The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

NONCONFORMITY IN WALES. In the course of a speech in the House of Commons, on Monday night, Mr Henry Richard, the member for Merthyr Tydvil, observed—About a century ago the people of the Principality of Wales were in a state of deplorable spiritual destitution. There had been an Established Church there for upwards of two centuries: but it had utterly neglected the people. The bishops the other dignitaries, and many.of the clergy were absolutely ignorant of the language of Wales. Simony, nepotism plurality, and an ignorant and immoral clergy were to be found in Wales at that time; .when there arose a body of remarkable men, fired by compassion for their countrymen- j %_W £ from communion with the Estab- lished Church. 1 hey at once commenced the work of evangelizing their countrymen. The honourable and learned member for Richmond (Sir Roundell Palmer) said that the clergy of the Scotch Church had gone out volun- tarily; but in Wales the clergy were expelled from the Established Church, and took with them no congregations. Well, what happened? In 1742, when the movement occurred, the number of Dissenting places of worship in Wales was 110; but in 1851, a little more than a century, they had increased to 2,826. The population was 1,100,900; the Established Church provided church accom- modation for 301,897, or 30 per cent.; while the Noncon- formists provided for 692,339, or 70 per cent. Mr Horace Mann estimated that if church accommodation to the ex- tent of 58 per cent. of the population were provided that would be sufficientto afford accommodation for all. In 1851 the accommodation provided by the Established Church fell short of that by 387,672, while the accommo- dation provided by the Nonconformists exceeded it by a very considerable number. Therefore it really provided for the whole population; so that the worst consequence that could happen from disestablishment in Wales would be that a few of the landlords and wealthy people who remained attached to the Church of England would have to find church accommodation for themselves. He wished to correct a mistake made by the right honourable gentle- r man the member for the University of Oxford in a debate on church rates, who, in commenting on an illustration of the working of the voluntary system in Wales given to the House by the right honourable gentleman the President of the Board of Trade, said that the Dissenting chapels in Wales were built by speculative builders, who mortgaged them on the interest of the pew rents, and realised 7 per cent. That statement was not correct; but even if it were he did not see how it could affect the case. The whole thing was a fiction, for chapels were never erected in Wales by building speculators, but were always built by the people, for the people, and out of the money of the people. Since 1851, 630 new chapels had been erected at a cost of R,302,,000, but in spite of the grievous persecution which the Nonconformists had suffered at the hands of the Established Chu;ch-(oh !)f(Jr he maintained not only that the Welsh Nonconformists had been grievously per- secuted by the Established Church in the early part of the century, but that it appeared to be one of the functions of the Established Church to indulge in such persecution —(oh, oh)—the voluntary principle had been very success- ful. Were they, then, to suppsse that the Irish Protest- ants, who, as they were told, were the most wealthy and the most respectable part of the population, could not manage to get on without the assistance of the State, especially when they were supported, as they certainly would be by the members of the Established Church in this ■country ? (Hear, hear.)

KoTA* ™ WALES.—According to~the latest return o t the end^ftrSr^enera^ Seamen, the number of men at the^end of February, belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve, m Welsh ports, Aberystwyth, 2a Ar.fJ > Carnarvon, 217 Cardigan; 111 Llanelli, t> > ,48; Swansea, 318 "SSSS&win™. TREATED WITH DK. DE JOXGH S Llfil Cor> Liver OIL.—This very simple ana safe remedy—CONTAINING peculiar curative principles which th^apen has proved to 'be totally wanting m the raleiuii has been prescribed by the faculty with the in numerous cases of chronic bronchitis ana c & actual benefit derived in a most severe case of is V a, irritation is thus conclusively stated by Arthur Cricua Esq., surgeon: '"The effect of Dr de Jongh's Oil on royselr last winter was remarkable. I suffered from excessive irritation of the larynx; consequently, I was greatly reduced in strength and appearance, and quite unable to attend to my professional duties. It occurred to me that the Oil which I was frequently prescribing would benefit my own case, and, after taking it a few days, its good effects commenced, and at the end of six weeks I regained my usual health and strength, and had .entirely lost the laryngeal irritation, which was of a most harassing and fearful distressing character." Dr. de Jongh's Light- Brown Cod Liver Oil is sold only in capsnled imperial halfpints, 2s. Gd.; pints, 4s. 9J- > quarts, 9s.; labelled with 'ti his stamp and signature, without which none can possibly be genuine, by his sole consignees, Ansar, Harford,. £ nd Co,, 77, London and respectable chemists.

