The Cambrian

*— V'he Cambrian. FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1907. JiOTES ON MEN & THINGS Another large spot-gfoup is making its pay across the sun 5 disc. One of the speakers who most loudly praised the CORPORATION. telephones at the Town Hall meeting is a subscribe to the NATIONAL only. And a. councillor, too! The Mayor convened a meeting of rate- payers for Tuesday evening at the Guildhall. It had all the outward signs of a meeting* of telephooitf-users. The speakers included I as least two whose names cannot be found on the burgess roll. The gem of the telephones' meeting on TUESDAY evening was Mr. Willi-e Ford's ex- planation why the Council desired to sell the telephone service. "The members are puz- zled they don't know what to do with a Corporation imdertaking that pays." The roar of laughter told that the hit had gone borne. Is the leek to be done way with entirely in favour of the daffodil ? The latter has now been christened "Blodeuyn Dewi," and haft been immortalised in verse by Mr- Lewis Hopkin, Clydaeh, as foriows — Blodeuyn De-wi 'nawr gaiff fod, Yn arwyddnod 7 Cymro. Xi wnaf yn wir fel un or plaat. Gwyl Dewi Sant ei wisgo; A gwisged pawb o feibion cerdd. Yn lie yr hen genioen werdd. .8. Speaking at the prize distribution to the scholars of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School at Carmarthen, Sir Lewis Morris said humorously that he had promised that he would not WRITE any more poetry, but he tad made a mistake, and failed to keep his promise, as a piece of ooetry had jast been published "In praise of the Town," from 1Wa PENT At the close of MR. Sinclair's Lecture- at the Swansea Free Library, Mr. Chapman expressed a disappointment that the lecturer had not explained what electricity really is. Every lecturer on electricity, he added, was the same, Mr. Sinclair replied by saying that if Mr. Chapman would explain the origin of life he would explain the origin of electricity. In his speech at the Sprina;t)oks home- eoming at Cape Town, dealing with the Welsh match at Swansea, Mr. Garden said both teams were extremely nervous, and be told how when Gwyn Nicholls, the Welsh captain, entered the pavilion with ball in hand to ask Mr. Roos to toss, the latter looked suspiciously at the ball thinking there was some NEW Welsh trick in store for him, nocd asked Nicholls how he proposed to toss jrith that. Swansea was first lit with gas. March 1st, 1821. The lamps were only 36 in num- ber. Horrible tiliou.ght-if the future LIES with Swansea how is Cardiff's City Ball to be kept b-i-ng ? Amongst the subscribers to the Pa.nty- gwydr Chaper building fund was the Vicar of Swansea. Llanellv's ELDEST, outdoor PAUPER is 96. He's GETTING his money's worth out of the community. A& "If -r' A Swansea tradesman has a pianoforte which the owner believe6 is one originally introduced at Cove-nt Garden in 1767, and played by Dibdin. Sir George NEFWRSE-S (Says the "Mail") NEEDS re-nut RODIKTOON to Sir Alfred Thomas. In Sir George's Westminster Gazette titae WELSH party is said to be led by SIR Alfred Davieis. A little Swansea lassie cleared a h gh jump of Sft. 2in. at the Albert Hall DISPLAY on Thursday evening. and locked as if she coakl have gone on doing it all night. WOMEN are certainly on the march Rev. D. J. Hilev, at Pantvgwydr Chapel, said Spuxgeon once told him: "You can never over estimate the ignorance of your congregation." Doubtless, the remarks of soTTM congregations about their pastors would be of equal interest. TH" nomination, paper of Sir James Drum- mond in THE Carmarthernshire County Coun- cil election was a unique one. MR. David Davies was proposer, another MR. David Davies seconder, amd all the EIGHT assentors were named David Davies. How manv detached belfries are there in WaJfes? There is one at Llangyfelach, but it seems to be a. solitary INSTANCE. On the border of England and, WaJes there are several. There is one, for instance, at Pem- bridge, and another at Yarpole. DURING t-he long reign of George III. St. David's Day WAS always the occasion of a special meeting of the Court a.t St. James's PaJaoe. Hogarth, in the RaJce s Progress, portrays a, elsh soldier stand- ing in t.be court-yard on St. David's Day with a huge leek in his coat and a leek in his hat. There's a dear little plant that we cherish in Wales, 'Tis known to the world as the leek. It's a kind of spring onion with two or *hree tails. And the strength of it lies in the -eek. Some talk of the daffodil taking its i_la.ee, That will ne'er come to pass I repeat, With a leek in your buttonhole you've got a bouquet. That will flavour both sides of the street. "SUNNYSIDE." ■ » « « ■ Is Mr. AL-ban Morris in favour of banish- ing tiie eisteddfod to Cardiff? The foHow- iatg remarks at the Swaassea St. JDAVID'A DAY dinner suggest as much: After the SWANSEA 'National,' the eisteddfod should revert to its old barbaric days. ('No, no.') It was time to sever it from Wales. Mr. Dd Meager, president of the Swarsea Ragged School, who has been ill for some weeks, was about again on Monday. It is characteristic of the man tha-t the first thing he did on turning out was to pay a friendly visit to a poor home in Neptune Court-, WWE a highly respectable, though indigent family, are in rore straits through the husband having been out of work As evidence of the inadequate polling ar- rangements for the Swansea auditor's elec- tion 011 Friday, it may be mentioned that A section of people up Mount Pleasant had to trudge across to Lion-street to record their votes. By the Swansea Act of 1902 "the Corporation may, if they think fit, divide the borough into polling districts for the election of elective auditors, and in the event of their so dividing the borough the Mayor shall appoint a convenient place in each polling district fo-r the election of elec- tive auditors." SOLD. Deal gentlv with us, Brother Boer, Don't pull lur nose too rudely; It -eems to be your fate to score. Yen play your cards so shrewdly. You have the Britisher on toast, Thanks to our Coolie crammers. But you re too cute to oack tbe boast Of noiey knowing shammers. With canny care you'll quickly ken How empty was their rattle, I But what of those who with the pen Deny the God of Battle. I Oh, Party, thou a demon art, That tricks old England sadly, Toe often she has had to smart For politics run madly. Swansea. "VOX." The LAT3 Mrs. Jane WiPiams, who has just died at Penmaen at the age of 82, was for many years in the service of the family of the late Lord Swaaieea, where she was a great favourite. She was accustomed to visit Parc-le-Breos in the time of the late Hon. Aubrey Vivian, whom &he nursed as a.n infant; and it was d the earnest desire of the Vivia-n family that she was laid to rest in tbe churchyard, NOT fa.r from the spot where '11'. Vivian is buried The Vicar of Swansea, in his gerrnon at St. Mary's on Sunday, bad a good deal to say about wedding rings, showing how much they were vadued, and how the wed- dirg ring would be the last thing to be pawned by poor women when in extreme poverty. Tbe Vicar went so far ar to ad- v'se the ladies of the congregation TO trea- sure wedding rings, UND to wear no other. One of the choristers thereupon observed that if the ladies only accepted the Vicar's ruling, sold their extra rings, and handed proceeds to the organ- fvjid, that institution -the fund, not the organ-wouldnt lan- guish any more. RETURN SIR JOHN. Men of houghor and Penderry. You would be ungrateful very. At the bid of Jim or Jerry, If you oust Sir John! Morgan—I'll say nought about him f not criticise or flout him. It he sttnis, be yours to scout him, Seal him marching on! John Llewelyn, all respect him— 'J'b"re is none preferred before him- Who is there- to triumph o'er him Good old Hf-art of Oak! Gentleman, and man of action, Trusted he above each faction. Save perchance some wretched fraction. Hole and corner folk! If perchance he be defeated. After all his v.orth unseated. Then indeed will you Oe greeted With a aeornful