South Wales Daily News

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS Seticea of BirtAa, Marriages, and Deaths, art ch'ifu i tU the rate of U /or the first Twenty Words, ana 6,1 tcery additional Ten Words, and must be PRISPAII). 1 I, ail ease* the notice ?)&Wc tJ axithentiotued by the nam Ci<i til ths 1trri.tT BIRTH. W ALTEJ\.o.April 28, at 4, Leckwith-terrace, Canton, Cardiff, the wifll of F. A. Walters, of a son. DEATHS. MATRIA.i,-April 29th, at Gellviiaer, Henry William Mathias, aged 38 years. Public funeral to-day (Thursday), leaving Gellygaer at two o'clock, for Hedwellty Church. YOKES.-On April K9, at Crown Cottace, Cirencester, the residence of his daughter, William Vokes, veterinary surgeon, of Car.lilf, aged b9. Deeply regretted. Public funeral will leave 19, Working- stieet, Friday morning, at 11, 113

OUR SWANSEA ADVERTISEMENT OFFICE is at 2, College-street, Manager, Mr T. Fawcett. OON NEWPORT ADVERTISEMENT OFPICK I, Tredegar-place. Manager, Mr E. Williams OUR LONDON ADVERTISEMENT OFFICE is at 150, Fleet- street, E.C. Manager, Mr W. R. Skinner. OUR BRISTOL ADVERTISEMENT UFFICE is at 45, Nlciiolas-street .Manasor, Mr W. A. Batclielor.

THURSDAY, MAT 3, 1889. a- ANOTHER KICK TO THE WORKING MAN. BY the sufficient, though small, majority of twenty-nii.e, the Leasehold Enfranchise- ment Rill was thrown out last night. The object of the measure was to give urban lessees, who had a genuine interest in their holdings, the power of purchasing the fee- simple upon fair and equitable terms. According to the present system, a person who leases land and builds upon it is not only liable to be turned out of his own property at the expiry of the lease, but the property itself goes out of his hands into the hands of the ground landlord without compensation to its owner. The injuatice of such a law should require no evidence. One would imagine that the ordinary sense of fair play which most persons might be assumed to possess would condemn such a law as outrageous in the extreme. Mr H. W, LAWSON, who moved the second reading of the bill, made out a good case for it, but the most powerful speech delivered in the course of the discussion was that of Mr T. E. IILLIS, who made out such a strong case that even the most uncharitable opponent of the Government might have been pardoned for expecting its opponents to give way. This speech is reported in another column, where it will, we hope, be carefully perused, and where the facts will be duly considered. The land- owners of Wales have been particularly brought to book for their grasping f greed for what may legally be, but certainly never morally or rightly was, their own. The difficulty of getting sites for placea of worship on reasonable or upon any terms is clearly indicated, while the notable readiness of giving freeholds tc) the Church by Jaw established presents a striking contrast. There are some weak- minded persons who seem to think thitt where a bargain can be proved there can be no just cause of complaint. We wonder what suah persons would say if the very necessaries of life were refused them except on terms that would involve them in ruin. They might prefer ruin to certain starvation, but would thay have no grievance ? People must have houses to live in, schools for the education of their children, places of worship and other .buildings; but merely because they must have them it is monstrous -to argue that they have no right to complain of the sites being granted on terms which at the close of a certain number of years deprive them of all that was their own. It would appear that land- owners can never be guilty of robbery said confiscation, that they may strip their tenants bare without doing wrong, whilei the tenant himself may be abused as a thief and a robber for insisting upon the rigbit to purchase the ground on which his pro- perty stands. We do not believe that the Leasehold Enfranchisement Bill is a sufficiently Hadical measure to cause anyone to mourn very much because it has been unceremoniously kicked out. We regard it as only a short step towards a more Radical measure. If landowners will not accept payment for their land, they may come upon a time when they will have to surrender it for nothing.

THE FINE NOT TO BE 4"BAD. THE decision given yesterday in the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice on the libel action of ROBERTS V. DANIEL OWEN and Co., pro- prietors of the Western Mail, tinally disposes of a caae which has been needlessly dragged out beyond its due length. We have no desire to open the sore, nor will it be neces- sary, because our readers must still retain a lively remembrance of the whole case. Suffice it only to say that the proprietors of the Mail, having been mulcted in damages amounting to two thousand pounds and costs for libelling a Non- conformist minister, applied yesterday, be- fore Mr Baron POLLOCK and Mr Justice MANISTY, for a new trial on the ground that the damages were excessive. They con- tended that the damages were out of all proportion to the injury sustained by the plaintiff. Some persons have certainly a peculiar notion of the value of character. A. Nonconformist minister's life and hia proB- pects would be for ever blighted by loss of character. Some men, no doubt, can dispense with the good name which is every- thing to the occupant of the pulpit, but a Christian minister guilty of what was imputed to the Rev G. ROBERTS by his libellers would have to face the scorn of the world, beggary, and ruin. Some reputations would be dear at twopence, while others are valuable beyond all estimation. Here and there we find persons who seem to think it a fine piece of fun to slander a neighbour and hold him up to public scorn, contempt, or reprobation. They have no refined feelings of their own to suggest to them the tortures which a sensitive man, conscious of his innocence, must undergo while he sees every eye upon him and hears every tongue repeating his name. We cannot imagine many lots more bitter or more crushing than that of a young and hopeful minister driven from his pulpit, his church, his Sunday school, his home, his living, to the cold scorn and to the still colder inhospi- tality of an unforgiving world by a baseless I slander. Neither two thousand nor twenty thousand pounds could be regarded as an equivalent to such a terrible fate. A minister's character is his life. In some in- stances a libel is the result of a hasty or injudicious slip of the tongue or pen, and it may, in such a case, be immediately with- drawn, but the case which the judges had before them yesterday does not belong to this class. Mr Justice MANISTY made a strong point of this. He said that the de- fendants, the proprietors of the Western Mail, had rushed to the conclusion that this was a grave ministerial scandal, and assumed the plaintiff was guilty.. But even this did not include the whole of the offence. Many others may have had a notion that the girl's evidence should not be too hastily set aside. For the time being the accused minister sat under a dark cloud which must have been very galling to him. But the libel did not rest here, because, as Mr Justice MANISTY continued, the newspaper proprietors in question persistently repeated the allegations, and then pleaded justification, and "down to the very end they contended that the plaintiff was guilty." Having said this, the learned judge very properly asked, Under these circumstances, could anyone doubt that large damages should be awarded?" There can be no doubt as to the reply which every right-minded man will give to this question. Those who think that a minister's character is worth only a pakry income must be educated up to a higher standard, and, in such cases, the education is seldom given free. Happily, the laws of this country exact payment, and, at times, tolerably smart payment. Even the advocates of free education would not all go in for making this sort free. We cannot congratulate Messrs DANIEL OWEN and Co. on the result, but if the weight of the penalty has a good effect in future, the lesson will be to them, if not exactly gratis, yet cheap.

