Evening Express

Telephone: National, 502. Post-office, 95. Telegrams: Express. Cardiff."

Mainly About People. Apropos the purchase of the Raphael by Mr. tierpont Morgan, a contemporary remarks that another old master has travelled ths yia Dollarosa." We ought as a nation to feel humbled indeed hr Father David Fleming, vicar- general of the Friars Minor, has denounced oar Imperialistic tendencies as "contrary to the divine law." If we were qnite sure that father Fleming was in the intimate counsels of the Almighty this would be very diatrees.- ing; but the London "Evening News" says there is always the possibility that it merely means that Father Fleming is in the intimate icounsels of Cardinal Rampolla. The officiala at the Post Office Savings Banli keadquarters occasionally receive some curious -epistles. Several are printed in the latest number of St. Martin's-le-Grand. The loss of tt Savings Bank book was reported, and shortly afterwards the following letter was received in the department:—" The bank book has been found. It seems that the book had been placed between the lid and a box of a fctationery case, the position of lid and box having been reversed; that is. the box was put into the lid instead of the lid being put en the box. Mrs. —— had searched through the contents cf this box many tim<3, and, Curiously enough, she states that the secret was revealed to her in a dream." Come! in the field Your labour yield. And, to the plough allegiance pledging, I Entrenchments aid With ready spade— And leave "C.-B." to do the "hedging." -The World." I _8 Lord Wolseley's best story is one of the istories of the world, for it concerns a. great man. and Wolseley is a truth-loving reporter. Three subalterns were in the trenches before the Redan-Wolseley. G-iald Graham, and Charles Gordon. When they were relieved at :night. the gigantic Graham, the perfect type vf the sworder, used to pick himself out of the trench and walk straight to his tent, careless ]&* the fact that he was making himself a cock-shot for the Russian marksmen. Evening after evening the feuaeian soldiers need to gather more fend more thickly: but Graham would take no advice: he waln't going "to bother febout those fel!ows." Garnet Wolseley. with ambition even then to be one da'y the ^Commander-in-Chief, used to crawl through the "very slush of the trench on his hands and knees for a hundred yards or so before he got up and made a bee-line for his tent: be jdid not mean to be 3hot, if he cothd help it. "And Gordon?" the listener asked. "Oh, Gordon." said Wolseley; "Gordon was ifnnny: sometimes he would crawl with me, and the very next eveuiog get up, hook arms tlrith Graham, and go off. talking eagerly." A writer in the "Rambler" gives an amusing iaecount of his adventures in London from a. Johnsonian point of view. The account of the telephone is particularly entertaining, and so true! "When we visited the House of a Mer- chant. my Whig pointed to a. Box that was affixed by Wires to the Wall. A Prentice turned an Handle, we heard a Bell. My Friend placed two Cups to his Ears. For a long time there was no Response, and the Prentice apostrophised the Box with increasing Impa- tience. At last there seemed to be some Response, for my Friend inquired with Eager- ness: "Are you there?" He now handed me the Cups in Triumph and bade me hold them to my Ears. I did so. but heard nothing. At first he would have it. That the Fault was mine; but when I gave him back the Cups he exclaimed. That we had been rung off. An heated Altercation ensaed. but at the End of Half an Hour I grew tired of the Game and insisted that we should depart." In view of the impending canonisation of the Maid of Orleans, the genealogists have naturally been inquiring whether there is any living representative of the family descended from the brother of the sainted heroine. The lineal male line, it appears, became extinct ivith the death of Charles du Lys, Advocate- general in the Court of Aids,, in 1632. One of his daughters, however, married a M. Barentin, and one of the daughters married the Marquess de Malcyssie in 1684. The eldest son of this marriage was killed at Malplaquet, and left no issue. From the second, who in 1123 married Philberte do Bouillon, is descended the present Marquess de Maleysaie,- who has in his archives three authentic let- ters signed "Jehanne."

For Vyomen Folk. t; There is a smail move in hats just now. the iflat hat beiong tilted up at the back, and so kept-not by bunched hair, as in the days of yore—bnt by a big chou of lace, flowers, velvet, or ribbon, or several of these sinews of war combined. From this beginning the old-fashioned plate hat may come-who can Bay? But we like not the vision of such a result, as the Arcadian "plate" looks well Enough on the china shepherdess, but is neither becoming nor artistic for prosaic wear. Beycmd this tilted chapeau there is not any- thing new in the millinery world just now, though fresh developments must inevitably ,appear ere long; we have so lone remained .in statu quo in that department. A wooden horse to hang the clothes on, a. Small cane to beat the dsst out. a board or table long enough to lay them at full length •when brushing, a hard brush and a soft one- such "re the things needed for the cleaning of clothes. Use the hard brush ofr overcoats and muddy clothes. A hard brush will take the nap off fine cloth coats, and make them threadbare. The cane must not be too thick, and the clothes should not be struck too hard. Boil one pound and a half of codfish twenty minutes in boiling water, with a little salt. Pick all the bonej from it; put it in layers in a pie-dish. Make a good oyster sauce of one pint of milk. a tablespoonful of corn- flower, a little salt, oysters, and pepper, and when boiled a few minutes add it to the cod. Boil a few potatoes. When done mash them and pile them neatly over. Bake a light brown, Mix six ounces of flour with ten ounces of good oÜmcal. Rub a quarter of a pound of lard or butter into it. add a pinch of salt and six ounces of moist sugar, three-quarters of an ounce of ground ginger, half an ounce of mixed spica, and a quarter of an ounce of carbonate of soda. Warm six ounces of black treacle, and stir in. Use buttermilk to make it in a dough. Bake in a greased tin an hour, and LOu have Yorkshire parkin. x

NEWPORT ROMANCE. A Supposed Dead Man Re-appears. CLAIMS PROPERTY THAT BELONGED TO HIS WIFE, A curious dispute as to the ownership of some property at Newport has just arisen on the ciaim to it by an ex-soldier, named James William Saunders. He is a native of the dis- trict cf Lydney, where he was born in July, 1845. He is a blacksmith by trade, and early in life enlisted as a farrier in the 2nd Life Guards in London. He left the service in a few years (having bought himself out), and went to Newport to look for work about 27 years ago. He was a widower, and married as his second wife a Mrs. Archer, a widow, who was the owner and tenant of a small shop at the corner of Blewitt-street and St. Mary-street. Saunders is said to have worked at his trade as a blacksmith and helped his wife in the business, and out of their joint earnings a mortgage wa& paid off. They lived together between three and four years, and then th6 husband left, on account of an un- pleasantness arising, and Saunders held no further communication with his wife or her relatives. She returned to domestic service, and the premises, after being vacant for aomo time, were taken by the present tenant. Mr. Lewis Lewis. Ten years ago Mrs. Saunders died, and the late Mr. Charles Barrett, who was for a great many years huntsman to Lord Tredegar, took possession of the property, pre- sumably as mortgagee, and received the rents, and on retiring from the Tredegar Hunt went to live in the house adjoining the shop, which had been included in the property. The shop produced JE30 a year, and the adjoining house 8s. per week. In February of last year Saun- ders returned to Newport in ill-health, and had to go into the workhouse infirmary with an attack of asthma. When he recovered, he visited the shop and premises, and began to institute a cla a to them which has been taken up legally. The property is valued at about £600 or .£700. and it is said that Saun- ders's claim includes the assertion that when his wife died she left all that she was pos- sessed of to her husband. It was thought that he was dead. as nothing had been heard of him for so many years. A question of mort- gage upon the property remains to be dis- posed of. —————.

