Evening Express

We are glad to see that the Board of Education is calling the attention of the new educational authorities to the neces- sity of inculcating habits and principles of thrift in school children, and to the facilities provided by the Post Office for the saving of small sums. This is an excellent move, and, whatever may be the friction between the Board and some local authorities, we cannot but think that here, at any rate, they will be in cordial and complete agreement, and that the suggestion made will be heartily taken up. Special facilities are offered by the Post Office for the establishment of penny banks in schools, and such banks when formed may readily be placed in connec- tion with the local Savings Bank office. Small books are issued gratuitously for the use of children, and the few necessary rules are printed in them. Ledgers for the keeping of the accounts of the school bank are also provided gratuitously. Facilities, too, are extended for saving! penny by penny by postage stamp slips. One wonders writes a correspondent) whether it be true that the Cardiff Cor- poration have not yet made arrangements for the proper regulation of the new Town-hall clock This costly and elabo- rate mechanism (which is to soothe the feelings of the denizens of Park-place, especially at night-time 1) will require to be kept in proper ortler if it is to be of any use commensurate with its cost. It is stated, however, that the corporation have either not thought of the matter at all. or only did so very recently. It is to be hoped there will be no boggling here. Many people (outside Park-place) are looking forward to the new clock as a positive godsend, for up to the present Cardiff—one of the most important towns in the kingdom—has no accurate time The inquest on the victims of the col- liery explosion at Gowerton has revealed the distressing fact that one or more of the poor follows had helped on the catastrophe by their own hand. Pipes and matches were found in the pockets of the men, and—worse stllr-contn-1 vances for opening and shutting the safety-lamps. It is reasonable to ask what is the use of the elaborate- andj costly precautions taken in our mines I when the employes—in whose interest and for w hose welfare the precautions j are taken—deliberately set about evading them. There is much to be said for the man who wants a smoke, and if it were always possible for pipes to be lit with safety, as it is in some mines, the weary working hours in the stifling glimmer would pass more pleasantly. But in many cases to smoke means death—death to the smoker and to many of his com- rades; and yet there are men in plenty who will run this fearful risk for a whiff or two or tobacco. Is it not a strange world, my musters? Among depressing occupations, con- ducting lUneraJs must take a leading! place, though it may be that clergy and ministers make a virtue of necessity and get accustomed to it. Nevertheless, tilel mere fact cf standing bareheaded on damp earth for a considerable period has a bad effect on even vigorous constitu- tions. In some cemeteries a wooden hood is provided for the officiating clergy, which can be moved from grave to grave, and provides a considerable safeguard against the evils we have mentioned. Such a hood would (we are told) be a positive godsend at Cardiff Cemetery, and we hope, therefore, the authorities I will see to its provision with the least possible delay. The immense importance of third-class passenger traffic to railways is well illus- trated by the Great Western statistics. In the half-year first-class passengers showed an increase in numbers of 24,485 and a decrease in money of £ 7,547; second-class had decreased in numbers by 39,037, and in money £ 6,122; third- class had increased 2,243,238 in numbers, and in money £ 36,626. Second-class traffic looks as if it were doomed; third- class traffic is more extended, more vigorous, and more remunerative than ever. Time was when by providing uncomfortable coaches railway people tried to drive the third-class man into a superior class. To-day they adopt the wiser policy of making the third-class coach as comfortable and convenient as possible—a policy which pays. Quite an exciting little incident is re- ported from Roat-h. A tram was pro- ceeding along containing a lady, a woman of the huckster class, and several men. All went merry as a marriage bell till A certain junction was reached, whea the i ponderous vehicle left the rails and headed resolutely for the houses at the side of t'he road. Then ensued a panic, in the midst of which only the lady and the driver and the conductor kept their heads. The huckster screamed and "went all of a tremble," but the pink of the honours rested unquestionably with the male occupants. At sea the order is "lvomen and children first,but these fine souls recollected that they were not at sea, so they shoved the lady on one side as they rushed out of the car to ensure the salvation of their precious skins. We shall not carry the identification of these gallant fellows any further. Your true hero is always modest. Pity poor Russia! Renter sends from Kutais the following painfully ominous intelligence The scholars of the High School and the Commercial School here have defied the authorities, and have been joined by the pupils of the Ecclesiastical School. The authorities have been compelled to close the schools at Batoum. A party of school- boys publi-cly tore up a- portrait of the Czar. The troops were summoned, and the youths were dispersed with a, volley. Now, in England we should have armed those troops with canes or birches for the occasion. But your Russian has no humour. It is satisfactory to see that the Car- diff Corporation in its new capacity as educational authority is by no means losing sight. of an important subject which concerns the children at a some- what earlier stage. As everybody knows, the subject of nurses has been to the' front lately, it being represented that many of them lacked the knowledge which they ought to possess on certain interest- ing occasions. To assist in remedying this state of things the education com- mittee is prepared to award a number of free studentships, which will cover fees, for the course of lectures on mid- wifery compulsory in the theoretical training of midwives, during the summer term, extending from April to June, 1905. The Revival on the old-fashioned lines is not to have things all its own way. A rival has appeared on the scene in the person of the Pentecostal Dancers -good people who vary their religious exercises by terpsichorean exhibitions. The result seems to be a species of cross between the music-hall and the set fawr." We shall be interested to watch the progress of the new movement. It will. doubtless, appeal to some excitable natures. —— i

