The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

LLMTB1SMT BOARD SCHOOL. The first meeting ef the LIantrisant School Board after the election, was held at the Public Offices, ^Llantrisant, on Friday, when there were present:— Mr Josiah Lewis (in the chair), Messrs Wm. Stewart, David Williams, J. p. Williams, Ishmael Williams, and John Davies. ELECTION OF CHAIBMAN AND VICE-CHAIKMAN. The Chairman said that the first duty which be had to do was a very easy one, and that was to propose the re-election of Judge Gwilym Williams as chairman for the next three years. It was not neces- sary for him to say anything in eulogy of Jndge Williams, for his position and influence in the place were well-known to them all. He would only say that be sincerely hoped that the ratepayers of Llan- trisant would be fortunate in securing his services for many years to come. It would be a serious loss to the Board if they were to lose Judge "Williams. He, therefore, baa very great pleasure in proposing that fcis Honour Judge Gwiljm "Williams be elected chairman for the next three years. Mr David "Wil- ■li&ms seconded the proposition.—Mr J. P. Williams thought it was an honour to thatBcard to have Judge Williams as chairman, and he thought that the rate- payers ought to be proud to have such a chairman.— The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously.—Mr J. P. "Williams proposed, and Mr Stewart seconded, that Mr Josiah Lewis, their pre- vious vice-chairman should be re-appointed. Carried Macimously.—The Vice Cbahman thanked them for the compliment which they bad paid him for the Second time in appointing him vice-chairman of the Beard. He only hoped that they bad met there that day to commence another term, and be only hoped that every member of the Board would do his utmost for the welfare of the Board. All that he could do would be in that direction—he would do all in his power to carry cn the work of the Board with efficiency, not forgetting the eccneauy which was fairly due to the ratepayers.—Mr J. P. Williams said that be felt very sorry that the Vicar was out. They had found him a "Very useful and very serviceable member of the Board and be (the speaker) had always found him a gentle- man in every sense of the word. He felt very sorry that the Vicar was out.—Mr D. Williams said that it was a great loss to him that the Vicar was out, as they bad always worked well together.—The Chair- van said it was a general loss to the Board to lose a aaan of the Vicar's capacity. He was never cfficious, and never pushed himself forward, but always joined any other member in promoting anything that was for the benefit of the Board. The minutes of the last meeting were then read. PLACE OF MEETING. Mr J. P. Williams suggested that the meetings of the Board should take place at Cymmer.—Mr D. 'Williams said it was a very central place.—The Clerk: The only difficulty I see in the way is that' supposing seme bcck or books of mine should be wanted for reference, it would be very awkward if those books were not in my possession up there.—Mr Stewart did not see any objection to the meetings in the same place a.- at present, if they could arrange to appoint a later hour in the day for holding the Meetings, and proposed that the time should be altered from twelve o'clock to two p.m.—Mr J. P. Williams pointed out that there was 1:0 train that would suit that hour, and some of the members would not there- fore be able to attend. He did think that they could fix a better hour than that which they had bad for the past six years. It was only fair that every other Soard meeting should be held at Cymmer. He was, however, prepared to propose that they should meet at the offices where they had met for the last six years upon the understanding that a resolution could lie passed that they cpuld meet at the Cymmer when- ever circumstances necessitated them. Mr D. Williams said that whenever there bad been a desire on the part of any member to hold a meeting there, he did not think that there had ever been an objection raised.—Mr. J. P. Williams: There is no place at Pontypridd I suppose ?-The Chairman No it is out of the disteict.—Mr J. P. Williams said that would be a more suitable place than any other.—The Clerk You can't take it out of the parish Mr Wil- liams.—Mr J. P. Williams then proposed that the Board meet at Llantrisant at the same hour as usual. -Mr Stewart thereupon withdrew his original pro- position and seconded the motion now proposed Which, on being put to the meeting was carried. ELECTION EXPENSES. The Clerk stated that the election expenses amounted to 9117 14a Od.-Mr J. P. Williams said that there was a general complaint that no notices were put out that the election was to take place.