South Wales Echo

THE HEALTH OF MR GLAD- I STONE. Our special correspondent at Hawarden tele- raphs ■ Mr Gladstone i4 much better this morn- mg. He rose at his usual hour, and in spits of the keen frosty air, walked through the village to attelJ early prayers at the parish church for the I fhst time since the commencement of his indis- position. I

OOLLISION OFs'- -DUNr-i'ENESO. I Supposed loss of a Schooner. A Mate Missing. I In answer to signals of: distress on Saturday Illeiling, the Lydd Lifeboat was launched, and found that a steamer and schooner had been in collision off Dungeness. The crew of three inen of the latter vessel, who had found refuge on the uTtaT' rr™e tel!*° in,t0 'he Weboat' and s.fely landed. The mate of the stea,„er into the schooner, which it is feared ? "as gone down.

THE REPORTED SENSATIONAL tLOPEMENT. Our spe";al T gr-ph,, al correspondent at Dublin tele- Duh'i sensational report that 'a to newspaper reporter had eloped beV ,rQer'ca with a rich heiress,1 leaving 1 « ^1Iri ^Wo w^ves and several children, is Pure fiction. This remarkable canard has been oven out of the following commonplace occur- |n Ifc aPPearti that a clerk in a sporting news- was discovered by his wife to be °lirtzng a ycunsr ;ady in the country, and t *v<*jd unpleasant "consequences he at once threw UR his situation and proceeded to America, not, however, before he had declared that hie wife had e2Q the victim of a sham marriage. beell the victim of a sham marriage.

FALL OF A STABLE NEAR I BATH. Two Men and Six Horses Killed. I A fatal disaster of a singular character occurred impiey fctoke, near Bath, yesterday morning. fatality was caused by the sudden falling of afle, belonging to Mr a,-les Holbrow, timber merchant and India-rubber manufacturer, which adjoins the goods yard of the Great Western Railway Station. This yard has lately under- gone alterations, and in consequence the stable Was at the time of the disaster some twelve feet below the level of the company's premises. The boundary wall and stable wall both gave way, with the result that the stable was completely de- molished with a loud crash. A carter named ^fonnent and a labourer named Musky, who were peeping in the stable, were instantaneously killed, as were also six horses.

THE BATCHELOR MEMORIAL STATUE. At a meeting of the Cardiff Town Council to- *?*y, a deputation, consisting of Dr. Edwards, Mr Lewis Williams, Mr John Duncan, and others, as received, on the snbject of the Batchelor iemorial Statue. The deputation asked the j^rporation to grant a site for tr.e statue on the u*yes, and this application was granted.

POLICE-STATION FOR GATHAYS, CAflDiFF. At a meeting of the towu council to-day the "atch committee proposed that a district police and fire-engine station be established at Cathay. ^ncl that the committee be given the necessary Power to carry out tiie same. It was mentioned that the cost would 03 about £2,000. The report f,as adopted.

FRUSTRATED ELOPEMENT AT NEWPORT. A Partner's Flight Prevented. # At ewport borough police-cohi-u to-day, Wil- *am John Eskdale, partner in the firm of Dawson inci kskdale, brassfounders, Watchhouse-parade, ç: e""PPort;. was charged with stealing: a quantity 1 tools belonging to Thomas Dawson. iite accused, it appeared, resided in clerbert-street with his wife and child hut formed an improper association with a girl of loose character named Pricj who lodged in the Baaeswell district The had arranged to elope together, and had takcu berths in a fast-sailing dipper bound for Australia. Several trunks containing property had been safely got away to London, from which pe rt of the »'e?jspl was to leave, and it was decided to begin the journey by one of the late traing leaving New- Port on Saturday evening. Mr Dawson, the other partner, by an accidental circumstance, loecame aware of the intended flight, and an hour or so before ,the time at which the train was to start, called in the services of the modern Nemesis, in the shape of Detective Inspector Jones, and the accused was arrested on the charge- of theft. Mr Barrett, solicitor, who appeared for the prosecution, asked for a remand. Mr Parker, solicitor, who defended, said he had no objection to the application, out he should like to kuow something about the charge. Mr Barrett: There has been hardly time to get —*«<•<*« ->■>* °° Mr 1 arker So long as the prosecution will let tneknow the nature of the charge before the case comes ou again. AVill the bench grant bail ? » At r Barrett: We object to bail. The prisoner has already engaged a passage in a ship tfcr New Zealand. <> To cut the story short, I do not apply for bail. Mr Bairett: There is one entry in the cash cert*in moneys have been tjjud nuo the bank, but this had' not \y !ie', a'l-t, „a5 we can learn. V e have had no time to gefc evidence. Some of lut, goods are in London. The Magistrates' Clerk It is a curious case I *2 prosecutor is prisoner's partner* Mr Parker: Yes that is so. Partner I 4s. *s send a constable, Ihe pa«^e faas been taken at the shipping offices of Me Sewell and Crow- ther, Cockspur-street, Newport* The clerk The e will follow the goods. Supt. Sinclair There will be no dif%%ulty about that. pers to stop the goods. Mr Barrett s We have telegraphed to th%„i.- pers to stop the goods. Prisoner was then remanded in custody uhfcii W cdnesday. NVotiliesday. -n_ <;n,.r.- øO"

CARDIFF. IHE CORPORATION' OP LONDON having requ,ivd r!16 ^an^rupr' Agency Association, 23, I-Udgate-hill, E.C., for city improvements, the AUiancs Clof.hing Company, 33, St. Siavy-street, heg most re- 11"[orJmL th" inhabitants of Cardiff and vKi 00 at they have taken over the whole of company stock, comprising- Hobson and 'i ffioc 01 ciothmg. ( eorge (Jiiver's stock of hosievv and Straus3 Uros.' stock of fancy g.n.Cts for voice tent6 Sc3. at a trifU! <'vei' or;ginalin- Saia.,low proceeu'ngtio ihe Alliance Cloth- i'»PPo y' 00' ,st- Mary-strees, Cardiff. 244 VETKUIXARY SMITH (JO^NH ^haAe ci(as'\ot' h°Vse at the Ardift Horse hxcnan„e. near the Custom House. A trial solicited. .32B FIRST CH^ISTMAS SHOW.—The Model Clothinc Company "f; noJv showing, at 13, Bute-street, a GRAJJO dl tKt??SHos,KR7' HATS- Christina" Cards 01 all tne latest desians fo;- Chriscmas. ,or is- j

