South Wales Daily News

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE IN 1878. During the year 1S78, the income of the three Masonic charitable institutions, from donations, subscriptions, and all other sonrce, amounted to 240,312 21 7d. Out of this sum the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution obtained the largest amount, viz., £ 14,880 2* 7d, for the second year in succession heading the list. The Royal Masonic Institution for Girls took the second place with £ 12,S63 Is 8d while the Royal Masonic Institu- tion for Boys took the third place with i'12,566. The total amount of the three institutions for 1878 was about £2,000 less than was contributed in 1877, but it was very much larger than was expected when the year opened, public charity being extensively diverted to other channels. The Masonic body,howevtr, although giving liberally to non-Masonic appeals, nevertheless strongly sup- ported their own charities, and in 1878 only fell short by £2,000 of the most successful year on record, viz., 1877. The Benevolent Institution has between three and four hundred annuitants on its books the boys' school clothes, maintains, and educates about 220 boys; and the girls' school over 200 girls. In the year 1878 the Lodge of Benevo- lence, connected with Grand Lodge, contributed £4,984 to distressed Freemasons and the widows and orphans of deceased Freemasons. The lodge meets every month. The largest amount dispensed at any one meeting in 1878 was at the December meeting, when JE765 was granted, and the smallest at the August meeting, when the sum voted was 9203. The fund of benevolence now amounts to some 245,OW; and it has for some years been a proposition of Mr J. M. Clabon that a portion of the annual surplus should be set apart towards apprenticing or otherwise advancing in life the children when they leave the schools.

THE VOLUNTEER FORCE. As the outcome of the deliberations of the De- partmental Committee which has been sitting at tho War Office to consder the requirements and best means of organisation of the Volunteer Force, many changes are spoken of, which, if carried out, will tend in no small degree to alter its character. Amongst the queries sent out to the commanding officers is a question as to whether the power of resignation at 14 daya* notice should be retained ? Also, whether such engagement should be termin- able hy payment of a sum of money in future to the funds of the corps ? Other questions are- Is it desirable to give commanding officers the power to order attendance at certain parades, and if so what penalty other than dismissal should 'be en: forced for disobedience? Are the present powers of enforcing discipline sufficient and does the summary power of dismissal work well in practice?" The Secretary of State for War, while not pledg- ing himself to adopt the reoommendations of the committee, has stated that the report will shortly be issued, and no doubt the subject, which is of great interest to Volunteer circles through* the country, will be brought before Parliament early next Sesion.

CRITICAL STATE OF THE ENGI- NBERING TRADE. The excitement consequent upon the announce- ment that the Iron Trades Employer's Association are about to meet with the object of arranging for the resumption of the 57^ hours of weeklv labour, increases amongst the engineers in all the Metro- politan shops. District meetings of operative the resumption of the 571 hours of weeklv labour, increases amongst the engineers in all the Metro- politan shops. District meetings of operative engineers have been arranged for- in order to pro- nouuce and opinion oil the question of resistance to the proposed extension cf the working hours, a course resolved on by the council of the Amalga- mated Society of Eugineers and, from the ex- pressed feelings of the men reported from many of the chief shops, there can be little doubt that the council wiii have the almost unamimous support of the men.

FUNERAL 0F TI1E LATE~ SIR W. HAYTER. The funeral of Sir William Goodenough Hay- ter took place on Thursday afternoon at the village churchyard, East Hampsted, Berks, which is about one mile from the estate. The cortege, which left the mansion about 2.30, consisted of a hearse and four mourning coaches. The bearers wore no hatbands. Everything was conducted in the quietest and most private manner. The chief mourners were the Dowacer Laiiy Hayter, Sir Arthur Hayter, M.P., Colonel and Mrs Brick- man. Many of the neighbouring gentry sent carriages to join the procession, and at the church- yard a number of deceased's social and political frieuds gathered to pay a last tribute of respect. The Rev Mr Osborne, rector, assisted by his curate, read the services, and the remains were interred in a vault which deceased had caused to be built for the family.

MAESTCWMMER. Ta-k rARTY.-On Wednesday eveningthe New 1 Year's tea partM* the finish ) B&l, OBlfteif W. I pastor, jswsidjB^, Addrema were delivered afjfac j

MAESTEG. BuaI-u BOABD ELECTION.—On Thursday after- noon, the Rev. E. Jonea, returning officer, offi- cially declared the residt of this election, which was as follows :-J osùua Williams, accountant, 281; T. L. Roberts, schoolmaster, 259; Morgaa Howeli*, srrocer, 256; R, P. Llewelyn, vicar, 229 W. H. Thomas, surgeon, 183; T. Thomas, gentleman, 144; William Anthony, innkeeper, 102 James Lennox, farmer, 52. The first four ware declared dnly elected.

SIR M. JlTcKS-iEAClTON THE DISTRESS. EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH. Sir M. Hicks-Beach, M.P., the Secretary for the Colonies, was present on Thursday night at a Conservative gathering in Gloucester, convened at the instance of the Conservative Association of the city. The right hon. gentleman, in replying to a resolution expressing confidence in the Government, deplored the existing distress and depression of trade, but believed that the distress had been exaggerated for party purposes. He claimed for the Ministry the credit of having secured peace, not only to England, but to the nations of Europe and he pointed out that the present f depression of trade and stagnation of industry would have been tenfold more severe if the foreign relations of the country were unsatis- factory. He added that the only object to the Government had been to secure the honour aue interests of the country, n-ud he appealed to thn vote of the House of Commons upon the Afghae Question as a proof that they had secured thd confidence of the people.

THE "PLEASUBE or YOUR COMPAiy.Hobbled-v (at a loss for conversation): "Haw—yesterday was a vewy dull day. Aw—but—aw—I think to- day is--aw-duller than yesterday." (Clara thinks if there is anything duller than the weather it is Hobbledy.)—Judy. WITTY WATT^K."—Resident Gentleman to Town Crier: What a horrid sound that bell of yours has, Walter you ought to have one with a better tone." Wat tie (sarcastically): "Sir! it's informashin I give the people, nae —Fun. BBTWIXT AND BirTWEIcN.r, iiendly Potman (to Cabby): "Well, Henery, are you goilig out with that kickiu''oss to-day?" Cabby: "No, Robert, it's four-wheeler's turn this time; a kickin' '088 may do for a 'anson. y'see-.yu?,, Jot oyer fare 'ticixt you an' '(.•? Wis if he wos to turn ha.cci- dental, but a four-wheeler ain't, you sec. "-Furl.. FASTIDIOUS.—Outcast: Beast of a night, ain't it, L-ir ? Bleat if there's a place in the whole street fit for a man to lay down in \Funny J-olts. LovE AND LuxcitY (R. seasonable warnine). They loved! They were also devoted to" the pleasures of the table. He knelt to propose to her just after the Christinas dinner, and, unfortu- II nately, in that supreme moment of their lives, they dropped asleep, aud Cupid succumbed to Morpheus] —IN.B.—Both are stifl »iogle.l—Funny Folks. NOVICE TO MoTHKJtH. -Are you broken in ?H"l/:nR,C7vl'llli8UffeVh-^th th0 of cut. U w p0 0,8 to a chemist ami a bo'tie of Mrs WINSLOW s ROOTHISQ SiBU\ It, wi.'I (> sufferer immediately. It U perfectly bamsW pleasant to taste; it produce natural, quiet sloeTby^f ?VK1,SrA ch'Ld ;rom„PiL'n. the little oberub bright as a button," It soothes the chiM, it Ztu.2, the (nuns, allays all puu, relieve wiad, r^uLta thf bowels, and is the tmt, known vetoady dyXrtJ? aM Jfhw. wbetbar arising hffm tithing or Mrs Windows Soothing Syrup it sold by Malirirtti i dealers everywhere at U 1 por bottle. M mcSd N In New York* Mil at i$2, 9Q99M

SEVEN PERSONS DROWNED. A dispatch from the Cape -ys:-Another boat accident has occurred at East London, owing to the breaking of a warp. Thirteen men were thrown into the water, and seven were drowned.

THE SINKING OF A SWAN SEA SCHOONER. A Board of Trade inquiry, exciting much in- terest, was in progress on Thursday, at Falmouth, being an investigation of the cause of the sinking of the schoouer Leader, uf Swansea. She was run qovvn, and sunk within two minutes, on a clear night, in the Bristol Channel, by the steamer Benledi, of Sunderland, where she was built three years ago. Evidence was given by Nicholas Bate, master ot the Leader, and Alfred Peters, chief mate, whose brother was killed in the collision, and who, with two of the crew, laid blame on the steamer. The inquiry was adjourned.

HOW TO OVERAWE A ROUGH CONGREGATION. The Rev. G. Brown, of the South Sea Islands, has his counterpart in a Californian Methodist parson, who, being called to preach at an out-of- the-way town, was informed before enterirg the pulpit he must be careful, as many of the assembled congregation were "roughs," and would not hesitate to disturb him if his remarks didn't suit. The holy man made no reply, but, having reached the desk, he took from his pocket two revolvers, and, placing one on each side of the Bible, gave a sharp glance around the room and said, "Let us pray." A more orderly service was never conducted,

THREAT TO MURDER A GOVERN- MENT OFFICIAL. At the Bow-street police-court, on Thnrsdav, before Sir Jaities Ingram, a man named William Muliins,a sailor, aged 33, residing at the Destitute Sailors' Asylum, Whitechapel, was charged with threatening to murder Mr Thomas Gray, the assistant secretary to the Marine Department of the Board of Trade. The prisoner admitted that he wrote the letters in which the threats were contained. The prisoner, on being cautioned, said "I beg leave to state that the 11ighest object I had in lew is to vinuicate the sanity of my mind, branded with the stigma of in- sanity for ten long years: secondly, iu the prospect of being committed f.,r trial.I beg leave to state that I am prepared to prove hereafter that under the circumstances by which I am sur- rounded I feel perfectly justified in adopting the method I have adopted to force on a trial" in a criminal court. Thirdly, feeling the most un- b->mided confidence ia the justice of my cause, I renounce all counsel aud claim the of pleiding my own cause in a criminal court- amusing as it may seem to the counsel of the Board of Trade—because if truth aud justice alone are not sufficient counsels I am very much mistaken in my estimation of the justice of mv country's laws, and of the providence of God." The prisoner was then formally committed for trial.

SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE.—Dame Nature set I a good exuniplc so the generous this Christmas. The froat itself began to give on BoxiLig Day.- Punch. A Q-ALtKitu WELCOME.—John Bun to Infant I' leal- "Well, you are a poor-looking little beggar; but we must make the best of you.' Punch. ^enr.v Micheltnore has succeeded Mr Ford M _v lerk ,of tijs i eace for the county of Devon. The appointment is in the hands of the Lord. Lieutenant, the Duke of Somerset. WOMAN'S BIGHTT OF RIGHTS. When Stansfeld woman's questions weighs, Her rights Pvnch won't disparage But for nine out of ten he says The highest rite i. marriage A FixND IN HUMAN SliAPE.-Polkeman t "Deg pardon, Sir! But I've just caught these two young rascals making a slide in front of vour doorstep, andthey say as you give 'em perm is- sion. —Householder It's quite correct I did. Pohoeman rhe fact is, I expect my mother-in- law to luncheon —-Punch. It appears from a list published by an eveninir pajjer, that m the course of the past year 244 newspapers and other periodicals were founded in x ranee. Of these 12 were daily papers, >3 v. ere to appear weekly, 23 fortnightly, and 30, Jonthiv. lor the rest the interval of publica' Vn is not stated. „ A fine specimen of the golden eagle (i^alco citrus- aetosj was lately taken near the north end of Iritton Lake, by Lady Crossley's decoy pines, while in pursuit of the wild fowl. Zb Page, an under keeper, broke one of its wings with a very long shot, and lie had rather a formidable struggle before it was secured, as it struck its talons quite through his felt hat. Itis now alive, with its wing rapidly recovering,fn the jAeasantrv of Som- erlevtou Park, and it is a splendid bird. KAY'S COMPOCWD ENURES OF LINSEED — w'd Bro„ehitis are immediately relieved bv*U i>oid by all Chemists. 400 VALUABLE DISCOVERT FOK TDS HAIR.—If TOUT l-air is turning: grey or white, or falling off tu* ''The Hexieau Hair Ueaeorer." for it will positively restore :B every case Grey or Whfce hair" to iti original colofe, without leaving the disagreed amell ot most '« Seal torers." It makes the hair channmpir beatrtifu] • »• well hi promoting the growth of the hair on ba'.d BIU-T where the elands are not decayed. Ask vour Chamitt "'Tns Hair pre^r^j H^r C. Gaixup, 493, Oxford -street, London, and solj b» Chemists and Perfumers everywhere at 3s fid per Bottia. MM %6 THE MAGjnmcoN! THE MAGNETICO^m- wre rail attention to the announcement of Messrs Wetton E6> Croclcherbtown, Cardiff, ana may be consulted daily for a short period to pve advice as .<> the application of Curative Mwmetism. Magnetic appliances, which are beginning now to be more generally understood, and very frequently recom- mended by the n.edical profession, have been of immense service in CTeat numbers of cases; and the long list of testimonials in Messrs Wetttm's illustrated pamphlet sre ) evidently genuine. Certainly no mode of cure c-ould be more simple and pheasant m its application. See column advt. on page one in to-morrow's issue anooo HOLLO WAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS.—A frequent cause ol gout ana rheumatism is the inflammatory state hlood, attended wjth bad digestion and jjeneral debility A :.w doses o! these Pills, taken in time, are in effectual preventive against g-out and rheumatism r,i*njr°Pe»W^ hM ?n attack of either should UM in effectual preventive against g-out and rhoum- tisill, r,i*njr°Pe»W^ hM ?n attack of either should UM Hollows) s Ointment also, the powerful properties of which, o*nbiued with the effects of the Pills, must in- hW JhZh to,0*1™' .rUla 401 directly on the blood, which they purify and improve; thevatef>reeulate the secretions, and gnetoneto the stomach, and thus the whole system is vi-vaUd, and put into a condition broach throw off qj- eheck its MIUC and SOLPHUB £ OAI IS beami.nllj white, and the purest and most puri- fyingr of Soap, Kmr* to the skin a smoothness and lustrous elegance that is most remarkable, and Ukinr away au pimples, blotches and roughness •• The materials are cWee- can U «»ed with advantage in all mild affections of the skin."— LanoeL •' It is the most agreeable aud ulejjunt preparation for the sVin that I know. —JaMss 8TA*TIK, Smgeou to St. John's Hospital, Lond<m. "4t specially aioe tor duldroa.'vrVTj. Mate 4potl» £ oary, DqMto. -rnjrnri miw frtottaoritais, madieal otherwise, tbus ifi |k» j Oafvrd^L,

r CARDIFF. WOOD STREET CONGREGATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL.—The annual tea took place on New Year's Eve, when about 250 scholars were present. After tea prizes from the Christinas tree, pre- sented by Mrs Mathews, of Penarth, were dis- tributed. On New Year's night the teachers and friends had a social tea and musical and literary entertainment. THE EFFECT OF SNOW ON ARCHITECTURE. =-A correspondent writes the following note .-—"People had enough to do in looking on the grounJ. and picking their way amongst the sluah an Thurs- day but those who, Tike myself, chanced to glance up at the beautiful summit of St. John's tower, were rewarded bv a spectacle as graceful as it is rare. The delicate stone carvings were encrusted with a coating of purest snow, and when, about two o'clock, the sun shone brilliautly, the effect on the splendid old tower was charm- ing." Doc SHOW.—A meeting was held on Thursday of a number of friends desirous 'of. having a dog show at Cardiff, at the offices of Messrs Gunn and Jones, law stationers, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of holding a dog show at Cardiff, when it was decided to hold a dog show early in April, and Mr J. E. Gunn was ::pi>ointed secret ry pro tem. CANTON WELSH BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.— The anniversary of this Sunday school was held on New Year's Day, by a tea. party and public meet- ing, presided over by Mr Edward Thomas (Coch- farf). The attendance was good. LoRD BUTE. The following appears in the London Gazftte :-lst Admin. Brig. Glamorgan- shire.—Honorary Colonel the Marquis of Bute resigns his commission. CARDIFF AND. THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION.— A meeting of the principal ministers and laymen of the Congregational churches in Cardiff, was held at the Charles-street Congregational school- room, on Thursday afternoon. The Mayor (Mr Daniel Lewis) occupied the chair. The proposi- tion of inviting the Congregational Union of England and Wales to hold its next autumnal meeting at Cardiff was discussed, and it was unanimously resolved to give a hearty invitation to the Union to visit Cardiff. The Rev. J. Waite and the Rev. J. M. Evans were appointed secre- taries, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements. BAPTIST CHAPEL, TREDEGARVILLE.—A Christ- mas tree entertainment was given on Thursday at the schoolroom of the above chapel. A number of the lady members of this church arranged to provide one thousand articles of a useful or fancy character, whose value should not be less than sixpence. They were to be suspended on Christ- mas trees, and the room thrown open to the public, who were admitted on payment of six- pence, for which they were entitled to anv one article on the trees. The room had been decorated with considerable care and taste. A number of Christmas trees laden with articles, many of them of a valuable description, were places on tables round the room. The demand for admission on Thursday was so great that from the time the room was opened until it closed it was crowded with visitors, and every present on the trees, disposed of. The receipts for admission, which will amount to a large sum, wiii help to defray the cost recently incurred in tbe, repair and restoration of the chapel. The entertainment was most successful throughout. FATAL ACCIDENT TO A CARDIFF ENGINEER.- Mr Davi i Lloyd. second engineer of the liuby as., and a resident of t.is town, who left Cardiff for Caen a few days since, got entangled iu the crank of the engine, and was obliged to be landed at Falmouth, when ti-c injuries he had received were such that amputatioa of one of his legs was necessary. The other leg being completely smashed, his sufferings became intense, and he died on Thursday morning. The deceased was a promising young man, and much respected. He was the son of Captain Lloyd, of Henry-street, Bute Docks.

NEWPORT. FAREWELL MEETING.—With the view of bidding farewell to the Re\. Peter H. Davies, late the minister of the Mill-street Congregation: Church, a tea and public meeting was held at the chapel on ednesday evening. There was a large atten- dance, Mr 1* awekner presided, and several mini- sters of other congregations were present on the platform, and deliverer addresses, ia which it was cleariv indicate.! that Mr Davies had gained not only the respect and esteem of his ministerial brethren, but of the religious public generally. Mr Davies is a! out to leave this town for Burnlev, in Lancashire.an i preacbe 1 his farewell sermon to his old church on Sunday last.

BUILTH WELLS. LNTERTAISMEST.—Tea and coffee were given to the Juvenile Templars of the Band of Hope, on 'I ues ;ay nignt, in the Endowed Schooiroom, The Rev. 31. Williams ^r^sided, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. M. Peters, Ph.D., and Mr T. Thomas. WATCHNIGHT meeting was held in the Wes'eyan Chapel. The Revs. M. Williams, T. Phillips, and C. Rhodes, addressed the meeting. JEA-PARTY. In Horeb Schoolroom, tea was given to the children of the Sunday School, on New x ear's Day.

LLANDOVJTRY. A LECTURE ON TEIIFILUAITCE was delivered on Tuesday cvtiun- by Dr. Scholfield, of Cardiff. ihe lecture had a moat telling effect or, the' Ciob^n, pastor of S-iem Independent Chapei, was in the chair. The Rev. i, I nomas, pastor of Tabernacle Methodist Ghapel, also addressed the meeting. WATCH-NIGHT.—Service was held at Llandingat Church on Tuesday night. The Rev. Mr Green, of Llansadwrn, preached in Welsh taking for his text Luke 12th chap. 40th verse. The Yicar*al»o addressed the congregation, Mr Green brought his sermon to a close a few minutes before 12 o'clock, and requested his hearers to kneel down and pass the remainder of the year with God in prayer. Mr Green afterwards wished them all a very happy new year, and requested the old u well as the young people to turn a new leaf at the beginning of the year, and stated that they could not be in a better place on earth to see the old year out and the new one coming in than in the House of God. The Vicar also made similar remarks, and gave out a nynm suitable for the occaaion.

ST DONATE. THE closing of the old year, and the commence- ment of the new, was celebrated at St Donat's Castle by an entertainment given to the tenants and the church choir by Mr and Mrs StrarllitJg Carne. At five o'clock the ancient hall was filled and grace was sung before and after dinner b^ church choir, of upwards of 30 voices. The en- tertainment htsted until the beginning of the new year, and was concluded by a very fine display of fireworks in tne quadrangle of the castle.

