteration!) One would have thought, that a big town like Swansea, would be able to hold its own against Penarth, but it appears they were chiefly defending their goal, and that Penarth had hard lines in not scoring more than Sketch's goal. I should really like to see Swansea wake up a little in sporting matters;" that is why I air. going on at this rate My Swansea correspondent writes :—Thai prospects of Swansea against Llanelly to-day are considered by local footballers to be lees rosy than any time I remember for some years past. The Llanellyites always put their best leg- forward to jump on Swansea, and they are going like lions just now, whilst Swansea could not be going much worse than thev are. The three-quarter line is to undergo further altenv- tions and repairs. Chegw"idden anI Gordon are gone, F. Crocker has had to follow, and the, committee have chosen this Llanelly engagement as one on which to experiment. The new man, Griffiths, has been seen on the ground a good bit this week, and has produced a very fair im- pression. The other three of the quartette are to be Tborogood, Messer, and W. Crooker. 0- paper they look scraggy enough, heaven* knows Let us hope thev are more in harmony than We give their, credit for. Swansea can. generally tackle Llanelly to advantage, aø shown by the fact that for years the tin-platers have not registered a win against them. His reign of terror is, may-be, at an end. The success of the Pontypridd team so far has considerably raised the expectations of the local football fraternity, who hope by all that is—well, whatever you like—that the boys will "keep it up" (that ie, their form). Hopes are widely expressed that the team, after the long run of defeats they have experienced during -went seasons, will gradually but surely regain the creditable position they once held among Welsh club?, but to bring this about the players must remember that it can only be done by continuous and systematic training, and by im, proving- themselves in all departments of foot- ball science. So far the player have responded heartily and willingly to the commands of the commit- leM alld their popular yuung- skipper in thÏ8 direction, and turn up well on training nights. Jack Morgan, the captain, has turned out a veritable "surprise packet." and the dash and the vigour which he throws into his play are be- coming quite contagious amongst his fellow- players. Now, with au excellent committee and watchful secretary, a dashing young skipper, and a band of plavers who are distinctly im- proving. it is possible, and devoutly wished for, that they will lower the colours of other tealna who in the past simply danced and trampled upon them. The RhonJ-^ Merthvr, and Aberdare Valleys Rugby Football League will no longer be Vrown by tint name, for at Wednesday night's meeting it was decided to ehristem it as the "Glamoigan County League." The Welfh Rugby Union is to be askyd to admits th i league into membership. The league matches this yenr are arousing much locally, but just at present it is centred upen the long-delayed match which is to be played at Pontypridd <*i the 31st of October between. Llwynypisu and Moun- bin Ash for the league cup and medals, 11<<« winning team will have fifteen gold medals, and' the losers silver ones. It will be recollected that the iteams playetf for the oupt alt the end of last season, and that the game was then declared a draw, a goal and a try being scorWl by either side. The Mountain Ash mtejn, however, claimed another try, which the referee, Mr. Arthur; Govld, disallowed—hence tfte dispute. The matter wtas eventually referredt to the Rugby U vion" who declared the game a draw, and that it should be agaiin plaj#r*d. TTiere will doubtlees be a big gate, of which the teams will have a third each, whilst fthe other third will go to the coffers of the league. Tlyi Pontypridd Thursday team are spl".1 ning along fairly well, and on Thursday they beat the Llwynypia men, the Thursday chain-; pions of the Rhondda, by two points. A chess and draught olub, which has ä81 headquarters at the Washington Hotel, baø; betn rtMcd a* Portiu MieMftm heWt