shout! I Never mind who else may flatter, What, they saj it doesn't matter, You'll his foes on Friday cicatter. Put them all to rout! The dearth rate contkraes to be very high I at Swansea, and during the month of Feb- j ruary the number of interments at Dany- graig Cemetery reached 94, as compared with 70 in the February of 1906. The very changeable weather is proving exceedingly dangerous to people not in the best of health. --+-+-+- Sir John Llewelyn is maintaining the contest in lxmghor and Penderrv Division with characteri-stu vigour. Meetings in support of his candidature have been held in all the principal districts, and so far as outward indications go there is every reason to expect his return when the votos are counted this (Friday) evening. The ad- dresses delivered by Sir John are distin- guished by the great frankness with whHl the deficiencies in the present system of county administration have been disclosed. -+--+-+-- NOTHING SACRED NOW. Brynmor, loq.: Ivor, spare that Ijeek! Touch not a single root! Tis time that I should speak. Touch not a single root! Tis time that I should speak. Though others ma.y be mute. There's nothing sacred now. Men will their vengeance wreak On highest, thi.1gs-so how Can we insure the Leek? Avaunt.. poor Daftodil- Thou vain and foolish one. Hold to the Leek I will. In spite of Ivor John! IDRIS. rlower Church Magazine tells this story: —At the close of the evening service in a certa'n pla-ce of warship, the leader of the choir went to the minister's vestry in a state of burning indignation a.t something that the said minister had said or done in regard to the musical part of the service. Quoth the gentleman "You do think, zur, that the congregation do come to church for to hear you but us would have you to understand, zur, that t-.iey do come for to hear we!" The interchange of shots between Coun. Morgan Tutton and Coun. T. Merrells. at Tuesday evening's meeting, was very effec- tive. "What about the Cray Works"—upon which £50,000 or JB60,000 was spent with- out Local CGovernment Board sanction— called out the Labour member, when Mr. Tutton was expatiating upon the gravitv of the fact that £8,000 had, without authority, been laid out on telephone expansion. "L"t Mr. Merrells see to the management of the Dust Destructor," was the retort, and when j the laughter subsided Mr. Merrells got home with "It is being managed at least better than the public estate"—a rough touch on Mr. Tutton's most tender spot. --+- The attempt made to replace the leek with the daffodil as theem-btem of the Welsh people has met with a measure of success, which points to the general abandonment sooner or later of the vegetable. A change of this description is not carried out in a day, but the poults in favo<ur of the flower as corn- pared with the leek aTr so numerous and pal- pahle that it is practically inconceivable that through a mistaken sense of loyalty to an ancient, usage Welsh people will nersist j in wearing on the 1st of March so odorifer- ows and offensively pungent an article as the common leek. It is reported that an interesting new in- dustry is establishing itself at Swansea. Un the New Cut-road, near the North dock, j the Swansea Stone Block and -machine Co. are producing hollow concrete blocks, which it is claimed as a. material for house j building are not ot?ljv1 cheaper, but in other respects superior to stone or brick.) This poitni, is being put to a pncticaJl test at the Mumbles, where scime villas a.re be- j ing erected: with hollow ccncre'e, on the La n gland-road. On Thursday afternoon a party of gentlemen, including members of 1 the Swansea Council at the invitation of, the directors of the Company, paid a visit • of inspection to' the build/ngs. Whatever the cause—it may be due to the extension of the coal industry in the west—explosions and deaths from after- damp are becoming much more frequent locally than they were formerly. On Tues- day a heavy fall at the Lhvynhendy Col- liery released gas in such quantities a- to cause the death of a number of workmen in the vicinity. The attempts to rescue theui. though maintained with great courage aId persistency, were not successful because of the over-powering strength of th? poisonous gases, and two brave fellows lost their lives in their heroic work. It was providential that the explosion did not happen a couple of hours earlier else, instead of six victims, there might have been a hundred. j -+-+- The vas.t possibilities of the bioscope in visualising great happenings for the public are eloquently suggested by the moving pic- tores ai the Swansea Empire this week of the Berlin disaster. Here, hundreds of miles away from the Hook of Holland, I' people ar? enabled to see as in life the heroes of the rescue and the conditions on land whilst the desperate attempts at rescue were being made. But there are limitations even to the photographer. The audience, as they gaze upon the presentments of eompara- tively tranquil water, with only a common- place surf at the offing, may well be puzzled to account for the difficulties wiiich for days kept heroic men from the stranded steamer. The truth is, of course, that no camera j could be trusted touiake pictures of the hell of waters beyond the jetty, so that no ade- quate idea is conveyed of the dangers and difficulties of would-be rescuers once clear j of the protection afforded by these piers pushed out as far as possible. I A correspondent writing to the Swansea evening newspapers suggests that it is time the ratepayers gave serious consideration as to their position in regard to the Electricity Works. The balance sheet up to March 31st, 1906. showed the capital account had reached about £ 150,090 (which had sin:2 been increased to about £140,000). includ- ing a sum for watered capital to the extent [ of £10.964 mcm-red in t.i:lo? issue of stock and general expenses a.nd engin-cers's com- mission, whilst tbie stupendous sum of £ 72.445 had been absorbed in machinery, { accumallators, mains, etc. This business af- ter being in existence for years had been unable to produce any profit, but an actual loss of £ 1,127. Up to Marc h 31st last cuiily £ 11.500 had been paid into the sinking fund. This correspondent's view of the matter is that steps should lie taken to as- cez'iain whether the property oouid not, as in tine case of the Bath Corporation oofficern, be sold to a private company, so as to re- lieve the ratepayers of the burden. Th.is may be all very well, but there cannot be a sale withoiut a purchaser, and what private comfpany would be likely to repay the whole of the capital outlay, including its watered pa.rt for possession of the station as it stands, and the business as a goine concern? Then if sold, of course the charges would have to be higfber, and even though the num- ber of consumers is small in proportion to the population (less than one per cant, 'n fact), it is certain that the proposal to sell on even these favourable terms would meet, with strong opposition. Still, as it. stands, the electricity business is a fair example of the investments groaned under the beading j in the Corporation accounts of "Works of a remuneraitrve nature." Swansea Harbour Bill gassed its second reading cm Tuesday. This TVogress would have been impossible but for the withdrawal a week ago of a blocking motion by A Mr. Craig, a member for an English constit- uency. What prompted him to "block the Bill'' has not been ascertained, and indeed he had consented to withdraw it before it was possible to obtain any explanation for his opposition. Of corpse, the second read- ing does not dispose of the opposition from ether quarters, which M ill have to be dealt with when the Bill reaches the committee stage. Adventurous lads probide from time to time stories of daring escapades. On Mon- day last two Swansea boys named Peters and Edwards respectively, were the heroes of quite a thrilling adventure. They fixed themselves at Swansea on the axle of a fish truck with the intention of