The Cardiff Times

Swansea Doctor Fined A SURPRISING "DEVELOPMENT." f There-was a startling development in an adjourned case before Judge Bryn Roberts at Swansea County Court on Monday. The case twas Jarvis and others v. Soden, in which the rCAuntifEs, Mrs Jarvis and others, of Briton afterry, sued Dr. Macnamus Soden, of Swansea, r JM7, money alleged to have been lent. The ^statute of limitations was set up in defence. JtwintiffB had subpoenaed Dr. and Mrs Soden sand their son with a view of endeavouring to I show that a payment of jE5 had been made on account. Vivian -Soden, the son, went into the witness- box, and in answer to a question put by Mr B, Harris, for the plaintiffs, denied know- fledge of ahy payment. Mr Harris said that although he had to engage a special man to serve the subpoenas, he was unable to get Dr. and Mrs Soden to ^attend. Dr. Soden, when served with the *nbpoena, was alleged to have said, No power on earth will bring me or Mrs Soden." His Honour said he would adjourn the case, would fine Dr. Soden £10, and if the money *tas not paid he would commit him. He would line him court after court, and would commit jiim for the full term. Mrs Soden was-also fined £lo.-nd the further Rearing of the case wasadjourned for a month.

I DEVELOPED BY WARMTH. At Llandaff Police Oourton Monday ,bufore Mr jEr. C. Williams, Mr Edgar David and Principal ^Griffiths, a charge of permitting drunkenness at" the Mason's Arms, Whitchurch, was heard, the defendant being David Morris, the licensee, Sergeant Bennett said he saw three men there, all drunk. They were arrested and ;«onvicted at the pocce court next day. Mr 1&. W. Gaskell, who defended, called the acensee, who swore that the men were onty -supplied with one pint each at the house. They .seemed sober when they came in, but it was quite possible, if they had been drinking else- where and by sitting close to the fire, as they did, the effect of drink would become notice- able. He denied that he had sold the bottle of TSeer found on one of the men, and asserted that for a quarter of an hour he tried to get the men out of the house. A fine of JE4 and "tOSts was imposed.

j MALPAS GUN MISHAP. 1 At N ewport on Saturday George Harry Evans lad charged with unlawfully wounding Charles Roberts (12) at Malpas on October i5th, was again before the magistrates. Evans and Roberts were together at the Hollybush farm, when the defendant picked up a loaded run, which had been left near a stable, and the charge going off, several pellets struck floberts in the face. Dr. Pinnar, of the New- port Hospital, stated that there were 20 wounds on the face. Mr J. Moxon, for defendant, urged that it a pure accident, and that there had occurred nothing between the lads to occasion undeliberate assault by Evans. The Bench dismissed the case. I

HIGHER DEATH RATE. A Blue Book issued on Monday shows that the b aiines of the United Kingdom last year gave employment to 1,042,435 persons and the quarries to 83,937. Of those employed at mines 35,116 worked underground, whilst of the num- ber employed above ground 6,168 were females. the Yorkshire coalfield, which includes 10erby and Nottingham, 235,000 persons were Employed, in the South Wales field, including Monmouthshire, 204,000 were employed, and in the Northern coalfield of Durham and North- umberland, 200,000 were employed. In the Jnines there occurred 1,220 fatal accidents Involving the loss of 1,493 lives, the death rate being 1.4 per cent. of the persons employed u against the average rate of 1.3 per cent. for. Vhe past ten years.

