The Cardiff Times

Local Recipients. A BARONET & TWO KNIGHTS. In the list of the honours bestowed by the King on the occasion of his official birthday are the names of three gentlemen closely connected with Wales, one of whom has re- ceived a baronetcy and the other two knight- hoods. Mr Osmond Williams, M.P., is the new baronet, and Mr John Duncan, J.P., of Cardiff and Mr George A. Riddell, of London, are the two new knights. Biographical sketches of the three are here-given. Mr |Iohn Duncan, J.P. Mr John Duncan, on whom a knighthood has been conferred, is the eldest son of the late Alderman David Duncan. J.P., who rendered distinguished public service to thetown of Cardiff. He was born in Edinburgh on March 7th, 1846, but for more than 50 years he has been resident in Cardiff, and' has seen that progressive town and neighbourhood rise from a population of 'about 20,000 to nearly 250,000. He and his two brothers (Mr David Duncan. J.P., and Mr Alexander Duncan, J.P.) are the sole pro- prietors and chief conductors of the South Wales Daily News," the South Wales Echo," and the Cardiff Times." As evidence of the influence of these journals, it may be stated that, within the area of their circula- tion, the whole. Parliamentary representation is held bv Liberals, to the success of 25 of whom they contributed materially. SIR JOHN DUNCAN, J.P., New Knight. (Photo by Wills, Cardiff.) Mr John Duncan has given special attention, through a long series of years, to educational matters affecting the Principality and the city of Cardiff. He took a large share in the work preliminary to the establishment of the Uni- versity College of South Wales and for his services was presented with an illuminated address by the Corporation of Cardiff. From the period of its establishment in 1884 he has been a member of the College Council, and has taken an active part in the operations of that institution. In addition, he has served as one of the governors under the Welsh intermediate Education Act. At the time of the trans- fer of the Intermediate schools to the City Corporation,. under the Act of 1902, he was chairman,. ■ of the govern- ing body of the Cardiff scheme, and his ser- vices were recognised by the presentation of an iUuminated address by the Lord Mayor" and governors. He also has been a member of the Court uf the University of Wales, and of the Central Welsh Board and he still re- tains his seat as governor of Howell's Charity, Llandaff, and of the Council of Aberdare Hail for Women Students. Mr John Duncan was for ten years on the governing body of the Press Association, and during his chairmanship was chiefly respon- sible, with Baron Herbert de Renter, for organising the splendid service of foreign and colonial telegrams known as Reuter's Special Service," which has enormously increased the interchange of news between Great Britain, and 'her Colonies and Continental nations. The success of this service led to the important position taken by the question of Press tele- grams at the conferehces of the Colonial Press delegates at the Foreign Office. Mr Duncan is a trustee of the Newspaper Society (which is composed of all the London and provincial newspaper proprietors in the United Kingdom) he was one of the earliest Fellows of the Institute of Journalists is trustee of several Welsh-colliery explosion relief funds; a magistrate for the county of Gla- morgan, Visiting Justice of Cardiff Gaol, in- come Tax Commissioner, assessor under the Church Discipline Act, Land Tax Commis- sioner, etc. He is one of the original members of the National Liberal Club. Mr Duncan married Mary, the eldest daughter of the late Mr Joseph Stowe, shipowner, Liverpool, by whom he has three sons and four daughters. Our London Welsh correspondent wires:— Journalists as well as politicians in the House of Commons on Thursday night joined in express, ing the greatest gratification at the honour con- ferred by his Majesty upon Mr John Duncan. All habitues of the House of Commons, whether on the floor below or in the Gallery, are well acquainted with the unceasing efforts and great sacrifices of Mr Duncan on behalf of Wales and of Liberalism. His services to education and to the great city of Cardiff are equally well known, and it is no exaggeration to say that the long-deferred honour now accorded to him is received with unmixed satisfaction. Mr George A. Riddell. Mr George Allardice Riddell, a new knight, is the well-known solicitor, of Portland-place, London. Born in 1865, he was admitted as a solicitor in 1888. and became the senior partner in the firm of Riddell, Vaizey, and Smith, a Arm which acted as the London agents for the Cardiff Corporation and a large number of public bodies in South Wales. Since his retire- ment from the law, nine or 10 years ago, Mr Riddell has devoted himself to the business side of journalism with ICOnspicuous success. For many yeans he has been director of the Western Mail, Ltd., and on the retirement of the late Mr Lascelles Carr ho became the chairman of the board of directors of that company. He is also managing director of George Newnes, Ltd., and Country Life, Ltd, and director of News of the World, Ltd. Mrs Riddell is his cousin, a daughter of Mr D. W. Allardice, of Rock Ferry, Cheshire. In 1901, when the late Mr Thomas Andrews, J-P., was Mayor, Mr Riddell threwhimself energetic- ally into a town's movement for clearing the debtioff the Cardiff Infirmary, and initiated, through the columns of the Western Mail, a shilling fund," which was the means of raising for that purpose a total of £ 12,600. MR GEORGE A- RIDDELL, New Knight (from a shapshot taken at the recent pen golf championship). I Of genial manner and strenuous habit. Mr Riddell has won for himself a foremost place in journalistic circles and although taking no prominent place in purely political action, he is keenly interested in public affairs. A keen motorist, Mr Riddell's interest in out- door sports is mainly confined to the game of golf. He was one of the promoters of the famous course at Walton Heath, and it affords him the keenest pleasure to entertain his friends there. Golfing teams from South Wales have on more than one occasion gone up to play a team got together by Mr Riddell, and some 18 months ago he brought down a number of well-known London players to meet a lal team at Southerndown. Some two years ago he brought Vardon and Braid to South Wales, and introduced these famous players for the first time to such courses as those at Radyr and Pembrey. Amongst professional golfers he is more than popular, for he has taken a keen personal interest in their welfare, and did much to bring into being the Professional Golfers' Association. He it was who induced the proprietors of the News of the World to present for competition amongst the profes- sionals annual prizes to the value of S25Q, and the meeting at which they are competed for ranks second only to the open championship in importance. The fact is not generally known that it was Mr Riddell who found the money which backed Braid and Hetd in the historic 1200 foursome against Vardon and Taylor, a match which did much to bring back to popu- lar favour an ancient and desirable form of the game. Mr Riddell is captain of the London Press Golfing Society and a prominent member of the London Solicitors' Golfing Society. He is a member of the Walton Heath, Cinque Ports, New Luffness, Brecon, and Gullane Clubs, and a vice-president of the Radyr Club. He is justly proud of the fact that he has holed the sixth hole at Walton Heath in one stroke. Mr Osmond Williams, M.P. Mr Arthur Osmond Williams. M.P.. who has received a baronetcy, is the eldest surviving son of Mr David Williams. Born in 1849, he was educated at Eton, and on the death of his father succeeded to a great landed estate. In 1880 he married Frances Evelyn, the fourth daughter of Mr S. W. Greaves, of Berricote, Warwickshire. He is a justice of the peace for Carnarvonshire and Merionethshire, and is deputy-chairman of Merionethshire County Council. Mr Osmond Williams is a fluent speaker in his native tongue and in English, and was first returned to Parliament for Merionethshire in 1900, upon the retirement of Mr Owen M. Edwards, being re-elected in 1906. His father capture.. the seat from the AIR OSMOND WILLIAMS, M.P., I New Baronet. Tories in 1868, and was the first Liberal repre- sentative of the county of Merioneth since the days of the Commonwealth. Mr Osmond Williams enjoys the distinction of hav- ing been twice returned unopposed — the best possible tribute to his popularity in the county. He owns an estate in Carnar- vonshire md in Merionethshire, and his rela- tion, with his tenantry have always been most cordial. A staunch Liberal, Mr Osmond Williams stood by the canse when others turned their backs on Liberalism and Nonconformity. Long before he dreamt of representing a con- stituency in Parliament, he was a pillar of Liberalism in Merioneth. When the late lamented Tom Ellis was chosen candidate for the county in 1886 almost all the Liberal land- owners discontinued their allegiance, and the others became indifferent. But Mr Osmond Williams stood his ground, and Tom Ellis, the ardent democrat, never-had a better friend and supporter in that fight. Mr Osmond Williams was a few months ago appointed Lord Lieutenant of Merioneth in succession to the late Mr W. R. M. Wynne, of Peniarth.