'MONEY MARKET. To-day's Tines money article says: Short loans were in pretty good demand at 3, but the terms 2 became ensier before the close. Three mont s bills 31. In the Stock Market high-class securi- ties were "well supported, but American and Canadian Railway Stocks were dull. The fortnightly settlement begins on Monday. Consols dosed at gg"- for money, ana 99 to 100 for the account. Home Railways were a shade firmer, but little business was doing. Manchester and Sheffield Ordinary advanced 2; Greai; Eastern, Business in the Foreign Market was quiet, but except Portugese Stock, which fell 5, prices were 4 pretty firm. Egyptian Unified fell

TO-DAY'S MARKETS. 4 SUGAR.. I CLYDE, Monday.—Strong market, ana ^AR>NRF -one a; prices fully 3d higher. The officcal report statss -Market opens with an active deir.aau, aii a larse business dons a; 3d advance.. PROVISIONS. 1 LONDON, Mov.dav.-Butter-KIEI ana j", quoted lower, at 100s to 140s other foie-gi descnp^ tions without matenal chMi?e. g4> tQ AmVric^n1"and iri.h quiet «,d S? m^t&«raUciW Cheese—American mintort of ih<5 to 65s. 1 DEAD MEAT. LO\DO\ iilonday.-Moderate supplies, and trade .ifhnnf, jmpi'ovemejit at ihe fodowijia: prices: rcn:ar,is without imP ,.me Scotcli tl <s cd { ¥,seL? 3 to 5s Veal, 3s 8d to 5s- LavSa pork, 2s Sd to 3s'8d small do., 5s 8d to 4s per 8 ibs.

SPORTING ITEMS. Russley is now trained by James Ryan, at Green Lodge, JNewmarket. /cner vv'| ?s he told a St Louis reporter, ride jie;ton for the Der^y. ^1!^eny' wil() i)as recently been added to the entries amoa*st tke City and Suburban Fulmen has not bpnn entered for the City and ououraan, but ht' is to be found amongst the enojies for a T. Y.C. race at Ascot. We learn from America that "Plunger" Wal- ton is going to take up his residence at St. Louis, and says he has done with the turf for ever. Mr ii. Gebhard, who has hitherto raced in America, lias entered Eole and St. Saviour (brother to Eole) in the Gold Cup and Alexandra Plate at Ascot. Stakes are not the great end and object of racing, or it would appear that Geheimmss was? not well placed in running races of an average £ 300 in these days of great prizes. ■ rp(ie proposed Billiard Championship tourna- ment will not take place. Roberts, Cook, Peall, Mitchell, and J. Bennett, who would have the best chances of winning, will not compete. It is stated that St. Blaise has fully recovered from the accident he met with in his own stable. He is said to have billed out, and to be now at his best again. Middlesex plays Yorkshire, under Rugby rules, at Dewsbury, on February 9. Queen's Park can- not get a team together to play Notts to-day while Norfolk v. Cambridgeshire stands post- poned until the Ides of March. The South London Harriers have decided to hold a fifty miles race, open to all bona fide amateurs, at Lalhain Grounds, on Saturday, April 11. A special prize will bo given if record is "t:td1. Firniinger and other noted stayers are already getting lit. 1 Lucy Ashton, who won the Brocklesby Stakes at ijincoin last spnnr; and snosequeiitiy split her pasier!i whilst running in the Acorn Stakes at Epsom, appears to have got on all right again, as she has been entered tor the All-aged Stakes at Ascot, a race usually contested by the best speed of the day. Despite the lain eness,ihich Cosmos and Blue Grass suffered from last summer, both have been entered for the Cup and Alexandra Plate at Ascot, also the Metropolitan at Epsom. We also find Blue Grass in the City and Suburban, the worst course that could be chosen for a horse with doubtful forelfegs. It has been decided that the building on the Thames Embankment, which has been specially erected by thq Stanley U.C. for the cycling exhioitiou, and is to be known as the Wheeleries/' shall not oe opened* till Wednes- day, the 23th inst., instead of the2bth, remaining open proportionately longer. Charles Archer is selling off most of bis hordes, the names of Dog Fox and Peace having been added to those horses advertised to be sold at Albert Gate on the 26th inst. Abbotsford, who is the property or Loid Ellesrnere, will be sold at the same time. The sale possesses a significance, for it would appear that the Jockcy Club havenot yet granted a, licence to Charles Archer to train on their grounds. _c; V

