The Cardiff Times

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, & DEATHS BIRTH. EVANS.—On the 16th inst., at Eaglesbush House, Neath, the wife of Walter Rice Evans, of a daughter (prematurely), stillborn. MARRIAGES. DAVIES—EVANS.—At Ro ith-road Wesleyan Chapel, by the Rev. Mr Clogg, Harriet Emily (Harrie), daughter of Mr John Ogieby Davies, of Stanley House, Tre- degarville, Cardiff, to Edward Evans, of Brims- combe Court, near Stroud. 271 FORESTIER-WALKER—JUSTICE.— On the 9th inst., at St. James, Paddington, Radzivill F. Forestier- Walker, second son of Sir George F. R. Forestier- Walker, Bart., of Castletown, Mon., to Eva, second daughter sf Colonel Justice. Craig-yr-Haul, Castle- town, Cardiff. HUGHES—JONES.—October 13th, by licence, at Croesy- waen Chapel, Waenfawr, bv the Rev. Wm. Philip Williams, J. Vernon Hughes (of Cardiff), 20, Thomas- street, Carnarvon, to Edith Annie, daughter of Mr J. L. Jones, B.A., Grammar and Collegiate School, Carnarvon, and Wergloddfawr, Waenfawr. 8766 RANDELL-REES.-Oct. 16, at St. Thomas's Church, Neath, by the Rev. Marsden, cur'to of Tonna, Frank, youngest son of the late Mr John Randell, merchant, Llanelly, to May, second daughter of Mr John Rees, Penydre House, Neath. 8770 DEATHS. BIBBINGS,-On the 11th inst., at 72, Beanchamp-street, Jack, dearly beloved son of Amelia Bibbings, aged 5 years 1 month. 736 DAVIES.-At his residence, Wellington-street, Ton- gwynlais, Thomas Davies, aged 75. Funeral Satur- day, at 4 p.m., for Ainon Chapel. 688 DEERE.-On the 13th, at 40, Eelipse-street, Alice Gwendoline, second daughter of ])avid and Annie Deere, aged 18 years. 897 GRATREX-DAVIES.—On the 15th inst., Elizabeth, wife of Edward Gratrex-Davies, of Ashfield, Crickhowell. JONES.—Oct. 14th. 1894, at Clifton Villa, Swansea, the Rev. D. Jones, B.A. JONES.—October 12th, at 111, Richards-street, Cat- hays, Cardiff, Martha, the beloved wife of Hugh Jones, aged 50. LAWRENCE.—On October 16th, at Cosmeston, near Penarth, John Llewellyn Lawrence, in his 72nd year. Funeral at Penarth on Friday, the 19th inst., at four o'clock. No flowers. 172 PHILLIPS.-On the 13th, at Mynyddislwyn Vicarage, Hannah Phillips, late of the Grove, Ystradgynlais, aged 95. Deeply lamented. 898 POWELL.-On October 17th, at her residence, 13, Cynon-place, Aberdare, Mary, widow of the late John Powell, engine-driver, in her 86th year. Funeral Saturday, at 3 p.m., at the Old Church. 8791 RATE.—On the 13th inst, at 117, Arran-street, Castle- road, Nellie Muriel, the dearly beloved child of William and Nellie Rate, aged 5 years. 088 REES.—October 14th. at Duffryn, near Merthyr, George Rees, aged 81 years (formerly contractor at Plymouth Collieries). ROGERS.-At Llanelly, on October 15th, Mr T. H. Rogers, in his 60th year. STEEL.—On the 15th inst., at Garfield, Gold Tops, Newport, Mon., in his 42nd year, Wm. Brooke Steel, C.E., eldest son of T. Dyne Steel, M.Inat.C.E., and Elizabeth, his wife. STEELE.—On October 16th, at Hammersmith, Jose- ghine, dearly beloved wife of James Steele (late of iirmingham), and granddaughter of the late Tfioiras Lloyd, Esq., Hendre Hall, St. Mellon's. 304 I WILLIAMS.—At 5, De la Beche-street. Swansea, October 11th, 1894, Mrs E. Williams, late of Crickhowell.

ROGERS' AK ALES AND PORTERS, In 4y3 Gallon Casks and Upwards. PALE AND MILD ALES from lOd per Gallon PORTER AND STOUTS from Is per Gallon BREWERY, BRISTOL. CARDIFF STORES. WORKING-STREET. NEWPORT STORES. COMMERCIAL-BUILDINGS CHEPSTOW STORES BEAUFORT-SQUARE. Applications for purchasing agencies to be made to the Brewery. I 13966 2475

SATUBDA Y. OCTOBER 20, 1894. THE LABOUR PROGRAMME. IF we may judge by the early action of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, we should say that they mean business in the coming Session of Parliament. The Committee sat several days during the past week, and discussed the beet means of carrying out the resolu- tions arrived at at the Norwich Congress. The result ef the deliberations of the Com- mittee is that the secretary, Mr SAMUEL WOODS, M.P., has written to several of the Cabinet Ministers and also to Lord SALISBURY and Mr BALFOUR in relation to a number of questions which they consider require special attention in the interests of Labour. Lord ROSEBERY has been asked to receive a deputation on the subjectof legisla- tion for the payment of returning officers' charges from the rates. The Committee urge the re-introduction, at the earliest possible date in the new Session, of the Employers' Liability Bill as it left the House of Commons. This is a good answer from the Trades Unionists of the country to the meddlesome Lords who made the pre- tence in mutilating the Bill by making it optional instead of compulsory, that they were saving the working men from an injustice and a cruel piece of legislation which would interfere with their liberties. The Trades Unionists of the country are taking the right action in regard to the obstructive character of the House of Lords. On this subject the PRIME MINISTER, Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT, Lord SALISBURY, and Mr BALFOUR have each been written to, and a copy of a resolution of the Congress forwarded to them strongly condemning the action of the House of Lords in mutilating that portion of the Bill determining employers' direct liability, and urging upon the workmen of the country to insist upon the abolition of the uncon- stitutional veto power now vested in that irresponsible body of legislators, and to refuse to vote for all candidates not pledged to the principle of abolition, as, if the vetoing power is not put an end to, it will cripple any advance we try to make." The Trades Congress, equally with every good Liberal throughout the whole country, recognise tthat the present power of the Lords cannot be tolerated much longer. Ib is this veto which makes legislation of a progressive character difficult, laborious and slow, for after months of careful discussion and work in the House of Commons on a measure of reform, the Peers—who have half a century's record of selfishness behind them—can upset the whole efforts of the people's representatives in the course of half an-hour. There is neither justice nor equity in this condition of affairs. Another ques- tion closely related to this, though mainly concerning the House of Commons, is the systematic method of obstruction which has been resorted to by the Opposition. Accordingly the Government and Opposi- tion leaders have had their attention called by the Committee to the shameful and unpatriotic practice of obstructing public business in the House of Commons," and they are urged that further reforms of Parliamentary procedure is urgently demanded in order to put an end to such disgraceful proceedings." Other subjects upon which resolutions were passed and communicated to members were :—(1) The inspection of boilers, affirming the necessity of all persons in charge of steam engines and steam boilers being required to undergo an examination: (2) that inspectors should be appointed to supervise the con- struction of all public works requiring the sanction of Parliament (3) the amendment of the Truck Act and declaring it illegal to contract out of it (4) that the staff of inspectors and assistant inspectors under the Factory and Workshops Acts should be increased from the ranks of duly qualified men and women who have gained their industrial knowledge in the factory and in the workshop; (5) to prohibit the landing of all pauper aliens who have no visible means of subsistence and (6) that com- pensation for all persons injured or killed through explosions while engaged in dangerous buildings not to be less than the ordinary weekly wage. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trades' Congress have no lack of subjects to occupy their attention in the coming Session.

