Weekly Mail

WmHj gkil SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1904. The W EEKLY 2J£.AIL" is published on Iridays and Saturdays, and can be obtained from your local 7tewsagent. If you find any difficulty in obtaining the paper, please communicate with the Manager, J fester a iflail Offices, Cardiff. The Weekly IfcciZ" will be sent try post on payment of a subscription in advance on the following terms;- s. d. One Quarter J 8 Half Year 3 3 One Year 6 6 1 Sir Henry Irving can hardly be other- wise than gratified at the result of his farewell tour in South Wales. Alike at Cardiff and Swansea he played before crowded, enthusiastic, and deeply sym- pathetic houses, asd was cheered again and again to the echo. Despite his weight of years, the veteran actor showed no falling off in has splendid powers, and it may be said that he is leaving the stage in the full plenitude of his genius. May he have before him many years of honoured rest. It is a pity the fierce contending factions over the education problem cannot settle their differences without interfering with the teachers. The latter have had nothing to do with the framing or the passing of the Education Act, which is the bone of contention, and to martyrise them is really an act of abomin- able injustice, which will only rebound on the heads of those who are responsible for so stupid and short-sighted a policy. zzl With amazing doggedness Port Arthur still holds out. We know little of the state of things within the fortress, but what we do know seems to suggest that the garrison are in dire and increasing straits. There is talk that General Stoessel thinks of blowing up the citadel and its defenders rather than allow the place to fall into the hands of the Japan- ese. This would be magnificent, but w e doubt whether such a step will be taken. There are plenty of civilians in Pca-t Arthur, including many women, a1ClÙ, besides, a garrison of 20,000 men is not so easily blown up.

TO COMMENCE NEXT WEEK. NEW SERIAL BY MRS. L. T. MEA DE. In NEXT WEEK'S "WEEKLY MAIL" will be commenced a New Serial, entitled THE BLACK RIBBON, a Novel of absorbing interest, which tells the love-story of a yoeng Doctor and an English girl. The latter has become associated with a fascinating Professor and his daughter, concealed members of a Russian Secret Society, for whose purposes they wash to make use of their English girl-frjend and her sweetheart. The narratiwe of their adventures and of the thrilling inci- dents which are evolved is written by MRS. L. T. MEADE, whose work is so widely known and appreciated as to have placed her at the HEAD OF THE POLL in a recent competition organised by a London paper with a view to deciding upon the MOST POPULAR LADY NOVELIST. MRS. L. T. MEADE knows what novel readers like—and can supply it. Her plots enthrall readers; each instalment of her story makes a vivid impression; love and mystery are inextricably mingled until, in a fUsh, the denouement comes. BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING. The first instalment of this Powerful Story, rpHE JJLACK JJIBBON," will commenoo publication in NEXT 'WEEK'S WEEKLY MATT." (OCTOBER 8).

STEEL TRADE COMBINE. I NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESSING IN THE NORTH. I The meeting of Scottish and North of Eng- land steelmakers held at Newcastle on Tues- day in connection with the scheme for amai- gamation was adjourned for a fortnight. The proceedings are said to have been satis- factory.. A Glasgow telegram states that the negotia- tions are with a view of a working arrange- ment being arrived at. A scheme has been drafted for presentation to the respective associations, and it is believed that a basis of working prices will be fixed ere long. Any such arrangement would have an important bearing on the trade generally.

TRADES UNION ACTIVITY. DEMONSTRATION IN CARDIFF AND OTHER TOWNS. At a meeting of Trades Unionist leaders held in London on Wednesday the resolu- tions passed at the recent congress at Leeds were considered, and it was decided, amongst other things, that a serie3 of demonstrations should be held in the chief provincial centres for the purpose of condemning the action of the Go-vern ment with regard to the Trades Disputes Bill introduced during last session, and also of passing resolutions calling upon the Government to make an alteration in the law upon the subject. The first demonstra-i tion will be held in Manchester at an early date, and the other towns selected were New- castle, Dudley, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glas- gow, and Cardiff, with a mass meeting in London afterwards.

POLICE AND PUBLIC. QUESTION OF AN AUTOMOBILIST'S SOBRIETY. At Penge on Wednesday Edmund Ha-rdy Hamilton, journalist, was sentenced to a fort- nig'ht's imprisonment for being drunk whilst! in charge of a, motor-car. It was stated that the accused ran into a furniture van at! Penge, and the police arrested him, alleging that he was drunk. The accused denied the) charge, and called witnesses, who asserted, that he was sober. Hamilton aJso alleged that the police did not accede to his request I for examination by a medical man. Notice of appeal was given.