CORPORATION FINANCES, Cardiff Borough Treasurer's Financial Statement. The Cardiff Corporation accounts for the year ended March 31. 1901, have been issued from the borough treasurer's office. Cover- ing, as they do. some 110 large octavo pages. it is impossible without carefully studying the figures to enter into details. From a summary given at the end of the book it would appear that the total assets over liabi- lities at the end of the financial year amounted to £819,321. but in arriving at this calculation unremunerative works have been put down at what they cost. The net capital expenditure on remunerative works was £1,525.572. while the debt on unremunerative works amounted to £1.085,378. The expenditure on permanent works defrayed out of revenue during past years now amounts to £114.977. The expenditure on borough fund account for the year amounted to £52.517. towards which £49,171 was received from rates, the remainder being made up of small amounts received in harbour dues. rentals, fees, fines, Ac. The chief items of expenditure are—Police-stations .£14.492. salaries £6.855. cost of promoting Car- diff Corporation Bill 1890 £4,170, and loan char.es £8,057. The general district rate account stows that the expenditure for the year wa.s £148.13£. The rates produced .£151.068. and other small items in the way of receipts bring the total ap to £157.890. thus leaving a credit balance of .£9.753. The heaviest amounts on the debit side are altogether unproductive, maintenance of streets taking £22.574, public improvements .£25.241. sewers maintenance .£11.598, street lighting £11,978, scavenging and watering £21.636, and sanitary expenses £3.235. These items alone total up to £96,261. Salaries absorbed £7.433, and maintenance of parks and open spaces £ 11,477. There was a loss of jEl.444 on the Canton Market and Slaughterhouse and £1,050 on the fish market, which, however, had only been open during five weeks of the financial year. There was a loss of £1,696 on baths, £ 8,881 on waterworks, £3,295 on eleotric lighting, and .£1.876 on the Museum and Gymnasiums Act On the other side £4,388 was received from various rentals. On the Central Market there was a profit of £779. and on the Roath Market and Slaughterhouse the receipts ex- ceeded the expenditure by £3 13s. It should be borne in mind that in every case loan charges have been added to the cost of maintenance.

THE EMPEROR WILLIAM, Two Visits to England This Year. I have just heard on good authority (says the Standard correspondent at Berlin) that his Majesty the Emperor William intends to make two visits to England in the course of the next five months. His first visit will be paid about the end of this month or in the beginning of February, in order that he may be present at the ceremonies on the anniver- sary of the death of the late Queen Victoria.. The object of his Majesty's second visit will be to attend the King's Coronation. The Kaiser and the Late Queen. The King is sending the Prince of Wales with congratulations to the Kaiser on his birthday, not as a casual compliment, but by way of acknowledging the Kaiser's affectionate behaviour during the last illness of Queen Victoria. It is not generally known (says the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian") how much the Kaiser did to soothe and brighten the Queen's last days. He was actually a tender and devoted nurse.

MR. MACLAREN'S TEAM. Heavy Scoring by the English Eleven. Mr. MacLaren's team on Wednesday began a two-dayi' match against an Eighteen of Sta-well, Victoria. The match was opened in pleasant weather, and before an attendance of 1,500. Tyldesley, Barnes. Blythe, add Lilley were omitted from the English side, Mr. Woods coming in to complete the eleven. The wicket was good. while the ground was small, and of this the Englishmen, who won the toss, took full advantage, staying in all the after- noon, and running up a heavy score. Thir- teen men fielded. The individual scores were as follow:—C. Robson. 6; S. H. J. Woods, 19; G. L. Jessop. 68; A. C. MacLaren. 56; A. O. Jones. 95; Hayward. 26; Braund. 127; C. M'Gahey, 101; Quaife (not out), 2; H. G. Garnett (not out), 13—total (for eight wickets), 513.— Press Association.

SAILORS FEUD IN CHINA. British Bluejackets Side with the Americans. M. Lessar, Russian Minister in Peking, has addressed a complaint to Mr. Conger, United States Minister, regarding the conduct of the sailors of the American gunboat Vioks- burg, now wintering at Nin-chwang. There have been a series of collisions between American sailors and Russian soldiers, in some of which men of the British sloop Algerine also took I art, siding with the Americans.—Renter.

RHYMNEY VALLEY DISPUTE. Stone-throwing by Colliers on on Strike. The dispute in the Rhymney Valley House Coal Pits is assuming a somewhat serious aspect. Recently a psrty of young men paraded the Gilfach and Bargoed districts and hurled stones at the windows of the under- manager's house (Mr. David Lewis), and also at the house of the firemxn (Mr. Griffiths), doing damage to the extent of a few pounds. When passing near Gilfach Vargoed Farm— at which plaice Mr. L. P. Edwards, who has control of the whole of the haulage at tho Gilfach Pits, resides—several stones were thrown, and Mr. Edwards narrowly escaped some of the missilej.

PUBLIC BAPTiSM AT NANTYMOEL. At Nantymoel on Tuesday night the English Baptist Church was crowded with an immense audience, which filled every avail- able inch of sitting and standing room, leav- ing a large crowd outside vainly struggling for admission. It had been noised abroad that a great baptising ceremony was to take place. After a stirring short sermon, the Rev. A. T. Jones, of Newport, publicly immersed the extraordinary total of 39 candidates for church membership, fourteen females and 25 males. The ceremony was concluded in less than 4Q miautes,

SMALL-POX SCARE. Serious Outbreak in Swansea Valley. eJ YOUNG WOMAN IMPORTS THE DISEASE FROM LONDON. A great scare has been created in the Swansea Valley by the news that that fell scourge, small-pox, ha3 made its appearance at Ystalyiera, a populous little town half- T.ray up the valley, and about a. dozen miles from Swansea. From what can be gathered, it appears that on December 23 a young woman arrived at Y?talyfera from London, where she had been employed in a drapery establishment, which, it was feared, was within one of the areas of the disease there. She stated that she was sent home for change cf air, and has since declared that it was not known what was the disease she was suffering from. She was about Tstalyfera j for several dava after her arrival, and, neces- atrily. came into contact with a number of people. and the result so far has been that four persons in her own famiiy arc stricken with the disease, whilst another family has three patients and a thitd house one. The cases have been diagnosed as small-pox in a mild form. One of the patients is a booking- clcrk. and the Midland Railway at once changed the whole staff at the station. There is no isolation hospital in the district as yet, but Dr. John Thomas, the local medical officer ofTipaIth. has taken steps for the super- vision of the affected houses. They have been placed in quarantine and the inmates all re- vaccmated. whilst notices have been issued to the public warning them and giving them information. A special meeting of the dis- trict council has been summoned for this (Thursday) afternoon to deal with the subject. which has come upon the district like a bolt from the blue." Someone to Blame. Dr. Thomas told a reporter that, in bis opinion, someone was seriously to blame in London for allowing the girl to travel when from all appearances she was suffering from small-pox in a very aggravated form. As a matter of fact," he said." the disease was visible in the woman's face. I have notified the Local Government Board. and they have ordered an investigation with a view to ascertaining who the doctor js that allowed the girl to leave London. The disease at present," continued the doctor, has only shown itself in a mild form. But it ia impossible to say what developments may take place for some days yet." Interview with the County Medical Officer. Dr. Williams, county medical officer, inter. viewed on Wednesday night, said he feared that bofore long the London epidemic would spread, to other parts of the country, espe- cially in industrial and populous centres like Glamorgan. So long as "conscientious objectors were permitted to appear before the juotices and obtain immunity from vac- cination for their offspring the number of susceptible children would continually increase, and unless something was done the results would be disastrous. Precautions at Neath. At the monthly meeting of the Neath Rural District Council held on Wednesday, under the presidency of Mr. William Howell. Mr. A. S. Gardner alluded to the outbreak of small- pox in London and the possibility of its spreading. He thought, in the circumstances, the council should take precautionary measures, and he moved the appointment of a small committee, consisting of the chairman, the vice-chairman, and Mr. J. H. Moore, with full power to act.—Mr. Edward Davies seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted.

