The Western Mail

I.. SOUTH WALES TIDE TABLE. i i 1 —— — :II ? s 3 i S S ?_ ? s 2s Wednoo f Morni'g j 11 0 1 10 7! 11 X 10 18 10 18 day E v m ng 11 27 110 34 /11 28 1 10 44 10 48 Se?:s(H?t? t26 9!Z6 0?28?7?28 p ?7 6 Thurs- f Mur'ing 111 52111 5 11 5. 1 11 16 I 11 15 day < Eveuin' 11 42 — 11 ,7 11 b7 S??t. 26 (. :i' = I 4; I }5 6 26 5¿ i n bZ £ F „ fMornin' | 12 '6 i !2 3) I 112 3 keJpv t. £ n1 l Ev ,117li 26 'l1 6 ?'?-(???? ? ??? ? 2311126 4 14 0 Satur- ("Morning j 2 lo | 1 12 1 2 511291128: Evening I 2 59 | 1 59 12"2?6 1 2 7 Sedpaty2, 8 H e iFh, 124 I22 101247126 11 146 ('Morning 35223' 3356 2 55 S-JMorning ??! ? ?! ??! 3M? 3 551' Seu,:b 1. E:r:h,g z1 2 12 l 12: 1 2Ó Mnnd'"?' t?"? ??? 3 44 I 4j? 3 57 I 359 458 ? 443?, 121 '434 81 '9 &W ept. oMu l Eveni I j 28 1 i410 6 2| 4 20(18 2 SePt' 30 H?igrh, 28 1023 19129242 (Morni'5 5 454 34 5 29 1 4 40 I ?'1 ? E?Jn'? ?ig 143?i 5 49 4 59 Oct '(.He?:):?285t:1591o B >at.h Basin fEast Dock Sil JAlexauara jjoci: 3Dook Sill

BAROMETRICAL INDICATIONS. Appended is a charr of the barometrical readinc« for the 48 hours ended Tuesday midnight, as regis- ter?d t.. i tered at the WeØt6n1. Muit Olhce, Oarditf. The instrument is 33ft. above sea lev-

WEATHER FORECAST. TKiTKRl»A*'8 FoitlMMKT. I YK8Ti:RI>AT'S WIITHRK, E".t"?ly & .'th-e-Aft'y "?t h- ?.?W 'Iy winds, winds, light r ngk- hght fine, ?.t" ?l.?dy; M' ;:i thd: IO.c Th« (ereua«t -f tb weather throughout tbe W.-? of ..i? d ..d S.,?tb WleR for t,o-dav(Wednesday)i* or easterly nil's; weather doubtful, probaMy close and- unsettled, unth. thunderstorms in places.

TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL. nATE, .— Cf':MPBR1 Max. iMiu. Mean RAINFALL :11.8 70 45 57.0 O'OO Wednesday, !l9 71 46 53'5 0.00 Thursday 20 Friday ?l 70 47 58,5 OJ'O Saturday 22 71 47 59 0 0"00 Sunday ? M 47 585 0'00 Mocda.y. 24 72 47 I 59 5 0'00 TheTfttuperature represents extreme reading of the thermometer for 24 hours ended 9 a.m., taken in the shade at Cwrt-y-Vil, Peuarth, The Rainfall registered at Cwrt-yVil, Penarth, for the 24 hours ended 9 m.

ABKRYSTWITH, Tuesday Evel1in. Bar.meter, 30"194, falling; thermometer, 69'6 in the olInde, Wind N. The aineunt «f sunshine registered by J.?d. re?. ?' f.r the 24 heurs P,???di. 9 a,m. was 7 hours Zd' Another pl?.,iid day warm flue; light, variable airs. Sea calm.

OTTER HUNTING. PKMUUOKKSMIEE AND CARMA&THENSHIBE HOUNDS. P?,id.y, 13?pt. 27 (by ar?@g m?-nt), Bridgend, St C l?rs for the Tave (to finish the season)—10 a.n. >

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL SERVICES. Wednesday, Sept. ^5.—Barnby in E "Ih, "O, 'ullivan). Thursday, Sept 26.-Garrett in F hymn, 222. Friday, SiTt Rus?ell in A; an e." with me (Bennett). Saturday, Sept. r: -Stainer in E flat; anthem, Th r, with gl.d .,cb..g?l. (N.,?110)

TO-DAY'S EVENTS. -= CARDIFF. Finance Committee n.O Police-court .I. *? I. l1 OpeniugEute-roadpoliv,4?-stat-'on *i:o' P.bli,? W.,k. (Pl?.??) ? 1.. 3.0

