The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

Kliondda Poliue Intelligent. MONDAY.—Before Mr J. Ignatius Williams, Stipen- diary Magistrate. DuuKK AND BEGGING AT THEHERBERT.—David Lewis was charged by P C. Davies with being drunk and begging in Baglan-street on Saturday. He had od in coppers.—Discharged. DAMAGING A FOOTPATH AT PAXDY.—Jam&s Hopkins was charged with damaging a pavement by driving on the footpath.—'Sergeant Hcyle said on the 6th inst. he saw defendant drive .two horses and a loaded cart across the pavement, thereby chipping off part of the keibstone, and displacing it.—Ivlr Jones, sur- veyor, appeared for the Ystrad Local Board, and estimated the damage at 5s.—Fined 5s and costs. THE SUNDAY CLOSING ACT AT CLYDACH VAI-E.-Evan Thomas was charged by P.C, Llewellyn with ialsely representing himself to be a traveller at the Tynew- ydd Inn, Porth. He gave his right name, but a false address, saying be lived at Treharris. He afterwards said he lived at Waun Comt, Clydach Yale.—Fined 15s. STEALING MILK AT TBEOBKY.—Francis Edmund, aged 12 years, was charged with stealing milk.-Thos. Bailey. 15, River Street, Treorky, said on Sunday last he had a pony and cart with milk in it off the road at Llwynpia Station. He went up the side street to sell milk. He left tha cart at 8 o'clock. On returning at 10 o'clock, he found his cart was gone with the churn full of miik (15 gallons). He vent in search of it from Pandy to Porth. He found the boy bringing his cart back..About four gallons of miik had been taken. Afterwards found defendant and and another boy six years old. Defendant gavo him 9Jd. He took the yonnger boy to his home. The value of the milk taken was 6s Id. The boys had sold the milk.—A boy named Jones, of Treoilty, assistant to prosecutor, said he went to Porth in search of the cart, and found it in the direction of Ynyshir. Defendant was in the cart with a measure in his band. A woman was bringing out a jug for milk. On seeing him defendant ran away.P.C. Llewellyn said at 11 30 defendant was brought to the police station by prosecutor, who handed him 9d, which he said the boy bad given him as takings for milk sold.—Superintendent Matthews said defendant was a naughty boy, and would not go to school.—To receive six strokes with the birch rod. ASSAULTING THE POLICE AT PONTYPRIDD.—Patrick Murphy, of no abode, was charged with being drunk and also with assaulting P.C. Lewis.-The constable found him in Pontypridd, in the street, drunk and exposing his person. He remonstrated with him, acd as soon as defendant had buttoned up he gave him a blow. A number of roughs tried to release defendant from his custody, and he used his staff.- Sent to prison for 14 days' hard labour. ALLEGED WOUNDING AT DINAS.-N athaniel Williams was charged with wounding his brother, David.- P.C. Weeks said at half-past ten on Saturday night he was called to David Williams' house, Tramroad Side, where he found defendant's brother bleeding from a wound on his left eye. Mrs' Williams told him to lock defendant up, as he had kicked David in the eye. Defendant said, "He struck me first, and I put my boot into him." There were no marks on defendant. David told him that he and another brother had had a quarrel. The other brother had complained to defendant, wno came in and they had a tussle, in the course of which they fell over a step, and when David was down defendant kicked him. Both brothers and the woman were drunk. Defen- dant bad been previously convicted once for assault, and twice of being drnnk. Remanded till Wednesday I for the attendance of the wounded brother. STEALING COAL AT DINAS.T ohn Ree?, of Penygraig, was charged with stealing is ) pounds of coal from a tip at Dinas.-P.C. Thomas said he saw defendant with a sack containing coal on his back. He did not work at Dinas, but at Penygraig. Afterwards went to defendant's house, and in the coal place found several hundredweights of coal of a similar quality to that in the sack. His wife said she had often told him not to go totheplacoforooal in the morning. -Hii Worship said it was a bad case, for defendant must have gone to Dinas on purpose to get the coal. -Fined 10s. ALLEGED FHAUDOLBNT REMOVAL OP GOODS AT YSTBAD.—Richard Evans was charged with this offence.—-Morgan Evans, acting as house agent for David Morgan and others, said defendant was a tenant of 73, xstrad Road, at 26s a month. He levied a distress on the goods on the 1st of March for rent due till February 13. He paid what was due on the 10th of March. There were two months due on the 9th of Apnh Called at his house on the 6th of April, and told him unless he paid he should again levy a distress. He promised to pay on the following Monday. On the 19th of April he found the goods had been re- moved to the station. Saw defendant that evening, who denied i*, and said he knew the law too well for that. He got a warrant, and distrained on the goods still left in the house, which were worth about 10s.— Adjourned for a week, his Woiship remarking that there was nothing to show that the goods left would not prove sufficient when sold to pay the overdue rent. ? ALLBOEO THREATS AT TKEORKY.—William fSamael was charged with uttering threa.ts.-Ann Pugh said last Moaday night week defendant came into her house aud said to bar "What have you to say about my wife." Told him she had nothing to say. He was coming nearer and nearer, and at last said "If you have anything to say aboat my wife I'll knock your brains oat." She was so frightened that she had to have meaicai advice for palpitation of the heart. Defendant s wife came in and called him out, saving, "I am sufficient for the old b-. I'll kill her."— Dismissed. I MSSSllE* GAMBLING AT PONTYPRIDD.—William Webb, of Pont- ypridd, was fined 25s, or 14 days hard labour, for gambling with card and board on the 28tb|April..

