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4tteeth:gj5, entertainments, &,c. ABERYSTWYTH. ASSEMBLY ROOMS. ANNUAL SOIREE OP THE „ JUNIOR RADICAL CLUB WILL BE HELD On WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16th. Progiamnae Solos, Comic Songs, Humorous Recita- tions, concluding with a Farce. Chairman :—Alderman W. H. PALMER, J.P. Doors open 7-30 prompt. Tickets Is. u54 NEW MARKET HALL, ABERYSTWYTH. A GRAND MUSICAL EISTEDDFOD WILL BE HELD AT THE ABOVE PLACE ON GOOD FRIDA Y, APRIL 8th, 1898. Particulars and list of subjects may be had from the Secretary, W. H. JONES, Ironmonger, u70 Market Street, Aberystwyth. PORTMADODOC. PORTMADOC HORSE, DOG, & POULTRY SHOW MAY 14th, 1 89 8, All particulars from R. G. HUMPHREYS, Secretary. p.S.-F,ntries close May 7th. u84 Cambrian News Offices, ABERYSTWYTH. STATIONERY DEPARTAIENT. -For Note- paper STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Envelopes. Envelopes. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT. —For Acoount Books. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.-For Note s Books. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—ForStudents' s Requirements. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Business s Mori's Requirements. STATION KEY DEPARTNIENT.-ForPro- s fessional Men's Requirements. STATIONERY DEPA-RTMENT.-For Private s Persons' Requirements. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Exercise s Books. AS ADVERTISED. OUR SPECIAL OFFER OF ONE POUND Ri CAMBRIAN VELLUM NOTE AND 100 ENVELOPES TO MATCH, Is. POST FREE, Is 3d. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT, CAMBRIAN NEWS OFFICES, ABERYSTWYTH. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.-For Sermcn s Paper. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.-For Ruled 8 Foolscap. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Ink (all kinds). gTATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Pens. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Pencils. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.-For Hotel STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Hotel Proprietors' Requirements. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.— ForLodging- keepers' Requirements. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Clergy. x* raen's Requirements. STATIONERY DEPARTMENT.—For Ministers Requirements. Cambrian News Offices, ABERYSTWYTH.
xjlhe Cambrian 0, rbiof
xjlhe Cambrian 0, rbiof Friday, March 11th, 1898. THE NATIONAL DRINK BILL. WE have never been able to understand the attitude of teetotalers and other opponents of the drink traffic in face of the rapidly growing expenditure on in- toxicating liquors. In 1897 the drink bill was £ 152,281,723 or X3 16s. 5d. per bead of the population. This amount was larger by three millions and a third than the expenditure of 1896 when the expenditure per head was Y,3 15s. 6d. It will be seen by the foregoing figures that not only is the aggregate expendi- ture growing but that the expenditure per head is increasing. At the same time it is unquestionable that drunken- ness is decreasing, notwithstanding these facts, coupled with the fact that total prohibition is as great a failure, where it has been tried, as partial prohibition is in Wales. We know by long experi- ence that the teetotaler is quite impervious to argument, but there can be no question that the custom of attri- buting almost all crime and misery and poverty to the drink traffic is discredited. What is wanted is to reduce the temptations to excessive drinking. It is curious to note how gradually public opinion has changed in reference to the drink traffic. Of course, teetotalers are as willing now as ever they were to benefit by the national revenue amount- ing to nearly forty niiilious a year derived from drink. The temperance fanatic is not likely to listen to us or to anybody else, but he has been driven by the facts to accept conditions in practical life which in theory he repu- diates and protests against.
TBERYSTWYTH CORPORATION LEASES.
TBERYSTWYTH CORPORA- TION LEASES. THE prolonged system of mu ddlement it; reference to the Corporation leases is at last coming to a head. We have fought the question for more than twenty years and have afforded severnl past and present members of the Council opportunities of greatly be- fooling themselves. We are sure that the members of the Council who pretend to know most about the subject do not understand it in the least. We have heard a great deal in the past about the scandal of granting reversionary leases to people who have not the whole term invested in them. It now seems that some of those leases are to be granted, and that the supposed interests of the holders of the remainders are to be ignored We have often Z5 said that no greater injustice can be done in a community than to administer a good law unequally. When the time comes we will make quite clear to the Town Council and to the ratepayers how the Corporation property has been used against certain individuals. Of course if no reversionary leases are granted none of the holders can complain, but as most of the leases are reversionary, and as many of them are held with a remainder vested in the original lessee, either reversionary le?ses must) be granted or the town must fall into a dilapidated condition. The revelation made at the last meeting of the Council was complete, and thows how the Corporation estate has been managed. The ratepayers are asked to believe that in future everything will be done that ought to be done, but they will be verv 0 foolish indeed if they believe •Anything of the sort. The subject ifl not 0 i understood by the members of the Council and the muddlement wil! unquestionably continue. A large number of leaseholders who have applied for leases and have had them granted are to be forced to Kpply again, not, because they themselves are in the wrong, but because the Council has failed to do its duty. It is all nonsense to say that there will be no hardship. We know how these things are arranged. There will be hardship. There was once an application made for a renewal of a lease and when the voting was taken one of the councillors remarked that the opponents to the re- newal were all in the same business as the applicant. This is just what has to be feared again. We know applicants who shrink from having to face their rivals in business when they come before the Council to ask for the renewal of the leases of their business premises. It is high time that the ratepayers of the town should take a living interest in this most important question. We have done our utmost to make clear that here is constant danger of injustice being done and have instanced the Mary- street and Terrace-road cases. Even yet there is time for the ratepayers to pro- tect themselves if they unite together. Unfortunately, each leaseholder only cares for his own renewal, but it so happens that the Council have allowed things to so accumulate that it