I Mainly About People. I A clergyman tells the following story against himself. He was in charge of a small congregation at the time, and one Sunday morning as he was ascending the church steps he saw an old lady whom he did not know looking round for someone to assist her up. He went forward, and politely offered his arm. When she stood a.t the church door she turned round and inquired who was to preach. He mentioned his own name. Good heavens! exclaimed the old lady, "help me down again, I'd rather listen to a man grinding an axe. Help me down, pjeafe." He assisted her down again, and, as he raised his hat and bade her good-bye, he informed her who he was. But she was not taken aback in the least. Well," said she, I expect you wouldn't be going in yourself only you're paid for it." Some interesting statistics have been col- lected regarding the age attained by baeha- lors and married men. It appears that the laitter have much the better of the compari- sons. Mortality among bachelors from the age of 30 to 45 is put down at 27 par cent., but among married men it is only 12 per cent. For 78 married men who attain the age of 40 there are but 41 bachelors, and for 22 bachelors who survive to be 60 there are 48 married men. At 70, 23 married men survive for every eleven bachelors, and for every I three bachelors who live to be 80 there are nine married men. An amusing case was heard at a Quarter Sessions Court in Ireland a few days ago. It seems that a man was admitted to a, county workhouse in a very destitute condition, and given shelter and food. The life in the place seemed to agree with him, and he settled down with the evident intention of spending the remainder of has days in his new home. As he was an able-bodied specimen of the race, he was iiaturally given a good share of work to do; but he took quite kindly to it, and became a model of a hard-working, con- tented pauper, so that the master of thfll house held him up as an example to all the unwilling and stubborn. Then, one day he unexpectedly inherited a. considerable sum of money from a relative in America, and when I this became known the guardians promptly demanded payment for having fed and clothed him in his adversity. He refused, and was proceeded against, in tihe interest of the ratepayers, and finally ordered by the n-agistrates to part with certain coins of the realm. The money was paid, and then a-rict there an actum was started against the guar- dians in which the plaintiff claimed certain sums from them in return for work done. The court allowed the claim. Imagine one of Henry Soton Merriman's mysterious cosmopolitan heroes come to life, but instead of ocrupying the comparatively humble role of a baron, of a count, or of a rrere Spanish, don, imagine this personage I dowered with the almost limitless wealth and prestige attaching to a Russian Grand Duke, betwoon whom and the throne stand only three frail lives—such is the Grand Duke Vladimir, about whom so many very unplea- sant things have been said and written dur- ing the last week in this country (says M.A.P."). The Grand Duke, who is said to have authorised the recent massacre in St. Petersburg, ha.s one g:rea.t gilt, utterly denied by Providence to his nephew Emperor; he not only knows his own mind, but he fully believes that whatever he does is the right thing to do. His favourite word, when dis- cussing high politics and past events, is if." If Louis XVI. had fired on the mob march- ing on Versailles that fatal 5th of October, there would have been no French Revolu- tion." If my father, the Emperor Alex- ander, had thought of himself rathecr than of otheirs on his fatal death day, the second bomb would not have touched him." And to these ifs there can be no reply. In contrast to his strange and brutally inexplicable con-duct on the terrible Sunday of th-e pou-tion, it adds another to the pro- blems of human character to think tha-t Vladimir has all those homely virtues which always please the populace—in fact, he is j exceedingly like his brother, the late Cza.r, j both in his devotion and fidelity to his stately Grand Duchess, and in his love of his chil- dren. The Grand Duke Vladimir, then a fc-pk ndid looking Royal bachelor of twenty- seven, married Princess Marie, of Mecklen- burg Strelitz. a royal beauty, aged twenty, some thirty years ago. The esteem and affec- tion in which the Imperial couple are held by their relations and friends were shown on the occasion of their silver wedding, when they received, in addition to the most amazing number of valuable gifts from the CouTt world, ma,ny humble presents from the lower classes in 8. Petersburg, including a. qua-int | object presented by the Firemen's Society showing a rescue from fire being effected, at a. Russian peasant's cottage, the cottage being I of silver and the flames of gold. It was this wide popularity which has caused the Grand Duke and Duchess Vtadimir to be regarded as formidable rivals to the present Czar and Czarina. Vladimir has shown his love for his children in the great efforts which he and his Grand Duchess have made in order to bring to a happy conclusion their eldes-t's son romance. The Grand Duke Cyril is known to be pas- sionately in love with hiB first cousin. Prin- cess Victoria of Coburg, formerly Grand DucheSOô of Hesse. The Czar refuses his con- sent to their union; firstly, because the mar- riage of first co-usius are regarded with pecu- liar hostility by the Greek Church; and secondly, owing to the fact that PrinceiFL,, Vic- toria is the divorced wife of the Czarina's adored only brother. In spite of the fact th<a.t tile maj-riage could not be a pleasing one to the young man's parents, they have done all in their power to bring it about, and it is an open secret that their quick, mysterious journey to London Last November year had as object that of persuading our Sovereign to use his great influence with the. Czar on behalf of the romantic pair. The other day. during a mooting of the Dublin Corporation, one member called another a pot-walloper," and, as the expres- sion was considered offensive a,nd unparlia- mentary, he was called to order, and had to withdraw the expression. A discussion then began as to what the term really meant, and some interesting facts were forthcoming. The Lord Mayor explained that, ill his opinion, the words implied that a man was something like a, scullion, and, therefore, a mea-a and dirty person, and this was the general opinion. But the gentleman who introduced the expression into the council chamber said that it originally meauit something quite otherwise than mean and low. He explained that originally, and before the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832. a man, if he was a house- holder in certain boroughs, could establish his claim to a, vote by boiliug a pot within the limits of the boroughs by the aid of some temporary erection; the idea, of this test being that he thus proved he was able to pro- vide for himself, and was not dependent upon parochial relief. Several Irish boroughs had pot-walloper electors. The word now, of course, means something quite otherwise than complimentary, and is not a fit expression eveu for a city council meeting.

Saved! The most trying work of housekeeping saved by Fels- Naptha; nearly all the dis- comfort of wash-day. Clothes saved too—rubbing and boiling are hard on them. 1 Fels-Naptha 39 WiisorLstrect Lootioa £ C j

MATRIMONIAL CATECHISM. IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF ELIGIBILITY. Mrs. Lewis, the Blackburn temperance advocate, who officiated with the minister at a. local wedding this week, would like to institute a Matrimonial Catechism. I would not undertake to ma.rry anyone else without asking more questions than ministers usually put to bride and bride- groom," she said to a press representative. I don't mean to suggest that. clergymen do not ask all and more than the particulars they are compelled to ask for by law. I hold such decided views, however, as to the sacred nature of the matrimonial tie and the responsibility re-sting with any one who assists in uniting young people, that I would not dare to act again unless J. were convinced the bride and bridegroom were happily mated. "I s'trongly believe that people should not be allowed to marry unless their physical and moral condition is good, and their social position not a, matter of uncertainty. "Two mottoes which hang on the walls of Lees Hall, where my temperance meetings axe held, will explain my position. One runs: 'Young men, choose healthy and intelligent girls for your wives,' and the ot-h-er, Young women, choose healthy and good-principlod young men with clean records for your husbands.' But what are the questions you would put to brides and bridffigrooms that minis- ters do not? asked the press representa- tiH, "First. I should ask their ages," replied Mrs. Lewis, "because I object strenuously to early marriages. I think 24 or 25 quite fairly enough, however well-to-do socia-Fv the couple may be, for a girl to assume the responsibilities of a house and motherhood. Y,-xt, I should ask: Are you both tee- totalers? I should not marry them unless they were. It may be thought I am fana- tical on this point, but if I were a young man I should "be afraid to marry a girl who took intoxicating drink ever so moderately. There are times in a woman's life when she is strongly tempted to run to stimulants, and may go to increase the number of drunken women and girls whom we see increasing around us. A third question for the husband would be: Are you prepared to keep a wife? Have you a home furnished and paid for? Work- people. like weavers, will say to me: 'We are both working, and can pay as we go on.' But I have to point out to. them that pro- bably before a year is out there will be another mouth to feed, and that if the man is wise he will not allow his wife to work in the mill for some time before the baby's birth, or until the baby's nursing days a.re finished afterwards. Fourth, I should want to know whether there was any trans-mi ttable disease in the family of either of the parties. It may seem hard on young people, but where innity or consumption or other serious diseases exist in the family I think It a sin that little ohildre* should be brought into the world whose lives cannot be worth living."

