South Wales Daily News

FOREIGN INTELLIGENC ii. [REUTER'S AND PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.] FRANCE. VERSAILLES, Tuesday.—M. Pouyer Qnertier's resigna- tion will be presented to M. Thiers to-day. M. Rouber's election will be confirmed. PAHIS, Tuesday afternoon. Bourse firm, Rentes closed at £ >6f. 70c. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Tnesilay Evening.—The Upper House of the Reicbsrath has adopted by 72 to 10, the bill for Compulsory Election, thus securing the requisite two-thirds majority. ITALY. Ro--NrE,Alonday.-It is stated that Prince Frederick Wil- liam has promised Italy the support of Germany against France. SWITZERLAND. BERNE, March 4.—The Council of the States has adopted the resolution of the National Council by 19 against 18 votes that primary education shall also be 11 placed under the supervision of the Confederation. BERNE, Tuesday.-Tl-le revision of the Constitution is at last ended, and the National Council and the Council of the States have been dismissed to their homes. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The Monday Review of Vienna publishes the follow- ing from Constantinople The Porte having ad- dressed a friendly inquiry to the Russian Government relative to the arming'of the Black Sea fleet, Prince Gortschakoff replied that the arming of twenty-five Vessels has taken place with the sole end of experiment- ing on their manoeuvring capabilities and exercising their crews. The reply adds that the Government does not intend to construct any more large vessels in the Ports of the Black Sea, or to augment the numbers at Present in those waters."

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE., NEW COLONIAL GOVERNORS. The Gazette notifies the appointment of Sir Philip Wodehouse as Governor of Bombay, and Sir Hercules Robinson as Governor of New South Wales. DEATH OF LORD LONSDALE. Lord Lonsdale, whose death was reported yesterday, was at the Carlton Club on Monday. His nephew, Mr. Henry Lowther, who succeeds him, is member for West Cumberland. THE CHARGE OF LIBELLING SIR JAMES AND LADY TWISS. At the Southwark Police Court yesterday, Alexander Chaffers, solicitor, was again charged with libel on air Travers and Lady Twiss, and the case was adjourned. STRIKE AT LEEDS. The Leeds strike in the flax trade continues, and it is feared will extend to the woollen and silk trades. One silk house has granted the nine liotirv, limit. THE NATIONAL INCOME. The revenue from the 1st of April to the 2ud of "larch was— Receipts £ 66,762,728 Expenditure 64,933,741 Balance. 8,704,664 NEW LINE OF STEAMERS. SOUTHAMPTON, Taesday.-The Clyde Shipping Com- t^ny have decided to establish a weekly line of steamers between Glasgow, Belfast and Southampton. BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. At the Hereford assizes, yesterday, an action for breach of promise was brought by Miss Key, of Biggles- wade, against Mr. John Powers, cf Biggleswade. A Ver- dict was taken by consent for £ 1000, carrying costs. THE MORDAUNT DIVORCE CASE. Yesterday morning, before Lord Penzance, in cham- bers, Mr. Serjeant Ballantine applied upon summons Oil behalf of Sir Charles Mordaunt for the court to grllt an order that Lady Mordaunt might now be exa- mined as to her insanity or otherwise by an indepen- dent medical gentleman. Serjeant Ballantine observed 'hat his application was principally that his lordship NIVOuld suggest some course that might be adopted, in order that Sir Charles could prosecute his suit. Lord Penzance: If his wife is permanently insane, Sir Charles, by the decision of the full court, is debarred fr proceeding. Serjeant Ballantine: What we want is that some 119ge6tioii might be thrown out to enable us to appeal o the House of Lords. The case was adjourned ka a week. _wv THE SHOCKING OCCURRENCE IN SOMERS. TOWN. Yesterday the Coroner's jury returned an open ver- ^lct in the mysterious case of Catherine Dunmarth, ^ho received a wound in the abdomen and bled to death in Somerstown, London, on Saturday night. No Jl8ht was thrown on the cause of the crime. TRAGEDY IN CORNWALL. On Sunday night, at Calstock, Cornwall, a fisherman hllle Nicholls, sixty years of age, mortally wounded ^ls wife, who died yesterday morning. His daughter llso received a dangerous wound. In the Bankruptcy Court to-day Mr. W. Harbord, of 'he finn 0f Harbord, Wilkinson, aud Andersen, Lon- uon, Liverpool, and Bombay passed his examination.

