Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
THE BALLOT.
THE BALLOT. THE BALLOT. The Ballot was read a third time in the House of Commons on Thursday, May 30th, and is fixed for its second reading in the House of Lords «a Monday. There can be little doubt, we think, iltat the Lords will pass it. The silence of Mr DISRAELI and Mr HARDY on the third reading is aignificftnt, we imagine, of a desire to hear no C) more about a subject which has become tedious and which, as it must be settled soon, might as well be disposed of now. It is possible the Peers may see fit to relax the obligations of llerTeCV, without which the measure would be worsethan useless, but the Commons could not or, accept amendments conceived in that spirit, and they would, therefore, only give rise to fruitless complications. Erroneous notions have pre- -vailed on the compulsory secrecy of the Bill, but Mr W .TKIN WILLIAMS'S speech, which we pub- j lish to-day, is well calculated to set our readers right on that point. It is distinctly provided that the voter shall secretly mark his vote on the paper, and, having folded it up so as to conceal his vote, shall place it in the box. Any in- fringement of this provision will be a mis- demeanour, and we cannot suppose that, in the presence of the agent of the opposing candidate, many voters will risk the danger of being C, pnnished for a violation of the law. The present Bill, therefore, gives us compulsory secrecy, which is the only secrecy worth having, and the Government will take care, no doubt, that no de- parture from this principle shall be sanctioned, if the Lords are unwise enough to introduce it. Mr WILLIAMS'S speech is exceedingly frank, and will help our readers to understand how many persons who have an instinctive repugnance to secret voting have been compelled by circum- stances to support it. As the hon. member says, both parties have abused open voting for their own purposes, and it is in the interests of neither, but simply to promote freedom of elec- tion, that he is an advocate of the Ballot.
MR WHALLEY ON ABUSE AND HOW…
MR WHALLEY ON ABUSE AND HOW TO BEAR IT. In his sensible little speech at Plasmadoc last week, Mr WHALLEY declared that he was amongst the best-abused men of that part of the country." He might have gone further, and said, perhaps, with truth, that he was the best- abused man in England; and anyone reading his speech, and knowing little of the hon. gentle- man's public life, would wonder why. The fact, of course, is, that Mr WHALLEY has a hobby which he rides in a fashion so ludicrous, we all, perforce, must laugh at him and sometimes, in the interests of religious liberty, it becomes ne- cessary to add what Mr WHALLEY calls abuse" to our laughter. Mr WHALLEY sees Jesuits everywhere-amongst the troops in New Zea- land, in the reporters' gallery, in the Cabinet, and for aught we know, in his own drawing- room, though we are sufficiently sensible of his many good qualities to hope he is saved from a serious trouble like that. "Jesuits" at the antipodes may be ghosts of a dangerous kind, but they can be borne with considerable equani- mity. To have Jesuits" in one's own house must be a very different thing, and as Mr WHALLEY tells us he is growing old, and as he has, certainly, done good service in his time in spite of his craze about Catholics, we sincerely hope none of his skeletons" are in his own cupboards. It cannot be a matter of surprise that Mr WHALLEY is popular amongst his neigh- bours, where, of all places, most men would wish to be popular. He has shown an active interest in their welfare, and deserved the genuine tribute of good will which they paid to him last week. The hon. gentleman takes them into his confidence in a way which is likely to win their regard. He tells them how he has been abused how he has consoled himself by believing-rightly enough— that even his abusers held him to be honest and earnest; and how, happiest issue of all, he has come at last not to care for the abuse. It never troubled him very much, and has long ceased to trouble him at all." That is the best armour for all who engage in any public work, for, as Mr WHALLEY puts it, "no man can possibly be of real service to the public without treading on somebody's toes," and the person whose toes are trodden on generally has his revenge. Journalists, of course, learn that lesson soon enough, unless they have sufficient worldly wisdom to trim their sails and catch every possible breeze of public or private favour. Those who choose to sail in the Jeeth of the breeze sometimes must expect squalls, and be ready to bear them complacently. The great thing is to treat all attacks with silence and to trust to the verdict of the public-if one cares for it-on the whole life. A speaker or a writer must, in the natural course of things, occasionally give forth words that sting somebody into an angry and probably untruthful retort, and the temptation to beginners to rebut the accusation is often too strong to be overcome. But, as a rule, the wisdom of reticence is speedily learnt, and many a speaker or writer allows columns of lies to be printed about him without a word of denial. Indeed, he comes at last, like Mr WHALLEY, to bear no malice against his abusers, who, he knows, are probably writing as honestly as he himself has written, though ignorantly. Some- times, of course, the false charges are gross a- a mountain, open, palpable," and it would bs worse than useless to repel them; and this e especially the case, of course, when one rival, in politics or literature, is trying to excite public indignation against another. The indignation is very long in rising, and, meanwhile, if the person attacked is sufficiently sensible to hold his peac-which is all the easier when the charges are false-sympathy generally leans to his side, and the one who has been foolish enough to maintain the attack too long pierces himself, with his own weapons. The speaker or the writer who is conscious of honest aims, however imperfectly carried out, is content to let all his career speak for itself, and, if he sometimes seems to hit unfairly, when he does not mean it, or to give only half a truth, when he cannot give the whole, to wait for another utterance to rectify the unfairness or supplement the half-told truth. Whatever we may think of Mr WHALLEY'S chosen course in life, we can accept with thankfulness the admirable advice he gave in his speech last week. "Carry before you the shield of honesty," he says, and you are proof against all assaults that can disturb your conscience, and can always go forward in the fight, for it is the spirit of a man that can alone sustain him, and the wounds of the spirit—the reproach of your own conscience —-who can bear ?
Opeu olumu.