TOPICS OF THE WEEK. THE citizens of Oskaloosa, a flourishing town in Kansan, have just elected a lady mayor and a municipal council composed exclusively oi the sex to which its chief belongs. They are -all marrited women, the wives of professional men for the most part the only exception be. ing Mrs. Mittie Golden, who is "the wife of an expert mechanic and the^mother of two bright little girls." Four of the councillors are "handsome matronly ladies of middle age,' while the other two are "youpger in years, and girlish in form and feature." They are all "highiy intelligent and universally esteemed I: and? their fellow-citizens feel confident that they will "run the town with credit to them- -selves and to Oskaloosa. A New York paper, referring to the experiment, remarks tlut a straightforward pure municipal government weuld attract a good deal of attention just now in the United-States. It is, no doubt, some- thing of ararity there and if Oskaloosa is found to enjoy it under its feminine regime, we may live to see New York itself following the exam- pie of the Kansas town.

CARDINAL MANNING- recognises the disadvan- tages which attend on the rearing of great num- bers of neglected children under one roof, and this mode of trainingyoungsters is one that has always been regarded with disfavour. At the conference held in connection with reformatory and industrial schools, his Eminence deprecated the formation of school on so vast a scale a. to preclude the' operation of those humanising influences which are so beneficial in good home iife. Industrial schools, we are convinced, would exercise a greater effect on the inmates if the numbers brought together were much less than they are. But even as they now exist --they do much for that class of forlorn children that haunt pur streets, and wouk!, if further neglected, go to swell the ranks of the criminal population In common with all people who have had opportunities of judging of the effect of training and kind treatment on the human waifs ever drifting in this great metropolis, Cardinal Manning is convinced of the immense importance of rescuing at the earliest moment poor and practically friendless children from the evil effects of their surroundings.

NOTWITHSTANDING that the Germans, with a view to competing with us in the ocean carry- ing trade, have adopted the costly system of subsidising their shipowners, they are experi- encing considerable difficulty in carrying out their object. We observe, for instance, from the reports just issued by our Consuls at Mar- seilles, Bordeaux, Boulogne, and Dunkirk, that at each of these busy ports the tra'de done under the German flag last year considerably declined. That carried on under the British flag, how- ever, increased at all these French ports except Toulogne. Again, at Genoa, British shipping more than kept its place in the large increase of business done last year. German shipping, however, also increased here owing to the estab- lishment of the new line of steamers, subsidised by the German Government, to run''from Bre- men to the East, and calling at Antwerp, Southampton, Genoa, and elsewhere, en route. Trade which has to be carried on under the subsidy system, however, can hardly be re- garded as having the element of permanency in it. In France the plan adopted in 1832 of giv- ing bounties to French ship-builders has already collapsed. All the new vessels added to the register at Bordeaux of late, we learn from the Consular report, have been purchased in Eng- lish and other foreign ship-yards. Time is money to shipowners, and ships can be built in English yards much more quickly than in .French yards. o