WESTERN VALLEYS SEWAGE. Another Conference of Local Authorities. Another of the long series of conference of urban authorities affected by the sewerage scheme for the Western Valleys of Monmouth- shire was held at Abercarn on Wednesday. The scheme is of considerable scope, covering the whole district from Abertillery and Blaina, at its northern extremity, down to Risca, thus passing through and draining one of the most populous portions of the South Wales coal- field. Objection is taken to a long main trunk, and as a substitute various forms of bacteriological treatment for the disposal of sewage met with favour from some quarters. The last conference was held in August last, when the matter was left in abeyance. The urban district councils represented were Ebbw Yale. Nantyglo and Blaina. Abertillery, Aber- cam. and Risca, with the St. Mellon's Rural i District Council. The last body, however, was only contingently interested, for the main trunk, if constructed, would have to pass through its jurisdiction. Chief opposition came, from Abertillery, while the Nantyglo and Blaina Councils were themselves experiment- ing with a system. Mr. G. H. Murse, J.P. (Abejcarn), presided at the conference, which was held at the district council offices. A letter was received from the Nantyglo and Blaina Council stating that their experiments were yet incomplete.—Mr. Roche, the surveyor, answering questions by the delegates, added that their sewage beds were sufficient for a population of 1,300 persons, and cost JE340. It was intended as a single contact plan, but further filtering would be possible. So far the effluent had not been tested, as automatic appliances had been fitted which had not been installed elsewhere, but it was intended that if the experiment succeetfid the system should be made permanent, witli additions of three similar stations to cope with the whole. Mr; A. Tilney (Abertillery) submitted a brief report from his council to the effect that they had the opinion of engineers on their small experiment of two years ago. and were not inclined to repeat f>.e process or dupli- cate work done elsewhrx-o. Speaking as a director of a tin-works at Abertillery, he assured the meeting that the acid from those works would be separably dealt with and rendered innocuous. Mr. W. Thomas (Aber-lllery) characterised the beds as little better than the old cess-pits. Mr. W. Thomas (Abercarn), in suggesting an adjournment, said thera was a scandalous pollution of the central river, while the cart system had long since became an abomination and a danger. They had been forced, in the interests of health, to adjpt the inconvenient pail system. An explanation was made by the Chairman that the county council were pressing tor definite action, and he l;~d pledged his word that an answer would be conveyed to the next meeting. Already the matter had been in consideration for five years, and they had once passed a resolution absolutely adopting the main trunk device. Mr. T. Richards (Ebbw Vale), in the interests of nnality, proposed that the necessary stepB be taken to obtain Parliamentary powers for the construction of a main trunk system to deal with the sewage from the Western Valleys. The many postponements were creating an intolerable position of affairs. Pending united action by the councils the smaller bodies were leaving improvements unfinished, with the result that they had had epidemics, which had ended in loss of life. Mr. Thomas (Abercarn) seconded, and several members supported, Mr. Tilney and Mr. Greyson being the principal opponents. Mr. Tilney moved an amendment that no action be taken until the result of the experi- ments be made known. The resolution was carried, with an addi- tion that another meetmg be called in two months.

SIDELIGHTS ON THE BOER WAR. Dr. Saner, member of the Council of Rho- desia, spoke at Dewsbury on Wednesday night in favour of Mr. Joe Haley, the Unionist can- didate. and said that while passing through Cape Town months ago be was shown a glass, one of a consignment of 20,000, sent from Hol- land two months before '.he commencement of hostilities for the purpose of drinking the Boers' health when they marched victoriously through to Cape Town. He was also shown an application form printed in ink on white paper dated from Cape Town. It was one of the 180,000 which had been printed in Holland to be nsed by British subjects applying for admission to citizenship in the United South African Republic, and sent before the war commenced. He declared Mr. Chamberlain was the greatest statesman ever known for consolidating the Empire.

LLANDEBIE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION Llandebie United District School Board elec- tion took place on Tuesday, with the following result:—Elected: The Rev. Wm. Bowen, Messrs. D. J. Jones. W. N. Jones. J. Jones. R. j Lawrence, W. Stephens, Captain J. Jones, Mr. John Parry, and Mr. T. L. DaviN. Non-elected: I Mr. J. S. Lewis,

WELSH COAL TRADE. A Large Government Order for Cardiff. THE CONTRACTORS PLEDGED TO SECRECY. Early last month the British Admiralty authorities invited tenders from ooalowners on the Admiralty list for the supply of a large quantity of Welsh ,s>te*r« coal for the use of the fleet over the present year. Tenders were sent in on the 11th uit.. and, although the coaltwners were pledged not to divulge—if successful -the priaj obtained or the quantity ordered, it was generally understood that the I figures then • anjrad between 14s. 6d. and 15s. per ton net, according to the repntation of the coal to be supplied. The several contractors' f!uota1.ions were, however, all rejected, but as an alternative, they were asked to send in amended tenders. This was accordingly done, with the result that several firms at Cardiff, have now received. large orders. Judging by contracts canoluded about this time last year, the requirements of the Admiralty will, probably, be very littlq short of half a million tons, but whether the total quantity has been allotted or not it is impossible under existing conditions to state. The successful tenderera, refuse to give the slightest indication as to the prices obtained, but it was currently rumoured in usually well-informed circles on Wednesday that 143. 3d. to 14s. 6d. net were the prices paid for very best steams, and 13s. 9d. to 14s. per ton net for seconds.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY BOARD. Honorary Physician Resigns.—A Nurse Going to South Africa. A monthly meeting of the board of manage- ment of the Cardiff Infirmary was held at the institution on Wednesday. Major-general Lee presided. The Secretary (Mr. Rea) reported that there were 101 persons awaiting admission, and there were seventeen empty beds. The number of in-patients was 137. The house committee asked the board to express an opinion as to whether some cere- mony should be observed in connection with the Thomas Andrews and "Western Mail" Wards, where, through the kindness of Mr. T. H. Stephens, tablets have now been placed recording the recent successful effort to relieve the institution of debt.—Mr. J. J. P. Burt said the least the management com- mittee could do was to express an opinion upon the tablets, and the Chairman invited the members to inspect them after the meeting if they felt so inclined. Resignation of Dr. Vachell. The Secretary read a letter from Dr. Charles T. Vachell, resigning his position as honorary physician at the infirmary. Dr. Vacheil stated that he had held the office of I physician for fifteen years, and the board were empowered (if they thought fit) to pro- mote the holder of such an office to the posi- tion of consultant in his department. Inci- dentally. Dr. Vachell stated that. in addition to his service as physician, lie filled the post of surgeon to the institution for four years, out-patient medical officer for five years, a.nd house surgeon for four years, making a. total of 28 years in office. Under no circumstances had he any intention of discontinuing to render any help in his power to promote the best interests of the infirmary. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Vachell's resignation was accepted, and, on the proposition of the Chairman, he was unanimously appointed consultant in his department, with a. hope that he would con- tinue his services as hon. physician until his successor was elected. The Secretary stated that Dr. Herbert Vachell. who is now the senior assistant physician, had intimated his intention of resigning, and making application for the position of honorary physician. This will leave a vacancy in the ranks of the assistant physicians, and it was agreed to advertise both appointments as usual. A Mistake Somewhere. A member from Abertillery stated that a. case had been mentioned to him of a woman who, after waiting three months for admission, was refused because her ticket bore last year's date. He asked if that was the custom of the infirmary. The Secretary stated that it was not. They had honoured tickets dating back to 1899. The committee thought there must have been a mistake, and Mr. Rae was asked to make inquiries. For the Funds. Cheques for JE45 7s. 8d. from the Rhymney Railway employes and JE56 15s. 6d. from the workmen at Insole's Cymmer Colliery were announced.—1Tho Secretary reported that Mr. Tatem had collected JE10 10s. from Messrs. H. J. Hill and Co. and jEl is. from Messrs. Percy Powell and Thomas. The secretary of the Cardiff Ladies' Choir conducted by Miss Rowlands wrote to the effect that they were organising a concert in aid of local charities, and had decided to give half the receipts to the infirmary. He hoped the board would do all they could to make the concert a success.—On the proposition of Mr. F. H. Jotham, who remarked that last year .£30 was received from the same source, it was decided to give the concert every possible support. Mr. Croeemnn said Mr. Studt was desirous of giving a fete and gala in aid of the infirmary in August next, and asked the committee to approach the corporation with the view of getting Cathays Park for the purpose. (Applausa.)—The Chairman welcomed Mr. Studt, who waa present as a governor, and thanked him for the assistance he had given in the past, the gala last year resulting in a sum of J5144 5s. being handed over to the trea- surer.—The board unanimously accepted the offer, and the arrangements were left in the hands of the entertainment committee and Mr. Stndt. Presentation to Sister Wadham. The Rov. W. E. Winks referred to the fact that Sister Wadham, who had been a nurse at the institution for many years, was about to leave in order to prooced to South Africa. She had always given satisfaction, and during the time that Miss Wilson was at the seat of war she had discharged the duties of matron in such a way as to give general gratification tJ the members of the house- committee. He moved a resolution in recognition of the eer- vioes she had rendered—The motion was seconded by Mr. T. H. Stephens, supported by Dr. Wallace and the chairman, and carried unanimously. Subsequently the Chairman presented to Miss Wadham a handsome travelling-bag, which had been subscribed for by some members of the board of management.—Mr. D. W. Evans remarked that Miss Wadham came to the infirmary as a probationer in 1892, and had been there ever since.

