The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

CHARGES AGAINSTTCLERGyMAN. At the Central Criminal Courb, London, the Bev. James Evans, said to be the curate of a pfcrish at the Ea«b end, eurrendered to Lake his trial for unlawfully taking a young ei» ,,a,, w) ;Jan* Lowe, under 16 years of age, from the « w- £ ."ipdy of her master, for an immoral pnrp.^e( he was also charged with being unduly familiiir ij/jtfth her, she being nnder 14) ui age—Mr, ■ .^Forrest Fulton prosecuted, and Mt. Poland, O.C.. ;nd Mr. C. F. Gill defended.—The main facts of >b did ,,0,! »PP«*r "• disputed, bub on b$. «alf of the accused ib was contended, in the first I&lajbo, that it hurt not been proved lhatihegi,i ,j,Wjks really under t:0, and secondly, thab under lhe j CHcniijstariueH the prisoner could nob be -Mid to ;rir^ve taken the ']&r\ fr<»»» a person whe had tfio Wgal Custody of her witMn the meaning «.f -it Suras'fhrUiet 'contended that whatever J migftt Wl'fo irwiifi of the present chaigo the point. of law would be reserved fur further con- MderaMott.—Tho jttry, after a long deliberation, acquitted the prUonor upon all the (ounvscori- OernUtg the alleged %bd action and with regard those counts relating to the age of the girl tltfcy La»id they could not Agree upon n verdict, and weie Recharged from giving a verdict.—The flesh trial was postponed un the next sessions, and in the OMftutime the acoosed was admitted to bail.

TheCape Parliament will meet on the 20th urox. I ?. 1

CHURCH PARADE AT TREHERBERT. The Bute Detachment 3rd V.B. Welsh Regi- ment held a church parade on Sunday morning. There was a total muster of 54, under command of Captain Lewis, Lieutenant Richards, and Lieutenant Williams. The sermon was preached by the Rev. — Roderick, curata-in-charge. The weather was fine, but very cola.

Toy 2/- TIA.—No Finer in the world at r*6 01Indian, and Cey- l<Af>«>?6» T»flf Street, Pontypridd.

COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT PENRHIWPBB. At the Penrhiwfer Colliery of the Glamorgan Coal Company on Monday a slight explosion of gas occurred, whereby Obadiah Morgan, Collier, and a boy working with him, as well as a horse atandin by, ware burnt, but not seriously.

