Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder

WS^THI AWO DISTRICT BiiLL-POSTis^G CO. ADVERTISING CONTRACTORS. Owners of all the Principal Hoarding5 in NEATH-and District. For Terms, &c«, apply:— Manager, 453 London Roatij Neath. (

NEATH LAO WINS D.G.M. HOW A TROUBLESOME GERMAN SNIPER WAS BbGiiuHT TO HEEL Twice recommended in quick succession for conspicuous bravery on the field of battle, Private li. J. Hughes, 7374, 8th Battalion Somersetshire Light Infantry, ii;u-> now been awarded the coveted t).< '.M. In Neath the hero is perhaps Letter known as plain Dick Hughes; i1.1 I ranee he is popular among his comrades as Dare Devil Dick of the Somersets." The story of his heroism has already been briefly chronicled in the LLerald ■ of Wales," but it happened six months ago. lie was one of two volun- teers who went out to locate a German sniper. They had gone about a hundred yards in the direction of a ruined la nu- ll onse when his companion was shot. Dick carried him to a place of safety, rendered first aid, and when next observed he was j bringing the German sniper back to the trench es a prisoner 01 war. The other half of the story was told by the wounded soldier who accompanied Dick on his daring errand. In a letter to the Bridgwater Independent," he I said that after Dare Devil Dick had bandaged his wounds he crawled to the farmstead, surprised the sniper as he was about to pull the trigger and claim another victim, and shot him through the right arm. Dick then lit a fag, and marched the sniper to the trenches in triumph. Shortly after this experience Dick chased a German wno had captured a British bugle as a trophy of war, and was retreating with other Huns after a charge. Dick's bayonet arrested the flight of the retreating Hun, and the bugle, brought home by a comrade, now occupies a place, of honour in Dick's humble home in tho patriotic neighbourhood of Penydro, eath. For these two daring acts he was re- commended for th-e D.C.M. by the Com- manding O?hcer, and now aÚer a lap6c of six months, the coveted distinction has been pinned on his breast and duly recorded in the recent long list of awards. With the exception of a week's fur- lough in August last, Private Hughes has been in France since the outbreak of the I war. Thrice he has been shot through the cap, but up to the present he has come through without a scratch. To use his own words when home on a f:h;>rt leave. "I suppose I am a lucky beugar. The only thing I've had to trouble me was sore feet during the Mons retreat, and then I took my boots off and lett them behind. The Germans never t taught us- up after that!" ¡ Since the dawn of the New Year I Penydre and its sons have added lustre to I ilie pager- of Neath's history— the Knight- hood of Sir John Mi torn Rees. who was born in Penydre House; Alderman Hop- kin Morgan, elected chairman of the Glamorgan County Council; King's Sergt. Joe Davies, Boyai Rifle Brigade, awarded the Trench Military Cross, promoted on the field and recommended for the D.C.M. and now the honour conferred oil Dick Hughes make the quartette of distinguished hays of Penvdre. I

LLAHSAiHLET lABDUREWS CHOICE. A meeting oft he trade unionists of I.Ian- 6am let. including miners, steel workers, railway-men, dockers, artisans, ajid other (Trades, was held on Saturday evening at Mion /'ion Vestry, Pe-niel Green, LJan- samlet. for the purpose o: selecting a can- didate to fill the va aney caused by the retirement of Couniy Councillor T. J. "Richards from the Swansea Rural District Council and Guardians. County Councillor v CotiL,?.L The i-'erretary (Mr. "Richard Henry,, Dockers) read correspondence, and stated that Councillor T. W. Wat kins, secretary of the Birchgrove Miners' Federation Lodge, and Councillor James M. Morris, the pnesrat chairman of the Llansamiet Pari-sh Council, had been nominated. Both c^ndid:jfes expressed their views, <11(r:\rr. J. M. Morris was adopted. The name of tli3 official Labour candidate will be sub- mitted to the Swansea Rural Council.

THE UNREGISTERED AliEN. Ah Aberavon on Monday. Elizabeth Smith, married, 6, EmrocJi-street, Cellu- loid, Port Talbot, was summoned on two indictments under the Alien Registration Act for failing to keep a register and having an alien lodging in her house, fail- ing to deliver the necessary form to the police. c P.S. Bryce said th-it hp called at de- fendant's house and found a Russian ¡I named Selmon lod..?i'? there. He asked if the man had hn regi!tf'rl:'d. I Mr. Lewis II. Thomas (defending': You r-t?R?y rode ?p to this woman's house •T:ri< her in a taxi5 Witness: Yes, sir. She asked me. and I in. I'LaugMorA Mr. Thomas: Did you ride back with her? Witne": No; she did not ask me. (T.n nrrhter. Defendant was fined £ 5 and Jtt for the officials. —————

SOLDIER S WIFE AD A PURSE. I ——— Catherine Edwards, Glyn-Ne&th, the -wife of a soldier on active service, pleaded I guilty at Neath on Friday to stealing a purse containing 35s. that had been lost by Margaret Davies, Avon-street, Glyn- Sfaath. Mary Jones, a little girl, said she picked Wp d hand-bag and gave it to accused. She took cut the purse, and told wit- ness to inform the polity? that it had been -lost. Mrs. Morgan, the Police Station, said she searched accused who had been ar- Tested. and saw her take from her stock- I ing a currency note for £ 1. Site tore it I in pieces, adding that, it was only an old I Mil. WV-n she pointed out to her that it exclaimed: "or God's sake put it in the fire. What did I do this for V' Defendant, who expressed her sorrow, was .ined £ 1 2s. Cd.

