Evening Express

> SCHOLARS' BICYCLE COUPON. THIS TOTE IS GIVEN IN FAVOUR OF I 1 &AM 1 mn—————«e——— -*&!$**• Residing at I public aimistmrnts, CABDIFPT E AT R E O Y A L Jesses and Manageress.Mrs. Edward Fletcher. Telephone, 362. No advance in Prices during this Expensive engagement. Revision to Popular Summer Prices :-DresEI Circle. 3s.; Orchestra, Stalls, 2s. .Reserved, 2s. 6d.): Upper Circle, Is. 6d.; Pit, is.; Gallery, 6d. To-night, Monday, April 18th, Mr. A. A. Barclay's Company, in the New and Original Musical Comedy, THE JJALLET G IRL, Dy .Irtmes T. Tanner, author of the present Gaiety Success, "The Circus Girl." Early Doors, 6.30: doors open 7; commence 7.30; half-price at 9. Booking Offices at Messrs. Thompson and .'haekell's (Limited), Queen-street. Telephone, >21. MONDAY, APRIL 25th, WÍLSON BARi'ETT'S LATEST SUCCESS, T'TO J~^AUGHT £ RS "OF JgABYLON a876 riRAND THEATRE. Lessee & Manager.Mr. Clarence Sotuies. TO-NIGHT, and During the Week, Mr. John Wainwright and Company in the great Moral Drama, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Popular prices, from 4d to £1 Is. Early doors ixtra. Seats not guaranteed. Doors open, 7.10; commence 7.30; eariy doors, 6.45. a875 D'ABC'S GRAND WAXWORKS, ST. MARY-STREET. CARDIFF. TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT! At Seven o'clock. The World-renowned and Weird CLAIR- VOYANTS, PROFESSOR and MADAME ROSE HALL. Missing Friends Described—Lost Pro- perty Revealed-Love, Courtship, and Marriage -How to Win a Person's Love and Keep It. &c. Heads Delineated On Publicly at Each Perfor- mance (if desired!. No Extra Charge. Admis- sion. 3d.; Children, 2d. Heads Examined Pri- vatel.v from 2 till 5; fee. Is. a841 "Tia not in mortals to command success, but we'll do more-deeene it." f H E E m P I R E Managing Director OSWALD STOLL. TO-NIGHT! THE ALBERT AXD FPMUNDS rpROUPE, IX "THE ELOPEMENT," A Screamingly Funny Farcical Sketch. THE THREE FAITHFUL GIRLS, Character Songstresses. PAUL LANG TRY, A Humorist in Black. AMY RUSSELL, Balladiste. BRADY AND JOHNSON SKETCH CO. HAN VARR, An Adept in the Swinging of Clubs. KITTY BELL, In Song and Dance. LITTLE STANLEY, Cartoonist. AMY HEIGHT, the Darky Songstress. HORACE WHEATLEY, In I'll be a Soldier, too. While the spirit of war filling the air reminds us that life and home depend upon the stamina of our defensive forces, hear Wheatley sing this Song. Two Performances Nightly. Early One be- tween 7 o'clock and 9; Late One between 9 o'clock and 11. All the Artistes appear at Each Performance. Box Office open daily (with exception of Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 to 10 prra. Saturdays. It a.m. to 2 p.m. Plan of Boxes. Fauteuils, and Grand Circle. So Booking Fees. Telephone No. 625. a880 NEWPORT. Tl H E EMPIRE. lianaging Director OSWALD STOLL. TO-NIGHT. J W. ROWLEY—"Rilev Did It!" KATE CHARD and DEANE BRAND, In The Corporal." JOHNSON. RIAXO, and BENTLEY- "The Farmer and the Monkeys." wLLA DEAN—"There'll Come a Time." Varieties by other Able Artistes. Next Week—Horace Wheatley, Lieut. Travis, Marie Kendall. a881 T Y C E U M, NEWPORT. -■ Proprietor & Manager..Mr Clarence Sounes. TO-NIGHT, AT 7.30. The World-renowned P) (y. from the Lyceum, London. MAIUME gAJTS GENE- Prices 6ft to £1 Is. Telephone 158 Nat. Box Office Open Daily Ten to Four. Next \Veek—" Never Tco Late to Mend." 55694 < pREDEGAR HALL, NEWPORT, ;VERY NIGHT AT EIGHT, WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY AT THREE AND EIGHT. DOOLE'S pOOLE'S! POOLE'S! 55737 • B A T H S jp> IAN OFORTES AND ORGANS, By ALL MAKERS. THE LATEST MODELS AND DESIGNB FROM 5S. MONTHLY. g S. IN THE jp D ISCOUNT FOR CASH. ALL INSTRUMENTS GUARANTEED FOR YEARS, AND TUNED QNE YEAR JiREE. 51, QUEEN-STREET, CARDIFF. ), TAFF-STREET. PONTYPRIDD. 31, WINDSOR-KOAD, PENARTH. FACTORY-LONDON. AGENTS WANTED IN ALL PARTS. a750 ■OLD IN BOTTLES, K BY POST, 18. 14. HgC Aec,. SOLD BY ALL CHEMISTS. Sole Mannfa rtorer! -• pHIL PHILLIPS, 94. ST. MAl»Y-STREET, CARDIFF. porting. CRICKET Bats, 'The Excelsior," 6s.; Tennis Rackets, 5s. 6d.; Trout Flies, 6d. dozen, not, to he equalled; Fishing Rods, Is.; send for prict list.—Chambers, Gumaaker. Cardiff. a777 X READ THIS X rpUDOR WILLIAMS* JpATENT JgALSAM OF t] ONEY. AN ARTICLE THAT SHOULD BE IN EVERY FAMILY. A PREPARATION CONTAINING HONEY GATHERED ON THE MOUNTAINS OF WALES. AN ESSENCE OF THE PUREST AND MOST EFFICACIOUS HERBS. A REMEDY ALWAYS PLEASANT TO TAKE. "An Analytical chemist" writes:—I consider Tudor Williams' Balsam of Honey the Best Cough Cure on the Market; thoroughly up to date, and contains no poison. ABSOLUTELY PURE. THEREFORE BEST. Thousands of Children Die Annually from Bron- chitis, Whooping Cough, and Croup. IT IS INVALUABLE FOR WEAK- CHESTED MEN, DELICATE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. It Cures Coughs, Colds, Asthma, and Tightness of the Chest, Loosens the Phlegm, and Promotes Expectoration. Produces Warmth and Comfort to the Chest. and Gives Refreshing Sleep when Nights of Rest have been Lost. IT CURES FOR ONE SHILLING WHEN POUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT IN VAIN. LAEGEST SALE OF ANY COUGH CURE IN THE WORLD. THOUSANDS OF TESTIMONIALS TO HAND. j Sold by all Chemists and Stores In Is. lid., 2s. 9d.. and 4s. 6d. bottles. Sample bottles sent (post paid) for In. 3d., 3s., and 5s.. from the Inventor- D. TUDOR WILLIAMS. MEDICAL-HALL. ABERDARE. [e»119 I, A Holiday Boot may he something pOll never heard I of hefort. Our idea ot' siick an article is a sitoe that fill i/ive your poor tired, feet a holiday from pinching alld squeezing.— See Boyle and (Vin- doics, Iiigh-street.Church- street, and Branches. C2023—2 DECLARATION OF WAR! BEVAN AND COMPANY (LIMITED), REGISTERED AS "THE CARDIFF FURNISHERS," Fully determinsd to maintain the premier position as tha Largest, Best, and Cheapest Furnishers in South Wales and Monmouthshire, uereby make this > DECLARATION OF WAR I Against the exorbitant prices • charged by many of their competitors. They are more than ever resolved to supply none but reliable goods at the lowest possible rate of profit, and respectfully solicit intending purchasers to inspect their immense Stocks of Carpets, Floor- cloths, Linoleums, Hearthrugs, Bedsteads, Bedding, Dining and Drawing Room Good^, Pianofortes, &c., before giving their orders elsewhere. £ s. d. Full-sized Wire-woven Spring Mattresses 0 7 11 Diito Feather Beds and Bolsters 1 9 6 Home-made Dining-room "tUttes from. 3 17 6 Excellent Saddlebags Suites from 7 17 6 THE LARGEST DISPLAY OF BEDROOM SUITE3 IN THE DISTRICT. I From Two-anJ a-fialf to Fifty Guineas per Suite. ALL OTHER GOODS EQUALLY CHEAP, AND DELIVERY FREE BY ROAD OR RAIL ALL OVER WALES. Catalogues Free. DECLABATION OF WAR BY BEVAN AND COMPANY (LIMITED), Whose Only Addresses are 21, DUKE-STREET, and 97, ST. MARY- STREET, CARDIFF. 7, WIND-STREET, SWANSEA. OPPOSITE TOWN-HALL, NEWPORT. CLARENCE-STREET and HANBBURY- ROAD, PONTYPOOL. eibj

