The Cardiff Times

| r -JVH.EN WEANING BABY I The^rbest.food.to gjse is the "AUeabaxyv"Milk Food tfo. 1. On the-adffition of water, as directed^.it forms-an^acctirately estimated -humanised milk, and may be given alterrtately with th€atural iood withoot^fear-ofhxpsetting the child or causing digestive disturbance. Wearut^-can therefore proceed gradually with comfort both to mether and child. Farinaceous foods should not be given at this time. .A11eîtb:args l'œds A Pamphlet on Infant Feeding and Management Free. L ALLEN & HANBURYS Ltd., Lombard Street, LONDON, j

> i THEIR DEMAND FOR FREEHAND REDUCTIOITOF MINIMUM. Workmen's Claims. SMALL COAL TO BE PAID FOR ABNORMAL PLACES' PROBLEM. A meeting of the Conciliation Board for the eeaJtrade-of South Wales and Monmouthshire was held on Saturday. There was but a small attendance, and with the exception of the ex- change of proposals for a new agreeement between the owners' representatives and the workmen's side, the business was quite .of a routine character. The following official report of the proceed- ings was afterwards supplied by Air W. G. Dalzielv the owners' secretary, on behalf of the Joint Board A meeting of the Conciliation Board for the coal trade of Monmouthshire and South Wales vva-hdld-gt Catdiff to-day* Mr W. J. Heppell presiding over the owners' side and Mr Alfred Onions, over the workmen's representatives. The owjpera' representatives drew attention to lite factrthat the workmen at several associ- ated collieries had not returned to work imme- -vdiately after the two days Christmas holidays, 'ahd'said that the workmen's representatives were not carrying out the promises they had made in the Conciliation Board Agreement that they would take steps to see that the men- returned to work after the holidays. The following disputes were referred to two representatives for investigation and with, powers to settle Abercarn colliery, two of the night tippers, Messrs. T. H. Deakin and W. Winston.— Graig Merthyr Colliery, question of the pay- ment for safety lamps. Messrs. H. T. V, ales and C. B. Stanton.—Price lists for the three and five feet seams at Messrs. Vivian's Mynydd Mawr Colliery, Messrs. H. T. Wales and W. H. Morgan. Other disputes were considered by the Board and referred back to the companies and the workmen to make further efforts to settle at home. The Owners' Proposals. We understand that the principal proposals of the owners are as follow :— The reduction of the minimum from 30 ..per cent. to 20 per cent. 2. That the equivalent selling price per ton for the 20 per cent, minimum shall be 12s 4d. (N.B. It is now lis lOd for the 30 per cent. • minimum). 3.. That the owners shall have the right to adopt whatever shifts they shall think fit. 4. That weekly pays shall be abolished wherever now in force, and that fortnightly pays shall be established at all collieries. 5. That the owners shall have the right to enforce the 60 hours clause in the Eight Hours Act. 6. That a clause shall be inserted in the new agreement which shall provide for the imme- diate retnrn to work of all men after any holi- days. 7. That the bonus turn on the night shift —shall be abolished. 8. That wherever any work is done on Sun- day, the shift shall be one of eight hours Instead of six as at present. :The- Workmen's Terms'. At the meeting on Saturday Mr Thomas Richards, secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation, handed the owners printed copies of the workmen's proposal for the amending of the Conciliation Board Agreement, and it will be seen that the proposals of the both sides are in conflict on several. very important issues. The following is a copy of the workmen's proposals:— 1. Minimum and Maximum.—That the mini- nnnn be raised from 30 per cent. to 40 per cent. jandtfee present maxiihum he deleted. •. • S.Paym^nt for Small Coal.—That we pro- po{Se that there shall be an amendment of [ Clause T of the present agreement to provide that payment shall be made the collier for Ittnall coal. (N.B.—Clause 7 of/the Concilia- tion Board Agreement reads as follows ::— The mineral to be gotten is clean large coal only as hereinafter described.") 3. Abnormal Places.—That the following proposals be amended to enable representatives p of the workmen and the officials to be parties to I the removal of workmen from one place to pother :—In the event of a collier having con- ditions in his working place which prevent him earning a fair wage on the price list, he shall receive such an allowance as he and the management agree upon, it being understood that the allowance to be so made shall be such as to make the wages) padd to the collier equiva- lent to the wages he would earn if his working (dace was in a normal condition: Provided that if the management and the collier fail to 'J,gl'ee as to what the condition of the working place is, or as to the amount of the allowance lo be paid, "the management shall in 4hai event pay to each collier employed in the working place, if more than one collier shall fee so employed, a standard wage of not less than 4s 9d per day, but if one collier only and 16belpershalibe so employed then the collier > standard wage of not less than 4s 9d per day And to his helper a standard wage of not less jean 4s per day. Provided that if the manage- ment shall at any time become dissatisfied IÄth the work done by the collier in any such working place, the management shall, after complaint shall have been made to the collier, Uave the right to remove the collier to a work- ing place in the same colliery where the con- ditions arenormal, but until such removal shall "Je actually made the terms and provisions of ?5liis clause shall continue and have effect. 4. Payment for Night Work.—That thework- men employed on the afternoon or night shifts shall be paid a wage rate equal to the 'payment ofsix turns' pay for fiveshifts worked. 5. Low Rates of Payment.—That the wages iet workmen employed in the collieries who are in receipt of wages less than 3s 4d upon the standard shall be raised to that amount. 6. independent Cha.irman.-To propose that in all matters of dispute at the collieries referred to the Conciliation Board in which failure to agree by the parties is reported, an independent chairman shall be appointed to finally decide the matter, whose decision shall be adopted by the employers and the workmen. 7. Weekly Pays.—That the wages of all the workmen employed at the collieries shall be paid weekly. 8. Hours of Work.—That the words from the beginning to 11 and in line 2 of Clause 1 of the agreement of the 30th June, 1909, be deleted. (N.B.-The clause referred to reads as fol- lows That the hours of labour of workmen employed below ground at such collieries re- spectively shall be such as are authorised by the Coal Mines Regulation Actof 1908, and that notwithstanding the limitation of hours to be worked as the result of the coming into opera- tion of the said Act no alteration shall be made in the standard rates and prices hitherto paid to such workmen during the continu- ance of the said Conciliation Board agreement." If this proposal of the work- men is adopted the words up to" notwith- standing will be deleted, the object being to exclude from the new agreement anything like an admission that the owners are authorised to enforce the 60 hoars' clause of theCoal Mines Regulation of Act of 1908 which of course, is popularly known as the Eight Hours Act.)