SOUTH WALES NOTES. lBY COSMOS.] HAY DAY. THB May Day Horse Show iu Cardiff is rivalled by very few town., The parade of cart horses on Wednesday was especially fine. The Cardiff Urban Sanitary Authority has now in its stables a Krand collection of animals. The judges iu determining their merits were set a difficult task. Manchester and Liverpool perhaps may turn out a more numerous and possibly a superior lot of draught animals, but considering their size it is a question whether on the average either is equal to this town. For once the weatber was propitious, and Goldsmith's hackneyed quotation would not apply. There was a tremendous crowd of people to see the procession, aud the streets through wh:ch it passed were thick with humanity. As a spectacular view it was scarcely up to former efforts, but what with gaily decorated horses and vehicles, ribbons, and flowers, the sight was one of much attraction. Above all, the sun shone. More than two thousand years since the Roman youths celebrated the calends of May, and here in Cardiff to-day we still worship the goddess Flora. Cabman and carter decked themselves with soma flower or another, and so perpetuated a custom', the origin of which has been lost in the mists of ages. Maypoles have given place to newer methods, but the features of the one have been preserved iu the operations of the other. There is no singing or dancing, it is true, but then in our crowded cities we are obliged to have something in which all can participate, and tbo toilers at work can spare a few minutes from their labour to rush to the door or the window to observe the scene. DOWN AGAIN, IF ever there was a certainty for a race, it was Donovan for the Two Thousand Guineas. The "backers were content to lay ♦ to 1 upon him, and almost thanked the bookmakers for not demand- ing a higher rate of odds. The unexpected has happened, and the Duke of Portland's represen- tative must be classed amongst the good things" which did not come off. Mr Baird's T Enthusiast is quite as aristocratically bred as Donovan. The former is by Stirling out of Cherry Duchess, and in consequence is an own brother to Energy. Mr Baird has not been fortu- nate in his purchases of the scion" of the Yardley stallion. He has not begrudged money for their acquisition as yearlings, yet bad fortune seems to have followed his outlay. Two years since he won the same race which he won to-day with a half-brother of Enthusiast, but Enterprise, as he was called, shortly afterwards broke down when the Derby appeared to beat his mercy. Of late the home-bred yearlings have, in opposition to those exposed to public competition, more than held their own. Mr Abington, who is a cousin of Mr Baird, has expended enormous sums in buying yearlings, yet his luck has been as fitful as that of his relative. But the history of the turf for the last two decades demonstrates—in rWeiht for age races—that the man who breeds his cwn horses has the best of it. Sir J. Hawley, Lord Falmouth Lord Hastings, the Duke of Westminster, the Duke of Portland, and even Mr George Cartwright, all servo na examples of the value of home produce. Whether the fashionable youngsters which come under the hammer are injured by the forciug they receive is difficult to determine wo can only judge by results, and they are somewhat conflicting. A SIGHTLESS BHONDDA KX-COLXJEK. THE delegates representing the lihondda miners had a painful and very delicate subject to considor at the monthly meeting, which was held on Monday at the Windsor Hotel, Ton. Shortly after the business had commenced, a middle-aged man, wearing green, steel-rimmed spectacles, and minus of one arm, entered the room and took a seat amongst the reprssentatives. It was immediately obvious from his shockingly disfigured countenance that the poor uu- fortunate follow had been permanently disabled by blasting operations. By and by it transpired that Mr Seth Owen had attended for the purpose of rsquestiug the delegates to take his pitiable callo into consideration, and submit it to the various bodies uf miners represented. Mr W. Abraham, M.P., and a number of the repre- sentatives spoke upon the question in most pathetic tarms, but the rules of the association precluded the members from passing a resolution, compelling each delegate to receive a subscription book and convey it to his respective constituents. Therefore, the question of rendering pecuniary assistance to the poor sightless applicant was inevitably a voluntary one, but I am in- formed that the representatives unanimously agreed to do all in their power to afford him whatever relief they possibly could. Generally speaking, special appcala of the kind are made only to the particular collieries at which applicants had been injured. For instance, a miner is disabled in a certain mine in the valley, causing him to be idle for twelve months. Should the hapless workman become penniless, or require monetary sustenance, a collection would undoubtedly be made amongst the em- ployes, and the proceeds conveyed to the invalid. In many collieries in the district the employes have made a general subscription for the support of their feilow-workmen on more than one occasion, and one might safely say that the generosity of miners m this respect, is, invariably, never found wanting. But in case of permanent disability other means are generally adopted by injured colliery employes besides that which I have uGserib«d. On pay evenings poor blind colliers may be seen peramouiaiing the various public-houses in the district, entreating patheti- cally their former fellow-workmen to drop a penny into the hat as it goes round the bar or the taproom. Appeals of blind colliers in these places are never unsuccessful when customers are in affluent circumstances. When colliers have gold in their pockets, sixpence or a shilling is hardly ever withheld from the unfortunate indi- vidual. THE TRKE GROWS AS IT IS UNT. OCR children are to be compared to the National Savings Bank. What is put into them will be returned with interest later on. The resolution which was unanimously agreed to by the Pontypridd Board of Guardians does credit to their common sense as well as their perspicuity. This board came to the conclusion that as more room was required in the workhouse, the deficiency would best be met by removing the children to a separate establishment. Nothing could be wiser than this determination. It is not necessary, nay, it is positively injurious, that the sins of the fathers should be visited upon the offspring. The parents may be paupers, but that is no reason why another generation should he kept at the same level. It is plain that the children be maintained, but it is not F requieite to bring them up among surroundings I whioh mast convey a taint. That the Pontypridd Board of Guardians have recognised the folly of this training and the advantage which is to ba accrued from separating the young from contaminating influences is a matter for sincere congratulation. Precedent in this conservative country is, like possession, nine points of the law, and now that the example has been set it is extremely probable that it will be followed. It is really a pitiful sight to see the pauper children here in Cardiff walking out attended by a few of the inmates of the house. The little things, no doubt, are well tended, but the association with these unfortunate women is not always of the most refined or elevating description, though it may not be wanting in affection. SHELL, NOT THE FABSIC, IF Mr Dillwyn bas failed in securing a hearing for his motion on disestablishment, he has achieved victory in a minor matter. The Deep Sea Oysters Bill was not at all appreciated by his constituents, and those of Mr W. Davies, of Pembrokeshire, were equally averse to the measure. The opposition of the two mem- bers has been constant and strenuous, and last night they had the satisfaction of learning that the bill was withdrawn. But the iniquitous conduct of the Government on Tuesday in snatch- ing away Mr Dillwyn's well-won opportunity is tbe subject of conversation and of condemnation all over Wales, The Church, paradoxical as it may appear, will be the sufferer. It will now be more than ever more difficult to collect the tithes. Hope will give way to despair, and those who groan under the exactions of a State paid Church will resent this injustice and tyranny. It is a clear case of attempting to smother free discussion. The subject was not palatable to the Tories, and so they resorted to a dodge to evade its ventilation. But the Church is doomed. Like a hunted hare it may double to avoid its fate, but its pursuers are too near their prey to let it slip. Motions are not of much account except as an educational factor, aud the Welsh people require no teaching in this matter. The English may, but the present party which is iu I power will not learn, charm ya never so wisely. Their time is brief, even if it lasts to the end of their tether—which is doubtful. With another I Parliament, the emancipation of Ireland «bd Wales will be accomplished. Till then we can wait, dreary and forlorn though the period may be. »

MONMOUTHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL. REACTIONARY PROPOSALS DEFEATED. A meeting of the members of the above council was held at Newport on Wednesday. Mr E. Grove, J.P., presided, and there was a large attendance oi membess. MAIN ROAD SUBSIDIES. The Clerk reported that in consequence of the decision of the Local Government Board, the amount ot contribution for maiu roads was prospective and not retrospective. There would be a loss of £2,500 on the estimate made.—Col. Byrde thought tbe decision not at all fair and it was agreed on his proposition that the council join in the protest which the clerk said the other county. councils were lodging with the Local Government Board. BRECON BOUNDARIES A LOSS. The decision of the boundary authorities to include a portion of Brecon with Monmouthshire was discussed. The special committee approved of the transference of Rumney and St. Mellous from Cardiff Union to Newport Union, and of Llanvedw and Rhydygwern from Newport to Cardiff, but said the loss to Monmouthsiiire bv the inclusion from Breconshire would be £3,370 per annum. The rateable value of the district to be incorporated was unremunerative.—The Clerk said the Breconshire Clerk of the Peace had received a notification that the control of the district would be undertaken by Monmouthshire. —The committee's report was adopted, but a resolution was ordered to be forwarded to the Local Government Board affirming that the proposed change n against the wishes of the majority of the population of the district. OPPOSITION TO THE CARDIFF EXTENSION SCHEME. Mr W. H. Brown alluded to the recent decision of Cardiff to include Rumney and St. Mellons in its new district.—The Chairman proposed, "That should a local inquiry in connection with the proposed extension of Cardiff borough county be held before the next meeting, the special county boundaries committee he instructed to oppose that part of the scheme which seeks to include the parishes of Rumney and St. Mellons, and to take such action as may be advisable, and to petition if necessary."—Alderman Vaugban seconded the resolution, and it passed. DUAL CONTROL VANISHES. The Contagious Diseases (Auimals) sub-com- mittee recommended that the county justices acting in the various divisions assist members of the council in giving certificates under the act.— Mr T. Parry objected to the recommendation as a iaat fragment of dual control. The council had kicked rightly and justly against dual Control in police matters, and it ought to refuse to delegate any other power outside of its members. If, when members were before their constituents, they bad declared that they would do as little as they possibly could, but delegate a3 much as possible to outsiders, they would have stood little chance of election.—Mr D. Jones seconded the amendment.—Colonel McDonnell declared he was sorry Mr Parry had cast reflection upon the magistrates. — (" No, no," from Mr Parry.) — The amendment was carried by 32 to 17. — A similar decision, reversing the resolution of the works committee to delegate power to the justices for licensing premises for stage plays and for the reception of explosives, was also agreed to, on the motion of Mr Parry. THE FAMOUS DIP AT NEWPORT BRIDGE. Mr PARFITT brought up the report of the main roads committee. He said the committee had had three days' hard work, and had surveyed 80 or 90 miles of road. The bridges generally were in a fair condition; and with regard to the approach to Newport Bridge, the committee recommended that a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Parhtt, Goldsworthy, Rolls, Grove, Williams, Duttield, and Byrde report as to the matter.—The report was accepted. A REJECTED MOTION, Mr Curre proposed that tbe council is of opicion that those who used the roads should contribute to their maintenance, and impressed upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer the desira- bility of bringing forward the van and wheel tax, and that such tax be added to the grants for the maintenance of county main roads,—Mr Crompton Roberts seconded the motion.—An Ebbw Vale representative moved a disect negative, and the resolution was lost by a large majority. OtTJCEa. The couucil discussed tor some time the ques- tion of selecting offices in Newport. The finance committee recommended that J350 be expended for rent, and J380 for furniture, but Mr J. R. Jacob pointed out that the county police station would probably not be used after September, if the Newport Improvement Bill passed.—The recommendation was referred back to tbe committee.