TO-DAY'S WEATHER. The forecast of the weather throughout the West of^Ensclaud and South Wales for to-day (Monday) is as follows:—S.W. to N.JF. winds, moderating; showery to fair; colder.

TEMPERATURE RAID FALL DATE. Mar. Min. :Mean.,9a.m.j'9p.m.iTotal. Friday 8 63 44 53*5 "00 *00 -00 Saturday 9' 56 46 51*0 "29 *00 -29 Sunday 10j 56 45 50'5 "00 *00 -00 Monday 11! 55 41 48*0 "09 "00 '09 Tuesday .12! 54 39 46'5 "17 "CO -17 Wednesday. 13; 56 4 4 50'0 *00 "00 "00 Thursday Jl4: *07

Telephone: National, 502; Post-offlce. 95. Telegrams; Express," Cardiff.

WHAT WE THINK. ♦ The first recipient of the Marquess of Bute's generous endowment to perpetuate his silver wedding is Miss Alice Mary Green, who is to be married on Thursday next to the partner of her choice. We congratulate the lady upon being the first to benefit from Lord Bute's well- known generosity, and we congratulate those in authority whose delicate duty it has been to make the selection and to decide upon the merits of the several applicants; and we do this the more sincerely because we have made it our business to inquire into the merits of the case, and we find that the selection made is one that, not only fulfils to the spirit as well as to the letter the conditions laid down by Lord Bute, but one that would appeal directly to his lordship's well-known generous sympa- thies. So much for the first stage in this novel experiment. We notice, however, with conside- rable regt'et that it is proposed to invite the young couple to attend the council chamber after the wedding ceremony, when the mayor, supported by tho corporation, will make the presentation and read the portion of Scripture to the wedded pair, accirding to Lord Bute's wish. Is there no other way of carrying out the conditijns of the endowment than that of subjecting these young people to the wholly unnecessary embarrassment which the position would entail? We think there is, and we have too much confidence in the good, sound, practical common sense of Alderman Ramsdale not to think that he will be able to find some means to avoid placing a blushing bride and a nervous bridegroom in such an unenviable position. We feel quite sure it was never Lord Bute's intention to make it a con- dition of his yearly gift that the happy recipients of his generosity should be exposed to the curiosity of a gaping crowd—whether that crowd comprises the corporation or the public matters little. It is not too late, we hope, for the mayor, to make other arrange- ments if this annual function is to be as gracious and as dignified as we are quite sure the donor intended. Why not let the nomina- tor of the lady and the mayor repair to the vestry of the church in which the young couple are to be made one, and, after the marriage service is over. formally comply with the conditions laid down—hand over the sum of money to be paid, read the portion of Scrip- ture prescribed, sign the register, kiss the bride, shake hands with the bridegroom, con- gratulate everybody, say something pleasant to the parson, and come away as quickly as possible, leaving the happy pair to go their way, which, if we are any jadge, would not be to the council-chamber of the Cardiff Town- hall to meet the members of the corporation and so man; of the curious public who like to flo<* to meet them? It is not too late. Mr. Mayor! Think over it, and try and think as we think, if you can.

Alderman Ramsdale, we await your decision. Mr. Maclean, M.P., addresses his Riverside constituents on Wednesday night at the Severn- road Board Schools. His speech will be worth listening to, for the member for Cardiff is never a dull speaker, and he will not lack material. Never were foreign affairs so interesting as now, and there is no branch of English politics so fascinating. We want waking up a bit in Cardiff, for, politically, we resemble a stag- nant pool, not that we are singular in that request. Tis the same everywhere, alas! So poor Fred Bridge has nassed quietly away. For four months he had been a great, but silent, sufferer, and death came almost as a release at the last. It seems only a few weeks ago that he was in the enjoyment of his usual robust health, but one night in a damp bed, a chill contracted thereby, and the natural results followed with err. rapidity. He was well known and much respected by a wide circle of friends in Cardiff, as much for his geni.il bonhomie as for his integrity of character ami his man" straightforwardness in all the affairs of life. He leaves behind a widow and six children to mourn his irre- parable loss. and he also leaves an untarnished reputation and an unsullied honour. Requiescat in pace. The Unionist party in West at afford are suddenly placed in a dilemma from which they are anxiously awaiting extraction. After having unanimously selected a candidate, in the person of Mr. Le Roy Lewis, of Petersfie'.d Hampshire, that gentleman, one being apprised of the fact, regretted his inability to contest the seat owing to private reasons. The party are therefore, without a candidate, whilst the Glad- stomans have won the first trick by selecting Mr. William Adams, popularly known as "Bill Adams." of Stratford-road, Birmingham, to fight the battle on their behalf. The fight pro- mises to be an interesting ..me from every point of view. If rumour be correct it i, fair to assume that we are within measurable distance of iVar between Spain and America. in which case it is of the greatest importance to the English people to know precisely how they stand, the two most urgent points being as to whether our commerce can be molested by privateers upon the high seas, and as to to* degree, if any. in which British subjects can assist either bellige- rents. It has been stated in this column before that neither the United States .r Spain subscribed to the Declaration of Paris a diplomatic ■nstru- ment the importance of whi- h is only recognised when maritime war is prol. ible. and when our own mercantile interests "re at stake, and it has formed and will form ,-he theme for many an article and many an a. gament during the next few weeks, as it has during the past few days.. 'J The exact terms of the declaration adopted by the plenipotentiaries i the Great oPwers at the close of the Crimea War were these;- (1) Privateering is, and remains, abolished. (2) The neutral flag covers enemy's goods, with the exception of contraband of war. (3) Neutral goods, with the exception of contraabnd of war, are not liable to capture under enemy's flags. (4) Blockades, in order to be binding, must be effective; that is to say, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent access to the coast of the enemy." Spain declined to accede to these articles. while the United I States was willing to subscribe to the three last, but suggested in place of the first an article exempting all private property from capture by ships .of war; .ind, as the European Powers would not accept this alternative, American consent was withheld from the whole. As Parliament meets to-day. Lord Charles Bsresford's question to Mr. Balfour, which, it will be remembered, was regarded as a compli- cated legal inquiry calling for solution by the AttorneyGenera!, must soon receive a definite answer. Lord Charles wanted to know whether we mean to allow our merchant ships to be searched for hostile goods in the approaching war between Spain and the United States. It t is, however, a simple matter for all who remember what international law really is. namely, a bundle of usages adopted by the different nations of the world, which have varied according to the interests and con- venience of those who are strong enough to impose their will upon their neighbours.