LLANWRTYDWELLS. MR JONES, -L)oleme,-i House, guarlian of the paiish, nas given five cwts. of coal to every poor family of the parish. Mr K. LL Williams, Glae- gwessin, has given two cwts. to every family, I'

CAERLEON. NEW YKÅIÙ. DAY was very pleasantly spent by the poor and unemployed of the town and villag. Mr and Mrs Jenkius, 1)1"0 Dawel, gave their annual dinner, which was prepared at the Red Lion Inn. Everything WM done that was neces. sarv to make tiie guests happy and comfortable, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy themaelv#. ine room, which was neatly decorated, presented a cheerful appearance, and the repast was very substantial, reflecting- credit on Air and Mrs Stinfielli Tnisannual treat is looked forward I to with much pleasure by the poorer class of the inhabitants, and it was truly refreshing to hear their ringing cheers at the end. Mr and Mrs Jenkins, Alias Morgan (Aberystwith), and the tlev, I>. Be van Jones were actively engaged in Rev, D. Bevan Jones were actively engaged in ministering to the wants of the invited guests.

Cardigan. I WATCH NIGHT SERVICES were held at St. Alary £ Church, when a sermon was pleached by the Rev. J. Williams, LLANGE^R. The attend- ance was good. The streets were M tcfa more quiet than is usaally the ca" after tbe Ne* Year comes in. NEW YEAR'S DAY was observed as a gmeral holiday, and many were the ple^suie-seekera L^UO, in oouipauies, with dogs and guns, wended their way to the oouatry for a day's SHOOTING ttud ap)rt, SCHOOL BOAM-kt an extramt"rv meeting of tiie boaril, held on Tuesday ""e!1w; Mise I Owen, from Swansea Trainimj (IDLERS, UAS ap- pointed MISTREAT tor the girie* DEPARTMENT of the school, R school, R

KIDWELLY. A CONCERT was given on Tuesday evenutgot behalf of the English Wesleyan Chapel fund. The performers acquitted themselves very creditably. The string band was a great acquisition. Tbe ao- companists were Mrs Chard, and Master F. R. Blackmore. The chair was taken by the mayor

ABERDARE. WATH NIGHT SERVICES.-Watch nigtit services were held on New Year's Eve at the Wesleyan Ch!ll and at the English Baptist Chanel. A. lattei place, after the ordinary devotioual eervict ox address wae delivered by tne paetor. the lie Thomas Junes, biased or, James iv., 11; Thi idea of his remarks was that ah actions are of j iierstmal character prompted by tie will, ani fc^vcrned by tuciofore, ali mei are aocountabie for their actiona. There was t large attendance. A few miuutes before 12. at joined in silent prayer nntil the new year had sno ceeded the old, when Mr Jones wished the peoph a Happy New Year. and they dispersed,

LLANDLLO. THE WORKHOUSE. —Last Saturdav, through the kindness and liberality of Colonel and Mrs Scott, of Tregib, the children of the Workhouse wer4 given a treat in the form of a Christmas tree, Each child was presented with toys and handsome books. The inmates were also regaled with tea and cake, etc. Mr and Mi* Scott and the Nli-tm Scott we e present during the whole of the after- noon.

RHYMNEY. WATCH NIGHT services were held at the We.-leyan Chapel on New Year's Eve, and at the National Schoolroom, Hill-street. In consequence of the continued illness of the Rev. W. Evans, R.D., the services at the Rbymney Church were dispensed with. A large number attended thr watch night services at St. Tyvalog Church Pontlottyn, where the Rev T Tiieophilus, vicat officiated, and the communion was administered

CHEPSTOW. PETTY-SESSIONS. On Thurslav, Mrs J Prickett a married women, of Pwliuievric, Will brought up in custody, charged with stealing all umbrella, value 5s, the property of Miss liarl Campbell Williams, Chepstow. The prisoue pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to a months im prisonment.—^John Swain, mopstick maker, wa fined for being drunk, as was also George Pitts, labourer, of SLireuewton. CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL.—On Wednesday tin annual meeting of the church and congregr-.tioa was held. There was a plentiful supplv of biscuits, tea and coffee, milk, &c. The pasUH presided, and reviewe the work of the year Most satisfactory tinaucial reports ere I)rowlltw by Messrs W ooJgal1 wnd Whalley.

TA I PAC, R. JBEICZVOLENCF. -F, many years past the Messrt Vivian have been in the habit of giving a dir.nei on New Year's Day to aU tbe wi": and deceiv- ing poor in the village, u well as willows of their deceased workmen who sipe residing at Aber»vo& and other places in the neighbourhood, but thi. year all these poor people, numbering nearly 25€t received a ticket each, authorising them to go lie any shop they pleased and receive the V&hie re* presented in the ticket, N iz-, 2 6 t, worth of gro- oery. beef. or drapery, at. their circumfttaiioeS might require.

PEMBROKE. NEW YE"" DAY was ub--ci.ved bere, and at the neighbouring to u of PembrokA Dock, as a general holiday, tho shops beiaj closed, and the South Pembrokeshire hound meeting at Bush the same morning, some 1mB dredi of persons wended their way thither, bal tkie Itaoada did eot h:. 1 a fox at auy of <»f*rfet in the immediate locality.

rFJSBXlOKS7 ON New Yzix's EvX \-4' wife entertained the numbering 36 perst There w«** also r and G. W^lso" (churchw?-" selection Morris b«ld at John's being.

UR LfjlfDol iCORRESPONDENCE, I ajjglo.tiid LONDON, thubhdat. 1 TTTRKIAN P 8183 COWVINTXON AND THE "SJSSZZ"?*0 A BT AT OXFORD—A FREE I *« PAKTY—DISSENTIXG WITW? MTNISTK8S 0aAt:V^ Branois. Qientcon^i' June 4, 'Her Majesty's Govern- i tuaaed p Porte that much dis- i apoQ which, since it was flashed • caase.^ (.1 8urprised public, has been more dis- [*,Icaaft'l than were the Conventions of Cintra. It t And m!Lrf n°7n 011 ^th. It gave U3 Cyprus, | <i*ry jj( ^.US e^en^evd of the ne r.v Turkish boun- I 'J\jpLs t the same time it bound the «v» iT ? thdr rule in Aaia Minor. What- of tL ^^d for the military obieet tby a £ or of the means tended its social object was in- Partiftg ° enforced, Eugiishmen of all 1 an ent agr?e<^ t^lat reform of Asia Minor was Gove™ worthy of the energies of any f the IT Mr Forster called ifc only a bribe » **ow to h 0pist3'" bufc omitted to explain ipon meU by Pr°P°3ing to confer benefits the oh, r race' Gladstone declared that pro^n,. ]C rpWaf unattaiuable by the machinery iheir CriK • °*<ky a sort of reply is made to the ean ^a''1 to estimate v«xUoa a+'le Turkish Con- Turkic 1?° • ■^•3^&tic races of the ha« !nP're- Six months unwearied effort comHti ,?Votef. to the task of giving Armenia ^ethim, Wil1 establish justice upon impecyT- e -kuropean principles, turn the law-abi,|'0llS an^ tyrannical policeman into a ta>»tjon1D^ intelligent officer," and reform Pain. f5- Proc^uce a great result with less of the \f a -18 outcome of the united pressure -Vd ? Saliebury and Sir Henry Lay- point, of a graat deal, and from one Sir jja Vlew- therefore, practically something, phed 'Qry bayard has so far trium- tley !er th« "patriotic" Turks that °rC to a<^m^ the principle of Europeau j'lideper,!)0'1' They "'vo their judges a little more They wil]DCe' ^10u°^ n°t complete independence. t. J10'' have European judges with establish -p Veto' ^nt they propose to •dsi0ni uropean inspectors of legal de- Phey will° have undefined powers. not n remoc^e^ their gendarmerie, thongh they :*aks. Th°^°Se aC^m^ that Ijord Salisbury B-'odpm try a limited experiment in th^y can "an^e: They will do all this—when it o a ^t. At present they cannot afford „ for the fulfilment of his the T- i 'V f,?r^ Layard will have to wait until I of th*^13 treasury is filled. Of the sincerity f tha world* Thn there can be no doubt in that Sir tt Sr ° sneer should remember th« gnpjv.c enJ^, a^ar<^ i3 too much interested in ^<?re not H BLS Convention to let it pass if it \tere not quite tenable. But what hope is there hence have more money six months Xij,- „' 1 Te _e months hence, than she has now, <^t:We?1V<\her ^le necessary funds? As the aw„v °.n, ^ted, so does the Asiatic reform fade r,y lnt0 the infinite azure of the future. tinted to-day that the publication of C<jnv» v- n stew that the success of the fcotis 1011 Constan tinopla depends upon the m0ney the Turkish treasury, is up to a proposal for the looira **1 • °/ a Turkish loan. The proposition sail* r 031 en°ugh. Reform is necessary; it sv ,or moDe7 which only we can supply; we therefore, supply it. But there is Dot the tfcSf • of the Ministry, es- [ Siidine th'f06 tbe Rhodope grant fiasco, iiuthori'v ar^umfnt insuperable. I have good ) nra -"J- °r say_lnff that difficulties which Mr iina • a lscov'ered in dealing with the Porte were V1 degree to his distinct assurance, L antiy reiterated of late, that under no cir- w°uid the English Government ^ve or to lend money, or 0 Grantee the loan of money to the Turkish ^aoyfcrnnjeiit. So there the matter rests. It ou^t.ui whether money ia the sinews of war. '0 °°untry was ever deterred from war by an t laPtv treasury. Russia, on the verge of bank- i*uptcy, fought Turkey, which, actually bankrupt, [*> ade a long resistaiice. But what is happening i«nds to prove that money is the sinews of peace, or without gold in his lockers,how can the Sultan ffciy his civil servants? Is it quite honest ? One of the most instructive i 3patches amongst those jvibiished from Sir which he de- [■riibes the difficulties he had in gaining any Wnj-wer from the Porte wlii ')1 would uot be a snub |*o the English Govemmeat. Sir Henry is very lir 'uk. He thinks that L ->rd Salisbury'ti patience |aii»«t be tired. Kis own, he confesses, is nearly Exhausted. Will it be credited that not one line of that dispatch appears in the Ttlcgraph thi? morning One -would have imagined ithat 6ir Henry's own organ would have I panted anything he wrote without consider- :l.t it. But no. Sir Hsnry has aaid some- against the Pash:;s, and fcr the present it is 's ough to suppress him. If he goes on talking about exhausted patience in regard to the Porte, tbJ patience of Peterborough Court will be ex- i^Jiustei in regard to hiia, and some day he wjil himself regarded as no better than Mr Glad- (•tone. Sir Henry should take the hint, if he is it to lose his best friead in the Press. r The Druids settled one question yesterday. rL),ugh at it, as better instructed peo lAe may; i n* reeiprocity agitation is a serious one, I'tfid may embarass not only thu Government t>f tli« present time, but the country in the future, ■W once it lays hold of the people. Free Trade to e minds of the majority of the electors is no '1lIore than a tradition. A real btlief in it can be Maintained only by the distinct declaration of pBtmiuent Conservatives, that it is beyond the Me of serious political dispute. A similar: agifca- tk,n eigbt or nine years ago was just becoming troublesome, when Sir Stafford Northcote put an tnr1 to it by asking why we should 'make goods dear because other countries preferred dear goods. Mr Hall's declaration yesterday will have no small influence to destroy ttie sane cry being raised now. It shews that the Conservatives are now being misled by the ghost Ofa deifi creed. As Mr Disraeli said affirmatory Qf Mr Gladstone so may be said negatively of I<ord Beaconsfi'ild will not passionately em* braee a corpse. When politicians like Lord Jersey, Sir William Harcourt, and Mr Hall, meeting in the University City, and called upon to find a topic for unity instead of topic c-v- r" Vv"v'v' "-7 k**u»«-Ual COH36U4» he question ot 1 r*e l-rtMle, ai-d satisfy their com- bative instind" strong ge about R^eiprc- tity, there is tiet mu-h fear that any political Party will fik 10 increase wealth by dhnimuluag the purcLasing power of the country. Lord Bateman, who is the protector of the now Protection, has had very little to encourge him. A short time ago a follower of his went forth to teat the feeling in certain Lanoa- 4lAr6 places. To do the thing comfortably the preacher of the old-new doctrines visited a dis- J*Jct which shall be nameless, and invited a num- "e* of working men to meet him in the club room 1)f a public house. The men were highly pleased. They understood that form of reciprocity, and felapsed into a demand for free trade only when their glasses were empty. But presently the ipostle of economic heresy came to the point, e men listened patiently until their glasses were empty again. Once more the em an or free trade went up. But the preacher an.i .i reciprocity this time. His arguments, ovv e\ tr* began to tell with less effect. According 118 acc°unt the men became crossly stupid n C?,U^ no'; he brought to see that wages 7 rose with the prices of things, and they use to believe that a dear loaf did not mean vation. So at last lie left them in disgust, '-ciaring in two monosyllables that they had no Drams m their heads. r Gi tone's clerical son has his father's fei f^v °r writing. He has seen it stated j. onconformist ministers who do not know 1 are prepared to pass the preliminary epIScopal uamination for the Church of England 14 eiz months, without interfering with their ^y occupation. Wlierefore the Rev. Stei>hen lad stone writes to know what bishops would on uPon so inadequate a qualifica- th D- Of Chester, nor he Bishop of Exeter, nor the Bishop of Iltra-cheswr, nor the Bishop of Et. Asaph; neither g«fl the Bishop of London, for the Rector of •i?-warden has asked him. Who then' think I ?an answer that. During the recent curate Amine in Wales more than one Welsh bishop, bad he been satisfied that a Nouconform- t minister could read Ilia Greek Testa- ment well enough to discover its meaning 3 the aid of a lexicon, and knowing In to be a man of ordinary orthodoxy, \)uJd have had no scruple in administering ordi- ^tion to him, or in licensing him afterwards. At one case has come before ^fry notice in which his o^er. —— "'0..1.. ",Q_JUt/ eartesS evangelical ^riacher touring in South Wal«s—not by the °P» indirectly on his behalf, and there is onj9**11 to believe that the oflwr is a singular 11e. _'r