The New Agreement. FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSALS. The fi.nstfof a seriesof Conciliation Board meet- oc ings for the purpose of revising the new wage agreement was held at Cardiff on Wednesday. The attendance was a meagre one, and the pro- ceedings were shorter than usual. Beyond touching upon the most important points of difference between the owners' proposals and those of the men, and arranging the pre- liminaries necessary for the conduct of nego-„ tiations, the only matter discussed was an application by the workmen's representatives asking the employers to agree to a general claim being made on behalf of the men for payment in respect of small coal. This claim had been issued as a set-off against the dam- ages which the owners are entitled to under the decision of the Divisional Court for the refusal of the men to work the extra hour-per week authorised by the Eight Hours Act. The intention of the men's representatives in seeking to put up a general claim was to avoid complications when the matter—if it were brought forward—came to be foaght in the law courts. The owners' representa- 1 • tives, after consulting with the Coalowners' Association, resolutely refused to comply with this requtst, and again reminded the men's representatives that they were violating a clause in the "Iresent agreement wherein it was mutually agreed that payment for large clean coal should be regarded as payment for all minerals gotten." If the men's leaders persisted in their demand, then they (the owners) could only accept individual claims from the colliers themselves. The men's representatives therefore have no alternative but to advise the workmen to make I individual demands for payment for the filling of fcmall coal. This step will undoubtedly be 4 Leon if found necessary when jhe owners insist upon the payment of damages due to them..■ j The formal discussion of the various points in the respective' proposals of owners and men were adjourned until to-day, when the Board meets at 11 o'clock.

