Weekly Mail

CARDIFF. CUSTOMS APPOINTMENT. — The Board of brp 6 "ave appointed Mr. George M. Douglas, at sent collector of Customs at Aberdeen, to be Rector at the port of Cardiff. LATJKC'H OF A PASSENGER STEAMEK AT PENARTH,— j o'clock on Saturday morning there was stp0 from the slipway at Penarth a fine new of ?i?ler' n,e6t the increasing requirements the large passenger traffic between Cardiff and **th. i he vessel is a double-ended paddle boat, (-i*'8 launched with engines an J boiler on board. 5."as ample shelter on deck, and large and .airy Dins for passengers. The followingare the dimen- (lIons of the vessel ;-90ft. long, 18ft. beam, < 6ft. depth of hold. She will be readv v 1Un early next month. The steamer i:.>| en built to the order of the Cardiii ana II enarth Steam Ferry Company (Limited), and as full ^le ways Miss Ingram, of Penarth, grace- 'y performed the orthodox christening cere- °ny, naming the steamer the Iona." Amongst inose present were Mr. John Fry and Capt. C. \V. grain, directors of the company Mr. "■ Vellacott, manager; Mr. K. Munroe, anagpp 0f tjle Slipway Company Mr. °ross, Mr. C. M. Jacobs, the Rev. C. \V. H. ovvne, &e. The company intend running the ^o thy beach by the Kymin during the summer °!H'S> which will, no doubt, be appreciated by The company also intend giving better >*ciltries for landing at Penarth than have hitherto jj ?.n horded to the large number of pi us who use the steam ferries between Car iift' and 1 enaith. AGED PAPPEBS.—At the usual meeting of the hoard of Guardians, the chairman (Aid r- an C. W. David) referred to the case of Mary lorgan and Elizabeth Jones. Both were in receipt o out-door relief. The former was 100 years of ^■ge, and the latter (her nurse) 58 years of age. The ^urse, it appears, was paid out of the 7s. which as granted to the centenarian. It was now agreed iat the latter should continue to receive this ,amount. and the nurse should have 3s. per week. SCIENTIFIC LECTO RKS.—The first of the course °i twelve lectures on "Electricity," in connection ^ith the Cambridge University Extension Scheme, as given at St. John's Schoolroom on Tuesday evening by Mr. S. Lavington Hart, B.A. Notwith- standing the fact that there were several other attractions in the town there was a large ^■tendance, the number present being about 200. Mr. T. H. Riches occupied the chair. The lecturer dealt with the two elementary notions of positive and negative electricity, and conducting and non-conducting substances. SKRIOUS ACCIDENT.—On Monday night a lad named F. W. Jones, son of a. traffic inspector on the Rhymney Railway, met with a serious acci- dent. He was, it appears, in the act of getting on to it tender at the junction of the Rhymn^y and Tuff Yale lines at Crockherbtown when his foot lipped in a hole. Both feet went on the rails, and the tender passed over tiJem. Be was con- veyed to the Infirmary, when the amputation of one leg and part of the second foot became neces- sary. The unfortunate lad bears up with cheer- fulness notwithstanding the grave character of his injuries,and he is progressing fairly. ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday evening a man named Frederick Shute, residing at the King's Head Hotel, Canton, fell down several steps whilst assisting at the festivities at Cardiff Castle and fractured his Jeb- He was taken to the Infirmary, t ACCIDENT.—John Thomas, of Dynas Powis, was taken to the Infirmary on Wednesday, suffering from severe injuries sustained by falling between a being crushed by two trucks on the Penarth •Railway. RITK'—ESTABLISHED ISbO. — LOUIS BARNETT, Cardiff, the only shop in town where obton mont-y on Plale, Watches, Jewellery, in sums above JB2at the rate of fourpenee in the Bui* Per mo'ith. The charge for ticket or contract 1,611 ,jy> alld all goods may be left for twelve ■"•nths, if required. 49636

NEWPORT. ACCIDENT TO A MAGISTRATE—On Saturday, at nOon. Mr. F.J. Hall had the misfortune to fall on tering the petty sessions court. He bled a good tat (r.0,n *'le nose> '3L,t was able subsequently to his seat on the bench, and remained during "Cutting. ACCIDekt.—On Saturday night Charles Towns- J> labourer on the Great House Farm, Bishton, as received into the Infirmary suffering from Mlles kj' falling from a hay loft. s A. J. DAVID, who formerly practised as ai b '"tor *n t'1'8 town, has been called to the Bar j the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. 01 some time past Mr. David has pursued his studies at Cambridge. ODDFKLLOWWIF.—On Friday week a dinner given at the Ship and Pilot Hotel to com- emorate an event of some interest to Oddfellows. year ago ML-. James Davis, corresponding cretary of the Newport District, offi-rod i, S've a supper to the members of the ge which had the largest accession of embers during the year. The Star of Freedom having had an increase of 36, secured the honour, and about 40 of its members sat down to a Capital spread on Friday week. liro. J. Williams P.G.M., presided, and the vice-chair was filled by 11)'0. Payne, N.G., of the lodge. A number of toasts v and songs were given. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—On Saturday Mr. Wood- ruff presided, and Mr. E. Thomas occupied the vice-chair. Number of inmates in the house, 272 corresponding week last year, 303. Died during the week, George Howells, 55; Elizabeth James, 82; Eliza Jane Jones, 24-. Receiving out- door relief. 1.123 adults and 658 children, at a cost of JE172 5s. lid. Number of children in aerleon Schools, 200; corresponding week, 163. "A report by the Schools Committee contained a that the cook, who had been ten years in the service of the board, should have her Services acknowledged on her resignation. Mr. **uxtable gave notice that on a future day he ^ill move that the cook be paid three months' j^kry. After a conversation, the clerk was ^"•ected to write to the overseers of the defaulting Parishes, intimating that if the overdue calls were lot paid at once legal proceedings would betaken. P INQUKST ON A DROWKD SEAMAX.—Mr. W. H. VVM^61" an *n<3ues^ on Mo. id ay on the body of dliain Farghey, late a seaman on board the J-eaoastiip Munroe, lying in the Alexandra Dock. eorge Manlej' gave evidence. About six p.m. on «ir\fay ^ast 'ie heard a cry near the lock-gates of '• °h and from what the bystanders stated he i T°ncluded someone had fallen into the lock. The Suppling irons were got into use, and in about ,ten minutes the body of the deceased was got out ?f the water. All efforts to restore animation were Ineffectual. Verdict Accidentally drowned." 'ISFIO'1 TITINRRY SCHOOLS.—The annual report for t 82 has just been published. The committee ecord a year of steady progress. Her Majesty's j*>spector's report shows that the passes in-the school were 93 per cent. in reading 94 in nting, and 82 in arithmetic. In the girls' schools passes were: In reading. 87 writing, 82, and in rithnietic, 80. Discipline good in infants' school, satisfactory improvement in attainments. The pooamittee regret the loss of Mr. Samuel Hoinfray, oo was ever ready to assist education. There has an increase of £12 in voluntary contributions, Out the committee have still to work under a deficit PJ.^100, and appeal for further help. The com- ^ttee acknowledge with gratitude the services the Rev. E. Davies, who for ten years has acted as treasurer, but now retires. INFIRMARY AND DISPENSARY. — Number of Patients attended at the Dispensary during the J^eek ending January 27, 383; visits paid to Patients at their own homes, 62; patients in the infirmary, 22. Surgeon foi the week. Dr. Brewer. H. Dowse, M.B., House Surgeon. Southern Did- r,ct:—Numbor of patients, 59; visits paid to Patients, 134.—R. Cooke, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.S.A, ^°nd.. Visit ing Surgeon. HORSE DKOWNED.—During the severe gale on i^nday a valuable brood mare, belonging to Mrs. tonsford, Newport, which was grazing on the *rm of Mr. Parry, Caerleon, was blown into the 'sk and drowned. M*. THOMAS CORDKS.—Mr. Cordes, of Bryn Glas, the popular Conservative candidate for the Mon- ^Outhshire Borougiis, who lias been confined to his °°m by serious indisposition for several weeks Past, is now convalescent, and strong enough to take gentle exercise in the grounds of hifi resi- yence. Mr. Cordes took a severe cold whilst nttend- tlie series of Conservative meetings held in Newport, Usk, and Monmouth a month or so ayo.

SWANSEA. THE DEATH. ON BOARD SHIP.—On Tuesday Mr Strick, borough coroner, held an inquest on the body of Wm. Marshall, an engineer on board the steamship Glenwilliam, who was found dead in his bunk on Sunday morning. The vessel washing in the Prince's Dock. The jury returned a verdict "at deceased died from natural causes. THE DEBATING Socwry's COKNKRSAZIONTC.—The r^Qal conversazione in connection with the ""aiisea Parliairientr.vy Debating Society took Mace on Monday evening at the Albert Hall. 'l'here were about 350 persons present. Thehnll had been decorated by Messrs. li. Evans and Co.,who had PRANGED curtains,mirrors, cavpets.and easy chairs y3 the most effective and tasteful manner. The N'st part of the programme was a promenade concert by the orchestra of the Swansea Choral Society, assisted by Mr. W. F. Hullev's band. M> Hulley acted as conductor, Mr. Frank Richardson '^Bristol) as leader, and Mr. J. F. Fl icker as organist, ^od a choico selection of music received an e*ceJIent interpretation. After the concert the began to dance to the splendid music of ■Wr. Hullev's band. During the progress of the ball the hall presented a very brilliant appear;)nee but the pleasure of the dancers was somewhat barred by the largeness of their number, it being Estimated that there were as wanv as 120 Couples on the floor at one time. The supper WHS Supplied by Mr. Rimmer, of the Welcome Coffee ravern. MOSICAL FFJTIVAL SOCTKTY.—A soiree in connec- tion with this society was held in the Albert-hall On Friday week..After a concert and a Scientific exhibition by Mr. William Morgan, Ph.D., ^•C.S., in the larger hall, dancing began in the Elinor ball to the strains of Mr. W. F. Hullev's band, and was continued until after four o'clock in Saturday morning. The proceedings were of a thoroughly enjoyable nature. THKSTLLHOON HOUSE SCKOOT., MUMBLFS.—A. R. ^avies, of Thistleboon House, School, Mumbles, hits just been successful in carrying off the £ 20 Clas- sical Scholarship competed for at the Llandovery College on Tuesday, the 23rd ult. SAD FATALITY.—David George, collier, aged 15, *»as jumping off an engine at the Bishwell Col- liery, Gower-road, on Tuesday, when he fell under a truck, which passed over his head. He died immediately.

BHYNMA WR. NANTYGUJ VICARAOK. —The Rev. J. MORGAN, vicar, has received the following from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners respecting Nantyglo V'icarageDear Sir,—In answer to the inquiry 'Contained in your letter of the 24th inst., I beg to inform you that, under the circumstances, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will on this occasion "ccept the signature of the Archdeacon to the cer- tificate that a duly licensed assistant curate has been employed in the above church.—-I am. dear sir, yours faithfully, DIGBY GBKKN, for the aecre- tary." j

BLAENRHONDDA. | NARROW ESCAPE OF A MINER.—On Saturday I ifternoon, while a miner named Lewis Stephens » was engaged at work underground at Blaen- rhonddda Colliery, a stone weighing between 15cwt. and 20cwt. fell upon him. Prompt and willing hands were instantly on the spot rendering assistance. Strange to say, after the poor fellow had been extricated it was found that he had only sustained a few bruises, but rather of a severe nature. No bones were broken.