REMARKABLE PATERNITY SUIT. A remarkable case, which it is probable will have sensational developments, came before the magistrate at Westminster Police-court on Wednesday, when John Glaister, a young stonemason from Glosonby, near Penrith, Cumberland, wa3 summoned for a mainte- nance order in respect of a child by Edith Tapley, a young housemaid, who gave an address at Chelsea. The complainant, whose home is at Canterbury, had had one summons £ ismisjsd for want of jurisdiction. Aftar residing for a month in Chelsea, where she was formerly in the service of a Mrs. Rowley, of Cheyne Walk, she obtained a second sum- mons. Counsel for defendant commented on the fact that his client waa handicapped by the great expense nd trouble of attending with witnesses from Cumberland, where the venue should have been laid, but the hearing was proceeded with. Complainant was cross-examined as to her relations with her late master. Mr. Rowley, whose country seat is at Penrith. She denied that she had told certain persons named that her master had baen intimate with her. and positively asserted that Mr. Rowley was not paying the expenses of the present action. I Counsel for complainant interposed, however, and stated that Mr. Rowley was paying the expenses. Mr. William Edwin Rowley, of Penrith, went into the witness-box and admitted that he had been told that complainant had accused him to other persons of improperly assaulting her. but, notwithstanding that, the girl remained in his service, and witness neTer said any- thing to her about the accusation. Witness further admitted that Mrs. Rowley had made the necessary arrangements for the girl Tapley to go to a home in Chelsea in her trouble. Witness denied that to save himself he tried to induce his gamekeeper, Harrison, to admit the paternity of complainant's child. Other evidence having been given, the Magis- trate said the case was assuming a very important character, and it was obvious that the inquiry would have to be protracted and exhaustive. The suumious was, therefore, adjonrned. ;< c. 01:1

OUR SHIPS' CREWS. ( British Seamen Object to Foreigners. SHIPOWNERS SAY THE LATTER ARE THE BEST SAILORS. That our mercantile marine is now largely manned by foreigners is an undoubted fact. ] Whether these strangers constitute a. national danger is another question. With the view of getting representative views one of our 1 reporters on Tuesday interviewed a. number of typical sailors at the Cardiff Docks, and also several well-known shipowners. ] The sailors, as might have been expected, j spoke rather warmly upon the subject of the Dago" element. They claimed that these I foreigners were not so good as Bi$tish seamen, and that they often proved utter cowards ( when danger was at hand. Besides this, by' 1 their competition wages were kept down, so that the sailor could scarcely live upon the pittance he earned, and could get very few reforms. These foreigners, they said, would ( put up with bad language from the officers, I with bad food, bad housing, and anything unpleasant besides. The British sailors had j time after time endeavoured to improve 1 their lot, but the shipowners simply laughed 1 at their efforts, and got foreigners on their 1 own terms. The shipowners' story was quite different. They said that the type of British sailor com- I pared ill with the foreigner. The best men i became the officers that commanded our vessels, whilst others formed the Navy, and 1 a third complement manned our ocean liners. ] The remnant that was left, whilst containing 1 some good men, consisted to a great extent of idlers and drunkards. These men were not « sufficient by many thousands to man the ( huge mercantile navy of this country, and so it was absolutely necessary to employ foreigners. One very prominent shipowner said: — « "We- ad a nation own more than half the I world's tonnage. From our comparatively small population we have to furnish an { immense army of men for the industries, and t we cannot spare the number that would be 1 necessary to man the whole of our ships. We carry merchandise for every nation on ] earth. Would it be fair to exclude entirely from the carrying trade the peoples with t whom we trade? As a matter of fact, we I couldn't get on without them." "What about national danger in time of ( war?" asked our representative. "There is none. The men employed are 1 principally Norwegians, Swedes, Danes, and Greeks. These men make, next to ourselves, ] the best sailors in the world. Indeed, the best foreign seaman is better than the I average tramp Englishman. There are also t some Germans, Italians, Russians. Spaniards, and Frenchmen employed. The French, Ger. 1 man, and Spanish seamen on our vessels are i comparatively few. and there is not much t risk of war in the ease of the other countries. i Besides that, it must be remembered that our ships are officered by Englishmen, and that t the crew will, probably, consist of men of four ( or five nationalities. Thus the men of any ( particular nation with which we might be at war would be outnumbered. Then, again, ( the fact must not be overlooked that many— t perhaps I should say most—of the foreigners i on oar vessels have settled in this country, ( and their descendants will be entitled to the 1 title. 'Englishmen.' "What is the character of the foreign sea- i men?" "They are good. steady sailors. They do < their work well, and there is no grumbling. The English sailors who stay on the tramp t steamers, except as officers, cannot be com- .1 pared with them ] "What about the wages?" "The English seaman is always complaining 1 on that score, but I see little reason. Their < work is very little on the vessels of to-day. t Practically, they are labourers, and 31s such ] are much more highly paid than the labourer on shore. The only responsible work they t have is to steer and to take the look-out.' 1 We pay better wages than they do abroad, I we keep our vessels in better order, and the I Board of Trade sees that the men are in every way well treated and that the ship is not overloaded. It is dne to our advantage in this respect that foreign sailors are attracted to onr service. We could not pay higher wages, because we have to compete with foreign vessels worked much cheaper than onr 1 own. and it must not be forgotten that cheap I goods do more for the nation than dear goods and high wages. Wages are higher now than they have ever been, and the men are better fed. better housed, and better treated in every ( respect." "I hear that the Shipping Federation are training lads from the country to man cur ¡ ships 1 "Yes, they are; bst. these lads will join the 1 Navy or become officers. We really do not want clever me a as sailors. Wo merely want machines with enough intelligence to steer and to keep a good look-out. The smart lads can, with a little training, become good officers, and these are the men that the pros- perity of our mercantile marine depends upon." Sir Charles Dilke and the Naval Reserve. Sir Charles Dilke. at a meeting of the Ship- master's Society on Tuesday, said one fact must not bo overlooked in connection with the question of our ships being manned by foreigners, and that was that many of the navies of the smaller Powers had many British seamen, and that they were in high demand in other countries. There was, how- ever, no adequate provision for the expansion of the Naval Reserve, and no provision for meeting wastage in time of war. The mer- cantile marine must always stand behind the Royal Navy. although estimates of the num- bers that could be drawn upon were, he thought, too optimistic. Then it had been said that we could draw upon our Colonies, but he was afraid, owing to the higher pay in the coasting trade of these Colonies, that we could not look for any large number of men. The Admiralty had decided not to send a training ship to Newfoundland, but when the Prince of Wales arrived there during his late ] tour his Royal Highness cabled to the King and to the Admiralty, and the result was that C the Admiralty had agreed to Bend a ship. Sir Charles said that reserves had got to be found, and he looked to some extension of the short- eervice system to the Navy as affording a j means of getting them. The Admiralty and the Board of Trade were now jointly consider- ing the question, and he thought they would find the facts of the situation so strong as to drive them into the adoption of a modified system of short service. 1