OFFICIAL REPORT. The following joint official report was handed to the Press by Mr W. Gascoyne Dalziel, the owners' secretary « A meeting of the Conciliation Board for the coal trade of Monmouthshire and South Wales was held at Cardiff to-day. In the absence of Mr F. L. Davis, Mr W. J. Heppell presided over .the owners' side, Mr W. Brace occupying oc a like position on the workmen's side in the absence of Mr W. Abraham. The Joint Board was informed that the respective proposals of the owners' and the workmen's representatives for the revision of the Conciliation Board agreement had been exchanged on Saturday last. The only other subject mentioned at the meeting was the question of the workmen's in- timation of an intention to claim payment for small coal as a '.counterclaim to th,- owners' claim to a right to damages for the workmen's breach of Clause 3 of the Eight Hours Act with regard to the working of the extra 60 hours per annum. This subject having been discussed, it was agreed to adjourn the meeting until to- morrow at 10.30. The following is the full text of the pro- posals: 15tb January, 1910. Heads of the proposals of the owners' repre- sentatives on the Conciliation Board for a Revision of the Conciliation Board Agree- ments of the 11th December, 1905, and 30th June, 1909. 1. That the minimum be reduced to 20% with an equivalent selling price of 12s 4d per ton. That the maximum remain 4t 60%. 2. That the following Clause shall be substi- tuted for Clause 2 of the Agreement of the 30th, June, 1909. The Owners shaH,'due regard being had to safety, have the right of working their res- pective Collieries in such manner, and by such shifts, whether for .working coal or for other p urp oses, as they- may deem necessary to suit the cir- cumstances of the different Collieries. This to include the right of the Owners of in- troducing an afternoon shift of any \class of workmen required, the payment lid, be for the actual number of shifts worked. 3. That the workmen be required tp work the additional 60 hours provided for in Section 3 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908, re 8 hours. 4. That the payment of 6 turns for 5 nights worked where now paid, and all bonuses, be abolished. 5. That at all Collieries where the Sunday night shift is required such -shift shall be of eight hours' duration and only one turn be paid for such shift. 6. That the workmen's house coal as now supplied shall in future be charged for at the rate of 10s per ton.( 7. That in future the legal position under the. Workmen's Compensation Act shall be adopted as regards the supply of house coal to injured workmen. 8. That fortnightly pays be adopted at all Collieries.. • 9. That Clause 15 of the Conciliation Board Agreement as to customs shall be amended so as to Substitute a more recent date than De- cember, 1879, to govern the customs and condi- tions.. 10. That in View of the Owners' obligations under the Workmen's CeujpMMh.tion Act, in regard' to industrial diseases, all workmen newly applying for work shall be-medically examined before being engaged. 11. That provision be'made for a more strict adherence to the latter part of Clause 12 of the Conciliation Board Agreement as to the work- men resuming work after the general holidays, and for a greater regularity of working by the workmen generally at the Collieries. 12. That six representatives outside of the Conciliation Board be appointed on each side to take up disputes on behalf of the Board, but that such additional representatives are not to sit with the Joint Board. 13- That on the passing of any future Act of Parliament affecting the fundamental prin- ciples of any new agreement, either side of the Board shall be afi liberty to give notice to terminate the agreement. In the event of the parties disagreeing upon the question, as to whether or not such Act affects the Agreement, the matter shall be referrred to the Indepen- dent Chairman appointed by the whole Board. 14. That, subject to the other Clauses being agreed to, the period of the new\ Agreement shall be longer than that of the present Agreement. (Signed) W. J. Heppell, Chairman. (Signed) W. Gascoyne Datziel, Secretary. Workmen's Proposalsforamending tike Concili- ation Board Agreement. 1. Minimum and Maximum-That the minimum be raised from 30% to 40%, and the present maximum be deleted. 2. Payment for Small CoaL-That we propose that there shall be an amendment of Clause 7 of the present Agreement to provide that pay- ment shall be made the Collier for small coal. y 3. Abnormal Places.-That the following proposals be amended to enable RepresentaA tives of the workmen and the Officials to be parties to the removal of workmen from one place to another. In the event of a collier having conditions in his working place which prevent him earning a fair wage on the Price List, he shall receive such an allowance as he and the Management agree upon, it being under- stood that the allowance to be so made shall be such as to make the wages paid to the collier equivalent to the wages he would earn if his working place was in a normal condition. Provided that if the Manage- ment and the collier fail to agree as to what the condition of the working place is, or as to the amount of the allowance to be paid, the Management shall in that event pay to each collier emplyed in the working-place, if more than one collier shall be so employed, a standard wage of not less than 4s 9d per day, but if one collier omly and a helper shall be so employed then the collier a standard wage of not less than 4s 9d per day, and to his helper a standard wage of not less than 4s per day. Provided that if the Management shall at any time become dissatisfied with the work done by the collier in any such working place the Management shall, after complaint shall have been made to the collier, have the right to remove a collier to a working place in the same colliery, where the conditions :are normal, but until such removal shall be actually made the terms and provisions of this Clause shall continue and have effect." 4. Payment for Night Work.-That the work- men employed on the afternon or night shifts shall be paid a wage rate equal to the payment of 6 turns pay for 5 shifts worked. 5. Low rates of Payment.—That the wages of workmen employed in and about the Collieries who are in receipt of wages less than 3s 4d upon the Standard shall be raised to that amount. I 6. Independent Chairman.—To proposg that in all matters of dispute at the Collieries re- ferred to the Conciliation Board, in which failure to agree by the parties is reported, an Independent Chairman shall be appointed to finally decide the matter, whose decisions shall be adopted by the employers and the workxnen. 7. Weekly Pays.-Tbat the wages of all the workmen employed at the Collieries shall be paid weekly. 8. Hours of Work.-That the words from the beginning to and in line 2 of Clause 1 of the Agreement of the 30th June, 1909, be deleted. (Signed) Thomas Richards, 7th January, 1910. General Secretary.

NORTHUMBERLAND MtKERS. On Saturday aconferencewasheld at the Coal Trade Office, Newcastle, of the Northumberland coalowners and miners' representaitives to consider the situation that has arisen through the operation of the Eight Hours' Act agreement in the county. The Con- ference met at the request of the Eight Hours'

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Committee of the miners, to see if the present difficulty can be overcome. There were still 18 collieries idle out of a total in the county of 70. It was finally agreed that further meetings should be held between the men's representa- tives and the managers at the individual collieries with ,a view of endeavouring to arrive at a settlement on the lines of the con- vention that had taken place that day between the representatives of the two associations. At Wednesday's meeting in Newcastle of the Council of the Northumberland Miners' Asso- ciation it was I moved and seconded that the Council take the ballot vote as to whether the men should tender fourteen days' notice to terminate the present agreement respecting the Eight Hours Act. There were 33 votes for and 46 against. It was further proposed that the question be relegated to the lodges for their. decision as to whether the ballot vote be taken and notice given to terminate the agreement. There were 38 votes for and 40 against.

