Weekly Mail

^CRUDESCENOE OF THE TROUBLE. l, Unexpected difficulty has arisen in con- with the settlement. Some Hq. the millmen at Morriston are at the conference separating rectifying oertain of their alleged V^^ncea. They held a meeting) at Horeb, the result that a communication was round to the works at Morriston stating were not prepared to start. They have Xj^j^ted Mr. Hodge, the secretary of their It on. to address them. intended to commence operations at of the Morriston works on Tuesday *orv the men decided not to r>esume Of ,r ^thout a definite settlement. At some of works fires were lighted, and the refusal a.jwjr.e D»en to go to work caused much dis- Jj^?lOtment. The Morriston and Midland art fail; working, and tb* Morriston works affected a.re the Upper Forest, Wor- cester, Dyffryn, and Beaufort. MISUNDERSTANDING AT LLANELLY. An unexpected development also occurred at Llanelly on Tuesday. Arrangements were being made in the morning for the re-start- ing of the various works in accordance with the terms agreed upon, but it was found that the remen at the various works, who are members of the Gasworkers' Union, rerused to accede to the terms, and would not go back to work. This meant that the "e-starting could not be effected, as the fires could not be lit without them. This unexpected development created much excite- ment in the town, affecting as it did 4,000 men. Meetings were hurriedly called, at which several of the firemen complained that their case had not been properly considered. They do not seek an advance in wages, their grie- vance being that they have to work a con- tinuous twelve hours' shift, and they ask for eight hours. Mr. Victor Morgan, the secre- tary of the Gasworkers' Union, paid a hurried visit to Llanelly during the day, and as a result of his intervention the men agreed to abide by the decision come to on Monday, by which the matters in dispute are referred to arbitration, and they returned to work on Tuesday evening. THE MORRISTON DIFFICULTY. At three o'clock a mass meeting of the millmen employed at the four large tin-plate establishments at Morriston was held at Horeb Chapel Vestry-room. Some of the speakers were agreeable to return to work, although at the same time disagreeing with the terms made at the joint meeting on Monday. Others—and these were in the majority-denounced the terms of settlement, especially when the "Western Mail" report of the conference was read out, showing that the decision of the disputes board was brought about by the casting vote of Mr. Ben Tillett, the chairman. More than one speaker emphatically asserted that it was quite time for the steel smelters to withdraw themselves from the disputes board alto- gether. During the discussion it was elicited that the Dyffryn millmen, apart from the agraement made. had several grievances to be remedied, and advantage will be taken of the present stoppage to have them set right before re-starting work. Ultimately the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:— That this mass meeting of the Morriston millmen protest against the agreement made at the joint board on Monday, and that they will not resume work till Mr. John Hodge visits Morriston personally and explains why such a decision was arrived at." 7 Directly the meeting came to a close this resolution was sent by telegraph to Leicester to Mr. Hodge. WORK RE-STARTED AT MORRISTON ON THURSDAY. The workmen of the Morriston district held a meeting an Wednesday afternoon, and a telegram was received from Mr. Hodge, of the Steel Smelters' Union, urging the men to com- mence work forthwith, and stating that he would arrive at Morriston and would attend to their alleged grievance. The men decided to commence work on Thursday mroning. Consequently, the Dyffryn and Beaufort Works were re-started. The Upper Forest and Worcester Works, having no stock of bars, will be unable to start, but the steel furnaces have been lighted, and work Will probably com- mence at these works on Monday, so, to all 1 appearances, the difficulty has been got over.

NEWPORT TRAM FARES. TRADESMAN SUMMONED FOR RE- FUSING TO PAY. Edgar Twist, a ship chandler, carrying on business at 95, Dock-street, Newport, was summoned on Wednesday for refusing while travelling in an electric tram at Newport to pay the fare legally demandable."—Mr. Lyndon Moore appeared for the defence. Mr. Newman, the town-clerk, said the pro- ceedings were taken under No. 9 of the tram- ways bye-laws. Mr. Twist, the defendant, who is a tradesman carrying on business at £ 5, Dock-street, entered an electric car somewhere between Pill and the tramways town centre, and demanded a workman's ticket, travelling from Pill to a point on the Chepstow road, for which the ordinary fare would be Zd., and for which Mr. Twist had only paid Id., claiming the right to travel as a workman. The Corpo- ration Act of 1892 defined workmen as artisans, mechanics, and daily labourers. Tram-conductor Deakin, the conductor on the car on which defendant travelled on the 12th ult., together with Fred Weeks, a tramway inspector, were called, and bore out Mr. New- man's statement as to the defendant's demand for a workman's ticket. Deakin added that defendant travelled from Pill to Maindee School, the ordinary fare for which journey was 2d. In answer to Mr. Moore, the conductor admitted that he made the demand for the 2d. fare on the ordinary penny route, which defendant was entitled to travel. Mr. H. Collings Bishop, electrical engineer and manager, was proceeding to give the fares chargeable, when Mr Moore objected. Mr. Summers (the clerk): You must prove the fare before you can prove the case. j Mr. Moore: It does not matter what you think, Mr. Summers. You may have a gigantic brain. Witness was being further examined by Mr. Newman as to the fares, when Mr. Moore again objected to his answers. The Clerk: But you must allow him to answer as he likes. Mr. Moore: He must not. Supposing his grandmother is dead. (Laughter.) Mr. Summers: That is a senseless answer. You must be reasonable, Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore: You are no judge. Mr. Newman then aaked permision to put in the minutes of the corporation fixing the tramway fares. The Clerk said he thought it was perfectly in order. Mr. Moore: Do let the bench rule, for God's sake. The Clerk: I was only saying they might be put in. Mr. Moore: Let the bench rule and not the clerk. The Bench acquiesced to putting in the fares as per council minutes, but in answer to Mr. Moore the manager said the fares were only posted inside the cars. Defendant was tra- velling on the top of the car at the time, so that he could not know what the charges were. Mr. Moore, for the defence, contended that the corporation ought never to have brought on such a prosecution. In the first place, they themselves had not done their duty, as under Section 45 of the Tramways Act, of 1870, it was necessary that they should pub- lish a list of fares both inside and outside the cars. It had also been admitted by all the witnesses that they never demanded the 2d. fare to Maindee School. The legal answer to the charge was that "defendant had a ticket." He did not think it was right to allow ordinary passen- gers to travel alongside men who had just come from stables, chemical works, engine sheds, or oil sheds, and then ask them to pay an extra penny for their discomfort. The proper thing for the corporation to do would be to run proper workmen's cars. The cor- poration had no power to take an ordinary car and transform it into first, second, third, and fourth classes for passengers just as they pleased. Mr. Cordey: The object of this is to accom- modate working men. Mr. Moore: Of course; we are all anxious to convenience the working men, especially at election times. (Laughter.) The Bench were unanimous that a breach of the tramway bye-laws had been com- mitted, but as that was the first case that had come before the court, they thought it might be met by the payment of costs.