securing a free ride to Leeds, In this uncomfortable posi- tion they actually travelled as far as Built-h Wells. By that time they were more de-ad and alive, for the water trickling from the fish truck ca-ked on them in icicles and the boys were speechless a.nd number. The wonder is that they survived this experience and were able to hold on as they did to so precarious a seat. Swansea Council Committee has recom- mended an increase in the number of poll- ing stations in the St. Helen's and Ffynone Wards. The wonder is that the ratepayers have so long tolerated an arrangement by which a ward so scattered as St. Helen's was permitted to^LAVE but a single polling station. Fresh occasion for bringing about this reform was provided 1, the election of public auditors on Friday last when some hundreds of electors were unable to record their votes. On Friday the chief c-^iculty was not so much the scarcity of polling sta- tions, as the scarcity of clerks to deal with dispatch the ratepayers who came forward to \o'.e. So much time was spent, by the elector who succeeded in nenetrating inside that hundreds had to go awav unpolled. The fact is, of course, that in orevious years this election has been treated with so much public indifference that the Corporation officials never expected the rush that actu- ally took place. The result was the col- lapse described. Trade at the Swansea Harbour was about the best on record during the past week, the fine weather favouring the departure and arrival of freightage. Coal and patemit fuel combined were shipped to t'he extent of 87.5% tons, or nearly 20,000 tons more than "n the corresponding week of last year. The total exports reached 100,432 tons, imports 21,C26. or a total of 121,458 tons as compared with 93,513 tons the pre- vious week, and 102.286 tons tbe corres- ponding week The shipment of tirapiates was abnormally large, n.o fewer than 120,319 boxes being placed on board, and as the re- ceipts from the works reached only 105,012 boxes the quantity in stock was reduced to 119,669 boxes. AT Llanelly, notwith- standing THE favourable conditions, the to- tal shipments only reached 7,700 tons, 01 300 tons better than tb? previous week. Some 700 tons of tinplates were exported, and the imports a.mownted toO 1,700 tons, made up of sand, pig iron, cement, and 66 tons of block-tin. The South African newspapers which are now coming to hand, containing descrip- tions of the reception given to the Spring- boks, and "full reports of the speechef, made at various points and places, have one gra- tifying feature. Mr. Paul Roos and his comrades are consistently maintaining the note struck by them whilst in the United Kingdom. They regard their visit to this country as one calculated to dispel preju- dices between Briton and Boer, and eulogise in th.3 Highest terms the kindness shown them everywhere. They declared over and over again that the enthusiasm displayed by the crowds took them completely by sur- prise. MT. Paul Roos' speaking at the re- ception given in Cape Town, remarked that each member of the party would return to I his own district as virtually a missionary for a better understanding. The illustra^- trations in the "Cap;? Tiroes" and other publicationg Elhow, that practically th-e whole population turned out to welcome the home- com.'iag fcotbaMers. Incidentally, it WAS stated that Marsburg was t'he hero of the tour. especially in Wales, where his smile and doings .WOlt1 him the affection of the warm-hearted WC'I-.h people. Swansea Education Authority has adopted the hard and fast rule that the gas in school buildings used for social nuirooses must De put out at 11 o'loek. This is in conse- quence of a complaint that A whist dri ve at Morriston was prolonged far beyond the ^>URS for which leave had been obtained. It is to be deplored that the L.E.A. should give such grudging assent to applications for the use of school buildings after school ho<urs. The buildings are the property "f tho ratepayers, and so long as they are available in a satisfactory condition for the ¡ children, there is really no sound reason why they should not be freely used for other purposes. In many districts the schoolroom ;a the only place where a public meeting can LE held. We believe it wou'd be a legitimate exercise of facilities pro- vided out of RATES if tome S■ >T('in were in- troduced by which, for a fee to cover the cost of cleaning, gas, etc., each school build- ing should be available for every kind of meeting, festive and otherwise. The London County Council elections have I just concluded, and furnished AN example of the wonderful capacity of the BrTsh pub ic with all -ts traditional RESPECT for stability r and cons-tansy of opinion, f< r rnakino- vio- lent and. sudden changes with a rapidity that wou'd do credit to our volatile French friend/ The PROGRESSIVES—WHICH term embraces Liberals. Socialists, and the fore- most advocates üt the PELIRY of municipal enterprise—were routed—they have nsver been before. And strange to say, in Wales, with an electorate so widely dissimilar from that of the Metropolis, there are signs and portents of just such another change of view. Pembrokeshire 'Ounty had 180 Pro- gressives unopposed, and the Conservatives had 8. But in the nine first results to hand I THEI^ were no fewer than eight Conserva- tive victories and a clear gain to that party of five seats. From North Wales even more remarkable returns have come to hand. The Conservatives gained 36 seats alto- gether: GIynceriog and Cefnmawr. L'bera-1 strongholds both, went over to the enemy. Glamorgan Council returns unfortunately are hardly likely, as matters stand, with so many seats uncontested. to be capable of constituting such a test of change in poli- tical sentiment, and the labour dement also confuses the issue. But they will be await- ed with impatience; and on the strength of the results achieved elsewhere in Wales many w:Il be lead to expect a striking pub- lie protest against the policy embodied in j revolts and campaigns and general irritability and PUGNACITY^ • M..tters between the Welsh Rugby Union f and the Swansea Club and, players are get- ting steadily worse, and before long unless an improvement sets in we may expect an open rupture. At the present time it is the settled conviction in the town 'that fair, play cannot be expected for club or players from the Committee, and that this spirit. has infected the general lxxly o-f referees as well. "An Old Stager," writing to the "Daily Post," advocates the adoption of a I very heroic remedy. In his opinion the Club is helpless when opposed to the Union I Committee, and must, so long as it remains in the Union, put up with whatever in- justice may be inflicted upon it. In these I circumstances he urges that the best way out of the difficulty is to break away en- tirely from Rugby football, bring together a first-class Association team, and SO enable the dribbling code to obtain a real footing in South Wales. "Soccer" is certainly in- vading all the Rugby areas, and where the two codes are in close competition it is "Rugger" that declines n.nd disappears. A deal could be said in favour of the idea, which, at all events, is worth considering. It would seem as if the Swansea rate- payers are about to receive substantial re- lief by a relaxation, of the conditions under which £ 350,000 was borrowed for the Cray Water Works. The period for repayment of these loans is thirty years. whereas it has been constantly maintained that the period should not be less tha.n sixty years, having regard to the enduring char- acter of the work. During the past ycek the Mayor and the Chairman- of the Finance Committee have interviewed the Right Hon. John Bums. President of the Local Government Board, and it is reported, on apparently good authority, that the case for extending the period was so sym- pathetically received th.at there IS every probability of immediate, relief. so far as £ .