Evening Express

TO-DAY'S WEATHEB. I The forecast of the weathsr throughout the West of England and South Wales for to- lav (Monday) is as follows :—S. winds, moderate fail" generally.

TEMPERATURE RAIN KALI,. .DATE. Mar. Hi>, IMeau.'9 a.m. 9 p.m. Total Saturday 3j 53 46 49.5 *00 Sunday 4 57 50 53'5 *00 Monday 5j 58 52 55 0 *35 Tuesfiav 6| 55 42 48.5 l'OO Wednesday. 7| 48 41 44'5 *10 Thursday. 8 51 40 45'5 '38 Friday 9- 53 46 49'5 '00

Telephone: National, 502. Post-office, 95. Telegrams: "Express," Cardiff.

WHAT WE THINK. The reasons for the rise in Cardiff rates during the next three years are so excellent that the ordinary howl of complaint rises less than it ever did. A few years of progressive financing has worked wonders in the borough. Ratepayers well remember the evil days when they paid through the nose, and never knew what they were paying for, and never saw the value for their money. To-day the position is altered infinitely for the better. Ratepayers know the increase is unavoidable; they see the figures for themselves; they have backed the various items of expenditure themselves, of their own free will, and no amount of political cavilling and distortion can disguise the fact that everyone has reason to be satisfied, and can find the reason for himself. Every year the value of Cardiff's remunerative works increases. It is remembered that even with this great additional call upon the corpora- tion, the rat2s are considerably less in propor- tion than they were under the old regime in the eighties. Three years is not long to wait for remuneration upon the municipal outlay. Cardiff can pride itself upon the fact that the immense outlay means such a comparatively easy call upon the rates. Few towns in the kingdom woul dbe so well off on a similar call, and few towns get as good, and never got better value for their money.

Powder and Shot. Motto for the day (the Buist resignation):- Mind the atap! < The Roath Conservative Club had retained- a saloon for the journey to London on Satur- day. Right well did the small party of mem- bers enjoy themselves. No politics! A well-known London firm is going to pub. lish an album of songs composed by Madame Patti. Perhaps the firm will later publish a dictionary of the words used by the quiet man when the girls next door begin to sing them. *<< With the spread of education in Wale* we expect our Liberal contemporary will learn to calculate, and alter its quaint conception of the coming rates, ••••«• Swansea doesn't seem particularly healthy for a certain class. The good die young there. Several more have gone during the last few days. Requiescat in pace! They couldn t live that way. *<< We are indebted to a correspondent for having disinterred the following advertise- ment: TO Gentlewoman Intending Self Help —A Vacancy to Learn of other Ladies Machine- hatching and Poultry Breeding. Cottage in secluded pine woods. Plain accommodation. Services in house and bird work taken in lieu of premium. Pupil partly kept. Bird work reminds us of the Welsh lady who, asked if she did mission work, replied that she did not know the stitch. • • < • And this is gratitude! A Swansea doctor who has been here doing the lions says the beer in Cardiff is so bad that no g-srms of diphtheria will attack the man who drinks it. Being teetotal, we can easily retort that he had better buy a cask or two for medical use in Moriston. • • • • » • The three-card trick was worked with excel- lent success m the train between Charing Cross and Blackheath on Saturday. Quite a number of Cardiffians were enticed into finding the lady, much to the benefit of the welshers. This is what technical education does for us. < e It is rumoured that in the event of the Brothers James sending back word of their ina- New Year, the positions will be given to "Welsh Athlete" and "Old Stager," whilst the three- quarters may also be strengthened by the in- clusion of "Dromeo," "Freelance," "Spectator," and "The Bard," all of whom are skilful players —in the field of letters. • • • ft • At the Caledonian dinner the other day the Mayor of Swansea said he was a Welshman, and was not ashamed to proclaim the fact. A previous speaker had asked if he (Mr. Martin) was a Scotchman. All he could s.