The Cardiff Times

OLD A6 é. PENSIONS. i How Socialists Hinder Them. Speaking at Northfield, Worcestershire, on Saturday, Mr George Cadbury, who, with his eldest son has spent considerable sums during the past ten years in advocating a universal scheme of old age pensions, and has been the chief financial supporter of the National Old Age Pensions League, declared himself opposed to the contributory scheme of old age pensions recently advocated in the Press. He objected on the ground that it would shut out the hardest worked class in the country, namely, the wives of men of the labouring class. With the wealth of the country increasing, poverty and unemployment were growing also, and there must be a continuance of the present Government's labour legislation. But the Liberal party, while attacked on the one hand by Conservative landowners and speculators, and wealthy Jews, were unfortunately virulently assailed on the other hand by the extreme Socialists, who did not want gradual ameliorative measures such as the Govern- ment was passing, but for things to go from bad to worse until there was a revolution. Liberals, however, believed in steady progress, and he did not think the House of Lords would be able to prevent that progress.

THE LUSITANIA. Royal Congratulations. Bremen, Saturday.—Speaking at a dinner given in honour of the German Society of Public Health on board the Kaiser Wilhelm II., Herr Heineken, a director of North Ger- man Lloyd Co., referred to the voyage of the Lusitania. He said although the Lusitania had not broken the ocean record of the North German Lloyd, yet the first voyage of such a vessel was not decisive as machinery must be given a thorough testing, and the personnel must learn to pull together. If, however, the Blue Ribbon must be forfeited to Great Britain, it should not be forgotten that thanks to the British State subsidy they were engaged in unequal contest, moreover, it must be borne in mind the practical result of the possible victory of the Lusitania was very small.—Reuter. The Cunard Company have received the following telegram from Sandringham Hearty congratulations on the success of the Lusitania."

BIGAMIST FORGIVEN. William Hutchins, a carman, living in Grant-road, Battersea, was charged at the South-Western Police Court on Saturday with bigamy. He courted a laundress named Maria Racey, and in August they were married at St. Mary's, Battersea. After the ceremony he stated that he would have to leave her, as he wished to return home to his landlady. She acquiesced, be going his way and sb e hers. It transpired that the man returned not to his udlady but to his wife, and passed a few days now and again with Maria Racey. The second wife said she understood he was a bachelor, and had no idea he was married till his arrest by the police. Prisoner mentioned that since the remand he had received a letter from Maria Racey offering to forgive him for the wrong he had done her. Mr do Grey committed him for trial.

MILLENIUM M.P. Mr Grayson's Ideals. Speaking at Outlane, near Huddersfield, on Saturday, Mr Grayson, M.P.. said Socialists ,v were going to fight relentlessly against private greed, private enterprise, and private profit, and if they succeeded there would be no idle, unearned increment for people who did no labour. In another speech he said there would still be worlds to conquer when they had fed, clothed, and educated children, given work to people willing to work, and old age pensions to worn-out workers, and limited the powers of profit-plunderers and plunderers of the people's labour. Given food, worthy houses and worthy work, new vistas of life would be opened.

LLANHILLETH WANDERER. Fourteen Years' Desertion. At Pontypool Police Court on Saturday W. John Parker, labourer, of Llanhilleth, was summoned for deserting his wife Margaret, who applied for a maintenance order. Prosecutrix said she was married in 1872 and her husband deserted her 14 years ago,but she had not taken any-proceedings against him until now. Defendant had since been knock- ing about the country," leaving her to bring up eight children. Defendant said he was willing to provide good home for his wife, and under the circum- stances the Bench made no order.

John Styley, a Brithdir labourer, was ad- mitted to the Merthyr Workhouse Infirmary in an unconscious state on September 5th He was said to be suffering from alcoholism, but it was discovered that he had met with an acci- dent before the date of his admission. He has now died, not having regained conscioui- Mgg. At iTVfr«>« £ wiIl be.hfikL

Christchurch Fire. I TWO HOUSES GUTTED. Occupants' Narrow Escape. A serious outbeak of fire occurred in the parish of Christchurch, which adjoins New- port, on Saturday afternoon, two dwelling houses and a shed being gutted, and a third dwelling damaged. The property destroyed belonged to Mr G. T. Poole, lime and mortar merchant, Malpas-road, Newport, and was situate near his lime-kiln at Christchurch. The dwellings stood on the road-side, and at one end was a shed which was stored with hay, timber and other articles for use in con- nection with the erection of additional houses. These stores caught fire by some means, and soon the shed was a mass of flames, the roof having fallen in before the arrival of the New- port Eire Brigade, which had to travel four miles to the spot. They were prompt, however, in responding to the call, but it was with no little consternation that they found on con- necting up their pipes that the only water supply available was a small brook, which they soon dried up. In the meantime the fire spread to the adjoining houses, the first of which was occupied by Mr and Mrs Baynham and family. Mrs Baynham rescued her chil- dren, and as much of her furniture as she could, and then the roof of this and the ad- joining house-which fortunately was un- occupied—fell in with a loud crash. The fire spread along the roof to the adjoining two houses, which were occupied by Mr Baker and Mr Jones and their respective families. They at once cleared out their furniture into the roadway. The third house was extensively damaged, and it would have been destroyed but for the efforts of the brigade, additional water having ere this been turned into the brook. It was a sad picture to see three homeless families in the roadway viewing the wreckage of their gutted dwellings. Praise is due to the firemen for their promptness and for their effective action under adverse conditions, and to P.C. Bell, stationed at Christchurch, who was the first public official on the scene. The Jones family, who occupy the end house of the row, were able to regain possession of their home :nd replace their furniture. The other two families made the best of the accommoda- tion left, but the dwellings will practically need rebuilding. The brigade were in attend- ance about four hours. On their return journey the brigade* had a rather alarming experience. While proceeding along the Chepstow-road one of the horses slipped and was severely injured. It had to be replaced by another horse before the brigade were able to reach the station.

BROKE HER NECK. Distressing Neath Accident. On Saturday morning MrsLovering, an elderly lady, whose home was at Pendre, Neath, fell down some steps leading to the back garden and broke her neck. She was the widow of Joe Lovering, the redoubtable bowler of the Neath cricket team in its palmy days, who achieved distinction on the Neath ground of twice bowl- ing for a duck the famous W. G. Grace. Mr Howell Cuthbertson (coroner) held an inquest at the Town Hall, Neath, on Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs Annie Lovering. aged 56, of 43, Llantwit- road, Neath, as reported above. Morgan Main- waring, an old man, was called. The Coroner Good gracious Are you Morgan Mainwaring ? Witness: Yes, sir. The Coroner I thought you were dead long ) ago. Witness No, sir, I am not dead, thank God. I have drunk a lot of beer, but am not dead so far. (Laughter.) Proceeding, witness said he was going into the house, and kicked against something. He then ran for a candle, exclaiming, Come quickly. Somehodv is drunk, sleeping by the door." They afterwards found that it was the body of Mrs Icovering. Dr. Protheroe Thomas said deceased's face was discoloured and swollen and the lips cut. The neck was dislocated. This was due to the fall. Death must have been instantaneous. The jury returned a verdict of Found dead." The Coroner added that something should be done to protect the stairway, which he considered to be in a very dangerous condition.