NEW INDUSTRY FOR CARDIFF. WOr^8 been erected OB the Bart M<»rs, Cardiff, for the Cardiff Tin (Limited), were' opened on Monday. This new industry will, it is lAid, supply employment for fully 600 people. No Moaa Daar.—Nmhelsoa's Patented • Bar Drums euro Deafness and Hois* in the SK all stages, TFG ptgt Illustrated Beak, WISH MI J miptioo. free.—Adorta* jr. 21 Badferi »«aare, London, W.C. 1 *• • Sir R. reel, who is in town, has been confined to his house by a fresh attack of rheumatic gout. He is, however, making satisfactory pr(^re<*vtr- Signor M'iardia a deeign for an equestrian statue of the late King Victor Emmanuel, to be enwteJ in Rome, has been accepted. The workmen employed in the Lloyd Areeaat all Trioeb have struck work. No disturbance of order is reported. A petition of dock labourers of London in favour of the Sugar Convention Bill has been presented to the House of Commons. The Chelsea Electricity Supply Company, Limited, commenced the other night to givö-a con- tinuous supply of current to houses in Chelsea. lIJr. Whiteluw Reid, the new American minister is expected to arrive in Paris at the beginning of next mouth. The Russian forces on the German frontier will be shortly increasel by about 10,00U men, who will eelve as the advance posts of the Ruesiau An. There is now under the consideration of tho Mersey Docks and Harbour Board a proposal to establish a new hydraulic-power centre at tho Toxteth Dock, ab an estimated coeb of £ 10,000, The richeeb man in Berlin is rated ab 2,460,000 marks, or £ 123,000 per annum and thereafe-t^ily two wealthier men in Prussia, one of whom has £ 150,000 and the other .£200,000. A Southwark correspondent states that the brother of a police sergeaut in the M. Division has just come in for a fortune of £20,000, which has been lying in Chancery. Mr. W. F. Walker, who has been appointed Commissioner for the Victorian sectiou of the Paris Exhibition, has arrived in London from Melbourne and will proceed to Paris. Lord Reay has assured the Bombay Chamber of Commerce that factory legislation in India similar to that of England being absolutely uncalled for would be opposed by the Government. A telegram from New Vork says :—Advices from Hayti state that an earthquake has occurred at Port de Paix. Many houses were wrecked and a number of persons sustained injuries. The funeral of M. Chevreul, the distinguished French centenarian, Lonk place with much cere- mony, all the rariatan authorities and other notabi. lities being presenb. While Sir Charles Barton, Barb., of Pollatton, Carlow, was riduijj to the Carlow hounds the other Jay, his horse tliied and clipped, falling on the rider and breaking his left leg below the knee. The district of Tilsib, in East l'rufi-ia, is entirely under water owing to the recent, floods. Two hun- dred soldiers have been sent to relieve and assisb the inhabitants. A telegram from Cairo states that Mr. C. Pdrtal has started for Zanzibar, in order to take up the duties of British Consul-General (.hotO dtrring Colonel Ewau Smith's absence in England. Mr. T. Irwin Barstow has sent in his i cfiguation as senior magistrate ab Cletkeuwell Police courb. Failing health is said to be the cause. The learned gentleman was appointed in 1874. May the first is the dabe now fixed for second reading of the Shops (Weekly Half-Holiday) Bill, but ib stands eixteenth on the list bhen, and is not likely to be reached. The living of Bowness-on-Solway, in the patror.- age of the Earl of Lonsdale, has been offered to and accepted by the Rev. Samuel Lindow. The annual value of the benefice is E412. A gas explosion, resulting in a serious outbreak of fire, has occurred ab a warehouse occupied by Mr. Ho tgsox, envelope maker, Little Trinity-ianef City. Several persons were injured. At Dublin, Ross Todd and Henry Morgan, the two bailie clerks who were charged with etnbez- zling sums amounting to more than jE20,000, from the Provincial Bank, have beetr sent for trial to the commission, without bail. Further information respecting the disaster ab Samoa places the total loss of life at 143. The German warship Olga, which wenb ashore was subsequently floated and has since arrived at Syd. ney to repair damages. An aged couple named Shaw, residing at Staple- ton, near Hinckley, Leicestershire, have been suffocated in bet! through a fue, caused by a candle igniting a beam in the lower room of the house, burning through the floor. Upwards of fifty members of the Polioe Pen- sioners' Employment Association assisted in the recenb election of guardians in the metropolis. This is an indication of Lhe growing confidence of the public in this useful institution. The magistrates ab Stradbally Petty Sessions, have granted warrants for the eviction of forty tenants on the Marquis of Lanedowne's estates, Luggacurran, who owe three years' rent and have joined the plan of campaign. Princess Frederics of Hanover is expected to re- turn to Hampton Court Pnlace shortly from Biarritz; and, after a brief stay in England her Royal Highness is going to meet her mother. Queen Marie, at tho baths of Reichenhall, in Bavaria. Tho famous tomb of liana, at Lucca, the master- piece of .Jaci po delta Quercia, will shortly be visi- ble in an almosb unmutilated state. The tomb was spoken of in one of Mr. Ruskin's Oxford lee. bures. Lord Winmarleigh has been seriously ill for some timo at hie residence, Winmarleigh Hall,Garstang. It is, however, eatisfactory to learu thab he has now taken a turn for the better, and is gradually improving. Mr. Harry Nicholls, without severing his COR- necLion with Drury Lane Theatre, will, at the close of the pantomime, Babes in the Wood," join Mr. Charles Hawtrey's company ab the Comedy. There is now in the custody of (he Liverpool police, oil a charge of uttering base coin, a young woman who is described as the daughter of Jimmy Carroll," known as "The King of the Coiners." The Era announces the death of Mr. John Vollaire, the veteran actor, whose last sp|>earance in London was made at the llaymarket. lie was born in 1820, and made his London di but in 1854. Sir James Ratnsden has left the A I vie and King. craig grouse moors, which are consideie.1 to be among the best in the Badenocli district of Inver- neM fhire, to Mr. G. T. Bates, of Liverpool, for next season. Martin Mulloy (45), York Streeb, Wolverhamp- ton, was driving a Londun and North- Westerif Railway wagon along Old Mill Street, when he fell forward on to the horse's back, apiiMienfly in a tit. Be was conveyed to the hospital, but died on the way. About four hundred masters of ohippinir flats are about to be proceeded again-t 1,y -the liirkenhead Police, at the instance of the Mersey IVi-ks and Harbour Board, for not having koejters 011 their flats while the latter are in dock at cetlain tide times. The numerous friends of Air. Judge Ford, of Not tinghuw, will regret to hear that lie has lo^ hi" yuulIgeaL son. Themttefettow hail the mis- fortune 10 stray into the conservatory,and fall into the water-tank, life beiug oxliuct before he was found. Mr. Moreton, agent for the Midland Railway Company at Retfurd, Lincolnrdiire, III, t'een ap- pointed by the company to liil the po"ition oi goods agent for Wolverhampton and district, rendered vacant by the recent death of Mr. E. Jelley. It is stated that, in consequence of thn toee ei lhe Sultnu, Lhe Admiralty have ilt h-i mim <| to take immediate eteptt for the re-curvi-y tI, 41w Comino Channel, and it is uiider^tooH I I.nl. It titorongh survey of the whole of thu Aii itiici ranean will shoilly follow. Nellie S*tout, a little girl of (MH, looking out of a third-f!< or win low at. < I. <! n 1.tweU- ings when she b' <"i»'t.e <li y aud :.1 on to the pavement below. ^Il«-r »kull waj >i • d. She was Calit-n to tho T» ictortjv |lo-j> ta -ea, but subsequently ilio, The to ed of t -io prop. !»•»<•/ i'xh • at Paris upon the Chaotoi iri" • r or and Calais is already Leii.g I a .degree and mail bouts ru:.i. t ».. ,> *rts are crossing With almost << < x < t. s v< during tho ordinary euiniu* r The vacancy KJ TB> need by the death Mr. Tstey ha-, *»•< '••'•'graph t'«ntp«ny !«arue, be* 'Ð:'Ç.¡"< '1,¡}:fltanenll of Mr. Herbert Joyce, I:! !v ■" f—' Lite de- lta* tment. Mr. C. Liuil at 1 the Wh lirtant secretaries Mr. Justice I*Mn-'r. -one as senior judge ou the n m ■*> -v msuing spring assizes at Mnr> *«*«: .1, will be replaced by a H o>■ CU Assize, who will accompany j iL"- n that circuit. Both oivll »?vA >, will be iakou.

