The South Wales Daily Post

THE BRITISH AT CHITRAL. GF-NERAIJ LOW TilAI-KS THE TROOPS A "Rector's telegram front (1.itrn! on Friday A ft«r reviewing the troops on ln8 ia-rival here, Sir Robert addressed the oftoers and men, praism? gallant defence by the Chitral s<arrisou, the splendid matnh of Colonel Kelly's column from OiJgit, nd the vigmji- and energy with whicii il-enera-l Gatacre 11r.1 the 3rrl Brig*c!e 1.3,1 pushed forward from Dir to the of the besieged fort The general a.f¡!nh íns1-- f1'¡¡ 'Ter.1ent *epa.ratcly. The whole fowe jiaraded was imder h, command of General Gatacre. Dr. P-obertson was abt3 to go out to me-t General Low on his arrival.

ACCIDENT TO LORD SON. A Reuter's telegram from Simla says: — Lieutenant the Hon. F H. S. Kobert^s. son J Lord Bobert-i. who is with General Kim- brigade of the Chitral t:pedition. has rosea his a-rm. The injury appears to have be&1)flt by a.u aoe-ident.

FRANCE AND MADAGASCAR DEFliAT OF THE HOVAS. A Ke-.cer's fceiegratr. from Mojacga. on Sun- ilav r^y*:—The Sakalave Kitlemen, who con- the 1st Battalion of the Colonial Regi ment. ha vo had a sharp ent<aarement with a la r/e body of HoTas, whom they met to the 0'" tl1 east "NTarori ay and attacked rigorously wiWi the bayonet. The Hcvaa filed. i«s»,ving fttl on the field. Msuy more were wounded. The y Was one ii«»itenant ami twelve riS«»neu wotinrtod, four wcrsly. Th& rifle- men afterwards cccrpied th. Hova, eainp at Aniboudemonte. The tai Fre.n?h Brigade con- tint: its advance, and has res hed An(- ifiiro, .1 wJifct about nine miles beyond Marovoay. t.i-neral ThKh' "r> the eoam-jiider in chiet, has -.timed tr> Mojawsa.

A News tclgrain fro-n Ss-nwago (C^iili)! on Saiturda- aays: The Cv.grsesaonai rWaoa. tno i ■rgvet and naoe.t important! publio tiuilding in c-i'Tr, and all ita oointIttB, we enUieiy destroyert hy this morning. AH »it*mpfc» to i^ieck thw conda^ration prowfi fuiK>e, ?th! ev<Mt the State archives, tbs larlia- 1],6T: ts rv records, tnJ the lib.Ttry were burnt to