SUMMARY OF NEWS. According to the Paris correspondent of the Berlin "Lokalanzeiger," Prince Lobanolf and M. Hanotaux have agreed as to the arrange- ments for the journey which President Faure wm make to Moscow on the occasion of the Czar's coronation. Both statesmen have, moreover, conferred with respect to the Armenian and East Asiatic questions, and have come to a complete unuer^tanding, ac- cording to which France supports Russia in the attempt which the latter wiU sooner or late) make to oust completely the Japa11>ese h-oni Corea, and in return Russia iti,i aid Fiance to drive the British from Egypt, It is asserted that the eldiest son of the Duke of Cumberland will succeed' t-o the Throne of the Duchy of Brunswick when he conies of age in 1898, provided he visits a German college and enters the German Army. The fitters' dispute on the Taff Vale Rail- way is assuming tili more ¡¡erious proportions. The matter is to be disc-used at the next meeting of the directors. The annual show of the Vale of Gla- morgan Agricultural Society was held on Tuesday at (Jowbridge. The inquest on the victims of the Iona disaster was resumed at Limehouse on Tues- day, when serious allegations were made a,gainst the captain aud totally denied. The inquest was further adjourned for a. week. The examination of Oscar Wilde at the London Bankruptcy Court oil Tuesday was adjourned until November 12, it being stated that sufficient money would be forthcoming to pay all the creditors 20s. in the R, with the exception of the largest creditor, a friend of the debtor's. The statement of affairs disclosed a totail indebtedness of £ 3,591, with substantially no assets. At Cardiff Police-court on Tuesdav the summons ajrainfit Captain Campbell, of the Westward Ho!, for disobeying the order of ? the order of the pier-mastfr on September 7, was dis- missed. The annual conference of the Western Tem- perance League was held at Oardiff on Tues- day, Mr. W. B. Hajvey (Frome) presiding. On the motion of Mr. Ebenezer Beavan, a resolution wias adopted in favour of Sunday Closing in England. Mrs. Margaret Tanner (Clifton) was elected president for the ensuing year, and it was decided to hold the next oonference at Rfading, A public meeting was held at night, when Mr. E. R. Moxey, J.P., occupied the chair. The expected development at Llanelly over the "make" question has not taken place, and work is going on, presumably on the terms of the agreement recently anivedgt, There can be no doubt, however, that a large section of the men are bitterly disappointed with theise tecme. or At a public meeting held at Reynoldstone on Monda.v night resolutions were adopted to the effect that a 1iJ¡rt railway throughout the length of the Gower Peninsula would be of greot advantage to the district, and that the sdherne should be introduced to London capitalists. Dr. Wight was on Tuesday sent for trial as the result of the coroner's inquest as to the death of Mrs. Fletcher, of Holloway- road, London. Monev was on Tuesday again very ai b un- da.n:d ':n:fo1y :osb: lendaJble at i per cent., while loans over the settlement remained without change at 4 per oent. The Discount Market, how- ever, was steady, and, with rather more bills offering, rates for first-class acceptances were quoted fully i per cent. On the Stock Exchange dealers were principally engaged with the adjustment of the account in the Mining Market. Business was on a very limited scale all round, with the exception of South African Mining Shares, which were active and strong. Local business was also limited.

EDITORIAL COMMENTS. This is "pa.r excellence" the age of imita- tions. We live in a world of shams and deceptions. Gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, silk, china, works of the "old masters," post- age stamps, the flint implements of our pre-historic anceeem-allfhidp, in fact, that wealth can buy or the collector hankers after are now imitated, so that we can never feel safe that we have the real article. Even Mr. Gladstone's characteristic postcard has not escaped the hand of the imitator. Find. ing that the Grajid Old Man's autograph is of oommerciaJ value among our American cousins, some enterprising Briton has turned his attention to the manufacture of "auto- graph" lettel's and postMrds bearing Mr. Gladstone's sign manual, which are sold as coming direct from the Hawardçn sage. It is amost a pity the fraud conies somewhat late, for, had it been found out earlier, the discovery might often have been the means of saving the country from much doubt and anxiety. For to discover the hidden mean- ing ol a Gladstone postcard a correspondent had always to employ a divining-rod.

The principle of constructing light rail- ways for the benefit of agricultural districts could probably never be better exemplified than in the caxe of the Gower Peniissula. We observe that a proposal is on foot to con- nect that extensive out-of-the-way oorner of Glalllorganshire more closely with the centres of population by the building of a railway of this character, and if it be really a feasible plan, to which the hills present no insuperable obstacles, we are only surprised that no one has started the project before. Here an agricultural district, dotted with scattered villages for a distance of from twenty to twenty-four miles from Swansea, is entirely without railway accommodation for four-fifths of its length. In addition to the convenience to agriculturists which a railway would confer, there is the additional prospect of increase of visitors, who would: probably flock to one of the most romantic stretches of coast in the British Isles. So we wish well to the proposal to which our attention lias just been drawn, and hope that it wial prove a feasible one and be carried out at no remote date. Doubtless, the question of light railways will receive due consideration from the Government and the public in future. There are ever so many districts besides Gower where the need of such means of transit and communication is equally great. In Cardiganshire the matter has been taken up with a certain degree of enthusiasm, and it is to be hoped the suggestion of the Bishop of Chester—which is really a revival of aii old sehcme-wi!\ end in something besides talk andto tetters to the "Times."