Opeu olumu. (Writers in which are on their own responsibility.) ALONG THE BORDER. J was looking over the names of the committee and .1 officers of the United Choral Society the other day, and I was struck with the fact that it is composed of members of evtry religious sect in the town, with the single ex- ception, I think, of Primitive Methodists, and therefore it i» evident that the promoters stand a very good chance of securing most of the musical talent in the town. There seems to be at least one way in which we can all join toother in what may doubtless be made an eminently Christian work, and if the gentlemen who have formed this society will only continue to act in the spirit which -now actuates them, we shall not be long before the good fruits of thia society maniftst themselves. I shall feel glad when the committer consider themselves at liberty to j jive a conceit in aid-of the Working Men's Cub. This j ought to|be, Mil no doubt is, to some extent A p?wer j for good in our midst, but we all know that working men, unfortunately, if left entirely to themselves with an insti- tution of this kind are not able to provide funds sufficient to keep it in a flourishing condition. A really good con- cert would not only help the funds, bat it would call the attention of working men to the advantages which are placed within their reach at a trifling cost. It is almost II incredible to anyone who is not well-acquainted with woiking men, how soon they are repelled from attending a clu broom. It is not necessary that there should be mis- management or want of attention to frighten them away a clubruom. It is not necessary that there should be mis- management or want of attention to frighten them away —an empty room, a few supercilious swells, or a poor fire, will accomplish this undesirable object quite effectu- ally. Working men are shy and retiring unless they are backed up with plenty of company, and many a man will never become a member of a working man's club just be- c tuse it is nobody's business to give him a hearty invita- tion. If working men fully realised all the advantages of this club, there would soon be crowded rooms, and crowded rooms mean increased heartiness and flourishing funds, and we all know that a plentiful exchequer enables a committee to add greater attractions and a continuous supply of novelties. It might be well if some gentlemen in the town would see what can be done towards bringing the subject frequently and prominently before working men. Of course a great deal can be done by an energetic secretary and a committee who understand the require- ments and habits of working men; but quite as much depends on the example of those who are able to give lectures and readings, and who have parks and pleasure grounds at 0 their disposal. Representatives of the British and Foreign Bible Society a'1d speakers at missionary meetings are at liberty to use the following story in their speeches whenever they feel disposed, and they need have no doubt as to the perfect accuracy of the statements it contains, as they are strictly true. A certain man who resided between Newtown and Berriesv had a dim prospect of receiving a legacy. He said to himself that if he received the money, he would spend a certain portion of it in spreading the Scriptures. I will not presume to say that the vow had anything to do with the result, and I hope nobody else will be rash enough to say it hadn't. The fact is, the man got the money, and in obedience to his resolve he purchased a guinea Bible, one at 12s., three at lis. 8d. each, t'iree at 7s. 6d., one at 6s. 63., and forty at 2s. 6d. This is pretty well for a start, and if I don't agree with this good man's way of showing his gratitude, I hope everybody will clearly understand that I agree with the gratitude itself. At the next Local Board election the voters will proba- bly be protected by the ballot, and I am anxious that gentlemen seeking local fame should be able to give the ratepayers something like an outline of the policy they in- tend to pursue on two or three questions of local interest. In the first place, are we to have a Smithfield large and Iwell situated, or are we to wait until our trade has been carried off to other towns. We have a right to ask how soon the Market Hall will become the property of the town, and I do not think Mr Briscoe will dictate terms which it would be to our advantage to refuse. If the hall pays Mr Briscoe, it would pay the town much better, and I trust something will be done at once towards making it public property. Newtown. ROBERT PEEP.
FEARFUL GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION…
FEARFUL GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION AT THE PORTHYWAEN LIME ROCKS. SIX LIVES LOST. TERRIBLE SCENES. A gunpowder explosion, one of the most fearful and disastrous in its consequences which has yet occurred in this locality, and involving the loss of six lives, occurred about four o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday, May 30th, at what are known as Cooper's Lime Rocks, Porthy- waen, near Oswestry. These rocks are about a mile and a half from Llynclys station on the Cambrian Railway, and adjoining the lime rocks belonging to the Farmers' Coal and Lime Supply Company, and for some years they have been worked by Messrs. Savin and Co. (Limited). At the foot of the rocks there runs a line of railway which, skirt- ing the road to Llanyblodwel, joins the Cambrian line near Llrnc'vs, from which point gunpowder and other neces- saries for the working of the lime rocks are conveyed per rail and unshipped at the wharves of the several rocks to which the goods are consigned. On Thursday afternoon some half-dozen men in the employ of Messrs Savin and Co. (Limited) were engaged in removing a number of kegs of ordinary blasting powder, which had been brought per rail to the magazine, which is situate about five yards from the line of railway on the Llanyblodwel side of the rock. FlOm the face of the workings on the rock there runs a steep incline, on which there are two lines of rail, the full waggons drawing up the empty ones to a level at the top of the incline, which is properly guarded by stop blocks, and every other precaution being taken against waggons run. ning down of their own accord. The incline, is about two hundred and fifty yards in length, and has a gradient of about one in seven. On the incline, about thirty yards from the bottom there is on each line of rail a catch point which is worked by means of a lever at the top of the in- cline, the object of these points being to throw runaway waggons off the line, turning them into the debris on either side. The top of the incline is under the charge of a man named Roberts, whose duty it was to unhook the empty waggons from the chain as they come to the top of the incline, another man named William Evans, being told off to see that the stop block is properly adjusted before the empty waggons were unchained, in order to guard against the danger of their running down the in- cline. On Thursday afternoon an empty waggon or truck appears to have been utilised for the pur- pose of conveying the kegs of blasting powder up to the magazine, a rude tenement knocked together with pieces of stone and timber, slated, and bound together with pieces of iron. About two tons of blasting powder were taken up to the door of the magazine by means of this truck, and, when all the kegs had been unloaded, the signal was given for the empty waggon to be drawn up to the level at the summit of the incline. In the meantime an o!d man, seventy-two years of age, named Joseph Tunley, and a young man named John Griffiths, were engaged in storing the kegs of powder inside the magazine, and had got about thirty cwt. under cover, including an open half barrel of powder. The empty truck, which had been drawn up to the top by means of a waggon laden with limestone, which had been let down on the other rail, suddenly broke oose, and the block being off, and the wheels unscotched, it started at full speed down the incline. Griffiths, the foreman of the works, was at Oswestry engaged in proving a case at the petty sessions against a couple of girls, who were charged with stealing some coal belonging to the company. Roberts, seeing that the empty waggon, if allowed to go on unchecked down the incline, would, in all probability, dash amongst the men who were working at the kilns at the foot of the incline, changed the points so as to turn the waggon off the metals, a practice which appears to be very common at such workings. The waggon, leaving