A SKtWEfci COMMISSION The aeoctid Skewen soldier to receive » commission is Mr. Hop kin Williams, SOD of rilr. and Mno. James William?, of Dolfcr," W«rn-poad. He ha.6 just bEoen gazetted secoDd-lieut^n-ant in tile 12th County of Lon- tlcn Ec-gt. (Kec^in-rton ifle2:. Soon after joining the cciouns he was lar.-ce-eor- ponal, subsequently soing in-to training in j the Artists. Khl-es O.T C. For eoms yeers 1:.6 lia* beei^ in business with an elder brother at Yr«» Norwood. He received his I education the Co&dffranc School. SLe-wen. ile m 24 y«ara of age. Üi4 eider brother » eab-lieur«nant l&vid Wil- äl lU^e^T-e,

i .N01 UNDER THE SCHEME a I SOBERS VViFE TO QUIT HOUSE. An application for the ejectment of a soldier and family was made to the Neath County Justices on Friday by Mr. Toul- son on behalf of the Aberpergwm Colliery, Company, and in doing 50 he revealed a somewhat extraordinary story. The de- icnclant. Thomas Arthur Power, who was in khaki, wa3 represented by Mr. Mat- thew Arnold. Mr. Touison said that Power and his family lived in one of the applicants' houses at 10, Avon-street. Glyn-Neath. When the war broke cut a generous offer Witt, made to the tenants^ the company's houses by Mr. Godfrey "Wiliiain*, the governing director, who brought out a scheme to encourage recruiting by allow- ing the families of soldiers who worked at the colliery prior to enlistment to live in the houses rent free on condition that they paid the rates and the cost of the electric light. Before enlistment Power ceased his employment with the Aber- pergwm Colliery, and worked at the Em- pire Colliery. Consequently Power did lid COUl within the clwme, and notice to quit was served upon him. That had been ignored, and the arrears of rent— which was 7s. fid. per week inclusive— amounted to tU Is. Sd. The rates and rent of clect rie light amounted to 1:1 9s. Id., and of this sum only £2 ,1-5. had been paid. lie pointed out that the wife's income, including separation allowance and Mia 6 earnings, came to 1'2 Ils. i;< weekly. He emphasised the fact that the houses were wanted for the colliers, and the application was made without the slightest malice or spite. Mr. Matthew Arnold said he was going to show that defendant's circumstances had been adversely affected by the war. His client, who enlisted on the 22nd of Octoijer, 1911, wa-s a private in the Welsh Eegiiuenc. Prior to joining the colours. Power had worked at the Aberpergwm Colliery for three \ears, but owing to a dispute over the minimum wage he left the Aberpergwm Colliery, worked one day at the Empire Colliery, and join.ed the Army under the impression that lus wife and family would benefit by Mr. Godfrey Williams' schem0. During the last twelve months Mrs. Powct had Wn seriously ill, a delicate child had died, and the son, the only wage earner, had been laid up with rheumatic fever. Giving evideneo. Power said he only worked one day for the Empire Colliery Company, and the reason he joined the Army was because everywhere he went to look for work he was old. Kitchener wants you." He was not aware until a few days ago that he did not come under the Aberpergwm free rent scheme. Mrs. Power said she did Dot know she had to pay rent until notice to quit was served upon her. She had been on the look-out for a house, but could not find one. An erder of ejcctment was granted.

I HELP FOR THE AGED. i  "1 1 1.' tt  A meeting of the ladies' committee of the Mayor of ?wan?-ea/s Aged Poor Fund was held at the Guildhall on Tuesday, the Mayor (Aid. T. Merrells) presiding, I supported by the Mayoress and a large attendance. The Mayor, on behalf of the Mayoress and himself, extended heartiest thanks !or the manner in which the ladies had worked fcr the fund. By their noble effort- they had been able to make many a home much happier during the past ■season than they otherwise would have been. The Mayoress and himself sin- cerely thanked them. Mr. W. H. Ash mole (borough treasurer) said the total amount received for the funrl was \:4.3 10, 7cl. (Applause). That was tha highest figure they had ever re- ceived in one year. Last ysear which, was also a war yfar, was £;}.J¡). He joined with the Mayor in con- gratulating 'he ladies for the very hard work they must have done to accomplish this result. They had allocated £ 2-0 in the tickets which were given away before Christmas, 60 they had about t200 left tl, dispose of. Mr. Ash mole added that he had been talking the matter over with the Mayor, and tlcy suggested that the best method of dealing with the money was to find out the necessitous eases and relieve them accord ingly. The suggestion met with general ap- proval. Mrs. Rebecca Harris remarked that many parents deliberately sent their children to' school without, boots, so that they would be provided out of the fund. A resolution was carried adopting the suggestion that the most necessitous cases I)f' uealt with out of the surplus, and Mr. Ashmole said the next step would be for the ward committees to meet and for- mulate a list of the whom they thought were in need of boots or clothes. The there were really enough clothes for distribution 10 150 people. When the ward cummittees handed in their list? they would be able to utilise the clothing to the best ad- to the o tfie L?,-o t iic l

