South Wales Daily News

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES. DEATHS MARRIAGE. CORN'WEIX—JAMES.—On JMarcii 6, at the Roath-road Wesleyan Chapel, by the Rev S. P. Dunman, George Parsons, second son of Mr G. H. Cornwell, Castle- road. Roath, to Elizabeth (Bessie), second daughter cf the late Mr George James, of Abergavenny. 502 DEATHS. EDWARDS.—March 7th, Coslett Thomas, child of Thos. Edwards, Cefn House, Pontypridd, aged one year. MORGAN.—March 6th, at 49, Perrot-street, Treharris, William Morgan, aged 90, late Hen Bersondy, Llan- over, and father of late Rev W. Morgan, C.M. minis- ter. Funeral on Thursday for Llanover. 424 SANDEY.—On the 6h March, at 11, Wood-street, Penarth. after a painful illness, Clarence Herbert, aged nine months, dearly beloved infant son of Catherine and Thomas Sandey. Funeral Thursday at 3 o'clock. Friends kindly accept this intimation. WATKINS.—March 6th,*> t Hendrecavan-road.Penvsjraig, jestyn David, beloved child of l ewis and Gwenllian Watkins, aged eight months. Funeral on Thursday 1 p.m. for Glyntaff Cemetery. 8397 IN MEMORIAM. EDWARDS.—In loving memory of the late Rev Coun- cillor I. Salisbury Edwards, who died March 3rd, 1891. Mrs I. Salisbury Edwards wishes to gratefully tender her warmest thanks to the various ministers who filled the pulpit during the past year. 8421

THE PARLIAMENT OF COMMERCE. THE annual meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which took place in London yesterday, had before it, as was to have been expected, a number of subjects of very great importance and we are pleased to note that amongst them was a motion relative to Private Bill legislation. There are few matters which more affect the promoters of new industrial enterprises requiring Parliamentary sanction than the cost of obtaining the needful Acts of Parliament. It has been stated quite recently, in connection with the expense of applications for new Bills authorising the construction of docks in this locality, that the cost of an unopposed Bill is about JB700, and that one local company has had to spend about;C70, 000 in Parliamentary outlay. This is a heavy addition to the capital in- vested in any undertaking, an addition the more objectionable because, if reform such &s was advocated yesterday be brought into operation, it would be quite unneces- sary. Local inquiries must be established, giving greater freedom to the projectors of new enterprises, the antiquated and cWtly procedure, now compulsory, being swept aside. Another subject discussed yester- day was that of tribunals of commerce, the meeting adopting a resolution approving the appointment of an assessor to act with the judge before whom commercial cases are tried. One great object to be secured in such appointments is to prevent the expensive and dilatory arbitration proceedings, which now are con- sequent upon the practical inability of the law courts to try cases. But there is another reform which should accompany even if it do not precede a change in the tribunal, and that is codification of the commercial law, a great work, but one which must needs be carried out before, mercantile questions can be satisfactorily adjudicated upon. Dealing with the question of private arrangements with creditors, we are bound, as against the mover of the resolution, to sustain the view of the PRESIDENT óf the BOARD of TRADE—that it is highly desirable there should be liability to public examination. If the decision of a majority of creditors is to settle the affairs of an estate, then the way is opened to the utilisation of bogus claims, and pretended creditors might over-ride the wishes and determination of bona-fide parties. Even as altered, the resolution is one to be carefully considered; and if it had any probability of being put into legislative form might provoke uneasiness, for the course of debtors is already quite free enough from unpleasantness. Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE had a useful suggestion in regard to the establishment of a National Labour Bureau; and his proposal was, we are pleased to observe, well supported and unanimously passed. There is abundant reason for the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the working of the Bank Act, the monopoly of the Bank of England being regarded by competent observers as restric- tive upon credit generally, and as having a tendency to aggravate financial difficulties, when these recur; and the Associated Chambers appear to favour this view, and, therefore, by resolution, call for a Commission of Inquiry. A number of other topics came up, most of them being of a nature which led to their being promptly dealt with, because previous discussions had enabled the representatives present to reach conclusion upon them. Altogether, the Parliament of Commerce did a good day's work.