the line, unfortunately dashed into the kegs of gunpowder which were lying out- side the magazine. An explosion almost instantaneously ensued and, communicating with the magazine, was fol- lowed by a second still more fearful, which shook the houses at the foot of the rock to their very foundations, and was felt as far as the Pant and Llanymynech, and for miles round. Hearing the explosion. the men who were employed on the rock at the top of the incline, and those who were at the kilns, rushed to the magazine. A fearful scene met the view. Not a trace of the magazine was visible, and for some moments the air was darkened with the falling of stones, pieces of timber, and iron. The men who were engaged in storing the gunpowder, and those who were working in the immediate vicinity of the maga- zine appear to have been killed instantaneously. Tunley's body was literally blown to pieces. One leg was found in the kilns below the magazine, a portion of his thigh was blown on the turnpike road at the foot of the rocks, and another thigh was picked up late in the evening some three hundred yards from the scene of the accident, in a potato field in the valley below. The body of John Griffiths, who is supposed to have been with Tunley in the magazine at the time the explosion occurred, was subsequently found on the turnpike road leading to Llanvblodwel. 'Mrs Lloyd, the wife of Mr Charles Lloyd, butcher, Maesbury, was driving along the road in the direction of Llanyblodwel, when her attention was called to what she thought was a heavy blast in the rocks. She was alarmed upon seeing the unusually heavy fall of stones, and pulling up the horse, saw what she thought was a large piece of rock come whirling through the air, and fall about ten yards from her, making a deep hole in the roadside. Upon going closer she found it to be the body of a man, which was subseqnently identified as that of Griffiths. The body appears to have been hurled a considerable distance into the air, and some men who were working in a field close by, were at a loss to know whether it was a stone or crow. It fell with what must have been a tremend- ous force, on a hillock of road sweepings close under the hedge on the turnpike road, where it was found face up- wards by a man named Robert Michael. Although the hillock was composed of very hard materials, the body by falling left a distinct impression, seven inches in depth, of the head, body, and right arm. The poor fellow's legs were almost severed from the body being attached to it by a single piece of skin. Four other bodies were afterwards picked up near the scene of the explosion, all of them being so burned as to render identifica- tion a matter of some difficulty. They were removed into a shed on the works to await the inquest. They were identified as those of Joseph Tunley, 64, married; William Howell, 46, married; Richard Jones, single, 26; John Griffiths, 21, single; William Jones, 14; and Charles Powell, 13. William Howoll was a local preacher with the Primitive Methodisto, and leaves a widow and two sons, one of whom is a pupil teacher at Carneddau. Tunley also leaves a widow and family, but all of the latter are earning their own livelihood. He had been nearly all his lifetime in the employ of Mr Savin, his father, and grandfather, and was an old and valued utrvant. Griffiths, was a very steady man, and was the adopted son of the foreman of these works. Mr Tbsmas Savin was on the spot shortly after the explosion, and also Mr J. Sides Davies, surgeon, Oswestry, both of whom were telegraphed for. Strange to relate, the waggon which caused all this deplorable mischief escaped comparatively uninjured. It was blown into the I air and alighted on its wheels, close to the magazine the I framework and body were wholly undamaged, the lower part I W3 scorched, and the wheels were slightly discoloured. Roberts, who was the man in charge of the incline, has been in Mr Savin's employ for a great number of years, and boars the character of being a remarkably steady sober man, and the same remark applies to William EvanS, The marine was about twelve feet by £ ?ven and had a woodtl! I door ana goring-. j THE INQUEST. The inquest was held at the Lion Inn, Porthywaen, on Friday afternoon, May 31st, before Mr E. Blackburne, the district coroner of Shropshire. The following jury was empanelled :-Messrs John Richards (Llynclys), fore- man James Owen, Samuel Pugh, James Lawrence, Richard Jones, William Speakman, John Berry, Thomas Tudor, Arthur Griffiths, John Pembrey, Charles Roberts, John Hughes, and Samuel Jones. The bodies were des- cribed as those of Joseph Tunley, 64 William Howell, 46 Richard Jones, 26 John Griffiths, 21 William Jones, 14 and Charles Powell, 13. Superintendent Gough watched the case on behalf of the police. The jury hiving gone to the rock, they viewed the bodies and the scene of the accident. Mr Thomas Savin, who ac- companied them, pointing out the different places affecting the enquiry. The machinery at the top of the incline was subjected to a careful examination. It was shown to be in good working order, and it was clear that all had been done that mechanical appliances could do to guard against accidents. On re-assembling in the room where the enquiry was held, the Coroner, addressing the jury, said that the inquest was of a very serious character, and he thought it would not be fair towards Thomas Roberts and William Evans that their evidence should be taken before they had had the opportunity of consulting a solicitor. He proposed, therefore, with the concurrence of the jury, to take evidence as to identification and other preliminary evidence, and to adjourn the enquiry until the following morning, in order that the two men he had alluded to might avail themselves of the opportunity of engaging a legal gentleman to represent them and cross-examine the witnesses. The first witness called was William Watkins, a labourer in the employ of Messrs Savin and Company (limited), at Cooper's rock. He deposed chat about four o'clock on the previous afternoon he was at work on the tip at the bottom of the incline, when he heard a man call out and caution them against an empty waggon which was running down the incline. He called to the men who were with the gunpowder at the magazine to look out, as there was a waggon running down the incline, and im- mediately he saw the waggon toss over. The first time it did nothing, but the next moment it came amongst the powder casks which were lying outside the magazine. An explosion instantly took place, and he saw two or three bodies go up into the air and a quantity of timber and rubbish. In about a second there was another explosion, and three bodies fell about twenty yards from the spot where witness stood, one body going over his head in the direction of the turnpike road. He ran in the direction of the magazine, and saw some bodies all a-blaze. The body of Richard Jones lay nearest the magazine, being about fifteen yards distant. The bodies of Charles Powell and William Howell were respectively about fifty to eighty yards from the magazine. Witness subsequently assisted in bringing in the bodies of Tunley and Griffiths, and placed the whole in the shed where the jury had viewed them. Tunley's body was in five pieces, and was picked up in a field about two hundred and fifty yards from the scene of the explosion, while the body of Griffiths was found on the side of the turnpike road, about five hundred yards away. Tunley and Howell were married men, both their wives being alive, and the latter left two children. Tunley had charge of the tip and the powder, and kept the keys of the magazine, and when the explosion oc- curred he was engaged with the other men who were killed, in placing some kegs of blasting powder in the magazine. The powder was loaded on the tip, in a waggon which was brought up the incline, just opposite the magazine. There the powder was unloaded, and the empty waggon was drawn up the incline by means of a full one being let down on the other rails. Witness saw the waggon at the top of the in- cline, and it appeared to be standing there about a minute before it descended again and caused the explosion. He saw Thomas Roberts and William Evans at the top of the in- cline, and it was their duty to be there. In answer to questions put by Mr Savin, the witness said that the powder barrels were right on the edge of the line, apparently resting on the main rail, and it would have been almost impossible for a waggon to have come down the in- cline without catching them, whether the catch