«y was that if there was any "foreign" blood in hiu veins it was Scotch, for the only thing he knew was that some ancestors of his came from beyond the Tweed. At this announcement came a burst of Caledonian laughter. The laugh came in, we fancy, at the notion :hat theso queer old ancestors managed to discover Swansea. They must have lost their way. A Newport man with several daughters has been thinking deeply all the summer. It hasn't hurt him much, but he is going to move to Cardiff. He says that, after much experiment, he comes to the conclusion that in order to give his pretty daughters an opportunity to select the best, a man should move oftener from town to town. A new girl in town, if she is pretty, can have what she wants, while girls as pretty who were born in the town and have 'lived there all their lives must take what they can catch by persistent fishing, and give thanks that there is somethink on the hook at last. Besides, he concludes, with a, burst of confi- dence, there are more pretty girls in New- port than in Cardiff, and in Swansea there are none at all!" Heigho! We have wondered, during this ".RiraaJ'st" crusade, why Nonconformists poked their nt ses in, and rasped so loudly. In this connection it is curious that the descendants of Peter Williams, Dr. Lewis (Llanuwschlvn), Rowlands (Llangeithio), and many others of the old Welsu Puritan leaders, have fallen avay from the faith of their fathers, and some hAve even em- braced the Church of Rome. We can under- stand the Nonconformist claim to right of interference better now. They are connected with the English Church and Romish Church by blood, and improve the streijti of the con- nection daily, as the genera~ioas rise and walk across the street. The Bristol Times should not throw stones from its glass house. It comments on the Cardiff Kitchener Fund thus:—"When Lord Kitchener went to Cardiff a week ago he was received with enthu<jiasm by thousands of the population. At the inevitable luncheon, the Sirdar said, I come to the Principality ot Wales, and I am going to beg here. (Cheers.) I fell sure that you will not let me beg in vain.' (Renewed cheers.) So far, the renewed cheer- ing seems to have prettj- well satisfid the Car- dtit conscience, for the mayor's subsequent appeal has resulted in cheques ranging from £2 to £5 each. and amounting- 'in aU to about £ 30! Our Bristolian critic is i.n error. Did not the mayor and a friend open the fund with £2:Jû? And the extra £30 was merely a little spontaneous upheaval of cash pending an appeal by circular, proceeding now. By the way, Bristol has not yet raised twopence. e e e An interesting case is coming before Judge Owen. It's only a matter of half-a-crown, but the parties say they'll fight it out "on prin- ciple." It seems that a charlady was sent to clean an empty house in Roath, ready for the tenant, whom for the moment we call Mr. Jones. The intelligent animal proceeded to the task, but hit upon another empty house in the same street, and cleaned up that. Her bill, which was settled before Mr. Jones dis- covered her mistake, came to 2s. 6d. Now, Mr. Jenkins (for the nonce), who had taken the other house, was very pleased when he came in to find it all so sweet and clean. Mr. Jones, when he drove up with his furniture to the first house, wasn't. He went to Mr. Jenkins and suggested they should change their houses. Mr. Jenkins said something to the effect that he would face the Crack of Doom first. Mr. Jones then argued that as Jenkins had received the attentions of the charlady, paid for by Jones, he owed Jones half-a-crown. The argu- metn was reasonable, and Mr. Jenkins was particularly frank, and at once admitted it. But," said Jenkins, I had already rented the house when your charwoman occupied it, and I shall, of course, charge you for one day's occupancy. That's exactly half-a-crown, letting you have it cheap, and foregoing any profit under the circumstances. That. I think, will make us quits." Jones has figured the problem out, and called his son (quite a sharp lad in school at mathematics) in to help, and their claim is that quits is humbug." And Judge Owen will decide.