POWDER AXD SHOT. We har.e extracted a new and novel version of the Scottish piper incident at Dargai from one of the Yorkshire Regiment in Cardiff on furlcngh. The Yorkshireman (who believes less in Scottish than in Scotch) says that no pub- lished version of tbe style in which the wounded •piper stack to the bagpipes is really accurate. As a matter of fact, he says, the poor fellow As a matter of fact, he says, the poor fellow when wounded feil upon his pipes-upon the bag portion of the instrument and his weight, so ion^ as there was any wind in the bag, kept the pipes going of their own accord. the pipes going of their own accord. "But," we observed, "the papers, one and all, state that the piper played a war-tune." 'And that just proves what I t.ell you." "Great Scott! How?" "Doesn't every correspondent give a different tune, as the one he played? Do you think they knew anything at all about it? They heard the row. and knew if it came from the pipes that it must be Scottish—so they gave it a name. If you put the bagpipes in a mangle everybody near you would say it was 'The Campbells are coming,' or something else like that." • The office-boy is taking a, keen interest in affairs between America and pain. From his birth up he has been addicted to consuming Spanish liquorice, and this gives him a feeling of kinship, or association. He wants to know how Spain is going to fight the Yanks. He says that if Spain gets shooting across from Cape Finisterre or Cape Ortegal she might sink America, and if the Americans get popping back at Spain from New York with their guns and things it will be dangerous for vessels passing in between, and a stray shot from New York might knock a hole in France. • »* "B. B." (Swansea).—We are pleased to hear from you. Anything in that line may mean Klondyke. Ask our patent editor. Bill Banter has invented a "Cyclist's Compnaino" for the summer. Although it can be easily carried in the tool-bag, it contains compressed lint, arnica, splints, a small surgeon's saw quite sufficient for any ordinary amputation, bandages, a coupon entitling the holder to the services of the nearest undertaker gratis, a small bottle of chloroform, a railway return pass for self (or coffin) and bicycle, six pieces of poisoned meat to throw to dogs, and four counterfeit half-crowns (excellent imitations) to tip the policemen with if the lamp goes out. We are sorry for Mrs. M Gamn. It is tin'e McKenzie intereferd and the Stipendiary fined somebody else £50 and cosis. She says her hus- band is in the habit of going (as he alleges) to the Cory-liall, and her experience of him on Sunday night has quite unfitted her for literary labours to-day. She had company to tea because little Millie h:id won a prize for good conduct at the Sunday School. And just when everybody had sat down who should come iu but her husband. He stood in the middle of the floor and laughed a silly, meaningless laugh that smelt of nvoi, and asked whether war had been declared between Spain and the Cabs Committee yet. She said, "Samuel! where have you been?" He answered, "To a meeting of the Temperance Alliance at the Cory-hall, Mariar. He was fco aromatic of beer and things that she suspected he had been to a dyspepsia-palace. She was quite sure of it when he insisted on lying down on the table right where the company was, and going fast asleCi with his head resting in the soft, warm crust of a meat pie. That is what Sunday Closing does, she says. When she argued with him in the morning, all he sai 1 was, "If I have done anything I'm sorry for, I'm willing to be for- given." » • Each Sunday, to The Hayes, we hear the Cardiff Socialists hold forth. Here is an item which will please them, and if it turns out trumps, bring many converts. When a man has laboured zealously for a Cause" for years, we must be pleased, whatever we may think of the cause, when good fortune suddenly enables him to carry his principles into bene- volent practice. Mr. Henry Hyde Champion, which may be expanded into Mr. Henry Hyde Park Socialist Champion, has unexpectedly inherited the Meldrum estates and £7,000 a. year. The public will now with great pleasure watch for the distribution of this windfall on true Socialist principles; but, while watching, the public may as well get on with its ordinary business. • • • ■ How poorly talk of principle is borne out hy results. A young girl from the Aberdare Train- ing School sued her mistress through the Merih.yr Guardians for £3 6s. wages, and her mistress set up a counter-claim for clothes and things supplied her. Everybody knows all about these counter-claims. Judge Gwilym Williams, after condemning the principle of "paying a girl in kird," though she might have come from a pauper school, awarded her the magnificent sum of 10s. on her claim. • • • • The miners are scoring a bit so far. They have scored off Mr. D. A. Thomas's bowling, and are likely to have quite a long innings if Mr. D. A. keeps at the wicket. This is the simple problem which several coal- owners have worked out to their advantage: With coal at C2 a ton, is it cheaper to pay the men the small advance they ask, and take the market at the flood, or let the pits be idle and join the noble army of foolish standbacks. I

A RUSSIAN "DREYFUS" CASE. An extraordinary trial, somewhat similar to that of Dreyfus, has, it seems, been pro- ceeding in St. Petersburg. The correspon- dent of the "Times states that the trial, which took place before a military tribunal with closed doors, lasted five days, and came to a close on Tuesday. There were nine prisoners, including one young woman, who have been under arrest for many months, and the crime with which they are charged was the selling of military docu- ments and information concerning the defence of the Empire to alleged agents of the Austrian Government. The two princi- pal accused were a Privy Councillor named Perovnoff, aged 49, and his daughter, aged twenty. They li-ve bbth been deprived of all civil rights anu sentenced to be sent for settlement to the remotest parts of Siberia for life. ihe other accused included Alex- ander Lokvitsky, son of a lawyer attached to the Ministry of War; and Captain Nicholas Turohaninoff, an adjutant of the commandant of the St. Petersburg fortress, and formerly an interpreter in the educa- tional committee of the Grand Staff Lovitsky, for assisting Perovnoff to obtain the secret documents, received four years' hard labQur: Turchaninoff and two others. for co-operation and failing to give infor- mation. were condemned to the deprivation of all rights, ranks, and orders, and exile-- first for three years to the province of Yeniseisk, and subsequently for ten years more to Siberia. The chief culurit, Perov- noff, apoears to have been well kndwn for selling foreign orders and for extorting money from various persons on the pretext of procuring for them certain positions or information.

DALIS HORSE AND CATTLE FAIR. This horse and cattle fair is usually held on the 7th and 8th of May in each year. As, how- ever, this year the 3th of May. falls on a Sunday, the fair will be held on the 6th and 7th of May.

George Frederick, a Roxburgh engineer, was at Sheffield on Saturday sentenced to three months' imprisonment for a violent assault upon a foreman during the late lock oat.