Technical Institute. STONE-LAYtNG AT NEWPORT. Councillor Graham W. White, J.P., Mayor of Newport, laid the foundation stone of the new Technical Institute at Newport yester- day in the presence of a large number of lead- ing citizens. The Mayor was formally re- ceived by Colonel Clifford W. Phillips, chair- man of the Newport Education Committee, and was presented by the contractor, Mr W. E. Blake, with a mallet and trowel as a sou- venir of the ceremony. Subsequently the Mayor entertained the company to refreshments at the Drill Hall. The institute is being built at the junction of Clarence-place and Rodney-road on a site acquired from the Tredegar estate some years ago, and will have three important frontages. The exterior of the building will be in modern classical style suitable for a municipal building in a commercial town of importance. The prin- cipal entrance will be at the corner of Clarence- place and Rodney-road, approached through a portico built in granite, with massive Doric columns. The main cornice of the building, together with the dressings to the windows, will be in Portland stone. Above the main entrance will be a large rein- forced concrete dome 26ft. in diameter, covered with copper. The entrance hall will be octa- gonal in shape, and the main corridors, leading from three sides of the octagon, will give im- mediate access on the ground floor to the pupil teachers' centre, engineering workshops, and classrooms. The carpentry shop, engine-room, engineering workshop, &c., will be placed at a lower level than the ground floor, so that the floors may be formed on the solid concrete foundations. The classrooms for pupil teachers will be arranged round a central hall. The department will be used in the evening for technical instruction. On the first floor off the octagonal hall will be the art and science masters' offices, and on the north side (Clarence-place) rooms will be provided for modelling, painters, decorators, and other art work. On the west side will be the mechanical and biological laboratories, and on the south side the electrical laboratory and machine drawing and building construction room. On the second floor facing north-will be a large art room, lit by large windows in a Mansard roof. On the west and south sides will be two physics and two chemistry laboratories, provided with one balance room. A lecture room will also be provided. The building will be constructed of fire- resisting materials throughout, and on account of the nature of the site it is being placed on a concrete raft reinforced with expanded steel. The walls throughout will be' of good local stock bricks, while internally glazed and buff bricks will be provided. The building will be ventilated by means of warm air circulated by fans driven by an electric motor, and by means of regulators the volume of air to each room will be adjusted to suit the occupants. The building has been designed by Mr Charles F. Ward, A.R.I.B.A- borough architect, and the building contractor is Mr W. E. Blake, Plymouth. The architect's estimate for the building was £ 36^00 and Mr Blake's tender Z6,130. Already material progress has been made with the work. Building) operations were commenced in the first week in February, and the first concrete to the raft, which is one solid mass over the whole site, was put in on March 20th. Brickwork was commenoed about Easter time, and to-day one can see the general plan of the building developed. It is notice- able that the contractor has up-to-date plant for the work, including a large electric crane. This is on a platform 55 feet high in the centre of the site. The gib to the crane is 100 feet long, and is claimed to be the longest ever used in the country. The crane was tested in position with a four ton load.