BLAENAVON. SHOCKINO ACCIDENT.—An accident happened on Sunday night to a Mrs. Burford. On her way to chapel, a little before six o'clock, she walked over a wall, 10ft. high, in Duke-street, and fractured her head. She lies in a critical state.

BRITON FERRY. OLD LODGE ANDLLANGENKECR TIN-PLATE WORKS. —The executors of David Morris and Co. will shortly advertise for sale the whole of the above works. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—An old woman named Margaret Lewis dird on Wednesday over 100 years of age. She was born in the year 1783,and attained her 100th birthday on the first day of this year.

BRIDGEND. FOARD OF HEALTH.—At an ordinary meeting of this board on Wednesday (Mr. H. Bevan presiding), the report of the deputation which visited Brecon for the purpose of seeing the drainage works in that town was read. The deputation found that the scheme was working scarcely satisfactorily. although there was a good supply of water for flushing purposes. They considered that the failure was in consequence of the fall in the main sewer being very slight. The deputation were recommended to take the sewage of Bridgend to the sea if possible. A very long discussion took place, after which it was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by the Rev. W. John, that the further consideration of the ques- tion be deferred until after the election. The Chairman remarked that in all proha- bility there would be a change in the constitution of the board, and very likely the new members would carry things on more satisfactorily and save the pockets of the ratepayers more than the present board did. A discussion took place in reference to some buildings which had been erected, or were in course of erection, without, plans having been submitted to, and passed by, that board; but no resolution was come to on the point. Mr. Perry, the captain of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, recommended the board to purchase two lengtllS of suction hose, a hose reel, winding machine for canvas hose, hatchets and helmets f(.r firemen, life lines, and fire escape. 1t was resolved to ask the captain of the fire brigade to give an estimate of the cost of the articles required.

CWMAVON. FATAL ACCIDKNT.— A sad accident, which has cast a gloom over the valley, happened on Alondav morning to an f id inhabitant, named John Mock, who held a situation under the several cooipani«sin pos- session of the Cwmavon Works for the past 50 years. The deceased, who was 73 years of age, left home in good health and spirits at half-past five in the morning to follow his daily occupation, which was that of a haulier, but at about eight o'clock he was found lying on the ground quite dead. It is supposed he was crushed between the buffers of some trucks.

CHEPSTOW. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The usual weekly meet- ing of this board was held on Saturday Mr. H. Clay presiding. Thq master reported the number of inmates as 149, ayainst 151 last week, and 139 the corresponding Xeek of last year vagrants re- lieved. 41. Out-door relief for the past week: —Chepstow District: Money, £13 19s. 8d. kind, £3 7s. 6d. Shirenewton District: Money, jE12 16s. 6d.; kind, £318. 6d. Lydney pistrict: Money. JE13 10s.; kind, £3 4s. 6d. Total in money, £40 6s. 2d. in kind, £9 13s. 6d.-A meeting of the School Attendance Committee was then held. With reference to the attendance of children at school, the officers were requested not to repeat a. warning to anyone, but to apply for power to prosecute all persons who did not obey the first warning. Thereupon the attendance-officers at once applied for an order to issue summonses against several persons in their various districts, and the application was granted in every case.

DIN AS ISHAF. FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Monday evening a. boy, fourteen years of age, was run over at the Dinas lshaf Colliery, His ribs and lungs were so terribly injured that, notwithstanding the skill of Dr. Evan Davies, who attended him, he died on Tuesday morning

FERRYSIDE. THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION.—On Friday week a meeting to discuss the question of a water supply scheme for Ferryside was held at the National Schoolroom, Mr. W. E. Phillips, the guardian for tMe parish, presiding. A summary of the report of the medical officer to the Board of Guardians and also the letter of the Local Govern- mont Board to the authority rcspecting the matter were read. A discussion then took place as to whether it was necessary to carry out any new scheme at all. A Mr. Nevill spoke of the lack of proper drainage, and thought if a water scheme were undertaken the drainage should be included. Ultimately a committee was appointed to inspect the place and report to another meeting to be held in a month's Lime.

LIANDILO. FORMATION OF AN KNGLISH INDEPENDENT CHURCH. —On Tuesday evening, at tho Memorial-hall, the Rev. Dr. Ilees, of Swansea, assisted by the pastor of the Tabernacle, Llandilo, for- mally opened an English Independent Church. The hall was filled, and at the end of the service the number of1 communicants was over 100. Dr. Rees, in his address, expressed his belief that,unless the Independents advanced with the times, and instituted more English churches, they would ultimately lose their influence with the rising generation.

MOUNTAIN ASH. THE DUFFRYN SCHOOLS.—The managing com- mit tee of the above schools met on Wednesday, Mr. R. H. Rhys presiding. Mr. J. W. Jones directed attention to the inspector's report, which went to show that the boys had, in the last examination, evinced a weakness in arithmetic. No doubt Mr. Dowling, the head-master, had done his best, but it was an important matter which affected the workmen of the place, for every boy in the fifth standard before he could leave school had to pass in the three subjects—reading, writing, and arithmetic. The Chairman thanked Mr. Jones for calling attention to the matter, and moved that a letter'should be sent to the head-master directing his attention to that part of the report. This was aoreed to. On the motion of Mr. T. Edwards, Mr. Morris, inspector under the Aberdare Board, was appointed inspector of the Duffryn Schools, at a salary of £10 per annum. All the members voted for the motion excepting Mr. J. W. Jones. Twenty applicants had applied for the post of assistant master at the boys'school, at a salary of JE65 per annum.—On the motion of Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Protheroe, Mr. Thomas Thomas, of Aberdare. was appointed. It tran- spired that the average attendance at the schools for the last month was 937. as compared with 872 the corresponding month of last year.

ATAESTEG. LOCAL BOARD.—An ordinary meeting was held on Friday week, Mr. J. H. Thomas presiding. The clerk was ordered to ask Inspector Jennings to make arrangements to prevent disturbances in ( the market. The medical officer sent in a statis- tical report for the year ending December 31,1882. The medical officer promised to send remarks on the statistical report and other matters at another meeting. It would appear that the death rate for the greatest part of the year was very high. that for the first quarter amounting to 30 per 1,000 per annum; whilst tho rate of mortality for the last quarter of the year was only 7 per 1,000. The births for the year were 298, or 37 25 per 1,000.

MEKTHYR. BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—1The weekly meeting on Saturday was presided over by Mr. R. H. Rhys. A letter was read from the Local Government Board, announcing that they had paid over to the treasurer the sum of £1,M2 16s. in respect, of pauper lunatics for the year ending September, 1882. The chairman said that payment would make them right with their bankers. The out-door relief during the past, week was as follows:—Aberdare. £ 63 7s. 9d.; Gelligaer, JE22 4s. 4d Merthvr Upper, JEo7 18s. 3d.; Merthyr Lower, £ 54 4s. 4d.; unsettled, £ 1 8s.; total, £ 199 2s. 8d. The case of an imbecile who had re- centlybpcn removed from Troedyrhiw to the county asylum came up for considerat ion upon an applica- tion by a friend residing in the Rhondda Valley to have the old man to take;care of. It appeared that the lunatic was possessed of about £60. Mr. Thomas Edwards questioned whether the old man should ever have been removed, and in the subse- quent discussion Dr. Probert's certificate was pro- duced. The Chairman subsequently remarked that he thought Relieving-officer Davies had not acted discreetly in removing the old man, as he was not dangerous. Mr. Davies (Glebeland) de- fended the action taken by the relieving officer, and charged the chairman, Mr. Edwards, and others with being in communication with the man who was desirous of having the lunatic. The Chairman protested against the conduct of Mr. Davies, and called upon the board r'J support the chair by stan- ding up. Nearly all the members did so, whereupon Mr. Davies said he alluded to Mr. Thomas Edwards and Mr. John James, Aberdare. He ignored the chairman. The applicant, who said he was a pub- lican, appeared before the board, and said he was prepared to enter into an undertaking to keep the old man. Mr. Davies moved that he be not per- mitted to take the old man, but no one seconded the proposition. The clerk was instructed to write to the asylum authorities to see if the old man could be discharged. In the school there were 132 children, and in the workhouse 247 in- mates last week.

NEATH. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION.—The distribution of prizes to the scholars of the Melincryddan Schools, Neath, ook place on Friday week Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Flower I 4ajor Flower, Mrs. D. Flower, Mr. R. Phillipp> I Mrs. Phillipps, the Ven. the Archdeacon of Llandai'i I and Mrs. Griffiths, Miss Place, the vicar of Briton Ferry, the Rev. J. Johns and Mrs. Johns, and others were present. The ven. archdeacon conducted the distribution in his usual happy manner, and 2301- books were presented to the scholars for regularity, good conduct, and attainments by Mrs. P. W. Flower. Mr. P. W. Flower addressed the scholars. HIGHWAY BOARD.—The members of the board held their monthly meeting on Wednesday at the Town-hall. Mr. Griffith Llewellyn was in the chair. The Collector of Rates for Baglan Lower applied for permission to pay the call made upon the parish out of his next half-year's rate. The amount had not been included in his present assessment, as he had not been served with the call demand until after the rate had been signed. The board decided that a new rate must be made. A sum ofj630 was voted to the contractor for work at Glyncorrwg. The Surveyor reported that a bridge at Trissent would coat £90. The expendi- ture would fall upon the hamlet, and the board considered the parishioners in vestry had better consider whether the expense should be in- curred. TIll: DISTRESS.—The soup kitchen has been doing very satisfactory work up to the present time. No less than 25 gallons have been disposed of at a nominal charge of Id. per quart, and in some de- serving cases given gratuitously. Up to the pre- sent time this season's supply has been provided by the surplus in hand at the close of last year's ac- count, but now the funds have become exhausted The Ven. Archdeacon of Llandaff, the Mayor, Mr. Rowland Thomas, and Air. J. H. Rowland, who take an active interest in the movement, find it neces- sary to seek help 1n a pecuniary sense. Hitherto there has been a generous response, and it is to be hoped that an effort so worthy will, as in the past, meet with the real practical sympathy it deserves.

PONTYPRIDD. WATERWORKS COMPANY.—The half-yearly meet- ing of this company was held on Monday. Mr. D. Davis, Maesyffynon, in the chair. The atten- dance was smail. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report (which recommended a dividend of 3h per cent, on the ordinary share capital), complimented the shareholders uiJon the efficient state of the company, and remarked that the dividend on the ordinary share capital had increased this quarter and was likely to increase in the future. Mr. B. Jones seconded HIe afioption of the report, which was unanimously agreed to. AWFULLY SunDEN DFlA1'H.-On Sunday evening an old woman, 75 years of age, named Rebecca Watkins,residing at Hopkinstown, complained to her SOli, while walking home from Divine Service at Sitrdis Chapel, that she suffered from pain in the chest. Her son took her into the house of a neighbour named Llewelyu Llewelyn, where she immediately expired.