A HUSBAND'S CRUELTY. Shocking Case at Blaengarw. Mrs Pontin, wife of William Pontin, colliery hitcher, Blaengarw, applied at Bridgend Police Court on Saturday for a separation order against her husband on the ground of persistent cruelty. Mr T. J. Hughes (Messrs Hughes and Lewis, Bridgend) said that it was difficult to believe that such cruelty could have been perpetrated by a husband on a wife in a Christian country and in the 20th century. Mrs Ponti said that when she was in bed ill before her confinement her husband attacked and beat her, and alter her confine- ment, when she was very ill with typhoid fever, he beat her again. They had been mar- ried six years, and during that time lie had made her life miserable. He had recently attacked her when she had her baby in her arms, and had struck her down several times until she had to hit him on the head with a poker in self-defence. He threatened to mur, der her, and she was in bodily fear of him. He drank heavily, and his habits about the house were unspeakably filthy. She was now living with her parents at Taibach. Wm. Pontin, who had his head plastered where his wife hit him with the poker, denied his wife's story. An order was granted and Wm. Pontin was directed to pay his wife 18s per week, she also to have the custody of the children. The magistrates thought it was a pity Pontin had not been proceeded against for assaulting his wife, as it was evident he had been guilty of most cruel conduct.

A RUNAWAY "JOURNEY." Abercynon Colliery Fatality. At the Hollybush Inn, Nelson, on Saturday, Mr R. J. Rhys held an inquest into the death of Charles Powell Jones (19), a waller. Mr Nicholas was present on behalf of the Miners' Federation, together with Mr Jones, manager of the Abercynon Colliery, and Mr Saint, on behalf of the Home Office. Evidence was given by William Albert Jones, deceased's brother, who said that the lad had only worked in the mine for three months, and had previously been engaged on a farm. Edwin Stedman, with whom deceased worked, said he was on a 9ft. timber, and deceased was between the two roads. He heard a jour- ney coming on wildly, but before he had time to call out Jones was knocked down He subsequently found him underneath a tram. David Rees, fireman, said that he coupled the journey going into this particular part of the workings by three shackles. Usually a long shackle, about four feet in length, was used, but there was not one available within 600 or 700 yards. The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out that the fireman had evidently acted through misjudgment in using the three shackles. The Journey coming down a deep, the shackles bad buckled, and one of the pins had raised, causing the tram of timber in question to run. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," and exonerated the fireman from blame.

SUICIDE OF A HUNCHBACK. t DYING PAUPER'S WINDOW JUMP. Ann Harrington, a hunchbacked inmate of the Merthyr Workhouse Infirmary, committed suicide early on Saturday morning under extraordinary circumstances. She has been in the institution since July 4th, suffering from spinal disease and tuber- culosis. She was unable to move in bed with- out assistance, and she knew she was dying. Her friends were summoned to see her, pre- sumably for the last time. The night nurse £ ing her rounds early on Saturday morning sa that she was all right, and passed on. Returning five minutes later she found Harrington's bed empty, and the window open. A woman in the bed close by said she had seen Harrington crawl through the window, a.nd when Nurses Evans and Watkins ran down they found the woman lying on the ground underneath the second storey window. They carried her back, and as they were putting her to bed again she died.

MINER'S MURDEROUS ATTACK. Three Policemen Shot. A murderous affray occurred last night at Mexborough, near Doncaster. Last week a summons was served upon a miner named Harold Carr, and he is alleged to have declared that he would do for a sergeant of police. Last night. when Sergeant Matthews and two constables were standing near the theatre, Carr approached them, and producing a re- volver fired. Mathews was shot, and was removed to hospital in a critical condition. Constable Haigh was also wounded and had his ribs broken, and Constable Burrows was wounded in the arm. Carr was arrested.

12,000 DEBTORS COMMITTED. No fewer than 11,986 debtors were sent to prison during 1906, while twenty years ago the number was only 4,228. The Law Journal points out that the numbers have been much larger since the passing of the Act by which imprisonment for debt was nominally abolished. Not less remarkable," it continues, is the want of uniformity in the practice of the county court judges, On the Huddersfield Circuit, for instance, 5,511 warrants of com- mitment were issued and 518 debtors were im- prisoned, while on the Newcastle Circuit, with a large volume of business, the warrants of commitment numbered but 276, and only forty- three debtors were sent to gaol. The power of imprisonment is, in truth, abused, and Padia- .> ment ought speedily to-direc&its attention to

Horse Maimed at Barry. SUSPICION OF OUTRAGE. Excitement was created throughout the Cadoxton district on Sunday afternoon by the discovery that a valuable mare had been wounded whilst grazing on a field near the Moors. The mare is the well-known trotter. Lady Mary Ann, belonging to Mr Watkin Evans, late of the Gar rick Hotel. Cardiff. About noon some persons walking in the field saw the animal with an extensive cut on one of its hind legs, and Mr Evans was sum- moned. The suspicion was aroused that some- one had injured the animal in order to prevent it being such a keen rival in local trotting events. Mr R. W. Hall, M.R.C.V.S., Barrv Dock, was called to Cadoxton in the afternoon, and found that the injuries were such as might have been caused by barbed wire or a kick from another horse. It was rather- a long wound to have been caused by a kick, although it was just possible that it was caused that way. The animal suffered great pain, and it will probably he some time before it is again engaged in a trot- ting match. Mr Hall was emphatic in his opinion to our representative, and declared that naturally there were some suspicions, but in his opinion it was not a case of-malicious injury.

OXIDE OF MERCURY TABLETS. Strange Case at Bridgend. Mrs Elizabeth Bevan, a district nurse, living at Bettws, near Bridgend, and her daughter, Mrs Elizabeth Duckett, also of Bettws, were charged at Bridgond on Saturday with at- tempting to commit suicide by taking tablets of oxide of mercury. P.C. William Evans said he was called to Mrs Bevan's house at 1 a.m. on September 1st, and found Mrs Bevan in bed unconscious. A bottle contain- ing tablets of oxide of mercury was handed to him. Dr. Dobbins said he arrived a few minutes after the con- stable. He found Mrs Bevan consider- ably collapsed. but not quite unconscious. The symptoms indicated that she bad taken one of the tablets of oxide of mercury, which she used in her profession, and which were very poisonous. Mrs Bevan now said she had taken the tablet in mistake for other tablets which she was taking and which she had procured from a herbalist. She made the mistake through taking them in the dark. Mr S. H. Stock wood (magistrates' clerk) Why didn't you tell the doctor and the police that at the time —Mrs Bevan I was excited, I suppose, and I said a lot. Alderman Wm. Llewellyn (chairman) said there was not sufficient evidence to justify the magistrates sending the defendant for trial, and the Bench would dismiss the case, but the circum- stances were suspicious. The charge against Elizabeth Duckett was then proceeded with. P.C. William Evans said that on the 2nd September, the day after he had been called to Mrs Bevan, he again visited the house. He fotlnd Elizabeth Duckett, who was attending on her mother, sitting in a chair, vomiting and groaning. A cup containing oxide of mercury was handed to him. He administered an emetic to the defendant. Mrs Duckett was bound over for six months, and her husband became surety for her not attempting the deed again.