THE WIDOW'S RIGHT. Now that the flow of subscriptions from the charitable to the funds for the relief of the widows and orphans of the men who lost their lives in the Albion Colliery Dis- aster has practically ceased, it will be neces- sary shortly for some decision to be arrived at as to the method of paying the relief, The subject is of considerable interest to the good-natured subscribers to the various funds, as well as to the widows who will be benefited. About jS50,000 has been con- tributed to the various funds. But these contributors have to be divided into three classes. (1) Those who subscribed directly to the Miners' Permanent Provident Fund, (2) subscribers for the relief of the sufferers without any restriction, and (3) contributors who gave their money on the understanding that the relief should go directly to the widows and orphans, inde- pendent of any other fund. The difficulty will be best solved if some arrangement is entered into whereby the widows will get the fullest benefit, while the Permanent Fund receives that support which was meant for it by one class of the contributors. Under ordinary circumstances the Per- manent Fund has heavy charges to meet on account of the numerous accidents, apart from the big disasters like Llanerch, Morfa, Tondu, and the Albion. The Permanent Fund is an arrangement made between masters and men, whereby the former are relieved of responsibility for accidents— it being agreed that the Employers' Liability Act shall not apply—and the latter, in case of fatal accident, secures for his widow a sum of 5s per week and 2s 6d for each child. Naturally these disasters put such a heavy strain upon the Fund that it would be quite unable to meet the legal calls upon it unless it was aided by outside subscriptions. The Fund has done good work. It is probable that this arrangement will be interfered with by legislation at no very distant date, and there is some anxiety shown to preserve the whole of the Albion Funds from disturbance by possible re-arrangements. Under the present rules of the Permanent Fund the men pay a small weekly subscription, and the masters contribute by adding 25 per cent. to the sum paid in by the men. That is, for every £1 paid by the miners the masters add 5s. It has been pointed out that the masters can obtain the same relief from responsibility by paying the same amount into a liability insurance company, and that there is danger of the miners losing the advantage of the present arrangement. Whatever decision may be made ultimately with regard to the Permanent Fund, it is important that the whole of the money sub- scribed for the benefit of the sufferers by the Albion Disaster should be made secure, and aid those sufferers only. The widows have an absolute right to benefit from the whole of the Albion Funds and at the same time the Miners' Provident Fund has a right to benefit from those portions of the funds which were subscribed purposely to aid the Fund to meet its liabilities. While it is necessary that the two points should be secured in the arrangements for dealing with the moneys which have to be made, it is very important that nothing be done where- by the confidence of the charitable public will be shaken. We doubt not that an equitable arrangement will be made without much difficulty.

Melton Mowbray will be very full again this season, almost all the hunting-boxes having been taken. There is a handsome show of foxes in almost every part of Leicestershire, and already ana or two tine rmna have takan nlao»*-

WELSH ECHOES FROM I LONDON. e (By our Special Correspondent.) POLITICAL-LIT ERARY- SOCIAL, Sir Wm. Harcourt and Disestablishment. Tory journalists have made the most of Mr Lloyd George's reference to Sir Wm. Harcourt's little outburst. A great deal too much has been made out of the incident. Such as the incident was, it has been long ago played out as liobby goseip. That the Chanoellor of the Exchequer at some particular moment, with forcible colloquialism, wished the Welsh BilI- further, may easily be accepted, but that a basty expression should be construed into a studied insult, is more than the thing will bear. The worst feature of ib-after making the most of it—is that the temporary im- patience of Sir William Harcourt with regard to the Welsh Bill indicates pretiy clearly the feeling of many English politicians towards purely Welsh questions. Thpy do not view them with the same sympathy or with the same knowledge as Wales does. When Welshmen get insistent and determined, as they only rarely do, English poli- ticians are slow to understand. The Parable of the Welsh Members. The Geninen for the current quarter contains much that is interesting, but nothing more pointed than the parable of the Welsh M.P., as seen by a writer who signs himself Elphin." An idea of the writer's opinion can be gathered from the imaginative names with which he has endowed a number of the leaders. [N.B.-Every Welsh member is a leader unto—himself.] Li Mr Thomas Ellis figures as Idris Gawr. Mr Samuel Evans as Gwrnerth Ergydlym. Mr William Abraham as Lleufer Mawr. Mr David A. Thomas as Gwgan Lawgadarn. Mr Evan R. Jones as Gwion Bach. Mr Herbert Lewis as Catwg Ddoeth. Mr J. Bryn Roberts as Pryderi ab Pwyll, and Mr D. Lloyd George as Edeyrn Dafod Aur. In lilphin's balances they are all found wanting. The member for the Carnarvon Boroughs is first favourite; but he has his weaknesses he is too impulsive too apt to accept his facts at second hand, and too fond of acting on his own responsibility. These, however, may be the faults of youth-time will show." Mr Bryn Roberts will not do he is the hero of negation, with a special genius for finding difficulties, though not for conquering them. Mr Herbert Lewis is an uncertain factor; people who do not know him well are in doubt whether he is a lion in sheep's clothing or a sheep in a lion's skin. Major Jones has of late shown signs that he is more of a diplomatist than of a fighter. Mr D. A. Thomas, according to Elphin, would make a capital comedian (!) but not a political leader. Mabon is a born leac'ar of men," but for his capacity ito lead the Welsh Party, echo answers Mr Samuel Evans, raised high hopes by his opposition to the Clergy Discipline Bill, and his audacious disobedience at the Mansion House banquet, but since then the sound of his voice and the mention of his name have been lost in the Senate. They say he is devoted to law, and has lost his taste for politics, anyhow it is vain-so Elphin puts it—to look to him to take the lead. Mr Thomas Ellis was a hero who started a new epoch in Welsh politics, but parted with his independence by accepting a Whipship," and so from one to the other Elphin Lone of the great Impracticables] finds nothing but cause for dis- content. The end is not yet, for we are pro- mised a further development of the Welsh M.P. Cymru. In Mr Owen Edwards' Welsh monthly we mils the usual instalment of Welsh History. Instead we have one of a descriptive sketch of the country around Carn Fadryn and of some of the men who have made it famous. A notice of the Publica- tions of the Month seems particularly out of place. The Rev. Robert Owen, of Pennal. de- scribes a quaint Merionetbshire worthy—Lewis Morris, of Coed-y-gweddill, and the Rev. Thomas Hughes, of Machynlletb, delights us with recollections of Richard Jones, of Wern John Roberts, of Llanbrynmair and Jones, of Ramoth. The Rev. J. O. Jones, Bala, conclude his version of some of the writings of Gildas. and Mr J. M. Edwards, of Llanuwchllyn, contributes some notes on "Williams o'r Wern," apropos of a belated biography of that graat Non- conformist. The "unknown poet" for the month, is Jenkin Thomas, of Trewen. We are indebted to Mr Gwylfa Roberts, of Bangor, for a valuable sketch of Rhys Goch ab Rhiccerb, who flourished about 1350. Jottings. Last Wednesday the memorial stones of a Welsh chapel at Stratford were laid by Mrs Lewis H. Roberts, Cunonbury, and Mrs Richards, Belsize Park. The new building will be the tenth belonging to the Welsh Presbyterians in London. The Rev. Evan Rees (Dyfed), Cardiff, and the Rev. Owen Owen, Liverpool, were the preachers at the anniversary services of the Wilton-square chapel held last Sunday. The London branch of the Cymru Fydd League will start on its first session on the 24tb instant with a conversazione, to be held at the Memorial-hall, Farringdon-street. Sir George Osborne Morcran has been invited to preside.