INSURANCE AGENTS' GRIEVANCES A lue.eLiilg of Refuge and Pearl agents was hed at Goslin's Restaurant. Abpr- avon, on Friday. Mr. Geo. Thomas (E.C. j member. National spoko at length on the Block Sv-'c-ii). He i^oinfed okit iiiit col- lecting on such bonks ("bioefc agencies) meant a great reduction in the, earnings of insurance agents. He snid that, the National L'nion. which had been in Px- istence for a consider a cie number of years, advocated that agents be paid a commis- sion of 25 per cent, for collecting their agencies. Mr. Tom Thomas, Swansea (National Tniou organi'eri dealt with the advan- tages of organisation. Tie pointed out that collecting on block bocks means a reduc- tion of 50 per cent. on the commissions of agents. Mr. Wm. Williams and other agents also

CYCLING WSTHDST LIGHTS. 1 At the A be-a von County Police Court At th AIY>anm ('n;I!1t.V Po]¡('e Cl)l1rt on Monday, Richard Thomas. 4. Pelly- e>tre€t, Cwmavou, wao charged with riding a bicycle without lights in Cwm- ittst. I' .C. Lambert kqijd that defendant gave t his wrong nemo and address a's Thomas j• James, 39, Tymaen-istreet, Cwmavon. Defendant's sietor (tearfully): My mother, who is now dead, was taken- verv 111 on the niftht in question, *>nd my hio?ber (defendant) hurried away on his bicycle to fetch my other brotaerj| Mr. Cha?. J?n?e (chairman): W? syro.- pathise with you very much. You will only pay iE.

HUSBAftD UNDER THE STAIRS. j Sarah Reef, Melincrythan, was at Neath I County Sessions on Friday fined 10s. for attempting to co-qceal her husband, a de- eerter from the Army. P.C. Lis-k said he found Rees hiding under the stairs*

TRY AND ruh?t! TRY AND  I WELSH BASHES APPEAL TO HIS WIFE In the Probate and Divorce Divi- sion (before Mr. Justice Bargrave Doane), Lady Enid Evelyn Malet Wil- liams-Druuunoud petitioned for xestitu- tiGn or conjugal rights against her hus- band, Sir James Jiamlyn William^-Drum- thenshire. mond, oi Edwiusford, Llandilo, Carmar- Mr. Hayford, for the petitioner, stated that the parties were married on Novem- ber 18th, 101-t, in Norfold, and afterwards resided at Caw^ton. There were no chil- dren. in January. 1915, Sir Wiiiiaias- Drummond had an operatiou for appesi- diciti. and subsequently went to live with petitioner at Edwineford. Later the re- spondent said he v. ished to leave Edwins- ford, and suggested that he and his wife should separate and that she should go and live with her mother. Petitioner de- cliited. Subsequently respondent did go to live in London. After the operation she calkd to see him at a nursing homo, j but he refused to see her, and ubse- quently correspondence passed between them. On August 9th petitioner wrote: My darling Jimmy,—I fed so terribly upset in hr.ving to rente \k<t will, i. know, upset you very much. Dear boy, I do it for your sake, for my sake, and for i he sake of the whole of the family. Tuo Lie very much, and it is nioit imperative that you sh ou Id get rid of i be Longs at once. You have her and her husband sleep- ing in the next loom to you, and it would be a public insult to me if you allow it to continue. Sow, pull yourself together, and we may be as happy together again as we used to be, but as we never can be till you make this change. On the following day, August 10th, the petitioner received the following letter from her husband I cannot comply with your request. I have found since our marria-ge that I do not loco you, though I care for you very much. I love Mrs. Long, and so it. will be b'?.?ior'lu?)ara?e. You can have Ed win- f or d When we married I thought I could care «nly for you, but I find I cannot. Tiv and forget, aud forgive me the pain I have caused you. I am sorry I can never return to you, Jimmy. On 21st September petitioner again wrote to her husband:- Dear Jimmy,—I have not seen Von eince March. Of course, things cannot remain like this. People are already talking and will talk more. I am will- ing to take you back if you will return to me, and will do all I can to make you happy. Your affectionate Enid. Respondent, however, did rot answer that letter, and it was subsequently de- livered to him personally, enclosed in an-1 other letter, which aid ;_H I hove not had a line in reply to mine of September 21st, but hope to have an answer this week." Respondent did not return to his wife, and these proceedings were then instituted. Lady Williams-Drummond, in the wit- ness-box, stated that her present address was 3<i, Egeiion-erei-ccnt, London. After t:h GwT(\h{)n upon her husband they W(.'Ilt,i to Later on, in 1915. he said he wanted to rid of Edwinsford and go to London. He c-omplaiued of illness. He wanted her to go to her mother's. She protested, but, ho did come up to London and suggested there should be a separa- tion, but she declined to accede to the suggestion. Her ladyship bore out coun- sel's opening statement, and aid that when she wrote the letter in Augus. t. 19J5, j she was expecting a child. The child was ctillborn. Mr. Walter Frampton watched the case on behalf of the respondent, who, he said, was in Madeira. His lordship granted the petition for restitution, at(I directed it should be com- plied with withis a month after service, and gave petitioner the costs.