STUDIO PARTIES AND THE I j MOCLIN ROUGE. a l After divorcing seven years ago, a wealthy I manufacturer and his ex-wife, who is the grand-daughter of a, Lamous French natu- ralist and writer of the eighteenth century, are now wrangling over their child, a girl of twelve. The Latter is claimed by the father on grounds which seem quite suffi- cient, if true. He alleges that the mother, on pretence of being a sculptress, has a studio in which she keepe up festivities till all hours of the morning with a circle of shady acquaintances, and that the girl attends these rejoicings. He further accuses her of taking their daughter to the Moulin Rouge and introducing her to Mdile. Liane de Pougy in the latter's dressing-room. Finally, he submits that a woman who, as his ex-wife has done, dresses, or more accurately un- dresses, in a fancy costume of the scantiest kind for a Montmartre ball, and then has her photograph taken and re-produced on picture postcard". is not a fit person to have the care of a girl of twelve. The mother reh-uts most of these charges with virtuous 'indignation. She says that she is a bona-fide sculptress, tha,t her studio parties are highly proper and genteel, and that, moreover, the child is put to bed before the festivities begin. As for goin~ to the Mbmin Rouge, any lady can go there nowadays, since it has become a variety theatre. Anyway, she never went there with her daughter, and has not the pleasure of even a nodding acquaintance with Mdlle. Liane de Pougy. Regarding her photographs in fancy dress, they were taken without her knowledge by a low trick, and she is now prosecuting the photographer. In conclusion, she maintains that, even if I all her ex-husband says against her were true, it would be but a case of the pot call- ing the kettle black, for he is no better than he should be, and a great deal worse than he makes her out. The Court is taking a week to decide which parent, if either, is a proper guardian for the unfortunate child.

THEFT OF COINS BY A BARRY LAD. I William Yon Gfug, a youth, of 48, Graving Dock-street, was charged with theft at Barry on Friday. It was proved tha.t defendant entered the shop of John Fo«colo, a Greek, of Thompson-street, on Monday, and stole several foreign coins from I the window. The axxresed, who had been before the bench on several previous occa- sions, denied the theft, but he was fined 10s., or seven days' imprisonment.

PANTEG PRIMROSE LEAGUE. An entertainment v given by the Pan teg Primrose League Habitation at the Council Schools, New Inn. Dr. Haslett,. Pon.ty. the ruling cointcillor, presided, and t'; Lio was a fair gathering. A musical profr^mme was gone through. Lieutenant- Colonel D. E. Williams gave an address on ¡ current political topics. During the evening light refreshments was served out to all l-:Jf"r'" Miss B..tler, hon. sec., carried out 1- >

MERTHYR SCHOOLS! INQUIRIES BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. A meeting of the Merthyj- Education Authority was held on Friday evening, the Rev. Jacob Jones, vice-chairman, presiding. A letter was read from the Board of Educa- tion saying they understood that the salaries paid to certain teachers in the Dowlais Roman Catholic Schools were less than those paid to similar teachers in the council's own schools. The Board as at present advised saw no reason why any euch distinction should be drawn between neighbouring schools in the same urban district, and they asked to be informed of the grounds upon which the council considered that a lower rate should be paid in the case of this par- ticular school.—The clerk was directed to for- ward an explanatory rep,y.-Tho Board of Education also wrote with regard to St. David's National Schools, Merthyr, stating that they had had a letter from the managers promising to send plans for the complete re-modelling of the girls' depart- ment and for the provision of cloak-rooms for the infants. The Board added that they were informing the managers that they must not fail to send up the plans, and that the actual building must be started without fur- ther delay. Under these circumstances they asked the council to defer the measures they had proposed to take, so that the managers might seriously consider the posi- tion and meet the immediate necessities of the case. The authority agreed to fall in with the suggestion.—A further com- munication was read from the Board of Education asking for the observations of the council upon a letter received from the correspondent of the Merthyr Roman Catholic Schools complaining of the low salaries paid to teachers in that school, and it was arranged that those observations should be supplied. MONMOUTHSHIRE AUTHORITY AND THE TEACHERS. At the annual meeting of the Pontypool and District Teachers' Association. Mr. Glover, Se-bastopol, the new president, strongly condemned the action of the Mon- mouthshire Education Committee in giving notice of a reduction of salaries t-o a large number of teachers in the non-provided schools. A deputation of the County Teachers' Association had asked the authority to with- draw the notices recently sent out. and to deal with the cases on their merits; also that I the question of salaries for the whole county area should be dealt with at an eajrly date. The county education authority had ignored the teachers' requests, and the latter were smarting severely under a blow which wag as unkind as undeserved. The National Union of Teachers was supporting them in their difficulties.

IMPRISONED FIVE YEARS BY HIS SERVANTS. REMARKABLE REVELATIONS IN I PARIS. An extraordinary case of forcible detention has just been made public by -LLe interven- tion of the Paris police. By some means not yet explained the judicial authorities became aware that Count De Sempigny d'lssoncourt, aged 60 years, was a prisoner in his own house, No. 17 "Boulevard, by his two servants, a man named Sabourrat and his wife. The two domestics had been in the count's service for over twenty years, but during the past five years the man and woman had taken over the establishment into their own hands, and had kept the count a close prisoner. On Friday the police went to the house, and there found the count and the two servants. The count declared that the couple had kept him in a constant state of terror, and had prevented him from leaving the place. They had, further, he said, compelled him to take doses of ether, and to make out a will leaving to them the whole of his property, the esti- mated value of which is over a million and a half francs. The police turned Sabourrat and his wile out of the house, and warned them not to return, and have banded over the old count to the care of the Marquis De Brignon, who is a relative. Whether the Sabourrat-s will be prosecuted depends upon the result of the inquiry which is now being conducted by the police.—Central News.

CARMARTHEN BOROUGHS. WORKING MEN'S SUPPORT FOR I MR. ALFRED DAVIES. A representative me-eiting of Llauelly working men was held at the Gae-buildings on Friday to consider the question of attend- ing a public meeting called for this (Satur- day) night at the Town-hall with reference to the candidature -of Mr. Llewelyn Williams. It was unanimously decided to ask all Mr. Alfred Davies's friends to refrain from attending the meeting, and a committee was formed to advocate the cladms of Mr. Alfred Davies in the constituency. The following officers were .appo,inted:cha.ir- man, Mr. John Hughes; viee-chaiirmen, Mr. David Evans and Mr. William Grey; secre- tary. Mr. David Phillips; and assistant- secretary, Mr. John Roberts.

BRECON CONSTABULARY. I At a meeting of the Breconshire Standing Joint Committee on Friday, on the motion of Colonel W. Jones, seconded by Lord Glan- usk, a resolution was passed recording the committee's appreciation of the services of Mr. E. R. Gwynne, who has resigned his appointment as ohief-constable for the county after 47 years' Fervim-A motion that recruits for the force should be drawn from outside was defeated, as was also a recom- menda,tion that recruits and officers promoted into the force should be a.ble to speak and write Welsh with ease. It was agreed that the age of the new chief-constable should be between 30 and 45. preference being given to candidates possessing previous police expe- rience and a knowledge of Welsh.

FINE BILLIARD PLAY BYTHE WELSH CHAMPION, FIVE HUNDRED SCORED IN EIGHT I VISITS. Play in the local markers' tournament was resumed at St. Mary-street-hall, Cardiff, on Frida t afternoon. W. Davies (Sandringham Hotel) beat W. Howell (Royal Hotel) by 500 to 435. Davies's principal breaks were 53 and 36 and Howell's 39 and 27. There was some sensational play in the evening, when Arthur Llewellin (Dowlais Hotel) again met G. Tnxworth (Penarth). The Welsh champion was in remarkable form, and made breaks of 43, 168, 172, and 90 (unfinished). He only visited the table eight times to com- pile his 500, and ran out while his opponent's score stood at 12. The break of 172 is the highest which Llewellin has made in public. ROBERTS V. REE-CE. I Roberts had all the better of the afternoon's play in his match of 18,000 up with Reeoe, but he only twioe oxceeded three figures, in breaks of 135 and 109. In the evening Reeoe gave a capital display, putting on 140, 101, and a brilliant 196. Roberts's best breaks were 126 and 165. Closing scores:—Reece (reoeives 5.500), 16,961; Roberts, 16,251. Roberts is now 249 behind on the handicap.