points had been turned or not. He was of opinion that the first explo- sion was caused by the empty vaggon coming into contact with the barrels which had been placed on the line. By Superintendent Gough—The points were for the purpose of turning runaway waggons off the line. William Griffiths, foreman at Cooper's rocks, said that he was in Oswestry at the time the explosion occurred. Thomas Roberts and William Evans were usually at work at the top of the incline, Roberts being the breaksman, and Evans the driver of the waggons from the quarry. It was Evans's duty to shut the stop block as soon as an empty waggon had been drawn up the incline, and Roberts had to unhook the chain from the waggon, first seeing that the stop block was properly adjusted and if he saw it was not on, it was his duty to see that it was properly fastened before he unchained the waggon. Evans ought to call out to Roberts that the stop block was all right. Both were very careful, steady men, and understood their duties thoroughly. Both had been working for Mr Savin a great number of years, and at this special work. By Superintendent Gough—It was not possible for a waggon to go down the incline if the stop block was properly adjusted. By Mr Savin-The incline had been constructed up- wards of twelve years, and Roberts had been employed at the top and Tunley on the tip ever since it had been in use. William Evans had been at the top nine or ten years. It required great caution both at the bottom and top of the incline, and Roberts and Tunley would be selected to be in charge of these points, because they were careful, steady, thoroughly reliable men-in fact, none could be more so. About thirty cwt. of gunpowder had been carried up to the magazine, and were being added to six cwt. that were already stored therein. Could not tell how much of the thirty cwt. had been carried inside the magazine when the explosion occurred. By the Foreman-Only remembered one empty waggon to have run down the incline before the present instance. Had seen some full waggons run away, but that was before the catch points were put on, and that was owing to the breaking of the chain. It was customary for the men to send for beer whilst they were at work but he was not aware that any had been sent for on the day of the ex- plosion. At this point the proceedings were adjourned until Saturday. The enquiry was resumed at the same place at eleven o'clock on Saturday, June 1st. Mr J. P. Jones (from the office of Messrs T. and C. Minshall, Oswestry) appeared on behalf of Thomas Roberts and William Evans, the two men who were at the top of the incline when the empty waggon, which caused the catastrophe, broke loose. Superintendent Gough watched the proceedings for the police. Mr Thomas Savin, Mr R. S. France (Nantmawr quarries), Mr Dawson (the manager of the Farmers' Coal and Lime Supply Com- pany), and other gentlemen were present. Wm. Griffiths, the foreman of the rocks, was recalled, and asked by Supt. Gough whether there was any ill-feeling against Mr Savin for having prosecuted two girls at the petty sessions on the day of the explosion, for stealing coal from the kilns?—Witness: No, I heard of nothing of the kind.— The Coroner: I suppose it was Roberts's duty, if he saw a runaway waggon start down the incline, to turn it off at these points?—Yes, it was.—The Coroner: And he did so on Thursday?—Yes.—Mr J. P. Jones: In which way was the powder usually carried from the trucks-did they carry it straight into the magazine, or did they put it down out- side ?—They usually carried it straight into the magazine. William Watkins, the first witness examined on the former day, was recalled, and in answer to the Coroner he said he saw two men standing close together at the top of the in- cline when he heard the shout that the waggon was racing down. He could not recognise them at that distance.—Mr J. P. Jones I see you said yesterday that the barrels were right on the edge of the line-was it u-ual to place them there ? -Witness: No, it was not. —How did they usually un load the powder ?-I have seen them at other times take the powder off the waggon and straight into the magazine.—Then the proper thing to have done would have been to carry the barrels right into the magazine, and not to have placed them outside ?-Yes.-The Coroner: Could the men at the top of the incline sea the men unloading the waggon by the magazine.—Yes, they could see them unloading the waggon there.—The Foreman Would not the brakesman at the top have to stop the waggon at the magazine ?—Yes, that would be his duty.—And would not the two men at the top know that the powder was being unloaded ?—Yes, I should think so, because they would have to stop the waggon there.—Mr J. P. Jones: But would the men at the top know that the barrels were on the line ?-No, I should think not.—Do you think it likely they could see that the barrels were on the line ?-I cannot say that it was go. Edward Tudor, workman in the quarry, said that on Thursday afternoon he was working at Cooper's rock, within thirty yards from the top of the incline. A man named Wm. Thomas was standing clos3 by him. Thomas said, Oh dear the waggon's going over the top Wit- ness turned round and saw an empty waggon starting over the top tip. Thomas Roberts was trying to hold it back, but it overpowered him and went down the incline. Thomas ran to the top tip, and witaess, following him, saw the waggon go down the incline, and then turn over. In a moment he saw a flash and heard a loud clap. In a second this was followed by another explosion, and wit- ness saw the magazine literally lifted up in the air. It was all ablaze, and the flames and smoke appeared to be on all sides of the rock. Witness waited a few seconds and then ran to take shelter behind the rock. He was too frightened to notice where William Evans was he might have been close to the waggon, but witness did not notice him, his attention being wholly centred upon the waggon which was going down the incline. He saw Roberts, when the waggon overpowered him, run to the points to throw it off. He (witness) was not aware that the men were en- gaged in getting the powder into the magazine. By Mr J. P. Jones—Could not see the magazine or the barrels of powder lying on the line outside the magazine, owing to the intervening wall. He did not believe that any person standing on the top of the incline could see them but as he had only been put on that part of the works on the morning of the accident he had had no opportunity of judging. He had not worked in that quarry for sixteen years. By Superintendent Gough-Some beer had come to the place where witness and William Thomas were standing when they saw the waggon go down the incline. He was certain that neither Roberts nor Evans had taken beer that morning, and the other men had only had half-a-pint a-piece. William Thomas said that he was with the last witness, and was in the quarry about fifteen yards from the gin where the waggon was standing. He saw Robt. Thomas wrestling" with the waggon, and trying to prevent it from going over the tip. Witness said to Tudor, who was standing near, Oh dear, that waggon is running! and ran his best to the top of the incline to see fwhat would become of it. When he next saw it, it was running down the incline, and he noticed it go off the line at the check standing near, Oh dear, that waggon is running! and ran his best to the top of the incline to see fwhat would become of it. When he next saw it, it was running down the incline, and he noticed it go off the line at the check siding. He saw no men about tu" spot where the waggon first went oti. The waggon appearea .to falJ °ver twice, Hud then there wt*? a flash of fire, and >TJ tness, being j greatly frightened, ran back to the quarry for safety's sake. 1 He was standing on the opposite side to the magazine, and saw Roberts turn the points. He s kw nothing of William Evans.—Mr J. P. Jones Who called out Danger?"— Witness I didn't hear anyone call out.—The Foreman Did you hear Roberts call to the men below that the wag- gon was coming?