Tin-plate Assessments. CASE OF THE DYFFUPNj, WORKS. A case in which considerable interest was manifested was heard on Saturday by the learned Recorder (Mr. B. Rowlands, Q.e,). at the Swansea Quarter Sessions, in which Mr. W. H. Edwards, proprietor of the Dyffryn Steel Works, Morriston, appealed against the assess- ment. For the respondents (the Swansea Assess- ment Committee and the overseers) Mr. Balfour Browne, Q.C., and Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., appeared, and for the appellants Mr. Abel Thomas, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Rhys Williams. Mr. Rhys Williams stated that the appellants had asked the respondents to divide the steel- works from the tin-plate works, but this had been refused. The present assessment of the tin-plate mills was £200 per mill, at which ail tin-plate mills in the Swansea Union were assessed. Negotiations with respect to the objection of the respondents had been in pro- gress for some time. Mr. Williams went on to speak of the appointment of Mr. Eve as valuer, and of work which ho did, and I remarked that the assessment committee made a reduction of 25 per cent. shortly before the notice of appeal was given. The total assess- ment was £1,470, and his point was that, although that assessment might have been fair when the tin-plate trade was in a prosperous state, it could not be so now that the trade was in such an extremely depressed state, and the rent of mills was not what a willing tenant would agree to pay. The appellants had not only to fight against reductions in prices, but also to compete with other mills which were better equipped and more modern than those at Duffryn. Mr. George Humphries-Davies, an expert valuer, member of the Mining Institute, con- sulting engineer, &c., gave evidence as to the result of his visit to the works, and said the circumstancewfcunder which tin-plates were now manufactured were different to those prevail- ing ten years ago, and no two works were similar, so that it was absurd to have any fixed scale of rating. All works had their disadvantages, and £200 per mill would not be a just assessment between one and another. The tin-plate trade had been thoroughly revo- lutionised during the last ten years. Mr. Balfour Browne: We don't disunte that every mill ought to be rated separately. Mr. Williams: Has the closing of the works had the effect of inereasing the business of the surviving works?—No. The fact is that they could not sell these works, and they had to be pulled down. Has there been any increase?—No. Mr. Williams: Can you suggest why the assessment was fixed at £200 per mill?—No. What was the estimated price of putting up a mill ten years ago?—About £3,000. Would anyone in his senses erect a tin-plate works at the present time?-Xo. (Laughter.) What do you suggest as a fair assessment?- JE640 for eight mills, which would work out at £80 per mill. He would estimate the value of the two steel furnaces at £ 175 each. Mr. Browne called the witness's attention to a statement which he was reporterl to have made hefore the asse"I1'fnt committee that a net sum of £8ó3 would be a fair assessment on the tin-plate works alone. Mr. Davies attributed this to the necessary inaccuracies of a condensed newspaper report, and added that it was an offer made by Mr. Edwards, without prejudice. How do you arrive at £80 per mill?—That is an opinion arrived at from the priee at which the mills have been dealt with during the last two or three years. Mr. Browne read out a long list of figures, showing that tlie exports of tin-plates to France had nearly trebled in the interval between 1888 and 1897: Australia also had nearly doubled; British North America and other countries had nearly doubled their con- sumption, so that other markets had improved. Mr. W. J. Eees, land agent and valuer, Swan- sea, tinder a long examination-in-chief, said the tin-plate trade was now in a worse state than it had ever been. The figure at which a mill could now be sold was about one-half of the cost of construction. He had bought and sold works at £ 1,000 per mill, and these works were very much on a par with the Dyffryn Works. He was now in a position to sell a good works of fire mills at less than £1.000 per mill. In consequence of the bad state of trade, wages had been reduced; Con- tinental countries had entered into competi- tion with Wales, and the tin-plate works now being erected were modern and up to date. With a mill saleable at £1,000, he would esti- mate the ratable value at £50 per mill plus the ground rent. He fixed the value of the Dyffryn works at £1.250 per mill, excluding the steelworks. According to his estimate, the assessment would be £62 per mill, to which would be added £25 for ground rent, making up jE37 per mil!. He had made no valuation of the steelworks, but he -considered £135 per steel furnace a fair assessment. Mr. Balfour Browne: Do you know. Mr. Rees, where mills have been sold at £ 1,000?—Yes, at Cwmfelin. Mr. W. H. Edwards, the appellant, said if he had to re-build the Dyffryn Works he would make a totally different construction.—In cross-examination, he said that he was quite prepared to let the works at JB80 per mill and the steelworks at £100 per furnace. He had tried to let the works privately, but had failed to get any offer. Evidence of a technical character was given by Mr. William Beaumont, an expert engineer, who spoke of the antiquated state of the plant at these works. At this juncture Mr. Abel Thomas said that as far as the steelworks were concerned they were prepared to agree to JE270 as the assess- ment, and make the tin-plate mills the sole point at issue. Mr. Browne declined to consider the steel- works a.part from the tin-plate works. Mr. J. S. Tregoning. proprietor of the Morfa Works, Llanelly. was called, and he said that nis works had been closed for a considerable time in consequence of the depressed state of the trade. It was true that the Burry Works had been leased by Messrs. Morewood and Co. for some time at JEM per week, but since then that company, unfortunately had come to grief. His steelworks had been closed because it was cheaper to buy steel. A considerable reduction had been made in the assessment of his Wvrk3 upon the amount originally assessed by the committee at HaneDy. This closed the case for the appellant. Mr. Balfour Browne, for the committee, said that to his mind the case was a very simple one, for there were very few differences in principle between the way in which they (the respondents) had valued the works, and that of the other side. There was, however, a serious difference in the amount. He pointed out that there were two appeals before the court. One was in respect of a rate made in April, 1897, and the other against a rate made in October, 1897. With regard to the first of th^se, he asked that it should be confirmed on the ground that they (the appellants) had not properly given the assessment committee notice on which they could act. On the second rate it was a mere question of quantum, on which evidence would be given. The Recorder asked Mr. Browne his reason for saying that these notices were invalid. The learned counsel then cited a section of the Act of 1862, according to which they were repaired, not only to give notice of appeal, but the terms of their appeal. Continuing. the learned counsel said the argument of the other side was that, because there was depres- sion in the tin-plate trade, these works should be rated on a lower basis. They had also told them that certain works had been sold at very small figures. Mr. Edwards had been in the witness-box. but he had never said a word as to whether he was making these works pay or not, and he was the only man who could give them information on th;1.t point. The fact that a great many people were starving did not make it necessary that every- body else should starve. Even in the legal profession there were some who are not doing as well as ethers. (Laughter.) There was no evidence that these works could not be supported by the trade they were doing. They wen carrying on a trade, and his learned frier-d knew that these works, compared with other works, were not highly rated. They were all agreed that the assessment must be made bj rule of thumb. Itwasnotaques- tion of profits. Assuming that the M'Kinley ta.-iff were repealed to-morrow, it would be absurd to suppose that the committee could go to Mr. Edwards and say "You must pay. a higher rate of assessment." These mills were not absolutely perfect, hut the steel furnaces were as nearly perfect as possible. There were certain serious disadvantages, and. com- paring these mills with other mills, the assess- ment committee had come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to assess them at £ 200, and had, consequently, reduced the assessment. They had already got the sub- stantial relief from £1.970 to £1,470. and Mr. Eve would tell them that in comparing these works with other works the assessment, instead of being £80, ought to be £175. Mr. William Eve, professional valuer, said he had valued all the tin-plate works in the Swan- sea and Neath unions. In the case of the Dyffryn, he had advised the Swansea Assess- ment Committee /to reduce the ratable value from £1,970 to £1.470. The situation of the works was very good. with an ample supply of water. Cross-examined by Mr. Bowen Rowlands, the witness said that the last assessment was made in 1390, when the tin-plate trade was at the height of prosperity. In his opinion it was not wise to vary the assessment with the rise and fall of prices in an industry. Mr. Eve went on to quote figures of the export tin- plate trade, and read an extract from the har- bour superintendent's report, which showed an increase of 9 per cent. in 1897 over 1896 in tin- plates shipped from Swansea, and then added that the Dyffryn was one of the best-built tin- plate works he had ever seen. In re-examination, Mr. Eve said that he had advised the reduction simply to avoid this liti- gation. The hearing was subsequently adjourned till to-day (Mondayl