SUNDAY CLOSING. It is a treat to listen to Councillor Ebenezer Beavan pouring out his voluminous soul on Sunday Closing, and he never did it with better effect and with greater unction than at the Western Temperance League meeting yesterday. We had hoped that, in the face of the remarkable evidence placed before him last February, he had been gained over to reason, but were mistaken. In spite of that convincing evidence, Mr. Beavan is as stalwart a Sunday Closer as ever, and would not only turn the raw tighter on Cardiff and Wales, but demands that the iron which has sunk so deep into our soul here shall also be placed on the shoulders of Kngland. We do not for a moment cast any doubt upon the convictions of Mr. Beavaai. There is no question that he believes as firmly in th advantages and usefulness of Sunday Closing as he does in his own existence, or as a pagan does in the powers of the idol he blindly worships. But belief, ill-founded and irrational, goes for nothing. What astonishes us most is, not that Mr. Beavan believes in Sunday Closin, ( as an abstract principle, but that he should believe it to be of advantage to Cardiff and to Wales, and that the people of Cardiff in particular are in favour of it. No man knows better thalt Mr. Beavan what the results of Sunday Closing in Cardiff have been-tliat it has honeycombed the town with shebeens and clubs, converted hundreds of men, "-omen, and children into drunkards, and filled our police-court with offenders and our prison with the convicted. It has converted most of our Buburoo on the day of rest into so many pandemoniums, making it unbearable for any quiet-loving man to live amid scenes of such dot and drunkenness. Mr. Beavan knows ali this; it is no news to him. He knows, too, that Cardiff groans under the burden the Act has placed upon it. At the beginning of this year the" Western Mail," in order to test public feeling in the town, introduced a plebiscite, in conducting whicii Mr. Ebenezer Beavan rendered most ready and valuable service. In fact, it was lie who took charge of the voting papers and the counting and declared the result. The issue put before the electors was p'lain a-nd simple. The question merely asked did tliey wish to amend the Act, so that public-houses should be opened for a short time on Sunday. The result was: For amending the Act, 8,553; against, 2,574; neutral, 381. Thus was the voice of Cardiff emphatically and unmistakably declared againist Sunday Clos. ing. This was the question that decided the election on the last occasion. The people of Cardiff will do anything to get rid of the Act. In spite of all this, however, we have temperance leaders and town councillors proLouncing in its favour, and declaring 1 what a blessing it has been. But England is not likely to listen to the voice of the tempter, as Wales did in the hour of weak- ness, Of this there is no danger, let the Western Temperanoe League clamour until it is hoarse.

TEMPERANCE UNDER FALSE PRE. TENCES. We have never entertained any great admiration for teetotalism, whether it comes in the guise of Sunday Closing, Local Option, or some other objectionable form, but we care for it least of all when it presents itself in false and misleading colours. At the outset, therefore, we candidly confess that we cherish no love or respect for that society which holds its ?n.?ti.g,? in Cardiff this veek—the Western Temperance League —for we are convinced that it is a move- ment which comes among us under fal.e pretences. The league has always given the public to understand that it is a non-political society, existing only with the view of pro- moting temperance and temperanoe legislation. Allowing, for argument's sake, that a society with such an object could be non-political, under any circumstances, we maintain that, in the light of recent political history and the present relations of parties, tbe league cannot by any possibility be non-political. If there, was one Bill more than any other which sharply divided the two great parties in the House of Commons, it was the Looal Veto Bill, a proposal to which the Gmserva- tives could never agree," and which, doubt- less, was one of the chief contributory causes to the disaster which followed the Radical party at the polls. The Local Veto Bill was Radical in the warp and in the woof, and any society which oould support such a measure forfeits every claim to pose as a non-poV.tioal body. In spite, however, of the Western Temperance League's professions, what did we find at yesterday's meeting? Why, a resolution was proposed expressing regret "that the voice of the people, as ex- pressed at the general election, was not favour- able to the temperance legislation proposed by the late Government"—in other wo- ^s, to the Local Veto Bill. It is true that the 1 motion as originally worded was not passed, but it was objected to only by a few of the more intelligent of the members, lvoho were 1 keen enough to discover how inconsistent the motion was with the professed policy of the league. After a. deal of quibbling, an amended form was proposed and adopted, and the motion was passed. As amended, the resolution declared that "the league re-affirmed the principle of popular control of the drink trade, as expressed in the Local Veto Bill," which made matteus quite as bad as, if not worrethan, before. To say that the Local Veto Bill was not one of the great issues on which the election was fought is merely throwing dust in the eyes of the public. If it nvias not, what brought out, as the teetotalers peisist in stating, the brewers and the publicans against them in every constituency in the country? More- over, the Local Veto Bill was a measure introduced1 by it Radical Government and backed by the most pronounced Radicals in the House. For the league, therefore, to maintain in the face of these fad>! tlvat it is a non-political body is absurd and false and dishonest. It may have on its roll of membership several distinguished and un- distinguished Churchmen. That means nothing. The league is as Radical a society as exists in this country, aud ever so /nucli more dangerous because, professing attach- ment to no party, it may capture the weak and the unwary.