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LONDON LETTER. -0 A COLUMN OF INTEREST TO ALL OUR READERS. LONDON, Thursday. It is, I hear, the intention of the War Office to re-survey in the near future the more important defences of London and the East Coast. Since the defences of our coasts were organised, some years ago, local circumstances have altered and improvements in armament have been made. It is believed that many of the defences which were at one time con- sidered essential are now unnecessary, and that other defences of an imperative character should at once be constructed. In particular is the defence of the East Coast engaging the attention of the military authorities. In some instances the War Office is in direct conflict with the Board of Trade, who refuse to allow mines to be placed in certain confined limits, and these matters of controversy, it is hoped, will be settled by the re-survey which is about to be made. Our coasts are still liberally sprinkled with martello towers, but these are obsolete, and against modern artillery would be absolutely useless. Guns of the latest pattern have, I am informed, been placed at many important points, and many important changes have been effected in regard to naval defence. PAUPER RETURNS. Once more we find that the returns of pauperism issued by the Local Govern- ment Board show a serious increase. The total of 738,407 persons receiving relief in England and Wales at the end of August was 38,000 more than the total at the corresponding period of last year, whilst the number in the Metropolitan area went up from 105,251 to 110,267. These figures bring the ratio per thousand for the whole country up to a higher per- centage than it has reached since 1899, and for London the highest since 1875. Takiag the figures for the country anart from the Metropolitan area we find that 228, S&9 people were indoor paupers and 509,518 were outdoor paupers, which give ratios per thousand of 6.8 and 15.1 respectively. In the Welsh unions there were steady increases of about 1,500 each week. In the last week of the month the indoor paupers numbered 7,643, against 7yC27 in the corresponding week of last 3/ear, and those receiving outdoor relief were 55,513, against 53,938. As to vagrancy, it is interesting and in some respects satisfactory to find that, whilst as many as 2,463 were relieved in the West Midland district (which includes Gloucester, Hereford, Salop, Staffs, Worcester, and Warwick), the total for the whole of Wales was only 735. BRITISH COAL IN RUSSIA. Only a few days ago I commented upon the consular reports that showed an increase in the importation of British coal to Russia. More recent reports have a peculiar bearing upon the question. Two now issued—one from Finland and the other from Odessa—show that there has been a decline in the total amounts taken in at those places. The inference is that the increase recorded has had a certain end in view, and the ports of reception, consequently, restricted. At Odessa, we are told," the amount of British coal imported is now very insignifi- cant, and the 28,000 tons discharged there last year was much smaller than the im- portations of previous years. The South Russian districts now get most of their coal supplies from the Donetz region, whilst some of it is taken down from Dombrovo, in Poland. When we come to Dombrovo, in Poland. When we come to the question of price we find that the imported kinds sell at about 29s. per ton, whilst th() home produce for domestic pur- poses ranges from 23s. to 26s. 3d. per ton. A similar report comes from Finland. There in 1899 the import was about a quarter of a million tons, but it dropped to 125,000 tons in 1902. In 1903, how- ever, there was an increase to 166,486 tons, which might be accounted for by the fact that the Finnish ports are all within easy reach of Cronstadt. MR. CHAMBERLAIN STILL DETERMINED. The letter from Mr. Chamberlain that appeared in the papers recently ought to be sufficient to effectually dispose of the i rumours that the right hon. gentleman is giving up his great, but self-imposed, task. In its intention, the letter is addressed to meet some of the criticisms that Lord Rosebery thought fit to utter about his distinguished opponent, but as a matter of fact it meets the opposition that has come in from all quarters. So far as the immediate points at issue are concerned, Mr. Chamberlain's own lines are sufficient to deal with the case, but there is an interpretation to be placed upon the letter of a character much wider than the mere question of fact as to whether a certain telegram was or was not received. It shows that Mr. Chamber- lain is still in an aggressive mood, and that he intends to maintain that attitude in the conduct of the campaign that he has undertaken. Rumours of his impend- ing withdrawal from the struggle may be taken as mere rumours should be until something more definite is announced. As I was able to state some time ago, when there were other rumours to the effect that the right hon. gentlepaan was disappointed and disheartened, there was not the slightest foundation for what was evidently an expression in which the wish was father to the thought. Whsn Mr. Chamberlain finds it necessary to retire he will say so in the proper way. I am able to state on very good authority that the right hon. gentleman is well satisfied with the progress of his movement up to the present. FOOD AND WAGES IN AMERICA. Mr. Seymour Bell, British Commercial Agent in the United States, has sent home his annual report upon trade and other things in the United States. It is a remarkably interesting and instructive document, in which a large number of topics are dealt with in short compass. Traders will find in it a lot of useful hints. In one section Mr. Bell shows that the States are already finding an open inaaliet in the Philippines. Their exports to that part of the world during last year amounted to over twelve millions -of dollars, which was an increase of 6 per cent. on the amount sent during tihe previous year. But a section to which attention might be directed with some profit is one showing a picture of the socisJ conditions of the States. In dealing with wages Mr. Bell says that since 1894 they have increased 18.8 per cent. in the States, whilst the cost of living (as indi- cated by the selling price of various necessary commodities) has increased 10.6 per cent. The increase in weekly wages in 1903 was 12.9 per cent. greater than in 1896, and 14.9 per cent. greater than in 1894. In 1903 the hours of labour per j week were 4.1 per cent. less than in 1890, 2.1 per cent. less than in 1900, and 9.7 per cent. less than in 1902. At the same time the aggregate of wages paid in 1903 was zt-5.1 per cent. greater than in 1896. Taking further figures from the Govern- ment returns, Mr. Bell shows that the average price of food per family in 1890 was 318.20 dollars, and after several fluc- tuations was 344.61 dollars per family in 1902. IRELAND AGAIN. It cannot be said that the details of Lord Dunraven's scheme for reforming the government of Ireland have experienced a very favourable reception. When the proposal was first made. it appeared as a matter of principle only, and there was an evident disposition to deal gently with it. Few will be found to urge that some reform would not be welcome if it could be relied upon to end the constant friction existing between one section of the United Kingdom and the others. Now that the details of the scheme are published there is a goodly crop of adverse criticism. Naturally, papers kke the "Times" are faithful to their Conservatism, and, on the other hand, the Radical papers wel- come the proposals; but the more sober section of the London press find flaws in the construction of the plan that will, they feel, prove fatal to it. Above every- thing else, what they point out is that the financial proposals are too drastic, and do not afford sufficient safeguards from an Imperial point of view. It may, however, be accepted as definite that there will be an attempt to bring some scheme. founded upon the proposals before the attention of the Legislature, although it is likely to share the fate of the Bill suggested by one of the lord bishops during the last 1 session for dealing with the education question.

