Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

LOCAL & DISTRICT NEWS. LLANGOLLEN. FORTNIGHTLY MEETINGS.—On Friday evening last the second of a series of the above meetings was held in the Assembly Room. S. Gregson Fell, Esq., Walton House, occupied the chair, and, after a few introductory remarks, the following programme was gone through in a manner which did credit to the performers:—Reading, by Mr. R. M. Davies duet piano-forte, "Osborne Quadrilles," Miss Thompson and Miss Nellie Hughes, Plas Geraint; song and chorus, "Mother will comfort me now," Mr. W. Jackson and party, accompanied by Miss J. G. Evans; reading, Teulu'r Meddwyn," Mr. Lewis Owen, Baptist College; song, "The Sabbath Chimes," Miss Jane Ann Pugh, accompanied by Miss M. Jane Davies; address, "A Trip to Kidderminster," Rev. H. Jones, M.A. song and chorus, Fare- well, my Mother dear," Mr. Richard Jones and party, accompanied by Miss J. G. Evans read- ing, Industry," Mr. T. Hughes song, Anwyl yw Gwalia fy ngwlad," .Mr- J. Evans; solo pianoforte, Miss J. G. Evans; song, "The Maid of Llangollen," Mr. Cyrus Watkin, accompanied by, Miss Thompson recitation, Bob, the Cabin Boy," Miss E. Hughes, Birch Mount; song, Put me in my little bed," Mr. Harries and party, accompanied by Miss Jarvis, Birch Hill; finale, God save the Queen." The attendance was very large, taking into consideration that it was raining all the evening. LLANGOLLEN FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC CLUB.— Several of the members of the Llangollen Cricket Club met at the boys' National Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening last, at seven o'clock, to consider the expediency of forming a Football and Athletic Club in this town. It was unanimously agreed that a club of the kind be formed, and that the following be the officers elected Captain, A. C. Tanqueray, Esq., Penybryn Hall; treasurer, Mr. F. J. C. Cope, banker secretary, Mr. R. S. Richards, Bank Buildings. It was resolved that no persons would be allowed to join without being first introduced to the committee by the secretary. The opening match is to be played at the Recre- ation Ground on Saturday next at 3-30 p.m. HARVEST THANKSGIVING.—On Tuesday last the Calvinistic Methodists of this town held their harvest thanksgiving meetings at 2 and 6 30 p.m. A goodly number of people attended, especially at the evening meeting. Addresses were delivered by Mr. H. Jones and the Rev. R. Winter. Collections were also made towards the Home Mission. PRESENTATION-Mr. and Mrs. Jones (late Miss Horton) returned from their wedding tour on Tuesday night last, when they received a hearty welcome from the children of the board school and others who had gone to the station to meet them. On Wednesday the children presented Mrs. Jtmes with a beautiful album and purse. There was in the album the following inscrip- tion :— "Presented to Mrs. Jones, on the occasion of her marriage to Mr. W. Jones, Friday, October 18th, 1872, by the pupils of the Llangollen School Board." There was also an address to the following effect, written by one of the scholars Dear Teacher, Will you accept the accompany- ing presents from your children, as tokens of their deep affection and esteem. We all unite in wishing you both long life and happiness.-The Pupils." THE HARVEST AND THE WEATHER.—The weather continues exceedingly unfavourable to gather in the crops, which have been soaking in the rains for several weeks, if not months. A part of Saturday and nearly the whole of Sunday last was fine, and we find that in some places the crops were carried in, but in a very middling state,, on the Lord's day. The latter part of Tuesday and the whole of Wednesday turned out to be exceedingly fine, bright sunshine all day, with a slight breeze, which enabled several farmers in. course of the afternoon and evening to carry many loads in a pretty dry condition. A strong wind prevailed all night, with a falling barometer indicating that rain was again near, but the wind proved very beneficial to dry the crops, and it is very probable that many upland farmers carried all night. Before daylight yesterday morning rain came down heavily and checked for the present all further progress. A person told us, yesterday, who had seen a field of oats being carried on the previous day, which had been cut five weeks ago, that the crop was in a wonderfully good preser- vation. LLANARMON DYFFRYN CEIRIOG. FAIR.—A fair was held at the above place on Saturday, the 19th inst. The animals which were brought together were not many, and it was seen that prices were a good deal lower than they have been for the past few weeks. It is presumed that there never were so many sheep brought by dealers from a distance as on this fair which occurrence acted as a check to the high prices asked for stock. The total number of sheep was about 2,000. LECTURE.