is just possible a body of feeling will now have to be met that may force the Council into something like right action. Take the now notorious Terrace-road lease. The application is still before the Council. An attempt was made to shelve it by referring it to the Local Government Board, but the Local Government Board said that they would only deal with it when che Council had provision- ally granted it. Have the Council granted it ? No that application has been before the Council far many months and it still remains unsettled, and yet the Council talks about it-) right action, and the members individually ask for the confidence of the ratepayers. It seems to us that the corporate estare is a source of danger to the right government of the town, and it is high time that this danger should be made quite clear in sums way that, will appeal to the public. When once re- versionary leases have been granted to sub- leaseholders in which the remainders vested in the original lessees have been ignored, the way will be clearly open for the sort of action that we think ought to be tsken. There cm be no question that the Town Council by imposing all sorts of ridiculous conditions when granting renewals have stultified themselves. The reason for- getting power to grant renewals was not to provide the members of the Council with opportunities to lay down rules about building details and trivial architectural niceties, but to the leaseholders to renew their leases so that they could improve their property. Perhaps there is nothing sillier in the annals of local self- government than the grandmotherly pro- visions made by the Town Council as to the details of alterations required in build- ings at Aberystwyth. What is wanted is a Leaseholders' Protection Association. There are too many men in the Town Council who are interested in freehold building land for the ratepayers to feel quite sure that they are quite d it- interested. It looks just now as if a clean sweep were going to be made of the leases question, but in the end nothing will be done. As a matter of fact, nothing can be done until somebody who under- stands the subject takes the matter up ard deals with it in a broad, fearless spirit. We are nearer a settlement of this questicn than we were. If the lease holders of the town are wise they will meet together and will carefully consider what ought to be done and will then set about getting it done without regard to this man or that. The present confusion of the Corporation in reference to the leases is utterly inexcusable. We have publicly and privately protested for many years against the confused and un- businesslike way the leases have been dealt with. We do not believe that the right thing will now be done. Public confidence has been destroyed. The best thing at present is for leaseholders not to take up their leases. In many cases there are about twenty years still to run. In five or six years the. present bunglers may be got rid of and the whole thing can then be dealt with in a just and equitable spirit. If the leaseholders will not cut each other's throats they can quickly bring the town councillors to their senses, as four of them have to appeal to the rate- payers every year. The leases question is by far the most important of the local questions, and it would be well to get it settled on broad lines, even if it took several years to do it. The first thing is to elect men who understand the subject and who have the skill and the courage to fight. The second thing is to have con- fidence in those men and not to believe any sort of story that is started to their discredit. The third thing is not to accept defeat, but to go steadily on un- til the gossip in tailors' shops, barbers' shops, and other similar places of public resort dies down or is proved to be mere baseless gossip. Let our readers take last week's paper and read the aim- less, pointless talk iu reference to the leases in the light of numerous previous sixiiiess talks of th same description. The whole thing is hopeless, and it would be as intelligible as it is hopeless if it were not for a certain spirit that runs through the whole thing and gives it a sort of maleficent coherency. The rate- payers should unquestionably ensue the subject with vigilance until the present muddlement is got rid of and the corporate estate is put on a sound and a creditable footing.
POPULAR VIEWS ON INTERMEDIATE…
POPULAR VIEWS ON INTER- MEDIATE EDUCATION. MR MEYLER, headmaster of Machynlleth Intermediate School, presented a long re- port at the last meeting of the Managers. The work dene is satisfac- tory, and Mr MEYLER was deservedly con- gratulated on the results he had 0 achieved in temporary premises and under circumstances of a somewhat de- pressing character. Parents want their children's education to be finished in a term or two at the Intermediate School, and we have no hope of persuad- ing them that the time and money ex- pended in this finishing process is utteriy thrown away. We have no doubt that when the new-fangledcess of the intermediate schools has worn off only those boys and gills will be sent to them who are intended to remain the full time necessary to make good use of the training provided. When that time comes it will be found that there are more schools than are required, and we think it will also be found that at both ends of the educational ladder a good deal still remains to be done. We know how hopeless it is at present to make the people comprehend all that is included in Mr MEYLER'S report. Take the following extract for instance:—"I regret to say the school still suffers from the tendency of parents to with- draw their children from school in an unreasonably short time. The idea is still far too prevalent that a year spent "lU a place of secondary education is a gi,iierous allowance, and this belief is most marked in the case of pupils < whose progress is somewhat slow at "first and who do not do something "brilliant during their first year. I could wish it were possiole to impress upon parents the truth that the second year is of immense value, when the pupil has just begun to settle down and to grasp the nature of the work he has in hand, and that for the pur- pose of acquiring a sound training, which is the prime object of education, three years should be the minimum. It is somewhat startling to find that sixty pupils have already passed through the school within its brief existence of three years, a large proportion of whom have only spent three terms there and some even less. I see no remedy for this state of things other than the cultivation of a healthy pub- lie opinion on the matter outside, and to impress the fact upon parents that it is hardly worth their while to send their children to such a school as this for so brief a period." The forego- ing is plain language, but the Mana- gprs did not s 'em to realize that there was anything alarming in the fact that a large number of pupils attend the school so