THE ALLEGED INSULT TO WALES, Mr D; A. Thomas, M.P., Interviewed. A representative of the Press, on Monday, waited upon Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., in refer- ence to the statement of Mr Lloyd George ac- cusing Sir Wm. Harcourt of insulting the Welsh people, it having been pretty clearly indicated by Mr George that his informant must be either Mr D. A. Thomas or Mr Frank Edwards. In answer to the question whether he was Mr Geerge's informant, Mr Thomas said, I very much indeed regret that my friend Mr Lloyd George should have thought it necessary to make any public reference to the incident which occurred between Sir Wm. Harcourt and Sir George Morgan. I consider it as both indiscreet and unjustifiable on his part. A great deal too much has been made of the matter. The expres- sion used by Sir William may no doubt be taken as an indication of the spirit with which at the time the Government regarded the action of the Welsh members in pressing forward the Disestablishment Bill. but it was obviously made use of in a moment of irritation, and it is absurd to regard it as a studied insult to the Welsh people, or, for the matter of that, to Sir George Morgan himself. Sir Wm. Harcourt, I am sure, has not the smallest desire to insult the Welsh people, and whenever the Welsh members have waited upon him in their public capacity they have been received with the utmost con- sideration and respect. I am exceedingly sorry that Mr Lloyd George should have made a public reference to the matter. It can serve no useful purpose. The Government have made a most definite pledge to give Destablishment the first place next Session, and what the Welsh members have to do now is to give them every assistance to carry out that pledge. To keep up the old sore can only damage the cause of Welsh Liberalism. If by any chance the Govern- ment withdraw from their promise, then I shall be prepared to take the strongest action. I desire to disassociate myself entirely from Mr Lloyd George's step in making public reference to the conversation between Sir William Harcourt and Sir George Morgan, which was, of course, of a semi-private character. Sir George told me of it -nut under the seal of strict privacy, it is true- as I have no doubt he told others. As Sir George points out, it was not said at an interview with the Welsh members and was obviously not intended to be repeated from a public platform. If I had thought that it was intended as an in. suit to the Welsh people I should myself have been the first to resent it, and, indeed, as I con- sidered it was some indication of the spirit in which the Government were disposed to treat Welsh affairs, if I had felt myself at liberty to make public reference to it, I should have done so during the many public meetings that Messrs Lloyd George, Frank Edwards, and myself addressed in connection with what has been termed the revolt.' I have no doubt that Messrs Frank Edwards and Herbert Lewis would have done the same. Mr Lloyd George must have known that we were not at liberty, or he would himself, I feel sure, have made the incident public at that time. What his object is in doing so now I am quite at a loss to under- stand.

I DEATH OF SIR A. STEPHEN. Renter's correspondent at Sydney telegraphs:— I The death is announced of Sir Alfred Stephen, G.O.M.G., C.B., at the advanced age of 92. During his long public career Sir A. Stephen filled the highest offices in this colony. He was the third son of the late Mr John Stephen, a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and when only 23 years of age was appointed Solicitor- General of Tasmania. From 1839 to 1844 he held the post of a judge in New South Wales, and for the following 29 years was Chief Justice of the colony. Sir Alfred was President ot the Legisla- tive Council in 1856, but resigned in the following year. Ho was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales in 1875, and retained that office until 1891. He administered the Govern- ment in 1872, in 1879, and in 1885. He was ereated a K.C.M.G. in 1874, and G.C.M.G. in 1884.

Holyhead is the dirtiest town in England and Wales. Official words to this effect were spoken by Pe. Reeves of the Local Government Board.

Birkenhead Election. RESULT OF THE POLL. Conservative Majority Reduced. Polling for the election of a number of Parlia- ment for Birkenbead took place on Wednesday, the candidates being Mr Elliott Lees (Conserva. tive) and Mr W. H. Lever (Liberal). Many electors voted during the first hour before procee- ding to business in Liverpool. It was very evi- dent that the election would be keenly con- tested, and never previously had party colours been worn so freely. The borough is divided into nine wards, and there are 28 polling stations. MR W. H. LEVBS. I At 11 a.m. polling proceeded somewhat slowly, and was chiefly confined to tradesmen but crowds ot excited politicians gathered near the booths discussing the issue. Both parties were well provided with carriages, some of which were sent from long distances. Later in the day hundreds of political workers arrived from out- side the borough, and busily engaged in the en- deavour to secure votes. Several large works closed for the afternoon, and during the dinner hour the pressure of workmen was such that the space in the polling-booths was taxed to the ut- most. Two arrests for alleged personation were made at the instigation of Liberals. In both cases, however, it is stated a mistake has been made, and the parties have been liberated on Con- servative bail. The poll appeared fairly evenly divided, but, whereas the Conservative leaders expressed themselves quite satisfied,the Liberals were less hopeful. Towards the close of the afternoon the Conservatives claimed to be win- ning hands down in the outlying districts, but Liberalism was considered stronger in the centre of the constituency, and a close fight was antici- pated in some quarters, RESULT OF THE POLL. GREAT REDUCTION OF CONSERVA- TIVE MAJORITY. The result was declared late in the evening as follows Mr Elliot Lees (C) 6,149 Mr W. H. Lever (L) 6,043 Conservative majority 106 The Conservative majority at the last election was 604. PREVIOUS ELECTIONS. 1885. 1886. Hamley (0) 5,733 Hamley (C) 5.255 Kennedy. (1<) 1,560 Kennedy (G) 4,036 Con. majority 1,173 Con. majority 1,219 1892. VicountBury (C) 5,760 W. H. Lever (L) 5,156 Conservative majority 604 The Central News correspondent telegraphs that the result of the polling was awaited with anxiety by a large crowd in front of the town- hall, Birkenhead. The polling was very brisk at noon, and in the evening the working men, of whom there are large numbers in Birkenhead, mostly voted after the day's work. Party colours were pretty generally worn, and as to vehicles, the Conservatives were better supplied than the Liberals. The Catholic vote was split, many not considering Mr Lever's reply to the questions affecting the grants to Catholic schools satisfac- tory, although during the day Mr Smith, M.P. for North Lonsdale, wired to Mr Lever:—"As an English Catholic, I agree entirely with your answer to the questions re Catholic schools, and think that to ask more would be unreasonable and impolitio. I trust the Catholics of Birkenhead will give you their undivided support." The Irish electors were loyal to Mr Lever, as were also those belonging to the Principality. There was a re-count, and the smallness of the Tory majority indicates the keenness of the contest, the result being announced shortly before mid- night. A woman named Grace Barnett, who was walking in the crowded roadway during the excitement of the election, was knocked down by a carriage and killed.