THE GLAMORGANSHIRE CANAL. A motion is to be jugiit forward at the monthly meeting of the Merthyr Grocers' Asso- ciation on Tuesday evening whereby it is pro- posed that the Glamorganshire Canal Company shall be approached to keep open their stores at Merthyr for a few months after the 31st of December.

A SWANSEA BUILDER MISSING. Mr. Rees Davies, builder, residing at Pen- trechwyth, Swansea-, is reported to the Swansea police as being missing from his home since Thursday last. He is 50 years of age, 6ft. in height, and dressed in black.

HORSES BURNED TO DEATH. A telegram from Berwick states that six valuable horses were burned to death, and thirteen cattle suffocated by a lire which broke out on Friday night at Whitsome- hill farm. occupied by Mr. H. Craw. A man had his hands severely burned in endeavouring to rescue the horses.

"LINSEED COMPOUND", for Coughs and Colds. Asthma, and Bronchitis. Of Chemists only. e7193—5 TO DARKEN GREY HAIR.—Lockyer'a Sul- phur Hair Restorer is the quickest, best, safest, costs less, effects more than any other. The color produced is the most nataral. Lockyar's Sulphur is the only English Hair Restorer. Universally Relisd OJ!2

Football Notes, COMMENTS OX SATURDAY S MATCHES. [BY "WELSH ATHLETE."] The one great surprise of Saturday's games was the decisive win of Llanelly over Newport. On Saturday morning I suggested that the Newport forwards would have to be con- siderably improved from what they were against Swansea if they hoped to rob Llanelly of their home record. I anticipated a drawn game, or, possibly, a win for Llanelly by, perhaps, a try to nothing. I did not for a moment think that they would prove, as they, undoubtedly, did, three times across the line better than the Usksiders. The result of the victory has been that Newport and Llanelly change places in the record. Llanelly now take third position, and in the percentage of games won are very little behind Cardiff. For a team that did so badly at the beginning of the season and have suffered so much from the loss of their best men Llanelly are to be sincerely congratulated on their position in the list. Gloucester had a fairly strong team out against Swansea, and, I am told, rather fancied their chances of running the Welsh champions close. The result could hardly be flattering to their aspirations. On the other hand, however, Swansea, after Llanelly's per- formance on Saturday, will not view with any degree of equanimity their match at Stradey Park on Saturday next. Blackheath had a particularly strong team out against Cardiff. and. after the Welsh Metropolitans had secured a big lead in the first half, the Rectory Field men gave them a bit of a dressing. It was the old tale of excellent individualism on the part of several of the Blackheath men— notably Royds and Latter—repeating itself. Each of the Blackheath tries were scored by strong individual bursts. For the first ten or fifteen minutes in the second half Cardiff looked beaten, and seemed to be thinking more of defence than aught else. Then they rallied, and took up the offensive, which, after all, is the surest form of defence. Llwynypia and Mountain Ash played a very close game, but Neath and Aberavon are in much better form of late. Each won their matches in a decisive manner. Pcnygraig justi- fied their victory over Llwynypia—a vic- tory, by the way, to which I hear there is an objection—by defeating that sound little team, Treorky. Of the bottom division. Penarth, who seem to have entirely re-arranged their back division, gained a. creditable victory over Treherbert. The Rhondda team have turned out rather disap- pointing, however. They showed but indif- ferent form against Leicester, and on the form of that match I am not surprised to hear of Penarth beating them. Up to and includ- ing Saturday s matches, the records of the principal Welsh clubs read as follow: — principal Welsh clubs read as follow:- -Points- Per cent. for. against. W. L. D. won. G. T. P. G. T. P. Swansea 13 0 2 92.39 34 30 251 2 2 12 Cardiff 12 1 t 87.50 17 30 172 3 5 27 Llanelly 16 2 2 81.25 18 29 173 11 7 75 Llwynypia 12 2 2 73.00 12 24 131 2 5 24 Newport 11 3 1 68.18 9 19 97 2 6 33 Neath 14 3 3 67.85 13 15 109 1 9 31 I Aberavon 13 4 i 65.33 8 16 73 3 6 26 Penygraig 15 6 0 60.00 9 15 87 7 12 71 Treherbert 17 6 2 57.14 5 24 97 7 14 74 M'tain Ash. 13 6 0 53.84 10 23 118 6 11 61 Penarth 12 7 1 37.5 3 10 41 14 12 128 All things considered, Cardiff were just a wee bit lucky to win their match against Blackheath on Saturday. The victory may be ascribed to their taking advantage of the opportunities that came their way in the first half of the game. Just before half-time and for quite a quarter of an hour in the initial portion of the second half they had a terribly warm time of it. The Blackheath forwards during this period were having all the best of the game, and attack after attack on the Cardiff line was taken UD. It was only a won- derfully smart defence mainly by Nicholls that saved his side at this period. When Blackheath drew level Cardiff seemed a thoroughly beaten team. They pulled themselves together, how- ever, and the forwards, staying on and settling down to their work, gave their backs quite a number of opportunities, one of which Huzzey utilised, after some passing between Escott, Biggs, and Nicholls, and thence to the wing man, who scored. The peculiar part of it was that it was the Cardiff left wing that was in such evidence on Saturday. Jones, who for the last six or eight matches had been unable to take his passes, was never at fault in this department, whilst Ricketts played quite the best game of the season. Forward, it is a difficult task to choose between the two teams. If a selection has to be made I should be inclined to go for the Blackheath eight, who the game through gave their backs more opportunities than the Car- diff eight did. Still, it must be remembered that they were a particularly strong set of scrimmagers, and. speaking from memory, I should say they were a much better all round eight than that which met Newport. On the Cardiff side it was pleasing to notice that Cornish was in much better form than has been the case of late. He put his weight into the scrimmage, whilst on the few occasions that he had opportunities in the loose he was noticeable for very strong dashes. On Satur- day s form there was no doubt as to his right of inclusion in the Welsh international eight. But, unfortunately, lie has not been showing that form in recent club matches. Blake and the Dobsons did good work, and so did Spack- man and Neil. In fact, although they were often beaten, and had, perhaps, a little the worst of the argument, I think the Cardiff forwards played a. better