Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

REGENTS A,CTS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH. +v,X Trou?ht forward the question of «Sss5-3 &\&S £ Classes Act, 189(3,^and The Cowshed and Dairies Act, ail of which he strongly recommended the Board to adopt. After some discussion, it was decided to defer the questioa for a month in order to give the members time to read the Acts. This was all the business.

General iiooth is expected to arrive in London from hie tour on February 9th or lOUk

SOUTH WALESMINING NOTES. A special council meeting was held in connec- tion with the Monmouthshire Miners' Associa- tion, on Monday, to receive a deputation (con- sisting of Messrs. Rowlinson, Forest of Dean, and Wadsworts, of Yorkshire) from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, who were deputed to visit the district for the purpose of ascertain- ing how far the existing notices in South Wales affected the members of the Association. The district roll was carefully gone through, and it was found that about one-half of the members were under notice, while the other half were not. Within the area oi the Association there are about 10,000 miners, of whom only 3,000 are con- nected with the Association. It is generally understood that the 700J who are outside the Union will act with the 3000, and go dead against the Sliding Scale or any agreement of a like cha- racter. Whatever understanding South Wales may come to with regard to the Scale, or any reduction in the standard of wages, they will have to take into their calculation these 10.000 men, who will oppose the fettering of them- selves either to the present or any future Scale, however much it might be polished up. If the slightest attempt. is made to enforce the prin- ciple of Sliding Scaieism upon these men, the Sliding Scale leaders can look forward to a strong opposition, inasmuch as these men believe in the principle of open and free agitation, backed up by a strong and powerful organisation.-Cor.

The total tonnage or vesseiB nunc on ine oanKi of the Mersey during the year was 23,383 tons, compared with 30,577 tons last year and 35,773 tons in 1889. THROAT IRRITATION AND (jOIUGH.-Sorenes and dryness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and affecting the voice. For these symptoms use Epps's Glycerine Jujubes. In contact with the glands at the moment they are excited by the act of sucking, the Glycerine in these agreeable confections becomes actively healing Sold only in boxes 7R, tins Is. Hd., ctt £ "j*™* -PPn ™°-' homoeopathic on ^N?8' Lcndon- Dr Moore, in his work N«e and Throat Diseases," says Fnn, QGJy^rme Ju^bes Prepared by James kpps and Co. are of undoubted service as a Hnwf °c a?e.nt<" while Dr. Gordon ThrSfA 5eSlorT ^hyslclan **? the Municipal 1 nroat and Ear Infirmary, writes After an extended trial, I have found yonr Glycerine 111