THE HATTON GARDEN SHOOTING CASE. Mr. Samuel F. Langham, county of Loudon coroner for the City and Southwark, held an in. quest at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Smithfield, concerning the death of John Wallis, aged thirty- air, a costermonger, lately residing at 11, Beau- champ Streeb, Leather Lane, Hoi born, who was fatally shot by an Italian named Giuseppe Ortelli, a cabinet-maker, of 9, Cross Streeh, Hatton Gar- den, in the King of Prussia public-house, Cross Streeb. Giuseppe Ortelli, after firing two ehola ab Wallis, both of which took effect, ran away, and, after a long and exciting chase, was seen to enter his house, where he ehot himself in the head. He was removed to the hospital, hub very small bopes are entertained of his recovery. The evi- dence discloses no new facts. The deceased had upon him five wounds, the immediate cause of death being that he was shob through the lungs. Ortelli, when found in his room, had ehob himself through the head. He exclaimed that he had shot the wrong man. Ib appears thab he and Wallis were strangers.—The jury returned a verdicb of Wilful murder agaiuab Ortelli.

SERIOUS CHARGE OF ASSAULT. Ab the Coventry City Police Court), Geong* Smith, machinist, back of 26, Wheeler Stit-, Birmingham, was charged with having unlawfully assaulted Joseph Baskets by striking him on the head with a glass, in the Dolphin Inn, Market Place. Ib WAit stated thab ab a "sing-song" at the Dolphin Inn, some bad language was being used, and prisoner was aboub striking another man with a glass when prosecubor interposed with the remark "Don'b do thab." Whereupon lie re- ceived a blow on the head from the prisoner. Several blows were struck, bub he did lIoh strike back.—Prisoner You did. You struck me twice, and your friend also knocked me over the table. You had me on the table when the officer came ) up.—Police-constable Mills, who was called in to ejeeb the man, said he heard a row going on upstairs. Ho went up, and saw a soldier using his stick freely ib was more like a riob-some wero using chairs, and others benches. He saw Baskets against the wall, and prisoner punching him, and prosecutor was striking back.—The injuries which had been done to the prosecutor, who appeared in courb with his face much swollen and his head bandaged, were described by Dr. Miller, resident surgeon ab the hospital and the prisoner was Afterwards committed for trial ab the assizes.

A NEAT SWINDLE. Mr. Walter Jarman, billposter of Bridgwater, has been iieatly swiiidled oub of a pony and trap, valued ab f20. Whilst returning from Weston. super-Mare, he meb near Uphill a stranger, who was also driving another pony and trap, both of a more attractive description than his own. The stranger professed to admire Jarman's pony, and Jarman remarked thab the other one being heavier would bettor suib his work. An offer to change was discussed, and ultimately Jarman agreed to this, and gave £ 2 bo boob. The ponies and trapc were duly exchanged, the money handed over, and a receipb for the C20 was given to Jarman signed, "J. Hawkins, Weeton-aupormare." Jarman drov. whab he considered his bargain home to Bridg water, where soon afterwards the pony and trap were identified and claimed as the property of a Mr. Crawford in thab town, who is in the habib ol tending out horses and traps, and had actually lent them on hire to the stranger in question. The same nighb Jarman drove to Weston-super-Mare, making inquiries on the way, aId put the matter in the hands of the police, bub up to the present without result. From the description given of the etranger, the police have identified him as a man named James Beake, described as a watch and clock cleaner, who has been convicted for felony ab Taun- ton and Plymouth, and was liberated from prison ab Exeter in February Iasb, after undergoing a term of imprisonment for stealing a pony and trap and harness. Beake's description ia as follows Aged 27, height) 5fb. 2in. fresh complexion, light brown hair, blue eyes paralysed righb aide walks with a stick.