SHOCKING CASE AT NEWPORT. TERRIBLE CHARGE AGAINST AN OLD MAI*. At the Newport police-court on Wednesday— before Messrs R. G. Gullum, and T. J. Beynon, magistrates——John Aplin, an elderly man of 56 years, labourer, 8, Granville-street, was charged under the Criminal Law Amendment Act with attempting to have knowledge of Saiah Ana Hill, aged 15, who resides with her parents at 28, Granvilie-street. Tbe prosecutrix stated that on the evening of the 16th or 17th ult. she met the prisoner, who asked her to go to bis house, which she did. He took her into the kitchen and committed the offence, and afterwards gave her money. On Friday he repeated the offence, promising to give her something on the following day. On Saturday be gave ber Is 6d, and she bought a pair of gloves. Noticing the gloves, her mother questioned her as to how she had obtained them, and on Sunday evening she revealed what had taken place. The girl was taken by her mother to Dr J. T. Thomas, who examined her. A warrant was then taken out against the prisoner. Dr Thomas now gave the result of his examination, which went to show that the girl bad been tampered with, but that the full offence bad not been committed. The prisouer, who said nothing when arrested, now denied tbe charge. He was committed for trial to the next assises, bail being allowed.

THE LLANDAFF SHOOTING FATALITY The funeral of the unfortunate gentleman who was accidentally killed while target shooting at the back of Baynton House, Llandaff, on the 29ch ult., took place on Wednesday morning. The cortege started from Baynton House, the residence of Mr Christie, where Mr Hopkins was staying when he met with the accident. The coffin, which was covered with choice wreaths, was of polished oak, and bore the simple inscription:—" Thomas Henry Hopkins. Died on the 29th April, 1889, aged 39 years." Following the hearse was the mourning coach which contained Mr Hopkins (brother of the deceased) and Mrs Hopkins, and Mr Saott. Next came Mr Christie's private coach, with Mr J. Christie, and Mr White, followed by another with Mr Hood and Mr Charles Christie, juu, Others followed in the rear. At Roatb Chnvch the procession was mot by a number of gentlemen, personal friends of the deceased. The Rev F. J. Back officiated at the grave. funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs G, A, Stone and Co., Working-street. Stone and Co., Working-street.

EPPS'S COCOA. —GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING.— By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition and by a careful application of the fine properties of well- selected Cocoa. M. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately.flavoured beverage which may 8avo us many heavy doctors' bills It is by the judi- cious use ot such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually touilt up until stronl, enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourisheil frime.1 -Civil Service Gazette.—Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in packets, by Grocers, labeUed- "JAMES EPPS & Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, I London,"—Aiso makers of Epps's Afternoon Chocolate Essence. M 310<

THEN AND NOW. MR CHAMBERLAIN" PROGRES. SIVELY DEGENERATE." Referring to the guests entertained by Mr Chamberlain during the Unionist conference in Birmingham, the World says: Mr Cham- berlain's party at Highbury made one rub one's oyes and wonder whether one was awake or only passing through a wondrous dream. Dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, all come to pour incense on the altar of Unionism, in the temple of which Mr Chamberlain was high priest. How the wheel of time goes round 1 for it seems but yesterday, under other auspices, and with Scbnadtiorst as guardian angel, another gospel was preached and another altar was lighted at that shrine. But no one wishes to be critical, and there is no douht that the conference hJ, all been a great success. The Highbury party were Unionist, intellectual, and smart; they were amusing and cosmopolitan; and Mrs Chamberlain made the most charming of hostesses, and won every heart not already captive. Her reception was very crowded, and she pleased the Birmingham lieges by appearing in their pearl necklace, and all who came feasted their eyes on a larger collection of the British aristocracy than they had ever seen before or weTe likely to see again. The house at Highbury is extremely comfortable and very luxuriously furnished.

COLMAN'S SIN"lSlf,-The improved Mustard Plaster.—Certain in effect, safe for young children and persons of delicate skin ready for use at any moment does not scorch or blister, and is perfectly cleanly. Of all Chemists and Grocers. Wholesale of J. & J. COLMAN 108, Cannon-street, London. 5258 13715 FENNBLL'S, Newport and Cardiff, for Potted Shrimps, Potted Meats, and Sardines, 5771

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WEDNESDAY. • There was a scant attendance io the House of Commons this afternoon, aud the Speaker was not able to take the chair until 20 minutes past 12, at which time there ware 43 members present,

