The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

HOM.K RULE ALL HOUND MR HERBERT ROBERTS has ain-d himself and his vanity in the House of Commons on the quest-on of Home Rule all Round and, as fir as he is aMe, has made Wales appear ridiculous to English politicians and ungrateful to the Irish Radical. Mr D. A. THOMAS, on the ofher hand, has shown once more that he is a level-headed and reasonable business man who does not believe in political gas and froth. As Mr D. A. THOMAS wisely said, Home Ru'e is much ItS"; urgent for Wales at the presen? time than Disestablishment, but we believe that the Welsh Liberal members who advocate Home Rule all Round are anxious to defeat Weish Disestablishment in order to improve their chances of political and other employment when the next Liberal Government comes into power. Either this is true or they are unable to balance evidence and are, there- fore, totally unfit to be in Parliament. Ireland has a claim to Home Eule, and it is the duty of Wales to be as true to Ireland as Ireland has been true to Wales. We trust that the Irish members, although they are divided among themselves, will not belitvr that Mr HERBERT ROBERTS and those who agree with him represent Wales on this subject. No doubt we should have had a good deal of Llandrindod oratory if the miserable self-advertisers had not been brought to a stale of dumbness by the House being counted out. This means that with the thirty-two members for Wales it was impossible to keep forty members together while Home Rule all Round was discussed. The question would in the natural order of things have teen defeated by the full weight of the Government majority, but it was strangled at its birth by its most unnatural par- ents, who failed to stand by it and the result was as we know. We believe the motion was a d'rty piece of service done to the official Opposition, who are anxious to get rid of Irish Home Rule and Welsh Disestahlishment so that their sole policy may consist in ousting the Conservatives from office and taking their places If Wales has any policy that can be said to lay claims to sanity, it is to stick to the Irish Liberals and to get them Home Rule while the Irish Liberals assist Wales to secure Disestab- lishmenr. For the Welsh members, of all people in the House of Commons, to promote a course that is calculated to alienate the Irish Liberals is so suicidal that it is charitable to presume that those in favour of it have personal ends to serve which outweigh national con- siderations. There is the alternative theory of political insanity. We are per- plexed and do not know which to take. Only one thing is quite certain, namely, that Welsh progress is not promoted either by offending Irishmen, or by re- legating Disestablishment to a place behind an unripe project like Home Rule all Round. We know that in Wales Liberal newspapers are ex- pected to applaud to the echo any foolish procedure on the part of the Llandrindod politicians, but that is not how we interpret our duties. That is nol how Mr D. A. THOMAS interprets his duties. Sooner or later, and we believe sooner than later, Wales will see the utter folly of bringing forward a motion that ends in a count out, Where were the Welsh and Scotch and Irish mem- bers 1 They were opposed to the course Mr HERBERT ROBERTS took, and he has been made a laughing stock in each part of the United Kingdom. That would be a sinall matter, but in airing his own vanity he has dealt -a blow at Welsh Disestablishment and has slapped in the face the best friends Wales has in the House of Commons—the Irish Liberals. How long will the Welsh Liberal rank and file put up with this uristatesman- like procedure ? Are the hopes of Wales to be for ever blasted by the strife among themselves for first place of a few men who have found their way into Parliament The Welsh members are not political leaders. They are not more fit to rule than thousands who voted for them. They are the chance creatures of a chance and are apt to altogether over- estimate their own importance in the political schemes of the hour. The one distressing thought, and we have no dis- position to shirk it, is that perhaps they represent the people after all. At any rate, there is no general or emphatic protest on the part of the people of Wales against what seems to us to be an impertinent course of bluft, in which the supposed representatives of the people practically act on the assumption that if you talk Radicalism with a "hwyl" on the platform you can act in any selfish way you please in the House of Commons, and the rank and file will never see through it. We believe the people do see through selfish action. It takes time, we admit, but ths convention-mongers are seen through. The political-programme makers are seen through. The place and office seekers are seen through, but what the people ask, almost in despair, is what are they to do? We cannot say what they are to do 1 We cannot say what they are to do until they first of all have the courage to strip the rags of pretence from those who wear them, and to insist on an element of realness in political life. It is still true that the people for the most part have representatives about as good as they deserve to have. The Home Rule all Round fiasco ought to make those who are responsible for it ihoroughly ashamed of themselves, but they have a game to pliy and we some- times think they are winnilJg it. Are they ? It is for the rank and file of the people to say.