— Mr D. Williams: That is wrong. Some of the mem- bers considered that the prices charged by Mr Moses Cule for the timber supplied in constructing the booths were too high. Some items on Mr Spickett the Retnrning-oiffcer'shill were considered excessive, and on the preposition of Mr Stewart it was agreed that the Chairman and the Clerk should 3ee Mr Cule and Mr Spickett with a view of getting the charges reduced. It was decided to strike out the charges for the policemen, and to allow only them the actual out of pocket expenses. THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DIN AS. The Clerk stated that he had sent up the plans and specifications of the proposed new school for girl3 at jDinas to the Education Department, and had also stated the probable amount of money that would be required to carry out the work. He had received a reply stating that, the Department approved of the plans and specifications for the new girls' school, and 4mmsented to the Board's borrowing, Xl,650 10s. on the security of the sehool funds and the local rate, the inpayment to extend over a period of 50 vears.—The Clerk said toe considered it was his duty to draw their attention to the cost of the proposed site, which amounted to £1,494 10s. The trustees bad promised ,ed them that they should have the piece of ground at the same rate that they bad paid for the land upon which tue Dmas Infant School was erected, but the site now required was a worse piece of ground, and yet the trustees were asking more for it. He thought ^^■nr ir boult,, abatement should be made.-Mr « T 18 worth five shillings altogether.— Ifr Isbmael Williams (one of the trustees): That is -worse than Jesse Collings. (Laughter).—The Cbair- nani Do we understand that there is any abatement to be made ?-Mr Ishinael Williams: I am not autho- need to make any. There was a road wanted there aad the trustees were prepared to bead the subscrip- wi- 101 .\an\e" The road had been made pubhc use of Set the last 16 years.—The Chairman: It has never been dedicated to the public.—Mr Ishmael Wilhams That is what we want.-The Chairman: That is whit the v will object to unless it is put *n proper repairer D. Williams said that j e r matter the trustees would 3*° ? i sell the land for very much les3 money. fLaughter).^ It was^an exorbitant price.—Mr J. P. "Williams thought that they had a right to insist vpon the road being p»jt jnto proper repajr leading to ft SCWuiW Ch proposed to erect—Mr Ishmael Williams said that it would be better for the trustees to give up possession of the road. If the School Board insisted upon the road being put into < Pr°P«r. rePal* lt cost £ 150 to put it in such a Bo*r* would take to it. There were over 100 h«?es paymg in .the Jocality not a °T,f'TT?CTi;Mvnt *°*ards keeping the road in ^repair. Mr D. Williams said that the rates were mot ior the P^'POse of making new roads, but only for kee ping t'be roads Already imade in proper repair—To Mr Ishmael Williams: Does anybody make use of your property besides those that live on the property ? Williams: No; There is a roaa now mad? to Cwmnark—Mr D. Williams: That is a pgbuc road. Mr Ishmael Williams said that this was a publ", jroadvtoo, and the public were allowed to use it. It wasibrough that spot that the only public loao into the village some 80 years •go- ~Williams said that they were buying a piece ot land tt an enormous price, and which was wltbout aroad to get to it. Were they to risk spend- ing le* that la«d without any road being made to get to tneaehrol? He thought it only reasonable that there eHOauLfiean abatement made in the price •f the ground for the .reason that there was no road leading «biU>sel Williams said the trustees "were prepared toasawt in getting a road there ?—Mr T. P. Williams. That is a very loose way of going b>rsiiies3.-—l Chairman: Is that matter expected be settled?—The Clerk: Yea. In further toy to the Chairman yae Clerk said that the rate w&inetF the price asked for it £ 121 Is per which would be about £ 700 an i-—Mr •J. P- Wmwuna taggeeted that the matter ittiag |he fwrce educed should be left in the —4 ol Mr Ishmael Williams. This was agreed to. WiDian3-3 proposed that the Clerk, be in- Jfoid to take such steps as were necessary for the of procuring a loan. —Mr Stewart seconded Vo» which was carried. fjrj^AaSJSTAWTStnP AT THE CYMMER SCHOOL. aaaatefen pi for the; post of assistant 3 £ iddri|be Gyxunier School. Mr T. F«3ter now of MOafelwtr, bat formerly of Porkh wa^ ,un%ai- ALETTE «O*»OSMIK». • Hwt Btr » read from Mr Morgan, solicitor, stating a«u9HBc*riMB» Thomas had complained' that the •vwvawifj CJWWBM* BoiMfa School waa as bad mgpiy fcwAbeteforebe had no iltemative, hut to Gktfc w««i AouH^on, and sn# for dam^es. The *irt^aariewl wiite to thet architect concern. wtf jmreghutf »^Att«a^to tha matter MkiM that the JDio^s worship by the Churchmen of Penygraig.—It was proposed by Mr D. Williams, and seconded by-Mr J. P. Wil- liama that the request be granted upon the usual condi- tions. Carried.—A circular letter was read from Mr I. James, Registrarof the ljniversity College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, copy of which appeared in our report of the Egl wysilan School Board last week.— It was agreed to place the circular before the Chair- man (Judge Gwilym Williams), the Board expressing a hope that he would be able to attend. •