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS I FOR ENGLAND. MATCH IN NEW ZEALAND. I A. match was begun at Auckland on Friday in beautiful weather between the Australian team for England and a fifteen of Auckland. The meeting is creating considerable local interest, and there was a good attendance The home team won the toss, and went in on a splendid wicket. Jones and Oliff started the defence, to the bowling of Cotter and Hopkins, but both were dismissed before they got really set. Mason, who came in first wicket down. made a fine score of 79. when he had the misfortune to be rnn out. The rest of the side, however, made but a poor show against the bowling, especially against Cotter's fast deliveries, and the last twelve men only made an average of about four runs apiece. When pl-ay ceased for the day the whole side wm out for 175,-Preas Aeeocia- ,,UM SptCifl.1,

STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. •• EXPRESSOFFICE 11,15 PLUCKY JAPANESE OFFICEE. Tokio. Saturday.—The publication of the naval honours disclose the fact that Lieu. í')" >, Comniy ncler of the torpedo-htat- a 1 battleship Fuji, three uiiici during July swam i-nto Port An auv i i The s:.uae ofiic.jv rut' u:vy ')':ier- nf bravery, t. y !.<ivi,rudtu'i, i'u o, Zln (th^w, fi-?n-;r.-ti J, ¡ 1 ï; nnd L'cio- tcr. :)TAI.-B:1:,4td Lass, .Precocious, Drum kerrin, Gcu-cnU C'ronjn (nap;. Cobra, and Leinster,

BLACKENED HIS WIFE'S EYE The affairs of a. very unhappy Newport family were looked into by the Newport bench on Friday, when Anthony Lee, of 15, James-street, was brought up in custody on a, warrant charging him with assaulting his wife, Ann Lee, who appeared in co-urt with her hood bandaged up, and one of her ?yee badly blackened. Police-constable David- son, who arrested the prisoner, told the court that em Tuesday nig-ht (the da;?e of the alleged assault) he was called to the house about a. disturbance. The wife was drunk, but the husband, though in drink, was sufficiently sober to be able to take care of a J little child. He asked the wife if her hus- band had given her a puffed eye, and she said she did not know. She now told the bench that her husband out her head, knocked her down, and kicked her in various parts of the body f The man denied kicking her, but had nothing to say about the Mack eye. His desire was that there should be a separation from his wife, or else he would be hung. The parties had been married 26 years, and there had been twelve I children. The Bench, in the result, sent Lee to prison for q, month, the Chairman (Mr. C. H. Bailey) telling him that- the police had a very bad record against him.

-= f ====== LOCAL AMUSEMENTS. I KING'S THEATRE, CARDIFF. Mr. Frank Bateman has again shown the enterprise of his management by engaging the drama of genuine fnn and pathos, Between Two Women," which has created an unqualified success for some time past in the provinces. The author's name, Mr, Fred Melville, clearly suggests his father, Andrew Melville, a man well known in the Princi- pality. Well-mounted, well-staged, and with artistes of first-class quality, there promises to be a fine week's business. THE EMPIRES. CARDIFF. ';1 A great novelty is due at the Cardiff Em- pire next week. Mr. Cliffe- Berzac, who is the originator of real races, with real horses and jockeys, on a variety stage, will bring his great mechanical racing track to Mr. atoll's Queen-street theatre, and during the p will give a number of racing novelties nightly, including the scenc in which the race for the St. Leger is depicted. I In addition, the management have provided f a programme of great strength and length. The first artiste to appear will be Rumbo I Austin, whose troupe of boys, styled parody acrobats, camse. much amusement by their somewhat clumsy and ineffectual attempt to imitate their tutor in his acrobatic f.at5'1 Miss Ida Heath follows, giving an exhibition of graxjeful dancing, representing the widely I different styles of various countries. James Bard's contribution is of a novel and clever kind, his performance being on a slack wire, where he cleverly manipulates hoops and firffi a pistol and performs many skilful tricks. Next come the. Three Laurels, with their clever a,croba,tic feats. Professor Bernar's mario- nettes are very handsome and imposing, con- sisting of numerous private boxes whose occupants vigorously applaud each per- former, and a large orchestra, where a musi- cian is busily employed, and a musical director who conducts in approved style. Miss Sable Fern is a great favourite wherever she j appears, and her songs, "Where is the Heart" and "My Lily of the VaJley," are very taking melodies. Miss Marie Collins, always popu- lar, will render eongs entitled "The Man in the Moon" and "A Vegetarian Husband." NEWPORT. I The feature of the program me at the New- port Empire next we-ek is Mr. A. C. Lilly's company in "Drummed Out," which may be described as a drama in a nutshell. As a representation of barrack life it is realistic; the plot is well conceived; pathos and humour are happily blended, and the sketch is admir- ably staged in every particular. Mr. A. C. Lilly impersonates Troop-sergeant-major Usher," and is ably supported by Mr. W. J. Blunt, Miss Via Howard, Mr. N. Watts Phil- lips, Ifiss Leslie Warner, Miss Kitty Kirwan, and Master Leo Gordon. There are over 6G auxiliaries, and the general effect of the sketch is greatly added to by a military drnm and fife band. There are two scenes, The Guardroom of the 17th Lancers and The Barrack Square." Bellonini, the world- renowned juggler, is also due to appear. A London Coliseum success will delight the audiences in the persons of thq He iff Brothers. THE LYCEUM THEATRE, NEWPORT. After a run of musical plays, culminating in the negro musical comedy "In Dahomey," a complete change will take place, and next weeli the popular domestic sporting draiua "Bound to Win" will hold the boards at the Lyceum. For the last three years this drama has been very popular in Loudon and the provinces, and, though there is nothing very enthralling in the play, yet it embodies a strongly constructed plot, and awakens great interest in the audience. The racecourse scene, with its r&al thoroughbred hordes, arou??s the tensest ?nthu?iasm. ever;;thmg i presented being absolutely realistic. Conse- quently, this popular drama should find favour in the eyes of tne patrons of the Lyceum, especially as this powerful London company have appeared for a long period in all parts of the country, and are, therefore, absolute masters in their various roles.