game than they have hitherto done this season. At half. Biggs and Escott were quite equal to the opposing pair. For one thing, they had more defence to do than the Blackheath couple had. They seldom failed to get the ball away from the scrimmage, whilst both did some clever things in the way of attack. Escott was mainly responsible for the first try that Huzzey scored. Biggs did a couple of clever things, too, when he first blocked the ball and^ afterwards got it away to Jones when RicKetts scored, whilst his run in the second half of the game when Huzzey put on the winning point was quite worthy of his great reputation. At tiiree-quarter, Royds and Latter were the defence^1" pTr, °f tr°ublG to the Cardiff ieience. Royds m particular made several strong, determined dashes, and he is the only f ree"ri,:larter 1 kave seen this season that CardV /qUTly NicholJs T;hen the Cardiff Cciptani had a fair chance of a da«h foi him. On Saturday's form, I should cer- R°ydS Wil1 gain his P^eeTn the English team against Wales. On the Car- j™es played far and awav his l4t game of this season. Had he been showing the form that he did against Blackheath in thiteahiIer ?? fatches thsre is no doubt but Skrim^hirP t'b™ had the Tlreference over forwards fn°\h U?h a f?r0Up of B-ackheath iorwards in the most wonderful fashion He was inLZlne'r100' d,efeDce- too. was in topping form, and it was a mnQt mined effort of his when he beat Royds by potts Wfhnn°a flag and scorecI behind posts. Nicholls was seen to the most advan- tage in the second half of the game The B ackheath forwards were attacking in rare af i r'l'> h0llS WaS "always in ^e way/ as a London pressman put it, and kept driving them back with beautiful kicks to touch. Huzzey never missed an opportunity hi h f I(?St tlle bal1 wben he scored HP ? managed to get down. He took an awkward pass when he scored the winning point, and had exceedingly bad luck just before the finish in putting one foot hea°th lin^ just before he crossed the Black- hea th line. At full back Thomas was not quite in his best form. The ground must have been slip- pery, for on two or three occasions he missed his man in turning, notably when Royds got past him and scored. Russell, his vis-a-vis did a lot of sound wo-k, and on the day's form fal1 to kim w&en comparsd with the Cardiffian. Newport were badly beaten at Stradey on an,d were real,y fortunate in getting off with only eleven points against them. Except for about ten minutes in the first half they were hopelessly out of the hunt, and had all they coulu do to meet the attack of the home team, who were in brilliant form. The play of the scarlets came as a revelation to some honest folk who only remember the sorry show the same team made at Swansea earlier in the season. On Saturday's form, however, Llanelly would have beaten any team in the country. The game was a rare spectacular treat. Both teams went in for open, fast play, and the crowd approved of this little arrangement. Going off with a bang at the start, Llanelly got to the Newport line, and Gabe, by a beautiful feint got over with the first try. A grand kick by Strand Jones put the home team five point-s ahead right away. After this Newport made a big effort, and got to the L'anelly 25, where they remained for a few minutes. Alexander was given an excellent chance to show his speed, but he chose to kjck across the field. This was followed up by tile Usltside forwards, and but for a knock-on a try would have resulted. This was Newport's nearest approach to a score. For the rest of the play Llanelly were hotly attacking. The forwards fairly bottled up their mystery. Alexander also was only so-so. He heavy opponents. They varied their play most delightfully, and wheeled, dribbled, or heeled out at will. Beaten in the forwards, the New- port backs had little aggressive work to do, and that little was indifferently dons. Skrim- shire put in some good defensive work. but if he can be judged by that day's form his selection for the Welsh team is a bit of a let Gabe pass him more than once. The amber and black jersey does not seem to fit him well. The home backs put in some brilliant aggres- sive work. Ben Davies was the pivot upon which the whole of the back play turned. His try was prettily done, and he had a big hand in the others. D. Davies is proving him- self one of the best inside halves in Wales. The third line went great guns. Griff Williams and Evan Lloyd in the centre gave the oppo- sing centres a bad time of it. Morgan Wil- liams was the cleverest wing on the ground, and Newport were evidently of this opinion, judging by the attention they gave him. Several of the supporters of the visiting team were heard to express regret that Williams had not been selected for international honours instead of Llewellyn. Strand Jones was one of the heroes of the match. He proved himself a grand custodian, and his presence behind the forwards has given fresh confidence to the team. He is a big. muscu ar fellow, kicks with both feet well, and tackles anything that comes his way. Tha scarlets have been very fortunate in secu- ring such an acquisition. When I predicted on Saturday that Swansea would beat Gloucester by nearly as large a score as last year, I certainly did not expect them to improve on that record, which was about sixteen points to nil. But they did! Gloucester brought down a strong team, in- cluding the two Stouts, but they could not stem the overwhelming tide of disaster which set in a few minutes after the start. Swansea were in invincible form, or else the opposition was very weak, for there was only one an in it. Rarely have I seen Swansea so dan- gerous. When either forwards or backs start handling the ball. then, as in the penny show, "everything is going!" They do not allow the ball to be tackled even if they happen to be tackled themselves. Away it goes to some-, body else, or back on the ground, and thus on Saturday we saw Gloucester engaged in a wits'-ends game of defence, in which they hardly seemed to know where the ball was. Before the last try nearly every man in the Swansea team, handled the ball. Forward, Gloucester were heavy; and in the loose the eight proved very efficient. The only point, however, I can give them credit for is the fact that they ever and again managed to beat Swansea back into the open and across the half-way line. They dribbled very finely, but where the Swansea ups got the advantage of them was in the heeling out and in the passing game. After every scrimmage the Jameses got the ball, and then there was a chase. The brothers played marvellously well, and S. James is shaping to become another James phenomenon. As for the three-quarters they were in grand form. Trew's