"CYMRU FYDD" vJ FEDERATION. i MASS MEETING AT FERNDALE. SPEECHES BY AIR. LLOYD-GEORGE AND MR. ALFRED THOMAS. Ferndaie bids fair "o become the Waterloo of the (Jymru Fydd and Federation struggle. Last Saturday week Mr. D. A. Thomas and Lr. Bryn Boberbs hekl a. meeting in Tudor-hall on behalf of the South Wales Federation. Ou Saturday night- a. reply meeting was held m the sanies plaoe by Mr. Lloyd-George on behalf of organisation, aad the friends of the l itter a,re congratulating themselvesi on having secured a larger, more enthusiastic, and unanimous gathering. A iarge crowd met the hon. members at f ^rndaU Railway Station, and fteaded by a brass }»nd. escorted them to the fiali, wheTts t-he rush for admission developed into such a. crush, a.t the door rhat the outside gate was broken. The room was crowded, many at thet back having to stand, a.nd the en- tnusi3a.ni was remarkable. The chairman was Mr. D, Thomas, county councillor, WHO at the las« election defeated Mr. Morgan Thomas, geaerttsly credited witu having organised the pre'dous Saturday's meeting. On the platform were Dr. Parry, J.P I)r. Morn:?, C.C., Dr. Thomas, the Revs. D. G. Williams, 1..Jones,, I. Henry. O. 11 ae-i- fryn Hughes. T Humphreys, and 8. (Jhjtrles, Alessrs. T Bevan Cashier. E Rees, Rd. Morris, C.G., J. Richards. T. Samuel, A. Tibbott, 1): Edwards, I). Davies, and R. D. Chalks SPEECH BY MR. ALFRED THOMAS Mr. Alfred Thomas. M.P., said those who knew the history of Wales knew that dissen- sion hud been their bane as a nation. But when Wales was united >he had eonojiered. (Applause.) There was a good deal of unity now, btui not so much he would like to and not anytlucg like what he expected to see in the near future. (Great cheering.) Some j little time since the memorable meeting of Welsh Nationalists was held at Ai>«rystwith, when the Young Wales movement was maugu- rateu. It was true they had not yet succeeded in gaining that, complete unity for which they looked, but what they had already achieved in I that direction, taking into account how diffi- cult it was ia old times even to get a sem- I blance of unity, was simply marvellous. (A p- plause.) 1 ivy had already united two 0/ the three organisation* which contained the Liberal electorate of Wales, and that end had been reached by the voluntary action erf those who were anxious and detea-mined to bring into exis- tence an organisation that would voice the will and wishes of the Liberals of At present many vho would have joined the Young Wiles movement were waitrug for their local associations to meet and d'scuss the desirability of joining the Welfh National Federation. (Applause.) Tiiey trusted that no unnecessary deiay would occur, aa such a course could not but be most unfortunate I for the welfare and efficiency of Welsh representation in the House of Commons. It was with deep regret he noticed that- the only evidence of the want of unity had arisen ui South :iies, and that want was more appa- rent than real, and mor" individual than common. (Applltuse.) He trusted that the different associations throughout South Wales would immediately take up the an discuss the. question, and he had not t* e ?t ghtest doubt as to the result. (Appui&e.) They needed a strong federation to baok up I and, if need be, to lead the Welsh members; they wanted a body always ready to speak tor an un; ted Wales—one tha.t would cake up any case of hardship or push forward any- one paramount Welsh question. He. there- tore, appealed to all those who ioved Wales to approach thv question of the uniting of their country in a. spirit- of self-sacrifice, animated bv unly one desire and determination to do nothing that would impede unity and peace, and to do all tiiey oouM to further the happiness and prosperity of their feilo-v- eountrymen and to uphold and maintain t-hc honour, and dignity of their dear little laud of Wales. (Great cheering.) MR. LLOYD-GEORGE"3 SPEECH. Mr, LIoyd-Georse. M. P., also wt-i a spies-did reception. Th-e greater 'part of his speech was in Wehh, and he explained at the out-sf^t that tii^y Iia<l ?oin^ tht ch to sav a few words in reference to the remarks made by Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P.. and Mr. vi] Roberts, M P. tlw^re on the pre- vious Saturday evening upon tlw re- organisation of the Liberal forces. h- ^aVe grp«Jid to stert with. ■ th* feactif^g the ehairmiwi appealed for neaec. and said that he "desired to see the ("rmatiiHl of an as.-ociation as wide as Wales •tself to deal with all TVelsh matters--peace on the basis of one united organisation wide as w ates itelf" to ass-ist in the attainment of Welsh objects. Did tiny all agree to that? If diu, the next step was to (iisoover who and what stood in tlx- way of the accomplish- ment of tha.t aim. When they found out the obstacle, would they agree with lum that the (-minis of their country were paramount, and t.ha; all spctional and personal matters whioh constituted chat obstacle should be swept on one I Very well, then, t.hev had a ba-se to start upon. Thc-y started together to discover who and what o-.n-Wed peace and the complete unitv of action of all the forces of progress In their country. He thought tb, results of the liwt few weeks threw some light upon the sub- ioot. Men of great and deserved position and influence in outh Wales Liberalism, finch as Mr, Emiyn Jones, Mr LéWí,.¡ .Tames, Mr. Brae, and others, had publicly avtoaaled to tbs parties to meet in conference to see if terms of agreement could not be arranged. This appeai was now backed up, if "ot initiated, by the secretary of the South W-»]e* Liberal Federation. He knew now that the honoured chairman of the federation execu tive.^ Mr. Thomas Williams, of Gwaeiody- ■wiii. was al*o anxious to promote suoh a con- forence. Why had the suggestion not been acceotefl? Everyone would agree that it was highly desirable that it should. The new fede- ration, through its chairman and secretary, 111 onstantly professed its willingness to enter into such a conference. He was there that ftvf-mnar to say that he was prepared to tht utmost of his power to facilitate the snoc-esa of "Hcll a meet;:ig. Who was it that hung back? They had but to read the speeches delivered in that place on the previous Saturday to ascer- tain that fact The president of the South Wales Liberal Federation, backed up by anouv- mous scribbles in the actually taunted them and jeered at them because they cried for oeace. Ho delayed and threw difficulties in the vrav of call mi? together the South Wales executive, in order to prevent their entertaining this project of a conference. Who,, then, was responsible for endangering the peace of Liberalism? Who was it that was anxio-is for r.erpetuating the strife? It, was not the National Federation, for all its leaders were nremred to meet the old -federation in friendly oonsyress. It was not the South Wale? Liberal Federation, for it had not been summoned to 1 insider the matter. The responsibility for nrolcnjjing the iP"IJa.tiGn--¡iWJ fraught with possi- bilities of disaster to Welsh nationalism— rested entirely with the man who stood in t-he way of the bringing together of the 3T>t»rertly opposing forces for the onrmses of amicable discussion. 'Applause He wished the South Wales Liberals to fully realise tins. H, roeani to state ins case as moderatelv and as far from offence to anyone as possible. All he was anxious for was to the absolute unity of the progressive forces in Wales for he purpose oi fighting H3 common enemy. (Appiau?e.j He was neither president, vice-pr -v.iient, nor any kind of offioe-ho'df-r in tue new organisatl-in — not ever; a member of its com:u,>e—=0 he was fighting for no personal end. (Hear, hear.) He had no axo to grind "h the matter. Now, the history of the past fortnight ^cv/d I furnwh them with a pretty fair and a/ i vrire idea of the general situation. The leaders of the mew movement had throughout displayed the utmost readiness to mett the old organi- sation in friendly converse. His hearers would naturally ask why it wa? that- the pre sident of the Scuth Wales Liberal Federation declined to allow his federation to enter into a conference with them. With every deference to nim, the speaker ooritended he was hardly m position to despise the appeals of men like I those he {Mr. Lloyd George) had named. Mr. D. A. Thomas and Mr. tiryu Roberts had assumed an attitude of rather lofty derision towards the new movement. Mr. Brvn Roberta put on supe.rior airs now and aga.n. He attacked the old federation when it was alive, buT. now it was gone, lke Mrs. Gaminage, I in "David Copperfitsid," he was sighing and sorrowing for the "old Their only con- I aofiataou was that h:s contempt for the new Federation was noth'ng to that which he showed fo" t.he North W alee Libera;) Federa- tion. 'Laughter.! Mr. Bryn Roberts they ,#x>n settled m tiie North, and he (Mr. Lloyd- George) Ju-kod whether Mr. T'hcnnas could afford to iook down upon them as beneath his notice. ("No, np," and oueers.) He (the speaker) would say nothing of Mr. Gee. the cr.airinan of the Aberystwith Conference, nor of Mr. Herbert Lewis, Mr. Herbert Roberts, f nd other difit-in^'iished Welshmen who had supported the uew movement. He a«ked j them to take into account rhe faot that at the largest gathering of de'eo-ates frcni Norftti Wales tha+- had baen held for years the new federation was VinMiimousl-y approveil of. (Applause.) Since then 18 had received the enthusiastic support of the official organs in the prcaa of the two largset Nonconformist denominations in South Wales. (Hear, hear.) Labour and other le&dwrs of undoubted Iniinence wifeh the ptople of South Walee were reckoned amongst its wsameit adherents Bryu Roberts might be a person of gi eat weight in South Wadtsj, and the preaiiteat of the Soxrtii Wales Liberal Federation might be a tower of strength for the time being to what- ever cause he might ohoase to champion-— tliey might have confideaioe m their combined rhetori/ aj q uaiiticatii/ris, b«»- they could not afford to treat with scorn these great forces, and he (Mr. LJoyd-George) credited them with the possessaon of suiheieat sense to know that. Why, then, should Uiey bo so anxious to avoid a conference? Mr. Bryn Roberts had indi- rectly let them into the seoreit of their aversion to permitting South Wales Liberals to meet them. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bryn Roberts f.a d that the Merioneth delegates had been sent to Aberj-ftwith to oppose the scheme of amal- gamation. As a matter of fact, when things were explained to them, they ultimately sup- ported it. Mr, Bryn Hobetrs, by some occult I process of reasoning—(laughter)—implied that, the fact that they went there to oppose it as an argument against the v hole thing. He dtew exactly the coatrary inference There 'I were men who went there determined to oppose, but after a few minutes' talk with the friends of the movement their fears we-re removed, ¡ s-nd they ended by withdrawing their oppo- sition. (Applause.) Did they now perceive their objection to enter into a conference? (A Voice: and applau.-e < It was very easv to misrepresent the wh-ote scheme at a. one sided meeting—(hear, hear)—where there was no one to reply, where not one of I a hundred might have seen a copy of the schcme, where even reporters might aiot be always present to report ill that was said, but they" could not do that when they were com- pelled to oeruse the scheme itself and they were brought face to face with the men of the new federation, who could answer all their statement? and correct their fhcts. (Applause.) Let them take what Mr. Bryn Roberts said about the scheme at their meet- ing on Saturday last;—"The several Liberal Associations in North Wales had been abolished by the promoters of Cymru fydd without any of those associations being given a single opportunity to voice their opinions on the question." If Mr Roberts had read tiie scheme, there was only one word adequate to characterise such a statem^fc as that. If ha had not read it, then he had no business to denounce a document the contents oi wbich he had never perused. (Applause.) The existing Liberal Associations had not oeen aix-lished. It was not proposed to abolish them. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, all that was intended with regard to them was to re-iiivigorate them by stirring them ip to fresh life and activity and to initiate a pro- paganda in each constituency with a view to enlisting and drilling fresh lecruits for them —applause)—to form new associations where there were none already^ and then unite both new and old associations in one central organi- sation, which should be. in the words of the chairman, "'wide as Wales. (Cheers.; Was that abolishing old Liberal Associations r fCries of "No. no," and applause.) Well, at a conference Mr. Brjn Roberta would not dare to make that statement, or if he had he would have been corrected on the spot by a reference to the printed rules—(applause) and his argument would collapse like a house of cards. (Cheers.) That wns simply a specimen cf 4 he sort of misconception t h: would be removed. (Hear, hear.) The ex- perience of the Merioneth delegates wa« not the onlv one that rendered Mr. Bryn Roberts and Mr. D. A. Thom appre- hensive of the results of these con- ferences. Mr. D. A. Thomas had an experience of his own to guide him in that matter. In the month of January the South Wales Liberal Executive entered jnto a conference with Cvmru Fydd. Mr. Tnoma-a was present-, and so completely were his mis- givings allayed that he found himself actually moving one out of a. series oi resolutions whicn declared that it wa.s desirable that there should be only one national organisation, instead of two for the whole of Walts, and that the dis- tinction between North and South should be ignored. Mr. Thomas was, therefore, naturally suspicious of these, friendiv conferences. Who knew, he misht even be tempted to agree with them, and that would be a disaster of no com- mon order. (Laughter.) For he would be therebv shorn of hotSi a presidentship and a quarrel. (Renewed laughter and applause.) Life would not be worth living for Mr. Thomas aftr^wards. (Continued laughter ) However, ail he (Mr. Georjfe) could say was that he pre- fen-ed the Mr. Thomae of the month of January to the Mr. Thomas of the month which was nearer the dog da vs. (Loud and continued laughter.) But how came it that those resolu- tions were not carried out. and why should they not tie carried out nowY A committee was appointed to dra.w out rujes for the new organ i- sation. The South Wales Liberal Federation appointed a number of men on this com mi t- tee, and the Noith Wales Federation and the Cymru Fvdd each contributed their quota of members to it. They met at Shrewsbury, and they drafted rules. Mr. Bryn Roberts aaid there were only two present. As a matter of f'iot, there were fourteen. Mr, Roberts gave them exactly one-seventh part of the truth. But that; was an exceedingly liberal allowance for hirr. when dealing with any insti- tution of a. Nationalist character. One must not expet too much from him in thes^, things. (Laughter.) Thev agreed absolutely upon their report- They even agreed ae to the date and place of the national conference which was to be held to consider it. The South AV ales Federation executive met and accepted the report—approvr-d of the arrangements for the conference. Why had not the reoom'.nenda- tions been—he would not say -n.tried out, but considered by the South Wales Liberal Fede- ration as a whole ? The C'vmru Fydd had honourably adhered to the terms of the Cardiff compact, part of which was proposed by Mr. Thomas; so had the North Wales Liberal Federation. Not so the South \V ales Liberal Federation. Wliv? Simply because Mir. Thomas, on reflection, changed his mud, and Sonth Wales must, forsooth, eha with hiia. (Applause.) All these gentlemen who were brought together, from all parts of Wales, at great trouble and expense. 10 Cardiff and Shrewsbury to arrange terms were to be barn- boozled—(die ?-*)—North Wales Liberalism and the Cvmru Fydd were to be snubbed, and South Wales was tc be made a scene of fratri- cidal strife and wrangling amongst Literals for weeks and months—all because one gentle- n:an who Happened to hold a post of honour objected to its being abolished. (Laughter.) Aii that they for was that the eonipact I' already arrived at should be honourably and loyally adhered to— (cheers)—that South Wales Liberalism should not, for the satisfaction of any pe rson's amibition, rest- under the imputa- tion of perpetrating a breach of faith, and that another conference should be -summoned in ord<r 'o p.coornod.ite matters. Was that an unreasonable demand to make ("No. ') He ss-id, with a full appreh<Hision of the seriousness of the situation, that he who placed obstacles in the way of convening such a. conference would be accountable for all the oaia.mitou3 results that might ensue to Welsh Liberalism fiom a prolongation of this contention. (Cheers. J What they wanted was one large, comprehensive associa- tion tbd would include the whole of the national progressive forces of Wales. (Applause.) T'hey might have to pull dmm a few edifces which were more or less rickettv- daughter)—bat let that be "ne. There were people who said "Dcart pull ovn that buihi- ing-, for I have a eliair there winch I cherish." (laughter.) For heaven's sake, let him take his chair away. (Applause.) They could surely fmd a corner for it somewhere in the new build- ing. 1 Applause nnd laughter.) But when they talked about the want. of the central organisa- tion Mr. Thomas retorted by saying, 'Have vou got your national council. Let them sea how that matter stood He recollected, six years ago at Carnarvon, a number of men. of whom he was one. were impressed with the utter futility and inefhoaey of this national council- It never met, and it did nothing, and. if it bad done anything, there was no machinery for carrying its desires into effect. He and his friends, therefore, proposed that thevshouJd have an effective national league for the whole of Wales. Thev were then told that they had got their national council. At hist they referred ihe matter to a oemmiteo. That was .six "ears ago, and the national council had met just once since. The National Liberal Federation for tho whole of England met annually. The Federation for the whole of Ireland-- met oftener tiian once a year. The Federation for Scotland met once a year, theFederation-theNational Council of Wales —met- anee every six years. (Laughter.) What a faro < of a national council that was. (Applause *nd laughter.) Was* it because they bad nothing to do* Not a bit of it. Welsh questions hid been coming tc the front, and yet their national council had been holidaying for six years. iLausrhtei.) And that was not all. What lud the National Council doue when it met that "miserable It passed a resolution, but- it did not carry it, out. (Laughter.) Why was is not carried out? Because it had no executive for that purpose. ("Oh.") It had no binding 3.1Ithority, and the monumt the North and South Wales Federations fa.iled to sunee upon tome trumpery pom. the resolu- tion of the Welsh Nationi: Council waa set absolutely a.t naught. Take the resolution at S1X years ago aj, Carnarvon, at the national council. Ft v. as then decided that the; niif-sri'-m of re-organisation should be referred TO the committee. What had become of that committee? Did thev He did not k, >w but ill had never met-. Six years a. the national council deci-ied so rc-organise the I.iliorsl and national forces of Wales, and re- ferred it to a committee which never met. ("Shame.") was the good of a national council cf (Applause.) They did net want an ornamental body—it was not even an ornamental body. in his opinion-t., meet once in six years and pass a resolution which should be set at defiance bv any individual or sf.t oi individuals. (Applause.) Since then the two etecuiivee had met once or twice, and duil was a very interesting tale. The execu- r tive of the North Wales Liberal Federation I JUKI South Wales Liberal Federation met at Llaiidrindod in August last, and they parsed another resolution. They were great as resolu- tions. (Laughter.) They resolved it was de- iirable to have a, oonfe.rence--a convention for the whole of Wales, to be held at Aberystwith in January last to consider the amendments that oug-ht to be moved t the Disestablishment Bill. What became of that- convention ? It had never met. Not only that, but the committee t.ha.t was appointed for the purpose of making arrangements lor that convention had never met. (Ironical cheers.) The North Wales Liberal Federation, through its secretary, com- municated with the secretary of the South Wales Liberal Federation on tilt) point, nd he I never replied to his lettsr. ("Shame.") And this was the great national council +h?.t was com- bining Wales. (Laughter.) Why was it they never met? He should like them to ask Mi. Thomas. (Laughter and applause.) This convention was to meet to consider amend- ments to the Disestablishment Bill. Mr, Thomas had got an amendment, of his own on I the allocation of tithe, but Mr. Thomas soon came to the conclusion that if the national con- vention nwt at Aberystwith, so far from ap- proving of his amendment it would emphati- cally condemn it, and t<eeause a particular indi- vidual anticipated the conference would con- demn a particular fad of his it did not meet at ail —(laughter)—and this individual oame down to Ferndale and said. "Have you not got your national council r" (Laughter.) He w„« simply mocking them by asking such a. ques- tion. The national councit.. to be real, must be supreme in all questions that affected the whol", country, and not be subjrot to the whim of subordinate assemblies and individuals. Iti must be a real one, and com- petent to speak for ih whole or I Wales. lie should be dominant as far as questions of policy were concerned. (Ap- plause.) Now, Mr Brvn .Robert? had got an idea for settling the wnole question. Mr. Bryn Roberts said they should not touch organisation now. They were carrying lhses- tab.isbment through the House; therefore, they ought not- to approach the question of organisation. Mr. Brvn .Robert*?, with his usual oblique intellectual vision—(laughter)— after saying that they must not touch organisa- tion at all, went on :— if the national council had not, been sufficiently active in the past— perhaps that was so"it dawned upon Mr. Roberta at last that there might be something 011 the opposite side of the case—let them meet and promote its activity by ailowing the constituent associations to elect representatives upon it instead of the federation.' Mr, Bryn Roberts, after arguing against change and re- form. wound up y proposing a revolution. At the present moment the national council was simply a- meeting of the two federations, but Mr. Brvn Roberts propostd a sweeping change. Henceforth the national council should be elected direct from constituency associations. Just look at this. They must not tinker with the bridge when tLel )i¿"tab. lishment train was passing—that W, they could not repair the bridge when it was passing, bit5 they could pull it down altogether and re- ) construct it. (Ironical cheers.) Mr. Bryn Roberts's constituency had decided in their favour, and he should try to convert his own constituents first; -he (Mr- Liyod-Georg-e) wouIci be pleased to mt him in his own constituency. (Applause) Proceeding, the hon. member complained of the scurrilous attacks made upon lorn and others by anony- mous correspondents in the newspapers. One of this tribe in an effusion^ which appeared in the "South Wales Daily News' declared that the promoters of Cymru Fydd were "men who eceived four or five guioea-s for "very 1 speer-h they delivered." Who were they? "Men who went to every corner of the land to talk of Welsh nationalism and Welsh cant." ('"Shame.") This was the pin-age applied to maaers which touched the heart; of Welshmen »-very where—"cant. Who, lie ked. were the men + hUs referred to? (Cheers.) He had no desire to boast, but probably no man had during thee last six years ad.dr¡:,ssed wore meetings than he haJ on behalf of Welsh nationalism and Welsh ng-ht throughout England and Wales. (Hear, I bear ) He was out of pocket by attending the meetings, he had neglected his business I a« '1. solicitor, aud for dcing this he was thus scnrrilously attacked by men who had not the courage to sign their letters with their proper names. ("Shame.') Thei* was but 01.e word that fitly describe such men. i They were cads—(louu and prolonged cheers) —who madpi false accusations aganist others under tictitous namee ar.d without a shadow ¡ of foundation As fur himself, he ) (the. speaker) was neither a, superior officer I' nor a. subordinate officer in any or either of rival organisations, but only a. simple armour-bearer in the fight for his I country's freedom. (Loud applause ) I He had nothing to gain from either Cymru Fydd or federation—only what Wales .1>1 a whole would benefit, and with that end in view he appealed to them to unite their forces, to ruthlessly brush away every obstacle, and to insist that every individual ambitton. the in te- lest of any and eYHY existing organisation which hindered their national progress should stand aside and make way for liberty. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Questions followed from the Rev. 0. H. Hughes, Congregational minister, Ponty- gwaith. and others, and in each case satis- I factorily answered, and Mr. Beriah Evans having spoken, The Rev. J. D. Hughes (Baptist minister), I Pontygvaith,proposed a resolution :—"That this meetmg 's of opinion that rhe timf" has arrived when the progressive forces in Wales shouid be united together for the attainment of Welsh national objects; that this meeting rejoices I that the Wfekh National federation has been I established for that object; that it approves of the oonst-vtution and aims of the Welsh I' National Federation, and earnestly caiCa upon every true Liberal and » e^ti Nationalist to give it thorough and consistent support; that it recommends the formation of a branch in Ferndale forthwith, and the Rbondda Labour and Ld>erail Association to oonnect It, self with the Welsh Nationalist Federation as I a divisional council, and that it p. ^iges itself to do all in its power to oromote the objects II of the Welsh Na.tior.at federation." (Ap- plausei.) Mr. Rees, cashier, Ferndale Col'ieries, saad I that, im .'tng beard both sides, he was prepared to second the resolution. (Applause.) The motion, on being put, wa-s carried unani- mously. A vote of thanks terminated the proceedings.