NEWS OF OUR COUNTRTMEN FROM HOME. CAPE TOWN. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME TO A NEW WELSH MINISTER. There was a large gathering in the Oak Room of the Y.M.C.A., Cape Town, on the occa- sion of a welcome extended to the Rev. Gwyn- fryn Jones, the new minister of the Cape Town Welsh Undenominational Church, by the members of the Welsh community and friends of other denominations. Sir William Thorae, M.L.A., presided. Sir William Thome opened the proceedings by saying that as he came up to the hall that evening he felt reminded of the formation of the little Church at Jerusalem by the disciples after the death of our Lord, and the marvel- lous manner in which the Christian faith had spread, especially in the home land; and although different sects had arisen, yet they all aimed at the same object, which was the spread of the Bible. In South Africa tho Gospel was spreading in a marvellous manner. Livingstone had nobly taught the Word, and Stanley had also materially assisted. The Gospel had lately spread very greatly in Uganda^ This was a general time of develop- merit, and for a long time there had been a feeling amongst the Welsh community in Cape Town that they must have a preacher who spoke their language. They had enthusiasm, aipd without this they could not build up Christian faith and hope to fit them for the battle of life. The Rev. A. L. Henderson said he hoped the Celtic fire would still be strong amongst the Welsh people of Cape Town. They only felt how dear their country was to them when they left it, and seemed to be more patriotic in a foreign country than at home. He united with Sir William Thorne in giving Mr. Jones a hearty welcome. The Rev. J. M. Russell made a very happy speech, which elicited roars of laughter, and said he hoped the church would be a great blessing. He congratulated them on gett-in? a preacher in their own language. He had lent St, Andrew's Church for the Welsh Sun- day school, and had often listened with appre- ciation to their Welsh hymns. The Rev. G. Jones, in responding, said that he beard there were 1.000 Welsh people in Cape Town, who were lost to themselves, lost to society, and lost to God, and it was felt that if they could be saved, it would be through having a church where they could hear their own language. He came to do a pioneer's work, to start a Church, and put it on a proper basis, and he was very optimistic as to the future. He was cheered with the thought that he could be a greater patriot here than at home, and with work and prayer a lot could be done. He thanked them for their kind welcome. DEATH OF A YCUNG WELSHMAN. Much sympathy is feit for the parents and brothers of Mr. Willie Williams, Pwllheli. Mr. Willie Williams, the son of the Rev. W. Wil- liams, now of Pwllheli, and late of B-ottwnog, died suddenly at De Aar, where he had gone to spend a few days' holiday from Beaufort West, where ho was engaged 011 the Oape Government Railways. Mr. Williams and his brother, Mr. R. J. Williams, of the water engineer's department, Cape Town, came out nearly two years ago, and during their stay made many friends and were very useful members of the Churches of the towns they lived in. The funeral took place at Beaufort West, and was largely attended by the inhabi- tants of that place. On the Sunday memorial services were held at the Wesleyan Church, of which he was a member.

UNITED STATES. WELSH-AMERICAN IRON MANUFACTURER'S DEATH. An eminent Welsh-American, Mr. Oliver Williams, died at Catasauqua on September 17, aged 74 vears. On March 17, 1894, Mr. Williams wgg one of the presidents of the Young Cambria Aid Eisteddfod in Wilkes- barre. His colleagues at the other sessions were the late Mr. J. C. Powell and the Rev. Dr. Parker Morgan, of New York City. Later he attended the St. David's Day banquet, under the auspices of the Cambro-American Society, at the Wyoming Valley Hotel, and was one of the speakers. Being an enthu- siastic Welshman, he was devoted to music, I the Eisteddfod, and other Welsh institutions of a national character. Mr. Williams was born in the Mexican Arms Hotel, Landore, near Swansea. The family removed to America in 1833 and to I Catasauqua in 1840. I" that year Mr. David Thomas had furnaces to smelt iron by the use of anthracite coal. The deceased in 1367 returned to Catasauqua to take charge of the rolling mills then recently established in that place. Under his management the works increased the output tenfold, and obtained a national reputation for the quality of iron. For fifteen years Mr. I Williams was unanimously elected president of the Easton Iron Association and for three years president of the National Bar Associa- tion. In 1896 he was a candidate for Con- gress on the Republican ticket. While a resident of Milwaukee, in 1855, he was a room-mate of Chester A. Arthur, later Presi- dent of the United States, and while in the I leather business in Chicago, in 1858, Abra- ham Lincoln was his attorney. Mr. Williams was an extensive traveller, having made several trips to the West India Islands and Cuba, years prior to the Spanish- American War; also to the West and the I large centres of Europe. He was a fluent speaker on public matters, and his opinion on national matters was readily acceptable. Five years ago he visited W-ilkesbarre to see his friend Mr. Christmas Evans, of Mer- thyr Tydfil. HEAD. OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST LITHOGRAPHIC BUSINESS. Mail advices from America bring news of the death of Colonel William J. Morgan, founder and president of W. J. Morgan and Co., lithographers, Cleveland. The advices state that the company of which Mr. Morgan was the head, does a larger lithographing business than any in the world. It was founded in 1870 by Mr. Morgan, who had for a short time previously been engaged in the lithographic business in Pitteburg. The town of Mr. Morgan's birth was Nant- yglo, Monmouthshire, and the date was. November 27, 1838. While yet a small child he went to Pittsburg with his parents in 1840. After his father's death in 1847 he worked in the ironworks