—No, I was too frightened to notice. Edward Scott said that at the time of the accident he was in the machine-house at the bottom of the incline with the witness Watkins and four other men. He had helped to load the powder in the waggon, by order of Tunley, who had charge of the magazine. The first waggon load con- sisted of thirteen casks, which went up to the magazine in ) charge of three men who were riding upon it. Another waggon came down, and several casks were put into it, and that was taken up to the magazine: all the men and boys who were killed accompanying it. Witness did not see them unloading it as he had gone into the machine-house. In a few minutes Watkins, who was standing in the door- way, cried oub, Look, look and witness saw an empty waggon coming down the incline. He saw it pitch over twice. The first time it did not do any mischief, but the next time it pitched over it went into the heart of the powder casks, all of which were by the magazine door, fac- ing the incline the waggon came down, none of those which had been carried up having been placed 4in the magazine. He did not see them unload the second load of casks; but. when the waggon was coming down the incline, he noticed that some of the casks were very near the line, if not actually upon it. He thought he heard some one shout from the top when the waggon was coming down, but he was not quite sure. After the explosion, witness saw a body, four or five hundred yards up in the air just like a crow.—Mr J. P. Jones Did you see the barrels taken out of the first waggon?—No.—But you saw the barrels outside the magazine?—Yes.—How many were there?—About forty casks-four quarter casks and the rest in hundreds. Two loads went up to the magazine, and there was another load to go up, and that is by the machine house now.—How far was it from the magazine door to the side of the line ?—About three or four yards ? Somewhere about that way, I should think.—Then you are not quite certain whether any of the barrels were on the line?--No, I'm not sure of that. They were very hard on the line, and I don't think a waggon could have passed down without knocking some of them.—Was it usual to put the casks down outside the magazine ?-No, as long as I have been there the casks were always carried straight into the magazine. I never saw the powder going up in the waggons before, and I have been carrying there ten years. We used to carry the casks from the kilns on our backs, and take them straight into the magazine.—Was it by Tunley's orders that the powder was put outside the magazine in this way ?—Yes, sir; he was the master over the powder. Robert Michael, foreman at another of Mr Savin's quarries, said that he had been a ganger under Mr Savin for sixteen years, and was well acquainted with the Porthywaen and Llanymynech works. The gunpowder ought to have been taken straight from the railway waggon and carried into the magazine on men's backs. It should not have been put in the rock waggon at all, and the men seemed to have done this on Thursday afternoon to save themselves trouble. Mr Thomas Savin said -All the deceased men were in the employment of Messrs Savin and Company (Limited). Immediately I had the telegram on Thursday afternoon to say that this accident had occurred I came down to Porthywaen from Oswestry, and got all the information I could gather. I did not come to a decided conclusion when I first saw the place, but I have since formed the opinion that there must have been two explosions, the first one being caused by the powder being placed near the line of railway, and that the rock waggon escaping from the top ran into the powder barrels, which were wrongly left outside, instead of being put straight in the magazine; and I have no hesitation in saying that there would have been no accident, and no loss of life, if Joseph Tunley, who had the entire management of the powder, had done the same as on all former occasions, so far as my know- ledge goes. The check siding was made specially to meet the requirements of an accident which might be occa- sioned by the running away of a waggon from the top. Such things have happened in our quarries, and it is im- possible, however careful a man may be, to absolutely rely on the waggons not getting away from the top. And, in this view, I am supported by two gentlemen, who have quarries, the inclines upon which are longer than ours. The magazine itself was 15 feet 6 inches from the outside rail to the inside of the wall of the magazine, which was made of stone and very strongly built. It was a slated roof, and some pieces of iron were, I believe, used in the roofing. When the incline was first made, we had a loaded waggon which ran from the top, and clearing the lower tip and the limekilns, it embedded itself in a field below; but, since these check sidings have been put in, we have had no one injured to my knowledge, nor would any acci- dent have occurred this time had the casks of powder been put into the magazine at once. The check siding is worked so as to stop runaway waggons. Immediately the siding is opened, the waggon is thrown off the rails, and consequently runs over the rough ballast, broken stones, and sleepers, bringing it to a sudden stop, or, in the case of a full waggon, emptying the stones in front of the waggon, and bringing it to a stand still. The length of the in- cline from the bottom tip to the top of the incline is about two hundred and forty-one yards; from the top of the incline to the check siding is about 128 yards; and from the top of the incline to what is called the V crossing is about fifteen yards. From the V crossing to the centre of the turntable at the top is about nineteen feet, and from that point to the face of the quarry about seventy-six yards. The check sidings are worked by a rod and lever at the top of the incline, and are under the control of the man in charge of the top, Thomas Roberts; and these he very properly used on Thursday afternoon, for the purpose of turning the waggon off the main line; otherwise it would have run down to the bottom amongst some men who were working there, and very probably have killed some of them. Roberts had nothing to d" with the powder, which was under the charge of Joseph Tunley. The distance from the centre of the magazine to the check points is about forty feet or thereabouts. The magazine was below the points, but sheltered by a large quantity of stone, several feet in width at the top of the latter and several yards thick at the base. The magazine itself was, I think, about eleven feet eight inches long, and about eleven feet wide, inside measurement. I am not positive as to the width, because the stones were so shaken. Thomas Roberts and Joseph Tunley were placed in charge of the several points of the workings because they were considered the best men in the quarry, and because they were such tidy, steady fellows. They had been in the employ of my family since I was a boy, and William Evans has been working for us a great many years. Mr R. S. France said—I, of course, was not present at the accident, but, at Mr Savin's request, I have looked at the incline. The primary cause of the accident was the breaking away of the waggon the secondary cause arose from the circumstance of the barrels of powder being too near the rails just at the moment the waggon came down, and which barrels, according to Mr Savin's evidence and that of the other witnesses, were improperly placed there. As to the primary cause of the accident, the top of the incline, where the waggons land, appears to be in good working order but it does so happen that not only at Mr Savin's quarries, but also at mine—and I think Mr Dawson can say the same as regards his quarries —that with all reasonable care exercised, the waggons do sometimes break away from the men in charge of the top of the incline, and when they once start to run down the incline there is no means of preventing them from going to the bottom except by means of catch points, which throw them off the road. The men at the top of the incline occupy a very responsible, onerous position, and we always select the best men we can find for that duty but I have found that even with the best men these accidents happen, and in order to prevent the "break aways" doing much damage, I have fixed my catch points on my incline (which is much longer than Mr Savin's) as near the summit as possible. I have pointed this out to Mr Savin, and I understand he intends having his catch points put in the same position as mine. It also appears desirable that when he re-erects his magazine it should be placed further from these catch points than the old one was for although it may not happen that the maga- zine would be destroy ed by the runaways," yet, if men will be so reckless (I think I can scarcely use a milder term)as to leave powder adjoining the incline upon which waggons are continually running up and down, and where they know there are these runaways" from time to time —then all Mr Savin can do is to remove the temptation to which the men are exposed of temporarily