1 Notes of the Week. -4- [BY "WESTMINSTER."] LONDON, SATURDAY.. The Congress of the United States appears to be bent on alienating from the American people, in their dispute with Spain, allY particle of sympathy that other nations may have originally felt for them. The proceedings at Washington do not commend the precedent set by Mr. inley of entrusting the decision of peace or war to a popular Assembly. The President might have taken the matter into his own hands, subject to the risk of being over-ruled by a two-thirds vote in Congress but he 'shrank from this responsibility. Instead of trying to guide the Senate and the House of Representatives into the right course, he preferred to throw the reins upon their necks and let them rush along in their own furious way. The result is that popular passion has been excited to a state of frenzy, and that the United States will probably be dragged into war because Congress cannot, for very shame, decide to do nothing after blustering so loudly and so long. The President in his Message said a good deal about the righteousness of the war, and the determination of the American people to intervene in Cuba in the name of humanity and civilisation. I do not say that this is absolute cant, but. certainly, the Americans have been deluded and imposed upon by greedy and dishonest speculators, who have worked up all sorts ctf unfounded tales of Spanish cruelties, and have actually now. we are told. found a.t Chicago-, of a.ll places in the world, the wretch who, at the bidding of General Weyler, blew up Jie Maine. The fact that a Spanish warship lay close to the Maine when the explosion took place goes far to disprove the charge of wilful malice, and the Spaniards, who have acted with great dignity and self-restraint under immense provocation, have offered to submit the whole evidence in the case to an impartial judge. But the Americans are in no mood to listen to reason. They want Cuba, and they mean to have it. The late Ambassador of the United States in Lon- don has had the courage to protest against the vile arts of calumny aud cor- ruption by means of which the war fever has been promoted but his only reward will be to be traduced and denounced by American newspapers, many of which seem to have lost all sense of shame. The com- plaint that Spain' after three years has been unable to bring the civil war in Cuba to an end is only a new version of the old fable of the wolf and the Iamb. The insurgents would! have been subdued long ago ii they bad not received constant sup- plies of men, arms, and money from America. For fifty years, at the least, the Yankees have kept disaffection to Spanish rule smouldering in Cuba, and now they think they are going to reap the reward of their own wrong-Uoing. Probabiy they will be successful, for in energy and resources, though not, perhaps, in imme- diate readiness for war, they are lar more than a match for Spain. JJut the military spirit of the Spaniards has been aroused, and their pride and patriotism, wounded to the quick by the outrageous insults addressed to them, will prompt them to make any sacrifice rather than tamely sub- mit to what they are assured is inevitable. There are many chances in war, as the Americans ought to know, and it is by no means certain that Spain will be crushed at the first onset. In any case, the United States will get no support from public opinion on this side of the Atlantic. Many Americans imagine that English feeling is with them, but, so far as 1 can make out, sensible people in this country are not at all anxious to encourage the aggressive spirit which a.ims at extending the Monroe doctrine to the West Indies. It would be suicidal folly on our part to do so, as we have important interests of our own in the West IndJies to protect. Once Cuba had been Americanised, the war party in the States would not rest till they had appropriated Jamaica as well, and it would not be difficult to show that the pearl of the Antilles" has suffered as long and as grievously from the neglect and incompe- tence of British administrators as Cuba has from the tyranny of Spanish rule. Some anxiety is felt as to what would be the position of British commerce if war break out. Neither Spain nor the United States is a party to the Declaration of Paris, by which other maritime Powers agreed to abolish privateering, and to recognise the principle that neutral ships make neutral goods, except contraband of war. It is obvious that our Government must insist on maintaining this Declara- tion, and not allow our ships to be seized by either of the belligerents for having on board Spanish or American merchandise. The Americans themselves went to war with us in 181.2 rather than submit to the right of search, but that fact will have no weight with them now. unless England makes it quite clear from the outset that she will not tolerate the exercise of such a right at her expen-e. It is quite true that the Declaration of Paris would operate to our damage, as the greatest of maritime Powers, jj we were ourselves engaged in war. and that it might be to our advantage to abrogate the Declaration. But, ;"0 hng as we abide by it, we must take care that its principles are respected. A point of interest which will arise will be the proper definition of "contraband of war." On this matter, again, which is still quite un- settled, neutrals will have a good deal to say. Suppose America, which possesses large coal supplies of her own, declares coal to be contraband of war, so as to preclude Spain from getting shipments of coal from Cardiff, will Spain be entitled to retaliate by declaring Americamwheat to be contra- band of war? If so, the consequences to Great Britain might become very serious. The shipowning interest should lose no time in taking these matters up and ascertain- ing what are the intentions of our Govern- ment with regard to them. Our own war scares have passed away for a time, and a good job, too, for we were all growing heartily sick of them. The Powers which have seized portions of Chinese territory are not prepared to take any further step at present, so we shall have peace for some years now. Our suc- cesses in the Soudan have put an end to the prospect of any serious rivalry to England being set up by Continental Powers in the Valley of the Nile, and public opinion would! not tolerate a quarrel with France over some insignificant places in West Africa. Mr. Courtney, who has spent his holidays this Easter among his constituents, made some pointed remarks the other day about aggressive designs and personal ambi- tion. and indulged in so fervent a eulogy of the moderation and sagacity of Lord Salisbury that one might suppose he had some other Minister in his mind's eye at whom he was pointing his sermon. Such speeches give colour to the gossip which has been freely made use of lately by Lon- don correspondents of French papers, that there exists some kind of plot, to which the "Times" newspaper has made itself a party, for shunting Lord Salisbury out of the Foreign Office and putting in his place a more energetic and imprudent Minister of the Crown. It is even rumoured that Sir Charles Dilke, who has given notice of a vote of censure on Lord Salisbury, wishes to promote the ends of these conspirators. This may be all idle and malicious talk—I daresay it is-but I may point: out that such a scheme, if it existed, would be bound to miscarry. The "Times'' has not acquired a reputation in recent years for being fortu- nate in its intrigues, and I should say that nine politicians out of ten on both sides in Parliament, however impatient they may grow sometimes with the slowness of action of Lord Salisbury, would rather have him at the Foreign Office than any other statesman who could be named. One hopeful sign which makes for the main- tenance of peace ip West Africa is the awakening of the commercial class in this country to the knowledge that the craze for "hinterlands" which has been fostered chiefly by the Niger Company, is likely to land us in enormous expenditure without any corresponding return. We have got a large territory already in the lands at the back of Sierra Leone, and a nice wasps' nest we have tumbled into there. English government is excellent, no doubt, but it is a very costly blessing, and. as the Colonial Office does not like asking Parliament for alarmingly large estimates, it authorises the local authorities to impose fre-h taxa- tion. such as tKe hated Jasrt ta*, which has raised the whole population of the Sierra Leone back-country in rebellion. The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has now set a good example in demanding the repeal of this tax. Whether there is any gain at all in keeping the back-lands is very doubt- ful. We did very well so long as we merely occupied trading stations on the West African coast. Professor Hopkinson, who lately resigned his seat in Parliament on being appointed principal of Owens College, has contri- buted to one of the magazines a paper describing his impressions of the House of Commons. He says some interesting things, but he was in the House for too short a time to make his experience of mu.ch value. A tinge of personal disappoint- ment is manifest in his depressing conclu- sion that the House exists almost entirely for the benefit of a handful of politicians, who are leagued together by close personal or social relations, and that for all practical purposes freedom of discussion in Parlhi- ment is at an end. A clever man, coming to the House from the platform or the lec- ture-room, is mortified beyond expression when he finds that the House treats his first essay with indifference, and that members talk and laugh, or even leave the House, instead of listening to him. But if he has anything to say the House soon takes kindly to him. Famous men, like Mr. Lecky speaking on the Irish Univer- sity Bill, or Mr. H. M. Stanley on the state of things in Uganda, have no reason to complain of not getting an eager and attentive hearing,fcand, generally, compe- tent authorities speaking on questions they understand have no difficulty in getting the ear of the House. But to make a reputa- tion. as a prominent member of the most critical Assembly in the world is not a thing of a year or a session it can only be a work of time, and anybody who wants to acmeve success in public life in this country ought to begin eariv. Changes which have taken place within the last ten years have unquestionably narrowed the scope of debate, and restricted the opportunities of private members. A member tells me that ho always smiles to himself when friends ask him if he is going to take part in an important debate. He never knows whether lie will have a chance of speaking or not, for three out of four of the would-be orators are now invariably crowded out. The alteration in the hours during which the House sits practically leaves only four hours available for debate. You may take half past five as the time at which a great debate usually begins. The orators' on the two Front Benches take about an hour apiece to deliver their speeches. Each of them mijvht say what is pertinent to the question in fifteen minutes, but this would be incon- sistent with the dignity of the Front Bench ma,n; so they talk and talk away, "in one weak, washy, everlasting flood," filling up their speeches with all sorts of padding, and usually with mutual recriminations about which nobody but themselves cares a rush. Then, when the clock points to half-past seven, the second Front Bench man sits down, and, the dinner- hour having now arrived, the House incontinently empties itself. In the old days, before the custom of dressing for dinner was so general as it is now, members used to sit on throughout the evening in their morning dress; but now three- fourths of the members consider it a sacred social obligation to go away and dress for dinner, and most of them forget to come back again. In these circumstances, as Mr. Balfour remarked lately, "an angel from Heaven'' could not keep the House full from 7.30 to 9.30, pnd private mam- bars who have the good fortune to be called by the Speaker struggle gamely forward under the most depressing conditions, and olten speak only to the galleries, which, curiously enough, are nearly always full. for the public continue to take a keen inte- rest in Parliamentary debates. After 9.20 tho Front Bench men begin to stroll in again from dinner, and those of them who have been told off for the purpose monopolise the rest of the time till midnight. In this way the Front Benches have established a new closure, which shuts out free discus- sion, and secures, for their exclusive benefit and to the confusion of possible rivals, all the really valuable time of the House.