RIVER MYSTERY. CAERPHILLY GIRL JUMPS INTO THE USK. What appears to be a, strange river mystery has arisen at Newport. Late on Wednesday night, about eleven o'clock, a young lady crossing Newport Bridge states that she saw a young woman whom she did not know, walking towards her and suddenly stop, climb on to the iron trellis work railings, and jump over the bridge into the fast ebb- ing tide of thei River Usk. She told some people who came along a. minute or two later, but nothing could then be seen except, as it was believed, a, straw hat floating down the river towards the Bristol Channel. The captain of a small vessel lying at one of the wharves, states that he saw something in the water but thought it was a. boy. The person who is said to have jumped into the water is roughly described as being about 25 or 26 years of age, and respectably dressed in a black jacket, brown dress, and white sailor hat. The matter has been reported to the police. As yet, no body has been picked up, and the identity of the young woman is not fixed. BODY FOUND AND IDENTIFIED. Early on Thursday the body of a young woman was picked up in the river near New- port Bridge, and it is, without doubt, that of the person who jumped over the bridge last night. It was subsequently identified as that of Elizabeth Mary Osmond, aged eighteen years, who had been living with her parents at Bromfield-street, Caerphilly. Her parents received a letter this morning from their daughter, which had been posted at Newport last night, wishing them good-bye as they would not meet again, but expressing the hope that they would meet in heaven. It seems that without any apparent reason she left home last night about, 8.40 And took train to Newport.

ANNUAL MEETINGS HELD AT LEICESTER. The thirty-sixth annual Trades Union Con- gress was opened at Leicester on Monday, under the presidency of Mr. W. B. Hornidge, who is secretary to the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives. The congress last assembled at Leicester in 1877, when the number of dele- gates was 141. The accredited representatives this year number 469. The proceedings opened with a mayoral reception at the Temperance- hall-The Mayor (Alderman Vincent), in wel- coming the delegates on behalf of the corpora- tion, magistracy, and inhabitants, reoog- nised the vast importance of the congress, and confidently hoped that in the debate a tolerant and justifiable regard would be shown even for capital, as one of the necessary adjuncts to the useful and profitable employ- ment of labour.—The President and Secretary of the Leicester Trades and Labour Council joined in the welcome. Mr. H. Broadhurst, M.P., who also spoke, was in a reminiscent vein. Turning to present- day matters, he said it would be wise for the congress in dealing with the great, pressing, and immediate necessity of an alteration of the law as to the status and rights of trade combinations not to hurry the discussion. 'uF Let that one subject loom out in their week's deliberations, so large, so all-consuming that no political party and no Cabinet could resist their just and reasonable demands. (Ap- plause.) They must make it clear that there should be no rest until those rights were given to them in clear language in a Parlia- mentary Act, so that the funds which they had been contributing for superannuation and old age should not be swallowed up and destroyed through the act of some indiscreet, inexperienced workman, whose action might possibly have been encouraged by their enemies. PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Parliamentary committee in their annual report to the congress stated that many new developments in regard to legislation had taken place during the year, but not one was of greater import than the legislative diffi- oulties and complications brought about by the Lords' decision on the Taff Vale case and the new interpretations placed upon the law of conspiracy and the law of picketting in divers courts in various parts of the country. The committee had availed themselves of every opportunity to obtain the best remedy that the rules of the House of Commons afforded to remove the damaging and unfair restrictions placed upon them by the partial decision of the House of Lords. A specia conference of trade organisations had been held. and the committee had fully endeavoured to discharge the duty imposed on them by the last Con- gress. They deeply regretted that their efforts to counteract the attack that had been made on Trades Unionikra had not been more successful, but they sincerely trusted that during the next session of Parliament those efforts would be renewed, with, if possible, increased vigour and determination, and that the workmen of the country would never rest satisfied until the position of Trade Unions was made equal to the employers' in regard to peaceful picketting during strikes and lock-outs and full security to the funds of Trade Unions given by the law of the land. Having described the steps which led to the introduction of a Bill in Parliament by Mr. Shackleton and the appointment of a Royal Commission on Labour, the report stated:- The Government armed them with refe- rence (as we understand) almost as wide as the Poles are asunder, which will enable the Com- mission to wade through all the labyrinths and ramifications of every phase of the Labour question, and, even if the Commission itself contained the best-informed Labour opinion, there does not seem for a long time to come any likelihood of finality to their pro- ceedings." The joint committee had passed this reso- lution:— (1) That this joint committee, representa- tive of every phase of Trades Unionism in Great Britain and Ireland, protests against the appointment of the Trades Disputes Commission as being calculated to hinder the early settlement of the point at issue, and, in addition to this fundamental objec- tion. we protest against the composition of the Committee, which includes a majority of members already publicly committed to a course of action in relation to the subject they have to examine and report upon, and, in addition, contains representatives of the organised employers, but no representatives of organised workmen, and is, therefore, neither impartial nor judicial. (2) Pending the full discussion of the question at the approaching Trades Union Congress, this joint committee recommends that no Trades Union official recognise or give evidence before the Trades Dispute Commission." The committee would see that the title of the new Bill was so amended as to include the clause which had to be left out of the Bill of last session, and which dealt with an impor- tant, point, viz.. that of the protection of Trades Union funds. Referring to the Swansea labourers' case, the report stated:—"On the 15th of October, 1908, the Parliamentary com- mittee received a deputation from Swansea Labourers' Union, consisting of the secretary and president, in order that they might lay before the committee the exact position of the case. YOUT com- mittee instructed the secretary to reply assuring them of the committee's moral support, but that more than this they could not do until the case reached the Appeal Court." Mr. John Jenkins, of Cardiff, was elected a member of the general purposes committee.