placing the barrels there instead of carrying them at once into the powder house. There is a temptation to the men to do this, because if the man who had the key of the magazine did not happen to be there just at the exact moment, the men would almost naturally unload the waggon and put the barrels as near the magazine as possible so that the other work of the rock might proceed. As regards the starting of a waggon, I may say that I have known even the blast in the rock start a waggon which was standing on a level: the least thing will do it. f Mr J. P. Jones said that Mr Dawson, the manager of the Farmers' Coal and Lime Supply Company, could corroborate Mr France's evidence as to the frequency of waggons break- ing away from an incline, but the Coroner held that it was unnecessary to call him. I William Evans, who was cautioned by the Coroner before tendering his evidence, said I am a horse-driver for Messrs Savin and Company (Limited). On Thurs lay last I was at work at Cooper's rock driving a horse which was lugging the waggons from the gin at the top of the incline up to the men who were working in the rock. My work is to mind the mare and lug the waggons. lihave nothing to do with the scotch for the wheels unless I am back in time enough to meet the waggons. Just before the accident I was standing near the top of the incline, and saw the empty waggon come up. I thought it was all right, and I was bringing the horse to lug it away, when I saw it starting back again down the incline. Roberts seized hold of the waggon and tried to prevent it starting but it overpowered him, and went down the incline. I went to the points to I help him to throw the waggon off. I saw the waggon run down the incline, and then came the explosion. I was quite sober, and so was Roberts.—The Foreman: Was it your duty to shut the gate (the stop block) when the waggon came up ? No, it was my duty to look after the horse but, if I was there I would shut it.—The Coroner And whose duty would it be to shut it supposing you were not there ?-I don't know. Roberts had charge of that place, and it was his duty before unchaining the waggon to see that this gate (the stop block) was up.—Mr J. P. Jones Why did you turn the points ?—Because we were afraid of killing someone at the kilns down below.-Yoti thought it was the best thing to do ?—Yes.—The Coroner: You were afraid of the runaway waggon killing inenat the bottom ?-Yes. -The Foreman: Did you know that the men were unloading powder at the magazine ?-Yes, we could see the men unloading the powder by the magazine, before the waggon came up; but we thought they had finished.—Mr J. P. Jones And that it was put o^t of the way i~Yes.—Whici way did they I usually unload it ?-They carried it right into the magazine t on their backs. I thought the waggon was all right it I was there a minute, and then I brought the horse to lug it up to the rock.—A Juror Is it your duty to put the stop block behind the wheel of the waggon when you are there ?-No, I have to look after the horse. I would put the block there, but it was not part of my regular duty. I was coming up to the waggon with my horse, and when about fifteen yards off, I left the horse and ran to assist Roberts. I was about ten yards down the incline, going to fetch my chain, when the waggon going up to the top of the incline passed me.—Superintendent Gough Was the waggon on the top when you returned to bring ycur horse ? —Yes, it was.—And how far did you have to go to fetch your horse ?-About fifteen yards.—How long had it been up there, do you think, before it went back again ?-About a minute, I should think.—Was Roberts there at the time it came up?—Yes.—Was any other person there besides Roberts?-No, there was no one with him.—The Coroner Could it be that Roberts thought you put the block on when you passed the waggon to go for your horse?—He might have thought so.-Superintendent Gough Did you notice whether the block was on when you passed ?—No, I did not look at it. I saw the waggon standing there, and so I thought it was all right. Thomas Roberts was on the other side of the waggon from me.-The Coroner :—Had you any orders to call out to Roberts if the stop block was not on?-No, I never had any orders.—How long have you been at this particular work?-- Ten years.—Driving the horse?—Yes, all the time. Was Roberts standing on the same side as you were?-No, he was on the other side of the waggon to what I was. Thomas Roberts, who was also cautioned before giving his evidence, said—I am the gin" man at Cooper's rock, and work the gin" at the top of the incline. On Thurs- day I loosed the empty waggon up, and it landed on the top. I saw William Evans passing along the side of the waggon, and thinking he had shut the block, I took the chain off the waggon, which started to go back. William Evans was coming up with the mare to draw the waggon to the rock, and I called to him to come and help me to try and prevent It from going down the incline. It had gone too far, and we could not step it, and I then went to the lever to turn the points so as to throw it off at the check siding. Evans a'sisted me, and we managed to throw it off, and then the explosion ensued. I did not call to Evans to enquire whether the block was closed be- fore I took the chain off the waggon. As he was there I thought he had done it, for he always closed it if he was there, otherwise I looked to it myself. I do not know that he received any orders to put the block down, but he used to do it when he was there.—Mr J. P. Jones Which side of the waggon were you standing on when it ran down ?—I was standing between the two roads.—But were you on the same side as the block?—No, I was on the other side. The waggon was between me and the block.—The Coroner: Could you see distinctly whether Evans had put the block down ?—No, I could not.—The Foreman Was it your duty to enquire whether the block was down before you undid the chain-we had it in evi. dence yesterday that you were to ask before unloosing the chain?—No, I don't know that it was. I saw Evans there, and thought it was all right.—A Juror How long had the waggon landed on the top before it went down the incline ?—About a minute or so, I think.—How long had it stood there before you unhooked the chain off?- Not very long. It started moving back almost as soon as I bad unhooked the chain, and I think I had drawn the sprag out, but I am not certain. I calledto Evans to come and help me the moment I saw it was starting back, but we were too late, and over it went. The Coroner stated that a further adjournment would be necessary in order that the Home Office might be com- municated with. This being an explosion of a powder magazine, they might think it necessary to send down a Government Inspector, and therefore the enquiry would have to be further adjourned to see whether that official would attend or not. The attention of the Home Office had been directed to the explosion from the reports which had appeared in the newspapers, and Mr Savin had been telegraphed to for the particulars. Mr Savin—The telegram was addressed to the Chief- constable of the county, and he sent it on to me. The proceedings were then adjourned to Thursday, June 6th, at the same place at eleven o'clock. Mr Dawson said that Mr W. T. Parker (Chairman of the Farmers' Coal and Lime Supply Company), Mr Savin, Mr France, Mr Williams, and himself, would be glad to receive subscriptions in aid of the widows and families of the deceased men. The funerals took place on Saturday evening, and were attended by a great number of mourners. The churchyard at Trefonen, where the bodies of William Howell, Richard Jones, John Griffiths, William Jones, and Charles Powell, were interred, was crowded to inconvenience. The funeral service was read by the Vicar of Trefonen, the Rev. David Lloyd. Joseph Tunley was interred the same after- noon at Llanyblodwel. The bodies were conveyed direct from the blacksmiths' shed at the rocks in which they had been deposited pending the inquest, to the places of inter- ment and the expenses attendant upon the funerals were defrayed by Mr Thomas Savin. Colonel Edgell, the Chief- constable of Shropshire, viewed the scene of the explosion on Friday, May 31st, and great numbers from Oswestry and thb adjoining villages journeyed to the Cooper's rock on the Saturday and Sunday following. On Sunday the friends of the deceased attended at the Parish Church, at Trefonen, when the Rector, the Rev. D. Lloyd, preached an impressive sermon from the fortieth chapter of Isaiah, sixth, seventh, and eighth verses.
