Weekly Mail

SURAL JOTTINGS. ^ABLE HINTS AND INFORMA. TION. 1905 ^^era<^090 the year by heartily wishing all t<tr<1e rs, ^O^cially those devoted to their ^aa> n, ^ncreased success in 1906. The w ^ae Tbeein by no means J1 year to contend with. There he ° exc€«sive extremes in weather ho# Yery harmfuL Pests and plagtuee results were decidedly J8 a and 1905 may be recorded ^I«9q success in all dealt with in gQ lQnms. It is a great delight to me to » caJj^v my. gratification will be increased ^i* d™ v more useful to readers in J*>3r and difficulties during 1906. That will be devoted to suoh HeClr no all my experienoe Mio _eaj from 31 man, woman, or child gi^PT€83 the slightest wish or intention M^ch» up gardening amd rural hobbies in N ppoJ^T,pllaee ciroumstanoes allow them but I hear from innumerable Wy and I welcome all such with well know the glorious pleasures in ? th.e a*1" t^em in the beaiuty and sweetness fruit ^^WerB they will cultivate, the delicious W £ ey will produce, and the wholesome ^ilef*8 will be at their command; *Hg>Q yi8 and other animals are always Respecting all theee my oor- ^>ajra ^noe in 1905 has exceeded all previous '<V this is moart. agreeable, as I long •■tin} i^P^nnities to assist all in their doubts *h-j* ™cuJtios. The potato diseaso was some- tt^Ztsr,Pvere. in 1905. but that, like the with us, the crop being fcoofj at the influence of the weather, for af i11- new, greatly-boomed varieties ^iWi!!L0r two have n°t o^ded tfo their S^jJ^tion or miain'tained their original, as for them. The fruit crops have been Excessive thoai in 1905, bat the quality ComPCTisating. Nothing outstanding has ^ort*1 daring the year in the way fru?ts- flowers, or vegetables, but 0^ y Previously introduced have been ex- 'Sncoesses. In all time there never **><! "nch a demand for fruit, flowers, tn^p/^etables as there is now. Growers for springing up everywhere, in both ^r-glass and open-air culture. Old oon- t^0 j ar« beia g extended, and for all this tt; ^|P°rter is still having a good time of ^tifvi ^ome pnltiure that is the most as nothing is more acceptable °ne's own productions, and I oan give ^^wposed to go in for such the greatest ^^a-noe of meeting with prosperity. STRAWBERRY PLANTS. weather is keeping the strawberry t}w very green and luxuriant. Indeed, apQ growing still, but this is no advam- 33 they are very tender, and should frost occur it will check them greatly. Is v<>id this as fair as possible, when the soil 'iry as not to cling to the feet tread all th^ eaclJ. plant hard, and in the case of }»q J^oung plants a thin layer of manure may tqj?ut round them; but tliis is not so impor- «• treading the soil very firmly. j,, THE ARUM LILY. arqm lily is euch a favoxixite pot plarufc for window and greenhouse that, although unattractive now, it must not be neglected, a.nd efforts should be made to keep it in good health for Easter or spring flowering. Do not let frost reach it, as the leaves would be killed and the plant much checked. Keep it almost quite dry at the root. It will do without water for weeks, a.nd remain more robust than if given water often. If some of the leaves are a yellow oolour at the ends, do not cut this part off till the 6prmg. If the whole leaf is unhealthy and decaying, cut the leaf off, but let the stem it was on remain, as cutting the leaves down at this time is not a wise proceeding. Keep the leaves very clean. They should be sponged every two or three weeks, but do not rub them hard to bruise them. THE BLACK CURRANT MITE. I think tastes change in many things occa- sionally. I can remember the time I was not fond of black currants in any form. At present I am regarding home-made jam of this fruit as a perfect delicacy, and I can more and more understand the desire I very often hear expressed by readers to plant young bushes and their anxiety to keep the old ones well and fertile as long as possible. There is only one great and frequent hindrance to this. The mite has become a terrible pest of late years, and almost threatens to exterminate this valuable fruit- bearing bush. It stops aill progress, and in a few years kills the bushes. It burrows into the buds. When growth begins in spring the buds containing it swell and become plump in appearance, but the leaves do not open, and bushes on which it is busy develop a few leaves only, while the greater part of the branches is carrying fa.t buds that make no progress beyond this stateand in a year or two the bushes die. The mite spreads and finds its way on to every black current bush in the garden, be it young or old. If they are dug up and burned and more bushes planted, it will soon take possession of them, too. Unfortunately, there is no remedy for it whereby the pest can be exterminated and the bushes saved. It ifc so much protected under the buds that no insecticide will pene- trorte to it. The only means of destroying it is to root up the bushes and destroy them by burning every particle; then dig gas Ifme into the soil from which they have been removed, and crop it with something else. The garden should be kept free of black cur- rants for two years or more, a-nd in re-intro- ducing them the greatest ca.re must be taken to rret young bushes absolutely free from the mite. CAMELLIA PLANTS. The camellias will soon be in bloom. Their shining green leaves and massive flowers are always attractive. They are plants and flowers of the olden times, and many have a sipeoial liking for them on that aocoroi wt>u t their own merits make them favourites. They always succeed in a greenhouse, but do not like a very warm house. They are not great lovers of manure, and soot liquid suits them a.t this time better than any other. It may be given once a week. Be sure the drainage at the bottom of the ports is in working order. If