Madame Albani | SUED BY AN AGENT. Story of Music Hall Engagement At West London County Court on Wednes- day (bef orchis Honour Sir William Seljfej Mr A. F. Maclean, agent, St. Martin's-lane, sued Madame Albani, the well-known vocalist, of Tregunter-road, Earl's Court, for JE21 in respect of commission alleged to be due to him in connection with engagements obtained. Mr C. Doughty, counsel for the plaintiff, said that early this year, Madame Albani having decided to appear upon the variety stage, entered into an agreement with Mr Maclean to procure her engagements at variety theatres in London and elsewhere at s large salaries. A contract was signed far her to appear at the Metropolitaai Theatre in Edgware-road and other syndicate halls, and she appeared at the Metropolitan for; one week commencing on March 29{ all a sal wry of £210. So successful was Madame Albani during this engagement that a seeond contract was entered into on April 10 for her to appear for a Second week in October at the;same salary, this arrangement being made with a Mr Halpen, a gentleman who had acted as the plaintiffs manager. When plaintiff claimed his(commission on this engagement, however, he was informed by Mr Gye. the husband of Madame 'Albani, that the contract* was an entirely new dhe, quite apart from the first, and that Mr Halpen was the agent to whom commiSsijpn was being paid. The plaintiff's case 'was that the contract with him was entered into in accordance with the temui of the award made by Mr Askwith, K.C., last year. under which an agent was entitled to comniissvon on a re-engagement if it were made within three months of the said contract being entered into. The plaintiff having borne out counsel's The plaintiff having borne out counsel's statement, Madame Albani's Defence. Mr R. H. Douglas, solicitor for Madame Albani, urged that the engagement on which commission was claimed was not a re-engage- t ment under the first contract made with the plaintiff. The first contract was for Madame Albani to appear at a number of syndicate haps. but the second was only to appear at one hall, and was entered into with a gentleman who "had left Mr Maclean's service, and was acting as agent on his own behalf. Mr Halpen, in the course of his evidence, mentioned that Madame Albani was ill and could not appear one night during her en- gagement. In consequence they had to try and find a deputy. His Honour Surely you can't find.a. deputy for Madame Albani 1-Well, I think not. His Honour Where was Madame Melba ?— I don't know, (Langbter.) Mr Ernest Gye, the husband of Madame Albani, said he dealt exclusively with Mr Halpen in connection with the second engage- ment at the Metropolitan, and wrote to the plaintiff denying thirt he had the sole right of making engagements for Madame Albani. Mr Doughty said the trouble that arose some time ago among the agents resulted in alÍ agreement to abide by Mr Askwith's award, by which they were entitled to commission on a re-engagement if made within three months of the contract being entered into, and he maintained there- fore that the plaintiff was fully entitled to the commission claimed. His Honour said undoubtedly Mada-me Albani was re-engaged at the Metropolitan Theatre owing to the great success she made during her first engagement, and it was evident -tel him that the re-engagement having been made within three months of the first engage- ment, Madame Albani, by the terms of her contract with the plaintiff, agreed to pay him commission on any such re-engagement. There would be judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed with costs.

DROPPED ON TME USHER. An old coster woman applied to Mr Francis at Westminster on Tuesday, and in opening a newspaper parcel to exhibit a heavy hob- nailed boot, accidentally dropped the boot on the usher. "What have you brought that for T" the magistrate asked. To show you what he knocks me about with when I can't get em- ployment to keep him. I am black and blue," the woman repbedi He was her husband, a Covent Garden porter sometime," and the boot had been borrowed to bring to, the Court whilt;the.was home in bed asleep. Has he got another pair of boots V* the magistrate inquired—-No, hei hasn't. Then," Mr Francis pointed oat, if he should happen to want to go-out while you are here it will lead to further ructions.' Is this the first time you have had to complain 1" The Applicant: Bless you, no. He's knocked me about many a time and oft. Well, you may take a sammtpns. I haven't got the ways and means to pay for it. I can't be murdered by Bill simply because my stock money is gone. I think you must try and find the money. You see, a summons against a husband is something of a privilege. And I should take back the boot as soon as possible. "Its awful," was the final comment of the old woman as she left the court without the summons.

The body of-an octogenarian named Samuel Fox has been recovered from a bog at Ash- down Forest, near Crowborough, Sussex, after lying there for several days, with the head just above the surface. At the inquest on Monday deceased's son said that his lather, whq was 88 years of age, went for a stroll, and probably lost his way in a fog. A verdict of Death from misadventure was returned.

WELSH CONGREGATIONALISM. 1 New Chapel at Ynysddu. Monday will be memorable in the annals of Ynysddu Welsh Congregationalism by reason of the fact that on that day a beautiful new church was opened. For some three and a half viars services have been conducted in the Council schoolroom, but the congregation in- creased in numbers, and it was found abso- lutely necessary to build a church. With char- acteristic Cvmru persistency work was gone into with great zest, with the result that to-day they have a pretty fabric and most substantial interior, which the architect, Mr D. W. Price, New Tredegar, might well be proud of. Some^ few minutes after 2 yesterday a large crowd assembled for the opening ceremony, which was to have been performed by Mr David Jones, J.P., C.C., Ebbw Vale. Mr Jones was, however, unable to be present owing to the sad death of his daughter. In his absence Mr Price (the architect), after expressing regret at the absence, and extending sympathy to Mr Jones, presented the gold key to the Rev. R. E. Pere- grine, B.D., Rhymney. The key was inscribed as follows :—" Councillor David Jones, J.P., C.C. Presented on the occasion of his opening Sardis Congregational Church building." The church being opened in a brief and appropriate address, a public meeting was then held. The Rev. P. W. Hough, Blackwood, presiding, dtlivered a lengthy speech in the vernacular, and congratulated them on the success that had attended their assiduous efforts. The large company present augured well for the future history of the church. In the middle of their rejoicing, however, they had to sympathise with one whom they deeply revered. After eulogising-the many qualities of Mr Jones, the speaker proposed a vote of sympathy with the bereaved family. The v<)te was carried in silence, all standing. Mr Cobden Davies, the indefatigable secre- tary, gave a glowing account of the work and congratulated the architect on the splendid building. Stirring addresses were also delivered in thewernacular by Mr Wm. Thomas, Aber- cam Messrs Daniel Morgan, Henry Protheroe, H. Protheroe, D. Bcddoe, D. W. Price, Mrs Morgan, the Rev. John Morgan Jones, the Rev. Evan Lewis, Babell i Rev. W. G. Richards, Cwmfelinfach, and Rev. W. Glas- nant Jones, Cross Keys. An impressive service was held at night, con ducted by the the Rev. T. Rees, Sirhowy; and the Rev. R. E. Peregrine, Rhymney. Description of the Building. The building comprises basement, ground floor, and upper floor. The basement, which enteirs from the vestibule, contains heating furnace, boiler, wash-ups, and other conveni- ences. The ground has vestibule, convenient cloak-room and lavatory and chapel hall which will accommodate a mixed audience of 300. The floor is laid with pitch-pine blocks, and the ceiling is panelled. From the vestibule a wide staircase leads to the upper floor corridor, off which are a retiring-room containing lava- tory, etc., three largo <dass*rooms, and church parlour. The building is heated throughout on the high pressure system by Messrs Hamp- ton and Co., Cardiff. Gas service has been laid throughout in readiness for future gas development in this new valley. The seating is of bestl pitch-pine, supplied by Messrs Wil- liams and Sons, New Tredegar. The dressings of the front elevation are in Forest of Dean carved work, and the side elevations in best buff bricks. The extensive bailding is only part of a larger scheme, as on the east side a parapet is carried up above the roof to form a gable end oij the future chapel, which can be added withoukdisturbircg the present structure. The land has been purchased and is the free- hold property of the church. Mr Thomas James, contractor, Cwmfelinfach, is the builder, and Mr D. W. Price, Cloth Hall, New Trede- gar, th6 architect. (Architect, Mr D. W. Price.) I