HE who trades upon the folly and ignorance of mankind is pretty certain to make large pro- fits. The three men who were sentenced to terms of imprisonment have had ample oppor- tunities of testing the truth of what we have just said. Willi no qualifications either in medicine or surgery, and with no training which n would enable them to stand the test of a single minute's examination of the subjects they pro- fessed to be versed in, have been prac- tising upon the credulity of their victims with astounding success. These three quack doctors have received an almost incredible amount of money from a large number of people. In one case it is said that a dupe paid this association of impudent rogues a hundred and ninety pounds, only to find, of course, that they had grossly deceived him as to his ailments. Yet there were scores of conscientious and qualified doctors to whom he might with confidence have applied, and not one of whom we venture to assert would have charged him a tithe of what these ignorant imposters not only demanded but strange to say obtained. We cannot imagine more pernicious scoundrels than these Manchester quacks, who did not, however, limit their business operations to the city by the Irwell. Their two servants were held to have been guiltless; but they themselves, knowing how overwhelming was the evidence against them, pleaded guilty. One of them was sen- tenced to eighteen months' hard labour, and the other two accomplices to a third of that term each-lenient punishment it seems to us, considering the great amount of harm which must gave been done by these men.

ACCORDING to a report on agriculture in Maryland and Virginia, prepared by the British Consul at Baltimore, and issued from the Foreign Office, these States offer many induce- ments to immigrants. "The mildness of the; cfimate, the fertility of the soil, and the great variety of products, offer profitable openings to farm labour backed by moderate capital." Unfortunately, however, the moderate capi- talist does not appear to take kindly to this, region notwithstanding its healthfulness and fertility. In fact the Consul admits that in many lespects the British farpier, with all his troubles, is better off than his American rivals in Maryland and Virginia. The lattec are for the most part without any other society than that of their own families, and owing to the excessive cdst of labour, they have to work bard themselves andemploy their children on the land when they ought to be at school. If thereis plenty in the homestead there is also waste and extravagance, and no one who has fiarni-in these,States can realise what dirty land is. Not the unobtrusive weeds, ■which are the of the English farmer, but tall,, hardlytdHgh plants almost arriving at the dignity of bushes, over-shadow the fields of grain, and ruin the pastures." It is a pity that so fine a country should be allowed to run to waste in this way. Fruit and vegetable cul- tivation, however, is the most profitable of in- dustries in these States. Maryland is the great, -tentre-of the canned fruit and vegetable trade. Thirty-eight million cans of hermetically-sealed goods were packed in Herford county alone in 1882; A great development of this trade is pro- mised in the future by the adoption of the sys- tem of preserving fruit by evaporation. It is tated tnat fruit thus treated is quite as good after being cooked as when plucked fresh from be trees. As the evaporators are inexpensive and can be used for ordinary cooking purposes as well as for fruit-preserving, why do not Eng- lish fruit growers make a trial of the evapora tion process.

£ fir# occurred the other day at a tradesman's ^sliop, ajb Annfield Plata, near Gateshead. Damage to the extent oftboat jE3,000 was caused, the rot* -of the building being lifted off by file explosion of few pounds of gun —— ,n_.