"THffiD DEGREE" FIASCO. New York, Thursday.—The so-called con- fession of ChongSing, the Chinaman, regarding the strangling of Miss Elsie Sigel, of which the New York police were boasting yesterday as a triumph of their pitiless third degree method of dealing with sullen prisoners, has proved on investigation to be a pack of lies. Chong could not have peeped through a hole in the door and witnessed the murder because there is no hole except the keyhole, which does not afford a view of the interior of the room. The unhappy Chinaman told the best story that occurred to him in order to escape the unceasing questioning of the police. Some personal impressions of Miss Elsie Sigel, the victim of the Chinatown murder in New York, by one who frequently met her in New York society, are published in the Vienna Zeit," says the Central News. The writer says that when Miss Sigel was sixteen he was once seated next to her at a dinner party. She was a beautiful girl," he adds, 11 and m spite of her youth already possessed the man- ners of a grand lady conscious of her beauty. She told me she intended to go to Europe, and when I warned her that she would be stared at by men, she said she enjoyed being boldly admired by men, preferring it to the slavish devotion and reverence of American youths. She liked men full of romance and mystery. Such men could be found in the-Old World, but not in the New."

CARDIFF tf Tm DRIVER FWEX James Richard Heatley, of-Swintoxfeetreet, was charged before theGardiff Deputy-Stipend- iary (Mr E. Milner Jones), on Wednesday, with driving a taxi-cab in a manner dangerous to the public. P.C. Grace said that defendant, instead of driving round him to get from High- street into Duke-street, cut across the corner by the chemist's shop and knocked a lady cyclist down in Duke-street. Mr Spiridion cor- roborated, and said it was thought by the way the lady fell that she had broken both legs. She fainted and was taken into the chemist's shop. The defendant stated that the constable did not motion to hun, and he was standing too near the castle side for the car to go round him. David Derrick, who was called for the defence, stated that P.C. Grace beckoned to both de- fendant and the lady cyclist at the same time. Defendant was fined £1, including costs.

Professor Daniel John Cunningham, profes- sor of anatomy at Edinburgh University since 1903, and dean of the medical faculty, died at Edinburgh yesterday, aged 59.

Both Sides Preparing for a Struggle. OWNERS' IRREDUCIBLE MINIMUM. FEDERATION ANDToN-ASSOCIATED COLLIERS. Whole of the Collieries may be Laid Idle. It cannot longer be concealed that the posi- tion in the South Wales coalfield is of the gravest possible character. Both coalowners and workmen appear to regard a conflict as inevitable, and the parties at their separate meetings at Cardiff on Wednesday made pre- parations for a struggle. The Coalowners' Association formally en- dorsed the action of their representatives on the Conciliation Board, and made it known that the concessions which thev demand, and which the workmen have already rejected, are in the nature of an irreducible minimum. The workmen's representatives, on the other hand, profess inability to recede in the slightest from the position they have taken up, and on Wed- nesday proceeded to make arrangements to call out the workmen in the non-associated collieries, and to summon a general confer- ence of the miners' delegates next Monday. Seven more days Remain before the notices served by the owners expire. Very faint hopes are entertained that the Conciliation Board at its meeting to-morrow (Friday) will find a solution of the great difficulties in the way of settlement, although it is suggested in some quarters that a proposal may be made to refer these difficulties to the arbitrament of Viscount St. Aldwyn. Friday's meeting will be attended by the deputation of three members of the M.F.G.B. Executive Council, and the coalowners have expressed a readiness to hear what they have to say." The owners' representatives on the Concilia- tion Board reported the position to a general meeting of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners' Association, and elicited, from that body a resolution passed with per- fect unanimity endorsing the attitude adopted, and pledging the individual support of the association to any course which the owners' side may adopt. Possible Ways Out. So long as the parties continue to negotiate there is, of course, the bare possibility that a way out'' of the impasse may be found. In circles ordinarily in close touch with the coal- owners it is more than hinted that an offer will be made by them that the matters stilL in dispute shall be decided by Lord St. Aldwyn, the independent chairman of the Conciliation Board, who enjoys the confidence of both par- ties. It is considered that in this way the difficulty of outside interference would be got over in the ranks of the owners. Lord St. Aldwyn is also a persotia grata with the work- men, but their attitude in the matter—should such a course be acceptable to the locaJ leaders —would depend upon the view taken by the Miners Federation of Great Britain, who would have to be consulted before the adoption of such a course. There is high authority for suggesting another solution. The one issue upon which the men's leaders will not give way is that of the double shift. This, it is maintained, is by no means the.stronger of the two issues put forward as far as the owners are concerned. It is not-suggested—In fact it has been ex- plicitly stated to the con-ty^ry—^that-asgnming the doable shift were conceded it wonB not be generaHy applied in the^oalfiehL The presumption, therefore, is that it would only benefit a section—a small one, it is-argued— of thecoffiery proprietors. Though it is not suggested that there isa. cleavage m the ranks of the owners as far as the-<ieinand made for a double shift is concerned, it is common know- ledge that there area.jumxber of tOOlayers who would not adopt the system in their collieries under any cm^rmaf-aences. and many of the coatowners who would abstain from its introdudion hold some of the laigest interest8 in the coalfield. Hence the assertion that the owners cannot be as strong on this demand as in regard to the wotking of the 60 hours.. which would be of genera] advantage to the coaJownerswho.gredet£nDÏDed upon it. There is good authority for the assertion that the men s representatives were their harufo not tied by the M-F.GLB. would be disposed to adopt the view that it would be far better to concede to the owners the full benefit of the Act in the matter of the 60 hours, provided the owners on their part waived their demand for a double shift. If this view is the correct one-and there is reason for confidently be- lieving it to be so—then the whole difficulty resolves itself into the question as to how far the owners are prepared to give way on their demand for a double shift. Once this were dis- posed of there is practical oerte*n*y that the remaining points would not be allowed" to stand in the way of a peaceful settlement.