RECENT PERFORMANCE OF "THE NATIVI- TY AT PONTYPRIDD. To the Editor of the Chronicle.. SIR,-In the Pontypridd District Herald of last Su 1C? ? 81ma11 Paragraph wiitten by Eos Rbondda, in which he makes three sweeping charges condemning the "Nativity a« a composition-nrstly as lacking originality secondly, Tint the music and words are badly wedded; thirdly, At best, third class composition. If Eos Rhondda thinks himself justified in making the above remarks publicly, surely, the public has a right to ask him for an explanation upon his con- demnatory charge* against the merits of the work. Another remark was made with regard to the overture J w aVd (P^no and violin), as follows .-We wish to suggest that a violin and piano. !1; comwor'Pla^e delineators of an overture. If this is the case, will Eos Rhondda suggest what two instruments besides the violin and piano will go together as better delineators of an overture, and produce a better effect. The violinist again is advised to tune his instrument with the piano, as the fifths of the piano (according to Jios Rhondda) are slightly imperfect. Perhaps he will explain why are tbe pianoforte fifths sligbtlv imperfect. He will excuse me if I tell him that his advice in this matter is unnecessary, as all the instruments on this occasion were carefully tuned to the pianoforte, which is most important in orchestral MUSIC. But with regard to violin solo playing," I beg to differ. A good violinist rarely ever touches the open string, on account of its comparative harshness. A sweet and correct tone can only be produced by the fingers of the artist, which is produced thresh the art of shifting. Hence the idea of keeping the fifths of the nohn identical with those of the pianoforte is absurd, and displays an amount of ignorance which is rather glanng in this case, as applied to the soloist. Much credit is due to young Griffiths for making himself so useful in the town, and giving so much of his services gratuitously, and we may say, without fear of contradiction, that he is the only violinist in the town that can cope with high class music. 7, ONE OF THE BAND.

Llantrisant Police Court. Friday-Before Mr Iffnatina Williams, Stipendiary and Mr Evan John. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF GAME.—Thomas Wil- liams. labourer, Llantrisant, and Thomas Evans, a jad 17 years of age, were charged with being un- lawfully in possession of game on the 80th ult.- P.S. Hoyle stated that he found the defendants on the common road on the date in question. Seeing their pockets bulky he searched them and upon Williams he found seven rabbits, seven pegs and some netting, and upon Evans about 30 yards of netting.—P.C. Mattocks gave corroborative evi- dence.—The defendant Williams was fined £ 3 and costs, or a month'a imprisonment. The other de- fen dan t did not appear and a warrant was issued for his apprehension. Deunr. James Collins, collier, Llantrisant, wab charged with being drunk on Sunday the 28th nit., in Graig Row, LIantrifant.—P.C. Mattoeks proved the case.-Fined 5s.

YSTRAD LOCAL BOARD ELECTION. The papers were collected on Friday and counted on Saturday with the following result: No. 1 Ward-Mr John Walters, Treherbert—un- opposed. No. 2 Ward—Mr Aneuiin Cule 1284 Dr. Idris Davies 639 Majority for Cule 645 No. 3 Ward-Mr W. Lax—-unopposed. No.4 Ward-Mr R- Smitb. .809 Mr J. Griffiths 796 Majority for Smith 13 No. 5 Ward-Mr J. Davies, Mardy-unopposed.

FIND OF COAL AT ABERGORKY. A few days age an excellent nine-feet seam of coal was struck at Abergorky Colliery, Treorky, after several montha' operations. Should trade revive, a large number of additional men will be engaged.

MARRIAGE. MORGAN-DUIRs-On Thursday, the 8th iDat., at Tonypandy Church (by license) by the Rev. Thomas itagers, Vicar, William Morgan, auctioneer and accountant. Pontypridd, to Letitia second daughter of Mr Thomas Davies, Donraven Hotel, Tonypandy.