Missing from Monmouth I 1 NO NEWS OF FARMER EVANS The mystery as to the disappearance of Mr John Evans, of Moor Farm, near Monmouth, remains unsolved. Where the missing man can have got to in so short a time as elapsed between, his disappearance and the commencement of search operations cannot be explained. A. quarter of an hour only had elapsed after he disappeared into the darkness of the night be- fore his family were looking for him. The local cadets and Boy Scouts are maintaining the search. Mr JOHN EVANS, the missing man. Photo by H. H. Davies, Aberystwyth. Mr Evans is a genial and successful farmer. of about 60 years of age, although his health has not been robust. Recently he had been taking a holiday at Weston-super-Mere.. At the time he disappeared, he was wearing a quaint cap which he used when doing his farm work. He left a quantity of gold, his bank book and cheque book locked up in a. private drawer and took the keys with him. No message as to where or why he went has been found in the house. It was on Monday night that Mr Evans dis- appeared. That night he was working round the farm, using a lantern owing to the dark- ness. About 8 o'clock he handed the lantern to a farm hand, remarking tl, at he would be back presently. He vanished into the dark- ness, and has not been seen since. I Efforts of Search Parties. The efforts of Boy Scouts on Saturday and of townspeople on Sunday failed to find any trace of the missing faimer. A thorough search has been made in the woods and hills round Monmouth, and it is thought that if Mr Evans is dead it is probable that his body is in one of the rivers, and that if alive he is in one of the large towns. Farmers on their own account have gone in search, whilst others have walked or made journeys on bicycles.

Soliciter and Bench. ABERAVON POLICE COURT SCENE. At Aberavon County Police Court on Men day Thomas Rees Griffiths, farmer, Abergwynfi, was summoned for selling milk deficient in butter fat. The evidence of the analyst showed that the milk contained five parts of added water. Mr Trevor Hunter appeared for defen- dant, and submitted that the milk sold was as delivered from the cows, and called evidence to that effect. The Bench inflicted a penalty of E2 and costs. Mr Hunter: Will you tell me why you arrive at that decision ? Dr. Jones (magistrate): No, Mr Hunter. I have a good reason for asking," went on Mr Hunter. Is the decision arrived at on scientific groundsor disbelief of the witnesses?" Dr. Jones We disbelieve the witnesses. Mr Hunter I respectfully say that if you have come to a decision you should have the courage of your convictions and say on what grounds you arrive at that decision. I cannot help saying that your Worships' knowledge of the method of analysis is found wanting on arriving at your decision in this case. The justices, in coming to a decision, should not shelter behind a coward's castle but give the grounds on which they convict. Dr. Jones: We think that one of the remarks made should be withdrawn. Mr Hunter I made my protest after the emphatic No given to my request by the chairman. I should be the last to be offensive to the Bench, and I do ask to be given a reason for the decision.

Hostels for Women. BARRY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE. Barry Licensing Committee on Monday received a deputation from the local branch <of the Women's Labour League. The deputation asked the Council to provide a hostel for women. in view of the danger to female domestics sleeping on the same premises as men at seamen's boarding houses." Mrs T. Schofield, who headed the deputation. said that a lot of girls drifted into the town from country villages, and very frequently when out of their situation got into bad com- pany because they had not enough money to go home. The League had had brought to their notice a case where a girl came from a distance and took a situation in Barry, and on one of the evenings' one of the men had. she supposed, a drop-of. drink and went into the girl's bedroom. The latter called the landlady, but the landlady dis- puted the girl's word, and turned the girl adrift about 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning. This young woman then got into bad company, and had entirely gone on the streets. The Chairman said the committee had been most particular in the granting of licences. The Council had gone so far as to say that if they promoted a Bill this year they would in- clude provision for a women's lodging-house. Even if there were a slight loss the Council felt that where they were saving the character of a sister they would act in the matter. Councillor W. R. Lee, J.P. I move that the Council include a clause in any future Bill for power to provide these hostels. Councillor John Williams seconded. The motion was carried.

WHY THE GHOST WALKED. At Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, on Saturday Judge Drummond gave a decree for 43 10s in. an action brought By Miss Anne Brady against a local farmer, named Connell, under remark- able circumstances. Plaintiff's story was that in June last defendant came to her house and told her that the ghost of her brother Phil, who had been dead 26 years, was haunting him because the dead man forgot to pay de- fendant 70 shillings he owed him. Witness was frightened and paid the money, which defendant swore, on the poker and tongs," was due. Her reason for giving defendant the money, which was her sister's, was that the ghost frightened her. A neighbouring farmer, named Brady, deposed to defendant telling him that Phil's ghost was at his bedside every night. Defendant, examined, said that after Phil died he walked nine miles to the wake to see if he could get an opportunity of men- tioning the debt, but he wasn't given a chance. Witness denied having said anything whatever about Phil's ghost. His Honour, in giving judgment for plaintiff, said he firmly believed the woman's story.