{%").000 is concerned (which would reduce the annual charges of the Corporation by £1,400). and furthermore, that the Local Government Board would not resist an ap- plication to Parliament for powers to treat in the same way the remaining £25O,ooJ. Success in regard to the whole of the £350,CXX> would mean an annual saving to the present generation of Swansea rate- payers amounting to over £5)000 a year. Considering that a mo-t desirable im- provement is about to be effected-—the feupefl-vision of the condition of Swansea sands—the estimates submitted to Swansea Parks Committee on Tuesday are most satis- factory. The total was £2,567 13s. LID., AGAINST £ -2.682 for the past year, and £2471 the previous year. On the other hand there is, additional to this, a sum of £251 for music—an item that receives unanimous public approval—and £.11' for a CARETAJ<,R for the SA^IDS who should remove this. year the chroue complaints regarding the c'n. dition of the beach, and the behaviour of some of its habitues who gallop horses to and fro through a crowd of peop'e, etc. The announcement made on Wednesday that Mr. Philip Jenkins had decided not :o! take part in the contested election for Guar- dians in the Castle Ward was received with genuine regret by many people. The old gentleman, who is now an octogenarian, has been a faithful Guardian for 34 years, and there is occasion for surprise that he was not long ago made chairman of that body. On many occasions efforts have been put forth to that end, but- from some cause or I another this suitable finish to a useful pub- lic career has not been obtained. This.1> not for want of friends, even on the Board, 1 for Air. Jenkins is regarded with feelings .A esteem, not- to say atfection. by everyone brought into personal contact with him. Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., who incurred the wrath of the suffragettes last session by talking out the motion in tite House of Com- mons in which they were interested, is evi- dently not penitent. On the contrary, he persists in his determined opposition to J women's enfranchisement, and when the re-1 solution w-as brought forward on Wednes- j day he moved the followinr amendment: "That this House, being OF OPINION that the government of the country and of the Empire should be in the hands of men, de- clines to discuss a measure the ultimate re- sults of which would be to transfer such government into the hands of a maority con- i stituted of women." From this it might be inferred that Mr. Evans either has no m. J tention of again contesting a Parliamentary seat, or that he holds in contempt such op- position as the suffragettes are capable >f I offering. I I Welshmen have been having a fair share of the loaves and fishes of late in the way of Government appointments but Mr. Pick-1 ford S appointment to the judgeship, render- ed vacant by the promotion, O" Mr. Justice Kennedy, has cooked Mr. S. T. Evans' GVOS; i at least- For the Mid-Glamorgan M.P. had been very freely NAMED as in the runn'ng for the succession to the vacancy, with Mr. Rufus Isaacs, the brilliant Jewish advocate. as a RI\a also the very gentleman who has actually obtained the post Were the S^CRCT history of the appointment known it might afford a diverting example of an eleventh hour change of nviid; since Mr. Pickfoid is not a member of Parliament, although in h:s private capacity a Conservative. And] recent events in London the Brigg Div's on, and elsewhere, have rendered bye elections I inadvisable from the standpoint of the Gov- ernment. The new judge is Recorder of Liverpool, and the appointment is widely popular; it is to be commended also on the score of objections to party patronage in such a matter as judicial posts With the exception of two forwards from Llanelly, all the players on the Welsh side on Saturday are from Cardiff and district. This peculiar constitution of a professedly national side, which does not include a .1 single member of the champion team of the Kingdom, is the outcome of the suspension ) of Serine, the Swansea forward. App r- ently his enforoed withdrawal from the XV. merely required the bringing in of Gibbs, of Penarth, but through the REFUSAL of Trew to take part in the game, Owen, as inside- half, was left without a club-mate, and in the result the Committee decided to shut out the Swansea men altogfefner, and put in the two Cardiff halves, one of whom, Percy Bush, has been IAU unmitigated failure on every occasion that he has been tried in International football. A good many rea- sonable people in Swansea are not disposed I to justify the weakness of Serine for using objectionable language on the football field or elsewhere, but there was a suggestion in the circumstances attending his altercation with MT. Pollock, the referee of Newport, of deliberate provocation on the part of the latter after the game was over. Indeed the real importance of the incident does not lie in the question whether Serine was justly I penalised or not, but in the evidence which it appears to furnish of the strong preju- dices regarding Swansea players which dominate the majority of the members of the Welsh Committee. Rightly or wrongly, the impression prevails in Swansea. that neitlier the local club nor local players can I hope to receive fair treatment from the Committee. The accident at Llwynbendy reanincfis a correspondent tJmt most of TBE. serious acci- dents and tragedies ah-ronicied at Llanelly occur on the eastern side of that town. Whether it is the undesirable notoriety which its pcs'tion as one of the "Welsh revolt" oount'es has gained or not., Glamor- gan seems to be a place of which teach- ers are fighting shy. Port Talbot-Schools Group on Tuesday, for example, received in- tima.tion from an Abergwynfi school that three of the classes had no teachers at all that a fourth cla&S HAD no teachers at all presently and the pocr headm.ster would peremptorily shut up the school failing re- i medy-aoout the best —L"OG he could do. Nor was this Abergwynfi school the only one in the area of the managers in such a deplorable plight. The schools inspector submitted a list of five schools without cer- j tificated' tea.chers-a record which can reason- ably be described as appalling when cnc; reflects on the probable quality of ths in- struction—A ca-se verily of the blind lead- ing 0 rteac-hing the blind. This is an un- usual experience for one schools', area. it must be admitted, but the maladyj of which it displays such aggravated syirtptoms is common all over the country. And Wales is receiving such fluttering eulogies en the perfection of her higher education just at i present, too I-and. what is more, has dotK? so much to deserve them. But if ttn standard of elementary instruction is low. the effect, will 6peedily be perceptible. If the foundation of the building is faulty, no architectural elaboration or good work- manship in the upper storeys will preserve it. A little difficulty over the Swansea Police Superannuation Fund was temporarily over- come by an arrangement whereby officers entitled to retire on superannuation, were allowed to continue in tho service if physic- ally fit, receiving a 25 per cent. increase of wa.ges. Such an arrangement excited some criticism at the time, since it obviously interfered with promotion, and retained in the force a number of officers who. if able to pass a test. were nevertheless beyond their prime. However, in view of t'1e: condition of the superannuation fun), it was deemed the best method of solving the problem presented by the inability of the latter to meet the calls that would be made upon it. The question cropped up at Tues- day's meeting of the Watch Committer, when Sergt. Thos. Evans, who had comp'e ed his 26 YEARS' service, asked to be per- ittcd to take advantage IF the arrangement and continue in the force, with a 25 per cent, increase. Eventually, after a di-> cuss-on, in which the above objections were raised, it was decided to grant the arpl | cation and discuss the principle afterwards, But in the long run it would h2 the wisrr policy