checked now,"the buds are very apt to become brown and drop off. Over-dryness_ at the root will aJeo cause this, and waAervng must be attended to very carefully. The leaves should be sponged often, and the etems brushed with soft soap and water. A black, stickv matter comes on the plants that is very'filthy, and they should be kept clear of thia to give satisfaction* STAKING AND TYING RECENTLY-PLANTED TREES. I, know there are a great many trocs planted and not staked and tied at that time. It is put off and off, a.nd the conclusion come to very oftemis that it is hardly Deeded; then a. gale occurs, and they are blown partly over. Standard trees suffer much in this way, and no tree ca.n be set up again so well as wnen first planted. The roots a.re twisted ard upset. I would, therefore, remind aU who have planted, but not staked and tied, to see to this at once. It will pay to do so. FOWLS THAT REAR CONFINEMENT BEST. A reader recently asked me to come a.nd inspect her fowls. She had nearly one hundred of various varieties, but all were not doing alike well, although all were wider the game treatment as to housing, feedang, Ac. They were in confined f,18 so many fowls are in or near towns, and these were very typical of suoh. I found it ai good opportunity of noting which were the greatest successes and which the failures. The worst of all were the Black Minoraaa. They had gone very thin, with shrunk combs and drooping gait. White Leghorns were nearly as bad, and remained in poor condition, in spite of extra care, and neither agreed with confine- ment as supplied. The greatest successes were Buff Orpingtons, Silver-looed Wyan- dottes, and Barred Plymouth Rocks, all of which were as brisk and well-conditioned as if out in the open. I profited by the object- lesson. IMPROVING LATE CHICKENS. Now that the poultry yards have been cleared of a good deal of the fat fowls at Ohristma-3, the late chickens should be given I moro attention. They may be small of their age and slow-doing. The time of year aooonnte for tliat, ood they would be months before they came to lay. It will never pay to keeT) them to do so. neither are they capable of making good breeding stock, and they are only fit for the table. They may not grow large, but they can be made fat, and they are very compact, which are all points in their favour on too table and to induce buyers. These laite chackens make a higher price dressed and trussed tha.n selling alive, as they are really better than they appear in the feathers. It is best to collect them together, and put them in a pen by themselves where they have a very ooanfort- able roosting-house. Feed well three times daily, and give none but the most fattening foods as meals, and whole Indian corn onoe a day. THE STRAWBERRY TREE. Two correspondents this week send me twigs and berries of this. One resides in Hampshire, the other in Notts, and both epecimena are of equal merit amd capital. The correct name of the strawberry tree is Arbutus unedo. The latter word implies 1 ewl; one," a mistake, surely, as, although the fruit is not poisonous, it is anything but agreeable in flavour. The tree is evergreen and ornamental in appearance. In the month of April it produces a lot of little sprays of creamy flowers at the ends of the shoots. When these wither berries form, and by Christmas the largest of these are the size of a schoolboy's marble and of a beauti- fuT ripe strawberry colour. They arethe most ornamental of all hemes for dewratoon, and as seen on the tree they are delightful in hue a.nd arrangement. The Arbutus grows like ordinary shrubs in town or country, amd it does not object to the seaside. LXMEWASHENG THE STEMS OF FRUIT TREES. A correspondent asks me this week Why the stems of fruit trees are liine-waahed, and if it is done for ornament or with some useful object in view." Ornamentation in such a fashion is never thought of. As a rule it is with the most painstaking growers thaJt the limewaehed stems are found, and they oan give good reasons readily enough for such attention. As ai rule, the ba-rkis more or less rough on the trunks A good deal of moss grows there, too, and tha.t part of the tree is a very favourite resort of all kinds of injurious pests that look out for genial harbours, and a<good antidote for moss and pests is limewasfi. If with lime and put on qmte fresh, it will o|<^r the trunk of every intruder and give healthy surroundings. It gives the trees a cared-for appearance, which is very pleasing, and when, ever I see trees limewashed I always think that the owners are trying to do the beet with them, and I feel quite certain it is beneficial. The trees may be lamewashed now and again in Ma.rch. Apply when the bairk is dry, when it will stick on and act more fully than if put on when all is moist. ATTENTION TO AUTUMN-PLANTED TREES. It has been a most favourable time for all trees planted in recent times. The soil is agreeably moist, and there has been no strong winds to blow them about as yet, but these may occur at any time, a.nd should be guarded against. Look over every one of them and whenever it is seen that a vacancy has been made round the stems there must have been some vibration, which sways the head to and fro, a.nd this upsets the roots. It is this that is injurious, as they will never settle down into a permanent position when eo disturbed. Take a strong, bluint-pointed wood rammer, a.nd ralDl the soil absolutely firm round every stem. Do this when the soil is not sticky, and it will become quite firm. Do all bushes and trees alike. TREATMENT OF PLANTS IN FRAMES. December has been a trying month, for these. Very little frost has had to be guarded against, but damp has predominated, and it is this which is most harmful. Plants may be protected from a. sharp