short a time that it is haidly worth their while attending at all. It is not only from Machynlleth that this complaint comes. From all over Wales the same cry comes, namely, that parents think a term or two at the Intermediate School will give finish to the education of their children. There is danger when the revulsion of public opinion comes, as come it most assuredly will, that intermediate education itself may suffer owing to the mistakes which are now being persisted in by people who think that a term or two at an intermediate school will finish an education that has practically never begun. What is wanted, as we have frequently said, is an advanced side to every elementery school and a few really first-class intermediate schools that can compete successfully with the best schools of the same kind in England. It is pitiful that from end to end of Wales those who might easily give wise direction to educational effort are engaged in up- holding a system of intermediate schools which cannot possibly succeed in small towns and villages. This fact is being slowly realized by the people who thought at first to obtain what they intended to be practically elementary schools out of other than local funds. They now find that an intermediate school to be success- ful must have efficient masters, adequate premises, and costly apparatus, and must draw pupils from a larger area than is possible in rural Wales where an inter- mediate school has been established in every small town. There is still time to retrieve the position by school boards not allowing the schools under their care to deteriorate, and by establishing in suitable centres really efficient ana properly equipped and officered intermediate schools. There is, as we have frequently pointed out in these columns, a widely-diffusgd mistaken notion as to the nature and extent of the education that ought to be given to the average children of the country. What is wanted is opportunity for the poorest, wherever situated, to obtain the best possible education, with easy access to secondary schools., colleges, and uni- versities. For the great majority the chief thing is to leave them free to earn a living, without forcing upon them an education that is hated and that can never be of any use in after life. We know how great the penalty is of being supposed not to favour popular education. We are in favour of popular sducatior, but we do not believe that education can ever be generally sub- stituted for instruction in ways of earn- ing the means of subsistence. Every year what are called genteel" employments are becoming more and more crowded. The teaching profession from the top to the bottom is overcrowded, and every employment that does not entail physical labour is similarly overcrowded and tends to be underpaid. Education is a great boon and should be within reach of all the people, but the scheme of Welsh Intermediate Schools is not calcu- lated, in our opinion, to supply what is wanted by those boys and girls who are going to colleges and universities, and tends to lower the instruction that might 0 be given in elementary schools under the powers now possessed by school boards. We wish it were possible to bring the words of Mr MRYLER to the notice of every parent in Wales who thinks that an intet medïate school can either take the place of elementary schools or give fiuish" in a few months to the education of the young. We know that our attitude in reference to the intermediate schools is not the popular attitude, but for every one who was with us three years ago there are hundreds now.
---------EDITORIAL NOTES.
EDITORIAL NOTES. On Wednesday and Thursday several cart loads of rotting, stinking manure were carted through the principal streets of the town to the discomfort of the inhabitants. What we would like to know is how the manure was allowed to accumulate to such an extent and for such a time as to become the rotten, evils-melling stuff it was, and why the authorities did not put a stop to the carting of it through the principal streets of the town in the busiest hours of the day. Mr PEAKE will perhaps use the removal of this rotting manure as a strong argument for continuing stables in Bath-street. That people should be poisoned on their own doorsteps by the stench arising from manure which should have been carted away at night or early in the morning is hard to understand. The popularity of Mr PRYSE PRYSE of Lodge Park, who is agent to his father, Sir PKYSE PRYSE, Bart., and master of the Gogerddan hunt, was fully shown on Monday when a large num- ber of farmers and persons interested in hunting met to present Mr PRYSE with his pcrtrait and a map of the district hunted by him. In the course of the speeches delivered several com- plimentary references were made to the success which has attended Mr PRYSE'S management of the estate, his personal knowledge of each tenant, and his willingness at all times to help them. Mr PRYSE has shown how much can be done by landlords to improve the position of their tenants. Mr PRYSE has lately obtained a ehire horse for the use of his tenants who can best ehow their appreciation of his efforts on their behalf by making good use of the facilities he has placed within their reach. The German EMPEROR was present at the swearing in of the naval recruits at Wilhelms- haven last week and addressed the men in the following wtrds You have sworn the sailor's oath on the war flag, which is black, white, and red. Black means mourning and work wirte, peace and rest and red, the blood that many of our forefathers have shed for the Fatherland. Many brave seamen have found a watery grave thiuking of their dear Father- land and of that flag to which they had sworn the oath of allegiance. Many have gone forth to protect the interests of the Fatherland, for wherever the German eagle has taken pos- session and put in its claws, there the land is German and will remam German. I exhort you to do your duty everywhere, as you have just sworn in the face of God." We wish the German eagle in its quest for tit bits would put in its claws and taken possession of the German EMPEROR'S tongue. The German EMPEROR with- out his gabbling tongue would be a very small person. •» • Machynlleth Guardians would repudiate any suggestion that they did not treat humanely people who are forced to apply to them for help. At a meeting of the Board held on Wednesday, the wife of ROWLAND EDWARDS, who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at the Merioneth Assizes, applied for out-relief. She stated she had three children, one aged ten months being at the breast. It was agreed, on the proposition of Mrs LLOYP, seconded by Mr EDWARD HUGHES, to grant two shillings and sixpence weekly relief. Two shillings and sixpence a week relief How just and considerate of these guardians of the poor They give ROWLAND EDWARDS'S wife and her three children sevenpence half-peony a week each on which to live, and fold their arms in grim satisfaction