GOING THE ftOUND. A story which has been told and denied again and again in England of a morganatic marriage of the King has, it appears, been re-published in the Colonies. The following letter, it is understood, has been forwarded by Sir Arthur Bigge, Private Secretary to his Majesty the King, to the Rev. David J. Garland, ArCh- deacon of North Queensland, in reference to certain statements which appeared in the Brisbane Telegraph It is indeed surprising and regrettable that the Brisbane Telegraph should have de- scended to publish an alleged detailed account of a supposed morganatic marriage I of the King. For any such statement is absolutely false, and could only have been published either through ignorance or malice. You have my authority for stating in what- ever manner you may think fit that King George was never married, morganatically or otherwise, until July 6, 1893, when, as Duke of York, he married Princess Victoria Mary ofTeck, her present Majesty. Moreover, nothing in his Majesty's life could give the slightest ground for the conception of such a cruel and wicked lie.

A DASH AND FREEDOM. George Salter, Abercynon, was on Monday charged at Llandaff with burglariously enter- ing a house in Whitchurch-road, Gabalfa, on Sunday morning. According to the evidence of P.C. Thomas and P.C. John, whilst on their beats heard a crash at the back of the house, and on running into the lane saw the prisoner coming out of the back door of Mrs Mackreli's house. He carried a handkerchief which con- tained a number of silver and silver-plated articles. Whilst the officers were struggling with Salter another man rushed passed, jumped over a wall and- escaped. Salter in- formed the magistrates that he knew nothing of the burglary for he was drunk at the time. He was committed for trial at the Assizes.

The Edinburgh and the Howe warships have been purchased by Messrs T. W. Ward, Ltd. and the Edinburgh will be brought round to Swansea to be broken up. The breaking up of warships at Swansea is highly advantageous, for on account of the many steel works.in the locality there is a ready and good market for the iron and steel taken from these ships.

l UNWELCOME SCENE IN THE RHONDDA. f i Colliers, wi^th tools, deserting the Glamorgan pits.—(Photo by Ladd, Tonypandy.)

¿ BRITISH SOLDIERS IN NEW ARMY AIRSHIP. Our picture shows Royal Engineers on the bridge of the Clement-Bayard airship at Wormwood Scrubbs on Satur- day, receiving their first lesson in the management of the dirigible.—(L.N.A.) ¡

Striking Likeness of Well-known Cardiffian. Bust of Mr RobertDrane, of Cardiff, which has recently been presented to him by some of his more intimate friends. The buat is one of the finest examples of the art of Mr Leonard Merrifield, who is among the most gifted sculptors of the younger generation.

DEDUCTED FROM WAGES. At Bridgend on Saturday 45 colliery workmen at the Coegnant Colliery, Maesteg, were sued by North's Navigation Company, Limited, for damages for leaving work without notice. Mr Charles Kenshole appeared on behalf of the Company. None of the defendants were present neither were they legally represented. Mr Kenshole explained that the men left work in consequence of trouble arising over two riders who had infringed the rule3 with regard to meal times, which had been in- troduced with the Eight Hours Act. It was the rule that the riders were not to take their meals at the same time, so as to secure that there, was no cessation of the traffic. These two men persisted in taking their meals at the same time, and they were discharged on the 31st August, with the result that the defen dants stopped work. The Bench ordered defendants to pay sums amounting in most cases to 7s per man, and in others to 17s, and also the court costs. They made an order that these amounts should be deducted from the wages due to the men.

SWANSEA HARBOUR EMPLOYEES At Swansea on Monday a conference was held to consider claims made by members of the National Labourers' Union on behalf of men employed by the Harbour Tru3t. Messrs W. Law (the harbour manager), and other officers of the Trust were present, and representing the men were Mr J. Powlesland and four Harbour employees. A tariff had been submitted on behalf of drillers, general labourers, strikers, grabmen, and hydraulic repairers. Mr Law put forward an alternative tariff which contained slight improvements all round. The two tariff3 are to be submitted to the men, but they are to remain in abeyance until the conditions in vogue in other Bristol Channel ports and else where are ascertained. i