FAILURE OF LOCAL SHIPOWNERS At Newport Bankruptcy-court on Tuesday— before the Registrar (Mr H. J. Davis)—Messrs G. I. Jones and William Jones, trading as Jones Brothers and Co., shipowners and Shipbrokers, of Dock-street, Newport^ and Cardiff, came up for public examination, they having been adjudicated bankrupts. Mr G. I. Jones was first called, and was examined by the Official Receiver (Mr G. H. Llewellyn). Debtor stated that the partnership between himself and his brothers, Messrs Wm. Jones and Morgan Jones, the latter of whom died last year, was entered into in 1860. In 1875 a branch business was opened at Cardiff, the sole management of which was taken over by Mr Morgan Jones. During the period from 1860 and 1893, witness's private ledger showed that he had drawn out from the business £41,700, but a portion of that amount should hav* been entered in the ledger of the firm. Mr M. Jones drew out £28,749 and Mr W. Jones £ 23,316. There were losses upon the Cardiff business, and in one year the loss was £ 2,364. There was also losses upon the Newport office in 1892 and 1893. Notwith- standing these losses the partners continued to draw money as usual, the money being advanced by the London and Provincial Bank. Witness was not aware of the losses, Hq had transferred his interest in the Maindee Park Estate to his wife, who had paid B21,000 into the tirm. The Maindee Park House cost £ 20.000 to build. The estate consisted of 23 or 24 acres he did not think that it was 29 acres. As building land the estate would be worth B750 per acre. He valued the property at JB8,000, but in negotiating a loan he estimated the property to be worth £20,000, but that would be as building land. In reply to Mr Pratt, solicitor, who appeared for some of the creditors, witness aaid that in 1890 the partners drew out of the business jS4,021, whilst the year's trad- ing showed a loss of over £ 2,000. In 1891 there was again a loss of £ 2,000, and in that year the partners drew out £3,431. Mr Pratt pointed out that the balance sh«et of the firm showed that at the end of 1892 there was an excess of liabilities over asseos of £ 20,554. Questioned as to the transactions with his wife, witness said that Mrs Jones advanced £ 7,000 to the firm in order to pay off a mortgage of £ 4,000, and the interest of the firm in the Priory was transferred to Mrs Jones. His wife also advanced. £ 6,535 to pay off mortgages on the Maindee Park, John-street, and Dock-street properties, and in consideration witness consigned the Maindee Park property to Mrs Jones. Asked as to whether his wife would take the £ 6,535 advanced and harid over the Maindee Park property, witness said that he could not answer the question but if tho £21,000 that his wife had advanced was offered, he would advise his wife to hand over all the securities which she held. Asked as to whether he had three resi- dences, and that Maindee Park was the least of the three, witness replied that he resided at three places. The examination was ultimately ad- journed until the next court.

SUICIDE AT GOWER. Some excitement was caused in the neighbour- hood of Parkmill on Tuesday by the report that Mr Harold Frederick Bagot, the farm bailiff to Mr Penrice, of Kilvrough, had blown his brains out. It would appear that the deceased, who was aged 27, and was much liked in the locality, had shown no apparent signs of depression, and so it is difficulb to assign the cause of the suicide. Indeed, so recently as the previous evening he attended a harvest thanksgiving service. At about noon on Tuesday, whilst at his house at Pennard, he must have put the barrel of his revolver in his mouth and tired, for soon after he was found by P.C. Martin and a man named Phillips, lying unconscious from the effects of the shot. Medical aid was at once sent for, and Dr. Bevan. of the Mumbles, arrived as soon as possible and did all he could, but 10 minutes afterwards Mr Bagot, who had not regained con- sciousness, expired. It appears that Mr Bagot, who committed suicide at Pennard, Gower, on Tuesday, bad been depressed for some time previous, and it is now stated that some years ago he had been confined in a lunatic asylum. He is a grandson of a former Bishop of Oxford, while his aunt is the wife of Canon Bridgman, of Wigan, who himsslf is brother to the Earl of Bradford. Later information shows that ao the time the only other occupant of Pennard Cottage, where the suicide was committed, was a maidservant. Soon after eleven the young woman heard a sound of tirearms coming from the deceased's room, and on rushing in to see the cause, found her master lying back in his chair with blood I streaming from his mouth and nostrils to a pool on the floor, while in his right hand he held a recently discharged revolver. Some men were working near, and the servant summoned them. Mr Bagot was not dead, but unconscious, so medical aid and the police were sent for. Mr Bagot was the son of a clergyman at Henley-on- Thames, and he had held the position of farm bailiff at Kilvrough for the last four years.

ASPHYXIATED IN A POLICE CELL A serious inctdent occurred on Monday in Comrie, Perthshire, wheteby three men were nearly suffocated by gas. The men had been apprehended on Saturday night for connection with a disturbance in the village, and had been lodged in one cell. On Sunday night the gas was not psoperly turned out, and the three men were nearly suffocated. When found in the morning they were unconscious, and at night one of them was still in a critical condition.

The Japanese smile," says Mr Hearn, is an elaborate and long-cultivated etiquette, It is allo a silent Unfruaea."

Albion Colliery Disaster. FURTHER PROSCUTiONS. ALLEGED ILLEGAL STORING OF EXPLOSIVES, Further proceedings against officials of the Albion Colliery Company for alleged breaches of the Mines Act on the 23rd of June last, the day of the explosion, were heard on Thursdaya.t the Pontypridd Police-court. Mr Ignatius Williams (stipendiary) presided, other magistrates on the Bench being Mr Evan John, Mr T. P. Jenkins, and Mr Richard Lewis. Mr Roskill (instructed by Messrs Strick and Bellingham, Swansea) prolfficuted on behalf of the Treasury, while Mr Abel Thcmas, Q.C., M.P. (instructed by Mr G. F. Hill, Cardiff); appeared for the defence in each case. Among those in court were Mr Henry Lewis (managing owner), Mr William Lewis (agent), Mr Phillip Jones (manager), Mr Win. Jones (unaer-manager), Mr D. Ellis (sec.), all officials of the Albion Company Mr J. T. Robson, H.M. inspector of mines; Messrs Fred Gray, J. M. Sims, and Frank Adams (assistant inspectors), Mr H. Bramwell (agent of the Great Wesern Company), Mr T. Griffiths. M.E., Cymmer; Mr D. Hannah, M.E., Ferndale; Superintendent E. Jones, deputy chief-constable Councillor H. S. Davies, and others. The Charge against Anstes. Mr Roskill said he would first proceed with the charge against William Anstes, the Vchargeman, who was charged with having on the 23rd of June, he then being a charge- man at the Albion Colliery, unlawfully did contravene and did not comply with Genera! Rule 12, sub-head (a) of the Coal Mines Regula- tion Act, 1887, to be observed at the said mine by you, as such chargeman, by storing or permitting or allowing to be stored in the mine a quantity of explosive substance—to wit, 23 pounds of gelatine dynamite and gelignite." There was also a like charge against Mr Philip Jones, the manager. Mr Roskill said that Anstes as chargeman had the custody of the explosives for the purpose of charging the holes, and he said in his evidence before the coroner that he got dynamite and different kinds of gelatine from the magazine, which was above ground, and kept them in a box on the double parting on the Clfynydd main level. The box was k. pt locked, with thekey hang- ing at the end of it. Fuses and caps were kept in another box three yards away, and the key of this box was kept with that of the other. It was thus open to anyone to unlock the box and help himself to the explosives. Anstes further admitted m his evidence that any man could go to the box without coming to him, and that the reason for keeping the key there was that he was afraid of losing it. That was no answer. After the explosion there was no less than twenty-three pounds of explosives found in this box. Happily, none of it had been exploded by the explosion. The only excuse Anstes gave for having this excessive quantity of explosives kept below—a clear in- fringement of General Rule 12, sub rule A—was that ho had four shifts in front of him before he could get more ex- plosives, because of the Sunday intervening, the explosion having taken place on the Saturday. Anstes further said that he knew it was wrong, and said that this was the first time he.bad kept a large amount of explosives in the box below. So far as that statement went the excuse was worthless, for he had four shifts in front of him every Saturday. The last time he had taken a canister of 51bs. down prior to the explosion was a few days before the Saturday, and then he only took one tin, thus clearly show- ing that there must have been a considerable quantity stored in the box earlier in the week. Witnesses having been called, and Mr Abel Thomas having addressed the court for the defence, the Stipendiary said Weare of opinion that an offence was committed under Section A Rule 12. We do not think that it comds under Section B, as suggested by Mr Abel Thomas, and for this reason, that we have not the slightest evidence that more than 51bs. was taken down at the time, and therefore if information had been laid under that section the prosecution would have failed. The question is was this storing. The evidence of Anstes was that it had been there some time, and that the last portion was taken down the previous week, when there was already considerable accumula- tion. Under these circumstances I think it must be considered that this powder was stored in the mine. What the inspectors suggested was a perfectly different thing. That would be a tem- porary deposit while the stuff was in use during the course of one shift, In the opinion of all of us, this is a clear case of storing in the mine. That being so the offence is complete. We consider it is rather a bad offence to accumulate a quantity of this sort, and we impose the full penalty of £2. Case of the Under-Manager. Mr Jones, the under-manager, was then charged with having neglected to see that every officer under him and every other person employed at the colliery understood and fulfilled bis duty." This case eventually fell through on the ground that the defendant, at the time the offence was said to have been committed, was not the under-manager of the colliery, but simply discharged the duties of the under-mana- ger, who was then ill. Mr Roskill asked the stipendiary to state a case, but his worship declined, stating that the point was a trivial one. The Case against the Manager, The next case was then proceeded with, the manager, Mr Philip Jones, being summoned for allowing or permitting an extra quantity of ex- plosives in the mine. A fine of JB10 was imposed.