FISCAL PROPOSALS CON- DEMNED. The Bitting of the Trades Union Congress was resumed in the Temperance-hall, Lei- cester, on Tuesday. The President, having delivered his in- augural address, The general purposes committee recom- mended the congress to consider the resolution on the fiscal question. Mr. J. Sexton (Liverpool Dockers) moved:- "That this congress strongly oondemns the suggested change by Mr. Chamberlain in our pnesent fiscal policy as most mis- chievous *d dangerous to the best interests of the people of this country, and hereby pledges itself and urges all other Labour organisations to make every effort to pre- vent such a change being brought about." He said other countries had proved the fal- lacies of Protection. The steel rail question was instanced as a case where Protection was a beneftt, but neither in America nor on the Continent did any mining royalties go into the pockets of the. landowners. In this country they could not take one ton of iron ore out of the bowels of the earth, where nobody but Nature put it. without paying 6s. 8d. to a priva.te landlord. Before he, for one, accepted the Chamberlain fallacy he had got to be convinced that Protection was going to benefit the worker of the country. Mr. W. E. Harvey (Chesterfield Miners), who seconded the resolution, remarked that, so far as the miners were concerned, they distinctly opposed the policy shadowed forth by Mr. Chamberlain as likely to be injurious to the nation, and most injurious to the working olasaes. It had been said that if taxes were imposed on imports there would be more wages coming into the homes of the people. All history went to show that sach an argu- ment was fallacious. Mr. Moses (London Patternmakers) wished to move as an addition to the resolution:— "Whilst offering no objection to an inquiry into the question of foreign im- ported goods." He claimed to be a Free Trader, but con- tended that his position as such waa not invalidated by a demand for inquiry. The President ruled that he could not accept the addition, as notice had not been given. Mr. Pete Curran (London Gasworkers) was of opinion that if the policy embodied in the Chamberlain leaflets were adopted the country would be thrown back a hundred years. Speeches condemnatory of the proposals were made by Mr. Holmes (Leicester Hosiery Trades) and Mr. W. J. Davies (Birmingham Brassworkers). Mr. J. Holmes (Railway Servants), Labour candidate for East Birmingham, said Mr. Chamberlain's political inconsistencies justi- fied them in doubting his political honesty. Mr. Chamberlain never said anything about the fiscal problem before he went to look at the illimitable feldt of South Africa, and the proposals were brought forward to smother up the acts of the most blundering Govern- ment the country had ever seen. Continuing. Mr. Holmes alluded to the appointment of the Royal Commission on Trade Disputes, and -declared that Labour men could have no con- fidence in one member of that Commission, who had been responsible for keeping out the South Wales miners. (Cheers.) The President interposed with the observa- tion that Mr. Holmes was wandering far from the subject under debate. The discussion having been closed, the reso- lution was put and carried, with two dissen- tients. The President promised to send a. telegram to Mr. Chamberlain of the result of the voting. LABOUR REPRESENTATION. Mr. Pete Curran (Gasworkers and General Labourers) introduced the subject of Labour representation by moving- That this congress heartily endorses the policy of direct Labour representation, as decided upon at the last annual conference of the Labour Representation Committee, and urges upon all Trndeo Unions not yet pJUUtad to tau body to.Jed* forth«it>h| 10 that the entire Labour movement may be consolidated for definite political purposes." He deprecated the attempts recently made in ingenious press paragraphs to poison the minds of the delegates against the resolution, which was quite simple in its object. The resolution was seconded by Mr. R. smille (Scottish Miners). Mr. Hickley (Bricklayers) and Mr. Gosling (Watermen) brought up an amendment declar- ing qualification for membership on the Labour Representation Committee should be the same as for the congress. Mr. W. Brace (South Wales Miners' Federa- tion) contended that what divided them was not a question of principle, but one purely of policy. He was in favour of a distinct Parlia- mentary Labour party, but he was not pre- pared to say that a policy of isolation was a policy of strength. Rather did he believe that a policy of isolation was a policy of weakness. In those constituencies over which they had no control they ought to submit their programme to the candidates and support the one most sympathetically inclined towards them, instead of standing aside and allowing the Liberal and Conservative to fight it out between themselves. Mr. R. Bell, M.P. (Railway Servants), said the principle of independence carried to the point of isolation was detrimental to the interests of Labour representation. His policy had been independence with co-operation, and he won Derby on those lines. His idea was that they must not divorce themselves from those people who would support the cause of Labour both inside and outside the House of Commons. Mr. J. Holmes, Labour candidate for East Birmingham (Railway Servants), said if they were to have independence of action there must be no bargaining with any political party. The amendment having been defeated, the resolution was carried on a card vote by 506,000 to 285,000 votes. Several of the larger Unions not identified with the Labour Representation Committee abstained from voting.