EDUCATION LEAGUE.—A petition, with upwards of [>300 signatures, in favour of Mr. Dixon's motion, has forwarded from the Ystalyfera branch to Mr. Vlvian to be presented to Parliament. The Countess of Granville on Monday morning gave lrth to a son and hei). The Cambridge crew, it is understood, will he on the hames on Thursday, and the Oxford crew on the fol- ding Monday. TaE P0REST 0F DEAN STRIKES.—The day men em- P^yed by Messrs. Crawshay and Sons, at Lightmore °llieries, refused yesterday to proceed with their work ,u eonsequence of the eight hours' limit not being ex- uded to them as well as those who cut coal. These orks are therefore stopped. EX-G0VEENOR EYRE.—-Last evening Mr. M'Arthur Ave notice of his intention to ask the First Lord of the reasury whether, as he proposes to vote a sum of ia°aey to Mr. Evre, he will also recommend the House §i'ant compensation to Mrs. G. W. Gordon for the osseg she has sustained in consequence of the execu- 011 °f her husband and the destruction of her property. WoivtKx JURORS.—We are informed says the Court ^urnal that the high sheriff of one of the Welsh coun- ahii1S fully determined that his fair country-women a'l have their full rights accorded them, and for that r rPose intends summoning them upon the panel of the n-r/ ^oth assizes and sessions. This will be done in "ter to test the point as to their liability to serve on ries,^ who is the gallant sheriff ? at xr *nci^ent of some note has occurred in the debate So *;rsa^es on the law against the International tout16 was opposed by an Internationalist De- .y -M. Tolain of Geneva Conference and Creuzot len h notoriety- He compelled the Right to listen to a the exPosition of the real aims and operations of ty: ,SOciet3', which were represented to have none of the *ithe<*ness ascribed to them, but a great deal of good ^hich they have not been credited.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—TUESDAY. Their Lordships met at five o'clock. IRISH CHURCH AMENDMENT ACT. The Earl of DUFFERIN moved the second reading of the Irish Church Amendment Act. He explained that the object of the measure was to make provision for the vacancy in the Irish Church Temporalities Commission, occasioned by the death ot Mr. G. A Hamilton. It was proposed to fill up the vacancy, but to retain the court as now composed of two instead of three Com- missioners, giving them power, however, to call in the assistance of a member of the Privy Council, who had judicial experience in cases where the claimant appealed against the decision of either of the existing commissioners. The noble earl passed a high eulogium upon the services of Mr. Hamilton. The Earl of LONG FORD said he had been prepared to oppose the proposition not to fill up the vacancy, but as those who represented the Church body did not object to the course taken by the Government, he did not intend to persist in his opposition. He complained that the work of the Commissioners was in arrear. Lord MONCK defended the Commissioners, and said there had been no intentional delay. Out of 5251 ap- plications to the Commissioners, 3483 had been finally dis- posed of. Lord COURTOWN also spoke in defence of the Com- missioners. The Bill was then read a second time. PUBLIC PARKS BILL. The Public Parks (Ireland) Bill was read a second time. NEW PUBLIC OFFICES. Lord REDESDALE asked when the public offices, now building in Downing-street, were to be completed; when the houses between them and Parliament-street were to be pulled down whether it was intended to widen the rest of Parliament-street in like manner; if so, when, and whether other public offices were to be erected on that frontage. The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said it was probable the public offices in Downing-street would be completed about the spring of the year after next. The houses in Parliament-street would not be pulled down until the public offices were nearly completed. He could give no information as to whether the Government had any in- tention at present of buying the rest of Parliament- street. The House adjourned at 5.45.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TUEBDAY. The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. THE EDUCATION ACT. A number of petitions were presented in favour of Mr. Dixon's resolution, but a far greater number against any alteration in the Education Act. REPAYMENT OF GOVERNOR EYRE'S EXPENSES. Mr. BOWRING gave notice he should move, on the Civil Service estimate, the omission of the vote for the repay- ment of the legal expenses of ex-Governor Eyre. COMPENSATION TO MRS. GORDON. Mr. MCARTHUR gave notice that he should also ask Mr Gladstone whether lie would not propose a vote for the compensation of Mrs. Gordon, for the execution of her husband. QUESTION OF ORDER. Mr. RAIKES gave notice that he should ask the Speaker if Alr. Mundella's amendment to Mr. Forster's amend- ment of Mr. Dixon's resolution was in order, and