LADY CURZON. I Lady Curzon, who has practically recovered j from her recent severe illness, left Tilbury I for Bombay on Friday,

GOWERTON DISASTER' Startling Evidence* by the Manager. MATCHES FOUND ON THE CORPSES. The adjourned coroner's inquiry into the Elba Colliery disaster by which J e-n men lost their lives, took place at the Rechabite's-hall, Gowerton. on Friday before Mr. Glynn Price a.n.l a, jury. Mr. Talfourd Strick represented the Home Office. The owners of the colliery (Messrs. Raldwin,Limit.e.d) were represented by Mr. Woods (of the firm of Collins and Woods, Swansea). The Miners' Federation of Great Britain were directly represented by Messrs. Ben Dean, of Walsall, and Whitfield, of Bristol. Representing the South Wales Miners' Federation were Mr. T. Richards. M.P., and Mr. W. Brace, and Mr. John Williams appeared for the Western Miners' Association. Mr. W. Denman Benson (instructed by Messrs. Randall and Saunders, Lla-nelly) appeared for the workmen. MANAGER'S EVIDENCE. Herbert Griffiths, manager of the colliery, then gave evidence. The night previous to the accident, he said, was pay night, and the night shift succeeded the day shift withiu a very short interval. The accident happened, as far as he knew, about 12.45. Locked safety lamps were used at the colliery. Ihe lamps were all the pro- jawty. of the company and were kept in a laznp room. They were given out unlocked to the colliers before they went to work. The lamps were looked at the lamp station by the fireman in charge of the shift. When were you last in No. 6 and 7 levels?— On Friday, the day before the accident. I left No. 6 level about nooii a-ad No. 7 about half an hour previously. How did you find No. 7?—I found it in good working order. Any gas present then?-No, sir. Witness then explained on the plan the arrangement of the pipes and the doors in these workings. Xo, 6 top-hole was clear of gas; No. 5 was stopped that morning. The ventilation in No. 7 was good, and there was plenty of air. He spent a considerable time at the face of No. 7 in discussing the best means of making the ventilation perfect. He did not go to No. 3 top-hole that day. Had there been any shot-firing that night? -Yes. Whereabouts was that?—Near the face of No. 7 east, from 150 to 160 yards fnxxm the drift. rHiere might have been two or more shots fired. Whiat was the explosive used?—Saxonite. EXPLOSION BY FIRE-DAMP. Who was in charge of tihat operation ?— The fireman; the night fireman. Continuing his evidence, the witness said tb,t he went d'own the workings after the explosion about three o'clock in the morn- illg. He went straight to No 7 level. At that time all the injured had been brought up, and two of the dead bodies. He found tha-t the main slant had not been affected at all by the explosion. Just outside No. 3 top-hole there was a tram off the road. The next thing he noticed was a- small fall of coa-l and ashes, which had come from the very mouth of the top-hole. He stopped here to. examine it, and men were engaged in clearing this fall, as they knew that the boy, William Bowen, was under the fall. They found him later on. Witness then went on to the face of the level. Everything here was in order except that the doors were blown down, as well as the air-pipes. He found that the air was passing freely along No. 3 and 4 levels, there being no trace of after-damp or unco-nsumed gas. At No. 6 level he saw nothing wrong. He believed that the coal dust at No. 7 helped the exnio- siom, while the coaJ dust near the wet por- tion ch-ecked it. He thought the explosion was caused by fire-damp and dust. The Coroner: Where (M you think the gas came from?—I could not say, unless it wa-3 from No. 5 top-hole. Why ?—Because gas was reported there that night. Did you find any gas at No. 5 after the explosion3—I did not try it. When I went round the second time I found gas in No. 5 and No.6, and there was a little aocumuta- tac-n in the level itself. WThen 'do you think the fall occurred?— After the explosion. After recovering the bodies we searched for the lamps, and found 'them all, with the exception of two—those U"Ðd by Pratt and Reos, two of the three men who were under the fall. What condition were they in?—I was told they were all in good order and locked. STARTLING FINDS. Did you find any remains of the two lamps? —No, none at all. Do you take any precautions against con- traventions of the rule;?—I have tested the lamps, and always found them locked. What- about taking matches down?—I have never searched for any. Have you ever seen any matches under- ground?—No, never. After the explosion what did you find?—I found a. pipe (produced) in a, coat hanging up on the lower side of the level between No. 5 and No. 6. Any matches found?—Yes, outside No. 4, on the lower side, I found a waistcoat with six matches loose in one of the pockets. Do you know whose waisrbcoa-t it was?—No. Do you know who owned tihe pipe?—Yes. It belonged to Willia,m Davies, one of the deceased men. Did you find a.ny more ?-I found four more matches and an empty cigarette-box in another waistcoat. I should expla.in that I found this waistcoat in a. heap of clothes in the office. We had used the office as a hospital. What else did you find?—We went into the joiners' shop to search the bodies, and in the pockets of a coat on the body cf Win. Davies (but not bdonging to Davies) we found a con- trivance (produced) for opening lamps. Do you knew to whGm the coat belonged?— It b?o'n?ed 'to Alec 0?ilv;e. In anotheT coat which was amongst the -clothing in the oSBce T found another implement (produced) used for opening and locking lamps. I have tried both the implements I dis»oye<red and find they will both open and look the lamps. The contrivances were handed to fore- man of the jury, together with a, looked lamp, which the foreman quickly opened by means of them. TWO MISSING LAMPS. The witness was cross-examined by Mr. Tkmson, who appeared for- the workmen. The manager admitted that tha ma,tohes found were unignitod, and, therefore, could not have caused the explo- sion The other things were found on search. ing the clothes at. the office four or five days after the explosion. Mr. Benson: The implements found could only be used for opening lamps Witness: One could be used for crochet work. (Laughter.) But none of these lamps were, in point of fact-, opened by these implements?—One lamp might have be-en wrenched open. I suppose the two- missing lamps are under the big fall which has not yet been cleared away?—Yes. They are lamps No. 96 and No. 9, and belong to Ite-es and Pratt, both ox whom were killed. I What did the fireman ten you in the morning after the eXDosion ?-He told me that he had found gas in the third top hole. Did he say how long it had been there?- No. How often do you see the firemen's report- books ?—Every day. I see in one book that gas was reported to have been found on the 18th and 20th of January in. No. 5, and in No. 3 on the 19th?— Yes. When you saw these reports did you have the men taken out?—No; the fireman took the men out on the 20th. If there had been a fall which injured one of the lamps, it was possible that that could have, caused the explosion. Mr. Benson: Even the presence of a locked lamp where there is gas is a,. serious danger? --If the glass or gauze is broken. There was a considerable amount of after- damp?—I can't say that I noticed much when I was down. In answer to Mr. Woods, who appeared for the colliery /company, witness said the last report he sa-v: before the explosion was to the effect that there was no gas anywhere. If the explosion had been caused in the way suggested by Mr. Benson, the effect would have been that the door would have been blown inwards. As a matteir of fact, it was blown outwards. The body of William Davies was found 50 or 60 yftrds away from where he ought to have been working. Questioned by Mr. Strick. who represented the Home Office, witness said the' body of William Davies was found close by where the waist-coat containing the matches wias hung UD, The men were taken out and put to work on a new level by order of the fireman. Mr. Strick: T.,i that a proper thing to do without coiisulting the manager?—Yes- Have you ever had complaints about smoking in the mine?—No., Have the waistcoats you found been claimed by anyone?—No. Were two unlocked lamps brought out of the pit?—Yes. I Haw them in the office. Who biTiusht them out?—I don't know, but thsy belonged to Preston and E-ees Harriets, who were not working that night. Replying to the foreman (Mr. D. R. Tlhomas), the witneaa said that the men were r&tber ) unwilling to have their lamps tested by the I manager when he came round. THE FIREMEN'S EVIDENCE. The next witness was William Henry Jone3, of Pen-clawdd, the day fireman at the col- liery, who said he had worked under Messrs. Baldwin for the last fourteen years. He examined the workings on the morning previous to the explosion and found every- thing in perfect order. He inspected Nos. 6 and 7 levels the last thing before leaving in the afternoon. The Foreman: Do you mean to say that yo-u have bad no trouble with the men about matches in the mine?—None at all. I have had no reavsou to be suspicious. The Coroner: On this occasion the night shift practically went down as the day shift came up?—It was the duty of the night fire- man to make the inspection. The Coroner: But he had no time to do it? —It does not fall to my part to make an inspection for the night shift. John Davies, the night fireman, was then called. He said that the night shift went down about five o'clock and he went down with them, not making an inspection before they went. He examined the lamps on the surface. He began his inspection at No. 6 level, and found everything all right. Then he proceeded to No. 7, where he found gas at No. 5 top-hole. The top-hole was filled with gas down to within 4ft. of the level. There was no gas anywhere else. While he was making this inspection the men were all at No. 6 lamp station. He then directed the men to work, but sent only two to No. 7 heading. He superintended operations for improving the ventilation, which took well up to midnight. He then went to the east sido of the pit and was coming out when the explosion took place. He would be a-bout 100 yards away. He heard no report, but felt a I heavy rush of air. He proceeded to the west side at once, taking the men out of the slant with him. After going 50 yards he called out, but got no reply. Going further, he called a second time, and Thomas BeVWl replied. He then met the rest of the men. He recog- niSÐCt them adl with the exception of his father (William Davies, who was among the killed). In addition to his father, he saw that Ogilvie was also dead. What do you think is the probable cause of the explosion?—It is quite strange to me. You can't account for it?—No. Where do you think it began?—I could not say, because I was quite satisfied with my work. It could not be much, because I did not hear a report. The place was perfectly safe in my opinion, except No. 5 stall. Have you had occasion to think that m&tcthes were taken down, or contrivances for opening the lamps?—No. Then you were much surprised to know tha.t these things ha.ve been found?—Yes. THE INQUEST ADJOURNED. I No further evidence was taken, and the Coroner consulted Dr. Davies, who said that the two injured men would not be able to give evidence for at least a month. In the end the inquiry was adjourned until that day six weeks.