< EARTHQUAKEATFLORENCE A Central News telegram from Rome on Sunday says:—An alarming earthquake shock occurred at Florence about eleven oc-cck last I niht. Thè oscillation ws of a violBnt chn racter, ami lasted several seconds. Glass and chip 1 were broken, chimney stacks were demo- lished, walls were cracked, and in many f ( the older houses the TOOÍS (Ji.a-pi!d, The i citizens were panic-stricken, and fled to the open spaces, where maov spent toe night rather than return to theIr homes.

THE BALFO URGKG (7 p. FORTHCOMING TRIAL OP DIRECTORS. The Prew Association iea-rns that on Satur- day witnesses in the forthcoming trial of Messrs. Coldwells. Brock, and Dibley and Major Wright on the charges in connection with the Balfour group of companies received notice from the Treasury that their a ten dance will not he required until June 7, and application will be made to-day (Monday) for the -proceed- ings to be postponed until next sessions i the Central Criminal-wort, in order that Jabez Balfour may be brought up at the same time as his late colleagues- It is probf hie that then application will be made for a. further postpone- ment m order that th-e trial may be before ths judges in the High Court.

A £ ILEGED ATTF7MPTED SUICIDE NEAR NEWPORT. David Barry, a works contractor, from Not- tingham, was taken before Hr. Thomas Parry on Saturday at Newport on a charge of attempting to commit sincite by cutting his throa.t a.t Llantamam Churchyard, on April 30 last. This ia the man who was found with a gash in his throat lying on the grave of his father and moth ?r. He was remanded till Thursday, to ba brought up at Caerleon Petty Sessions. Bail was allowed, himself vu £ 25 and two sureties of £ 25 each.

WORK AND WAGE. TAFF YALE RAILWAY DISPUTE. ANOTHER MASS MEETING IN CARDIFF. The protra.oted dispute between the manage- merit of the Taff Yale Railway Company <oid the train men 111 their employ is assuming a still more serious aspect, th8 position not having undergone any material change since the men's meeting in v.amitf a fortnight ago, when a .-•ern.s of drastic resolutions were sub- mitted and carried. Another maw meeting was he1ù on Sunday mornmg at t-he Colonial- ha,ll, Cardiff, auu lasted torn- hours, the whole of the points in dispute being again threshed out with considerable detail, and with the same unflinching deterrrulJatlûll not t,) give way, The large hall was Gensely crowded III every part. The aggrieved Taff men occupied the centre of the room, and these only voted upon the resolutions. Sympathetic contingents of two ooner local railways—the Barry and the Rhymney—occupied til side aisiets, wl1ieh had been reserved fer them. The men under notice pf dismissal were in the two first rows of seat.8 in Ww gallery, ur. Frederick .Jou,s asain occupied the chair.—Mr. Charles Ashton (secretary) (Tend the following correspondence that bad passed since the last meeting: — 29, Letty-etreet, Catliays, May 7. 189b. To th-; Taff Vale Honourable Bnard of 1),l'e-:£oe8, Gentlemen,—Y >ur coBunuuicat-ion of the ]t hint, Wets duly suhmitteù to meeting of the men helà (In Suuday last. After due corusitlei-ataou thereof, the leclutioll which I nerewith enclose Nere unanimously carried, which I was instructed t-o forwaid to you. liiEu-'iuuch as the management assert that they have— second to tile jl1!.ertot oÎ the company—the intercut of the staff In view, aiwl that we are. un the other lmuù, ever :t!IX1011S to rb whatever we can to meet the company, we must either m:llndefi!t.1nd ù" lie misunderstood, or. possibly, uuth. We, therefore, !'(,,¡x<:tf'.1liy ask your intervention, with a view tü a better understanding. If, geut-ieinen, yot. can see your way to grant UIi an audience through our repre- senœtiTe8, WIth the ioregoltlg object iu view, we sll1\\1 ever fet-1 grateful. We would iurUier request t,hat wildt we lrejl1 1",1. may' l>t planted at your earliest convrnisnee, if possible on the 14Ui illst,- On beha.lf of the lHen, 1 remain, gentlemen, youe obedient j>rvallt. Chas. Ash ton. To this the following reply was received — Taff Vale Kaic.saj, Secretary's Ortice, iJordiIT, loth M-AV, I&>5. Sir,-Yuur letter of the 7t.h iui. was 8ul.I!uittcd to the directors at their meeting yesterday, but wa* deferred for rhe attendance of tne ctiairtnan, who hàS £ une abroad for a snort time, for tOe benefit of !i« Health. (Laughter.)—Your, truly, J. J'mea, Secretary. Me Charles Ashtor;, 28, hetry-street, Cardiff. At this juncture Messrs. William Reed and George Blake, representing the Asso- ciated Society of Engineers and Firemen, wt-re elected to #eat £ 011 the standing committee.— Resolutions were adopted expressing surprise at the re-issuing of notices by the. company, and piedging the meeting to cessation of work m the event of any men being dis- missed or unqualified men taken on. The committee, the meeting was assured, would stand, or fall by the men who had receb eO the notaries, and if foreign labour was employed they would stop at once.—A resolution was also adopted by the men affected by tin? nothes not to accept any further extension of such notices, but to tluongh their representa- tives for their unconditional withdrawal, and than, in the event of rheir not being so with- drawn they meet at eleven a.m. o'clock on Tuuwday, the 28th inst., at the Yictoria-hali. Frederick-street, to discuss (the situation with rbeii representatives.—Mr. D. Evans proposed, and Mr. Seth Jones seconded, "That th^ Ta;f Vale Railway men 'here assembled wish respect- fully to apprise the lioard of directors and the maiiag^-meur, that v. c do llot, and shall not, Te- gard the notification of the grievances set forth iu the previous cesolutions as totally satisfactory unbsw the committee appointed by na in mass meeting assembled is accepted as our voice in all matters of difference that may from tmie to time arisei, representing as they do society and lion society men a.hk4: — The resolution having been carried, resolutions ■ of lnpathy were proposed and enthusiastically carried by the Jbarry and Rhymney men present, and turther r-soluitions formally endorsing* the action of the TalF Yale men hi tli-j presont dis, pvttie «ill be submitted at a general muss me.t- ing tc be held shortly.

THE MASONS' DISPUTE AT PONTY PR1DD. On Saturday night an indignation meeting was announced to be held in the Maltsters' A rms'-square, Pontypridd, connection with the maaona' dispute a.t..Pontypridd and the alleged victimising of three prominent members of the local lodge, who were a before stopped at the new gasworks, which is being erected at Troforest, because, they allege, they took part two days before in a meeting of the men who have been idle since the lit of May owing to the rix moiitic- notice given to them by tlicir employers. The chair was occupied by Mr. Fred Cawsey. one of the three men referred to.—After liav mg addressed the meet- ing upon the various points at issue, he called upon another of the trio to speak, acd this elicited some remark from a builder s son who was present. This eventually hid to a very lively scene, carried on chiefly in the twilight, and personal abuse and recrimina- tion were indulged in. The chairman and others had to rvpua.->dly appeal for order. I Prior to this Mr. J. F. JM'Clune spoke, and endeavoured to act £ us peacemaker, advising I the member of the Master Builders' Associa- tion and the meu to nhake hands and to come to an nmicable settlement. Several of the employers affected were- present, and au invitation wa.s given to hem to aeoenid the platform anu "defend themadves like men. — Ir response to thi" Air. Wat-kin Williams ap- peared on the platform, amid much cheering, lIt: dwelt at some length with tine points m dispute—viz., the demand of the employers to iiave the freedom to import Uressed stone, not to pay for walking time, and to discharge the I workmen as a monicnt s notice. it was absurd ¡ to eay that if dressed stone was iinporterj the men would lose 25 per cent, in wages. There were no rules in existence u\ the Rhondda, Mcrthyr. Aberdare, &c., district, snd why should a few in Pontypridd l: selectetl ? Why not place all builders on tho srm'■ level, so that thev Rhmld ail have the same chance in com- Pttition? (Hca* huur.) If they made all I emplovcr-? sign the code of rules, all well and but if they did not do so. he, for one, would never ain do so. He justified this r- mark by sayin:, that he row had to pay valki»g time to those men who worked for him on a. job at Hafod, tut if a Cardiff or hm n a. job at Haf,)d, 1 ut if ¡¡. Cardiff or IIY. bUild,,r .il1" the lO()1thty ó)utlde the 1'On ty- pndd A'!StY i¡1tlon ha.d a. rontraet there he wag T1Qt cODlpt'I1M to P'\y hi,s m!) wa.lking tin. A sllb"eqncnt peaker ,:ómp¡lIfit!lred Mr, ,VI1- liams upon hi" pluck in a<ldre«sing the meet- irg, which wa« brought to a close, after several lively scenes. with-->i.c any resolution being sub- mitted THE DISPTTTE AT A NEWPORT WHARF. The dispute between Messrs. Gilchrist and Co., owners of the Liverpool Wharf, New- port, and the members of the Labourer- Union hitherto employed there as to the terms of work still continues, and new hands having been imported by the firm. They are being protected in their work by the police. The dispute is as to tiie payment for "ten work or day work. The non-Union men nave been engaged in loading the steamship Llanelly with iron. and the Union men say that she ■ ould have been loaded in much less time ¡f thpv had bP-<eu nnpiOved umít"1' tÎle od con(:j'úns.

.P- .P- REPRESENTATION OF SOUTH GLAMORGAN. THE CANDIDATURE OF MAJOR WYNDHAM QUIN. Probably the largest Conservative arid Unionist demonstration whi. h has ever been held m the Barry district is hxed for Vved- riesday, June 5, when Major W yndham (lUlU will be forma.lly accepts as Parliamcniarv candidate for South Clamorgaii at a. joiot meeting of delegates of both sections of the Constitutional cause, to lx tield at the Dock Conservative ChtiJ and Institute. Lord Windsor, the lord-lieutenant of the county, will preside, and amongst those expected to be present OK the occasion are—Lord liun- raven. Mr. R. Forrest, J.V., Mr. J. AI. Maclean (the Unionist- candidate for Cardifl Boroughs), )1 r. R. Cory..J.P., Mr. J. l'yke Thompson, and other leading politicians in the division. Major s ndhani win address the delegates, and the company will afterwards be entertained by the local^ Con- servative Association at Outeys Hotel. In the evening a great public meeting will it- held at Cadoxton Market-hall, under the pre- sidency of Lord Windsor, and the other nobie- rien and gentlemen named will deliver politi- cal addresses in support of the candidature of Major Wyndham yuin

DEATH OF A BARONET. The death is announced at Pau of Sir Robert Shaw, Bart. The deceased, who was the fourth baronet, was born in 1821, and married in 1852 Kate, daugbrer of the late Mr. Wiiham Barton, of Grove, Tipperary. Sir Robert was one time lieutenant-colonel of the Lublin Militia. He was a justice of the yr-ace and a Deputy- lieutenant of County Dublin.