WEST CLAMQAK PRESBYTERY. On Thursday, at Burrows-read English I Presbyterian Church, Skewen, the West Glamorgan English Preebytery met in session, the Rev. W. Meredith (mode- rator), of Port Tennant. Swansea, presid- ing. There was a representative gathering of delegates assembled from the affiliated churches. The Rev. Ben Evans (Mansel- ton) conducted the inquiry into the state of the cause, the answers showing it to be in a satisfactory condition. Four brethren, who had been elected as elders at Alexandra-road Church, Swan- pea, were received into membership of tho Presbytery, viz., Mr. D. Williams, Mr. H. Coil itfe. Air. W. Jonas, and Mr. J. D. Williams. They were questioned, a.nd addressed by the Rev. W. W. Lewis, Terrace-road Church. Swansea, At the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which was one of the features of the meeting, the moderator presided, the Rev. A. Wynne llioruas slso giving an address. On a favourable report being given by the Rev. P. Marchant Lewie and Mr D. E. Thomas on their examination of Mr. Joseph Morgan, a candidate for the ministry from the Mi, sion Hall, Neath, the Presbytery granted him permission to proceed to the July examination. The ladies of Burrows-road Church had been most hospitable iu their preparations for the reception of the delegates.

FRUIT LAXATIVE FOB CHILDREN. I I Delicious "California Syrup of Figs" Can't Harm Tender Little Stomsch, I Liver, and Bowels. Every mother realizes, after giving her children Caliioruia Syrup of Figs," that Iltis is their ideal laxative, because they love its pleasant taste and it thoroughly cleanses Hie tender little stomach, liver, and ")qwpls, ivith(,iit griping. When cro^s, irritable, feverish, or when the breath is bad and the stomach dis- ordered, look at the tongue, mother! If coate-d. give a teas;>oonfu) of this harm- less "fnut laxative," and in a few hours all tlie foul, constipated waste-matter, sour bile and undigested food passes out of j'ho bowels, and you bare a healthy, playful child again. When its little system is stuffy with a cold, when it has sore threat, stomach-ache, diarrhoea, inciiges-tior., colic— remember, a good in- side-cleansing should always be the first treatment given. Millions of mothers keep H California I Syrup of Figs" handy; thev know a tea- sooonful to-dr.v saves a child from being ill to-morrow. Ask your chemist for a battle of California Syrup cf Figs," which has directions for b hie-s, childrr-n of all ages and grown-ups printed on the bottle. Get the genuine, made by California Fig Syrup Company," and wild by all leading chemists, 1/3 and Z/ Refuse substitutes, v.

CHILD'S DEAD FATHER I ISTERESTIHG OMPESA TION CASE. I A somewhat unusual application was made 10 Judge Lloyd Morgan, K.C., at Neath County Court by Elsie i May Harden, of 3. Upper-terrace, TreboeHi. m ar Swansea, who made a claim under the Workmen's Compensation Act as the mother and next friend of an infant named David J'pnry Jones. Mr. Trevor Hunter (instructed by r. Edward Harries. Swansea) appeared for thp appli- cant, and Mr. C. B. Jenkins, tor the. parents of the deceased man. Mr. Hunter pointed out that a sum of 2s. 5c!. had been paid into court in reject, of the death of a collier -na.iafd William Jones, son of William and Mary Ann Jones, Pantybabon Farm, Graigcefn-. iv! rc. Clyd-ich, and the parents were parties to the action. I Deceased, who was fatally injured at the Graigola-Merthyr Colliery, was engaged to the applicant, and a male child wa« horn on April 23rd last year, of 'Idll!'h 1111' c1!'(':f'('d was ihe putative fat her. Tho marriage had been arranged, and in fact the hann« had been actually put in, but the prospective bride- groom was killed' before the wedding day. Mr. Jenkins contended that the parents of deceased were partially dependent upon their son, and that thev bad kept the child the sari's death. Mary Ann Jon\ mother of f li,- decpn -ed. siid her son gave her the whole of hi* wages except pocket money. His llotnniir awarded the parents as partial denen dents, and the remainder— A'17;1 2s. 5d. to the aoplicant, to be paid out at (,be 1"<)j., of 4?. a week.

SWANSEA AMATEU8S' REVUE. The first performance of the spectacular revue, Crusoe Number Two" took place at St. Gabriel's {'aiisli Hall on Tuesday evening. The upper hall was crowded. The revue, iu which a hundred artistes took part, was under the musical direction of Mrs. Fred Townscnd, and the dances were by Mcsdamos D. Ace. L. Howard and V. Jones. Miss Ida Ward made a perfect Robinson Crusoe, attired in that ancient garb. The other characters were:— Mephisto, Harold Eew; Captain Cutlass, Willie Lloyd; Davy Jones, the wrecker of -Fridai-, (-.I)ariie Payee; Friday's Old Man, Reggie Jones; The Fairy, Vera Yeo; Lieutenant Swank, Gilbert Taylor; Morris, Phillip, and Allan (the Village Big Wigs), May Jones, Gwen Jones, and Iletty Morrun. Betty Edwards, Vera Taylor, Lily Jones, Doreen Edwards, Billy Edwards, Irene Dawson, Rose W illiams. Kenneth Lewis. Graham Hop ton, and Leslie Howell took the part of Mince Pie Children"; and Ronald Jenkins. Fred Reimann, Cecil Harris, Jack Hoare, Cyril Hulbert. Her- bert Holmes, Charlie Jones, Willie Jonas, and Charlie Oxenham acted as sailors. Others who contributed were:—Stanley Ward. Arthur Downer, Mr. Steve Mor- gan, Peter Le Bars, Miss Quennie Abbott, Miss Julia Labbett, M. Foxworthy, and M. Mitchell. Part of the programme was composed of miscellaneous items, to which the follow- ing contributed :—Mrs. and the Misses Edwards, Miss Elsie Harris, Mrs. Birken- shaw, East and Murton, Miss Gwen Thomas, arid Mr. W. T. Jcnkin6.