TEACHING THE TORIES. "FOR good or evil." This is the phrase, in which the leading journal refers to the victory of the Progressives in London. For good or evil," it states, the Pro- gressives are now in powor" and quite naturally our contemporary goes on to demonstrate that their possession of power will result in evil. The opinion of the Times, on a subject like this, is the opinion of the well-to-do and well-satisfied, those who are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing so much as being let alone. For good or evil, the Progressives are in power, not only in the London County Council, but also through- out the whole country, the Council elections which we report this morning serving only to confirm that evidence of the growth and prevalence of the Radical sentiment which preceding elections have manifested so clearly. As an augury of th issue of the Parliamentary Election, these County Council contests are everything that could be desired. If it werenot that a section of the Liberal leaders, some of whom have grown grey in Parliamentary and elec- tioneering work, hold the view that it would be better to let the present Govern- ment fall in pieces through the operation of the disintegrating forces now at work amongst its members, the Radicals through- out the county would be most urgent in their call for dissolution of Parliament. As it is, they can well afford to wait. Victory is certain. The only question now is how large will be the majority which Mr GLAD- STONE will have at his back after the appeal to the constituences. One of the reasons put forward for the defeat of the Moderates in the London Election is that a large number of Conserva- tives voted for the Progressives as a protest against the exemption of ground rents from taxation, and it is stated that very many Tories feel as strongly upon the subject as any Radical-so much so that in the case of London even those who could not see their way to support the Progressives actively, did so passively be abstensions from voting. This is good news. If true, it proves that the education of Conservatives, even in the Metropolis, is decidedly progressive and when the Conservatives come up to the level of'what has so frequently been des- cribed as confiscatory measures, great things may be looked for. It is not very much, if at all, further to taxation of royalties.

THE REPORT ON RECRUITING. THE annual report of the Inspector-General of Recruiting, which has just been issued, is a document that will be read with peculiar care, in view of the revived interest that now prevails in army affairs. Incidentally it brings out further proof of the fact that the great towns are increasing in population at the expense of the rural districts. Lieutenant-General FEILDING dwells par- ticularly upon the experiences of the recruiting officers owing to the depopulation of rural districts and the aggregation of youths and young men in the- towns. The report states that the difficulty ot obtaining recruits in some areas is due partly to the effect of the Education Act, which, in the opinion of the writer, has greatly tended to the aggregation of the labouring classes in the urban centres of manufacturing activity, and that the result of the distaste for country life, which, in his opinion, has arisen from the opera- tion of better education, has had greater effect in drawing people from rural residence than have the many inventions of labour- saving agricultural implements. If education were conducted properly, and children were early imbued with a knowledge of natural science, country residence would gain for them something of the charm which it has for large numbers who are com- pelled by circumstances to live in great towns. But, debarred from such instruction, and restricted, even if they were instructed, from opportunities of learning a little about the birds, beasts, and fishes, the plants and stones, and all the world of wonders which surrounds the country resident, it is not surprising that, with a smattering of A B C lore, the country youth should endeavour to escape into the town, there to gain more congenial surroundings than he could find in the hovel which his parents are compelled to inhabit. Returning to the question of recruiting, we note with pleasure that the INSPECTOR-GENERAL attributes much of the decline of crime in the Army to this educa- tion, which he considers to have driven young men to the towns. He points out, too, that there has been a great increase in the comfort and healthy amusements of the soldier in the barracks, and that the enlistment of young men has re- sulted in a higher degree of subordination and more easy control on the part of the officers. Looking through the report as a whole, and making allowance for the pre- judgment which would influence the IN- SPECTOR-GENERAL in regard to such matters as bear upon the statistics he presents, the conclusion is suggested that if the status of the army, as a whole, continue to be raised, if the barracks be made more home-like, and the young soldier can find there some degree of amusement, those already with the colours will be most effectual recruiting officers amongtheir friends and ac- quaintances, and that the strength of the army I will be maintained to a large extent with- out special effort, for, as the INSPECTOR- GENERAL observes, there is amongst a large class a liking for military drill and exercises, I and young men of 18 and 19 will not be slow to perceive the benefits they would receive from good food, physical drill, and a carefully-arranged course of gymnastics. That deficiency of recruits does not arise from actual distaste for military service is to be gathered from the fact that of the total number of recruits who enlisted during the year, 2,000 were for 12 years' service, with the colours 32,000 for seven years, and only 2,000 for three years. In connection with the general character of soldiers, there is one highly gratifying statement in the report. It shows that the numbers discharged for misconduct compare very favourably with former years, there having been a decrease during the past four years, and the per- centage for 1891 has been as low as '8. The report adds that as no reasonable applica- tion for the discharge of a soldier of really bad character is ever refused, this return shows that the general conduct of the soldiers is better than it was and the INSPECTOR-GENERAL concludes with the remark that every effort should be made to render the standard of character so high in the Army that to be a soldier means, prima facie, a well-conducted man worthy of trust.

WHAT may be considered the most im- portant question in Indian commercial affairs is now pressing forward for settle- ment. From several quarters it has been made evident that the difficulties which arise out of the existence of a silver currency in India and a gold currency in Great Britain have reached a point at which they become intolerable and whilst at the annual meeting of the Bi-metallic League, last week, there were rejoicings among the faddists then assembled as to their possibility of such difficulties making their theories more popular, there is from the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce a call upon the Indian Government to establish a gold standard. It will have to come to this. Currency-dabblers in the United States are doing all they can to upset the commercial future of thoir great country by "free silver" folly and all its concomi- tants. But for Great Britain there is only one course, that safe course which has helped to bring us to our pre- eminence in commerce and finance, namely, a single standard, and that a gold standard. It is unquestionable that difficulties which cry aloud for removal are the outcome of the different bases of currency in India and Britain. But that is a reason for assimila- ting Indian practice to our own it is no reason for abandoning the strong position which this country holds. The work will be a very troublesome one, fraught with disturbance of business and derangement of commerce, and, as it is so easy to misrepresent the effect of currency operations, there will not be wanting those who may try to persuade the Hindoos that they are being defrauded when change is attempted. Currency reform in India is a necessity. It should take only one direction, and the sooner the difficult task is com- menced the better for all parties. In his paper read yesterday before the East India Association, Mr DARLING, chairman of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce, dealt with recent silver legislation and its effect on India. The views he set forth demand care- ful attention, because cf his experience and general knowledge, and the fact that he pre- sented a paper on such a subject is a token of the growing interest taken in the subject he dealt with.