GALLANTRY IN SOUTH WALES. The following additional awards to Welsh life-savers appear in the final list for the month issued on Monday by the Royal Humane Society:— Testimonial to Charles H. Stoneman, Hunter- street, Cardiff, for his gallant rescue of George Price, who fell into 30ft. of water from the West Dock, Pierhetul, on October 6th. Testimonial to Frederick R. John. Bridge Hotel, Bute-street, Cardiff, for his pluck m saving a boy named Morgan from the canal, on September 18th. Testimonial to Frank Williams, Clive road, Barry Island, for his plucky rescue of a youth who got into difficulties while bathing, on August 9th. Testimpnial to Edward J. Sparks, Monterey- street, Swansea, for his gallant rescue of a boy from the South Dark there on September 17th. Testimonial to Thomas J. Rudd, Foundry- place, Pontypridd, for saving a boy who fell into the canal there on September 7th. Testimonial and El to Thomas Wheeler, Mount. Pleasant, Pontnewydd, for his pluck in saving Charles Pugh from the canal lock there on 17th August. Wheeler had a difficult t.aek as, having only one eye, and taking off his glasses before going in he was almost unable to see.

I PENYGRAIG MINER'S SUICIDE. ¡ On Monday the Coroner (Mr D. Rees) held an inquest at Peilygraig into the circumstances attending the death of David R. Lamb, a collier, who was found dead on Friday last suspended from a rafter in a house in course of erection lieai- his residence in Bank-street, Penygraig. The widow said her husband had never threatened to taVe his life. Medical evidence was given that deceased had been ill for some ye u-s and be was low spirited. A verdi t of Sui< ide during temporary in- 1 sanity was "turned.

BRECONSHlftE T0RIALS. Colour-Sergeant-Instructor Robert Flynn, who joined the old 24th Regiment in j.877, served 21 years with the colours, amd has acted as instructor for the last 10 years, was honoured at Crickhowell on Saturday evening by his late comrades of C Company of the breconshire Territorials. A smoking concert, presided over by Captain J. J. Watkins, high sheriff of the county, was largely attended by Col.-Sergt.-Instructor R. FLYNN. (Photo, by Allen, Crickhowell.) I I local Territorials and their friends, among those present being Lieutenant Pritchard, Messrs D. I George, John Evans, and A. Dart. During the proceedings presentations were made to Sergt. Flynn, a purse of gold, and 1t pipe from mem- bers of C Company, and a framed photograph from Mr T. J. Allen, himself an old Volunteer. Captain Watkins, in making the presentations, expressed the regret of the company in losing the services of Sergeant Flynn, which had ex- tended over a period of 10 years, and wished him all prosperity in his new calling as land- lord of the Britannia Inn. A programme of music was afterwards carried through, and the Robertson Silver Challenge Cup was presented to the recent winner, Mr Harold Jones. Mr D. George proposed a vote of thanks to the chair- man.

NEW WELSH KO. Mr A. J. David, K.C., one of those who has just taken silk and a brother of Mr George David, Cardiff's Official Receiver.—World's Graphic Press.

S2,00 0 GRANT WANTED. Glamorgan Road Improvement. A joint special meeting of the Agricultural and Small Ho!dings and Allotments Com- mittees was lield at the County Council Offices, Cardiff, on Monday,when the report of the J oint Sub-Committee respecting a grant under the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, and suggesting a scheme as the basis of an application to the Development Commissioners, was considered and adopted. The scheme will be submitted to the Council in due course. but we may state that the Chairman (Alderman T. W. David) mentioned as a remarkable fact that the recommendation was practically the same as those made by the sub-committee of tbeC.)untyCoiincils"Asso- 2atinn, which met a few days after the Glamorgan Sub-Committee, and that the grant it was suggested should be asked lor, as an average for Councils, was the same, i.e., [ £ 2.000. I