TIN PLATERS'ANSWER REPLY TO THE TARIFF DEMAND. Swinging Majorities. Much has been done and is being done in this election to try and prove the advantage of Tariff protection for the Welsh tinplate in- dustry, notwithstanding the evidence- of the progress made and the recovery of the in- dustry afteo temporary difficulties caused by the McKinley tariff. The Swansea Town and Swansea District elections exhibit how tinplate workers and the thousands of others dependent upon the tin- plate industry view the Tariffists' panacea of Protection. In and around Swansea Town and Swansea District there are no fewer than 168 mills in the tinplate indus- try, and the men engaged at these mills and the inhabitants, generally are those who, apart from Monmouthshire, suffered most after the McKinley tariff was imposed in 1891, and causing loss of trade, up to 1898. It is these people who by their votes had to de- cide in favour of Free Trade or Protection, and their answer is an object lesson on the tariff question to the whole country. The poll in Swansea Town for Tariff Protection was 4.375, for Free Trade 7,451 Swansea District, for Tariff Protection 2,415, for Free Trade 8.488.

BLOWN INTO THE STREET. Exciting Explosion Scenes. i. The London City Coroner on Wednesday in- r quired into the fatal explosion which occurred on Saturday morning at 58, ColerEkan-street, E.C., the premises of Messrs Jackson, Pixley and Co., chartered accountants. James Thomas Hoyd, 32, a painter, of Taunton-road, Lee, was killed outright, and Ellen Green, the housekeeper, was slightly injured. The premises were very severely damaged. I Ellen Green, housekeeper at 58, Coleman- street, told how at S~L0-a.ni. on Saturday, she arrived at the premises and noticed a strong smell of escaping gas. Although it was dark, she did not strike a match, but went straight down into the basement, and opened the back and front windows. The door of the strong room was closed. Proceeding upstairs, witness could still smell gas, so she opened all the win- dows of the six floors. Witness went on with her work, and at twenty minutes past eight the deceased came to paint the stairs of the second floor. In reply to witness's question, he said he could smell gas, and witness told him not to light up. Then the deceased went downstairs to get his paint pots, and five minutes later a postman arrived. Witness was signing for a registered letter, when there was a terrible ex- plosion; and the marble staircase on which she was standing-parted from underneath her. The Coroner: And what happened to you ? Witness I turned a somersaolt into the road, and hurt my side and leg. I found myself in the middle of the road. What became of the postman I—I don't know. I did not see anything of him. Postman's Surprise. Albert Cross, the postman, of Stafford-road, Forest Gate, spoke to given the previous wit- ness the registered letter at 20 minutes past 8 on Saturday. The coroner: What happened 1-She was in the act of signing the register, and I was imme- diately blown into the Toad. How long had you been there altogether ?— About-half a minute. Witness added, that he was not trnwlrmg at the time. When he recovered he found himself lying in the gutter on the opposite side of the road. Police-Constable Henry Archer said he was on duty in the neighbourhood, and, hearing a loud crash, he ran to 58, Coleman-street, and found that the pavement lights had been blown out. Mr Frederick Hoed, assistant chief inspector in the service of the Gas Light and Coke Com- pany, said he thought that the fact that the explosion occurred at the moment when the deceased went downstairs, made it probable that he struck a match. Explosions, however, bad occurred without, any apparent cause being found. Witness thought that when the house- keeper opened the windows and doors the air mixed with the escaping gas and made it more explosive.. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," due to the explosion of coal gas, adding that the cause was unknown.

LADY'S DOWNFALL A shocking story of the depth to which drink can drag a person of education and position came to light in the Slough Police Court, on Monday, when a clergyman's wife stood in the- dock charged with stealing a bottle of cham- pagne from a Slough wine shop. The prisoner's name is Mabel Vesper Thomas, and she is the divorced wife of a curate. She is only 29 years of age. Lady Henry Somerset and the Earl of Lytton have taken an interest in her in the hope of reforming her. The Bench understood that there was a war- rant for her apprehension on another charge, and they preferred to leave it to others to deal with her on that charge, as it might be thought desirable to give her a longer term of imprison- ment than they could have given her upon the charge before them. Prisoner is the mother of a little boy, and she said she had not seen her child for three years.