LOVElS of music in Wales will peruse with interest the valuable article by "PENCERDD GWALIA," which we refer to in another column. No one is better qualified to speak with authority on all that relates to the harp than Mr JOHN THOMAS, whose cultured taste and elevated patriotism have done so much for national music in the Principality. The gifted harpist confesses to a strong predisposition for the double-action harp, and recommends it to his countrymen in preference to the triple harp with which their affections and traditions are so closely intertwined. In these and kindred matters Welshmen are strangely conservative but an appeal from a gentleman of such acknowledged pre- eminence as PENCERDD Gw ALIA" is bound to carry great weight, for no one dare call in question either his competency or his patriotism.

THE sectarian bitterness imported into two or three of the Glamorganshire County Council elections—notably in the Rhondda Valley—is much to be deplored. No good can possibly accrue from denominational bias in these matters. On the contrary, it nourishes influences that are necessarily antagonistic to a healthy public sentiment. Of late it has been subject of congratulation amongst Welshmen that the country was emancipating itself from the thraldom of denominationalism. But it is too clear that the evil spirit has not yet been entirely exorcised. Wherever there is vitality and life there also will be found to exist varieties and differences of opinion. We are not of those who wouldseek to bring about a dead, dull level of uniformity. The inter-action and the emulation of the different sects is, always within their legitimate sphere, calculated to promote rather than to retard human hap- pinesss. As Mr LEWIS MORRIS has finely said, Rest springs from strife, and dissonant chords beget "divinest harmonies." But to introduce the absolutely foreign element of sec- tarianism into public affairs is to obscure and confuse the real issues involved and to weaken the cause of progress. Until this cancer which is eating into the vitality of our Liberalism is entirely eradicated Wales will not have fulfilled the high purposes which her noblest ison-s hope yet to see her accomplishing.

THE Welsh members gained a fair amount of support yesterday in their opposition to the proposal that Birmingham should ex- tinguish common rights over a very larga area of land, in order that duo provision should be made for the water supply of the Midland metropolis. The voting was :— For the second reading of the Bill, 244; and against it, 102; and it is no sentimental grievance which will induce 100 members of the House of Commons to go into the lobby in support of a protest. What is needed is, as Mr LAWSON pointed out, that the dif- ferent water schemes of the great centres of population should be dealt with after the Royal Commission has reported. What is now taking place is that certain corporations are rushing in to secure a preference to which, by geographical position and other connection, they are not fairly entitled. Birmingham, in this particular instance, is credited with trying to get ahead of Lon- don and there is ample justification for the principle which underlies the opposition of MABON, Mr D. A. THOMAS, and the other representatives of the industrial districts of Wales, which at present are far from satis- factorily supplied with water—namely, that the future necessities of those districts should have due consideration when schemes such as that of Birmingham are brought forward.

lRY COSMOS.] "SPRAGGING" THE COAL IN SOUTH WALES COLLIERIES. A CASE of great importance to colliers was heard at the Ystrad police-court on Monday. A collier employed in the yard seam in the Fernhill Colliery, Bhenrhondda, was sum- moned for a breach of the 22nd rule of the General Rules of the colliery. The provision specifies that a "sprag" or prop shall be erected against the face of the coal by miners engaged in stalls described or known as the "face slip" at a distance not less than six feet from each other. The defendant was busily at work in the stall when Mr Sims, deputy inspector of mines, entered the working place. The defen- dant's attention was immediately called to the absence of sprags or props, and he unhesitatingly begged of the In .9 spector and the manager to overlook the matter, as it was quite an oversight on his part. The Inspector informed the manage- ment that unless they prosecuted the work- man they themselves would be summoned for the offence. No doubt there is consider- able negligence in this respecc on the part of a large number of workmen or miners, but unquestionably if the Inspectors of Mines made a careful inspection the probability is that they would find the management of collieries guilty of negligence with regard to the question of timbering. No prosecution has ever taken place in consequence of miners not having erected what is known as double timbers or cogs." The men are paid for fixing these, but they don't receive a cent for the erecting of "sprags." Of course, the Inspector of Mines instituted proceedings chiefly in order to caution the generality of the miners, and thereby insure greater safety to life and limb. But are there not sections of headings or stalls unprotected by "double timbers" or "cogs The management of collieries state that the workmen who mostly violate the particular provision regarding the spragging of coal are experienced miners—men who have worked for a considerable number of years underground-and they have to caution these oftener than the less skilled. It is natural that the management of collieries should restrict the number of timbers for which the men arc paid, but the Inspector of Mines should consider the question of economy secondary to that of the safety of the lives of the men.