frost to-night, and be as brisk as ever to-morrow; but once they begin to decay from da/mip it is difficult to correct it, and great harm is done. Damp should be dreaded and avoided more tha.n a/nything. In nniheated frames it is difficult to exclude moisture, and much and constant attention is needed. It is moat necessary that the glass light should be absolutely water- proof overhead. If drips are admitted, they play the mischief. The soil will become ex- cessively wet wherever they fall, and it can- not be easily dTied again. The plants show their objection to damp in assuming a stand- still aspect; then they become yellow and sickly, and either die or be so much cnppled that they are very useless when the spring arrives. Put tome sharp sand over the sur- face and close up to the ertoOTIl8 of the plants. It should rest on them; then nam aJl down with a blunt-poin.ted stick. Very little water will be needed at the roots. Indeed, for the next two months little or none should be given, and plants that are kept nearly dry not the roots will be more robust than where water is eivan, as thsre la no growth now, being a period of rest and inactivity with all plants. Exclude frost from all tender sub- jects, but do not keep protectors or coverings on when there is no frost. Darkness makes them more tender and liable to suffer. When- ever it is dry overhead, open the lights to let fresh a.ir in, and allow the damp to escape. On bright days take the lights off altogether, and put them on at night. When it rains, and the lights cannot be taken off, do not keep them closed altogether, but lift them a little that the air may circulate. POOR GOOSEBERRY BUSHES. How very many of these occupy much space and yield fruit of the most unsatisfactory kind! The gooseberry is more often seen as a wom-out bush than any of the other small fruits. This is regretable, as the fruit is so delicious and valuable when good; but these poor bushes in no way represent the fruit at its best in either quantity or quality. The branches are very wrinkled. There are gaps here a.nd there in the bush where a branch has died. The bush is over-grown, contains a great deal of old, unfruitful wood, and very little young material. Their condition becomes worse every year, and it is extremely stupid to keep them. Young bushes are cheap enough. They grow quickly, soon get into good bearing order, and yield first-class fruit that everyone is desirous of eating. Surely, the capabilities of the young bushes, compared to the refuse produced by the old ones, ought to be sufficient inducement to change the order of things. MANURING FRllT TREES. Some fruit trees are growing in soil that is so rich that growth of a rank kind is pro- duced in plenty. Such trees are never very fertile. Many are quite sterile, and those that fruit often bear specimens quite below the average in size. The over-luxuriant state is, therefore, most undesirable in fruit trees, but the great majority, fortunately, do not suffer from that, and insufficient nourishment is the complaint which hinders the develop- ment of a very great deal of fruit which never attains a high state of perfection. Old trees a.re often particularly hard up for food, and the fruit is very small and deficient in quality in consequence; but few complaints are more easily remedied, as fertilising the roots is easily done. The best manures are cow, pig, and horse droppings, amd the two former are the best, and pig manure is par- ticularly well adapted for fruit trees. All trees not in an over-luxuriant state should receive a dressing now. Let the manure be freehand juicy. Put a layer of it on about six inches deep, and extending to two or three feet out from the stem. The fertilising liquid will be taken down through the soil to the roots, and a. great improvement in develop- ment of wood, leaves, and fruit will occur next season. GRASS ROUND FRUIT TREE STEMS. In gardens the dug soil generally extends up to the fruit tree stems, but in orchards and where there is t-urf the gross usually surrounds all. Experiments have proved that this is a hindrance to the trees, and those with no grass, but a. soil surface, round the stems are the most healthy and abundant bearers of the best fruit. I aan, therefore, in favour of the turf being removed from around every fruit tree for a. space of two feet at least. If the turf is out out to a depth of three or four inches, and this part left hollow, it is a. capital receptacle to col- lect moisture and convey it straight to the roots, whereas in the case of many sur- rounded with turf the surface is elevated near the stem, and this throws the water off, like thatch, and many turf-ourrotmded trees suffer terribly from drought. When the turf is taken a-way a. quantity of manure should be forked into the exposed surface, then pro- oeed to put the layer on, as advised in the preceding paragraph, when the trees will take a fresh lease of life and fertility.