WELSH SPEAKING JUDGES. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Scranton, Pa., October 21st, 1910. Mr Ben R. Jones, one of the distinguished -^Welshmen of America, was this week appointed Judge of Common Pleas of Luzerne County, of which Wilkes-Barre is the county seat. The appointment of Judge Jones was hailed with satisfaction among our countrymen through- out the States. About two years ago he re- tired after serving two terms as district- attorney of that large county. Although born in America Judge Jones is a Cymru through and through and is married to a gifted Welsh .lady, the daughter of H.G.Williams (Giedd- ^wysonV of Wilkesbarre, who recently visited Wales. His elevation to the Bench involves, a great financial sacrifice on the part of Judge Jones. His law practice, one of the heaviest in jthe busy Wyoming Valley, is said to bring "him an income of £t,OOO, while the salary of the Judge is but £1.200. That reminds one that there are more Welsh speaking judges in America than there are in Wales and they are among our brilliant jurists. First is Justice Charles Evans Hughes, former Governor of New York, and now a Justice of *our Supreme Court. He speaks Welsh although his vocabulary is somewhat limited. Then we Aave Judge H. M. Edwards, President Judge of Lackawanna County, probably the best known Welshman in the United States. His home is in Scranton. Judge Edwards has been an eisteddfodwr for more than fifty years and it is doubtful if there are a dozen men in the world who can equal his record in the number of Eisteddfodau attended or in prizes won. Of course for more than thirty years Judge Edwards has not been a competitor, but in his younger days he made it a point to comoete in the literary contests ef every Eisteddfod in America and it was very rarely that he failed in capturing a prize. He expects to attend the National Eisteddfod at Carmarthen. Some day I may be permitted to give your readers a complete list of our Welsh speaking judges, I will not attempt it to-day except to mention Judge Rees Richards, of Steubenville, O., Judge David Davies, Cincinatti, 0., Judge Howells, Ogden, U., Judge Richards, Newark, 0., all of whom speak fluently the language of Wales. Llandovery Man's Distinguished Son. Recurring to the appointment of Judge Jones, he was appointed largely through Col. R. A. Phillips, a young Welshman of immense influence, who climbed from the ranks and is now in charge of 30 large collieries employing 20,000 men and boys. Col. Phillips resides in Scranton, and is general superintendent of the coal department of the Lackawanna Railroad. He is a son of the late Rev. T. J. Phillips, Ci Ionawr, a native of Llandovery. Col. Phillips travelled 3,200 miles to attend an Eisteddfoa at Seattle, and enjoyed a delightful visit with his old friends Dr. Dan Protheroe, H. Evan Williams and Dr. Cynonfardd Edwards. This quartette also expect to be present at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod. Welshmen in Politics. Welshmen in America are generally Repub- licans to a man, but we have a notable exception in Maryland. Way down South," where they are all Democrats. Attorney D. J. Lewis, who as a Democrat has already served in the State Legislature, is a candidate for Congress, and will undoubtedly be elected. He I resides in Cumberland, and in this town as well as in Frostburg and Morgantown adjoining, Swansea and Llanelly are very largely repre- sented. Captain Ben S. Phillips, who is well-known in Aberdare. is a candidate for another term in the Pennsylvania Legislature from Scranton. Miss Margaret Elizabeth Owen, daughter of the late Owen Owen. of Hill-street, Carnar- von, was married to Humphrey Griffith, a prominent resident of Philadelphia, last week. The Mountain Ash Choir has reached Pitts- burg, where it had a magnificent reception. They met here Daniel Price, secretary of the Swansea Male Chorus, who will probably locate in that city. A large number of old Llanellyites have moved from Steubenville and Follansbee to Weirton, W. Va.. where the new Phillips tin- plate plant has been opened.