THE FERRY VAX OF LOCH LYNJS1. j A 6 HOST STORY. Was I ev-er married ? No, ma'am never. I've lived a single life for sixty years, and I've been the ferryman lur forty. Uierell be a steamer here next year, they say, and then may he my work is done. I've enough to live on, though, and it's not ail for tiie bit of pay that I row the boat. I've had a hope all these leng years that would have made some folk fear to let me row them over the ferry, but I think I'll tell you all about it, for you've a look in your eyes as though you could understand. When I was twenty I had a sweetheart. Her name was Jessie. We had been betrothed a wee while, and the banns were to be put up in the kirk in a month's time, when suddenly her mother took a dislike to me, and said it should not be. It was only an old woman's freak. An ill-tempered 'L body she was, and not quite right in her mind, I think. But Jessie would not marry against her mother's will. She cried like a baby, and vowed to me to be true, and to meet me every Saturday at least. And she hoped to soften her mother in time. What could I do ? Nothing but fret and fume, and make her unhappier than she was. You know man's nature well enough to know that I did that, I've no doubt, ma'am. But Saturday afternoons I always rowed about the edge of the loch here, waiting for Jessie. She'd come to the bank-I can see her still, in her little straw bonnet, with a pink rose in it—and wave her handkerchief. Then I'd go to her and we'd row about until sunset, keeping well out of sight, as it was easy to do. Not many people wanted to cross, but if thev came at that time they had to go back again. 1 never answered them. And though I worried and fretted enough in all conscience, those were very happy afternoons. We met so for a year. The old mother nevsr grew any more willing that I should court Jessie, and never guessed that she met me on the lake. She wanted Jessie to marry a rich old man, and the poor girl had a hard time of it at home. At last, between them, the old man always following her about, the mother always pleading his cause, she was half distracted. I urged her to run awav with me, and vowed that I could make a fortune in Edinburgh if she was my wife. And she was almost worn out. And when the old woman declared that she should marry at Christmas whether she would or not, she promised me to leave home. It would be a crime to marry Mr. McGreggor," she said, "with nothing but dislike to give him but I fear it is a sin to deceive my mother." Then she wept in my arms and promised to meet me the next Saturday at the same houoand go to Edinburgh with me. I was to take her across the lake, and after that away townward in the stage coach. It was hard to wait for Saturday, but it came; everything was ready. I rode the boat out upon the lake and sat waiting. I waited long. The evening was drawing on, 11 z_l 1-1 and there was no sign of her. I grew anxious. I grew despairing. I could 'not believe she would willingly break a promise to me. I feared her mother had discovered everything. At last, as the twilight fell and I was in despair, I saw her standing on the shore. She was dressed all in white, and I remember thinking that it was not like my sensible Jessie to deck herself like a bride for a dusty journey to the dirty town, when we were anxious to hide from any who might follow. But when I had taken the beat across I saw that she had no bag or parcel with her, that she had not even a hat upon her head. What she wore was a sort of robe loosely hanging on her figure, and her feet were bare. "The mother has locked her up," I said to myself, and she's escaped just this way, brave lass." And I took off my plaid and made ready to hap it around her when she got in. When I got close to her so that I could see her face it was as pale as a lily. I was frightened at it, and I called out: What have they been doing z, to you, my lassie?" She made no answer, but came into my boat. "Don't touch me yet," she said; but she took my plaid and laid it about her, and looked at me sad and strange and woeful. I said 1 would come, and I came," she whispered. Oh, Jamie, lad, we might have been so happy." We will," I said. Come to me, Jessie." "Oh, Jamie," she said again, "don't touch me yet. Lengthen the moments as long as you can, for when you much me I must go.. I'll be yours in heaven, Jamie, remember that." "But here first, Jessie," I said. "You shall never go back to those who have used you so ill. No, I shall never go back," she said. The voice was not Jessie's, it was so sad and faint. The face was whiter than marble. The eyes seemed to look at me through a mist; and, indeed, a mist was all about her, I drew my oars into the boat. Come close, Jessie," I said. Tell me all. Let me make you warm in my arms." I stretched them out. She shrank away. "Oh, Jamie, Jamie!" she sighed, "the cold mould must hap me, not your arms. Death is my bridegroom. Good-by Good-by Good-by I caught her in my arms. It was as if I had plunged into the heart of a cold mist. I saw her, but I could not hold her as she faded away. An hour after, some one found me drifting in the boat. I was out of my head and I was ill a longwhile. When I came to myself they told me that as I waited for my love in my boat on the great loch, she lay slirouded in her mother's home. She died suddenly of heart disease after a terrible scene with the old woman. I've never left the loch since. I've been the ferryman ever since, but it is not for the money. I hope always that some day I may see Jessie on the bank again, and that, at least, once more her spirit will sail with me over* the blue water— perhaps at the moment when I am ready to go away with her to the heaven where she has been so many years.