BURIED COSTLY SILVER. Butler's Hardest Work. As cool a confession as has ever been heard in a court of law emanated from Karl Hinze, a young German butler, who was charged before the Isle of Wight County Bench at Newport on Saturday with the theft on August 22nd of E200 worth of silver plate, which was afterwards found buried on a lawn. The silver was the property of Mr Chaplin, of the well-known firm of carriers, who had been staying at Vallombrosa, Spring Vale, near Ryde. Hinze, who had been in Mr Chaplin's ser- vice, absconded after the silver was stolen, and was apprehended at Melton Mowbray a few days ago. Sarah Banister, the cook, stated that she locked up between 10 and 11 on the night pre- ceding the robbery. At that time the silver was safe. The next morning she found the windows, drawers, and cupboards in the kitchen open. The doors were also open. A margarine basket in which the silver was after- wards found was missing from the scullery on the morning after the robbery. Deputy Chief Constable Gallaway produced a confession, signed by prisoner, as follows :— The hole was just large enough, but I never measured it. The devil must have helped me, it fitted so well. I carefully filled up the hole and replaced the turf. I worked harder than ever I had done before in my life. It was about four o'clock when I finished. I then turned on the electric light in the kitchen and placed two chairs and wine glasses in the dining-room to make it look more real. I poured the missing wine down the sink" Prisoner was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour.

MRS CAUDLE UP-TO-DATE. Girl-Wife and 16- Year-Old Spouse A case of conjugal infelicity which had both its tragic and humorous side was heard at Blackburn on Saturday. It was the outcome of a boy and girl mar- riage, the husband being 16 and his wife a pretty girl of 18, who summoned her husband, John Robert Eccles, for giving her a black eye. The Chairman How long havo you been married ? Complainant (tearfully): Since January. The Chairman It's absurd to come here after eight months. Will you take him back if he promises to behave ? The Girl (emphatically ): No, sir. The Chairman Are you frightened ? No, ['m not frightened of him, but I don't want him any more. When the laughter had been quelled by the clerk, the young wife admitted her husband had complained about his meals and house not being clean also that she had sulked for a week at a time. (Laughter.) The Defending Solicitor: Did you begin shouting as soon as he got into bed ?—The Wife Yes.—The Solicitor You are evidently Mrs Caudle up-to-date. (Laughter.) The Clerk Why did you shout at him ?— The Wife Because he would do nothing with the baby.—The Clerk Evidently the lady can use her tongue. Defendant would not promise never to chas- tise her again unless she held her tongue, and the chairman said the young wife had made an exceedingly bad start in wedded life. She must not aggravate her husband, and he must keep his hands off her and pay the costs. Amid more laughter the girl wife paid her husband's costs.

PGNTYCYMMER TRAGEDY. Funeral of the Victim. One of the saddest sights ever witnessed at Pontycymmer was the funeral on Saturday of Mrs Rachael Hannah Stills, who is alleged to have been murdered by her son George. The cortege started from the house at 3.45, singing the hymn, "Guide me, 0 Thou great Jehovah." The streets from the house to the Cemetery were lined with people, many being in tears. The coffin was of elm with brass fittings, and bore the following inscription Rachael Hannah Stills, died September 10th, aged 70 years." The husband of deceased was accompanied by one of his sons and a friend. During the procession the old man frequently burst into tears. At the graveside the Rev. W. Saunders read portions of scripture, and referred in impressive terms to the terrible tragedy which had taken place. They were, he said, face to face with the saddest affliction that had ever visited the valley. The aged man present was in trouble because of the death of his wife, but he was in greater trouble because of the alleged sin of his son in the cell at Cardiff. The Rev. D. Hughes, Tabernacle, offered prayer, and the hymn, Lead, Kindly Light," was sung.

MILFORD TRAWLER LOST. 18 Hours in an Open Boat. On Saturday afternoon the steam trawler Goldfinder (Captain J. Setterfield) arrived at Milford Haven with the crew (nine men) of the steam trawler Resolute (Captain Hawkins), also of Milford, and belonging to Messrs Page and Co. From the men's thrilling narrative it appears that the Resolute sprung a leak under the boiler early on Friday morning. The crew did their utmost to stem the inrush, but at 8 o'clock, when the task was hopeless, they had perforce to take to the boat. and then the trawler foundered about 140 miles to the west of St. Ann's Head. Throughout the day the men remained in their little craft, failing to attract the notice of any vessel. Through the night they pursued their perilous quest, and in the early hours of Saturday morning they were picked up by the Goldfinder. The Reso- lute was practically a new ship, and had been in the port less than two years, and was a very successful fishing craft. On Tuesday morning she had a collision with the ketch Irene, from Bridgwater to Dublin, with bricks, which had to be towed into Milford. The damage to the steamer, however, wa nil.

JE15 DAMAGES FOR ASSAULT. Before Judge Roberts, at Pontypridd Court on Saturday, John Rees Williams, collier, Llantwit Vardre, claimed £ 25 damages from David Phillips, collier, Llantrisant, for per- sonal injuries, due to an alleged assault com- mitted upon him by defendant. Plaintiff stated that Phillips struck him a violent blow on the face, and Dr. Lagie said that Williams' jaw was fractured and two teeth dislodged. Plaintiff was unable to follow his employment for six weeks. The defence set up by Mr James Phillips, solicitor, was that plaintiff was the aggressor, and had struck his client twice before the latter retaliated. Plaintiff was alleged to have boasted that he was the l champion of Llantwit, and invited defendant to fight. His Honour gave judgment for plaintiff (for whom Mr Dd. Bees appeared) for