—On Tuesday evening, the 22nd inst., a lecture was delivered at the Calvinistic Meth- odist Chapel, on the" Customs of the Ancient Welsh," by the Rev. R. Ellis (Cynddelw), Car- narvon. A goodly number had come together, and to all appearances all were very well pleased. LLANDRILLO. MELANCHOLY SUICIDE OF A FARMER'S WIFE.— On Thursday, Oct. 17th, Llandrillo was thrown into considerable excitement when the sad news became known that Mrs. Gwen Evans, the wife of Mr. John Evans, Waunrydd, a small but respectable farmer, had committed suicide by Ranging herself with a rope in her bedroom. It appears that the unfortunate woman had been junwell a few weeks ago, and had at different *"■ 1 J? "A 1 -F- recoveTed'tliat'"nothing 'unusual-'was "seen fif nlf conduct. However, last Thursday, her husband went to a neighbour's house to assist with the thrashing machine, leaving the deceased and a lad in his employ at home. When he returned, about four o'clock in the afternoon, he found the door locked and the key taken out. He effected an entrance by breaking through an old window, when he found the key of the door placed on the dresser in the kitchen. He immediately searched the rooms, all of which had their doors closed, and on entering the bedroom he saw the deceased hanging with a cord round her neck. He at once gave an alarm, and several men went back with him to the scene of the shocking spectacle;. they cut the body down, and it was quite cold and stiff, which showed evidently that the sad act was committed soon after Mr. Evans left the house in the morning and this opinion was corroborated by the fact that the servant lad, who was working in a field close by, went at the usual hour for his dinner and found the door fastened then. The inquest was held on Friday evening, Oct. 18th, before the deputy coroner, Mr. W. Williams, Bala, Mr. Edward Jarrett, Plas-yn-fardre, being foreman of the jury. The first witness called was Mr. John Evans, husband of the deceased, who deposed I live at Waunrydd, in the parish of Llandrillo. Gwen Evans was my wife. We had been married twenty-five years. Deceased complained some time ago of great pain in her head, but she had been all right for the last three weeks. Dr. Walker, Corwen, visited her during her illness twice. She suffered from great flatulency at times; her behaviour during her illness was as usual, only when conversing she seemed to get confused. Had greatly altered for the better during the last three weeks. Conversed freely about domestic affairs in the morning before I left home to assist with the thrashing machine. I left the house about eight o'clock, and did not return till about four o'clock. The servant lad was near the house so as to attend on her. When I returned I found the door locked and got in through the window. I was greatly frightened by seeing the door key placed on the dresser inside, and I began to make a search and found her hanging to a cord in the bedroom where we used to sleep. I did not touch her then, but went to my next neighbour to give an alarm. Three men proceeded with me back. It was they who cut her down. She was fifty-four years of age.—The next witness examined was Robert Roberts, a lad thirteen years of age, who deposed My mistress sent me to work in a field close to the house soon after my master left. I went for my dinner between one and two o'clock, and found the door fastened. Went back to my work. My master came home about four o'clock. I told him I had had no dinner and had not seen my mistress since breakfast. It was impossible for my master to come home without me seeing him.—Edward Owens, Cynwyd, said: I went with the other men to the house of John Evans and assisted in cutting the body down. When hanging the body did not touch the ground. A cord was round the neck, fastened to the ceiling at the top, and the body was quite cold and stiff. The jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict That the deceased committed suicide while labouring under temporary insanity." BALA. DOG TRIALS AND SHOW AT BALA.—Mr. J. R. LI. Price, of Rhiwlas, has placed his fine grouse moors next August at the service of the public for the pnrpose of testing the merits of the prize dogs at an open dog show which it is proposed to hold at Bala early in August, 1873. Nothing is yet finally arranged, but we believe it is intended that there shall be sufficient time for the losing dogs to have exercise after its expiration and before the 15th, and for the prize dogs themselves to be shot over enough to steady them before the actual trials come off. A committee, we under- stand, is in course of formation, and no doubt all will be done in that business-like manner which has characterised the previous trials which have been held on the Rhiwlas estate. LLANRWST. PRESENTATION.