LEASEHOLD ENFRANCHISE- MENT BILL. SPEECH BY MR THOMAS ELLIS. OPERATION OF THE LEASEHOLD SYSTEM IN WALES. Mr H. W. LAWSON moved the second reading of this bill. submitted to the House that the circumstauces had entirely changed since the last attempt at legislation upon this important subject. The object of the present bill was to give urban lessees, who had a genuine interest in their holdings, the power of purchas- ing the fee simple upon fair aud equitable terms. He did not claim that the measure was perfect in its draughtmanship, but all the same he thought it right to inform the House that its provisions had been approved by the Incorporated Law Society, All the evidence given before the Town Holdings Committee was against the prevailing leasehold system. He was convinced that outside London there were very few towns or districts where short leaseholds prevailed because of the general disinclination to: build unless upon freehold or perpetual leaseholds. Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Plymouth, and Newcastle would have nought to do with the leasehold system, and the class of houses in the towns was far superior to that of the dwellings erected upon short leasehold land. The hon. gentleman went on to say that he thought the "pickings" of the agents had much to do with the opposition to leasehold enfranchisement. (Opposition cheers.) The fees which these gentlemen charged were very large, and there was evidence that a fee of two guineas was actually extorted merely for au interview as to terms of renewal or purchase. These fees acted upon the agents in the same way as the payment of per-centages upon woekly rent.collectors, and were, naturally, inimical to legislation of the character he proposed. Evidence of the evil of short leaseholds iay in the fact that in the towns where it obtained the building societies did not prosper to such an extent as in places where the tenure was more certain. By the bill any lessee having a term of 20 years unexpired was entitled to acquire the reversion of the property hy purchase. A distinction was drawn between covenants which were of a harassing and vexatious character and those which were beneficial and necessary, and leases for lives were to be exceptionally treated on the ground of the precarious tenure such a system of leases involved. Viscount LYMINGTON moved as an amendment, "That this Hume declines to consider the questiou of leasehold enfranchisemeut until it has had an opportunity of considering the report of the committee appointed t.o inquire into the subject of town holdings," The noble lord held that the bill was premature, inasmuch as legislation would come better after tho report of the town holdings committee and that unless it were possible to compel every lessee to occupy his own hplding, the measure would extend tho objectionable practice of the letting of houses by the owners on short renewable occupation leases. Traders did not, in his opiuion, desire this bill to pass, for the fact was that shopkeepers and others of a similar class could uot afford-to lock up their money in freeholds, and so did not want to purchase their establishments. It was said that rents were raised on goodwill, but he asserted that it was through tbe landlords prudence and foresight that a tenant was able to secure a shop in a good and successful position, and that the landlords were consequently entitled to benefit. therefrom. Leasehold enfranchisement would offer no protection to the shopkeeper in the matter, and to protect him adequately a Tenants Bofranchisemeut Bill would bo needed. (Minis- terial cheerf.) Mr LEWIS FBY seeoudad the amendment. Mr T. E. ELLIS thought that even in London the mischiefs of the present system had been many, and in some cases intolerable. But they could not compare for a moment with the grievous injustice suffered by working men in Wales, There was a broad distinction between the two cases. in London the building of dwellings had been chiefly undertaken by speculative builders, and legislation had been favourable to that class. But in Wales the housing of tho community had been chiefly undertaken by the working men themselves. They were sometimes told that the system was optional, and that people could have the cboico of leasehold or freehold land to build their houses upon. In Wales, however, there had, with very faw ÐxcptioIl8, been to alternative for working men. They had been compelled to build their houses, schools, and chapols upon land taken on lease. Many houses had been built upon a lease as short as 30 yeazs, and the majority of buildings throughout Wales have had to lie built upon a leasehold system extending for 60 or 70 years oniy. (Iloar, hear.) In the mountainous; district of Fostiniog the working men employed in the quarries had at first difficulty 111 getting land even UJon lease, and tbey bad to take it upon the very edge of the rocks. They had to go to the expense of clearing the debris that liad fallen for years, and to scoop from the rocks the foundations for their homes. They nacl to build the houses themselves and it was almost touching to read in the evidence giveu by persons from that district with what caro and trouble the working men provided themselves with dwellings. They gave to the work extra hours after they cauie from the quarries, and many a time could be heard the blows on the rock, and the sound of blasting even as late as ten o'clock at night. After the founda- tion bad been cleared, tbey obtained the services of masons and carpenters to erect and complete buildings, and finished them at an expense of from B150 to £300, which they obtained on from a building society with a lease of, say, 60 years. It took thorn 30, 35, or 40 years to clear off the loan, and it could only tie done in that time by great sacrifice! and by stinting themselves and their families. They then had the place practically their own fur 10 or 12 years. But when that period ran nut the benefit of their outlay passed out of their own hands :nto the bands of the ground landlord, who was an absentee, who had never spent a penny in quarry enterprise, or in public improvements, and who would not allow a chapel, a board school, a British school, or a co-operative store to be built upon his property. (Hear, hear.) Property to the amount of had been created by working men in thac way and at the end of 60 years ail this property, bouse property, public property, and town improvements would pass from their hands into the hands of a few land- owners who lived in other ports of the kingdom, and who, possibly, had never seen one of the houses that the quaxrymen built. (Hear.) That was only a type ot what happened throughout the quarry districts. It was of the utmost moral and economical importance to the working men that they should have some independence, some power to deal with the landowners oa something like equitable terms. As it was, these men were absolutely at the mercy of the employer and of the freeholder of the houses, and they could not eveu get tha houses they bad built except at exorbitant rents when the leasS came to an end. (Hoar, hear.) So unanimous and so strong was evidence given from all parts of Wales before the Town Holdings Committee, that oniy two landowners and land agents came forward to give evidence on the other sido. He thougiit even the opponents of the measure must admit that the evidence on behalf of the quarrymen and working men from all parts of Wales was not in the least shaken by the two gentle- men who represented the iuterests of tbe landowners. But the inquiry was not confined to the workiug men, It extended also to trades- men, one of whom, after having spent over £800 in the improvement of his premises, was refused a renewal of his lease. It was part of the misfortune of Wales that the great and overwhelming mass of the working men aud middle classes were opposed in religion and in politics to the handful of men who owned the land. (No, uo, and hear, hear.) He should like the hon. member who questioned that statement to iook over bis Vacher or bis Dod, and seo who were the representatives of Wales, He should ba anxious :to see ho AT those Welsh members who sat on the Couservative aide of the House would vote upon the bill under discussion. (Hear, bear.) Upon one estate in North Wales there were 36 chapels, of which 20 bad been built upou leases for 30 years. They cot, as a rule, £2,000 or to build, and in every oue of tho leases there was a clause prohibiting any but religious meetings to be held in the buildings. In that district the landowners would not allow any buildings to be erected except churches or national schools upon freehold land, and there were no halls where working meu could bold political or social meetings. When the leases were short and the holders were anxious for a renewal, it was necessary for them, until they bad secured that renewal, to be very careful how they expressed their political opinions. The question was not merely financial: it was a moral and religious question—(bear, hear)-and in Wales the feeling upon it was very deep and very determined. (Hear, hear.) Ho ventured to appeal to landowners not to do so unfair a thing as to refuse the people of Wales the opportunity of having their own chapels. There was another feature in the question of chapel leases which added ts the bitterness. The Church of England in aJI tbe industrial districts was tue church of the very rich, and, as compared with the Nonconformists, it was the Church of a few yet. In all cases the landowner gave freehold land to the Church of England, whereas Nonconformists could only get land on leasehold tenure and at 'I very exorbitant ground rents (Hear, hear.) In view of these facts, it was perfectly idle for the noble lord to waste his energies against this bill, or to characterise it as plunder and robbery, and a grotesque measure. The boot was on the other leg. (Hear, hear.) It was the working men and the tr6desmen who were deprived of the propfirty they had created. Whether the argument as regarded London would stand or not, they had here a clear and patent case of injustice, and he felt certain that the majority of members on the Conservative side of the House, if they would read the evidence given before the j committee, would give their votes in favour of a bill which tended to remove the injustice and oppression under which Wales was suffering. (Hear, hear.) He thought the House would agree with him that the passing of some such bill as this would prevent he working men of Wales from losing the fruit of long ooutinued, anxious, and self-sacrificing thrift; would give them and their families independenco which was lost under the present system and would do an act of justice and fairness which the House had seldom tbe opportunity of doing, (Cheers-) Afer some observations by Mr GEULD BALFOUR, Mr BROADHUBST said that it might be true that people went into leasehold property with their eyes open, but they also went into it with their hands tied, because they were bound to comply with the conditions of the only person who would supply them with the commodity they required. He believed that all the evils connected with the housing of the poor were due to the leasehold system, especially as much better bouses were built on freehold property than on leasehold pro- perty. If the bill were only to enfranchise places of worship, it would be worth double the time the House had spent in its discussion. The only fear was whether the bill went far enough, and would meet the growing noeds of the time. Sir W. Marriott opposed, and Mr Arthur Aciand and Sir John Puleston supported the bill. Mr MATTHEWS (Home Secretary), on behalf of the Government, said he must entirely oppose this bill, which was premature in the extreme. (Ministerial cheers.) A committee of the House had been sitting for three years on the subject, and had accumulated a great mass of evidence. The committee was now about to report, and it would be very unwise to anticipate their decision. The House then divided upon Lord Lyming- ton's amendment, when the numbers were For the ameudment 186 Against. 157 I" Majority against 29 The bill was therefore rejected. There was some cheering from the Government benches when the tellers came to the table. The Advertisement Rating Bill was restd a second time. The Deep Sea Oyster Bill was withdrawn. The House adjourned at 10 minutes to six o'clock. The Chairman's panel met on Wednesday, and appointed Mr Osborne Morgan chairman of the Standing Committee on Trade to which the Weights and Measures Bill has been referred. Mr and Mrs Gladstone arrived in town on Wednesday afternoon from Hawarden for the remainder of the session. We are informed by Mrs Gladstone that the condition of Mr W. H. Gladstone has greatly improved. He is able to leave his bed and get about. Mr and Mrs Joseph Chamberlain having concluded their visit to the Queen, left Windsor for London on Wednesday morning. The Press Association learns that Mr Thomas Gray, Marine Secretary of the Board of Trade, presided on Wednesday at a conference between representatives of dock and harbour authorities and shipowners on the subject of the Measurement of Tonnage Bill. Many of the points at issue were discussed at length, but no definite arrange- ment was agreed upon as the basis of a compro- mise, and the conference was adjourned sine die. It is understood that should opposition to the bill be severe, the Board of Trade will not press it. The Freeman's Journal says it is rumoured in Tory circles that the Viceroyalty of Ireland has been offered to and accepted by the Duke of Abercoru, A bill has been introduced into Parliament by Mr Sydney Buxton and others, providing for the extension of the hours of polling at parlia- mentary and municipal elections to 9 p.m.