t Tenby Restaurant Scene. GUEST'S AMAZING TANTRUMS. At Tenbv on Saturday morning James Hughes, a respectably dressed man, who stated that he was a commercial traveller employed by a London firm, was charged with assault- ing P.S. Alfred Thomas and P.C. W. Johns whilst in the execution of their duty. The story told by P.S. Thomas was an extraor- dinary one. On Thursday afternoon he received an urgent message to go to Rodney's Restau- rant, Tudor-square, where a lodger had locked himself in his room and was breaking the fur- niture and windows, and smoke was issuing from the room. He went to the place, and found the upstairs part of the house full of smoke. He called upon the lodger to open the door of his room, but he refused and said, The man that comes in here, look out." Witness broke open the door, and immedi. aselv defendant dealt him a heavy blow on the left cheek with a china ornament, inflicting a wound which Dr. Knowling had to stitch. With a similar ornament in the other hand defendant struck P.C. John on the mouth and head. They closed with the defendant and secured him on the bed, which was burning at the time. The defendant was very violent, and the room was in great disorder. Assist- ance had to be got to handcuff the man and take him to the station. He was perfectly sober. Dr. E. M. Knowling said on the Thursday morning-before the afternoon at the restau- rant—the defendant came to him in the com- pany of P.S. Thomas. He said he had been drinking heavily, and wanted something to make him better. Witness prescribed for him, and ordered him to give up drinking. He was then perfectly sobes. The defendant gave sworn evidence. He said he had been staying at Tenby Port for some time, and had been drinking hard-not getting drunk, but con- tinually nipping," and his nerves became affected. The Bench imposed fines and costs amounting alogether to E4 lis, or imprison- ment in default. The money was paid bv a person in the court. The damage done at the restaurant was said to amount to £10.

SWANSEA TRAGEDIES. novice Cyclist's Fatal Spill. At Swansea on Saturday an inquest was held on the body of Frederick Griffin, aged 25, of George-street, Pontardawe, who died at the Swansea Hospital on Friday as the result of a cycling accident on a hill at Cilybebyll under circumstances already reported. Deceased, jivho had been in the Lifeguards and was be- lieved to be a novice on a cycle, according to the evidence was, between 9 and 10 at night, riding on a hill, and at a point where there is a difficult bend ran, without ringing his bell or giving any warning, into a pedestrian, named Thomas Davidson, who was walking on his proper side. Both fell as the result of the im- pact, but Davidson was able to get up, and he found deceased unconscious, suffering from an injury to the head from which blood was oozing. Deceased, after receiving medical attentin, was sent to the Swansea Hos- pital, where he died without regaining con- sciousness. The Coroner said if anyone was to blame it was the deceased himself. A verdict of Accidental death was returned. A Terrific Blow. Another inquiry was as to the death of John McCarthy, of Greenhill, who met with a shocking death at the Mannesmann Tube Works, Landore. A steam hammer was at work punching holes through heated steel, when from some unexplained cause the block under the hammer, used as a wedge, which weighs more than 101b., flew off and struck deceased, who was at the time passing 20 feet away. The block had been used hundreds of times, said one of the witnesses, but there had never before been such a mishap, though on one occasion a block had been smashed by the impact. Anothe man had a narrow escape, the block grazing the side of his arm before striking deceased in the stomach. McCarthy died on the way to the Hospital. The Coroner expressed the opinion that it would be idle to fence in a steam hammer in such a works, for nothing but a wall would stop anything driven by such terrific force. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death," exonerating anyone from blame.

COMPENSATION & WAGE RATE. Important Decision at Pontypridd. Judge Bryn Roberts gave an important decision at Pontypridd Court on Saturday in respect of his authority to take into considera.- tion the present high rate of wages in assess- ing compensation due to a workman injured a few years ago. The case was one in which the Troedyrhiw Coal Co.. Treherbert, offered light employment to Charles Thomas, who was now in receipt of £ 1 a week compensation. The company offered Thomas a position as shackler at a wage of 11 13s, with an additional 9s a week as compensation money. This arrange- ment his Honour was asked to confirm, it being argued by Mr Kenshole, who appeared for the company, that this would be placing Thomas in exactly the same position as he was following the first award, Thomas being then allowed XI when engaged as a lampman at JE1 2s a week. Mr Nicholas, for Thomas, had raised the point that his Honour in assess- ing the present award should have regard to the increased rate of wages now paid to the men. as respondent's average on the present percentage would have been very much more than was the case when he met with the injury. His Honour states that ha-ving thoroughly considered the Act and the dicta of Lord Justice Romer and other High Court justices on the point, it appeared to him perfectly clear that the subsequent alteration in the rate of wages could not be taken as a factor by the County Court Judge in reviewing an award, but this would have to be based entirely upon the actual average earnings prior to the date of the accident. He, however, did not think it was justice to accede to Mr Kenshole's application, inasmuch as if Thomas was asked to perform more onerous duties it was only fair that he as well as the employer should participate in the advantages derived from his performing the work now offered him. The Judge made an award of 18s a week compen- sation, bringing his total earnings up to £2 lis, the average amount earned prior to the acci- dent.

BUTTER v. MARGARINE. Newpert Guardians' Decision. At Saturday's meeting of the Newport Board of Guardians, Mr T. Dutfield presiding, Mr J. Davies, Abercarn, objected to supplying the paupers with margarine instead of butter. Mr D. Guy said they had a sample of margarine for a trial. It was of the best quality. Mr R. T. James challenged the members that if the margarine and butter were placed unmarked on the table they would not know the difference. They should give the paupers the most nutri- trious of the two. Councillor W. Evans urged that there was a vast difference in the two. They should not give margarine to the paupers unless they could eat it themselves. Replying to a member, the Clerk said that the price of the butter was 86s per cwt., and of the margar- ine 56s 6d. per cwt. Mr C. D. Phillips thought that good margarine was better than bad butter.—Mr W. Evans Have we had bad butter ?—The Workhouse Master You are supplied according to sample. Second Corks don't always turn out right.—The Chairman and others pleaded for butter, and on a vote being taken it was resolved by 29 votes to 4 to reject the margarine tenders.

CHILD FALLS FROM WINDOW. On Saturday a shocking accident occurred in Trice's-court, Union-street, Cardiff. It ap- j pears that a Mrs Murphy, who was out at work, left three of her children, the eldest of whom is between nine and ten years of age, in the house alone. One of the children, Thomas Murphy, about five years old, has measles, and was left in an upstairs room. During the afternoon screams were heard from the court, and it was found that the upstairs child had crawled to the window and bad fallen out. Neighbours auickly picked up the child, which appeared to have injured the back of his head. He was conveyed to Dr. Buist's surgery. The child, who was suffering from concussion of the brain, was conveyed to the Workhouse Infirmary.