EC 10 TO NEATH GAS STRIKE. H Loss of trade through the war, and loss through ga;» works strike at Neath twelve months ago," were aileged to be the chief causes of failure of ihe Neath and District Laundry, which came before the registrar. Mr. II. P. CharlLs, at Neath Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday. The pro- prietor, Bertram Short, for whom Jfr. Matthew Arnold appeared, lodged a state- ment of affairs showing liabilities < £ 191 !>s., assets £ 109 18s. 5d., leaving a deficiency of = £ 81 10s. 7d. Debtor said his plant was worked by gas, and during tlie strike at the gas works the laundry was on stop for eight days. He was unable to meet bis gas bill, and the Corporation oiffcials took the meters away, and at the same time deprived him of his livelihood. Debtor aid he tried to sell the business as a going concern, but no one would speculate. The e:;air.ination was closed subject to signing the notes.

GIFTS TO MATH HOSPITAL I The following gifts have been received for the soldiers from January 1st: Vege- tables, cakes, and eggs. Mrs. Moore- Gwyn; tin of toffy, Mrs. Medhurst; cakes and pastry. Miss B. James; cakes and vegetables. Mrs. J. B. Davies; five bed tables, Miss Rees, Cadoxton; rabbits, Mrs. J. B. Price, Brynglas; vegetables and apples, Miss M. Davies; bananas, Mrs. C. J. Rees: grapes, tho Misses Thomson and Mrs. Taylor. The Pound Day will be on January 19th, at tho Club in Water-street, when any gift will bo welcomed.

I IN HOSPITAL I I AT I BOULOGNE. I The news has been i z'eeeived that Lance- (. orporal Bugler D. rho.nii.vs, of tbB Swan- sea Battalion, is now 'i'n al military hospital at Boulogne, Franco. We trust that he will make rapid strides towaids recovery. )

ARGENTINA'S CBmS CROP I The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have received the following information from t h,- International Agricultural Institute The production of wheat, oats, and lin- iseed in Argentina in 191.5-16 is estimated at 98,fi58.00Ccwt?., 21,554,00(k"tvi«., and 20,137,ftt>0cwts. respectively; or 9.3 per ceiit and 31.8 per cent, more than the produc- tion in 1911-15 in the case of wheat and oats, and 9.1 per cent, less than last year's production in the case of linseed.

MISSING SINCE AUGUST. Private T. Thomas, of the Cth East Lanes., who. as al-' ready reported in the Herald of WTales," has been missing since August 9th, 1915, at the Dar- danelles.

With the exception of one, all the twentv-nipe pot it ions for leave to introduce privat e Bills in Parliament were ou Wed- nesday found to have complied with the Standing Orders, and the examiners were able to complete in one day work which 1 as usually, occupied fully a week.

LEFT IN THE LURCH ——— SKEWED BAKERY CGSMY WHO GAVE CREDIT. At. Neath Bankruptcy Court, on Tues- day—before the Registrar (Mr. H. p, Charles)—James Da vies and Hubert James Pyari, trading as the Skewen Bakery Company, New-road. Skewen. had their first- public examination. A joint state ment of affairs showed liabilities £,j29 8s. 9d.: asset. £ 16 leaving a. deficiency of (;5]: t), Hd. Mr. E. J. Hinds, solicitor, Swansea, appeared for the debtors. James Davies, who claimed to being" a business partner, said they commenced as bakers and confectioners in 1900 as Pyart and James, with a capital of JE100. In 1909 they were [aced with financial diffi- cult i?. and they t ransferred the business into the Skewen Bakery Company. The liabilities at thai. time were between « £ 800 and £ DiK>. They paid a composition of 4s. in the X', and sold the busdeess to Mr. T. Granfield. through Mr. J. Griffiths, Guoll Park-road, for £ 2i0. They continued to work the business for him, eac h receiving 25s. a week In August, 1911, they re-pur- chased the business for X500 on condition that Mr. Granfield pat in new ovens. Questioned fcy the Official Receiver, debtor said the turnover in 1911 was be- tween < £ 70 and £ 80 per week, but there was a depression in Skewen owing to the collieries being OIL stop, and there was a great drop. People left the place, and when the war broke out that was the last straw Official Receiver: Did the business pav at all ? Debtor: It would have, if we could have get Ulp money in. IVe. gave, credit to people who left us in the lurch and cornered us. Official Receiver; Where are the book debts ? Debtor: We sold E260 worth of hock debts in March. Official Receiver: There is comethiug wrong in your trading, Mr. Davies. This is not your first failure. Debtor: We thought we chould have berm able to pull up. The Registrar: Why didn't you file your petition befcro you sold your book debts? Debtor: Our creditors coaxed us to keep oil hoping that things would get better. Official Receiver: What right had you to continue at the expense oi' your creditors. You drew your wages, I sup- pose ? Debtor: Yes, sometimes. The Registrar: It seems to me that, yml went on until yonr creditors pulled YQ11 up. The Official Recei ver: And four e,ys I after the meeting of creditors they sold of book debts for The Registrar: To me it is most unsatic-1 factory. Further examined, debtor said that since, February last year Mrs. pyart had Ixuight all the flour to carry on the business because the firm would not trust them. In return they supplied Mrs. Pyart, who carried on a eeparatc business at Neath, with bread The examination V's adjourned.