HOME RULE. Speaking in Saffron WaJden division on Monday, Mr J. A. Pease, in reply to a question whether the, Liberal Government-if returned would give "Home Rule to Ireland, saidihe Liberal party were under no pledge to grant" Home Rule. Mr Asouith's declaration, only- meant that the ban which the Liberal party- placed on itself at the last election was now- removed, and the Liberals were free, if they so desired, to extend self-government to Irektnd, although everyone in the Government was pledged not to give Ireland a Parliament thab. would be inconsistent with the union of-the. two countries.

SWEDEN & TAXATION. Stockholm, Monday.—The Riksdag was opened by the King to-day. The speech from the Throne, after declaring that the relations between Sweden and Foreign Powers were ^friendly, recalled the fact that an old standing dispute on the subject of the Swedo-Norway frontier had been finally settled by arbitration. Turning to finance the speech said that inspite of great economy observed in the estimates for 1911, which amount to 229,411,000 kronen, but are lower than those for 1910. New taxation would be necessary, and among the financial measures proposed were increases in coffee and inheritance duties, as well as the introduction of an income tax and an estate duty. Fourteen hundred thoosuand kronn is allotted to a. fund or the payment of workmen's pensions.— Reuter.

WlFE SHOT. A bertridwr Sensation. HUSBAND UNDER ARREST. Arthur E. Bell (23), haulier, of 29, Coedcae- road, Abertridwr, is in custody at Caerphilly Police-Station on.a charge of attempting to murder his wife by shooting her with a revolver. The affair occurred on Tuesday afternoon. The parties reside with relatives in apartments, and have only been married four months. For two months prisoner has suffered from ill-health, and bas;been unable to work. During this time be has, however, been in receipt of sick relief. It is stated that he bought a revolver at Caerphilly eighteen months ago. Yesterday at noon the husband and wife were alone in the back kitchen, and, according to one story, the wife noticed the revolver in her husband's pocket and asked him what he was going to do with it. He thereupon, it is alleged, pulled out the revolver, and, pointing it at her, fired point blank. Mrs Bell was shot. and ran out to the back yard, and was found leaning against the garden wall by a neighbour, Mr Thomas Thomas. She was taken into his house, where his wife first attended to her, the injury being a wound in the throat. The bul- let had passed through under the chain, and came out at the back of the neck. Dr. Burke subsequently treated the wound, and his patient is in a-favourahle condition, and likely to recover. The police later arrived on the scene, and Mrs Bell is stated to have declared that the affair was juo~ accident, and that her husband did not inflict the injury intenttonAHy. Another story Ts that the husband was-clean- ing the revolver when it suddenly went off. P.C. Prosser on investigation found the bullet on a chair in the kitchen, and the revol- ver in the back yard sticking in the mud. The shot was heard by the neighbours, many of whom rushed out in a state of alarm. Prsoner went out of the house, but in a short while he returned, and was arrested by P.C. Proaser and P.S. Walters, who con- veyed him to Sengbenydd Police Station. When charged, prisoner made a statement that he had no intention to harm his wife. Prisoner, who is said to have been a very steady young man, is a native of Ferndale, as also is-his wife.

MA NU F ACTU RERS& ACCIDENTS. At the Royal Statistical Society onTuesday-an interesting paper was read by MrH. Verney on the subject of the recent considerable increase in the number of reported accidents. Mr Ver- ney pointed out that up to 1895 some 9,000 accidents were reported annually. From that year, the number had increased enormously and well-nigh continuously. Reports were now required for docks, wharves, quays, ware- houses, etc. Taking coal consumption as one of-the indexes of the volume of manufacture, he said that the Royal Commission on the coal resources of the United Kingdom in 1866 re- ported that the then consumption of coal for use was generally estimated atone ton per head of the wholepopulation. Since then the gas stove had come into extensive use for domestic pur- poses, and the consumption of coal had to that extent been traiisforred from dwelling houses to gasworks, which were of course factories. The census of production (1907) gave the quantity of coal of household quality raised and retained for consumption in <the United Kingdom a&5L £ 43,000 tons out of a total inland consumption of 182,914,000 tons. There was a fairly close resemblance betweep. acci- dents and railway goods traffic and coal con- sumption. On thewhole, accidents increased three-timesas,fast.awt.he'Volume of manufac- tures. i

I BAD HttED FISH. Robert Marsh, Glamorgan-street, Neath, was summoned at the local coort on Tuesday (before the Mayor and other magistrates) for selling fried fish which was unfit for consump- tion and also having in his possession for purpose of preparing for sale fish which was unfit for human consumption. Mr Trevor Hunter prosecuted, and Mr D. Perkins de- fended. A lad named Percy Cross,Oxford-streeiv said I. that on the nightof January 6th he bought four pieces of fish at defendant's shop. When he got home he found that they were smelting, and took them back. Defendant changed the fish, but witness took them to Mr W. B. Davies, the sanitary inspector. Thelatterstated that the fish was in an advanced state of de- composition. Defendant told him that the fish came from Swansea that morning. The four pieces of fish were also condemned by a justice of the peace. Dr. J. M. Monis said that the fish was extremely foul, and a fine of £ 1 and costs was imposed. Defendant pleaded gultytothe second sum- mons. In this case 186 pieces of fish bad been seized and ordered to be destroyed. Dr. Morris, said that to have eaten this fish would have been rank poison. Defendaint immediately stopped the sale of the fish that evening. He was fined 40s and costs, and the Bench allowed an advocate's fee.