LIGHT RAILWAY FOR I GOWER. I ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING OF FARMERS. SCHEME TO BE PUT BEFORE I LONDON CAPITALISTS. A publio meeting was held at the King, Arthur Hotel, Reynoldstone. on Monday even- ing to consider the project mentioned in our columns on Tuesday of constructing a light railway from Swansea throughout the length of ,he Gower Peninsula. Mr. Kiohard Beynon (Burry's Green) presided, and there was a. repre- B6ut-ative attendance of fannpr8 and other resi- dents of Gower.Mr. Hy. N. Miers, who has taken the initiative in the matter, said he had for years felt a great interest in this subiect of light railways. The defect in the late Govern- ment Bill, however, was that the onus and ex- pense of making these railways was cast on the district suffering from the depression. He (Mr. Miers) had had a great desire to do some- thing for Gower, and had consulted some Lon- don friends, who had promised him that when he bad consulted the inhabitants and got the mpport of tho landowners, they would ta-ke tlie scheme into their consideration.Mr. H. F. Stevens, an engineer of experience in these mat- ten, had reported that the project was feasible. -It was proposed to utilise the Oywtermjouth Railway WI far as Blackpill, then to run over Sir Robert Morris's old railway up Clyne Valley, then o cross under the London and North Western Railway, and run up to Three Cresses, and skirt the hill to Reynoldstone. If necessary, tho line could be taken on to Port Eyron or Rhossilly. So far as he had con- sulted Ithe landowners, he had met with every success. Mr. Cory Y eo ond Sir Robert Morris had expressed their approval of the scheme, and Sir John Jones Jenkru; had promised them every assistance with regard to running powers. H. F. Stevens, the engineer, then described the scheme, and Mr. Nicholl, on behalf of Mis. Talbot, remarked that that lady's attitude had always been to comply with the wish of the neighbourhood in the matter of a rsilway.—The Hon. Odo Vivian said he Hought the scheme woidd be beneficial to C'ower. -Others speakers followed, and resolu- tions to the effect that a light railway such as that proposed would be of great advantage to the distriot, and especially to tho farmers, and that Mr. Miers be requested to introduce the scheme to London capitalists, were carried unanimously.

VOLUNTARY EDUCATION. EXTENSION OF SCHOOL BOARD SYSTEM DEMANDED. THEIR POSITION AS REGARDS SCHOOL BOARDS. A SATISFACTORY COMPARISON. SPEECH BY THE BISH< V' OF ST. ASAPH. The "Dadly News" sayi?:—We understand that at thf forthcoming autumnal meetings of the Congrespational and Ba-ptist Unions pre- liminary s^ps wiN, in all probability, hs taken for the fornlaItiion of a national commitl<>e. representing every denoitvinatoion, to resist the further endowment of denominational schools, and to demand tihe extension of the school board systvm to all part* of the country. It is intended tho* this committee will get to work with the I-,t poss1-hle ù.-Iay. so that public opinion may be roused before the expect*<1 re- actionary proi».ll8 of the Government ron be submitted to Parliament. The Biahop of St. Asaph, speaking at Si Asaph Diocesan Conference on Tuesday, said their duty as Churchmen waa to make the peaceful years that lay before them fruitful in good works. Church ref Of III dud thtir voluntary scflvoole clainled first attention. He pointed out thfct the difference in expense between board and voluntary sohools was eMr. mous. If there were any compensatory advan- t.og. in the inferior ed,\lca.tion givell in the board sohools, he should not deprecate the expense, but there was no such compensating advantage. He doubted whether the secular education given in the board schools in Waits was one whit better than that given in the vol unitary soboole. The additioo:.al fraction gained in grant. by the boaj-d schools was explained by the fact that many of the volun- tary schools were situated in the poorest dis- tricts. Closely allied to education were the various social questions that occupied, so much attention lilt the present time. These questions, it seemed to him, oould only be ,hopefully approached front the Christian standpoint. It was the duty of every Churchman and of evtj y citizen to study them. Social legislation millht prove most helpful and wholesome, but the final solution laid. not in the sphere of legal enactment, but in that of morality and religion. (ApplaweO