TAPPING SIRHOWY VALLEY I NEWPORT OPPOSITION TO LOCAL I RAILWAY BILLS. Mr. T. H. Mordey, presiding at a special meeting of the Newport Chamber of Com- merce on Friday, called to consider the report of the joint committee of the town council, harbour board, and Chamber of commerce with reference to the Harry Rail- way Bill and the Cardiff Railway Bill, stated that the committee had unanimously deoided to oppose the Bills. The Barry scheme sought to connect- the Barry Railway with a railway to tap the Sirhowy Valley, a.nd the Cardiff scheme was t.3, obtain run- ning powers over the railway proposed to be made, and also over the existing lines of the Great Western Railway Company and the London and North Western Railway Company, and amy future lines which might be made. He proposed that the chamber petition against the Bills. It was proposed to share the cost of the matter by asking the town council to pay two-fifths, the har- bour board two-fifths, and the chamber of oommeroe one-fifth. Mr. J. H. Dunn seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr. E. G. NiohoJls, and unanimously agreed to.

THEDEGAR BANKRUPTCY I COURT. At this court on Friday (before the regis- trar, Mr. J. A. Shepard) James Bell, High- street, Walton-on-Thames, and formerly pro- prietor of the Golden Lion Inn, Aber- gavenny, was examined, Mr. C. D. Lewis, Tre- degar, acting for the petitioning creditor. The liabilities were X451 Cs. 2d., with no assets. —The examination was adjourned for the amemlment of the accounts. James Jenkins, carrying on business as an ironmonger at Brynmawr, underwent his public examination, Mr. E. M. Rawlinson (Messrs. Powell and Hughes) acting for the debtor. The liabilities were X543 16s. 6d., and the assets E166 17s. Failure was attributed to a fire on the premises, causing damage to an estimated amount of L7,00, whereas debtor only received £139 from the insurance company.—The examination was adjourned.

COL. COURTENAY MORGAN AT CAERLEON. Speaking a.t a Conservative meeting at Oaerleon on Friday night, Colonel Courtenay Morgan referred to the unfair criticism of the Opposition and the misrepresentation of the action of the Government. He paid a high tribute to the foreign policy of the Government, and described this as the greatest test for any Government. He spoke highly of the foresight of the Government an forming an alliance with Japan. and described it as a diploma,tic feat. Considering the social Act-s which had bc-en passed for the welfare of the people, he failed to see Slow the present- Government could have lost the confidence of the nation. With regard to the fiscal problem, he declared himself strongly opposed to tax- ing the necessaries of life or any raw materials, but would tax all manufactured articles. Speaking of the invasion of pauper aliens, he said he did not wish to be thought inhospitable, but charity began at home, and he felt that foreign paupers who had no intention of working should be kept out of the country.

SOUTH WALES LAW CASES I, LOCAL COLLIERY DISPUTE. I The motion in the action of Owen v. Wil- liams which stood over from last week, and by which the plaintiff sought to restrain a receiver appointed in a partnership action from selling certain wagons, again came before Mr. Justice Joyce on Friday. The plain- tiff claimed to be owner, under a hiring agree. ment, and the receiver offered to let the plain- tiff take his wagons, which were now at the Rose Colliery, South Wales. It was stated, however, that arrangements ha.d been made to sell the wagons with the colliery, aucl he thought that an advant,ageous offer would be made to the plaintiff upon the defen- dants undertaking not to remove the wagons from the colliery.—The motion was directed to stand over for another week in order to see if the matter could be arranged. Mr. Hughes, K.C.. appeared in support of the motion, and Mr. Ashton Cross for the receiver.

MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL. I The half-yearly report of the Manchester Ship Canal Company shows a profit on the half-year's working of £ 112,583. Out of this the directors were able to pay interest due upon the first and second mortgage deben- tures, amounting to £ 44,743, and interest due on mortgage of surplus lands, &c. There was a balance rema-ininig of C63,710, which had been paid to the Corporation of Manchester on account of the debentures they hold. The total amount paid to the corpotra-tion in respect of 19M was £ 107,714. The increa.se in the receipts for the year was £ 21,000.

ALIEN SEAMAN CHARGED I WITH MURDER. At Liverpool on Friday Emil Baumann, a, German sailor, was committed for trial on the change of wilfully murdering Thomas Maguire, a shipmate, on board the British vessel Clarence whilst on the high seas. The evidence tendered was to the effect that during the return voyage from Manaos to New York last month Maguire frequently remonstrated with pri-gotter for neglect of duty. During a quarrel on January 8, it is alleged. Baumann stabbed Maguire in the side with a knife, causing his death.

LLANGIBBY HOUNDS. I The meet, of the Llangibby Hounds at the I Royal Oak, Ghrj.-t/jliurch, on Friday, as usual, attracted a ve;-y large gathering of pedestria-ns from A large company of horsemen included a fair sprinkling from the Chepstow country. Mr. Hop ton Williams tho Master, was in command. After being photographed, a move was made to the Ring- lets, where a fox was almost immediately started. Reynard soon broke cover, but-, un- fortunately for the sport, some of the pedes- trians headed him of and caused him to double haotk to the starting point. He after- wards made several ineffectual attempts to break, but wae on ea?h occasion frustrated by t.he pedestrians. At length he was run to earth in the Ringlets and despatched.