ITEMS OF INTEREST. The Metropolitan Church at Vienna has been reconsecrated, owir-g to & suicide which has taken place there unu-er somewhat romantic cirenm- stances. Professor Jnmes Dewnr has been obliged to postpone his to America, to Mr. Keely's alleged discoveries, until his next summer's holiday. Dr. Knight Bru e. Bishop of Mashonaland, has arrived at Plymouth from Capetown, on board Messrs. Donald Currie and Co.'s sieumer Hoslia Castle. Mr. Thomas Chprnbers. a tradesman, hns been cut to pieces at i^ s.ord, near Nottingham in rescuing his (io-fruin au approaching yuin. The dog was unhurc. The coal production for the year now nearing its close will, it is believed by tMse able to jucge. be the largest thac has ever ",I::t:il known in the United Kingdom. Plinlimmon, the Champion St, Bernard, bought in England by the late Fritz Emmet, is dead. His prizes and tbe iu t i ey from the sale of his pro- geny aggregate 5,000. Mr. Tom Mann hns joined the executive authority of the si uiLeru se, Lon of the Central Co-operative Boaxii.. is is probable that other of the labour leaders will toliow his example. M. Jules Simcn, who h:is hardy recovered from a serimjg attack o' iii!s, is now suffering from l^aii'e. lion tile throat, and is obliged to remain in one room. Colonel Soufflot. who recently celebrated his 1 hundredth birth Jay. has jusc been promoted to the grade of Cornti; er of the Legion of Houonr. He was made Knigut of that Oraer ia isis -and Officer in 1813. The naval pensions of R-50 a year for staff com- manders, rendered vacant by the deaths of Cap- tain James G. H. Thain and Commander George Giles, have been c niVrred on Captains Thomas J. Whillier and Benjamin S. Jackson. A Pullman car in the Melborne express recently caught fire through an escape of gas. The train was promptly stopped, and no personal injuries occurred Mr. Dibbs and Lord Jersey were passen- gers. The death is announced of Mr. Charles Card- well, younger brother of the late Viscount Card- well, who was one uf the members for Liverpool from 1817 to 1852. Mr. Cardwell was in his seventy-iflth year, and was unmarried. In an appeal by the Metropolitan Railway Com- pany tigaiiist an assessment of their tunnels to j the land rax. the 3i; sler of the Rolls and Lord Justice Kay have < ecided that the company were liable to pay that duty; but Lord Justice Lopes was of a contiary opinion. The employment of bloodhounds for military outpost service has lately been tried with great success in Bosnia. Herzegovina, and Dalmutia. The War Office h;s accordingly decided that a number of these aid ma Is shall be allotted to every regiment in the above provinces. 41 The sp-irrows are causing considerable trouble and anxiety to the termers in many pouts of South Bedfordshire and Triug. With a view to put a check upon them a s'mrrow club has recently been formed. It is propliseJ that twopence shall be paid for each sparrow caught and killed. The death is announced of the Rev. Joseph Dodd, M.A., of Queen's College, Oxford, which took place at his res. ience, 55. St. Giles. Oxford. He had attained the age of eighty-one years. The deceased gentleman was educated at Shrewsbury School, uuuer the famous Dr. Butler. Hugh Donaghy. 1 bourer, aged thirty, arrested on a charge oi bet- g lruu_k. has been found dead in his ceU iu the BeLast Police Office. It is stated by the constabulary that the deceased had tteen suffering from iniiuensa. A similar affair was re- ported a few months ago as having occurred in the same place. Dr. L. S Jameson. wh.o has acted as Mr. Rhone's personal representative in various important mis- sions to Matab'elelaud and the adjoining countries, and his had great experience in dealing with natives, has been appointed by the Chartered British South Africa Company to succeed Mr. A. ) R. Coiqnhoun as -k aliaistrator of Mashonaland. A landslip, resuliing in the rdeath of one man and serious injury to another, ha-s occurred at South-end. The aien were "engaged excavating gravel in Victoria Avenue, in a hele 20ft. doep. when severll tons of earth slipped, burying them. Assistance was procured, and after three-quarters .of an hour they were extricated. There have arrived at Bull, from Antwerp, ifihirteen West Riding emigrants who have returned from Braail Ihev emigrated early in the. year, -and have retuuled iu a terrible state of destitu- tion. They told a pitiable story of their surfer- j ings, stating that they 1had been treated worse than dogs. Three of them aTe women. In the Divorce Court, 'tiie case of Williams v Williams has been on for hearing. This was the petition of Maria Williams for a judicial separa- < tion on the .ground of the misconduct of her hus- 1 band, a coal merchant. The parties were married in February, 1881, at Greenwich. Evidence hav- ing been gi. ea proving the case, a judicial separa- 1!1 tion with costs was granted. The Leigh ton Buzzaid Board of Guardians have granted an application from the Watford Board ofjJGuardian-e for an additional 29. 6d. a week to supplement 5s. already paid by the latter Board on behalf of the Leighton Buzzard Guardians to Joseph Surriage; aged 101, formerly a wagoner at Leigh ton Butsard. About fifty years ago he had bothdiis legs <cut off a« the result of ail accident, f' The directors of the Great Northern Railway Company have visited Bourne, in response to a memorial from the inhabitants praying for the preservation of the Old Red Hail at Bonrne. which the srailway company have proposed to demolish It is popularly supposed to be the house in which wer-econcocted the details of -the Gunpowder Plot. The committee of Lloyd's have decided to be- stow the bronze medal of the societylupon ITewrs. Lawrence Hennessy. Albert Sadler (first and second coxswains), and Wright Griggs, as an ac- knowledgment of their extraordinary exertions, as part. of the lifeboat crew, in saving life on the occasion of the wreck-of the Peuvenut., near S"d- gate, on November 11 last. Mr. Toung, aged 14, residing at Featherside, Yorkshire, went to Pontefraet the other day con- cerning a hundred thousand pounds he was abc.ut' to receive as a legacy from a relative who died in Australia. On returning to Eeatherstone he fell between the platform and train, and sustained terrible linjuries, which proved .fatal shortly after, wards. Several men, alleged-to be parties te the Riga gold dust cwindlcs. have been arrested at Warsaw, and conveyed to Riga. Their names are Subkoff, who is believed to be a leader; William Schneiders, of Wilna Julian Poszokiuski. of Kovno and Zlowinski, & Jew, of Wareaw. jSione-of these were mentioDedil the recent warning issued'Hay the English Criminal Investigation Department. Lord Shertrooke has presented £ 1,000 to the ^University of London, and the senate intend t° give the income of the fund triennklly a%a prize for the best 4estay embodying original research in some branch of scienee. Tie Earl of Derby in- tends to contribute £ 1,000 for the foundation of a Granville Scholarship, as a memorial of the late Earl Granville. The children's hospitals in London and the country have received during the last day or two a number of Christmas gifts, comprising dolls, scrap albums. toys. Christmas cards, needlework, etc.. instituted by the editor of Little magazine on behalf of his readers. At Cambridge University, the D.D. de^ee honoris causa, has been conferred upon the Ri^ht Rev. Robert Jarratt Crossthwaite. Suffragan Bishop of Beverley, who was presented to the Vice-Chancellor by the Public Orator in a lauda- tory Latin speech. Intelligence has been received at tbe India office. dated JSilt. December 11, to the effect that the officers and men who were wounded in the recent fighting near Gilghit were doing well. The commun icatioiis were secure, and supplies ample. It is reported that pink-eye has broken out amongst some of the horses at Messrs. Henry Briggs and Company's Whitwood Colliery, and that about sixteen horses are affected in the Silk- stone Pit. If the epidemic should continue (or spread) a stoppage of the pit is feared by the men. The office of the commandant of the Gordon Boys' Home having become vacant, the executive committee have notified that they are prepared to receive applications from gentlemen holding, or having held, a commission in her 31aiest-11 army. The Prince of Wales having consented to attend the Welsh National Eisteddfod at Rhyl next year, the Executive Committee have written to His Royal Highuess inquiring what date in September next will be agrøenble to him. The Prince of Wales will, it is understood, be the quest of the Duke of Westminster during the Eisteddfod. The situation of the foreign money markets being unfavourable for raising the projected Bul- garian loan of 10,000,000 fr., which was to be applied to the fortifying of the Black Sea coast and harbours, the Government has asked the Sobranje to vote supplementary military credits to the amount of 7,000,000 fr. At the Liverpool Assizes, no fewer than ten men and ten women were brought up for sentence, having been previously convicted of coiuiug, uttering, or being-in the possession of base coin at Liverpoool, Manchester, and Widnes. Sentences varying from seven years, penal servitude to eighteen months' imprisonment were passed. «

MURDER AND SUICIDE. Mr. Yates, the Cheshire coroner, has held an in- quest at Buguley on the bodies of Mary Hamlett, aged thirty-two, and Thomas Hamlett, aged two, her son. From the evidence it appeared that the woman took her child, walked to the Cheshire Lines Railway, and having placed the boy across the metals, sat down and waited till a train came along, when both were cut to pieces. The hus- band, who was called, denied that he ill-treated his wife. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against the woman, but said that the act was committed while she was temporarily insane.