J. H Coalowners' Meeting. THE CHMRMAWS STATEMENT. Ajneetmg of the Coalowners' Association was held at Cardiff on Wednesday. The attendance wasone of the largest in the history of the association. The proceedings are re- ported to have been characterised by marked unanimity in regard to the policy and measures of the owners. The proceedings were private, and no official statement was made giving in detail the nature of the discussion, but I am in a position, writes our Exchange representative, to furnish the following resume of the pro- ceedings :— Mr Fred Davis, who presided, stated the position as it stood as the result of the negotia- tions of the past two days with the miners' re- presentatives. He did not consider it neces- sary to enter into a detailed statement of the arguments urged upon either side at th<ypeet- ings of the Conciliation Board on MoncEflTand Tuesday, but said that the owners' action was guided chiefly by one leading principle, viz., a determination on their part a& owners to main- tain their right to work the collieries in the way they themselves thought best, in order to produce the most economical results. He pointed out that the Double Shift and the Nine Hours' Day questions did not by any means re- present the entire attitude of the owners. It was true that these points were of consider- able importance, but they were subsidiary to the essential principle of control which the owners claimed over the working of their collieries. It was pointed out that a settlement was only possible by the concession to the owners of tbis righ and of the following among other conditions:— 1. That a double shift be introduced where the owners consider it practicable. 2. That two men and a boy, or one man and two boys, be employed in each working place, instead 04 as at present, a man and a boy, where such system was practicable. 3. That one nine hours day in each week should be established and become operative at those collieries where the owners themselves considered it necessary. These three claims were regarded as the owners' irreducibleminimttm; and in the dis- cussion which followed Mr Davis's speech they met with the unanimous support of the coal- owners present, and a resolution was even- tually adopted confirming the action taken by the coalowners' representatives on the Con- ciliation Board. It will be seen from this statement of the position that on hardly any point has the owners' attitude, as set out in the manifesto issued by the association a few weeks ago been modified by this week's negotia- tions. On the contrary, it has been re-affirmed, in spirit as well as in letter, but Wednesday's meeting has had the effect not only of removing several misconceptions entertained even by owners who are not on the Conciliation Board, and whose views therefore had been formed on the newspaper accounts of proceedings, but also of placing the real intentions of the owners' executive in a clearer light. The Owners' FUght. It was pointed out to me, adds our Exchange that it is not the wish of the owners to make either a double shift or a nine hours day once aweek a univesal rule through- out the coalfield, but that they contended for the right as owners to introduce at each colliery such new conditions as would best suit it. The owners, it WB8 stated, recognise the fact no less sin- cerelytba.n the workmen that at some-collieries a doable shift would be not only impracti- cable, but highly dangerous, and at these coHienes what they claim is that the owners have the right of establishing one nine-hour day per week, and of installing two men and a boy or one man and two boys in working places where on1y one man and a boy are at present employed. Where, however, the owners consider a double-shift system to be safe and pmcticable-and in the decision of this ques- tion they were stated to be averse to any par- ticipation by the miners' representatives—they contend for the right to introduce it and forego the alternative methods stated above, but in no case do they claim powers to set up the three-conditions outlined by Mr Pt-ed..Davis in any one particular colliery. These claims., of course, run directly-counter to the views of the miners, and at the present moment it seems impossible to see how the viewaof the two sides, conflicting as they do upon so many important questions, both in principle-and in praetice, can be reconciled. OFFtrnAL REPORT. A~general meeting of the Monmouthshire and SoutbWales Coalowners'Association was held on Wednesday at Cardiff. The Chairman, Mr W.J. Heppell, presided. The object of the meeting was to receive the report of the owners' repre- sentatives on the Conciliation Board in refer- ence to the present position in regard to the new arrangements required for the working of the collieries in consequence of the coming into force of the new Coal Mines Regulation Act re Eight Hours. The position was fully stated to the meeting by the Chairman, and Mr F. L. Davis, the president of the owners' side of the Conciliation Board. The meeting was largely attended and fully representative of the collieries in the associa- tion, and in the discussion which followed, a number of members of the association, repre- senting collieries in all parts of the South Wales coalfield, took part. A resolution was unanimously passed to the effect that the meeting approved and con- firmed the policy of the owners' side on the Conciliation Board in their negotiations with the workmen's representa- tives, and it was further resolved to leave the whole matter in the hands of the owners' representatives, and to support them in any action they might desire to take in the matter. An intimation was received that a deputation would be waiting upon the owners' representa- tives from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain on Friday next, when the negotiations w ith the workmen's representatives would be resumed, the owners' representatives having consented to hear anything they might have to say upon the matter. Peace and Fighting Sections. A coalowner when interviewed on the situa- tion said :—" The position is as black as it can I well be. It is not because the points at issue are incapable of being amicably settled, but because there is a feeling prevalent that a strike must come. Many of us feel that if a truce is patched up now it will be only a tempo- rary one, and a struggle in the near future is inevitable. Many of us feel therefore that the sooner it comes the better. These are not my own views, but those of a large number of the owners. The harm done by a long period of uncertainty is already done, and in any case the South Wales coal trade is severely handicapped for the next six months. Many of my col- leagues are of opinion that it would be worse still if we now patched up affairs and notices to terminate tho agreement were given in December and another period of uncertainty ensued." He indicated that there was a I very sharp difference of opinion among the associated coalowners and even among the members of the Conciliation Board on the I owners' side, some being much in favour of peace and others preferring to bring matters to an issue at the end of the present month.