THE POWELL BUFFRYN CO. AND THE COALOffNEliS ASSOCIATION. the announcement made hat the 1^uut*llL Ash correspondent on Thursday, t n* f0We11 fI>Uffr^ Company have ceased to Y,i ,a ^f3 the Monmouthshire and South ■n» rtf ± J le,ne? ^^ciation. This company was nd ^nncipa^ contributors to the association, ,"(I had "hO l,"rgedt amubor of collieries La cou. U" with

fifitom OUR OWN OORBSPO!'(])ICTS, RZUTBAS AaaTCT, PBI33 ASSOCItTXOir, AND GXNI3AL BBW8.] THE ALARMiN CONSTANTP V A or i\Ul Lu. CONSTANT!>iOPr,K, Wednesday.—An enor* I nious depreciation has occurred in the Caimea, and ntimbars of bakers' shops have been closed. The British squadron from Artaki will proceed to-morrow morning to occupy its former safer anchorage in the Gulf of Ismid. Provisional measures have been taken through the Ottoman Bank to check the alarming depreciation of the paper currency. „ Constantinople, Wodnesday.—ine specifying the reforms to be executed will probably" be issued in the course of the week. Aoenta of the Municipality are com- pelling the recalcitrant. bakers to make bread, but the sale is li. lied to one loaf to each pexsoii.

AUSTWAS DOUBTS RESPECTING THE PEACE. Vms.vi, Wednesday. — 'L'iie*™ Fr" Press predicts that the Berlin Treaty will not l.«t very Ion". The Tajbiat says it is true that in 1878 a diplomatic peace was arranged, but it has no belief in its con- tm OF THE CROSSING

OF THE BALKANS. ST PETJSRSBUKG, Wednesday.—A service waa held yesterday at the Prosbraschenski Cathedral in commemoration of the crossmg of the Balkans at this tune last year. Last evening a grand banquet was given at the Winter Palace in honour of the occasion.

RECEPTION BY THE SULTAN^ to-day lield a reception of the diplomatic

'THREATENING, ATTITUDE OF NlHILIol^. We hear that in consequence of the threatening attitude of the Ni.11 Su,- larger towns of Russia, the P01^0^^01^ about to receive an accession of 1,200 m

HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF BOSNIAN REFUGEES. VIENNA, Wedilesday.-A Bosnian deputa- tion has arrived at Agram in order to ask for assistance for the refugces vvlio have "turned tr> Bosnia and who are said to be dying in largeTnumbers in the forests, without food or shelter In Bosnia and Herzegovina there is a great scarcity of fuel-~P^fy bews.

THE RISING IN KASAN. VIENNA, Wednesday. The outbreak of the Tartars of Kasan, in Rnssia, was caused by an order of the authorities for signal bells to be placed on the tops of the mosques, as m thao flat countiy no other elevations were available for such a purpose. This excited the fury of the Mahometans, and the msuirechon spread widely. There have been several sharp encounters with the soldiery.

FRIENDLINESS BETWEEN DENMARK AND PRUSSIA. COPENHAGEN, Wedlies(lay.-The relations between the Prussian and Danish Govern- ments are very strained. Prussia refuses to appoint any Minister unless tne Duke of Cumberland leaves. nr 7 BERLIN, Wednesday. The National Gazette, discussing the Brunswick succession says that should any difficulty arise which would interfere with the present constitu- tionally established position of the German Empire, it would be promptly nipped in the IN

CANADA. OTTAWA, Wednesday.—The Governor- General has held a New Year's day recep- tion in the Council Chamber. A large num- ber of gentlemen prosented themselves, and his Excellency shook hands cordially with ea POPE'S OVERTURES TO

GERM ANY. iiEE.u>r, Wednesday.—In the Pope 3 brief to Archbishop Melchers, of Cologne, the following passage Our soul will never find rest until ecclesiastical peace with Germany has been restored," has made a great im- pression. The Clerical party in Parliament will be much perplexed by this Papal enunciation. —- tandard.

ORGAN IS IUTROBBERY BY LIVER- POOL POLICEMEN. Two constables were lodged in Liverpool Bride- well, 011 Thursday, charged with being imphcated ill an organised system of robbery ut the Liver- pool Docks. _„

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT ROCHESTER. The wall of a new public building ia coarse of ercction at Rochester fell on Tuesday afternoon burying four men. The men were taken oat as qu1ekly as possible. All four were alive, but it is feared one of them will die.

EARLY AND LATE CLOSING AT PARIS. The extension of the public-house closing hour from midnight to 1 a.m., originally granted as an indulgence during the Paris Exhibition, has now been made permanent, the authorities being satis- fied that it does not prejudice morality or public security. Midnight has been the hour ever since 1819, except in a few favoured quarters.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A RATE COLLECTOR. [SPECIAL TKLECRAar.l On Thursday night the clerk of the Boston Township Commissioners, acting upon a resolu- tion passed by that body, took out a warrant against Henry North, the town rate-collector, tor ^misappropriation of public moneys. North has handed his statement of accounts to the board for the past year, but has failed to pay to the treasury the £ 217 which it shows he hao collected, The accused upon accepting the appointment, had been guaranteed uy the Guarantee oociety. The polioe pentert&in good hoes of makinganearly arrest.

HEATING CITIES BY STEAM. A revolution may, it appears, be expected ia our niet.iods of heating, if an experiment about to be tried at New York should tnrn out successful. The mayor of that city has recommended that an ordinance be passed by the Board of Aldermen giving the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund uower to grant precinct privileges to a company known as the Holly Combination to carry steam for heating purposes through mains underground in New York, the objects of the company Twng /i\ TV, heat houses, offices, depots, &c., as coal is now doing (2) cook, (3) heat water,, (4) put out fires and (5) remove snow. The test <>r trial nf this Holly plan of heatmg cities by steam, was made in the of Lo^kport, in Niagara county, new Hi. 1 alls. In June of last year (187/) ha!^ n" pipes underground was laid, which enabU-d the company to learn the exact rate of loss by con delation. Then three mil- s of pipes wane la id,, there being one continuous length of a mUe an da third. Very little of the pipmg was l^ t^n four inches diameter. Last winter the ean est work of the experiment was done, ^ockport is a little north of forty-three degrees north lat itude. and is considered to be m a co i_ -ion.' The company during last and summer have heated about forty dw s a large school house (105,000 cubic feet), and the largest hall in the town, besides furnishing steam to run two engines, one of them about half a mile distant from the boiler-house, and are now snpply- ing steam for t number of other purposes. Houses a mile away, they find, are heated as readily as those near the: source of heat. They have three I)oilers--two horizontal, 5 feet by 16, and one up- right. Most of the time one boiler is sufficient, and it is only during the severest cold that they run two. Two firemen do all the work—one day, one night. The same force can ran 400 houses as .veil as 40. They believe, from their ex- periences thus far, that, with sufficient boiler capacity and pipes of proper size, an area of at least four miles square can be heated from one set of boilers. In large cities they reckon ten boilers would fsuffice. The Holly is a system of high pressure in the mains and low pressure in the service pipes," and thus, it is re- presented, much smaller and less expensive n ains and pipes are attached than those necessary in the usual exclusively low pressure system of steam heating." "Low pressure, it seems, is suf- ficient for single building*, bot not for cities. Ti>e Holly mains decrease from eiglit inches to one ltlC as they divido and sub-divide. Tliey are covered a>id bound with non*cwdncting materials, which are important features of the discovery. uiaina are inserted in lfg" wood bored for MM purpose, and sunk in ditches laid with tiles, three to live -feet deep, running above the gas and water pipes. Expansion, junc- tion-bcxes are used to prevent the ill effects of expansion in the imu-tbat iA. to compensate for the expansion. These are put at intervals of from one hundred to two hundred feet along the lines. With this experience, and the mayor's favour, it seem likely that the Holly svstem of warning, by «3i be tried in some distiict In N«v "x one 1 early in the coming spring.

cl,mll. -Mears RIOCNRF & Sows TRTG to Caution the public against imitation square Blue of ver) inferior quality. The Paris Blue, in squares (used in the Prince of Wales" Laundry. Sold in wrwpper* bearing toeir aauw and Trade Mark, xlW&WlW I;

THE AMEER SUING FOR PEACE. THU .?T.iT.r:'C'JCAL POSITION Of ""RUSSIA IN ASIA. The "Central News" has received the following special telegram from Berlin, dated January 2nd :-It is stated that the Ameer has requested Russia to intercede with Eng- land in favour of peace. Yakoob Khan is not in possession of full powers from his father. The Ameer himself is in Birekh. From St Petersburg it is announced that General Lomakin's columns now command the Atreck Valley, and the road through Persia from Astrabad to Herat. _ú"

YAKOOB KHAN AND HIS TROOPS. CALCUTTA, Thursday. inews received from Cabul reports that Yakoob Khan has produced money to pay his troops, upon the condition that the Dandshah became security for the men, since many had deserted after payment. The General declined to be se- curity, and payment was withheld.