PORT TALBOT WESLEYAN MISSION. Sir Wm. Cressman Presides. The Port Talbot Wesleyans are nothing if they are not, an enthusiastic body of religious workers, for last week they held a very successful bazaar, realising £ 305, the sum re- quired to wipe out the debt on the present building. On Sunday a great meeting was held in the two marquees that had been fixed up in the space opposite the chapel. The morn- ing service was fairly crowded, but the mass meeting for men in the afternoon witnessed one of the greatest meetings ever held in the district. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff (Sir Wm. Grossman) was chairman, and the speaker was the Rev. H. Howard May, of Inverness, Scot- land. There were also present Councillor'J. M. Smith (Mayor of Aberavon), Councillor Phillips (Mayor of Neath), Mr E. Lowther (general manager Port Talbot Railway), Mr Cleaver, Major Bray, Mr Enoch Thomas, and others. Councillor Phillips extended a hearty welcome to the Lord Mayor. Sir William Crossman said it was a great pleasure to him to be in such a great meeting. It was the first occasion for him to be in Port Talbot, and also the first time he had been out of Cardiff to preside over a meeting of that kind since he had had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him. Such a gathering as that strengthened the brotherhood of men. He understood that they were then met together upon the site of what was proposed to be a large hall, and he wished that God's blessing would rest upon the place. The Rev. Howard May delivered a most im- pressive and powerful address upon character. The evening service was also crowded, the preacher again being the Rev. H. Howard. May. j,-•

For Waifs and Strays. NEW HOME AT CAERLEON. Caerleon was en fete on Saturday, the occa- sion being the laying of the foundation stone hy Viscount Tredegar of the new home of the Church of England Society for Waifs and Strays. A service held at St. Cadoc's Church was conducted by the Rev. E. de M. Rudolf, the founder of the society. A procession was then formed and proceeded to the site of the new homp, and after a brief dedicatory ser- vice Viscount Tredegar laid the stone. In proposing a vote of thanks to his Lordship, Colonel Wallis (High Sheriff) referred to Viscount Tredegar as the Grand Old Man of Monmouth and the Grand Old Uncle of the children. Colonel Sir A. W. Mackworth and the Rev. E. de M. Rudolf, in supporting the vote of thanks, also paid tribute to his Lordship's generosity. Viscount Tredegar on rising to respond met with an enthusiastic reception. Some of vou," herernarked, may think this funstion a little late. There have been a few difficulties with regard to a sice, but happily they are now overcome." A few weeks ago, said his Lordship, a Mon- mouthshire lady in opening a bazaar referred to an historical event which happened on that spot 200 years ago. He was going back much fnrther than that—over a thousand years ago —for it was not difficult to imagine Roman children running about that spot with offerings to propitiate their gods. The new Home-of which Lord Tredegar presented the site-will be a substantial red brick building with a red tile roof. On the ground floor will be a prayer-room, lady super- intendent's room, workroom, dining-room, and play-room, together with the usual offices. At the west end of the building will be the laun- dry, connected with the main building by a covered way. On the first floor there will be five dormitories, together with rooms for the lady superintendent and matron. In addition there will be two sick rooms, bathrooms, and offices. The building has been designed by Mr E. J. May, A.R.I.B.A., London, the architect to the society, and the work will be carried out under the direction of Mr C. J. Fox. archi- tect, Newport. Messrs A. S. Morgan and Co.. Newport, are the contractors.

TALACRE SCHOOL DISPUTE. LADY MOSTYN'S BREEZY SPEECH. Sanctity of Trust Deeds. The Duchess of Newcastle distributed the prizes at the Talacre Schools, Flintshire, on Saturday afternoon. The Board of Education has refused to recognise the schools, and an opposition school has been started by the County Council close by. Lady Mostvn of Talacre said the schools had been deprived of all rate or grant aid since January, 1905, and from January of that year Sister Louise (Miss Emma Vincent Wood) had not been paid a penny salary, nor had she had the support of even the rates paid by the parents of the children attending the school, but she was going on teaching, despite the fact that the school was deprived of help against all laws, human and divine. She (Lady Mostyn) appealed to all Socialists for help to provide the teacher with a salary, and to all Christians, for whom they had fought outside the Roman Catholic faith, she appealed for help to ca-rrv on a trust school. The school con- tained 105 children, 25 only of whom were Roman Ca.tholics, 25 belonged to the Church of Eng- land, and the rest could be called Free Church. The school belonged under trust, subject to certain conditions, to the parish of Llanasa, and Sir Pyers Mostyn and herself had decided not to accept the freehold so generously given by the Secretary of Education for Wales. Neither would they close the schools, for were they to fall there' would be found in their grave the ruins of Great Britain's honour. For the sake of their beloved King, the schools as a public trust must be kept open. If one trust deed could be burnt or torn up every con- tract and lease could be treated the same way, and even the Constitution could be destroyed. No Government, not even a County Council, would be safe if trust deeds could be de- stroyed. She asked for the prayers and sup- port of all loyal Christians. During the past three years all connected with the Talacre Schools had suffered agony, and the Father of Lies and his imps had been busy spreading all sorts of fiction about her husband, but she declared that he was innocent. But she must cease. The Secretary of Education for Wales called out against a fine titled lady be- ing heard. He was waiting with the ex- tinguisher to wipe out the name of Lady Mos- tyn of Talacre. So be it. But let her be known to her dear Nonconformist friends and the friends of the Church of England as "Rhian y Ffynon," and to her English Catholic friends as Maria ap Parry ap Basingwerke. Let them in the bright dawn with love, hope and charity forgive her her faults. She was glad to be able to announce that, the Bishop of St. Asaph and the Rev. Mr Hopwood would select hymns and also draft a religious syllabus for the school. In conclusion, she had only to say there was a new version of an old nursery rhyme. It was :— Taffy was a Welshman, But Taffy was no robber, Taffy came to my house And we found ea r-h other. They would add a strong staff of trustees to the Parents' Committee of the school, and they were ready to lease the school to the Crown, but they declined to forego the test for teachers-they must be Catholics. With that one exception she could say they were at one with the Nonconformist requirements, and with the help of Mr Gladman's school work they still hoped to keep Talacre Trust School among the pioneer schools of the country. (Applause.)

ROW AT MARINE STORES. Pontypool Man's Serious Injury. At Pontypool Police Court on Saturday P- Sullivan, a rag gatherer, who has been in custody since July 24th, was charged with un- lawfully wounding Benjamin Small, a labourer, by striking him on the head with a stone. Prosecutor, who was only discharged from the hospital this morning, stated that about 10 a.m. on July 24th he was at a marine stores in West-street discharging some old iron. Pri- soner came on the scene in a drunken con- dition and threatened to murder him. Wit- ness told him to go away, but he refused. Pri- soner first picked up a piece of iron and struck him on the head with it. A few minutes after- wards, as witness was in the act of stooping to pick up some iron, prisoner again struck him on the head with a large stone, causing a serious injury. In answer to prisoner, witness denied that the woman with whom he lived started the row and first threw stones. Dr. Haslett said that he examined prose- cutor at his surgery, and found him suffering from two scalp wounds. One was superficial, but the other, which was two inches long, caused a depressed fracture of the skull. Small was moved to the hospital, where an operation was performed, and two broken pieces of bone and a piece of felt from his hat were removed from the wound. Prosecutor was now practi- cally out of danger. Mary Ann Davies, a widow, who was with Small at the time of the assault, alleged that prisoner hit her in the stomach. Prisoner then threw a piece of iron at Small, and afterwards struck Kim on the head with a large stone, and exclaimed, You blind I will murder you." P.S. Bladen said that when he arrested pri- soner he was outside the stores challenging the people to come out to fight. When charged at the police station, prisoner replied. Well, I had to do something to defend myself. Look at me they were all on to me." He was covered with blood at the time of his arrest. Prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

