Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—Before WM. WILLIASTS, Esq. SHAWL STEALING.—Margaret Lynch, the old w," r remanded from Saturday last on a charge of steals shawl, the property of Mrs. Jones, of the Ah, lalywam, (particulars of which appeared in lr paper), was dismissed with a caution, the Bench r ing she had been sufficiently punished in being a in gaol. ASSAULT IN WORK.—Lewis Jones was summ- by Sarah Benjamin for assaulting her on the Week1 day morning previous. The parties are employed J-u. the Pontnewynydd forge, and from complainant* sion it appeared that about two o'clock in Iho mon she was sitting on a plank with another girl, wlte i fendant came up with some victuals in his hand, sat down to eat it. Some of the boys pushed against him, when he struck her in the breast. then called him a "simple fellow," when lit: a struck her. Later in the morning more words d between them, which ended in her being knocked dc, and kicked by defendant.Jones questioned the v ness whether she did not call him a stinking b because he was eating onions, and make use of < equally offensive epithets, but this she denied.TLay beth Saunders was called and stated that she was sent when the boys pushed complainant against Jc and saw him strike her with his elbow. V ■ -i thought he was cross because they knocked the v out of his hand. Did not see the complainant ki r.e down, as it was not for some time after.Be- Hughes was called by defendant and said that th, con- duct of the girl was unbearable; she gave so muoh tongue that it drawed him to strike her. D t'cml- ant in answer to the chavge said he was eatiag Lis victuals when complainant and some more kept jostling him. All he wanted was peace and quietness; he de- nied having struck her The magistrate told him he ought to have known better, and that if he had ary complaint to make he should have come to him (Mr. Williams.) He should fine him 23s. including expenses, and hoped it would be a lesson for him in future. A "DEAR" Wir-E.-lohn George, collier, on the Sowhill, was charged with assaulting his ,V118, Margaret George, on the 19th ult.. -.Mr. Green way, for defendant, said the summons had only been served the previous evening, and he should apply for an ad- journment if the Bench thought complainant's evidence- sufficient to form a case. lie was satisfied, however, that it would break down. Complainant was then sworn and stated that on the night in question a biD was brought into their house from a neighbour's, her husband caught hold of the poker and threats i to knock her brains 0111. He aimed several blow, her with his fist, but he did not strike her. She h not been living with him since, as she was afraid of in c life.In cross-examination by Mr. Greenway, wit- ness stated that she was married in June, but that they had not lived comfortably together. Even before the expiration of the honeymoon (three weeks after the marriage) he struck her in the eye. She ran away from him in October last, and remained at a friend's house six days, because he ill-used her. Never took a sovereign or any other money belonging to him from the house. Was not in the habit of contracting debts unknown to her husband; although she recollected running up a bill with a packman, and another with some one else. She also recollected borrowing some money from Thomas Jones, but her husband knew all about that. Did not frequent public-houses nor run up beer-scores. She sometimes sent for beer when any of her own or her husband's friends came on a visit, because she liked to make much of them." Her husband never told her not to incur debt without his knowledge. The night of the alleged assault, his three sons were in the house, but they went out before the row commenced, and directly they left, the defendant picked up the poker. He did not strike her with it, but only threatened to do so. She slept with him the same night, and did not leave the house till the next morning while he was at work. Mr. Greenway ar- gued from these facts that the case could not be sus- tained against his client. There had been some mis- understanding between defendant and his wife relative to her getting into debt, but it did not clearly amount to an assault. Jjlie was in the habit of contracting