to put the superannuation fund on a sound financial basis in prrferance to the existing plan, which is calculated to promote discontent and cause many detrimental heart; burnings amongst the younger officers of the force, who see others who have exceeded the age limit serving on, with substantially increased pay, and filling the poits that would otherwise become available for young blood. And youth with the corresponding alertness and fitness is a prime essential in a police force nowadays. The necessity of granting laTger powers to local bolies is being insisted upon by Sir John Llewelyn during his present eam-I paign. With his ripe experience of County: Council work, he has d'seovered the county body is overweighted with duties and that local prejudice on the part of a dominant clique is a factor that tells perceptibly in formulating of decisions. In thfc case of the Glamorgan body it is the Rhondda re- presentation which IschargNI w th R-Mus- ing to allow fair plav to the Western dis- tricts in Carmarthenshire it is an incessant complaint with Llanehy public men that that the representatives of the remainder of the county permit the prejudices that invari- ably arise from geographical or economical causes—the antagonism of the agricultural to the industrial class for instance—to act to the deriinent of the interests of the most important division which is represented on that body. • Much of this can be attributed t oa quite natural desire to secure the larger: share of financial expenditure up' n the dis- tricts of the particular section wnich is nu- merical'V powerful, although it may repre- sent a portion of the county entitled to in- ferior consideration. But the geograpliical) prejudice, as it ma.y be termed, is originated in suoh a manner, a change on the lines suggested by Sir John Llewelyn would be much fairer to the county divisions which are in a minority on the Council, and would relieve the latter body of a. cumbersome task. With the TENDENCY to gra.nt larger and still larger powers to the "man on 1 the spot," reform should, however, come in time. Antiquarianism and complementary scienti- fic research are not matters of very general interest SAV-? to a few enthusiasts but it would be a dull witted :erson indeed who could not relish a local history dating b' ck to the earliest times TO which scientific guess work can go, and describing changes wrought by nature and by man in Swansea and its environs. But so far nobody has yet been 'ound who comb'nes the necessary "knowledge and scientific equipment w:t'I the literary skill and grace and imaginative power; who could write such a book, not necessarily as a dry chronological record, but in a series of sketches descriptive of phases of life in various epochs and at d'F- ferent crises in local h/storv. These re- marks a.re stimulated by the glimpses into the past which was given by Mr. Morgan Jones in his lecture to Swansea Scientific I Society on Monday, on the subject of sea 'I erosion. His sunnises went back to a time when Gower peninsular was covered by a very shallow sea; when the water washed the base of what ;s now known as Constitution Hill, dim ages ago. So FAT as the coast-line in the immediarte vicinity of Swansea is concerned, there is no reason to ;magine there ever has been any very violent convulsion of nature- Swansea. Bay, with its enormous area exposed at low water, might almost. be said to resemble a section of the Dutch coast were it not for the fringe of low hills, and to have been subj. ct to similar gentle, imperceptible moukrnga.t the hands of Nature. It would certainly not be beyond engineering capa- city to reclaim most of the area of sand lying within a line drawn from the Mumbles Head to the Slip. There is progress in matters other than New Theology. In bis parish magazine, the Vioar of St. GAJTIRIERS, Swansea, says:—"I notice that a Hajmajniet cshaped choir has been recently rendering Mozart's Twelfth Mass, ACD the papers suggested they were leading the way m Swansea for the per- formance of this kind of nrusic in church and chapel. It shows how the minds of people develop m time. Ten or twelve years ago St. Gabriel's Choir wished to give HaAn- del's Stabat Mater, and had began to prac- tise it, but it raised such a storm of protest among sober-minded Churchmen, who con- sidered we were going over to Rome at once., that we felt it was wiser to withdraw it. But times change, amd we change with them." But what of the S<WA.NISEA chapel choir who are tackling Antoa Dvorak's in- tricate "Stabat Mater' ?

SWANSEA MUNICIPAL TELE- PHONES. Determined opposition is being offered to the pioposed sale of Swansea Municipal Telephones to the National Company. The latter is prepared to repay the who!? of the capita] outlay, amounting to .624,003; pur- chase the Exchange Building at JB2,700, and PAY a ground rent of JB56 in respec t of the same, and allow the Corporation to retain £ 1,900, the profits which it is estimated will have been made by the 31st of Maich. Also to give an undertaking that subscribers to the Municipal system shall be allowed undisturbed use of their telephones on the present terms for a period of two years, after which date the rentals are to be those arranged between th Postal Authorities and the National Company for areas similar to Swansea. These terms were submitted to a private meeting of the Council on Tuesday last, and after an exhaustive discussion it was decided (only three members. Counci- lors MerreUs. M. Hopkin and U. Colwill dissenting) to sell the property to the Com- pany. The public meeting of ratepayers, convened by the Mayor for the same even- ing, was well-attended, especially by users of the telephone who really formed the pre- ponderating element.. A strong opposition was developed from the outset, and it was soon clear that a resolution approving of the action of the Council would be deCeated if put to the vote. Whether the meeting tr. this respect was representative of the general body of ratepayers, is a very moot point. We believe that if a poll were taken an overwhelming majority of the votes would be cast in favour of disposing of the undertaking on the terms offered by the National Company. The spokesmen for the side desirous of continuing the system as a ¡ municipal concern took the line that the Corporation telephones were greatly su- perior to those of any other system, and' that since this good service c,plild be fur- nished cheaply end yet yield a substantial profit, a serious blunder would be commu- ted in selling the undertaking. The prin- cipal reason put forward to justify the sale, the hostility of the two Government De- partments, was brushed aside. It was con- tended that the sanction nf the Local Gov- ernment Board could be obtained if the Cor- poration were persistent in pressing for it. and that public opinion could be relied upon to secure equitable terms for the sys- tem from the Post Office Authorities in 1921. The value of the first proposit on could easily be put to the test; as for the other, we have means for gauging the ex- tent public opinion weighs with the Pcst- master-General. in the present refusal to give anything like the market value of the system. In the end the meeting adopted a resolution calling upon the Council to cir- cularise the subscribers, with a view of a." certain ing whether they are prepared to pay -01 a, year more pe.r rental each, in order that the present competition may be main- tained. Unless there is virtual umnimity in consenting to this, the sale of the pro- perty is bound to be carried out. if only because the refusal of any considerable pro- portion, will have the effect of knocking out the bottom of the else against selling the system. It is highly suggestive that the members of the Council, who are in possession of all the facts, are nearly unani- mous in wishing for the acceptance of the Company's offer, and so get quit of a busi- ness which if retained may, in the altered circumstances, prove an expensive white elephant.