whether it was consonant with the practice of the House to raise an amendment to an amendment which substantially re- affirmed the original motion. FRENCH NAVIGATION ACT. In reply to Mr. GRAVES, Lord ENFIELD said that the Government had addressed, through Lord Lyons, representations on the French Navigation Act, based both upon the verbal notice and the spirit of the Commercial Treaty of 1860, and they asked for an early reply. THE QUALITIES OF WELSH COAL. In reply to Mr. H. VIVIAN, Mr. GOSCHEN said that most interesting experiments had recently been made with the view to test the merits of the Welsh coal against the Northern mixed coals. The result was in favour of the Welsh coal, when fresh, against the greater steam power of the mixed coal. The Welsh coal was therefore most economical when fresh, but the mixed coal for hot climates, and they would be used in the service accordingly. THE QUEEN'S LETTER TO MR. GLADSTONE. In reply to Mr. KENNAWAY, Mr. GLADSTONE said that he did not see how it was possible to publish her Majesty's gracious letter in the same manner as the hourly telegrams on the state of the Prince of Wales. Neither could he see what advantage would be gained. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.—MR. DIXON'S MOTION Mr. DIXON rose to move the following resolution :— That in the opinion of this House the provisions of the Elementary Act are defective, and its working unsatisfac- tory and particularly that it fails to secure the general election of School Boards in towns and rural districts; that it does not render obligatory the attendance of children at school; that it deals in a partial and irregular manner with the remission and payment of school fees by School Boards; that it allows School Boards to pay fees out of the rates levied upon the community, to denominational schools, over which the ratepayers have no control; that it permits School Boards to use the money of the ratepayers for the purpose of imparting dogmatic religious instruction in schools es- tablished by School Boards; that by the concession of these permissive powers, it provokes religious discord throughout the country, and by the exercise of them it violates the rights of conscience." The hon. gentleman, whose speech was an amplification of the points laid down in the above resolution, contended that the denomina- tional system was greatly inferior to the national system, inasmuch as under the denominational system the education of children, throughout the country, was put into the hands of irresponsible managers, who were entrusted with the spending of large sums of money. He argued that this ought not to be. The ratepayers through- out the country demanded the right of controlling the ex- penditure of their own money through their responsible representatives. The school-masters were dissatisfied with the position in which they were placed under this system. The money entrusted to the present irresponsible managers of denominational schools, large as the sum was, was insufficient for the purpose to which it was applied, and the results were bad in many ways, particularly in the tendency of the system to reduce all schools to one dead level in the employment of inefficient teachers, and in the inadequate buildings provided for school purposes. The hon. gentleman combated the arguments urged by those who objected to the general establishment of School Boards in country districts, and advocated a complete se- paration between secular and religious teaching. He denied that he and those who thought with him, objected to religi- ous teaching. His objection was not to religious teaching it- self, but to the mode in which religion was to be taught, and to the fact that he was asked to pay for a kind of religious teaching of which he did not approve. In conclusion he expressed a hope that the right hon. gentleman, the Vice- President of the Council, would, ere his term of office had expired, give the House some satisfactory assurance that School Boards should be established all over the country, and that the system of compulsion should be made general, so that the working clnsses throughout the kingdom might rely upon one of the greatest boons that could be 'granted to them, the means of giving to the children that education of which they stood in so much need. The resolution was seconded by Mr. H. RICHARD, who pointed out that the Protestant Nonconformists of Eng- land had a strong repugnance to committing the religious education of their children, in a great measure, to the clergy of the English Church, seeing that among a large and increasing class of that clergy the Protestant principles of the Reformation were becoming small by degrees and beautifully less." Mr. FORSTER moved as an amendment to Mr. Dixon's resolution That, in the opinion of this House, the time which has elapsed since the passing of the Ele- mentary Education Act of 1870, and the progress which has been made