Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

ABERYSTWYTH County Court. ENGINE DRIVER'S CLAIM. I THE VICISSITUDES OF AN EXCURSION I TRAIN. I At the Aberystwyth County Court on Fri- I day last, before his Honour Judge William I Evans, Joseph Prophet Salmon, 2, William- I st., brought an action against the Manches- I ter and Milford Railway Co., claiming £ 5 5s. I damages for wrongful dismissal on Oct. 7th, I 1904, from the defendants' employment as I fireman and extra engine driver. Mr. Brewer I (Messrs. Patterson and Brewer, Birmingham) I instructed by the Railway Servants' Society, I appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. A. J. Hughes I for the defendant Company. The case was I one of considerable interest to railwaymen, of I f whom there were a large number present. I Mr. Brewer, in opening the case, said the 11. plaintiff Salmon, who was a fireman in the lr employ of the M. and M. Railway Company, was called upon to act as extra driver on an I; excursion train run from Aberystwyth to I Pencader and back again at night. The train I started about 5.50 a.m., and arrived at Pen- I cader two hours later. After arriving, plain- I tiff was employed for some time in shunting I operations, and then put his engine into the I shed. There it was to remain until he was I called upon to bring the train back again to I Aberystwyth that night. The return journey I commenced about midnight, and everything I went satisfactorily unttil i Tregaron was I reached. At Pont LI ansa twenty miles I from Pencader, it was found necessary to I put water into the tank, and according to I the usual practice the fireman performed this I task, while the plaintiff was engaged in oil- I ing the engine and other duties. It trans- I pired, however, that the fireman failed to I fill the tank properly. It was a very dark I night, the water tank being just by the side I of a bridge, and there were no lights about I Possibly, the fireman might have thought I the water was flowing into the engine tank, I but as a matter of fact it was flowing over I the coals. This had a serious effect on the I progress of the train later on. Having oil- I ed his engine, Salmon came back and asked I the fireman if the tank was full, and the fire- I man replied in the affirmative. Plaintiff ■ then proceeded on the journey, but he had I not gone more than three or four miles when I he found that the injector, which fed the I boiler, was kicking off. He thought the l| tank was air tight, and sent the fireman to ■ take the lid off. The fireman, on taking the I lid off, found that the tank was empty. I Shortly after the lead plug at the top of the I fire box fell through. I A model was produced in court, showing I the working of the lead plug and also the ■ boiler guage. ■ Mr. Brewer said the accident occurred at I 1.15 a.m. The engine became helpless, and I assistance had to be sent for to take the I train to Aberystwytk. I His Honour: Do you say that the driver ■ is not responsible for the fireman's negli- ■ gence ? ■ Mr. Brewer: I maintain if there was neg- I ligence it was not the driver's fault. ■ Mr. A. J. Hughes contended that the ■ driver was responsible for the safety of his. ■ engine the same as a captain would be for the ■ safety of his ship. ■ Plaintiff was then called. He said he had ■ been in the Company's employ upwards of ■ 24 years. On arriving at Pencader, the en- ■ gine was taken to the shed, the fire was ■ damped, the boiler filled with water, and the ■ brake put on according to rule. He was ■ backwards and forwards about the yard the ■ whole day. The return journey was started ■ at about 11.40 p.m. If they had a light ■ train, they usually ran through to Strata H Florida without taking water, but with a ■ heavy train such as he had that night he ■ took in water at Pont Llanio. On arriving H at Pont Llanio, he sent his fireman up to the ■ tank, and handed him the bag for him to ■ place -in the engine tanks. He then went H round his engine to see that everything was ■ all right. On coming back to the footplate H he could see the water flowing all over the ■ engine, and he asked the fireman if he was ■ all right, and he replied All right." He then drew the train up to the platform. ■ Afterwards, they proceeded to the next sta- tion—Tregaron—and as he was applying the brakes to stop at the platform the injector H blew off. He applied it again, but it Mould not work. He sent the fireman up to the ■ tank, and told him to take the lid off as he believed it was air-tight. When he came ■ back he said the tank was empty. They ■ proceeded, however, for a mile-and-a-half to ■ two miles from Tregaron Station. He then stopped, arid hooked his engine off the train, H with the intention of proceeding to Strata H Florida for water. As soon as he had hooked H off the lead plug dropped. It was the usual ■ thing for the fireman to fill the tank. It H was about five a.m. when he got back to Aberystwyth and finished his work. That made about 24 hours he was on duty on that H 'occasion. On October 7th he saw Mr. Bar- rw, locomotive superintendent, who asked him if his fireman was under the influence of H drink, and he replied in the negative. He asked if he (the fireman) had had any drink, and he replied that he had had a pint or two. He (Salmon) was summarily dismissed Oil October 7th. ■ Cross-examined by Mr. Hughes: He had had -4 years' experience of engines, and had acted as driver on numerous occasions. He knew it was a serious matter for the lead plug to drop. Mr. Hughes: I suppose the effect of that ? that you may do very serious damage to your boiler and perhaps cause danger to H human beings ?-You can't do serious damage ■ He discovered there was something wrono- H before he left Tregaron. The porter, who1 was acting as station master that night, came up and asked him what was the mat- ter. and he told him there was something wrong with the injector. He thought it was over-heated. He looked at the cruaoe ■ found that the boiler was three^parts full at the time. He did not look at the tank, but sent the fireman up. He was off duty the bulk of the day at Pencader. He went up to the village in the morning, and