Who is be ? eaad a passer-by to a policeman who was endeavouring to Taise an intoxicated in- dividual who hsfcAtfetfien into the gutter. Can't say, sir," replied the policeman he can't give r-o acoountof himself." Of course not," said the other; "how can you expect an account from a person Who has lost his balaace ? A CORRESPONDENT'ASKS "What time of year do the days begin to shorten ? When you have a note in bank. A note in bank is the great annihilator of time. The days are crowded to- gether in thin layers and the nights are like a smear from a blacking brush. IRISH: WIT.—Witty things innumerable are told of the Dublin carmen one is, that on a wet day, driving an English fare through Sackville-street, as' they passed the General Post Office, the en- tablature of which is surmounted by three allegorical figures, the Briton called out-" What statues are those, driver ? On the front of the Post Office ?" asked Pat, from between his coat collar. They are the twelve Apostles, your honour." "Twelve Apostles," muttered the Briton, con- temptuously; "there are only three there." Lord bless your sowl, sir," was the response, "sure you would not have them all out this murthering wet day." I myself heard one of them give a sharp and rather courteous reply, when call- ing to a. gentlemen if he wanted a car; the latter said, "no," he was able to walk. The jarvey answered—"May your honour long be able, but seldom willing." DE edycation ob a man is his silver, but his common sense is his gold. Fortune sometimes comes ter der one what leasts expecks it, but it is more apt ter come ter de man what works fer it. De wust boy don't al'ers turn out ter be de ben' man. I has know'd good boy's ter drag along an' finally amount ter suthin'. De wust lick I eber fot was from a man what didn't want ter hit me. low I'se mighty kereful 'bout crowdin' a man. When a pusson says dat he wants ter ffght, yer's safe j but when he tells yer dat be doaii Vant ter fight, den step right war yer is. DECEIT and falsehood, whatever. convenience they may for a time promise or produce, are in the sum of life obstacles to happiness. Those who profit by the cheat distrust the deceiver; and the act by which kindness was sought puts an end to confidence

V CORRESPONDENCE. ^\Ve do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.] COMMON LANDS AND ROYALTIES. To the Eflitor rf the Chronicle. SIK,—In my last letter I endeavoured to show that it was a. cryiag shame that in this nineteenth century, and what is known as an educational age, that we s'v.iild quietly allow tbe gentlemen as the lor Is of the manor to pocket our public wealth without raising an united cry, and demand for a repeal of such an obnoxious and pernicious law. Firstly, I will call your attention to a case which is roaiiy not three miles from your office. A gentleman own* a farm near the Albion Colliery, and would, I am informed, be glad to let the minerals under it to that, colliery company. Although he is owner ol the surface and minerals lawfully, he cannot let the mineral because the Common Land of the people in- tervenes between this colliery and his farm, and the mineral, wnich also justly belongs to the people, is claimed by Lord Bate, a«d this lying between the coiliecy and the farm near by, locks out the right.ul owner from enjoying what tue law gives him a claim to. I know, sir, that you have many times passed ovor the common troin Aberdare Junction to Ponty- pridd, and a finer or healthier spot to build a village upon could not be wished, yet the whole of this waste cannot be touched for the public good. Since this new colliery has won the coal, hundreds of houses have been erected, the ground "rents of each house averaging from £ 1 to X2 per annum. Now, if our local authorities had power to let this land for build- ing purposes and garden allotments, £100 per annum could easily be paid into the public treasury of the Union of Pontypridd. Again, if this land was sold to the people at a fifteen years' purchase, at a penny per square yard per annum, this would equal the sum of £:20 4s 4d per acre per annum, and, at a fifteen years' purchase, would fetch £302 13a per acre. The common near here has at le:tst 200 aores of useful building and allotment land. £ 302 13s per acre for 200 acres equals a FUUI of £ 60,520, which might easily be realised, and public use made of it for public good. Is it not a shame that we cannot have laws that we mighi use our own towards reducing taxation, and relieving over-burdened ratepayers. In the matter of royalties, I wish to call attention to the important part played in our industries by the hard and fast law of the landlords. When they lease their mineral and let their building land, the lease contains no end of clauses giving them power to re- ceive all and pay nothing in the shape of taxation. Land originally not worth 5s per acre as farm rent is now let at the rate of from £ 2 0 to £100 per acre per annum, and not a single penny is paid by these gentlemen towards the poor oi the parish, or theroads, or public builtjings. They, as I said before, take all, and pay no rates. Again, thrifty workmen risk their all in one or a few cottages colliery owners risk their all in speculation, and very often lose their all; while the landlord looks complacently on, pocketing heavy royalties and dead rents, and although appealed to for reduction, the auswer is no, and no law at present caa mako him sav yes..Take Cwmbacn, near Aberdare, as an illustration there we have scores of cottages erected by thrifty men, and thousands of pounds ex- pended by gentlemen, who entirely, failed, with all their skill, to get a return upon their outlay, and when appealing for compassion to the royalty owners, who have not risked a penny, the inevitable no is give! and the full pound of flesh demanded. The result is that the whole of Cwmbach is now idle, and the cottages worthless to the hard toiler who denied biunelf many a necessary to have a cot of his own. aLIght such a wrong to exist? No; I say a tlibtisana times "No." Public bodies ought to be investcd with power to compel an inquiry, aud to tix a fair and equitable fee to be paid as royalty to the Queen, and- liot to allow i>he many to suffer for the satce ot t._e few. We have laws compelling the purchase of lands for railway and other purposes, at a price ty an arbitrator or vainer why not, in cases of dispute, compel a reference to an independent public Dody witii rdS|fect*to royal toes,? Xo.u say that, a .compay ot I gentlemen made tbe bargain -^ith their gyes open, and they ought to be made to pay you did not ask them to take your minerals, and, therefore, you. demanded the full price. The same question-applies to the poor man when he owes the grocer and others £ 10 or £ 20 for the necessaries of iife, and when pressed for the money, whieb he Cannot possioly pay, the law gives power to the Judge wno hears tne case to saj that he is satisfied that the poor man cannot pay, neither must his goods and chattels be touched, but a fair and equitable resiraa^ement is made, namely, he has to pay quarter or half of his debts, as the cade may ap- pear right. Why not give a lav., something similar in the interest of the community generally t Wuy I should a colliery proprietor hopelessly abandon his plant at a colliery" because royalties are too high, and have no redress or hearing ? Why should the thrifty and industrious workman be obliged to leave his hard- earned cot, and hundreds of the poor be thrown oat ( of work, simply to satisfy the insatiable and grabbing landlord? I say that our Welsh Labour candidates ought to agitate strongly for remedial and eqaitaoJe laws to meet those cases, a.r d to do their utmost to I break up this tyrannous law, whi&h suits the lew,and grinds down the many. It is the only hope to assi=t the thrifty and protect the speculator. Hoping to see these questions taken up at an early date, I am, yours, &c., S.S.