in the arrangements under that Act, are not such as to enable this House to enter with advantage upon a review of its provisions." His first objection to the resolution, which covered a great deal of ground, was, that it really implied the passing of a new Act, in doing which, before the House had had time to see the result of its recent legislation on this subject, he contended the House would be practically stultifying itself. He called attention to the fact that when the Act of 1870 was under discussion, he had stated that it was intended to take advantage of the voluntary system then in operation, and had asked the House to assist in passing a measure combining two great principles, viz By legal enactment to provide efficient schools, and to enforce the provisions if necessary where they were needed. A measure with these objects having been passed, he maintained that the House ought not to be asked within so brief a period as eighteen months to destroy all the machinery it had set in motion, and to enter upon a new course of legislation merely be- cause certain persons did not think the existing Act would work in a satisfactory manner. He admitted that the machinery of the Act might have imperfections, like all other institutions but at the same time he pointed out that there were difficulties for which it was necessary that the fullest allowance should be made in their efforts to produce a satisfactory measure. The Go- vernment had relied upon the active forces which they had endeavoured to blend as effectually as possible into the legislation they had obtained—the parent's love for his children, the element of philanthropy, and the means fur- nished by municipal organisation. Had either of those forces been overlooked, he contended that he would have been greatly to blame, and that it would have been unwise to adopt what seemed to be the view of the hon. member for Birmingham, and have trusted to the municipal ele- ment alone; The condition under which the Govern- ment had made use of the voluntary system was that there should be nothing that could in any way interfere with the conscientious religious scruples of the parents, and he defied his hon. friend to instance a single case in which the consciences of parents had been violated since the passing of the Act. With regard to the question of making the levying of school rates universal in the towns and rural districts, he submitted that if he had asked for this power, the Bill would not have been passed, or if it had been, it would, inevitably, have led to great dissatisfaction, and to the most strenuous opposition throughout the country. Experience had already shown that on the whole it was not an unfor- tunate state of things that there were now in various parts of the kingdom numerous schools which still re- mained in the hands of their voluntary managers, in preference to being placed under the control of re- luctant Boards imposed upon the ratepayers against their strongly expressed sentiments and inclinations. And it seemed to be consistent with reason, much as had been said about the influence of landowners and clergy in these matters, that there were manifold cases in which the parson and squire would manage a school more efficiently than a recalcitrant farmer who was forced to pay an Education rate whether he would or no. In fact, he was convinced that if the views of the hon. member for Birmingham upon this subject were to be carried out, there would be hundreds and probably thou- sands of cases where the strongest opinion would be entertained against the necessity of levying the rate. He asked the House to consider for a moment what had already been effected. Including London, no less than ten millions of the population had been placed under the operation of School Boards, and of this number more than six millions had been so placed by the voluntary desire of the districts affected. He believed there was throughout the rural districts quite as strong a desire to follow up what had been achieved as there was in the towns, the only difference being that the work was being done in a different way. As regarded the question of compulsory education, the right hon. gentle- man justified the course which had been taken in the first instance, in dealing with this part of the subject experi- mentally, but he added, that as the wants of the country, in the shape of school buildings, became more fully met. this matter might be further considered, and he thought it probable that even next year the House might be asked to devote its attention to the subject. Upon the subject of re- ligious education, he asserted that there was scarcely a case that could be quoted in which religious teaching occupied one sixth part of the time devoted to the general instruction of the children, and having admitted that when compulsory questions become ripe for consideration would be a most fitting opportunity for reviewing the clauses