ST. CLEAR'S. SHOCKING ACCIDENT.—On Friday wpek a shocking accident occurred to a hl.ouril1({ man named Janws Scourtield, of Pentre, St. Clear's. He was standing at the St. Clear's Railway Station, on the Great Western Railway, when a large quantity of earth from a cutting on the side of the line fell upon him. He was buried, and when afterwards extri- cated from his fearful position it was found that his legs were broken, that his ribs were crushed into his body, and that he had received other in- juries of a most serious character.

TALGARTH. MARKET COMMITTEE.—A meeting of the Market Committee was held in the Assembly-room on Friday week, presided over by Mr. George Mills. The subject, respecting the market toll on hucksters was under consideration, and it waa unanimously resolved to remove the toll. The market will henceforth be free of toll. The farmers and agriculturists of this district have for some time past expressed a desire to establish a corn market in Talgarth, in accordance with which the Market Committee have decided to hold a public meeting on Friday next.

TENBY. TENBY COTTAGE HO PITAL.—The anijual meeting of subscribers and friends of the Tenby Cottage Hospital was held at the Hospital on Saturday. Dr. Dystcr was voted to the chair. The hon secretary, Mr. E. R. Power, read the report, from which it appeared that the receipts, including a balance from 1881 of jE92 6s. lid., amounted to £293 15s. lid., which included a special sum of jElO given by Ml's. Forbes towards furnishing the day room. The expenditure reached £156 5s. lid., leaving a balance in the Savings Bank and the London and Provincial Bank of £137 10s, The report of the medical officer (Dr. J. Griffith Lock) showed that on the 1st of January, 1832, no patients were in the hospital, and between that date and December 31, 32 patients were admitted. Dr. Dyster, at his sole cost, had erected a new ward. By this means a day-room would be avail- able for the patients in a few weeks. The report was adopted. Complimentary votes brought the meeting to a close. FREEMASONRY.—On Wednesday the members of the Tenby Lodge of Freemasons, No. 1,177, met specially for the installation of Bro. John Rowland Rowlands, P.P.G.O. (manager of the Tenby branch of the National Provincial Bank), W.M. for the ensuing year. The lodge was called for four p.m., and a large number of the craft assembled. The lodge was opened in due form by the retiring W.M., Bro. John Griffith Lock. The cere- mony was impressively performed by the very Worshipful Bro. Lord Kensington, M P., Deputy Provincial Grand Master, P.G.S.W. of England. The newly-elected W.M. having received the con- gratulations of the brethren, invented the follow- ing members officers for the ensuing year:—Bros. Rev. George Huntington, S.W.; R. Venning, J. W.; I T. H. Thomas, treasurer: J. A. Jenkins, secretary: J. Evans, S.D.; A. T. Lewis, J. D.; B. Harries, I. G.; James Truscott, D.C.; P. G. Harries and W. H. Hodges, stewards; J. H. Thomas, organist, and R. L. Gordon, tyler. The usual formal business was then transacted, and tho lodge closed. In the evening the brethren sat down to a banquent at the Royal Gate-house Hotel, the W.M. presiding. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to, the company separa- ting at eleven o'clock. FUNKRAL OF MR. JOHN LUPTON LESTER.—The funeral of this gentleman, well known throughout Tenby and neighbourhood, took place on Wednesday. He died on Sunday night, after an illness of only a couple of days, at the age of 40. His remains were borne to the grave by the Tenby Fire Brigade, of which deceased was a member.

TREALANV. SAD ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday, a man named George Williams, living at Miskin-road, Trealaw, received painful injuries to his back and leg, through a portion of the roof falling upon him while working at the Clydach Vale Pit.

CARDIFF. MONDAY.—(Before Mr. R. O. Jones and Alder. man Daniel Jones.)—A Seaman in Difficulties.— George Ash, a seaman, was charged with smuggling 41bs. of tobacco and two bottles of Florida water, of the single value and duty of £1 6s. Id. Prisoner was given into custody at the Great Western Rail- way Station on Sunday morning for having wil- fully damaged a cushion in one of tho carriages, and when he was at the police-station Police-Con- stable Dyment found 4lbs. of tobacco in his possession and two bottles of Florida water. The prisoner was ordered to pay the amount of the single value, or in default go to gaol for fourteen days. He was then charged with wilfully damaging a cushion in a carriage on the Great Western Rail- way. A witness proved that prisoner was injuring the cushion, and Inspector Hickey, Great Western Railway, stated that the damage done amounted t,) £1. The prisoner was ordered to pay this sum, 6d. fine, and thelcosts, or go to gaol for fourteen days. Board of Trade Prosecution.—C. Gowan, master of the s.s. Lesreaulx, was summoned by the Board of Trade authorities for discharging two seamen on board that vessel otherwise than in the presence of a shipping-master duly appointed under the provisions ot the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854. Mr. Ingledew appeared for the pro- secution,'and Mr. Hancock, fer the defendant- Albert Edward Evans stated that he was deputy- superintendent in charge of the engagement de- partment of the Mercantile Marine Office. On the 10th of July he saw Thornly, au engineer, sign the articles, and on the 10th of October a man named Pepperill signed. On the 29th of December the defendant came to the office and asked for his clearance. Witness saw that two men had been marked off. He charged the defendant with having done this on board ship, and he admitted the offence. Defendant was ordered to pay the mitigated penalty of £2 10s. and costs. Alleged Assault at Canton.—A vourjg man named John Chiplin was charged" with assaulting a. Mrs. Dolbier in PontcanHa, on last Saturday week. Complainant alleged that the prisoner had had a quarrel with her husband, and on the day mentioned he came to the house when the complainant was alone, broke in the front door and the door of the room where she lodged. He seized her by the hair of her head, and beat and kicked her savagely.—The magistrates then heard a case in which William Trout was sum- moned by the same complainant for having assaulted her on the same occasion. Both cases were adjourned till Friday for further evidence. Sunday Drinking.—John Nicholls, old soldier, and Emily Evans, returned convict, were charged with being drunk and disorderly in Bute-terrace on Sunday. Nicholls was ordered to pay 10s. and costs, or go to gaol for seven days with hard labour and the woman was ordered to pay 5s. and costs, or go to gaol for five days with hard labour. —Thomas Flynn was charged with being drunk in Westgate-streeton Sunday. Defendant was ordered to pay 5s. and costs, or go to gfjol for five days with hard labour.—John Brennan was similarly charged, and dealt with in like manner.—Anothoj person was also charged with being drunk, but was not in a fit condition to appear before the magis- trates. In reply to Mr. R. å. Jones. Mr. Heming- way, head-constable, said drunkenness on Sunday was on the increase. TUESDAY.—(Before Alderman Daniel Jones and Mr. J. W. Vachell.)—A Drunken Spree.—Albert Morgan was charged with being drunk at the Infirmary on Monday. The prisoner said he was with two companions. One of them picked him up. carried him on his back, and then let him fall on the pavement. His head was fractured, and he was conveyed to the Infirmary, where his wound was dressed. H9 was afterwards found in the yard by the police. He wat discharged with a caution. Sunday Drinkiny.—George Porter, cabman, was charged with being drunk while in charge of a horse and cab on Sunday evening last. Police- Constable James proved the case, and Police-Con- stable D. Smith gave corroborative evidence; and the defendant, who had appeared in the court be. fore, was ordered to pay 10s. and costs.

LLANDAFF. MONDAY.—(Before Mr. J. Prichard and Mr. R. C. G. Dornford.)— Sunday Trading.— Frederick Whale was summoned for a contravention of the Sunday Closing Act. It appeared that on the 21s' 1 ust. Police-Constable William Canton visited t? I dut-chers' Arms, in company with Police-Sergean | Roberts, and there found two men sitting down in the back room very drunk. The house was really managed for the defendant by a person named H. G. Charles, who was also drunk. The defendant, as the holder of the licence, was legally liablo for the act of his manager, but the offence was com- mitted without his knowledge or sanction. Under the circumstances the magistrates imposed a. mitigated penalty of 20s. and costs.— The two men, James Povey and Henry Wide, charged with being found drinking in the house during prohibited hours, were each ordered to pay 5s. and costs. limhezzlemeKt.— Samuel Evans, charged on remand with embezzling several sums of money, the property of his em- ployer, William Evans, biker, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. The prisoner was engaged to deliver bread to, and collect money from, customers. He was speci- fically proved to have received 2s. 6d. from a cus- tomer named Simeon Humphreys, which he had not accounted for.

NEWPORT. MONDAY.—(Before Mr. L. A. Homfray, Mr. T. P. Wansbrough, and Mr. A. J. Stevens.)—Drunken- ness.—Ann Hinds was charged with being drunk and causing a crowd to assemble in Commercial- street on Saturday night. Fined 10s. 6d., or four- teen days.—Richard Padley was charged with being drunk and breaking a pane of vlass belonging to James Monis, Cross-street, ún Saturday night last. The damage was 6s. Ordered to pay the damage. jtlischievoits Boys.—Tom Vick was charged with ussaulting Alfred Gwytlier, appren- tice to Mr. R. Alger. Defendant is one of a gang of boys who, when they leave the railway'sheds of a morning, annoy Mr. Alger's apprentices. The Bench admonished the defendant, and ordered him to pay 2s. 6d. costs. J founding a Wife.—Thomas Flynn was charged with assaulting and wounding his wife Mary. Sergeant Williams said shortly after midnight on Sunday he apprehended the prisoner in Potter-street on the charge of wounding his wife on the 23rd of December last. Police-Constable Goodridge said he was on duty on the 23rd of December last, when prisoner came to the Piil Station and asked him to go to his house, as his wife had cut her throat or done something. Went with the prisoner and saw the wife in bed. She appeare I unconscious, and was bleeding from a wound. He told prisoner to go for a doctor, and he started off, but did not fetch the doctor. Mary Flynn said she was drunk pretty nearly all day, and she did not know how it, hap- pened, but she bled from the effects of a blow. She could not tell whether she cut hot throat. It was her fault each time she had had him up. They have been married ten years, and had had five children. Prisoner denied the charge. He said his wife was very drur.k, and fell upon an earthen vessel, by which fohc was wounded. Mr. R. Cooke said the wound was contused, not lacerated. The Bench dismissed the case. Transfer of Licences.—White Lion, Mill- street, from Thomas Meaker to George Gritnths; Britannia, North-street, from Ann Frost to John Newlan, subject to the reception of a testimonial, which had not come to hand; Union. Dock-street, from Windsor Gibbon to Morgan Richards, late of the Carpenter's Arms, Maindee. Assm.lt and ])amctue.—Morgan John, Tredegar Arms, High- street^ was charged with assaulting Mary Jane Vaughan. Mr. Oliver defended. Complainapt had been a servant in the defendant's hotel. Last Thursday she went to the house to ask for her wages. He ordered her out, and struck her twice. On the previous Tuesday she was discharged by defendant's sister in defen- dant's absence. Mr. John had charged the complainant with breaking a glass door, but she denied that she had broken it. Defendant broke it by slamming the door. In the course of the case it transpired that this girl was actually given in charge of the police and taken to the station, but the police did not detain her more than a few minutes. The Bench considered there was strong provocation on the part of the girl, and dismissed both cases, each party to pay their own costs. They wished the matter had not been brought before the court. Assaults.—Timothy Buckley was charged on remand with assaulting Charles Jacob- son, one day last week. He said he was assaulted very badly, and that defendant encouraged a sailor to beat turn. The Bench, on the first hearing, ordered a warrant to apprehend the sailor, but the sailor had gone to sea. Dismissed. Stealinya Fowl. —Henry Atkinson, a young man, was charged with stetlinga fowl on Friday night last. Dismissed, prosecutor to pay costs. WEDNESDAY.—(Before the Mayor, Mr. Wool- lett, and Mr. R. G. Cullum.)—An Undesirable Cus- tomer.—A YOUl1g man named Vl/illiam Bryan was charged with being drunk and disordeify at the London Beerhouse, Baneswell. On Tuesday the prisoner was refused drink because he showed signs of inebriation on entering the house, and by way of revenge Bryan spat in the faces of some persons in the bar, smashed a pane of glass, and damaged a table. The magistrates fin"d him 21s in default, a lunar month's imprisonment, with hard labour. Juvenile Coal Stealers. — Four sharp lads, named Rees, Parry, Madden, and Flynn, were charged with stealing Ib8 lbs. of coal, the property of the Great Western Railway Company, from a siding at Pillgwenlly. Pany and Madden having been previously cun- victed, they were sent to gaol for ten days' hard labour. The Bench sentenced the others to be de- tained in the police-station for two days and receive eight strokes each with a birch. Ass/mlis.— John Kift, a seaman (on a warrant), was charged with beating John Leary. Prisoner w*s fined 21s., and paid the rhoney, thereby escaping 28 days' hard labour at Usk.—Thomas Stock, butcher, was summoned by Daniel Crowley, Alice-street, Pillgwenlly, for an assault. Fined 40s.; in default 28 •> Assessment Appeal.—Aaron Tovey, lan llord of the Bunch of Grapes Public- house. High-street, appealed againatthe amount at which his premises were assessed, on the ground that the assessment was excessive and inequitable. Mr. F. Vaughan appeared for the appellant, and Mr. H. J. Davis represented the Assessment Committee. The Bench upheld the assessment, and dismissed the appeal Transfer.—The licence of the Alma Inn, Commercial-road, was transferred from Benjamin Griffiths to John \endail.