ATTACKS ON SIR WILLIAM THOMAS LEWIS. At the Trades Union Congress held at Leicester on Wednesday Mr. B. Cooper, L.C.O. (Cigar Makers), moved a resolution instructing the Parliamentary committee to draft Bills to be submitted to Parliament which would defi- nitely secure the immunity of Trades Union funds against being sued for damages, and thus obtain for Trades Unions that protection whiGP. members of Parliament, legal authorities, and Trades Unionists believed existed prior to the Taff Vale judgment; further, that the Parlia- mentary committeebe requested to circularise all Parliamentary candidates upon the final policy of the congress relating to the ques- tion, and inform Trades Unionists which can- didates to support in all elections. Mr. J. N. Bell (National Amalgamated Union of Labour), Newastle, seconded, instancing the Taff Vale as a case where the judges had introduced revolutionary doctrines into the law. After considerable discussion, the resolu- tion was carried. ROYAL COMMISSION ON TRADES UNION LAW. Mr. John Hodge (Steel Smelters), Man- chester, proposed: That this congress protests against the Government's insult to labour in the selec- tion of the members of the RTfral Commis- sion to deal with the present position of Trades Unions as a result of recent legal decisions; declares that the recommenda- tion of a Commission to deal with matters so vitally affecting the workers, but upon which no representative workman finds a, place, is inequitable, and cannot as a con- sequence command the respect of the workers, and this congress recommends that no representative workman should give any evidence or supply any information to a Commission so constituted." One of the reasons why no workman was selected was the fear that they would go on the Commission with prejudiced minds. Had Sir William Thomas Lewis no prejudice? i From his point of view, every member of th, Commission had a certain bias; but their objection was based on the ground that, the capitalistic interest being represented, the: workers ought also to be represented.. Mr. Wignall (Swansea), in seconding, pointed to the presence on the Committee of Sir W. T. Lewis, whom he described as responsible for introducing more "blacklegs" into South Wales than any other employer. Mr. Shackleton, M.P., confessed that he had no confidence in the Commission, because Sir W. T. Lewis would be able to extract informa- tion from any Unionists who might appear before it. There would be no such chance on the other side. Therefore, the conditions were unfair. Mr. Fisher (Ooaltrimmers), Cardiff, asked what the Trades Unions were likely to lose if they refused to give evidence before the Commission Mr. Holmes (Railway Servants), Cardiff, wished to know whether any Commission appointed by the Government would be satis- factory to the congress. He had not an atom of confidence in Sir William Thomas Lewis, but they had Mr. Sidney Webb sitting on the Commission is a. representative of Labour. Mr. John Ware (Navvies), London, asserted that on the question of the House of Lords decision as to the liability of Trades Unions and of picketing Mr. Sidney Webb was as hostile to the Trades Unions as Sir William Thomas Lewis. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. FRATERNAL GREETINGS FROM AMERICA. The President read the following message from Wa.shington:- Convey to congress congratulations and fraternal greetings. Hosts of American workmen are under the banner of the American Federation of Labour.-Gompers."

COMPULSORY EIGHT HOUR DAY. When the Trades Union Congress re- assembled on Thursday, the President read the following communication:— Highbury, Moor Green, Birmingham, September 9. Bir.—I am requested by Mr. Chamberlain to thank you for your courtesy in sending a copy of the resolution on fiscal policy passed by the Trades Union Congress at Leicester.—I am, sir, yours faithfully, J. WILSON. W. B. Hornidje, Esq. The reading of the communication was received with laughter. Discussion was resumed on the hours of labour, a resolution being brought up from the gasworkers asking congress to declare that the time has arrived when the hours of labour should be limited to eight per day in all trades and occupations. The Builders' Labourers' Union submitted an amendment to "except those trades and industriee whose "nature of employment prevents them through reasonable and other causes from working the full eight hours each day of the week." Messrs. Whitefleld and Smillie, on behalf of the Miners, opposed a suggestion to insert in the resolution the words "or forty-eight hours week" on the ground that the altera- tion would be hereafter used in argument against them. On a division a. vote was taken by card, the original resolution being adopted by an overwhelming majority. MINERS REGULATION BILL. A non-contentious resolution waB adopted instructing the Parliamentary committee to assist the Miners' Federation of Great Britain in passing the Miners' Regulation Bill, which provides for the increased safety of life and limb. It was further moved that the Trades Unions represented at Congress agree to render all the assistance possible to the Parliamentary Committee in their endeavour to get the amended Compensation Bill passed into law next session. Mr. Browne, standing counsel, replied to numerous questions addressed to him on various points, and at length the president protested against the heckling of the stand- ing counsel on points requiring the most care- ful consideration. Several delegates took exception to the line adopted by the president, but finally the whole subject was referred back to the stand- ing counsel and the committees interested for drafting the Bill.