—— PRO. BOER SLANDERS. 1 German Rebuke 9 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannermnn. A Reuter's telegram, Cologne, Wednesday. says:—The indignation excited in England by Dr. Eallentin's book, The Huns in South Africa." forms the subject of a long article in the Koelnieche Zeitung" to-day. After remarking that only a few German papers J have published extracts from the book, which has properly been left unnoticed by the principal journals, the Zeitnng recalls the utterances of Mr. Stead and Sir Henry Camp- bell-Bannerman, and observes that there appears to be a widespread disposition among ] the British people to look for a scapegoat abroad. The English." continues the Zeitung," show a. preference for%»,king an unknown German by the ear rather than their own countrymen. Germany, too, it must be admitted, is indignant with Mr. Chamberlain, hut shuts both eyes when Ger- mans characterise their own troops in China as UllOa and Vandals- If now and again there ia some sinning on one side or the other; serious men should preserve a. free mind. and not make the lives of themselves and others burdensome with matters which, with some knowledge of both sides of circumstances and things, are not even worth discueaion." The Zeitung adds that it would be glad tq see the book of illwill and provocation closed once for all.

ABERDARE COUNTY-COURT. Judge Gwilym Williams' list at the monthly sitting of the Aberdare Oonnty-court on Wed- nesday occupied but a short time, the only I case of interest being one in which William Sarvis, draper, sued the Taff Vale Railway Company for eight shillings and one penny, value of fish destroyed in transit from Bir- mingham to Aberdare. Plaintiff's version was that the package consisted of sole and crabs, but so badly had it been crushed on the journey that the whole became a pulp.— Mr. William Kenshole, for the defendants. urged that the London and North Western Railway Company were the contracting car- riers. and thereupon his Honour directed a. non-suit, without costs, despite plaintiff's plea that the Taff Company had paid in similar cases.

ARMY AND NAVY CHAPLAINS. A sub-committee of the Congregational Union appointed to confer with the Baptist Union regarding Army and Navy chaplains has issued its report, and recommends that as far as possible every Baptist or Congregational t soldier or sailor should be entitled to the religious ministrations of an accredited minis- ter of those denominations. The committee also recommends that early steps should be taken to approach the Secretary for War, seek- ing a conference between him and the repre- sentatives of the two Unions as to the rccog- I nition in the general orders of the Baptist I and Consrejational iodies.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN. His Defence of Our War Methods. COUNT VON BUELOW SPEAKS FOR THE GERMAN ARMY, The German Reichstag re-assembled at Berlin on Wednesday after the Christmas recess. Baron Von Thielmann, Secretary of State for the Treasury, made a statement upon the financial situation of the Empire. He said: "My former references to the dete- rioration of the financial position, which were regarded in many quarters as pessimistic, have been confirmed. Affairs have become even more unfavourable than we were able to foresee." The Secreta.ry added that this state of things had been brought about through the economic depression, causing receipts to fall considerably. The individual States of the Empire could no longer bear the matricular contributions, least of all the small Tbunngian States. In the framing of the estimates for 1902 great caution had been observed. Never- theless. it was only with difficulty that the balance between revenue and expenditure had been established. Count Stolberg Wernigerode (Conservative) alluded to the recent collapse of great banking institutions. The Empire, he urged, should think of creating fresh sources of revenue. He mentioned Mr. Chamberlain's reference to the German Army in his Edinburgh speech, and said that the charges made by the Colornial Secretary had caused the greatest indignation antong the German people. Count Von Buelow (Imperial Chancellor) then addressed the House. The last speaker, he said, alluded in his remarks to the reference which an English Minister made some time ago to the conduct of the German Army in the Franco-German War. I believe we shall all be agreed, and I think all sensible people in England, itoo, will agree with us, that when a Minister considers himself called upon to justify his policy-and. such a thing may happen—he does well to leave foreign countries out of the discussion. (Hear, hear.) Should he, however, wish to adduce examples from abroad, it is advisable that he should proceed with great cautioa, for otherwise he runs a risk, not only of twtag misunderstood, but also of hurting foreign feelings, even though it be—as I am ready to assume was the case in the present instance, and as, indeed, after assurance* made to me from tho other side I must assume—without anv intention of doing so. This is, however, all tha more regrettable when it happens in the case of a Minister a.nd with reference to a country which always entertained with his own good and friendly relations, the undis- turbed continuance of which is equally to the interests of both parties. (Hear, hear.) It is quite comprehensible that in a people which has Ucome so thoroughly part and parcel of its glorious Army as Germany has tha,t the general feeling of the nation should revolt against any appearance of the heroic charac- ter and moral basis of our national struggle for unity being subject to misrepresentation. But the German Army stands much too high, its escutcheon is too bright, for it to be affected by warped judgments. Anything of the kind is well answered by the reply which Frederick the Great gave when he was told t-h&t somebody had been attacking him and the Prussian Army. "Let the man alone," said the gr^at King, "and do not excite your- selves. He is biting at granite." Prussia's Troubles. Count Von Buelow at the opening of the Prussian Diet on Wednesday read the Kaiser's Speech. The Speech referred to the generally unfavourable economical situa- tion, and announced a new Canal Bill, but nothing was said concerning the period to be occupied in its construction. The Kaiser pointed out the necessity for taking measures against the Polish agitation in Prussia, which was inimical to the Prussian State. Measures were also advised to secure to Germans in the Eastern provinces their political and econo- mical position.—Central News.