MR. WATKIN WILLIAMS, M.P.,I…
MR. WATKIN WILLIAMS, M.P., I ON THE BALLOT. In the debate on the third reading of the Ballot Bill, the hon. member for the Denbigh Boroughs delivered the fol- lowing speech:— Mr WATKIN WILLIAMS heartily congratulated the right honourable gentleman in charge of the Bill on the able and most skilful way in which he had steered it through committee. He had always felt that, considering so many members on his side of the House and supporters of the Ballot were evidently not earnest in their desire to have a secret voting measure in all its integrity, great allowances ought to be made for the difficulties with which he had to contend. The Bill had been described by its enemies, and those who hoped to destroy its efficiency when put in practice, as having been emasculated in committee and rendered altogether ineffectual as a se- curity for protecting the voter by secrecy, and having been made in fast nothing but a sham Ballot. From this view he entirely dissented—(hear)— having carefully watched its progress in commit- tee, and having since had an opportunity of conferring with some of his own constituents, who were warm advocates of the Ballot, he and they were satisfied that as it stood it provided perfect security and protection to the voter by the absolute and inviolable secrecy of the mode of voting. It seemed to him that the Ballot, in order to afford a real protection to the coerced or intimi- dated voter, must not only provide a means of voting secretly, but must go further and compel the voter to vote secretly. (Hear, hear.) Permissive secrecy left the coerced or intimidated voter open to the alternative of compulsory publicity—(hear, hear)—his position was precisely that which was expressed by the law which said that may" in certain statutes meant and had the force of shall," which only meant that when a general duty or force commanded them to do all they would in a par- ticular direction, the mere ability to do a thing became instantly converted into an obligation. He could quite understand people objecting to the Ballot altogether, but he could not understand anyone being in favour of a permissive Ballot. His own natural instincts led him at first to dislike any system of secret voting, and he even now deplored the necessity for it. He had to-day spoken and voted boldly on another question in a manner which he knew would be very displeasing to many of his constituents, and it might readily be supposed that with his temperament—(a laugh)—he should prefer the exercise of the franchise in a manly open way ia the face of day and with all the responsibility of publicity—(hear, hear, from the Opposition)—but the misery, wretchedness, and unnecessary trials to which he had seen plain and simple people subjected by tyranny and coercion, had made him many years ago an unwilling but firm convert to the Ballot in all its integrity as a compulsory system of secret voting. (Hear, hear.) Coercion and undue in- fluence were not chargeable more to one side than to the other, nor was it exercised for the most part, so far as his observation went, by the great landed proprietors, but resorted to chiefly by petty squires and owners of cottage property, and local magnates surrounding country towns, who wished to curry favour with their more aristocratic neighbours. The tyranny and discomfort which they in- flicted on the small tradespeople and artizans was intoler- able, and had driven them to the Ballot as an unfortunate necessity if the franchise was to be exercised by the people; and how could it be contended that a system of permissive secrecy would afford even a shadow of protection to voters so situated. He never could understand the honesty of such an argument. Suppose for example that in a district a proprietor had 300 small tenants, that the privilege of voting secretly was permissive, and that 275 of those tenants declared that they would, like toeii W they were, vote openly, and so voted in favour of their landlord; he r should like to know how anyone could candidly say that the remaining twenty-five could derive any real protection from the Ballot. He wished to show that the provisions of the present Bill afforded a perfect security, but before doing so he wished to remove a misconception which he found to prevail respecting the secrecy aimed at by the Bill. It never was intended to be proposed that any elector should be prohibited from declaring which way he intended to vote or which way he had voted; the whole scheme o the ballot was directed and limited to enforcing secrecy in the act of voting, it being obviously impracticable to prohibit a man from talking about the way in which he intended to vote or how he had voted. In order to secure and enforce compulsory secrecy is naa Deen proposed at on time by the honorable member for Huddersfield I (Mr Leatham), that the disclosing by a voter of a voting paper after it had been marked should be made an offence punishable with six months' imprisonment. He thought at the time that that was a formidable proposition, and that it would have been far better to have punished the dis- closure of the voting paper by forfeiture of the vote or some trifling fine, and to have applied the severer punish- ments only to those who induced the voter to violate secrecy. The honourable member's proposition was, how- ever, negatived, and since then it had been loudly pro- claimed and boasted by honourable gentlemen opposite that as the Bill now stood it would be no violation of the law for a voter openly to show his Ballot paper in the polling place after he had marked it, so that it might be seen and known which way he had voted. He had no hesitation in saying that that was a total misrepresentation of the nature of the Bill. (Hear, hear.) It could not be too clearly or too widely known that .according to the present Bill it would be a violation of the law for an elector to show his Ballot paper open after he hd maiked j it, and that his doing so in such a manner as to ena ble it to be seen wh:ch way he had voted would render himself and others liable to serious consequences. (Hear, hear.) By clause 2 it was provided that the voter, having secretly marked his vote on the Ballot paper and folded it up so as to conceal his vote, shall place it in a box, &c. Now here was a direct and positive enactment that the voter should secretly mark his vote and then fold the pap?r up so as to conceal his vote, a violation of which would be a violation of an Act of Parliament, which would be at* tended with more serious consequences than some pecplfl were perhaps prepared for. Then, again, by clause 4 it was provided that "every officer, clerk, and agent in attendance at a polling station shall maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting in such station." And fuither, no person shall directly or indirectly induce any voter to display his Ballot paper after he shall have marked the same, so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has voted," and further, "every person who acts in contravention of this section shall be liable to imprisonment for six months with or without hard labour." In the face of such provisions as t,hese ir, was astonishing that honourable members could get upio that House and state that under the present Bill it was optional with the voter either to show his voting paper or not, and that his doing so would be no violation of the law. (Hear, hear.) He thought that this fallacy and misrepresentation could not be too widely exposed; it should be fully known ana understood that the language of the Bill commanded the voter to observe secrecy in the act of voting and, further, that if the voter attempted to show his paper it was the imperative duty of all persons at the station to prevent him from doing so, to abstain from looking at it, and to aid generally in maintaining the secrecy of the voting, and tha", a violation of this duty was punishable with six months' imprisonment. There was no doubt that this secured absolute and inviolable secrecy in the act of voting -(hear, hear) -so far as the law could secure it, and if the Bill contained no other provision than that he would be perfectly content with it. When it was fully understood what the law was he believed that there was loyalty enough on the part of the agents and all parties concerned, at least in that part of the country with which he was best acquainted, fairly and honourably to carry out the in" tention of the Legislature without the necessity of resort" ing to any punishments to enforce the law. As to bribery he did not know what would be the probable effect of the Bill, as he believed bribery was totally unknown in Wales. (An Hon. Member: "You have intimidation in Wales.") Intimidation and undue influence were exercised in Walego and his object in supporting a real and effective Ballot Bill, such as he believed this to be, was to put a stop to such practices. (Hear, hear.) He did not believe that either political party would, in the long run, obtain any particular advantage, but it would undoubtedly promote freedom of election and bring out the honest opinion of the country, and for that reason alone it would be a valu." able measure. It was said that the country did not want the Ballot at all; if that was true he would admit that the Bill ought to be rejected by the other House, but there was an extraordinary miscjnception on the subject. lIe had taken great pains to ascertain the real truth, and if there was no excitement or agitation in the country it waS because the Ballot was regarded as a foregone conclusion. The constituencies had made up their minds that the Ballot would become law, and they meant to have it. That such a feeling should be construed as indifference was a circuin, stance deeply to be deplored. He trusted that this long* contested question would be speedily settled, and that Par- liament might thus be enabled to devote its time and at- tention to remedial measures which were much required If, on the other hand, through a misconception as to public feeling on the subject, the Bill should in another place be either so far altered as to be deprived of its essential pro- vision for compulsory secrecy or be thrown out altogether, he believed a storm of agitation would be raised through* out the country, and beneficial legislation would be post* poned for an indefinite period. Of one thing he felt cer* tain-that the country was determined to have an honest and complete system of secret voting. (Hear, hear.)