at their own greatness and generosity Doles of this description are little less than direct incentives to lawlessness. This woman and her three children must live, but they cannot possibly live on scvenpence half- penny a week each. It is not, perhaps, the woman's fault any more than it is the fault of the child at her breast that her husband is at present in gaol, but she and her. children are turned away with half a-crowu a week. This is a case in which the House should have been offered or adequate relief granted. Who will help the poor ? The suicidal policy adopted by railway com- panies of charging excessive rates for the carriage of goods is gradually coming home to them. The tendency for large manufactories to be brought to the seaboards of the country is increasing. It is stated that the Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron Company intend shortly to close their works in the leading town in the Blank Country and erect a new establishment on the Bristol Channel. Probably either the East Moors at Cardiff or one of the sites at Uskside will be chosen as the locale of the transferred industry. This is following the example of Messrs LYSAGHTS of Wolverhampton, whoee new works at Newport are just about to start running. The cause for this removal is the excessive railway rates. An extensive trade is done with foreign and Colonial markets in corrugated sheets and the increabirg foreign competition compels the company to save the railway freight to the port of embarkation. Some 500 workmen are employed by the Corrugated Iron Company. The excessive rates charged by railway companies for the carriage of goods are responsible for the decay of t-cores of local industries. Now and again efforts are made to deil with the question locally. We remember the time when conspicuous announcements were made by the Cambrian Rail- ways Company that the rates for carrying rams had been considerably reduced. The public accepted the announcement and did not trouble further. The Cambrian Railways Company may or may not carry one ram a year and it will be easily seen how much there is in this reduction. The way railway companies are content to run empty trains through the country which might easily be filled if rates for the carriage of goods were more reasonable is bard to understand. Railway companies will learn, perhaps when it is too late, the lesson which the removal of the Wolver- hampton Works should teach them. Speaking in South Wales last week Mr ALFRED THOMAS, referring to his selection as chairman of the Welsh Party, said" that to be the chairman of so brilliant a group as the Welsh Parliamentarv party was a distinction of which he felt very proud, as it reflected honour upon his constituency. In proportion to their number, the Welsh Liberal members can more than hold their own with any section in the House of Commons. As a statesman they had Mr T. E. ELLIS, as an "orator Mr LLOYD GEORGE, and the "Rupert of debate," Mr S. T. EVANS. Then there was ex- Judge BRYNMOR JONES, Mr ABEL THOMAS, and others, who are distinguished lawyers in Mr SPICER and Mr SAMUEL SMITH, two merchant princes, who represented the great commercial interest which is the weaith and strength of our country. Then they had the territorial magnates, represented by Mr HUMPHREYS-OWEN and Mr VAUGHAN DAVIES and last but not "least, either physically or mentally, the Labour chief, MABON, one of the most popular and "rtspectpd members of our party. Wales might well be proud of her members and the work they have accomplished and now with ripening years and maturing experience they could expect greater things from a party that has so large a proportion of young men in its ranks who are prepared to make every sacrifice consistent with honour for the advancement and welfare of their country." 0, dear 0, dear So brilliant a group and Mr ALFRED THOMAS as chairman and centre- piece. Just fancy Then there is Mr VAUGHAN DAVIES as a territorial magnate and the other young men who are prepared to make every sacrifice for the advancement and welfare of their country. How blind we have been to be sure Mr VAUGHAN DAVIES as a territorial magnate We are afraid we shall forget this, so we tell ourselves again what Mr ALFRED THOMAS ha3 told us. Mr VAUGHAN DAVIES as a Tory magnate we seem to remember, but Mr VAUGHAN DAVIES as a territorial magnate had somehow slipped us. Thanks, ALFRED, many thanks. If you have any sacrifices you want made in the future, we will take one at £2,000 a year, or two at the same rate of pay. On Wednesday, at Portrnadoc, the Committee appointed by the Western Sea Fisheries Com- mittee met Mr DENNISS, general manager of the Cambrian Railways Company, for the purpose of discussing the railway rates charged for the car- riage of fish from towns on the Welsh coast to English towns. The cases were put again which we have heard so often before. It was proved that the rates for carriage were so high that very often after they were paid nothing remained for the fishermen. It was pointed out that small fishermen were handicapped unfairly as against large fishermen and that a uniform rate was desired. Mr DENNISS promised to do any- thing he could to facilitate trade to and from towns on the Cambrian Railways, but did not disguise his inability to alter the rates where consignments of fish would pass over other lines than that of the Cambrian. The conference held at Portrnadoc has not brought fishermen: any nearer to a sJlution of the question than "thev were before. The Question of railwau rflfao -J .&(v. J.) coming more and more to the front and the large companies, which now do not even deign to answer letters, will some day find that the policy they have followed has had consequences net less disastrous to themselves than to the people whcse businesses have been crippled and killed. At a meeting of Machynlleth Beard off Guar- dians held on Wednesday last, a letter was read from Mrs E. CHIDLAW ROBERTS, Leahurst, Towyn, asking the Board to make an annual cuntriblition in aid of the District Nursing As- sociation to be formed at Towyn which was in the Machynlleth Union. Mr JOHN OWEN said from what he had been told a district nurse was of hardly any value to the poor. She did not attend to the sick poor, but merely called on the patients and gave instructions for the purchase of milk, mutton, beef, brandy and other nourishments. The poor had to pay for these delicacies, and he failed to see how a district nurse benefited them." Of course, if Mr JOHN OWEX fails to see, he fails to see, and there is an end of the whole matter as far as he is concerned. It would be unwise to expect too much from the members of Machynlleth Board of Guardians who give four persons sevenpence halfpenny each pfr week to live on. The poor must live as best they can and if they are ill and must have milk: and mutton and beef and brandy and other nourish- ments, what theu ? Do not the guardians of Machynlleth Union give the poor sevenpence halfpenny