SOCIETY MUSICIANS. LOCAL PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS. The following is a list of the candidates who were awarded certificates at the examina- tion held at Cardiff from December 13 to 15, 1905 (the examiners were Messrs. S. Myers- cough, Mus.B.. Oxon, F.R.C.O., of Dublin, and R. B. Moore, Mus.B.. Oxon, F.R.C.O., of Exeter), viz. Grade Five, higher advanced, pass.—Annie Hall (pianoforte), (Mr. T. Davies); Annie E. Jones (piana forte), (Mr. J. E. Deacon); Mary A. Marshall (piano- forte), (Mr. J. T. Jones, L.B.A.M.). Grade Four, advanced, pass.—Elizabeth J. Davies (pianoforte), (Mr. J. E. Deacon); Gertrude E. Frank (pianoforte), (Mrs. T. 0: Powlson, I.S.M.); Bertha M. Gwyn (pianoforte), (Mr. J. E. Deacon); Mabel 1. Hard- ing (pianoforte), (Miss C. J. Thomas, Handel House, Bridgend); Mangle Jenkins (pianoforte), (Mr. J. T. Jones, L.B.A.M.); Annie G. Mayne (pianoforte), (Mr. W. A. Biohaids, Mus.B., F.R.C.O.), Preswylfa Girls School; Eveline M. M. Talbot (pianoforte), (Mrs. T. O. Powlson, I.S.M.); May Williams (pianoforte), (Miss Griffiths); and Mabel E. Window (pianoforte), (Mr. W. A. Richards, MI1&B., FJtC.O.). Grade Three, pass.-—Winifred Ainstey (pianoforte and violin), (Mr. T. Davies); An.nte Edwards (pianoforte), (Mr. J. T. Jones, L.R.A.M.); Edith A. Francis (violin), (Mrs. T. 0. Powlson, I.S.M.); Ceinwen Isaao (pianoforte), (Mr. J. H. M. Harris); Charles H. Jonea (pianoforte), (Mr. R. Jlowells); Annie G. Margan (pianoforte), (Mr. W. A. Richards, Mus-B., F.K.C.O.); Mattel G. Mountnoy (pianoforte), (Mtes M. L. -For- ward); and Stanley A. Smith (pianoforte), (Mr. W. J. Watkins). Grade Two, honours.—Maude Clements (pianoforte), •Mr. D. Lloyd, I.S.M.); Doris M. Harris (pianoforte), (Mrs. T. O. Powlaon, I.S.M.); Margaret Seanlon (piano, forte), (Miss Molony); and Annie Sly (pianoforte), (Mr. R. Howells). Grade Two, pass.—Emmie Arthur (pianoforte), (Mr D. Lloyd, I.S.M.); Maude Cooksley (pianoforte), (Miss L. Griffiths); Richard T. Davies (pianoforte;, (Mr. J. T. Jones, L.B.A.M.); Muriel Davies (violin), (Miss F. lies), Buhamah Hamer (pianoforte), (Mr. D. ErasmuS); Cissie Hanna (violin) and Dorothy lies (pianoforte), (Miss F. lies); Bessie Isaacs fcinging), (Mrs. T. O. Powlson, I.S.M.); Sarah O. Jones (piano- forte), (Mr. D. Erasmus); Margaret Landrech (piano, forte), (Miss H. Cats); Gladys L. Moore (pianoforte), (Mrs. T. O. Powlson, I.S.M.); Sarah Oats (pianoforte), (Miss H. Oats); and Henry Walton (violin), (Mr. H. Spencer). Grade One, honours.—Samuel G. UpshaU (im), (Miss A. G. Gill). Grade One, pass.—Ada Aehton (pianoforte), (Miss B- Oats); Dora Bennett (pianoforte), (Mr. T. Davaeo); Bosa E. Evans (pianoforte) and Dilys G. Hardest (piano- forte), (Miss O. J. Thomas, Handel House, Bridgend): Florence Harris (pianoforte), (Mr. T. Davies); Trevis Hinde (pianoforte), (Miss F. lies); Gwladys Hughee (pianoforte), (Mr. W. A. Bicbards, Mus.B., F.B.C.O.); Sydney W. Lambert (violin), (Mrs. T. O. Powlson, I S.M.); Sarah A. Lewis (pianoforte), (Mr. B. Howells);, Ella MoTris (violin), (Miss F. lies); Hug-h Powell (pianoforte), (Mr. J. n. M. Harris); and Gladys R. Willi anus (pianoforte^ (Miss Grist, Cardiff Interme- diate School for Girls, Miss Collin). Preparatory Grade, honours.—Daniel B. Jones (pianoforte), (Mr. D. Lloyd, I.S.M.); Harry Leteb (pianoforte), (Mr. J. Owen Jones); and BeginaM Mor- gan (pianoforte), (Miss A. Price). Preparatory Grade, pass.—Mildred M. Davies (piano- forte), (Mr. J. H. M. Harris); Sarah Davies (piano- forte), (Miss C. J. Thomas, Handel House, Bridgend); Jane Jones (pianoforte), (Mr. E. T. Jenkins, L.I.S.M.); Elizabeth A. Jones (pianoforte), (Mr. J. H. M. Harris); Clara Kingdom (pianoforte), (Mies G. Thomas); and Emma Williams (pianoforte), (Mr. J. H. M. Harris). THEORETICAL EXAMINATIONS. The following la a llet of the candidates wto were awarded certificates at the examination held at Oar. diff on November 8, 1905:— Grade Two, notation, honours.—Ethel Cox, Edtth F. CrosS, Gladys L. Howe, and Marian E. Howe (Mrs. C. A. powlson), and Ceinwen Isaac (Mr. J. H. Morgan Harris). Grade Two, notation, pass.—Delphie Grey (Mrs. C. A. Powlson), William J. Griffiths, Minnie Hughee, and Hugh Powell (Mr. J. H. Morgan Hanris), and Bertha Symonds (Mrs. Co A. Powlaon). Grade One, notation, honours.—Eliza M. Davies (Mr. J. H. Morgan Harris), Doris M. Harris and Daisy E. Harrison (Mra. C. A. Powlson), Gladys Lewis (Mr. J. H. Morgan Harris), Gladys L. Moore (Mrs. C. A. Powlson), and Lily Noot and Emily Rivers (Mir. J. H. Morgan Harris). Grade One, notation, pass.—GwwtdoMne BrMXt (Mrs. 0. A. Powlson) and Brinley B. Price (Mr. J. H. Mor- gan Harris).

DAVID SHEPHERD'S DEFAULT INTERMEDIATE GOVERNORS NOT LIABLE FOR THE MONEY. At a meeting ol the Cardiff Education Com- mittee on Friday the town-clerk (Mr. J. L. Wheatley) read the following letter from the Board of Education:— Whitehall, December 16. Cardiff Intermediate and Technical Educa- tion Fund. Sir,—The board are now advised that no action could be taken with sucoees to re- cover any of the moneys in question from any of the governors. At the same time the auditor (Mr. Roberts) is thought to have been guilty of gross negligence. It ia for the present body to consider whether they ehculd, and whether he is a person against whom it is worth while to, take proceedings with a view of recovering some of the moneys lost through his negligence in not satisfying himself that moneys alleged and certified by him to be on deposit were on deposit—I am, sir, your obedient servant, A. F. LEACH. The letter, of course, refers to the defalca- tions of David Shepherd, and Alderman Trounce observed tha.t it would be a relief to many of the members of the late technical committee before Christmas. The Lord Mayor moved that they question the board on the point raised before on the liability of the bank and of Mr. Thomas, their treasurer. He felt very strongly that if they appointed a banker as treasurer he ought to do his utmost to assist them in every possible way The Town-clerk said that the points as to the banker and treasurer were put in the papers sent to the board, but they appeared to have been omitted from the reply. If it was the committee's pleasure that he should communicate with the board again he would be very pleased to do so. The Lord Mayor proposed that this be done, and Mr. J. W. Courtie seconded. The Town-clerk asked as to the other part of the letter about taking proceedings against Mr. Roberts. The Chairman (Mr. Lewis Morgan): I think we ought to allow that to remain over until we get a full reply on the yrhole matter. This was agreed to.