 WELSH IRM Hm A meeting of tho National Fund for Wales lor providing comforts for Welsh troops was held on Monday at 11. Down- ing-street, when there were present Mrs. Lloyd George tprcsiding). the Countess of Dundonald, Lady Herbert, Lady Ninian Crichton Stuart, Mrs. Ilopkinson, the Hon. Violet Douglas Pennant, Sir Vin- cent Evans, and the hon. secretary (Mr. William Lewisi. Reports of the conferences held in Merionethshire. Carnarvonshire, and Swansea having been considered, the hon. secretary announced that he lnd dis- pato hed a considerable quantity of com- forts since the last meeting, including 1,050 pairs of socks and 150 shirts. The secretary reported that the London Welsh Stage Society had completed ar- rangements for a matinee performance on Ix'half of the funds at the Havmarket Theatre on February 29th. It was also reported that Messrs. Frank Lloyd and Son, auctioneers, of Wrexham, V re-N l itni. proposed to hold a large jumblo sale in that town in February, which will be opened on the first day by; Mrs. Lloyd George, and it is expected that the sale will result in a handsome addition to the funds.

SOLDIERS TO CO BACK. At Swansea Police Court on Tuesday, Ilarry Let) was charged witii being an aosontee from the "18t Reserve Welsh Regiment at Ivinmell Park. P.C. Andrews said he went to defendant's house at 11.30 p.m., and asked for him. Hi-; father, who came to the door, said defendant was not in. The officer went to the back of the house, and, looking through a window, saw a soldier sitting in the kiichen. He returned to the front, and knocked at the door, where he was kept waiting for saiiie time. He heard scuffling, and ultimately the door was again opened by defendant's father, who again said his --on was not ther". The officer was about to search the hou.se, when defendant came down- stairs. Defendant refused to ooine to the police station, and he had considerable trouble with him. Defendant was remanded to await an escort; as wero also Wm. John Davies. Welsh Regiment, an d John Daley, South Wales Borderers, all from Ivinmall Park. c-=- y-

CHAPEL AND CONSCRIPTION. At Jerusalem English Baptist Chapel, Britonferry, on Sunday evening, during the service a vote was takcn of the con- gregation on the motion of Mr. George Jones, seconded by Mr. C. Way, against Conscription, which was carried, a num- ber, however, remaining neutral. The. pastor, the R-e-v. Rees Powell, also spoke condemning Conscription. A largely attended meeting, convened by the local Trades and Labour Council, was held at the Public llail. Britonferry, on Sunday evening, presided over by Councillor E. C. Hutchinson. An address against Conscription was given by Mr. R. C. Wallhead, and at the close of the acl- dr-fss Councillor George Davies proposed, and Councillor Joseph Branch seconded a proposal against Conscription, and on the vole being taken, it was declared carried with four dissentients. I

i FINISH THE WAR F?SI I At the Swan-sea County Police Court on Wednesday, Lance-Corpl. Ben Davies, 1st 4th Wel&h Regiment, was summoned by Margaret Ann Matthias, to show cause. Dc-fendant did nm appear; he had written; to hare the case adjOJunro till the war j is over.-Complainant declared that he W a" 1he father of her child, and another girl, Mary Hann&h Roberts had M-<n them out to?eU?r.—An ord?r for I)ay- u.t oi 3s. 6d. week va? made,

I CARE OF THE CHILD EJ.S.P.G.C. S WORK IK THE SEATS £ I3T8!CT At the Gwiii Hall, N?a+h, on Tuesdiv, Mr. Walter E. Rocs (deputy Mayor) pre- sided over the annual meeting of the W<?st Glamorgan Branch, ol th? .X.?ional ?o'?o?y for tho Prevention ot C;'udtv to Ch ild ;('n.. the Tho annual report suhmitt?d by the secretary, Mr. ?. R. Chalk, p howed that I iowe d I iat the Executive Committee had had to exercise economy owing to t.he war. and a deficit in the balance sheet. Notwith- standing this, 519 cases of cruelty had formed the subject k-t inquiry, of which 325 had been reported by the general public. The Society's Ins]>ector made 347 supervision visits in 241 complaints; 205 parents w?rc warned, and 13 prosecuted, im'olnxl in th0 complaints, of which 357 were insured. The financial statement showed a tie- ficit of £ 14, which had been met by the National .Fund. Receipts amounted to 6ù.. and the expenditure £P]G 14s. IOd. The Executive Committor and officials were re-elected, and an interesting ad- dress was delivered by Miss McCrav, of the Society's Headquarter the work of the Society, more particularly the care of soldiers' and ;<1iJ0 ¡'S during the 'ar. and citiriii, the war.