HEARSES IN COLLISION. Driver-Killed When Nearing a Cemetery. The horses attached to a. hearse took fright near Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, on Wednes- day, and collided with another hearse, with the result that the driver of one of the vehicles was killed. The horses were injured. and both hearses much damaged. The comns were afterwards conveyed into the cemetery for interment. 111 —T

PRINCIPAL E. H. GRIFFITHS. Public Reception of the Chief of Cardiff College. The reception to be given at the Park-hall, Cardiff, this (Thursday) evening to Principal E. H. Griffiths is likely to be an extremely successful affair. Primarily, it is arranged by the Jeading educationalists in the borough. upon Mr. K H. Griffiths taking up duties as principal of the university coilege. The body of the hall wilt be reserved for representatives of public bodies and members of the college council, whilst the balcony will be open to the "general public"—tickets to be obtained by application in writing to Mr. J. Austin Jenkins (registrar of the college). The chair will be taken by Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P., president of the college. The Mayor and Corporation of Cardiff will be present. Principal Griffiths will give an address, and among other speakers will be the Mayor of Cardiff. Councillor S. N. Jones (Abertillery), chairman of the Mon- mouthshire Technical Instruction Committee; Dr. T. H. Morris (Tylorslown), chairman of the technical instruction committee of the county of Glamorgan; Dr. W. T. Edwards, vice- president of the college; Alderman Sanders, chairman of the Cardiff Intermediate Schools Committee; Dr. Isambard Owen. senior deputy-chancellor of the University of Wales; and Mr, Lewis Williams, chairman of the Cardiff School Board. On Saturday evening the Cardiff Cymmrodo- rion Society will give a dinner in honour of Principal Griffiths, when the chair will be taken by the president (Sir Thomas Morel). Tickets may be obtained from Councillor J. T. Richards, hon. secretary of the society. On Friday, the 17th inst., the students of the college will Itjve a reception to the priucipal at the Cory-ball, and on Saturday. ths 18th inst. the college staff will entertain him at a dinner.

PRIMROSh LEAGUE DANCES AT CARDIFF AND NEWPORT. The annual ball of the Riverside and Canton Habitations of the Primrose League took place, by the kind permission of the mayor, at the Town-hall. Cardiff, on Wednesday evening. Some 150 ladies and gentlemen attended, and the dance was a very pleasant one. Dancing was kept up to an early hoar of the morning. The M.C.'s were Miss Waltera and Messrs. S. Howe. D. Baker, ajid W. Rees. A most enjoyable- and thoroughly represen- tative ball fin connection with the Tredegar Habitation of the Primrose League was held on Wednesday evening at the Tredegar-hall. Newport,. Dr. Rutherfoord Harris, J.P., had intended being present, but, owing to a sudden press of engagements away from the district, he wa.s obliged to wire his regrets at inability to attend. The hall was most tastefully decorated by Mr. F. E. Burpitt, the front of the balconies and the retiring arbours being hung with pretty tapestry and muslin, and the cool outer hall being used by Mrs. Bevan for the refresh- ments. The promoters started out with the intention of keeping the number of guests to 100. and in the interests of the dancers this was strictly adhered to. The floor was in excellent condition when. about eight p.m., Mr. I. Jacob's band led off with The Darkie's Serenade" for the opening polka. There were confessed "gentlemen over." but, taking out a. few who did not do much dancing, the sides were well partnered for the two dozen dances which appeared on the ball card. The M.C.'s were Mr. G. Geen, Mr. R. T. Martin, Mr. R. J. Williams, Mn W. M. Prevost, and Mr. A. J. Woodcock, hon. secre- tary to the habitation.

BRITISH OFFICER KILLED. A Calcutta telegram says .—Captain Down, the political officer who was seriously wounded at Tochi, North-west Frontier, on Tuesday, has succumbed to his injuries.— Renter. Captain C. P. Down was seriously wounded while with Colouel M'Ra<?"?j column, the bullet passing through his left shoulder and body and out at bis sido. 1

WELSH EDUCATION. Injustice in Scholarship Awards. CENTRAL BOARD MEDDLING WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES. A largely-attended special meeting ot the Carmarthenshire County Governing Body was held at Carmarthen on Wednesday, Mr. Charle3 Lloyd, Waunifor. presiding. The report of the committee Appointed to investigate the late exhibition award of the Central Welsh Board was looked upon as most important. The committee, after a careful examination of the marks obtained by the first three candidates 0;1 the Central Board list and of ths exhibition regulations of the Central Board, found that A. B. Thymas, the third candidate on the list, ought on his merits to have been awarded an exhibition, his marks being distinctly better than those obtained by either of the successful candi- dates; and (2) that the regulations giving rise to euch an injustice were based on a falla- cious principle, the fact being that A. B. Thomas would have stood first in the list if he had failed in mathematics inatead of attaining the honours standard, while he would have remained third if he had had the combined qualifications of the successful can- didates in addition to his own. The com- mittee, therefore, recommended that a special exhibition of JS25 per annum be granted to A. B. Thomas as from September last, and that, inasmuch as the necessity for the special exhibition had arisen from causes for which the Central Board had primary responsibility, the Central Board be asked to make good to the governors the amount of the special exhi- bition. The Chairman having proposed the adoption of the recommendations, Mr. Gwilym Evans asked for the names of the gentlemen who composed the committee.—It was stated that the committee were Mr. Charles Lloyd, Mr. A. G. Legard, Principal Evans. Mr. J. W. Nicholas. Professor D. E. Jones, and the Rev. William Davies. Sir Lewis Morris thereupon remarked that they were bound to accept the report, since it was the unanimous opinion of very high educational authorities. The' report was adopted unanimously, and it was decided, in making application for re- payment of the special exhibition money, to send a copy of the report and the schedule of marks to the Central Board.—Sir Lewis Morris, perusing the schedule, remarked that all he could say was that the board seemed to be self-convicted. Principal Evans then moved that the gover- nors protest against the exhibition regula- tions of the Central Board as being demon- strably unfair, and likely to lead to the selec- tion of the weaker candidates; and that. in the presence of the failure of the authorities to amend them effectively, they request the board in future to send in to the governing body the exhibition marks alone, unaccom- panied by any recommendations. The motion further advocated the rescission of any resolu- tion on the governors' minutes whic&^inig'ht appear to bind them to accept such f$jbi ni- dations of the Central Board, pointii^out to the latter, in explanation of this step, the miscarriage of justice which had already arisen out of the recommendations in Carmar- thenshire, and also that the unfairness of the position was aggravated by the new regula- tions recently made by the board. Principal Evans Said the question was a difficult on-3 to explain briefly, but it was a certain fesult of the regulations that any boy who attempted to get more than the minimum number of the board's certificates would do so at the peril of losing his exhibi- tion. Having given forcible instanoes of the unfairness of the position, the principal said he could only hope that the regulations would be absolutely withdrawn, and withdrawn at cnce, because they were a discredit to the board. Mr. J. W. Nicholas, clerk of the peace for Carmarthenshire, seconded. He fully endorsed what had been said, because it was plain that the regulations were based upon an entirely fallacious standard, and if allowed to continue injustice could not help being done. The motion was carried unanimously, and Sir Lewis Morris and Principal Evans were appointed as a, deputation to confer with the Central Board with a view to the withdrawal of the regulations and the substitution of another scheme. At the ordinary meeting of the board Prin- cipal Evans moved that the Central Board be asked, in communicating the 'result of the annual examinations, to supply the actual marks and maxima, instead of the percentages, on the ground, amongst several others, that when the percentages alone were given it was rarely possible to arrive at the original marks, and it was to be feared that under the present system many of the rewards and distinctions must be going to the wrong pupils. Mr. J. R. James (Llandovery) seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Demand for Local Control. In the unavoidable absence of Professor D. E. Jones, Mr. Gwilym Evans proposed another important motion. It pointed out that, whilst the Carmarthenshire county schools were of a varied character, adapted in fees, accommoda- tion. curriculum, and scales of expenditure to the special circumstances of the several locali- ties, the tendency of the Central Welsh Board was to reduce them to a uniform type. The large powers entrusted, by implication, to the board inspectors, and the absence of a pro- vision requiring the inspectors to report the results of subsidiary inspections to any autho- rity whatsoever, was. it was pointed out, likely to give rise to misunderstanding and friction. Under those circumstances, the motion laid down that it was imperative—without in the least desiring to discourage or hamper the Central Board in its efforts to improve the scJJOols-that the Carmarthenshire governors should emphasise and insist upon the right of local control which was vested in them and in the school managers by the county scheme. The Central Board was also asked to irstruct its inspectors to report in future the fact of inspection to the county body, whether ques- tions for discussion had arisen or not, as well as to communicate by letter to the school managers and irregularities which might have called for animadversion in the course of the inspection. whether requiring the attention of the Central Board or not. Mr. Evans said there seemed to be an attempt 00. the part of the Central Board to supersede the Carmarthenshire county scheme. They did not want to enter into competition with the Central Board, but they wished the board to distinctly understand that the Carmarthen- shire scheme belonged to the Carmarthenshire governors who had. to administer it, and that, whatever the Central Board might be allowed to do with other county schemes in Wales, they must not try to supersede the Carmar- thenshire scheme. He hoped no inspector of the board would try to go privately between the governing body and its head masters and mistresseR. The Rev. William Thomas (Whitland) seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Central Board Condemned for Laxity. The meeting next discussed a series of reso- lutions carefully drawn up by Mr. Gwilym Evans, Principal Evans, and Professor D. E. Jones. They regretfully condemned the Cen- tral Board for their lack of encouragement in technical instruction, especially in wood and iron work, the use of tools, cookery, laundry- work, needlework, and dressmaking, and strongly urged upon the board to give hand- work, including drawing, a more honourable plaoe in school organisation. They appealed to the board to encourage the creation of a full technical courts in favourable localities, and to recognise it by conferring special com- mercial certificates upon successful pupils. The Rev. William Davies (Llandilo) seconded, and Sir Lewis Morris, in supporting, said he was wholly in sympathy with the motion. It was never the inten- tion of those who interested them- selves in Welsh education that a number of boys and girls should be turned into more or less efficient clerks, or to go to Aberystwith and ether colleges to get a very good education there, no doubt, but not one suited to their position in life. When opening schools and distributing prizes in the crowded villages of Glamorgan and Monmouth- shire he always feJt a kind of dread on his mind as to what would happen to those locali- ties if by any mean?, whether by competition or the inefficiency of their own people, indus- tries should leave those districts; and if they were to hold their own as a comjfiercial nation they must devote more attention to technical matters. Educationalists were, to a great extent, missing their way, and he hoped that what had been said that day would make the Central Board revise their views and accept the necessity for the greater development of technioal education in Wales. It was decided that the body had nothing to do with the resolution passed by the Llanelly managers dealing with the new science grant. After discussion, Mr. Gwilym Evans pro- mised to move at the next meeting of the county council that the technical education rate be increased from id. to Id., and that the difference be handed over to the county governing body for technical purposes alone in the county schools. He was promised thp. support, of all the county council members outhebody. Severnl other matters of local importance were discussed.