HE LOST HIS LIFE! Yes! and that through carelessness. If the hodstrji who are afflicted considered for a moment their danger and take Hu^htt't Bw-d: Pills, tbey wotlii at once be relieved of their yatca and cured of their dapgerous diseases. For Wood is the original ca"f Qisst Jiapancfi that the h9oi»n race is sabjaot to. They Purify, strengthen, and stimulate the Blwd mnd the chuf organs ef the body, thereby restoring and pre- £ r!??8 JWkl anoryarhea* »t b. l^d..

I TOPICS OF THE WEEK. MR. WILLIAM HOLLAND, the people's caters*, is providing a comprehensive entertainment at the New Albert Palace. I wish him well of the venture, but, after all, Battersea Park i* only a local pleasure resort. Great thing*, however, are promised on Mr. Holland's behalf. I do not know if lie will give U3 a beauty show. a baby show, or a barmaid show, as at Wool- •wich, or whether he will depend chiefly on circus entertainments. The supply of monster entertainments in London is, I fancy, beyond the demand. A month hence the Colonial and Indian Exhibition at South Kensington is to be opened, and that will knock every other con- cern on the head. The Prince of Wales has taken a most active interest in the new show.

THE Post Office authorities have come to a sensible determination in altering the sixpenny telegram form so as to leave a space f< the lender to insert his or her name. With the form as it stands it is not surprising to hear that much inconvenience has been experienced through people omitting to send their names at the end of the messages. Hundreds of peo- ple have heaped imprecations on the sixpenny telegram through having to cudgel their braius to solve the problem of the sender. In their anxiety not to exceed the sixpence, many per- sons more economic than precise, omit their name and take it for granted that the recipient of the message will elucidate the mystery by some occult process of thought reading. On the new form, which may be expected in a few days, a space will be left for the name, and there will also be an intimation that, though it is not imperative to write the sender's name, it is desirable to do so to avoid errors.

THERS is at present on tour in the provinces a melodrama founded on the story of Uncle Tom's Cabin," which owes its popularity not so much. to the actors and actresses engaged, as to the introduction of real live bloodhounds," by whom the unhappy Eliza and her husband are tracked. Now and then these brutes are apt to over-act," to use the jargon of profes- sional criticism-that is to say they half kill some of their fellow professionals. The other night such an incident occurred, not for the first or even for the second time, at the Lecture Hall, Chatham. One of the hounds attacked an actor, and a fearful struggle ensued, in which the wretched man sustained shocking injuries. No doubt there are people to whom the ele- ment of danger to human life in their amuse- ment is an additional attraction but it is surely within the power of tke authorities to prevent the drama being degraded to the level of brutes—on both sides of the footlights, of brutes-on both sides of the footlights.

M. FERDINAND DE LESSEPS has returned from Panama apparently as full as ever of energy and of confidence in the ultimate suc- cess of his second great scheme. A great difficulty in the way, of course, is the climate of the isthmus, but M. de Lesseps says that there is no consequent scarcity of labour, as a greater number of labourers offer themselves than it is possible to employ. The climate does not affect machinery, however, and it is being attempted as far as possible to substitute en- gines for men in the dangerous parts of the work it is calculated that the labour of half- a-million navvies is equalled by the work done by the engines engaged in the canal operations. Still an immense amount of human labour is necessarily employed, and, as a result, there are three hundred patients in the hospital which has been built at Colon. The greatest difficulty of all, that of finance, M. de Lesseps is confident of overcoming. The canal will cost much more than the five hundred millions of francs originally named—double that sum is the figure at which the engineer now estimates the cost, but he has expressed himself to the Paris correspondent of the Daily News "as not doubting that the public will find him all the money he asks. At all events he has indig- nantly repudiated any intention of applying to the French Government for assistance. It is reassuring to find the great engineer so certain of the successful carrying through of this great undertaking, the overwhelming difficulties of which are so obvious that it is still regarded as hopeless by very many people.