ANOTHEFTEXPLOSION AT g WALTHAM ABBEY.) A Waltham Abbey correspondent states that another explosion occurred at the Government Cordite Works about 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, butwasfortunately notattendedwith fatal results, although it caused considerable alarm. A num- ber of men were working in the press- house on Quinton Hill, and one of them had just passed a small charge of cordite weighing about four and a half ounces through the hydraulic rammer, when a loud explosion occurred. The man was thrown vio- lently backwards, and was for a time insensible. The other men ran out of the building, but as no further explosion took place they quickly returned and picked up their unconscious comrade, who was, however, found to be very seriously injured. In the meantime information was conveyed to Colonel Ormsby, the new superinten- dent of the factory, who was promptly on the spot, accompanied by Captain Nathan, inspector of the danger house, and Mr James Thompson, principal chemist. Careful investi- gation was at once instituted, and the conclusion arrived at was that a small quantity of grit had by some means become mixed with the cordite. thus causing it to explode. Small quantities of grit have lately been more than once detected in the nitro-glycerine supplied to the factory. The material is carefully passed through sieves before being mixed with guncotton, but it is evident that some of the particles here escaped, otherwise the explosion would not have happened.

AN ARM-CHAIR CREAM SEPARATOR. A new thing is announced in cream separators. The great advantages of the Alpha patent discs in enabling a large quantity of milk to be separated with little power have been well followed up in the Laval machines; the largest size of wbich separates 390 gallons per hour, and requires only 1'29 horse-power. The "skimming- bird separator represents the other extreme of the capabilities of the Alpha. It separates at the rate of 15 gallons of milk per hour, being actually able to do rather more, but this is the guaranteed quantity, and analysis shows that the separation is as perfect as possible. The bowl is fitted with the Alpha. discs, and is made in a new form, the upper removable part being continued down, and the joint made at the bottom instead ot the top as before, thus giving great facilities for cleaning it easily. The method of working is, however, the most striking novelty. Hitherto all practical manual power separators have been worked by a rotary handle, but this requires much room, and is somewhat fatiguing for the dairymaid, although the Laval machines require very little power. Therefore a new and easier method was sought for, and this is adapted in the Humming Bird, which fulfils the saying, "pull the string and the figure will work." The operator, having, if desired, taken a comfortable seat. pulls a short handle attached to a cord wound on a pulley, aud thus sets the machine in motion. When this cord is pulled right out and the hand is eased, it is automatically re-wound ready for another pull, and so on. The sole agents for the Laval and Alpha Cream Separators, the Dairy Supply Co., Limited, of Museum-street, London, and No. 1, Grass-market, Edinburgh, wiil supply full par. ticulars. The Humming Bird possesses the advantages of all the LAval and Alpha Separators, of a screw allowing the thickness of the cream to be regulated, and this does not need fresh adjust. ment each time of separating, but may be altered as seldom, or as often as deaired.

ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD AT LOUGHOR. Inquest and Verdict The adjourned inquest touching the death ol the infant child of Sarah Jenkins, Loughor, was held at the Llanelly Union Workhouse on Tuesday, before Dr. E. J. Roderick.—Dr. Jones, Loughor, deposed that he saw the deceased on the 6th Oct. at the surgery. The child was one of the palest, the leanest, and the smallest of its age that ever he had seen. It was 18 months old, aud did not appear to be suffering from any illness. Witness did not make a care- ful examination of the child, and he could not say that it had been starved. If the child suffered from rickets he would expect to find it in the condition described. — Mrs Protheroe, Loughor, deposed that she attended the child at birth. It was the smallest child tha.t witness had ever eeen. At birth tho bead was larger than the body. The child did not improve for some time after birth. The mother of the child had often stated that the child did not thrive. When witness visited the house it was clean and tidy. — Miss Williams, Post-office, Loughor, deposed that she knew the deceased. Tho child was very small and thin. Witness gave Mrs Powell a little milk daily for about five months. Witness only visited Mrs Powell's house on one occasion. The house was perfectly clean.— Mr George Jenkins, Tynclos Farm, Loughor, de- posed that he used to supply milk to Mrs Powell. —Dr. Evan Evans, Llanelly, deposed that he saw the deceased on the 6th inst. at the workhouse infirmary, Llanelly. The child was in a very woak state. She was suffering fram a fracture of the right leg, which was afterwards found to be a green stick fracture, or an incomplete fracture. The child undoubtedly suffered from rickets. The immediate cause of death was due to asphemia, or weakness arising from rickets. In his opinion it was brought on by rickets or improper feeding.— The fracture must have taken place from three weeks to a month ago. Such a fracture could be caused with very little violence. A person who took ordinary care of a. child would certainly recognise a fracture of this kind, as it was so marked. It was quite apparent by looking at the child, there was a distinct angle. If the child had been looked after the leg could have been put straight. There was not the slightest excuse for overlooking such an injury. A well-fed child of the age of 18 months old would be from 20 to 25 pounds.—The jury found that death was due to weakness arising from rickets, and that there was neglect arising partly from ignorance on the part of the mother and grandmother. They requested the coroner to censure the latter for such neglect, and further the jury was ot opinion that the attention of the sanitary authorities should be called to the unsanitary state of the bouse. At the Swansea Polica-courb, on Wednesday, Sarah Powell was charged with ill-treating her child at Llanelly. — Superintendent Thomas, however, asked for her discharge, because a coroner's jury had acquitted her of blame.—The application was granted.

MR WILSON BARRETT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. The present week at the Theatre Royal has been characterised by the phenomenal tuccess of Mr Wilson Barrett and his company in the dramatisation of Hall Caine's The Manxman and other pieces. This new play has proved so attractive that at the ordinary time of opening not a seat in the whole of the auditorium has been vacant. On Wednesday night, when "Claudian was performed, and again on Thursday, with Ben-y-Chree," the theatre was packed. The Manxman is billed for Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday morning.

The paint-pot.is ever repellent to Mrs Kendal, though, in common with all other actresses, she has to use it for stage purposes. When she played before tho Queen at Windsor, and was to be presented afterwards, she kept her Majesty waiting till she had washed off her paint and made a complete change in her dress. She refused, she said, to appear before her Queen in false colours. The religious instructor of the daughters of the Prince and Princess of Wales writes :—" I wish all mothers were as anxious. I don't know any oue who has taken as much pains to secure the systematic religious instruction of their children «a the Princess haa."