NEW RAILWAY TO LONDON LOCAL TRADERS CANVASSED FOR; SUPPORT. AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE SUGGESTED. The interest in the projected i) £ w line from South Wales to London shows no ..i\{ns of a3>atenitflit, and the practicability of the pro- posals set forth in the columns of the "Wes- tern Mail" h- formed one of the principal topics of conversation amongst the merchants and shipowners at Cardiff Docks. Quite recently the promoters of the undertaking made a ca*iva«e of local ce-pitaliete witfi the view (f obtaining a guarantee of the preliminary ex. penses, and we are informed that a substantial sum was promised or 8ul"ibed. '1'1101'<- i. a feeling, however, among some of the most prominent men that the Bill should first be introduced and a definite proposal submitted for consideration. When this is done the necessary capital will be forthcoming. The scheme foreshadowed in the "Western Mail" or Tuesday, in which the proposed through the Rfoondda Valley, met r.illl ,orne oriticisra. It is pointed out that sonu- of tiE, gradients are altogether unsuitable for a heavy passenger traffic, but the difficulty can be over- rome by ador>tintf anotiher route. It is 8Ujf- gr$<ted that the new railway should 1, con- ti.d from Nwl,.?t, .(,rZ. the Mo.?. to Car- diff, where it would join the Barry line. From tnence it would proceed via Cadoxton and the now Vale of Gtamowm R"i:w"y to Bid,?-d. From the h*t? t;am to Port T?lbot or Briton j-erry a new iiue would Ie constructed, and the .Mtomkk Mi d S?tM.? Bav Hajiw?y woul d form the continuation to Swansea, Suoh a.! route j» pructdcaily easy of ace?pli4mnt, '?d[t b.. ?e advantage of P.Mg through Cardan aM Barry.