A YACHT WITH A HISTORY A steam-yacht with a history is to be brought under the hammer of the auctioneer shortly. The vessel is the Gitana, which, under the name of the Immacollate Concezzione, was the former property of Pope Pius IX. She was built to Lloyd's specifi- cations to the order of the ex-Emoress Eugenie, in the days of the Third Empire, as a nrE se:az for Pio Nono. and during the life-time of his Holiness lay at Civita Yeochia, where he often visited her. When the yacht was purchased after his death a number of relics were found on board, which were transferred to Cardinal Manning, and by him presented to the Brompton Oratory. For s >me time the yacht was empl oyed in trade with Asia Minor, and is still fit for use in any part of the world.

A DETERMINED DUEL. -1 Th.e hopes that the dispute between Baron Fejervary and M. Ugron. member of the Hungarian /» Diet, 'would be settled amicably, have proved abor- tive. and a duel has been fought between the two gentlemen. The combntauts twice exchanged shots without result, and then continued the fight with swords, when both were wounded in the arm. Baron Fejervary also receive i a cut on the ear. At this stage the seconds intervene J. and a recon- ciliation between the duellists was effected on the field. The affair arose out of a speech recently delivered in the Diet by M. Ugron, who referred in such vituperative terms to a declaration of Baron Fejervary regar ,i ig the suppression of a certain inflammatory newspner. that the baron handed in his resignation as Minister of National Defence, and demanded satisfaction from the offending deputy. The matter has created con- siderable sensation in Hungarian political and miliiiary circles.

HORRIBLE NEWS FROM RUSSIA. The present year will long be engraven on the memory of the inhabitants of Russia, not only on account of the famine but also on account of the many horrible crimes tha6t are being oj committed in all parts of the empire by the famished and poverty-stricken peasautry. Only the other week news reached us from Chelabinsk < on the Siberian western frontier (telegraphs the j Chronicle St. Petersburg correspondent), that a „ young peasant, not yet of age, had murdered five men in their sleep for the palrry sum of four. roubles (eight shillings). Another horrible crime-. has been committed in Poland. by three peasaiito 1 who lately enticed a shoe-maker named Levtvn- offsky into a forest and there mur lured him. oe- lieving that he carried a large sum of money about his person. The murderers, in order to egeape detection. then cut the body to pieces and endeavoured to burn the remains on an immense fire. These attempts to hi ie their crime, how- ever, only led to its more speedy discovery; far a hungry workman, whilst walking thr: ugh the forest, found one of the pieces of hair-roasted flesh and brought it home to his fellow workmen, who ,ev(ure i it with great relish, believing i,flat it was game or horseflesh The workman who had brough•„ this strange me;l to his friends, on being accuse of having stolen it. imme ii.icely offered to show them where he h:11 ff)u-i i the ineitt. Ar- rived at the spot, the workmen then discoverel to their horror, that they had been dning off the J roasted and mutilated body of the unfortunate shoemaker Levanoffsky

THE MURDEROUS ASSAULT UPON A BOY. At the Central Criminal Court, (before Mr. Justice A. L. Smith) Henry Dove thirty-seven, a publican, was indicted for m-Ai.i,usly wounding Hany Kanes. a lad fourteen ve -rs of age, with intent to murder him.—Mr. B »ikia prosecuted, I and Mr. Paul Taylor defended —The assault took place on September 17 last on p anises occupied as a club in Rodney Street. Gierke: »vell. and the facte of the case were not in oispu;,e. The ques- tiom at issue was simply one of identity. It ;P- peered Lh-it on the morning in question the: j steward of the clui) received a 1 making aii appointment away from the club f. r later in the ( day. The steward went away t I keep the appoint- ment, and left the boy te:np»r;!xi.y ill charge of t'ne club. Almost, imme iiu.te.ly the stew .r t had ifeft. a maaa, who the boy said was the 'prisoner, •■called, and stated that he wanted to p .y in att -zeco"t. aiui he asked the lad too m ike out a re- ceipt. Tate boy sat down for the purpose He noticed tIte man doing something to his sleeve, and directly after he received a ssvere blow on the, hea.d from some bluut instrument. Other blows followed, but the boy succse .ed iu making hie, escape. He was f olio we i by the man. who threatened to strangle him. but the boy shouted. The man escaped. It was aileged that the object of the attack was robbery. Prisoner was that manager of the Albion beerhouse, which was in the vicinity of the club. and it wasillege 1 that when. the lad went to the Albion to identify him he ap- peared very agitated. When charge 1 he bughe.d. The officer told him it was no laughing matter, and prisoner replied, If you will go to my pi ace you will find a book containing entries which will show that I could not possibly have been at the club tLt the time. "-In de e:Jce:. number of wit- nesses were called to prove an alibi, ana the jury acquitted prigoner. -There was some applause in court. and Mr. Justice Smith said he approved entirely of the verdict, and could not help think- ing chat the police had arrested the wroi-g man.

