The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1884-12-06 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

SUBTERRANEAN EXPLORATION.  A correspondent of the Times gives an interesting account of the efforts of members of the Austro. German Alpine Club to explore the subterranean Nurse of the River Reka. Rising in the Schneeberg, in Carniola, this mysterious stream suddenly disappears in the so-called Kant caverns. At San Giovanni di Dying 20 miles distant from the spot where the Rake is lost, a river of conespooding magnitude is found issuing from the foot of • hill. This stream is known as the Times°, which takes a westwar course, and discharger its waters into the Say of Monteleone. As to the identity of the limey° with the Reka there cannot be • doubt, although until the present year no attempt has eves been made practically to demonstrate the fact. Starting from the that great cavern, called the Rudolph's Dome, the expedition, consisting of four persons in two boats, proceeded on their eventful voyage. From the cavern just mentioned the river &WS for 200 feet through • narrow channel between two perpendicular well. of rock, estimated to be upwards of 100 yards in height. At the end of this channel the explorers, whose eourse throughout was illuminated by the magnesium light, found them.elye. in a vast cavern, where they were able to land. Fastening up their boats, they proceeded for some distance on foot past several cascades and rapids. They followed the course of the stream without much difficulty for • considerable distance after leaving the newiy-disoovered Cavillll, keeping to the left tank at first. At length they reached • spot where the river contracts to a width of barely 12 feet. Here they were compelled to croon to the right bank, which they did by help of a wooden ladder they had with them. The advance now became more , difficult, the explorers being only able to get forward ' by creeping and climbing. At length they came to , the sixth waterfall, which the party was unable to pen. The river here runs between two perpendicular walls of rocks, and suddenly takes • downward leap of over 20 feet. From the Rudolph's Dome where the start was made to the sixth waterfall the distance is rather over • furlong,and require. half • day to accomplish. At the third attempt the four gentlemen forming the expedition succeeded by help of suitable ladders and other apparatue in getting over this cataract, and advancing some distance beyond it. They soon,howeveromme to seventh waterfall, where they were °Dowelled to turn back. They found that to make any .further progress it would be necessary to get a boat to pass the last waterfalls,as there is no standing room on either aide of the stream,but sheer perpendicular walla of rock. The further exploration of the underground river will be resumed as soon as the requisite apparatus can be got ready. In the meantime the Alpine Club has decided to make the approaches to the Rudolph's Dome cavern more easy of access to the general public. The second cavern, which was discovered in September, is of far greater dimensions than the Rudclph's Dome or any of the other caves ist this district. Its height is upwards of 450 ft., so that it rculd easily contain the cathedral of St. Peter's at Rome  Mr. Pearce, of Elder and Co., shipbuilders, Glss-, goy, having been asked by the authorities to do something for the unemployed, has offered jo build, at his own risk, • steamer of 8,000 tons. He proposed to pay the wages of five years ago, when trade was also dull; but the men refused the offer. Eleven thousand men are employed in the Glasgow shipbuilding districts against 25,000 last year.  Colonel Creston, Past Grand Treasurer of English Freemasons, has died after • short illness. He had for many years been a most energetic member of the Craft, and a strong supporter of all its charities. On Friday two men, eons of a chimney-sweep named Spinks were rediended at Colt:leiter on • charge of sacrilege. A daring attempt had been made on the previous night to break into the vestry of St. Peter's Church ; but without success. A second attempt was made at Stockwell Independent Chapel; but here again the robbers failed. Shortly afterwards the sash-work of several small windows at St. James's Church were found beckon, and someone was seen inside. The police, who were on the watch, secured the Spinkses. Some Prayer Books were found on them; boa they had not secured any valuables.  ' a the foot of Wood. era M-id looked across to the Canadian shore. "what is the depth of water off the dock here?" The boy looked him all over with careful eye, and then slowly answered: "That's the way it's glue been 1 If a feller wants to commit suicide Ws alba some one so big that his clothes won't begin to fit met I won't tell you nuthie about it 1"  Margery," said Ithelbert, as they eat on opposite ends o( the Turkish divan. "Why am I like the letter ow and a silence fell, broken only by the trielodioes smog* el Margery 's warranted New Enk bid lime. 'Bow dear," added Ethelbert, "1 OM I sok Walla without U." "I thought," amid Margery, "it was beosuse—Q—never—begme— kissing." They spell it "quiz." now.  A short time since,' an honest son of the Emerald Isle mewed an appointment in a local polioeforae, but was somewhat astonished at being hauled before the sitting magistrate the next day after being on duty charged with neglect. Pat, questioned as to the sense of his absence from his poet, gravely replied, "Plass your honour, they set me to watch: and I watched and waited along time, plass. your honour, but nobody came, so I went home and went to bed " " Hey I seen Paddy O'Brien,' sex you. No hey not ; but the ither day on the sthrste, thinks I to meson, that's Paddy O'Brien beyant that I sees. And Paddy thinks as how it's me he semi a-00min j but fair, when we come up wid each ither, we find that it's nayther of us." To know whether a garden has been planted or not, • Western paper gives the following rule: "If one forgets whether beds are planted or not, • good way to tell is to turn • stray cat into the garden. If the beds are planted the cat will proceed to race round and dig into them, and act am if it had relatives in China, whom it was anxious to get at; while, if they are not, it will sit doWn calmly in the path and seem to be meditating on the pr.ogrees of missionary work in Air.,• 401 isitawit poldus ds;eives in this • . .  Swansea Powe Court.  BarusimsT.-13efore T. G. Hall, N. B. Williams, and F. B. Bishop, Esqn. srsoismisa TO