LONDON LETTER. IFROBI OUR LONDON COBBE8P#JfDKNT8.3 LONDON, TUESDAY, THE PORTE AND THE POWERS. The word of caution given in these column* about the acceptance of the rumour of a settlement with the Poite without au. pIe oontirmation hÆJÆ; been justified by the telegrams published to-day. The Powera have not accepted the overtures of the Sultan, neither have they made any (;UnoeS8ion in their original demands for the better govern- ment of Armenia. The policy of procrasti- nation which the Sultan ad??)ted has utterly faJted..M Ukewit-e have his effoits to create a division between Lord i'\a¡J¡sbluV. M. Hanotaux, and Prince Lobam»tf. The Powers were never more insistent daa i>ov> They are at one on the question, and they will not hesitate to go to extreme measures if the Su.tan declines to put in force the reform* embodied in the Armenian Charter. For more than four month* has this scheme of reform been before him. lie has employed every device of Oriental states- maJlhip to wriggle out of some of it* provi- s iuns, and all without effect. Now that he sees the Powers are still unyielding it is to be hoped that he will gracefully capitulate and accept the inevitable. OSCAR TILDK. A crowd of curious-minded people a«sem- bled at the Bankruptcy Court this mo!.t1Íng to catch a glimpse of the prisoner Wilde. It wa known that he would be hrought from Wandsworth for his public examination, and half an hour before the oase wa« down for hearing the court was crowded. Wilde did enter the precincts of the court, but it was found unnecessary to call him, and to the disgust of the sightseers, especially one old lady, the prisoner was cUllveyed back to YYandsworth in the same four-wheeler in which he came. He has lost considerable weight since his incarceration, but is in the enjoyment of remarkably good health. Since his departure from Wormwood Scnibbs he lias occupied his time chiefly in tlie manu- facture of mail bags. He is treated other- wise somewhat differently from the rest, having been gr?ted the .1-ial pri\'ile of taking exercise bv himseJf, -hilt wbn in chapel be is allowed to -py the debtor'"I p,w- w.t entirely isolated from tl?,- of the other prisoner.. JABBZ BALFOUR. Another interesting prisoner, Jabez, is also in the enjoyment of good health. I am informed by a mutual friend, who has seen him recently, that not only is he in the best of health, but is also in the Highest spirits. He expresses every confidence in his ability to prove his innocenoe of all the charges wliich the Official Receiver has brought against him. He lias, I am al*o told, shown thf keenest interest in the Kaffir boom, whilst his comments and criticisms have been pointed and characteristic. THE DUKE'S FIANCEE. It is interesting to learn that before the Duke of Marlborough left this country for his trip to the State. he purchased at a we;I-known jeweller' in Regent-street C20,000 worth of gems. Time ha? explained the rNlsm of an act which then was not very apparent. AN APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL. I Unable to agree about the merits of rival counsel, the vestriee interested in the supply of water from the E-?,t End company .,e decided to seek the a,sisfanee of the London County Council. As the water company will be rprented by eminent counsel, it Is the natural desire of the vestries to be profes- sionally represented also. Unfortunately, there is a divided opinion a-s to who shall be r engaged. Mr. W. R. Bousfield and Mr. Fletcher Moult-on voluntarily proferred their services, but certain members, discerning oom" sinister object in such unexpected gene- rosity—01 ■something ehe equally detrimentad—opposed their nomination, and propos-ed others. interested ratepayers thought this action more suspicious still, and did not hesitate to 'denounce it. And so the ball of dissent went rolling on until ye-ster- day, when, as a happy means of escape, it was decided at a conferenoe of the vestries to appeal to the London County Council for assistance- Even this action was objected to, but time is short, and it is necessary, if the vestries intend having their oase well put before the Local Government Boaach to ap- point somebody to get it up. and SG, after much discussion, this action was agreed upon. As the London County Council are anxious to have a shot at the company, and have before offered to fight the company for the vestries, there is no question about their not acceding to the overtures ROW. A deputation will wait upon them in due course. THE UNION TICKET. Another strike of bricklayers has occurred here. It i,, the old dispute 'about Union and non-LTnion men. The Operative Bricklayers' Society refuse to allow their members to work with non-Union men. and, in con- sequence, many works i. town are n-? "t a standstill. To-day the Free Labour A.?i.i,. have issued a iiianif?to protest- ing against the ky?,ni.1 methods of the Union officials, and instancing oa«es of hard- ship. The question of ,-age. is not in dispute; it is purely one of principle. The Free Labour Association are quite willing for Unionists and non-Unionists to work side by ide at th" ClLITnt rate of wage^, but the society officials decline to allow their men to I do this, and so the dispute continues. The association officials are t,ki g at;n c::et a11e tton'fgf¡: I Union, and are offering work to bricklayers for six month* eeitain at the recognised Trades Union rate of wages. They are obtain- ing much support, and are confident of 8ucce8. HOYAL C'fOP.AL SoCIKTT. I Ui-like the promoters i()f the provincial festivals, the Royal Choral Society is content to perform year by year the old oratorio* and works which h1lve already achieved popularity, instead of introdudng !Joveltie«, which may or may not prove Irocœfu!. Such policy is to be regretted for many reasons, but it cannot be dienied that it has its good features. After all, the wisdom of a policy is seen in the results which it achieves, and packed houses and full exchequers are a sufficient answer to all criticism. The pro- spectus for the coming season* which is now before me, promises us the best works of Handel, Mendelssohn, and Haydn. and in addition. Dr. Hubert Parry's "Invocation to ¡' Music," which is to be produced at the coming Loods Festival. The vocalists en- gaged include all the best-known artiste** now before the public, whilst the presence of Sir J-,?ph B.?,ibv a. a conductor is sufficient gu?n,t? that the perform\lnœs wi iI main- tain their usual high standard of excellence. COST OF A FESTIVAL. it Some interesting figures have jUO!t been published bearing upon the oomirlf Leeds Festival. It is estimated th-at the cost of promoting this undertaking is about 29.000. The receipts are estimated at £ 11,000, thus leaving a balance of R2,000 (for medicad charities. The expenses are calculated as follows:—Conductor and soloists, £ 2.000; orchestra, £2,500; chorus m""te¡,. cost of rehe<!rsaJ, and chorus singers. £2.500, and advertising and incidentals, £ 2.000. Madame Albani and Mr, Edward Llovd receive 100 guineas per concert, but the other voca lists, though liberally- paid, are expected to con- sider the honour of appearing II>< a great consideration. Sir Arthur Sullivan receives but 300 guineas for 1,i. .-erviœs. whilst fees for new works, it is said, are very modest, one hundred vtiineac-a sum paid for Macfarren's "Joseph" amd Su-lliv^ns j "The Golden Legend'*—representing the hisrh- waur mark. The band rehearsals for this year's f0"tival commenced y?^~rdft.y* and vrill 0f'\nro11n to-morrow. COLI,BCTORS. Lord Rosebery i oot a co1 lector (of Napoleonic reVics. A paragraph to this effect was circulated a little while ago. and it has had the effect off bringing him shnals of tetter offering f»d<Vitiorw to a collection which dOff; not exist. His lordship did at one time tcke an interest in postage stamp*, but this pursuit he has given up. The Duke of York, who &:«o at one time was a irreat1 collector of postage tamps, has abandoned the hobby. His collection warf so extensive that when he left Kngland it was deposited ,1t the Safe Deposit in Chancerv-!am. and valued at C56,000, In many respects it --a. »*^r»valled. He has, it is ..id, dig. posed of it to Ewon Ferdinand Rothschild whose collection is the finest in the world. A USE FOR RECEI TION DRESSES. Reception dresses, like wedding gowns, cannot be worn every day. neither can they be worn very often, and many ladies in s<K"jetv have been puzzled as to wlwit use they car. put them. One distinguished lady appeals to have solved the problem in verv iugenious She has been in the habit of sending her dresses after use to an upholsterer, and of having an occasional ch,.tir upbolfftemd with the n?ten? Very effective '???" '-fi, i,pp--no. of thE8e ch&irs in htT.h*'?* room, and, M doubt, as a record ,? I triumph., they afford extemi? t?iT atfter-danmer gogsip.