each a week to live on and provide themselves with these things ? We are a Chris- tian people. We will give thousands of pounds for the purpose of clothing savages in some re- mote part of the world, but the need for caring for our own poor we fail to see. We thought some very soprior person would feel called upon to rebuke Mr Justice HAWKINS for the remarks he made last week in the hear- ing of a case of bigamy tried beforebim at Derby Assizes. In the case referred to a man and woman living at Shirebrook were married in 1884. Three months afterwards they separated and in 1891 both re-married and apparently lived very comfortably and undisturbed until last autumn when at an inquest the fact that they had committed bigamy was made public. Mr Justice HAWKINS strongly denounced the action of the magistrates and stated that, as the prisoners had been leading quiet and respectable lives, they ought never to have been prosecuted. Preaching at St. Werburgh's Church, Derby, on Sunday morning, the Bishop SUFFRAGAN (Dr Asa WERE) denouueed the remarks made by [Mr Justice HAWKINS and said he desired to :enter the strongest protest against the remarks and action of the JUDGE, holding that they were calculated to destroy the sanctity of the marriage tie and of family life." The Bishop SUFFRAGAN of Derby's idea of the sanctity of the marriage tie and of family life is that two people should be forced to live together who, through incompatibility of temperament, are unsuited to tach other. It is rubbish to talk of the sanctity of family life under these circumstances. Mr Justice HAWKINS has made many things possible. Among other things, he has made it possible for bishops and other small fry to make fools of themselves. ♦ The avidity with which proposals to defer consideration of matters of more than passing im- portance are seized upon by members of public bodies is astonishing. A good.'case, illustrative o; our statement, occurred at a meeting of Pen- rhyndeudraeth Board of Guardians, held on Tuesday. Mr BIRCHAM, Local Government .Beard inspector, had written in the Visitors' Book' at the Workhouse, on February 25th, that he certainly thought the Guardians should appoint a paid female assistant to the MATRON. The "NURSE had her hands more than full. There were many very helpless inmates to be pro vided for and there was no one to look after "the children. It was impossible to carry out the work of the House satisfactorily with only the MASTER, MATRON, and NURSE, and he was "sure that if the Guardians visited the House on "working days theYdwould be convinced of that." No member of the Board seemed to think it necessary that anything should be done in the direction of dealing in a more satisfactory man- ner with the work of the House. The CHAIRMAN suggested deferment. Mr WILLIAM JONES pro. posed it. The whole Board saw light and the proposition was carried. This is the sort of action or inaction that the ratepayers will sooner or later have to pay far. Delay in attending to small matters and the fear cf spending a few shillings in rates leads sometimes, as it has done in the case of Dolgelley Urban District Council in connection with their slaughter house, to outlay of many hundreds of pounds. It is better to be sensible before the event than very wise after. » On Tuesday afternoon a meeting of residents of Barmouth was held to meet Mr C. S. DENNISS, manager of the Cambrian Railways Company, and confer with him on the b-st means of advertising the attractions of Barmouh. We publish a report of the meeting in another column, from which it will be seen that the meeting started nowhere and got nowhere. The Rev E. HUGHES made that sort of lippy speech that Barmouth people have so well learnt to understand. The Rev E. HUGHES is by no means the only person in Barmouth who is interested in the success of the town. Barmouth inhabitants are in no danger of being deceived by the vapid oratory of the Rev E. HUGHES, whose connection with the old Local Board is a recent memory. Mr DENNISS, in the course of his speech, advised Barmouth people to help them- selves and talked about the view from the window of the room in which he spoke, with the town and estuary bathed in sunshine and the snow-capped mountains rising in the distance. This is all very fine. Barmouth inhabitants naturally think Mr DENNISS can help them, but Mr DENNISS shows that he can only make it a little more possible for them to help them- selves. The first thing to do is to make the town worthy of the position it seeks to occupy as a first-rate watering place. When this has been done a definite scheme should be drawn up with reference to the form and mode of ad. vertising. If Barmouth expects to do any advertising that will be of any use for five or ten pounds a yrar, the sooner the better the inhabitants are undeceived. One thing absolutely necessary is that a definite scheme should be drawn up and that it should be carried out thoroughly as any other work would be cairied out. If Barmouth is going to be satisfied with a picture of itself in a gaudy poster, a picture that would do equally well for any other I. ace either in this or some other land, all well and good. But if Barmouth wants a really good advertisement, the subject must be carefully thought out and the inhabitants must be pre- pared to pay the cost.
FFOSFFIN.
FFOSFFIN. TEMPERANCE LECTURES. Plenydd, the well- known tempprance lecturer, delivered powerful ad- dresses at Ffosffiu and Llacarth on Friday lit: Sa.turday of last week. The Rev J. Tiiiok< ris pre- sided at the former and Mr J. C. Jones, J.P at the latter meeting.
! DOLGELLEY.
DOLGELLEY. I OBITUART.-Mr Evan Evans, Brynmawr, formerly of Graig, died rather suddenly on Wednesday morning. The deceased was well known as a respectable farmer, and was very keen on fox hunting at one period of his life. SIKGULAR OCCURRENCE -As a party of a man and wife, who travel for a big firm, alighted from the 1-5 coast train on Monday, the woitian was taken ill in the waiting room and gave birth to a fine child. Medical aid was soon acquired, and the lady was carried to a neighbouring house We understand she and her baby are doing well. MUSICAL.- The 183rd anniversary of the most Honourable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons was held at the Holborn Restaurant on March let. Amongst the patrons to the Society is her Majesty the Queen, whilst the president is the Prince of Wales. The meeting was presided over by Lord Kenyon. Three musical items were given during the evening by Miss Ethel Griffiths, A.R.C.M., daughter of Mr Edward Griffiths, Maesybryner, Nannau, Dolgelley. Miss Griffiths was warmly ap- plauded on each occasion. URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL, TUESDAY, MARCH 8TH.