—When it was understood that Miss Owen had decided to resign the charge of the Girls' National School," severaljfriends and well-wishers, anxious to testify their appreciation of her services, and to give some tokens of their esteem and regard for her, most gladly responded to the. invitation of George Ashley, Esq., the worthy manager of the schools, to present her with a suitable testimonial, on her departure for Llanfyllin. Miss Owen is happily endowed with those qualities, so essential to the success of a teacher-patience and perseverance while her amiable disposition will always secure for her a warm place in the affections of her pupils. Her wishes having been consulted as to the form in which she would prefer to receive the presenta- tion, the above-named gentleman kindly under- took to procure a most elegant Lady's Gold Watch, value twelve guineas, from the well- known firm of Benson's on the dome of which was engraved an appropriate inscription. This, including a beautiful morocco case, extra glasses, and a set of keys, was duly presented to Miss Owen. We cannot conscientiously conclude our record of this pleasing incident without observing that, while the name of George Ashley, Esq., is honourably associated with every good and laud- able movement in this part of the principality, he is still more conspicuous in his immediate neigh- bourhood as the promoter of all that is calculated to elevate the human mind, as a liberal dispenser of alms to the deserving poor, and as the encourager of honesty and industry. CORWEN. HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES. — Services were held on Thursday in Corwen church, when two sermons were delivered-one by the Yen. Archdeacon Wickham, and the other by the Rev. Mr. Hughes, of Llysfaen. THE BIBLE SOCIETY.—On Tuesday evening, Oct. 17th, the annual meeting of the above society was held in the British Schoolroom. J. Jones, Esq., Anharad House, presided, and delivered a short address, in which he dwelt on the great advantage our nation has derived from the bible. He called upon Mr. Lloyd, the secretary, and E. James, Esq., to read the account of the Corwen auxiliary, from which it appeared that it is in a very good, healthy condition. The Rev. W. Williams was called upon to move the following resolution, which was seconded. by Mr. Edward Williams:—That the report now read be adopted, and widely circulated in the town and neighbour- hood." The next resolution was proposed by the Rev. James Davies, of Brittany, and seconded by the Rev. H. C. Williams:—"That this meeting acknowledges, with devout gratitude to Almighty God, the success which has attended the oper- ations of the Bible Society during the past year, rejoices in the new openings which present them- selves, and pledges itself to renewed exertion on its behalf." Mr. O. Jones proposed, and Mr. T. Evans briefly seconded, the usual vote of thanks to the officers, with a request to them to continue their services. After Mr. Williams had pronounced the benediction, the meeting (which was well attended) was brought to a close. D JLGELLEY. The Rev. D. Lewis Lloyd, M.A., of Jesus College, Oxford, and at the present time head master of Dolgelley Grammar School, has been appointed head master of Friar's Grammar School, Bangor. The school, though possessing a rich endowment, has been closed for the past five or six years, the consequence in a great measure of past mismanagement; and the trustees have resolved to re-open without waiting for the accomplishment of the new scheme promulgated by the Endowed Schools Commissioners a short time since. CEFN AND RHOSYMEDRE. SEDDEN DEATH.—The adjourned inquest on the uotty or wKo ,-jjgS gnddenlv on the 20th ult., was held on Monday week, and resulted in a verdict of Found dead." ECCLESIASTICAL.-The friends of the Rev. Ellis Roberts, formerly curate of Rhosymedre, and more recently rector of Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, will be glad to hear that he has decided to accept the living of Llangwm, near Corwen. The living of Llanfihangel is vacant. SEVERE GALE.—A severe gale swept over this neighbourhood on Thursday night week, during which two large trees in Plasmadoc Park were blown down across the turnpike road, thereby stopping all traffic. The mail running between Ruabon and Bala was delayed an hour on Friday morning in consequence. THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE WATERLOO PIT.- The adjourned inquiry into the cause of the death of George Crowther was held on Monday week at the Mason's Arms Inn, before B. II. Thelwall, Esq., and a jury. Mr. Garside appeared on behalf of the Plaskynaston Company. Thomas Evans said he belonged to the No. 2 upcast. Deceased drove a pony drawing coal from the new level to the upcast. He was sitting on the side of the tub on the day he was killed—the 4th inst. After further evidence, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." IMPROVING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.