of Shang and Co. to help support his mother and two younger brothers. When he was nipeteeu years old he went to Cleveland and worked for J. C. Hussey, a copper-smith, until President Lin- 't coln's first call for Volunteers was issued. Prompt to enlist, he served three months in Company A,' of the Seventh Regiment, O. V. I., and then returned to Cleveland and helped to organise Company" E," of the Forty-first Regiment, O. V. I. He was made captain, and after serving two years returned on account of illness. After the war Mr. Morgan engaged in the lithographing business in Pittsburg until 1870, when he went to Cleveland and organised W. J. Morgan and Co., litho- graphers. He was made president, and he continued in that office until his death. About forty years ago Mr. Morgan was married, and of the seven children borne him by his wife, three, who were boys, died. Mr. Morgan is survived by his widow and two daughters, Mrs. George B. Rogers and Mrs. Edwin Cotton, and by one brother, George W. Morgan, vice-president of W. J. Morgan and Co. At the time of his death Mr. Morgan was a director of the Wade Park Banking Com- pany. He was a director of the original Park Bank before its consolidation with the Euclid Park National Bank. Mr. Morgan also had large real estate interests in Cleve- land. ORIGIN OF LABOUR DAY. In connection with the celebration of Labour Day," it is interesting to re-call that the originator of the day was a Welshman. IIis name was Robert Price, and he was occa- sionally called Shouting Bob." He was born 'near Aberystwyth in 1833, and left for the New World when 31 years old. The name Shout- ing Bob was given him, it is said, on account of his practice of saying Amen!" very loudly at, his place of worship. At the meeting at vhich he proposed the establishment of Labour Day he is said to have made a very eloquent speech. It was ho aleo who gave it tlio name Labour Day." GLAMORGANSHIRE MINISTER'S CALL. The Rev. W. Davies, Llantwit Major, who received a call to a pastorate in America, has deei'ded not to leave this country. He paid a visdt to America a short time ago, but is unable to accept the invitation to a pastorate which he then received. He has promised to assk-jt the Churches at Llysfronydd and Tre- golwvyn. DEATH OF "ANEURIN FARDD." The death has occurred at the Ramona Hotel, Soutfe- Spring-street, Los Angeles, California, of Aneurin Fardd." His end was tragic. Some of the people at the hotel heard some noitSoel in. one of the rooms as of a man falling, and on making inquiries found Aneurin Fardd in an unconscions state. He died and am. inquest was held, the verdict being one of death from natural causes. He was 80 years age. TOWN-CLERK OF POULTEY. Mr. W. H. Rowlands, an American Welsh- man, who is the town-clerk of Poultney, Vt., started his career as an ordinary workman, but with .hard work succeeded in becoming a solicitor. He has also been a town representa- tive, and for two terms was State Attorney. Ho is a p ti riotic Welshman, a litterateur, and a zealousi eisteddfodwr. LEAVING FOR WALES. The Rtfv. T. E. Nicholas, Dodgeville, is., has decided 'to return to Wales, after spending a little over a year in the country. Mr. Nicholas has reooilfed a call to a Church in the Swansea Valley. Previous to his departure he was publicly pi-scented with a gold watch and chain andvejther tokens of the respect in which be is hekK'in America.

END OF THE HIRWAIN STRIKE. After a stoppage of nearly twelve months work is to be resumed at the Marquess of Bute's collieries at Hirwain as quickly as the state of the workings will allow. A settlement was 4Tecteul on Wednesday at Hean Castle, Baundersfoot, where Sir W. T. Lewis has been staying since the beginning of the week, and where he received a depu- tation from the men who were employed at the collieries prior to the unfortunate and prolonged stoppage. The deputation, with whom travelled Mr. I. H. Jones, manager of the collieries, left Hirwain by the first train on Wednesday morn- ing. It may be mentioned that a private meeting of the workmen was held last Monday night, at which it was decided to appoint a deputation i'or the pur- posø of seeking all interview with Sir Wil- liam Thomas Lewi-a with a view of dis- cussing the position of affairs without taking into consideration any assumption on the part of the Miners' Federation to have a voice in the negotiations. There were present at the meeting a few workmen who were of opinion that such a course would, doubtless, provoke the condemnation of the Federation officials, especially in view of the resolution recently passed by the executive council at Cardiff to the effect that Mr. Stanton. the miners' agent, should accompany any deputation which might be appointed to wait upon Sir William Lewis. However, there was an overwhelming majority in favour of ignoring completely the Federation, and owing to the absence of Sir William Lewis from The Mardy the deputa- tion journeysd to Saundersfoot on Wednes- day morning, as already arranged. The interview was strictly private, and lasted several hours, resulting in a satisfac- tory arrangement. Though the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, we are given to understand that the deputation made it known to Sir Wil- liam at the very outset that they disclaimed all connection with the Miners' Federation, thereby meeting the objection which Sir William laid down at the beginning, that he would not enter into any negotiations with any official of the Federation. We learn on trustworthy authority that Sir Wil- liam waived his demand for compensation in respect of the damage done to the workings consequent upon the stoppage. The two primary obstacles having been removed, there was really nothing to prevent the conclusion of a satisfactory understanding. This was duly arrived at, and the workmen will be engaged at the col- lieries as the working places are restored. The news reached Hirwain between seven and eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, and was rceived with rejoicing. NEATH VALLEY ARBITRATION CASE. An important arbitration