EXCITING SCEXE AT A 4 An alarming fixe broke out the other evening m "ul on the premises of Mr, J. Minuis, dry per, so;, Lavender-hill, Battersea, and expended to XIÍ. 305. the fancy bazaar belonging to Mr. Hart. Owing to the inflammable nattira of the stock the flames spread with great rapidivy, and alarm and excitement ensne i when it w:.s known that several young girls were ia the upper rooms and in immiuent peril, as the flames cut off their escape by the stiiircnse. 1 wo gir.were seen cm the roofs of the outb. uses, and with assistance they were rescued, but were suffering severely from shock.—The e ene of the conflagration was visited by thousanus of peonle, and when it bec.-ixae known that two ycuug women were still missing, public excitement, increased to a paininl degree! Captain Simmonds was early on the scene."and unuer his direction, tbe search fer the bodies of the unfortunate victims was conducted by the firemen and members of the Salvage Corps. This was a task of consi ierable diihculiy. o\v,ing to the complete ruin of .Messrs. Miuuis's premises, and the immense mass of still emosil ieiing rubbish which lay in the lower part of the; building. The attendance of a if rge body of police was necessary in order to keep b:ck the increasing crowd of curious observers, who had come frcnTall p- rts of the metropolis. The force of the fames can be judged from the fact that several shops on the other side of a 60It. road bad uieir windows cracked and their faeia sorched. 3: any anxi >UB inquiries were made during the day LS to the success of the search, but it was not until nearly five o'clock in the morning that the men came upon the poor remnants of humanity under the rubbish at the foot ri a vail which divined one shop from the other. The lx. ^es were in a shockingly hurnt con. ■ i; i ■•). an-i st beyond recognition. They were revere■! ;ly in a she 1 ana taken to the morr.u;r~ in Church- road. The names of the u :f, rtunate you ,g women were Ada Dodd, age.i twenty, an Loaisa Medland. aged nine een. Both as dressmakers at Mr. Minnis's. Mies JL ilda. David- son. agei eighteen is very severeiv injured, and is reported to be in a critical c^miition. Misa Lock was also singe 1 on the face and ams. It was stated that Messrs Arding and liobbs who carry on business nenr at ha-s offered to take in the ycung girls who have been deprived by the file oil their residence. ">!š

Mrs. Edward Jarmao.. of Gosfield, near Hal-, stead, Essex, has been con-Sned of fovr children at a birth. One was stillborn, and the others have aince died. At Folkestone, a butler, giving the name of Edward Coleman, has been committed for trial for obtaining a quantity of ivine by false pre- tences, having pledged the name of Madame Langly. Spiers, in whose servioe he had been. Ex-Inspector Hawksworth, late of the Leicester- shire County Constabulary, has committed suicide at Wigston, by cutting his throat. He retired from the force at the end of October, and had been depressed ever since. A Rome correspondent telegraphs that Cardinal Ruffo Scilla. who represented the Pope at the Queen s jubillee. has received from her Majesty a telegram of congratulation on his elevation to the cardinalate. A Vienna correspondent telegraphs that the Austrian Minister of War has issued orders for dogs to be trained for service as messengers and sentinels, and also to assist ia discovering- the wounded on the field of battle. ° At Liverpool Assizes, Henry Duval, who was convicted of defrauding three girls under pretence of obtaining for them engagements in a Liverpool pantomime, has been sentenced to fifteen months, imprisonment with hard labour. It has transpired from a well-informed source that the judgment of the Judical Committee on the Bishop of Lincoln's case will practically up. hold on all points the judgment of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Cambridge Town Council, has resolved to take immediate steps to promote a bill in Parlia- ment far the abolition or limitation of the Uni- versity's jurisdiction over the residents of the town. s At a meeting of the Free Library Committee of Leamington, it has been resolved to open the read- ing-rooms and reference library on Sunday after- noous from 2 p.m. to 6.30 p m. from October to May inclusive. fe,