TRAIN TRAGEDY. LOVERS' BODIES FOUND IN A RAIL- WAY CARRIAGE. On the arrival of the 9.5 train from Charing Cross at New Beckenham on Wed- nesday evening the dead bodies of a man and woman were found in a first-class carriage. A revolver, two chambers of which were empty, was lying on the floor of the carriage, and the death of the two unfortunate persons was apparently due to the bullet wounds. The parties were subsequently identified as William Spiller, dockyard labourer, of Plumstead, and Ada Cook, barmaid, of Abbey Wood. It is understood that the couple were lovers, but the father of the girl ob- jected to the match. The bodies are now lying in Beckenham Mortuary. Later particulars to hand state that both had tickets from Cannon-street to Plumstead. It would appear that the man is a few years the girl's senior. He is described as between 25 and 30 years of age. whilst the girl appeared to be about 22 or 23. The tragedy is con- sidered to be one of murder and suicide. The bodies have been identified, but the poltoe r«f u*e Information onthis point,

ALDERMAN EDW. JONES DEAD. ■' I COLLIERY PROPRIETOR OF THE OLD SCHOOL. Alderman Edward Jones, J.P., of Snatch- wood House, Pontypool, and of The OaMands, Brecon, died on Friday morn- ing. The illness which led to his death was not of Jong duration. He had, it is true, been out of really sound health for three or four years. A couple of years ago he had a stroke of partial paralysis, from which, however, his great strength was able to pull him in time round to what was regarded as a complete recovery. Last Monday week he attended at Newport a meeting in connection with the Hartley Fund, of which he was a loca4 trustee. When he returned to his home at Snatchwood (a delightful house between Pontnewynydd and Abersychan) he complained of feeling unwell, and in a few days a carbuncle made its appearance on the back of his neck. He was attended by Dr. J. R. Essex, of Pontypool, and in time Dr. Vachell, of Cardiff, was called in for consultation. Mr. Jones only kept his bed from the previous Saturday. On Thursday there were signs which were thought to indi- cate an improvement, but about two a.m. on Friday an apoplectic seizure came on, and he died at 4.20 a.m. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. Mr. Jones was a native of Talybont, in Breconshire, where he was born 66 years ago. After a course at Aberga venny Grammar School-where, by the way, a large number of men who have made their mark in life were LATE MB. B. JONES. I educated-he became a mining pupil at Beau- I fort, and was early associated with the well-known Mr. Crawshay Bailey, who became so well known in quite a variety of ways. Mr. Jones's first appointment was the management of the Varteg Colliery, under Mr. Crawshay Bailey. Here, as in several other places in the coalfield of Monmouthshire and South Wales, iron getting and smelting were closely associated with the getting of coal. The one seemed to be in those days locally and indissolubly joined to the other. At Varbsg the proprietors of the concern got iron from their local mines and smelted it by means of the coal they also raised. The managership at Varteg would take Mr. Jones back to a time about 45 years ago. Ultimately, in partnership with Mr. W. B Partridge, who was also a practical mining man and keen business enthusiast, a partnership was formed to take over the proprietorship of the Varteg Colliery and Ironworks. Mr. Partridge will be remembered as having lived for a long time at Llanfoist House, Abergavenny, before removing to his present residence at Bacton, in Herefordshire. This partnership worked the colliery and the two blast furnaces, and ulti- mately acquired Plasyooed and Cwmsychan Slope (two house coal concerns which have since been worked out), and from what was then regarded as a day of great things the partnership forged ahead to the days of big things in this twentieth century. The propor- tions are interesting. Then the output might have been a few thousands tons a year. To- day the whole of Partridge, Jones, and Co.'s output is nearing a million tons of coal a year. For a considerable time the proprietors worked as an unlimited company. But in 1874 the whole concern was turned into a limited undertaking under the style of Partridge, Jones, and Co. (Limited). The company's present collieries comprise four steam coal sinkings and one house coal, vis., Llanerch, Blaensychan, and Gwenallt, in the Eastern Valleys, and Llan- hilleth and Hafod Van (house), in the Western Valleys of Monmouthshire. The company employs something like 3,000 men. Mr. Edward Jones was all along managing director and Mr. W. B. Partridge chairman. Mr. Jones married Miss Williams, a Brecon- shire lady, who survives him. There was a numerous family, of whom five sons and two daughters are left to mourn the loss of a very revered parent. The eldest son is a railway engineer of considerable states in South Africa; the second son is a certificated mining engineer who has the management "If one of the company's collieries, and assisted his father generally in all the operations of the concern; the third son is devoting himself to commerce; and the fourth and fifth are at Cambridge, one being intended for the pro- fession of medicine and the other for the Bar. Of the daughters, the elder is Mrs. Leonard Llewelyn, wife of the manager of the Clydach Vale Collieries, and the younger is Mrs. John Paton, of Pontypool. Mr. Jones was a politician of considerable note for many years of his life. He upheld the flag of Conservatism and of Church Defence in North Monmouthshire during a season when the work demanded a great deal of courage and of the most resolute aggression against terrific electoral odds. It speaks more than these words can possibly indicate that after Mr. Jones had only been in the field as Conservative candidate for North Monmouth- shire a very short time against the long-con- tinued nursing of the seat by Mr. T. P. Price he in 1886 polled 3,285 votes. Though beaten in the fight, Mr. Edward Jones was a man who took his defeat as a gentleman and—shall it be said?—a sportsman. THE FUNERAL. The funeral took place on Monday at Trevethin Churchyard. All the works in the vicinity were closed for the day, while the various places of business also suspended trade during the afternoon. The body, enclosed in a shell and polished oak coffin, with brass mountings, was, after a short ser- vice had been conducted at the house by the Rev. D. Williams, of North Wales, brought out by several of the workmen employed at the collieries. The breastplate was inscribed- Edward Jones, Born December 4th, 1836. Died September 4th, 1903. Contrary to expectations, the procession did not go through Pontypool, but proceeded by way of the Leigh-road to Trevethin. Upon reaching the church the body was con- veyed up the aisle by another batch of work- men, and as they entered the church Mr. H. J. England, organist at St. Luke's Church, played 0, rest in the Lord." At the church a short, impressive service was conducted by the Rev. W. Moore, vicar of St. Luke's, and the Rev. E. Morgan, vicar of Trevethin, and the combined choirs of St. Luke's and Tre- vethin Churchee sang the well-known hymn, Jesu, Lover of my soul," together with a. special psalm. The body was then conveyed to its final resting-place, the last rites being performed by the Vicar of St. Luke's. The wreaths and floral tributes sent, num- bering 90, included offerings from members of the family, personal friends, colliery officials and workmen, Coalowners' Associa- tion, and other organisations with which the late Mr. Jones was connected.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY. ANTICIPATED DEFICIENCY OF £ 3,000. An ordinary meeting of the board of management of the Cardiff Infirmary was held on Wednesday, Mr. J. M. Jennings being in the chair. The Chairman at the outset, 1on behalf of the finance committee, referred to the finan- cial statement, which showed that the esti- mated receipts on current accounts to the end of the year would practically meet all cur- rent expenses, which he oonsdered very satis- factory. During the past eight months £ 1.763» had been received from the working men, as against £1,255 for the same period of last year, being an increase of over £ 500. The manage- ment committee and governors had autho- rised certain improvements to the infirmary, I the cost of which, after allowing for the sum. specially promised and the amount in hand, would leave a net deficiency at the end of the year of £ 3,000. This would either have to be raised by the sale of stock, an over- draft at the bank, or else by further sub- scriptions. He hoped that further subscrip- tions would be forthcoming to clear the amount mentioned. Colonel Bruce Vaughan expressed great satisfaction that such a large amount had been received in special donations. The cost of the work already authorised amounted to nearly £8,000, and towards that sum about £ 5,000 had been promised or received. With regard to the lupus pavilion, he had great pleasure in announcing that the kind donor, of the first subscription of £ 1,000 to meet the outlay in this direction had promised to increase that amount by a further JB450. (Applause.) This practically meant that the donor meant to bear the expense of this new and neceseary ward. (Loud applause.)