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District Education Com- mittee. A meeting of the Aberystwyth District Education Committee was held on Monday at the Town Hall, when there were present Mr. Robert Ellis (chairman) presiding; Miss Tremain, Principal Roberts, Messrs. E. A. L. Powell, Evan Richards, Penuwch; Wil- liam Evans, Ponterwyd; Peter Jones, Abe- ystwyth,; rJosep>h .PTarry ',(jogLna n J. T. Morgan, Maesnewydd; D. C. Roberts, C. M. Williams, and R. J. Jones, Aberystwyth; Dr. James, Fagwyr; Rev. T. Mason Jones, Devil's Bridge; E. J. Evans, Llangwyryfon; and Benjamin Jones, Llanilar; with Mr. R. J. Roberts (clerk), and the Attendance Officers. Boundary Schools. A letter was read from the Tregaron Dis- trict Committoe, regarding the attendance of school children situated on the boundary. That committee had decided to compel all situated within the neighbouring district to attend liohoo^l, and the com.n^ttee hoped other committees would return the compli-, ment.—Mr. W. Evans proposed, and Mr. E Richards seconded, a resolution to the effect desired, and this was carried. Applications. An application was received from the caretaker of the Penparke Provided School for an increase of wages. The correspondent. in forwarding the application, said at pre- sent the caretaker was only paid 10s. a quarter, and for this she could not be ex- pected to do much more than sweep the floors and light the fires.—The Chairman: Why did they not pay more before.—Mr. D. C. Roberts said he could not see how they could pay more than was paid before. If sufficient was not paid before, he presumed the managers would have attended to it. An application for an increase of salary by Mr. D. J. Davies, assistant at the Aber- ystwyth National School, he having passed the King's scholarship examination, was de- ferred. Alexandra Road School. The Aberystwyth local managers recom- mended the appointment of a teacher cap- able of teaching drawing at the Girls' De- partment at the Alexandra-road School at a salary of C55.-Miss Tremain proposed that this matter be referred back to the manag- ers. The Inspector's report said the staff should be strengthened, but according to this arrangement he did not think they would get anything better than an ex-P.T. for £ 55 a yeaiv—Principal Roberts seconded, and this was carried.—Mr. R. J. Jones proposed that the Clerk draw up a statement giving the attendance at the different schools, the amount of grant received, and the amount paid in salaries for purposes of comparison. —Dr. James seconded.—It was pointed out by Mr. C. M. Williams and Mr. D. C. Rob- erts that this information was now being pre- pared by the County Clerk.—Mr. Jones said he wanted to see the difference in the sal- aries for the past five years.—The Clerk was directed to obtain the information desired. —The local managers also asked for per- mission to engage an architect to draw up a plan of considerable alterations and ex- tensions necessary at the Alexandra-road Schools. The managers also desired to point out that an additional playground would be required owing to the above ex- tension; that the headmaster be granted permission to live away from the school premises, and that the salary of the head- master be increased by L30 per annum in lieu of rent, rates, gas, and repairs.—Mr. R. J. Jones: Is it imperative that these ad- ditions should be made.—The Chairman: Absolutely, according to the Inspector's re- port.—Mr. C. M. Williams wished it to be understood that these arrangements had practically been decided upon by the de- funct School Board.—All the recommenda- tions were agreed to, and the local manag- ers are to be requested to negotiate with the Town Council as to securing land for an ad- ditional playground. School Staffs. The local managers recommended the re- moval of an Article 68 teacher from Tve- feirig School to either Aberffrwd or Ponter- wyd Schools. Mr. Wm. Evans said the Tre- feirig School was evidently overstaffed, hav- ing five teachers to 76 pupils on the registers, while at Ponterwyd there were only one master and two monitors for 64 on the bookis.-It, was agreed, on the proposition of Mr. Peter Jones, to refer the matter back to the local managers with power to act after consultation with the headmaster of Trefeirig School. Maintenance of National Schools. Reports were presented on the Llanilar, Llanafan, and Capel Sion National Schools, which the trustees had offered to the county on certain terms.-The Rev T Moson Jones who had visited the schools as one of a committee, proposed that they have a report from an