MUNICIPAL UGLINESS AND BEAUTY. CONSIDERING how very important beauty and cleanliness are to summer resorts it is positively startling to find how indiffer- ent the people are who reside in those resorts to beauty and ugHnHs. It took the Abcrystwyth School Board from 1870 until 1889 to make the spare ground round the school buildings tidy. At the present time the Cambrian Railway. Company does its level best every day to fill the town with black smoke. Engines stand hour after hour pouring out volumes of smoke which obscure one of the finest walks in the neighbour- hood of the town and make life in the vicinity a perpetual misery. It is, of course, useless to appeal to the Cambrian Railways Company to mitigate this nuis- ance which distinctly and obviously militates against the prosperity of the town in which they have a large in- terest. It must not for one moment be presumed that the Cambrian Railways Company is the only offender iil refer- ence to -smok(,. There are members of the Town Council equally guilty with the railway company, but no- thing can be done with them either. We suppose that it has never entered into the minds of those who have con- trol of the railway company, the gas company, and certain manufacturing works that they are responsible for making Aberystwyth far less beiutiful than it ought to be and would be if it were not for the most part shrouded in smoke. The Town Council, again, has no conception of what it owes to the town in the way of beauty. The Town Hall has been kept for years in a state of damp and dirty desolation that would disgrace the least civilized communioy in the country, much more a first-class fashionable summer resorr. It is useless to tay anything more than has been said. The members of the Council are quite oblivious to the glar- ing f-ict of the ugliness and derolateiiess of the structure both inside and out. Then there are the tree. They are not cared for. Instead of having wide gratings at their base and instead of -i 15 being kept alive, they are neglected and die. In North-parade the trees were mutilated in ways that they will never recover from. Even the town gardener does not seem to be aware of the fact that trees planted in hard streets tend to die at the earth line. Perhaps he does know, but is not allowed to do what would save the trees alive. The Castle Grounds arc a valuable possession, but a bit has been railed off here and built on there, and eaten away some- where else until this valuable possession is gradually being lost to the public. Some day the ruins will come down. Over and ovet again the need for pro- tection and repairs has been pointed out, but nobody seems to think that it matters whether the Castle Grounds are maintained or not. The proposal to ex- tend the Parade, if acted upon, would not only have prevented the washing away of any more of the land, but if carried out boldly would have practically doubled the izc of this favourite resort. This would have been only one of the beneficial results of extending the Parade, but the scheme has not been proceeded with owing to that fatal habit of finishing nothing which afflicts the Council. For years there have been defects in the foot- paths which make walking less pleasant than it might be. These defects are not attended to. Year after year goes by and the old defects remain while new ones are added as occasions arise for taking up the footpaths. It might be thought that after a town had recognised the need for footpaths and bad spent tbous nds of pounds upon them that they would be kept in repair. Nothing of the kind. They are allowed to fall into ill-repair, and the gutters alongside of tbf-m instead of carrying off the water allow it to remain, and each depression becomes an objectionable filthy little puddle. Our readers know how long and persistently we h have called attention to the awning irons which are left out by shopkeepers from year's end to year's end". Nobody contends that awning irons are not ugly, but neither those who own them nor those who are responsible for the good management of the town care a brass farthing whether the town is ugly or not, and so the awning irons are left out. The way water is allowed to flood the pathways owing to the stoppage of downpipes and the general defective condition of troughings has been notorious for twenty years. Another cause of untidiness and discomfort is due to the way shopkeepers sweep the dust ar.d refuse from their shops into the streets. A man will spend a hundred pounds in putting dust-tight fittings into his shop and then will go on sweeping the rubbish from his shop into the street in front of his own premises. There is no attempt, either on the part of the Cor- poration or on the part of the inhabitants generally, to increase the brightness and beauty of the town. The houses show a great deal of dull slate and grey cement. The aspect of the town is dismal—un- necessary dismal-and at nights is not neady as well lighted as it ought to be for the money expended on gas and electricity. The view from Terrace- road down Portland-lane is not a view that any fashionable watering place can be proud of, but what can be done 1 That is only one of the unlovely" street? in the town, and any attempt to improve them is met by the sort of spirit that has been encountered by those who twice over would have improved premises on the direct road from the railway station to the sea. There are ways of making the outsides of houses bright, but as long as the town is filled with smoke everything will quickly become dingy. The unfortunate thing in this, as in so many other matters, is that the Corpora- tion, the Railway Companies, the Gas Company, and members of the Town Council set the worst possible example and then wonder how it is that the town is not more successful as a watering place