The Miners' Executive. OFFICIAL REPORT. A meeting of the Miners' Executive Council was held at Cardiiff on Wednesday, and the following official report was supplied by Mr T. Richards, secretary, of the deliberations at the meeting of the Miners' Executive Council held on Wednesday :— The Council at this (Wednesday) morn- ing's meeting dealt with various matters in dispute, but the greater portion of the time was devoted to the con- sideration of the general question after the two days' negotiations with the employ- ers also the question of the attitude to be assumed by the workmen in the non-associ- ated collieries in the event of a failure to agree, and a stoppage at the associated col- lieries. It was decided for the purpose of dealing with this matter and to give a report to the workmen upon the whole situation, that a conference be called of delegates from each lodge at the Cory HaU, Cardiff, on Monday next, when the representatives upon the Conciliation Board would be prepared to make certain recommendations in respect of the non-associated collieries where workmen have not received notices to terminate their contracts. We are requested to state that inasmuch as the time at the disposal of the men's leaders for finally dealing with the matters at the end of June is so short, the workmen are asked to send their delegates with full authority to decide with the representatives on the Coitcili- ataanJBoard the future mode of action. hi Case of National Strike. The miners' leaders in recommending that notices-should be given At the non-associated collieries are understood to be acting on the principle thateSouth Wales should be ready to take its part in a national stoppage, if such is decided upon by the forthcoming national con- ference. Should, however, the associated collieries erase working at the end of the pre- sent month, and no national stoppage be de- cided upon, the miners' leaders have no inten- tion of shutting down the non-associated collieries, provided that the owners of them do not attempt to impose similar conditions to those^proposed' by the Coalowners' Association.

Brought to Book. MINERS' LEADERS' AMENITIES. Statement by Mr C. B. Stanton- Mr Stanton on Tuesday evening informed our Aberdare correspond ent that he was very sore at the action of some person or persons on the executive who had committed a breach of faith in giving to the Press a report of what had taken place on Monday in reference to the proceedings at the meeting of the executive. M It is quite true," he said, that I was brought to book, and whilst I recognise the justice of the action of mvcolleagues, my with- drawal was based upon the fact that innocent people whom I had no intention of accusing were charged with being' figureheads,' or f peace-at-any-price men.' I, however, re- iterated at that meeting all I had said, that there were in my opinion men, not confined to South Wales, but in other parts of the Federation, whose desire for peace was so great that it appeared to me to be cowardly, and that they would stoop to humiliating conditions to obtain peace. I did not mean to charge anyone—as was suggested —with trying to make anything out of it. I felt that my colleagues were therefore justified in protesting, seeing that I dare not without risk charge openly the persons I had in my mind, as I am a poor man, and an action for libel or slander would be something I could ill afford to meet, and I therefore withdrew the statement. I was, however, not the only man brought to book, and I should not have said anything of this had there not been a breach of faith and honour on the part of some person or persons on the committee. If they desired to say something concerning my being bronght.to. book, why were they not equally ready to speak of the other parties being severally brought to book yesterday^? First of all Mr W. Abraham, (Mabon), M.P., was brought to book for arranging on his own initiative a meeting with the employers after it was agreed that no further meetings would be held in the face of the employers' ultimatum given to us. Mabon stated his reason, and said be was not present when that decision was arrived at and did not, therefore, know that he was-doin wrong. He said he was naturally very anxious to bring about a settlement, if possible. His colleagues, believing in his honesty of purpose, overlooked his conduct, and finally agreed with what had been done by him, although it was pointed out that the Federation was not a one-man move- ment. If Then other people were brought to book, viz., Mabon, Messrs T. Richards, M.P., Alfred Onions, and W. Brace, M.P., who represent us on the Executive of the M.F.G.B., who were charged with a breach of faith in connection with their South Wales colleagues, in that they although they were bound by the resolution of the South Wales Conference and the Execu- tive to insist upon the 20th rule being put into force, or a national stoppage under any other name, in spite of this, as members of the Executive of the M.F.G.B^, actually found themselves in agreement with the proposal of the Executive of the M^F.GJB., which were diametrically opposed to our policy. The vote of censure proposed on them, it was true, was withdrawn, but what I complain of is that nothing was said of these matters in the Press, while someone was so ready to give full publicity to what was done in my case. As it was stated there, too, I spoke in the conference in London and put the case for South Wales in my own way. That was that South Wales workmen had been schooled up to and looked for at this period no sectional strike but a national strike if any, failing to arrive at an honourable settlement. I distinctly ex- pressed to Mr Enoch Edwards, the chairman of the Federation, my disappointment at the resolution submitted to the conference by the Executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, and stated that those who felt that the 20th rule or national stoppage was the best means of limiting the period of the strike or preventing one should have their say. I wanted an. open debate on the question. How- ever, it was felt there that other means—such aa the appointment of Mr Enoch Edwards, Mr Ashton, and Mr Smillie to meet the employers —might be the means of easing the position, and on the promise that,failingsach a happyresnlt, a further conference would be called, when there would be fuller discussion upon the ques- tion of a national stoppage, I and several of my colleagues (Messrs Vernon Hartshorn, James Winstone, Barker, and others) agreed to hold over what we had to say until we had seen what the pacific means suggested might bring about. I am stall of this opinion, and pointed out that we had not secured from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain Executive the justice we might expect in the matter. The breach of faith in giving a report to the Press yesterday was discussed to-day, and I stated that as someone had seen fit to place me in an awkward position I also would state how matters stood in regard to the other people who were also brought to book." LEA&ERS AND MR STANTON. We have been supplied by Mr Thomas Richards, M.P., secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation, with the following on be- half of Mr W. Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), Mr William Brace, M-P., Mr Onions, and himself: Having seen reported in the Press this morning certain statements made by Mr Stanton respecting the present negotiations for the settlement of the matter in dispute between the South Wales coalowners and their workmen, in which their actions are grossly misrepresented, we feel that the matters committed to our care by the workmen are fraught with such highly important issues to the workmen and their families, as well as to an enormous number of other workmen Who are likely to be affected, that we refrain from taking any steps at present to refute Mr Stanton's allegations, believing that no personal con- siderations are important enough to interfere with the efforts that are being made to try and secure a settlement; but when the time comes we shall gladly submit our conduct for the judgment of the workmen we represent.