I TO-DAY'S POLICE.. CARDIFF. t0, Chiracte'" w^5]- y'milR ™^n' bad iv' c'™ed with being drunk in West j" "!e ,on Sunday. She wascautioned and uiscnarged.—.JamesSullivan, a labourer, admitted tnat he was drunk in Bute-terrace 011 SuAday, arid was cautioned and discharged. THE REIGN OF TERROR '—Mm'y Morrissey (23), and Bridget Dacey (22), two women of bad charac- ter, were charged with fiffhtin^r and causing an -n obstruction in Bute street on Saturday night. From the evidence of P.O. Phillips it was proved that toe street was blocked up owing to the crowd collected to witness the fight between the defendants. Both prisoners had been previously convicted, Morrissey six titnes; and Dacey three times, u.r disorderly conduct, Morrissey was fined lu.i arm costs, and Dacey 5s and costs. ^1 U-BLic-HOU^fi i.tOiji>isi;Y. John O'Brian, a labourer, was cnarged with stealing half-a- soverejgn from the counter of the King's Cross Inn, Caroline-street, on the 10th instant. irisoner went to the public-house on Saturday afternoon, and called for a blue of beer. While he was drinking it another man came in, called for a pint of beer, and gave the landlord a sovereign. The landlord placeu the change on the counter, 19s 9-J. Subse- quently a man the worse for driuk entered the Lar the change was at this time on the counter. Alter the drunken man had been ejected the half-sovereign was missed, the silver still remain- ing. The landlord's attention was called to the circumstance, and he accused both of them and sent for the police. The man Fitzgerald, who gave the sovereign, stated that when the change was placed on the counter he did not take any special notice of it, and could not swear that the KI ^o ereign was with it. The prisoner was near the change, but he did not see him touch it. 1 1 oa the prisoner being seaiched, a, half-sovereign was found in his coat pock? altnough he denied that he had one about him. 1 lie bench did not consider the evidence sufficient, and dismissed the case. STEALING A SILK JACKET.— Jane Martin, a young woman (2o) of respectable appearance, was charged with svealing a silk jacket and a fur tip- pet, or the value of R3 7s., from 29, Patrick- street, the property of Jalle Georg-e, 011 the 22ad uit. Prisoner, on tne night of the 22nd, went to the house of the prosecutor with a irlend, who was also acquainted with the prosecutor. Sheleft about eleven o'clock at mg-ht, and on the following mornmg the articles were missed from tho front rihonir was a young woman from h/en 0l8';uy> °,u rof employment, who had V,n<- fKIbitercd, from charity by Mrs [ji-t Mr« rwiej'rcid to. \Vhen prisoner .ran.t—who had allowed her to live at her n »°r tive weeks without charge—missed some a 1 es, and on suosaquently meeting her sheaccii&e. (ePrisoner,Vidioadmitted having taken •omearticles rooiairsGrant, butdenied taking the 3*sket iroin -Irs Creorge. When searched, how- • ^he V'Mn ^cket referring to the jacket The ^l >-ecre^e-i ju the prisoner's dress. jacket had been just nleiVed bv ,ie s EX?Mr josih. SS J* pleaJea guiity> ail(] Was sentenced to 14- days' S;S^ich t0 be sent home to her frieiJd,; in ladn()rd1Ü, STEALING AN -Anclreiv Walker (22) aud Henry (28) w..re char;;r.d with ¡;¡tea]ilJ; ?U overcoat Ot th, valn, ot 25s, from 177, Bute-strveL, the Property oi a French sea- man, na.uied i. Bibara, on the 10th mst.- Oomplaujp.nt left the overcoat in the dining- room of his lodging-house, 177, Buto-streej:, on Saturday att-oriioon. On r«tuming in tho evening it was missed. -1 r.seaers weio subscnuer.tlv apprehended. They lodged in th* same house and on Saturday evening Nelson Walker pledged the coat. He said that Wilson *>toie the coat and pledged it. The money potained was spent in drink. They were e cli sent to prison for 14- days, with hard labour. »