case affecting the Main Colliery, in the Neath Valley, was heard at the Engineers' Institute, Cardiff, on Monday. Mr. Thomas Griffiths, of Cymmer, and Mr. Charles H. Eden, of Swansea, repre- sented the employers, while Messrs. Evan Thomas, Rhymney, and Enoch Morrell, Mer- thyr, were for the workmen. There were also present on the owners' side Mr. T. H. Wales, Mr. Vaughan Price (general manager), and Mr. Thomas Williams (manager). On the workmen's side were Mr. John Wil- liams (Swansea), Mr. W. E. Morgan, Mr. Ben Davies (checkweigher), and several witnesses. S The dispute has arisen in connection with the cutting price to be paid for the Court Herr j bert and another seam. After a long argu- ment it was agreed that an effort should he made to close the matter within two months, and that in the meantime the employers' arguments should be placed before the men, with the view of an arrangement being arrived at before the expiration of that period. HAFOD COLLIERY DISPUTE. Matters a.t the IiewLs-Merthyr Colliery, Hafcd, where the men have given notice to terminate contracts at the end of the month as a protest against the employment of non- Unionists, are coming to a climax, and on Saturday circulars were issued to the men by the local lodge of the Miners' Federation calling upon the non-Uniomsta to pay up their' subscriptions so as to avoid a stoppage.

THE TIN-PLATE TRADE. DISPUTE AT CWMFELIN WORKS. On Monday the dispute at Cwmfelin Tin- works, Swansea, between the dischargers and their employers was settled, and, although notices had been presented, the men resumed work on the promise of certain alterations in their work. Their demand for increased wages waa not acceded to. The present terms are 4s. per day. KIDWELLY WORKS RE-STARTED. The Kidwelly Tin-plate Works, the oldest works in the kingdom, re-started operations on Wednesday morning under auspicious circumstances. The new company owning the works is a most powerful and energeti-c one, and a great deal is expected of them. Three mills were set going on Wed- nesday. and three others will start as soon as they are ready. WALES TOPS THE LIST IN MANU- FACTURES. An article in the current issue of the "Iron and Coal Trades Review" deals at length with the position of the British tin-plate trade. After summarising the event-s of the past forty years the writer say. "There are no exact records of the total output of tin- plates in Great Britain. It is, however, computed that the total make of black and tin plates in 1903 has been well on to half-a- million tons, of which 350,000 tons were exported, and the remainder was absorbed in meeting home demands. Accepting this as an approximately correct figure, it would an approximately correct figure, it would seem that we are still the leading tin-plate manufacturing nation in the world by, perhaps, 120,000 tons a year. And it also seems that we are not losing ground, despite the advances made by the United States, Ger- many, and other nations, for our total exports of black and tin plates in 1903 was about 40,000 tons in excess of those of 1896, and those of 1902 were about 45,000 tons greater."

G.W.R. SERVANTS. CURTAILING OF PRIVILEGES BY THE COMPANY. A email handbill is being industriously cir- culated in Cardiff. It is an innocent looking document, but is yellow in wlour-a, colour which is not without significance in view of the ill-concealed conditions of ferment with which Great Western Railway employes—of a.U ranks-are affected just at present. The Yellow Bill" is headed Important Notice," and announces That a meeting of all grades of Great Western employes will be held in Odd- fellows Hall, Charles-street, Cardiff, on Sunday, October 2, to consider the question of alterations in the issuing of the annual passes, and to hear report of interview with local officials in the matter. A deep growl is concealed under this offici- ally worded notification. The ground for the grewl is the reforms" (called so sarcasti- cally by the men) introduced by the new manager, and already in operation. The most objectionable of these "reforms" from the men's point of view is the curtailing of privileges in travelling over the company's system which the ser- vants of the company have enjoyed, as if, so they say, by prescriptive right, for so many years past, and the curtailment, it is urged, I has not been accompanied by any ompen. sating increase in wages, in spite of the aug- mented cost of living and the burden of rates and taxes. The alterations have been made without consulting the men (!), whose dis- satisfaction, from all one can glean, will, in all probability, acutely develop ere long.

ASHTON STRIKE COLLAPSE. OPERATIVES REPUDIATE THEIR TRADES UNION. The strike of card-room hands and spin- ners at Curzon Mill. Ashton-under-Lyne, ter- minated in a sudden and unexpected manner on Tuesday night. After the abortive con- ference in Manchester on Tuesday the opera- tive spinners on strike held a meetijag, and decided to throw over the Union and return to work on the old terms. On Wednesday morning they presented themselves at the mills, and. in accordance with a previous arrangement with the management, their ser- vices were accepted, and they are now at work. Some of the card-room hands were also taken on. This is regarded as a blow to the two Unions and a victory for the em- ployers. The settlement of the dispute by the men themselves has evoked the greatest satisfaction in all quarters of the town. PORT TALBOT STEELWORKS, We are in a position to state on reliable authority that the Port Talbot Steelworks are being negotiated for by a London syndi- cate, and that there is every prospect of the negotiations being satisfactorily completed. A survey of the extensive works has been made, and it is said that Miss Talbot is pre- pared to make a substantial reduction in regard to the ground rent to meet the demands of the syndicate. Mr. F. Last, until recently the managing director of Messrs. Baldwins (Limited) at Landore, at present on a visit to Germany, is mentioned as the moving spirit in connection with the syndi- cate.