WELSH PIERS. WILL Penarth have a pier this century ? A report by the Board of Trade has just been issued, stating that Mr H. F. Edwards has applied for power to construct a promenade pier of the length of 640 feet, at the esti- mated cost of 216,000. An objection was received from Mr J. Paton, O.E., who claimed to have an interest in works com- menced on the same site under a previous provisional order, but the Board very pro- perly declined. to entertain this objection, and propose to proceed with the order. Colwyn Bay have also decided to erect this necessary adjunct to a seaside pleasure resort, and they have obtained permission. The "Llandudno Pier Company" have asked for a new table of rates, and they are to be made happy. A pier at Penarth means a great deal to Cardiff and the hill folk. Saturday afternoon is the general holiday, but sometimes two Saturdays out of three the tide does not suit, so that this leisure cannot be utilised in a trip to Ilfracombe. When the pier at Penarth is built boats will be able to leave at all states of the tide. •. u

THE APATHY OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. IN a little book entitled "Porthcawl as a health resort," I came across these words A great blot in our present history of Porthcawl is that there is no church, and while it is not the duty of tho writer to find fault, note must be made of what appears negligence on the part of someone that such an important centre should be without a proper edifice for the very numerous members of the Established Church. The Nonconformist denominations are well provided for there is a comfortable, well-built Wesleyan Chapel, situated midway between the Rail- way-station and the Esplanade. The Inde- pendents, Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Unitarians are also well provided for." Is not this an apt illustration of the history of the Church of England in Wales ? Is it not always the last to awaken to the spiritual needs of the people ?

THE COAL TRADE. COASTWISE and foreignwise, the Welsh ports show last month an increase of 3,000 tons upon February of last year. This is tantamount to a decrease, considering that there was an extra day. Cardiff exhibits an increase both ways, but the other three ports show a decline, which is large in the case of Newport, and nearly one-half in the case of Llanelly. The Cardiff figures exhibit a slight increase, even allowing for Leap Year. The coast trade from this port is growing. Last month there was an increase of nearly 22,000 tons —an augmentation of close upon a fourth. The total of the North-east ports is 121,000 tons more than that of last year, and closely approximate to the total of the Welsh ports; but then there are ten of the former and only four of the latter. Whatever the coal trade may be elsewhere, it cannot be called depressed at Cardiff.

THE COAL PROBLEM. THE Newcastle Chronicle is responsible for the statement that the whole of the con- tract last year of the Rotterdam Gas Coal was taken by Durham Collieries. This year lower prices were quoted, but the still lower prices of German coal caused the Durham coalowners to lose part of the contract. Whether this story be true or not is not a matter of much importance. AT i-Uit- _r"'V"IIo"n l mL- i -LievcibiicAcoo, 1U a lUUnU. Aiie cuat abroad is not of the same quality as British coal, but when the latter reaches a certain price the former enters into competition with it. How far this price can affect competition in England remains to be seen. But a great deal of our coal supply is used by the iron works. Now our iron is not vastly superior to the American and Continental product. Last year we made some 650,000 tons less pig iron than in 1890. This was due to the high price of fuel and the low price of iron. If coal is artificially to be raised the same state of affairs must be applied to iron. But this cannot be done without protection. Is the new Unionism drifting towards this end? It is plain that if the colliers succeed in raising the price of coal many works and manufactories will have to stop. Will not such a result cause an antagonism of labour ? Will there not be on one side the colliers, and on the other they who have been thrown out of work by the rise in the price of coal ?

THE WOMEN OF DICKENS. EVERYBODY who lectures upon Dickens always maintains that he falls short in his pourtrayal of woman. Now this is just what he does not do. Mrs J. Ormiston Chant, in her lecture on Dickens at St. George's Hall, whilst yielding unstinted ad'uivation to the master whose creations have become part of our nationality, was of this opinion. His young women were pretty, plump, dimpled, and domesticated. They were" cuddlesome," if the lecturer might use the term, but they were feeble and lacked character. His middle-aged women were shrewish, or eccentric, or ridiculous. In the one or two instances where Dickens had depicted the intellectual woman he had made her odious or grotesque, as in the case of Mrs Jellaby." Dickens may not have given us heroines which are only fit for the stage, but his women were essentially the type of female that would be met in the class of life which he depicted. He was too much of an artist to place on his canvas figures which were ideal more than real. The majority of women are feeble and lack character, and it should not be forgotten that in his day they were more so than they are now. Education and a greater freedom have endowed women with qualities which, when Dickens wrote, were only emphasised in such people as "Mrs Jellaby." Some critics think that "Lady Castlewood" is one of the finest feminine creations. But is she true to life and period ? I should say not. More- over, is there not something unnatural in a woman marrying a man to whom she has acted the part of mother ever since he was a mere child ? You can understand a woman marrying a man younger than herself, but not the man who from a boy has always re- garded her as a mother. Dickens would never have created such an unwomanly woman.