SOUTH -WALES PRINTING WORKS. SICK AND PROVIDENT FUND. The half-yearly general meeting of members of the above society was held in the South Wales Daily News Office on Saturday even- ing, the president (Mr J. Duncan, J-P.) in the chair. In the 48th half-yearly report the committee stated that the accounts for the half-year ended June 30th, 1907, showed con- tinued steady growth of the funds of the society. Sick fund subscriptions during the period amounted to X167, Messrs Duncan's donation thereon being S,55 13s 4d. Sick pay amounted to S23 6s 8d as against £ 52 lis 8d in ) the corresponding half-vear of 1906. The Provi- dent Fund deposits equalled £ 222 8s 1$, and the sum of the withdrawals was £ 296 18s 2d. In- terest on the Provident Fund at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, amounted to jb57 16s 5d, and had been added to members' accounts. The committee added to the society's invest- ments 140 interest on account, and anticipated a substantial surplus for distribution next half- year. The capital account showed an increase of S142 9s 7d, the credit balance now being L3,258 16s 6d, of which £487 17s 4d stood to the credit of the Sick Fund, and iE2,770 19s 2d to the Provident Fund. There had been an in- crease of members in the society, the total being 134 members, holding 259 shares. The report and accounts for the half year were adopted on the motion of the chairman. A proposal to add to the benefits of the society an additional allowance on the death of a member or a member's wife was referred to the committee for consideration, a report to be made to the next general meeting of mem- bers. The officers and committee were re- elected, and the meeting concluded with votes of thanks to Messrs Duncan for their assist- ance in the administration of the society and donation to its funds, and to Mr John Duncan, J.P., for his presence in the chair.

YNYSYBWL CHILD KILLED. A sad fatality occurred at 9.30 a.m. on Satur- day at Ynysybwl. The two years old child of Benjamin Phillips was playing outside No. 27, Augustus-street, and wandered on to the road just, as a scavenger's cart, diriven by a haulier in the employ of Mr Edwards, Buarthycapel Farm, was passing. The child was struck on the temple by the wheel and was killed almost instantly. ..=. =-1I-'L" <

G.P.O. Figures. 100 MILLION POSTAL ORDERS A YEAR. Depositors Buy the Cheap Consols Some of the marvels of our postal service are revealed in the report of the Postmaster- General to the Lords of the Treasury, issued on Saturday. The report covers the year 1906-7 and shows that as a nation of letter-writers we are gradu- ally taking the foremost place. But business in nearly every branch of the Post Office has been good during the year. it is estimated," says the Postmaster- General, that the number of postal packets delivered in the United Kingdom during the year 1936-7 was 4,862,920,000. The growth of the number of letters has been easily main- tained, the rate of increase having risen by 0.5 this year. The number of postcards, although increasing, is increasing more and more slowly, the rate of increase iJeiDg 3.9 per cent. this year, as against 9 per cent, in the preceding year and 19.7 per cent. in 1904-5. The growht in the popularity of pictorial postcards appar- ently reached its climax two years ago. The number of letters registered during 1906-7 was 18,491,770, showing a decrease of 0.8 per cent, on the figures for the previous year. The express messenger branch shows but a small increase. This result may be attributed," says the Postmaster-General, mainly to the increased use of the telephone for messages formerly delivered by express messengers and to the steps recently taken by the police to restrict the activity of betting agents, a class which makes considerable use of the express service." The number of undelivered packets, includ- ing packets entirely unaddressed and articles found loose, treated during the year ended 31st March. 19m, reached the large total of 29.766,694, an increase of 9.84 per cent. over the total for the preceding year. The unde- livered registered letters and letters containing property numbered 353,892, or 10.57 per cent. more than in 1905-6. These letters contained £ 16,694 16s Id in cash and bank notes and £ 671,044 15s lid in bills, cheques, money orders, postal orders and stamps. The packets posted without any address and the articles found loose in the post during the year numbered 423,085, an increase of 2.47 per cent, on the number for the preceding year. Included among these were cash and bank notes to the value of il.493 and cheques and other forms of remittance to the value of £25,129. The value of the goods exported and im- ported by parcel post during 1907 was :-Ex- port-, £ 4,633,917 imports, JEl.535,661 total 16,174,578. The number of inland money orders issued during the vear was 10,844.509, representing a sum of £ 37,997.339. The foreign and colonial orders numbered 2,974,653, and amounted to £ 8,338,544. against 2.&37.368 orders amounting to £ 7,740,177 in 1905-6. POPULAR POSTAL ORDER. The nuber of postal orders issued during the year was 102,247,000, and their value amounted to £ 40,878,000. These figures show increases of 5.1 and 5.4 per cent. respectively over those for 1905-6. The commission on these orders yielded the sum of S415,041, or £ 13.821 less than in the previous year. The decrease is due to the reductions in poundage which came into force in July. 1906. Dealing with the Post Office Savings Bank, the report says that in 1906 the deposits num- bered 17,997.023, the amount being £ 43,980,579- Withdrawals numbered 8.629,749. and amounted to £ 43,763,002. The total amount of the de- posits thus exceeds that of the withdrawals by £ 217,577, a result approximately the same as that of 1905. when the excess was £ 204.580- The interest credited to depositors in 1906 amounted to E3,667,729, which, with the excess of de- posits over withdrawals, brought the total sum standing to the credit of depositors on 31st December, 1906, to £ 155,996,446- During 1906 the net increase in the number of depositors was 369,735, as compared with 289,332 in the previous year. The average amount standing to the credit of each depositor shows a further decrease of 3s 5d. CONSOLS IN DEMAND. The investments made by depositors in Government stock during 1905 show a large increase. This, says the Postmaster-General, is no doubt the result of the fall in the average price of Government stock as compared with the previous year. During the year ended March 31. 1907. 89.493,000 telegrams passed over the Post Office wires, as compared with 89,478,000 in 1905-6. The Post Office hac continued during the year to collect and deliver the Marconi Com- pany's telegrams to and from ships at sea. The total number of outward telegrams dealt with during the year was 1,140, as compared with 558 in 1905-6, and of inward telegrams 15,853, as compared with 11,094. The year's working of the whole telephone system shows a balance of E451,787, after pay- ment of the working expenses, while the esti- mated amount required to provide for depre- ciation of plant and interest at 3 per cent. on the capital expenditure of £ 7.255,000 is £ 432.726. The net prorit on the postal service for the year was £ 5,071,255, or 1:143,71,6 fss than last year. The net dcficit on working the tele- graphs wa" £ 652,055 or £ 88,764 less than last year.