ACCIDENTS IN SOUTH WALES. WOMAN KILLED WHILST BLACKBERRYING. Some excitement was created at Forth on Saturday evening by the news that a young woman had fallen into an old disused air shaft on the Nythbran Farm, and had thus met her death. She was Rachel Preece. aged 26, daughter of Mr. Hopkin Preece, a. fireman residing in Primrose-street, Porth. Accompanied by her little sister aged eight, she left the house soon after dinner to pick blackberries. The two sisters came upon the old shaft, which was partially hidden from view by the blackberry bushes. It was. however, protected by some wooden rail- ines..The young woman approached for the purpose of gathering the fruit, and must have been ignorant of the danger she was running. At any rate, she eventually dis- covered that she could not get back from the position in which she found herself, and with commendable coolness immediately despatched her sister for aid. There was a. house not far away. and on the way thither the little girl met an acquaintance, who a.t once found two men and told them of Miss, Preece's danger. With all possible haste the men (Messrs. Alfred and Arthur Rail ton) went to the scene of the old pit, but only to discover that Misa Preece had disappeared. Whether she had attempted to get back into a safe position and had fallen while doing so or had been forced to let go her hold has not transpired. At all events, the briars had been much disturbed, and everything pointed to the probability that the young woman had dropped into the shaft. With a view to finding out the truth of the supposition, Mr. Arthur Railton decided to go down the pit, and, having obtained a rope and fastened it around his waist, he was let down. The shaft was about 90ft. deep, and at the bottom lay the lifeless body of Miss Preece. Her brains had been dashed out, and death was, probably, instantaneous. The body was brought out of the pit and conveyed home. The inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Rachel Preece (25), daughter of Mr. Hopkin Preece. Primrose-terrace, Porth, was held by the district coroner (Mr. R. J. Rhys) on Monday.—The greater part of the evidence was a corroboration of the account given above. In reference to the state of the railings surrounding the pit's mouth, John Bean, an employe of the Lewis Merthyr Colliery Company, said the fence was put up several years ago, and the distance from the posts to the entrance to the shaft was from 10ft. to 12ft. It was his duty to look after these places, and about a fortnight ago he examined the fence in question, and found everything satisfactory.—The Coroner com- plimented Mr. Arthur Railton on his ventur- ing down the pit, and the jury endorsed Mr. Rhys s remarks. The verdict was "Accidental death.' Mr. Hutchinson, general manager of the Lewis Merthyr Collieries, was present. SHOOTING FATALITY AT ABERPORTH The inquest on the body of Lizzie Annie Jones, the five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Ffrwdisha, was held at Ffrwd- ganol, Aberporth, on Saturday, before Mr. J. H. Evans, coroner for the district. The fore- man of the jury was the Rev. Morgan Parry Morgan, Methodist minister, of Blaenannerch. The Coroner, in opening the case, pointed out the legal difficulties surrounding it, and also alluded to the danger of leaving loaded guns about.—Benjamin Morris, a servant boy, was cutting corn round the hedges and preparing for the reaper, when he sent a fellow servant to fetch the gun, which had been left loaded in the house in the roof of the out-kitchen. He had seen a hare and he wanted to secure it. Morris told his fellow-servant the gun was loaded, having himself placed a cartridge in it that morning, and the cartridge case taken out was the one he had put in the gun. The gan was placed in the walk near the cowshed. Two boys coming from school saw it, and one, David Griffith James, took it up and shot the child dead.—William Williams deposed to fetching the gun from the kitchen. The hammer of the gun was then down. There were some children playing about in a cart. He put the gun in the walk. and went to his bedroom, telling the children not to touch the gun. The little girl ran through another door to the cowhouse, and David Griffith James, who had taken up the gun, said, If you do not go out, I will shoot you." at the same time pointing the gun, which went off. He was certain the hammer was not raised. Dr. Stephens (Cardigan) des- cribed the injuries, a large part of the left side of the face, including half the nose and cheek and part of the forehead, being blown away, causing a large gaping wound. A ver- dict of "Accidental death" was returned. INQUEST AT ABERTILLERY. Mr. J. B. Walford (coroner) held an inquest at Abertillery Police-station on Monday respecting the death of James Wiltshire, married, a collier, aged 41, who was killed at the Arael Griffin Colliery, Six Bells (Messrs. John Lancaster and Co.), by a fall of roof on Saturday.—The evidence was of a. simple character, the fireman, William Adams, stating that there was a concealed slip in the roof.—A verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned. WOMAN FATALLY BURNT. Mr. H. J. Price, the Pembroke coroner, held an inquest on the body of Martha Nicholas, aged 67, a. servant in the employ of Mr. J. C. Froyne, J.P. It appears that the poor woman retired to bed about 9.30. A short time afterwards another servant smelt smoke, and rushed into the room, where she found deceased enveloped in flames. There was a candle in the room, and Nicholas had not undressed. The servant ran to the next house for assistance, but by her return the woman was dead, having been fearfully burned.—The jury returned a verdict of acci- dental death, caused by burns.—Nicholas had been 32 years in Mr. Frayne's employ. FATAL SCALDING CASE AT NEATH. Coroner Cuthberteon held an inquest at the Town-hall, Neath, on Tuesday into the cir- cumstances of the death of Edgar Rees, three- and-a-half years old, son of Mr. Benjamin Rees, fancy dealer, of Water-street, Neath, who fell into boiling water on the previous day and died early on Tuesday morning.— Ellen Rees, the mother of the child, said the washerwoman had taken the tin boiler containing hot water from the fire and had placed it on the floor. Witness was fastening her little boy's collar, when he started from her, falling backwards into the boiler of water. He was fully dressed. She imme- diately cut his clothes away and applied oil and ointment. He died shortly before three o'clock that morning.