GUARDIANS AND DISTRICT COUN- CILS NOMINATION DAY. UNUSUAL INTEREST IN SWANSEA NOMINATIONS. CONTESTS IN ALL WARDS SAVE ONE. Thursday noon was the last day and time for receiving nominations both for Guar- dians and District Council elections through- out the country. In Swansea more than ordinary interest was manifested in the mat- ter by reason of the official nomination in reveral cases of Labour candidates. With- drawals may take place up to Tuesday next, 3rd the election is fixed for March 25t-h. The SWANSEA Board of Guardians is made up of 49 members, composed of 32 repre- sentatives of the borough and 17 representa- tives (the district councillors) of the out- lying districts of the. Swanse-a Union area. The borough representation is divided into ordinary wards, each having three repre- sentatives except Landore and St. John's, which have four each. iNominations were handed in to the Clerk (Mr. Llewellin Jenkins) at the offices, Alex- andra-road, during the morning and candi- dates in little groups here and there talked their prospects over. The following are the nominations (* old members):— BRYNMELYN (3 seats). "SIEDLE, Edward Henry; 58. Walter-road, pawnbroker. Proposer, Percy Molyneux, and seconder. Thomas Harry. 'GRIFFITHS, David, 7. Chaddesley-terraoe, Company Secretary. Proposer. Henry C t- cliffe; seconder. Thomas Beynon. KOWELLS, Thomas William. 3, Hall-terraee, tinplate assorter. Proposer, George Knapp; seconder. William Brazell. (Returned Unopposed). ALEXANDRA (3 seats). *WILLIAMS, Emily Margaret. 20, Beaufort- terrace. Proposer, J. S. West; seconder, Reuben Parker. MILLER, John, 65, Watkin-street, joiner. Proposer. Wm. Owen; seconder. George Owen. 'LEWIS, John Gomer. 23, Belle Vue-street. minister of Gospel. Propoeer. Joshua Jones; seconder, John Lewis. OWENS. Wm. 14. Jones-terrace, oheck- weigher. Proposer. Thos. Merrells; secon- der, George Owen. DAVIES, David Arthur. The Promenade, provision merchant Proposer. Thos. Ben- son; seconder. Moses Jonee. ♦JENKINS, Jacob. Alexandrarroad. coal merchant. Proposer, Evan Griffiths; se- conder. Dd. Williams (Mrs. Williams represented St. Helen's previously). VICTORIA (3 seats). *HARVEY, John. Russell-street, contractor. Proposer, Samuel Williams; seconder, John Williams. *SOI.OMON, H. G.. Northampton-place, in- surance and general broker. Proposer, Samuel Williams; seconder, John Williams. 26 papers. ROGERS. Harry, Myteydd-stree^, licensed victualler. Proposer, Chae. Penny; se- conder. J. W. Delahay. POWESLAND, John. 7. Clifton Hill. coal tipper. Proposer. W. Turner; seconder, George Morris. MORRISTON. 8HA RRIS, Ellen (Mayoress). Crown Villas, Morriston. Proposer. Josiah Griffiths; se- conder. Morgan Griffiths. 118 papers. WILLIAMS. Thomas Trevor, Woodfleld- street, Morrisfon, tinplate shearer. Pro- rfaer, Samuel Jeffreys; seconder. Thomas Tobias. ♦WILLIAMS, A. Jane 16. John-street. Mor- riston. Proposer, David Matthews; se- conder, Thos. James. 108 papers. *MEREDITH, John, Slate-street. Morriston, foreman shipper. Proposer. Enoch Thomas; seconder. Wm. Grey. MORGAN, John. Woodfield-street. Morriston, newsagent. Proposer, Wm. Watkins; .e conder, James Cranch. TREHARNE, William Samuel. Woodfield- street, Morriston. confectioner. Proposer, Wm Harding^ seconder. Elias Morgan. EAST. *EVANS, Edward Owen. Ysgol-street, minis- ter of Gospel. Proposer, Roger Thomas; seconder, John Thomas. 43 papers. WILLIAMS. Thomas. 28. Windmill-terrace, engine driver. Proposer. Dd. Williams; seconder, George Col will. .THOM.AS. John. 67, Pentreohwyth-road, grocer. Proposer. H. J. Sees; seconder, John Grove. *PEACOCK, H. A., Fabian-street, jeweller. Proposer, R Yeo; seconder, George Hill. LANDORE WARD (4 seats). *HUGHES. Hannah. 11, John-street. IJryn- hyfryd, married woman. Propoc-r, Dd, R-ees Davies; seconder, Wm. Harnee. RICHARDS. David, 97. Sydney-street. Bryn- hyfryd, railway signalman. Propoeer, Dd. j Williams; seconder. Robert Davies. ♦DRYDEN. Thomas. 201. Neath-road, Lan- dore, chemist and drugist. Proposer, Dd. Bevan; seconder, Dd. Thomas. LLOYD, Wm. George, 1,193, Neath-road, Pla-s- marl, furnisher and jeweller. Proposer, W. R. Jenkins; seconder, John Ace. LLEWELLYN. Llewellyn, 126. Brynhyfryd, Landore, grocer. Proposer, Jeremiah Lott, Hughes; seconder, Daniel Evans. CASTLE WARD (3 seats). "l'ARR, Win. M7, High-street, licensed vic- tualler. Proposer. John Pric Jones; se- conder, Edwin Jones. 63 papers. ♦THOMAS, Wm Arthur. Bryuheulog Bryn- road, solicitor. Proposer. Wm. James; seconder, f rthur M. James. ♦JENKINS, Pliiiip. 8. Oatland's-terrace, draper. Proposer, Griffith Thomas Archi- bald; seconder. John Puntan. DILLWYX. Elizabeth Amy. Ty Glyn, West Cross. spinster. Proposer, Odo Rich-ird Vivian; seconder, Thomas Talfourd Strick. (Miss Dillwyn represented Brynmelin previously.) BASSETT, Dd John, Grafton House, 102, St. Helen's-avenue, merchant. Proposer, ny. Cave; seconder. Albert Hy. Evans. ST. HELEN'S (3 sea.t.s). "W ATKINS. Richard, Siddall House, Alexan- dra-road, builder. Proposer. H. Watkins; seconder, J. W. Jones. CP-ONIN. Bartholomew, 6. Grafog-street, Port Tennant, assurance agent. Proposer, Wm. Butler; seconder. Fred Wm. Nancar- row. EDWARDS, John Vaughan. 