THE BOER WAR. Harrying Cape Colony Raiders. GENERAL DELAREY ILL WITH ENTERIC FEVER. Hustiingthenaiders. ALIWATJ NORTH. Monday. Lov.t's Scouts have been hustling the Boers during the past few days, killing and wound- ing several, and captured a. number of horses, with ammunition and kit.-Preils Association War Special. CERES (Cape Colony). Tuesday The only material change in the situation in western Cape Colony during the past week has been a perceptible move ou the part of several more important commandos towards the north. This is attributed to dishearten- ment at the failure to capture the convoy at Calvinia. Road, coupled with the heavy loss sustained by the enemy at that place. A youthful commandant, of Irish parentage, is apparently the most active among the petty commandants in the dry country to the north- west, near the Orange River. Ou the 26th ult. he came into collision with the escort of the Prieska. convoy, and was driven off with a loss of two wounded, while on the 5th inst. he attacked a horse guard at Karabee, near PricSka, being again repulsed and losing one wounded.—Press Association War Special. Col. Colenbrander's Work. PRETORIA, Monday. Commandant Beyers has been chased from Spelonken fey Colonel Colenbrander, who is no»v operating against the forces under General Delarey in the Rustenburg district. During his surprise of a laager to the west of Magatoa Nek Commandant Steenkamp. with 400 Boers, was laagered only five miles away. but Colonel Colenbrander's movements were so rapid that he was unable to render any help. Delarey is at present ill with enteric fever. iflilitia Again Volunteer. About- 200 men of the 4th Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders (Paisley Militia), who returned last August from South Africa, have again volunteered for active service. They were on Wednesday embodied at Paisley and taken to Maryhill, Glasgow, where they tvcra drafted into the 3rd Battalion, which leaves shortly for the front. Return of General French. The War Office authorities confidently expect that General French will he back in England in a little more than two months' time. He will take a very short holiday (says the Wes- tern Daily Mercury"). and then proceed to Aldershot to organise the First Army Corps as promptly as possible. He will be able to participate in many of the Coronation festivi- ties, and already distinguished hostesses are planning to get the presence of Sir John and Lady French at dinner parties. Welsh Soldiers for the Front. The transport Syria embarked at Southamp- ton on Wednesday upwards of one thousand officers and men for service at the front. The principal drafts consisted of 120 men of the 2nd Royal Highlanders. 107 men of the 3rd Yorkshire. 92 men of the 1st South Stafford- shire, and 90 men of the 3rd West Riding Regi- ment, whilst there were smaller drafts from the 2nd East Yorkshire, 2nd North Stafford- shire. 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers. 1st Yorkshire, 2nd Northamptonshire. 2nd Scottish Rifles, 1st Connaught Rangers, 2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1st Welsh Regiment. 5th Royal Fusiliers, 3rd East Surrey, and details, bringing the total on board up to 35 officers and 1.082 men. A number of men belonging to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Somerset Light Infantry, and Gloucester Regiment also left. Captain Braithwaite, D.S.O., who has already served with distinction at the front, was in charge of the draft. Local Casualties. The War Office on Wednesday night notified the following'.— Dangerously ill from enteric: — 1st Welsh Fusiliers.—7,550 Private L. Knight, Germiston, January 4. Deaths from enteric: — Mounted Infantry—3rd Welsh Fusiliers.-1.806 Quartermaster-sergeant W. Denton, Bloemfon- tein, January 5. Volunteer Company Welsh Fusiliers.—7,590 Private Llewellyn Wright, Elandsfontein, January 5.