SWANSEA. MONDAY.—(Before the Stipendiary, and Messrs. Buse, T. Hall, and L. Tulloch.)—Alleged Wounding. —James Tobin, 62. labourer, 22, Mill-street, and Elizabeth Davies, 22. married, Pentre, were brought up in custody and charged with unlawfully as- saultingand wounding Michael Wheelan,the former with a cup. and the latter with a stone, while in a house in Mill-street. The prisoners were remanded until this (Tuesday) morning. Charge of Theft.— Ellen Thomas, 23, a woman of ill-fame, "living at 14, Little Madoc-street, was charged on remand with stealing £ 7 from the waitscoat pocket of J. W. Heal. Prosecutor left his waistcoat upstairs, and prisoner volunteered to fetch it down, saying You are not afraid o o trust me, are you ?" He said he was not, and she went upstairs and brought it down. no then took his purse out of his pocket, and found that £7 had been abstracted from it. Prisoner was then given into custody, but none of the money was found on her. Twenty previous convictions had been recorded against the prisoner, and the magistrates committed her for trial at the assizes. Stealing a Cask.—Win. Rees, alius Edward Powell, furnaceman, Hewson-street, wascharged with steal- irJg a °ider cask of the value of 12s." the property of Robert Park, from outside a house in Cross- street. The case was proved, and the Bench sentenced the prisoner to a month's hard labour. Licensing Offence.—Thomas Davies, landlord of the Duffryn Arms, Jockey-street, was summoned for selling intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours, on Sunday, the 21st inst. He admitted the offence, and was fined £ 3. The licence was endorsed. Elizabeth Moss, for being in the house at the time m question, was fined 5s.

cowbridge. TUESDAY.—(Before Mr. G. W. Nicholl and Mr E. Bradley.)—Assault.—Edward David, labourer, Cowbridge, was charged with assaulting W. H. John, son of Mr. Edward John. He was ordered to pay the costs, 11s. 9d., and be bound over in jElO to keep the peace for six months. A Claim for Wages.—(Before Mr. G. W. Nicholl, Mr. Daniel Owen, Ash Hall, and Mr. G .H. Jenkins.)—William Lewis, cooper, Cardiff, claimed JEl 8s., wages due to him by Mr. J. R. Thomas, brewer, Cowbridge. After hearing the evidence the Bench made an order for the amount claimed.

DEATH OF OWAIN A LAW, THE WELSUJARL). On Tuesdav Mr. John Owain Alaw, musical composer, who was well-known throughout both North and South Wales, died at his residence, Lorne-street, Chester, in his 63rd year. For many years he has taken an active part in the furtherance of Welsh musical education, and has been chosen an adjudicator at neariy all the eisteHdfodau held in the Principality. Hewasatsoafavouritecon- ductor at other choral gatherings. His musical com- positions were received with great favour in Wales. An oratorio, entitled "Jeremiah," of which he was the author, elicited very favourable comments in Welsh musical circles, and a second edit ion of the work has been published. The deceased had latterly conducted the musical services at the Welsh Church at Chester. As a musical instructor he was verv successful, some of his pupils having attained prominent positions as singers or instru- mental musicians. Madame Edith Wynne was one ofhispupits. The title of "Owain Aiaw" wiis conferred on the deceased some 21 years ago by an assembly of the Welsh bards, the word a la tv mean- ing chief singer."

ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT HY A TRADESMAN AT TRE LEWIS. At the Caerphilly Petty Sessions on Tuesday (before Mr. H. T. Williams, chairman, Mr. H. Jackson, Dr. J. Leigh, and Dr. J. Lie'*eliyn), Thos. Jones, grocer, of Tre Lewis, Gelligaer, was charged with indecently assaulting Mary Richards, a good- looking servant girl in his employment, on January 2. Complainant gave evidence to the effect that she was in service at the defendant's at Fochriw, where he also had a place of business. She was sent from Fochriw to Tre Lewis on the date given to do some cleaning. Whilst there de- fendant kipsed her and behaved indecently towards her. This she resented, and packed up her clothes and went home the same evening to Bed- linog, where her parents rtsidid. She told her mother what had taken place.—In cross-examina- tiun ehe said she did not scream out as he did not attempt anything further than what she had described.—Defendant was committed for trial at the quarter sessions, bail being accepted.

The committee of the Bristol Musical Festival, after paying all expenses, have a balance in their favour of J6360. The returns of the Irish Registrar-General for the quarter ending with the last day of 1882 indi- cate that the population of the country decreased during that period by -i", t