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1Vlothers and Motors. INDIGNATION AT BRADFORD. According to the "Bradford Argus," some remarks by an indignant mother on the perils of street-crossing for children suggest the need of special precautions. "I never knew when my boy went out," said she, "whether he would not be seized with a fit, such as he was subject to, and be ii fill run over. To children who suffer in this way or with St. Vitus' dance, MOTORS ARE A MENACE. For all such children I would recommend Dr. Williams' pink pills tor pale people, which have now quite cured my son." The boy whose case is here reported is the son of Mrs. Oliver, 356, Harewood-street, Bradford. She .said :Up to the age of eight and a half years he was healthy. But one night he had a, violent fit. From that time the boy became very weak, and lost appetite. I could not coax him to eat. "He had fits every five weeks, and became so feeble that the doctor said he must be kept from school for a year. He was under the doctor all that time. Then I took him to a specialist' for six monthis' treatment, and eventually to the infirmary. "He was a patient for two years, and dur- ing that time was carefully examined by all the leading doctors, but the fits still came regularly. During his sleep he was always twitching, and I never knew at what mom- ent lie would have a seizure. "Then I read in a newspaper," continued Mrs. Olliver, "about a young lady cured of St. Vitus' dance by Dr. Williams' pink pills. It struck me, therefore, that the pills might do my boy good. "He was then twelve and a half, and I gave him two pills a day. Within a week his appetite improved, and he could eat a hearty breakfast. In a fortnight the twitch- ing had ceased. We also noticed how much brighter he looked, and I continued the pills until he had five boxes. He was then as healthy a lad as anyone ever saw. He has not had a single fit since he began the pills, which is three years since." Fits and St. Vitus' dance are nervous di- seases. They show that the brain, spine, and nervous system are being starved for want of blood. Weak back, easy fatigue, lack of interest in life, indigestion, and general ner- vous weakness which trouble both men and women, need new blood to cure them, and if they are neglected they lead to paralysis and total breakdown. Dr. Williams' pink pills make new blood, and cure all the troubles which arise from want of blood, in- cluding anremia and the many miseries that ladies endure. It is important to avoid substitutes, and purchasers should take care to see the full name on the wrapper before paying. Sold by all dealers, or sent. direct by Dr. Williams' medicine co., Holborn-via- duct, London, post free or two and nin-e pence. Strong nerves are needed by all in these days of Motor Cars and Motor Omni- buses.

om ns Colman's Starch '( ¡ does an ironer justice. t.H. B. RCQ. — Business Notices. Jv MR. JAAIES REES (25 years'Pract i cal Experience in all Branches), 30. ALEXANDRA ROAD, ABERYSTWYTHJ- (Same Street as Railway Station). VISITS TREGARON the first and last Tuesda in each Month at Mrs Dewi Williams. Stanlev House ABERAYRON on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday's in each month at Mrs Lampshire, 25, North-road (opposite Talbot). LAMPETER the second and fourth Fridays in each Month, at Mrs R Evans, milliner, 18, Harford Square. CORRIS on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays in each month at Mr W. Evans, Grocer, Liverpool House, MACHYN LLETH the Second and Fourth Wednes- days in each Month at Mrs. R. Jones. (Tanners) Pentrerhedin Street (opposite Lion Hotel). Teeth extracted, filled. Sets remodelled ancS$f\ ¡ paired. Fit and workmanship guaranteed. Ml'. I, erate charges. Consultation free. Experience. 4 assistant kept. t ft- MAK VN GYMRO. OCEAN VIEW HOUSE c(JPERI0R BOARDING 1ABLISHMENT, VICTORIA (Marine) TERRACE, ABERYSTWYTH CEAN VIEW HOUSE is modern built. stands in best part of Marine Terrace, commands uninterrupted sea view. Moderate terms by the day or week. MM. A. KENSIT, Proprietreu. MR. C. P. LLOYD (13 years Market Supt. under the Corporation) WISHES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT HE HAS OPEN V BUSINESS AS A FAMILY BUTCHER, AT 9, NORTHGATE STREET, ABERYSTWYTH, Cambrian Railways. 1UMS. ON AND FROM NOVEMBER 1st, rams will be conveyed between any pair of Cambrian Stations at a charge as for two dogs, with a mini- mum of Is. each. HUGH DAYIE8 S COUGH MIXTURE NO MORE Difficulty of Breathip". NO MORE Sleepless Nights. NO MORE Dlxtressimg C;owghs. DAVIES'S COGGH MIXTURE for COUGHS DAVIES'S COTGH MIXTURE fer COLDS DAVJES'S COWJH MIXTURE for ASTHMA BA VIØ oottGS MIXTURE for BRONCHITIS DA VJESf8 COUGH MIXTURE for HOARSENESS DAVIES'S COUGH MIXTURE for INFLUENZA DAVfeS'S COUGH MIXTURE for COLDS DAv 19 COUGH MIXTURE for COUGHS DA VlEfrS COUGH MIXTURE for SORE THROAT H DAVIES'S COUGH MIXTURE—Most Soothing DAVIES'S GetJGH MIXTURE warms the Chl",t DAVIEWS GOUGH MIXTURE dlasolroa the Phlegm DAVIES'S COUGH MIXTURE-for SINLESS DA vms's COWISH MIXTURE-for PUBLIC DAVIES'S COUGH MIXTURE SPEAKERS I THE GREAT WELSH BBHKDY. ma. gad 2,9 Bottles. Everyii>hi-t. Sweeter than Honey. Children like it. VuGH DAVIES, Chemist, EMLYN SAW IIILS. NEWCASTLE EMLYN. The Public is informed that a great variety of TIMBER CAN AT 'J HE ABOVE MIL A large stockof Building Timber and Boards o. all dimensions always on hanel; also Materials for Naves, Felloes, and Spokes are always available. Timber of the largest dimensions, as well as Firewood, sawn at the shortest notiee and reasonable prices. Proprietor- DAVID DAVIES, 159 .\£1.<;1 House. THOMAS & I < )NI> (Formerly Wm. Thomas), GENERA MERCHANTS ABERYSTWYTH. THOMAS & JONES COAL. AND LIME MERCHANTS, I* LIME MERCHANTS, • COAL AND LIME ALWAY IN STOCK. BRICKS, PIPES, SLATES AND CEMENT. SMOKERS HHOUED 0 TO J. & L WARD The Aberystwyth Bazaar, FOR PIPES, TOBACCOS, c LARGEST STOiT ttt IN THE rSI" Hi' 'e PRINCIPALITY NOTE THE ADDRESS- 6, Great Darkgate Street, ABERYSTWYT t 1"