—Present: The Mayor (Mr J. Meyrick Jones); Councillors Richard Mills, Dr John Jones, E. W. Evans, Griffith Owen, E. Wynne Williams, John Edwards, W. O. Williams, David Meredith. Richard Richards, and Thomas Parry; Messrs W. R. Davies, clerk R. Barnett, assist- ant clerk William, Jones, inspector and sur- veyor and E. R. Jones, rate collector. PREVIOUS MEETINGS. Minutes of three meetings held during the fort- night we1 e read. Two special meetings in connec- tion with the action in respect to the slaughter- house heard at the Ass z s were held. A meeting was held on March 1st, after the Assizes, when a Committee was appointed to make arrangements as to what should be done in respect of the slaughter- house iu the future. ENGLISH TERRACE. The Assistant Clerk said he bad sent a letter to the Lleyn Building Society asking whether they would contribute half of the cost of providing pave- ments to their property in English-terrace and had received a telegram stating that the application would be laid before the directors at a meeting to be held on the following day. WIDENING OF BONT FAWR. The Surveyor said the plans in connection with the widening of Bo )t Fawr had been laid before the Main Roads Committee at their last meeting held on Tuesday week. The plans were now in the hands of Mr Jones, Bala.-Dr Jones said the matter would doubtless be brought before the County Council at its next meeting which would be held on March 17th.—The Surveyor said the concessions of the county in such casps were much more liberal than he thought.—Dr Jones The county pay two- tliirds,-Tlie Surveyor YtS, but I thought they only allowed one-third. MEDICAL OFFICER'S ANNUAL REPORT. The Mayor inquired whether the Committee ap- pointed to consider this report were in a position to submit recommendation in respect to it ?—Mr Wynne-Williims We have not had time yet to consider the report. The Committee wili meet shortly. GLYNDWR-STREET. The Assistant Clerk said he should like to draw the attention of the Council to one matter. Mr T. H. Roberts, a former member of the Council, was not willing to pay the general district rate until the Council paid a moiety of the expense he had gone to in carrying out the Council's recommendations in the improvements to his property in Glyndwr- street. The total expense was £6 and be thought the Council should pay E2 or ;C3.-The Surveyor having described what were the improvements carried out, the Mayor asked whether the Council had promised to pay a certain amount ?—Mr Meredith No, they did not promise.—On the pro- position of Mr E. W. Evans, seconded by Mr G. Owen, it was agreed that the Streets Committee should visit the site and report to the Council upon the matter.—The Rate Collector hoped that the Committee would visit the site as soon as possible in order that the rate might be piid.-Nlr Griffith Owen asked if the owners of houses situated at.Mrs Arnfield's end of Glyndwr-street had paid their moiety in respect of the pavement ?—The Assistant Clerk replied in the negative, adding that the Council had not finished their portion of the work as yet.—The Surveyor said the street needed metalling, and it was agreed that the Streets Committee shculd also consider the question of metalling the street. THE APPLICATION FOR FLUSHING TANK. The Surveyor submitted estimates for the supply of flushing tanks, an application being read at the last meeting from Mr Isaac Evans for a tank to be placed in the street where the North and South Wales Bank issituated. The Surveyor explained that the tank, which would hold from 80 to 100 gallons, would cost from jE8 to £ 10.—Mr Evans said that in addition to the cost for the tank there would be the cost for water.—It was agreed to further adjourn the matter, the Surveyor being directed to obtain more detailed particulars, and on the proposition of Mr Wynne Williams, it was agreed that esti- mates should be obtained from local tradesmen as well as wholesale firms. THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSE QUESTION. The Clerk said a meeting of the Committee appointed at the special meeting of the Council, convened to consider this question, had been held and made several recommendations in the event of the Council deciding to continue holding the build- ing as a slaughter-house. There would be no dan- ger if the alterations as recommended by the Com- mittee were carried out.—Dr Jones asked what were the improvements estimated to cost; and the Assistant Clerk replied that the Committee had not proceeded fsr enough to obtain an estimate.—Mr Richard Mills said if the Council did cot decide to continue keeping the slaughter-house, the recom- mendations would fa'l through.—The Assistant Clerk Yes.—Dr Jones asked what was the opinion of the Committee on the matter and Mr Miils said the Committee thought it would be best to utilise the building for a purpose other than that of a slaugeiter house.-The Mayor added that the Committee were not prepared to go into the matter in detail until the Council had decided whether they would continue holding the slaughter-house. -Dr Jones considered the matter one of great im. portance to the town, and reminded the Council how much it bad co-t the town to have the slaugn- ter-house erected. In view of its great importance, he suggested that the matter should be deferred for the present. They coull not very well settle off- hand what they proposed doing in a matter of that character.—The Assistant Cierk, in reply to questions, siid the Committee in its suggestions recommended that there should be "no drains in the bunding.—Mr E. W. Evans said the Council in that case would have to be careful that the drains outside were all right.-Mr Griffith Owen failed to see that the Council could derive any benefit by carrying on the slaughter-house, which was only used by a few butchers who could not be dc-pended upon to utilise it at all times. He did not blieve there were any complaints about its present condition.—Mr Richard Richards said, as one who had visited the slaughter-house, he must say that the buildings was not in a proper con- dition. He was strongly of opinion that the Coun- cil had not been dealt with unfairly in the matter. They had been dealt with justly. The Councd shouli consider that a large number of people resided in the vicinity of the slaughter-house, which, as he had Faid before, was not in a good condition.—Mr W. O. Williams drew attention to the fact that the principal butchers in the town did not make use of the slaughter- house. They could not compel any of the butchers to slaughter ia the buildings unless they chose to do so voluntarily.—Mr Richards thought it was the duty of the Council as the authoriy for the district to provide a public slaughter-house.—Mr Meredith There are two sides to the question. Mr Parry seconded the proposition of Dr Jones to defer the matter.—The Mayor: lhe question is, are we to permit slaughtering at the place in its present st te ? -Mr Richards thought the Council should take action forthwith. Unless they did he would wash his hands of the matter.