AMUSING CASES AT THE OSWESTRY COUNTY COURT. At the Oswestry County Court, on Saturday, the fol- lowing cases we're heard IN- ACTION FOR DAMAGE DONE BY STRAYING HORSES.— TAYLOR V. RAVENSHAW. Joseph Taylor sought to recover £1 10s., as compensa- tion for daffiage done b to "eddish" clover and aftermath, from Thomas Ravenshaw, who had paid 10s. into Court in satisfaction of the claim. Plaintiff said he had a field of clover at Dudleston, about an Acre and a half in extent, and four or five horses be- longing to defendant, who had some land on the opposite side of the road, got into the clover and ate a good deal of it off. They were in several times he could not say how many, but he should think four or five. He saw them once or twice himself, and people told him about them at other times. He went to defendant about the matter, and defendant told him he would have talked to him, if he had put the damage at 5s. The crop was worth a good deal to him, because he was depending upon it for his things. His Honour asked plaintiff why he did not impound the horses, in the old-fashioned manner, Plaintiff replied that he thought defendant would acknow- ledge the trespass and pay for the damage. t His Honour—I'm sorry you bring these nasty things here. Why not get some disinterested person to decide between you ? i. c <- t Plaintiff called several witnesses, the first of whom said he saw some horses in the olover, but he could not say whose they were, or how many there were of them. The next witness spoke to seeing three horses in the field, on two separate occasions. Plaintiff's son deposed to finding four of defendant's horses in the field, and said he told defendant's man about them. „ T His Honour—How am 1 to assess the damages ? Plaintiff-The men told me there were five horses, and they were in four days. His Honour—But their evidence does not come up to that to-day. Plaintiff-Oh, he (defendant) has been treating them at a public-house this morning. His Honour—Then, why didn't you do the same? (Laughter.) Defendant contended that the amount claimed was pre- posterously large, and said two neighbours whom he asked to look at the field put the damage at 5s. His horses were not the only ones that ate the clover, and they would never have gone into the field if a gap had not been made by other animals. His Honour, in giving judgment, said such things would happen in the best regulated neighbourhoods, and he should advise plaintiff not to bring so paltry an action again. Ten shillings had been paid into Court, and as he was not satisfied that any greater damage had been dor.e, he should give judgment for that amount only, and make no order as to costs. 7 After the case had been disposed of, there was some wrangling, in the body of the court, between plaintiff and his witnesses • and one of the witnesses, returning to the box™uched his hat" to the Judge, and said, "Your Honour, who's to pay us ?" His Honour—Why, the man who brought you here. (A laugh.) ASSAULT CASE.—RICHARDS V. DENNY. John Richards claimed 21 from Hugh Denny, as com- pensation for personal injuries and the loss of two felt hats, the action arising out of a public-house quarrel, which took place -at Oswestry on the 26th February. Plaintiff, who displayed remarkable volubility, stated that he was returning home, and met Mr Sands, a witness in the case, who asked him to have a glass of ale. They accordingly turned into the Plough, where they had "a glass apiece." At the other end of the bar there was a re- cruiting corporal, along with defendant, and the corporal brought up an old grievance with fflm (plaintiff). He and the corporal had a dispute, in which defendant interfered, though he had nothing to do with the matter. He believed the corporal put defendant on to him, and made bullets for defendant to shoot. In the "bustle," a glass of whiskey belonging to defendant was upset, and defendant followed him into the kitchen, where he went to light his pipe. He either fell down or was tripped up in the kitchen, and defendant dragged him on his back, by his neckcloth, five or six yards. That irritated him, and when he got up, he wiped two or three glasses off the counter. Defendant then got possession of his hat, and rather than stay in defendant's company, he went to a friend and bor- rowed another hat, but defendant followed him and took that also. Next morning he had to buy a new hat for himself and one for his friend, and he called at the Plough and paid 2s. for the broken glasses. Defendant called upon him two or three days afterwards, and said, "What's the matter between you and me ? Do you want to send me to Shrewsbury gaol?" To that he replied, "No, I don't want to send you to Shrewsbury gaol." There had been no previous quarrel between defendant and himself. His Honour-How did you get on the floor? Plaintiff-Whether he tripped me up or not, or whether I fell down, I can't tell. His Honour-Was it that night there was an earth- quake ? (Great laughter.) Plaintiff—I don't know, your Honour. His Honour—It had a very singular effect upon you, to make you break the glasses. Plaintiff -Well, I paid for what I broke. The witness Sands would not say whether plaintiff was drunk or sober, 'but accepted his Honour's suggestion that he might be in a betwixt and between" condition. He stated that plaintiff paid for some drink for defendant before the row began, and that defendant's glass was upset and broken between them. When defendant returned from the kitchen he had plaintiff's hat in his hand, and he said he should keep it until the broken glass was paid for. After that defendant seized plaintiff, and drew him along by the throat to make him pay for the glass. His Honour (to plaintiff)—I don't think it was intended that county courts should deal with squabbles of this kind. Plaintiff-I can't see that there was any harm in going with a respectable man to have a glass of ale. Defendant, who seemed excited and unable to'speak with distinctness, handed up a written defence, which his Honour read. It stated that he (defendant) and a friend were having some whisky at the Plough, and plaintiff came in drunk, cursing, swearing, and acting like a madman. Plaintiff got into an argument with his (defendant's) friend, and, in swinging his arms about, upset and broke his glass. In the scuffle which followed plaintiff's hat "flew" off, and picking it up he (defendant) threw it over the counter. Plaintiff then fetched another hat, and there was a further scuffle in which both-their hats fell off, and he threw them over the counter to the other hat. Both plaintiff's hats were not worth more than 2s. A woman servant at the Plough came forward as a witness for the defence, and, unwrapping a paper parcel, she disclosed the two missing hats amid a burst of irre- sistible laughter, provoked by the seedy appearance of the "tiles," which certainly had been put by defendant at their utmost value. The witness confirmed defendant's version 6f the affair, and said the hats were simply detained because plaintiff refused 'to pay for the broken glasses. His conduct she represented as being so bad that a police- man was actually sent for, in order that he might be given into custody. The hats had been offered to him since, and he had declined to take them. Plaintiff said the latter statement was not true. His Honour—I thought at first it was an alehousesquabble, and I must dismiss it; but now I think you (plaintiff) are entirely to blame. You had no right to bring an action of this sort. The verdict must be entered for the defendant, and you must pay 5s. costs. (Laughter, and applause.)

Correspondence. THE MAWDDACH AND WNION FISHERY ASSOCIATION. SIR,Alay I request the favour of the insertion of the following communication, addressed by the hon. sec. of the Mawddach and Wnion Fishery Association, to a ,season ticket-holder who was ordered off that portion of the gallant gentleman's property which immediately adjoins the Mawddach for about half a mile, and includes some of the best salmon-pools in the river. The opposite side be- longs, I believe, to the Oakley estate. The reply-speaks for itself, and will possess some -interest and novelty for other subscribers to the asssociation. Dolgelley, March, 1869. DIVA. "Bryncemlyn, Dolgelley, N. Wales. "Lieut.-Col. Romer regrets that he cannot accede to Mr Scott's request to be permitted to come on his land for the purpose of angling; as, by so doing, Lieut.-Col Rotner would sacrifice all privacy for his family. Nor does he feel that his refusal, in any way, interferes with the sport of persons taking tickets to fish in the Mawddach, as the opposite side, from which every part of the river can be commanded, is open to them, and, being free from trees, is in every respect preferable for fishing purposes. "10th Maroh, 1869."

As Lord Chief Justice Cockburn (who is in his sixty- eighth year) was riding across the racecourse at Lewes, on his way to open the assizes, he put his horse at a chain fence, when the animal tripped, and his lordship was thrown. He walked into town, but, under medical advice, kept within doors afterwards, and some of the counsel were called in to assist Baron Bramwell. LUXURIANT AND BEAUTIFUL HAIR. —Mrs S. A ALLEX'S WORLD'S HAIR RESTORER or DRESSING never fails to quickly restore Gray or Fatled Hair to its youthful colour and beauty, and with the first application a beautiful gloss and fragrance is given to the Hair. It stops the Hair from falling off. It prevents baldness. It promotes luxuriant growth: it causes the Hair to grow thick and strong. It removes all dandriff. It contains neither oil nor dye. In large Bottles-Price Six Shillings. Z exo- BALSAMUM (Mrs S. A. ALLEN'S) far excels any Pomade or Hair Oil. To those whose Hait, is naturally dry, requir- ing frequent dressing, its cheapness and great value will be proved. Its early use on Children's hair will insirena abundant and bountiful supply from, Youth to Old AJc. In large Bottles—Price Three Shillings. Sold by mos Chemists and Perfumers. Depdt, 226, Hclbora Lcndon oold by w. H. TURNER, Cnemist, Church-street, Os westry. i, ,SNO^akFata™TY. -On Thursday, 18th, an inquest was „ • Bridge on the body of Mr Slack, a solici- -,JL aS, ce Ruabon, who met with his death on the l,rex 1 in a very vsin^ular manner. His resi- dence Cottage, and while at dinner he was told tha ne had shot a wood pigeon, which had fallen into r. He went down to the river with a retriever, for ■the Purpose °f recovering the bird, but the dog refused to face the stream. Resolved not to be de- feated in hi* Purpose, he went mto the water himself, and immediately fell down. I e occurrence was witnessed by a friend, and as soon as possible, the unfortunate man was taken from the river, when he was found to be quite life- less. Apoplexy is supposed to have been the immediate cause of death. The jury, under the direction of Mr Coroner Thelwall, returned a verdict of accidental death."