\:1. Irish Invincibles. THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT NEW YORK. Phelan Stabbed 11 Times. Extraordinary Qisclosures. 1 RETJTER'S TELEGRAM.] NEW YORK, Saturday.-—J-homas Pneian, an Irish Nationalist, who is superintendent of the workhouse at. Kansas City, Missouri, has been seriously stabbed in O'Donovan Rossa's office at New York by a man whose name is said to be Richard Short, because he revealed, or was accused of revealing, the secrets of the Irish Invincibles. It is declared that the reason for the assault was that statements had been made by Phelan to a reporter of a Kansas City newspaper giving what purported to be the true history of the attempt to blow up the steamship Queen. Rossa was not present, and disclaims all know- ledge of the assault. Upon the publication of an account of the interview in question, Puelau was summoned to New York, and it is believed his assassination was premeditated. He had only recently returned to the United States from Eng- land. NEW YORK, Saturday Evening.—Richard Short was brought up to-day charged with stabbing the Irish Nationalist, Thomas Phelan, and remanded pending the result of Phelan's injuries. It is thought provable that .the latter will recover. Phelan is represented to have stated in the course of an interview that he knew that an attempt was to be made to blow up the steamer Queen two hours after she arrived in the dock at Liverpool. Fifteen pounds of dynamite were placed in the Queen's hold, eewed in a sack, and the explosive machinery was arranged to run for two hours, so as to explode after the passen- gers had left the vessel. John F. Kearney, who was one of her passengers, placed the dynamite in the hold, but he and his associates were obliged to g-o ashore before they could get into the hold to attach the machinery. He after- wards learned from an officer of the Queen, whom he visited under the guise of friendship, that the dynamite was found a quarter of an hour after the passengers had landed. The officer stated that a telegram from New York apprised them that there was dynamite in the hold. Phelan is also reported to have stated that he was visited by Inspector Marsh and Head-constable Murphy, of Liverpool. [CENTRAL NEWS TELEGRAM.] I NEW YORK, Saturday El veniD, TI)e first hurried reports of the desperate affray in O'Donovan Rossa's office stated that Captain Phelan was killed on the spot. As a matter of fact, Phelan is still alive, and although the wounds inflected upon him by Short are of a tctriole description, it is not at all improbable that he will recover. There can be little doubt that the murder of Pheian was carefully planned, and that the attack upon him was very sudden and unexpected. Phelan is a resolute man, and would have given a 'good account of his assailant had he been given anything like a chance. Even as it was, Phelan, as he lay on the ground, apparently mortally wounded, managed to get to his pistol pocket, and fired point blank at Short. Fortunately for the would-be assassin, the bullet struck a-match- box in Short's waistcoat pocket, and the slight resistance thus afforded was sufficient to deflect the shot, which glanced off harmlessly and struck the wall of the room. L'helan was too far gone to lire a econd shot, and Short, therefore, escaped entirely uninjured. The affair has naturally caused the most in- tense excitement in Irish circles throughout the States, and is also attracting an unusual amount of general attention. It is well known here that all the parties concerned are connected with the anti- Enjiish dynamite conspiracy, and there is no doubt that the attempted murder was due to strong suspicions of Phelan's fidelity. The story told by Pheian •to a Kansas city newspaper reporter of an attempt to blow up the steamer Queen is generally regarded as mere bunkum. The officials of the National Steamship Company, to which line the Queen belongs, have been duly interviewed and ridicule the whole stcry. NEW YORK, Sunday.—Captain Phelan was stabbed no less than eleven times, and had his right arm nearly severed in the murderous assault made upon him in O'Donovan Rossa's office; uevertheless he shot at his assailant. When confronted with him after the latter's arrest, a shojet time back, Phelan received a letter from Kearney, requesting him to come to New York. He accordingly went, when they proceeded to- gether to U'Donovan Rossa's oifice. They had not been there loni when Short came in, and in t the presence of the two other men, who were in the room at the time attacked Pheian in the manner already described. After having been stabbed, Phelan -rushed into the street. The dagger used had a blade six inches in length. An account of an interview with Phelan, which was published in the Kansas City about a fortnight ago, is supposed to be the cause of the whole affair. The interview spoke of Phelan's resemblance to O'Doimell, and stated that J-iieian went to ireianu in June, ItfSo, and tiu t before leaving he ment Kearney, who arranged wifb him for the blowing up of tho Cale- donian Railway Gasworks, at Glasgow. Phelan, sailed in the Be-gravia, and Kearney, followed soon afterwards in the Queen. Details were also given of the mode of communicating with them while aboard, of a meeting between Phelan and a detective In Edinburgh, and of a meeting between him and Kearney in Glasgow, when the latter gave details of his failure to blow up the Queen, the steamship in which he had crossed. Phelan further described to the interviewer the explosive material which Kearney had used, tell- ing him that Kearney had tried to gefc below in order to affix the machine, but was stopped by one of the ship's officers. The officer whom Phelan afterwards saw when going on bo.ird the Queen was the third mate. Phelan told him that A had overhead a conservation in Glasgow convincing him that there were explosives on board the vessel, and adding that he had come to give this infor- mation in the interests of humanity. His object was, in fact, to prevent a dynamite explosion on board the Queen during her outward voyage, when there would be hun- dreds of his countrymSn on board. Phelan is further represented to have told the inter- viewer that he was convinced there were traitors among the dynamiters, and that only he Rossa, and Kearney knew of the intended attempt to destroy the Queen. Their object in this act was to create excitement and a scare in England." It was on account of the above statements to the interviewer, which were regarded as betraying the secrets oi the dynamiters, that Phelan is sup- posed to have been invited o, New York to give explanations. Phelan himself states that lie came I to New York to explain matcers to O'Donovan Rossa, and expresses the belief that lie was en- trapped into the latter's office for the purpose of being murdered. NEW YORK, Sunday Evening.—Kearney denies having urged Pheian to come to New York, though he asked him to explain the interview., as it caused unfavourable comment among the Nationalists. On the way to O'Donovan Rossa's office Phelan showed Kearney a pistol, and threatened to shoot Rossa if lie doubted his patriotism. Phelan explained that hecommunicated The facts mentioned in the published accounts of the interview to a friend in Kansas city some titne ago, but that the account was published without his knowledge. Rossa professes not to have known that Short was a Nationalist agent. The British consul here states that he knows nothing of the story of the plot to blow up the steamer Queen. Kearney states that soon after he and Pheian had entered Rossa's office, a man, whom he did not know, but who proved to be Short, entered and attacked Phelan. Short has bcon only two years in the United States. The opinion prevails among among the prominent dynamiters that Phelan is a spy. Phelan declared yesterday that he knew nothing of the plot to destroy the Queen till he saw Kearney in Glasgow. The raising of a fund in this city for the payment of the Irish members of the House of Commons is sug- gested in some prominent Irish circles [" TIMES" TELEGRAM.] A Philadelphia correspondent telegraphs — The attempted assassination of Phelan continues to attract great attention. The press universally denounces the dynamitards, and recommends their extradition and arrest. Rossa, with his confreres, is suggested as having been accessory to the crime. Phelan is somewhat better, and to-day. made a statement to the effect that the report of his interview with a representative of the Kansas City Journal is incorrect in some parts. Phelan believes I that he was lured to Rossa's office to be killed. Various Fenians say that Phelan was a traitor, that he was stabbed in a fight which resulted from his drawing a pistol to resent Short's calling him a traitor, and that the fight was unpremeditated. The Irishmen in Cincinnatti have started a movement intended to raise 100,000 dollars as a fund for the payment of the Irish members of Parliament, by annual subscriptions of 5 dollars. The fund is confined to the support of constitu- tional methods, as pursued by Mr Parnell. To-day's Times, commenting on the New York outrage, says If there be but a grain of truth in the report which we have analysed, it would offer cause for demanding Kearney's extradition. It is certain that Kearney, O'Donovan Rossa, and others have been for some time past preparing dynamite outrages, whether in the manner that had been described or some other does not signify. It has been a great misfortune hitherto that respectable Americans have not sufficiently realised what is going on in their midst. They,do not read O'Donovan Rossa's paper. They hear of dynamite outrages from time to time, but are loth te-believe that these crimes are hatched under cover of American liberty. The attempt upon Phelan's life will now open their eyes to the existence of the gang working in New York, and we must repeat the hope that it may be found possible to arrest'O'Donovan Rossa, and thereby to elicit more evidence as to fenian crimes-than has been forthcoming yet.