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Lake Killarney Disaster. LOSS OF ELEVEN LIVES. A Killarney correspondent telegraphs :-A four-oared boat, containing nine tourists and four boatmen, has been swamped in the Lower Killarney Lake. The nine tourists and two of the boatmen were drowned. Later particulars show that a tourist party left Killarney on Wednesday morning to do the grand tour of the gap of Dunloe, intending to return home by boat. The boat, a large four-oared craft, was occupied by nine tourists and four boatmen. Amongst the party were four guests from the Great Southern Hotel—Mrs A. A. Hilton and her son, Tacoma, Washington, the Rev. W. B. Barton and sister, from Lon- don. All went well until the boat arrived in the lower lake, across which a severe gale was blowing from the north-west. Several other boats on the same journey con- sidered it prudent to alter the course to Ross, but the ill-fated craft continued in the teeth of the gale, and it is thought she was swamped while turning or altering to run before the wind.' Some time afterwards the boat was missed. Later the clergyman and two ladies were found supported by an oar, while two boat- men were seen clinging to the boat. The clergyman was seen to disappear, and while one of the boatmen was making an endeavour to rescue the two ladies, they also disap- peared. The two boatmen were rescued in an exhausted condition, and could say little of the accident, but they stated that the remainder of the party and two other boatmen named Con Looney and Con Gleeson were drowned. The other tourists^Irowned were :— Miss Florence Wilkinson, Cocrahan, Brent- wood, Essex. A cousin of the same name, of Brook Cottage, Tealby, Rasen, Lines. Mr and Mrs Longhead, of Boston, Massa- chusetts. Miss Meg H. Cotum, of Massachusetts. The names of the ressued boatmen are Michael Leary and Michael Lynch. The boat was a very good one, and certified to carry nine passengers with safety. All the boatmen were very experienced. I

A DINGHY DISASTER, Four Lives Lost at Southampton. A boating disaster involving the loss of two, and most probably four lives, occurred late on Tuesday night at Southampton. About 11-50 a small dinghy was hired by two men to take them to a yawl lying a short distance from the pier. They were accompanied by two women, sisters known by the name of the Margarets," who are residents of Southampton. There was a good wind and a strong tide, and when about half way to the yawl the boat appears to have capsized. Cries of Help was heard and a boat was immediately launched. The lifeless bodies of the two women were discovered near the boat, which was full of water, but of the men no traces could be found. The two women drowned were Gertrude and Florence Margetts, both stated to be unmarried. The owner of the yawl is E. Wells, of Clapham. Nothing has been discovered as to the missing men, but it is now believed only one man was in the boat at the time of the accident. A fireman from a steam yacht lying near is reported missing, and it is said he Answered the description of the man seen with the boat. Drowned on Fishguard Route. On the body of a man washed ashore at Whitebay Mouth, Cork Harbour, on Tuesday night was a telegram, by which he has been identified as a retired sea captain, of Ballina- curra, Midleton, co. Cork. The deceased, who had been to London, should have arrived at Cork on the 4th insi-, and it is presumed that whilst returning from Fishguard to Cork he fell overboard from the steamer.

INTERESTING WEDDING. Leon—Young. The RoathPark Presbyterian Church, Cardiff, was on Thursday afternoon the scene of an ex- ceptionally pretty wedding, when the marriage was solemnised of Miss Elsie Edith Young, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs William Young, of Woodborough, Ninian-road, Cardiff, and Mr William Leon, son of Mr and Mrs M. Leon, of Portbcawl. The friends of both the bride and bridegroom assembled at the church in large numbers to witness the ceremony, the bride's father having been associated for some years with Roath Park Church, of which he is an elder and hon. treasurer, while the bridegroom is well known at the Docks. In honour of the bride the members of the choir also attended, and Mr W. A. Richards, Mus. Bac., the organist, presided at the organ. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked lovely, attired in a handsome gown of ivory duchesse messaline satin with full skirt arranged with panels of beautifully em- bossed silk lace. The train was further em- bellished with silver true lovers' knots and sprays of flowers charmingly executed in chiffon, and traceries of fine silver cord, this being again shown on the corsage, which had a yoke of finely tucked net finished with a graceful cluster of orange blossoms. The bride wore an exquisite veil, lent by her mother, and a Russian coronet of orange blossom and myrtle, the bouquet she carried, of heather, lilies of the valley and white orchids, being the gift of the bridegroom. The bride's three sisters, the Misses Mabel, Cissie, and Gwen Young, attended as bridesmaids, and they were prettily gowned in semi-Directoire dresses of ivory satin, the boleros being embroidered with soutache, the same trimming being intro- MR and MRS WILLIAM LEON. (Fraser, Cardiff, and Sterescoplc.) duced on the tunic Skirts. Their hats were of ivory satin straw trimmed with white, yellow and black marguerites and black velvet streamers. Each bridesmaid wore an amethyst and pearl pendant and gold chain, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried a bouquet of yellow and white marguerites. Mrs Young was very becomingly dressed in a gown of amethyst cashmere de soie, with over-dress of fine black net embroidered in silk and jet, the yoke being of finely gauged chiffon in paler shade, her hat being a black jet toque with sequins and feathers. Mrs Leon, the mother of the bridegroom, was nicely gowned in black silk trimmed with mauve, and she wore a hat of mauve and white. The Rev. J. Rey- nolds McLean officiated, the hymns sung being The voice that breathed o'er Eden and 0 perfect love." As the bride and bride- groom left the church the organist played Lohengrin's" Wedding march." Subsequently a reception was held at Woodborough House, the guests being limited to members of the re- spective families. Later Mr and Mrs Wm. Leon motored to Newport, and there took train to London. The honeymoon will be spent travelling on the Continent. The bride's going-away dress was of biscuit-eoloured cloth trimmed with reseda green silk, buttons and braiding, her hat, which was to match, being trimmed with pink roses and old rose ribbon. Mr and Mrs Leon were the recipients of nume- roos and most valuable presents, the bride's to the bridegroom being a diamond pin, and the bridegroom's to the bride a handsome dressing case. The dresses of the bride, bridesmaids, and Mrs Young were made by Messrs Samuel Hall, Ltd., of High-street, Cardiff.