BOARDS OF GUARDIANS ELECTIONS. IT is doubtful whether there are half-a- dozen of the numerous candidates nomi- nated to serve on the Aberystwyth Board of Guardians who have any adequate concep- tion of the duties and responsibilitieq they are willing to undertake. The probabili- ties are that beyond "saving" the rates, or doing their best to get the highest amount out of the union for their own parish, they do not know or care anything about the important work they might discharge. We report the proceedings of many boards of guardians every week and our readers probably feel that the reports are not very exhilarating. In the face of the ignorance manifested by members of boards of guardians at almost every meet- ing, it would be absurd to expect them to suddenly reveal intelligent appreciation of their great duties, responsibiluiee, and privileges. Most of them would be astonished to learn that they have any duties, responsibilities, or privileges be- yond granting out-rel'ef to their poor friends and seeing that vagrants are not allowed to have a good time at the expense of the ratepayers. A good deal is said in these days by working men and others in favour of Socialism, but those who advocate Socialism in reference to land and the wealth of capitalists do not seem to have the faintest glimmering sense that the poor relief system of this country is the most socialistic arrange- ment that could possibly be devised, and enables a number of men and women elected by the people to grant the poor the means of living at the expense of the community. How much boards of guardians could do, if they were to exercise their great powers intelligently, in the way of solving the problems of poverty it is impossible to say. Un- fortunately, boards of guardians do not realise that they are dealing with the residuum of society-that they have be- fore them at every meeting the flotsam and jetsam of life, and that if they could find out how to deal with it effectively they would have done some- thing to elevate humanity in a way that nothing yet has succeeded in eleva- ting it. Boards of guardians too often start with the monstrous but all too com- mon opinion that the poor in the lump is bad," and it follows that the work- house is made as near like a prison as possible and that the out-door dole is expected to be more economical than in- door maintenance. The workhouse is us out of date as the thumb-screw, or the rack, or the trial by fire, and nineteenth-twentieths of its present uses ought to be discontinued. At Aber- ystwyth an attempt more or less half- hearted is being made to board out the children. No child that is not expected to be brought up like a wild animal should be allowed to remain in a workhouse. They-- is no home-life, no restraint but feli-, and no incentive whatever to well doing. The life is without love, without joy, and without hope or brightness. Still there are mem- bers of the Aberystwyth Board of Guardians who are asking for re-election who have steadily opposed the boarding- out of children. Let our readers think of the people with whom boards of guardians have to deal, rememheriiig at the same time that, notwithstanding all the boasted progress of civilization, it is admitted that the destitution and despair at the bottom of the social ladder are as dreadful and as inexplicable as at any other period in the nation's history. As we have already pointed out, destitute children come under the care of boards of guardians. Whether destitution of the children is caused by the death of parents, or the imprisonment of parents, or by their poverty or unthrift, they come to the guardians for maintenance, and how they are maintained is a matter of the utmost importance not only to them but to the whole community. At the other end come the old, who aie unable to maintain themselves by reason, it may be, of old age, or misfortune, or improvidence, 0 or sickness. How they are treated is of consequence in many ways. Their treat- ment is a test of the hold that Christian [principles have of the whole community. Then there are the sick, the imbecile, the criminal, the lazy, and the unfortunate. Until quite recently it was the custom to huddle all these different kinds of people into one workhouse in the general hope, nob openly expressed that they would mutually make the place intolerable to each other. Even yet the average work- house is condujted on principles that would be deemed cruel and disgraceful in any prison in the land. We do not pro- pose in this article to lay down any scheme for the management of workhouses, but it is quite clear to persons of average intelligence that the young ought not to be brought up in workhouses. It is also clear that the o!d who have committed no offence, except to live into old age, ought not to be forced into workhouses where they are compelled to herd with drunkards and other of the world's vagabonds. It surely does not need argument in support of the statement that the sick ought not to be mixed with the depraved and the lazy. In short, the workhouse system is a failure. Tho:ie who are in favour of out-relief may be glad to agree with us, but we hasten to say that the out-relief system as practised in Wales is worse than a failure, it is a sort of legalized murder and is responsible for much that is wrong in the rural life of Wales. If boards of guardians grasped the fact that the poverty they have to deal with is not the result of the wilfulness of the people, but the perplexing outcome of our complicated national life, they would surely try to act more wisely than they do. Socialists would act wisely if they examined carefully how the Poor Laws work and how the people fare under them, for these laws are based on pure Socialism, and if the destitute are not well cared for, it is because the people will not treat each other generously or wisely even when they possess ample power or it may be that the problems of poverty are not so easily solved as Socialists think, and the difficulty of giving away money wisely &nd so that it will not cause greater ills than it cures may not be quite imaginary. There are, of course, different sorts of guar- dians. It never has to be forgotten that from the boards of guardians are chosen the assessment committees, and it might not be without an element of guidance if the ratepayers ascertained how the property of the candidates for seats on the boards is assessed. We have known guardians who said that the only reason they desired to be on the boards was (0 see that their property was not too heavily assessed. At Aberystwyth, the only woman who is offering herself for election is Mrs E. JAMES, 26, North- parade, who gives up the bulk of her time to public work of one kind or another. We hope she may be elected, but to be successful she will have to secure the hearty support of those who are opposed to crooked ways, for those who are in favour of ways that are net straight will heartily oppose her on this as on former occasions. It is a good sign that the election of the Board of Guar- dians creates public interest. Anything is better than the apathy and indiffer- ence which so long characterized the public in reference to everything pertain- ing to the administration of the Poor Laws.