Accidents and Offences. j A girl was lighting a schoolroom fire at Wal,-efiitld one morning last week, when she placed a shawl ill front of the grate to create a draught. This, unfortunately, was drawn up the chimney, and the flames c'aiight the girl's pinafore. In a moment she was in a blaie, and before any assistance could arrive she was burned ill a frightful man- ner. She lingered in 'great agony till the next morning, when she died. A Paris correspondent gives in detail the particulars of an explosion near the Sorbonhe, in Paris. The destruc- tive agent was intended to load submarine torpedoes, and a parcel of SO lbs. of it was packed up for transmission to Toulon by rail. Being in the way, the bag was hastily thrown on the ground, and a fearful explosion by concus- sion immediately occurred, killing every person near, and breaking every pane of glass within a mile. A shocking case of starvation has been brought to light at Sudbury. The dead bodies of a woman named Ready, aged 70, and of her daughter, aged 34, were discovered by the police in their cottage. The younger woman had pro- bably been dead forty-eight hours, and the elder three weeks. The place was in a wretched and dilapidated con- dition, destitute of furniture and of all traces of food or fuel. The body of the mother presented the appearance of a skeleton merely covered with skin. It lay naked on the floorof the upper room, with a sort of coverlid thrown over it, and had apparently been "laid out" after death. No doubt is entertained but that the unfortunate women were starved to death." A shocking murder has been committed at Sheffield. A grinder, named Seyman, whose drunken and irregular habits had brought his family to the verge of starvation, was in bed at noon on the 19th, having been out till a late hour on the previous night, drinking. His wife sent a cup of teaup-stairs to her husbandby one of his children, aboy, only four years of age, said to be a remarkably intelligent child, and a great favourite with his father. The unhappy man, it is supposed underthe influence of delirium tremens, seized and cut the poor little fellow's throat in such a manner that death must have been instantaneous. The wife, on discovering what had happened, became distracted, and a most painful scene followed. The report states that she sat in the house nursing her youngest child, an infant, and singing hymns, her reason having been unable to with- stand so terrible a shock. The wretched father wandered about in the rain all day, and in the evening gave himself up at the police-station. The razor with the blood still upon it with which the murder was committed was found in his pocket. It is said that within five or six days pre- viously he had thrice attempted his own life. A romantic attempt at suicide has occurred at the Duchess of Beaufort's Wood, Stoke Park, near Bristol. A young man of the grade of a commercial clerk, named William Derman, had, in company with a young woman named Ireland, to whom he was paying his addresses, walked out from Bristol to the wood, which is a favourite walk with the residents of that city. Whilst in the wood some disagreement arose, and young Derman left his com- panion and went away. Finding that, after a lapse of many minutes, he did not return, Miss Ireland went in search of him, and was horrified at finding her lover sus- pended by his handkerchief from the branch of a tree. As soon as the first shock had passed over, the young woman, with much presence of mind, clambered up the tree, and having no knife of any kind to cut the noose, and being unable to untie the knot, she seized the handkerchief with her teeth, and so far managed to tear it that it became unequal to the young man's weight, and he fell to the ground. Having removed the pressure from his neck, she screamed for assistance, and some labourers who were working in an adjacent field hastened to the spot. The young man was insensible, but the loan of a waggonette was obtained through the kindness of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and the rash youth, who is only about nineteen years of age, was driven with all speed to the Bristol Royal Infirmary. He received every attention from the surgeons of that institution, but he nevertheless lies in a very precarious state.

THE BANGOR NORMAL COLLEGE. We have been requested to publish the following:— The results of the Government examination of the various Training Colleges of' the kingdom, for Christmas, 1868, have just been made known, and all the friends of the Normal College cannot but deeply rejoice to find that this institution has again highly distinguished itself. The real test of the efficacy of a college is the competency of its students as evinced in the final examination. If the Bangor College is tried by this test, it will be seen that it has the distinction of leaving behind it all the training colleges in England and Wales. The following analysis shows the per centage of second year Students in all the colleges that reached the First Division in the examina- fcirvn Bangor 45.45 Battersea 16.66 Borough Road 15.38 Carmarthen 8.33 Carnarvon 12.50 Chelsea 14.89 Cheltenham 28. Chester 0. Culham 18.18 Durham 11.76 Exeter 6.66 Hammersmith 0. Peterborough 0. Saltley 4. Westminster 10.71 Winchester 20. York 4.76 The following are the names of the students in the Normal College for 1868, and the order in which they stood in the examination. Let it be remembered that (D) indicates that the candicate has obtained a certificate as a Teacher of Drawing; (**) that a candidate has gained a prize in Drawing; (*) that one at least has been mastered of the five subjects that are required for a Certificate in Drawing; and (G) signifies that the student has gained a Government Prize for proficiency in Geometrv. STUDENTS OF THE SECOND YEAR. FIRST DIVISION. Evans, Daniel M. (D) (G) *Griffiths, Benjamin *Lewis, John *Lewis, William D. (G) **Prosser, Samuel (G) SECOND DIVISION. Evans, Evan (D) **Howell, W. G. (D) (G) *Jones, Robert *Owen, W. W. THIRD DIVISION. Hughes, Hugh (D) **Richards, J. P. STUDENTS OF THE FIRST YEAR. FIRST DIVISION. ••Gregory, James ••Hughes, John **Williams, Hugh (D) SECOND DIVISION. **Cooke, F. W. •Hughes, Henry "••Hughes, William ••Jones, David ••Jones, O. N. U Jones, R. Ll. **Jones, Thomas **Jones, William ••Lloyd, John **Lloyd, J. H. **Rowlands, David Williams, J. T. ••Williams, Robert THIRD DIVISION. *Jones, J. H. Owen, H. R. **Roberts, John