PEMBROKE DOCKYARD. I I OFFICIAL VISIT OF EARL SPENCER. I INSPECTION OF THE WORKS- On Saturday morning Earl Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty Admiral J. A. Fisher, the Controller of the Navy, and Mr. Robert- son, the secretary, landed at the dockyard in the steam launch from the yacht luichsntress, when a salute of nineteen guns was tired bv the Royal Artillery fiom the Hid Fort. His lordsiiip was received at the iauding-stage by the gallant superintendent of the nockyard, Captain C. J. Balfour, R.N., Mr. II. Cook, I chief constructor Mr. A^letr. C.E., Mr. Las- I lesii, storekeeper, and the secretary, Mr. H. N. Dixon. The director of dockyards, Mr. Williamson.was also present. Lord Spencer and suite then proceeded to the Admiralty Office, and thence to inspect the huge battle- ship Hannibal, now being constructed after- wards to some of tiie shops, works. &c. Lord Spencer and party were then taken in the Admiralty steam barge to Hobbs' Point to inspect the battle-ship Renown, recently launched, and returned to the dockyavu later in the day for the purpose of receiving depu- tations from the •'own council and from the chamber of commerce. The deputation from the corporation comprised Mr. J. H. bowling (mayor), Dr. \V. B. Ball (ex-mayor), Aldei- men R. George, J.P., D H. Brown. J. Jones, J.P., and S. j. Sketch, J.P., and Councillor S. Allen. Our representative attended with the deputation in the ante-room at the captain- superintendent's office, and when the deputa- tion were summoned to the room adjoining to meet Lord Spencer the messenger (attached to the office) said. "Reporters will not be allowed," and these, it is understood, were bis lordship's? instructions. This would seem somewhat strange, seeing that upon a former occasion, when Lord George Hamilton re- ceived a deputation of gentlemen of the II county in the same building and under pre- cisely similar circumstances, n"t the smallest restriction was placed upon the press mem- bers. Of course, under the circumstances, it is impossible to give any details of the oro- oeeuines, but it is stated that the object of the deputation was to explain to Karl Spencer the Dub'ic inconvenience that would be felt and loss sustained if the contemplated closinp- of the highway and the landing place at Point were carried out. and also to desire that (if the closing was absolutely to be decided upon) some alternative scheme for another I highway and landing plaoe to the westward slightly of Hobbs' Point mhdit lie devised, with the assistance the Admiralty, in con- iimctif*! with the corporation, or otherwise. The chamber of commerce deout-ation was afterwards received by his lordship, compris- ing Dr. F. J. Stamper. J.P., and Messrs. E Trayler, J.P., J. H. Teasdale. J.P.. J. Llovd, J. J. Morris, and A. Rollings. The object of their interview, we understand, was for the purpose of endeavouring to obtain a coaling jettv, 2-rpf>fer dock accommodation, and to make this dockyard a fitting cut station, t, I but what the results were pro and con we are. of conrse. nnablp to state. During the afternoon the Enchantress, with Lord "Rose- bery Lord Spenr-er. and pnrt-v on lioard. !e*t for Dartmouth, which port was reached on Sundav morning. Lord Ro«eberv. who cm Friday visited. Pern. broke Cistle. Hobbs* Point. Ac.. and <trolh?d "hroncrh the streets of the town, and appeared to h" in "ood health and spirits, did not land I in Saturday. It is «aid—of <v»nr«e. the ment is an informal i>ne~-that, hv* lordsbin remarked, when at TTnKhs' Point, that be did not see the necessity of closing the tugnwav and landing-place from the public.

I u, W I MR. ASQUITHS STATISTICS I LETTER. FROM THE HOME I' SECRETARY Writing to the Bishop of St. Af-aph. who Lad I called in question the accuracy of certain figures quoted by the Home Secretary in connection with Welsh Nonconformity, the latter replies as follows :—"I must leave to other.? who have I more leisure than I at present enjoy the- task of dealing with your detailed criticisms upon I m- figures, and content- mysolf with saying that those figures have been carefully examined and verified; thsei I believe th(s,m to be in all I respects substantially accurate; and that I "m satisfied that when I estimated the attendants at the Nonconformist schools iu Wales at 515,000 I understated the actual number." The Bishop very pcrtinenth* remarks as follows: — I' "I rc-gret tha.t the Ho ne Secretary has not ex- plained why he gave in the House of Commons the 'present' attendance m Welsh Noncon- formist- Sunday schools from figures, in one ¡ instane seven years, in another thirteen years old. One incident in the Welsh Church debate deserves rd. Lord ^ranborne, quoting from their own official year-book, gave the I numbers of the resident pastors of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists. The facts were I damaging. The Home Secretary was seen to leave his place and to converse with one of the Webh mem¡r, who then rose to speak at the first opportunity. This pt-r-on stated that the noble lord's assertions were absolutely inaccurate and unfounded. Luter in the evening Sir 'I B-ichard WeiVter protested aiqainst these charge* of falsehood, made under the protec- tion of the pnviienv of Parliament, and he challenged the Weich members to get up and disprove the statistios giren by any statistics I I which they would lay before the House on their own responsibility. The Welsh members present received tin's challenge in silence. f I think it risdit to mention this incident, because it is an illustration of the method followed by some of our opponents in this controversy

ROMAN CATHOLICISM. THE VICARIATE APOSTOLIC FOR WALES. A few days back the Western Mail" currency to the rumour, on the authority of The Tablet," that the Rev. Francis Mostyn, rector of Our Lady's, Birkenhead, and brother of th" present Sir Pvers Mostyn, of Talaore, had been selected by the Holy See as the Vicar I Apostolic for Wales. The "Catholic Times'' of Saturday, however, states that np to the time of ■■ !!•<• to prese it had received no official confirmation of the statement. The Rev. Francis Mostyn Hh<? same paper says) i.-> a native of Wales, bein the youngest son of the late Sir Pyers Modyn, ript, w?« educated at Oscott and Pshaw, taught r, cnch as minor professor at the latter college al" ompletmg his fourse of studies, wa* appoint, d a- i-tant priest at Our Lady's about eleven ago, a.nd, on the retirement of Mgr. Slaughter. Ins cousin, succeeded him rector. He is a very active missionary priest and a capable adminis- trator. He is also a member of the Biiken- head School Board. Some years ago. when on a pilgrimage to the Holv Land, he contracted blood-poisoning, and was for a time seriously ill, but completely recovered I I u, I

TIdE FACTORY OPPOSITION BY DOWLAIS WORK- MEN. I I A public meeting of the ironworkers and mechanics employed in the Dowlais Woik? W9¡-; held on Sat-irday afternoon in the Cardttf-hail I for the purpose of considering the provision- of I Mr Asquith's new Factory Bill. The chair I was occupied by Mr. Thomas Jenkins. David- street, and the room was well tilled.—The I I Chairman having brietiy referred to the hostile attitude shown by tht- Powiais men to the Government provisions, .Messrs. James William' and David Francis addressed the meeting. They vigorously condemned the provision which raises the age of boys employed in the works from fourteen years to sixteen years. There were at present lIVd 600 boys employed in the j Dowlais Works who were under sixteen years of age, and if the new Bill became law 'hey would all be thrown out of employment.— Several other workmen spoke in a similar strain, and it wa" unanimously agreed that the new provision should receive the vigorous and determined opjjoaition ot the Powlais men.— Another clause in the new Bill which j., directed against Sundav labour was disc! ssed at great length, and it was pointed out that this would entail a Weekly loss of about £ 500.—It was agreed that this clause should a bo be vigo- rously opposed.—Tt was also agreed to send a deputation to lay the views of the Dowlais workmen before the Home Secretary.—it is understood that the Dowlais Company are as vigorously opposed to Mr. Asquitb's measure as are the lmui themselves.

Last wepk, wl111;: ,;0I1' navvies were busy repairing the line in the tunnel of Castro- cucco. near Matera, they wpre surprised by the unexpected approach of a train travelling at unusual speed, so that tliey had only time to lie down between the rails instead of stepping aside. One man was dragged a shorl distance, his clothes having been caught. I Though he escaped bodily injory, he after- ward s shewed signs of mental derangement, caused by the fright lie had suffered.