20. Eaton-cres- cent, solicitor. Proposer. J. W. Jones; Me conder, J. Moy Evans. "PERKINS. Adelaide. Brynmawr. Skefcty, married woman. Proposer, Oscar Snellin-j; seconder. Edith Reed. MORRIS. Honry, 33, St. Alban s-road, retired licensed victualler. Proposer, Thomas Chislett; seconder. John Douglas Davies HOPKIN. Morgan, 60, Trafalgar-terrace, butcher. Proposer, Wm. Howells; seconder, Wm. Hy. Hill. ST. JOHN'S (4 seats). ♦DEVONALD, Joseph, 132, Robert-street, Manselton. accountant. Proposer. I d. Thomas Williams; seconder. Dd. Thomas. 66 papers. "MICBELL. Geo.. Samuel, 41, Neath-o?.d, stationer. Proposer. John Phillips; se- conder, Rd Thomas Williams *HANLTN, John, 25. Manselton-road. Man- selton. engine driver. Proposer. Hi. Clarke; seconder, Geo. Williams. *JEFFREYS, Hy. Charles, 231. Carma-then- road, grocer. Proposer. Tsane IJoyd: se- conder, D'l. Richards. LAKE. Dd. Phillip, 36. Gerald-street, K.ifod, fitter. Propcser. Eces Burman; seconder. Noah Owen. FFYNONE (3 seats). *GREY. David. Montpclier, The Avenue, Post. Offlc; official. Proposer. John Adams Rawliug-: seconder, Gwilym Morgan. ♦STEVENS. James Henry, 1. Terrace-road, Mount Pleasant, contractor Proposer. Gwilym Morgan; seconder. C .T. Ruth STEPHENS, Geo. Arbour. 61. Walter road, 0 doctor of medicine. Proposer, Morgan Tmton; seconder, Geo. Luff. ♦LEWIS, John. 1. Chaddesley Villas, timber merchant. Proposer, John Bennett: se- conder. Robert Foulkes Gee. ♦COLLETT, Jchri Frederick, 4. Nicholl-street, musical instrument dealer. Proposers, W. Talbot Rice. Thomas Edwards, Fred Manning. James Wignall, Daniel O'Con- nell, Alfreel Barry. H. B. Solomon, Charles R. Hollister. Councillor W. H. Miles. W. Haynes, 'r H. Stevens, G. R. Lloyd. Arthur Childs, Daniel Guy. J. Lynch. Peter Soren- j seu, Mary Eimma Brock. J. S. Matheson, W. H. Davies, George Dodson, D. Bowen, W. C. Jenkins. T. Nicholls. Thomas E. Jones, T. Cogswell, F, Thorogood. S. Davies. D. A. Roderick. D. H. McDonald, Elizabeth Davies; seconders, Clarence Seyler, Henry Blackmore, Alfred Brown. R. H. Thomas, 1'. H. Cartwright, W. J. Rogers. B. Smitn. W. Morgans, D. H. Charles, H. Brown. W. J. Merriman, W. J. Roberts. W. Peaks W. James, Witliam Gammon, Emma Seidle, W. John. J. A. Thomas. Rev. E. D. Henry. J. C. Sheffield, J. B. Abraham, Peter HU$<I«9> J. 3. Gallic. John George. D F. Thorn is, D. H. Daries, Ben Jones. T. G.. Basseit, S. Davies. DAVIES, Ben. Frondeg, Heathfield-rt ad, grocer and. privision merchant. Proposer, Wm. Walter; seconder. Wm. Bevan. EVANS, John. 1. Chaddesley-terrace, retired hatter. Proposer, Dd. Davies; seconder. Dl. Ed. Evans WILLIAMS, Hy Gillin, 20. Ffynpne-street, manager of lime works. Proposer Dd. Thomas Williams; seconder. Geo. Bowci. EVANS, Dd.. 37. Carl ton-terrace, insurance agent. Proposer, Edwin Chappell; seoonder Wm. Archibald Morris. I (Mr Collett represented Alexaudra Ward (previouslv). OPPOSITION IN NINE OUT OF TEN WARDS. It will be teen there is opposition in nine out of the ten wards, but it is certain rhnt between this ,nd Tuesday there will be several withdrawals. At least two other nominations arrived too late, one of them having been taken to the Guildhall by mis- take Mr Philip Jenkins the doyen of the Board, wanted to rc.irc on account of his advanc- ing age. bit his friends nominated him and the-, are going to see he does not withdraw. He has been about 34 years on the Board.

TRAGEDY OF A DUNVANT HOME. HUSBAND ARRIVES WITH IN- JURED SPINE. TO FIND WIFE HAS GONE I AWAY. Thomas John Rees, Company-row, Dun vent, met with a rather serious accident whilst following his employment as a tram- mer at Comimorcial CVAlierv, Kina)", on Tuesday. He WAS engaged in filling a tram of coal by a shaft when a fall of roof took place. Wht-n extricated it was found that he had injured his spine. He was conveyed home OIL an ambukuKc AND attended to by Dr. Perkins, Sketty The accident is particularly sad, for when Rees got to has hoane it was found that his wife had left without giving any intimation as to her destination- She had taken t,he two moaths old baby with her, and left be- hind unattended the four other children, the eldest of whom is OI1'ly six years of age. A "Daily Post" reporter had an inter- view with Ree6 on Wednesday. His little mother-forsaken children were in a playful mood by the fire, quite unconscious of their sad environmemt. A young couple who have apartments in the house were taking care of them Withwut ANY interrogation by ouT repre- sentative, the injured man remarked: j "Misfortunes do not come singly when I arrived home on Tuesday I received a letter which was intended for her, which dearly proved that an elopement was premeditated. I received another letter this morning ad- dressed to myself in which she states that she did not intend returning. Tbe writer of the letter was the man Who has been the cause of this trouble

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. DEMANDED BY SWAN8EA CHUiiOH COUNCIL. The National Council of Free Clrarches, i*t Leeds on Thureda*. called for Wet& Dm- eatahilisihment and the supp ^rw^W, alluding to the forthoom. ins Hajrue Conference, said there was no EIU-OPESUT Sovereign who DID N^ J^ PEACE, J and hT specially included the G>erma« Em- peno.r, and there was no one, so earnest a,b<mt the matter as the Prime Minister and Sir Edward Grey. laoi Macla-rcn was c-boeen Preswtent-elect. 8,00 next yoar's conferecr* will be at South- j port.