PROPOSED BRITISH ANNEXA- TION-OF THE SAMOAN ISLANDS LREUTER'S TELEGRAM. I WELLINGTON, Saturday.—The Government of yew Zealand purposes annexing the Samoan Islands. A steamer is held in readiness to pro- ceed to sea pending the receipt of Lord Derby's decision in the matter. MELBOURNE, Saturday. — News has been received here, which is believed to be authentic, that a treaty has been concluded between the King of Samoa and the German Consul there, whereby Germany secures three seats in the Council of the kingdom. The effect of this con- cession will be to largely increase German influence in the island. BERLIN, Saturday.—The news of the intended annexation by the Government of New Zealand of the Samoan Islands has created a great sensa- tion here. This evening's papers consider it certain that the German and American Govern- ments will energetically protest against the step. The following sketch map shows the geographi- cal position of the Samuan Inlands referred to in the above telegrams THE ISLANDS OF THE WESTERN PACIFIC. n The Samoan, or Navigator group, comprises nine inhabited islands, the largest 700 square miles in area, the total being 1,650 square miles. The group lies between 13 deg. 27 min. and 14 deg. 18 min. south latitude, and 169 deg. 28 min. to 172 deg. 43 mill. west longitude. The temperature ranges from 77 deg. to 87 deg. in the shade. The native population is estimated at about 35,000. They were converted to Christianity mainly through the exertions of the Rev. John Williams, who established a mission there in 1830. The London Missionary Society have since worked the field. The United States, Germany, and Great Britain have at various times considered proposals for an- nexing these islands, but have hitherto abstained, although white adventurers have caused much trouble by endeavouring to control the native Government. A German firm has a large in- terest in the trade of the group, and their influ- ence has been directed towards securing German annexation. With reference to Reuter's telegram from Wel- lington as to the Sa,moan Islands, the Press Association learns from an official source that the Government of New Zealand did not of itself purpose annexing the-se islands, but desired that the Imperial Government should do so. Com- niunjcations were accordingly opened with the Colonial Office, and meanwhile a steamer was held n readiness; but from the nature of the reply forwarded by Lord Derby, it is not probable the annexation will be carried out. Correspondence is still proceeding on the subject. To-day's Standard believes that the English Government have been negociating with the Ger- man Government with a view to' the adoption of an arrangement by which neither power should assume a protectorate over the Samoan Islands. In these circumstances it is expected that the Colonial Office will decline to carry out the request of the New Zealand Government for the immediate annexation of the islands.

JUBILEE OF A MEMBER OF I PARLIAMENT. The_ jubilee ot Mr Charles W. Villiers repre- sentative of Wolverhaniption in Parliament was celebrated, amidst general rejoicing in the borough, on Saturday. Mr H. H. Fowler, M.P., presided over a meeting of Liberals in the ex- change in the afternoon. He remarked that only two other members were eiected prior to Mr Villiers, viz., Mr Gladstone, who had sat 53 years; and Mr Talbot elected for Glamorganshire 1330.

The London Echo of Saturday states Mrs Gib- bous confessed on Friday night to a high official that in a struggle with her husband, who told her that he was in love with her. niece, she shot hun in the back. v

Hidden Treasure at Castle Coch Wood. I THE PIRA-CY- OFTHE FERRET." I A Strange Narrative. A tale founded on fact," is a very common addition to the title Lages of works of fiction, and, no doubt, many incidents in the ordinary life of an individual serve as a peg round which are I woven a chain of events, more or less romantic in in character, according to the skill or imagination of the writer. Probably the incidents which fol- In. :t..L .A-t- 1:,j.L1- r- 4.L- L: IV/W WIBII IT NIII/IE T5X|JA:ISI<_>U, IUNU TUT; CInel episode in a three-volume novel of the modern school. It is not, however, intended to give any tinge of romance to this narrative, the facts connected with which have been long known to the writer, but they were given in confidence, and were consequently withheld until circumstances should arise which would render it no longer necessary that the confidence should be preserved. The circumstances at one time were peculiar, still there was nothing very unusual in the fear that they should be divulged, as at that time the knowledge ot the incidents was confined to a few persons; they were also surrounded with a good deal of mystery; they were only repealed to the few after considerable caution; and it was ap- prehended that possibly he who divulged the secret might, from the vindictive character of some of the Spanish people who were concerned in it, become a marked man and find himself in an awkward position. Whether there is any vast treasure hidden in some quiet spot within the precints of the wood surrounding Castle Coch is not the province of the writer to prove, but to show that state- ments were mqde some time ago that such treasure was hidden there, that' there were then many collateral circumstances to support those statements, and that lately other circumstances tend to show that there is a proba- bility that they are true. It was only sometime after the first incidents were made known that the property deposited there was admitted to have been stolen, and when that was revealed any further dealings with the parties by whom the statements were made ceased at once. With the first part of the narrative hundreds of persons, whose business engagements connect them with the docks, are perfectly familiar, and require little to bring up all the details to their remembrance, but this part is only, by an acci- dental circumstance, connected with the main ssue. In October, 1880, an iron screw steamer, called the Ferret, entered the East Cardiff Dock. Her reputed owners were the Dingwall and Skye Railway Company, who had, it was said, chartered her to a. gentleman in London, and he again sublet the contract to another. She was a steamer of considerable speed, and had been fitted up as a passenger vessel. Messrs Short and Dunn were the brokers, and she was soon loaded with a cargo of coal by Messrs Cory Brothers consigned to their agent at Marseilles. The captain was a gentleman who did not reside at one place during his stay at Cardiff, but for a part of the time lodged at the Cardiff Arms Hotel, or frequented it often. He spent money frtely, and when the vessel left the docks, on the 23rd Oct., she had received on board an enormous quantity of provision, and the steward's cabin presented the appearance of a victualling apartment belong- ing to a gentleman's yacht, and not tne cook's p .iitry for a cargo-carrying vessel. There was a profuse supply of wine, spirits, &c., and every- thing was of the best quality. There were certain things also about the vessel, which to the matter- of-fact people at the docks, excited their suspicion that all was not right, and when the pilot, who took the vessel down channel, returned and .spoke oi the good cheer and the jolly life all were leading on board that suspicion became strength- enei. At this time there was staying at the Cardiff Arms Hotel, a gentleman said to be a Spaniard. He became acq;tainted with the captain of the Ferret, and when she left ostensibly for Mar- seilles, ha saileJ with her as a super-cargo. The Ferret never went to Marseilles, but landed her super-cargo at a small port on the south coast of Spain. Then at a distance from land, she was repaintad, her name a.t.red two or three times, and the cargo was consumed as bunker coal. Her seisure by those on board became known to the owners. She was chased from one place to another, but was eventually captured and claimed for the owners iu Australia by the proper authorities, the captain and crew were tried before a proper tri- bunal and sentenced to long terms of imprison- ment for an act of piracy. The circumstances connected with the cluue and seizure of the Ferret gave rise to a good deal oi interest at the docks. She was the subject of conversation for some months, but, like all simi- lar circumstances, she ceased in time to be re- membered. A long time afterwawls a gentleman holding a distinguished position in the town, a borough magistrate, and also a man of considerable pro- j perty, received a letter, purporting to have been j written by a prisoner in one of the earceras, or prisons, at Maurid, asking, in some vague kind of way, whether the gentleman would assist in the recovery of treasure of some considerable amount deposited in a secret place near Cardiff. The letter was show to the head constable, who regarded it, as a hoax. The stipendiary, to whom the letter also was shown, came to a different conclusion and eventually a reply was sent, which resulted ill a correspondence being commenced, and main- tained almost entirely on one side, but in the course of which a somewhat singular narrative was developed. The writer of the letters was a prisoner, but as everything in Spain was to be purchased, even in- dulgence to prisoners could be procured bv means r of bribery. The prisoner, after a time, admitted that he was a one time the private secretary of a Spanish nobleman who entrusted him with pro- perty to a considerable amount to be conveyed to England. lie cams to London with it, but from the first he evidently intended to appropriate the property to his own use. He left London, went to Bristol, and stayed for some time at an hotel I there. He then came to Cardiff and staved for a still longer period at the Cardiff Arms Hotel. Durnig his stay there his friends in Madrid informed hi m that his employer had discovered his duolicity, and agents were sent to England to arresF him.' Fearing capture he deposited the valuable trea- sure with whica he had been entrusted in a secret place, not far from Cardiff, and' then left in a steamer bound for Marseilles, but was landed on the coast of Spain. He was discovered by the agents of the nobleman, arrested, and tried at Madrid for feloniously disposing of property en- trusted to him by his master, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment iu one of the carceras- in Madrid. I To support this story official documents were ¡ enclosed, bearing the seal of the court, and duly signed by tile proetor. These documents stated the nature of the crime com- mitted, which was that of wisappio- priating or stealing property entrusted to him, the name oi^ the owner o £ the property, the person charged, which was the same as the writer of the letter, and tiie sentence passed upon him. The writer was anxious for an interview from the gentleman at Cardiff, to whom he sent the letter, at the Carcera, Madrid, when all details would be given. In the later letters it- was made known that the t treasure had been deposited in the wood surround- ing Castle Coch. A plan of the castle and wood was,sent. A line was drawn from the castle at a certain angle, and this, if continued for a certain distance, that distance to be given at tho inter- view, would indicate the precise spot where the treasure was deposited. This plan Was cut in two in a zigzag and herring-bone fashion the one half was retained, and on the gentleman present- ing the other naif to the prisoner's ageot I at Madrid, whose nama and address were given, the gentleman would receiva the other half and further information which would lead to the discovery of the treasure. The letters were written partly ia Spanish and English, but the I details showed that th" writer was acquainted with the Cardiff Arnig Hotel, and also the direc- tion to Castle Coch, Castie Coch itself, and the wood surroundings it. Several telegrams were j sent, but as no reply to them was received at Madrid, the correspondence ceased and the sub- ject gradually faded from memory. I The time for which the man'was imprisoned hs expired, and a, few weeks, ago" frlre gentlemen, speaking English very mi perfectly, were seen in the wood, and were also observeJ attentively looking at the castle. In the summer time, when visitors are frftjuent, such would not have excited any suspicion, 'but, during the winter months, visitors are sc&iw, and strangers are almost certain to attract attention. They may have had no object but curfcsity in view in examining the castle and traveling the wood in various directions, but it is possflfce tbeie may be truth in the prisoner s statements! <uid that these men are in some way connected with it. That such a crinre was committed that such a man was tried and sentenced, the official documents of the court prove, and these, with the plan and letters, remain in the custody of gentleman in Cardiff, to whom they were sent.