THE IRISH CHURCH DIVISION. When the electric bell rang for the division, just after the close of Mr Gladstone's speech, at twenty minutes past two o'clock on Wednesday morning, all the occupants of the Speaker's and strangers' galleries in the House of Commons were, according to rule, turned out. Most of these assembled in Westminster Hall with a small mob of curious people who had hung about the lobbies and West- minster Hall and Palace-yard during the night, and there awaited the event of the division and the exit of their favourite members. When the quarter-to-three signal of Big Ben was given, the crowd began to show great siems of excitement. At that moment the members were re- turning from the lobbies, and the clerk at the table was handing the numbers to Mr G. G. Glyn, as the victorious "whip." The tremendous cheer of the Ministerial party penetrated to the hall, and everybody knew that the ma- jority—of which all but the most unimpressive of the Obstructionists had been convinced in anticipation—had been exceeded. The crowd waited till the members began to come out, singly or arm-in-arm, or in groups, and then devoted itself to the business of distinguishing the popular members. A few minutes before three o'clock Mr Glad- stone was detected, and a cheer was raised which spread up and down the hall and followed him into Palace-yard. Next, just before it struck three, Mr Bright was seen, and a loud burst of applause signalled his progress, a numerous party rushing out of the crowd to renew the applause out- side. Then, a few people remained; but, though the minor chiefs of both parties passed, none were rpcogn;sed, and the residue of the enthusiasm was wasted on Mr Fawcett, who passed out with his wife upon his arm. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. The Times says the majority is great, overwhelming, decisive. It is equal to the most sanguine hopes of the friends of the Bill It exceeds the anticipations of many, yet it kindles but a slight feeling of triumph, so much had the certainty of victory t«en away the excitement which hangs on a doubtful struggle. The division of Tuesday night was the expression of the national judgment. The majority of 118 whieh has affirmed the principle of the ministerial Bill corresponds to a proportionate majority among the people, and although the details of the measure may be profitably criticised and even amended in future discussions, that it will be enrolled in the statute book must henceforth be regarded as a certainty. The Daily News says the splendid sanction practically given by the House of Commons to Mr Gladstone's mea- sure conveys a decision which is without appeal. The four nights' debate and its issue will give -new lustre to the reputation of the English Parliament and nation in the civilized world, and will be a message of peace to the Irish nation at home, and to the scarcely less numerous Irish nation dispersed over both hemispheres. The real manifesto of the Tory party on the Irish Church has come from Mr Hardy, and not from Mr Disraeli. The Daily Telegraph says the division has irrevocably fixed the principle of Mr Gladstone's Bill; and as to the details, by all means let what is wrong in the working out of the scheme be made right. The Standard says there is no reasoning against such a majority, and the division list is the real reply of Mr Gladstone to the arguments urged against his BilL Still it augur, ill for a great political change when it can be defended only by the brute force of numbers, when all the force of authority, of reason, and moral sense is on the side of the minority. The Standard, however, believes that, now the discussion on an abstract principle has ended, the decision on details may disintegrate the majority. Mr Newdegate has given notice that on the 15th of April, when the Irish Church Bill is fixed for co-nmittee, he will move that the Bill be committed that day six months.

MEMORANDUM. Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept the resignation of the commission held by Captain J. P. Williams in the Royal Denbighshire Militia. BANKRUPTS.—The following announcements appear in the GazetteEvans, Thomas, Bangor, watchmaker, March 25, at 11; Watkin, Edward, Welshpool, miller, March 29, at 12. i

DINAISMAWUUWY. FAIR -,On Friday, the 19th, the usual March Fair Was held. The show of cattle was good, considering the iuelemency of the weather. Those who were present found a ready sale for their cattle, and prices were con- sidered good, This was also a hiring fair, but servants could not attend through the weather being so wet. Most of the business was done indoors, and it was a good fair for publicans. THE TELEGRAPH AND THE RAILWAY.—We are glad to state that the telegraph wires have been fixed from Cemmes Road Station to Plas-yn-Dinas and Dinas Railway Station. This will be a great boon to the public, for the want of rapid communication with distant places has been much felt. We are given to understand that a temporary station is to be erected at Cemmes Road for the above-named line; such a building will greatly add to the comfort of passengers waiting for trains. The telegraph wires were fixed under the direction of Mr T. Bayley, in a manner that does credit to his expertness and efficiency. THE SCHOOL.—On Tuesday, the 16th inst., the Night School was examined according to Government instructions by the Rev. J. J. Brown, M.A., andE. Shaw, Esq., Plas. Between fifty and sixty candidates met on the occasion. We have every reason to believe they passed creditably, though the result is not officially known. At the close of the examination the rector gave some excellent advice to the scholars who had attended during the session, after which thanks were returned to the gentlemen who had so kindly met to examine the school. The school has been a great boon to the young men residing in this locality and the manner in which it has been carried out both day and night is very satisfactory. The Diocesan Inspector's report lately received runs as follows:—"It is hardly credible to imagine the alteration in this school. The new master has only undertaken the duty for ten weeks, and already there are 152 children on the books; 142 were present on the day of examination, all in most perfect order, and the discipline, considering the shortness of time the master had it under supervision, and the number of children who had never attended before, is something marvelous; of course it cannot be expected that they are very forward, but quite as much as could be expected, and it fairly promises to be shortly one of the first schools in the deanery. It must be very gratifying to the rector, on. his departure, to leave it in such a condition." The school has now increased to 200 in number, and the master (Mr Hughes) is assisted by a staff of pupil teachers. The parents of children are now beginning to see the benefits and avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them by having such an efficient master. The support given by Sir Edmund Buckley, Bart., M.P., is so liberal that his kindness will not be forgotten for a long time by the residents in this locality. The school, we should explain, is sometimes called Mallwyd School.