relating to religious teaching, the right hon. gentleman concluded by expressing a hope that the hon. member for Birmingham would not persevere in his motion, the only effect of which, if carried, would be to throw the machinery which had just been set in motion into a state of hopeless and ruinous confusion. Mr. LIDDELL spoke in opposition to the resolution. The debate was continued by .Mr. E. BACKHOUSE and Mr. CORRANCE who supported the amendment, and by Mr. A. HERBERT who spoke in favour of the resolution. Lord R. MONTAGUE deprecated the attempt to pass a resolution which would unsettle the arrangement come to by the bill of 1870. Mr. LEATHAM in supporting the resolution warned the House that unless the Elementary Education Act of two sessions ago underwent material modification the result would be that religious teaching of a sectarian character would be fostered all over the country by means of St-Ate aid, and the contributions of the local papers. Mr. W. H. SMITH as a member of the Metropolitan School Board, asserted that the only desire of those with whom he acted was to see that the plans of Education were afforded wherever they were needed, and that with regard to religious teaching, the parents should have the opportunity of choosing for themselves the schools in which that instruction should be given. Holding as he did the opinion that parents should be compelled to educate their chihren, he should at the same time deprecate any hasty and ill-considered application of the compulsory principle without a due regard to the consequences that might ensue. Dr. PLAYFAIR expressed his concurrence in the wisdom of the course pursued by the Government in availing themselves of the schools already in existence, instead of waiting until new schools could be created all over the country by means of rules, and maintained the operation of the Act had already been productive of highly beneficial effects He regarded, as one of the great features of the Act of 1870, its universality which allowed everything to be fairly tried under conditions which interfered with no man's conscience, and characterised as a sort of Mahom- medanism the Christianity which, upon the Birmingham platform would permit the Bible to be read, but without explanation, so that the children must accept what they found there on the Mahommedan principle that Allah was Allah. After a few words from Mr. FAWCETT and other mem- bers, the House divided, and the numbers were:—For Mr. Dixon's resolution, 94; against, 355; majority, 261. Mr. FORSTER'S amendment was then put as a substan- tive motion. FortheAmendment. 323 Against 97 Majority 225

CARDIFF. CHARGE OF ASSAULT.—At the police court yesterday, before Messrs. W. D. Bushell and G. Phillips, William John, labourer, was charged with striking Demorah Babbs, living in Tyndal-street, with a half-pint glass, because she would not lend defendant's wife money to get a pint of beer. The blow resulted in a deep wound on her left arm. Sergeant Tamblin proved the offence. After a minute investigation, the Bench gave defendant the benefit of the doubt. The case was dismissed. A CHANCE GAME.—Mary Horsnby, a roughly-attired woman, was charged by Sergeant Tamblyn, for carrying on in a warehouse in Moriah-street a kind of bazaar, in which the public were solicited by defendant to try their luck at the chance game Black and White the articles of play comprising a round of oilcloth divided into 20 dif- ferent parts, a needle in the centre, and an article on each division of the value of a penny, and to whatever division the point of the needle, after turning around, rested, that was the article won. Mr. Ensor- defended, and refused to call any evidence on the ground of its being but simply a question of law as to the game. The Bench thought themselves accurate in reference to it, and sentenced the prisoner to seven days' imprisonment. ROATH LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.—The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday, Mr. C. H. Williams presiding. There were also present-Messrs. E. Whiff en, J. W. Thomas, R. Enoch, and John Evans. The Collector reported that he had collected during the past month CI16 14s. 4d., and the balance in the bank to the credit of the Board was £ 433. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Whiffen, it was resolved that a form similar to that used by the Cardiff Local Board, should be prepared monthly, and sent to the members, to inform them of the amount of rate collected during the month, the amount of arrears, and the amount of rate uncollected. The question of purchasing a hose and reel for the district was again brought before the Board, and after some conver- sation the whole question of providing fire extinguishing appliances was adjourned until the next meeting, the Surveyor, in the meanwhile, to obtain particulars of the cost of a lire escape similar to that used at Chester.