CARDIFF INFIRMARY SATURDAY MOVEMENT. » The final meeting of the committee appointed to carry out the collections at the workshops and works in the town and the neighbourhood in aid ot tli3 funds of the Cardiff Irfftrmary, was held at the Town-hall on Saturday, iMr Councillor IX.• Jones in the chair. There were also present Messrs Lincoln and Lock, hon. secretaries of the movement; MrG. F. Coleman,secretary of the Cardiff Infirmary Messrs Stephens, Finlay, Woosey, Coles, Huggins, Berkley, etc. The Chair- man stated that -heir first meeting was held on the 27t'n September. Th^y had held eleven meetings, and at those meetings received t'ue col- lections made at workshops, to £:93 Is 9d, the largest amount that had ever ;en collected. Their expenditure amuunted to £ 71 Is, and the net sum to hand over to the infirmary treasurer was £827 Os 91 on the whole, a very gratifying result .or their labours, and probably next year their success wouid be even greater. All of them admitted that they had been working for an institution that deserve i every support.— Mr Stephens proposed a vote of thanks to the treasurer for the great interest he had taken in the movement, and for his regular attendance at their committee meetings.—Mr Berkley seconded the vote, which was carried unanimously.—Toe Chairman, in acknowledging the voce, said that there were gentlemen on the committee who de- served their thanks far more than he did, and those gentlemen werethehon. secretaries, Messrs Lincoln and Lock, and the secretary of the infirmary, Mr Coleman. The.;e gen:^ inen had done far more than he had to bring about the •success of tne in >veinent. lie proposed a vote or tiian.:>: to them, which was seconded by Mr Wocsey, and carried with applause. Mr Lincoln responded, and so did Mr Lock, boti) bearing testimony to the valuable assistance they had received from Mr Coleman. Mr Lock hoped next year the collec- tions would amount to .E..COO, a point which he hoped that they would have reached this year. He also referred to the cordial co-operation of aieir treasurer with them shioa thev had been united in tile movement, which was to all of tneni, he bedeved, a- iubour of love. Mr Liucc.lu suggested that next year, on oue or the Saturdays, ladies should be asked to make collections in the streets. In places where this had been tried the results had been very satisfactory. Mr Lock iz expressed some surprise that the boxes placed in train-cars had net realised a larger sum, the total amount being £ 3 5s, and he was also sorry to say that some of the hoxco; had been broken open. A vote of thaaiss to the mayor for the use of the hall and to the chairman closed the proceedings.