WELSH SUNDAY CLOSING ACT. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION. CONFERENCE AT SWANSEA. ARCHDEACON GRIFFITHS ON THE ACT. The Govtirninefat have invited Mr J. T. D. Llewelyn to be a member cf the Royal Commis- sion about to be appointed to inquire into the working of the Sunday Closing Act. Mr Llewelyn has not yet sent a reply. While understood to be in favour of the principle of Sunday closing, Mr Llewelyn is believed to be anxious that the working of the act should be inquired into. THE SWANSEA COMKREKCK. In view of the early appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the working of the Suuday-closine Act in Wales, it was thought advisable by many influential gentlemen in the Swansea distnct to convene a priyate conference, in order to arrive at the best means to obtain evidence in proof of the success of the measure, as well as to ascertain what amendments are necessary to more fully realise the intentions of the promoters of this beneficent piece of legislation. A conference was accordingly held at Aibert-bali, Swansea, on Tuesday afternoon. Archdeacon Griffiths presided, and there were present 189 of the most influential residents in the district. The maetiriR was private, but from information which has been supplied to us wo are able to state that tho Chairman, in bis opening remark;" expressed bis complete confidence in the Sunday Closing Act, and his high appreciation of its good effects ou the community. He agreed that certain amendments were advisable to make the measure a perfect success. THK SKOLILTARIES. The following gentlemen were elected secretaries —Rav Morris Morgan and Messrs W. Lloyd, Joseph Ilosser, and T. Llovd-Davies. A STRONOLY-WOKDEO RESOLUTION. On the motion of Councillor R. Martin, seconded by the Rev Dr Saunders, it was unanimously resolved— That this conference of supporters of the Sunday closing of public-houses puts on record its deliberate conviction that the operation of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act lias proved most b. nefirial to the princi- pality, lessening both the consumption of drink and tie evils of drunkenness considerably, leading to better observance of the sacred day of rest, to improved domestic and social comforts, as i ell as to a substantial increasse in the earnings of working men and profits to the employers of labour, tending directly to augment ^ur national wealth and to elevate t.he social and moral tone of the population. This conference, moreover, emphatically denies that the Sunday Closing Act has failed, excent where the administration has been defective and the indetinite bona tide travellers' clause has been misconstrued. PROPOSED AMKNDMKNT3. Dr RAWUNGS proposed and the Rev 0. SNKLLING ,PCl)n I tell': That inasmuch as the boiii-fide travellers' clause in the Welsh Sunday-closing Act has been so detrimental to its working as to lend pretext to the enemies of the act to allege its total failure, and, owing to its vague- noss, ha* been a source of perplexity to those entrusted with its administration, this conference recommends tlie following amendments and additions :-(1) That intoxicating drinks shall not be supplied to any except those requiring food or lodging, and v«ho are at least s«ven miles from tha place wiiere they slept on the urevious night. (2) The entire prohibition of bar drinking. (3) That seven days' licenses shall only be issued to hotels, i.e., where (as under the Forbes-Mackenzie Act) itisproved to the satisfflction of the licensing authority that adequate aud suitable accommodation exists for the enttlrtainmont of travellers. (4) Thar a book shall be kept in which each visitor shall inscribe his name and address, :t penalty to be enforced fur false entry. The motion was carried unanimously. THK CLUBS CONDEMNED. On the motion of Mr DAVID, of Llanelly, seconded by the Rev MOBRIS MORGAN, it was resolved:—"That this conference believes that the sale of intoxicating drinks in clubs operates injuriously on their members and the community in general and that the friends of morality and social order should combine in suppressing the evil. This conterence therefore calls upon the legislature to place all such clubs as regards the salo of intoxicating drinks on Sundays under the same regulations as ordinary licensed premises," A "DEFENCE" COMMITTEE. The following gentlemeu were appointed a standing committee to collect evidence and make arrangements to obtain witnesses to appear before the Iioyal Commission in favour of the Sunday Closing Act, with power to add to their number: -,Swansea the Re7s Canon Smith, Oscar Suelling, David Phillips, M. Duff, David Saun- ders, Josh. Evans, F. Samuel, G. Griffiths, Canon Gauntlett, E. Moulton, J, Mitchell, G, Matthews, Robert jThomas, W. Ernlyn Jones, Wallace Dutton, James Owen, W, E. Shaw, E. Owen, Caleb Joshua, W. Jana, D. C. Harris, Mr John Craig, Mr T. Phiilips, !len" Mr James Livingston, Mr Howell Watkins, Dr A. Rawlings, Mr Council- lor Rocke, Mr Thomas Yorath, Mr W. Harris, Mr Charles Davies, Mr J, C. Howells, Mr D. J. Meyler, Mr J. M. Mayne, Mr Dan Davies, Mr Councillor Chapman, Mr F. S. Bishop. Mr Councillor Burnie. Neath—The Ven. Arcbqeacon Griffith", Rov Seth J oshun. Rev F. Joshua, Mr F. J. Gibbons, the Mayor of Neath. Aleravon Mr Councillor Stokes, Mr David (solicitor). Brynhyfryd—Mr J. Lovatt Owen, Mr Alderman Freeman, Mr Councillor R. Martin, Mr D. Griffiths (Cwmbwrla), Mr F. W. Gibbons (Glais), Mr William Williams (Wern). Mr A. H. Harris (Morriston), Mr A. H. Thomas (Morriston), Mr W. H, Reynolds (Landore), Mr Wright (Cwmbwrla), Mr W. H. Edwards (Mor- riston).

IRISH LANDLORDS IN CONCLAVE. A meeting was held on Wednesday at the London residence of itho Duke of Abercorn in furtherance of Mr T. W. Russell's scheme for the plantation of "campaign estates" in Ireland with tenantry from other parts of the country. Mr Russell announced his intention of placing tho money be had collected, amounting to L10,000, in the hands of a committee, retiring himself from further active part in the enterprise. It was decided to work the scheme through the agency of the Anti-Campaign Association at Dublin, and a committee was appointed, with the Duke of Abercorn as president. Mr Smith Barry consented to serve on the committee.