CRITICAL POSITION OF GENERAL ROBERTS' FORCE. THE TACTICS IN THE KHURUM VALLEY. BOMBAY, Wednesday. Military men are strongly of opinion that reinforcements should be sent forward without delay to the Khur- rum Valley, and letters from officers with the column there are the reverse or roie-coloured in their anticipations of tiie future. Very much greater caution than that \Vhich has hitherto been exhibited by Generalltoherts appearo be called for, considering the turbulent nature of the popu- lation and the great distance of the little force from its base of communication. # Although the column has hitherto been mar- vellously fortunate, its success is greatly due to luck. Upon the night of Nov. 28th, in the affair before Peiwar, after a long march without food, two native regiments, ordered to advance on the flanks towards the Pass, encountered enemies on every ridge. No support were sent to them, and it is a wonder that they got back. If the enemy had not impatiently opened fire before nightfall upon the camp, which was planted under their very guns in the hollow of the Pass, a night can- nonade would have resulted in a fearful panic among the men, camels, mules, horses, and elephants crowde, I in such a spot, The battle of December Znd, although brilliant was exceedingly lucky the men were marched off at nightfall without any food being served out to them" In the morning, fagged and hungry, they encountered fresh foes strongly posted. Two of our regiments lost their way, and there was vast confusion, and the day was won by the extraordi- nary bravery of the officers in rallying and leading the men. Considering the utter baduess of our political information, the advance of a few hundred men through the defile to the Shatur Gardan was rash in the extreme, and it was fortunate, indeed that even a small body of the enemy had not halted in their fligtit to hold one of the difficult defiles. The march through the Chappri Pass was most of all inexplicable. There was no possible occasion for the troops to be led round through an inde- pendent country, and, even if it were desirable to take round the troops, no excuse is possible for dragging an enormous train of baggage by an entirely unknown road, through a defile abound- ing with high crags and unthinkable positions, where the Mongols might have destroyed the long line of stragglers in the watercourses beneath them. The baggage, at any rate, could have been sent by the direct and easy route of the Peiwar, and the troops marched by the Chappri. Worse even than the choice of the route was the execution of the march. The whole force marched quietly through and encamped in the plain, leav- ing four milea of baggage-train, unprotected except by the rear guard of Ghoovkas, to the meicy of the Mongols, who were visible in crowds on all the crags, and whose intentions were evi- dently doubtful. Had the Mongols known their strength they might have destroyed the whole baggage-train and its little guard. As it was, two valuable officers, ifve soldiery and several camp followers lost their lives. Oar force is far too small to indulge in such risks. A disaster would probably raise the whole country from Khurum to Kol':lt against us, and already the conduct of the Waziris is far from s itisfactory. Such are the opinions expressed by officers writing from the camp, and the account of the massacre of our camp followers in the Darwaza P: rftor the troops had marched through i" front of them, is cansiderjd here to confirm the strictures upon the want of military prudence wish which the campaign in the Khurum Valley is being conducted. The expedition into the Khost country is very severely blamed, a3 a further dispersion of tiicfo,-ce,nil the creation of new embarrassments. The feeling is unanimous that unless considerable reinforcements nre sent up to Thull without delay, we shall hear of some serious disaster in the KhurumValley.—Standard.

GREAT FIRE AT CIIAHLESTO. A telegram received from New York, last evening, states that the Union Cotton Press and sheds at Charleston, containing 9,000 bales, have. been entirely destroyed by nre. The fire is stated to have been the act of an incendiary.

GUN ACCIDENT. Another fatal gun accident is reported. A man named jjnnibsrt was shooting on fit South Stockton, with a friend, when the gun that he was handing, butt foremost, through a hedge, went off. The charge entered his brea&t, aad lie was killed instantaneously.

r-" ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. IIADDINGTON BURGHS. Sir David Hedderburn, the selected Liberal can- didate for Haddington burghs, met a number of Liberal delegates, on Thursday afternoon, in Edinburgh, and submitted his address.

TIIE PIlINCESS ALICE DISASTER. The overseers and churchwardens of Woolwich attended at the Kent quarter sessions, Maidstone, on Thursday, to appeal against the recent deci- sion of the county magistrates, who refused the claim for 21,100 for eXDenseil incurred in connec- tion with the Princess Alice disaster. An arrange- ment, however, was come to by counsel to dis- pense with arguing the case, and, instead, agree upon points for submission to the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench.

A C E RI-.f Avli T R; L' Q SILMIDLIC I ITY. The Birtf-iuer Ta .-biatt prints a naive petition which a young servant girl of that city addressed through the post to the Imperial Cabinet in Ber- Iin. "Majesty," she writes, "do send a couple of lines to my Kobert. Tell him that he must marry me, and that if he marries me he shall have work at the railway station as long as he lives bnt if he does not marry me he shall not be al- lowed any work. But do, I pray, send your most high commands to him at the latest by Saturday, so that he may come again to visit me next Sun- day." She goes on to say that if the Kaiser will not write to "her Robert," she does not believe that any power on earth can move him, and she will be obliged to throw herself into the Oder.

ATTEMPTEJTWIFFmijrdeb. A WOMAN BURIED ALIVE. A man namad Rennel was last week sentenced to imprisonment for life at Lucerne, for murder. Kennel, while working at Chur, made the ac- quaintance of a girl named Margarethe Voegli. After a short stay at Chur he went to Sursee, in Lucerne whither he invited the girl, who, it ap- pears, was then enceinte, to come to him. Mean- while he became the affianced husband of another young woman,-Josepha Soelli, who had a small property. Margajethe Voegli gladly accepted his invitation to Sursee where he met her at the sta- tion on the 26th of October. Renuel led her to an adjacent wood, pretending that this was the nearest way to their destination. When they arrived at a lonely part of it. near a grave which he had already dug, he struck her on the head with an iron bar, and having, as he thought, killed her outright, and taken her purse, watch, and ornaments, he threw the body into the grave, covered it lightly over with a few etioks and SHKIB, and went away • but his victim, as it proved, was not dead.' After remaining in a state of unconsciousness several hours she survived, and foand that she was buried alive. After a severe struggle, she contrived to uncover her head, and heard the clock of a neighbouring church strike three. She lay thus for a long time calling for help. At length she attracted the attention of a passer-by. Help was procured, and she was removed to the Orphan-house of Sursee. The same day, after giving birth to a still-born child, she died from the injuries inflicted upon her by her lover, who is expiating his crime by an imprisonment that may last lialf a century, for he is only 24 years of age.

WHY I GIVE CHBRSNRAS BOXES.—I give to the postman and' policeman because I think the}' deserve it; I K've to the tradesmen in general, because I think they don't.—I give to the chim,iel)-s wool)* be(.;ause I cannot avoid I iiiii.-I give to the railway-guard because I do not wish him to insist on seeing my season-ticket; and I give to Jones's butler, because there are two kinds of st e-ry in the house.—Funny Folks. CHHISTJIAS PRE82J(T3.—What more suitable than a pood SEWINO MACIUSS ? Call and sec tlwwe of the newest desigus, including ilHAPHCRT S, -with new patent self-threading shutt'ej aud patent geif-actiuj winders, at the. sole ent' Hulty Tlioius, Saint Jobn's-square, Cardiff. A Jut of New 4 guinea Machines for £219i 6d. making room for the Patent Winder Machines. 40037 7124 T.'HAX/KfpM ahd Podophyllum.—A fluid com- bination for deraaigeinuni; of the liver, particularly when arising from slight congestion. Uy Kentty stimulating tie action of the liver and slightly moving the bowela, heavy, drowsy feeling, with sensations of fuiness, often iiiiin bonap* the abowder#. at the ehesi after eattog, uvnlsaanat tist* fti the and otfctai indications of d/Bj»ep«ia, Ae removed. Taraxacum awl~ FBdopkyHin ja much easier than calomel <» bine pill for regulating the secretion of bile.—Prepared in the Labor- atory of J. PBFFXR, 287, Tottenham Court-road. London. whose name miyt be on the label. Wttkw, is 6d and iS«4 £ «Mb.