EDUCATION ACT. -LIVELY D rA, BAT E AT A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, The quarterly meeting of the Glamorgan County Council was held at Pontypridd on Thursday, under the presidency of Mr. J. Blaudy Jenkins, J.P. The report of the education sub-committee was considered, in which it was recommended that no occasional holidays be allowed to be given in voluntary schools otherwise than by the chief education official, excepting in a case of actual urgency, when the manager appointed by the county council might he authorised to give a day's or a half day's holiday, reporting his action to the chief education official. The Rev. E. S. Roberts, rector of Coity, pointed out that by this paragraph it was intended to give the power in the hands of the representative of the county council. lie thought this a great hardship, especially as far as the foundation managers were con- cerned. who were responsible to the county council and the Board of Education in refer- ence to keeping these schools in a satisfac- tory state of repair. There were gentlemen on that council who believed that no power should be conferred on any irresponsible person. He thought that it was very unfair that monopoly of power should be con- ferred upon the representative of the county council, who repudiated any authority or any responsibility in the management of thesa non-provided schools. As a matter of justice—and he appealed to the honour of the council-he asked them to assist him in this matter, and to have this particular paragraph eliminated from the report. He moved, that this be so. Mr. J. M. Randall seconded. The Rev. E. S. Roberts further suggested that it would be very desirable that the authority of granting 0 an occasional holiday or half-holiday be put in the hands of the managers." Alderman T. J. Hughes said that if the rev. gentleman had done them the honour of reading the whole paragraph he would not have fallen into the foolish mistake he had. How could the Rev. Mr. Roberts suggest, in a case of "actual urgency," that the whole body of managers should be convened? Councillor Roberts had overlooked the fact or had misunderstood the plain words in the circular sent out to the correspondents of each of the non-provided schools. It was quite incorrect to say that there had been a repudiation of responsibility in regard to the management of schools. What had been,done was that the council could not be pledged by its representatives in respect of financial matters when they must be in a minority. This was altogether different to repudiation of responsibility in regard to management. Those holidays affected the matter of attendance, and this affected the Government grants, which went to the up-keep of the schools, and, therefore, in the opinion of the education committee it was very desirable that the authority referred to by the Rev. Mr. Roberts should be vested in a representa- tive who was responsible to the council rather than in a person who was not responsible to anybody at all. Mr. O. H. Jones deprecated the offensive reference to "the parson." A clergyman was only one of the managers, and had no more authority than any other man, and Alder- man Hughes knew that very well. The ques- tion of holidays, however, rested with the local authority, because it affected the secular teaching in' school, and, therefore, it appeared to him that they had not exceeded their legal authority, and for that reason he did not think it wife to press the motion. Whilst he did not think that they had acted in a very friendly manner, he did not think that the course adopted was absolutely illegal. The Rev. E. S. Roberts said that when he maue a mistake he did not think he need be reminded of it even by an alderman; tlIey expected civility. Mr. Roberts added that after the remarks of Mr. O. H. Jones, in whose judgment he had every confidence, he would withdraw the motion. Alderman T. J. Hughes hoped the council would not allow the withdrawal. If the clergy throughout Wales had taken the advice of the laity in the same way as the rev. gentleman had now done, this trouble would not have occurred. Permission was then granted Mr. Roberts to withdraw the motion, and the report" was adopted. ALI,EGED PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT. Subsequently the Rev. E. S. Roberts drew the attention of the council to what he characterised as evidence of preferential treatment on the part of the education com- mittee. He held in his hand a circular, bear- ing date November 2, 1903, in which these words occurred"The Glamorgan Education Committee has decided for the present to pay monthly salaries of teachers on the basis of the fixed salaries payable under the scale in force on the 30th of Sep- tember, 1902." In January, after the issue of this circular, he was a mem- ber of the Penarth School Board, when an application was received from three head. teachers for an increase of salaries, which was granted, he believed, by a majority of one. Just at the same time the salaries of the teachers at the Bridgend National School were increased, but it appeared that the increase in the salaries of the teachers at the Penarth Board School had been sanc- tioned by the Board of Education, whilst in the case of the Bridgend teachers the increase had been refused. It seemed to him that there had been a contravention of the words he had just read. Alderman T. J. Hughes rose to a point of order, and questioned whether Councillor Roberts was justified in wasting the time of the council. The Rev. E. S. Roberts: I am drawing atten- tion to the character of this report of the elementary teachers' work and salaries sub- committee; otherwise I have no opportunity of drawing the attention of the council to this preferential treatment. Alderman T. J. Hughes said that the school board had very properly directed that the applications for advances which had been made before the appointed day should stand over, whilst the managers of the National Schools had hastened to grant the increase. This was the difference between the two. (Laughter.) The