JURY AND COSflilER DISACBEL Dr. W. R. Jones held an inquest at \atradgylihus on Tu-sday touching the death oi Robert Young Tavlor (47). ? o? P?,ol-K!rt YoungTailor (47). -L T. Randall was present for the i.dative?, and Mr. Bull for the Company. Mr. W. D. Owen, H.M. Inspector Mines was also present. Evidence was given by Dixon Harker, son-in-law^ of deceased. Witness said he worked with deceased at the I'antmawr tJolliery, and on Saturday they wero en- gaged iu making a connection between tue main-slant and the return. They were in about 35 yards, and a shot was lirccl by the ifreman. Witness returned to the place some minutes later with tho fireman. He found fumes as In :1[1. proached the face, and he was .1;] j';Prl r¡ return. Later he found the deceased un- conscious. In reply to Ifi7. Owen, witness ;r-:id the ventilation was very bad at tho place where they worked. Thomas Thomas, the fireitian said he had failed to tee any fumes OP gas at the face. In reply to Mr. Owen, witness said there was no current of air to the face, and it invariably took fifteen to twenty minutes for the fumes to clear after a shot, had been fired. The Coroner, in summing up, eaid it was evident that there was not: sufficient ventilation, but the question was whether death was due to the bad ventilation. Tiie foreman of the jury (Mr. William Morgan) announced that they were unani mous of the opinion that death was caused by suffocation as a result of gaseous fumes. Coroner: Do you bring a cliargo against anybody? Foreman: We have not considered that matter. The jury thereupon again retired, and were absent for over half-an-hour. IVJIPTI they returned the Foreman an- nounced that the verdict was as follows We have reconsidered the evidence, and ware now of the opinion that deceased met his death by suffocation, possibly owing to a weak heart, and accelerated by in-suiffcient ventilation. We also add a rider that we desire to draw the! serious attention of the management that in future they should see that all places of this kind "hould he properly ventilated The foreman added that there was no culpable or wilful neglect. The Coroner said he agreed with the latter part of the verdict, but not the first, as he failed to see that they I justified in bringing in a verdict that Taylor died from suffocation when there was no evidence to that effect.

i mMA TES ABSCOND FROM COTTACE HOMES At the meeting of the Cottage Homes Visiting Committee (Mr. G .S. Michell presiding), it was reported that two boys, Thomas Davies, and Samuel Davies, had absconded from the homes. The boys were sent to the homes from the Swansea Workhouse, and arrived there in the morning, and had dinner, but after dinner were missing, and had not been heard of since. Mr. A. Davies phonies master) said that he had left the matter in the hands of the police. The commit- tee expressed themselves as satisfied. Votes of thanks were passed to the Cockett Church Gleo Party, Carlton management. Mr. Thomas, Glasfryn, and Mr. Dd. James (Tramways), for their kirdness ovc-r the Christmas and New Year festivities. It was decided that the name of Pte. J < PhiHips, of the 3rd 6th Welsh Regt.. should be added to the roll of honour of Cottage Homes boys serving with the Colours. Mr. *r?avies (homos master) stated that the number of children in the homes was 1M, 36 less than in former years. The smallest numiier of children in any one cottage was 15. Mrs. David Harris: Fifteen children is certainly sufficient for one person to manage. I propose that we advertise for it matron.—It was decided to advertise for a matron, between the agle6 of 25 and 40.

GRCUP CLERK'S SALARY At the Glamorgan Education Committee on Tuesday, the elementary schools sub- committee reported the death of Mr. J. Lewis. clerk to the Gowerton Group of School Managers, and recommended j that a successor be appointed on the? Miuo terms as in the case of the cleric to tho Pontyclun Group, the salary to be sub- ject to the decision of the committee, which fixed £ 142 as the minimum. Fur- ther, that the managers he authorised to select three applicants to appear before the sub-committee. A member suggested that the payment was exorbitant. He held that the time the. clerk would take to discharge his duties would only be ahollt four days a month at the outside, and so far as quali- fication for the work was coneerneo, an I ordinary intelligent clerk could perform them satisfactorily. If they allowed a I person four days a month to carry out i the duties, with t, a day, he telt that .for the class of work refer re a to, it would be quite sufficient. The committee referred the matter back to thia sub-committee.

ENGINEERS' BARRACKS FIRE 1 There was a big biaze in SOllie of the quarters at the Royal Engineers' Barracks I at Chatham on Saturday night, and the ilomos were net extinguished until manv buildings were destroyed. The damage is estimated a.t some thousands of pounds. Though the fire broke out in the stabies beneath the quarters the hordes i were safely removed.