EISTEDDFOD AT GLAIS. The fourth annual Chair" Eisteddfod in connection with Seion Congregational Chapel, Glais, Swansea Valley, was held in a spacious marquee on the Graigypal Grounds on Satur- day. Mr Evan Lewis, M.E., of Graigypal, Glais, presided, whilst M D. Thomas, M.E., of Alltwen, acted as the Eisteddfodic conductor. The adjudicators were:-Music. Mr T. Gabriel, F.T.S.C., of Bargoed, and Mr M. R. Rees. L.T.S.C., of Alltwen. Poetry, etc., Rtv. T. E. Nicholas, Glais. Timbering, Messrs A. Hard- ing, M.E., Loughor J. Rees, Birchgrove and Evan Jones, Glais. Rock boring, Alderman Thomas Jones, Clydach, and Mr W. Rogers, Glais. The secretaries were Messrs Thomas Humphreys, Brynderwen, and Hopkin J. Lewis, Bryntawe, Glais. There was a large attendance during the day. Awards :— Pianoforte solo for children-I, Haydn Rees, London House, Clydach 2, May Lewis, Pontardawe. Solo for children—1. Mary H. Jones, Skewen 2, Thomas J. Davies, Llansamlet. Elegy—Rev. W. Alfa Richards, Birchgrove. Soprano solo—Divided between Edith Jones, Landore, and Mrs Bessie Morris, Ammanford. Violin solo-I, Jessie Williams, Llanelly 2, D. J. Howells, Morriston 3, D,11. Griffiths, Mynyddbach. Contralto solo-Rachel Jones, Ammanford. Open recitation—Mary Evans, Cwmtwrch. Poem on labour.Gwernogle Evans, Skewen, who captured the bardic chair offered. liock boring—1, Richard Thomas, Glais 2, Evan Gibbs, Glais. Juvenile choir competition, Cwsgfy Noli (Sleep, my Dolly)-l. Abercrave 2, Skewen 3, Morriston. Seven choirs competed, and the chief prize offered was E4 and a silver cup. Timbering—Evan Bevan, Clydach. Bass solo-J. Evans, Llanelly. Tenor solo—1, John Brazell, Llanelly 2, Tom Rees, Caemawr, Clydach. Chief choral competition, Duw a sych pob deigryn (" God shall wipe away all tears ") —Skewen Music Lovers, conducted by Mr William Davies. Two choirs sang, and the prize offered was 1:15 and a gold medal to the successful conductor.

TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION AT ABERAVON. Strong Criticism of the Churches. The annual demonstration of the Aberavon, Port Talbot and District Temperance Asso- ciations was held on Saturday last. A pro- cession was formed near Bethany Chapel, all the Sunday schools, Anglican and Nonconfor- mist Churches, Independent Order of Good Templars, Rechabites and Sons of Tem- perance being strongly represented. The procession, headed by the Salvation Army Ba.nd, paraded the principal streets to the Port Talbot Park. where addresses were de- livered by Mr A. R. Roberts, Mr John Davies (miners' agent, Dowlais), and Professor Levi, Aberystwyth. The singing was conducted by Mr J. Phillips, Wern. In the evening a public meeting was held at the Public Hall. Mr T. Williams presided, and he was supported by Professor Levi. Mr J. Davies (Dowlais), Rev. D. H. Griffiths, and Mr. J. Davies, J P., Aberavon. Mr J. Davies (Dowlais) said it was nothing to see members of Parliament leaving the Carlton and other clubs in London in cabs. being unable to put a, foot to the ground through drink. (" Shame.") He endeavoured to preach temperance in every miners' lodge In his district. (Cheers.) He had not been agent at Dowlais four months before he extracted a pledge from the lodges to abolish the pernicious system of wet rent." (Cheers.) If the money spent in drink by the working men of the country was amassed they would have sufficient funds to fight the strongest organisation of employers in the country. They had more Pharisees in the churches to-day than there had ever been, and people were afraid to declared their tem- perance convictions. Rev. D. H. Griffiths, vicar of Aberavon, in moving a resolution urging that all public-houses and clubs be closed on Sundays, election days, and at reasonable hours on week days. and that clubs should be under the same police supervision as public-houses, said there was too much sham respectability in our churches-too many farthing dips. (Laughter.) Professor Levi, in supporting the resolution, dealt with the proposed Licensing Bill. The resolution was carried.

EISTEDDFOD AT PONTARDAWE. A chair eisteddfod in connection with the Alltwen Silver Band, Pontardawe, was held on Saturday. Awards :—Mixed parties, Alltwen (conductor, Mr Llewellyn Lewis). Quartette, John Jacob Lewis and party, Pontardawe. Solo (girls), May Davies. Pantyffynon. Solo on any brass instrument, Grayham Jones, Alltwen. Soprano solo, Minnie Hopkins, Pon- tardawe. Solo (boys), John Stephens, Panty- ffynon. Three verses to the Alltwen Band, D. J. Perrins, Rhos. Tenor solo. Ben Jones, Gaencaegurwen. Wool shawl. Miss Pitt, Tre- banos. Prize bags, Miss Mary H. Williams, Alltwen. Love letter, John Thomas. Alltwen. Duet, Ben Jones and friend, Gwauncaegurwen. Recitation, John Jenkin Jones, Alltwen. Bari- tone solo, W. Leonard, G-waencaegurwen.