POETIC, IF NOT TRUE. WHEN Alexander Pope visited the Orient nearly two centuries ago he obtained a slip of one of the willows beside the waters of Babylon, whoreon the children of Israel hung thvir harps in the days of the Captivity. Planting the wand upon his return to England, he secured a thrifty tree in time. From this latter Martha Washington secured a twig, which it is said she took to Arlington Heights, with the same result. And now (says the Horticultural Times) a tree grown from a slip taken from hers has just been planted in the Indiana State- house grounds.

THE NEW TELEPHONE COM- PANIES' BILLS. A FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION. The time has expired for depositing petitions in the House of Commons praying to be heard by counsel in opposition to the National Telephone Company's Bill and the Bill of the New Telephone Company, the object of which Bills is to obtain further powrs for the erection of overhead and the laying Down of underground wires throughout Great Britain. From the petitions i 1 1 i <i.. XT- A.: i rn„i l r't_ lodged against tneiNationai xeiepnone uompany s Bill it is found that no less than 112 separate opponents desire to appear in opposition. The full strength of this opposition cannot, however,, bo measured by the number of petitions actually deposited, as one petition bears the seals of no fewer than 29 opposing Corporations, whilst a second petition is signed by the representatives of 83 opposing Local Boards. Several other petitions also represent combined opposing interests. As regards th Bill of the New Telephone Company the total number of separate petitions actually deposited in opposition is 63, but of this number two petitions represent 13 Corporations and 16 Local Boards respectively. With the exception of petitions from the Duke of Westminster, the Duke of Bedtord, Viscount Portman, the trustees of the Duke 'of Portland, and a petition from owners, lessees, and occupiers of houses, the whole of the remaining petitions are from County Councils, Corporations, Local Boards, Vestries, and other public bodies and companies, scattered throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

THE PEARL CASE. ILLNESS OF MRS OSBORNE. Mrs Osborne has been seriously ill in prison during the last week. Her symptoms, which be- gan with severe pain in the head, culminated on Tuesday last in an attack of hystero-catalepsy. During this attack she was insensible for some sixteen hours. She is now so much better that it is expected that her trial will take place on Thursday next.

A FACT.—Lewis's Rheumatic Essence. A re- liable remedy for Rheumatism, Gout, Sciatica, and Lumbago Sold everywhere. 7960 NEW HALL, CWMAMAN, near Aberdare. -Grand Opening Performance by the Famous Tute's Operatic I Minstrels, for One Night Only, Frida.y, March 11th, 1892. Admission as usuaL 8412

THE LORD MAYOR AND THE CARDIFF CORPORATION. During the recent visit to London of the Mayor (Mr Alderman Thomas Rees), Alderman Jacobs, J.P., Councillor Trounce, the Town Cltrk (Mr J. L. Wheatley), and the Borough Engineer (Mr W. IIarpur), they were most cordially invited by the Right Honourable the Lor,l Mayor of London (Mr Alderman Evans) to lunch with him and tho Lady Mayoress, en famille, at the Mansion HOm1, when the Lord May-r, the Mayor, and Mr Alderman Jacobs held a very interesting conversation regarding old Cardiff as they each remembered it. Subsequently his Lordship conducted them to tho Egyptian-hall, and t'.1ey WC.rs shown many historical and interesting objects, including thi insignia cf office of the Lord Mayor. Before departing his Lordship presented to each gentleman a souvenir of thnr visit. Alderman Carey and Councillor Harbert Cory wero also included in the invitation, but were unable to be present.

LORD ROSEBERY AND THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL. Immediately upon the poll being declared the president of the East Finsbury Liberal and Radical Association. Mr G. J. Buzzard, wrote to Lord lioscbery as follows :— "My Lord,—I hava the honour of informing you that you have been elected, without any act on your part, as Liberal County Councillor for the East Finsbury Division, by a majority of 1,117, and this, notwithstanding the fact that our opponents circulated a report that you had refused tc- stand or serve. On behalf of the East Finsbury Liberal and Radical Association, of which I am president, I shall welcome an intimation that you will consent to serve, so far as your othar duties to the State will permit. The great victory for the Progressist cause in London is, we feel, largely due to the fact that you did not repmdiata the nomination which we put for- ward without your signature or consent.—I am, my Lord, yours obediently, G. J. BUZZARD." Lord Rosebery has sent the following reply to the electors of East Finsbury "Gentlemen,—I am truly sensible of the great honour that you have done m*. It was impossible at this election to ignore the issues which havs arisen in consequence of the working of the County Council anJ the attacks upon its policy. I could not, therefore, stand again for the City, which I had represented on a purely administra- tive basis, unless I changed the ground of my appeal. I was consequently unable to renew my candidature. Nor, indeed, could I solicit the suffrages of any constituency, as I could not promiso [constant and laborious attendance. It saemed therefore to me that I could serve the Council better from outside. You, however, have thought differently. You found me as it were a derelict, and towed me into your harbour. Nothing could be more generous, more unsolicited, mare bountiful. I should be worse than ungrateful did I not accept your mandate, and, though I cannot promise much in any way, I can at least place myself at your service. This I readily do, and shall hope to have an early opportunity of tendering my thanks in person.—Your obliged servant, ROSKBERY. "To the Electors of East Finsbury."