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I THE SPECIAL COMMISSION. MR PARNELL'S EVIDENCE. THE CROSS-EXAMINATION. MR PARNELL'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PHYSICAL FORCE PARTY." UNWAVERING FAITH IN CONSTITU- TIONAL AGITATION. PLAIN ANSWERS TO BLUNT QUESTIONS. There was again a goodly attendance a.t the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, when Mr Parnell continued his evi- dence before the Special Commission. Mr Parnell, who was accompanied by Archbishop Walsh and Mr Davitt, arrived shortly after 10 o'clock, but early as they were Sir Charles Russell was in his place, aud when Mr Parnell entered a long conversation took place between him and his counsel. Among others in court were Mr Biargar, M.P., Mr W. Redmond, M.P., Mr T. P. O'Connor, M.P., Mr Sydney Buxton, M.P., and Sir Charles Forster, M.P. The Lord Chief Justice and Lord Young were accommodated with seats on the beuch. Lady Harcourt was among the ladies present. MR PARNELL'S EVIDENCE. On the Commissioners taking their seats, Mr Parnell's examination by Mr Asquith was resumed. Mr Parnell said that no Land League funds were used for circulating the Irish Times The Irish World was received regularly by members of Parliament, but ho very seldom read it. He had heard while in America of the Clan- na-Gael. He was not aware that the policy of that body was a policy of assassination. He met Mr Sullivan of Chicago while in America. He met O'Donovan Rossa at Philadelphia, but had had no communication with him since. He thought O'Donovan Rossa bad lost whatever influence be may have had. Mr Parnell referred to the various Irish measures which have been introduced into Parliament of late years, and Mr Asquith then proceeded to ask Mr Parnell as to the various funds which bad heen referred to in the Irish World. He knew nothing about the skirmishing fund. As far as he knew no portion of it had been used by the Land League. He never had anything to do with the Rossa Testimonial Fund. Money sent by the Irish World for the League was used in the same mauner as money from the League Associations in America. He knew nothing of the Widow Walsh Fund or the Martyrs' Testi- monial Fund. He had nothing to do with the O'Donnell Defence Fund. He had no knowledge of any miscellaneous funds. In the course of further evidence, witness said that in 1885 Lord Carnarvon wished to consult him as to the amendment of the constitution and Government of Ireland. Mr Asquith Now, Mr Parnell, I ask you generally with reference to the whole of this movement, since the time you first instituted it in 1679, up the present day, have you to the best of your ability honestly endeavoured to conduct it within constitutional lines, and within the limits of the law ? Mr Parnell: Yes, I can say that I have endeav- oured to conduct both the movements of the Land League and the National League within the limits of the constitution, and keep them free from crime. I make this explanation with regard to the particular offence with which we'were charged at the Dublin state trials in 1880. The offence .of inciting tonants to refuse to pay their rents, if it be an offence ugainst the Jaw-and Judge Fitz- gerald said it was—we admit and if tha same state of things were to como again, wo should do the same thing over agaiu. The exa'ninatioii-in-chief concluded at 11.25. CROSS EXAMINKD BT THK ATTOKNEY-GKNEBAL. The Attorney-General at once commenced his cross-examination by asking, Do I understand you to state that until Le Caron was in the witness-box you never knew that tho Clau-na- Gael was a murderous society ?'' Mr Parnell: Absolutely so. Or had anything to do with dynamite ?—Yes. Then I may take it that it was quite a. new suggestion to you that a dynamite policy was any part of the Clan-na-Gael creed until Le Caron gave his evidence ?—Perfectly. Do you remsmber the purchase of United Irtland?- YM. By whom was it edited after the purchaao ?— By Mr Wra. O'Brieu, who has continued editor, with one short interval, up to the present time. Tho Attorney-General then read 9; paragraph in United Ireland, containing a reference by O'Donovau Rossa to tho Clan-na-Gael aud dynamite. Mr Parnell said he did not understand that to refer to the Clan-na-Gael Society, but to the scattered members of the race who for generations had been referred to as Clan-na-Gael. He did not understand that O'Donovan Rossa at that time, or bad been since, a member of the Clan-na- Gael. The witness was next cross-examined very closely as to the period when he alleged the Irish World became hostile te the league. The reason it became hostile was that it alleged the Irish parliamentary party had become reactionary. Is it not a fact that the Irish parliamentary party have received thousands of pounds collected by the Irish World since 1882?-Not. so far as I know. The Ilish. World bas again changed its policy siuce the introduction of Mr Gladstone's bill. No, no Don't let us go to Mr Gladstone's bill. I mean from the period since 1882 down to 1886 ? —Not so far as I know. My impression that the Irish World was hostile to us came from casually •vading the paper. I daresay if I bad time I could point to spsc,ific paragraphs. I did not como prepared to bri examined as to the doings ud the writings of the Irish World. Mil PARNELL AND THE" HtISH WORLD." The Attorney-General rttad au article trom the Irish World published in December. 1833, in which reference was made to Mr Parnell, Mr Davitt, and the National League with the words "God bless them." Mr Parnell said he bad not seen that article. The Attorney-General quoted another article concluding with the words, "Success to the National League and more power to dynamite." (To Mr Parnell.) Do you think that shows opposition to the league? Air Parnell: Yes, no doubt, in so far as it advocates physical force. The Attorney-General next quoted an article in 1835 which stated that no good Irishman would do auythinfot to mar the programme of the National Lepgue. Mr Parnell; I have never read that article before, and I have no doubt that there are other passages in considerable number which could be brought indicating an entirely different tone. What passages had in your miud when you said that the Irish World was against you 1-1 have told you that I cannot give quotations from the Irish World, but I speak of the hnpression which was created on my mind by the occasional references I read from time to time, and by common opinion and the notorious fact that Patrick Ford and the Irish Wvrld were opposed tomypjhey. I will quote your words used in 1836 :—He has been constantly denouncing myself and my policy during these five years." Do you persist in that statement now ?—I believe that statement to ba correct as a whole with reference to the years subsequent to my release from Kilmainham. I am speaking of tha years from 1882 to 1886.— Yes, I" the quotations you have produced the Irish World seems to have been attempting to ingratiate itself with American-Irishmen by representing that it was on our side, and that it was with our approval that it was joining together the physical force and tbe constitutional movement. The Attorney-General was proceeding to give dates in 1885 when «ums of money were acknow- ledged in tho Irish World, when Mr Parnell said Those dates were aU after the date when we had thrown out the Lfberal Government and placed the Conservative Government in power. When do you say you first disclosed the fact of the interview with Lord Carnarvon ?—Will you allow me to say with reference to the Irish World, I think I ought to 8ay as an amendment to my statement in chief, that the paragraphs which have been read induce me to modify the statement so far as to say that at times the Irish World evidently did speak favourably of myself personally and of my politics, but not in the sense that I could desire or approve i and that with regard to the contributiouS, they appear to have been made after the overthrow of the Liberal Government in the autumn of 1885, when, I think, it is probable the Irish World cllmmenced to adopt another change of policy aud give up the dynamite policy. THB "PHYSICAL FORCE" FACTION. Now you say that there never has been any union between the League and the physical force party from beginning to end?—Not so far as I know. There was no secret bond between the League and the physical force party. Nationalists up to the date of tbe formation of the Land League were believers in physical force. A great many of those men came into our organisation to give it a fair trial. Neither in America nor in Ireland has there ever been a combination between tbe League and the physical force party. In fact, the latter were distinctly opposed to the former. Can you give me an instance of opposition from the physical force party to the League after the year The Land League became too strong, and then the opportunities of the physical force party for attacking us became very much lass after that date. BOKE LAND LEAGUE SUPPORTERS. Further examined, the witness said: I knew that John Devoy was in Ireland in 1879. I knew that he was a Fenian, and that he believed that Irelaud could only bo liberated by means of physical force. I cannot say the particular date of the interview with Mr Davitt respecting the formation of the Land League. We must have had many conversations on the subject. Undoubtedly be explained his views to me before t I the Westport meeting. Tbe conversations must have been on more than one occasion, I do not I recollect that Mr Davitt explained hia plans to me in the presence of an American Nationalist. I cnnot go beyond my recollection. Will you swear that no such meeting took place? —I have no recollection of it. Will you swear that it was not Devoy?—I cannot recollect anything about it. Will you pledge your word that you did not see the new departure letters, written by Devoy in tho beginning of 1879 ?—I have no recollection of seeiug them at the time. Davitt made no mention to me of his discussions with Devoy on the land question prior to Davitt's second visit to America in 1880. I had no knowledge of Devoy's connection with the matter. I made no inquiry as to whether Devoy had any connection with either the I.R.B., or the scheme. I don't recol- lect that Mr Davitt mentioned any names to ma of parsons who were connected with his plans. I have not the slightest notion on bow many Land League platforms Scrab Nally had spoken. Have you pointed out that his utterances should not be taken au serieux 1 —Nobody even treated his remarks seriously. I have never repudiated his speeches, or expreilsed my disapproval of them in public. I have had something very much more importaut to do. (Laughter.) I may say that I do disapprove of them, A FENIAN MANIFESTO. Before leaving Ireland for America I had no knowledge or the Clan-na-Gael organisation, I heard of it towards the end of my tour, and that it was a mischievous body. It was quite possible that oh the 17cb October, 1879, there appeared in the Freeman's Journal a manifesto signed by Devoy Luby, J. F. Bresslin, and W. Carroll. I do not know that these men were the trustees of the skirmishing fund. It is very probable that they were. I do not know that the national tund and the skirmishing fund were one and the same. The Attorney-General then read the mauifesto, which advised attacks upou England when she was engaged with a foreign foe, and when advantage could ba taken of her crippled con- dition. It was a document of considerable length, and after part of it had beeu read, Mr Asquith interposed and suggested that enough had been read. The President: I was going to ask to what question is th's an introduction. (Laughter.) The Attorney.General 1 was reading it all in order to try and please my learned friends. The President try to please them, but try and p'ea.se me. (Renewed laughter.) EXTREMISTS V. CONSTITUTIONALISTS. Tho Attorney-General to Mr Parnell: Do you meau to represent that you never saw that pro- nunciainiento ? Mr Parnell: I never heard of it bafore. I believe that these men were willin to a fair trial to the constitutional movement, and to abide loyally by it. Now, with regard to my not forbidding these men from entering on move- ments, I should like to say that I have always thought that, in the history of Ireland, there had been much justification for the view that they had taken up from timo to time, and particularly their view with regard to the inutility of parliamentary action, and I should have considered it an un- reasonable course on my part to pursue, at the threshold of our new movement, when we were yet untried, to ask these men to abandon their views, and to accept unhesitatingly mine.and shut the door of the constitutional movement in their faces at the very commencement, unless they agreed to forego definitely, and make public declarations definitely, against any contingent recourse to physical force. Cross-examined as to his speech at Cincinnati, in which it was alleged that he spoke about breaking the" last link between England and Ireland," Mr Parnell repeated his answer that he did not recollect using any such words. His views on the question of Irish nationality were the same as Grattan's, viz, that it was quite compatible with the retention of the link of the Crown. Were not many of your speeches very much alike while you wore in America ?—Yes I was accused by the New York Herald of goiu? round America with the same speech. I do not admit that in any of the speeches there was any sugges- tion of breaking the last link between England and Ireland. REMINISCENCES OF THE AMERICAN TOUH. The Attorney-General next quoted from one of Mr Parnell's speeches at Lynn.iu which the report stated that when England was beaten to her knees then there might be a chance for Ireland to become a nation. (To Mr Parnell) Is that very different to the last link speech ? Mr Parnell: No. The Attorney.General next referred to the Troy mseiinfr, at which a man cried out, "Hera are five dollars for bread and 20 for lead." What did you think that referred to ? Were not the 20 dollars intended for physical force? Mr Parnell: No. I understood that the five dollars were for the relief of distress, and the 20 dollars for the Land League. I thiuk be used the ward "lead" as a paraphrase. Will you undertake to sav that in Ireland, at meetings where there were Fenians present, you did not refer tc. the possibility of obtaining the independence of Ireland by menus of physical force?—I would not like to answer a general question like tha'. The Attorney-General broke off at this point of the cross-examination, and the court adjourned until to-morrow.

TITHE SALES IN SOUTH WALES. LIVELY SCENES IN CARDIGANSHIRE. THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC. NEWCASTLE EMLYN, Wednesday. This morning, shortly after eight o'clock, Mr C. V. Stevens, agent of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, with his emergency meu, escorted by 50 constables drawn from Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, under the command of Chief Constable Major Bassett Lewis, Deputy-chief Constable Lloyd, of Aberystwyth, &c., visited the parish of Penbryn, Cardiganshire. Twelve men accompanied Mr Stevens's party, and the rest were held in reserve, Tha journey lay towards and along the coast. The first place visited was Blaensaithissa, near Aberportb, where £2 5< 6d was demanded of Elizabeth Jones, who demurred on tha ground that her son was tenant, and therefore, the notice served on her was void. Jones protested against bringing police there, and offered £2 3 which Mr Steveus accepted, this being the first coin received since Monday morning. At Esger farm, where Mrs Evans is the occupier, JB15 5s 3d was demanded. Iu the haggard hare was a white-robed effigy, with parti-colrmred face, and underneath waS written in Welsh the ninth verse of tho sixth chapter Hosea; In the yard the chief constable met Mr Morgan Evans, J.P., and Mr T. Harries, J.P., members of the Cardiganshire County Council, and called their attention to the crowd, which he eaid was au unlawful assembly. In reply to Mr Evans, Major Lewis explained that the sale was piivate, and he had counsel's opinion that the presence of a crowd there was unlawful. The people had not come for the purpose of buying. Mr Evans contended that the sale must be public, and added that if it were not then he himse f was present unlawfully. Mr Stevens having viewed and valued the bay, etc., distrained and drew off. At Bwlcberwo, farm of J. Griffiths, the same formality occurred. On the mirch towards Cas- tellpridd one or two stones were thrown at Mr Stevens's party. Major Lewis halted the men and threatened to charge the crowd. Mr Morgan Evans got on the hedge and expostulated with the people, and at Major Lewis's request translated the chief constable's statement that the crowd was there unlawfully assembled, and that every- one was there on his individual responsibility, and must take the conssquencies. Major Lewis added that if another stone was thrown he would order the men to charge and clear everyone out of the road. This threat was greeted with derisive shouts of No, no, you cannot do it." The march was then resumed, the reserve force following. At the farm Major Lewis explained that Mr Stevens's procedure was first to offer the produca distrained to the tenant. If be refused to buy, then Mr Stevens would accept offers from anyone else, and in case of no sale, he would send an army of men and waggons from London to remove the stuff at Castellpridd, occupied by Elizabeth Davies, and Castellnadolig, occupied by Messrs John Jones and David Jones. No money was forthcoming, nor did any sale take place. At Cwmraffin the tenant said he had no money for such a cause, and subsequently two men were ordered to yield up their staffs. One man asked for bis stick back, and said he would then Other farms were visited, and effigies were seen displayed. There was a breeze at Morvoncbav, and Mr Stevens was here and at Sarnanpark served with a notice demanding that the stuff distrained should be removed to Llandyssul for aF*ruifcless results followed the visit to a number of farms. The cash results of three days comes About 18 farms remain to be visited in Cardi- ganshire. For the Pembrokeshire sales it is staced that military are likoly to be employed.