PWLLHELI. COUNTY COURT, FRIDAY, March 19.-Before A. J. Johnes, Esq,, Judge. Number of plaints entered, 90 number settled out of court and withdrawn, 30. HUGH HUGHES V. WILLIAM ROBERTS. In this case Mr J. H. Jones applied for staying execution against his client. The case had been referred to arbitra- tion at the last court, and the facts were these :—There was a claim made for balance due on account of transactions, in which the plaintiff was the captain of a vessel the pro- perty of defendant, of 943. The vessel and the ship's papers had been lost; and in their absence the evidence of both parties was taken by the arbitrator separately. He made an award against his client for E19. It was after- wards found out, through the merchants who freighted the vessel, that the captain had placed less to his credit than he ought have done by £23. From that it appeared that instead of C19 being due from his client, a sum of 24 was due to him. However, yesterday, the arbitrator called upon his client and offered to settle the matter upon his pay- ing £ 12, which was refused; and to-day he found that the arbitrator had sent in his award for £ 19. He was prepared with affidavits to prove these facts, and under the circum- stances. He asked for staying exec ution. —This was granted consent by of both parties until next court. JOHN JONES V. WILLIAM JONES. Mr Picton Jones appeared for plaintiff, and Mr J. R. Williams for defendant. This case arose about a sale of a lot of sheep-the par- ticulars of which will come out in the evidence. Mr Williams called defendant, Wm. Jones, who said- I bought a lot of sheep from the plaintiff; fifty-five in one lot, for 263 5s. I paid him at the time 260, on the road near Pontygwair, in bank notes. Henry Jones was with me. There were only us three in the place. After paying the £60, I had no change, and the plaintiff said there was 83 5s. due. He wanted me to buy another lot of ten sheep. I told him I would not until I should see them. I went there on the morrow. I don't remember when this occurred exactly. I had the ten sheep afterwards. He brought them down to me. I was not at home at the time. I cannot exactly remember how many notes I gave him. I fave him more than four, and I think more than six also. lenry J ones was with us at the time, and it was he who was counting the lot. When settling for the second lot I paid him R15 there was 5s. due to me, and he gave me back 20s., out of which 15s. was a gift. Henry Jones was not then present. We have dealt together for years. Cross-examined—I keep accounts. I don't enter my transactions in them. As a dealer, I do not do so always. In this case I did not. The account of sheep in question are in the book. The sums I paid on account of these sheep are in it. I did not write it. Mr Parry, the preacher at Aber, wrote it. It was not written until after John Jones made the demand. I have no day-book. This is the only book I keep. I never had any book besides this. On my oath this is the only book I keep of what I buy and sell. I had nothing to do with the cow. I do not take receipts for what I pay for. I received the money with which I paid from several people. I had more money with me at the time than the sum I paid. I do not remember whether there were 220 or £10 notes among those I paid. I do not balance my accounts week- ly, monthly, or quarterly. I do at the end of the year. I do not balance each lot I fbuy and sell. I pay for them as I buy. Henry Jones was within four yards to us when I paid the money. I counted the notes first, and John Jones did so afterwards. Henry Jones saw John Jones count them. He counted them in his hand, by turning them over. We had no conversation after paying except mentioning to John Jones that I owed him a balance of 23 5s. On my oath Henry Jones was not at the time before the flock of sheep forty yards distant. It was between four and six p.m. Re-examined-This was on the road, and there was not more than four yards between Henry Jones and myself. Henry Jones-I was with William and John Jones some time last year when they were bargaining for sheep. When settling I saw William Jones paying money to John Jones in notes. I was about the width of the road off, near enough to hear what was going on. There were several notes; Wm. Jones handed the heap to John Jones, and he counted them over. I should think there were about ten. After counting them he said nothing, but put them in his pocket. I heard convel sation about the change (ju after the notes were kept. John said it was no matter; he would send the other ten to him. William said, not until he should go and see them. He said the balance was 23 or £3 5s. I was present during the whole time. Cross-examined—I made the account between them. It amounted to E63 5s. for fifty-five sheep at 23s. each. I cannot say exactly how far I was from them. There was not seven yards; there might be from tour to five yards. I said the road was seven or eight yards wide. I did not notice whether the notes were Bank of England or other notes. I was near enough, but I could not see what notes they were, being in a heap. Some of them were clean and new, others were not. I did not hear William Jones say how much he received. I did not hear John Jones say that he had paid 260. I only heard him say there was £3 owing. I never was a partner with William Jones. I took a lot of sheep to Rhuddlan for my brother, at the same time as William Jones. I saw more notes in the possession of William Jones on that day than he paid John Jones, but no gold or silver. William Jones did not give another note to John Jones and request change. I did not hear him ask John Jones for change; only he said he had no change himself. Re-examined—William Jones had the notes in his pocket book when trying to settle for the sheep in the cow- house. He took them out in the road. Mr Picton Jones made several remarks upon the extra- ordinary fact that a man who had such large transactions as defendant did not keep his accounts in a better manner, and that he did not think it worth the while to enter them in the book, such as it was, until after the action was commenced. He then called John Jones who said-I remember the 12th of October. I received from defendant on that day four 25 notes. On my oath that is the sum I received from him. He owed me at the time 883 between the two lets. He did not mention that he owed a balance of k5 5s. He said he had a cheque to change. He said he would pay me the amount when he returned. As a rule he always paid me in part, and hardly ever paid me in full at the time of buying. I used to go to him now and then for 820 or so at a time. The reason he gave me for paying only C20 at that time was that he had a cheque to change. I went to him after he came home and I had £14. He asked if that would do then, as he did not get paid for the pigs he sold. I asked him on 30th Dec. again for R15. I had 28. I aked him on Feb. 18th for a settlement, when he said he did not owe me anything. There was between fifteen and twenty yards between Henry Jones and myself and W. Jones when the notes were paid me. I counted the notes edge- ways, and put them into my pocket book. I have an account in this book of the whole transaction, with the dates. I had a conversation with Henry Jones about this matter. Cross-examined—There was no mention of a 83 balance at the time the k20 was paid. I asked him to settle the whole account on Dec. 30th. Defendant paid on the Wednesday following 88. I never had a loan from de- fendant of £70, and never gave him a note of hand for any amount.