CURIOUS DIVORCE CASE. In the Probate and Divorce Division the case ot Tattersall v. Tattersall and Phillips came before Mr. Justice Butt. Ib was a petition presented by r Richard Brooke Tattersall, the son of the wel: knowh auctioneer, praying for the dissolution of his marriage on the ground of the misconducb of his wife, an actress, with a young military officer. ■—Mr. Richard Brooke Tattersall, the jiet-itioner, osid he was now residing in America, and was in the ottice of Air. Eavtoii, to whom his (thepeti- tioner's) father had sent him bo acquire a know- ledge of an auctioneer's business. He some time ago became acquainted with a young lady, an actress "ameli Gypsy Lawrence." He told her *? w?s out i.o America, and on lhe 24 th. .??r,1 him at' Liverpool. She had pro? vided a marriage license, and had ordered the wedding bieakfast, and the marriage ceremony performed at Liverpool before the vessel on which his pascage was taken sailed. Ho subse* quently heard that she had been staying with a young military ofheer named Phillips ab all hotel ab Sandgate, and when she came to him in A merica be refused to see her. A separation was agreed on. be allowing her IV," a year.-Evidence in Mpporb of the petitioner s statement haviug been I feiven, a decree tiui was granted.

PONTYPRIDD LOCAL BOIRB. The fortnightly meeting of the above board was held on Thursday afternoon, the 11th inst., at the Public Offices, Pontypridd, when there were present:—Messrs G. J. Penn, D. Leyshon, Jabez Evans, James Roberts, John James, W. W. Phillips, and D. Rowlands; with Mr H. LI. Grover, clerk; Mr E. Bees, surveyor; and Mr J. Sprague, deputy clerk.—Mr Penn was voted the chair. THE BOARD AND THE TRAMWAY COMPANY. The Clerk read a letter from the official liquidator in the matter of the Pontypridd and Rhondda Tramway Company in regard to the Board refusing to undertake the repair of the Company's portion of the roads, the cost of the same to be defrayed out of the first money that could be obtained from the estate of the liquida- ting company.—This the board again declined to comply with.—It was also explained that the liquidator referred to had given notice to objecfc to the inquiry of investigation into the financial position of the company which was fixed to be held by the Board of Trade. Mr Pelham, the commissioner appointed to conduct the investiga- tion, had remarked that the Board of Trade's action could not be interfered with.—Mr Roberts: Why should the inquiry be held if the Tramway Company have filed their petition ?-The Clerk: In order to officially ascertain the financial position of the company. Without this the com- pany's working could not be stopped. The official liquidator evidently did not wish the affairs of the company to be known.—Mr Evans: It is abomi- nable.-The Clerk said he was in a position to state that the liquidator had written to several prominent contractors in this neighbourhood, asking them to undertake the repairing of the road, but they had replied refusing to accept the same.-After further conversation the matter was deferred pending the decision in the proceedings which were being taken on the subject. THE FREE LIBRARY. Mr W. J. Powell, secretary of the Pontypridd Free Library Committee, attended before the board as a deputation, and read the copy of a resolution which had been passed by the com- mittee, on the motion of the chairman (Mr Lenox), seconded by Mr Joseph Davies, to the effect that they undertake to guarantee any amount over and and above the £15,000 sanctioned by the Local Government Board, to be borrowed for building purposes in connection with the free library. The committee also asked that the contract with Mr Julian be signed at once, so that the free library building might be completed in six months.—Mr D. Leyshon thought that the £ 400 or jE500 required in excess of the loan should be deposited in the bank before the contract was signed.—Mr Powell: The committee are prepared to enter into a bond. They have secured promises of subscrip- tions already to the extent of JE350, and as soon as something tangible is done I have no doubt that sum could easily be raised to £ 450.—The Chair- man asked how would it be in the face of the fact that the loan was-for jei,500, while the contract was for £ 1,900? Mr Rowland: The bond will secure us.-The Clerk: Yes.—Mr D. Leyshon, after a few further remarks, moved that the clerk be requested to prepare a bond for signature by the committee securing the board against the amount required in excess of the £1,500 which will be borrowed.-This was unanimously agreed to.—Mr Leyshon asked what had been done in the direction of securing the conveyance of the site ?- The Clerk replied that Mr Rickards and himself, as representing Mr Thomas, were prepared to complete the same, but the trustees had not signed the deed of conveyance. He Expected that would be done in a day or two, and then the con- veyance would be handed over.—The signing of the contract was, therefore, deferred for a fort- night.—In regard to the balance of £ 100 in hand from the sum received from the rates last year towards the free library, the Clerk said he had consulted the district auditor as to whether the amount was yet available (it having been pointed out that the amount should have been spent within the year), but he had not yet received a reply. The auditor had promised to make enquiries into the matter.—It was resolved to request Mr Julian to send the names of kis pro- posed sureties for the due execution of the con- tract. THE BOARD SHOULD BE MORE EXPLICIT. A letter was read from the Barry Dock and Railway Company as to certain work which they had been called upon by the board to carry out. The company were prepared to do what was required of them, but they wished the clerk to be more explicit in his description of the work.- The Clerk remarked that he had sent a specifica- tion to them, and he did not know what more they required. THE CONTRACT WITH THE GAS COMPANY. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Roberts, it was resolved that the seal of the board be attached to the contract for the public lights.-The Surveyor reported that he had recently tested the illuminating power of the gas supplied to the public lamps, and found the same satisfactory. AN AWKWARD PIECE OF KERBING. Mr Roberts drew attention to a piece of kerbing which had been placed on the road at Gelliwastad, opposite the entrance to the English Congrega- tional Chapel. It was very awkward, and he thought steps should be taken to see what amicable arrangement could be made in the matter.—The Clerk explained that it was on private property, that road being the entrance to the old Gelli- wastad House.—It was decided that the public works committee wait upon the owners of the property (Mr W. Seaton and the National Bank of Wales) that day fortnight. THE TOWN CLOCK. Mr Jabez Evans said that it might be already known to them as a board that Mr Edwin Phillips and himself intended presenting a public clock to the town. (Hear, hear). It had been determined to place the clock in the spire of St. Catherine's Church, and he should like to know if, after the clock had been put up, the board would undertake to maintain the same in working order. It would be useless getting the clock unless such an under- taking was obtained.—A question was also asked if the gas company would furnish gratis a supply of gas to illuminate the clock at night.—The Clerk said an application to that effct had been received by the gas company, but the directors had not yet met to consider the same. He did not, however, anticipate any difficulty in that dirootion.-The Chairman, replying to Mr Evans, said they ought to be thankful to the two gentlemen who, in the evening of their lives, thus wished to show that they appreciated the town in which, as business men, they had experienced so muoh success and prosperity. (Hear, hear). The board certainly would not decline to comply with Mr Evans' request, as a public clock would be a great boon.- On the motion of Mr Rowland, seconded by the Chairman, it was unanimously agreed that the board take over the responsibility connected with the clock.—Mr Evans stated that Mr Phillips and I himself would see that a good clock was erected. (Hear, hear.) THE WAGES OF THE BOTADMEN. A conversation took place as to the wages paid to the roadmen in the employ of the board. Some of the men got 17s, others 18s, 20s, and 22s, while one (Benjamin Harris) was paid 24s a week. It was explained that Harris was a thoroughly good Iman-one. who did his work most efficiently, and it would be difficult to get a man to equal him on the roads. The wages of the men were reduced some years ago when trade became depressed, but now, the ValtSi of labour having gone up, it was only fair that their wages should be increased accordingly. — The Surveyor was ordered to subaaii to the next meeting 4 list showing the respective amounts paid, with suggestions as to proposed increase. NBW 8X4TOHTIB &OVSS. In the course of his monthly report, the Sur- veyor remarked that he had received an applica- tion from David Llewellyn, butoher, Pwllgwain, C?A8^lgh<e*' h<«Jioense. It was a pity, he added, that they did not have a public slaughter house.-—The Chairman; We know that, but we mttit have a site mret.—The application w^a temporarily granted. 'I XVBUNCB. The Surreyor OOIDplaiaÑ that Mr Jolta, tho. eontractor,, had., encroached upon the highway in several places in the town, by placing building material thereon..He had frequently cautioned him, but to no purpose.—The Clerk said that the practice of encroaching upon the roads by con- tractors in the main streets was a general one, and was an abominable nuisance. He had nearly lost the train several times, owing to his carriage being unable to pass; it was also very dangerous. -A summons was ordered to be taken out against Mr Julian unless the encroachments were discon- tinued forthwith. THE NEW ARCADE. A letter was read from the contractor of the Pontypridd aroade asking permission to deposit material for building purposes on 15 feet of the road in St. Catherine street.-Granted provided the same was boarded in. Mr A. J. McMurray, postmaster, wrote for per- mission to erect a pillar letter box in front of Mr Coombes' coffee tavern in High-street.—The board felt that they could not give permission, as the proposed site was private property. However, the board would not object. THE HIGH STREET PAVEMENT AGAIN. The Clerk read letter from Mrs Margaret Morgan, 23, High-street, Pontypridd, to the effect that her house was giving way owing to the excava- tions made by the board for public improvements at that place some time ago, and requesting the board to see to the same forthwith.—Mr Leyshon said the house was giving way as stated, and unless the board attended to it at once, Mrs Morgan had threatened to bring an action against the board.-The Clerk did not wish to throw cold water upon the kindness of the board, but he might say that Mrs Morgan had no cause of action whatever,inasmuch as she had not instituted pro- ceedings within six months after the pavements were made. He thought there were considerably more than six months since then. Whatever would now be done by the board would be under considerations of grace and equity. If, however, the subsidence had only taken place within the last six months, then it was for Mrs Morgan to prove that such subsidence had been caused by the work of the board.—It was agreed that Mrs Morgan's request be seen to at once. PLANS. Amongst the plans submitted for inspection and approval by the board was one for the proposed new Vicarage adjoining St. Catherine's Church; and also a proposed new bridge from the pine end of Chapel-street over the railway, to connect with the town the new buildings which are to be erected on Lord Tredegar's property on the site of the Lan Woods.

THEATRE LICENSES AND THE SIOKIHG NUISANCE. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? IMPORTANT LETTER FROM MR PORCHER. Magistrates' Clerk's Office, Pontypridd, 13th April, 1889.