THE NEWPORT GUARDIANS AND THE OVERSEERS. AttheN ewportcuuuty police-court, on Saturday, half a dozen overseers of pan .-lies comprised in the Newport Union were suminonei at the instance of the Newport Guardians for not paying calls due from their respective parishes, layied for poor-law purposes. This action bad been taken as the result of numerous complaints made a: meetings of the board of overseers being in default, and also because the guardians' account with the bankers lias been overdrawn. Four of the cases were struck out because the money had been paid, but the overseers of Wilerick and Machen Lower were not included in this arrange- ment. Mr Thompson appeared for Messrs Geo. Young and David Lewis, of Machen, and Mr David James for Messrs 1. Lawrence and William Roberts, of Wilerick. Both produced bankers' receipts, showing illlt the money for which tkey were summoned had been paid in the month of November.—Mr Woollett: This is very irregular. (To Mr Thompson) It is a great pity you should be brought here. It i bad eiioiigli to Ú sum- mohed here at all, but to be summoned when the money has been paid long ago is another matter. —The bench dismissed both cases, with costs against tne guardians, iu Mr Thompson's case awarding 10s. Subsequently Mr Downing Evans, clerk to the board of guardians, appeared before the bench, and was informed of what liM taken p ace, Mr Woollett repenting his remark that there had bee a great irregularity. Mr Evans said it was extraordinary that when he took the treasurer a list of unpaid calls, those which had been paid were not pointed out. a The overseers of Henllis were also summoned, but Mr James Baker did• not appear on their behalf until the close of the court. It was explained by Mr Baker that two calls of ;£11 and £lOó had 1.(, been codected owing to his* being 1. bench pointed out that the business oi the board of guardians would c jine to a dead- lock without funds, and ordered the money to be paid in a fortnight

THE USE OF THE REVOLVER AT CARDiFf. 1 A shooting case, under somewhat peculiar circumstances, occurred at Cardiff on Saturday j night. It appears that some days back a Mre Meyrick gave evidence, on behalf of the police, in I a charge against two men, who were each sen- tenced to three months' imprisonment. The I relatives of the men have since accawonea Mrs Mtyiick A iofc of annoyance, going so far as to burn her dng-y. On Saturday night they were I engaged in this species of intimidation when Eiias May (a son of Mrs Meyrick by a first marriage^ appeared on the seen.. As he" reached the door of his motherW residence in West Church- street, someone k him. lie polled a revolver from his pocket, and with a ViON ot frightening liis assailants fired a shot over their I heads._ This fading u» prouuce»-ihe desired effect, he again fired, with tae result tiiat a man named Thomas Barry received a v. ound in the arm. Thomas Barry received a v. ound in the arm. Barry was promptly attended by Dr O'Donnell, and May was apprdiended and conveyed to the Central police-station. He will be brought before the magistrates this (Monday) morning.

THE GALE. I Loss of Life. I A heavy squall burst over Gravesend on S itur- day evening, doing considerable d-umure. Gre*t J anxiety was felt for the river craft. One vessel r broke from her moorings, but was safely brought up. A Greenwich waterman and his son pat off from the town pier to take the pilot off a home- ¡ ward bound ship when their boat capsized, and ¡ the youzi, n-iaii was drowned, tho father being saved by a passing steam?r. A seaman named Ross was blown from the deck of tli-2 steamship Rutland and r! row r