THE TRAGEDY AT NEWPORT. PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. The penultimate stage of the most reoent Newport tragedy was reached on Friday, when John Lang-mead, aged 39, a ship's car- penter, was brought up, in custody, on remand. The charge was that he Feloniously and of malice aforethought did kill and murder his wife, Susan Cathe- rine Langmcad, in a room at Pretoria House, Alexandra-road, on or about Wed- nesday, December 13. As at the former hearings, the accused, who displayed no emotion, was brought up from the cells below in the close custody of two constables, who remained one on each side of him in the dock during the proceedings. He was allowed to be seated, and looked about in a vacant manner. Mr. Charles R. V. Wallace (from the Trea- sury solicitors' department) appeared to conduct the prosecution; Mr. G. LI. Lloyd appeared for the defence. Mr. Wallace reminded the bench that part of the police evidence was taken at the previous hearing. He outlined what further evidence would be called to complete the case—evidence which was given at the inquest a week ago and then fully published—and said at this stage the court bad nothing to do with the state of prisoner's .mind. The prisoner's farther, John Langmead, was the first witness called, but a. difficulty arose as to the manner in which he should give hie evidence, seeing that he was stone deaf. The words of the oath were written and shown to him. He read them, and, having repeated them. kissed the book. His statement had been, typed. It was shown to him, and he made the answers, which were taken as his deposition. He said he lived at 190, CaorleoTi-road. On Wednesday December 13, he went to his son's house about 9.15 a.m. He oould not get an answer at the door, and got over the back wall. He saw his son, but not his daughter-in- law. On going there again in the afternoon about 2.30 he again failed to get an answer at the front door, and went over the back wall, as before. Witness asked bis son to see his daughter-in-law, and was taken by hia son to the middle room of the house, where he saw deceased lying on tho floor. He touched her on the forehead, and found that she was dead. Witness did net say anything at the time; in fact, before he could say anything his son said: I have sent for her relatives. They will be here in time and settle it all. Don't you say anything. I Witness went to the police-station. His son had been strange in his manner for a long I time. He did not betray any emotion. He had always been a very good sen and a strict teetotaler. Poliee-oonstable Kinmersley spoke t/> the last witness arriving at the Pill Tolice- station on the afternoon in queston, and of hia going to Pretoria House, where the body of the dead woman was found. Prisoner i said his fellow-workmen had been annoying him, and it upset him. Police-sergeant Bristow, who went with the last witness, pointed to the body lying on the floor, and said to prisoner, "Did you do it?" and he replied "Yes." When witness and the other oflloer went to the house prisoner's father said to his son, "It is ell for the best, John; all for the best." Police-sergeant Wheeler spoke to seeing the body lying on the floor, with a piece of carpet over it. The head was upon a pillow, the case of which was stained with blood, and the brains of the deceased had oozed through the large wound on the head. Witness found a sledge- hammer weighing about 71b. behind the gas cooker in the back kitchen. The floor of the room where the body lay was bloodstained, but there were traces that it had been wiped, and in the back kitchen witness found in a. bucket soina house cloths stained with blood. Mr. Walter George Williams, of Gloucester, a fcrother-in-law of the deceased, spoke to receiving a letter from the prisoner, in response to which he went to Newport on Wednesday evening, December 13, and had a conversation with the prisoner who volun- tarily sa.id:- Mr. Williams, forgive me. You know in the sight of Christ I loved the very ground dear Kate walked upon. 1 don't know why I did it, but the fellows at the docks have been worrying me lately. They have been playing up games on the windows for the last five or six years. Dear Kate and I have had no sleep for that time, and she said she could stand it no longer, and I had to finish it. In further conversation prisoner eaid, The light of Christ had shone upon her, and I hope it will shine on me." Witness .asked him why he did not vent his wrath upon the men who had annoyed him. and prisoner replied that that was what he ought to have done. Dr. J. J. Fuller, an assistant to Dr. Hurley, spoke to examining the body on Wednesday afternoon, December 13. He thought deceased had then been dead at least ten or twelve hours, and possibly Z4 hours. The wound on the left side of the head was four-and-a-half inches long, driving in the bone of the skull to the brain tissue. There was also an incised wound about an inch long behind the left ear. Mrs. Harness, of 53, Woodland-road, a friend of the family, stated that she was at Pretoria House, on Tuesday, December 12, from half-past eleven" in the morning until after six iill the evening. Husband and wife seamed on very happy terms. Shortly after she got to the house and was sitting with the couple, accused looked strange, and said to his wife, "Dear Kate, something dreadful has happened this morning." Then he went on to state that some years ago his parents kept a business in Willia-m-streeft, and a painter in painting the name on the sign had made a. big mistake in the spelling of the name, and his people had traded all these years in the wrong name. He held that he himself was to blame for still keeping that name when all the other members of the family had kept the right name. He added, "Such a terrible sin as that could never be forgiven in the sight of the Almighty, and such an honourable name as the Lord Jesus Christ had given him could never be over- looked." From thia statement she judged that there was something wrong with Lang- mead. He appeared very strange, and Mrs. Langmead appeared very distressed. Wit- ness wanted her to let his relatives know, but she repHed that he had been suoh a good and kind husband that she did not want them to know until things got worse. No fresh evidence was called, and the wit- nesses were not cross-examined by Mr. Lloyd. Prisoner was committed for trial at the next aasizee.