A TI€vEl{ BAY 110MANCF. BRIDEMAID BECOMES THE BRIDE. That picturesque residential quarter of Cardiff known to the world as "Tiger Bay has always been rich in romance, but perhaps a matrimonial incident which occurred on Saturday will equal any that is to be found in the annals of that locality. The Bay" is the home of the foreign sailor. Almost every other house is a seamen's boarding-house, and men from every part of the civilised world can here find a tem- porary home in which their own language is spoken and the customs of their country observed. There, too, reside a large number of attractive young damsels who display an active interest in the welfare of "Jack ashore." It is not, therefore, sur- prising to learn that in Tiger Bay, as else- where, chance acquaintanceship often ripens into friendship, and friendship into love. with the attendant sequels of mar- riages and broken hearts. It was in this locality, then, that a young German sailor pitched his tent a few days ago. and it was not very long before he had succumbed to the fascination of an attractive young woman. When he delicately turned the conversation on to the subject of matri- mony lie received proof that his feelings were reciprocated, and the wedding day was fixed for Saturday. The engagement- ring was bought, and so was the bride's trousseau, whilst "Jack" himself purchased ab^annew light tweed suit, with a sweetly pretty blue and white necktie. Every- thing appeared to be going swimmingly, but on Friday there occurred a "tiff," and tho bride-elect emphatically declared that she would never marry the man to whom she was betrothed. But ''Jack" thought lightly of it, and at the appointed hour he presented himself at the registry-office, I fully expecting his loved one to be present. But she came not. He waited and waited, and then, at last, so rumour says, at any rate, he declared that one of the bridemaids should take the place of the absent bride. It was no sooner said than done, and the bridemaid became the bride. But, strange as the story is so far, it is not all told yet. The married couple, it is said, adjourned to a hostelry in the neighbourhood of the "Bay," and there proceeded to celebrate the wedding by drinking the healths of themselves and all their friends. Then a strange thing happened. Just as the festi- vities were as their height, who should enter at the front door but the bride that was to be, but wasn't. Whether she had repented or not is not stated, but she was attired in her wedding costume-a light blue dress, with a blue and white hat to match. As far as appearance was con- cerned, she looked for all the world like a bride, but she was not, if report be true, in a wedding temper. It is even said that she vented her wrath by throwing a quart of beer over one of the principal actors in the romance, but, in any case, it is quite certain that a very lively .scene occurred, and it was only when a party of a hundred persons had assembled that the newly-mar- ried couple were able to make their way from the hostelry and so escape. They jumped ow a tramcar and spent their honeymoon at the Docks.

LLANELLY HOSPITAL DISPUTE. We do not know enough of the facts (says the "Westminster Gazette") to pro- nounce any opinion on the unfortunate con- troversy which has arisen in connection with the Llanelly Hospital. A dispute between the matron and the head-nurse has somehow developed into a national and party squabble that has, in the end, led to the management committee deciding to dis- miss all the staff and begin again de novo. But we are amused to see it stated that the patients "who have taken sides" are also to be discharged. It is unwise, no doubt, for a man with a broken arm to interfere in the internal politics of an institution in which he is being nursed, but it seems rather-a severe punishment that he should, in consequence, be turned adrift. Perhaps the statement that the patients took sides is given as a piece of picturesque detail, and not a cause for the committee's action. Some of the less known, but not infre- quent. uses of a hospital (says the "Pall Mall Gazette"') have just been brought to light at Hanetly. The hospital there, it appears, had become a pouting-place for nurses, with a matron as chief pouter. The nurses and the matron who pouted were English. What made them pout was that a Welsh nurse had\,ot promotion. On Friday the committee of management decided to accept the resignation of all the pouters, and as the patients had taken sifles in the dispute, and.were also pouting, the committee decided to discharge the lot. Now the hospital is clo-«d aad aU is well.