— A letter was read from Mr. Stephenson, clerk to the Board of Guardians, stating that in view of the pro- bability of small pox becoming epidemic in this Union, the Board was about to convert the House of Refuge into a hospital for the reception of small-pox patients who were paupers. The duty of providing hospital accommodation for small-pox patients other than paupers, devolved upon the sewer authority," which in Roath was the Local Board. In the course of a discussion which followed, it was stated that there was then one case of small-pox in Shakespeare-street, Roath, which was sup- posed to have been imported from Cowbridge. Mr. J. W. Thomas, while thinking that the Board was not fitted to supply hospital accommodation, was in favour of taking a house rather than erecting a special hospital. Mr. J. Evans objected to this that a house in Roath was not adapted for a hospital because it would be difficult to isolate the cases. One difficulty about a hospital was tlat it would cost a lot of money, and entail upon the Board the necessity of providing a staff of nurses. The Clerk said this was a duty for which tie Board was not suitable at all. The Chairman asked if they could not get the guardians to receive small- pox cases from Roath. Mr J. Evans said that was the duty of this Board, as the sewer authority, and if it did not exercise that power, it would neglect its duty. Mr. Whiff en suggested that the Board should make arrangements with the Cardiff Guardian to receive Roath cases, the Board paying the expense caused, that would be better, cheaper, and more effectual than building a hos- pital at Roath. The Chairman It will get them out of Roath, at all events, jit was resolved that the Clerk shoould enter into communication with Mr. Stephenson, with a view of ascertaining if this suggestion, which appeared to embody the views of the Board, could be carried out.—On the motion of Mr. Whiffen, seconded by Mr. J. W. Thomas, Mr. E. E. Page, who had consented to act at the request of the Board, was appointed a member of the Board in the room of Mr. John Thomas, deceased. In regard to the drainage question, the Surveyor stated that in consequence of the unfavourable weather of the past month, he had been unable to make the necessary survey. The Clerk stated that he had seen Mr. Bradley, who had intimated that he contemplated to make arrangements to drain his property in Green-lane into Lord Tredegar's sewer. Mr. John Evans laid before the Board an anonymous letter, dated Clifton-street, Feb. 2nd, and directed to Mr. H. J. Davies, stating that Mr. Evans, of Pengam farm, had offered the Board £ 100 per year for the sewage matter of the district. Mr. Evans, in giving the most unequivocal denial to the state- ment, characterised the letter as being a base and un- manly attempt to injure him in the estimation of his landlord Lord Tredeger. He appealed to the mem- bers and officers of the Board, who severally sup- ported Mr. Evans in the statement that no such offer had ever been made by him. Mr. Evans stated that on the date of that letter Mr. Whiffen had in- quired of Mr. Meyrick if that offer had been made, and had also told a third person that he (Mr. Evans) had made the offer. Mr. Whiffen explained that he had stated, in reply to a question, that Mr Evans had said that the sewage was worth £100 a year. The Board thought Mr. Evans should take no noties of an anony- mous. Tr The tuti tool ar a A -io.J.h ASSAULTING A FEMALE.—Before Alderman Phillips and Mr. Richard Richards, John Davies was charge:! yesterd-iy, by Mary Furwood, of Howell's-court, with vio- lently assaulting her and doing her grievous bodily harm. It appeared that on the 3rd inst (Sunday), the defendant began to quarrel with the complainant, and hot language ensued. Presently the anger of Davies overleapt all bounds, and he kicked the poor woman twice on her mouth. It was proved that the man was a desparate cha- racter, and that he had been convicted four times pre- viously. The Bench sent the prisoner to the house of correction for four months. There was no other business of importance. LLANGYVELACH FAIR.—This noted annual fair, known as the Llangyvelach fair, one of the most remarkable held throughout South Wales, opened yesterday, under very auspicious circumstances. For generations past the fair was kept up on the 1st and 2nd of March, but by & re- cent order of the Home Secretary it was to be kept on the first Tuesday and Wednesday in March. The change affected its wide interest and its old renown, but its im- portance has once more become apparent, and judges de- clare that they never remember seeing so large a con- course of people present, or such vast quantities of goods for sale. The flannel, the hosiery, the shoes, and the pigs burdened a vast number of stalls, and there was a large number of buyers. The horse show is one of the attractions, but not, perhaps, of chief interest. We will add further particulars in our to-morrow's issue.