NEATH NOTES. The Farce of Evening- Sittings. Labour Tactics on the Council. We are having a lively time-a. very lively time indeed. We are in the throes of a triennial- elec- tion. And people at such times say lots of nasty things about each other—things which they axe sorry for when they again become sane. Still we don't get the mud slinging, the flour a.nd rotten eggs distribution of thirty years ago. Hostilities now are conducted on different lines. Wordy allegations are thrown indiscrim- inately a,bout, and the andidate who can sling in the most effective style is geneialiy the man who is successful at the poles The average elector l".e.s a fighter, and as he hasn't the ability to read between the lines he \'otes for the 'fighter." When the Liberal-Laoour Party last No- vember were in full war paint the 'orny "awiecl sons of toil turned up in force at the meetings, and revelled in coarse per- sonalities. But after the election when the fevee died out, we have seen l'ttle of them Pandering to these )lk, the Liberal-La- bour Party changed the time of meeting from 10.30 a.m. until 7 p.m. "The working men want evening sitt- ings," we were told, "and they have <1 right to ha.ve them." With what result? Since November the working men a.; a body have been conspicuous by their ab- sence. For instance, at last Tuesday night's meet- ing of the Counc; ¡, one was present at the start, and at the finish there was the gigan- tic total of seven, two of whom were not ratepayers. And it was for this then that the Town Clerk and his staff were greatly inconveni- enced, and also a section of the Council itself. We are told now that it was only an ex* periment. and that what the working men asked for they have had. Did the working men ask for it at all? If they did they asked for what the1 didn't want. By a.nd bye they'll be asking for the moon, and if the labour oratorica. aeron- auts don't go up and fetch it they'll get the order of the sack. This pandering to certain clans of the working men will bring its own "reward," and perhaps sooner than the local Labour leaders think. The middle class, who have to pay the piper, are not always going to leave the cho'ce of the tune to the 'orny anded sons of toil.. All these movements overreach themselves- With'n a few days of the time of writing, a prominent member of the Trades and Labour Oounci- said that his body were no longer going cap in hand L) the Progressive Association or the Liberal Club; that hift party were quite strong enough, and in- tended for the future to playoff their own bat. Both the members of the Liberal Club ami the members of the Progr<;ss)ve Asso- ciation took umbrage at this, and they have selected tlwir own candidates—Dr. J. W. Thomas and Mr. Levi .,ames; leaving the Trades and Labour Council to do as they liked. Then the latter started squabbling among themselves, and the result of the bother is not known at the time of writing thuse notes. But what has Mr. Evan Evans, the eX. superintendent of police, done to the Lib- eral-Progressive Party ? MT. Evans is a Liberal, and 1 believe always has been one. Yet they have left him out in the cold, and pinned their faith to Mr. Levi James, who has recently developed a strong pen- chant for making public speeches. But aft/ all "the old super may prove- a thorn in the official side on Mrrch 25th. Of course, "Sir. Hopkin Jones, for over 26 years a guardian, must go, and this be- cause he is a Churchman and n Conserva- tive. Public services, and serriops-of 4,1 r-at value to the ratepayers, count as nought when the mn,n who has performed them is not of the Liberal-Labour Party. Aid. Trick must share the same fate, and « for a similar reason. But are these good folk, whose sanity the recent electoral victories has almost sapped, going to have matter, a'.l their own way? They can get it on the Council, where as recent'y as Tuesday night they appointed the mayor overseer instead of Aid. Charles, who has, in conjunction with his colleagues, performed the important .dutie.s connected with the office admirably tor many years. Was there any need tor the change? Absolutely none, and none was shown by Coun. J. R Jones, the mover of the amend- ment. Then what was the reason? Simply this: Aid. Charles is a Church- man and Conservative, and the Mayor is a. Nonconformist and a Radical. How long are the thinking public going to tolerate such tactics? I have no desire to go into personalites. Comparisons are generally odious, They would not be to Aid- H. P. Charles in con- nection with the Latest splenetic outburst of the Liberal-Labour members of the Coun- cil. People have already had enough of suck pettifogging actions. And Feb. 25th will prove it, too. -+ --+ We had quite a little sensation at Tues- day's meeting of the Guardians. Mr. Evan Evans, the rejected of the official Liberal Party, told of accusations which he alleged had been made by Mr. Levi James as to the unsatisfactory quality of 'the meat supplied to the Cottage Homes and Workhouse. He stated that Mr. James had said that some of it was only fit for dogs to eat. If these remarks were made by Mr. James they were amply disproved by the members of the Workhouse Visiting Committee and by the Matron herself, who said that the meat was quite satisfactory. The Rev. Henry Hughes, a Nonconformist and Radical, who is a member of the Visiting Committee, stated that he wished he had meat of such excellent quality on his table every day of the week, and other members testified to its excellence. What's going to happen, I wonder.' Uu to now Mr. Evan Evan6 has scored. According to Mr. Evans, Mr. James had stated that the Contracts Committee was composed of a few drapers and grocers. Well, assuming this to be true, let me ask what better qualified men could we have than drap- ers to select grocery? But as a matter of fact every member of the Guardians can be present at the meetings of the Contracts Committee, and most of them avail themselves of the opportunity. Mr. James has apparently raised a hot* nets' nest. Or Mr. Evan Evans has for rum. U OBSERVER.

=- FATALITIES NEAR NEATH. MELYN WOMAN S COUGHING SEIZTTMB, Mrs John, wife of John John. tin worker. Briton Ferry-road, Melyncrythan, died sud- denly in her house on Wednesday. giw was seized "ith 1\ fit of coughing, and ,,as3«d away before medical aid could be sum- mooed. SKEWEN MINISTER'S WIFE'S DEATH. Mr Edward Powell (deputy coroner) held an inquest on Wednesday at Skewen. :<ear Neath, touching the death of Mary Howell, wife of the Rev. Wm. Howell. Calvinistle Methodist minister. Skewen. Dr Jones said the cause of death was car- diac failure caused by ehrouic bronchitis. Verdict accordingly

LADY ARTIST'S DISAPPEARANCE. The Ottawa. correspondent of the "Daily Mail" cables that great anxiety contmuea to be felt there in high official quarters, as well as in the artistic profession over the disappearance of Arthur Behenna., AR- t ist, a distant relation of Mr Linooln B&. lu:nr.a of Swansea. She was lost from the moment she quitted a railway saloon car at Montreal. It is believed she has gone '0 Xew York or to N«wp0tfc, itnode Island.