PR?SE 8F ?8I8RY a U VH L. Ü r h I I I LORD KITCHENER SATISFIED WITH THE BILL AS IT STAIIDS. -——— < Discussion on one of the amendment* designed to fling wider the net of tho Military Service Bill was resumed when the House of Commons went into Coiii-, mittee on TuesRay upon t'he measure. It was Sir Ivor Herbert's amendment, which aimed at bringing within the lour corners of the bill all who, after Aug. 15, attained the age of IS during the con- tinuance of the war. Mr. Long protested against the idea -r-t enlarging in this way the scope of a bill which was only intended to apply iqi those affected by Lord Derby's scheme* j .in fulfilment of a definite pledge. That was its sole purpose, and the Cabinet were united in putting it forward for that purpose; it was quite untrue that it Ye- presented a compromise as between con- flicting views of Ministers. Lord Kitchener," declared Mr. Long with emphasis, authorises me to say that ho does not want this amendment.. This Bill as it .standsi will give all the men that he requires in order to secuia victory." This brought, up Mr. Amerv. who de- nounced the playing of "the Kitchener card." Sir Ivor Herbert was even mora dit-satisfied with this way of treating his amendment. He relieved his feelings with a short attack, of concentrated bitterness, upon the Secretary for War. Lord Kitchener, he said, had never once been right. About recruiting he had been wrong from first to last, and as n'- gard?d munitions lie had left. the country at this moment in precisely the sa;n9 position as it was. Having thus borna to.-iimony, Sir Ivor withdrew his aniemL jnent. Mr. Stanton, the recently elect oi Merthyr Tydvil, broke in with a hurri- cane breath from the IVelsh Hills. 1!(3 spoke, one surmised, as he had •spoken to his constituents; and tha breezy, good-humoured style of his rough, but very real, eloquence was irresistible. He told the House how the boys in tile trcnches" had all given him same message, Get on with the BilL" He referred to the working clothes of a who had aclressed the Houso wearing uniform. lie excused a rather cryptic colloquialism with, As we say down in the mine."Reminded by chairman that he was straying from point, he ended with the unique perora- tion, I had better sit down before I commit myself again."

CQEOFFfiANC PAIStl COM The ordinary monthly meeting of t'ht Coedffranc Parish Council was held on Tuesday evening, Councillor Wm. Daviea presiding. Among the correspondent o d"alt with was a letter from Mr. D. Randall, joint secretary of the local miners, calling the Council's attention to an alleged grievance. Recently, thoro being three burials arranged for the samo day, at the parish churchyard, there wero only two biers available, and a hearse had to be hastily provided in the case of a poor person, whoso family could ill afford it. It was decided to forward the letter to the vicar, accompanied by an appeal. in the face of a large increase of population in recent years. It was decided to write complaining to the Neath Corporation of the bad quality of gas supplied. The four local District Councillors- Messrs. Ogley L. David, T. Williams, Ben. Davies. and Griff J. Harris—had been, asked to attend in order to have a united discussion upon the Dor ran and Ystrad- felite wafer schemes, and the position of the parish thereto. Councillors Bowden and Johns having expressed the view that it was high time they &hould have en- lightenment as to the 'position of the parish relative to the Darran reservoir, and also of that in connoction w-ith the Ystradfellte scheme, they asked was it right that Coedffranc pai-isli should pay on the same hasis as other parishee, who had no fcheme of theit- own.

MR. NEILSON RESICNS. New York, Tuesday, Jan. Francis Neilson, M.P., who mysteriously disappeared from his constituency in Eng- land, is now in Boston. He arrived in America last autumn. and has been lec- turing on various British political prob- lems, attacking the House of Lords and the brewing interests. He has also lec- tured in favour of his pet subject, tho eingle tax. Mr. Neilson says that he is not in favour of the present war, and that he expects to remain in America until the war has ended. I am going to ignore the attack s of the British newspapers," he says. They probably do not even know that I havo resigned my seat in Parliament, and I am not going to tell them. Why should I? My constituents and the British work- ing men understand the situation."

 MR. JOHN HlfiDS AND THE BIlL Speaking at a meeting af the Drapers* Chamber of Trade, held in London < >i Tuesday, when the case of the. inclis- pens&ble" was discussed, Mr..Toivi Hinds. M.P. for Carmarthenshire West, who is president of the chamber, said every man who could be got was wanted for the war. It was only the sti- of the military situation that made him vote for the Bill now before Parliament, as he was dead Conscription. But ■when the Cabinet saio it Avas essential to get every mau. it behoved thc-m to put up with every sacnuce and every incon- venience. I of the tribunals a^ as democratic as it co uld be. A deputation was appointed to wait on the reserved occupations committee with, the object ot getting, if possible, managers of retail arapery businesses or buyers i;i largo textile departments put in a ro- served class.

FURNACE FLOODED Ftedk. Weaver, boilerman, "as surail 'Roiled at Swansea on Wednesday for a breach of contract by being absent from his work at the Grovesend Steel and Tin. plafe Works.—Mr. Ech'-ar-J Harris, for tho prosecution, said the ejector had been ne- glected and the furnace flooded. The turning out of 150 ingots of steel had been hindered. Mr. Conway Lewis, who repre- sented defendant, had, however, express defendant's sincere regret for what, had taken place, and agreed to pay £ 3 3s. in settlement, subject to the consent of the magistrates.—The magistrates consented.

Annie O-wen, -ii,3 of a sergeant-major at the front, who receivd 31t. 6d. a week separation allowance, was at Wrexham on Tuesday ginm three months' unpriMn. ment |'or neglecting her children. PrinteA and Publtshcd for the S?ns<"? Presc. Limited, by A2THUK PARKELL IlIGIIAM, at Leader Building, isvrwjeeii,