HAVERFORDWEST. EDUCATION ACT.-A numerously-signed petition, in favour of Mr. Dixon's motion on this subject, was for- warded from this town on Monday. TEMPERANCE SocIETy-The annual tea meeting in connection with this society took place at the Market Hall, on Monday evening. After tea, several addresses were delivered. SUDDEN DEATHS.—Two of the most painful cases of sudden bereavement that have occurred in this town for many years past, have transpired within the last few days. Mr Geo. Lewis eldest son of the late Mr. Wm. Lewis, of this town, and nephew of Mr. Daniel Lewis, cabinet-maker, Cardiff, expired on Saturday morning last, after having being in an unconscious state from paralysis of the brain On Monday evening last the wife of Mr. W. Davies, solicitor, of this town, expired after a short illness, leaving behind her a family of six young children. children.

MERTHYR. NINE HOURS MOVEMENT. — It may be in the recollec- tion of our readers that the masters in the building trade recently held a meeting, in which they determined to con- cede the nine hours a day, but decided that the hours of work should be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The men do not approve of the arrangement, and last Monday evening at a meeting held at the Eagle Inn, High-street, which was numerously attended by carpenters, masons, painters, plasterers, and plumbers, the following resolution was proposed and unanimously carried: That we protest against the arrangements made by the masters for the working of the nine hours system, viz., from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the four following days, and 7 to 4 on Saturday; and, further, we do not see what benefit the masters can derive from the men working the above named hours whereas if they com- menced at 6 a.m. and left at 5 p.m. the first five days, and from 6 to 1 on Saturdays, it would be giving many advan- tages which they (the workmen) cannot obtain otherwise."

BRITON FERRY. THE first annual meeting of the Briton Ferry Wesleyan Band of Hope and Temperance Society was recently held in the Vestry of the Wesleyan Chapel, for the purpose of passing the accounts for the year and electing officers. Two other Bands of Hope have lately been formed in Briton Ferry and Giantsgrave, and are working very satisfactorily.

ABERDARE. POLICE COURT.—At the police court yesterday, two coihers from Mountain Ash, named Morgan and Evans, were brought up on a charge of assaulting P.C. Castle in the execution of his duty. It appeared that there was a row in a public house, to which Castle was called for the purpose of restoring order. When he got there he requested Evans to go out, but the latter refused, and said, in answer, "that the colliers had their knife into him, and he would know it." He took no notice of the threat, but repeated his request, which was not noticed. Ha then took Evans into custody, and was then immediately assaulted by the former prisoner and others, who got him down and beat him savagely. He got out his staff, however, and beat them off,"and with the aid of P.S. Thomas took Morgan into custody. Evans had escaped with the other man, but he was after- wai ds arrested at his house. They were both remanded, to see whether the other offender can be taken. FURIOUS DRIVING.—Thos. Prosser, a grocer's assistant, was fined 20s. and costs, for furious driving in Commercial- street. HEAVY FINE.-The landlady of the Ivy Bush, Cwm- aman (Mrs. Jones), was fined 60s. and costs for an infringe- ment of her license, this being the third offence in two years. The bench intimated that the license of this house would not be renewed either in favour of defendant or anybody else. and it would be a caution to house-owners to keep none but respectable tenants.