THE DEPIESSION ;¥ IN TRADE. « THE STOPPAGE AT SIBHOWY. ojid MEN THROWN OUT OF EMPLOYMENT. DESTITUTION AT TREDEGAR. SIRIIOWY. The Sirhowy Works, as already mentioned in these columns, "will be stopped this week, when about 250 men will be thrown out of employment. They have been in continuous work for trie last one hundred years. Sold a long while ago by Mr Richard Fothergil, the father of the late Mr Rowland i'othergill, to Messrs Harford and a S, in order to accept a leasehold of the new Tredegar Company's land by Sir Charles Morgan, which he thought a better undertaking, Messrs Harford and Davies finally sold to the Darbys, and about eight or ten years ago a limited liability company was formed. The Ebbw Yale Company ha l 14 blast furnaces at work last week. Their establishment is, perhaiw, more extensive, though not so concentrated, than that at Dowlais, for they have the Ebbw Vale, the Victoria, the Aber- carn, the Abersyehan, the Sirhowy. the Cwm, in the Forest of Dean, aud at Bilbao, in Spain. A major portion of their works and collieries are ie isebold, aud the conditions of at least some of these are drawn in such a way that, if the works are stopped, the lessee may come in and say "These works are ours." The company could reduce their e,ttblisl)tnetit-tlle number of hands they employeti-bi-,t they could not stop. Sirhowy happens to be freehold property, and it has had to suffer. The three blast furnaces have besn blown out (as well as two at Pontypool), all the men will be paid off at the end of the week, and in point of fact the work stopped entirely, including the coking ovens. There is something to be said about these Sirhowy works. The present manager, Mr Davitl Jenkins, being very much averse to changing hands, has kept his men on, and there exists a band of union between matter and man, only too rare in those days. During all the vicissitudes of trade, after all the failures, the Sirhowy work., have beea kept on. They have never been stopped until now. The men who have been born and bred there have no other home. They do not come from Herefordshire, Radnorshire, Cardiganshire, Somersetshire, and Bi-eoonshire' like the workmen at Tredegar, and consequently Sirhowy is their home in every sense. An incidentjto show the relations spoken' of willj'be of interest. On Saturday last it was ascertained that positive orders had been given to blolv out the blast furnaces. Ordeis to that effect had come Ja week before, but the manager had, it is reported, succeeded in staving off the evil day, and the workmen thereupon held a meeting, at which they decided that they would work six days for five days' wages; and the manager and three under-managers, so it is stated, offered three months' services for nothing. The manager at Ebbw Vale was communicated with. It was with great regret he could not comply with their request, for the conduct of the men brought a gleam of light into the surrounding gloom. Until Monday some hojjes were entertained by the sanguine that the blowing out might be counter- manded. But that day brought with it the hard fact that operations were immediately to be com- menced, Fortunately the people have been provi- dent—there are only two public-houses to a population of 4,000, but for the last two or three years they have been in receipt of low wages, and their clubs are drained. They are so thoroughly domesticated that it is difficult to suppose what they will do with themselves. In a few months, in some cases a few weeks, the question will be- where are they to find bread-find bread for them- selves, their wives, and their children ? There is no distress at present, but with 800 or ],000 mouths to feed this state of affairs"cannot last long. They will have to leave Sirhowy. Prob- ably they will go into the mine where, they f oss'bly can. There they will earn a good deal of .bl money, but of course not so much as skilled men. It is worthy of mention that there is a population at Sirhowv. in what is known as Dukes-town, of at least 2,003, and Dukes-town is in the county of Brecon. On what may be considered a very good autho- rity, we lear!i that thers is every likelihood of the Sirhowy iioi-Ic-i being re-started, as soon as the least revival in trade takes place, when the fur- naces will be blown in again. There is a better tone in the pig-iron trade within the last two days than there has baen for the last two months, and this year, it is hoped, begins with abetter prospect than last year. At the works there is a large stock of pig. iron. The nia-n rca on for the stop- Dage is the s-low demand in rI Ir.ID, tl e sole manufacture at Sirhowy, which, contrary (o Ebbw did not enter upon the manufacture of the pig iron into steel or iron rails. TREDEGAR. There are no less than 2)0 men out of employ- ment hare, 74 of whom are puddlers, and men who, a few years ago, lived in really comfortable homes, eating and drinking to their hearts' con- are now brought to the verge of starvation. Thi< his been gradually assuming sucndimensions, the sufferings of the wives and chillren has been so grtat that a relief committee has been formed. Under the presidency of the High Constable, Mr Jenkins, a meeting was held here yesterday. Theie were present Mr Smith, Mr Bennett, Mr Lewis, the Rev E. Jone3, Mr Hutchings, the Rev J. Pugh, the Rev E. Powell, the Rev J. Lewis, the Rev. J. Olliver, Mr Richards, Mr S .vindeubank. and the Rev Mr Shankland. The state of affairs was fully discussed, and in the course of some remarks made by the vicar, the Rev E. Jones, it was pointed out that these men had beau earning very little indeed for a long while past, and absolutely nothing for weeks. The consequence was, the vicar said, that in dozens and dozens of houses there was absolutely not an atom of food, and the children had to be sent to bed without fool- without even a morsel of bread. When the other day the men said, We must have food," it was merely the necessity of care that drove them to it. It would be perfectly impossible to describe the utter hopelessness of many families, formerly li vintr in the midst of comfort. And the worst oi it is that the men. after having gone through what they have will not be able to work as of yore, They are going about pale and emaciated, un- shaven, and wretched shadows of their forloer selves. The committee made themselves respon- sible for the sum of £20, to be distributed in kind to the most necessitous cases. Another meeting w ill be held to-day. A correspondent writes :-It is proposed to commence puddling operations here at an early date—next week probably. The distress is en- tirely confined to the ironworkers. More coal has been turned out recently than there ever has been before. CARDIFF. A soup kitchen forthe poor of St. John's parish, formed under the auspices of the vicar, the Rev. C. J. Thompson, was opened at the St. John's National Schoolroom on Thursday. About 150 quarts of soup were sold at one penny per quart to the deserving poor. The soup was of unusually excellent quality, and was highly appreciated by those who received it. EBBW VALE WORKS. The fitters and boilermakers at Ebbw Vale are still on strike against a reduction of 10 per cent. The tradesmen of the coal and mine department of the works are also on strike against an increase of hours. The steelworks continue at a standstill, and drawing out is taking place at the works' foundry. ABERDARE. In consequence of the general distress, the Aber- dare Relief Committee, composed of the same gentlemen who so philantbropically interested themselves in relation to the severe distress of last year, have determined, and actually opened a soup kitchen in the same place as btfore. viz., the market-house, The committee is presided over again by the respected Vicar, who works zealously in this labour of love. Unfortunately the funds at the command of the committee are not great, the only amount at present' availably being 230. the surplus of the late distress fand. It is intended to deatribute 100 gallons of soup until the money is expended, on every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, henceforth. No bread is given away with the soup, the committee considering that the distress is not so great as it was previously, when the kitchen was opened. Scores of children and women were on Thursday served with the soup, which is of excellent quality. SWANSEA. The BOARD OF GUARDIANS met on Thursday, Mr J. T. D. Llewelyn presiding. There were also present-Messrs E. R. Daniel, E. Bath, John 1. Evans, M. B. Williams, P. Jenkins, T. Jones, J. Gritiths, T. Powell, J. Buse, J. Lewis, H. Bowen, Isaac Davies, W. Williams, E. Madox, J. Davies, D. Smith, Rees Harris, E. Roberts, and P. Rogers, The Chairman commenced the business by wishing all the guardians a happy new year. (Cheers.) He then went on to remark that he understood that there was a subscription list opened in the town for those cases of distress that did not come .before the guardians. The relief cases that came before them formed a very good test as to the destitution and poverty in the neighbourhood. The numbers they had there some time ago were rather increasing, aud caused a little unpleasantness, untd they led to no fewer than 21 able-bodied men there. Last Thiirsdav the board gave an order to Mr Gros- smith, the master of the Cottage Homes, that there should be no smoking during working hours. There was no hardship in that, for no hard working man would 'smoke in his work. The board gave the order that they should not smoke during business hours, they could do as they pleased during meal times and this, had bad the effect of weeding out the-men, who preferred going elsewhere. He thought that little test had had its proper effect, inasmuch as there were only 11 men out of the 21 remaining that morning.—Mr T. Powell: You have "weeded" them out! (La.ua-hter. )-The Chairman remarked that he thought it desirable to continue that test. There was a good deal said out of doors as to the condition of paupers and poverty-two distinct things—in the neigh- bourhood. It was supposed that tho destitution had become such that a public subscription was necessary in the town. He did not wish to say it was not so. Perhaps a public subscrip- tion, if properly tdiniaLatot-ed, might reach c isei! that did not come to the guardians. He hoped thej would be exceedingly careful how it wa§ administered. At that board they knew this particular principle, that unearned money demoralised the receivers. (Hear, hear.) In reply to Mr T. Powell it was stated that there was an increase in the expenditure for the week in Swan- I sea towu of k2 3s 104d over the corresponding week of last year; but in the whole union there was a, decrease of 9'2 141 7Jd. It was stated th-it there were 307 paupers in the house. This con. ciiiaètltbe btmoeaa. w.Y. fCAPEL NNWYDD.) The frtenda of Qapsl Neivydd have b««a o £ late ■ years cogg$ep(rus f0r their aid to the poor in hard times, and this year charity has flowed in from various sources. In addition to what is received from the Stepney and Morris Charities, Mr B. Jonc* im exceeded Oil wnal liberality. He has distributed hundreds of yards of flannel amongst the poor of all the Welsh con- gregations of the town, and to the poor of Capel Nevrydd he gave three times as much as he used to. Mr William Williams, Box House, gave tickets, value 23 each, to 2) of the poorest in this congregation. In addition to this the ladies of the church have succeeded in i;eUiii!j money to p esent over 50 persons with half-a-i«und of tea and a pound of sugar each. The last evening in this year, when receiving the gifts, all met together to regale themselves with tea and cake, which were prepared by the ladies fur the occasion. Many were the thanks given, and Lickings uttered by the poor to the kind friends who dealt so bounti- fully with them. FOREST OF DEAN. It would appear strangely inconsistent in a mining district where the masters had so far bene- fited by increased trade to twice advance their quotations, and voluntarily proffer to their work. men an increase of wages, starting 0:1 the new year, that distress wai possible. The anomaly, however, does exist to a striking extent, and in this wise :—In the Ciaderford distiict the house collieries are in full operation, whilst in West Dean—extending from Yorkley to Coleford—a large proportion of the population are affected by the continued stoppage at Park-end furnaces, tin- JJlate worki, and neighbouring mines. The Rev. T. Nicholson has announced his inability to con- tinue the relief given through his instrumentality. He says, I am sorry to say I can do no more. The distress i,, so general all over the country; friends everywhere have their hands so full in their own localities, that it is now hopeless to look for help from a distance." At Coleford the cir- cumstances of the labouring classes are very trifling. In order to meet the more necessitous cases of distress a committee are busily engaged. PONTHIER. The hearts of the poor in this district have been gladdened by a donation of £35 from Mr A. H. Jenkins, per Mr Dawson, to be given in blankets, &c. The relief is being judiciously distributed, without regard to sect or creed. HEREFORD. The Mayor of Hereford, on Thursday, called a meeting of citizens for the purpose of taking steps towards alleviating the distress in the district. It has been agreed to collect subscriptions. BRISTOL. Distress is on the increase among the labouring classes of Brfstol. The Mayor will be requested by the friends of the labouring classes to organise a relief fund. LIVERPOOL. A movement is in progress in Liverpool to duce the wages. in the engineering and shipbuilding trades. As evidence of the distress at Liverpool, this week there is an increase of 160 in the workhouse and 270 in the vagrant sheds compared with the same week last year. The week's death from phthisis show an increase of 83 above last year's average, chiefly the result of cold and privation among the poor. THE EXPECTED GREAT STRIKE IN THE NORTH. The proposal to reduce the South Yorkshire colliers' wages by 12 per cent has met with great disfavourlin the Rotheram district. Notices have been given at most collieries, but the men appear determined to stand out against any further decrease in earnings. They contend that the selling price of coal is going up, and that the action of the masters in seekirg to reduce wages is consequently most unjustifiable. At a meeting at Roundwood, on Thursday, a proposal to adopt the sliding scale, regulating wages by the selling price of coals, was made, but the men would not listen to it. SIR,—I see a great deal in the South Wales Daily News about our poor people working. for lower wages, and setting up foreign work-people as an example. I have lived for many years on the continent, and know why they can afford to live on lower wages. In the first place, they have no shoemakers' bills to pay-a pair of wooden shoes lasts for ever. They have a pot au feu in every cotttage, a large earthenware jar, into which bones are thrown, after being no doubt well picked, vegetables, See, added. iWheu the pot is full the soup is drained off aud put to stand till cold, when it forms a jelly, which makes capital soup for day s for a poor family. Then they eat black bread, which our poor people would turn their noses up at. The pot an fell always stands simmering on the stove, till ready to be drained off, to stand for jelly. Then, if they have a piece of garden to their cottagos, every hole and corner is stocked-even b the castor-oil plant and tobacco-plant-which they have not to buy. I write of Belgium now. I could tell you of Italy, France, and Switzerland, but have not time now. —Yours, &c., A WELL-WISHER FOR THE POOR OF MY OWN COUNTRY. December 30th, 1878. P.S.—I enclose my name and address, but not for publication.