PROTECTING ST. PAULS. An elaborate scheme for the better protec- tion of St. Paul's Cathedral from fire, which is estimated to cost aboat JE20,000, is in process of being carried out. The alterations affect the heating of the fabric, and have been set on foot by the various insurance companies concerned in the preservation of the building. Up to the present the generating stations h&ve been, situated within the building itself, and in close. proximity to some of- the most precious of the:, nation's memorials to the departed. These are., XLOW being removed to tbeoutside, and another improvement which it, is believed is to be car- ried out is the removal of the workshops that, as in the case of Westminster Abbey, form a permanent feature of the beading. The cost ot. these alterations, it is understoodbe borne; by the Dean and Chapter, who will receive assistance from the Ecclesiastical Commis- sioners and some of the wealthier of the City Livery Companies.

SERIES OF TRAGEDIES. A family named Bell, of Peovcr, have ex- perienced a series of tragic bereavements, and another-sad scene was witnessed on Tuesday in Peover Churchyard. A few months ago Mr Bell's daughter, only newly married, shot her- self, and was buried at Peover. The loss so preyed upon the husband that he, too, shot himself a few weeks ago. and was interred there. Now the father, Mr W. Bell, a well- known innkeeper, was buried' to-day after a short illness, amid remarkable scenes of sym- pathy.

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SOUTH WALES POLICE COURTS, CARDIFF. Given, Not Stoien.-At Cardiff (before Messrs David Duncan, Philip Turnbull and F. J. VeaJJ) Martha, Venn (28) was charged with stealing 12s 6d and a handkerchief, the property of Denis Lyons, at a house in Halket-street on Saturday night. Prosecutor, a man of the working class, said he met prisoner in town, and accompanied her to the house in Halket-street. After they had been there some time the prisoner took the money, and as she. refused to return it he gave information to the police. The prisoner asserted that Lyons gave her the money, and the Bench, remarking that there was no evi- dence to prove the contrary, gave her the benefit of the doubt and discharged her. Pilfering on Tramcars.—The theft of a box from a tramcar was the subject of a case in which Herbert Fryer (28) was charged with the theft. Mr F. W. Ensor (from the town clerk's office) appeared for the prosecution, and the evidence of a txaznear conductor named Charles Paull was that the box, which contained a bottle of whisky, some oranges, onions, and apples was brought on to the-car by a pas- senger, and that prisoner, when he left the car, was seen to take the box. He was fol- lowed, and when told that he wovld be given m custody said, Good God,, don't do that." Prisoner pleaded guilty, and attributed his act to drink. Mr Ensor said there were a good many instances of petty pilfering from. the tramcars, but as the police gave prisoner a good character he was bound over in E5 to be^ of good behaviour for six months. IL'i f*aia tot rhe Sheep.—"fchamas DuHyT. a. Barry Island man, was summoned at¡), the local police court on Monday for not keeping his dog under control Albert Dcmseombe said the animal was found by him worrying the sheep grazing in the cricket field. The dog was captured. Defendant-now said, I have paid for the sheep and killed two good dogs over it." Under the circumstances the Bench merely made an order for the payment* of costs. NEWPORT. Had Befriended Him.—A youth of 18, Wm. Jones, alias Augustus Leike, was charged at Newport on Monday with break- ing into a dwelling-house in James-street and with stealing a gold ring, 6s 6d in money, silver scarf-pin from a^kpelnng-housein James- street. It appeared from the evidence of P.C. Durman that at 5.50 on Wednesday night he was in Aiexandra-road.when he was called to a. house in James-street. Witness took a candle, and on making a search found the prisoner under the bed. When asked what he was-doing there prisoner said. he wept to shelter from the rain. Mrs Mendez, of James-street, said she had befriended prisoner, who was a ship's mess steward, until he could get a ship. She had missed some articles. A mess steward, John Charles Ball (16), said he did not know the prisoner, but as prisoner was out of work wit- ness had taken him to his lodgings. He after- wards found that 6s 6d, a gold ring, and silver scarf-pin were missing. The Bench sentenced prisoner to three months* hard labour. Denial and Dismissal.—AX Newport on Saturday John Chflcott, V, young farm j labourer, was charged on a warrant with stealing a double-barrelled gun, the property of his master, Mr John Henry Lawrence, of the Home Farm, Christehurch. Mr Alfred Searie prosecuted. It appeared that the defendant asked for permission to go away for Xmas and had an advance of £1 made to him. As the gun was missed after he left, his master took out a warrant. Prisoner was arrested at Bridgwater, but the gun had not been found. The prisoner denied that he had stolen it. The case was dismissed. Alleged Perjury—John Griffin (40), a drover, of Risea, and his wife, Mary Griffin, were summoned at Newport on Saturday for neglecting their 10 children. The case had been twice adjourned. Inspector Sparks, of the N.S.C.C., said that they were getting on very well indeed. The Bench bound them over, but the man immediately applied for a summons against the inspector for perjury. This was not, however, entertained. BLAINA. jai Worth of Stolen Boots-Alfred Holmes, Albert Rowlands, Evan Wil- liams, labourers, Abertillery, were charged with stealing a quantity of boots, valued .Ell, the property of Adolphus Shane, Blaina, be- tween November 14th and 20th. Ann Hughes (63) and Thomas Hughes, Abertillery, were charged with receiving the goods. Mr Shane- gave evidence as to missing, 57 pairs of boots, which he valued at Ell. A number of witnesses were called, who said they had purchased boots from the defendants for various sums, and Holmes and Williams were committed for a month, as was also Rowlands, who had been further-convicted of stealing 25s, the property of John Leach, on November 9th, whilst Thomas Hughes was sent to prison for a fort-- night, and Mrs Hughes was discharged. ABERTTLLERY. MisceHantous Theft.—At a special Police Court at AbertiHery on Monday six men of the tramping class were sentenced to three months each with hard labour for stealing a quantity of tobacco, cigarettes, tins of salmon, boxes of scented soap, ladies' handkerchiefs, etc., the property of the Cwm- tillery Co-operative Society, on the night of Saturday, January 8th. PONTYPRIDD. Jubilant before Suicide.-Fred Cosiett, Bridge-street, Pontypridd, a fruiterer's sales- man, was found in a loft on Monday momingwitb a terrible gash in his throat, from which he died half an hour later. He appeared in a jubilant mood while at the stables attend- ing to the horses an hour before the tragedy. A large table-knife lay by his side. Dr. Evans attended Cosiett, but it was a hopeless case from the commencement. There is every indi- cation that the wound was self-inflicted, but no reason has yet been assigned for the act. LLANWRTYD WELLS. Not a Bona Fide.-At Llanwrtyd Wells Police Court, Geeorge Banks was fined 10s, inclusive, for-falsely representing himself to be a bona fide traveller at the Cammorch Hotel, Llan- gammarch Wells, on the 2nd inst. Salmon Case Dismissed.-The case against George Marshall Thomas Lewis, Lreflis, for unlawfully taking an unclean salmon from the river Cammerch, in the parish of Treflis, was dismissed. Mr Reginald J. Owen (solicitor, Builth Wells), who appeared for the Wye Board of Conservators, gave notice of appeal.