two tries were got with the utmost nicety and smartness. Gordon, too, was very strong in attack, and George Davies was always dangerous, and always on the alert in the centre. Bancroft was great till he commenced trying to assist the three-quarters, then he spoilt everything, as usual. None of them can take a pass from Bancroft. He has a peculiar buttering process which is all his own. Why will he not let the four do their work? Scrines and Parker did their best to show the sort of work they are going to do against England. The score was certainly heavy, but it was not more than Swansea deserved on the face of the game, which was all on one side. Gloucester were only dangerous once during the game, and then their play was wild, and had no real chance of success. Romans is not a superb full back. He got in his kicks, but they had no length. Taylor once or twice proved his speed valuable in tackling. P. Stout had few chances of shining, playing, as he did, behind a beaten crowd, but he showed glimpses of the rarest form. F. Stout, his brother, was the shining light of the forwards, but two Stouts (large or small) were not enough to infuse the necessary ability and enthusiasm into the team to come anywhere ne3,r a win. Swansea crossed three times in the first half and three times in the second, thus distributing the favours impartially all through the game. They made a showy game of it. which naturally pleased the Swansea crowd, who do not dislike a onesided game occasionally, as they then ses some lively back play by their pets. One generally associates tactics of the "win. tie, or wrangle" order with League contests Such, however, was far from the case in the game between Mountain Ash and Llwynypia on the former's ground on Saturday. Up to the last fifteen minutes play was as open and exciting as could be wished. Towards the close, however, the pace told, and matters became somewhat humdrum. Neither team was fully representative, but there was little to complain about in the substitutes. Col- lectively, Llwynypia had slightly the pull over their opponents, but the best individual efforts were made by the Mountain Ash men. The defensive play of both sides was really ex- cellent, and to this may be ascribed the small- ness of the score. Of the players, Willie Llewellyn was far and away the "man of the moment." His try was got in beautiful style, and he rarely, if ever, made a mistake. Llew. Deere was not in his best form, though he played a good, sound game. At back, George Evans was the safer man of the two. though be seems wasted in this position. Of the three-quarters, Brailey was, perhaps, the most in evidence, next to Llewellyn and Deere. The Mountain Ash half backs were nothing like as smart L, the opposing pair, and made little use of the ball when they did manage to get hold of it. Forward, Millar shone most, but both eights played a sound, honest game. Penarth s rather easy victory over Treher- bert was fully deserved, though, perhaps, a smaller majority of points would have better indicated the difference in the merits of the two teams. Forward. Treherbert had the best of matters in the tight scrums, but were not as good. by a long way, in the loose as the sea- siders' eight, who repeatedly dribbled nearly half the length of the field. Gibbs and T. Morris were ever prominent here. At half the brothers Lewis had much the better of Thornley and Chick, and had they been better supported by their three-quarter line would have made things very hot for their opponents. In the three-quarter lines Penarth had the advan- tage. Jenkins, the Barry man. was about thb best on the fie'd. his running and tackling being very strong and sure. He, however, displayed a tendency to hold on to the ball too long. Na=h. for Penarth, and Hitchings, for Treher- bert, were the next in point of merit. At back Knight was superior to Rees, the visiting cus- todian, though his kicking had none too much length, and he occasionally waited a bit longer than was absolutely necessary. The game between Treorky and Penygraig was a sp'endid one from a spectators' point of view. The visitors won from sheer strength in the front rank. They played a game which better suited the ground than the homesters. From the very commencement they went in for the rush and kick game, and that brought them success. Although having the ball out oftener than the homesters, they made but little attempt to play the passing game. but as soon as the ball was out it was kicked, and material ground was gained on almost every occasion. Tom Jones, at back, played a safe game, while Llewellyn and Morgan were the pick of the quartette. Neither of the halves shone. Chant, Jones, and Raysons were the pick of the pack. The homesters were rather unlucky to lose. Vaughan, Lewis, and Thomas, of the forwards, were ever to the fore. White and James clearly outclassed the opposing pair, while T. R. Thomas was far and away the best back. On two occasions he was selfish, and had he passed to his wing in all probability a score would have resulted. Davies (the captain) played well, and on several occasions saved admirably. Lewis, the wing, was not fed pro- perly, but got through a lot of work in splen- did fashion. M. L. James, at back, tackled -well, but his kicking was weak. Aberavon defeated Pontypridd by a sub- stantial score-a score obtained by better and more combined play than that exhibited by Pontypridd. The Rhondda metropolitans are fast falling back into that old monotonous game of keeping the ball to their forwards, and so making the fight a forward one. This is a policy they will at once have to give up. It does not pay. Tho scoring to-day is to be done by the three-quarters, and had Ponty- pridd given their quartette the opportunities the score would have looked different. Rowley Thomas was Pontypridd's best for- ward, but W. E. Ree3 was ever to the fore. Bryce. for the visitors, was certainly the best forward. At half honours were very even, the recruit Thomas playing a good game. At three-quarter the 'Avonites combined better. The game at Morriston was vigorously con- tested throughout—in fact, a better display has not been seen at tinopolis this season. Charlie Powell was the best of the Neath men. Morriston, for the greater part of the game, was the best pack, and with a little luck would have scored twice, in addition to the try scored by Harries. Individually S. Davies. J. Lennard. Arnold, and Moxley were the best of the Neath forwards. H. Jones and W. Jones were the pick of the three-quarters. Joe Davies was very little better than his vis-a-vis. The best men in the Morriston ranks were T. White, Jack Davies, W. Joseph. Syd Bevan, Tom Williams, Roberts, and Evans.