Llanelly Footballers 1 MEET WITH MISFORTUNE AT PLYMOUTH. BREAK COLLAPSES AND SEVERAL MEN BADLY HURT. Llanelly will ever remember their AVest of England trip, and Plymouth in particular. They not only made a remarkably poor show on the Rectory Field, but on returning met with an unfortunate and serious accident. The players and some of their friends were returning to the Globe Hotel. Plymouth, in a large break covered by a stout awning. It. was the same vehicle in which they had driven to the field, and 22 men were crowded into it. Opposite the Xavv and Army Stores, in Union- street. the vehicle, without any warning, suddenly collapsed, and all the occu- pants were hurled to the ground, some of them with great violence. Vive men were injured. All were badly shaken, intruding Mr. Harry Bowen. one of the most famous football players in the United Kingdom, who is accompanying the Llanellyites in their tour..The worst injuries were sustained by Peter John Davies, Ben Davies, and Gabe. Two of the men fainted with the II,.<¡in, and several of them received nasty contusions in the head. The cause of the accident is supposed to have been the fracture of the axle of one of the front wheels of the coach. It appears that the thrown wagonette was proceeding in Union-street at a steady pace, and was moving from the train rails outside Farley's Hotel to the side of the road when the right hind wheel broke off, and the wagonette' was thrown on to the pavement. Several of the team were seated on the top, and these were thrown with some force to the side walk. Prompt assistance was rendered, and those who were injured were taken into shops near. Dr. Pearse was called, and he at once ordered their removal to their headquarters at the Globe Hotel. The wagonette was greatly damaged, and was removed to its owner's (Mr. H. R. Wills) stables The driver was not hurt. By those who saw it. the escape of the players is considered miraculous. The injured *men were afterwards attended by Doctors Wippell and Rendle. Miller was found to have sustained injury to the groin, Ben Davies a severe sprain of the foot and the leg bruised, Walters was hurt internally: though not seriously, Gabe injured his arm, and P. J. | Davies sustained severe shock. Under skilful treatment the men were able to undertake the homeward jounrey on Saturday, leaving Plymouth by the 8.10 p.m. train. Ivor Lloyd, who was- rather badly injured in the match, came on later, having satisfied the doctors that he was in a fit state to travel.

CLAIM BY A nOARD OF GUARDIANS. At Merthyr County-court on Saturday the Merthyr Board of Guardians, on behalf of Ruth Baker, sued Mr. T. L. Sheen, Gwaelodygarth-terrace, Merthyr, to recover L3 6s. claimed to be due to the girl for wages. Mr. F. T. James appeared for the guardians, and Mr. W. Beddoe represented the defendant, who counter-claimed for JE:3 19s. 2d. for articles of clothing sup- plied.—Baker was formerly in tho Aberdare Training School, and she went into the service of the defendant, who contracted to pay her 6s. a month in cash. She declared, however, that she received no wages at all. and as to the counter-claim she denied having had some of the things, and said with respect; to others that they were simply cast-off clothing.—His Honour, during the hearing of the case, said he wished to make it clearly understood that these children who had been in the training school should be treated as if they had never been in the union. They were entitled to be paid their money themselves, and there must not be any taint of the union about them once they had left there and gone into service. The defendant was wrong in giving the girl goods in lieu of wages.—Mr. Beddoe said he was perfectly willing to set one account againsc the other, although the counter-claim was larger, but Mr. James stuck out for the principle, and Eventually judgment, was given for the guardians for 10s., with costs.

THE TRAIX OUTRAGE ON JHE G.W.R. ARREST OF A SOLDIER AT CORK. At Cork Police-court on Saturday (before Mr. C. Mavne, resident magistrate) an Army Reserve man named Simon Murphy was brought up in custody, charged by Police-constable Costelloe with being con- cerned in the recent outrage On Private Moore, of the iioyal Munster Fusiliers, who had been robbed and thrown from a train whilst travelling from Bath to Milford, on his way to Cork.—Police-constable Costelloe stated that he arrested Murphy at Cork, and charged him with the offence men- and charged him with the offence men- tioned. When taken into custody Murphy admitted that he had travelled in the same carriage as Moore between Bath and Milford. Another man—a soldier named O'Neil-also travelled! in the same com- partment. Murphy stated that he had fallen asleep on the journey, and when he awoke he noticed that Moore was missing. It was dark at the time, and he did not know how far they were from Milford. He did not know Private Moore before that night, and he could not tell anything further about what had happened; on the journey.—The Bench ordered Murphy to be detained in custody until the arrival of a police escort from Haverfordwest, when i tie would be handed over for conveyance to Wales.

BRITISH IN WEST AFRICA. On Saturday morning seven men of the Sierra Leone Detachment, whose headquarters are at Plymouth, embarked on the steamer Biafra for Sierra Leone. Each man on his arri- val is to go to the front to take part in quelling the native rising in the interior. Staff-sergeants Wadler and Wells, of the Army Service Corps, are also going out to Sierra Leone. Captain the Hon. G. C. Denton, Colonial Secretary of Lagos, is also a passenger by the Biafra. Cap- tain L. M. Lynch, South Lancashire Regiment, is going in a vessel to Lokoja to join Colonel Lugard's headquarters. According to intelli- gence received in Liverpool, Jebba is now to be the headquarters of the West African fron- tier force, and a large number of troops were being sent up there when the last information came down from Lokoja. Jebba is, roughly, about 300 miles above Lokoja.

AFFAIRS IN SOUTH AFRICA. A Reuter's telegram from Cape Town on Saturday says:—The chamber of commerce entertained the Customs Union delegates at dinner yesterday evening. The Hon. Henry Binns, Pvc-mier of Natal, responding for the delegates, said he was glad there was a pros- pect of Natal entering the Union. Sir Gordon Sprigg, responding for the Cape Ministry, said he was unable to divulge the results of the present conference until be received the sanc- tion of the Governors of the Cape and Natal and the President of the Orange Free State, but he hoped the tariff arrived at, though not satisfying the extreme Free Trader or Protec- tionist, would be an improvement on the exist- ing tariff. A Renter's telegram from Pretoria on Satur- day says :—The dispatch of the Transvaal Execu- tive, in reply to Mr. Chambprlain's latest com- munication was handed to the British Agent to-day. ¡-

WEST STAFFORD VACANCY. Mr. Le Roy Lewis, of Petersfield, who was selected by the Unionists of West Stafford- shire to contest the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Hamar Bass, has notified the committee of his inability to accept the invitation, owing to personal reasons. 'The Liberal Unionist and Conservative committees will hold another meeting to-day (Monday) for the purpose of selecting a candidate. At a meet- ing of the Liberal Association on Saturday evening it was resolved to ask Mr. William Adams, of Stratford-road, Birmingham, a Primitive Methodist and county councillor for Worcestershire, to stand.

STRIKE OF MINERS IN PENNSYLVANIA. A Central News telegram from Washington on Sunday says:—One thousand eight hundred miners employed by the Pennsylvania Mining Syndicate, which has Government contracts for'the delivery of 400,000 tons of coal, have struck in a body, and it is feared the disaffec- tion "may spread and cause serious embarrass- ment to tha Government in the event of hostilities.