—Mr Richard Mills thought the Council could adopt the suggestions of the Committee in regard to the matt- r. The Medical Officer had stated that the Council would have to do something at once. If they left the matter now they would be in it right enough." Last time they w ere ignorant of the matter, but this time they could not plead ignorance. He proposed that the slaughter-house should be continued for a period of t'1ree or six months and that the rec mmenddt on8 of the Committee as to altera- tious should be carried out. At the end d, say six mouths, the Council would be able to judge as to the b st course to be adopted in the matter.-The Mayor said the alterations as suggested by the Com mi. te were of a minor character, but they would hive to be carried out if the slaughter-house w,re continued, even if it only be for a short time -Mr Wynne Willhams said the building had cost £ 900. — Dr Jones was of opinion that there should be a slaugh er-house in every town. Otherwise there would be all manner of nuisances. He thought they should ask tach butcher in town whether he would make use of the slaughter he use in the event of the building being altered in accord- ance with the mod,rn byelaws. To make those alterations tt-e Council would have to spend a con- siderable amount of money.—Mr Mills Siid the minor recomm, ndat iOlis of the Committee would mean only an outlay of a few p.nnde.— Mr Griffith Owen thought the butchers should be appealed to to me the slaughter house. The receipts m or,, very small at present.—Mr Wynne Williams ad. "ocate J the adoption of any scheme which would ten.? o ktep the town in a healthy condition. Th" first thing to be considered was the sanitation of the to n.—It 4 as stated that the cost of the minor im- prove ments recommendt d by the Committee wo. lei mean bet, cn £5 and r F. W. Kvans >[LÏ:i if Hie Council were going to carry out Ilnpr. ve- ments let those be last n^ improvements, e* en if they cost £300. H' felt certain that tne cost of i arry:ng out the minor rec mmendations would mean fr in JE20 to £ 25. They often were told that such and I:'u,h a thing wo) 'd cost, so much, but when the bill was submitted the amount was double the estim te. (Hear, iuar.) He was pre pared to supp ut any resolution advantageous to the Council's interest in the long run-It was sug- gested th-it the Surveyor should furnish detailed particulars and estimates in respect of each scheme to a special meeting of the Council.—Mr Meredith said the alterations in compliance with the modern bylawswonld cost about £ 80.—It w as then agreed to defer the matter to the next meeting, the Surveyor to submit an estimate of the cost of carrying out the improvements sugges'ed in connection with the several schemes.—Mr Richards said the Medical Officer had reported that obtain altera- tions were necessary forthwith.-Dr Jones said he had spoken to Mr Carpenter about the matter and he had stated that no nuisance had occurred for several months, he and his family not being in any way troubled at present. ADVERTISING THE TOW. The Surveyor said he noticed in the papers that Mr Denniss, general manager, Cambrian Railway Company, had made an appointment with the Barmouth Urban Council to consider the question of advertising the town. He thought Mr Denniss should also confer with the Dolgelley Council with regard to advertising the town of Dolgelley.-Mr Wynne Williams aud the Mayor spoke in favour of inviting Mr Denniss to Dolgelley -Mr Richards said the matter was most important, and spoke strongly in favour of inviting Mr Denniss to Dolgelley.-It was then agreed to ask Mr Denniss to meet tne Council with a view to co. operating with Barmouth in advertising the two towns. A NUISANCE. Tne Mayor said several complaints bad been made in regard to the refuse heap at the back of Shire Hall, and sugge-ted that something should be done in the matter.—Mr Wynne Williams said the place was a nuisance at present.—Mr Parry said the Council were not the only offenders. He pro- posed that the p'ace should be put in order.-This was agreed to. LLWYN-ROAD. Mr Wynne Williams drew attention to a nuisance caused through the wall above the Station having fallen down. The debris constituted a grave danger to horses and traps.—It was stated that the authorities responsible had been written to on the matter. —Ic was agreed to write further letters on the matter. THE CORRIS RAILWAY. Relative to the proposed extension of the Corris Railway from Corris to Dolgelley, a letter was re- ceived asking what quantity of iron one would be conveyed by means of the railway by the Ironwork Company in the event of the railway being ex- tended.—In was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr Griffith Owen, to refer the letter to Lhe Committee for consideration. RE APPOINTMENT. The Mayor gave notice that at the next meeting he would move the re-appointment of Dr Edward Jones as medical officer and of Mr William Jones as surveyor and inspector. PROPOSED EXTENSION. Mr E. W. Evans asked if any communication had been received in regard to the proposed extension of the boundary ?—The Clerk No.—It was agreed to write to the Clerk to the County Council in re- ference to the matter, with a view to its being brought forward at the next meeting of the County Council. THE GRATES QUESTION. The dispute which Ins occurred b-tween Mr Richard Richards and the Surveyor formed the subject fcr another long discussion. It appeared that a meeting of the Committee appointed to make an inquiry into the matter had been held and evi- dence of three witnesses taken separately. The evidence was taken down in shorthand by Mr Evans. Another meeting of the Committee of in- quiry was convened, but nothing was done owing to Mr Evans being unable to attend.—Mr Evans stated that he had not brought the report of the first meeting with him although it had been pre- pared. He added that it would not be advisable to publish one portion of the evidence before the whole had been taken. -It was stated that the Sur- veyor was not present at the Ct mrriitt^e meeting, although Mr Richards was present.—Mr Edwards thought this was unfair to the Surveyor, but Mr Mills said the Surveyor was invited to attend.— The Surveyor rejoined that he was unable to attend at the time, being busily engaged with the slaughter-house action for the Assizes. He was prepared with his explanation, however, and would read it that evening if the Council desired.—The majority of the members thought the Committee should submit their report in the first place.—In the course of the discussion, Mr Richards said be should not like it to be understood that he had any- thing against the Surveyor, because he had not. He objected to the" fining up" business on his part which he often indulged in.—The Mayor ap- pealed for order and Mr Richards discontinued his remarks.—Mr Mills, a member of the Committee of inquiry, said the matter was a most simple one. When the report was read, the Committee would find that no harm had been done by any person. Nobody had kept, sold, given, cr stolen anything. —Mr Richards spoke strongly against t' e action of the Council in allowing the correspondence read at the last meeting to be publshed in the local papers. —It was eveutually agreed that the Committee should again meet and conclude their inquiries and submit their report in writing to the Council.