was on and off the Company's premises after one o'clock. The fireman was with him. He was quite certain of that. Between 5 and 5.30 o'clock he was in the weighing machine house. A shower of rain came on at the time. He did not hear the engine blowing off. If she was, he would have heard her. He denied positively that the engine was blowing off hard at 5.30. Mr. Hughes: it would be a dangerous thing to leave an engine blowing off hard un- attended?—Not if the boiler was full of water. Supposing the boiler was not full of water, and if the engine was blowing off hard, with a good fire underneath?—But the fire was damped with me. You are mixing up two things. Suppos- ing your guage showed two inches of water and your engine was blowing off hard, would not that be dangerous ?—I don't know that it would be dangerous. It would be a waste of water. What would happen if the engine was still left and all the water in the boiler was ex- haustedP-The lead plug would drop. And the boiler would burst ?-No. But suppose it would not drop?—It is supposed to drop. (Laughter). But if the engine was left by herself with only an inch of water in the boiler, and blow- ing off hard, does not common-sense tell you that it would be a dangerous thing?—Yes, but I did not leave her in that condition. I don't say you did, but would that be a right thing for an engine driver to do?—It would drop the lead plug, that is what it would do. What would happen then? Anything else? —No unless you had a big fire in the box. But assuming you had ?—It might do a little damage to the tubes. And the crown of the box (-Yes. And it would be a great neglect on the part of the driver and a dangerous thing ?-I can't say that. Were you not absent from your engine be- tween 5 and 6 o'clock, and was the engine not blowing off hard with only an inch of water in the boiler ?-I was not. I was on the ground. And do you know that another engine driver, James Benbow, went there and filled the boiler?—Yes, I know, I have done it many times for him. (Laughter). It is the rule with us to look after one another's in- terest. Do you deny that James Benbow found your engine between 5 and 6 o'clock with only an inch of water in the boiler blowing off hard, and no one in charge?—I don't know that the engine was blowing off hard. I was in the weighing machine at the time. Mr. Hughes pressed for an answer, yes or no. to his question, and Salmon said Benbow might have filled the boiler. It was the rule. The boiler was not so low as had been stated. It was half full. The engine was not blowing off hard when he left her. Do you deny that at 6.15 that night John Jones, fireman, found the boiler in the same condition, and that the engine was alone and blowing off hard ?—I was on the foot- plate with my fireman at six o'clock having my tea. I Do you deny John Jones found the engine at 6.15 ih the condition described?—I don't deny anything. I only say what I know. Assuming there was only an inch of water in the boiler at 5.30, when Benbow went there, how long would the water take to evaporate with the engine blowing off hard? —Say twenty minutes. But an engine will not blow off hard with the fire damped. Farther cross-examined, witness said ihe looked at the guage at Tregaron, and found everything all right with the guage. There was, however, something wrong with the in- jector. and he sent his fireman up to pull the lid of the tank off while he worked the injejctor on tiV other iside. The fireman then told him the tank was empty. The fireman had had one or two glasses of beer in the morning. He could not say what he had afterwards. The fireman was right enough for his work when they started on the return journey. Mr. Hughes: What do you mean by that? Some people are better with a drop than be- fore. (Laughter).—He had those two drinks in the morning. Nothing more? Not to my knowledge. He remembered Inspector Humphreys coming up to him when the train stopped after leav- ing Tregaron. He asked what was the mat- ter. He told him, and he said "You had better go to the station for another engine." He replied Yes, because I am done for." He also said that the fireman had made a mess of it, because he did not fill the tank at Pont Llanio. The tank was first filled on the return journey about an hour before leaving Pencader. An engine could not run from Pencader to Strata Florida with a heavy train without taking in a. fresh sup- ply of water at Pont Llanio. What quantity of water had you at Tre- garon?—The boiler was three-parts full. And with the boiler three-parts full do you mean to say you could not run to Strata Florida?—No, I tried to do it, but I missed it. I saw the water going too low, and I stopped. Re-examined: Such small duties as look- ing after the water were left to the fireman as a rule. When the engine was said to be blowing off hard at Pencader at 5.30 he was only fifty yards away from her. He could have heard a slight blowing off at that dis- tance. Did you hear any blowing off ?