THE SEVERN NVATERWAR I ITS DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION. I A GREAT FUTURE FOR CARDIFF. THE PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTING CENTRE FOR THE MIDLANDS 'rlw development of du, &wm rat an. .t the pr?-nt tm?e ?ttrac<??n??* hon anions the shipowner au?i Cardiff, and it is at la-s-t be^inmup to be perww n??! t)?.t the new route of (onunu?f  ?tw?n tdW BriMol Olnmnel acd tJie Mt? lias a g,,?L?t f,,t- liefoit II. Winn it |Tl7 )tM a )!re.it future befo;-e it. WiK:,) ??* m mind t.ha.t between C?diff ..n?j Bjnu;,j,? millions it will be r.adily .seen that tQ rrn^A for U?, wauts of su,h a la,wv coaunuuitj. tt. t.?ft, in food jirodtwts ",Iooe IUURI lg inortuo, At 6,: p,t t?,?, Birmiu(jimUli wtlÍ( j« Mt?ropoii. of the Al.di?ds, obt.oM ?s \u?' from three ,0?.?-Lo?on, L.v<j,M? ?. Hull-aud the water (.oinH.un?t.ou from 01 ,be"" cfcufcrea is largely iliad. u-e of bo- for export and import PUI'I1O,e.. Ih developing tihe Severn waterway, however lilt Mid.ands will be in more duwt touch witfc lit, Mjaboaivl. the -of ktood.. .ii and the time owupied in transit always a important item in t? (..TI.ja of M.?i-?t m? uJ???-?ti be .ahuh?y ?it? than }» .uju" die Me?y. Trsnt, m 'l?am? rwiJ? i? .;m..i;tx){e to 1. muntd by t4?, ttt" fOm, U; undoubted. An \ddm<.u?).t I }I:;lf;e<i"Id,ldoá the ttmM of manufactured nd ?nerat ?oo d s, ana, )(t?. ?me tune, a more economica i mean» of imMK- i'? food products into the deh.My pOM?M' di?tl?(?t6 of StffonWt"" ?d Wjra?te?,, Cwajtf mU al*o benefit, ma?nu?h eh* *ifl be pla<?d on ? iK? an ???t fùohuK wi Rr?o). wh.<:t at p-t enjoy* a inoaop? of tw g.-I ?.lp_, =de of the West, Mor* ovt*\ the 10 pe? cent, preferential rate whii now ex?? in favour of the W-t?l- cm- '? b«<HUe a tkiDlf of the t?.. 'n.e ue? .?' of the Severn waterway ?i) ?ve to Uaid ff" opportunity of .xknùm th. ?.eraj 1UIJ and ."I1OM t,?d, ,?hil, will n), b- 10" ?! ot. and ?nMdy ne?u?otM are m mj?- w;di some of the leading brm., of shippetv Jtro convey all kind., of merchaudl'e to a? frc*>,  M\dla.nd. and f-,ig3, port at till.?gi? The time oix-upw d m .ni?n? Ù1B xnJ between C??tf ?ad WO"r t ,w.? and it hoped within a ?th r?- ?? direct oommun.c-atio* wm be obtained with ft? mmifluuu, wt?.h ? 29 nn!? M,i) further K.? M \K<h ba, b(I? made of the ??,r Mmwnf to be exi??,'te?l from the L,?.txx,i MOT ?. must be remembered, however, that th, B^n» Channel pom WII! f*lU "")Of a frreat ad.ya.nt?e. inaamu<t tliey have practically a f;w warw"1 for 65 miles }> rom (,.??d,ff to Sharpnes^ S miles, whi,l? a boolutly free, and fro_ hharpness to Worcester, a d!sta.nœ of 30 nuT the toll \8 only 6d. a ton, p<?Me to tb. 8;.? Comim?one? W.H. the deve)opm?t of 16 trathe the C'-diff Corporation ?h.?ld Mtt return for the money they have expended ia deepening < he Severn, but, in order that th. greatest advantages can be secured, it is eaten. tial that the h?t ?pre?entative. on the ?ern CommiM.on ?ou;d attend the meeting arid fostr the trade m every possible ..a.. ?hent? Cardiff Cot!ntr Counc!] "?M S. money to the S" Comm?ioneM ?Mtr mM. Sanders was eie?teti a life represMttti? We believe, however, that the alderman hu attended few of the meeting. If the local representatives ind it incou- venient to fulfil the duties to which they have been elected, then. in fairne?tcth, t-? an d those eu?Ked in developing i), 7:n, th,3- h" ?l?"rlddI.pi.g iw are iiite!r?ted i the undertaking and pm ,M to devote li??r services to the ,?t_i. of the traffic. As we have already pointed out, the time occupied in tranit. wnl be J- than from either Li,,rp-l, Hull, (", London, and there i, thik? additional -d-t.g,. ht JOO-ton boat, ?° ,thin 29 ??' 't? Midland Metropolis. It is a]<o ?9,?} thHt}M Br:ihUi:W I'lt:: Worcester and B.m.ins h am, will bajety excee d 2s. a tft, These rates are muA lower than th(? now I existing between Birmingham and Hull, LOD. don, or Liverpool. Another *r>int in favour of Cardiff a* a centre is the fact that Rftili&|i to foreign port w? more frequent at Cardiff than any other port in the kingdom. I??guk liners have to remain -?, Ih? berth for tted periods, whereas Cardiff would have duplictis and even tr;pliea1<¡ sailings in the ,am. I.nh of time. The new waterway should aI." g". a great impetus to Continerrtal traffic a* asramsi Harwich, Southampton, PWroouvh, I Liverpool, and L.nd.?,, 1-- th- are d.ity sailing* from many of tb, German, D,,t?k Belgian, and French p.,t, of "I, ?hi4 bound to come to Cardiff fCfr their out-van) 0..r¡;¡o. The development of the import fcrtds in this manner will also stimulate the railways too grant wpecial facilities for dealing with the traffic which have not been afforded in tile f"L,t. Up to the present the railway com- panies have only laid themselves out for the coal, pit wood, and iron ore trades, but ly catering for general traffic Cardiff w ill hp placci 011 an equ..1it" with the other principal porto of the kingdom—a most desirable end to attaia.