Outbreak of Small Pox at Gslligasr. ANOTHER. DETATH. In the middle portion of the parish of Gelligaer, near PGcbriw, SlJ1f1]J-p",x broke out some weeks ago, and still prevails theie. although a temporary hospital has been provided. This week another death has resulted from it, a man named Phillimore, about 27 years of age, having died, and left a widow and two children. Three weeks ago his brother succumbed to the same disease. .f

WITHDRAWAL OF THE NOTICE" AT CWMYGLO COLLIERY, BEDWAS. On Thursday evening, at the company's offices, a deputation of the workmen's representatives waited apon Messrs James and Edmund Thomas, part pro- prietors of the Cwmyglo Colliery, for an interview with reference to the notice posted by the company to terminate all contracts on the 30tb iust., which was given with a view to a. reduction in wages. After a long and friendly consultation on the matter in dispute, the owners consented to withdraw the<K)ttce, and agreed that wages should remain as heretofore, Th9 workmen then retired, and conveyed the news to the colliers, who received it with acclimmatiob. Great rejoicing is also manifested throughout the neighbourhood at such an amicabte settlement of the dispute.

A IT AMD RAILWAY RIDF.The capncity of the iton-horse for covering space was successfully tested on tiie occasion of an incident in connection with the visit of l'rince William of Prussia to the Czar during the recent manoeuvres in Poiaud. The day before the arrival of the prince, about four o'clock in the afternoon, Czar Alexander, who had already arrived at Brest. Litovtk, ordered his valet to get hia Prussian uniform ready for the next day. "But, your Majesty," the valet replied tremblingly, "wehave no Prussian uniform here; your majesty ordered me to leave it behind at St. Petersburg." Most vexing misunderstanding," the emperor ex- claimed, and called the aide-de-camp on doty. "My Prussian uniform must be here at seven to- morrow morning," was the peremptory order of thiTCzar. The adjutant bowed and retired. Two J minutos!atwhesent telegram to the Imperial Wardrobe Office at St. Petersburg and another to the ytrsaw Railway. At six o'clock in the even. ing a locomotive was ready to start from tct. Peters. burg. An imperial courier, with the trunk con. taining the uniform, momited the engine, and » race against time began. Relay locomotives were held in readiness at Dunaburg and Wilna to take up the courier and continue the run, as no single engine could have made a continuous run of such a length. The iron-horses accomplished the task as- signed to them, ,and, to use a sporting phrase, "came up smiling," or rather pufting. At seven o'clock in the morning the uniform was at Biest- Litovsk. The courier had performed five hundred and eighty-nine miles in thirteen hours, or forty- fire 1-3 miles an hour without a rest. At eight o'clock Prince William arrived at Brest-Litovslt, I and the Czar received him iu his Prus9!an umtortu. sow- I-