A JUDGE'S equanimity, if he has to give equitable decisions, should not be disturbed, and the surroundings of his court should be in harmony and in keeping with a cool, judicial frame of mind. But we are afraid that Vice- Chancellor Bacon's court possesses so many inconveniences as not to conduce to this condi- tion of things. It is rather painful to read that the new law courts are structurally not what they were expected to be. By means of alter- nate blasts of hot and cold air we learn that "a goodly amount of rheumatism and bronchitis is disseminated among the occupants of the Beach, and ensure for every juryman who answers his summons a cough.,or catarrh." Can it be expected that the Vice-Chancellor and his legal colleagues can be in that perfectly serene state of mind so necessary to the un- ravelling of knotty points of law when they are threatened with the excruciating pangs of rheumatism or a touch of bronchitis that may have a fatal issue? The long-suffering jury- man, too, has the limits of his patience taxed when for the services rendered to his country he is threatened with catarrh, influenza, and all manner of maladies. But tkese are not all the miseries of the Vice-Chancellor's court. The vacuum glasses, enclosing the incandescent electric lights, have a habit of falling to the ground without any previous warning" and, the other day, there was quite an unusal de- scent of those glasses, some of which dropped, witn unbecoming impartiality in,a law court, on the heads of learned counsel and laymen alike. The electrical engineer?, when called upon to explain this mystery of the shower 01 glass, with provoking coolness said that there was a screw loose somewhere. It turned out on examination that there were a good many screws loose, and that they were attached tc these particular glasses. So it would appear that in connection with some of our law courts there are other miseries than those which arise out of the legal questions that are tried in them.