Rev. E. S. Roberts said that he was drawing attention to what he regarded as an act of unfairness and indignity on the part of the education committee. They said that they would not grant an increase of salaries after September, 1902, and yet they had done it, a^d so the words in the paragraph quoted were misleading. The Clerk explained that the contract of the school board with their teachers was binding upon the council, whilst that of the voluntary schools waa not, and hence the passing of the resolution referred to in the circular. The matter was then allowed to drop. Later on in the proceedings the Rev. D. H Williams moved that the Rev. E. S. Roberts's name be added to the Bridgend group of managers. Alderman T. J. Hughes, in seconding, stated that a complaint had been made as to the alleged departure from the policy of the education committee in not appointing any Nonconformist minister manager of the non- provided schools. It was quite true that the Rev. D. H. Williams and the Rev. J. Davies had been so appointed, but they were ap- pointed in that capacity as members of the county council and direct representatives of the ratepayers. Similarly by this motion the Rev. E. S. Roberts would be appointed, not minority manager of one non-provided school, but majority manager of nine council schools. This completely disposed of this fresh complaint that had been put forward. MEETING OF THE CARMARTHEN COMMITTEE. The Carmarthen Borough Education Com- mittee met at the Guild-hall on Tuesday night, the Rev. Prebendary Brown, principal of the South Wales Training College, pre- siding. The Chairman intimated that the Board of Education had suggested that the managers of voluntary schools and the education committee should come to some agreement as to the meaning of the term wear and tear" of the furniture and apparatus of the schools. So far as he had been able to learn, nobody had arrived at a satisfactory decision. The Clerk (Mr. Thomas Walters, solicitor) said he thought that what was meant by the Act was that the managers of voluntary schools should do the repairs of the land- lord and the education authority should do those, generally speaking, of the tenant. Mr. Blagdon Richards: That means that the bulk of the repairs would have to be paid for by the education committee. The matter was deferred. A long letter from the Board of Education was presented by the Chairman. He said it dealt with the subject of physical drill in schools. It was not a military drill, but one merely for the development of the muscles. The Board of Education had adopted a system. They did not at present make it compulsory, but asked oom- mittees to consider it. The committee adopted a suggestion by the chairman that a book explaining the system should be provided for each head- teacher of the various departments, with a request that he should study it and put it in use as soon as possible. The Chairman noted with much gratifica- tion that the average attendance at the schools in the Carmarthen dietrict showed an improvement on that of previous months, and the committee decided that the average attendance at infants' schools should in future be based upon those children who were five years old and upwards.

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WEEK BY WEEK. LIGHTER SIDE OF CIjBRENT EVENTS. President Roosevelt once told Mr. Jones, M.P., that "Welshmen, Sc°tc yj and Norwegians were the best citizen America." An opponent to the pontardulais.G5 einon water scheme says he has dr fer whisky for the last 25 years, and has ne found fault with the local water 5"et- Welshmen easily adapt t-'ieruse^eSA2ii" Colonial conditions. At the Nyasaland horticultural Association's show rece held at Blantyre, Central Africa, Ferrier, jun., took first prize for tea exhi Lady Windsor is described in one of ladies' papers as cne of the most aC ^a plished women in society, and her efior the cause of philanthropy are untiring- of was a great favourite and god-daughte the late Queen." ]1é There is preserved at Stackpole cnrt, n. residence of Earl Cawdor, a Hirlais no to presented by the Earl of Kichm°n(1 Dafydd ap Ieuan, by whom he was tained at Llwyndavydd, Cardiganshire, on way to Eosworth. The Rev. Lemuel James, senior cnT3,^$f Cadoxtcn-Barry, accomplished a note«o_ feat on Sunday night. His vicar (the -1. S. Longdon) was suddenly stricken ness, and Mr. James preached in Eng before the service at St. Mary's, and in We after the service at St. John's. A combination of top-hats and "the cltf serves in giving Cardiff this week an sombre respectability. But it is stra^0t that one of the few delegates who do affect the regulation attire i3 the man 10 has delivered the most stirring a^^reS^.M, far. He comes from Woolwich—Will croO M.P. twyth They call a spade a spade at Aberys1 Town Council. Here is an extract from last meeting of that body:— Ie First Councillor: "You can't over* what we have already done." n't Second ditto: "Oh! shut up! I 0 talk to lunatics." Dr. J. L. Treharne, of Cardiff, is at making a tour of the world for tho ^^aS, of his health, which, it is understood, unfortunately, not yet improved very 111 It was Dr. Treharne who, with the late Henry White and other stalwart conseeC" tives, conducted the vigorous tioneering campaign some eight or nine ago in regard to the rates of Cardiff. One of the most promising of young i< mentalists in Wales to-day is Mr. T- a Llanelly, who came into prominence thØ year ago by winning the 'cello solo Lianelly National Eisteddfod. This yea^, & Wise, who is still in his teens, similar success at the Rhyl National ing, his rendering being highly the adjudicator. j Llangollen, long honourably associ31^ with Jenny Jones, will in future be ^n.yjCt for its parish pump. And now the council has decided to sell the pump beCS. ø.i it produces no water. The "Globe" hears tbbt. the members were egged on to this roovet ii the local milkmen, who complained th tlf was striking at the very root of their lIt earnings. Enjoying a ramble through one of the 10 liest parts of the Vale of GlamorgaB'^ visitor