PORTMADOC. COUNTY COURT, MONDAY, March 22.—Before A. J. Johnes, Esq., Judge. Number of plaints entered, 95; number of cases dis- posed of before the registrar, 70. JOHN S. PARRY V. JOHN HAMMERTON. In this case plaintiff sued defendant, the owner of a mine and quarry near Beddgelert, for balance due for wages. Mr J. R. Williams appeared for plaintiff, and Mr G. J. Williams for defendant. John S. Parry said—I worked with Mr Hammerton, and my father and Robert Hughes were working with me. We were working by the day. Mr Hammerton ordered me to work. I was receiving 21s. a week when I had my wages in full. There is now due to me £ 22 15s. 9d. I was not working for my father. Cross-examined I cannot say when I commenced working. I only kept an account from the time I com- menced work at half-pay, and that was on June 29th. I was there about six months before, and during that time I had 21s. per week paid me monthly. Mr Robt. Hughes generally paid me for Mr Hammerton. It was not cus- tomary to sign any paper when receiving wages. Mr Hammerton was on the work on June 29th. He then paid us in full, and said he could not afford in future to pay us the full wages, as his money was bound in some bank or other. My father asked if we worked for him at half-pay for two or three months, would he then be able to pay us the balance. Mr Hammerton agreed to that. I worked for half-pay for twelve months. I did not receive the wages very regular. I went away for five weeks at one time. I had my wages paid me up to that time at the rate of half-pay. At the end of five weeks I went back, and worked again for several months. I left the quarry in August, 1867. I did not think until now of putting Mr Hammerton in court. I have not determined when I will go to America. My going does not depend upon the result of this action. I did not tell my father anything about my going to America. I talked of that to Mr Hammerton. I knew my father was to get something if this quarry turned out well. The reason I worked for half-pay was not because he was to get about 9300 for it. I was not told by my father and Robert Hughes that I should get well paid if the quarry sold well. John Parry said- I worked for Mr Hammerton at the quarry by the day, and so also did my son. He had 21s. a week, and I had 25s. I didn't pay him any money. Mr Hammerton and I had a conversation about our working on half pay. He said that he could not pay us any longer at the rate he did, on account of some transactions he had with some bank which had stopped. I asked him if he thought, supposing we worked for two or three months at half pay until the quarry would have a better appear- ance, he would be able to make it up for us. He appeared very much pleased with the suggestion, and on that under- standing we went on working at half pay. Cross-examined—I can speak a little English, and write a little; better than my son. I worked at the quarry with Mr Hammerton before my son came there. I had 25s. per week. It was Mr Hammerton that engaged my son. I did not ask Mr Hammerton to do so, as far as I can re- member. I said I hoped to be able to make slates by June. I did not say I would do it. How could I say I would do them unless I had the materials ? What I said was I thought we should be in the slate when we cut through a certain cutting. There was money due to us for work, whether the quarry would be sold or not. I won't say if I was to get something if it was sold. It would require a cleverer man than you to get that from me. I worked at half pay for more than two months. I worked for twelve months. Sometimes I received the money from Mr Hammerton himself, and sometimes from Robert Hughes. It was I that signed this paper, at least the first name. I didn't write my son's name. Very likely you did it. On my oath I did not write the second name. My son talks of going to America. I told Mr Hammerton this morning that he intended going. Very likely he wants this money before he goes; and it's very likely that he presses more for it when on the point of leaving the country. Mr G. J. Williams, for the defence, remarked that the case was a peculiar one. The young man worked with his father and another witness whom he would call, in 1866, and continued so for about five months, when from his own admission a new arrangement was entered upon, and they were to be paid at the rate of half pay for their work. He received his payment nearly regularly at that rate. He leaves the place for five weeks, begins to work again at half pay, and continues for about twelve months, when the work completely stepped. He never makes any demand for more than that sum until he sues Mr Ham- merton in this court, and it is evident he never intended to make the demand until after he made up his mind to go to America, when he thinks first of trying to get the money. Mr Hammerton said—I reside at Llandudno. I am the proprietor of a mine and quarry in the neighbourhood of Beddgelert. I have a lease upon the property. The plaintiff was employed at this quarry. He was paid a guinea a week up to a certain time. At this time, I told them that I would not expend any more money upon the undertaking, as I saw very little prospect. They agreed to work for some time longer upon the half of what they had before. They were paid- at that rate monthly until the work was stopped. If the quarry had been sold, the owner of the land was to give R. Hughes and J. Parry, sen., a sum of B100 each. I know this partly from the terms of my lease, and from what they told me. They were interested to that extent in the undertaking. I came to know of this quarry through R. Hughes. Cross-examined—I did promise them that when the quarry was sold I would make up their lost wages, and perhaps something more, but it is not yet sold. I let the work to R. Hughes and J. Parry, senior. I cannot swear that plaintiff was present at the time, but I be- lieve he was. The letter produced is in my handwriting, but, as it is not dated, I cannot say if I went over to the work, nor what were the circumstances that took place afterwards. Robert Hughes said—I am a quarryman, living at Fes- tiniog. I remember going to work with Mr Ham- merton about four years ago. John Parry, senior, was working with me. We worked there before his son came to us, for several months. I believe it was Mr Ham- merton that gave him work. Mr Hammerton generally sent the money to pay them through me. I remember Mr Hammerton telling us he could not afford to pay us any longer at the rate he then paid. We then agreed to work for half-pay. The plaintiff, his father, and I were present at the time. Mr Hammerton promised to make the sum up to us, if the quarry was sold or shared. The plaintiff was away about five weeks, and no new arrange- ment was made with him when he became back. His father and I were to get £ 300 each, if the quarry was sold, and the other half of our wages. The plaintiff was to get only his half-pay. Cross-examined-Plaintiff was not to get more if the quarry was sold than the second half of his wages. His father and I were. We did not work by the bargain, but by the week. We had 12s. 6d., ani plaintiff 10s. 6d., a week. Judgment for defendant, with costs. DIVERSION OF A STREAM OF WATER. David Rowlands, Tyrdewin, sued William Griffith, Terfynan, and Griffith Powell, Derwynucha, all of Clynog. Mr J. R. Williams appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Picton Jones for defendants. Mr Williams having stated his case, an arrangement was made between the parties-a lake to be formed at the point in dispute, and each party to have the right to place a pipe of equal bore, in order that each party might have an equal share of the water running into their lands. There was no other case of interest.

LAMPETER. ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE.—The result of the late competi- tion for scholarships, at the above college, is as follows Senior scholar T. Williams, Brecon, 235. Scholar J. R. Buckley, Carmarthen, 230; A. Lewis, Lampeter £ 30; J. F. Lloyd, Lampeter, 225; W. J. Morgan, Cardi- gan, £ 24; E, E. Jones, Blaenavon, £24; J. S. Davies, Baily Llwyd, 224; J. T. Evans, Llandilo, 216; D. D. Evans, Llanybyther, 215. Hebrew exhibition T. Jones, senior, Lampeter, 1!10; W. Davies, Llanguicke, £10. For proficiency in Welsh exhibition, E. Ll. Jones, Aber- ayron, £ 10. BOARD OF GUARDIANS, SATURDAY.—Present: W. Jones, Esq., chairman; Rev. W. Evans, Llangybi; Messrs J. Davies, Cellan; J. Hughes, Cellan J. Ed- wards, Lampeter; and D. Jones, Llanwenog. Mr Lloyd, clerk. The usual relief business was attended to, after which an assessment committee was held. The subject of ap- peals against the new valuation of the different parishes in this Union was considered, and, with regard to the question of fir plantations, it was resolved That no plan- tations in the Union be liable to be rated, and that such plantations be struck out of the valuation; but the fol- lowing oak groves were deemed ratable, and were ordered to be rated accordingly, viz., oak groves in the parishes of Llanfihangel-rhosycorn, Llanllwni, Llanybyther, Pencar- reg, Trefilan, and Llangybi." It was also resolved "That the gross estimated rental of all groves liable to be rated be reduced by fifteen per cent., from the valuation recently made by Mr Davies, of Troedybryn." This terminated the business.