HOW COLLIERY ACCIDENTS HAPPEN. THREE RHONDDA OFFICIALS FINED. At the Pontypridd police-court on Wednesday —before the Stipendiary (Mr Ignatius Williams) and Mr Thomas Morgan (Vron)—Thomas Brown, furnaceman, Blaenrhondda, was charged by Mr Joseph H. Williams, manager of the Blaen- rhondda Colliery, with having, on the 23rb ult., committed a breach of the special rules by having allowed the furnace fire to go out, thus interfering with the ventilation of the pit and endangering the lives of the men working therein. Mr Simons, Merthyr, prosecuted.—Prisoner fell asleep while at his work, but told the police that he had not taken his restbetween his turns.—The Stipendiary dwelt on the serious nature of the offeuce, and fined him J63 and costs, or a mouth's imprisonment. —Charles Ralph, employed a stoker at the JCymmer Colliery, was next charged by lr Thomas Griffiths, the manager, with having committed a breach of clause 41 of the special rules in absenting himself from his work, and so uegleeting his duty. Tha manager said the I prisoner left his work to go to the Porth Hotel, where tie said he wanted to see one of his partners who owed him wages for a turn." Prisoaer said that he was not aware that was committing a breach of rule, as one of the other stokers had promised to look after matters during his absence, — As this was a first offence the bench Cued him only 10s.—John Brown, another stoker employed in the same pit (Cymmer), charged with getting drunk while on duty at the works, was fined JE1, and au extra 5g for not appearing in court.

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THE NEW CODE AND WELSH SCHOOLS. WELSH PUBLIC OPINION ON THE CHANGES. It is saldom that Welsh public opinion is so unanimous ou any question as it appears to be on the cbangas recently introduced into the new code. SIr William Hart Dyke's letter explaining the extant and effect of the concessions is reproduced in nearly all the papers, both English and vernacular. Most of tbe latter and several of the Euglish papers circulating in Wales, have editorial commeuts upon the letter, all warmly welcoming the concessions granted. There is not a single discordant note among them, aud it may be safely asserted that never has a Conservative Government performed any act which has met in Wales with sucb unanimous approval, WHAT THE ENGLISH PAPERS THINK, The Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald says "From a natiuuiil point of view, the new method is destined, we believe, to grow in popularity with each year. It will serve to perpetuate Welsh as a spoken langiuge—a thing scarcely possible under the present system—while it will remove the grea!; obstacle in the way of Welsh boys and girls acquiring an intelligent knowledge both of English and of tlJir mother tongue. The Welsh Utiliza- tion Society, no moie than some four years oid, is to be warmly congratulated upon seeing realised almost its entire programme in so short a space of time. It, ha/"woiAed well and wisely, uudauuted by prejudice, and not once discouraged by mddfereuce, and to-day it reaps a harvest in which the nation at iarge will share." • < Ncrth Wales Observer and Express says :— I) com a Welsa point ot view, tue code is eminently satisfactory—especially when road iu the light of Sir William's letter to Sir John Puleston. The Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language has, to all intents aud purposes, had all its programme conceded. Iu ijealing with tha special circumstances and needs ot schools in Waies, the Education Department have acted handsomely. Taken as a whole, the concessions made to Wales and the Welsh are highly satis- facory, and the Society for Utilizing the Welsh Language is to be congratulated on its victory. When the code becomes law, we hepa that these important modifications will be duiy inserted therein, and that educational authorities—.school boards and committees—will avail themselves of these long-fought-for provisions." The Oswestry Advertiser says :—" Welshmen may not agree witn the way in which SIr William expresses himself, We must no eU(;UUra¡;6 the Welsh ha say! the expense of English, but rather as II. vehicle for the 8uunder and more rapid acquisition of English.' Welsh taxpayers, who pay for elemeutary education, may rightly claim that the r own lauguag., shall 'east stand on an equal footing with the English tongue. Bus the concession which has beeu made is acceptable, and is auother step in the direction recognising uational rights in all parts of the United Iwingdom. Whatever may tiecotne of British ascendeucy in the world English asceudency in the United Kingdom is fast becoming, as ic ought to become, a thing of the past. Englishmen hitherto have been jealous of their own iioerties and tha liberties of all the world—except the people under their owu control. They are now lesruiug wider aud more unselfish principles of Liberalism." WHAT THE WKLSH PAPKUS SAT. Baner ac Amsera u. Cymru ("The Banner aud Times of Wales," Liberal), leads the Wn with three articles on the subject, of which one is a detailed account of the changes introduced, and tha other two editorial comment, one ofthembein devoted exclusively to this qunstion, the other dealing with it incidentally in connection with that of intermediate education. The question we have now to consider," saya the Bancr, is bow to make the best use of this victory. It needs no argument to prove that the new system is far better suited to the needs and circumstances of Wales than the old system. But the new law, valuable though it be, will be but a dead letter if advan- tage be not taken of it. The county council battle in Wales was fought and won on national lines, and if there be any lesson more evident than others in the results, it is this—that the Welsh nation is determined to demAnd respect for its language and customs. Th introducing this principle into our schools we shall suffer no loss. Past experience at Holywell in North Wales and numerous schools in South Wales proves that children learn English better by being allowed to learn Welsh also. If any objection be raised, it will, as a rule, come either from the Die Shon Davydd- ites, who can never see any virtue in anything Welsh, or from those who fear that their prospects will be injuriouslyatIected thereby. We would not wish to do an injustice to any school teacher in our country who may not know our language. Still, the good of the children must be considered as more important than the personal interest of any teacher. For those who now hold appoint- ments, we would say, let them be allowed to keep them, bat let them take due care that tbey have assistant teachers able to make up for their deficiencies. FOI the future let none be appointed to our school.. who are not acquainted with the home language of the children. Let members of school boards, the teachers engaged in the schools, aud the parents of the children who attend them, co- operate with a view to making the best of the victory won for them. Let the new scheme be adopted in ail the schools of Wales, aud let us thereby prove to tue English Government that the circumstances of Wales are so essentially different from those of England that we may justly claim separate legislation 011 other matters than those affecting the iustruction of the children of tha nation." Gwalw. (" Wales," Conservative), in referring to the matter, gives some very interesting reminiscences of the manner ID which Welsh schools were conducted half a century ago. The children were then taught through the medium of their native tongue, the teachers who did so being regarded as lunatics by the family of Die Shou Davydd. The inspector then for the whole of Wales was the Rev Harry Longueville Jones, a Welshman, who knew more about Welsh history than most men. He strongly approved of the system of instruction by means of the native tongue. I remember on one occasion travelling in his company when he had just been inspecting a school so conducted, and thee.. were his words. I was surprised and delighted to-day with the pro- ficiency of those children who were taught in their native tougue.' I subsequently saw his published report, and six months later another report of his when the children were being taught exclusively in English. Thero was a striking contrast between the two pictures." The writer winds up by pointing out that children in Welsh-speaking districts suffer serious disadvantages by being taught by teachers who kaow no Welsh. In the school board at Llaubadaru Vawr complaints were made that the children of the Comins Coch School had failed to pass because the master was an Englishman, who was unable to spsak Welsh. The Welsh Util zation Society should look into these things in time." Tarian y Gweithiwr(" The Workman's Shield," labour organ) points,out thathenceforth the choice, regards th3 introduction of Welsh, is left to the managers of schools, and not to the inspectors. Henceforth no inspector, however prejudiced, can refuse to examine a school in Welsh, or to recommend the payment of a grant for doing 60. Wa regard this as a most importaut matter it places the teaching of Welsh on a sound footing it proves that it is not the whim of a few patriotic faddists, but a necessity of the times that has brought the native tongue to a recognised position in the day schools. But the work is not yet completed. So far we have only received Government permission there has been no definite instruction issued to school boards aud teachers to introduce these changes into their schools. The country must now be roused to bring pressure to bear upon the boards. The school board may either throw open its doors to the new system, or close them, as seems fit to them. Wa must take steps to persuade them to adopt the new system. We believe the teachers are ready to do so. To bring the boards to reason is the next step. We trust this will not prove to be a difficult task still, if the boards prove refractory, we know of a power which can bend them, and that is the voice ofthe people. We trust to see Welsh duly recognised in the majority of our schools before the end of the year. Let us then, be of good cheer. Our success is certain." Seren Cymru (" The Star of Wales," Baptist), alter paying the Welsh Utilization Society some handsome compliments, proceeds to say It is now our duty to avail ourselves of the privileges just granted us, and we desire to direct the special attention of all friends of education in Waies to tha new powers placed in their handf, and the Kvident advantages Welsh schools can claim under the New Code. Our national failing has been want of perseverance this has marke-i our past history. Let u*, now that we have secured these concessions, take p-issession of the land they open up to 1111, aud thus shall we obtain more the future." YGoleuad ("TheLight," CalvinislicMethodist) thinks that It is evident that these concessions admit of important developments which materially add to their value. At tile same time tony form only a portion of what: Wales demands and justice requires. It 18 but slowly that Englishmen come to understand, or at least to admit, that it is not smail mercies but justice Wales asks for. The circumstauces of Wales demand that she should have an educational system quite distinct from that of Eugland. Until that is grauted us we shull not hive secured full justice." y Cfwcithiwr Cymrcig ("The Welsh Workman," Lauour reminds its readers of the efforts put forth by the late Mr Dan Isaac Davies on behalf of this movement, and how his soul would bave delighted to see the tree he had aided to plant bearing such glorious fruit. "Let every Welsh parent in the principality says the Qweittiiwr, take advantage of these C'mcessions. The benefits of a bilingual system of instruction are self-evident. It is a source of unmixed satisfaction to find Welsh claims being gradually recognized. Wales has to thank the Welsh Utilization Society for this last victory." Otheryapers also refer to the matter in the same strain. The Welsh correspondents of the Newt "J the Week (the weekly news edition of the Western Mail) and the Llan (" The Church," Ouurch organ), published at the same office, warmly welcome the changes, proving that those who really know the drift of Welsh feeling dissociate this movement from pohtlcl party considerations, and welcome these concessions on the broad lines of national needs.