STRANGE DEATH OF A WOMAN AT CARDIFF. ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLECT. At the Cardiff Town Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr E. Bernard Rees, borough coroner, held an inquiry relative to tho death of Mrs Emma Harding, aged 54, the wife of Samuel Harding, of 16, Knole-street, Grangetown, who died sud- denly on Saturday without having been seen by a medical man. The, evidence went to show that the deceased woman had been in failing health for two years, suffering from erysipelas and rheumatic fever. She was of weak intellect, and of very dirty habits. Dr Plain saw her in November last, and Dr Wallace had also seen her, but since that time no medical man had been called in until Satur- day, when she was in a dying condition. Leah Jane Norman, a cousin of the deceased, was called, and the Coroner severely questioned her as to the condition of the deceased. She was covered, said the witness, with vermin, and was altogether in a very filthy condition. About throe weeks ago she became very stout and bloated, but soon afterwards she resumed her normal appearance. Witness did not think any- thing was the matter. The Coroner: Then you must have been very stupid. Dr Plain deposed that he saw the deceased woman on the 18th November last. He was called in on behalf of the parish authorities to examine her as to her mental state. He found that the condition of her mind did .not justify him in ordering her removal to an asylum. She had suffered from softening of the brain. When called in on Saturday he found Mrs Harding quite un- conscious, and evidently 111 a dying condition. In view of this he did net pioscribe for her. Hat skin was covered with vermin, and she was in a vary filthy state. In his opinion death was caused by an effusion of blood. The Coroner I don't feel satisfied in my mind at all, and I will adjourn the inquest. The inquest will be resumed this (Wednesday) morning.

CARDIFF BYE-ELECTION. RETURN OF MR HUGHES. The promise of a stiff contest in the Central Ward, to fill the vacaucy in the representation caused by the ineligibility of Mr W. C. Hurley, who had been adjudicated a bankrupt, was fully realised on the polling day. Throughout Tuesday unusual local excitement was manifested, which naturally became more intensified towards the end of the period for taking votes. When the customary hour for closing the poll had been reached, the friends of both Mr Frederick H. Jotham, the Liberal candidate, and Mr Robert Hughes, the Conservative candidate, expressed themselves equally confident as to the result, the universal opinion being that whichever side won the margin of votes to the good would be very narrow. This proved to be the case for at a few minutes after nine o'clock the official figures showed that the Conservative candidate was in by only 14 votes. A great crowd in the Town-hall-square awaited the deci- sion, which was announced from one of the Council-chamber by Alderman Jacobs, the re- ttlrnin-oflicer, as follows :— HUGHES (C) 705 JOTHAM (L) 691 Majority for Hughes. 14 There were nine spoiied votes, which, we under- stand, were about half-and-half for either candidate. The declaration was received with mingled cheers and hooting, the latter pre- dominating. The poll was a heavy one, as will be seen in the fact that while there were only 1,300 votes recorded at the election last Novem- her, there were now 1,405 cast. Addressing the people. Councillor R. Hughes eaid it was satisfactory to him to know that he was not the stranger he had been represented to be. Mr Frederick Jotham, following his successful opponent, was greeted with great cheering. HI" heartily thanked the 691 electors of the Central Ward who had recorded their votes in his favour, and said although he had been beaten, he did not consider a defeat by 14 votes in such a ward as the Central Ward was a disgrace. (Cheers.) The result, however, conclusively proved to him that the ward was Conservative, and the Liberal party must admit this. ("No.") Subsequently, at the Reform Club, Mr Jotham deliveren a short speech bearing upon the circum- stances of the contest. He extended his hearty thanks to Mr R. N. Hall -(cheers)-tbe Liberal agent, for his unremitting labours in his behalf, and to other members of the club and of the party who had given him such splendid support. He expressed his admiration of the manner in which the ladies had worked for him. (" Three cheers for Mrs Jotham and Mrs Francis.") Nothing could have exceeded their earnest enthusiasm. (Cheers.) Addresses were also delivered by Councillor Symonds, Messrs Allen Upward, W. Triggs, Price, G. Dobson, R. N. Hall, J. H. Jones, John Gardner, Owen Davies, &c. There were rejo:cings at the result of th" con- test at the Conservative Working Men's Club, of which Councillor Hughes is the president, "blue +; frnrii the ha.lr»nrn#»<; (If the "f:o 't'J' building. The successful candidate spoke a few words to an audience assembled in front of the club, in the course of which he acknowledged the personal courtesy of his opponent.