CAKDIFF LICENSING APPEALS. At the opening of the court at the Glamorgan Quarter Sessions on Thursday, Mr B. Francis Williams, Q.C. (with whom was Mr Allen Upward) asked the chairman to allow him to mention the Cardiff licensing ap- peals. He understood that on Tues- day his Honour had respited those appeals till a special sessions to be held in Novem- ber at Cardiff. He was instructed to ask that that decision shoutd be altered and the cases taken now, for his clients felt considerable expense had already been incurred, and it would be less costly to have the appeals tried now than to have a further sitting at Cardiff. The respondents also felt that if the cases were respited, those houses would be able to keep open till that time which would be rather a serious matter. He understood there would be no difficulty ID all the parties interested being brought to Swansea at the close of the present sessions. Mr Arthur Lewis, who appeared for the Odd- fellows' Arms and the Lord Clive, opposed. The matter was fully considered on Tuesday, when the hearing was respited, and now his clients would have considerable difficulty in coming to Swansea on Friday. Then came the question of expenses, as the witnesses were Cardiff witnesses. The expense would be less if the cases were heard at Cardiff than at a place so far away as Swansea. Mr Rhys Williams said he was instructed with Mr Abel Thomas, Q.C., for the Charing Cross Inn, and he wished to say that Mr Thomas had been notified of the respite, and he had now made other arrangements for this week. Therefore it would be very inconvenient for an alteration to be made now. Mr Francis Williams said it was very intel- ligible why the immediate hearing should be opposed, for it was to the interest of the appel- lants that the hearing should be put off to the longest period possible, because till the case was tried they would be able to conduct their houses. The witnesses could easily bo communicated with, for they were all at Cardiff. The Chairman said he thought the last observation rather disposed of Mr Francis Williams's application. The witnesses were all at Cardiff. Mr Francis Williams They can be brought from Cardiff. Cardiff is not like the remote wilds of Pembrokeshire. The Chairman said one object in the ad- ministration of justicewas to have it administered at the least expense possible. Then there was no prospect of the other business of the sessions being finished till Friday night, and that being so, he did not think it would be possible to dis- pose of the appeals on Saturday. Therefore, he could not grant the application. Mr Francis Williams I understand they are now adjourned to the 29th of November at Cardiff. The Chairman said as the assizes mighb not be finished by that date the hearing of the Cardiff appeals would be respited to the 4th of December.

HAULIERS' DISPUTE IN THE RHONDDA, On Thursday Mr Morgan Thomas and a deputation of the hauliers met Mr E. W. Hann, general manager of the Powell Duffryn Com- pany, and Mr T. Railton, the manager of the two collieries interested—Treuman and Aberaman—and for over an hour discussed the question in all its bearings. The men urged that they had not left work without notice, in fact they had gone to work, but had been told by the officials that they wero not wanted unless they did shackling, which they contended was not a part of their work, and that they were quite pre- pared to go to work that day or the following morning and do tbe duty laid down for them in the Mines Regulation Act, viz., to drive, but they were determined not to go 40 yards away from their horses in places called sidings, too low for horses to travel in strong trams and shackling. If anything happened to those horses while they were away they would be held responsible, for they would be from them and r.o person taking charge of them, and thus would endanger the safety of the persons in the mice were the horses to bolt, and as this duty was not laid on them by the Act, and was not a general custom in the South Wales coalfield, they might be held even criminally responsible for any evil result arising.—Mr Hann pointed out that they had been doing it for a long time, whereon Mr Thomas told him that he ought to be very thank- ful the men had not found it out before, and also that be ought to return thanks to the men for the profits he had made through that practice and the ignorance of the men. The men also had not understood him in his method of working the colliery. They expebted that the sidings made in old disused roads were something temporary pending the making of a double parting whereon a shackler would be engaged, instead of which he had combined the use of these sidings, thus trying to make It 10\ custom, but they were determined it should not become one. One of the deputation pointed out that if the law compelled them under such a so-called custom to do this work the law would be of a very elastic nature. Ultimately the deputation, failing to obtain any concessions from Mr Hann withdrew, that gentleman stating he was determined to take legal actiou against the hauliers. Upon his saying so Mr Thomas asked him What for ?—for driving the men out and refusing to let them drive 1" to which Mr Hann made no reply. Subsequently Mr Thomas met one of our representatives, and produced for his inspection pay tickets from collieries under the management of Mr Hann, where shacklers are kept and paid as such. proving that even at these colheries the custom which Mr Hann is trying to introduce is not general. A meeting of the men was called for two o'clock at the Masons' Arms, Aberaman, at which the report of the deputation was to be considered. Summonses Issued, A telegram to hand on Thursday evening says —Negotiations that morning having failed, we understand that Messrs Linton and Kenshole, solicitors, Aberdare, have issued 58 summonses returnable at Aberdare Police-court on Tuesday, against thehaulierswho have absented themselves from work. The men appear determined to persevere in the struggle.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO MR HERBERT CORY. It is with great regret we have to report that a serious accident has befallen Mr Herbert Cory, son of Mr John Cory, J.P. He went out for a morn- ing ride on Tuesday, and some time afterwards returned to his residence at St. Mellon's, leading his horse. As he entered the hall it was seen by his soiled clothes that he had evidently been thrown or had fallen from his horse In reply to questions, he said: "It is noth- ing;" butalmost immediately afterwardshebecame unconscious, and thus remained for several hours. Dr. Fred Evans, Charles-street, was sent for, as were also, Dr. Hardyman and Dr. Cook. Mr Cory remained unconscious for a considerable time, and upon examination it was found that he had sustained a compound fracture of the skull. We regret to state that the condition of Mr Herbert Cory, who is suffering from compound fracture of the skull, sustained while out riding near Castletou on Tuesday, continues to give cause for great anxiety. Dr. Hardyman, or his partner, Dr. Cooke, is in constant attendance on the injured gentleman. When tbe accident became known in Cardiff it was thought that Mr Cory had been trying a new horse, but we understand that the animal he rode was one that he has ridden for a considerable time past, and was a favourite of his. The accident does not seem to have been wit- nessed by anybody, so that until Mr Cory is sufficiently recovered to explain how it occurred the exact cause can only be conjectured. He recovered consciousness during Wednesday, and is progressing as well as can be expected.

WATTSTOWN DISPUTE. TERMINATION OF THE STRIKE. The workmen of the National Colliery, who have been out on strike for the past fortnight, re the new screen arrangemeut, held a meeting on Thursday at Wattstowm, Mr W. Evans, miners' agent, being present. A deputation was elected to meet the management, and ultimately it was decided that an agreement should be entered into that all colliers' coal should be tipped over the two old screens, and for the carrying out of the pro- posed experiments company coal should be tipped over the sereen with the coal-cleaning tray attached. An agreement was also effected tbat in the event of any future dispute the men would not cease working until the matter in dispute has been referred to the workmen's committee and fully discussed between them and the management. Work will therefore j commence forthwith, and the night preparing shift will commence operations this evening and the day men to-morrow morning. One outcome of the strike is that the workmen have selected a new committee, including colliers as well as other grades, and hence colliers and hauliers have become better united.

NEW COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOR THE RHONDDA. The interesting ceremony of laying the memorial stones of a cottage hospital for Porth and district, in the Rhondda, was performed on Thursday with considerable eclat, In the presence of some hundreds of spectators. The hospital is being erected on Cemetery.road on an elevated position overlooking the Rhondda Valley. The building consists of two wards, each containing four beds, matron's room, doctor's room, nurses' day room, operating room, kitchen, scullery, etc.,on the ground floor,and private wards and bedrooms on the first floor. The building is to be of local stone with red brick dressings for the front facing Cemetery-road, the remainder of the external walls being cemented. Provision has been made for future extension if required to the extent of an additional eight beds. The contract is being carried out by Messrs Charles Jenkins and Sons, of Porth (the contract price being £2,529 10s), under the superintendence of Mr F. Gibson, architect, Midland Bank buildings, Pontypridd. The site is the gift ot Col. Turber- ville, and the cost of the building is to be defrayed by public subscriptions.

Sir Henry Drummond Woltf, who has been in this country on leave of absence for six weeks, has left London for Paris, en route for Madnd, to Htenma hu.annhaMAdorial dubi.