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"WOMAN IN YELLOW"| RHYMNEY'S GHOSTLY VISITOR i Watchers Startled by Horrible Eyes. The excitement which has been created at Rhymney with regard to the supposed haunted house which serves as headquarters of the local branch of the Salvation Army still runs very high, and is intensified by the ghost's recent re-appearance at the Army's meeting. The apparition wasi in the form of a tall, t-tout woman with most forbidding and threatening aspect, and clad in yellow drapery. It beckoned to one or two perrons in the audience to follow it, and then mysteriously disappeared through an aperture beneath the staircase which leads to a disused cellar. Several men followed, but could find no trace of the ghost. Several persons are convinced, how- ever, that they have actually seen the spectre with the glaring eyes. The Salvationists are now clearing out their belongings from the premises. The young lady captain of the Salvation Army informed a press representative who had an interview with her that on no account would she spend her time again at these barracks. "I am not of a timid nature," said she, nor have I actually seen this spirit. or whatever it may be, but a few montns ago I distinctly heard a, mysterious rustling sound, as if some woman were walking close Past me while I was attending to some ordi- nary occupation in the house, and yet I could not see anyone. But on Wednesday night I distinctly felt an arm placed across the bed, and perhaps naturally I was too much upset to look for the cause." The case of this young lady is not so bad as that of her female friend, the lieutenant, who has seen the ghost, and who in conse- quence has received such a nervous shock that she is at the present time ill in apart- ments in another part of the town. The first time this lady saw the spectre was on Mon- day week, when she was sweeping down the sta,irs at the barracks. Then suddenly the tall woman in yellow walked with noiseless steps—as a ghost, of course, should—through the hall into the kitchen, whence, on the lieutenant following, it had either proceeded further or melted into thin air. Two even- ings latAeT there was heaTd unaccountable knockings in the hall. These singular happenings began to tell on the nerves, and on Friday night the cap- tain and her co-worker, the lieutenant, slept elsewhere, leaving in the building a dog. Whether the animal ha.d been "skeered" by the appa,rition or not cannot, of course, be said, but the next morning it was discovered that it had clean bolted through a window, while the interior of the place, left overnight in perfect order, was in a state of topsy- turveydom—copies of the War Cry" scat- tered about from off the tables, curtains torn, and photo frames, cloaks, Bibles. Ac., strewn heterogeneously on the floor. Had the ghost or the dog been on mischief bent? The two ladies returned on Saturday and remained till Tuesday, but they say in effect, No more of it." And now comes the most startling chapter of all. On Wednesday night some half-dozen I men stopped in the house, and a reporter has since had a cha-t with two or three of them with a view to ascertaining if their accounts agreed as to what transpired. They do, un- questionably. The evening settled down into night; the "witching hour" went by, and still no sign of the apparition; and, at length, one bolder than the rest (a tradesman in j-xigh-stre-et) called out. to the spirit, if there should be one, to appear. Yet no ghost, though once it had actually appeared in the middle of a service at the barracks, and weirdly vanished. About half-past four, how- ever, one of the watchers espied the 'woman in yellow" parsing a door- way, and, calling to his friends, instantly darted after her. All in vain-t a trace could be found. While the rest were away, the tradesman just referred to went to another doorway, and, lo! there appeared the I ghostly visitant with the long-drawn face and those horrible burning eyes. The sight gave the gentleman, as may be imagined, a fearful "turn," but he managed to gasp out a question to the spectre, asking if it were in trouble to say so, in God's name. At that expression the eyes seemed to light up with a still more unearthly radiance, but the fiendish malice of the face remained as whenever previously seen, and, without a word the ghost glided away, and was no more on view. What is the true meaning of all this? Scep- ticism remains, but so does tho unalterable conviction of these men that they veritably have seen the ghost! Meanwhile the premises are looked upon with wonder and, by hun- dreds of children, with awe, and the spectre is the talk of Rhymney and the neighbour- hood.

STEALING HORSES' FODDER. I CARDIFF COUNCIL EMPLOYE I IMPRISONED. Since the recent inquiry by the Cardiff Health Committee into the charges that the horses of the department were underfed the chief officials have been keeping a sharp eye 0-:1 the fodder bags. On Friday a re&pecta-ble- looking old fellow of 54, John Salter, who is employed as a night stableman at the Sloper- road Depot, was charged at the police-court, with stealing the previous night a quanltity of fodder, swedes, and timber, valued at 3s 3d., the property of his employers, the Cardiff Corpomtion. Wihen he was cha.rged with the theft by a constable who had caught him taking the fodder home, his reply was, "Don't do that, or you will ruin me and my chil- dren." He admitted his guilt to the bench He had been employed by the corporation for seventeen or eighteen years, and it was his firsit offence. Mr. Joseph Howzard (the chairman) said the bench could not overlook the fact that the prisoner was in a position of trust, and they must make him an example to, others. He would be sentenced to six weeks' hard labour.

illABON TESTIMONIAL FUND. A meeting of the executive committee of the Mahon Testimonial Fund was held at tho Town-hall, Cardiff. on Friday, Alder .man Richard Lewis, J.P.. presiding. It was reported that the sum now in hand. after defraying all expenses, was £ 1,732 5s. 6d., and a sum of P,36 Is. was still outstanding. On the motion of Mr. Tom Richards, M.P., seconded by Alderman E. Thomas, it was decided that persons having collecting-hooks should be asked to return them without delay. It was decided that the presentation should take the form of a piece of plate to the value of a-bout and that the balance should be presented in cheque. Lord Tre- degar will be invited to make the preeenta- tion on behalf of the subscribers.

OBITUARY. I MR. G. L. OWEN. CHELTENHAM. I Mr. George Leader Owen, of Withybush Haverfordwest, and Glenowen, Cheltenham, has died at the latter residence of cancer in the throat. The deceased was a younger brother of Judge Owen. He had for many years been a deputy-lieutenant of Pembroke, and county and borough magistrate since 1879. He had been in failing health for some time. Mr. George Leader Owen was trained as a solicitor, and practised for a few years at Haverfordwest, but the work was not con- genial, and, as he was in easy circumstances, he was independent of a profession. He was of a literary turn of mind, anü philology possessed great charms for him; but he pub- lished little, save in the form of communica- tions to the papers. Amongst theeft was a very charming series on the beauty of the language of the Bible. But his philological pursuits were occupations of learned leisure rather than the researches of a student, though marked—as, in fact, was all that he undertook—by great ability. He was generous to his native town in many ways, and in 1887 he and Lady Maxwell, of Oalderwood, who had become his wife, presented the Mayor and Corporation of Haverfordwest with the splen- did chain of office now in use. Mr. T. L. Jaanes, as the then mayor, had the honour of receiving the gift. MR. G. JONES, LAMPHEY. The dopath is announced of Mr. George Jones, which took place at his residence at Lamphey, nea-r Pembroke. Deceased was a justice of the peace for the borough of Pem- broke and was one of the leading tradesmen of the town. He was 73 years of age.

[FOREST OF DEAN COAL TRADE. ) The colliery owners on Friday. at the Speech House, Dean Forest, paid the royal- ties due on the coal won during the second half of last year to the Crown officials. Mr. E. Stafford Howard, the Commissioner of Woods and Forests, presided. After the revenue matters had been dealt with the colliery owners dined together under Mr. Howard's chairmanship- The Chairman, in proposing prosperity to the coal trade in the Forest of Dean, said a maximum output was reached four years ago. when over one million tons were raised, but afterwards there was a considerable fall, though they would be glad to bear that in 1904 they raised 24,000 tons more than in the year before. The total got in the year was 868,000 tons.