SHIPPIXG CASUALTIES. [Lloyd's Telegrams.] Saturday. The steamer Asteria. of Glasgow, for Liver- pool, in leaving coal hulk collided with the collier steamer Jet, of Newcastle, from tha Tyne, anchored below Gravesend. Former pro ceeded, apparently uninjured; latter's port sid damaged abreast, ruize11 rigging, and proceed' to L'cplar Dock. Danish schooner Heimdal, from Alloa for Der ma k, with coals,.abandoned yesterday mornin in a sinking condition 50 miles south-east o Wick during heavy gale. rew rescued b British steamer itosemorran, from Leith fo N Newport News, and transferred to fishing boa* and landed at Stornoway. Steamer Ferritin, proceeding Thames throng1 Tower to-day, collided with tank barge Wy loaded with gas liquor; steamer's port bo slightly damaged. British steamer Gergovia. from Marseilles fr Monte Video, lowed into St. Vincent (.Cape d Verdes) by British steamer Argo, with tail err of main shaft broken; distance towed 30 miles. Norwegian barque Benja min Bar.gs, fronj Mobile, with timber, arrived in the Tyne to-day water-logged. Steamer Mascotte, before reported to-day aground, got oil' unassisted. British steamer Llanberis, for Constantinopls. went ashore at Sarasiglar, Dardanelles; floated unassisted. Schooner Faithful, reported yesterday in collision with steamer Elbe, has docked at Dover. Kertch telegram states that the steamers Penpol and Girdleness, bound for Ghenitchesk, suspect fast in ice. Barque Wanderer, before reported ashore off Dunkirk, re-floated. Steamer Westbrook, before reported aground outside Kertch, assisted off after discharging about 35,) tons. Has put in here; damage, if any, unknown. Maasiuts tèlr-graph. -Dutch steamer Mascot, from Rotterdam for Glasgow, grounded, probably float next tide. Cnxhavcn telegraphs -British steamer Amy. inward bound, lying anchored off Brunshauseu, and City Cologne, outward bound, collided. Latter severely damaged, returned; former ••'Hiy damaged, lost anchor and fathoms chain. The British steamer Victoria, inward bound, grounded, floated with rising tide, and arrived Hamburg in good condition. Steamer Voltaic, of Belfast, from Bristol for Wexford, general cargo, and steamer Devonia. collided River Avon yesterday. Voltaic struck on portside just abaft engine-room, receiving considerable damage. Norwegian steamer Bjorgia, from Shields for Delaware, returned Cardiff with machinery disabled. The Portuguese barque Mariposa, from New Orleans for Oporto. capsized. March 28. lati- tude 30 N.. longtitude 61 W. Crew saved and landed Fayal by Portuguese steamer Dona Maria. Steamer Elbe, befcre reported at Dover, after collision with schooner Faithful, will tempo- rarily repair, to enable her complete repair. British steamer Turret Age, from Maryport for Louisburg, Cape Breton. arrived St. John's: propeller damaged, leaking fore peak. one to three holds; recommended to dock for further survey. Barque Wanderer, before reported ashore, has docked Dunkirk. British steamer Dalegarth reported ashore Nicolaief bar « British steamer Gertor, frcmi Odessa, afjround TeufelsbrUecke, River Elbe; probably float rext tide. German ship. Schiffbek, reported yesterday. will proceed on voyage. Ciew of Amorosa, which sank after collision with the Schiffbek, arrived Bamsgate this evening. Sunday. Falmouth telegraphsSteamer Carrie, from Sharpness for New York, which put in on the 15th with thrust shaft broken, has gone along side the breakwater for repairs. Havre tele,.raphs :-Caen Canal navigation closed provisionally. Steamer Rapid, from Manchester Canal for Gibraltar, cargo coal. put into Holyhead, haviner struck in coming down canal, and damaged port bow. When off bar lightship commenced leaking foreliold, making about five inches per hour.

LOCAL AMI SEMEXTS. THEATRE ROYAL, CARDIFF. For this week Mr. A. A. Barclay's company, with "The Ballet Girl." will perform at the Theatre Royal, Cardiff. Mr. Barclay is noted for putting on whatever play he tours in the best possible style, and, as the company now visiting Cardiff has been here before, successful performances may be anticipated with safety. Mr. Humphries. well known as a popular come dian, has come back to the company, and a couple of charming lyrics have been added to the score. GRAND THEATRE, CARDIFF. Mr. John Wainwri<lit and his "Nt'ver Too Late to Mend" C'omp my have for man" >ents been amongst the most popular features in the theatrical world, so far ;,s the produces are concerned. The run that the draaratised ver- sion of Charles Reade's famous novel has attained stands second only to tne success that has been achieved by "East Lynne." Mr. John Wainwright is playing at the Grand Theatre. Cardiff, this week, and a succession of full houses will, no doubt, be experienced. THE EMPIRES. CARDIFF. With the celebrated Albert and Edmunds' comic troupe playing the very diverting sketch, "Elopement," and Mr. Horace Wheatley singing his stirring patriotic songs, the enter- tainments at the Cardiff Empire this week will be well worth visiting. Taken all through, a strong programme is offered. I NEWPORT. J. W. Rowley, the celebrated comedian, is down for appearance at the Newport Empire this week. and his name is accompanied on the bill by those of Miss Ella Dean, Harry Clifford, Chard'and Brand, George Avery (the accom- plished juggler), and several other artistes whose merits are of the "excellent" standard. SWANSEA. For the present week a strong programme has been arranged for the Swansea Empire. Mr. George Lashwood, who stands out so pro- minently in his own line; Miss Marie Kendall (who has added several new songs to her list), and half a dozen other capital artistes are to take turns upon the stage. THE LYCEUM, NEWPORT. "Madame 'sans Gene." which has proved so great a success at the London Lyceum, will be staged at its Newport namesakje during the ensuing week. The play is of French origin, and Mr. J. Comyns Carr's version is told with great effect in a prologue and three acts. The names of Messrs. Morell and Mouillot are sum. cient guarantee of the company's efficiency. POOLE'S MYRIORAMA AT t NEWPORT. Mr. Joseph Poole's myrioramic exhibition remains for yet another week at the Tredegar- hall, Newport, before proceeding on a lengthy tour. The performances are, without excepi tion, of high standard. ■

ENGINEERS' SECRETARY. The voting for the election of a secretary to the Amalgamated Society of Engineers con- cluded 011. Saturday, all voting papers having to be delivered at the head offices of the society in Stamford-street by eight o'clock this (Monday) morning. In the ranks of the engi- neers the affair has not created much excite- ment. The majority of the voting papers received so far show a firm allegiance to Mr. Barnes, who heads the poll by over 3.000 votes, his nearest opponent- being Mr. Anderson, the other candidates, Messrs. Barton and Hender- son, following in the order named. At head- quarters the re-election of Mr. Barnes is looked upon with confidence.

ALARMING CARRIAGE ACCIDENT AT KIDWELLY. On Friday night Mrs. and the Misses Price, of Glanmorlais, were giving a fancy dress ball to their friends, and the Town-hall, Kidwelly, waa engaged for the function. A carriage from lscoed, Ferryside, having deposited its load of guests at the door, proceeded up Lady-streei,, and in attempting to turn round it is surufise.l that the pole of the carriage got broken, thereby- frightening the horses, which bolted. The broken pole first came in contact with a shop window close by, and smashed it, the driver being thrown from the box and sustaining severe injuries to his head. In the meantime the horses were dashing full speed down Lady-street again, and opposite the Town-hall came slightly in contact with Mr. Griffiths's (Carmarthen) carriage, which had also, fortunately, just dis- charged its load. The driver of this carriage was thrown violently off, and the carriage sadly damaged. The Iscoed carriage then dashed full tilt against the White Lion Hotel, one of the horses going almost bodily through the window, which was. completely destroyed. The fore-part of the carriage was considerably damaged, and one of the horses seriously injured. The streets were crowded with spec- tators at the time, and it is providential that no worse accident occurred.

BATH AND WEST SHOW. A meeting of the Bath and West of England Show Committee was held at the Town-hall, Cardiff, on Saturday morning, Mr. D. T. Alexander presiding.—It was stated that Mr. A. C. Stewart had accepted his nomination as looal veterinary surgeon during the show week; Messrs. Bailey and Giller had agreed to open a registry of lodgings, and Mr. William Lewis, of Duke-street, and consented to sell season tickets. A letter was read from the general secretary of the society in reference to obtain- ing a loan of local pictures for exhibition in the art section, and the town-clerk was re- quested to communicate with Lord Bute, Lord Tredegar, the Cambrian Society, and the Car. diff Art Society, with a view of obtaining pic. tuxeo.