MONMOUTH ASSIZES. Mr Justice Hawkins arrived in Monmouth from Gloucester by the 3.16 p.m. train on Tues- day and was met at Mayhill Station by Ithe High Sheriff, the Mayor, and a posse of police. His lordship drove to the Shire-hall and opened the commission, after which he attended a service at St. Mary's Parish-Church. The Rev W. Watson, vicar, conducted the service, and the sermon was preached by the Rev Canon Murray, of Chisle- hurst. The Assizes open to-day (Wednesday).

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT MORPJSTON. The adjourned c,)rontr's ingiiiry into the circum- stances attending the mysterious death of Mary Morris, whose body was found in a quarry last week, was held on Tuesday when, after hearing the evidence of Dr Bowen, on the result of a post-mortem examination, the jury found a verdict of accidental death.

LADY DILKEAT CARDIFF. Lady Dilke will visit Cardiff to-day (Wed- nesday), and in the evening will addres a public meeting under the auspices of the Cardiff branch of the South Wales Federation of Shop Assistants. The object of the gathering is to further the cause of early closing, and to emphasise the necessity of improvement in the conditions of shop life gene- rally. Despite the fact that all the principal retailers of the town are closing at the hours agitated for by the Umon, the arrangement is far from being general. The present demonstra- tion is intended to preface new efforts with a view to bring about a more general observance of sevon o'clock closing.