HO TEL KEEPER'S BANKRUPTCY On Thursday, ab the Cardiff Bankruptcy-court— before the Deputy-Registrar (Mr Harry Cousins) —Mr John Wymi, late of the Dumfries Hotel, St. Mary-street, Cardiff, appeared for bls public examination. Mr Lloyd Morgan represented T. P. and R. Goodbody, tobacco merchants, who were creditors to the amouut or £314. Mr Lewis Morgan appeared on behalf of Mr Morgan Morgan, and Mr Jackson represented the debtor. Examined by the official receiver, debtor said he had been a hotel keeper for some years. His liabilities amounted to £1,657 17s lOd, and practically he had 110 assets. He caused the furniture of the hotel to be sold because of the representations made to him. This was done without any agreement. The representations were such as he implicitly believed, and he closed his business and sold his furniture.—The Offioial Receiver You think you did a foolish thing ?— Debtor Absolutely the most foolish thing I did in my life.—The Official Receiver I quite agree with you.—Further examined debtor said the reason for this was that he believed there was a syndicate being formed to make a road leading to the new post-office. With childish confidence he sold the leases. Ho was offered £3.000, and on that representation he sold his furniture. Ho had a lease all the premises from Messrs John Jenkins and S. Herne for 17 years. The furniture which was sold by Mr Morgan Morgan was worth to him JB2,500, and it realised £510, He had received that money and had paid it away on the Turkish bath property in Charles-street, which he had purchased. That money had been forfeited. He knew there was a forfeiture clause, but he was assured that the thing would be completed. —The Official Receiver Who assured you t— Debtor: Mr Morgan Morgan, who paid the de- posit on the bath property. Having lost the lease, furniture, and deposit, debtor continued, he was obliged to petition the court. The land- lords took the lease from him because the rent was in arrear. His wife now had the lease, and she granted Mr Ainsworth, the mortgagee, security. From the business he cleared £ 600 a year.— Examined by Mr Lloyd Morgan, M.P., debtor said he had no iuterest in the hotel except that he was the husband of the landlady." Hia papers and books were burnt in a fire which occurred in the smoke room.—Debtor was further examined as to his liabilities to Messrs Goodbody, whose tobacco agency he worked in this district. In answer to Mr Lewis Morgan debtor said he closed the hotel on representations made by Mr Morgan Morgan. He owed Mr Morgan Morgan £354. Examined by his solicitor (Mr Jackson), the debtor said there was an agreement between Mr Morgan Morgan and himself on February 10th. At that time there was £204- owing to Mr. M. Morgan.—The examination was closed.

THE SWANSEA SCANDAL. The Decision. What is known as the Swansea Scandal, and which has occupied the attention of the Swansea magistrates for six days, was decided upon this afternoon. It is an affiliation action brought by a young widow,named Mary Ann Nicholls, against Mr David Richards, confectioner, and son of Alderman Richards, J.P. The case has aroused the greatest possible inte- rest, and the fact that it has occupied six days, besides a day on a former occasion when the case failed. The bench on Thursday was composed ef Messrs J. C. Fowler. J. C. Vye Parminter, Jabez Thomas, and John Lewis, and after the iiench had put a few supplementary questions te the plaintiff, the defendant, and defendant's clerk (Daviea), they retired to search through the cash- book put in by defendant, and which was said to give an index as to defendant's whereabouts on certain dates, and to consider their decision. After a retirement of an hour the Stipendiary said The justices have again considered the evi- dence with the greatest care in this case, and are unanimously of opinion that the evidence is not sufficient to fix the paternity of Mary Ann Nicholls's child on Mr David Richards. (Ap- plause,)

AUTUMN GARDENING. The autumn catalogue of fmit trees, roses, forest trees, evergreens, deciduous trees, vines, etc., of Messrs J. C. Wheeler and Son, of the Kingshole Nursery, Gloucester, has just been issued, and all amateur and professional gar- deners will do well to secure a copy. The seedsmen to the Queen call the attention of customers to the fact that their nursery is on a soil of a light, gravelly nature, and that the trees they send out derive considerable advantage by their removal to richer soils. Under these con- ditions their fruit trees come quickly into bear- ing, more especially as they are grafted or budded on suitable stocks. They claim to grow all the varieties contained in their catalogue, and ensure healthy and strong plants and trees, true to name and in excellent condition for moving.

Grand Theatre (Cardiff), Despite the powerful attractions offered else- where, a cordial reception was given on Monday evening at this theatre to the Madge Rockingham Company in their produc- tion, for the first time in Cardiff, of the new play, which is appropriately termed a musical comedy-drama, entitled" A Fight for Freedom." The play fully bears out its title, tho audience being alternately convulsed with merriment, and charmed with the tuneful num- bers exqusitely sung by Miss Madge Rocking- ham, or held in breathless anticipation by the thrilling incidents of plot and counter-plot. Miss Madge Rockingham is a well-known operatic singer, having taken some of the leading parts in the Cloches dee Corneville," Manteau Noirs," La Fille du Tambour Major, Princess of Trebezonde," and other well-known operas. She has also been distinguished in pantomime, and was formerly a pupil of Mr Edwin Holland, of the Royal Academy of Music. Possessing a melodious and 1 highly-cultured soprano voice she speedily sang herself into the favour of her audience, and was loudly applauded for each of her songs, whilst her acting served to show that she possesses considerable dramatic power. Mr Vivian Grantham, who is also a well-known artist, played the part of Franz to perfection. He is the beau-ideal of a romantic lover, and plays the rOre with a duo amount of spirit, fervour, and emotion. Messrs J. W. Bradbury and Fawcetb Lomax are mainly instru- mental in providing the comedy portions of the drama, and their humour is without stint. Mr Bradbury, who was for a long timo with the Lingard Opera Company as principal comedian, will also be remembered by Cardiff theatre-goers as the Dame in Mr Fletcher's pantomime "Red Ridmg Hood," which occupied the boards of the Theatre Royal tour years ago. He is just as whimsical and lively as ever, and as a matter of fact created his present role of Lagino—a bold, bad brigand. He is well seconded by his companion in brigandage, Mr Lomax. Considerable amusement is afforded by Mr Henry Royce in the character of a retired soap boiler. Mr Walter Roberts is very effective as the miser, whilst Miss Darby Walworth as Zitah, a gipsy girl, Miss Louise Kelly as the Widow Lapomene, and Miss Adeline Montagu as the long-suffering Countess de la Toruffe, add considerably to the development and interest of the plot. The company is undoubtedly a strong one, and the drama, which is very much after the style of My Sweetheart," should com- mand crowded houses during the week.