I CONSERVATIVE MEfcTlXG AT POKTYPHIDL). ADDRESS BY MR L. GORDON LENOX, J P LIVELY PROCEEDINGS. A public meeting was held at the Town Hall, Pont- I ypridd, on Monday evening, for tb purpose of hear- ing a polititical address delivered by Mr James CIOB- ton, F.S.A., of Manchester. The audience was mainly composed of Liberals, with a good sprinkling of boys, and a few Conservative ladies and gentlemen. Mr L. GordonLoaox,fJ.P., occupied thechair, and was supported by the lecturer, Mr J. C. Vye-Parmiater, Of Swansea, and Mr It. Pontypridd, tile secretary of the local Conservative Association. The Ch-tir- man, in opening the meeting, said he was glad to see so many present,shewing that they had some interests beside those immediately affecting their own charming district. (Applause and interruption from the lower end of the hall.) He would like the zentle- men who interrupted to come to the platform if they had anything to say. If they had any questions to asif, they would be listened to, but meanwhile he hoped they would listen with something like decent courtesy. There were many interesting subjects before the country which they might as well rliscuss in a pleasant evening such as he hopel they would have that meeting, and there were few questions which had not two sides. It was a matter of con- gratulation that they might have a little temporary rest from the Irish question, in the shape of a dis- cussion of the Local Government Bill which was now before the country. It bad been said by Liberals that they were surprised to find that the Conserva- tive party should have introduced so Liberal a measure. This was perhaps high pr.ise, but it was based upon a mistaken notiou of waat tue Con- servatives of to-day really were. The Conservative of to-day was really progressive. (Applause). The Chairman was proceeding to quote Lord JBeaconsfield on the importance of trusting the people, when a man at the lower end of tue room shouted—" Di3raeli was the son of a Jaw." (Laughter and interruption). The Chairman: Turn that man out. If the man was sober I would not object to it. Mr Superinten- dent Mathews, will you remove that mau:)" The offender walked out quietly with Mr Mitthews, and three cheers for Mr Gladstone were cailed for and given. The Chairmen: Well, friends, I cannot really congratulate you on the gentleman ycu have brought to represent you this evening; I hope you will j bring a better specimen next time. Tnere are j plenty of good Radicals in Pontypridd wuo *70uld do better; I see you primed him. (Cries of "No, no."—The Chairman then proceeded to speak of the CouBty Government Bill, which provided, he said, for elected members. There would be no ex-officio members; the only people who would occupy seats without election would be those selected by the gentlemen elected by the ratepayers, in the same way as aldermen and mayors were selected by the councillors of Cardiff. Taere would be no cumula- tive vote. The measure was as democrative as it possibly could be The licensing question was one very much talked about in this district. They bad a great working population in their midst, aud one that, he might say, drank pretty freely. The people did not driuk now as they used to do, but stiil they did not intend being teetotaler^, and for that matter, although he altogether objected to drunkenness, he did not blame tliem altogether. It was decided r.uat the licensing should be transferred from the magis- trates to the Cortuty Council. Whether that would be for the benefit of all, or not, was a mere matter of question, because it would be whether they liked it or not. A great deal had been said about compensa- tion to be given when licenses were withdrawn. Ti¡,c;re was a strong party who thought there were by far too many licenses, and that they should be with drawn, lie 4id no5 agree with anything of that sort. It was quite clear from judgments laid down that it was never intended tnat licenses once granted should be withdrawn at the whim or wish of anybody. There was most decidedly a vested interest in the licensed victualler's house. That had been proved by the de- cision that it was quite unnecessary for a publican himself to go before the magistrates to demand ilia license. He was entitled to have his license renewed unless the police had soma complaint against him. Another matter dealt with in the Dill was the licenses lor selling wines iiBd spirits. They had three shops in this town at which wines and spirits were sold, and he was afraid to say how many public houses. An. application was recently made to the magistrates at Pontypridd fcr a grocer's license, which they declined. A 1;UJ.