-There were two engines in at the time. The passenger engine might have been blowing off at the time. As to the possibility of an explosion, plain- tiff said the lead plug was bound to drop. Having filled the tank an hour before leav- ing Pencader with a through run that might have lasted to Strata Florida with a heavy train. It was the stopping that made the difference. He had a heavy train of 44 wheels on, and it was necessary for him to take in water at Pont Llanio. P.C. Johns, Pencader, said he saw the plaintiff on the night of October 5th last be- tween 9 and 10 o'clock and again about twenty minutes before he started on the re- turn journey. He also saw the fireman. Both were sober. Cross-examined: He spoke to them in the signal box. William Henry Williams, George-street, Aberystwyth engine driver on the Cam- brian Railway, said he was a passenger by the excursion train. At Pont Llanio Station he saw the water running over the side of the engine, and remarked to himself that they were taking plenty of water in, as the tank was running over. When they got to the final stopping place near Strata Florida he got out of the coach and went on to the footplate of the engine, and asked Salmon what was the matter. He did not look at the guage. Cross-examined by Mr Hughes: You are .an old driver?—Yes. What would you say to an engine blowing off hard with only an inch of water in the guage?—It has to be done very often. Would you do it?—I should put water into the boiler of course. But if there was no one there, water could not be put in?—No. Is it not a careless thing to leave an en- gine blowing off hard and no one in charge? —I don't know. The engine is all right as long as there is water in the gauge. If an engine is blowing off hard with only an inch of water in the boiler in a short time there would be no water in the boiler ?—That is a fact. How long in your opinion would it take to exhaust the inch of water in the boiler with the engine blowing off hard?—Quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Will you deny- as a practical man that ten minutes would be sufficient ?-I hold it would take a quarter-of-an-hour without she was blowing off rearing, tearing mad as we call it. (Laughter). Supposing she was blowing off rearing, tearing mad, with an inch in the gauge you say that in quarter-of-an-hour you might expect ?—1 expect she would be getting short then. (Laughter). She would want a drink. (Renewed laughter). And the plug would drop?—If there was any lead in it to drop. It was a serious thing to leave an engine blowing off rearing, tearing mad with only 1 r, an inch of water in the gauge ? She was safe enough with an inch of water. But after the water had gone it was ser- ious ?-Yes. And it is always looked upon as a serious thing if allowed to happen by an engine driver ?-They don't look at it on our road as a serious matter. I have seen several plugs coming out of the firebox, with the glass three-parts full. His Honour: Have you ever known of a plug dropping out for want of water ?-Yes. Mr. Hughes: Can you refer to any particu- lar case ot a plug falling?—There was one at Xewtown three weeks or a month ago with the engine of the train which gets to Abervstwvth at 6.20. p.m. John Jones, now living at Glanaman, aird l plaintiff's fireman on the date in question, said he had been 4t years in the Company's employ up to the time of his dismissal. He had been fireman two years. He was dis- missed summarily with Salmon. He was sober on the date in question. He had nothing to drink beyond the two glasses with Salmon. At Pont Llanio he went up to fill the tank. He did not put the bag into the tank, but put it on the coals. He account- ed for this by the fact that he had no light, and things were made darker because they were by the side of a bridge. Salmon went round oiling the engine, and when he came back he asked "Are you right Jack," and he said "Right." He (witness) thought the tank was full. At Tregaron the injector failed. Salmon told him to take the lid off the tank, thinking it was air-tight. He then found it was empty. It was the usual thing for the fireman to fill the tank. Cross-examined: Before they left Tre- garon they did not take any steps to discover what was the mater. The gauge was three- parts full. Mr. Hughes: Do you want his Honour to believe that the whole of that water disapp- eared in two miles on a level road?—Yes, sir. How long would it take you to run the two miles?—About five minutes. John Jones did not tell him at 6.15, nor did he hear him tell Salmon, that he had just filled the boiler of their engine. Be- tween 5 and 7 he was in the weighing ma- chine. Between 5 and 6.30 he was back and fore in the shed and in the yard. Benbow told him afterwards that he put water into the boiler at 5.30, and put the injector right. He did not say she was blowing off hard. Did you know that Salmon's engine was blowing off hard at about 5.30 with only an inch of water in the gauge?—I did not hear. I daresay not. We say you were not near the place.—We were on the premises. Do you suggest why Benbow should fill up your boiler ?—We always do it for each other. Supposing the engine was blowing off hard between 5 and 6 o'clock, when she was not required until 10, would not that be neg- lect ?—It would be very wrong. And it would be a greater wrong if she was still blowing off hard at 6.15 with no one in charge?—Yes. His Honour: What does the blowing off indicate ?—Mr. Hughes:. A heavy pressure of steam in the boiler. There was only the gauge lamp on the en- gine that night, and that was used by the driver. It was owing to the darkness he made the mistake of not putting the water bag into the hole of the tank. Can you explain how it was that you made such a mistake? Was it simply the dark night or the two glasses of beer you had in the morning?