BRKCONSB IRE. The Winter Assizes for Breconshire was com- menced on Monday, Lord Justice Brett taking his seat on the bench shortly before eleven o'clock. THH GRAND JURY. The following gentlemen were sworn in as the grand juryMessrs. Wm. de Winton, George Overton. Colonel Thomas Conway Lloyd, Charles Evan Thomas, Major J. W. Morgan, David Evans, Colonel F. X, Gwynne, Captain J.Hotchkiss, Colonel W.Jones Thomas, Henry de Winton, James Williams, D. Jeffries Powell, Rees Williams, Captain Frank Travers, Captain A. H. Miers, Captain J. bargrave Watkins, Edward Davies, J. Bruce Fowler, Lewis Jones, John Morgan Thomas, and J. Talfourd Jones. His Lordship addressed the grand jury.. THK OUTRAGE ON A BRECONSHIKE FARMER. The Clerk of Airaigus, after a consultation with his lordship, inquired if the superintendent of police was present. Superintendent Flye, appearing in the witness- box, answered. His Lordship said: My attention has been called to an alleged outrage on a farmer in the county. Have you the conduct of the case 'i Superintendent Flye: Agaiust two gentlemen, ill v lord ? His Lordship: Yes. Superintendent Flye: It is on the other side of the county, adjoining Glamorganshire. His Lordship: You have the conduct of the case ? Superintendent Flye: Yes, my lord. His Lordship Well, you know the ordinary rule is to have both before the magistrates, in order that they may be committed, but if, as alleged here, the parties accused have absconded, the first thing to do—the thing that ought to be done —is to bring your witnesses here and attach them before the grand jury, and the grand jury would find a bill, and they would ba arrested wherever theygo. Superintendent Flye: I received a warrant on Saturday, my lord. His Lordship (sternly): Never mind that. Superintendent Flye: I hope to execute the warrant this week. His Lordship It ought to come before the grand jury. Can you have the witnesses here r1 Superintendent Flye: No, my lord. The case was adjourned for a month on Friday, as the old man was too ill to attend. If we could have had his attendance the case would have gone on. His Lordship: That comes of a person having a prosecution who knows nothing about it. If he were too ill to appear, you might bave taken his evidence before a magistrate. Superintendent Flye: I tried to get a magistrate for that purpose, but. failed to do so, as the doctor certified he was not in danger of death at the time. His Lordship Very well; it is all wrong. Subsequently the Judge again referred to this case in discharging the grand jury. The Judge (having alluded to another matter) said: There is also another case, where it is stated that some per- sons have ill-treated another. It is said that they have absconded, and if they have they are exceed- ingly foolish people, for if tnev run away when a charge is made they will have to stay away for ever. They have done a fooUsh thing in running away, and it would have been far better for them to have faced the charge, and have seen the worst of it. If something happened to prevent those who had the conduct of the prosecu- tion having a proper prosecution, then, under those circumstances, the proper thing to do would he to bring the witnesses here, if they could be brought without endangering life, and, in the absence of these people who were supposed to have run away, to have preferred a bill against them. If they (the grand jury) found a bill against them, then they would be liable to be arrested wherever they were, and tried whenever they were arrested. It appeared from the policeman who has charge of the prosecution, and who might be clever in his own line, that he knows nothing about such prosecutions, but that the person who was ill- treated was ill. He said he knew that, but the men might have been brought here with some difficulty, and a bit! ought to be presented to you. However it ie, what I mean to say is that, although it is quite right to a iopt the ordi- nary course of taking the men before the magis- trates to see if the magistrates will commit, yet if there were reasonable grounds for believing that these people had absconded, and they could not be taken before the magistrates, the police should have preferred a bill before the grand jury. It has not been done, and the charge is hanging over the heads of these foolish people, unless they have the good sense to come back anid stand by what they have done. In consequence of their own folly i' warrant is issued against 'them, and instead of coming back quietly they Will be brought back by thspoiicp. That is their fault and not ours. This case cannot now be brought before you, and the best thing I can now do is to discharge you, and thank you for your services. ALLEGED OBTAINING FOOD BY FALSE PRETENCES. David Jermin, 29, a labourer, was indicted for obtaining food and lodging bv false pretences, the property of Margaret Willing, Lamb Inn. Brecon. Mr. F. North (instructed by ",Ir. H. Edgar Thomas) prosecuted. Prisoner on the 15th inst. obtained lodgings of the prosecutrix upon pretending that he was a cattle dealer, and sent stock to Southampton and other places. He stayed there two days, and prisoner's movements at night time being suspicious, she told him he must, seek fresh lodgings. She de- manded 6s. 3d. in payment of what he had up to that time, but prisoner had no money to pay. He was subsequently arrested by Police-Sergeant Lewis, who found upon hiqj a revolver, twenty cartridges, and an old book, but no money. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he w- sen- tenced to six months' imprisonment. THKFT OF GKKSE AT HAY. David Griffiths, 26, a labourer, was indicted for stealing three geese, value 60s., the property of Mr. Peter Geovgg, Caennntmelyn Farm, near Hay. Mr. North prosecuted. The evidence showed that on the morning of the 26th of January prosecutor hearing a noise in the farm-yard, got tip, and. wit II his Mn and daughter, who were also awakened, saw a man and a dog in the coal-yard. They went downstairs and discovered three geese missing. Information was ^given to the police, and between three and four o'clock in the morn- ing, whilst Police-Constable Williams and Mr. George, jun., were walking along a path in a field towards the farm they saw prisoner following. In a. bedroom in prisoner's house Police-Sergeant Stephen Davies, of Hay, found two dead geese, and near by wher3 prisoner was apprehended Davies also found a live goose. The three geese wore identified. Prisoner was found guilty, and the judge sentenced him to fpur months' imprison- ment with hard labour. REPRIMANDING A CORONER. His Lordship, in discharging the grand jury, said t.he.re tum something else that ought to have been laid before them. There w«fl a case in the county in which a coroner had held an inquisition, and the jury had found a. verdict of manslaughter against a certain person. That coroner it appeared was the person who took diarge of the prosecu- tion, and this he apprehended was not a good practice. The coroner had certainly made a mistake which, perhaps, for him was an unnatural one. The coroner had written a letter to say he knew that a man was tried for manslaughter fit Glou- cester, the meaning of which, as far as he (the judge) could catch it, was that the blow which caused the death was struck in Monmouthshire, ,HId the man died in Breclflshire, and for some reason or other the man Was probably tried at Gloucester. The coroner said he had business in London, and asked that !!JJ might be excused coming there that day, because, he said, the man was tried at Gloucester. ¡hecol'oner had for- gotten himself, for by his action ho had made himself judge. The man ought to have been there to be tried on the coronet's inquisition. The coroner was wrong in his law, and he (the judge) would advise lum, in a. friendly way, to have nothing to do with prosecutions. The proper course, and what ought to have been done, was to prefer a bill against the man, and then, if he could show that, he had been trieJ nt Gloucester, that was a defence for him.—At the rising of the court John William Lewis, the man committed on the coroner's inquisition, was palled, but did not answer. NTORT POACHIKO AT HAY. Evan Worthing, James Worthing, son of the former, Morgan Lloyd, and John Greenway, farm servants, young men of respectable appearance, answered their recognisances on the charge of night, poaching 011 woodland, the property of Lord Hereford, on the, 20th of November. Mr. Jeffries prosecuted, and Mr. n. Francis Williams defended all tho prisoners, excepting Morgan Lloyd, but, at the suggestion of the judg<* Mr. Williams also undertook his defence. The jury retired, and after a brief deliberation found all the prisoners guilty, excepting Evan Worthing, against whom a verdict of not guilty was returned. The Judge sentenced James Worthing to three months' im- prisonment, and Greenwav and Lloyd to two months each. The other prisoner was acquitted. The court then rose until 10-30 this morning. Lord Justice Brett continaod these assiz.es on Tiifisdav, taking his scat ontho bench promptly i\t 10.30, EXTRAOUDJNARY HORSE DXAT.WO ^RAVSACTIONS.— A JUISIKO KVIDKKCE, Septimus Powell, an elderly man, whose name win not, on the Calendar, was indicted for stealing two horses, value /:2, the property of Mr. Job Davies, l-'rynmawr. MI" Llewellyn prose- cuted. Prosecutor's evidence was to the effect that on 8atui the 19th of January, he sent, prisoner with two old worn out horses from Brynrcinwr to Mr. Gibbs's horse slaughtering establishment, Merthyr. Mr. Gibbs agreed to give £2 for the horses". On the Tuesday following Davies found that the horses had been sold to and killed p.t Mr. Gibbs's. George nix, cheese hawker, met prisoner on the road from Hrynroawr with the two horses. He asked prisoner if he would sell the horses, and the wentlemnn" — (laughter) — said Yes." Asked the price, and he said 30s. Witness offered him a. sovereign but he would nor, accept it. Then asked him if he would buy cheese—(laughter)—and he said he did not care. Afterwards agreed to give him apiece of cheese, lSlbs., worth 8s., ana a sovereign for the horses. (Laughter.) Prisoner gave him a penny back for luck. (Roars ef laughter.) Sold one óf the horses to Mr- R, Leonard, Merthyr, for 10s. and a .set of harness. Tho other horse fell down on the road, and was rolled off on to the mountain. Sold that horse for £4 10s. (Loud laughter.)—Mr. Bichard Leonard, Merthyr, and a man named Bolton, in the employ of ML Gibbs, also gave evidence. The hearing of the case caused much amusement, and the jury finding prisoner guilty ho was sentenced to three months' impri- sonment. THE NIOHT POACHING CASK AT HAY. James Worthing, Morgan Doyd. and John Greenway, the men sentenced on the previous day for night poaching on woodland belonging to Lord Hereford, were, by the direction of the learned judge, placed 111 the dock. The Judge than said that the three had been convicted for poaching. He told them at the time that for the reason it was their first offence, and that they did not resist, the keepers, he would give them as light a punishment as he could. He bad made inquiries about them, ■w i ul from what he had been told he did not think iey were people who had made up their minds o be poachers. He had come to the conclusion r iuit they were suddenly tempted about Christmas to see what poaching was like, and to see whether it was the fun people thought it was. He had heard that up to this time they were respectable men, and that they had exceedingly good cha- racters. He had seen the clergyman of their parish, whose gun they seemed to have taken—and he could not help thinking that the facility with which they got the parson's gun was a thing which tempted them to go. James Worthing was a man of superior station, and he (the judge) feared that he persuaded the other men to go out poaching. He meant to alter the sentence passed, and thought he was justified in doing so, not in the least because he (the judge) sympathised with poaching, or that, he thought they did not do wrong, but on account of their previous character. He (the judge) meant to keep them out of contact with all the ruffians in prison. James Worthing's sentence would be altered to two months instead of three, and he should not be imprisoned with hard labour. If he did he would immediately be placed amongst all the scoundrels who were real crimi- nals that were in prison. The other two prisoners had been sentenced to two months with hard labour, and he would diminish that sentence to one month withouLhard labour. (Applause in couit.)

CARMARTHEN. On Thursday week the Winter Assizes for the county of Carmarthen and also for tlie county of the borough of Carmarthen opened at the Shire-hall, Carmarthen (before the Right Hon. Lord Justice Brett). His lordship, who was accompanied by the high-sheriff and Lady Brett, took his seat at eleven a.m. The following gentlemen answered to their names, and were sworn on the grand jury for the eounty Mr. D. Pugh, foreman Mr John Beynon, Mr. E. Morris Davies, Mr. Walter Powell Jeffreys, Mr. Morgan Jones, Mr. Arthur Howell Jones, the I Rev. R. Gwynne Lawrence, Mr. Charles Long- croft, Captain Grismond Philipos, Mr. John Lewis Philipps, Mr. E. G. Protheroe, Mr. William Lewis Philipps, Mr. Griffith Grismond Philipps, and Mr. J. L. Trfegoning. His Lordship proceeded to deliver the charge to the grand jury. He said if everybody in that court knew so much of the law as their foreman he should be afraid to address them, because he (the judge) recollected wail that ho learned more law from him than he should ever be able to pay IJim back. There were but very few prisoners for iri il for so large a county, and the cases were of the slightest importance. His lordship then went over again in substance what he said at Haver- fordwest on Saturday last, to the effect that all considerations of mercy in sentencing prisoners were provided for in the law. The grand jury for the county of the borough was composed of the fol lowing: -Nles.rs. R. Caville, E. D. Jones, J. D. White, C. V. Harding, James Phillips, D. Davies, J. H. Ashbridge, Thos. Davies, William Joseph, Thomas Thomas. D. Philip Morgan, W. Scourfield Phillips, George Stephens, J. P. Carter, Benjamin Davies, T. E. Brigstocke, James Puddicombe, Charles Finch, John M'Lean, Thomas Jenkins, David iSamue). William James Williams, and Samuel Cruise. His Lordship said there was nothing to address to this jury, as there were no cases to come before them. They were, consequently, discharged. RILL 1GNORKD. The Grand Jury said they found no true bill against Thomas Evans, on bail, charged with setting fire to a stable in the possession of Mary Evans and Elinor Evans, at Nantllun, in the parish of Pemboyr, on the night of the 8th of January, or the morning of the 9tli of January last. Mr. Abel Thomas was for the prosecution Mr. Arthur Lewis for the defence. BURGLARY BY BOYS. Joseph Thomas, 16, pickler, and Robert James Kettie, aged 11, were both indicted for breaking and entering the shop of Mr. Gwilym Evans, at Danetty, on the 12th of January last, and stealing a quantity of cigars and matches, a hair brush, a. clothes brush, a cigar case, two penholders, and other articles, of the value of £ 4-. Mr. Walter Jones prosecuted. The contention on the part of the prosecution was that on the night in question Mr. Evans's shop in Station-road, Llanelly, was entered by some persons opening a window, which, the assistant who had charge of the establishment stated, had been securely fastened. The shop was ransacked, and a considerable quantity of the con- tents stolon. Prisoners were arrested, and it was found that they had hid a number of cigars and some of the other property in a heap of refuse from the ironworks. Some of the spoil had been given to other bovs to dispose of. Both prisoners, on being taken into custody, admitted having taken part in the robbery. The jury re- turned a verdict of guilty, but presented a recom- mendation to mercy. Mr. Evans, the prosecutor, asked that the younger lad might be lightly dealt with, as he had up to the time of the robtery borne a good character. His lordship directed Kettie to be handed over to his mother for chastisement; and Thomas—who had previously been in prison, and who the judge said he thought was the lea-let in the crime— was now sentenced to three months' hard labour. BIGAMY. John Jones, an elderly man, employed as a miner, was indicted for having bigamously married a young woman, named Mary Rees, at the ltegistry-oftics, Carmarthen, on December 31, 1881, his proper wife, Hannah Jones, being at tint time still alive. It was alleged-hat, prisoner married his first wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Row- lands, at Bangor Chape), Cardiganshire, on the 28th of June, 1850, and the certificate showing that the ceremony had been duly performed was produced. Some years afterwards lie went away from his wife to work, and ultimately made the acquain- tance of the young woman Mary Rees, with whom, on the, 31st of December, 1381, lie went through the form of marriage service at Carmarthen, de- scribing himself as a widower. — Prisoner, in defence, said he never was married to Hannah Rowlands. He kept her, and she had two children by him. He went back to the works in Cardi- ganshire in 1876, and proceeded to her house at one o'clock in the morning. Kicked at the door, and she came out and asked him why he had not written to say he was coming. She had a man in the house with her. and he (prisoner; created a little row. Prisoner added that for the last three months he had been living with the gen- tlemen by his side (the gaolers.) (Laughter.) The jury found the prisoner guilty. The learned Judge addre-sed the prisoner in strong terms, and sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. This concluded the criminal business of the assize. CIVIL BUSINESS. The only civil cause entered was that of Kennedy v. Francis, in which a claim of X-313 10s. was made by the plaintiff on promissory notes, and a counter claim of JE150 was made by the defendant. Mr. Arthur Lewis (instructed by Messrs. Griffith Jones and Co., of Aberystwyth) appeared for the plaintiff, and read a letter, stating that the defendant could not appear on account of illness, and asked for the case to be adjourned. His lord- ship suggested that the record should be with- drawn. This was consented to, and the case was struck off. The whole of the business was then concluded. and the court rose.