Oil TUARY* LIST. DEATH OF A WELSH BANKER. Y Drych recprds the following deaths in America:— MORRIS L. WILLIAMS. 792m, Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, the president of the Commercial National and First National Bank of Detroit, in his 69th year. Deceased was the son of the late Rev. William Williams, Calvinistic Methodist minister, Tycalch, Llangristiolus, Anglesey, his widow being the sister of Mrs Rees, the wife of the Rev. D. Rees, J.P. (Cong.), Capel Mawr, Anglesey. He emigrated to the States in 1865 and became the cashier of the American National Bank. He was one of the founders of the Commercial National Bank, and its first cashier in 1881, becoming soon afterwards president of the bank, and after the union of the Commercial National and First National Banks he became president of the joint concern. He was also connected with" "other commercial undertakings in Detroit. He was a deacon of the first Congregational Church at Detroit. 1859 CONVERT. Mr JOHN GABRIEL JONES. Seion, Van- wert. County Ohio, a native of Llanllechid, Carnarvonshire, passed away in his 68th year. He was one of the converts of the revival of 1859, and for some time hoped to enter the ministry. He, however, had to go to work in the Penrhyn Quarries, and in 1864 emi grated to the States. Here he worked as a miner in the Vermont and Pennsylvania Slate Quarries. He was an ardent eisteddfodwr, and rarely was" Bard Prairie." as he was known, absent from a Welsh Eisteddfod held anywhere in the neighbourhood. He leaves a widow, the daughter of Thomas and Anne Jervis, of Llanbrynmair, and nine children. JOHN TYFrU." JOHN R. THOMAS, Gilchrist. Illinois who was born in Newcastle Emlyn in 1832. He left Cardiganshire when 19 years of age for Rhym- ney. In 1860 he removed to Cymmer, Rhondda Valley. Here he married Gwen Evans, the daughter of Robert Evans, Cefncoed. They soon removed to Ystrad, living at Tyfri, and it is as John Tyfri that he will be recalled by many in the Rhondda Valley. Thirty years ago he emigrated to the States, whero- his family joined him four years later. He leaves a widow and 12 children. Three of his children had predeceased him. Mrs ELIZABETH REES, Paola, Kansas, a native of Dolgellv. where she was born, August* 21st, 1847. When 16 years of age she emigrated with an elder sister to the States, where she married Hugh Â. Rees, of Red Oak, Iowa. They soon afterwards removed to Paola. Kansas, where they spent the rest Of their lives. WILLIAM EVAN, Barre, Vermont, a native of Dolgelly. North Wales, died in his 40th year. He was a good musician, and spent much of his life in Utica, New York State. DAVID MORGAN, Lansford. Pennsylvania, a native of Tredegar, passed away in his 61st year. He was an ardent Oddfellow, a member of the Knights of Pythians, as well as of the Miners' Union.

Swansea Finances. INCREASED COST OF EDUCATION. The annual report of the Swansea Borough A countant was issued on Monday. It con- sists of 133 pages and an index, and contains evidence of the painstaking care Mr Hopton has bestowed on its preparation. The year began with a credit balance of £5,823, and closed with one of £2,231. The profit on the market has increased from £3,979 in 1899 to £1.?.50 in 1910. a fact which hardly helps the Reform" party in their crusade there respect- ing this institution' sadministration.Elementary education has cost £7.550, as aga inst £3,821 technical education £2,200, and intermediate education £925. The general rate account shows receints from rates amounting to £93,593, and from miscellaneous sources £24,681. The total amount expended on capital account was £99.281, including £58,896 on the Cray Waterworks. The receipts on water- works account were and the payments £62.067, including £4,838 for interest and sinking fund. The loss chargeable to the general district rate is, therefore, £29093. as against £ 26,381 last year. The slaughter-house ^revenue was £ 703, against £ 903 in 1899, and the profit onr the electricity works £2,722. The debt of the Corporation is £2,417,868, of which £1,630.033 was exnended on works of a remunerative nature, and £737,790 on works of an unremunerative nature. The total interest paid was £71,210, while a sum was set aside for the redemption of loans. The total standing to the credit of the consolidated loan fund is £260,097, and to the credit of a separate sinking fund for loan other than stock £13,111. There is also in the consolidated loan fund £19,250, beine purchase money of land forming part of the permanent estate of the Corporation. There has been purchased during the year Swansea Corporation Irredeemable Stock to the value of £7,250 at a cost of £7,258, making the total amount of irredeemable stock purchased for extinction to date £101.203 at a cost of £106,185. There has also been purchased Swansea. Corporation Redeemable Stock to the nominal value of £5.056 at a cost of £4,402, making the total amount of redeem- able stock purchased for extinction to date £10,163 at a cost of £8,840. These sums reduce the net debt of the borough to £2,033,292.