—They would not affect me. And you can't explain it?--NO. Re-examined: There were two injectors on the engine, so that if one was out of order the other could be relied upon. One-and-a- half hours was the longest space of time he was away from the engine during the whole day. He was on the premises between 5.30 and 6.15, and quite near enough to have heard any blowing off. The driver of the other engine did not tell him his engine was blow- ing off hard. He said he worked the injec- tor. That meant, he put water into the boiler. This was the case for the plaintiff. THE DEFENCE. Mr. Hughes, in opening for the defence, said the Company did not fight this action with the view of escaping payment of the small sum of t3 15s. to an old officer, and it was with great regret that they had been bound to defend this action. Assuming that he was able to prove that these two men ab- sented themselves from the engine not for minutes, but for hours, and this risked a serious accident, he thought his Honour would rule that the Company were justified in the action they had taken. Hia Honour would appreciate the difficulties in a case of this sort. All his witnesses came there with great regret. From the evidence he would call, he would ask his Honour to infer that the plaintiff and his fireman were not near the place at all during the day, and that had they properly watered the engine at Pencader before starting there would have been ample water to take the train to Strata Florida without replenishing the tank at all. An experimental journey had been made with this same engine with a heavier load and on a greasy rail, and the engine had run through to Strata. Florida without replen- ishing. They maintained that Salmon never did what it was his duty to do, to see that the tank and the boiler were properly filled. iheir grounds of justification for dismissing Salmon were neglect in abandoning his en- gine, that he did not take a proper supply of water before starting from Pencader. and lastly his action at Tregaron. This was an excursion train with a large number of people in it, and he mentioned that in order to show the importance of the matter both to the public and to the Company, and to prevent the possibility of a repetition of this sort of conduct. Both Salmon and his fire- man admitted they found something wrong 011 entering Tregaron Station, and he would call the porter at that Station who would say that Salmon told him he could not get- the water into the boiler. Yet, notwithstand- ing that, with a heavy train load he went on, although he knew there was something wrong with the injector. It was explained to his Honour that the injector was the pump which conveyed the water from the tank to the boiler. Mr. Hughes contended that what Salmon should have done was to himself have gone and looked at the tank. As to the fireman's conduct at Pont Llanio, he must either have been intensely silly or he must have been labouring under some other influence. To say that he thought the water was going into the tank when it was being driven over the coals was almost incredible. Salmon ought to have known at Tregaron that there was no water in the tank. The fact of the injector not working was one of the things that ought to have led him as a practical man to look and see if there was water. But he said-and he was sorry to say he did not believe him-that the gauge showed the boiler was three-parts full. It was a phy- sical impossibility that such could have the case. His Honour: At what height would the in- His Honour: At what height would the in- jectors keep the water in the boiler? Mr. Johns: Up to the top if they were working. James Benbow, who was the first witness

architect before taking the schools over.- Mr. C. M. Williams seconded, and this was agreed to. School Attendance. .The reports of attendance officers were re- ceived. The percentages for the Aberyst- wyth group for the month ending March 3rd were as followsCwmpadarn, 92.2; Com- mins Coch, 89.9; Alexandra-road Council, 89.3; Aberystwyth Non-Provided, 88.1; Penparke Non-Provided 86.8. The total for the whole group of five schools was as fol- lows:—On registers, 1440; average attend- ance 1244y7 percentage, 89.5. The respective percentages in the North- ern Division for the months of January and February were as follows:—Talybont 80.6 and 79; Rhydypennau, 71.8 and 82.9; Tal- iesin, 73.9 and 81.6; Eglwysfach, 86.5 and 87 Boi th, 80 and 88.2; Borth National, 59.3 and 76.2; Pontgoch, 71 and 82.2; Clarach, 80 and 78; Trefeirig, 69.3 and 69.5; Pen- rhyncoch (National), 69 and 71.2; Pcnllwyn, 77.5 and 67.4; Goginan, closed and 81.2; Ponterwyd, 73.8 and 82.2; Ystumtuen, 61.3 and 77 Aberffrwd, 67 and 73.8 Pencentage for the 15 schools 72.6 and 78.2. The respective percentages for the south- ern division were as follows Devil's Bridge 62.8 and 81.4; Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, 74 and 77; Trisant, 70 and 64; Cwmystwyth, 78.5 and 90.3; Llangwyryfon, 73 and 74; Chancery, 72 and 79; Llanddeinol, 75.7 and 72.9; Llanrhystyd, 78 and 88.8; Brynher- bert, 74.6. and 79.1; Oofadail, 65 and 62.3; Capel Sion, 88.5 and 84.9; Llanilar, 83.5 and 78; Llanafan, 70 and 75. Mr. D. C. Roberts urged the importance of keeping children in school up to the full age limit. He proposed that it be an in- strution to the attendance officers to press for the attendance of all children up to the age of 14 unless they were entitled to ex- emption.