SHIPPING NEWS. SIGNALLED OFF THE LIZARD. May 17.-Pa,sed Bo.)' An Atlantic Trans- port liner. May 18.—Passed EastPhantom, fraaaZante f,)r F.AImouth; Eriuia. Louise, of G,,i -y;l E' nse Ear) of Beaconstield, of Liverpool; Viola, of Padstow Albany, from Rosario for Falmouth Boulogne fishing boat 2.235; steamers La Heixaye. from New York for Antwerp; Caed- mon. of Whitby Moss Rose, of Sutherland and Unity — last three of Liverpool; New- biggin and B!encowe. of Newcastle Dungfeness, from Glasgow for Louden b'ochefort, of Cardiff; Noordland. from Mew York for Antwerp Thames, of Liverpool; Alice D<<p< aux. *f Rouen Bangnrth. of Liverpool. Paused lVst: Ceto. of Arendal; Bothnia, of Lirerpool Eleanor, of Fredrikstad Peter KYaeft, cf Rarth Lake Simcoe, of Liver, 0*1 Indefatigable, from Fal- mouth Miss Th'imas and Martha Percival, of Carnarvon Svaaleri, of Tvei-igtr.zid steamers Kdith, of Whitby Asdene, of Sunderland La Serena, of London London steam dredger Pe!egrin Marie Fleurie, of Newcastle Maggie Warrington, of Liverpool: British Qneeu, from Havre for Liverpool Harriet, of Middles- hcrough Blarney, of Cork Marmion, of Glas- gow Melrose and Cestria (steam yacht), of Liverpool: Are, of Newcastle Handore and Wansfell. ef Liveipool Josi-fib John, of Belfast.—Wind, N fresh; weather, cloudy; sea, smooth bar., 29*82. rising. May 18.~Pussed East Lancashire Lad, of Fleetwood. Paused West Steamers Oldenbnr, from Bremen for Baltimore Egret, of Cork Hamhurg-Aiuerican liner, from Hamburg for Canada and Boston Paris, from Southampton for New York. -;Ia:f East Amelia and Jane, of Guernsey Esmeralda, of Fredrickstad Bessie, of Truro steamers Swan and Foyle, of Liver- pool La Normandie, from New York for Havre Werfa, of CLriiff Cumbrae, for Southampton tug Oceana, of London King Erntyn. 8f Southampton Killarney, of Cork; Oorinthia. from Wilmington for Bremen r Lady Wo'seley, of Dublin Jargon, of Glasgow Electra. of Liverpool Hugin, of Bergen; Spinel and ('ope)and. of Glagow. Pawed West Tamar, of London, in tow Christian, of Arendal; Mary Ann, of Dover; Susaune, of Tvedestrand steamers Coral and The Marquis, both of Glasgow Sprightly and Ferndale, both of Sunderland; Cairnglen, of Newcastle; Boston and Fitzwilliam, both of London; Westernland. from Antwerp for New York; Camrose and Penzar.ce, both of Cardiff Ariosto, of London; Denia, of Valencia; Endsleigh, of Plymouth Gothland, of Liver- pool; Goldsbro' and Stella, of West Hartle- pool Tregeiiiia, of St. I vers Echo, cf Bristol; Hermon, of Bmg'l3n.-Wi11d, N,N};" light; weather, fine; sea, smooth; ba.l' 29'30, stfíaJy.

SIGN ALLEn OFF THE l\1Ul\UfLES HEAD. May 17.—Wind, N.N.E., fresh weather, squally sea, moderate. — Received Orders: Steamer Leechmere, of London, for Newport. Passed East Steamers Theme, of Bristol Wild Rose, of Liverpool: Gannet, of Glasgow. Putsed I Wed: Enid, of Newport; Lincolnshire, of New- port.

SWANSEA.— A RRIYALS NOHTH DOCK Mav 17.—Meittivr, g, 72, Bristol, barlev. Baltic, 73. Cork, uaUc Arhitmtoi, 183, v^ork, pitch, f'arrie Harvey, 99, Barrovc pitch. Welsh Prince, «. .14, Brifftot general. King Ja Ja, S, 91, Guerntey, stones. Clmllenge. e.. 21, sea, nil Henri Bieth ,t, 1 488, Am.sterdarc, nil. Mur 18.—Feng«*n, 51 Ctouakllty, oats. St. Mirrcn. 8, l&S. Dubin. nil Volunteer. 56. liion- eester. floHr, SOI-TH DOCK. Mav 17.—Severn, s. 440, Cardiff, geneiai. May 18.—Electra. g, 305, Fecamp, nil. St-. Vim cent, s. 78, Rristol, general. HUM'K OF WALES DOCK. Mav 1?.—En'd. #. 60, Newport, tin. Lincolnshire. s. 65, tiri. Aleniead, t, 710, Bilbao, J iron ore. Princess Alexandra, s, 292, Briton Ferry, general Britannia, a, 534, RordetuuT, pit wood. living Buzzard, e. 25, Oaixliff, ml. Mav 18.—>lizpah, 51, Southampton, loam. SAILINGS i NOUTH DpCX Mnv 17.—Earl of Beaconsfleld (Jones), Fstvfisham. Dauntless (IMman). Dahouet. Geortriana (Cuok), Hiirlihritlge. Vioneer (Binding;), Watchet. Amelie (Gue^an), Mortaigue. Challenrer, s (Pengelty), aea. Rliza (WilliHUia), Highbriflge. SOCHI DOCK. May 17.—l-'ercy (Green), Woo<lbridge. Antoinette fiitonie (Leroit), Quimper Earl Ca riw (Cornwall). St. Valery. William <tk>urse), Iitew-ch. Betty Russell (Fance), Great Yarmouth. Esteile Leon Uatec |). Paimpol May 18—I'nity, (Green), Rouen Severn, s (M'Docgall), Glasgcw. l'RTNCE OF WAl.liS DOCK. May 17.-1'Ithdalf', g (Geddes) Ofttauia. Anlimi Ce"ttie, s (Auffret) Rouen. Priwilia 'kViokets), St. Valerv. Sir Walter Itakigta. s (Knowleti), Venice. Mav 18.- -Clyde, a (Jones), Ramsey Lmcoln shire, s (.lames), Newport. Knid, s (Wilton) Bristol. Stuart, a tWilkinson), Genoa. Hel(rft (M'Tnic«h), Sn FraoHscn. Alice Dcfieaux, ti (Lefevre;, 'civrc. Olfg, s (Hasr). Lisbon. Flying Buzzard, 8 ililack), sea. EXTETtKD OUTWARDS.—May 18. Trouville, Kl-ctra, B, Walter, o06, Davis & Co. Bttfcoum, Henri Rieth, B, ljennard, 1,468, G. Lennard CLEARED.—May 18.. New York, Wells City. H, ^iieral San Francisco, Anaurus. B, 2,400 coal Mcutagne, Leonie Anastasie, F, 160 coal Bator.m, Henri Rieth, li, iMillast TrouvilJp, Electra, H, 645 c-.al Nc.v York. Maniton, B. -general IMPORTS COA.STWISE.— May 18. Southampton, Mir/jc.h, 30 tons loam, order Glcucester, Volunteer, 80 tons flour, Hughes I)eav?t. Pc,kett nv B, 8tcl, 8t Vilivelit, 9, ge 8 8 -?1 J. pw,)n c190 tons pitch, (Jraigula Co. Newport-, Teal, 9, 65 tons tin-plates, WtiltaT-IS. Torrcy, and Feild FXPOR'1-8 116 Bii.iwi, Nlertlivr, s, jo fi(>ur, (Peni,), to coal. S. !tr J. r-f,a E. W. i:o,* Co. 'ieagb Cl?,m. 2? Li?eipool, 'Nlbrit, t?, general, J. W-teoU (IlTnitett, Wel-))-? 170 coal, T? 1'. 5 ??oat, Pcr' -I I( BeUwt, St. Min-eii, a, 620 coal, Vivian & Sons licrdcn, Hugm, -i, 220 coal. R. Hodgen*; 150 coal. Ewnf Colliery Co:n{iany; general. Tucker & Co. Glenarm, (.Jannet, 8, 260 coal. g, A. Cleeves & Co,

SAD FATALITY AT CARDIFF. TWO LADS DROWNED. About half-past twelve on Saturday after- T.1,Y-Jll a I-RaLi a,?v-,ldent iispp#,De,l on the Gia- 'ea IA)(-k tisiire Caiial 1.),Atween the OW S tttid the bti4,e at -it-,n?--s-qtreet. (-?ar,liff, by naikied I"il!otilas col[la", ion of Mr. Da-?: I Ctllan. of 10, To' ui?ga-,ti'?,et, alit! il'A,Ph Benry Andrews, aged three years and eleven months, I so i of Mr. Joseph Andrews, of 56, Louisa- street, were drowned. me children were I ,ni.tving with a toy 1),jat, one ii?--iiig statioiieti c-;A?'li s,4e of ti)e (-aiial, wliic-li hi.A I)OIlit is t broad and deep. It is supposed that the lad oil the heath side fell into the water first, and that the other becoming excited fell in I imrnediar-ciy afterwards. The boys Were seen struggling in the water, and a crowd assembled and assisted in getting them out. Among the most prominent was Compsttiy- sergeant Kirk, of the Sub-marine- Miners. In fact, he vv ith another onlooker, whose name has not transpired, were instrumental in getting the children ashore after they had been in the water only about three minutes. 'I AIthough it was feared that life was extinct, oper. ns to effect inspiration were imme- diately comments-' and continued by Inspec- tor Jenkins, tfbo was then on rhe spot, uutil the arrival of Dr. Hv.ghei from the Hamadryad Hospital Whip. The latter, however* immediately pronounced both children dead. No oiw SMfLs to have seen the fail of (he children into the water or knew anythit!" definite at all about the aecident. oii'iuests will be held. L

A LLANDILO PROBATE SCIT. In the" Probate Division on Saturday (before I the President, Sir F..le'nie) the case if James v. Evaiics was heard. The suit had reference t.t the testamentary dispositions of Mr. James James, a farmer, of Ynysau Pumpsaint, Lhn (ii'?o. ,?-h,, ciie,(l rr-, the 1-3t of Atigust, 1893. The ;ou-41it, 4,o rt?voke a v, III of the 12ti, of I" w Ayjril, 1995, iy the an inii;tiit v uf ;b2f), an tytDi-iity to his son Davi,.i of ;010, PT,d a F'ga'c?" to h-?,i Sol-, IA-iiliiln oi' ,?,j ropertv t?o his (laugh' ?-r ;C200, inl the r t of lie p I Ann. Defendant set up the will, which wa- I practically unopposed, the plaintiff's counsel 4 -,gx,?i-Inlng the flq to t I, ti, .?lrlpii7 erD?? C!Uesti(,], Of thL,. ?xe(.Ution of th. 1'.i,rrv, a, frie,-tt of the eipec-,i,,Pd, oiid Tltoi' 'ias, a s,)i,itor of Li-tndf-Ic-rN,, slcke to thn execution of the will, and the President pronounced for it.