WELSH FOOTBALL UNION. INTERNATIONAL MATCH-ENGLAND V, WALES. At Swansea on January 7th, 1899. Stand Tickets (Raserved and Numbered), 4s. each, may he obtained from Messrs. T. C. Graham, Cambrian-chambers, Newport; C. S. Arthur, 53, Queen-street, Cardiff: Tom Williams, Hill- side, Llwynypia; Alfred Davies. Tobacconist, College-street, Swansea; the Hon. Treasurer Llanelly, or from Walter E. Rees, Secretary W.F.U., Neath. 61843

CHAMPION LEAGUE MATCH. TREORKY V. TREHERBERT. SATURDAY NEXT, December 17th, 1898. AdasiftBion. 6d. each; Enclosure, 6d. Extra.

Rates of Cardiff. PROBABLE EFFECT OF RAISING £ 800,000. The statement prepared by the Cardiff borough treasurer (Mr. Greenhill) showing the probable effect on the rates ftfr the next three years by the proposed issue of £800,000 of Corporation Stock was posted to the members of the financc committee on Friday. Mr. Greenhill pre-supposes that by March, 1902, the whole of the £ 800,000 will have been expended, and, there- fore, the interest on money placed on deposit in the third year is very small. Several mem- bers of the finance committee are, however, of opinion that a considerable portion of the money now about to be raised will be unspent at the end of three years. In that event the burden upon the rates will not be so heavy as is shown in the borough treasurer's state- ment. Allowance has very properly been made for the increase in the ordinary expenditure on general district and borough fund accounts, and accepting the basis that the whole of the ISOCI,000 will be expended by 1902, the statement is a very fair one. As we have previously pointed out, the next three years will press heaviest upon the ratepayers, because large sums of money will be required for under- takings which cannot become remunerative until after that period. There will be nothing coming in from tramways or from the site of the present Town-hall, neither can much return be expected from building sites in Cathays Park and Liandaif Fields. We have ad- mitted that the district rates must go up Id. or two pence per half year, and the borough trea- surer's statement shows that the increased charge on the heaviest of the three years is 3.702d. per annum. The borough rate is col- lected in the poor rate, but that, of course, makes no difference to the ratepayer. The annual loan charges and expenses on £ 320,993 to be borrowed on borough fund account will amount to £14,063, to which the borough treasure r has added Cl.500, one year's estimated increase in the ordinary expenditure. In the first year the ratable value, it is esti- mated, will have increased by £ 18.750, and that amount of 9d. in the £ will bring in an additional £703. Bank overdraft charges amounting to 11,760 will be saved, the interest on £1.60.000 of the money raised and placed on deposit will bring in £ 4,440, and free library loan charges repayable will amount to £ 119, making a total on the credit side of £ 6,982, and leaving Eg,581 to be provided by an increased rate. The increase in the ordinary expenditure for the second year is fixed at £3,000. and this, added to the loan charges (£14,063). makes a total of £ 17,063. The in- creased ratable value in the second year is estimated at £ 37,500, and this sum at 9d. will produce £1.406, but the interest on deposits, say, JE.90,000, at 2J per cent., will only bring in £ 2,475. Adding to these amounts £ 119 from the free library and the CI,760 saved in over- draft charges, the total credits are only £5,761. leaving £11.303 to be provided by an increased charge on the rate. For the third year the increase in the ordinary expenditure is f4,500, and this added to the annual loan charges make a total of £ 13,563. The ratable value will then have increased by £ 56,250. and a 9d. rate on that amount will produce £2.109, but the interest on deposits will only amount to JE637. so that an additional £13,887 has to be provided out of the rate. Tho amount to be borrowed on district-rate account is £471.059. and annual loan charges and expenses will come to £ 22,264. The borough treasurer has calculated that the ordinary expenditure under this heading will go up £5.000 per annum during the next three years. To meet an additional expenditure of £ 27.264 in the first year there are the following creditsRatable value, average increase for one year £ 18,750 at 2s. lld., X2,734 7s. 6d.; bank overdraft charges (twice amount raised in cur- rent half-year's estimate), £ 4,650; interest on deposits, say £130,000 at 22 per cent. (one year), £3,575; waterworks mortgages paid off (sink- ing fund), X24 7s. 8d.; water rentals increase (one year), £ 2,000; electric light ren- tals increase (one year), £ 1,000. These amounts make a total of £ 13,984, and leave a sum of £13,280 to be raised by an increased rate. In the second year tne additional sum required will be JE32,264, but. the increased ratable value, estimated at £37.500, at 2s. lid., will produce £ 5,469. The saving on bank overdraft charges will be the same, but the interest on deposits will be reduced to £ 1,375. An increase of £ 4.000 is expected in water rental, and £ 2,500 on electric light rentals. This amount, and a small sum of £24. bring up the credits to £18,018, leaving a balance of £ 14,246 to be provided by an in- creased charge on the district rate in the second year. In the third year the annual loan charges and increased ordinary expenditure ( £ 15,000) amount to £37,264, and to meet this there are credits for £ 24,221, leaving £13,043 to be pro- vided. In this year the increase in the ratable value would be £ 56.250, compared with what it is at present, and this amount, at 2s. lid. in the £ will bring in £ 8,203. It is estimated that by this time the water rentals will have increased b,, £6,000. and the electric light rentals by £ 4,500. There is also :> sum of £ 500 expected in revenue from the fish market in the third year. The probable effect upon the rates during the next three years is shown by the borough treasurer as follows:- BOROUGH PATE.-SUMMARY. Increased A'ount Ratable charge on in the value. borough £ per rate, annum. £ £ s. d. d. 31st March, 1900. 1,046,915 8,580 15 6 2.065 31st March, 1901. 1,065.665 11,302 13 0 2.673 31st March, 1902. 1,084,415 13,837 0 6 3.227 DISTRICT BATE.-SUMMARY. Increased Aonnt Ratable charge on in the value. district £ per rate. annum. £ £ s. d. d. 31st March, 1900. 950,930 13,280 9 8 3.519 31st March, 1901. 969,680 14,246 2 2. 3.702 31st March, 1902. 588,430 13,042 19 8 3.325