LLANWONSO SCHOOL nOAHD. TRIENNIAL KETOBT. The fourth triennial report of the Llanwonno School Board has just been issued in pamphlet form, and contains matter of great interest. The total school accommodation provided in the parish, including voluntary efficient schools, is 5,128 the accommodation provided and maintained by the School Board being 4,395. The whole of the schools and sites arc freehold property, and the report It will be pleasing to the board, and also a pleasure to the ratepayers, to know that sufficient school accommodation has now been provided for the parish of Llanwonno," the only matters of importance in respect to accommodation being the necessary alterations at Porth Boys' School. During the existence of the present board the following schools have been completed, viz.: Porth Infants' to accommodate 204; ditto girls, 246; and Penrhiwceiber to accommo- dato 312, an addition of 762; while Miskin and Newtown Schools, Mountain Ash, have been taken over from their managers.the former by purchase at j62,050, and the latter rented at S45 a year until the board considers it advisable to purchase it. Thus the additional accommodation provided by the board during the last three years equals 1,298. The board has now under its direct management ten schools, consisting of seventeen departments, and giving accommodation for 2,945 children, viz., boys' school for 630, girls' schools for 646; mixed schools for 47C, and infants' schools for 1,191. Duffryn Schools, Mountain Ash, accommodating 1,190 children, two-thirds of those bjing Llan- wonno children, are managed by a joint com- mittepof four nominated by the Llanwonno Board and five by the Aberdare Board. Ferndale Schools, accommodating 260 Llanwonno children, are managed by a joint committee of the Ystrady- fodwgand Llanwonno Boards. The report states -— The board has drawn from the rates the sum of £6,850, which is equal to 15d. in the £ for the three years, or an annual sum of 5d. in the P,, all com- pared with the sum of 17d. in the £ of the pre- ceding three years. This has been done in the face of increased accommodation, amounting to 1,300 children, and an increased attendance of 426, as well as attltining a very high standard of efficiency. The board had in hand on September 29,1882, the sum of £ 2,339 17s. 6d.; if this sum be deducted from the £ 6,850 drawn from the the actual sum expended will be £ 4,511, which is equal to 9 7d. in the £ > oranrlUal rate of 3'2<1, in the £ on the present (rateable value of the parish. Since the formation of'the board twelve years ago it has been grappling with the difficulty of providing school accommodation, and efficient elementary instruc- tion, and it has at last provided both. U'hei^ they came into office twelve years ago the population of Llanwonno was then 11,400, it is now 19.000, Although the parish has increased so much, yet tlie board has proved itself equal to the occasion. It has expended for the provision of accommodation the sum of £ 24.670 which has been borrowed at 3i per cent-, and made repayable with interest, in 50 years. Some of the loans are borrowed at 3$per cent., and made repayable with interest in 30 years. Of the £ 24.670, tho sum of £6,415 has been repaid, leaving a balance still outstanding of £ 18.255. The total amount paid in insta lments and interest for the past three years is £ 3,442 18s. 9d., asumequalto 7^d.. or *<n annual rate of 2|d.,inthe £ u 2 The average peicentagn.s of passes for the three years have been :-1880, 93.8; 1881, 94 5; 1882. 95 5. The grants per head have been :-1880. Hs 1881.178.; 1882, 17s. 5d. The cost per head to educate each child has been:—1880, £ 113s.; 1881, £ 1 14s.; 1882. £1 13s. 6d. The grants received during the last three years:—1880, £1,517 10s.; 1881, £1,614 13s.; 1882, f 1,852 Is. The board has received during the last three years the following sums:—School fees, £ 3,768 9s. 2d.; grants from the Committee of Council A)n Education, £5,224 9s. 5d.; other receipts, t33 2s. 9d.; Llanwonno Rating Authority. £ 6,850; Ystradyfodwg contributory district, £ 82217s lid.; Ll&ntrisant ditto, £ 552 4s. 9d,; Llanfabon ditto, £ 172 la.; total, £ 17,4235s."

CONSERVATIVE BANQUET AT I LLANELLY. LORD EMLYN ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND THE NEW PROCEDURE RULES. The first banquet in connection with the newly- formed Conservative Association was held at the Athentpum-hall, Llanelly, on Tuesday. The chair was occupied by Mr. C. W. Mans-jl Lewis, presi- dent of the association, supported by Lord Emlyn, M.P. for the county; Mr. J. T. D. Llewelyn (Swan- sea), Mr. C. E. G. Philipps (Picton Castle, Pem- brokeshire), Mr. T. Jones (Llandovery), Mr. R. Margrave (chairman of committees of the associa- tion), Mr. R. Goring Thomas, Captain Luckraft, Mr. R. Nevill, and the Rev. D. Parry Davies. The room was nicely decorated, and there was a large attendance from the town and neighbourhood. After other toasts, the CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of The Houses of Parliament." Lord EMLYN, who responded, was received with loud cheers on rising. After thanking the com- pany for the hearty reception they had given him, he said that many people were fond of talking of abolishing the House of Lords, but to all such he would say, "What will you put in its place?" Wherever there was any attempt to govern a country by a Legislature such as we possess it had been found necessary to endeavour to do it so as to prevent panic and sudden and violent changes of opinion, and the House of Lords to-day repre- sented the steady and progressive feeling of the country. (Hear, hear.) If they could show him a better House of Lords than the present ono well and good, but until they could tind a better representative body he would say "stick to what you have." With reeard to the House of Lords he would also say that anyone who took the trouble to study the debates of both Houses of Parliament would say that in 99 cases out of 100 the weight of debate, eloquence, argument and skill, were in the Upper House. Lately there had been a great deal said of freedom of speoct). He admitted, as an argument that might be used and pressed, that the majority must have their way. Well, everybody knew that the majority in the end always did get their way. Then they were told that obsti uction had got to such a pitch that it was absolutely necessary to put a stop to it, and to put the regulation of speak- ing in the hands of the majority. It was true there had been obstruction, but who had started it He would like to know how the Treasury Bench could talk about obstruction when they made considerable use of it in 1877,1878. and 1879. Was an alteration in the Procedure Rules necessary then ? He maintained that the Pro- cedure Rules were uncalled for, unnecessary, and unwise. When the Speaker was satisfied that the general sense of the whole House was in favour of stopping a debate and coining to a vote he might then set in motion a certain pro- cedure which, upon the bare msjority of votes, might stop a discussion. That, he held, was a. dangerous power to put in the hands of any Ministry, and if such had been proposed by a Conservative Government he wookl have given his vote against it. When the Conservative Government were in power they had to deal-it was acknowledged they had to deal -with a certain amount of obstruction. What was the result? Why, when the Conservatives endeavoured to undertake some measures to re- form the Rules of Procedure they were opposed. He congratulated the meeting on the rapid strides that had been taken during the last twelve months by the Llanelly Conservative Association. (Cheers.) One strong point made against the Conservatives was that they had no party leader but, they should not make too much fuss about party leaders. The Liberals should remember that Mr. Gladstone was not likely to remain for many years to come at the head of the Liberal party. Let them look a little bit ahead, let them also look a little bit back. In 1880 was there that very happy family in the House of Commons ? Let them remember Mr. Chamberlain, the compiler and founder of the Caucuses in the country. He did not think he was a very docile follower of Lord Harrington. The present Government came into office in the spring of 1880, and they had what was regarded as a strong Cabinet,but no less than three of the Ministers who sat upon the Ministerial bench had resigned within the three years. If that represented the unanimity of the Liberal party he thought the Conservatives might take heart. If they went into figures, and inquired how many seats the Liberals had lost since they came into office in 1830, he thought they would find they had lost more seats in the country in three years than the Conservatives lost during the six years they were in power. That was an example of their strength. (Applause.) Now, when they examined the explanations of the Liberals and their description of their owr. posi- tion, they found it a little faulty, and, therefore, they might doubt a littie biL whether their description of Conservative disorganisation and I weakness was correct. (Laughter and applause.) The noble member then referred to the manner in which the Liberal Government had carried out their programme of peace, retrenchment, and reform. With regard to peace, lie pointed out that they were responsible for the Transvaal peace, which was as black a peace as ever was put on paper. (Hear, hear.) The war was commenced to vindicate the authority of the Crown, and he con- tended that the authority should have been vindi- cated before the sword was sheathed. (Applause.) Thtn' all knew that it was not vindicated. Touching next upon the Egyptian War, he remarked that if the policy of this country had been properly conducted in the early "tages of the Egyptian question not one drop of blood need have been shed, and certainly not one shot need have been fired. The Government ought to have taught Europe that when England put her foot down she meant, to keep it where she put it. Did they teach Europe that ? Was it not too soon after the Transvaal War, in which we sustained three defeats in trying to vindicate the authority I of the Crown, and then giving it rebellious people all they asked for? (Applause.) About re- trenchment he had very littie to say, be- cause there had been absolutely none. (Laughter.) Perhaps to the Liberal mind a doubling of the Income-tax meant economy. If it did, they must believe tnat they had the most economical Government, on the face of the earth. (Renewed laughter.) With respect to reform, as far as he could see, hares and rabbits were the only creatures who had been benefited by the Govern- ment, and they had been almost improved out of fxistence. The Settled Land Act was a very good Act, but, although it had been passed since the Liberal Government came into office, it was framed by Conservatives, and, moreover, it was brought in by Sir Richard Cross. (Hear, hear.) The Bill which the Liberals brought in to amend the Vaccina- tion Acts was the most montrous Bill ever drafted. It provided that if a man had once paid the full fine of 40s. for not vaccinating his child he might go free. (Laughter.) Lord Emlyn then went on to speak of Irish affairs. He said the Government policy in Ireland seemed to be inexplicable. They found the country in comparative peace, comparative quiet, and comparative content. What did they do ? They determined to govern Ireland by remedial legislation. They contended that force was no remedy. Of course, force was a remedy. It was a very pretty phrase, but it was not true. He should like to know what they were rising for in Ireland. Now, they had a very strong ground of •omplaint, for, whereas the present Government found a certain system in operation, when they came in they inaugurated quite another system. They said, "We will not coerce Ireland." But he wi should like to know how many Coercion Bills they had passed since they had been in office. There were one or two lessons which they might learn from their liite leader, Lord Beaconsheld, and the more lessons they learnt the better. No man was more ready to admit when he was defeated than Lord Beacons- field, but no man jumped up again quicker when he was down. Ha had the power of patience and the power to wait. The great lesson which they ought to learn from Lord Beaconsfield was that of patience, and his last words of encouragement to them was to be patient, to work, and to wait.

THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT HI R WAIN. Mr. Thomas Williams, the deputy-coroner, with a jury, resumed the inquiry into the circumstances attending tlie death of Morgan Powell, a stoker in the employ of the Aberdare Rhondda Colliery Company, Hirwain, at the Cardiff Arms, Hirwain, on Monday 1.1st, Mr. T. E. Wales, her Majesty's Inspector of Mines, was present. Mr. C. Kenshole (Linton and Kenshole) attended on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. Evan James, engine- driver at the Bute Pit, Hirwain, stated that he was in the lodge at the top of the pit when the explo- sion occurred on the 19th instant. He found the deceased in front, of the boiler, a portion of his I head having been blown off. Witness and the mechanical engineer, Francis Downing, examined the boiler on the 24th of December last, and had reported that it was in working order. They ex- amined it by tapping it with hammer. The plates were thinner in some places than in others, and were worn irregularly. The water had also eaten small holes in it here and there. He declined to state what he considered to be a safe working thickness. By Mr Kenshole: Witness did not examine the boiler in any other way. It was repaired some two years ago, when some new plates were put in. Had seen the remains of the boiler since the explosion, and was of opinion that the explosion occurred in consequence of the thinness of the plates. The pressure of the steam was 40ib. per square inch.— Francis Downing, mechanical engineer, gave similar evidence. The original thickness of the boiler was 3 8thsof an inch. When he examined the boiler in December he should think some of the plates were from 3-10ths to l-4th of an inch. He would not consider a boiler safe if it was less than 3-16ths of an inch. Since the explosion he had observed that some parts of the boiler were 2-16ths of an inch.—By Mr. Wales: The boiler was 36ft. long and 5ft. Sin. in diameter. Never examined it in any other way than by tapping it. Was now of opinion that he ought to have bored.—Bv Mr. Kenshole: He was of opinion that the explosion occurred from the thinness of the plates.—Mr. T. K Wales stated that he had examined the boiler. Its orignal thickness was 3-8ihs of an inch, the working pressure of which would be about 60tt> ana the bursting pressure about 3001bs. Some of the plates were reduced to l-8th, which, if new, was only equal to a reatatenceof from 18lbs. to 201bs., and, therefore. quite unable to stand a pressure of 401bs. The usual mode of examination 13 by striking the plate, and judging of the thickness by the sound, but the value of such examination depended upon the knowledge and experience of the person making ft. The examination made in the present case must, in his opinion, have been made care- lessly, or by an inexperienced person.—The jury after a short deliberation, found that the deceased died from injuries sustained by the explosion which occurred in consequence of tlie thinness df the plates, and suggested that better means of ietfting should be eittpjoyed in future.

CARDIFF BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The weekly meeting of the Cardiff Board of Guardians was held on Saturday, under the presi- dency of Alderman C. W. David.-The Master of the Workhouse reported 31 admissions, 28 dis- charges, and one death, leaving 495 in the house, a comparative increase of 12; 64 vagrants had been relieved, as against 35 during the corresponding week of last year. The Master of the Ely Schools reported no admis- sion, five discharges, and one death, leaving 193 in the schools, a comparative decrease of 21. The number now in the school was smaller than it had been for some years. Mr. Ollivant was stated to have presented some toys to the children, and he was accorded a vote of thanks for his kindness.— It was stated that a total of 2,654 paupers had received out-door relief at a cost of £ 270 18s. 7d. The figures during the corresponding week last year were 2,659, and JE269 6s. 3d.—A letter from Dr. E. T. Davies, medical officer at Cow- bridge, was read with respect to James Barry, who had been alleged to be in a state of starvation. It was set forth that there were no signs of starva- tion, but the lad had had nothing to eat but bread. There was no food in the house except a piece of mildewed bread and two potatoes. The house was no:, fit for a beast, to live in. No vermin were found on Lhe lad or on his clothes, but the house and bed were in a filthy condition, audit was recommended that he should be removed to the Workhouse, as if he were allowed to remnir. under ex- istingcircuuistanceshis health would be endangered. As it was he was a cripple. After a discussion it was resolved, on the motion ot Mr. O. H. Jones. that the matter should be allowed to remain over a week, as the father promised to do better in fut ure, the relieving-officer to make a visit in the meantime and report to the board at their next, meeting whether any alteration had been effected. —A motion by Mr. Adams, seconded hy Dr. Lewis, that the Ruml Sanitary Authority should be written to by Mr. Stephenson, the clerk, as to the state of the premises was adopted.—The Finance Com- mittee's report called attention to the fact that Elizabeth Cooper, an unsettled pauper, and her child, now being dealt with by the Metropolitan authorities, but at the expense of the Cardiff Union, were involving considerable outlay. The family had cost the union, it appeared, ig 15s. during the past three months, and the child was being treated for scrofula, at Margate, at a cost of lis. per week. —On the motion of Mr. Jacobs, seconded bv Mr. Plain, the report, which also contained reference to the desirability of the relieving-officer at Pen- tyrch giving more strict attention to the atten- dance of school children, and the increase of the cost of gas at the workhouse, was adopted, with the decision that the paupers referred to are to be brought from London to Cardiff.—The report of the Visiting Committee was read by Mr. Stephen- son as follows That the master's requisition for goods and work be allowed, including the employment of a painter at wages not nxceediiig hOs. per week, t.itl the next meeting of the committee. 1'iie details plans of foul and infectious wards at the Kefuge, to replace condemned wooden buildings, prepared by the architecis in accordance with approved sketch plan, were referred b ick to the sub- committee with instructions to consider whether the existing requirements may not be met by the construc- tion of a portion of the proposed building now, deferring the remainder until necessity shall arise. The com- mittee, having considered the Casual Poor Act, 188 £ and the order of the Local Government Board issued under its provisions, whereby all casual paupers (vagrants) are to be detained until nine o'clock on the ¡ second day after admission, recommend that the Act, lit; earned out in its entirety, and that the task of work be fixed at the maximum prescribed by the order. With reference to t,he chaplain's application Tor au increase of salary, they directed the clerk to xnake inquiries as to the remuneration piid to the chaplains in other unions of a simitar character to tnis, to be laid before their next meeting. The Chairman referred to the desirability of abridging tiie outlay in the building of infectious waid?, as lie had heard that the total cost would be for the buildings j62 500, and with furniture over £ 3,000. Taking into consideration the large amount which they had been spending, he thought the suggestion of the committee ought to be adopted, especially as the new building, as a whole, would provide for 28 beds, whereas they only had 26 hitherto. He moved the adoption of the report, but Mr. O. H. Jones, believing that if the Casual Poor Act referred to was put in force in its entirety it would have the effect of increasing the work- house expenses, moved an amendment to that clause in the report, which Dr. Paine seconded. r" course of subsequent discussion Mr. Bircham, i jor-law inspector, explained that the Act enabled the guardians to authorise the master to discharge as well as to detain paupers at his disc-etion, and Mr. O. H. Jenes withdrew his amendment. The resolution was then passed, and it was resolved that the porter should be appointed assistant re- lieving officer to assist in carrying out the work entailed b}' the Act.—It was also resolved, on the motion of he chairman, to communicate with the Court of Quarter Sessions as to the desirability of police co-operatioo being secured in dealing with tramps. Other Boards of Guardians in the county were to be asked to join Cardiff in this movement, which several members thought would benefit the ratepayers if carried out.-This was all the business.

SWANSEA WATCH COMMITTEE. A special meeting of the Watch Committee took place on Tuesday. Alderman Daniel (Mayor) presided, and there were also present—Alderman Ford, and Messrs. J. Jones, John Lewis, E. H. Bath, Daniel Jones, T. Freeman, W. J. Rees, H. A. Chap- man, and Thomas Jones. A letter was read by the town clerk, which nad been received from Mr. Cook, the secretary to the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire. The letter stated that the writer had noticed in the London papers an account of a fire which had occurred in Oxford-street. It appeared from what was stated that Police-Constable Dee was seriously in- jured while i courageously endeavouring to save the lives of two lads. It was also reported that another constable named Payne had rescued a child two years old. Mr. Cook asked that full particulars of the matter might be sent him, and enclosed forms for that purpose. The Head-Constable (Captain Colquhoun) read his report on the fire. The report contained the fol- lowing statement:— There was considerable delay in getting water, and it was fully fifteen minutes after the alarm was given aj the Oxiord-streft Police Station befoie there was a sum, eient pressure of water to be of any seivice. This was 1 not owing to any neglect 311 the part of the turnc ck, who, bearing in mind the number of valves he had to shut, and the distance he had to go in so doing, must have done his work promptly. Great praise is due to Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Collins, Mr. Burgess, Mi. Huggleston, Mr. Harris, Mr. Franz, and Mr. Moore, for the valuable assistance they had rendered, and I am of opinion that some recognition of their services ought to be shown, and would recommend that a letter of thanks be sent to each, and a donation to all who will accept it. The police performed their duties to my satisfaction. Police-Constable 71 (D«) is worthy of special mention, as evidenced by his fearless and ullselfish conduct in rescuing Robert Charles Williams in the face ot so great danger, and I beg to recommend that he he immediately promoted to a merit class constable, awarded a gratuity, and that particulars ot hii brave conduct be represented to the Home Secretary, with a view of his being decorated with the Koyal Albert Medal. Alderman Ford remarked that some explanation was required as to the certificate of the analyst who stated that the oil at Williams's hou-se nn being tested ignited at 69i degrees. — The Mayor pro- 2 posed that the report of Captain Colquhoun be received and adopted. When he heard of the fire he went to tho spot, but when he arrived it had been put out. He also saw Mr. Williams, who told him that everything had been done at the fire that was possible for human hands to do, but he expressed an opinion that had there been a good pressure of water in time his children wouid have been saved. He (the mayor) was disgusted to find that after they had spent sucrt an amount of money in supplying the town with water they could not get a pressure cf even 12 feot of water in less than twenty minutes. They had a supply of water at 300 fe"); above the level of the sea, and ought to have a good pres- sure. If that were so they would be able to ex- tinguish a fire in a short time. He went carefully into the matter with the surveyor, town-clerk, and head-constable on Monday, and found that their system was faulty.—Mr. Freeman did not know how they would fare at Landore in case of a fire, where they were 100 feet above Lower Oxford-street, where the fire took place. There was no pressure of water at all at Landore, which was a flat district.—Mr. Lewis agreed that the present syttem was a disgrace to the town. He noticed some of the water pipes were smaller than others.—After some other remarks the report of the head-constable w;is received and adopted. The motion by Mr. Freeman was also carried. This concluded the business.