TECH tC;\L EDUCATiON IN p E INI P) 1,1610 K ES fl t [I LECTCH1<S BY PROFESSOR PARRY. 1-'1'Of88S01' Pin'ry! who is øt prPilu1t ddiv:wing- l.('tnres on !l1'1cntture in Pembl'okel!hire, pok\" ai; the board sehoÐl, (roes!!och, on "'riday J1íg-ht'l 'Tbere wa" a (1od attendance, a.nd }fr, John r" (I l' Ih01n: C. >" ç lrcHg-a.n,occuplod. the chaIr. The i'ubject (>f M. P!rr- lecture waR the la.yin dcwn of hud to perlnnf'n1, p1\sture, 'l'bl-: I pt'Cf(1"("" offered the fWrieulturÍste pres.nt much .aluable dvi('e 9Jt the choi of 'rasft seeds, and some of the farmers present under- took to give the methods advocated by the lecturer a fair trial. Mr. Parry expressed him- self ss feeing highly pleased with the genera! system of farming prevailing 111 tho district.

The Rdop of Bangor, who had not yet i e- cmr-red fr6m bis illness, is spending a ii'uch-naedsd holiday in South WoJ-.

DOWN & SO T RN, I ff '9 ull.E. FOR JIELIABLL? Ft.; -I- IMMENSE STOCK TO SELECT FJ1U)1. ,3-W,AYSF,A HIGH STREET AND YORM6 LA.N-E, 10 I I SPRING OLH"1ANING. I ¡ ADOp':r THE I INCANDESCENT GAS BURNER ¡ hA VBS ONK HALF YOUR GAS, AND GIVES TWIGS THIS hi* SOLE AGENT FOK SWANSEA— JOHN LEGG, JSELSON-STREET.

GALE AT SEA. SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. The Press Association says — A large nun- ber of smacks, seriously damaged in the recent gale, arrived at Grimsby oil Sunday. The Wiiiiiib.eli was tutit?ly d",4abled and ?ite Little Lizzle tatittly while the saiack Ell aa arid the ti-ii%-Ier Hild?t eak!tl lust one ltitnd, drowr?ed. Severa. have not r*.uriied. A Sca?rburoijgli t?legt.:Iltt .:tateq that, in adliti4?T- t,(? the dayriage c(i tisi.- ing vestwls, grL-aL anxivt.,7 i.9 felt 'to l.t: l,'j ev yawi Tt?io anl the icai-bc,roau'?'; g?i Val4L Good Saniaritan. It is ruiij,-)ure,l ilie fUT-ttlet- hLA, run down. I-'acii ),43 :L e-rew t-)f tive liinds. A thousand at) Dot?,? have I-eeii i(??st. A tele,,ra,-n fr(ini Yarmouth t,til '?undav evi.,iiin t" ;I no g stil ?_ _tll, -T 1,Iy _qt gait- continued o.f the Fa.,?t Coast tiia- d-IN'. The ?,iiiack 'L?eagull lau,ie,i stirv-v<)rs .f ?fiv crew of the trawler Royal Standard, of Yar- mouth, which foundered during tiJegale od the Dutch Coast. William Jellings was thrown to the deck and killed instantaneously. Another trawler belonging to Yarmouth ;s! known to have foundered with four hands. On Sunday many damaged vessels turned up. and a great number of injured fishermen werv treated at the local hospital. A Lowept-d; I treated at the ](i(;Il hOSPital' A Lo 'Ve!!t'¡f I telegram on Sunday evenlllg iltatê 'Jut the smack i\ rtour. of Grimsby, W'lS tnwed "í theJ'e on unday afternoon almost clean wep;, j' and wíth tl¡e loss of her third band.

CARDIFF STEAMER LOST. I IN COLLISION WITH A DUTCH MAIL BOAT. CAPTAIN AND BOY DROWNED. A Lloyd's telegram on Sunday reports that the Dutch mail steamer Conrad, of and for Amsterdam, hae put into Cartha^ena damaged, Itiiviflz at 'A.,I?, oil .1?r, 54 iiiiie-4 oi tl4l,t I)ort, witli t,ie ('?ir(liff ste-,A-iiier Sully, belonging to AlesM -J. Morel Brothers and Co., of Cardiff. The Sully foundered, but nine- teen of the crew were saved, including all the oiticers, except the captain and a boy. As the telegram reachtd Cardiff late on Sunday night, if was impossible to obtain further par- ticular:), but the master s name is given in the last edition of Lloyds register a-s W. J. Hilton. The Sully was an iron screw Rteanier, buiit bv Messrs. A. Leslie and Co., Newcastle, in 1878. and had a gross registered tonnage of 1,871. The Conrad i, a screw steamer of 3,087 tons giors, and, therefore, very much larsrer than the Sully.

A LINER DISABLED. The Wilson hoe steamer Fiamingo, bound I for Hull, with about 60 passengers, is reported to be in a disabled condition off Yarmouth. hP? mach ne-fy having- roken down. Some I hl'! t-nt\Crl\ne!'j' 1!M'illlr Il'okt-lll d.own. Some I lex-al. tug. hae Ùf'(>H ';E'liJpatehE-;l frv .m Ya.rmoud:1 to brlllg floeI' Jt1to I)f,rt, Th ji lalI1'n.go WM fil;tt sighted on :Friday lJ'íght by the smack I)a.me<ltja, I wlneh wa.s l!nai,k to rm,d! r Íier ¡wv a"Ú'ta,lJl. a"nd, no steamer being ill sig,ht, t1;e Camelli:i made direct for Yarmouth to secure help. The Flamingo was towed into Yarmouth harbour on Sundcy afternoon for repairs. Her passengers were landed and sent home by rail.

PASSENGER BOAT ASHORE. 700 PILGRIMS IN PEUfL. t A Reuters telegram from Jeddab on Saturday sayS ■-—A Turkish vessel, filled with Mahonnne- dan pilgrims, has gone ashore on a i.*f about 50 miles north of this olace. The pilgrims, num- bering about 700 in all, got safely to Land. 'Ihe vessel wilt probably become a total wreck.

GERMAN SCHOONER SUNK. Durinst the severe, sralo in the North Sea on Friday the Geiman schooner Vif Krone, from Lynn to -L)antzig with coal, foundered. The crew of nine took to th>: ir tioats. and were picked up by the steam trawler Boarhound, and landed at Hull on Sunday. I

S?'ANSEA-L-IDF,N' B.8,P,(-?T-TE FOU?ND ON FIRE S-FA.. A Rydnev writi>s.-Oii April mptain of the Aniiic, ?laud, vhlcl) I"i 2 tll(? arrived from Rio, reports that he fell in with the barquentine Ceieatina, from Swansea to Magellan Straits, and found her oil tire. The vessel was boarded, when a meseage v. a« found j stating that the crew had left in the boats. The orew of tiie Annie Maud succeeded in getting the flames partially under, and sailed the dere lick to Rio, where the fire nas extinguished and the ship handed over to the British Consul. At Rio it was teamed that, the crew had been picked np by another vessel.

MINOR CASTJALITY. j Lloyd's agent at Malta telegraphs that tlie Britisli steamer Dora. Foreter, from Poti, ( touched ground at Mansciar, and beached at. Marsamnscetto, in the mud. having sprung a leak in Nos. 1 and 2 holds. Divers liso-e beein employed to examine the condition of the vessel's bottom; several plates were indfent-ed, and five rivets out on the port side.