PREPARATIONS FOR CHRIST- MASTIDE. Indications are not wanting, on every hand that the tradesmen of Pontypool have earnestl vied with each other in making attractive and extensive displays for the Christmas season. Though the window decorations are hardly up to the standard of former years, there is no room to doubt that the traders have laid in large stooi £ < of those articles which find most favour at tins season. Some details are appended :— Mr J. H. Baker, confectioner and baker, High street, has a large assortment of novelties in confectionery, sweetmeats, bonbons, crackers, Cui istmas candles, &c., calculated to gladden the hearts of the children. A supply of special Christmas cake of appetising appearance is also shewn, and will no doubt lead to large orders. Excel rent poultry and fresh butter and eggs are also shown. Mr. A. L. Lovell, sugar boiler, &c., Crane-st., displays a varied lot of sweets and confectionery, including Father Christmas's of all kinds-and dimensions from Id and upwards. Toys in con- fection and sweets of all colours and shapes, are calculated to draw the pennies of the youngsters at this gay and festive season. Mr. D. W. "Simpson, draper, clothier, &c., Ciane-street, has a fine display of ties from (id to 2s lid, the colours being rich and varied. Over- coats, reefers, &c., are s in abundance, in- silk, scarves, and in calf, kid, and wQblien gloves, there in endless variety at prices witain the reach of all. The ready-made .depart- ment is unusually well stocked, and a visit to this important establishment will be well repaid. MivISvaai Jones, Manchester House, has a spieudid display of drapery, the windows indeed being quite a work of art. Mr. Jones makes a spc-u.tlity of an enormous stock of clothing, blankets, flannels, &c., which would commend is.; i i to clothing club ticket holders. The fancy department is (filled with all the leading lines, the millinery is a sight for the ladies. Fci..cy goods, including work-boxes, albums, Ciidiiets, oic., are scattered about in gay prof usion, ant, a large supply of dolls from the ordinary Id. to the elaborately-attired 5s ones, will un- doubted commend itself to parents. Mr. J. Walker has stocked the" LitLle Gem" witu a wonderfully good supply of confectionery, including Santa Ciaus stockings, bonbons, cos- aques, chocolatss in fancy boxes, and the thousand-and-one varieties of sweetmeats com- mon to this time of the year. The showroom is open ro anyone who wishes to inspect its very fane contents, and he would be hard to please who failed to obtain here what he wanted m the con feet?onerv line. Mr. W. Thomas, groc r, Crane-street, displays a variety of season's fruits including currants, raisins, and muscatels. In hams and bacons, lard, teas, cheese, &c., Mr. Thomas provides an assortment both cheap and superior, and a trial -L should lead to further bookings. The musicaliy-inclined should not forget to inspect the stock of Messrs. Harmston & Co., Crane-street, where, in addition to a supply of first-class pianofortes and harmoniums, there are exhibited a collection of banjoes, accordions, concertinas, llute> &o., at all prices. Mr. W. R. Williams, London House, Ponty- pool, has on view a fine lotof dress materials, drapery, hosiery, and fancy goods. The shop and showrooms are well worthy of a visit, and one could hardly leave without purchasing some article, useful or ornamental. The millinery department is well stocked, as indeed;&re ail the departments, and no one will regret spending a little time iR viewing the colceailld careful ■ selection of goods in London House. Mi-, J. Daniel, Grocer, Crane-street, displavs J largely a fine Jot of new season's fooits at prices and of qualities which should be eminently satisfactory. In cheese, butter, lard, hams and bacons, canned fruits and meats. & £ > Mr. Daniel displays a varied assortment, whilst specialites in Christmas cake of first-rate quality awl Boss's gicger beer, in champagne-shaped aod ordmavy bottles, should command a big sale. Messrs. Davies and Sandbreek, ironmongers, Crane-street, exhibit a good collection of electro- plated tea, coifee, and dinner service- cruf,,ts, cutlery, &c., &e. In view of the severe frost, there is also a display of Skates, including wooden and acme, at moderaie prices. Mr. T. A. Jones, tobacconist, Crane-street, dL provides for lovess of the fragrant weed an assortment of tobaccos (fancy and otherwise), cigars,, cheroots, cigarettes, pipes, pouches, &c., of aii kinds and att all prices, and BO doubt the attractive exhibition will meet with the patron- age it deserves. .Air. A. Ailmmrk, watchmaker and .jeweller, Crane-street, makes a speciallity of jewellery for Christmas presents, includin g dress., engagement, and woo dine tii^rs. brooches, bangles, nedilaopv sliver match bexes, gol-a.«iKi silver alberts, &c„, all of which -are alike attractive in appearance and reasonable in price. .Messrs. W. Pegler and Son have evidently spared no. pakifc this year in providing fop,-tiie public an almost endless variety of Specialities., for Christmas. They have a display, of'the: choicest Valencia raisins, Vastizza currants, sultanas, muscatels, almonds, figs, ,green fruit, &G., &o.f- which they sell at astonishingly lew prices also Huntley and Palmer's.-OSich Cakes1 and Christmas Biscuits in fancy tins. Messrs. Cadbury's specialities consisting of chocolnte cremes, &-c in picture fooxes and other packages beautifully and artistically got Jl. Mesas'. Pegler issue monthly an illustrated cash price ii..iu free on .application, in which can be see a a detailed list of all the goods they sell and also the prices of some. This is done at grout expense, the quantitr printed being very large, but is eu- doubtedly ef great benefit to to the customer, as the. goods required and price can be seen at a glance. At Edwards's, stationers, &c., 4, Gesrge-street, ample provision will be found to have been made for the Christmas season. Patrons will liiid Christmas gifts in embarrassing variety. They j includes" snow-storms," puzzles and games Of every description, photo frame, writing desks and cases, -cigar cases, field ^glasses, inkstands, pocket-books, ladies' and gentlemen's card cases, zylonite balls (unbreakable), children's annuals, toy books, albums—and, as the auctioneers say, other articles too numerous to mention." At Davis Bros., of 3, George-street^ we find a ¡ plentiful stock of wines and spirits, and Rogers" ,e celebrated beers, of which they 'have laid in a stock of some hundreds of casks in various sizes, for the festive season, while at their new and commodious premises, at No. 7, will be found various goode, suitable for Christmas, in the Way ot fancy cakes, fruits, fig muscatels, almonds, fancy tins of biscuits, and various other gúoùs: Mention should also be made here of the cele- brated Mazawattee tea (a very suitable article for presents) for which they are the sole district agents, while t@ all purchasers for the next fort- night they will give a very compact pocket diary Mr. G. Wilton, grocer, &e., o, George-street, Pontypool, has made a successful effort to pre- pare for the Christmas trade, and has on offer a large quantity of various commodities, to suit all classes, at most reasonable prices. In his stock will be found a capital assortment of choice home-cured hams, breakfast bacon Wiltshire bacon, &c. Mr. Wilton has laid in a large stock of currants, raisins, and_ other seasonable etceteras, which cannot fail to find favour and give satisfaction. Crosse & Blackwell's jams and pickles, and Messrs. Kennaway & Co.'s (Exeter) wines and spirits will be found in great variety Peake, Frean, & Co.'s biscuits and cakes are also on offers and altogether Mr. Wilton may be complimented upon the excellent show he makes The premises of the Victoria Tea Company George-street, are well stocked with a capital assortment of presents of every description for, the season. They include china and earthen- ware, glass goods, pictures and engravings, ladies' hand-bags, rugs, ironmongery, boots, clocks, and eases of stuffed birds and fruit. Customers will find here also a rare lot of lamps in various de- signs, baskets of all kinds and isizes, whilst men- tion must also be made of that, at the present time indispensable article-the pudding basin in which a large trade has been done The children also have not been forgotten at this popular establishment, there being an immense variety of attractive toys suitable for children of all ages. These .articles can only be obtained by purchasers of the company's far-famed teas. Mr. J. Furlow, Confectioner, &c, of George- street and Crane-street, makes a capital season- able show, including aooUt 60 wedding- cakes. j ranging in price from as. to t4. The ornamental cakes (suitable for presents) comprise Tipsy Fruit, Genoa, Almond, Dundee, Pound and Tennis cakes, covered with almond paste and icing. Mince pies are supplied from Id. to 5s. each. Mr. Furlow has stocked a large assortment of sweets, having had special consignments from France and London, lie also holds the largest local stock of Fry s fancy chocolates (41 prize medals.) Attention is directed to the large stock of bonbons and Christmas hampers, and all sorts of novelties suitable for the Christmas season. In fancy bread and pastry there is an almost endless variety to choose from. In grocery Mr. Furlow is stocked with the finest goods in the market and sells only the best provisions. Mr. J. Naish, dealer in useful and fancy goods, has this year again made a splendid display of every description of toys and fancy goods. The shop windows are dressed very tastefully. In one of the windows is a mechanical figure of a "Tippler," with bottle and glass, taking his drop very regularly, and in another is the moving figure of an old lady, knitting. These and other attractions cause much amusement to the crowds of onlookers, who throng this popular resort. The premises will be found to contain an assort- ment of articles, almost bewildering in variety, suitable for presentation to persons of all ages and all classes. At Mr. J. Scott's, George-street, will be found a nice display of sweetstuffs which will make the mouths of the youngsters water, and for which there should be a ready sale. Mr. P, Feiling, has made excellent provision for the Christmas trade, and lias stocked a large quantity of articles suitable for presents to young and eld. They comprise dolls, magic I lanterns, musical toys and instrument also a large assortment of glass and earthenware of every description. Mr. E. Fowler, Lion House, makes a very large display of goods suitable for Christmas presents, ornamemal..113 well as useful, including work basket, fancy tables, jewel cases, ladies hand bags, purses, vases, dolls, brackets, Japanese laquer articles, ornamental grasses, down quilts in satin and silk, table cloths, antimacassars, silk handkerchiefs, &c., &c. Mr. W. Bunning, Ironmonger, Commercial- street, displays a large number of lamps, from the cheap cottage to the expensive drawing- room. Shades in great variety, both novel and handsome, are to be s-c-ii, wtiilst in other articles of domestic comfort, Mr. Btmning's establish- ment is well stocked. The old-established firm of Hughes and Son, Stationers and Booksellers, Commercial-street, fully maintains its redutation and is showing a large assortment of goods specially suitable for the season. Here are to found photo-albums frpm the cheapest to be most expensive, scrap and writing albums, hymn and prayer books, in choice biadiags, from Is. upwards poets, &c., beautifully bound in morocco and other leather. Juvenile literature is well to the fore—all the familiar annual volumes are represented from the massive Boys and Girls Own Papers in their handsome red and blue covers profusely gilt to the more humble Infants Magazine in paper boards. Such well-known writers as Ballantyne, Emma Marshall, Charlotte Yonge, Marryatt, &c., &c., all contribute their quota to make merry the hearts of boys and girls, while the fine art volumes of Nister and other publishers show to what state of perfection the illustration of books has risen. Ladies selecting a Christmas present for a gentleman will find nothing so neat and yet so useful as the wallets, pocket books, and card cases, so freely displayed, and we cannot let slip the opportunity of saying a word in praise of assortment of teachers and other Bibles. Christmas and New Year's cards and booklets are freely displayed and preparation is made for the coming year, by a really good selection of diaries for pocket and desk. Mr. H. ox, Tobacconist, &c., Commercial- street, exhibits a special line in his noted Club" cigar, a popular smoke at 2d., 3d., and 4d. Boxes of 100 and 50 are offered at special rates for Christmas time, whilst for other cigars, tobaccos, pipes, &c., our readers should have a look at Mr. Fox's large and excellent stock. Mr. F. Phillips, Grocer, Commercial-street, has stocked his, windows with a supply of Gil beys wines and spirits, which no doubt will find a ready sale. In We:, grocery department, Mr. Phillips is vrell to t" fore, the provisions bein.g of choice quality an$Juices reasonable. Tàe chief wkidow attraction appears to be a first prize model cow exhibited in the window of illx, G. Udell, draper, Commercial-street, which WHS visited by thousands of persons, especially dui-ing he process of milking, which was freely carried out .¡y a countqJairY boy. During this process tue piuuip ihGe creature behaved ad- mirably, although surrounded by a crowd of men's suiin, ha,ts, tie! &c., on the inside, and a large concourse of «|>ectators on the outside of the window. Mr. R. Mellor, china and earthen ware dealer, of Commercial-street and the Market-place, makes a splendid show of goods, miany of which are peculiarly suitable for presentation at this season. They corayrise tea sets, and dinner services (in t great variety of patterns toilet and i?inket sets ((m hand-paim-ed and gilt, and Old Derby patterns). A lasge assortment of ornapients, in all -±he newest shapes and patterns, are also on offer and intending purchasers can- not do better than pay an early visit to4ither of Mr. ileiior's oetifclishmeiits. B. W. Woolley, Draper, &c., Commercial- £ h«?ftt, has a wrv hne display of drapery,; devivnans, hatn,?feon»ets, feathers, furs, boas, &c. tue windows being pcirtienJariy wefi dressed. Tnt; interior i« ifully st,^cked,and the chow rooms: *xnd rnillinesr department are artistically (fcsssted. Mj's. iil. R. Williams, ConfectioneE*, Commer- i cial-si re';t, hes a lar$ £ variety of eenfectiouepy, i pastry, cak-e.rind fansv"jgf*K>ds. Ektras in the shape of Devonshire lmttBe, clotted cream. brawn, sausages, &c-, be obtained at -thie ieh vwhich. wiaiiKtains its<seputation. £ ar- teycellcnt cables. 2lr. W.J:L Fa,,kiris,Mtiic Seller,, Commeraw- street, hae a iarge 1iiumhcto or pianofortes!, har- moniums, snd American' organs, by the best makers, arwt also a storik of accordions, con- eertiuas, "ifutes, &c. A large supply of sengs, 's, i^iet;ts,&e:, "both comic and sentimental, are also to be obiahied at this eld-established house of business. Mrs. £ &on, Market-street, has her customiry exceileutrejection of grocery, including choice season's fruits, br-tser, lard, &c., &c., at prices w.'iich wiiJ. compare IA any ofiiier.estabiish- ment of tb-e kind. Mr. W. R. Burton, fishmonger and fruiterer, has his shop well stocked mthfruit, including oranges, dates, nuts, -with which to "grft.-e theiestive'feard.. i Mr. Knsipp, greoer,. ilarket-stroet, ha&cnlled his new premises, with a-xapital Rtock of grocery and provisions. Csn-ants, raising, and muscatels are niade-sfpecialitios, and in other departments Ilk. KnaptMs calculated to give-satisfaction. Mr. »J. leoa, lishniojiger und fruiterer, dis- pkyo. lruit and poultry to a V(K')' large ex tent. Orar.ges, Bg's, daces, huts, geese, ducks,.fowls, rabbits, &c., &c„ are alike plentitul and good. llr. A. Boytt, 03borne-»oad, the latest addition to the ranK« of Pot; :ypool grocery makes a very pretty display .of currants, raiskis; &c., in his siiojj wiiiaoj.vs, whilst iiis saelves are well stocked wit i; seasonable and other.requirements. The fruiterers ef the town have not been' benitKliiand .m preparing for the gay and festive season. Oraiiges, apples, qs, nuts, grapes, &c,. will be found displayed to advantage at FisnV., Critilo-, Miss Sumner's, The Oxoss; Mr. Parker sand Mr. Haie t' Greorge-sti-eet. Mr. Rudman's, Clarecce-atreet; and Mr, Morgan's, High-street.