called at a farmhouse where is a spring of beautifully clear water, has the peculiar properties of turning_*y, silver article placed in it quite black wl:ios 24 hours. The well also has the reput,a,tl et of being of great medicinal value in and associated complaints. So much praise has been lavished o» lt tenors of the Cardiff Festival Choir th* should be mentioned that they were ;j., recruited from the Cardiff Male Voice which Mr. Roderick Williams has so ot led to victory—twice against the roooubt8. ped Manchester Choir. Next time it is to be b°aiJØ that Mr. Roderick Williams's baisses will be pressed into festival service. There was some complaint at the honSø conference at Merthyr on Saturday at want of opportunities given to the tieleS* to express their views. In round there were 280 delegates present, yet representative had the hardihood to dec to that a chance should have been given uJ.1i every one to speak for ten minutes! It ",0 only have taken forty-seven hours.. Some excavations in St. Mary's Haverfordwest, have been necessary v carrying on the restoration work. few inches under the flooring the workIll nd uncovered a large number of skulls a. It bones. They were all reverently gathered' deep pit dug, and the bones placed and covered with concrete. Some of skulls and thigh-bones were of great 0 suggestive that there must have been S1*4 at one time in Pembrokeshire. A peregrine falcon lately came to its de* in a singular manner near Brecon. A man was shooting woodpigeons over deca and had placed one of them (a pain;" wooden decoy) on the ground, when he ii startled to see a bird with a rush knockrec1 away about five yards. He at once 11 jIr and killed the bird, which proved to young peregrine falcon. The Field st that this fine bird is increasing county, and has bred in one or two local1 during the past four or five years. e This is a hard time with the Flints]1fd colliers. It is said that visitors to the 31 1JØ County-court last week could not fail to ot struck with the unusual number of plea eO. non-employment and slackness of work grø by the wives of husbands summoned be the registrar for debt. Such pleas were111 generally on behalf of colliers, and S"° t0t that employment in the coal trade has some time been slack at Mold, Buckley- in the Flint district. In some of the the registrar said it was impossible to t' an order, the destitution of the defends being too apparent. n8" Lord Combermere, one of the bravest Se t rals who ever served in the Army, wa oø Welshman. Someone who was not cle&r^^ the point wrote to the general where he wyf born, and received this reply:—"Syr,—rf yn falch iawn dywedyd mae Lleweni, 11e edd hen dadau Salisbury, swydd Ddinbycb, lie fy ngenedigaeth i.—Yr wyf, syr, dy J1 wasanaethwr, Combermere." In English1 eni. is:—"Sir,—I am proud to say that Lle^ the residence of my forefathers, the bury's, in Denbighshire, was my birtb-P —I am, sir, thy obedient servant, ColJl mere." That Appledore gentleman who raisea „ of potatoes from lib. of potatoes is by Mr. D. Bradbury Jones, Carmarthen- latter has raised 571b. of fine potatoes two small Northern Star seed potatoes ing exactly half-a-pound between them- jj., works out at 1141b. per pound. The Keri Evans, of Carmarthen, joined Mr. I in the purchase of a pound of the Nortf\ Stars for 5s., and they were equally four weighing the pound. The rev. ge jJJ man has not yet raised Lis crop, but he tg hopes of being able to excel even Mr. Jo remarkable experience. rl Mr. Ben Davies is telling an excellent s against himself, and at the supper which t}1tJ given to the officials and artistes ot «tt-6 Cardiff Musical Festival on Saturdayt g toO the joke of the evening. my wife the other morning," it ran, jj9U I was very pleased to see that the f' critics had discovered another pure > and I gave a little imitation—la, Is" little later I was practising a part festival, and my little boy came and s. 0}1. by. I said, 'What are you doing? '1'!Ø daddie, I like to hear you sing,' he sai^d- so glad you're not a pure tenor. You it go!' catt. The fact should not be lost sight of In c&t" nection with Sir Henry Irving's visit to )fjsØ diff last week that his leading lady, Edith Wynne-Matthison, has very ties with the Principality. Of Welsh eC0 tage on her mother's side, she is a ^eJ'' of Mr. Llew. Wynne, Liverpool, th?aIpO>jS known eisteddfodwr, and of the songstress, the late Madame Edith j whose name she bears, and has inherit '1.J1'Iilf fine vocal talents which the Wynne f. titS' possessed. Miss Edith Wynne-Matthisc>$$ came into prominence in the Metrop f^llf the lady who pluckily and succe re-placed Miss Evelyn Millard when the^jjiir threw up her part in Mr. Henry Jones's play, "The Lackey's Carnival- tjj0 sequently she made rapid strides jtr* profession, and was leading lady W1 pljJ.!I Ben Greet's company in the produced under his direction at Park, London, her graceful and co■ ^0 interpretation of Shakspearean heroi g » also the blind Princess Iolanthe » feature. Later Miss Wynne-Matthison ou0ce in the United States with most pr°n success. Welsh people have a strong attacm^^jpp- the family hearth. There was quite » ,g 0 tic struggle at a Carnarvon auct^?tIlie Saturday for the possession of a llV tent» stead, Cil Melyn, about ten acres in e tP the parish of Pentir. Mr. Griffith i0 IP tenant, whose wife's family had farmhouse for over 200 years, si £ bidding at £300. The bids went up £ 10 and £ 20 until £ 600 was reached, t tj became apparent that there wereliiroiii bidders—the tenant and another. the bids jumped up to £ 50, until '^g t* been reached. The tenant's wife anwitb sons had a hurried consultation io poor farmer, and the wife, with te oo^ ILf eyes, begged him to bid again. J* hn0 head. "Eleven hundred once, elev tv twice—the third and the last tirnXl1«r. J auctioneer, holding up his h^111 ..g be? tenant looked doubtful, and shoo -n Again his wife appealed to him, o "And fifty," shouted his eldest son, ppoBe by his side. This staggered t» -arIn who retired crestfallen, and tne knocked down to the plucky 8°n behalf ot his father. m