A SEA TRAGEDY. I SUPPOSED LOSS OF TWELVE LIVES. I I AN EXTRAORDINARY AND j MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. I I The Central News Lowestoft correspondent I telegraphs that an extraordinary tragedy of I the sea. partially enshrouded in mystery, has been enacted in the North Sea, about fifty miles E.S.E. of Lowestoft. The smack I Va.ndua.ra arrived on Saturday aiternoon. with two bands short, namely, Charles Lincoln (the mate) and Thomas Bowling (the tiurd hand). The skipper of the Vanduara, in an interview with the Central News corre- spondent, said -On Thursday afternoon, about five o'clock, while the north-west gait- was at its height, he ighted il large foreign barque flying signals of distress. He bore down upon the vessel, and learned she was making water fast, that, the pumps were choked, and that the ship was sinking. He at once launched the smack's L.iat.and,notwithstand- ing the heavy sea, his mate and third hand proceeded in her to the distressed craft. The Vanduara sailed round the barque and tried to yet arope 4?l?(iard, I)-ct withiit avail. TT?e i.ertiaipp( in close pi-cxilnitv all niglit 'and ht the sl-lel. He hL.T ve -aiv no ligl)t,, but, to Ltter lie ,n,)"t ',tt cl.Vbreak ,,Pe a soul on board the barque, and the smack s I I boat had disappeared. Finding he could do ii.,Yt.iiing, be ?a-ii for L,?w,?qtoft. The, mys- teri,us -,Wiy receive(i some ftiy,ttier ti(?n wiien the Renovqt;on .c; Bell arrivc;,i. 'I'liev I)rouglit t'np b(,ii,.i' of tn)en. ?ind tiv?. bo,(fic,; of tw,) ff),r,ln??a l,at,ev o' I -ber snxaclz %rrive?i. r-[--?,)rt,ing bliv, qeprt not iig smack's boat stove in. but still floating, which thev hn.d been unable to secure. The belief i'?, tilnt iilirng the iii,ht the crew rf b ique *,i7,P-(l 't? palnic, tl)e w? i mdden 1,c-lieving tile,( .Iiip w?ts ,4itiking, that rii,,Ii iva, matlc, for the -3 11 bt)t?t, and that in the scramble the boat was stove I in and her occupants thrown into the water. g-i, ma-te Ila., j, ili on the. -Rble ()f the f,)reizDer., wore f(,?inid Tlte tlieoi-v of panic (jilt I)v the fa(,t, none of the boats ;?ere -ilic n?Lrnc" o! tt?e is tit,.knixvn. I)tit her p(irt is either Cbristiania or Christiarisand. She is believed to have afterwards foundered but. this is not confirmed. She probably enrried te'h hatvH so that with ♦•>!« two smaeksmen, it ia teased twelvt lives have lost. }

-n is SERIOUS FIRE AT DRAPERY ETABLISRME'f CI"TTEI). Between eivilt ai,i Tillie,, -I(llovvn dra flullse. (Jlle of tle 1,0,t iii,D,)wiai"- lit Ob,j prl etot-, --vlr. T):iviCt T)avie?-, had til?ng Of the ?iliop, anri w.-t?s uTt?Lwart? ti,at ally there wt,, o,?(-k-,rrL?d ui)til ,Iles f,.Onl olle 0,, th, the. 'Ji t,t utoiz?ent all the drap(,rie, I" auto fthe ?ide of tite sliop wet?- cn I,e. J)avle* ,Nlrg. olt NN,ere an4i %vif?, of tlt,, Eolkle atte," hu,?fied ztlout ti!e It,-ad iii I hqnd?? ttler ittv to I-eiilovL- of d. to a'nc) p Of the slioi). -Adi tli(e ',ri e?l. elt (,f tile p shutters, and the wildest f, cite iell or, t I],, IIYII)ztl ,Pvve I "at, t, ltl( tee ol)i)o.)tF? .3;cle ua(l. I It_ oil 11 is a-iid t%v,) ,40 i?-erf- titrr)?-.41 'til.?oit tile tiie fir(--Fii,,ziyie m,a? from the police-station, and, after (jef0lT the firp t. iiii(ler. 'it I's Treol '?vitole o; t)), 3,f t 1, ,-er st,b'i,?. aii?l will t4) pounds.

BRISTOL CH A N N &L> DEFENCES. -?p A CRUISER TO BE STAT?? NEAR rfHfiJ AVON. We Rt, o be able to a 11 J, illat tf)e Adniii-al,Y c?OT)tellit I? ej,iSr.4 tho Of tier '.Nlajest?'s for the Br:t?ul ('bqniel, clo?e to the A-(" ?,-ot,e,et 0oali"4? a' tiki?4 local pol.t. al)(I ft ?i A,?rnira.1 -ievilioiti- -i-Aited ',e Forni ('tafle on Tliiir,,idai, ?o. tl;L? iii-i?el'till,z the aiid, thi8 cve,?, fie laiide(i ],ti? a4i,l Avonti)eiitli, ,,3 a, f(" ttle bert. f ti? tak- it[). ;t 1)eing tb,- 0 I (',ovi,i-ii ?llifitillegli? tc, 'ttion Lil, ill ttle IV "e I)tirpo-(A.?. Wc- :t!c ?-1)(Clal ?jvo to ltlqk-L- ?he aiiriounc*,?mput, be(?all?e Vre a,. tile tion of tb. Bristol Channel.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT RHYMNEY. TWO COLLI FRS KILLE15 iO0* 011 Saturday morning a. sad tittall pla.,?e ar. the 'it tile ??' f tile llilvniii,,v irryti lip, wfiit?ii lwo ilbout 21 tnd titirt,eeli. i-net W?til isltt, I death. A fall -i about folli? ton?, ut-?oll they)k )11 on i he ,put. ti," IiVLt then, t ,w 11 their fa.tber al?,l '-r Flie ,I ti e' of tile 11 for tli.k? the f.tt"ior flkl,, bee?i I:xid uP 'Ir!4 ,it i i d i t -Raid tli?it .11-K)Ilt eittl? -Lo to

A nc)ve'it- iti 1,ibour di,,I,lLites i'? "be' 1-beatre ieo, l'ILe -d the t. oli.,iriged a fev,- ago' all alilfteg tt,?l Dianager pi-oTx),(,,] to file players came out. "11 mwui 1

3 YEA P,.S' SYSTEI\,F I T 3 YEA -U?S' PIANOFOHTUiS by BkoadW«<»p PIANOFORTES by )'IANOFORTE,i by KlfLKBfA-r' PIAI,IOFOKTV,S b,r PIANOrORTI.8 b- v PiANOFORTES by EF.-AILD AND ALL TUR LEADING }1K.Jt.io KlioM rtT'if TEN SHILLINGS MONT'B^ paid f«r after wlneb, and further charge whatevar, the J?8 f bcoonea t>"5 Property of the »l Thompson"^ saA(:K (LIMITED;, 1 33. CASTLE STB-E^1' SWANSEA- IDDI-NCI ITINGS. f WEDDING RINGS. BROUGIlrrON'S" THE :NOTIU> W],"DI.NG lUNa S1l0f 'X S¡p H yla<-xI a.lll 1"04'1' l'ri.,d" HIGH te Down -ad Soti.) TRAVIK VILIZ VLSWW14T"I" 1 ?4 i TAJP J-RRTRKS*. ) Fl-rT I lik,loi-?F-,Y L ?N 13V 1 ON NOTF. OF' liA-ND li,?'OL -BAI?Nf,T'' I)vnev,,r-116,01 I ull TTVAI U -¡ I I XISOI.VLJ.LI i'¡'<¡Y.A.CY. 'z¡;tï3 SUTTO"S acd ite lbibley St-one, Gran' 81,-Lte Work-?, AIiajg* ST. HEA'N-S ROA!), SW- Maxxut^oturo- of -?"f M(.)NUL"ENTS, IIEAL)8'1:otip?1" TeMBs. &C. Designs and i' E. lie EVANS. tJ' 11lfnBR'l'ÁKJm. roNEUAJ, iflIHl'ilSii}í.Jt. rr!f 22, AI.FR.ED STREET, NEA WItDOUH* AND-¡;AL CÚACj{JiS. Blir:fi o. cA.8' ÐGQ-CAk"W.OOÛl'i E' 8-C- ø" en!J :wl }".elc-n, }:r4' l'h. oJi tt.s lIrJl.Uc.. !je Addu. A1 -¿ h Pril1t-ed and 1'j)[,I. for t¡;0 }}l,?pr;e:t titi DA V 11) VA vn:s. ¡.t the Otfi:îh,gtre( "South Wn.l¡¡ Dati" POl'lt," 211. ¡ 8Wa.Dda..

C HIN A~~AN DJAPA N. I THE LIAO-TUNO PENINSULA OCCUPATION. I A Renter's telegram from Yokohama saya :— Count Komatsu, the Japanese commander-in- I chief. has left Port Arthur on his return to Japan. Of the seven divisions of the Japanese Army in the Liao-Tung i'eninsuta. the stcond I and fourth will remain for the present as a force of occupation. One b i^-ade of th» second divi- sion will garrison Wei-Hal-Wei; the first, third, and fifth divisions will return to very shortly. The Imperial Guard, whose headquarters are at Tokio. 18 to be sent to Formosa. Admira-l YU i.unt Kabayama, who has been appointed governor-general of the island, has already started to take up his post. Cabinet Ministers are reteri-ing to Tok;o, and the Emperor is expected there on Friday His Majesty will L''ue resenpt 3.nnlXinein¥: the I r'3turn of a porÙon of \he troops ÍT-oTn L¡ '1Q.I1U1g Peni!,sula, La.rgE- nlltnber. cf nt'wsp""pErs shll contmue to be l;u.3ly,mdett for \êommentmJ, advef13ely on tbE' -polley of thp (()"rnment in I ;'i&ldwcr to the dema.nd." of n'¡.;¡a. Fl'alH'e. and I' Germany.