debts at different pumic-houses, and her husband, like any honest man, naturally felt annoyed at it. On the even- ing in question a bill of this description had been brought in, which led to an altercation, but nothing more. He also submitted that the fact of her leaving the house of her own accord on the morning after the oc- currence, exempted defendant from having an order made upon him. The Bench asked defendant if he would allow his wife to return and live with him again, to which he replied that he had no objection provided she kept out of debt.A similar question was put to complainant, but she was afraid to do so because he had such a bad temper." .Mr. Greenway thought the boot was on the other leg. The question was re- peated, and the appeal being too much for the fair com- plainant, she consented. The summons was dismissed, and complainant ordered to pay 7s. 6d. expenses, but as she had no money, that little privilege fell to the un- lucky husband's share, who no doubt classed it under the same head as the other little bills contracted by his loving partner, and which he has had the honour of paying. DAMAGING THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN. — A lad named Edward Rowe was brought up in custody of P.C. Young charged with damaging the drinking fountain recently presented to the town by Mrs. Hanbury Leigh. James Jones, a boy 10 years of age, stated that defendant filled the cup with water, and attempted to throw it over him, but the chain jerking it out of his hand, the cup (which is made of iron,) came against the fountain with such force, as to chip off some of the ornamental work Another boy, named Hill, made a similar statement, and said it was quite accidental.. The mother of the lad was present and informed the Bench that she had severely chastised him for it, and hoped they would forgive him this time.Mr. Williams remarked that as it was not quite clear he had done it wilfully he would discharge him if it h: d been 1" 0 cortiuiiiy .ha .-e sent him to prison. !„ j.y (.miaying to find a lot of mischievous boys injuring- such a valuable and ornamentul work, and he should instruct the police in future to lock up those found playing near it. • Slbore was charged with steal- uu ii poû.e,JèandkerchÍet' from his lodgings, at Pont- I, newynydd, .011 the previous Thursday morning.P.C. lleirry" Egberts deposed to apprehending him at the Cwmbran iron-works, with the handkerchief in his pos- session Defendant admitted that he had taken the handkerchief to tie his victuals in before setting out for work, but said he intended returning it There being only one magistrate present, defendant was bailed in his own recognizances, to appear next Saturday. COAL STEALING.—An elderly man named Richard Ellis was charged by P.C. Griffiths with stealing 240 lbs. of coal from the stock belonging to Messrs. Darby, Brown, and others, at Abersychan, on Thursday last. .Defendant, (who was very deaf), was described as I carrying on the trade of rag and bone merchant, and I owns a donkey, and was in the habit of selling loads of coal to different persons, which caused some suspicion to attach to him He was bound over to appear next Saturday. r v AN INVATID.-George Easy, a private in the 50th regiment of Foot, applied to the Bench to obtain an extension of his furlough, and stated that he was suf- fering from palpitation of the heart.—Granted.

APPOINTMENTS FOE THE WEEK. i I County Court-Usk, Tuesday, Feb. 7; Crickhowell, Wed.; j Abergavenny, Thurs.; Chepstow, Fri.; and Ross, Saturday, Monthly meeting of the Board of Roads Wednesday. 1-

BIRTHS. Jan. 29, the wife of Mr. George Jarrett, Pontymoil, of a son. 31 the wife of Mr. John Vincent, King's Arms Inn, nafou, of a daughter. 'I MARRIAGES. Jim. 30, at Trevethin Church, by the Rev. T. Davies, M.A., Mr. Charles Jubbins, to Miss Temperance Huggins, both of Pcmivpool. Jan. 31, at the Catholic Chapel, Pontypool, by the Rev. J. F. Ie :all:son, Mr. Morris Harrington, haulier, to Miss Ellen Hurley, both of the Sowhill.

| TO CORRESPONDENTS. A e 'r.-espondent writes that the race alluded to in last week's "g Press was not between Mr. B. and Mr. G., nor between Cranes and the Montague, but between Mr. B. and Mr. and between—two and three o'clock in the morning."