—Dr. Morris said that when he arrived he found that the child's scalds had been properly dressed. The scalds were not deep, but they were extensive. Death was due to shock consequent upon the scalds. —A verdict accordingly was returned. COALTRIMMER KILLED AT BARRY. A sad fate befel a coaltrimmer, named Wil- liam Behena., aged about 36, living at 3, Sey- mour-street, East Moors, Cardiff, on Tuesday at Barry No. 1 Dock. Behena was engaged on board the steamship Ravenshoe, lying under No. 19 Tip, and was removing the hatches of the forehold when one of the hatches slid for- ward, and, overbalancing Behena., he fell into the hold, a depth of about 30ft., death being instantaneous. The body was conveyed to the town mortuary to await the coroner's ia- quest. Deceased was a married man, and left eight children to mourn his untimely death. Behena was in the employ of Messrs. Cory Brothers and Co. LLANELLY CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH. A shocking case of scalding is reported from Llanelly, a three-year-old boy, named Benjamin Rees, living with his parents at Ralph-street, falling into a boiler full of boil- ing water. The little fellow sustained terrible injuries, death taking place soon afterwards. At the inquest the jury added the following rider to their verdict:—"That, saving regard to the frequent occurrence of deaths of chil- dren in the district by reason of scalds sus- tained by filing into boilers or saucepans of boiling water\placed temporally upon the floor, often for few seconds only, that the attention of mothers and others having the care of young children be called to the neers- sity of covers being placed upon such boilers, and of greater care being exercised generally." BURNING FATALITY AT SWANSEA. A babe of six months, named John Dean, of 6, Llangyfelaoh-road, Swansea, has died at the Swansea. Hospital from the effects of burns received on August 9, when he set the bedclothes on fire whilst playing with a lighted candle. MAN RUN OVER AT CARDIFF. A serious accident happened on Saturday night to a young man named Rogers, an employee of the Cardiff Corporation electric lighting department. Rogers was in High- street in charge of one of the "tower wagons." Thinking the horse was getting beyond his control, he jumped down from his high seat and caught hold of the animal's head. He fell, and was dragged under the front wheel, which went over him. He was conveyed to the Cardiff Infirmary, where on Sunday night he was reported to be progres- sing as favourably as can be expected. MOTOR SMASH AT OAERLEON. A- spot near the bridge at Caerleon has just been the scene of another motor smash. On Sunday afternoon a Newport cyclist named Evans was journeying on his motor-cycle from Newport to Brecon, and ran into the wall at a dangerous corner near Caerleon Bridge. The bicycle was badly damaged, and the rider sustained some nasty cats about the arms and legs,

GOOD TEMPLARY IN WALES. THE ENGLISH GRAND LODGE AT MERTHYR. The thirtieth annual session of the English Grand Lodge of Wales of the Independent Order of Good Templars was opened on Tues- day morning at the Temperanee-hall, Mer- thyr, by the G.C.T., Bro. A. H. N. Reddaway, Cardiff. The other officers present were: — G C. Bro. E Jones, Welshpool; G.V.C. Sister Jenkins, Morriston; G.S.J.T Bro. W. Davies, Gwersyllt; G.E.S. Bro. J. Hocking, Maeeteg: G S. Bro. W. Cook, Newtown; G.T. Bro. S. E. Hughes, Brymbo, and P.G.C.T. Bro. Councillor J. Stanford, Wrexham.—The reports of the various officers were presented to Grand Lodge—The G.C.T. in his report dealt with the state of the Order in the different dis- tricts.—The report of the G.S. showed that there had been an increase both in lodges and members since the last session.—The trea- surer's report contained the announcement that there was now a balance in hand.—The G.E.T. in his report dealt with the organisar tion of the Order, and reviewed the political movements of the day as they affected the temperance cause.—The report of the G.S.J.T. notified that during the year there had been an increase of 1,300 in the juvenile members. the total number of members in both branches of the Order now being upwards of 12,000.—An illuminated address was presented to Bo. Conncilloi Stanford in recognition of his seven years' service in the chair. At the afternoon sitting the following dilo tinguished visitors were receivedBro. Coun- cillor J. Malins, Right Worthy Grand Chief Templar of the World; Bro. T. Barrie, G.T., Scotland; Bro. J. A. Whyte, G.L.A.. Scotland; Sister D'Oyley Pain, G.M., England; Bro. A. C. Dixon, D.G.C.T., Scotland; Bro. D. Ap Worgan, G.S.J.T. (Welsh); Sister Kate Owen G.V.T. (Welsh); Bro. Daniel Owen, G.K8. (Welsh); and Bro. J. Jenkins, D.C.T. (Welsh). With regard to the crusade against the grocers' licences carried on by Sister Jenkins, it transpired that it had resulted in 1,150 pledges having been taken by sisters, who had engaged not to deal with any licence-holders. In the evening there was a very largely attended public meeting at Zoar Chapel, at which Mr. D. A. Thomas, the senior membei for the constituency, presided. The Chairman, in. opening the proceedings, said that he was not a. pledged teetotaler, yet he had been a total abstainer for the last year and a half. He did not feel any the worse for it; in fact, he felt very much bettef than he did a couple of years ago. Those who had watched what had been done in the temperance movement during the last gene- ration or so could not help being struck by the fact that it had made far greater progress and very much more had been accomplished by outside legislation than by legislation in Parliament. The Act of last year was a very trifling little thing, and now that the novelty had worn off they saw that much that had been expected of that measure had not come to pass. Why was it that so little had been done in Parliament? He said, frankly, that he himself thought it was largely due to the fact that the temperance party had been extravagant in their" demands. He did not mean to say that they had asked what was unreasonable from the point of view of what was right and just and best for the country, but in going to Parliament