DEATH OF SIR J. A. JACOBY. Sir James A. Jacoby, M.P.. died at £ {un. on Wednesday at his London residence, after an illness of several weeks' duration. Sir James was taken ill some time since in the House of Commons, and had been ailing ever since. Deceased sat as Liberal member for Mid-Derbyshire, which constituency he had represented since December, 1885. At the last election he was returned by a majority of S590 over his Conservative opponent. He filled many public offices in Nottingham, including that of high sheriff. and was Chairman of the House Commons Kitchen Committee. The late member was 57 years of age, and was knighted in 1906. By the death of Sir James Alfred Jacoby a. vacancy has been created in vhe Parliamentary representadon of Mid-Derbyshire, which con- stituency he had represented since December, 1885. The figures at the recent elections were 1895. 1906. J. A. Jacoby L 4926 J. A. Jacoby L 7065 W. C.Bridgeman..C 4351 S. Cresswell -C 3475 Lib. maj_. 575 Lib. mal. 3590 1892. 1900. J. A_ Jacoby.4899 J. A. Jacoby L 5323 J. S. Sanders .C 3907 H. S J. Baikes-C 4094 Lib. mal. 992 Lib. maj. 1229 Both Liberals and Conservatives are at present unprepared for an election, but a three- cornered contest is stated to be extremely probable, as the Independent Labour Party will seriously consider the advisability of run- ning a candidate. Mr Samuel Cresswell, the Conservative candidate at the last election, will not, it is understood, again contest the seat. It is stated Mr J. T Todd, manager of the Blackwell Collieries, who is chairman of the Mid-Derbyshire Conservative Association, will come fo rward, and that the Independent Labour Party will probably run Mr James Holmes, of Doncaster (and formerly of Cardiff), an official of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, who contested West Hull at "the bye-election in 1907. 31r Chaxles Hilton Seely is mentioned as the possible Conservative candidate.