Galloway's Ointment and Pills .-Lumbago, natism, Tic-DoloTeux.-All excruciating pains of the "s and nerves are relieved with astonishing rapidity by ';3e of this extraordinary Ointment. The affected parts, usiy fomented with warm water, have only to be briskly with this soothing unguent to obtain instant ease. The much assist in banishing the tendeney to rheumatism j and similar painful disorders. Whilst the Ointment cures the « local ailment, the Pills remove the constitutional disturbance, i Mutilate every impaired function of every organ through- e human body. The cure is neither temporary nor lial, but permanent and complete, and the disease recurs, so perfect has been the purification performed searching yet harmless preparations.

■ [FEBRUARY.] Newport, Pontypool, and Blaenafon. TIP-TRAINS; WEEK DAYS. SUNDAYS. STARTING FROM a. m.ip. m. p.m.(p. m. a. m. p. m. Newport, Mill-street ..9 oil 35 5 o!8 0 9 30 8 0 Llantarnam 9 6;1 415 6j8 6 9 36'8 6 Cwmbran 9 10Sl 45 5 10!8 10 9 40.;8 10 Pontnewydd 9 14|l 49 5 14j8 14 9 44 8 14 Pontrhydyrun 9 18)1 53 5 18|8 18 9 48 8 18 Pontypool 9 35;2 10 5 35 8 35 10 5 8 35 Pontnewynydd 9 39|2 14 5 39|8 39 10 9j8 39 Abersychan 9 44j2 19 5 44|8 44 1014)8 44 Cwm Avon 9 52{2 27 5 52|8 52 1022'8 52 Blaenafon ar.10 0|2 35 6 0\9 OJ103019 0 DOWN-TRAINS WEEK DAYS. SUNDAYS. STARTING FROM a. m'la. m.ip ,m. p.m.ja. m.ip. m. Biaenafon 7 30 1130 3 0 6 30 8 Oji 30 Cwm Avon 7 38|1138i3 8 6 3818 8i4 38 Abersycban 7 46jll46}3 1616 4Sj8 16:4 46 Pontnewynydd 7 50 115013 20!6 5018 20:4 50 Pontypool 8 0'l2 0|3 30|7 018 30^5 0 Pontrhydyrun 8 7 12 7\3 3717 7 S 37l5 7 Pontnewydd ,.8 11121113 4l|7 1118 41!5 11 Cwmbran 8 15 121513 45 7 15 8 45 5 15 Llantarnam 8 21122lj3 5\|7 2118 51 5 21 Newport, Miil-st.ar.8 30 1230|4 0(7 30|9 0 5 30

Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford. From PONTYPOOL ROAD for NEWPORT, 9 30,12 0, 1 50t 4 18, 6 55, 8 20. Sundays: 10 32, 7 5. From PONTYPOOL ROAD for Up-Stations & HEREFORD, at 8 10, 11 35, 3 23, 6 53. + Sundays 10 25, 5 55. All Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Class, except those marked t

Newport, Ebbw Vale, and Nantyglo. From DOCK-STREET, N EWPoRT,for N ANTYGLO and inter- mediate Stations, at 7 0, 12 0, 5 30. Sundays: 8 30, and 5 15. From NANTYGLO, 8 45, 2 15,7 2-0; and on Sundays, at 10 25 and 7 10. From ABERBEEQ JUNCTION for EBBW VALE, at 8 6, 1 10, 6 40; and on Sundays, at 9 38, and 6 23. From EBBW VALE, at 8 45, 2 15, 7 20; and on Sundays, at 10 25 and 7 10. On Saturdays a Special Train leaves Newport at 7 30 p.m., for all Stations as far as Crumlin only.