ABEIIDARE SCiiOOL BOAPD. The usual monthly meeting of this board was held on Thursday, when the members present were Messrs R. fIe Rhys (chairman), John Williams and D. Davies (Canton House), and the Revs. Dd. Price, E. W. Lloyd, and Thomas Jones. —It was recommended by the schools manage- ment committee, having considered the salaries of ex-pupil teachers, that when engaged by the board, the following scale of payment be adopted. The amount of salary to be paid wouid depend upon the success of the teacher in passing the final examination well, fairly, or with unsatisfactory remarks. Well, males JE50. females 235; fairly, male.C45. females 230 with remarks, males £40; females £27 10s.—A letter received from Mr W. D. Lewis, Park School, was referred to the board for consideration. -The report was adopted, and the recommendations agreed to.—Mr Lewis, in his letter, complained that the house adjoining the school, which he resided in, was very unhealthy. He asked the board's permission to reside else- where, and to increase his salary by an amount corresponding with the amount calculated as rent. — The Chairman was strongly opposed to any increase in the salary. He had no objection to Mr Lifwis residing at some convenient place, so that he could property discharge his duties. In the course of the conversation the Chairman and other members stated that they had always believed the house to be a very healthy one. Mr Hogg, th# previous nmster, resided there for many years. The Chairman further stated that when Mr Lewis went there the board put the place in a thorough state of repair, at a cost of nearly £40. The clerk was instructed to write Mr Lewis, stating that the bcird did not object to his moving elsewhere, b-t they could not make any change in the sab'y,—A letter, in which there were some .yii:r.adver3ion3 on the Local Government Board, was read from Mr Barker, the architect of the new schools at Blaengwawr. Mr Barker returned the plans, having altered them in accordance with the in- structions of the Department. The plans were ordered to be again sent up to London.—The Chairman said that the agreement with the Hir- wain and Rhigos School Boards as to the joint maintenance of the fflrwain School had been completed, and under it it was necessary to appoint amother membsr from this board. As the Aberdare Board paid hxlf the cost of the schools, he certainly thought they ought to have half the members, and the other had consented. It was stated that the present members were the chairman. Mr John Williams, the Rev Mr Price, and Mr Powell. After some conversation, the old members were re-dected, with the Rev Thomas Jones as the new metnbe-The Chair- man said it appeared, that Mr Wilkinson had disqualified himself ly reason of non-attend- ance for six months, and ie therefore begged to give notice for a special meeting that day fort- night, for the purpose of illing up the vacancy.— The clerk was instructed » forward a coyy of the notice to the Department.—The Chairman said it was quite evident that sope provision would have to be made for those pareits' children whom they summoned. On the fiitrsummona an order was made, and if they did notattend, then they were proceeded with under th412th section. Then the magistrates could impose a fine of 514, including costs, and if the child ifterwards neglected to attend, the magistrates auild order the child to be sent to an industrial sehod, and further order the parents to contribute. 11 was all very well to make provisions of this Mud, but there should be some place to send the children, and an industrial sehool for th< district was required. Tbe Merthyp School Bosrti had been in communi- cation with Neath, Swfcsea, and other boards in those districts, with the view of getting a training-ship. They bai failed to get one, and it was now contemplated tt erect a Ijoint school for the western district. Mr Rhya went on to advo. cate the establishment of an industrial school for the union, and expressed himself in favour of committees from the different boards appointed to consider the question. He maintained that it was quite 'evident that the Education Act could never be thoroughly eavied out unless they had an industrial school witll reach. It was abso- lutely necessary, as the chairman of the board of guardians, who was alii chairman of the Mer- thyr School Board, ba| pointed out, that they should take some |stepsj; Having referred to his notice of motion at the board of guardians, stipulating that school fees of children of indigent parents shilll only the paid in case the total earnings coming into the house waa not 2s 6d per head per week, he invited other members to express their opinions. The board generally concurred with the chairman as to the expediency of their jojaing Merthyr and other boards in the erection of an industrial school, and hoped a joint coin mitteo, -would be appointed. It being stated that the Daie-street School entailed an annual loss of £ 70, it^rad agreed to give three months notice to give up the premises, and the school management committee was instructed to consider the best way tohnake use of the teachers there. This was all the business.

A n —t;—F A CrEATEKTL Qo*B»u to A GRIETOC& AtfD Sf MYATHlsniG PRO £ jJ&»:England,6 heart hae crone out towards the Queen A her great grief; ami the Queen's heart has utwJbd its gntitude to Eng- land, simply and sincerely, and as it in rebuke of the bombastic over-emphasis of Lord Bea^oafifield. io.tW House of Lords.—JhnncL. I

MERTHYR BOARD OF HEKLTH, On Wednesday, the bi-monthly meeting of this board was held, when the members present were— Messrs. George Martin (chairman), Thomas Wil- liams, Henry Evans, John Jenkins, J. Bryant, John Gabe, Thomas Jones, Bedlinsrton Kirk- house, and J. Probert.— Mr Thomas Williams, as one of the committee appointed, gave the result of the meeting with Mr John Jones as to the com- pensation he required for his interest in the small portion of laud required for the widening of Glebeland Bridge. The committee failed to move Mr Jones, who said be would not take a penny less than the 1:25, as he considered the widening would b no accommodation to him. There was a strong feeling amongst the owners of property and the inhabitants in the Glebeland in favour of having the bridge, and they would be inclined to subscribe the £ 25 before allowing the scheme to fall through. He would be sorry to see the matter falling through,and would suggest that it be left to the committee again.—Mr John Jen- kins argued that it would be impracticable to make a carriage road, if the bridge was widened, up from the Cleveland to Brecon-road. Eventually, Mr Williams's suggestion was agreed to.—The Surveyor submitted a statement of the consump- tion of water by meter for special purposes during the past quarter. The charges for water and rents of meter amounted to £ 213 9s Id, as compared with £ 25119s 81 in the corresponding quarter of 1877. The Suiveyor "further reported that Messrs Nixon and Mr R. T. Griffiths, joint owners of the new bridge over the River Taff at Aberfan, were willing to allow the public to use the said bridge while the bridge at Troedyrhiw was being rebuilt, on the following conditions, viz.Ist. That any damage to the bridge during such use other than that resulting from ordinary wear, be made good. 2nd. That the roads and streets in connection with the bridge, aud extending from the I-ariiii-road at Aberfan to the Cardiff turnpike-road at Ynysowen be kept in repair. And 3rd. That the sum of 21 per week duriug the continuance of such use be I paid to the said joint owners of the bridge as an acknowledgment of their rights.—Mr Henry Evans said the acknowledgment of their rights" would be the same if they only charged 53 per week.— In reply to Mr Bryant, the Clerk said the repair of the road as pruposed would not make it a public highway. They would do so conditionally. Duviug the discussions which took place, the board generally thought 21 a week was too high a charge, and Mr Bryant moved that 5s per week be offered. Tliis was seconded by Mr Evans. Upon the suggestion of the Chairman the amount was increased to 10s, and the proposition was agreed to. The Surveyor intimated that about three months would elapse before the new bridge \> ould be completed.—It was afterwards resolved to inform the Taff Vale Company that the board intended using the road from Ynysygorod to the Danderi, and [not pass over the railway. The Surveyor reported that there was one patient, a pauper, from Bargoed, I suffering from typhoid fever, now under treatment in the Pant Hospital, and the medical officer in- timated that last evening he had been notified that there was a case of fever at Biaenforth, near the Filter Beds. The finance committee's re- port was read, recommending the pay- ment of accounts amounting to £ 2,210 4s Gd, Mr John Jenkins renewed a request which he made at the last meeting, that his protest be en- tered on the minutes against the payment of any money for extra services.— Mr Bryant argued that Mr Jenkins was out of order—he should give no- tice while the Clerk declared that both Mr Jen- kins and Mr Bryant were in the wrong. If there had been an omission in the minutes, it should have been attended to before the minutes were signed.—Mr Hy. Evans asked the board to con- struct a platform beneath the Taff P.ail-vcy bridge as rentrebach,"as people in parsing that way to Abercanaid experienced no little didicultv in croseing at the sides because (If the water which flowed through. The Survevor pointed out that the Taff Yale Company had posi- tively refused to allow anything to be done to the bridge.—Mr Evans produced a letter from the company sanctioning the placing of a platform there. The communication was read, and it ap- peared therefrom that an application had been made to have a ticket station at Abercanaid, but the directors did not see their way clear to gratify that request. Mr Evans added that the sanction of the Aberdare and Plymouth Company had also been obtained.—A platform was ordered to be placed there.—This was all the busiueaa of publie interest.