—Dr. James seconded, and this was agreed to. A question was asked as to the cause of the small attendance at Cofadail School.— No cause was ascribed, but Mr. E. J. Evans said he had been informed that the Head- master had been to one of the managers and had threatened to hand in his notice because of the small attendance. He was getting discouraged. Aberystwyth County School. A letter from the Board of Education, re- ferred to this committee by the County Edu- cation Committee, was read. The Board wished to be informed whether the debt on the Aberystwyth County School had been discharged; whether the full amount £2,400 had been voluntarily provided, and if not whether the guarantee had been enforced.— Mr. R. J. Jones thought it was for the County School governors to answer those questions.—Principal Roberts proposed that they get the information from the governors of the Aberystwyth County School, on the points mentioned in the letter.—Mr. R. J. Jones seconded, and this, after some discus- sion, was agreed to.

called for the defence, gave his evidence with some reluctance. He said he had been in the service of the M. and M. Railway Com- pany for forty years. He arrived at Pen- cader on the date in question with the 5. p.m. train. He took his engine into the shed at about 5.30. Salmon's engine was on the other pit, blowing off. He was only in the shed about ten minutes. The engine was blowing off as if she was full of steam. He thought he was doing a kindness for the Company and the driver. He did not wish to do harm to one side or the other. There was about an inch of water in the gauge, which indicated two inches in the boiler. He worked the injector, and filled her up. He did not see anyone in charge of the en- gine when he went there. Mr. Hughes: Supposing you were in charge of an engine due out at ten o'clock that night, was it a propev thing to do to leave the engine unattended and blowing off steam without anybody near and with only a little water in the boiler?-;—I could not say. Mr. Hughes said he would not press the qustion. Witness: I can only say what I would do myself. Mr. Hughes: What would a prudent driver do when his engine would not be required for three or four hours ?-Look after the water and damp the fires. You don't want to blow off at 5.30 when you are going to start at 11 o'clock ?-No. We will go one step further.—Don't be too hard on me, Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes thereupon finished his ex- amination of this witness. n Cross-examined by Mr. Brewer: lie was in Pencader an hour and a quarter. He could not help hearing Salmon's engine blow- ing off when he was in the same shed. She was not blowing off very hard. He was not afraid of an explosion taking place im- mediately. Asked as to whether, if he had come back to the shed at six o'clock without having touched the engine everything would have been all right, witness said he could not. answer for another man. Mr. Brewer: It was not an actual neces- sity, but a kindness, when you worked the injector of Salmon's engine ?-It was as much for the Company as for Salmon. You often do it for each other ?—Not so often. Men have worked the injector of your engine ?—Yes. It is a common thing,, and it does not mean anything serious the matter with the engine ?-No. Mr. Brewer proceeded to crofis-examine as to the length of time it took to fill the boiler, but witness pleaded that he was getting too hard, and said he had nothing more to answer. He only answered the questions he knew. There was plenty of water in the boiler? —Yes, if she would not blow off hard. Do you mean to suggest that the employees of the M. and M. are supposed to be con- tinually by their engine when having to wait several hours before taking their train back? -I don't know. John Jones, fireman on No. 4 engine with James Benbow, said he was on Salnfon's en- gine at about 6.15 p.m. on the date in ques- tion in the shed. She was blowing off pretty hard. From what his driver told him, he went on to the engine. He found there were two inches of water in gauge glass, and he put the injector on. Salmon nor his fire- man were about then, but they came just before he left at 6.30. He agreed that with only two inches of water in the gauge and the engine blowing off hard in a very short time the whole of the water would have been exhausted if he had not put more water in. Cross-examined: He had been fireman five years. He had heard the previous witness say that the boiler was full at 5.30. Do you suggest the boiler could have ex- hausted itself by 6.30 by the blowing off?