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
ALABAMA CLAIMS. A telegram through the cable from Washington on Mon; day held out the hope that the Washington Treaty might yet be saved. It was represented that a despatch had bee £ sent to General Schenck informing Earl Granville that if the Supplemental Article, as modified by the Senate, were accepted by England, the United States would consent to a new joint commission for the purpose of arranging another special treaty relative to the rights of neutral* and consequential damages.
OSWESTRY.
OSWESTRY. THE BRAVE RESCUE AT GOBOWEN.—We have received from A Mother, Machynlleth," half-a-crown, for the humane and courageous guard who risked his life in saving the little girl Jones from imminent peril," and have "J handed it over to Mr Evans. ERRONEOUS REPORT.—The death of tie Rev Mr TracY, formerly Catholic priest here, his been erroneously r0" ported. The Mr Tracy whose demise is announced is not the same gentlemen, and we are glid to understand that our former fellow-townsman is alive. VAGR"Cy.-William Newnes, a tramp, was brought before the Mayor on Thursday, May 30th, charged by P.C. Lanerford with begging on the previous day.-Sea, tenced to twenty-one days' hard labour. FACTS FOR POULTRY KEEPERS.—Two eggs of extra* ordinary size and weight have been laid by a blacfc Spanish hen belonging to Mr Thomas, the Fox Inn. Both eggs are beautifully shaped, and weigh respectively three ounces and three quarters, and three ounces and a half- The larger of the two measures eight inches round the ends, and six and a quarter inches round the middle. SLEEPING IN AN OUTBUILDING.- At the Police Court Oil Monday, June 3rd, Jane Wilson, prostitute, was brought before the Mayor, and John Morris, Esq., charged by P-0. Edwards, with sleeping in an outbuilding in Penylan-laile- There was a long list of previous convictions against prisoner, who was committed for fourteen days' hard labour. THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The annual sermons in aid of the Church Missionary Society were preached in the Old Church, on Sunday, June 2nd, by Rev. R. C. Bowker. The offertories amounted to £ 141^?" 4d. The annual meeting was held at the National on Monday evening, June 3rd, under the presidency of ^5 Longueville. Addresses bearing upon the operations the societv were delivered by the Rev. R. C. Bowker the Rev. LI. Wynne J ones. ST. ALKMOND'S TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY.—OS^EST*? was selected as the locale for the fourteenth annual trip ° the members of the St. Alkmond's Total Abstinence Society* and about one hundred left Shrewsbury on Monday, J.u^ 3rd, the unfavourable weather which prevailed at starting deterring many who had taken tickets, from joining tn party. By the kind permission of Mr J. R. Ormsby G-jrC* M.P., Brogyntyn Park, was thrown open for the day. I?? was provided in Trinity Church School, and the party W* for home shortly before seven o'clock. The band of Shrewsbury Rifle Volunteers accompanied the trip- rumour prevailed that the party were Good Templars, we are requested to contradict it^ fl FAIR.—The usual fortnightly cattle fair was held io 'jj Smithfield, on Wednesday, May 29th. The supply 0 kinds was moderate, beef especially being scarce, and quotations were as follows :—Beef, 8d. to 8|d. per W"' mutton, 8|d. to9d.; ditto in the wool, lid. per lb.; lOd. to lid.; veal, 7d. to 7|d.; and pigs, 2s. to 3s than last fair. At this fair Messrs Pugh and Stokes so1. 67 cattle and calves, 525 sheep and lambs, and 90 pigs; Mr Thos, Whitfield 12 cattle and calves, 195 sheep lambs, and 15 pigs. INSTITUTE FETE.—This pleasant annual holiday take place on Friday, July 26th. In addition to the sports and fireworks, there will be special attractions year, of which particulars will be given in a week The President of the Institute, Mr Ormsby Gore, M has kindly placed Brogyntyn grounds at the disposal-e the Institute Committee. A meeting of members of Institute was held on Monday evening last, and the arrangements for the fete were entered into with a ness and zeal which must ensure complete success. the GOOD TEMPLARY. -On Monday evening, June 3rd, p Good Templars of Oswestry held an open lodge sessig" 3 the Public Hall. The members met at 7 30 p. Tn. t¡9ÍtJ opened the lodge in due form, after which the to dividing the hall was drawn, and the doors thrown °P|iiei the public, and in a very few minutes the hall was to overflowing. While the room was filling the IJieDJ1rf0' sang their opening ode, after which a very interesting P,J gramme was gone through, consisting of instrumental vocal music, readings, and addresses. Messrs ^oae3ic}i^ Evan?, piano and cornet; vocalists, Brother F. j,ij> and the Primitive Methodist Choir, under the g[ of Bro. Ezra Roberts.—Bro. T. Owen, L.D., read Mrs Caudle's lectures on Freemasonry, and Bro. '$ a piece entitled "Polly Pratt's Secret for notes." Addresses were also delivered by Bros. Dr ford, T. Miller, and E. Evans, D.D., each speaker t» up a specific phase of the temperance work. Dr Bere_y o* was warmly received on rising, and after the dehve jjfO. a capital address, sat down amidst loud applause- Miller took upon himself the task of answering obj<c raised against the temnerance cause generally, JJ;#* Evans, D.D., owing to tiie lateness of thp noiir, self to a few observations on Good Templary. The °"LoSpe* that Good Templary was put in the place of was taken up by each speaker emphatically, and -^fetel" Evans expressed his conviction that it was a mere ,etgp fuge to get out of a dilemma. He said they had jje men of all denominations in their order, and ^iri' asked, should non-abstaining ministers charge ing ones with putting temperance before the jt J* was neither reason nor charity in the accusation-, jt thought that the Public Hall has never been nl j,»o was on Monday night, and we are told that nunlD to return, being unable to get even standing?rooffl. credit is certainly due to the Good Templars for these gratuitous entertainments for the public, this third of the kind held since January last. rCheStr9,l and members appeared in regalia, and filled the 9 gence 0 presenting a very brilliant sight, and in the a jjed- Bro. Minshall, N.C.T., Bro. Windsor. W. V.T. Pre'^ COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, THURSDAY, MAY Before E. Wright, Esq., and Colonel Lovett. Drunkenness.—The following were summonea Moore far being drunk in the Lion Inn, Morto 9rd 23rd, and severally fined 5s., and costs: Wj Edward Evans, senior, Edward Evans, junior, jj0rfl^ Hughes. The Bench gave instructions /or j the house to be summoned for permitting d"Vejng dr° » • Thomas Ellis was summoned by P.O. Lewis to jjd at Porthywaen, on Sunday, April 21st. Defenaa fourte £ appear. He was fined 7s. 6d., and 6d. 4d. ned bf/'u days.—John Morris, collier, Treflach, was sum atTr? ned Lewis for being drunk and riotous on thehignw ^.ag ca' on Sunday, May 5th. The officer said that t « into the Royal Oak, Treflach, about a a&Z the night of May 5th, and ther £ he found <Je» man nazped Richard Jonea fighting. tur^