-ndallllls was issued, and no choice was left them so long as the applicant was a householder of good character, and rated at ±'30 a year. Taey were com- 'I E6 '3 pelled to grant it because Mr Gladstone, some years ago, passed a law which enabled everyone who had a decent character, and cccapied a house worth £ 40 a year, to start a drinking shop with Wines in bottles. This bad led to the question being raised in. the house, and there was to he authority given to the new Boards to refuse such licenses. Therefore, he ventured to think that the bench at Pontypridd had done at least their part in bringing the iratter indirectly before Parliament, and so helping to prevent drunkenness being fostered amongst women and children. The Messrs Giibey alone had sold as many as ten million bottles oi wine iu a year, and it one firm alone sold so many what was the total consumption? In conclusion Mr Lenox regretted that there was not more political life in Pontypridd. He heard the same complaint from Liberals as well as from Conservatives, aud he knew for his own-part that there was more enthu- siasm shown iu political matters in other parts of the division than Pontypridd, lie then introduced Mr Croston. Mr Croston, in the course of a lengthy address, re- view* d the political situation from a Conservative point of view. He was occasionally cheered with unexpected unanimity, and at other times interrupted with reminders of Ooc-rcioi)," Home Rule, cheers for Mr Gladstone, three groans for Balfour. There was an ominous silence when the lecturer claimed for the Conservative Government the ebtire credit of passing the Mines Regulation Act, but when he quoted the remarks of Mr Abraham, M.P. (Mabon), and complimenting the Government, there were loud cheers for Mabon. Un the Irish question the stock phrases were quoted, aud elicited stock phrases in reply from the andience.such as "Who stole O'Brien's breeches?" What Kbout -Ilichelstown?" queries to which the lecturer made no reply. A remark that the audience seemed to torget the Coercion Acts of the Liberal Party elicited loud hooting and a few cheers, whereupon a police constable walked into the midst of tbe young men who protested, and the" protea- tants were somewhat awed by the .presence of the representative of "law and order." At the close, the Chairman called for a vote of thanks to the lecturer, and it was given. Mr J. Calvert addressed the meeting, and remarked that it did not matter who went to the House of Com- mons to represent them, whether a Couservative or a fAberal, Ro-long-as he was a good man. They must haveigeod laws, micUabide by them, and they must support therm—the law of the land, the law of nations, and the law of God Almighty. They must have laws, and it was quite immaterial whether they were made by a man or a mouse. (Great laughter, fol- lowed by musical honours for Mr Gladstone, and groans for Mr Balfour.) On the motion of the lecturer, seconded by MrVye- Parminter, a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded, to the chairman. Mr W. Jones, GelH was tad-Road, while by no means endorsing the sentiments expressed by the lecturer, heartily supported the vote ot thanks to the chairman, who was well known and popular in Pontypridd, but who was unfortunately on the wrong side. (Laughter and applause.) He invited Conser- vatives to attend the meeting to be held the aeik evening at St. David's Hall to protest against the compensation clauses of the Local Government Bill. and the proceedings then terminated. I A

THE SLIDING SCALE COMMITTEE. ELECTION OF HOUSE COAL REPRE- SENTATIVES. On Monday the scrutineers met at the Nelson Inn, Kelson, Llancaiach, for the purpose of counting tbw votes for the election of members for the house coal section of Monmouthshire and South Wales. Thre* members were to be ceosen. Four were to be nomi- ncted. The result was:— Isaac Evans 6,352 1 Henry Foulkes. 4,277 Morgan Weeks II 2,83$ NON-ELECTSD. David Jones 2,170 The scrutineers were Means John A. Lleyd (loan Llwyd), Blackwood; Matthew Lane. Porth; and John Jenkins, Clydach, ttwaaaea Valley. II