NEWTOWN. THE CASE OF MR WI. NAPOLEON NOLAN.-We un- derstand that a petition is being got up in the county praying for a mitigation of the sentence of six months' im- prisonment, which was passed upon Mr Wm. Napoleon Nolan at the last Montgomeryshire assizes for wounding Mr J. W. Davies, at Newtown, in December, An opinion was expressed that the sentence, under the circumstances, was of singular severity, and we learn that the petition is being numerously and influentially signed.

MACHYNLLETH. The Right Hon. Earl and Countess Vane arrived at PlAs Machynlleth on Tuesday, the 23rd instant. THE TABERNACLE CHOIR.—This choir gave a concert at Tycerrig Wesleyan Chapel, on Thursday evening, the 18th instant. The chief object of the concert, as stated by the chairman, was to reduce the debt on the chapel, which is newly built; and, judging from the crowded attendance, we should say that a good sum was realised. The services of the choir were given gratuitously. The singing was very good throughout, several of the pieces being loudly encored, and the intervals were relieved by humorous remarks from Mynyddog, who seemed to be in his happiest mood. ASSAULTING THE POLICE.—On Wednesday, before Earl Vane and C. F. Thruston, Esq., Oavid Edwards, Mach- ynlleth, smith, was charged by P.C. Henry Roberts with committing an assault upon him, by kicking him, while in the execution of his duty, on Saturday night, the 23rd instant. It appeared from the evidence that it was a brother of the accused (now absconded) that first used 1 violence towards Roberts, and while the officer was in the act of securing him with a view of taking him to the lock-up, the accused appeared on the scene and committed the assault complained of. He was sentenced to pay t20 fine, besides costs; or, in default of payment, to be im- prisoned for two months, with hard labour.

TREGARON. STAG HUNT WITH THE NANTEOS HOUNDS.-On the 19th inst. the Nanteos Hounds met for a second time this year at Castle Fleming, to hunt a fine fallow buck. The weather was very wet, and by the time fixed for the start (twelve o'clock) a small field of thorough sportsmen had arrived, who were determined to have a meet in spite of the unfavourable state of the day. After thirty minutes' start the hounds were laid on the buck, which had started for Llangeithio, but after pursuit he was found to have taken for Lledrod, and from there to Mynydd Bach; at this point he was turned and again took for Lledrod. A very good run was the result, and after a spin of fifty minutes, with one check, he was taken near Mynydd Brith. At the close the sportsmen were some distance behind, and the only person up at the capture was J. Parry, Esq., upon his favourite pony Romping Polly.

KUABOJN. THE LATE ACCIDENT AT THE GREEN PTT.-WE are sorry to report the death of two of the sufferers from the late explosion John Roberts, of Rhc-sllanerchrugog, whose father lies in a precarious state, and George Randies, of Cefn, who died on Wednesday. An adjourned inquest was held on the body of the boy John Roberts, on Thursday, at the Coach and Horses, Rhos. We believe the father of John Roberts has died since the foregoing was written. SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT THE HAFODYBWCH PIT.-An accident of a very sad nature occurred on Tuesday, the 16th inst., at the Hafodybwch pit, situate on the Wrex- ham road, and near the Brandy Colliery. In the morning the carriers were being lowered with the workmen down this exceedingly deep shaft, when about the middle, and some 300 yards from the bottom, a man fell out and was, of course, instantaneously killed and much mutilated. He must have had a fit or fainted away indeed So unobserved did he fall, that only one of his companions noticed his absence.

NEWTOWN. MISAPPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY.—At Mr Woosnam's office, on the 19th, a woman, named Anne Williams, was brought before R. E. Jones, Esq charged with stealing a shawl, the property of Ann Lloyd, Pool-road. On the 9th instant the p'osecutrix bor- rowed ashavi I from Mrs Esther Thomas, Wheat Sheaf-street, and took it to her house, where the prisoner had been lo"ging for about two months. On the following morning the prosecutrix w)en* to Welshpool, and met the prisoner there about eight 0 clock. The prisoner did not return, and as the shawl wag found to be missing, suspicion was thrown upon her, and on tha 18th instant she fell into the hands of Sergt. Ross, who appre- hended her in Pool-road, with the shawl in her possession.—The prisoner said she had only borrowed the shawl, and intended to return it.—She was committed for trial at the quarter sessions. —There was a second charge against her of having, on the 10th instant, obtained a bonnet from Esther Thomas, under false pre- tences. The prisoner went to Mrs Thomas's house and told her daughter that she had been sent by the prosecutrix, in the last case, to obtain the loan of a bonnet, and, on this representation, a bonnet was lent to her, which she failed to return. Anna Lloyd denied that she had authorized the prisoner to borrow a bonnet, and the prisoner, who offered no defence except that she bad intended to return the bonnet, was committed for trial on this charge also.

WREXHAM. JlIR. BROWN AND HIS LUGGAGE.—The other day a man of the name of Brown, who was at one time in the employ of Mr Scotcher. jeweller, nl who had entered into an engagement with Mr Heywood, called at a respectable inn and made inquiries about lodgings. He was recognized by the landlord, who kindly took him to a house in Fairfield, where apartments were found for him, for which he agreed to pay 7s. per week. When left alona with his new landlady, he contrived to "bonow" 10s. of her,, ostensibly fur the purpose of paying carriage for his luggage, of which he said he had a large quantity at the station. Having obtained possession of the money, he made his way to the station but nothing was afterwards seen of him, nor diil any lugcage of his turn up. If we mistake not, a similar trick WliS played at Chester, a somewhat short time back, and it may not be amiss to put the public upon their guard against the wily rogue. Judging from his appearance, he must be something like fifty years of age, and his height is about 5ft. 7in. His hair is rather grey. He represents himself as a working jeweller, and when at Wrex- ham he wore a black suit. DENBIGHSHIRE CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION.—A meeting of this association was held on the 19th, at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel; T. T. Griffith, Esq., occupying the chair in the earlier part., of the proceedings, and Gen. Townshend towards the close, when Mr Griffith bad left. The arrangement of sub-districts formed the principal business of the evening. We learn from a Chester paper that the following officers have been appointed in con- nection with the association:—President, H. R. Hughes, Esq., Kinmel: vice-president, the Hon. G. T. Kenyon; hon. treasurer. Major Ffoulkes; hon. secretary, W. Trevor Parkins, Esq. The avowed objects of the association are to unite all who hold con- stitutional principles in resisting any movement directed against the constitution of the country, or the privileges of the people to promote all beneficial legislation within the spirit of the con- stitution to watch the registration for the county of Denbigh and for the Denbigh boroughs, and to take and do all such other measures and things as may be necessary to secure the placing and retaining the names of persons holding the principles of the association upon the register; to promote by all legal means the election of members of Parliament for the said connty and boroughs who will uphold the constitution; and at the discretion of the Executive Committee to render similar assistance to neighbouring constituencies."