NEWS IN BRIEF. The Princesse Louise, fourth daughter of tlit Comte de Paris, is seriously ill. Alls. Mary Abbott, widow of a clergyman, has just died at Soutlisea, aged 101 years. The death is announced of'Julian Sclnnidt, the "Nestor of German literary historians," as he was called. Lord Justice Pry is suffering from a severe cold, and was unable to take his seat in the Court of Ap- peal on JUoiiday afternoon. The Duchess of Edinburgh has signified her in- tention of being present at the Liszt concert at St. Jan les's Hall, on-Friday, April 9. The late Mr. William Neigh, of Tannadyco ami Clepington, has left a Inquest of £ J,000 to the funds of the Dundee Royal infirmary. The jnen were working as usual at Llanheris Quarries on Monday, hot there is every indication efa-ntptineat the next settling day for It is iLf',irnie(i that the commercial treaty I)c-twocii France. fU'dCithm witt ahottty tie aigued. ILV, Only a few unimportant .details, remain -to, lie settled. Tite Prince uf Wales w,astj>resent at the perforin- ance of The Schoolmistress, Mr. Pinero's new play. at tlte'Court XIcentre, on MiHnday kvenmi». Mr. Samuel Moriey has accepted the office of pre- sWeut to^flie llonies for Inebriates fDaln;itif>lo s t' jfioh'») Association, til plane JAw .1W1 j £ l.! I Shafteeburr. Adruggist of St. Jolmsbury, Vt., has been tlzaeø 400tdol8, for selling liquor. I Maine has sixty-eight percent, of its juvenile po- pulation enrolled in the public schools, while Florida rel)orts her percentage at ninety-three per cent. Tha Boston Board of Police Commissioners has advanced the rates for liquor licenses, which it is anticipate! will increase the net revenue ovei 100,000 a year. The latest purchase of th« South Kensington Mu- seum authorities consists of the whole collection of old blue-and-Whito china belonging to Mr. Orrock, the artist. There is no truth in the oft-repeated rumour that Mr. Bancroft objects to the restoration of the pit at the Ilaymarkct Theatre. The question is one tor the decision of the proprietors. The Millais Exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery was4>pen on Sunday, to the members of the Sunday Society. During two and a-half hours 864 persons passed through the turnstiles. The Corporation of Fordwick, in Kent, formerly a limb of the Cinque Ports, is defunct. It is stated that the valuable plate belonging to the Corporation will go to the British Museum. Dr. Clifford, itoman Catholic Bishop of Clifton, in answtft- to applications for direction, states that lioman catholics are free to join the Primrose Lea- gue, which is a loyal, patriotic, and conservative association. Mr. Waiter Grieve, of Greenock, has received a telegram from Newfoundland announcing the arrival of the steam-sealer Leopard with 15,00) seiuls on board. The report from the sealing ground is that seals are plentiful, and the ice very open. By order of the Secretary of State, two new divi- sions have been formed in the metropolitan police division; One will be known as the F or Pa Lling- ton division, and the other will be style the J or Bethnel Green division. It is understood that Mr. H. J. Wilson will accept the challenge frankly offered by Sir Charles Dilke. and will frame a motion in reference to the state of the law of evidence, and move it as a prelude to Supply. Lord Randolph Churchill, replying to a corres- pondent, who drew his attention to a statement that a violent quarrel had arisen between his lordship and Mr. W. H. Smith, says, "the statement is a baseless fiction." Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise has con- sented to open a grand bazaar in aid of the funds of the North London or University College Hospital, to be held in the grounds of University College at the end of June or early in July. As many as forty-seven actual shipwrecks were reported last week, against twenty-four for the cor- responding week of last year. Four were owing to the dense fog which prevailed off the coasts. Twen- ty-three were Britisli vessels, against only live in corresponding week last year. A misstatement has lately been current to the effect that Lord liibblesdale had taken his seat on the Opposition benches in the House of Lords. This (says the Morning Post) is quite inaccurate. Lord liibblesdale has resigned office, but has not joined the Conservative Party. A fire broke out on the farm buildings at the New Mill of Gray, near Dundee, and spread with such rapidity that before the beasts in it could be extri. cated, fourteen cows, two oxen, and two calves were burned to death. The building was completely de- stroyed. A maiden lady, named Heathorn, who is known as "The Maid of Kent," has just completed her 103rd year, having been baptised in All Saints' Church, Maulstone. in April, 1783. The venerable lady possesses all her faculties, and on her birthday last week she endorsed a cheque without the aid of spectacles. A Western terror was locked up at Miamisburg, Ohio, the other day, after attempting to take the town," and all attempts to disarm him of the knife and pistol failed until the volunteer fire department was called out and turned a few streams of water on him, when he unconditionally surrendered. There is it siiiall tree growing in a gulch near-Tus- carora, Nevada, the foliage of which at certain sea- sons is said to be so luminous that it can be distin- guished a mile away in the darkest night. In this immediate season it emits sufficient light to enable a person to read the finest print. Its luminosity is said to be (lue to parasites. The boat race between Gibbons and Wilkio for J680 took |>l:ice ml the Tyne, and resulted in a vic- tory for Gibbons hy two lengths and a-half. The conditions of the match were that the men should row in best and best boats for X40 a-side, Gibbons receiving the start of a boat's length over a two-mile course. Great excitement has been caused in Naples by the murder of a well-known French iientleman, M. Philip de Mah.- tc, who, on returning to his beautiful villa on Posilippo, was stabbed to death by the hus- band of a dismissed servant. The dying man de- clared that the crime was due to jealousy. The murderer has since given himself up to the police. The portrait of Mrs. Keeley, in her eighteenth year, painted by Mr. Waiter Goodman, and recently exhibited at the Gallery of the Royal Institute, has been purchased by Mr. Spencer Bruuton, and by him presented to the Garrick Club. Mr. Brunton has commissioned Mr. Goodman to paint a com- panion picture of Mrs. Stirling, also for presentation to the Garrick. There are already a large number of candidates in the field for the appointment of chief constable of Carnarvonshire, vacant by the death of Major Clay- toil. Amongst them are Acting Chief Constable Davies and Superintendent Protheroe (Carnarvon- shire Constabulary), Major Owen Thomas (Carnar- von and Cheshire IL V.), and Mr. S. R. Dew, solici- tor, Bangor. At the last meeting of the Kendal Board of Guar- dians they discussed the question of vagrancy in connection with the Thirlmere waterworks scheme. It appears that the district is being overrun by navvies in search of employment, and the men who fail to get work are soon in a state of destitution. It was thought by the Guardians that the want of accommodation for the men would be only tempor- ary. Countess Esbach, who in the autumn of 1884, vi- sited her brother, the Prince of Bulgaria, lias just published a little book, entitled My Journey to Bulgaria," which is a curiosity. It was set up in type and printed by Prince and Princess Ludwig of Battenberg, without assistance from any other per- son. The book is intended only for private circulation amongst the relatives of the authoress. According to some recently-published statistics, there have been fought in France since 1870 no less than 1447 duels, besides many between officers and between private soldiers, which are scarcely ever mentioned in the papers. Out of these S47 duels only nine resulted in one of the parties being dis- abled. In 1)8 per cent, of the cases the com batants left the field unscathed, though rehabilitated. Cardinal Manning, speaking at the annual meet- ing of the Mansion House Council on the Dwellings of the People, said that the work of the Council showed the necessity for some administrative power over that of the. London.vestries, .though he hoped that the administration of London would never be- come a centralised system like that of Paris, with a cloud of paid officials. An Excise prosecution which created a good deal of interest has I)eeii brought before the Nottingham borough magistrates. Mr. Matthew Minns, a shop- keeper, appeared to answer a summons charging him wiili selling Summer's botanic beet," a well- known beverage, witlwut having a license. As on a previous occasion, the Bench dismissed the case, and notice of appeal was given. There is a great boom in milk-drinking in New York. "Wall Street indulges exclusively in the healthful beverage. Every side-walk fruit stall has its can of milk, and nearly every down-town bar has it on sale while there are numerous peripatetic merchants who deal ill the fluid. The price varies irom one to live and ten cents per glass, according to the gentility of the locality and,the excellence of the article so!d. 'i wenty-two persons have been summoned at Lei- cester for non-compliance with theVac' iuation. Acts. 'I he defendants urged conscientious objections in consequence of death and injury by vaccinatum. They were ail fined 10s. There are now about 7,000 defaulters under tbe Acts not yet proceeded against, in addition to several thousands who have been -.1. ready dealt with. Two-thirds of: the children born are un vaccinated. J'outli California proposes to sendia: grove of bear- ing orange trees to the Exhibition iiuUdings in Chi- cago, tie railroads transporting the troos free in twenty cars, accompanied by twelve wen. Tlua ex- hibit will be made in connection with an exhibit of citrus fruits, such as oranges ami lemons, fr6m th« now famous oriuige ^suction of the l'aetJlc Ceutr Miter tbp aMpjcjes tfeg Af TO nUoiispi K