To the Editor of the "Chronicle SIR,-I was very glad to see your remake under the head "Talk in the Train," in this week's issue of your paper. The smoking and noisy conduct of the general occupants of the gallery of both the Town Hall and Howard's Hall is past any hope of improve- ment until someone shall take steps to enforce Rules Nos. 3 and 5, which are embodied in every license granted in this district. These rules distinctly prohibit the consuming of tobacco in the halls, and also provide for main- taining good order and decent behaviour during the hours of public performance. The rules also make the manager, that is hall keeper or proprietor, liable to a penalty of £5 for every breach. It is just possible that the hall keepers have not read the rules; appearances tend to this belief, yet that is no excuse, for everyone who takes upon himself to manage a business should make him- self fully acquainted with, and master of, the same. Trusting that your remarks and this letter may bring about an improvement is the only reason I have in troubling you upon the subject. I am Sir, Yours Ac., HENRY PORCHER, Deputy Clerk.

Kbondda Police Court. Monday.—Before the Stipendiary, and Mr T. P. Jenkins. ASSAULT AT TREAIUW.—John Tucker, a boy, was charged with throwing a stone at Margaret Row- ley on the 3rd inst. The stone struck complainant on th e lip. To pay 10s towards the costs. A TRIO OF SCAMPS AT FERNDALE.- Jqseph Richards and Thomas Daft were charged with assaulting the police.—P.O. Evans said at 5.30 on Sunday evening he saw the two defendants and another man going towards Tylorstown drunk, cursing and swearing, and knocking against people passing. He went towards them, and the third man ran away. Asked defendants for their names and addresses, but they refused to give them. P.C. Will:ams took Daft. Witness went to arrest Richards, who said "You shall neither have me nor my name." He struck witness several times, and was very violent, kicking him repeatedly. Daft was fined 5s, having been locked up for the night; Richards was fined 20s, or 14 days. A SQUABLE BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS AT TREALAW.— William Boulton was charegd with assaulting Thomas Salter. Complainant said his garden ad- joined defandant's. On a Saturday he dug his garden. Defendant said he had not dug far enough. He dug a little more. There was no fence between their gardens. On the 4th defend- ant drew a line across the garden. Asked him what he was doing. He said "If you don't take those plants up, I'll throw them away." He (complainant) threw the line into defendant's ground, and defendant came and struck him with his fist, knocking his head against and breaking a tile on the house. He struck him repeatedly.- To pay the costs, 19s, and bound over in JM to keep the peace for six months. SUNDAY CLOSING ACT AT YSTBAD.—John Baker, collier, was charged with pretending to be a travel- ler. P.C. Weeks said on Sunday the 7th inst., he saw defendant at the Boot Inn, Dinas. Again, later on, he saw him at the Tynyoymmer Arms. He was was then under the influenoe of drink, and was staggering. There were 14 other persons in the house.—Fined 15s. "DoHA Fmza It AT PANDY.—William Jones and Edward Bywater were charged with pretending to be travellers.—P.O. Weeks said on the 7th inst. he saw defendants in the Colliers Arms, Dinas, Bywater said he slept at Ystrad the previous night. Jones said he lived at Ferndale. He lived at Pandy, and so did Bywater. There were four men in the hoMe beaidea.—Fined los each. r f. PITCH AND Toss AT TMALAw.—Charles Combes, Thomas Tucker, William Phillips, and Mark Williams charged with playing pitch and toss on Sunday, the 7th of April.—P.C. Griffiths said he saw defendants playing on the highway at Tre- alaw. On seeing him they ran away. Coomjba* waAfined hajfore*for the same thing. P.C. Mark- chiged >. after, and caught defendants. Coombes was fined 78 6d Tucker (absent). 5athe other two M each.