AFTER A FRIENDLY GLASS. -r- At Cardiff on Saturday Mary Ann Tame (34), was charged with inflicting" grievously bodily harm," on Mary Davies, by breaking her right leg at Russell-street, Cardiff, on September 17th. It was brought out in evidence by Mr Harold Lloyd. that the women had been having a friendly glass together, but had fallen out in the process of argument. It was. then that Davies fell and fractured her ankle. The magis- trates dismissed the ease. 1

By D. EMLYN EVANS. THE CARMARTHEN NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD. List 6f Subjects. In the earlier history of even the reformed National Eisteddfod, one of the most per* sistent complaints—a sort of hardy annual it may be called-was in regard to the late appearance of the syllabus, or the list of com- petitive subjects, in consequence of which intending competitors complained, and not without just cause, that they were not given sufficient time to produce works worthy of the institution, or of themselves if given fair notice. For it must not be forgotten that Eisteddfod competitors are, or at least were, largely amateurs, whose only leisure for literary or musical work was after the day's duties were done. But for some years past this fault haa been remedied, and the unwritten law that next year's book of subjects is to be completed and issued in time for the previous year's gathering is now strictly carried out; and thus, the Carmarthen list, for next year, was in cir- culation at the Colwyn Bay meeting, just a« that of Wrexham, 1912, wi([ be ready, no doubt, in good time for distribution at the Carmarthen event. Here of course, we have only to do with the musical portion of the Carmarthen pro- gramme, a glance at which will show us that in this instance, at least, it can scarcely be said that the rights of Welsh music have not been adequately recognised. In every vocal class, —solojduet, quartette and choral—with the ex- ception of the madrigal by a party of sixteen (and there are only one or two Welsh madri- gals existing), one of the selected test pieces is by a Welsh composer, the penillion contests being, of course, entirely in Welsh. In the other selections a commendable catholicity of taste is displayed, the trend on the whole being towards the production of the more modern school, rather than those lof the old classical masters. Bach's Be not afraid "—with or- chestral accompaniment—forms one of thff three chief choral tests one of the two second chorals being a Brahms' chorus—a composer whose name, by the by, figures but seldom in our competitive programmes. Handel is repre- sented by two solos, and Bach, Spohr, and Dvorak, by one each. We are glad to see Henry Smart's The Sea rules all," from The Bride of Dunkerron included assuredly one of the finest baritone solos -w ritten in our time, also its companion test, Brindley Richards' Cambrian War Song," another very able and effective song, most straiigely neglected by present day baritone singers. These two songs make an exceptionally powerful selee-, tion, though it cannot be said that the joint, items are weak in any of the vocal classes— in the matter of contrast indeed, some of the others may claim equality, at least, with the baritone—e.g., the contralto, consisting of I Dvorak's Inflammatus (" Stabat Mater and the old Wesh melody Suo-gan." It is gratifying to Welsh musicians, too, to observe among the composers the names of our three most gifted lyric song writers of the past-—iR. S. Hughes, Pughe-Evans, and William Davies. The committee, evidently feeling that prizes offered for orchestral band performances bring about no very satisfactory results, are proceed- ing on less ambitious lines, and so we have a trio (piano, violin, and violoncello), a string quartet, a quintet (piano and wind), and an octet (stringed instruments only) and it will be interesting to note the measure of success that may follow this very commendable plan. In addition to the above there are piano (senior and junior), flute, oboe, clarionet, cornet, violin, and 'cello subjects; besides harps—pedal, triple, and Celtic. The prizes offered for singing at sight, and also for playing ditti are in the right direction. For the brass band contests which are fixed for August Bank Holiday—the Monday preceding the opening day of the Eisteddfod proper-important and numerous sums are provided in two different classes. Lastly, the musical composer has not been forgotten, for some half-a-dozen prizes are offered in this branch, viz., three each for vocal and instrumental work—a male voice chorus, an anthem, and a song; and a piece for small orchestra, trio (piano, violin, and 'cello), and writing piano accom- paniment to two Welsh folk-songs. Although no very large amounts are given in this sec- tion this year—past experience not having been very encouraging in that clirection either, 88 the many withheld prizes of importance tes- tify—the two highest being £10 each in the vocal and instrumental sections the young composer may find opportunity to use his winter nights' leisure profitably and pleasur- ably, on one or another of the above subjects. Wrexhajn National JElateddfwJ* 1912. Although the echoes of the Colwyn Bay jubf- Jations have only barely died out yet, the doughty men of Wrexham and the neighbour- hood are already energetically at work, daily— or rather, nightly—meetings of the various committees being the general order, and businesslike procedure the rule so that, judg- ing from present report, there appears to be no danger of the syllabus of the National Eistedd- fod of 1912 not making its appearance in ex- ceedingly good time. Wrexham has the ad- vantage of being the centre of a populous dis- trict, and of possessing in its midst a numbef of able musical and literary men having con- siderable experience of the working of aD Eisteddfod successfully.