THE REY. N. H. ILEBY IT THE VESLETiH CUPEL, PONTYPRIDD. MISSIONARY SERVICES. On Sunday nisaionary services were held in oon- I neotion with the Wesleyan Chapel, Pontypridd, when the Ber B. H. Bleby, Cardiff, preaobed both morning acd evening. In the evening the preacher took for his text Hebrews 2nd ohap. 3rd verse, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a Salvation." la the course of his sermon the preacher said we felt the importance of sending the Gospel of the Crucified Saviour to the nations that were in darkness, and in the shadow of death. What blessings missionary labour had carried to many parts of the world. Bnt while we sent the Gospel with its saving troths of unspeakable blessings to others, we could not forget that many that sat under the sound of truth had not yielded their hearts to God themselves. He was anxious to impress upon his hearers the necessity of per- sonal experience of the Salvation of the Gospel, How ahall we escape," we in whose hands the priceless treasure was placed, we to whom the nations of the earth were looking to send them instructions, to send them Bibles, to send them the blessings that we had so long enjoyed. Neglect seemed a very little thing, but it was not so. It was a very striking illustration of what the Apostle said in the first verse of the chapter, We ought," he said, to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest by any means we let them slip." Was not that whatmany of them were doing, drifting past many iiospel influences. Not perhaps with any intention of losing their souls, but just negligently and idly slipping past, allowing opportunity after opportunity and Sabbath after Sabbath to pass by without making any effort to be saved. How should we escape if we thus drifted past the influences that were intended to bring ns to Christ. He wished to press home that appeal upon his bearers, especially upon any who were not personally converted and saved, by two or three considerations. The first was the greatness of the Salvation itself. It was great in the resource of the love and Grace of our Creator, and great by the means in which it had been wrought out by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We had become so accustomed to it that we could not realise the fact that this earth had been trodden by One in human form, but whose words and actions mani- fested Him to be the eternal Son of God, and that He had borne our sins on His own body on the tree, that we being saved from sin might be brought into the love and feel the favour and blessings of God. The Salvation was great also in its wondrous reach, going down to the lowest depths of the sinner's ruin; great in its infinite freeness without price or condition except *to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; great in its universality and its free- ness, reaching wherever man was found. God made no man to be eternally lost. But we were not to form that light and foolish idea of God's goodness and grace that the impenitent and negleotful sinner would be saved. No such Salvation as that which the Gospel set before us would have been possible if sin were not a dangerous thing. If the sinner's prospects were not very terrible indeed, there would be nothing but horror in the Gospel belief, unless it meant this, that the sinner's destiny was largely in his own hands; that there was the cer- tainty and the necessity that God's threatenings against sin would be oarried out, and that unless he were saved by the Blood of Christ there was eternal bell for the sinner. Neglect seemed a very trifling and unimportant thing, but it was against this that we were warned. That was the way that thousands were going to destruction, while we were not yielding our hearts to Christ the possi- bility of accepting the truth and the tendency of yielding to Christ, and being saved were passing away gfrom us. The time might come when we should see more clearly our need of being saved, but our consciences and hearts might then refose to act in the matter. Neglect was not only dan- gerous, but it was an exceedingly evil and offensive thing in the sight of God. It was a damning sin— it was the sin that shut the sinner out from God's mercy. He would exhort all those who had not given their hearts to Christ to neglect djing so no longer, but to at once accept Him as the;r Saviour.