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ODDFELLOWSHiP AT MOR- Rf.8TON. I Presentaticmsio Officers. Speepnes by Sip John Jenkins, M.P., and others. The "anniversary dinner of the Loyal St. John's Lodge,"No. 1,546, of the 1.0.0., was held at the Talbot Arms, Morriston, oil Saturday evening. Previous to the dinner an interesting" presentation took place. The. Mayor (Councillor Williams) presided, and amongst these present were Sir J. J. Jenkins, M.P., the ex-Mayor (Oi'uncilior Burnie), -Alderinaii Yeo, Councillor Fueeman, Rev. Emlvn Jones, Dr. E. Rice Morgan, iOr. R. Williams, Bro. Llewellyn Da vies, C.S., .oro. David Owen, P.G., Bro. J. Richards, and B.Co.. W. J. Lewis. In opening the proceedings, bs Worsaip expiamea that the object of the large gathering assembled there that night was to pay a tribute of respect to two mem- bers of the ioiige who had laboured hard in pro- moting its welfare. Such able work as they had done deserved recognition, and he was, tlieriifore, happy to find that the lodge had decided to make presentations toithem. He (the mayor) made the acquaintance of Bro. J. Richards, the secretary of the loage, many years ago, and "he could bear testimony to the able assistance he had given in the advancement of OadfeUowship. Witn regard to Bro. Lewis, to whom a presentation was also to be made, ue would point out that his lot had fallen in a very happy place, and he (the mayor) had known him since he came to the neigh- bournood,"and he could not but speak in the highest terms ofiiim. He came to the Bandore works a3 a clerk, and now (after a lapse or a very few years) he holds the important position of secretary to c-he Bandore Siemens Company—a company known ail over the world. Mr Lewis had made himself exceedingly useful in public affairs. He had been a guardian for Oiase, and now he was guardian for Liansamiet. He had taken a very active part in school matters, and, since nearly ail present were either Liberals or Radicals, he thought be might almde to tne effi- cient service Mr Lewis had rendered as secretary of the. Swansea Liberal Association. (Hear, hear.) Bro. DAVID ED'WAKDS then, on behalf of the lodge, presented iJro. John Richards with a beautifully-illuminated address, oa wh.-cii testi- mony was borne to the valuable services Mr v Richards had rendered Oddfeliowship during 4-2 years.—Mr Richards, juii., responded oa behalf Richards had rendered Oddfeliowship during 42 years.—Mr Richards, juii., responded on behalf of his father, and assured ,.1.)Sa present how his faiaer would value the pie;ant.—Bro. Henry Powell then presented Bro. W. J. Lewis with a handsome goia ring as a token of the respect and warm feeling entertained towards him, by the lodge, and tntir appreciation of the able manner in whicn he bad assisted' them in the working of tLe lodge since he had been a member.— Bio. Lewis, in responding, assured those present of the vame lie placed on tueir token of esteem, and thanked them all for tha linli manner in which' ail had aided him in so rapiuly losing all the chairs.—Bros. Lli Davies, Isaac Da vies, Griffith John, Beddoe, David Griffiths. William. G ninths, Thomas Thomas, Dr. Roberts, and W. Williams (Landore). having spoken, the company adjourned to the airnug-rouni where dinner was served. The cloth having been removed the mayor gave the usual loyal toasts, and these having been received with customary honours, The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces was given. Sir J. J. JENKINS, M.P., in response, first alluded to his connection wkh the naval volun- ,_Ve teer force, and proceeded to observe that he was sorry to say the Government had not encouraged that branch ot the reserve force. For sometime past great complaints had been made taat the Government had lacked in their duty towards the navy. He was one who did not exactly agree with those complaints. (Hear. hear.) He had taken a great interest in the question since it had first been raisec'j and be would point out that in a country like this—wnere ships and arms which are effective now might, in consequence of the invention of a. new weapon be quite absoiete few months hence-.t was im- possiole to keep pace with these improvements unless we, as a nation, are. prepared to spend much more than we do at present. If the taxes ran up any higher he thought the nation would have something to say. While ho was as anxious aa one to keep vhe navy efficient, he was not to be carried away by a scare, for be was confi- dent that whenever there was fear of the country being invaded by a ioe the whole country would be ready to resist such an attack. He ^>oi*ted out that when the naval volunteer force was formed in the town it had shown taat in six weeks a v few intedigeiit young men couia, when they threw their hearts into t..10 works, iJa Irl&:le aub to go thrcughthemaneeuvers in such awayastocailforsh tiie approbation of the priuce of Wales, wliile the Duke of Ed in hro, who went to the trouble to inspect -is young corps, went cut or his usual course to com^aniea;, tnein on the efficiency they had acquired. That shewed what could be done in ca^e of emergency. (Applause.) He regretted exceedingly that tiie Go ."eminent had not en- couraggti the formation of such corps more keaerahy throughout the country. He only tumk of one reason, and that was a feeling oi j\1lousy on the part or tupse who joined the navy lS an occupation. But ha need noo point ou, that On the part of the volunteers there was no spirit of rivalry—oniy a desire to defend our shores in time of war. (Applause). Captain J. LEWIS, Lieutenant W. J. Lkwis4 and Lieutciiaiiu EDWARDS, also responded. Dr. MORGAN gave tile toast of the Blisaops and Ministers of all denominations," and 'the Rev. Liewlyn JONES responded. Tne MAYO.: next gave the Houses ox Pariia- ment," and alluded to the necessity for a reform or the abolition of the House of Lords. Sir J. J. J EN KJN d, in response, after paying a h. £ "h tribute to the aid given to Oddfellowship by Bros. Richards and lie wis, said there might b8- different Views witn respect to the demonstrations Which took place last autumn. He did not know '.vnat eiiecc they -would have on tiie House of Lords, undoubtedly there were in that room, as elsewhere, people who "differed in their opinions as to parties wmcii were from tilue to time in power in be House of Commons; but whatever their opinions he thought all would agree that, if the House of lioras was to continue it must Le moulded more in accord with the feelings of the people. (AppLuSt.) iie thought in a non-political gathering he shouia be travelling out of his way were he to cecide whether the House of Lords should be blown up or blown down. (Laughter.) Probabiy beiore the end ot the year tne question would again come to the mint, and more decisive action taken. The hen. gentleman proceeded to say he did not look with any degree of alarm at the two great measures which are about to be- come law. He had spent the greater part of his life among working people, and he knew that the woricing classes would not, as some feared, aboto the power placed in their hands, but would send men to the House of Commons who wouid do their work in the best interests of tne country. There were at present inthoHouse two excellent exanmles of the working-man representative—men whohad never taken an extreme view of any question which come peiore the House of Commons, whether it touched the work- mg classes or the upper classes. (Hear, hear.) It >vomd be found, in reading the speeches of those gentlemen, that they were always iuoderate in torn and very effective in argument, and there- fore whenever taey rose they were always listened I to with tiie greatest attention. (Hear, near.) So why should people by afraid of the working ciasses? It was because they were acc. tiai not sufficiently acquainted With the working classes, U;,t1 aid uot know their views on great .questions, (ilear, lielr). in conclusion Sir John said that he had to tuank the Morriston people that he was ever a member of parliament. ior had they not returned iiim to tile Town, Council he should never have taken the higher step, lie,hoped the Mayor and Alderman Yeo u 1, would be equally successful, for they had bhewu tiieruseives so efficient in the aaminbtration of local affaus, that the people need have no fear of their neglecting their amy in a higher sphere. (Applause). The EX-MAHOR gave the toast of the Man- chester Unity," and alluded to the great progress oddfedowsnip was making in the country. It had been said that we as a nation were not Liiruty but he contended that they had only to point to the post office savings banks, the general uv.iigs banks, and the friendly societies to give a complete answer to so ridiculous a charge. (Applause).—Bro. Llewellyn Davies, C.S., res- ponded, and, in the course of an able speech, showed the vast strides oddfellow^ip has made during tiivpast 25 years. His opMion was that if employers of labour would more generally join friendly society lodges the relations with their men would be so improved that we should never hear of strife between employer and employed.— Bro. W..i. Lewis gave the toast of The mayor and corporation." and crave an interesting history of the town, tracuag its rise in 1801 from a village of 6,000 inhabitants to the im- portant position it now holds with 74,888.—The Mryor and Coanc.L'or Freeman responded.— Bro. Isaac Davies gave the toast of the "Loval St. John's Lodge," and BKS. D. Given, P.G., aud J. Ricbards, jua., responded, the latter say- inc tho total value per member of the lodge was £ 17 13s. (Applause.)—Other toasts followed, me less than 52 speeches being delivered in the coem, of the evening.