r An Hotel Incident. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WIFE. HOTEL PORTER" NIGHT VISITS. At Cardiff on Wednesday Jas. Hellery Caines, Coldstream-terrace, applied to the Deputy Stipendiary (Mr E. Milner Jones) for the dis- charge ox a maintenance order 01 15s per week made in favour of his wife, Laun Louisa Caines, of Trevethick-street. The ground upon which the application was made was that of adultery. Mr Harold Lloyd appeared for ap- plicant; and Mr Morgan Rees defended. Mr Sydney Jenkins held a watching brief for an interested party. Mr Harold L!oyd said the order was mad e in February last. The allegation against Mrs Caines was that on or about April 14ih she stayed at the Central Hotel. Card if), wit ]i a man who was not her husbind, and the u a tries given were Mr and MR O'Neil. Miss Mabel Mansbriage, the manage; esB of the Central Hotel Cafe, stated that about two months ago two people called for lunch, and after going outside the man returned and made a request, as the result of which a room was booked for him. The name was entered in a book, which was taken to the office, but since then the book could not be found, it probably having been burned owing to a clearance out. The lady who was with the gentleman was the defendant. She did not see the two again that day. but next morn- ing,the lady and gentleman came down together from their bedroom to the cafe for breakfast. Witness Swoons. At this point the witness swooned, and another witness, George Wells, was called. Wit- ness, night porter at the Central Hotel, said he remembered that on Wednesdav. April 14th, while on duty about 1L30 p.m., a lady and gentleman, who had earlier booked a room, en- tered the hotel, and he showed them to their room, No. 87. They entered together. He iden- tified Mrs Caines as the lady. He remained on duty until 9 o'clock next morning, but did not see either come out. Two pairs of boots, one a lady's and the other a gentleman's, were put outside the door. A week later, the same lady drove up about 11.30 p.m. with another gentleman, and asked to book a room for man and wife, and he replied that they were full up. Cross-examined by Mr Morgan Rees, witness said that he was first spoken to about this matter three weeks ago by Mr Caines. Mr Morgan Rees inquired if he was with Mr Caines that morning as defendant was on her way to the court, when Mrs Caines interposed and said that applicant was shaking his head at. witness. Mr Caines was at once ordered to the back of the court. Witness's answer to the advocate's ques- tion was in the affirmative. He further stated that he was not mistaken in Mrs Cannes, who was the only lady on that floor on Easter Wednesday night Wore no Ring. Miss Mansbridge, resuming, said that when the defendant and the gentleman came to breakfast she noticed that Mrs Caines was wearing no ring of any description. V Replying to Mr Morgan Ress, witness said they had between 200 and 300 at the Central Hotel Cafe in a day, and on an average 20 to 30 beds were booked. She particularly noticed the defendant and the gentleman with her, one reason being that when he went in the hotel he was slightly intoxicated, and said they in- tended leaving next morning by the 10 o'clock train, but as a matter of fact they did not come downstairs until 11 o'clock. Witness was out- side the court this morning when Wells, the night porter, .upon seeing Mrs Caines, satd, Here's the lady (meaning the one who had stayed at the hotel). Joseph Summerhayes, who is an hotel ser- vant, deposed that the Wednesday after Easter, when standing near the hotel.bout half-past 11, Mrs Caines (whom he had seen on various times) approached the top door of the hotel with a gentleman, and tried to push the door, which was locked. Witness remarked that it was closed for refreshments. Either the lady or the gentleman remarked, We've booked aTOOm here," and thereupon he directed them to the door where there was a bell. He saw them enter the hotel, but whether they stayed that night he could not say. This closed Mr Lloyd's case. Alibi Ptea. Mr Morgan Rees applied for an adjournment, the Deputy Stipendiary asking what evidence he could bring. He pointed out the strength of applicant's case, remarking there were two absolutely independent witnesses. Mr Rees I am instructed Mrs Caines was never at the Central Hotel in her life, and that the people at whose house she was living at the time could state that she slept at their house on April 14th. The Deputy Stipendiary thought that at any rate Mrs Caines should be called, and in the course of her evidence she said she did not have lunch at the Central Cafe on Easter Wed- nesday, and did not go there that night with a gentleman. She had never been to the hotel in her life, although she had had tea at the cafe. On April 14th she stayed at No. 41, Clare-street, where she was then living. The case was then adjourned. The case was resumed on Thursday. Mrs Caines was recalled, and, replying to her advocate, she said her husband pointed her out to people outside the Court onJWednesday, and she was hooted. Mrs Case, Clare-street, said that Mrs Caines lodged with her from the week before Easter until Easter Friday, and to her knowledge she had not slept outside of her house during that time. Usually she had her meals with her. Mr Caines saw her after his wife had left, and suggested that Mrs Caines did not stop with her at all. Cross-examined by Mr Lloyd, Mrs Case said she did not keep books giving the dates Mrs Caines came and left. Mr Lloyd I am going to suggest to you that Mrs Caines left you at the end of March. Witness That is wrong. Susie Darroch, sister of the last witness, living with her in Clare-street, said Mrs Caines eame to them on the Monday before Easter. She did not stay out to witness's knowledge. She would certainly have known it if she had done so. Mr Morgan Rees submitted that it was an entirely made-up case, contending that Mrs Case and Darroch would have known if Mrs Caines had stayed out. He earnestly appealed to the stipendiary to give his client the benefit of the considerable doubt there was in the-case. It was, he submitted, clearly a case of mis- taken identity. The Deputy-Stipendiary said he was satisfied with the evidence of the disinterested wit- nesses, who had clearly identified Mrs Caines as the person who had slept in the Central Hotel. The order would therefore be dis- charged.

Pageant Preparations. REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE Mr Jotham presided on Tuesday evening at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Welsh National Pageant. The secretary (Mr A. W. Swash) reported that all the local rail- way and steamboat companies had now fol- lowed the example of the Great Western Rail- way Company in giving a free pass to the advertisement agent of the pageant. A letter of protest against the sale of drink upon the ground was read from the local Rechabite Tent, and the secretary was autho- rised to reply stating precisely under what cir- cumstances the sale would be conducted. It was decided to take steps fully to insure the risk of the committee in the event of fire destroying the grancfestands. Mr Herbert Lewis called attention to a mis- understanding existing as to the extension of the privilege of witnessing the pageant re- hearsals to private schools. It was explained that these facilities applied equally to private and public schools, with the exception that it was necessary for proprietors of private-schooh to communicate with the secretary. It was decided to accept the tender of Messrs J. B. Saunders and Co. for lighting the pageant ground. The amount was JE825. This was the lowest tender sent in. Tenders were received from caterers for the provision of meals for school children attending the pageant, and the committee, saying that they were anxious that these provisions should be properly made, decided to invite the caterers to attend a meeting of the sub-com- mittee. It is explained that in order to participate in the ballot for seats in the grand stands head- masters have to send in their applications to Mr Kent, 2, Clare Gardens, Cardiff, not later than Friday next. v HARD LUCK. Ben Carnton arrived in Cardiff from York- shire on Monday. At 2 p.m. on Tuesdayhe.com- menced work upon the grand stand which is being erected in the Sophia Gardens for the Welsh National Pageant. Twenty-five minutes later,walking backwards along the ridge at the top of the stand, he fell, and, striking a trestle, he broke! it and fell to the ground, a distance of 34ft. He sustained a broken right arm and a broken thigh. He was attended to by Dr. De Vere Hunt and removed to the Infirmary.

THE SANITAS COMPANY, LTD. At the annual meeting of this company, held at their works at Limehouse, on the 16th the/chairman, Mr C. T. Kingzett, F.I.C., F.C.s., congratulated the shareholders upon the results of the year's trading, which had enabled the directors to make a distribution of 7! per cent, for the past year. There had been a satis- factory increase in the business of the com- pany, and the sales of the universally well- known Sanitas Fluid" for sick room and domestic applications showed a very gratifying increase. Attention was directed to some experiments lately carried out by certain bacteriologists accentuating its value as a dis- infectant and air-purifier as applied by spray in school and living rooms. Great improve- ments had also been made with respect to cer- tain other Sanitas manufactures, notably the company's patent drain testers and the two new disinfectant fluids known as Sanitas- Bactox (homogeneous) and Sanitas-Okol (an emulsion), both of which are now being manufactured and sold for commercial em- ployment with a guaranteed strength at least 20 times that of pure carbolic acid, and which are available for use whenever disinfectants of high germicidal power are called for.