EXPLOSION OF NITRO-GLYCERINE AT THE HENDDOL SLATE QUARRY. A correspondent signing himself W. D. J. writes:- On Wednesday, the 10th inst., one of the workmen at this quarry, named John H. Owen, late of Talysarn, Llanllyfni, wanted some patent blasting oil, which on account of the coldness of the weather had crystalized, and in order to get the quantity required from the canister, he, without con- sulting anyone as to how to melt it, placed it on the fire in the machine of Mr J. Timothy. He obtained the oil from Mr J. E. Williams, who never imagined but that the man would take it down to the bottom of the works to have it melted in the ordinary way, viz., by placing the canister in hot water. However, as Mr Williams was going down to measure the oil, as he thought, he heard Mr J. Timothy say that he should not trust his life in the machine while the oil was being melted, to which Mr J. H. Owen replied that it was as harmless as if there were only water inside. Mr Timothy, very wisely, distrusted this statement, and passed out with all possible speed. Just as he was leaving the door the oil exploded and filled the place with a mass of flames. I cannot say with cer- tainty how the other poor individual got out some say he must have been blown through the window, others that he was blown away through the roof, but he himself says he came out through the door. However that may be, it is most surprising that he escaped with his life- there being four or five pounds of oil in the canister, and in the building better than 1 cwt. of black powder, the whole of which exploded. The roof, windows, and door of the machine were entirely swept away; the frame of one of the windows was found more than one hundred yards from the place, and the walls at each corner of the building were so separated that the workmen could put their hands into the openings. The first sight the workmen had of Owen after the explosion was as he was walking to a shed close to the machine, looking—in the midst of the smoke—like a torch, his clothes in dames about him. He was instantly removed to his own dwelling, and through the kindly prompitude of Dr. G. A. Walker, of Ynysfaig Hall, who happened to be in the vicinity of the quarry when the explosion took place, he at once received medical aid. Much credit is due to this gentleman for his readiness at all times to render his assistance to the working class. Mr Scott, from Bar- mouth, and Dr John Jones, Dolgelley, the medical attend- ant belonging to the works, also visited the unfortunate man, and soon pronounced him to be out of danger, and promised his speedy recovery. Before concluding I wish to call the attention of the quarrymen of Wales in general to this additional proof of the necessity of their being more careful than they generally are in case of the patent blast- ing oil. It is quite obvious to all that there must have been much lack of sense on this occasion, otherwise tht oil would not have been put in such a place, while warning has so often been given of the perils so incurred. There are nine important precautions to be observed whilst using the patent blasting (nitro-glycerine) :— 1st—Do not taste the oil, it being poisonous, and if it gets on the hands, wash it off with soap and water, to prevent its getting to the mouth, which will occasion headache. 2nd-Always use cartridges in underground workingg,' and also in fissured rock, when there is any chance of part of the oil leaking out of the bore, since its doing so might prove dangerous to the workmen in subsequent operations. 3rd—If a fusee misses fire, with water tamping, with- 'draw it, and pass another fusee and cap through the water into the soil. If it misses with dry tamping, re- move cautiously the greater part of the tamping (but not the whole), and renew a small blasting oil charge. The latter being fired, both will explode. 4th-Never use hard tamping, and never leave a charge unexploded. 5th-Keep the oil in the original packing cases. Kept in bottles it may be drunk in mistake. 6th—In cold weather blasting oil crystalizes, and should be melted by putting the oil canisters into hot water, taking care to remove the cork. Never attempt to heat it on a stove or at a fire it is dangerous to do so. 7th—Do not allow the unpacked canisters to receive a blow, or fall. Strong concussion is dangerous. 8th-Do not strike the crystalized blasting oil with a hammer. It is difficult to explode it, but unlike the fluid oil, the whole will go off, and not the part only which comes in contact with the hammer. 9th-Never use a vessel which has contained blasting oil for any other purpose. These precautious being attended to, half our accidents with this blasting oil would never occur.-Carnarvon Herald.

The Scotsman says-The Renfrewshire Liberals, besides seeking out and electing Mr Bruce, have, we learn, taken on themselves the whole expenses of his election, the official portion of which, as appears from the sheriff's re- turn, is £444. A CAUTION TO POOR-LAW GUARDIANS.—At the Birming- ham police court, on Monday week, Mr. Knott, district poor-law auditor, summoned four members of the Bir- mingham board of guardians for the payment of a sum of £ 8, with which he had surcharged them. The sum sur- charged had been paid by the guardians to convey Sarab Simpson and eight children from Birmingham to Liver- pool, there to embark to rejoin her husband in the United States, he having paid their passage from that port. It had been pointed out to the Poor-law Board that the anount saved to the parish was already consid- erable, and had the course taken not been adopted the family might have become a permanent charge upon the ratepayers, but the board would not allow the charge. The magistrates had no alternative but to make an order for the payment of the money. ABSENT MEN.—The true stories of absent men cannot be excelled. We know the man who has—more than once or twice-put on his spectacles to help him to look for them. We know the man who had forgotten the name (f —say A, and the first time he met a man who knew it, burst out with I have forgoten A's name; what is it? We are inclined to believe, from the manner in which it first reached us, the anecdote of Sir Thomas Strange, the Indian judge, who found, on paying a visit, that his friend was not in, and that he had forgotten his own name. I'll call again; never mind my name.—Sir! master always likes to know the names of gentlemen who call.—Why, to tell the truth, I have forgotten my name.—That's strange, sir.—So it is, my man. You've hit it!—and he went away, leaving the servant quite in the dark. Robert Simson used to sit at his open window on the ground floor, as deep in geometry as a Robert Simson oujjht to be. Here he would be accosted by a beggar: he would rouse himself, hear a few words of the story, make his donation, and dive. Some wags one day stopped a mendicant on his way to the window with "Now! do as we tell you and you will get something from that gentleman, and a shilling from us besides. He will ask you who you are, and you will say Robert Simson son of John Simson of Kirktonhill." The man did as he was told: Simson gave him a coin and dropped < ff. He soon roused himself and said, "Robert Simson! son of John Simson of Kirktonhill! why, that is myself! that man must be an impostor!" Lord Brougham gives this anecdote, with less detail than in the version received by us.—Athenceum.