NEWS IN BRIEF. d Sir Richard Temple, the distinguished Anglo- Indian, is 64 to-day. Mr George Fardo, the postmaster cf Cardiff, is back to duty after his recent trying illness. Mr John Murray, the wull-known publisher, is seriously ill. Mr John Thomas, harpist to the Queen, con- tributed an interesting article on th harp eo the "Victorian Magazine for February. Mr Morgan Williams, the new W.M. of the Caradog Lodge, Swansea, is one of the best known and most popular gentlemen on the road. We deeply regret to learn that Dr Saunters, the distinguished Calvinistic Methodist minister, is c..r.fined to his room by severe indisposition. Mr Henry Owen, of Djlgoed, who his been selected by the Conservatives to contest Merioneth against Mr T. E. Ellis, is a Welsh-speaking tenant farmer, and a Calvinistic Methodist. Rev J. A. Jenkins, B.A., of the Richmond- road Congregational Church, Cardiff, has been in. vited to preach one of the sermons at the May meetings of the Congregational Unicn. Mr Cadwaladr Davies, who recently resigned the registrarship of the North Wales University j College, has proceeded to the Mediterianean for the saku of his health. Mr Harrington Evans Broad, the new Liberal M.P. for South Derbyshire, is an acconntart, and has a passion for cricket. He is the 138th new member who has taken bis seat in the House of Commons sine" the last general election. Mr Robert Hughes, the new representative of the Central Ward, Cardiff, is an unknown and untried man. His sole title to fam resides in the fact that he is a brother to Mr Hugh Hughes, ex. full back of the Cardiff football team. Mr Edward Anwyl, B.A., presided over the meeting of the Dafydd ap Gwilym Society, which was held in the rooms of Mr John H. Davies, in Lincoln College, Oxford, on Saturday night. The host read a paper on "English Tourists in Wales." Arrangements are already being made at the National Liberal Club to celebrate the striking success of the Progressive candidates for the London County Council by entertaining them at a congratulatory dinner, over which Mr Herbert Gladstone is to preside. There cannot be very many diamonds in the world which are worth R8,000, but what should be the value of one that is to cost £ 8,000 for the cutting only ? The diamond in question, which is now undergoing that operation in Amsterdam, is said t') be as large as an egg, and the operation will occupy several years. The South Wales School for Girls, Summerfield Hall, Maesycwmmer, has now a magazine of its own. In her introductory remarks the editress hopes the magazine will give importance and character to the school; and from the bright promise of the first number we believe this result will certainly be obtained. The Newport Athletic Club are getting into favour, as they deserve to do, and on Monday evening were entertained at dinner at the West- gate Hotel by the High Sheriff (Mr J. T. Fir. bank), who is up from Chislehurst to assist Mr Justice Hawkins in holding the Assizes this morning at Monmouth. The proposal to hand over the Birchgrove collieries to the workmen on the co-operative system is unique in colliery enterprise. If the scheme is not adopted by the men—and they have another month in which to make up their minds-we understand the collieries will lJase, and no less than £20,000 a year in wages will be lost to the district. Mr T. D. Sullivan, M.P., the "Grand Old Man of Erin, was one of the crowd of eager politicians who assembled at the National Liberal Club on Saturday night to await the result of the County Council elections. When the Re- actionaries were found to have been routed, the National Liberals went nearly mad with exulta- tion. It is a victory for Ireland," said Mr T. D. Sullivan, as well as for London for Home Rule there as well as here." Miss Florence Cowen, who appeared at the Popular Concert last week, writes:—I am ex- ceedingly obliged for your kind notice of my singing at the Park-hall on Saturday last. Your musical critic spoke very justly, and I have no complaint to make of his remarks, for which I am grateful. In justice to myself, however, will you perrrit me to state that I was suffering frem a. cold so severe as to render it doubtful whether I ought to have appeared at all ? The Duke of Argyll, on whom the Queen has just conferred the dignity of a dukedom of the United Kingdom, has hitherto sat in the House of Lords as Baron Sundridge and Hamilton, the former of these titles, Baron Sundridge, of Coomb Bank, Kent, having been conferred upon John, the fifth Duke, in 1766, during the lifetime of his father; while the second was the title bestowed in 1776 upon his Grace's wife—one of the greatest beauties of the Court of George III. —who was created a peeress of Great Britain as Baroness Hamilton. One of the members of the Cardiff County Council added yesterday to his wardrobe a travelling rug, which might appropriately be likened unto Joseph's coat, seeing that it was one of many colours. That he only acquired it yesterday was obvious from the fact that he had not had time to remove from it the ticket. Tradesmen are in the habit of sewing upon such articles showing in their peculiar hieroglyphics its cost and retail price. This ticket was glaringly conspicuous as the worthy councillor paraded the useful article on his arm when he entered a St. Mary-street restaurant. And yet he wondered why they smiled! A strong protest against the tendency now com- mon in Paris of allowing large dogs -epecially of the Danish breed-to go at large through the streets has been raised by M. Nocard, Director of the Veterinary College of Alfort, in a report to the Board of Health. Only lately one of these animals killed a child at Nogent-sur-Marne, and M. Nocard points out that they are a source of danger not odly to children but to grown-up per- sons, owing to their extraordinary strength and ferocity. The protest is endorsed by the police, and will be taken into due consideration by the Board. "In the Sweet Bye and Bye." This was the burden of the plaintive appeal of a little girl who stood singing in the gutter between the Angel Hotel and Cardiff Castle at half-past ten o'clock on Tuesday night. Query Did she stand there in the biting, coid east wind of her own accord, or was she trying to secure coppers for a drunken father or a brutal mother? Surely either the police or some official of one of the many Humane Societies that flood the householder with appeals for pecuniary aid ought to step in and put an end to such disgraceful incidents. In the Sweet Bye and Bye," forsooth! The poor little girl's bye and bye" would, it may be naturally supposed, be more poignant than "sweet." Baron Profumo is a happy man. He went away from Newport yesterday afternoon in the belief that the Liberals of the southern division had rallied arGnnd him well. Col. Morgan, speaking at Caerlecn on Monday night, says that the Baron "ought to be very thankful to the Conservatives of South Mon- mouthshire for the orderly meetings he bad had." Here is light. The Conservatives of the division have been cheering themselves hoarse during the last month over Disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales, reform of the land laws, local option, one man one vote, the eight hours' day, and all the other heresies" of the New- castle programme. All the Liberal meetings have been packed by Conservatives, and held by their merciful sufferance The World, whose kindly sympathy with matters Welsh is perhaps to be attributed to our genial friend, Mr J. C. Parkinson, contains this week an appreciative reference to the Wefsb service in St. Paul's Cathedral on the eve of St David's I)ay. The service, which lasted nearly three hours, was, says the World, listened to and joined in by the vast congregation with a rapt attention that spoke volumes for the amor patrice which distinguishes them. The Emynau," or hymns, were numerous, and were rendered by a choir of between two and three hundred men and boys, a large proportion of whom had come from Wales specially for the occasion. The sermon, by the well-known Archdeacon Howell, of Wrexham, was lengthy, and made deeply impressive by the fervid gesticulations of the preacher. Archdeacon inclair pronounced the Benediction in the vernacular of the Principality, which he had been at the complimentary pains of acquiring for the occasion. Few more noteworthy celebrations have taken place in St. Paul's. Of Mr Gladstone in the House of Commons Sir Edwin Arnold gives the following description t The rich Lancastrian burr in his voice tht silver haffets, carelessly tossed back from that broad, benignant, thought-furrowed brow the searching light of his glance the play of hit mobile mouth the lightning-like swiftness and lucidity in the turns of his mind, and the tre- mendous vitality of mind, heart, and body, find. ing frequent vent in the blow of the clenched hand and passionate gestuie, all these and other traits stamped him for what he is-the foremost of our Parliamentary orators. Sometimes his burning rhetoric would be indeed emphasised by bodily motions so vehement that I remember Mr Disraeli humorously and successfully beginning all otherwise hopeless izply by telling tha Speakei and the House of Commons that he was glad so substantial an article of furniture as the table of the. House had stood between him and the right honourable gentleman during the fiery peroration to which they had just listened with mingled admiration aud terror/'