—At the meet- ing of the society for improving the position generally of Cefn and Rhosymedre, held on Monday evening, Oct. 14th, in the Welsh Calvin- istic Methodist Chapel, Well-street, it was decided not to settle upon any course of action until the whole of the wellwishers of the district were invited to take part in the constitution of the society, for which purpose a meeting was held on Tuesday evening last, a good many who are' anxious to remove the evils existing in the district attending. BETHESDA. PERFORMANCE OF THE REV. MR. STEPHENS'S ORATORIO, "THE STORM OF TIBERIAS." On Friday evening week, one of the most popular concerts-and the most successful, both music- ally and financially, ever held in the above neighbourhood—came off at the Congregational Chapel, Bethesda. The spacious buildmo- ca- pable of accommodating about 2,000 persons,'was crowded to excess. As regards the performance it may be safely averred that such grand, massive, and telling chorus sung was never before heard in this part of the Principality, but with the exception of the young amateur who sustained the tenor numbers, we are forced to admit that the solo singing was not satisfactory. We under- stand that the large sum of £58 was realized on the occasion, but it is only proper to state that Lord Penrhyn, whose noble and distinguished patronage undoubtedly enhanced the popularity of the concert, purchased £10 worth of tickets. When this fact was announced to the vast audience, which necessarily chiefly consisted of his lordship's employes, the cheering that ensued was something never to be forgotten. We under- stand that the proceeds of the concert are to be devoted towards a British School in the neigh- bourhood, in which, and indeed in all institutions of a like nature, Lord Penrhyn takes a lively and active interest. NANTYR. DARING THIEVES.—On Saturday or Sunday night last, some rascal or rascals went to a field belonging to Mr. Richard Lewis, and killed a lamb. They left the head, skin, and entrails behind. The police are on the look out, and it is to be hoped that the thieves will be soon captured. DONKEY STEALERS.—Lately a respectable family in this neighbourhood bought from two men a strange donkey, for which 30s. was paid Soon afterwards, Mr. Burgess, the police officer, informed them that the donkey had been stolen from a party at Llanrhaiadr, and took it away to its rightful owner. We hear that many of the donkeys of this district have lately disappeared, which, no doubt, have been sold in this manner by the same parties to unsuspecting purchasers. The thieves, we regret to say, are still at large. LLANSILIN. PLOUGHING MEETING.—On Saturday, October 19th, a ploughing meeting took place on a field belonging to Mr. Jones, Cefnbraich, under the able management of Mr. Whitefield, Lloran, and Mr. Lewis, Glan'rafon. Nine teams competed, to plough half an acre in five hours, and the judges were Mr. Hughes, New Mill; Mr. Edwards, Bedran, and Mr. Jones, Tanpenygarnedd. The ploughing was considered excellent, and the adjudicators awarded the following prizes, viz., 1, Y.1 10s. to R. Morris, Glan'rafon; 2, £1 5s., Henry Roberts, Cefnbraich 3, £1, W. Williams, Ty'uyberth; 4, 15s., R. Jones, Cefncanol 5,10s., Jos. Lloyd, Loran-isaf. In the smiths' class the following prizes were awarded:—1st prize divided between G. Morris, Llansilin, and E. Lloyd, Llanfyllin; 2, John Owen, Llandrillo. Mr. Jones, Cefnbraich, treated the waggoners with a capital dinner at the Hand Inn, provided by Mr. and Mrs. Hughes. All comers were provided with refreshments and plenty of cwrw da at Cefnbraich, with Mr. and Mrs. Jones's unrivalled hospitality. COURSING.—The annual coursing meeting which has been held from time immemorial, came off on Monday, after the wakes. The sportsmen met at Bodlith early in the morning, and after enjoying Mr. Roberta's unbounded hospitality, proceeded in large numbers up to the Gyrn, headed by Mr. E. Roberts and Mr. J. Roberts, Bodlith Mr. Jones, Cefnbraich; Mr.. Roberts, Cryn; Mr. Roberts, Bastellmidau, &c. Several good courses were enjoyed during the day and the sportsmen returned to the village in the evening, and a con- vivial meeting was kept up until a late hour. GLYNCEIRIOG. THE HARVEST.—The weather being fine on 11 Saturday and Sunday last, some famers in this neighbourhood carried their corn on Sunday afternoon. BEAUMARIS. FINED FOR COURTING.—A singular case, under the new licensing act, was heard before the mayor (J. Slater, Esq.) and the Rev. H. W. Jones, on Saturday week. Owen Jones, a son to a respec- table farmer of Llansadwrn, was summoned by P.C. Owen for being, on a certain night, in the Prince of Wales Inn, after eleven o'clock, which is the closing hour within that borough. Mr. Foulkos, Bangor, appeared for the defendant. The evidence of the policeman failed to show that the defendant was in the house for the pur- pose ofdrinking,he being a staunch teetotaller," but it was proved that he merely called to see the daughter of the house, with whom it appears he is deeply enamoured. After Mr. Foulkes had addressed the magistrates, their worships an- nounced that according to the general interpret- ation put upon that part of the act under which the present summons was issued, they could not do otherwise than fine defendant 5s. and costs.