Our New Army. X3,000,000 FOR VOLUNTEERS. SPEECH BY THE WAR SECRETARY. Mr Haldane is<hard at work arranging details in connection with the administration of the new Army Act authorising the reorganisation of the forccs. The Secretary for War proposes, it is clear, to enhance greatly the importance of the Volunteers. A sum of about L3,000,000 annually is to be spent on our citizen soldiers. This announcement was made on Saturday by Mr Haldane. at Blair- Atholl. where he addressed a large meeting held in connection with the opening of the new headquarters for the Scottish Horse. The following are the chief points from the Minister's speech :— They proposed to divide the forces of the Crown into two lines, one force to operate abroad and one force whose primary object was home defence. When they came to reorganise the home Army, however, they had found it full of lamentable gflps. There was too much infantry, and too little artillery, with no pro- vision to make up for the wastage of war. They proposed to supply this wastage out of the Militia. The Volunteer force they proposed to trans- form into a second line for home defence, but to organise it on the same lines as the regular force. The new county associations had to raise the force and maintain it when not in camp. When in camp it would be under the control of the general officers in command. On the 31st of March next it was hoped that the present system would be departed from, and the new system comc into force. With regard to the delicate and important question of money, he was glad to say they had lots of it. and a great deal more would be spent on the Volunteers in the future than in the past. They trusted to spend a large sum, rougldv, three millions, on the territorial forces, half of which would go to the Commander-in- Chief, whose business it was to bring out the forces once a year for training, and to super- vise the training, and command during the I rest of the year. The associations, which had the remainder of the money, had to equip the J men, provide them with headauarters, etc-, and do the work which the Administrator- General in the R-egular Army did. They hoped by next month to issue a set of minute instruo- tions to Lords Lieutenants for the formation of these association. which they hoped would be working by the end of the year, and within January and February have the arrangements worked out for the transference of the units on March 31st. The instructions promised by Mr Haldane regarding the formation of county associa- ■ tions in connection with his new Army scheme was issued by the War Office on Sunday even- ing, in the form of a memorandum designed j to be of assistance in guiding the Lords 2 Lieutenant of counties as to the procedure to 1 be adopted, and of provisional notes on the composition and finance of the proposed bodies. Mr Haldane emphasises the fact that he i desires that Lieutenants should consider them- selves free to exercise their own judgment wherever they see a better method of proce- dure. The Lieutenant of a county is the tt ex-officio president of the association, and t naturally, says the War Secretary, the first | person to be consulted by the Army Council < in preparing the framework of the association, the work of which, he explains, is to raise and < maintaining a force which constitutes the con- tribution of the county to the military ) division of the district in which the county is situated. By the Act the composition of the association consists of the president, chairman, vice- chairman, and officers representing all branches of the territorial forces within the county, ( the latter numbering at least one-half of the whole association (appointed by the Army Council), representatives of the County Council, Borough Councils, and Universities j (appointed by the Army Council after con- sultation with the authority to be represented), j and the secretary and treasurer (appointed by the association with the approval of the Army Council). These members will co-opt a certain number of additional members, who • will include where possible representatives of the interests of employers and workmen. The size of the association must primarily I depend upon the number of units of the terri- y torial force contained within the county. As a general rule one representative per unit would suffice, but this rule may on occasions be stretched. The direction of the training and the supply of money for bringing the division and its various units into annual camp rests with the general officer commanding, who will also superintend and be responsible for the train- ing of the troops during the rest of the year. .ASSOCIATION'S WORK. The work of the association, says Mr Hal- dane, who prepared the memoraiidum per- sonally, is to raise the force either out of the units of the old auxiliary forces already exist- ing, but adapted to the new plan, or de novo, or partly one and partly the other. The maintenance of the fOltCt so raised and other function" laid down in Clause 2 will Thenceforward be the duty of +:'e association. It is suggested that presi- ct,'nt will lind it convenient to Ci-.vene a FmaJI lilcetm", of ccntlemeE who rl' likely to be in the association. !t i- ,-hat until the county forces are raised, be cannot tell who of ,h,. odicers will De on the association, but in tne first instance it is plain that there are some gentlemen who are more than others likely to be interested in the work of the Asso"ci2.t.ion, or are connected with bodies who will have to be represented upon it. With these the president might consult, and as the meeting might find it useful to obtain guidance or explanation from the Army Council on certain points, Mr Haldane has authorised Lord Lucas to attend any meeting when desired. It may also be found convenient to consult the grouped regimental district com- mander, or even the general officer command. ing on matters requiring elucidation. When the meeting has considered the matter sufficiently, suggestions might be addressed to Lord Lucas as to the modifica. tions to be introduced into the form of the model scheme for the purpose of adapting it to the circumstances of the particular county. and as to gentlemen who muht properly be nominated by the Army Council as members of the association. The Army Council will then form a scheme, under which the associa- tion will be constituted. When a scheme has been partly or wholly worked out should it be thought desirable to discuss it in detail at the War Office, a small committee has been appointed for that purpose under the presidency of Lord Esher, which will be v authorised by the Army Council to act on their behalf. This will probably be the best time for settling upon a secretary. When the association is constituted it will first have to frame its standing orders. Its next duty will be to decide in consultation with the general officer commanding the grouped regimental district commanders, and the director-general of the territorial forces at the War Office, what new units may have to be raised, and what existing ones may have to be rolled up or converted. Except where the association is very small indeed it will pro- bably find it necessary to form committees, and once the body has got into its stride it is pretty certain, says Mr Haldane, that it will transact the greater part of its work throu1 its committee, which will probably havr meet more or less regularly throughout the greater part of the year. Frequent meetings of the whole association should not be necessary. It is quite possible that quarterly meetings would be quite sufficient. If this proves to be the case it should not, in view of the import- ance of keeping down the expenses, prove necessary to maintain permanently a chamber in which to hold its meetings. FINANCES. With regard to finance, the association will, as Mr Haldane explained on Saturday night, receive an annual grant from the Army funds to enable it to carry out the multifarious duties assigned to it in time of peace. Among these duties are the provision of clothing and accommodation of the neces- sary men and horses. It will look after the wives and families of the men when embodied and arrange for the payment of separation or other allowances provided by the War Office, and it. will assist in arranging for the registra- tion of horses for the use of the forces in time of war. It has. however, nothing whatever to do with the training of the units raised by it. This function devolves entirely upon the general officer commanding, but the cordial co- operation of the association is essential to enable him to secure the best results. The grant to each association will be under four main beads—a grant per unit for general administrative expenses, a grant based on the actual cost of renting and keeping in repair the various buildings considered necessary for the efficiencv of the force, a grant for the main- t-enance and replacement of equipment, and a grant to meet the cost of travelling to ranges and drill grounds for practice required to be performed outside the training period. 1io part of the grant will be ear-marked for any particular purpose. Mr Haldane is emphatic in saying that the object of an association should be to keep its expenditure well within its income, though in. the event of expenditure exceeding income the War Office will not insist on a cash settlement of the deficit at the end of the year, the liability being taken into account when the following year's income is disposed of.

BURGLARS WITH VANS. William Istead, Herbert Pardoe. and Charles Arnold, all coming from Bethnall Green, were remanded at West London charged with break- ing into 28. Courtfield-gardens, Kensington, the residence of Mr R. E. Crane, and stealing a quantity of silver and plated goods, 18 bottl of wine, a bearskin rug. etc., of the total valu of £ 340. It was alleged that during Mr Craned absence the prisoners. with the connivance of a; manservant, named Bradfield. who was left i charge and is now under remand, brought twtf vans to the house and carried off as much proc perty as could be removed.

SIR GEORGE NEWNES'S VOTE, Sir George Newnes, M.P., at the Strand- .Registration Court on Saturday, lost his vo4 for his house in Carlton House-terrace owing t4 the period of occupation being broken. Mr Frank Newnes, M.P., his son, applied fai a lodger's vote, but his claim was disallowed.