WHITLAND COUNTY SCHOOL MINISTER WANTS A NEW ACT OF PARLIAMENT. Dr. H. J. H. Lawrence. J.P., presided a.t the prize-day proceedings of the Whitland Intermediate School, and Mr. H. > Jones- Davies, chairman of the Carmarthenshire Education Committee, distributed the prizes. The Headmaster criticised the remarks of some people who found fault with his manner of classifying. He challenged those found fault with hig system to produce a better one. Mr. H. Jones-Davies strongly advocated the teaching of Welsh in juiermediate schools. Welsh was and would remain the commer- cdal language of the largest sections of the rural districts. The statistics of the Central Welsh Board proved that Welsh was the best medium for acquiring other languages. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the educational rate for Ely county schools of Is. 3*d. in the j3. he submitted that it should be made an Imperial charge, for it was heavier on the rural districts than the towns, though in the country they had not eO mamy advantages. He urged rural districts not to become dis- couraged. He bettered a substantial reduc- tion would come in the near future. The Rev. D. G. Williams, Bethlehem St Clears, and Dr. R. L. Thomas, Whitland,'also spoke, Mr. William8 urging that an Act should be passed that no young couple should be allowed to get married unless they could, not only write their names, but also assist their children to do their work up to Standard VI.

CARDIFF SOUTH DOCK. THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING LEWIS-HUNTER CRANES. A rumour became current some time ago that in the equipment of the new South Dock at Cardiff Lewis-Hunter cranes would not be used for the shipment of ooal, and this caused great disappointment to coal ship- pers and shipowners, who recognise that these cranes prevent breakage, and, con- sequently, put the coal into the steamers in a more marketable condition than is pos- sible by the use of hoists. A deputation of shipowners recently interviewed Sir William Lewis on the matter, as already reported, and a understand that the subject was con- sidered at a meeting of directors of the Cardiff Railway Company in London on Thursday, but no further progress was made in. reference to it. Four hoists are now being constructed under contract with Sir William Armstrong and Co., two of them being 50ft. a.nd two 60ft. high, which will be the highest in tho Bristol Channel. They are capable of elevating wagons with twelve tons of coal. The directors have not yet decided whether Lewds-Hunter cranes will be erected or additional hoists as the trade of the port develops.

I 41¡ .a: i.i. ''iíS!, h. ), I. firm- holcl, No article of daily diet has obtained and retained so firm a hold upon public favour as Cadbury"s cocoa. Its daily use as a Breakfast" Luncheon and Supper Beverage, acts as an anchor that holds fast to good health, Cadbury's cocoa* r- '{ =tie 'r II .0 1 -4 t A- $ .jLt! -,Lij m) ——— t ._u,'

SWASNEA COMMERCE. "DEAD HEADS" IN THE HARBOUR TRUST. The monthly meeting of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce was habd on Fri- day, Mr. James Livingstone (president) in the chair. TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION. The secretary (Mr. E. P. Jones) reported that he had had correspondence with the Potjtmjaster-Ge.ner.ajl as to the wayleave difficulties which stood in the way of direct telephonic communication with Liverpool, and I had been informed that the difficulties occurred in the South Midlands, not in South Wales. He had suggested that temporary accommodation be given to Swansea over the old route used to Cardiff, and was awaiting a reply. HARBOUR RATES. With respect to the proposed conference between the representatives of the chamber and the harbour trust On the question of nar- bour rates and dues, the harbour trust had fixed Friday, December 29, at the harbour offices. The Chairman said Mr. Law was preparing a statement as to the existing rates, and tho I trustees would go into these before receiving ¡' the deputation, so as to be in a position to answer any questions which might be put by the deputation. Mr. Sails hoped that the representatives would not be just allowed to speak and then dismissed with a "Thank you, gentlemen. They wanted a real discussion on the matter. HARBOUR TRUST ELECTION. Mr. E. L. Behenna thanked the members for the support accorded him at the harbour trust election as their selected candidate, and said he knew there was going to be certain defections in the ranks. He did not believe the progressive policy which had characterised that chamber would be departed from, and if the old and new blood was cemented ne thought the reforms could be brought about. He was as proud of their selection of him as if he had been returned to the trust. If he mistook not the chamber they would not take it lying down, and would not submit to the domination of a coterie who were in th3 chamber but not of it. The Chairman thought they could congratu- late themselves On the remarkable result of the poll, which showed that if the members of the chamber were faithful to each other they were strong enough to return any mem- ber to the harbour trust. Mr. Behenna: In spite of the influence of inactive members we can return our man at any time. Mr. Herschell Jones warned them that tin- plate manufacturers were taking steps to pay their own dues instead of paying them through their agents, and that they would have votes within the next twelve months. The Chairman said he hoped there was no hostility, for, if so, members of the chamber could retaliate in an effective way by getting votes. Mr. Sails: What we want is to shake the dead heads out of the harbour trust. I could name half-a-dozen who would not injure the trust if they never went there again. We want live men, not men who just go into it because they think it a. local House of Lords. They are absolutely useless there or anywhere else, and we shall have to pay so in public very soon. We shall have to fight these elections every time. The Chairman: Don't look 80 savagely at me. (Laughter.) Mr. Sails: No, sir, I was looking at Mr. Jones. (Renewed laughter.) LIVERPOOL TRAINS. The secretary intimated that wilfh regard to the agitation for a late train service from Liverpool it had been conceded that holders of return tickets, via Crewe, could now return by the 3.20 via Birkenhead and Chester. This would give them an hour extra in Liverpool. The Chairman: That is one thing this chamber has effected. Mr. Behenna: We have effected many things during the past flve years. (Hear, hear.)