Coleford, Monmouth, Usk, and Pontypool. WEEK PAYS. SUNDAYS? ,p.m. p. a. in. irt. a. m. a. m. p. m.ip. m.|p. m.ta. m p^Vn Pontypool Road 9 30jU 35 3 20 6 53S10 25 5 55 little Mill ) .arrive 9 45 11 42 3 31 7 oho 331 g 3 Junction j depart 10 0] 4 151 7 26J10 40 7 5 Usk arrive 10 201 4 24 7 36110 5a' 7 20 Llandenny 10 45. 4 34: 7 46811 51 7 30 Raglan Road .10 501 4 40 7 50sn q! 7 Monmouth ill 201 5 10 8 25|ll 4o| 8 4 a- m.la. m.jp. m.ip. m.[p. m. a. m.ip. m. Monmouth 8 20} 2 0 S 46 9 16 5 0 Raglan Road S 49! 2 30 6 14 9 44| 5 29 Llandenny 8 541 2 35 6 19 9 49: 5 34 p.sk 9 4[ 3 0 6 30 10 0 5 44 Little Mill 1 .arrivei 9 16| 3 20 6 40110 16 5 5* Junction j depart 9 22(11 501 4 10| 6 46110 26 6 5s Pontypool Road ( 9 30jl2 01 4 23 6 SSjlO 32: 7 s

Taff Vale Extension. DOWN TRAINS. sundae Merthyr 10 101 4615 40 9 I5|4 46 Troeayrhiew 10 19 1 53 9 23|4 56 Quaker'sYard Junction 10 40|2 16 5 56 9 33!5 6 Llancaich (Nelson) 10 47i2 26|6 6 9 42i5 14 Rhymney Junction 10 57 2 36!6 14 9 5215 24 Tredegar Junction il 2:2 4516 20 9 57:5 29 Crumlin 11 1213 o!6 30 10 7l5 3S Cefn Crib n 1713 5j 10 12 5 4.5 Pontypool a 25 3 15|6 42 10 2015 » Pontypool Road 11 32;3 20;6 49110 25 5 54 Ui'-TRAINS. | <s v; s Pontypool Road 9 40 1210i4"23 8~26jl'o 35 7 li Pontypool 9 45 121614 28 S 30110 40 7 20 Cefn Crib 1225,1 S 40ll0 50 7 30 Crumlin 9 54 123014 40 8 46110 55 7 35 Tredegar Junction 10 5 1240;4 48 8 53|ll 5 7 45 Rhymney Junction 10 10 1250|4 53 8 58111 12 7 50 Llancaich (Nelson) 10 20 1 0:5 1 9 8*11 22!g 0 Quaker's Yard Junction 10 30 1 10:5 9:9 lslll 35-8 1J Troedyrhiew. 10 4314 2[ 19 31111 48 8 23 Merthyr ar.10 5014 10|5 26 9 40111 56 8 35

I k(,(,IDFwT.-An accident of a serious nature > irr-d last week to a woman named Mary Jones, re- v at the Upper Race. She was proceeding home ■iarket with a basket of goods, about 9 o'clock in ening, and when near the Twmpath infant sehools, and cart, driven by a man in the employ of Mr. > Kemys Vach, by some means got off the road, a nocked her down, the wheels passing over her. ..i/m proceeded on his journey without stopping the cart, and it was not till some time had elapsed that the I poor woman was observed in a helpless state, and i conveyed home. Upon examination it was found that bosses sustaining other severe injuries, three of her rih- were broken. A summons was applied for against the driver of the cart, but the parties were recommended to Dring an action for recovery of damages, in the C01mty. court. We believe the poor woman is slowly recovering from the injuries received. I A SMASHER AT MEBTHTR, WITH A CHARAC- 7.7-tf FROM PONTYPOOL.-Margaret Jones, remanded rrqa Aberdare on the charge of uttering a counterfeit r ] s-vt-ign, was brought up last week at the Merthyr L .=:! court. Mrs. Mary Evans, wool manufacturer, U that the prisoner tendered a half-sovereign to Ul Brecon market. She refused to take it, a, it was evJdently counterfeit, and the prisoner afterwards ¡ tendered it to another person, .who also refused it. r Being subsequently given in charge of a policeman, she swallowed the coin, but was taken before the Brecon magistrates, and sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. Mr Henry Roberts said I am son of Mr. Superinten- Roberts, of Pontypool. In February last I appre- d the prisoner at Pontypool market for passing a ■«verign, and for having another base half-sovereign i possession. She was indicted for both offences at • ussions, on the 22nd of March, and sentenced to Ó L.ou:,hs' imprisonment with hard labour, The prisoner I was remanded. INCOME TAX, &c.-Tuesday last being the day appointed for receiving the property and income tax, David Lawton, Esq., attended at the Crown Hotel, George street, when the amount was paid iu. On the following day the excise duties were also paid. The collectors complained of the difficulty they had experi- enced in getting in the money in proper time. TEMPERANCE. On Monday evening, the well-known temperance advocate, Mr. Carr, addressed a somewhat large audience in the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, after which the sense of the meeting was taken on the Permissive Bill, when a resolution in its favour was unanimously carried.