While engaged as a rider on the surface at Coed Ely Colliery, Tonyrefail, on Monday, William Pincott, the Avenue, Tonyrefail, was fatally injured. Somp trams containing spare rails were being conveyed to the Tvlcha Fach level over an incline, when the trams jumped the road, and one of the rails struck the deceased on the temple.

PALESTINE REPEOPLB. I Great Influx of Jewish Colon*. The Jewish question is now facing e Con. stitutional Government in Turkey ait har never done before. Although the adnnon oi Jewish colonists from Russia, thetalkao States, Austria, and Persia seems to. sanc- tioned by constitutional prmciples, S self- preservation is a motive more pott equality. The inhabitants of Palenearo beginning to see the reason why Itta has shown such intolerance of the desceEnts of Abraham. Thousands and tens of tfcsanda of Jewish colonists are already settkxn the fairest lands of Palestine. Helpedy rich capitalists in Europe, they build comtabl. homes and establish flouxishing colonies LMge portions of land round Lake jeriaa have been bought up from poor nai^.a.n^ converted into prosperous domains. TPlain of Sharon, between Jaffa and ldxldft one I vast garden, ownedand tended by Jew, skill and labour. The Hauran, one of tlmost fertile wheat districts in the worY., ieing gradually sold to Jewish syndicate. The 4 Ghor (Valley of the Jordan), which Wveara ago belonged to Abdul Hamid, who ma item* munication with Jewish capitalists ic t sat* when-hisdethroneinent took place, is terieing bargained for, and will soon beeam Jtmh property. To-say that Jaffa and Jetva," aM Jewish towna is only saying the bat tuth. Tew»H» Samoef-Oitatd, Bethlehee V-" Teth, and-Gsza, where a. few yeaxs ago tolesir dared show his jfoce, have new ♦iw»ffT~j(1w quarters and synagogues. Zionism ittia*p5 has, indeed, been working wtOi a wilL

='. ïta. ATt:. m- "OVER ^TOyOOOOQ. New Fork, Monday.—Th* wifl of tiete* Mr D. 0. Mills was made public to-day T% exact amount of his estate) not mentoned but a conservative estimate places it as ft over £ 10g000,000. The bulk of he late financier^ fortune is divided between hte/daughtec, MB Whitelaw Reid, the wife-of tib O.S. 'iiunhnma dor to England, and his soiMr Ogden \TOU He has left £ 80^000 to Farias charitable of. gandsations in New York amT-alifornia, and 4a art institutions.

This housewfe says: e Provost Oais are most economial. m M It has occasionally happed that oar u grocer has 4 been but of Pr-ost Oats' t and I have invariably found at foraam S oats do not go nearly as faiin M. have to use nearly double tl quantity of them to make the same aatity of S porridge. From infancy m,childrea « have eaten Provost porridge they are i healthy, strong and welltreloped « children, and people oftentsk me jt what I feed them on." j From Mrs. M. G. T ha/ot( Norfolk). I Provost Oais m to rid tkmt they need mmm mmter prepared Hb-ripe them roam t» tmH Bad 'tmt 4*rgti the pinch oj tali in titt -r-'i— hrfan tlgg THE GREAT GOUT AND RHEUMATIC EHiLU I Strongly recommended by -the late Dr. HiMa, Dr. RaraUdU, and trther noetd-deetnr*. BLAERTS have proved themselves 4or iu«wjm« the best cure to wot, Bhwimatam, T iinihuii^u Seiatica. Purely Vegetable. 8ure*uS'Safe. v•! All Chemists and Starea^Jaand-aaSfr im I' Let me yoU a." Secret n MM The reason why my- Cakes and Pastry are- ahvarys st is that, 1-7 BORWICrS I ^BAKIHO POWDtj