¡ MAD COWDUCT OF AN OFFICER. Wilbraham Invert b- nforleyj forty-seven, a retired iieutenant-colouel Royal Marines, of Beckenbam-road. Pengei. has b--n charged before Mr. Sheil, at the Westminster Police,court with a«eaultiugA young- woman living- in Ilfield-road., Brompton, named Sarah Cook, ia FiiLham-road. The prisoner was described as drunk when charged. Inspector Spring-all said the police had received a telegram from the friends of the ac- cused to the effect that he had been in two lunatic asylums. The prosecutrix was net in at- tendance. Mr. H. Wynne, solicitor's clerk, of Hectory-road, Fulham, said he wa« on his way home at one o'clock that morning, and near the* Queen's Elm, Fulham-road, ke saw the prisoner in violent altercation with a cabman, who said he had not been paid'after driving him about. Ac- cused struck the cabman, and then turning his attention to the young woman Cook, who formed one of the crowd, he struck her in the faoe with his stick. She bled and fell to the ground. Pri- soner then sparred up to witness, who knocked him down. Mr. Sheil put the prisoner back till the af ternoon, when his friends and a solicitor at- tended. Dr. Laurie, of Beckeuham-road, Penge, deposed Chat the accused was not in his right mind, and on his and another medical certificate Mr. :3heil directed the removal of the defendant to the workhouse as a luuatic.