—On Wednesday evening, the same gentleman addressed a considerable audience at the old "Wesleyan chapel, Sowhill. THE GOYTREY SURVEYOltSHIP.-Tho long- disputed question as to who is the legally-appointed surveyor of the parish of Goytrey, and which has oc- cupied the attention of the magistrates on so many occasions, appears to have met a settlement in the Court of Queen's Bench on Monday last. It was a rule calling upon C. H. Williams, Esq., justice of the peace for this county, (acting for the division of Pontv- pool), to show cause why a summons should not be issued against Mr. Isaac Lewis, for non-payment of a highway rate for the parish of Goytrey, made by Mr. Thomas Watkins, on the 11th of May, 1859. Mr. Pol- lock supported the rule, and Mr. Scotland opposed it on the ground that Mr. Wm. Nicholas was then the duly appointed surveyor of highways, and that the justices had already decided against the validity of the rate made by Mr. Watkins, and also that Mr. Nicholas had been regularly appointed, and was the legal surveyor for the parish of Goytrey. The Court, after hearing the learned counsel on both sides, discharged the rule thus confirming the appointment of Mr. Wm. Nicholas. THE HANBURY VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.- About 60 of the members of this corps met at the Town-hall on Monday evening last, for the purpose of finally deciding upon the uniform. Mr. Wm. Evans (of the firm of Messrs. Jenkins and Evans) wore a dress which appeared to meet the unanimous approval of the members. It consists of a light grey cloth, with red facings and black braid, and has a very neat ap- pearance. It is intended to submit it to the Lord Lieu- tenant for his approval, so that the corps may get into uniform as soon as possible. The making of the uniform will be entrusted to Messrs. Jenkins and Evans and Messrs. Fowler, it being left with each man to choose at which establishment his dress shall be made. The members meet regularly at the Town School-room for the purpose of drilling, and under the able instruc- tion of Lieut. R. J. P. Steel, are rapidly attaining pro- ficiency in the mysteries of the platoon and manual exercises. We understand that Capel Hanbury Leigh, Esq., the Lord Lieutenant, has expressed his intention to equip a considerable number of his employees, and altogether the corps bids fair, in respect both of num- bers and efficiency, to rank second to none in the county. We believe the uniform selected by this corps has been also adopted by the Newport Borough Corps, and as arrangements have been made for their occupying the same practice range, and as each will be provided with a good band, we may anticipate occasions of considera- ble public interest and excitement. PORTRAIT tising is now universally acknowledged to be the soul of enterprise; but no living man has done so much to establish the axiom as he whose world-renowned pills and ointment are advertised in every printed language, far as the winds can waft, the billows foam." Mr. Holloway may, indeed, be truly called the Prince of Advertisers," for it is estimated that his expenses, in this department of his business alone, amount to the enormous sum of X30,000 annually. And what has been his experience ? Why, that as his advertising has extended, so has his business. His medicines are now prescribed by many of the most eminent physicians, and such (it is said) is the demand for them at the wholesale warehouse, that small orders cannot be attended to, no quantity of less than 120 value being sent out. Any memento of such a man will always be interesting. We have therefore great pleasure in noticing a really beautiful portrait of the famous Pro- fessor, with which we have been favoured. It is en- graved on steel, in the highest style of excellence, by W. Holl, Esq., an eminent London artist, and is (we learn from London contemporaries personally acquainted with Mr. Hollo way) as faithful a likeness as it is an admirable and spirited engraving. The countenance is that of good-humoured intelligence and genuine bene- volence, and fully realises the idea one would form of the man of whom it is stated that his private munifi- cence is equal to his public spirit, and that his affluent purse is always open where money can be usefully