A PAUPERS DEATH BED IN A WELSH WORKHOUSE. The Osw'stry Advertiser says The guardims of the Newtown and Llanidloes Union, when they assembled for their usual fortnightly meet- ing at the "A orkhouse, at Caersws, were astonished and dismayed at the extent of their own neglect'* but, it mast be told to their credit, they were not afraid to face the question,• or to lay the facts before the public. The story which thc-y listened to was this. On Christmas ni^ht a man named Giist, or (.Trice, l.^y io one of the wards dvin' At hajf-rast eight the nurse saw him, and, according to her oan reported words, which we can scarce.y believe to be aceuratolv rE- corued, she thought he was near death ani left him.' She added that she always left if the sick jiersons did not want her to attend t: em. On the depaitur* of tnenuvse, Grist remained iu charge of another pauper, a man of 60, named Evans, "who is rewarue 1 with extra diet,and an additional half- ounce of tobacco, for discharging the duties of deputy tiur,e. Evans says the man 1 was com- plaining uncommon,' and was very much swollen about the legs. I was with him all the time with the other men. He was in a little room by him- self, and I sat by his bedside. He died about 12 o'clock.' The doctor had been there the day before, and said he could do no more for the man. The chaplain was not sent for, The nurse never under- stood the chaplain came exceot on Thursdays, and the master explained, apologetically, that half of the inmates bclonxed to the Dissenters.' And so, without a doctor, without a nurse to relieve the pain of which he 'complained uncommon,' and without a chaplain whom, for aught we know, the poor man considered essential to smooth his path to the grave, the sick pauper I died and for nine hours his dead body remained unattended to. The only communication between the master's apartments and the wards is a series of kuocka.' The men can kno.;k tiirongh the wards until it comes to us,' says tbe master In case of fire or sudden illness, this is the way in which the master would be summoned The guardians appointed a committee to investigate the matter, °

HIRWAIN. AN eisteddfou t place on Wednesday, at the Ax eisteddfou t place on Wednesday, at the Victoria-hall, under the presidency of Mr D. Beynon. The chief choral prizes we-e awarded to Messrs W. Price and W. Davies, of Hirwain, and the prize for the essays to John Harris. of Pen- deryn, and D. G. Williams, of Givn-Neath. The prize for poetry was awarded to" Mr John Mor- gan, of Rhigos.

LL_\ lJlLO. THE 1 AIERNACLE.—UN New Year's Day the friends of the cause in the Tabernacle Indepen- dent Chapel held a tea meeting for the Sunday and day scholars at the Tabernacle board schools. About 20U guests sat down to tea. Amusements were after-vards indulged in, the mistletoe in one case being in coast ieraole request. At six o'clock th" Rev. Penry Evans lectured at the chapel on Being^a man." Ine l\'v. Mr Morgan, of the Methodist Chapel, occupied the chair,

EBBW VALE. ON Wednesday evening the distribution of prize- bo,)ks to the Sunday School scholars of Christ Church, for good conduct aud regular attendance took place at Christ Church. The Rev William Hughes presided. The prizes were presented by Mrs Jenkins and Miss Golightly. After the dis- tribution addresses were delivered by the Revs J. Williams and S. Jenkins, Messrs T. Johns (super- iutendent), J, Lewi?, stud others. A POPILAB ENTERTAINMENT, being one of & series, was given in connection with the Zion Eng- lish Baptists, in the Victoria Hotel Lofcg-roomon IVeduesday night, welr Harrison presided.

BRITON FERRY. NEW YAR's EVE.-In a few Chapels a number oi people gathered to watch the old year going *l«w year coming in. The Primitive Methodist Church had a tea meeting in the after- noon. 1 hey also had a Christmas tree, which was well patronised. The Wesleyans, in the evening, had a social tea after which a la.-ge congregation assembled to hear an eloquent sermon by the Rev Mr Brett, the pastor, on the words Teach us to number our days." The brass baud, in connection with the artillery, played several airs in the town. SCHOOL BOARI).-The ordinary meeting was held on Wednesday. Present Messrs A. Hanhaju (chairman), E. E. Morgan, T. Jenkins, and J. Hill. Mr J. George sent a note in which he is- signed the vice-chairmanship, and it was accepted, Mr E. E. Morgan being unanimously elect^i to the, post lit his ad.

J SWANSEA. ASSAULT AND IKDEOSNT LANG-VAGL-At tie borough police-oourt, on Thursday, Margaret Am Cobhaiii of St Helen's-avenue, charged lklary Ani j Grant with having assaulted her, and the lattei j charged Cobham with using indecent language.— Mr C. H. Glascodiine appeared for Grant, and Mt H. D. Woodward ap;ieared for C-oblixi)i.kftm some little evidence had been given as to the lan- guage used, which was very bad, the bench stop- pad the case, stating that they were unanimously of opinion that both parties were to bla-ne, ilitd r they would each be fined 10s and costs. It was conduct that could not be allowed, and they advised both parties strongly, if they could not asrree in carrying on their infamous business, not to come to the court again, USING OBSCENB LANGT AOE.—A man named Turpin, keeper of the light at the Pipr-heari, was charged with using obscene language to Mr J. B. Reed, boot and shoemaker, and his wile ol 80, Mary-street. Mr Jellicoe appeared for the com- plainants. It appeared that Mr Raed and his wife went to the Pier-head at night to look o it fur a ship, in which his son was suppoaed to be coming home. They saw the defendant pa-s them, and after a while he called out to them, using ob- scene language. Mr Reed remonstrated with hitn, bnt defendant refused to apologise, and cone- pbinant told him he would summon him. The defence was that there was a lot of iu iaeency going on the pier at night, and he thought the parties were there for that purpose. The bench recommended the complainants to accept an apology on defendants paving co ^ts £1 8,-1. This was done, the bench telling defeudaut to be more careful in the future. BUFFALOISM.—O i Wednesday night, a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Wales, of thp R.A.O. Buffaloes, was held at the Exeter Hotel, Oxford* street, presided over by G. l'rinio D. Bevaa; Bro. Curtis being the G.C.M. The Grand Prime was supporte I by P.G.M. Matthews, P. ''lel'iand, P. Ciiiclrweddiu, P. Penharwood, P. Williams, &c. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed, Bro. Curtis "as in- stalled by the chairman as grand master for the ensuing six months, and Primo Chickweddin wru unanimously elected as G.C. for the ensuing half year. Primo Court was elected grand seeretarj for the like period. The ordinary business wat then transacted, and a very pleasant evening wat spent.—At the Loyal Shades Lodge, Saiubtions- passage, two gentlemen were initiateu into the mysteries of the order, and Bro. Turner was raisec to the second degree by Grand Priino Bevsu. The order has lately made great strides in this district, and is continually increasing. THE ANNVAL TEA MEETING was given to the children of the Welsh Wesleyan Sunday School on New Year's Day. After tea, an entertain- ment was given. The Rev D. Evans (DegarJ minister, occupied the chair, and Miss Evans pre. sitied at the harmonium. The chapel was nicely decorated. THE HosPTTAL.A-npe-.ided is an abstract of resident medical offioor's report to the weekly board, from December 2oth, 1878. to January 2nd, 1879. In-door'patients—Remained by hat re port, 42; admitted since, 4-46; discharged-curad and re- lieved, 4; died, 0-4: remaining, 42. Out-door patients. -Re in aine: I by last report. 430 admit- ted since, 32—46S; discharged-cured and relieved, 36 died, 0-36; remaining, 432. Medical officers for the week.-Phvsician. Dr. Mowa.t: sur- peon, Mr Jabez Thomas Arthur 0. H. Philliue, L.R.C.P., resident medical officer. Committee who attended—Messrs Thomas HMLF. J. C. Scott, William Stone, M. B. Wiiiiams, W. W. J ones. Sunday—Religious services performed by Messrs Parnell and Glover. In the week- Religi ous services performed by the Revs William Evans and J. Thomas. W. Morris secretarv. Date, January 2nd, 1879. N.B.—Presents of books, prints, old linen, or calico, and any useful article will be most thankfully received by the matron. THE CIRCUS.—At a meeting of the board of guardians, on Thursday, a letter was read from Mr Watts manager of Ginnett's circirt, offering to give the children a treat to the circus on Satur- day afternoon. The offer was received with thanks. We remind the public that special performances will be given at the Circus, at 2.3C and 7.30 to-day, on behalf of the funds for thE necessitous poor of Swansea. SWANSEA. PCBLIC LIBR.ARIEs.-The committee beg to acknowledge the receipt of the following donations for the month ending 31st December, 1878 :—Central Librarv Reference Department— From Mr J. D. Francis, Swansea, 200 volume* and 30 pamphlets Mr J. H. Jenkins. Swansea, 11 volumes Mr Broadwood, London, 1 volume Mr J. J. Jenkins, Swansea, 4 volumes MrReee, Swansea, 3 volumes and 1 print.—Bolton Public Library annual report, Stockport Public Library annual report. Lending Department, from Mr Jj Terrill. Swansea, 10 volumes Mr H. H. Vivian. M.P., 1 volume Mr J. Robinson, Swan- sea, 13 volumes Mr Lee, Swansea, 13 voluites and G pamphlets.

Ll.NELL Y. A DEAR FRE!EJn .-J oseph Reynolds, Llanelly, 'I marine store dealer, was, on Wednesday, charged on the complaint of P.C. Jones with having in his possession 22 lbs. ot metal, and with not having made an entry thereof in his book. On the 12th November last defolidant said he bought some rope and old iron, and the metal, which was an old bell, was given to him by the captain of a vessel. The captain wanted him to buy it, bnt he told the captain that the law prevented him doing so, and the captain than gave it hire. De- fendant produced a letter to show that was the case. The defendant was fined £"2 and cost, 9s.

NEATH. NEW YEAR'S EVE.—Watch night services were held on Tuesday night in all the English churches. Addresses were delivered in St David's Cnurcn by the Rev J. R. Buckley; in the Congregational Church by the Rev D. F. Roberts in the Wea- leyan chapel by the Rev A. J. Whaiton and in the Baptist church by the Rev G. Hawker. The weather having cleared up a large uumbtr of the inhabitants attended the services.

MILFORD HAVEN. WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE was held in the Wesieyan Chape! on Tuesday, and attended by a crow ded congregation. The Rev W. P. Ellis conducted the service, and preached.—At the Tabernacle Chapel the annual entertainment was given by the children of tie Sunday School. Miss Sutton presided at the harmonium Mr Sutton and Mr Adams were the conductors, and the Rev C. G-ion took the chair.

CAERPHILLY. WATCH-NYGRT services were held at midnight on Tuesday, in the Wesleyan chapeL Mr E. Bevan, of Cardiff, addressed the congregation. A seieot programme of hymns was also gone through.