—The Surveyor said he was quite ready to appear before the Committee to give his explanation. (Hear, hear.) It was an error to think that he had de- clined to appear before them when in\ ited. It was due to the fact that he was busily engaged with the slaughter-house action heard at the Asstzjs. "NOTHING BUT A FARCE." Mr Griffith Owen protested against the cheques being signed before the hills and wages sheet had been carefully examined. They had not been examined at all so far.-Mr E. W. Evans said he must say that the Finance Committee was nothing but a farce. It was one of the biggest farces he had to dfal with. He was a member of the Com- mittee, which seldom did its work. As a protest, he would decline in future to affix his signature to any cheque. The Committee were supposed to meet at quarter to seven, but they never did.—Dr JO:'ES uoncurrtd and pr"posed that the accounts be deferred until they hai been examined by the Finance Committee—Mr Griffith Owen said the workmen would euffer in that case. Ha suggested that the Finance Committee should examine the bi If after the meeting, The Mayor said quarter of t-.i hc)ur Was tt)o I:iniied a itfne to examine the bills. They should devote at least half a day.—It was agreed that the Firance Committee should examine the bills before cheques were signed.—The Finance Committee met after the meeting and exftmiued the bills, which were passed, and cheques drawn in respect of the same. SANITARY. Mr Mills referred to the defective privy accom- modation of a house in Springfield-street where a case of typhoid occurred some time ago and the Inspector was instructed to inquire into the matter.—Tne Council then rose. PETTY SESSIONS, MARCH PTIT.-Before John Vaughan (in the chair), 0. Slaney Wynne, Dr Edward Jones, Edward Griffith, Dr J. E. Jones, Francis Evans, R. Wynne Williams, and J. Meyrick Jones, Esqrs. Maintenance Order.—Mr W. R. Davies, selicitor, on behalf of the Guardians of the Dolgelley Union, applied for an order against Robert Lewis, quarryman, of Towyn.—This case was adjourned from the last Court for the production of the necessary proofs and order which were presented to the Court.-The Bench unanimously made an order against the defendant of Is. 6d. per week and arrears to be paid forth- with. Drxuik and Refusing to Quit,.—William Thomas, Dinas Mawddwy, was charged by P.C. Davies with the above offence, committed at the Buckley Arms, Dinas, on the 8th March The facts were that the defendant began to sleep in the bar. He used abusive language to Miss Elkes, the manageress, who said that the man was drunk and that she had refused to serve him. She asked him to go and he refused. She sent for the puliceman and he was eventually sent out, but used the most bad language towards her.-Miss Griffith, barmaid at the hotel, corroborated.—For the defence, Mr W. P. Owen, who appeared for the defendant, said that the prosecution had failed to establish a charge of drunkenness and, there- fore. be was ready to bring witnesses to prove that they saw the defendant before and after the occurre rice. --After a some- what long hearing, the Bench found that the charge was proved and fined him £ 2 and costs.
CKlCCIETH.
CKlCCIETH. FREE LIBRARY.—Through the efforts of the Ladies' Temper- ence League a tea took place at Seion Schoolroom last Wednes- day afternoon and was followed in the evening by a miscellan- eous entertainment, held in the chapel. Mr Robert Thomas, Cardigan House, was the chairman in the evening and the room was crowded. Similar meetings were held last year, and this year's entertainments were equally popular and successful. The proceeds will be devoted to the fund for es- tablishing a free library, and the result of last week's enter- tainment will be a substantial addition to the fund. M Williaui George also announced that the Chairman had pro- mised 125 towards the same object. t'N COUNTY COUNCIL'S ELECTIONS.-The polling for the election of a county councillor for the division comprised within the Criccieth urban district took place last Saturday. The can- didates were Mr Robert Thomas, shipowner, who has repre- sented the division for the last six years, and Mr J. T. Jones of Parciau, who previously represented the same division and was defeated by Mr Thomas in 1892. A public meeting in support of the 'candidature of Mr Thomas was held at the Town Hall on the eve of the poll. The chairman was Mr Wm. Williams, Manchester House, and speeches were delivered by the candidate and by Mr D. P. Williams, C.C., Llanberis (the first chairman of the County Council), and by Mr Richard Davies. C.C., Portmadoc. Mr J. T. Jones held no meeting. Both candidates were busy early on Saturday morning and were actively engaged throughout the day. The appearance of a large placard in prominent places inviting voters to vote early for Hen Parkia, the plain spoken man," in- fused a little life into the proceedings early in the morning, but after that there was very little excitement until the declaration of the result. Many who, during the contest, had managed to suppress their electoral sympathies, joined in the general rejoicings late in the evening. The Board School was the polling station and almost every available voter was polled. Both sides had carriages at their disposal to convey voters to the poll. The result declared shorth before 9 p.m. by the deputy returning officer, Mr. Wm. Georirr, was as follows :-Thomas, 153 Jones, 118; majority, 35. lhe successful candidate addressed a crowd of people assembled on the Green, in the centre of the tow", and thanked them for the renewed confidence placed in him. The Criccieth result having been declared comparatively early, there was a general rush fn Llan- ystumdwy, where Mr Wm. Roberts, a well-known and popular neighbour, was a candidate for County Council honours for 'he 1irst time. The result of the electior. for this division was declared about 9.30 p.m. The announcement of Mr Roberts's victory being recei,ed with trreat cheering. The votes recorded were as follows :—Roberts, 245 Davies, 211 nwjoiity, 34. Mr J. Humphreys, solicitor, was the deputy returning officer for this dh ision.
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The Eighty Cit,b t its annual meeting on Wed- nesday night, unanimously elected Mr T. E. Ellis, M.P., a vice-pres'd-nt in place of the late Sir Frank Lockwood. The Eighty Club, which has Mr G:aii-tone foi its president and most of the ycung r leaders of the Liberal party amongst its j1 members, is the eTganization of young Liberal spe-ske^rs and worker? which was formeel in 1S80 and has since deme much good work for the Liberal can,- n suppl\i. g speakers and lecturers and worker- at elections and not a few Liberal cand dates. I i,