ex- pended, either in mitigating suffering or in promoting the welfare of his fellow-creatures. For the benefit of those (and we doubt not there are many around us) who would gladly possess a portrait of one to whose unri- valled medicines they attribute their recovery from sickness and disease, we may mention that proof im- pressions of the engraving (with autograph) in a very unique frame, elegantly got up in crimson velvet and gold (size, 15in. by 13in.) may be obtained at 10s. 6d. each, packed in a case and forwarded carriage-free, by sending a post-office order or postage stamps to Mr. Holloway's establishment, 244, Strand, London. From the beautiful specimen before us, we can readily believe the statement that each of these portraits has cost double the amount at which they are offered, the object of the Professor being, not to obtain a profit by their sale, but to gratify his numerous friends and admirers. A MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.—Early on Tuesday morning last, the vicinity of the Catholic chapel was the scene of considerable animation, which continued to increase as the morning advanced. It appears that a young man who had lived with his mother from babyhood, had in his 23rd year, conceived the idea of freeing himself from parental restraint, and turning Benedict. Having fixed on a fair yonng girl and obtained her consent to become a partner of his future joys, the happy day was named when they should be united in the rosy bonds of Hymen. Preparations were accordingly made, and at length the eventful morning arrived which was to see the consummation of their fondest hopes. But fate decreed that it should not pass off so auspiciously as they intended. The bridegroom's mother, with maternal wisdom peculiarly her own, had taken it into her head to discountenance her son's proceedings, and spoil, if possible, the whole affair. With this object in view she first proceeded to the house of one of the bridesmaids, and launched such a volley of abuse against the poor girl, that she was absolutely frightened out of taking any part in the ceremony. This done, she next made her way to the chapel already named, and soon roused the neighbour- hood with her shouts, and by the time the wedding party arrived, eleven o'clock, she had worked herself up to such a pitch of excitement, that directly she caught sight of them she charged down so furiously and pelted her son so vigorously with stones, that it was not with- out risk they gained the interior of the chapel. Even then she followed up the attack, and obtaining admission to the place, set up, in true Irish fashion, a series of alternate invectives and lamentations, among which were distinctly audible the appeal to her darling boy—" Sure, an' haven't I reared ye from a babby all these years and now ye'r goin' to lave me ?" Her con- duct at length became so violent that it was deemed expedient to remove her, and this being done, she en- tertained the crowd outside with a continual round of incoherent expressions, through which might be heard at brief intervals, allusions to her daughter-in-law, as "a cripple," and so on. The ceremony being duly finished the "happy pair" were puzzled how to evade a second edition from their noisy friend. A little ruse was got up and succeeded admirably, for while she awaited their re-appearance at one door, they made their exit from another, and came off unobserved, making their way to a friendly inn with all possible despatch, to have a glass over the day's events, from whence they subsequently adjourned and kept it up right merrily at a friend's house, far removed from unwelcome visitors. As for the fond mother when she found they had left the place, started off in pursuit, and her husband, it is said, also went about seeking the disobedient son for the purpose of trating him to an iligant bating; but we believe the happy pair escaped further perils and annoyances, and as they are said to be a worthy and deserving couple, we wish them joy. GOYTREY.—THE SL'RYEYORSHIP.