CORRESPONDENCE. [We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of oar correspondents.] NOVEL READING. To the Editor of the "Chronicle SIB,-It was my intention this week to dilate a little upon the various ways and means of "popping the question," but oiroumstances have changed the current of my thoughts, and, instead, I turn to "Novel-reading." I noticed in the papers a week or two ago a paragraph reporting the death by hanging of a boy 14 years of age, residing near Lead's; The circum- stances are rather peculiar. It appears the little fellow had been reading one of the very sensation- al novels, which are now so plentifully issued for the benefit (?) of the young. The hero of the tale is depicted to have been suspended from a tree by a band of ruffians, and left to his fate. He is just at the point of death when a lady with "long golden tresses, and angelic face and form," appears on the scene, and rescues him. So impressed did the mind of the boy become by this romantic incident that he determined to placehimself in a like posi- tion, and trust fate to send him a like deliverer. The result was sad to relate—death Now, there are a class of writers who devote their whole time and talent to producing "Tales of romance, chivalry, and daring for the young." These tales are a connection of the most improb- able and impossible incidents humag imagination can conjure up. They are calculated to play upon the most sensational and excitable feelings of their readers, straining them to the highest pitch. The effects are naturally depraving and dangerous in this instance-fatal; and every available means should be used to prevent the circulation of such literary (?) works. The character of every man and woman is formed duringjchildhood and youth, and if the young display a taste for reading, the literature they study plays a very important part in its formation. In reading nothing but tales such as these, the mind of the reader becomes poisoned and corrupt. He fixes in his own estimation a standard of man- liness incompatible with true nobility. He con- siders that, unless performing extraordinai y feats of bravery and chivalry, he has missed his mark in life. He becomes discontented with his sur- roundings, and finas he is altogether out of the sphere he was designed for. He cannot allow his thoughts to descend to the current of every-day life. No brain must be kept in a continual whirl of excitement, for having begun to feed it upon such light nourishment it naturally becomes in- capable of digesting anything more solid or health- giving. If the habit is not restrained in time, in the end it affects the whole nervous system, and has, in many cases, oompletely unhinged reason, which must have undoubtedly been the case with the boy whose fate I have noticed. Although the result may not always be fatal, it is worthy of note that confirmed novel-readers are generally "good- for-nothing," never rising above the station in which they have begun life. They are unable to concentrate their thoughts for any length of time upon one object, owing to the many different char- acters and objects of which they read, each novel presenting some new and taking feature to engross their thoughts for the moment; thus, although always ambitious, they never attain fame or po- sition. Something ought to be done to check the abom- inably trashy novels and tales now so freely in cir- culation among the young. If a girl or a boy evinces a taste for reading, it is too often the case that the parents, to encourage them, allow them to read whatever they cheose. In this lies the fatal error, as at any early age the mind is very impressionable, and is naturally inclined to drink in the impossible and the improbable. Great care ought to be taken in selecting for them books which, although containing a little romance, should also have a sound moral tendency through- out, and lead the thoughts to something else than robbery, incendiarism, and murder, which is too often the case in those tales which are most promi- nent in serials for the young. Could not parents, instead, recommend the works of such writers as Roe, Ballantyne, or Laura M. Lane, the charac- ters in whose works have nothing "celestial" or "beastial" about them, but are such as can be met with in every-day life, a sound moral and religious tendency pervading the whole ? My work leads me into the houses of all classes in the Valley, and I am more than astonished at the extraordinary amount of trashy serials and novels in circulation there. Could not something more fit for manly and womanly consideration be read than "The Boys of England" or "Princess's Novellette;" and such books as "The Fire-eater" or "the Prairie Hunter" be dismissed from the household library ? I have departed from my subject a little, but in speaking of the ascendancy such literature gives over the minds of its readers, I speak through the most certain of teachers—experience; and I know what it costs to give up the habit, but it is worth trying. I may say more on the subject again, should you kindly permit. Yours truly, NEMO.

MR BEVAN AND THE FERNDALE JOINT SCHOOL COMMITTEE. To the Editor of the "Chronicle." Sir,—I was much surprised to observe in your last issue a letter from a parasite of Mr Bevan's, defending that gentleman's conduct as chairman of the Ferndale School Committee. The pre- amble of this defence is too ridiculous to make us believe that the epistle is the uninspired opinion of a Ferndale collier. He wishes us to under- stand that Mr Bevan's dismissal is unpopular in Ferndale, whereas the inhabitants have cordially endorsed the action of the Llanwonno Board in appointing another gentleman in Mr Bevan's place. I defy your contributor to disprove any of the statements made by Mr Thomas in his in- dictment. Failing to do so he states that Mr Bevan has given both time and money to the cause of educational progress. I do not believe it. In what pecuniary losses has he been involved? For many years, masters and mistresses have discovered that if they wished to retain their situ- ations, they must practice the most obsequious servility in Mr Bevan's honour. The Board would doubtless have treated his idiosyncrasies with oontenjpt if they were not con- tinually brought before its official notice. But when his actions caused a serious breach in school discipline, it was time for the Llanwonno gentlemen to exercise their prerogative, and to appoint a better man in Mr Bevan's place. If an old collier is afraid to give you the latest development of the late Chairman's conduot, perhaps I may be allowed to do so. Some few weeks ago a certificated mistress sent a child to purchase a cane. The little one did so, and was returning to school when he was met by Mr Bevan. With ceremony characteristic of his supercilious mode of procedure, he asked the boy whose cane he had in his possession. The youth told him that he had just purchased it for the governness, whereupon Mr Bevan deliberately snatched the cane from the child's hand, and pitched it over a neighbouring wall. Was not such puerile conduct calculated to destroy the discipline of the school ? The tale flew from one ohild to another, and was soon a topic of con- versation in the village. Who can wonder then that the teacher resented the insult ? Who is sur- prised (to learn that the Board sympathised with the injured lady ? In that proceeding Mr Bevan Overstepped the mark. Cogmzaaoe was taken of his conduct by the peopla's representatives in Llanwonno parish, and he was very properly dismissed from the scene of hit triumph* and of his shame. Mr Thomas's action was nothing short of dis- interested magnanimity, and by doing the public a noble service, he has taught other minions that public appointments must only be used for the public good. Tours truly, OBSERVER.