— Yes, she was blowing off so hard. His Honour said he could not see how the plaintiff could get over rule 35 of the Com- pany's regulations, which said that a driver or fireman when on duty must not leave their engine unless it was absolutely neces- sary for them to do so, without a man being left in charge, or unless the engine was in a siding. Mr. Brewer replied that the engine was in a siding, out of gear, and with the hand brake on. Mr. Hughes maintained that the engine was not out of gear, inasmuch as she was in full steam. Mr. Brewer: I would be rather unreason- able to expect the men to stay by the en- gine the whole day. Mr. Hughes: We pay them for doing nothing. His Honour: If you can make out that it was out of gear, then you can get over the first point. Mr. Brewer: He said he damped the fire. His Honour said he would like further evidence as to the meaning of the term "out of gear." Mr. Johns, certificated engineer, and fore- -man engineer in the employ of the M. and M. Railway Company, said the engine which Salmon drove on October 5th was renovated shortly before that date. A new firebox was put in, and she was generally over- hauled. The old plug was also releaded. What engine men meant by "out of gear" was when the lever was in the centre of the quadrant, but what the Compa.ny meant was an engine out of steam. If an engine was "alive" they must have someone to look after it. In the conditions described by Benbow at 5.30, with a heavy fire it would have meant the total collapse of the box had not the boiler been filled at that time. With steam blowing off hard, in some circum- stances there might have been an explosion. It was dangerous to leave the engine in that condition. With only an inch of water in the gauge, the water in the boiler would have evaporated down to the top of the box in ten minutes if the engine was blowing off hard. Had Benbow, therefore, not worked the injector at 5.30 the lead tap would have run out. Salmon's duty at Tregaron, know- ing there was something wrong, was to have seen he had got enough water. It was ab- surd for Salmon to say that his boiler was three-parts full at Tregaron. The inference was, from what occurred subsequently, that he could not have had much water in the gauge glass at that time. Cross-examined: What was usually meant by "out of gear" was when the reversing lever was in the centre of the quadrant. He could not say that that was what was meant by the Company's rules. It was not an usual thing for a lead plug to drop. He considered it was a breach of duty on Sal- mon's part to have gone further than Tre- garon if his injector would not work. Do you say it was a great breach of duty in trying to study the convenience of pas- sengers by getting the train to Strata Florida ?-It was a great breach of duty to run with an injector not working properly. Daniel Williams, porter at Tregaron Sta- tion, said the train did not start at once when he gave the signal on the night in question. He went up to the driver, and asked him what was the matter, and he said lie could not get water into the boiler. Mr. Smith, locomotive superintendent on the M. and M. Railway, said he had had experience on the Midland and other rail- ways. Since the occurrence he had had a trial trip with the same engine, drawing a much heavier load, and on a very greasy rail. He filled the tank at Pencader, and had four inches of water in the glass. He did not find it necessary, with this heavier train, to take water again until Strata Florida was reached. He considered it most dan- gerous to have left the engine in the state described at Pencader. On the experimen- tal trip he did 20 minutes' shunting. Sal- mon's duty at Tregaron was to have seen what his reserve supply of water was. If the boiler was three-parts full it could not have been exhausted in five minutes, and the fact of the plug dropping after going two miles or so proved that there was not that amount of water in the. glaoo. Cjross-examined: The. trial trip was run on February 14th, with a load of 156 tons. The driver was the responsible man on the engine. The fireman was simply his assist- ant. When he was made a driver his in- ) structions were to look after the water as one of the most essential points in his duty. Mr. T. B. Grierson, the general manager of the Railway, and a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, described the danger which might arise from an engine blowing off hard as this one was said to have done at Pencader. The safety valves only allowed for a certain pressure, and there had been such a thing as the valves sticking, and this not able to discharge the steam as it was made. In this case there was nothing to have hindered the boiler from blowing up. It was gross negligence on the part of the man to have left the engine unattended, as a frightful disaster might have occurred. His Honour: Is there any provision, with reference to engines which come in this way, as to the duty of the driver and fireman when awaiting for the return journey. Mr. Grierson said until the engine was out of steam and the fire drawn the driver and fireman were not supposed to leave their engine. He had, however, since done away with that system now. If these men wished to have been relieved of their responsibilities during the day they could have given notice and a man would have been sent to relieve them. Cross-examined: It had not come to his notice that under such circumstances as these men left their engines. Mr. Brewer then addressed his Honour for the plaintiff, and pointed out that this man had been on duty 24 hours at a stretch. His Honour; But it was voluntarily. Mr. Brewer: I don't know about that. Mr. Hughes: You ask them if they would like to have the old rule again on the line. Mr. Brewer: I am told they would not. Mr. Hughes: You may take my assurance that they would. His Honour, in summing up, said he con- sidered there was such negligence on plain- tiff's part as justified the defendants in dis- missing him. He, therefore, gave judg- ment for the defendant Company. Mr. Brewer asked for leave to appeal. His Honour said he was prepared to do so. but failed to see on what ground an ap- peal could be made. He would probably be asked what was the question of fact.