... FINE WRITING.—It is hoped that the Chinese, and the Hindoos, and the Persians, and such like haythen peoples, do not read the English newspapers. If they did, what would they think of such a horrible spectacle as is described in the London Standard when it says :— The Conservative chief (Disraeli) has been marked out for slaughter, and may be regarded already in the light of a victim. A few ...

... New Zealand papers have arrived to December 24th, and Australian to the 4th of January. The Melbourne Argus of the latter date says that the news from the seat of war in New Zealand is less doleful in its cha- racter than it was a month ago. There is now no danger at Wanganui; and on the East Coast the movements of the rebels have not been of a formidable character. The Challenger, the Brisk, ...

... LONDON CORN MARKET.—MONDAY. We had very heavy arrivals of foreign barley and maize last week, the other supplies being good. Exports, 442 qrs. oats 40 qrs. maize English wheat, 4,689 qrs.; foreign, 16,377 qrs. There was a short supply of fresh samples, this morning from Essex and Kent, mostly in very rough condition. Good dry sam- ples, being scarce, maintained last week's rates the rest were ...

... MORTALITY FROM SNAKE BITES IN INDIA—It ap- pears from the Oude Adminstration Report that during the past year 1,127 persons died from the effects of snake bites in that province, and from the Central Provinces Adminstration Report that 1,874 deaths had occurred in them from the same cause during the three preceding years. DEATHS or Two COMMONERS OF OXFORD.—Much gloom has been caused throughout ...

... CHARGE OF INDECENT ASSADLT.—On Thursday last a young man named John Edwards, was brought up in custody before T. Jones, Esq., and charged with indecent- ly assaulting Ann Evans, wife of Thomas Evans, black- smith, Tanyrallt, in the parish of Trefeirig, on the 30th ult. Prisoner was remanded till the 24th February, when the case will be heard at Llanbadarn prisoner's father being bound over for ...

... Judgment was given at Birmingham the other day in the case of Mr. Osborne, the Birmingham gun- maker, summoned by the Great Western Railway for sending percussion caps for transit without marking their nature on the outside of the package. The charge was brought under the 105th section of the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act. The magistrate overruled a preliminary objection that the goods had ...

... VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE. TENTH GLAMORGAN RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—Orders for week commencing 15th February, 1869.—Wednesday, company drill at 7.30 p.m. Sergeant for week, Colour Sergeant Elliott. SIXTEENTH GLAMORGAN BUTE RIFLES.—Orders for the week ending the 20th February.—Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, position and recruit drill at Drill Hall at 7.30 each evening. Wednesday, company parade, fall in at ...

... PENNY READINGS.—Another of these instructing amusements took place at the chapel school-room, this week: Mr. Hopkins, of Llandaff, occupied the chair. After a few remarks by the chairman, the programme was opened by Miss Jemima Thomas, playing a solo on the piano, then followed a reading, Mr. D. Williams song, Mr. Vaughan Johns; reading, Master Beer; song, Mr. Evans; reading, Mr. Roberstone; ...

... THE LATE MR. ERNEST JONES.—The committee for obtaining subscriptions in aid of the widow and children of the late Mr. Ernest Jones, after making careful inquiuies in to the circumstances of the case, have decided that it is necessary to raise a sum of f5,000, and at the first meeting the sum of B200 was subscribed. All persons favour- able to the above object are desired to remit their ...

... CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TELEGRAPHS. The Times, in asking what action is to be taken with respect to the new Telegraph Act of last session, observes that, without attempting to distribute the blame of the failure, we may simply say that hitherto our telegraph system has failed to become what it ought to be. It does not give us cheap, popular, and available means of com- ...

... BOARD OF HEALTH.—The meetings of this Board— i. e. the rivers Rhondda and Taff—have been very fre- quent, and the result most beneficial to the health of the town. GAs.-The ratepayers at a public meeting held on Tuesday evening agreed that the chairman. Dr. Hunter, should sign on their behalf the contract. for the public lighting for the next three years, at the same price per lamp as hitherto ...

... GAS.—Moat of the shops and public houses in this place are now lighted with gas. It is of good quality and gives a very bright light. We understand that the price per 1,000 feet is Us., which, considering the great outlay of capital, is reasonably cheap. But we hope the returns will enable the company in time to reduce it to 4s. Gd., which is the maximum price in other places. The waterworks ...