they must consider, not only what was right and just, but what they were able to get. He believed that the temperance rarty until very recently had been an extreme party, but last year they went from one extreme to the ether, for, whilst hitherto they had demanded the whole loaf, they were then satisfied with the very smallest of crumbs. He gave notice of an amendment that he thought went to the root evil of the licensing system—that was the system of tied houses—but, out of deference to some of hia friends from nearly all parts of the con- stituency, he withdrew that notice from the paper, because they wished even the small modicum offered last year to pass without opposition from the temperance party. Some measure would be introduced provid- ing compensition. There was no doubt there was a strong feeling that it was unfair to take away his licence from a. pub- lican against whom the police had nothing to say without giving him some kind of compensation. They would have to recognise that fact, whether they liked it or not, and the points to which they should direct themselves were, where was the money for compensation to come from and to whom should it be paid? Last year's Act was a brewer's Act. The present Government were the friends of the brewers and not the friends of the publicans. Nearly all the licensed victuallers' associations were brewers' organisations, and not the organisations of the licensed victuallers as such, and wha.t they, as temperance men, must try and insist upon was that the money for compensation. if it was to be given at all, should come from the trade itself, and should be given, not to the rich brewers and brewery companies, but to the publicans who, through no fault of their own, were deprived of their means of subsistance. (Applause.) He had always been strong against the tied-hoase system, because it was contrary to the spirit and intention of the whole licensing system, and in the' inte- rests of everybody it should be very much modified or abolished altogether. (Applause.) Mr. Will Crooks, M.P., made a vigorous speech, denouncing the compensation pro- posals. Speeches were also given by Bro. A. C. Dixon. M.A., B.Sc., Darlington; and Bro. J. A. Whyte, Grand Lodge Agent for Scotland. SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The thirtieth session of the English Grand Lodge of Wales of the I.O.G.T. was resumed on Wednesday at tae Temperance-hall. Mer- thyr. At 8.30 a. m. there was a public break- fast at Bentley's Hotel, at which Dr. C. Biddle (the high-constable) presided and made a speech of weloome and encouragement. The morning session was devoted to the considera- tion of the report of the G.S.J.T., which showed that, where is at the commencement of the year there were 6,000 members in 61 temples, the year closed with over 7,000 children in 84 temples. The collection for the mission fund had also increased by £16, and had been more universally taken up. On August 4 a National Council was instituted by a combination of the English and Welsh Grand Lodges, with a view to a general super- vision of the juvenile work amongst the children of Wales. One resolution submitted by the National Council was: "That this council, recognising the great danger to the nation arising from its drinking- custom and its attendant evils, desires to petition the authorities of counties to adopt scientific tem- perance teaching as a part of the ordinary curriculum in all elementary schools and this resolution the Grand Lodge adopted. Tha report dealing with the national examina- tion showed that prizes and certificates had been awarded to 67 competitors. Prizes for the largest increases had been given to the Excelsior Temple, Cardiff; Flower of Siloh, Neath; Neyland's Response, Breconshire; Hope of Cambria, Cardiff; Pride of Ton, Rhondda Valley; and Ark of Love, Pembroke Dock. It was decided to continue the annual examination next year and to give prizes of books and certificates as in former years. It was resolved to take steps to secure the registration of the Grand Lodge and subor- dinate lodges under the Friendly Societies Act. A long discussion took place at tha afternoon sitting with reference to the appointment of a Grand Lodge Agent for the purpose of visiting the lodges and missioning the Principality as a whole, and it was eventually decided that such appoint- ment should be made. A resolution was passed thanking the proprietors of the London Daily News" foi^ their action in decliniug to give insertion to drinking and gambling advertisements. The election of officers was then commenced, with. the result that Bro. J. Nooking, Maas- teg, was elected G.C.T., and Bro. E. Jones, Welshpool, G.C. A conference on electoral work waa afterwards held, and at night there was a public meeting in Pontmorlais Chapel, with Bro. T. Berrie, G.T., Scotland, in the chair, when addresses were given by Bro. Councillor J. Malins, R.W.G.T., Bro. the Rev. Morris Morgan, P.G.C.T., Walee, and others.

THE NEW CUNARDERS. SERIOUS PROBLEM TURBINB ENGINES PROPOSED. The Cunard Steamship Company has been consulting with some British and German shipbuilding and engineering firms witb respect to the adoption of turbine engines on board the two new huge liners which the com- pany is about to build. Apparently a serious difficulty has arisen in reference to the adop- tion of ordinary engines, as the shafting neces- sary to ensure 25 knots hourly continuous steaming for six days would be enormous. Calculations that have been made indicate that turbines would give a saving in weight of nearly 3,000 tons, besides reducing the engine-room staff. The Cunard Company, it is understood, have yet arrived at a definite decision.

FATE OF THE SHAMROCKS. A New York correspondent says:—Sham- rock III. will soon be hauled out and given a berth on shore. Sir T. Lipton desires to get rid of her. Shamrock II. is destined for the junk dealer's yard. (She has been on the mud for nearly two years, and the negotiations which are now in progress for her sale will probably soon be concluded. Until a pur- chaser is found for her Shamrock III. will occupy a berth on siiore. It is said that Shamrock I. is practically sold, but for what purpose had not been ascertained. She may be used a« a cruising yacht, but that is hardly possible, and she may decorate the pld metal piles in a. dealer's yard.