A VICAR SUSPENDED. The Rev. Kdward Oerton, vicar of Tebas, has be^n suspended by the Bishop of CarK>e for improj>er conduct wiH, young girls of bis congregation. fr. Oerton is a just-ice of the pence for Westmorland and a Poor-law fiw dian.

LLANELLY HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. INSPECTING THE TRAINING WALL. On Monday the Llanelly Harbour Commis- sioner* paid their annual visit of inspection to the training wall, whioh runs from Penoiawdd to the estuary. The- party drove to 1' clawdd in a break, and returned to Lla-nshy over the training wall. The hank was found to be in splendid condition all the way down* and no serious gaps Weæ noticed. A bplecdid channel, over lOf de€p in *ome places, rulll alonll the hank even at dead low WAtw. 1'bQ con-inissiom-rs apl.red to be quite Q.tlfhfd witii the result of (heir visit, while the engineer, Mr. Fowler. expre,-sed himself pleased w»tk the present position of thing-

HEAVY FAILURE AT SWANSEA. GROSS LIABILITIES £ 4,900. The statement of affairs of David B&rce#, 4 63, Oxford-street, Swansea, furniture and bicycb dealer, shows greas liabilities amounting £ 4,903 12s. 5d., ..nei a deficiency of £ 3,0M 6s. 9d. The stock-in-trade of the debtor if valued at E410 and the book debts at ;ci,&w The debtor gives. the causes of hi. insolvency bad trade, bad debts, and loss on a shop al Pontardawe." ')«

LIBERAL ORGANISATION IN WALES. PROPOSED COUNTY CONVENTION* 8r.¡¡,; :ue now being token to giv* effect ti 1'e rtjolut:on passed bv the WeI4i National Council a fortnight ago, recommmding t).,1I01<1- i1 of a. -er ies of coui.tv or constituency (..00- veutions tliroughout the Principality. The secTeia-ry of b,, Welsh N'atlona.1 in an offie:a.1 communication which lias bMS ,I to the of tlie exiting Liberti ü'OŒat'1o.1l£. invite* ti- bodies to taka th*' Iøary ste-pg for dh." summoning and hcldi-ng of such corivent oiiv in their resp^W «»n«n.ituencies. 'IV nece»*'ty for making tkeie Pr:nvønt.i0l18 8M wide'y repre^it««t:ve a' po«ibl# i. "mrt.('(l in tbe circular already issue d "It" declaies that it «l»oi:ld be made o-ir- fed h- eI at the outlet that these convsa* t-ions are neittter officially associated held in the inter"t.; of an" particular sH-ion Or section of tUe party.

A meeting was held at Alderman DavieA I u\#etin Wa.6 beJd at .iÚfl"InaTJ J)\'i"" i fa.t:I;e oh/dKíllrc=¡ fc^ Church Defence. The chair was tafr« bv Mr. J. Fear Davies, ,T.p. It was resolved to have a course of lectures on Church hi,t- Air. R. E. D?ll, the lectUr&< to ), :)'n<tf<? by lime-liffht views. TOKT5f5UEr>, DIWIGUBED, HUMILIATED by '?W -4htly ekin .?d bi-d di-. 1. b 7' d (,? CUTICURA revftcdUea are lb. I?r-t-9 4" purll! as well a. Mood p n" of tW pvcalifu1 action on the poIW. tiiev aurcess^ curing tur:ine. di8ftgur. hIDIIR!.UIJ! when tM ,-I i*eme4k* and even 1t1. bsst phy- fiL P-. -t. economical, -d pWly sflsrtwa* I -'&Ü;ioaJ; wtto Uave mBuim lon &rA hopeg?ly. Tbedr ? ? a d., and pure blood, as well as sound bodily, beahfe