A NEW GRAVING DOCK FOR CARDIFF. Messrs. Morel Bros. recently secured, on lease from the Marquess of Bute, a site for the construction of a new graving dock, which will be situate on tho south-east corner of the Ronth Basin. Tenders "le"8 recently invited for the carrying out of the work, and nine contractors sent in estimates. These were considered on Saturday, and the tender of Mr. Billups, of Cardiff, being the lowest estimate, was accepted. The dock is to be 600ft. long, 87fc. wide at the top, and 73ft, 6in. at the bottom. It is to be arranged with three caisson stops, so that when necessary it can be divided into either two or three compartments by trie use of the caissons. This is an advantage which is not possessed by the other graving docks at the port. It will permit of a vessel being kept high and dry in the upper portion of the dock for any length of time, while the lower portion can be used for lighter repairs. The deck will accommodate three average-size vessels length- wise, and two abreast. It will be worked in conjunction with the Bute Iron Works on the Ginal Wharf, which were recently purchased by Messrs. Morel and Company, who are there pre- paring large slips for building steamers, it. being their intention to carry on a large trade in shipbuilding and engine making. This firm aiso possesses at Treherbert a large foundry, at which all the heavy castings for ttoir engines and machinery will be turned out,. There are at present nineteen vessels belonging to this firm afloat and on the stocks, so that it is needless to dilate upon the advantages which will accrue to the town from so gigantic a concern, backed up with great, resources. The great advantage of a graving dock approached from the Koath Basin is that there is sufficient depth of water to take tlie largest vessel coming to Cardiff. In addition to the usual pumping arrangements for clearing a graving dock, there will, in this instance, be a culvert con- structed, so that when the tides permit the dock can be quickly emptied into the tideway without the expense of pumping. Thore' will be sufficient space around the dock to build large vessels and launch them side-ways into it. The dock will be one of the largest of the kind in the Bristol Channel, and is to be completed and ready for opening in July, 1884 Tlie engineer is Mr. James M'Connochie, of the Surrey Commercial Docks, London, who was also engineer for the junction graving dock at Cardiff.

A report emanating from St. Petersburg states t,ttat the coronation of the Czar is fixed for the jarly part of )1.. » 1

LORD WINDSOR AND HIS TENANTS. ARE THERE TWELVE HONEST JURY MEN IN GLAMORGAN? On Saturday morning last, at the Royal Court" of Justice, London, in the Lord Chief Justice Court (before Mr. Justice Maristy and Mr. Justice Stephen), Mr. Webster, Q C., moved, on behalf of the defendant, in the case of Pritchard v. Lord Windsor, by way of appeal from a judgment of Mr. Justice North ofiirming the decision of a master who declined to change the venue from Glamorganshire to London. The action was brought by two of Lord Windsor's tenants to re- cover damages for an alleged trespass said to have been committed in removing coal from underneath a field adjoining the plaintiff's farms, which they alleged belonged to them, as freeholders. The de- fendant alleged, however, that for over 100 years he and his predecessors had been in JKJS- session, and that, the jplaintiff had merely a right of pasturage over the fieid in question. The learned counsel said he was informed that the master thought there was not sufficient ground for a change of venue on the facts, but the learned judge was of opinion that a case had been made out. When, however, it was mentionted that it would be necessary to view the land, his lordship thought an insuperable difficulty existed to chang- ing the place of trial, no (the learned counsei) submitted, however, that, as the defendant was willing to the costs of a view if the venue were changed, that difficulty did not exist.— Mr. Justice Manisty: Can you compel a jury to gt from one county to another ?—Mr. Webster No my lord, it is a matter of arrangement with the sheriff. The learned counsel furt her said the grount of the application to change the venue was that afaii trial of the action could not be had in the county of Glamorgan, and he produced affidavits to that effect. The affidavits of Lord Windsor's solicitor and agent stated that a large number of relative! and friends of the plaintiff resided in the county and were of the class from which jurors would bf selected, and the deponents were of opinion thai it would be impossible in the ordinary way tc select twelve impartial jurymen. It was also stated in the affidavits that there existed in South Wales a stronger feeling of partisanship than existed in Middlesex or any other county, and that this case was looked upon as a cafe of tenant against landlord,and local feeling had been excited. The learned counsel also wished to refer to the affidavits of the other side. The plaintiff's soli- citor stated that the defendant was an influential landowner, and had more influence in South Wales than the plaintiff, who was a poor man. H (the learned counsel) submitted that that went tc prove his case, as local feeling had been excitcd it respect to the case. Tiie affidavit also stated that the deponent was of the opinion that it was no- impossible to obtain in Glamorgan twelve hones: jurymen—(laughter)—and he considered that such a statement, was a libe! upon Glamorgan (Laughter.) the learned counsel said he would be quite roady to defend an action for libel if it WHS brought. (Laughter.) At least, he would urge their lordships to change the place of trial from Cardiff to Swansea.—Mr. Justice Stephen: You could have a special jury. and they would not, be farmers.—Mr. Justice Manisty: I am sure in Cardiff you would have a jury very different from what you sup- pose. Mr..Justice Stephen: Tho affidavits all suppose that it if to be tried by a common jury of farmers. Mr. Webster: I do not know that special jury would be exclusively composed of merchants farmers are sometimes summoned.— Mr. Justice Mnn:?ty: But out of a panel of 4P surely vou could obtain twelve impartial men.— Mr. Justice Stephen I should thirk twelve hones* men might be found in Glamorgan. (Laughter.)— After some further discussion, their lordships without calling on the other side, dismissed th appeal with costs.

THE PROPOSED COLLEGE FOR SOUTH WALES. A meeting of the Swansea Committee appointed to put forward the claims of Swansea as the site for the proposed South Wales College was field at the Guild-hall. Swansea, on Tuesday morning. Loid Spencer having declined to act as an arbi- trator in the matter of selecting the site, the com- mittee decided to substitute Lord Carlingafoi-d in his stead, should his lordship consent. Several new subscriptions were announced. The R.T. James Owen, minister of Mount Pleasant Baptist Chapel, announced from the pulpit on Sunday that he had promises from the members of the con- gregation n mount ing to £.300. Altogether about £ 8,000 have been subscribed towards the collect funds in Swansea A meeting of the committee appointed recently to make efforts to obtain subscriptions for Hit erection and endowment of the Welsh College was. held at the Guildhall, Neatu, ou Tuesday Mr. R,>v,-land Thomas (mayor) was in the chair.—Mr. Alfred Curtis (town clerk), who convened the meeting, read letters from the Ven. Archdeacon of Llandaff, the Hon. H. C. Bruce, and others who were unable to attend. After some consideration it was determined to apply to the managers of the banks in the town to allow lists for subscriptions to be opened there, and the clergy and trilnijters were to be invited to co-operate In the matter by bringing the subject before their congregations in order to assist in obtaining funds. Mr. Edwin C. Curtis, solicitor, was appointed hon. secretary to the committee.

THE PROPOSED COLLEGE FOR NORTH WALES. TO THE EDITOR. Sm.-As one of the delegates from Wrexham tc the meeting held at Chester, please allow me tc record my protest—which I expressed by my vote at the meeting—against the exclusion of Aberyst- with from the consideration of the committee ap- pointed to determine the site of the proposed College for North Wales. I freely confess that I am not, quite so enthusiastic an advocate of a Col- lege for North Wales as som" of my friends. I am fully convinced that the youtit of Wales are quite capable of holding their own, and tha.t they would be all the better foi a little healthy rivalry, with the youth of England; and I am not quite sure that we Welshmen would be any great losers if we were to lose a little of the clannishness and self- consciousness almost inseparable from our isola- tion. But it is very evident that the majority of my countrymen, backed by the distinguished com- mittee which sat on the subject eighteen months ago, are determined to have a College for North Wales, and I most willingly and cheerfully submit myself to their superior judgment. I, however, see no reason, but the contrary, why Aberystwith could not easily be made to answer all practical purposes—for there we have already something more than the nucleus of all that we require. There we have the machinery of collegiate education already in full operation. There we have build- ings erected at an original cost of upwards of £ 80,000, and to which a sum of £ 52,000 since ex. per.ded on the College must be added, which could be adapted for purely collegiate purposes at a trifling expense. There we have a locality as healthy and picturesque as could well be found in any part of the United Kingdom. And the place, it is well known, is accessible by rail from any part of North Wales at a cost of only a few shillings. Technically and geographically, Aberystwith is not is North Wales, but it must not be forgotten that the recommendation of the Departmental Com- mittee is not a College in, but for, North Wales; and I repeat I see no reason why the existing Col- lege at Aberystwith should not be adapted, as it easily could, to meet all the requirements of the six counties of North Wales.—1 am, &c„ Wrexham Vicarage. D. HOWELL.

I IMPORTANT INVENTION BY A CARDIFF GENTLEMAN. We notice illustrated in last week's issue of the Graphic an important invention, patented by Mr H. ,n. Moreton, of Cardiff, concerning which the Graphic says:—"The usual manner of SGcurinf rails on railways to the chairs upon which the-, rest is by the insertion of a. wooden bloclL or key which is hammered in until it fills up the spact between the two pieces of ironwork and holda tht rail tightly in its place. Owing to the vibration of the rails when a train passes, and tdso to the effects of the weather, these wooden keys often become loose, indeed it is a common occurrence to see men inspecting their condition, and urging them in with a long-handled hammer. A new form of metal key has just beeu int roduced with a view to effect a more permanent and safer grip upon the rail. This key is of tubular shape, knotted from end to end, and having a tongue which can be bent over against the chair. We do not know the cost of this key, but suppose that as it is made of iron or steel it must certainly be far more expensive than tho wooden block it is intended to supersede. Unfortunately, however meritorious an invention may be, and although it may distinctly promise increased safety to life and limb, its cost is the point which decides its general adoption or the reverse." We understand it is the intention of the inventor to manufacture these keys from Siemens' Landore steel, or other steel equally mild and ductile. From the specimen we hove seen we have every confidence of its ex- tensive adoption.

MR. BRINLEY RICHARDS AND THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF _MUSIC. We understand that Mr. Brinlev Richards hM been appointed to represent the Royal Academy of Music as their official examiner for the Cardiff centre. This will be his third year of appoint ment. A better representative the Committee of Management of the academy could not send. Mr. Richards will take the same tour as he has done on former occasions. We see by advertisement that the technical examination at Cardiff takes place on Saturday, the 10th of February.

The Press Association is requested to state that the report of the death of Captain Otway, of Newcastle Court, Radnorshire, is unfounded. Capt Otway has been ill, but passed a. quiet night, and was somewhat better on Wednesday. John Emerson and James O'Brian, drivers of two engines which came into collision with a cattle train on the 7th of December, at Sanquhar, were arrested on Wednesday on a. charge of culpablehomi- cide, one man having died from the effects of the collision. On Wednesday the express train from Liverpool tr Manchester ran into a bogey which had been left on the line by four platelayers at West Houghton Station, near Wigan. Two of the men were injured, and the traific was delaved for a short time. BKOSSELS, JAN. 30.—The newspaper lA Metu*. this evening announces that the King is again ia disposed, and obliged to keep his rooui. Thf doctors have recommended absolute repose.