MR BEVAN AND THE FERNDALE JOINT COMMITTEE. To the Editor of the "Chronicle." Sir,-Under the above heading a letter ap- peared in your last week's issue from an "Old Collier." This "old collier" cannot be inspired, though he may believe that material inspiration will reach him through taking up the cudgels on behalf of one of his "Bosses." One must admire 'Old Collier's" appreciation of the wisdom of this world. It will doubtless prove useful,and as such I am not prepared to quarrel with him otherwise than with this proviso that he must adhere to the maxim inscribed upon the heraldry of our Nationality, and trumpeted on every eisteddfodic occasion—"Y Gwir yn erbyn y byd." Old Col- lier is quite welcome to defend Mr Bevan, but he must bear in mind the premises I have hereto laid down. He attacked in a wilful and unwarrantable manner the conduct of the local member on the School Board of Llanwonno. Old Collier says that the member alluded too had said that the feeling of the public was antagonis- tic to the late chairman of the committee." This is an assertion in contravention of the national maxim, and Old Collier should know it before rushing into print. What Mr Thomas said was "that there was a strong feeling in Ferndale against so many local members forming part of the School Committee. Some of these had sat for years, had dealt with the money of the ratepayers, had been instrumental in appointing and dismiss- ing teachers without being in any way directly responsible to the ratepayers for their tenure of office. 1 ask Old Collier if this was not the grievance sought to remedy ? Why should per- sons deal with the ratepayers' money without be- ing amenable to the ratepayers ? That this anomely should not be allowed to exist without protest was just and reasonable. Would "Old Collier vote for an analogous kind of representa- tion on the sliding-scale committee ? Would he care to have members oIr that committee who were irresponsible to the colliers ? Doubtless he would soon be the first to raise his protest. Mr Thomas is a gentleman of high christian character, a foe to tyranny,whether it be directed against the collieries or any ather class of the community-a gentleman who has the courage of his convictions, the workman's best and truest friend, and his conduct in effecting this change in the personnel of the committee commends it- self to the judgment of every reflective mind in Ferndale. I may tell "Old Collier also that Mr Thomas does not live in lively anticipation of favours to come." He has taken up this matter in the interest of justice and the ratepayers, and will nave nothing to fear in the way of press or public meeting publicity. BRO BONO BUBLICO.

PONTYPRIDD & RHONDDA TRAM. WAY COMPANY. APPLICATION TO RESTRAIN THE BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY. A motion on behalf of the official liquidator against the Board of Trade, the Pontypridd Local Board, and Yatradyfodwg Local Board, for an injunction to restrain the respondents taking pro- oeedings under the Tramways Act, came before Mr Justioe North, in the Chancery Division, on Friday. It was stated that the ground of the pro- ceedings on the part of the respondents was that the tramway was out of repair. This iheofficial liquidator undertook to have remedied as soon as possible. He had been as diligent as he possible oould have been. He had alre ,dy invited terders for the work required 'o be d in order oo put the tramway in proper repair.—.Mr lugle Joyoe, for the Board of Trade, took the preliminary objection that the court had no jurisdiction over his client. Mr Justioe North, in giving judgment, said it was admitted that there hed been no s%le by the promoters, with the approval of the Board of Trade, of the uodertakng to the company. The official liquidator, as theconpany's representative had, therefore, no locus standi, and he had no powor to restrain the Bjaid of Trade from prose- cuting an inquiry whioh the Act < f Parliment empowered them to make. The Application must, therefore, be dismissed.

A NEW RADICAL SUNDAY PAPER FOR LONDON. We hear that towards the end of the month a new Radical Sunday Penny Paper, entitled "The flun," will be published in the metropolis. In size it will he similar to the rail Mall Gazette, the pages however being divided into fire columns. Besides publishing all the latest telegraphio, home and f Jieitfn i ntel I igenop, special o ttention will be devoted to Holitioal, Financial, Sporting and Dramitio Articles. We are informed that t e proprietor has managed to secure some of the best writers of the day. All in all the new Journal should prove to be a aucoees.

FOOTBALL. MARITIME (PONTYPRIDD) V. PENBHIWFER. Played oa the ground of the latter on Saturday afternoon, when the visitors won by two goals, one try, and five minors to two minors. J. Me1"ry secured two triea; B. Dickenson converted one into a goal. and H. Williams placed the second goal from a "free." Hope, Stead, and Kilford were absent on the Mari- time side. A REAL TREAT FOB BREAKFAST.—Harris' MILD CURED BACON. Try it. 75, Taff Street, Ponty- pridd.

A C /LLtERY FLOODED AF NANT- GARW. A strong spring or "head" of water was on Friday het reached in the working of the Pengrces Colliery, N mtgraw. and tLe water has been pour- log in atnot in a stream abou: 9in. in dismeter. Unless the "feed" slackens soon we understand that it will be impossible to prevent the watorfroa. rising over the whole of tl e workings. Colliery is well^opaned and the workings developed,with head iogs driven in all directions in sol d coal, and there was every prospect of successful working for many ytara.

WANTED, LADIES WHO CAN KNIT, DO EMBROIDERY, CREWELS, Ac., to send weir Name and Address to the Providence Mills Spinning Co., Bradford, when they will receive WOOLS A HTTirVj* BPleBdld. B,et of patterns of WOOLS & SILKS, and particulars showing the P6? ^rTm £ m Shilling, in some cases more) by dealing Direct with the Spinners.—Mention this paper.