SERIOUS STABBING BY A BOY I Edwin Bertie Vaughan, aged thirteen, living in Khyber Road, Battersea, has been re-examined at the Wan<Wortfi Police Court on the charge of unlawfully wounding Charles Day. a lad fifteen years of zige.-The prisoner had been remanded for a fortnight to enable the attendance of the comijaiuant, whose injuries were so severe that the house surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospital thought it necessary to detain him in that institu- tion uuriner the period mentioned The eim- plainant now attended, and said he struck the prisoner's companion on the leg while he was in ralcon Road. The prisoner came at him with a j kuife ami grabbed him in the abdomen.—Mr. H. R- Jones, who defended, elicited from the com- plainant that he threatened to strike the prisoner with a stick.—The house surgeon said when the boy was brought to him a portion of the contents of the abdomen was protruding.—Mr. Jones, in defence, said the complainant struck the prisoner with a stick, and he took out the knife for the purposes of defence. The complainant practi- cally fit. uck himself on the knife.—Mr. Hopkins refuse I to accept the defence, and said the pri- soner deserved no sympathy. It was only by accident that he was not being sent for trial on a charge of murder. He cautioned him as to his future conduct, and advised him, whenever he found himself engaged in a row, to trust to the weapons which nature had given him, and not to anything be might have in his hands. He accepted a surety for the appearance of the prisoner in six months' time.