IRW)!" FOOTBALLJ PENYGRAIG v. TROEDYRHIW. iToeiir? _0 =A match was played between these teams at Ponygraig, on Thursday, April 1st, and was witnessed by a large number of spectators. The visitors were mush heavier than the home team. who were very light. The home forwards worked bard and shoved their mote bulky opponents time after time and heeled out well to the half- backs who passed well to the three-quarter backs. The Visitors also played well, but after.playing for sixty minutes they had to retire beaten by 2 tries, 1 disputed try, and 2 touches down to 1 disputed try and 1 touch down. The tries for penygraig were obtained by M. W. Rees, G. Ward, and T. Thomas. The following are the teams :-Penygraig J. Evans, back; E. Rees, D. T. Llpyd, and M. W.Rees (Captain), three-quarter- backs B. J. Cooke and R. Hnghes, half-backs; T. Foster, B. Davies, J. Adkins, T Thomas, T. Lewis, B. Booth, G. Ward, L. Beddoe and J. Long, forwards. Troedyrhiw B. Lewis, back; J. Arnott, D. Lloyd. W. Hopkins, and W. Bolls, three-quarter-backs; W. W. Green (Captain), and D. T. Jones, half-baks; W. Evans, W. Crook, C. Jones, J. Evans, W. Howells, E. Morrell, J. Herbert, and A. N. Other, forwards. Umpires Penygraig, Mr P. Downey. Troedyrhiw Mr L. M. Green.

PENYGRAIG v. TALBOT STABS;(LLAN- TRISANT) These teams met at Benygraig on Saturday last with disastrous consequences to the Talbot Stars who were beaten by 3 goals and 6 tries to nil. Tries for Penygraig were obtained by M. W. Rees (2) E. Bees, Lloyd, Atkins, Cooke, Foster and Huges, and the goals converted by M. W. Rees. The following are the. teams, Penygraig, J. Evans back E. Jiees, D. T. Lloyd and M. W. Rees (Captain) three-quaretr-back; J. R. Cooke, and R. Hughes, half-back; T. Foster, R. Davies, J. Adkins, T. Thomas, T. Lewis, B. Booths G- Ward, L. Beddoe,. and J. Bees forwards; Talbot Stars. T. John, back; W. Hopkins (Captain) W. Rowlands, F. Thomas, H. Watkins. three- quarter-back; J. Davies and T. Morgan, half-bafck; R. Davies. W. Dingle, M. Dully, A. Foyle, S. Evans, H. Reee. W.. Treharne, and T. Bowden, forwards. Umpires, Penygraig, Mr R. Cording. Talbot Stars, Mr Alfred J. Boon.

DEPRESSION OF TRADE IN THE IBESDABE ALLEY. I, — .noma J Some of the collieries have only worked one day this week. The Aberdare Coal Company's colliery has altogether stopped working, and the workmen have brought out their tools. This stoppage affects about 200 men. Notices have been posted upon top of the Gadlys Collieries to terminate contracts at the expiration of this month. These notices will affect about 800 men.

$ Holloway's Pills.—Nervous Debility.—No par of the human machine requires more watching than the nervous syqtem-upnn it hangs health and life itself. These Pills are the b6"t regulators and srr»ngtheners of tbe nerves, and the- safest general purifiers. Nausea, headache, giddiness, numbness, and mental apathy yield to them. They dispatch •in a summary manner those distressing dyspeptio symptoms, stomachic pains, fntneasat the pit of the stomach, abdominal distension, and overcome both capricious appetites and confined bowels—the commonly aocoinpanying signs of defect! ve or de- ranged nervous ppwer. Holloway's Pills are par- ticularly recommended to persons of studious and tsjdantafy habits, who gradually sink into a nervous asd dfbiUtated ft* ual^f some such reafcn^tive b« asoesienally takef. i

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