CARMARTHENSHIRE SPRING ASSTZES. Justice Grove arrived in Carmarthen from Cardigan on Monday evening, at half-past five. His lordship was met at the Carmarthen Town station by Mr. Astley Thompson, of Glyn Abbey (the bigh sheriff), land Mr. Lewis Morris, under sheriff. A well appointed staff of javelin men and the borough police were also in attendance, and escorted his lordship to the Shire-hall, where the commission was opened at six o'clock. On Tuesday morning, at ten o'clock, his lordship attended divine service at St. Peter's Church, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. D. Jones, vicar of Llangendeirne, the sheriff's chaplain. His Lordship took his seat in Court at half-past eleven. The grand inquest for the borough and the grand jury having been sworn, and the proclamation for the encouragment of virtue having' been read, his Lordship addressed the Grand Jury at some length, congratulating them upon the fact that only sixteen cases, of which five were misdemeanours, had been brought before him in the two western counties of South Wales. That he thought was a small number of cases when they considered the size and population of those counties. It was a prevalept notion in England that the Welsh were a litigious people, but that was quite erroneous. TRIAL OF PRISONERS. PERJURY.—Thomas Jones, 30, lead smelter (on bail), was charged with committing wilful and corrupt perjury at the County Court, Llanelly, on the 21st of February. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. The jury brought in a vel" diet of not guilty. BURGLARY.—John Benjamin pleaded guilty to having burglariously stolen from the house of David Hughes, at Kidwelly, two watches, eight silver spoons, two bottles of spirits, and a piece of beef, and was sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour. LARCENY.—James Harries, alias Thomas Evans, a drover, was charged with having stolen a watch and chain of the value of 23 the property of John Jones, at Eglwyscummin. on the 6th January, and also with hav- ing stolen another watch and chain, value C2, the pro- perty of John Phillips, at Plasissaf, Llangunnock, on the ,th January. Two previous convictions were established against the prisoner, who was sentenced to penal servi- tude for seven years. FELONY.—Fredk. Williams, haulier, and Charles Noyes gardener, were charged with stealing casks of butter' four hams, two pieces of bacon, and a cheese, value in all jE70, the preperty of David Evans, Llanelly, in the month of February. The prisoners were found guilty, but sen- tence was deferred.

POCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLAINA. ÚA most shocking catastrophe occurred here oil Monday evening. The locomotive engine plying be- tween the iron works and the Henwain pit, while -eturning unloaded from the pit, and being driven at a urieus speed, jerked off the rails, and after running for ieveral yards by the side of the rails, cut up about three eet into the bank, from where it tumbled completely •ver and fell on its side across the railroad. As is generally the case with the morning and evening journey everal persons returning from work, chiefly young eomen, had crowded on the tender and buffers of the ngine which rendered escape much more hazardous, 'wo of these, mother and daughter, named Ann and Elizabeth Barclay, aged respectively about 35 and 13 unfortunately fell victims in this distressing case. Several others, as well as the engineer and latchman" received severe cuts and bruises about the head and face by effecting their escape, but, with the exception of the above two persons, luckily, all escaped with their lives. The mother being frightfully scalded, expired in a very few minutes after the occurrence, but the daughter was instantaneously killed. Some time elapsed before the corpse could be taken from under the engine the services of another engine being necessary (as part ot the body was found to be fast under the sand box), for the purpose of lifting the fallen one, so that the body could be releaseq, The head was totally smashed and completely severed from the body. The bodies were conveyed home to the Club-row on separate boards, Ann Barclay leaves an aged mother and one daughter] The engine is in a very dilapidated state, the tank, stack, and boiler, and other things being broken. It was brought to the road in a few hours, but not with. out the assistance of many men and three locomotive engines.

Practically the first jury case in the Bankruptcy Court occurred on Monday. Under the new act a jury may be impanelled to try issues of fact which cannot be settled by affidavit. This trial was to ascertain the right of the trustee of one Rawlings, a bankrupt, to a traction engine which had been manufactured by him and sent out ou trial. If we may believe a despatch from Berlin in the In, dependance Beige, the Liberal members of the Prussian Herrenhaus have held a meeting, at which forty votes were ascertained to be at the disposal of Government on the Schools Inspection Bill; and, since numerous adhesions had come in from the provinces, it was be lieved that the measure would pass. William Heley, convicted of having robbed his employer and eloped with his wife, was sentenced by Sir William Bodkin at the Middlesex Sessions on Monday, to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, while the woman, who charged her husband with cruelty and threatening to kill her, was at the request of the jury taken into custody on the charge of perjury.