THE SOUTH WALES SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, StMMERFIELD HALL, MAESY- CWMMER. On Thursday afternoon there was a large gathering of the parents and friends of the pupils attending the above school on the occasion of the second annual prize distribution under the new management. This school was primarily established to provide for the daugh- ters of those who wished them to be educated at a boarding school in the country, at a fair cost, a thoroughly good English education with the usual accomplishments and it is quite evident that its establishment has been tully justified, as is shown by the steady increase in the number of students and, that the school is destined to fulfil its aim by providing a good highclass education, is not only evidenced by the result of outside examinations, but was strikingly illustrated on Thursday by the very large collection of work which was exhibited in the school drillroom. Many of the specimens of handiwork — leatherwork, paintings, drawings, &c.—were exceedingly neat and artistic, and tne owners clearly show great promise in the future. Pleasantly situated on the slope of the hill just above the village of Maesycwmmer, protected from the north and east winds, the school can claim to be in one of the healthiest and most picturesque spots in South Wales. And in this connection it may be noted that the whole school has enjoyed practical immunity from the influenza epidemics which have recently pre- vailed in so many districts, and now in mid winter, roses, pansies, and ocher flowers n be seen here in full bloom in the open air. In the absence on Thursday of Mr. Lewis Williams, J.P., chairman of the Gardiif School Board, who was to have presided, Mrs. Williams gracefully distributed the prizes, and in thanking the scholars for a beautiful bouquet of choice flowers, which was modestly handed to her by Miss Emily Davies, Pontypridd, on behalf of the school, Mrs. illiains addressed those pre- sent upon the great advantages accruing to girls from having so thorough a trailing as was evi- dently given at this school. She had taken some pains to ascertain the quality of tiie work that was done there, and from what she had seen that morning, and from other ample examinational results, she fetf confident that Mrs. Jones and her efficient staff were discharging a very good and noble duty. Mrs. Williams was accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Percy Thomas, Cardiff, and supported by Mrs. Dan Isaac Davies Cardiff Mr.and Mrs. Beris.h G. Evans, Cardiff- Aider man and Mrs. White, Cwmaman; the Rev] H. Thomas, Ystrad the Rev. T. J. Hughes^ Maesycwmuter; the Rev. I*. M. Davies, Griftiths- ,town Mr. And Mrs. Edwards, Tredegar Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Rhys, Abertilleiy; Mrs. Jones, Abeream4 Mrs. J. Jones, Ebbw Vale Mrs. Thomas a-nd Mrs. Price, Reauiort Mrs. W. Price, Grammar School, Pengam and a large number eg other ladies and gentlemen interested in educational w<?rk. JMr. Jones rea4a number of letters of apology expressing regret at the inability of the writers to be present. Mys. ifcones, is presenting a import on the y$ar?« inability of the writers to be present. Mys. ifcones, is presenting a import on the y$ar?« work, •said that-during the year 1891, the average number of boarders had increased frorn 56 to 70. while.-at the present time there were 73 boarders and six day scholars on the -boolm The school currir-ulum was added to during the yeer, -it being found desirable, in tlif jnterett of a few of the girls, to make .provision for .practical tele- graphy, and a complete set of instruments had been .fixed in the exercise-rooms. -A large library had also been added to the attractions of the school, and this had been thoroughly appreciated by the girls, who had acaess to its advantages free of cost. The etatf now consisted of tke prw- ciprl, five resident governesses, and three visiting teachers for music, FrencTi, and dancinc and amongst the certificates that had been awarded during the year were eight from the College ef Preceptors, two only of those presen ted fcr examination having failed to pass satisfactorily. For the London Trinity College examination H'j nation,,i?3 students were .examined, and of these 728 were successful in obtaining certificates, eight of them succeeded in obtaining honours. The result of the College of-Preceptors' examination held tbe previous week would -not be known fSr some time. Fourteen girls attended—nine for the second class and five for the third. Sixteen o girls were also presented the same week for the London Trinity College intermediate examina- tion, and-28 for 1 he London College of JJ^usic for the theory of music and pianoforte playinrr. The five 110 exhibitions given annually to girls in the school would be awarded upon the receipt of the report on the examination conducted in the earlier part of the week. One of the prettiest and most tuneful of Christmas cantatas, entitled "A Bundle of Sticks," rendered by the scholars in full charac- ter, with a pianoforte solo contributed:by Miss Lucy Davies, medallist, was very much appre- ciated and applauded. This part of the day's Proceedings was .ably conducted by Professor A iS. James, R.AJSff. The following is a list of the pupils who re- ceived certiacates for having successfully passed the examination held by tne London Trinity C Miss M. E. bey-is, Ammanford Miss Lilr Ken- driek, Cardiff; Muss Kate Davies, G,owertonMiss Janet Davies, Radvr, Cardiff.: Miss Gertie Ha,den; Pontypool; Miss M. J. Edwards, Merthyr Tydfil, Miss Chrissie Charles. Cardiff; Miss E. Maelrey. Pontymister; Miss Edith Griffiths, Cardiff Miss Ada .Edwards, Tredegar; Miss Blodwen Bevan, Ferndale j Miss S. A. Evans, Nantymoel; Miss Buth Thomas, Keynoldstone Miss Mary Annie Williams Llanelly; Miss Mary Thomas, Nantgarw • Miss Louie Edwards, Cardiff; Miss Annie Davies New- bridge; Miss Jennie Evans. New Quay; Miss Jennie James. New -Quay; Miss Ida Phillips, Blaenffos Miss ifliith_ Williams, Newbridge; Miss Beatie Burns, Cardiff; Miss Mabel Whiimcy, Tongwynlais. practical and honours Miss Kate Caine, Pengam, honours; Miss Mary J, John, Cymmer, honours; Miss Lizzie Llewellyn, Pentyrch. honours; Miss Hannah Mathias, Port Tennant, honours; Miss Ljxcy Davies, New Quay, honours; Miss Annie Bees. Griliithstowa, practical and honours; Miss Mabel Pratt, Tredegar Junction, practical; Miss Rebe Jones, Hengoed, practical. After the distribution of the certificates Mrs. Williams presented a large number of valuable books to those students who had excelled in the various branches of the school examinational work and the meeting was then occupied with addresses from the Rev. H. Thomas, Ystrad Mynach; the Rev. T. J. Hughes, Maesycwmmer: Mr. Beriah Gwynfe Evans, Cardiff; and others, all of whom spoke in the highest terms of the excellent work which was carried on at this school.—A vote of thanks, proposed by Mrs. R. H. Jones and carried with acclamation to Mrs. Williams for presiding, and the sinking of the National Anthem brought a most interesting meeting to a close. After the public proceedings were over a réunion of present and past pupils of the school was held, when congratulations and pleasant greetings seemed to be the order of the evening.

Ir. Stephen D. Elkins. of "West Virginia, nail been appointed United States Secretary of War. The visit of the Marquis of Ripon to Peabam ilarbour has been definitely fixed for the night of the 11th of January. A Par is correspondent states t'hr. t11e French Jesuits have resolved to return to their colleges and other establishments. The annual banquet of the Association of Foreign Consuls in London has beeu hell at the Hotel Metropole. The Lord May hits consented tr. be patron of the City of London branch or the Imperial federa- tion League duiing his year of ofSce. I The Earl and Countess of Y.rVr' och. have been elected vice presidents of the Lru — Choral Society. ° At a meeting held in Rochester, the Bishop pre- siding, it was resolved to iurther restore the Cathedral, at au estimated cost of £ 11,000. The annual prizes in connection with the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, Old Kent-road, have been distributed by ilrs. T. Lynn Brtstowe. Work has been resumed at Whildale Colliery, the fire which broke Lut recently having oeen subdued. A return just published shows that at Glasgow during the yetir i>02 new steamers and 150 new saiii- vessels have beeu launched. _o-A