-A large and influential parish meeting was held on Thursday last, for the purpose of considering what steps shouid be taken respecting a rule obtained by Mr. T. Watkins to show cause why a summons should not be granted against Mr. Isaac Lewis, a parishioner, for not paying a highway rate. It was proposed that the parish should resist the application, and on being put to the meeting it was carried by a majority of 43 to 10. ILANTARNAM.—At this place, on the bitterly cold night of Wednesday last, a poor little infant was found exposed on a door-step, where, it is supposed, it had been left by the unnatural mother. The police are on the look-out, and we trust they will succeed in bringing to well-merited punishment the perpetrator of so barbarous an act. CWMBRAN.—On Saturday, an old man named John Jeremiah, hitcher at the bottom of the incline, met with a very severe accident through the breaking of the chain. A piece of iron was detached from the carriage with such violence, that it broke his arm, and fractured his thigh in two places. The poor fellow is, we learn, getting on pretty favourably. CAERLE02\.—PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY. (Before the Rev. TVii. Powell, John James, Esq., and Charles Nicholson, Esq.)—Florence Williams was fined 40s. ineludillg costs, for keeping her house open for the sale of beer after ten o'clock at night Hannah Sex- ton and Johanna Callick were summoned for trespassing upon the lands of Joseph Rolands, and damaging the hed,es.-Adiourpe,i. Palmer was summoned by Joseph Duffield for E2. 16s. amount of wages due a to him.—The parties agreed to settle their differences out of court. Evan Thomas and Wm. Wayne were charged with stealing a quantity of hay, the property of Stephen Morgan, at Llantarnam, on the 23rd of J an. last, but the evidence not being sufficiently con- clusive, they were discharged David Harris was charged with stealing a sheep, the property of George Harris, farmer, but the case was dismissed for want of further evidence. BLAENAFON.-To the Editor.—Every enlightaned Englishman must recognise the importance of that movement which has transformed the youth of the United Kingdom into soldiers-furnishing a con- vincing proof to foreign powers that we are not yet altogether a nation of shopkeepers." This movement, however, I am sorry to say, is not so universal as is generally supposed. There are many, and even large towns, still deaf to the eall of patriotism. One of these is Blaenafon, a town containing not less than seven thou- sand inhabitants, amongst whom are numbers of young men whose broad shoulders and straight limbs would charm the heart of a recruiting sergeant. Iiow is it that Blaenafon, generally marching in the van of all popular movements, is now left so disgracefully in the rear ? I am fully convinced, if a few of the lead- ing gentlemen of the place were to step forward and take the initiative, that Blaenafon would soon be in a position to boast a Rifle Corps as strong and efficient as any of the neighbouring ones. Thanking you for the space you have allowed me, I will no longer trespass upon it, but trust that these few remarks will lead to t tablishment of a Rifle Corps at this pliæd. I -y.-at-s obe(-Iie:ltiy.-P,-IILO -\iARS. EBB W VALE.—A collier, named Henry Perkins, has been committed to ake his trial at the next Monmouth assizes, on nine cases of alleged rape or attempted rape. The cases were brought against him by numerous respectable persons, and the offences were committed on the EbbwYaie mountain. It appears the prisoner has been carrying on his brutal practices for some time, his victims being restrained, by feelings of delicacy, from making the matter known. -31r. Sichard Reece, the Cheap John" of teetotal notoriety, is now in this town, where he appears to be not less popular than at Tredegar and other places. PRAYER MEETING IX A COAL-PIT.—On Monday se'nnight, nearly the whole of the colliers working in Mr. Davies's (Blaengwawr) No. 9 pit, at the request of the agent, Mr. Richards, held a prayer meeting at the bottom of the pit previous to entering upon their usual duties. In parts of Cornwall and the North of Eng- land, prayer meetings are held every morning in many coal and iron-mine pits, and why (asks the Merthyr Telegraph) may not such an excellent custom take root here in the very heart of a community long since cele- brated for piety and religious devotion ?