CARDIFF'S MUSEUM. j3450 TO BE SPENT ON WELSH SPECIMENS NEXT YEAR. Alderman Illtyd Thomas presided on Fri- day evening at a meeting of the Cardiff Museum Committee, at which the curator presented an estimate of receipts and expen- diture fo. next year. This put the receipts at L2,000 and the expenses at 91.140, leaving: balance of £ 860.—The Chairman remarke. that of this X718 was to be spent on new specimens, and C430 of that amount was pro- posed to be spent on Welsh objects alone. Their friends who were opposed to the draft of the charter for the National Museum could see they were doing something for Welsh objects in the Cardiff Municipal Museum.

.£20 IN A GREENHOUSE. ALLEGED HOUSEBREAKING AT PEMBROKE. William John was charged at Pembroke on Friday with housebreaking. Mr. F. S. Reed defended the prisoner, who is a son of tne landlady of the Army and Navy Inn. Evidence was given by prisoner's mother and the sergeant of police. The latter deposed that under the authority of a search war- rant he visited a stable to which prisoner had access, he being a coachman to Mr. J. C Froyne. He found in a greenhouse twenty sovereigns hidden underneath a flower-pot. The prisoner was then charged with stealing the money. He said, "It belongs to me." After being cautioned, he said. "I'll have nothing more to say now.The Bench remanded prisoner till Wednesday next for further evi- denoe, bail being refused.

THE TEACHING OF WELSH SIX PERIPATETIC TUTORS FOR CARDIFF SCHOOLS. The subject of the teaching of Welsh in the public schools of Cardiff again came up at a meeting of the education committee on Friday, Mr. Lewis Morgan presiding. A sub-committee reported that having made ca-reful inquiries into the arrangements sug- gested by the inspector of schools for the teaching of Welsh they were of opinion that to supply the teaching staff by transferring teachers was impracticable, and they recommended that six certificated teachers be appointed (one man and five women) capable of teaching Welsh, at salaries according to the council scale of sala,ries; that immediate steps be taken to make such appointments; and thaa in future appointments, oth.?r things being equal, preference be given to teachers aapable of teaching Welsh. The Lord Mayor moved the adoption of the report, and strongly recommended that the certificated teachers advertised for should be given substantial salaries, so that they might be able to obtain the best possible teachers. It would readily occur to the committee that if they were to appoint peripatetic teachers it was most important that their knowledge of Welsh should be such that they would be able to impart proper tuition to the chil- dren. The Chairman: What we have to consider is whether the teacher who has to go to diffe. rent schools to teach Welsh should be paid more than a teacher who is confined to his own school. The Lord Mayor believed that the work would be much harder for the peripatetic teachers than those who had not to go beyond their own schools. What he wanted to be Sure of was that everyone appointed to teach Welsh should be a capable teacher, and not a Die Shon Dafydd who pretended to know Welsh and didn't. Alderman Edward Thomas said he had met teachers who read and spoke Welsh as well as he did, but whose entire reading was practically confined to English. They did not read Welsh literature, nor the Welsh press of the day. The Chairman believed that the adoption of the report would mean that in time they would have a capable Welsh teacher in ea.ch school. Mr. Morgan then moved that they appoint one male teacher at a salary of £00 to JE100 and five female teachers at JETO to £90, accord- ing to qualifications. The Lord Mayor seconded, And the motion was carried.

HELP FOR THE UNEMPLOYED OFFICIAL CIRCULAR TO CLERKS OF DISTRESS COMMITTEES. The Local Govem.menit Board in a circular which has been sent to the olerks of distress committees in England which have received grants from the Queen's Fund for the Unem- ployed state that it appears to them to be very desirable that as soon as possible arrange- ments should be made under which the money will be applied in assisting the unem- ployed in proper cases in the manner autho. rised by the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, and that thus effect may be given to the objects of the Act and of the donors to the fund. The circular points out that it is necessary that distress committees should satisfy themselves that any works which they may provide, or towards the provision of which they may contribute, would be of public utility and in accordance with regu- lations, out, subject to this, the board think such works should be put in hand as early as practicable. The President of the Local Government Board on Friday afternoon received in private a deputation including the Bishop of Stepney, the Rev. Russell Wakefield, amd Mr. Keir Hardie on the subject of the unem. ployed.