CHARITY ORGANISATION WORK. In their twelfth annual report the com- mittee of the Cardiff Charity Organisation Society presents a mournful record of facts to the subscribers. Owing to the colliers' strike the committee was faced by distress not paralleled in the hardest winter, which taxed for nearly five months all the resources of the society for inquiry and relief. It being felt that the working population of Cardiff were the victims of a struggle in which they had no part, and for which they were not responsible, help was given generously and un- grudgingly, and to this might be attributed the fact that no deaths were reported from starvation. At the same time. hundreds of industrious people used up all the accumulated savings of years, and stripped themselves and their houses bare of all that could be dis- posed of in order to provide food for them- selves and their children. The number of cases treated was 554, in connection with which 2,109 visits of inquiry were made. The total subscriptions amounted to k235 13s.. of which £77 6s. 6d. were special donations on account of the strike. The total expenditure was JE230 7s. 9d., compared with £118 1403. 2d. in the previous year. and 232 articles of old and new clothing had also been distributed. Drunkenness and improvidence had, as usual, Veen the cause of distress in many undeser- ving cases. Amongst* the helpable cases, apart from the strike, illness of the wage- earner had been the most frequent cause )f trouble. In the first ten weeks of the strike the committee had to deal with over 200 cases, involving nearly 1,000 persons. The way in which striving and self-respecting people had suffered, disposing of their goods piecemeal at nominal prices, and yet. after all, had been compelled, for their children's sake, to ask for help. had been pitiable in the extreme. It was this class, largely, that came to the society, and the plain evidences of privation and the shamefacedness with which their stories were told and the worst features kept back bore eloquent testimony to the extreme need they were in. and their sorrow at being compelled to accept alms. It was not expected that the strike would last for more than a week or two, and, consequently, it was seme little time before general measureJ of relief were adopted. Looking over the whole period, it mi;;hü be said that provision dealers and shopkeepers, up to the extent of their means, and even beyond them. were ready to continue their supplies to their trustworthy customers until renewed employment should enable them to pay. In very many instances the payment of rent wa3 an impossibility. Thus the area of suffering was extended to a class considered to be independent, who, being really drjendeit on a few rents for their liveli- hood, were suddenly reduced to the same straits as their tenants. Numbers of men went away to distant places to work. while many local employers did their best to find part work for their men. Others allowed small weekly sums to keep the men and their families from star- va"t;n. Several thousands of pounds were dis- tributed by local committees. The Docks. Grangretown, and the Moors suffered most severely, and it was in these districts that the cou.mrtfes got earliest to work and had most to do. The aim of the committee was to give adequate relief for as long as it was needed, and this was now and then done by sharing the expense with one of the local relief agencies. Wh.n it was stated that nearly 300 families were dealt with at a cost ion some instances of ::everal pounds, it would be seen that discre- tion. economy, and generosity had alike been practised

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Affairs in the Transvaal Bit. LEYDS INTERVIEWED. Dr. Leyds, late Secretary of State, and pre- sent xjuropean Minister of the South African Republic, has been interviewed by the Berlin correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette." Questioned as to the closing down of mines in the Transvaal on the ground of the expensive- ness of dynamite, Dr. Leyds rcplied:- Yes, that dynamite cry answered its pur- pose. It was swallowed by the shareholders who lost their money, I dare gay, and made them bitter enemies of our Government. But if the shareholders of some of the conoerns went out and investigated for themselves they would find that even on the Rand no dynamite. cheap or dear, will win gold from common rocks that do not bear the metal." "It is rumoured that the explosive is to be lowered in price oy five shillings a case. How will that affect the mining prospects?" "It will make mining cheaper, of course, and will aifect the dividends. At the same time it will settle animportaatpoint. Wehavebeen told repeatedly that if only a few shillings were knocked off the price of dynamite most of the mines closed down would be re-opened and worked at a profit. We will see the truth of that. Nobody would be happier than Mr. Kruger if this turned out to be the case. It would give unfortunate shareholders something for their money, and would give employment to large numbers of men at present destitute." "And Mr. Kruger something extra to tax?" "Yes. I didn't think of it in that light before" (with a smile). "Ahout Delagoa Bay?" "I do not care to say anything about Delagoa. Bay. Of course. England has the option there; but it is within the range of possibility that Portugal will not need to lease it." "Let us chat about more immediately pressing matters. It is not a State secret that our Ministers have given consideration to the breach of the 14th Article of the Con- vention, which will be accomplished wh«n your Government forces the British India:.s into locations on New year's Day. May I ask you fur an opinion on the subjcet?" "The question is an old one. We hold that there is no breach, and I think Mi*. Chamber- lain will have to admit that. we are right. You know that in Africa the word 'native' is the generic term for all men of colour, including Indians. According to the opening clause of the 14th Article we grant full liberty to everybody in the Transvaal who conforms to our laws, excepting 'natives.' The Indians are being located for sanitary reasons. As regards the Cape 'boys,' we claim the right to register them just as we do all other blacks." "I am to take it that Mr. Kruger will do all he can for the Outlanders, according to your statement a while ago?" "His Honour is most desirous of progress, and things would advance more quickly if a crowd of persons, whose interest it is to cause friction, did not do everything in tÍleir power to obstruct him. Reforms would have been granted long since but for the raid. which threw the Transvaal back for years. Now, let me go north for a bit. Speculators came to the Republic and made, and are continuing to make. plenty of money. Remove the surplus population who have no business in the Trans- vaal aud you have a prosperous remainder. Well, compare that state of things with Rho- desia. There are complaints of oppressive and unjust mining and other laws there; yet they are never heard of in London. Thev are practically made by the very men who com- plain about the milder and more just laws of the Transvaal. Keep this in mind. too—apcord- ing to the Rhodesian laws the Chartered Com- pany may claim one-half of the mineral out- put. What an outcry there would be if Mr. Kruger made a similar claim in the Republic. Why. there would be a panic on your Stock Exchange, the British press would cry. 'A has Kruger!' and there wOlùd be danger of a revo. lution in Johannesburg. Investors get a good return out of the Rand, but those who have sunk their money in Rhodesia But let us change the subject, please. Never speak of a man behind his back!" "Speaking of individual men. by the way, will Mr. Kruger and Cecil Rhodes ever shake hands rgain?" "Never! Never! A Boer is the best friend a man can have. He will rema,in:1 true friend and staiTch ally until the other deceives him. Our President, like most of the African Dutch, agrees with Mr Rhodes's northern poHcy; but you may take it from me that never so long [lq he lives will he again trust the man. I think I may fairly say the same of every mem- ber of the Government and every Boer in Africa." "Well, doctor, a, concluding question: Can you see pny gravity, present or prospective, in the situation as regards Boer and Outlander?" "I am not inside The head of the British Premier, and do 110t know the intentions of the Cabinet, fair or unfair. As a result of the conferences you hear of in London there may be a crop of questions—let us even say demands:—for Pretoria. But in any event, the Go v-ernment of the Republic holds that it has l'i:;ht on its side, and can answer any question thit may be put. We abide strictiy by the terms of the Convention, although Mr. Cham- berlain may have his own interpretation for the word 'na ive.' The British Government has no power to interfere in the domestic affairs of the Republic; therefore, it has no more authority to dictate regarding the Trans- vul laws than it has to dictate to France or Germany or any other Power. If the Republic is left alone, things will settle down, slowly perhaps, but surely."