MAKE IT SHOftT." A little ragged man, bearing an appealing notice round his neck to the effect that be had suffered terrible injuries in a Welsh colliery explosion, appeared at the Haverfordwest Police Court on Saturday on a charge of having been drunk and disorderly. Defendant, who gave his name as Hiram Mitchell, denied the offence. Police evidence was given that the defendant was kneeling down and praying in the street. Defendant, who was intoxi- cated, was alternately begging, swearing, and praying. Inspector Evans said that the man was a perfect nuisance. Mr Isaiah Reynolds, chairman of the Bench. was proceeding to address defendant when the latter interrupted with the request: Make it short." (Laughter.) "Give me seven days." He was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment,

EXASPERATED STALL-HOLDER. George Willoughby, a stall-holder at the Fish Market" Cardiff, denied being dis- orderly and making use of obscene language at the market on Saturday night. He also denied assaulting P.C. George Preeee. The latter stated at the Cardiff Police-court on Mon- day that when he asked Willoughby for his name and address he knocked his' hand down, struck him on the chest* and caught hold of his collar and tie. Prisoner said the con- stable came about six or seven times asking for his name and address oh Saturday evening and kept him from getting an honest living. His hands were crippled and he could not strike a blow. Inspector Bingham stated that it was on orders from the Chief Constable that P.C. Preece was making enquiries in regard to the employment of children by defendant. Fined 10s and costs.

¡ UNPROTECTED FIRE, I Griffith Rees (38), farmer, Gorse, Llau- arthney, was charged at Carmarthen on Satur- day with allowing a child under seven years of age to be in a room where there was a fire unprotected by a guard. The charge was pre- ferred at the instance of Mr J. W. Nicholas, coroner, who recently held an inquest on the two-year-old son of the defendant, the evi- dence showing that, whilst the servant went to fetch a pitcher of water from a well 100 yards distant from the house the infant went to the fire with a candle and got his clothes set on fire, which burnt him to death. Superinten- dent Samuel Jones said this was the first case under Section 15 of the Children's Act of 1908 which had been brought before that court, and he took proceedings with a view of warning others in the county, where the Act was not generally known. The defendant was dis- charged with a caution.

MR W. CLARKE, NEWPORT. At Newport on Monday Mr Wm. Clarke, the deputy official receiver, was the recipient of an illuminated address and gold watch and chain. the gift of the solicitors of the county, on the occasion of his retirement from his official posi- tion, and setting up in business as accountant. Mr L. H. Hornby (registrar) made the pre- sentation on behalf of the subscribers, and re- ferred to the lengthy association of Mr Clarke with the Bankruptcy Court, and the latter s popularity. Messrs Frank Lewis,Lyndon Moore, A. E. Bowen (Pontypool), Fred Gardner (official receiver), E. H. Davies (registrar of the Tredegar Court), and Horace Lyne eulogised the services of Mr Clarke and his unfailing courtesy in the performance of his duties.

GABALFA CAPTURE. A smart capture was made by the Llandaff police in the early hours of Snnday morning. Acting-sergeant Thomas and P.C. Jones noticed that all was not correct at the house of Mrs Jane Mackerel!, of Whitchurch-roa.d, Gabalfa, and, on entering, found George Salter, who gave an address in Cardiff-road, Abercynon, on the premises. The man, it is stated", had a quantity of silver goods in his possession, and was arrested. He will ba brought before the magistrates to-day on a charge of burglariously entering the house.