VIRTUE IN A SILENT TONGUE THE MAGISTRATE AND THE MOTHER-IN-LAW. The troubles of a son-in-law and mother-in- law were detailed to the Newport magis- trates on Friday. A young man, named i^ctgar Maybury, an insuranoe agent, of 30, Clytim Park-rood, was summoned for assault^ ing his mother-in-law, Mary Ann Hughes. Mr. Franks Lewis defended. The parties 1Iive in the Bame premises-a lodging-house Complainant's story was that when she asked Maybury fo(r his rent he and his wife declared that not only would they not pay it then, but would never pay it. Defendant, she said, followed her upstairs, threatened to throw her downstairs and break her neck, I and was proceeding to carry out his threat when her daughter interfered for her protec- tdon. In cross-examination by Mr. Frank Lewis, Mrs. Hughes said her daughter and the defemdant were secretly married in May last. She acknowledged that the defendant bar- rowed money to enable her to pay her rent, and she used part of the money. She was willing to settle the matter out of court if Maybury had come to her and apologised for what he had done. In answer to the bench, defendant said he would JII.'a.ke arrangements to find other lodgings by the end of .next week. The Bench, upon this promise, decided to adjourn the case for a week, and, as a bit of parting advice, the presiding magistrate (Alderman Goldsworthy) turned to the l. mother-in-law, and said, "I should advise you to keep a. silent tonirce."

GLAMORGAN COUNCIL. QUESTION OF TEACHERS' SALARIES TO BE CONSIDERED. The quarterly meeting of the Glamorgan County Council was held on Thursday at Neath, Mr. J. Blandy Jenkins presiding. CLAIM AGAINST MOUNTAIN ASH COUNCIL. The roads and bridges committee reported that the county surveyor had laid before them a certificate of special expense* incurred in maintaining the main road neam Mountain Ash by the extraordinary traffic of a motor-wagon of the Mountain Ash Urban District Council, used for scavenging puis poses, amounting to JE115. The oonmiittoe recommended that the certificate be approved and that the necessary steps be taken to enforce payment of the amount certified. Alderman William Jones proposed thjOt the matter be referred back to the oommittee eo that they might receive a deputation on the subject, and this was seconded by Laid Aberdore. The amendment, however, was lost on is show of hands by twenty votes to fifteen. COMPLAINT AGAINST THE BARRY RAILWAY. The council resobed, upon the recommenda, tion of the Parliamentary committee, thttt. inasmuch as the Barry Railway Company did not, in accordance with the request of the council, open the line from Barry to Oaer- philly for passenger traffic last year even with a motor-car, the company be informed that unless a positive undertaking before March 1 were given that they would run a service at an early period of the coming year the Parliamentary committee be authorised to take steps to establish a. case for passenger service before the Board of Trade. TEACHERS' SALARIES. r Mr. Gwyn Morris initiated a discussion on the low salaries recommended by the gt-affinfr sub-committee to be paid to supplementary teachers— £ 25 per annum—and it was eveto- tually agreed to refer to the education oom- mittee the whole question of the salajiea at all grades of teachers. The Chairman referred to anomalies now existing where masters of small schools got large salaries and masters of large schools small salaries, and Mr. Watts Morgan spoke very strongly of what he called the "taint" now resting on the county in regard to the state of education within its area. MERTHYR OOUNTY SCHOOL. The education committee reported that power had been given to a joint aub-ooan- mittee to consider the question of enlarging and improving the Merthyr County School in the event of an undertaking being given by the corporation securing the county against olaims founded on this outlay being brought forward in the event of Merthyr becoming a oounty borough. Alderman D. W. Jones eaid the attitude of that council had been that they would spend no money on Merthyr unless the corporation agreed to certain terms laid down by the oouncil. and the effect of that had been that the Merthyr County School had been seriously handicapped. He suggested that the clerk to the council be requested to communicate the decision of the education committee to the corporation, with a view, if possible, of ooming to an arrangement. The friction which had taken place between the two bodies had been moat injurious. It might be that Merthyr might never become a county borough, and if the council wished that Mer- thyr should remain a portion of the council area they would be well advised in treating Merthyr in a fair and just spirit. Alderman Jones's suggestion was adopted. THE INCORPORATION OF MERTHYR. Alderman D. W. Jones called attention tc an item in the bills recommended for pay ment by the Parliamentary committee in which JE322 16s. 9d. was set down as the charges (subject to taxation) of Messrs. Walter Morgan, Bruce, and Nicholas, solicitors, and of the Parliamentary agents in appearing on behalf of the county to oppose the Merthyr Incorporation Bill. This, said the alderman. was an object lesson to the council. He hoped they would take a little greater interest in the way they expended publio money. They were constantly launohing into litiga- tion and opposing Parliamentary Bills and other measures. He had called attention at the time to the futility of opposing the Incor- poration Bill, and the only consolation he now had was that this JM22 had been paid over to a very deserving body of men. (Laughter.) Really, it was full time that they should oonsider carefully the action they took in various directions before spending public money so recklessly as they did. Mr. Watts Morgan: Shall Mr. Jones's lecture be put on the minutes? (Laughter.) The Chairman: He will have a greater opportunity of lecturing Merthyr on what is spent there. IMPORTANT MATTERS SHELVED. Owing to the absence of a majority of the members the council were unable to deal with the proposed Bill to empower them to make inquiries and surveys with a view to the utilisation of water supplies in South Wales and to form water districts, and for the same reason the council had to abandon the following resolution, of which Alderman T. J. Hughes had given notice, viz.:— That in the opinion of this council it is desirable that legislation should be intro- duoed at an early date (recognising tl* county of Monmouth as part of Wales) to extend to the county of Monmouth the operation of the Welsh Sunday Clceing Act and to thus (a) reduce drunkenness" especially on the borders of the two coun- ties, where the population involved is over 200,000, and (b) give a day's rest to hundreds of persons engaged in the trade of selling [ intoxicating liquor on Sunday,