MIL WILLIAM BLACK DEAD A telegram received from Brighton on Saturday states that William Black, r.he nove- list, passed peacefully away that evening at 8.45 at Paston House. Brighton. Mr. William Black was born at Slasgow in 1841. and received his education at Trrious private schools. He went to London in 1864, and wrote fo-r the magazines. Tn follow- ing year he joined the staff of the "Morning Star," and acted as special correspondent for that newspaper during the Prusso-Austrian War of 1866. scenes from which he described in his first novel, "Love or Marriage," published in 1867. Two. years after his next work of fiction, "In Silk Attire," appeared. Then fol- lowed "Kilmeny" and "The Monarch of Mincing Lane." In 1871 "A Daughter of Heth" ap- peared. In 1872 he published "The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton," while in 1873 was published "A Princess of Thule." It was fol- lowed by "The Maid of Kilkena and other Stories," in 1874; and subsequent works included "Madcap Violet," 1876; "Green Pastures" and "Piccadilly," 1877; "Sunrise, a Story of These Times." 1881; "The Beautiful Wretch," 1882; "White Heather," 1835; "In Far Lochabar," 1889; and "The Handsome Humes 1893.

MR CLEMENT SCOTT RESIGNS "Carados," writing in the "Referee," states that M-. Clement Scott, the dramatic critic of the "Daily Telegraph," will, at the end of the year, resign his appointment on that paper. Mr. Scott, in his letter to the writer communi- cating his intention, says:—In these days of pulsating advance, with theatres starting up as if by magic on eve:y side, in the midst of a world throbbing with "'ew ideas, startling theories, old orthodoxies and new heterodoxies clash-ng and clanging together, the duties of a dr-ni-atic reviewer to the mcst influential of all daily newspapers requires a giant's strength. The incessant strain of thirty years' continuous work. eminds me that the best strength, the most undaunted courage, and the wildest enthusiasm must have its breaking point. It is that -nevitable dilemma, that I desire to anticipate by a rest somewhere near the last milestone. No one who has followed me up and down hill will grudge me that delightful pause by the wayside.

DEATH OF MR. H. J. EVANS, J.P., WHITCHURCH- In the person of Mr. Henry John Evans. J.P., one of the oldest and most respected inhabi- tants of Whitchurch passed away on Friday aftevneon at his residence, Greenhill. Deceased WiD v as 75 years of age. was the oldest sor. of Mr. David Evans, banker, of Merthyr, anc was b"m in that town. He was at one time managing director of Wilkins and Co.. of the late Brecon Old Bank. which was taken over in August. 1890. by Lloyds. His younger days he spent in the office at Brecon, and subse- quently he proceeded to Llanelly, and there opened a branch for the firm, which he managed for several years. He opened the Cardiff branch of Wilkins and Co. at a later stage—somewhere in the "forties"—and con- tinued the supervision of it until Lloyds took the concern over. as stated, in 1890, when he retired from business. Deceased has lived at' Whitchurch sinde December, 1875. when he married Miss Margaret Wayne Davies, who survives him, and who is a sister of Mr. Edward Davies, solicitor, Bassaleg. Two years ago deceased suffered from slight indis- position, from which he rallied, and up to very recently his good health and high spirits were spoken of with pleasure by his friends. He came to Cardiff last Monday, and it was then he contracted the illness which, unfortunately, proved fatal. He was a strong Churchman and a liberal benefactor of the Church. As a Con- servative he took no active part in politics. He had a wide circle of friends, who highly esteemed his unswerving integrity in business and his many admirable qualities.

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