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LONDON LETTER. (EROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) [SPECIALLY WIRED, I LONDON, Wednesday Night, Mr Harry Lawson found an opportunity this afternoon of bringing forward his Leaseholds Enfranchisement Bill, which he did in an able speech which merited a better audience. But the House is rarely full at all on a Wednesday, Members do not muster in any numbers till four o'clock. There were whips out on both sides. The subject as touching property affected the Conservatives. Many of them, even on the Treasury Bench, like Sir J. Gorst and Mr Stuart Wortley, were in the awkward position that in other times and in other circumstances they had supported a movement in favour of enfranchising leaseholds. Fortunately, Lord Lymington came to their aid with a suspiciously convenient amendment, which, without condemning the principle of Mr Lawson's bill, declared the time inexpedient, since the select committee on the town holdings has not yet reported. Sir John Puleston, constrained by his constituents at Devonport, voted for the bill but, with this and one or two other exceptions, the division was taken on party lines, and that the bill should have been defeated by so narrow a majority as 29 is great encouragement to its supporters, Mr Gladstone, hurrying down from the New Gallery, arrived in time to give his vote for the bill. The defeat of the Government last night, though upon a side issue, is as embarrassing as it was unexpected. The fact is that what was confidently looked for 18 the conclusion of last night's sitting was a count-out. ,A large proportion of members went away unpaired in anticipation of this event, and although towards half.past ten, when matters began to look serious, desperate efforts were made by Mr Akers-Douglas to bring his men back, they failed in adequate result. The temperance party, on the other hand, were present in considerable force, aud were conteut to remain in patient attendance, cheered by the hope of at least getting a good divisiou. Up to the last moment they did not believe that they would beat the Government, though it was clear when the bell rang for the divisiou that they would run them pretty close. What the Government will do is a question eagerly put this afternoon. Mr Samuel Smith and his friends do not mean to be satisfied with the barren victory in the division lobby. A very early opportunity will be taken of pressing Sir John Gorst for a statement as to the course it is intended to take in view of the division. Had the aggregate uumber voting been below the hundred, the Government might talk about a scratch division, and let matters slide but with over two hundred voting that cannot be done with decency. To-day was press view at the Royal Academy to-morrow is the private view. On Saturday the Royal Academicians meet their guests, who may, if they please, enjoy an hour's quiet stroll round the rooms before dinner is served, and ou Monday the doors will be opened to the patient public. Amongst those hitherto privileged to see the exhibition divers opinions are expressed, the most generous being to the effect that the exhibition does not f(1,il below the average. One thing is quite certain—that the Royal Academi- cians, with probably one exception, do not shine with particular effulgence. Sir Frederick Leigh- ton has five pictures on view. If one, representing a Greek girl playing ball, were not by the President of the Royal Academy, one might make bold to describe it as more like one of Harry Fumiss's jokes than the design of Sir Frederick. The one exception to the mediocrity of the R.A.'s work is to bo found in Mr Orchardsou's picture. This, I venture to predict, will bo more popular than the long and remarkable series that has gone before. The Young Duke" is its title, and it of course includes the inevitable dinner table. What lends grace and beauty to it are the figures of the guests,who have risen to toast the host. Manly, graceful, with a rich subdued colour, it is a, picture to spend half- a-day with, and that space of time would not sufiice to exhaust its beauties. The exhibition will probably be known as the" Outsiders' Show,for it is comparatively unknown men who lend to the walls the larger portion of grace and I beauty that they display. Mr Gladstone was among the crowd at the private view at the New Gallery to-day. He came over post-haste on arrival from Hawarden, and was accompanied by Mrs Drew, who looked much more fatigued with the railway journey than was the veteran statesman. Under the guidance cf Mr Comyns Carr Mr Gladstone made an eager and pretty complete round ot the galleries, devoting some moments to the consideration of the portrait of Mr Chamberlain, which shows in the back- ground of the room in which the subject sitp, a portrait of Loid Beaconsfield, with piece of a portrait of Mr Gladstone close by, the back- ground not supplying space for the There was through the afternoon a gay and crowded throng, all delighted with the conveniences of the New Gallery, and the general excellence of the pictures. The Academy will, doubtless, through the season bold its own, but the New Gallery will be the place of most agreeable resort. It is possible the hitch that bas arisen in the matter of Lord Dunraven's challenge for the American Cup may result in the race falling through. To tell the truth, the Americans have no yacht to compete with the VYdkyrie, and have scarcely time to build one. Lord Dunraven, however, means business, and, pending the communications still going forward, his yacht is approaching completion. She is being built at Southampton by Messrs Fay aud Company; sh9 will be cutter-rigged, is built on steel frame", with wood skin, and it is intended she shall be 69ft 8in in length at the load water-line. Her actual sailing length will be withm a few inches of that length, but will in no event exceed 70ft; Lord Dunraven, in a letter he has written to the New York Yacht Club, proposes that the contest shall be decided by the best out of five races, though he will not withdraw the challenge should the Americans to make it the best out of three. The race, if arranged, will be run in the first week in October. The length of the coast, Lord Dunraven suggests, shall be 4P miles, the races all taking place outside the harbour. It is not often that a single teacup and saucer valued at £20 are offered for sale. Such an item, however, was on view to-day at Messrs Sotheby's, in Wellington street, forming part of the collection or Bristol porcelain, the property of Mr Fraucis Fry, which comes under the hammer to-morrow. This teacup and saucer are part of the famous service presented to Mrs Burke by Champion, who is to the English porcelain trade what Chippendale is to English furniture. The saucer was made in 1774, at which time Edmund Burke was contesting Bristol. The saucer bears an inscription in Latin, which may be thus translated:—" And I, Champion, gave tbi, as a token of friendthip, to J, Burke, the best of British wives, on the 3rd day of November, 1774." There are not many fragments of these historic saucers in existence, and this particular specimen last came into the market at the Edkins sale, where it fetched £80. New York, more ready than Birmingham or Rochdales has already determined to have a statue of John Bright. A committee has been formed, and steps are already in progress for carrying out the work. John Bright was nearer the American heart than any Englishman, with the exception of Mr Gladstone. On the first Sunday after the announcement of his death sermons were preached in most of the American churches. I have seen a report of one preached at the Church of the Messiah, New York, by the Rev John Collier, who chose for his text the words, There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."