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MET AT A FRIEND'S CARDIFF MAN GETS A DIVORCE. Mr. Frank Gerrish, a meat salesman, of Donald-street, Cardiff, obtained from Justice Bargrave Deane on Friday in the Divorce Court a decree nisi for the dissolution of his ma,rriage with Elizabeth Jane Gerrish (nee Evans), on the ground of her misconduct with. Mr. Phillip Fletcher, with whom she was said to have been living at 13.1, Windsor-road, Car- diff. No defence was offered. Mr. Le Bas (instructed by Mr. A. F. Hill, solicitor, Cardiff) appeared for the petitioner, a.nd explained that the marriage took pLc" in 1893 at Cardiff. At that time petitioner was a marine engineer, and both he and hia wife had a little money. After the marr-a-sa petitioner got employment at the Bute Docks, and eventually set up as a meat sales- man. He and his wife had met the co- respondent and his wife at a friend's house.

ALLEGED SHOPBREAKING, TWO MEN SENT FOR TRIAL AT CARDIFF. At Cardiff Police-court on Friday David Jenkin Evans, twenty, and John Harris, 21, were charged on remand with breaking and entering 12 and 13. Trinity-street, a shop occupied by Thomas William Proger, and with stealing therefrom, a pair of fir id- glasses and a bicycle (with pump), valued at £ 14 ls. M.. on February 4. Mr. Harold Lloyd defended Ha.rris. Mr. Proger said he left the premises locked up on Friday last. On Saturday he four A they had been broken into, and that the pro- perty was missing. Only the pump had beea recovered. Two men, Cornelius Kirby and Timothy M'Carthy, were next called, and said they saw the prisoners in a barber's shop ia Wharton-atreet on Friday afternoon about 3.30. Evans told Harris to wait for him a few minutes and went to the back of the shop, where he climbed over a wall and clio- appeared. Meanwhile Harris went to look for him. and climbed to the top of the wall, to see if he were on the other side. He coud not see him, however, and went into th3 stre-at, but Evans came in through t??c bac? about twenty minutes later. The proprietor of the shop, named Cock- burn, gave similar evidence. When Evans returned (he added) his hand was cut and bleeding. Mr. Lloyd: What is on the other side of the back walI?—We.n. there's a chapel there, sir. Mr. Lloyd: Perhaps he was going to a revival meeting. (Laughter.) Detective-inspector Rankin stated tha.t on Saturday morning he found that the glass of a window at t-he back of 13, Trinit.r-str"e, had been broken and entirely removed. There were bloodstains on the windowsili, a,nd also on the inside handle of the back door. Another window had been broken in the office, and there were bloodstains on t.he glass on the mantelshelf, on the bandies of the safe, and the empty case of a binocular glass. Upstairs a safe had been opened, and a number of documents which it contained strewn all over the floor. There were more bloodstains on these papers and the safe. ha-ndl-es. A back-door leading into Wharton- s.treet was also open. Visiting Cockburn'a shop, he found marks on the wall leading to the chapeiyard, also muddy footmarks on the roof of an outhouse in the ohapelyard, and marks on the wall leading from there into the Trinity-street premises. Police-constable Edgar Dix said that at the station after arrest on Sunday Evans stated that he had cut his hand at breakfast thin morning. Harris was then already in custody on another charge. The prisoners were formally charged t h" t morning, and Harris stated. "I was not with him when he did it." During a long state- mellJt he said that when he looked over the wall at the back of the barber's he raw Evans going up the passage, and about 6.30 4n the evening he saw him in Working-street with a bicycle. When he asked him where he got it be merely laughed. Harris added that lie did not know how the bicycle pump had got into his possession, but Evans had told him that he gave it to him "to mind." Evans said, "I know nothing about the glasses; I had the bicycle and pump." Mr. Lloyd submitted that there was no ca"() against Harris, but prisoners were both. committed for trial at the assizes. Harris, however, was offered bail.

"A CURATE'S FRIEND." CONVICTED AT CARDIFF AND SWANSEA. The case in which a burglar was mistaken for a curate's friend and thus got his boots cleaned was again before the Louth (Lincoln- shire) magistrates. Chief-constable Danby reported that since the last hearing, when prisoner was charged with burglariously entering a house in West- gate, Louth, he had ascertained that his real name was Charles Howard and not Charica Backstrom, as stated. He was a clerk and not an engineer, and had been convicted at Cardiff, Cymmer, Swan- sea, Winchester, and Leek He was now wanted in London for forgery and in Grimsby for housebreaking. Prisoner was committed to Lincoln Assizes.

OIL FUEL FOR THE NAVY LARGE STORAGE DEPOT TO BE FORMED AT PORTSMOUTH. The Admiralty have decided to form at Portsmouth a large depot for storing gaso- line for submarines and oil fuel for war- ships. With this end .in view, the site of the gasworks which light the town has been purchased, and is to be addded to the dock- yard. New works are being built by the lighting company elsewhere. All new wnr- ships are fitted for the use of liquid fuel, wihich is so largely used in the Navy now that a storage depot for it has become a. necessity.

ADVENTUROUS AERONATUS ATTEMPT TO CROSS FROM ENGLAND TO FRANCE. M. Jacques Faure, who is well-known in the sporting world at Paris, leaves to-day for Dover, taking with him a flymr machine of a, new design, in which he will endeavour to cross the Channel from England to France. The aerostat is a spherical balloon of 1,633 cubic metres. It is furnished with a seven-horse power motor working two screws inversely in the horizontal plane. M. Faure will be accom. panied on his adventurous trip by Mr. Hubert Latham, -his cousin.Central News.

WELSH MEDICAL DINNER IN LONDON. It has been decided to hold the second annual Welsh medical dinner in London on May 26, when Sir Douglas Powell will ba invited to preside. Although hurriedly organised, th* function last year was a great success. Dr. Lloyd, of 63. Wimpole-street, 1- 3. is again acting as secretary, and will be glad to answer inquiries addressed to him.

NEWPORT MINISTER'S RECORD. The Rev. Elwyn Thomas has just completed a ten years' ministry at Victoria-road Con- gregational Church, Newport. During his pastorate the membership has risen from 13 to 410, with 25 ready to he received. The sum of L17,000 has been raised for all purposes. The oougregat,ion is now one of the largest in the West of England, that attending the young people's monthly service averaging a, thousand throughout. During this time he has also filled the chairs of the Monmouth Congregational Union, the Newport Free Church Council, the Ministerial Association, and the Passive Registers' League. The reno- vated church and the recently-added institute and parlours for young people are all free of debt, and the treasurer has a substantial sum in hand for further extensions.

DEATH OF MRS. C. T. RITCHIE. Mrs. Ritohle, wife of the Right Hon. C. T. Ritchie, M.P.. ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, died at 37. Prince's-gate, London, S.W., on Friday. The deceased lady had been ailing for a considerable time.

EDUCATION OFFICE CHANGE. It is officially notified that from February 13 next the administration of the Board of Education in respect of secondary schools and charitable trusts and endowments con- nected therewith will be conducted in the Board's offices at Whitehall, and not at South. Kensington.

If you are a sufferer fro weary leet. Wisdom point4 but one way.-Robert X-aae, Chiropodist, 3, Duke-wtr,t.. clarda olaI