Lady Henry Somerset is coming back from America to tackle Mr Gladstone about his recent utterances on the liquor-licensing question. This is «.ji»iMiH(nl nronuoti for M-

The War in the East. COLLAPSE OF PEACE PROPOSALS. I FOREIGNERS ORDERED TO LEAve NEW YORK, Wednesday | pEKIN. « York Herald publishes a message from Sha | dated October 16th, stating that a „A army, 15,000 strong, under the comnia I Marshal Yiunagata, is encamped on a 8ina'( I oi land two miles from Port Arthur aw»l favourable opportunity to seize force is protected by Japanese cruisers naval movement. Rumours are current in n )f1 that some difference has arisen betweeItalialO O'Concr (British Minister) and the cei\'ed Minister. All foreigners at Pekin have rr*sf<ji orders to quit the capital. The negotia'1 o g peace have completely collapsed. — Centra' RELATIONS OF FOREIGN MINISTERS. § J The Press Association is informed that if jjj difference of opimon existed betwe^Lj,^ O'Connor (British Minisrer) and the 1 MimsteratPekin, the former would municated with the British Government. ftOØI such information has been received official" Mr O'Connor, the report, is discredited. POSITION OF THE BELLIGERE^' I' l" TIMltS TELEGRAM, PER PRESS ASSOCXAT10.^ TIENTSIN, Tuesday.—Japanese papers here afford negative evidence to the rel^l circulated three weeks agj through London agencies of the despatch of an army corps Hiroshima for the invasion of China, any expedition being rendered impossible bJ shattered condition of the Japanese fleet. perhaps, begins to reflect on the probleiD eventual withdrawal of her troops from where they remain on sufferance of the powers, especially Russia, which power is r "rJ 11 additional ships, including three Ironcla 9, eØ will thus have the most formidable Beet ^j| assembled east of Suez. The news from is scant. The Chinsse headquarters. Chuleang Chang (?), General Sung commander. General Yehweh has been The Japanese headquarters at PiI Their outposts in the direction of Yalu cupied in making roads. ——

THE KAFFIR RISING, ? «jr LORBNZO MARQORZ, Wednesday.—THE quacy of the measures taken by the PORTWR-JI Government for repelling the danger WITH the place is threatened owing to attack is anxiously discussed here. THE T of the country makes transport almost during; the rainy season, and unseasoned from home would be liable to suffer greatly G fever. Under these circumstances it 'F sidered that an experienced Colonial alone capable of meeting the emergency IF diate action is taken. £ PORTUGAL WANTS NO ASSISTA*^ LISBON, Wednesday.—It is authoratively ST*FT here that Portugal would not accept from the Transvaal Government to assist quelling the Kaffir rising at Lorenzo MATQ*1 Heater. quelling the Kaffir rising at Lorenzo MaTClu Heater. ACTION BY GERMANY. COLOGNK, Wednesday.—The Cologne I commenting on the despatch of a second warship to Lorenzo Marquez, says:— come this energetic action of the German ment with lively satisfaction. The fact be disregarded that in certain English$\ every effort is being made to vantage of the present unpleasant •jf tion of the Portuguese GoverniJi6?' order to gain for Great Britain a firmer in Delagoa Bay, or obtain other benefits cr^o* lated to render the new railway from DE' ;øø' Bay to Pretoria serviceable to British ^n^aQ(f and British interests. The despatch of tn? man vessel implios an unequivocal han(y with regard to such aims on the par' British, but it also shows the Portuguese thai German Government are firmly resolved to op. iJ any change in the political spher0^ influence and interests in that region, ujj interest of German capital in a section of the direct railway between Bay and Pretoria and the commercial intj uniting Germany with the Transvaal are s%l portant, that any displacement of the political status in favour of any other state be regarded as an encroachment to Germany would not submit. We look | despatch of the vessels as unmistakable evi fa that the German Imperial Chancellor is | alert for the protection of our interests.

THE SUICIDE OF A CONSlll- The Inquest. f Mr Troutbeck on Saturday opened an Westminster on the body of Mr Patrick son, British Consul at Cadiz, who shot on Wednesday at the Foreign Office. those present at the inquiry were Sit Anderson, Assistant Under-Secretary for Aff Affair M r Davidson, legal adviser to the x Ofjf Omce Mr Foley, private secretary fl Lord Kimberley Lady Mary Foley, f St. George Foley, Mr Boyce, friend of the deceased's, and Mr Frankland» for the deceased's executors. Mr Boyce, architect and engineer, j4!?(0^ Wick, said the deceased was a,friend'* standing. He was about 52 years old. ft not in good health, and witness had bea*0 throaten his life in a casual, hysterical wa.V- j Mr Foley said he saw deceased at the 8^ Office on Wednesday afternoon. )>r j witness in regard to a letter which witnS^li' < written him on behalf of Lord Kimberley [j ing an appointment which Mr Henderson a Zfl to obtain. Mr Henderson was at first corD^tft tively calm, but subsequently excited. Witness told him there was no of bis obtaining the api>ointment, and {) jjp. said "There is but one thing for me to laughing and sobbing Mr Henderson leant m his chair and covered his face with h's Witness turned away for a moment, p# t L heard a loud report. Turning round jj pistol fall from Mr Henderson s hand. I ran out of the room and got assistance. f added that Mr Henderson's nerves had llP^ W | in a serious state for some time past, and 11 H lost self-control. r, oI!d J Inspeotor Tomkins produced the revol'^j*' i: chamber of which had been discharged. r } that when the body was searched a found addressed to the coroner. t The Coroner produced the letter, but J g I proposed to read a part of it only, bec*o £ I remainder reiated to the public service I not bear directly on the cause of death..< read as follows :— rfja God help my poor children they are 0,Jj jj friendless in London. I enclose a sovereign- gfr pay their cab fare to Dr. Barnarilo's or an asylum. At the end of tbe letter was the following God help my poor children.—PATRICK J, r. Dr. Dowler deposed that the cause of a pistol wound in the head. The skull w or tured, and the bullet, which was fired quarters, was found in the head. The Coroner, in summing up, said tn^jKj evidence of a highly-disordered mind) jury found that "The deceased committed p while temporarily insane." igji'y The carrIage which met with the a"01 flt$ Holborn on Thursday contained, not Sir.. James as reported, but Sir George A George sustained no injury. The Press Association states tba? Henderson, whose suicide was investiK^jKj Saturday, was evidently the subject0 derangement, inasmuch as his letter jflPU coroner spoke of his "penniless »' whereas, it has since transpired, children, two in number, will inherit con3'jfrj property. Mr Henderson was really off, and has left a will, naming four f>%eC whom two, Sir Francis Drummond Hay Boyce, were present at the inquest' JJIO children are at present in charge of and will have no occasion for Dr. Home, as their unfortunate father suggeØF" f

TERRIBLE EXPLOSION BIRKENHEAD. j IjJ'V A Birkenhead correspondent telegf^P^af disastrous explosion of coal gas occ ed. ly Saturday on board the steamship Expl°r|j1 in the Alfred Dock, and belonging to the JIO Line. It appears that the hatches battened down during tho night, aD morning a number of dock ceeding to trim the coal in bunkers, jrp naked lights with them into the holo« terrific explosion took place. The fl#0,eS^fy round the vessel for 100 feet and the hatch vvas blown on to Wallasey lairaff siderable distance away, making a ho'0^, Jjjf the roof. Assistance was speedily at it was found that L. Cullens, J. Doyle- f&wfy A. Doyle, T. Morrisy, P. Rhyl, and J' ioi«0j all of Birkenhead, had been terrib'y^jf Pjp large pieces of flesh being torn f jt their bodies. They were at once renJ°.,r xi x hospital. The recovery of three or f° Jr> sidered impossible. te°^v!d On Monday afternoon two more death in the hospital at Birkenhead os A injuries sustained in the explosion of board the Harrison line steamship the Alfred Dock on Saturday. An orlC(»Jy^ the three bodies was opened on tjje adjourned. It is feared that none oI Jjr. men injured can recover.. ,be;6 John Holland, who was injured -j sion on the steamship Explorer at Saturday, died on Wednesday, '-fhi8 fourth death front the explosio"< other men remain in a critical cond't^ =-

SEQUELTO"A SWANS6* i MURDER. Release of Walter *J» Walter Jenkins, who was ni^ad^ J&d' sentenced to 15 years' ponal ser gi^r. manslaughter of a baker n8 j o1* if1\<? Swansea, and who has been rele* k leave, arrived at Swansea late oB. 9 n" He was met at the station > J relatives. fl0 { On Wednesday he was met Jja jjf whom ho told he was in fair'j ^i tite » Wr ft that while in prison he foUoweJj „ printer. More than this he dec {j* expressing his gratitude freedom, ha nuIUd ODe