THE WELSH CHANCELLORSHIP Swansea in the Running for the Installation. A meeting of the property and general pur- poses committee of the Swansea Corporation was held at the Town-hall on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. M. Tutton presiding. Councillor Richard Martin referred to the coming installation of the Princo of Wales as Chancellor of the Welsh University. He noted that the Cardiff Corporation had appointed a deputation to attend the meeting of the court at Shrewsbury. He did not think it would be fair that Car- diff's voice should alone be heard on the. matter of the venue of the installation. One of the regnlar meetings of the court had been held at Cardiff last year, and would again take place there the year after next. Ho thought it would be only fair that the installation should take place at Swansea. A deputation, consisting of the mayor, the Hon. Odo Vivian. Mr. R. Martin. Mr. M. Tutton, and Dr. Rawlings, was appointed to attend the court to-morrow (Friday) and advo- cate Swansea's claims. A deputation from the council of the Swansea Welsh Society, headed by Mr. Lleufer Thomas, attended to submit the resolution recently passed by the society urging on the council to forthwith adopting the Museum:1 and Gymnasiums Act. 1891. with a view uf establishing. a municipal museum; also, that a committee should be appointed to watch the interests of Swansea with regard to the suggested National Library and Museum for Wales. Mr.' Lleufer Thomas explained the action of the Welsh Society, which, he said, had been endorsed by the Swansea Scientific Society and the free library committee. The primary object was to consider the question of the National Musenm for Wales, but it was obvious that if they wanted to secure that they mast show that they had evinced appre- ciation of tho benefits of museums and utilised the powers conferred on them by the Government. A nucleus would be a most desirable thing to have. Considerable use was being made of museums in the education of children, and about 500 children had attended at the Royal Institution Museum free during the year, whilst 11.322 other per- sons had derived instruction and pleasure at that place. After some discussion the consideration of the question was deferred.

"REMEMBER MAJUBA." Mr. 0, A. Thomas and Mr. Chamberlain's Speech. Mr. D. A. Thomas, M.P.. writes as follows to the "Westminster Gazette":—In your interest- ing article on Mr. Chamberlain's speech on Monday at Birmingham you quotd him as having said. "Therefore, it is the duty of British statesmen, and it is the duty of the British people, to couut; upon themselves alone as their ancestors did. I say alone, yes, in a splendid isolation surrounded and supported by your kinsfolk." When he went down to Birmingham as the spokesman of the Liberal Government to jvisiSfy the Majuba settlement, which we are always abjured by the Jingoes to remember, this is what he said: "I appeal to the impartial public opinion of Europe and America, which has approved the action of t'he Government in preferring justice to revenge and the best interests of South Africa. to the vain pursuit of military glory." It is, however, only fair to also remember that Mr. Chamberlain then held that the Boers pos- sessed "virtues which we are proud to believe form the best characteristics of the English people," and that we could not "maintain a forcible annexation of the country (the Trans- vaal) without incurring the accusation of having been gui'ty, I will not say of national folly, but of national crime." When wey are asked to remember Majuha, can we altogether forgpt the part Mr. Chamberlain played in the settlement?

LIBERAL FEDEDERATION AND LORD ROSEBERY'S SPEECH. The following resolution was adopted on Wednesday at a meeting of the executive com- mittee of the National Liberal Federation:- "That this committee cordially welcomes Lord Rosebery's speech at Chesterfield as tending to promote peace in South Africa. and the union of the Liberal yartf."

"Cochfarfs" Comments. When a legal difficulty threatened to mar the ceremony of laying the founda- tion stones of the law courts and muni- cipal buildings by the Mayor of Cardiff and the Marquess of Bute, it will be remembered that Alderman P. W. Carey, J.P., stepped into the breach and became responsible for all the expense that was deemed illegal for the Town-hall committee to pay, and the function was carried through with extraordinary eclat. Those who "have become responsible" for expenses under such circumstances know what it means, and the resolution of thanks moved to Alderman Carey at the meeting of the Town-hall committee on Tues- day by Alderman David Jones, J.P., seconded by Alderman Ramsdale, J.P., and carried unanimously, will stand as a record of the chairman of the Town-hail committee's public spirit and local patriotism in rescuing the council of which lie is a member out of an awkward dilemma at a time when it was peculiarly desirable that general harmony should prevail among the citizens of the town. A few years ago we heard of so many "absent-minded beggars" having gone to South Africa that there was no probability of anyone with so condoned a failing hcim; left among us, but the report of the head- constable to the Cardiff Watch Committee yesterday shows that the faculty of memory is pretty defective among the householders of Cardiff, otherwise there would not be as many as 6,9o6 doors and windows left unfastened in the course of one year. It would not be surprising to further find that the same people were guilty of the same omission time after time, in spite of the unpleasant experience of trotting downstairs in nightgown and slippers in the small hours of the morning in answer to the policeman's friendly warning. A case heard in the Cardiff County-court yesterday ought to bring home to cart and carriage drivers that the public roads are not intended exclusively for their use. and that the cyclist and the pedestrian have an equal right to them. The assu- rance with which some of these people will. cry pedestrians and others off the road when they come along is marvellous, and it has become quite a forgotten rule to slacken pace when a crowded crossing is to be passed. A few drivers may find some day that there is no law which compels foot passengers to walk only on the footpaths, although it may surprise them very much. A plucky pedestrian or two may some day seek to know why the tantalising cry of "HVjp!? should be directed to some nervous way- .;j farer, whereby he is compelled to endan- ger his life by some heart trouble \$en he has to run to the comparatively safe pavement. Principal E. H. Griffiths, F.R.S., wenb through his first informal introduction to Cardiff public life at the meeting of the Cardiff Technical Instruction Committee last night, and he does not seem as if he were going to let the grass grow under his feet before he takes up the many threads of duty that belong to his important office. He confesses that he has not been left in any doubt as to the feeling of the people of Cardiff towards him, for he testifies to the warm way in which he has been received by all. "Everyone appears to be glad to see me," he says, and, as a careful reader of the local papers since he is in the town, he has been struck with the harmonious way the business of the public bodies of the town is carried forward. He is not going to allow the erection of a new college building to remain in abeyance for the want of energetic action to collect the necessary funds, and his plans to further the 'movement are well laid already. At its meeting on Monday next the Cardiff County Council will have an opportunity to declare in favour of making a stand against a monopoly in telephones, for that is the effect of the action of the General Post Office authorities and the National Telephone Company. Some towns have already decided to meet it by real and effective competition, notably, Tun- bridge Wells and Portsmouth. The public arc familiar with what has been done by the London County Council, and on the last Monday of last year a remarkably unanimous conference was held in the Guild-hall of the City of London, repre- senting the whole of the London telephone area. The report of the House of Commons Select Committee on Telephones, dated the 8th of August, 1898, recommends, among other things, that general, effec- tive, and immediate competition by either the Post Office or local authorities is neces- sary to keep the cost of telephones within a reasonable limit. It was fully expected that the Post Office authorites would carry out the suggestion of the committee im- mediately it was confirmed by Parlia- ment, but the agreement entered into between the Post Office and the National Telephone Company is so subversive of the public interest that there can be no way of forestalling its effect but by using municipal machinery to combat their con- trivance. What will iconoclasts not do? We have grown to regard a grand jury as one of the most respectable institutions in tho country. If there is an eminently respect- able citizen to be found who cannot fit into any public position, try as much as he will —a kind of official misfit-well, he can have some show made that panders to his importance by occasionally placing him upon a grand jury. But if the grand jury of the West Sussex Quarter Sessions can have their way even this consolation. will be denied to the "misfits," for they have handed in a, presentment to the effect that in "their opinion the absurdly antiquated and useless institution of the grand jury should be abolished, occasioning, as it did, great loss and inconvenience without any gain to the administration of justice." These are the words of a properly-con- stituted grand jury in quarter sessions assembled, and not the words of a dis- credited demagogue; and where is the man who can say that it has not outlived the purpose of its creation ? It is a relic of the time when magisterial courts were conducted arbitrarily, and when the grand jury was a more or less effectve bar to frivolous indictments being presented to the court. But the criminal law is now so minute in its provisions, and so carefully administered in the minor courts, with the guidance of clerks well versed in the law, that grand juries have, undoubtedly, out- lived their mission.