BARMOUTH'S DANGER. ON Saturday, April 2nd, the ratepayers of Barmouth will be called upon to elect seven candidates to fili the positions rendered vacant on the Council- by the retirement of the Rev GWYNORO DAVIES, chairman, Mr HUMPHREY WYNNE WILLIAMS, chemist, and Captain EVAN RICHARDS whose terms of office have ex- pired. In addition to these vacancies there is the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr JOHN ADAMS and the three additional members allotted to the Council. There are at present thirteen candidates before the ratepayers, the three retiring members named above and Messrs HUGH EVANS, Porkington-terrace; J. E. EVANS, archi- tect, Sea View-terrace RICHARD ROBERTS, joiner; W. O. WILLIAMS, draper, Central Buildings EDWARD ROBERTS, master mariner, Bridgefield J. G. ROBERTS, iron- monger, Hendre Villa; DAVID DAVIES, butcher, St. Anne's; EDWARD WILLIAMS, grocer, St. Anne's OWEN WILLIAMS, butcher, Marine House and DAVID DAVIES, Beach House. The Rev E. HUGHES, who was defeated at the last election, has retired. Three years ago the policy of the old Local Board, of which the Rev. E. HUGHES, Mr EDWARD WILLIAMS, grocer, and Mr DAVID DAVIES were members, was con demned by the ratepayers and the present members of the Council were elected. At that time the Ratepayers' Union was of one mind with reference to the need for taking action to redeem the affairs of the town from the hopeless state of muddlement into which they had sunk. In the course of the three years, during which the present Council has been in office a great work has been done and considerable progress has been made in the direction of placing the town once more on a sound financial basis, but that work is by no means completed. It is of the utmost importance that the ratepayers ehouli fully realise how much the future prosperity of the town depends on the men selected by them at the approaching election. All sorts of personal matters have been introduced, the Ratepayers Union is divided against itself, and there is great =' danger that the work done with suGh sacrifice during the past three years will be thrown away unless the general body of ratepayers are careful not to allow them- selves to be led away by side issues. The policy adopted by the old Local Board resulted in bringing the town to the verge of financial ruin. That the present Council has been able to achieve so much as it has in so short a space of time is remarkable in the face of the many difficulties with which it has had to contend. The ratepayers will do well to remember that the present Coun- cil has been handicapped in all sorts of ways by the legacies of debt and mud- dlement which it received from the old Local Board. We do not think the ratepayers will go back on their previous decisions. But if they do and allow themselves to be divided on side issues, the progressive policy adopted and carried on by the Urban District Council in spite of the difficulties which that body has had to contend with, will be hindered. The Ratepayers' Union has allowed dis- sension to sunder its ranks, but the rate- payers have the power to say on the day of election whether the town shall go forward to ultimate victory and success or whether it shall fail back into the old ways so dear to the hearts of those respon- sible for the policy of the old Local Board. The Ratepayers' Union has been beguiled into playing the game of the Rev E. HUGHES and the other upholders of the bad old order of things which used to t xist. it is to be hoped the general body of ratepayers will see through the game. The Rev E. HUGHES knows that if the ratepayers can he divided amongst themselves their disintegration will be completer and more disastrous than he could otherwise hope for. This is the point which we hope the rate- payers will see. The majority of the pre- sent ratepayers of Barmouth are per- manent residents in the town and will not he able to leave at will when the burdens are heavier than they con bear. If the ratepayers have faith in them- selves and elect the right men, there need not be much fear for the future. Barmouth's great danger is a return to the tactics of the old Local Board, which have caused all the trouble which has had to be contended with for the past three years. There is still a great deal of work to be done before the town oan be placed in a satisfactory position. In order to accomplish that work it is necessary that the ratepayers should elect as their representatives men who have proved by their past services or by the skillful conduct of their own businesses that they are worthy of the great trust reposed in them. The three retiring members are seeking re-eiection. The Rev GWYNORO DAVIES during his chair- manship has steered the Council through troubled waters until well in sight of the desired haven. Captain EVAN RICHARDS and Mr HUMPHREY WYNNE WILLIAMS have also given unstinted service in try- ing to overcome the many difficulties which have beset the path and hindered the progress of the District Council. Why the three gentlemen we have named should have been rejected by the executive of the Ratepayers' Associ- ation is difficult to understand. There aro wheels within wheels in Barmouth. We hope the ratepayers on the day of election will show that they have confidence in the three retiring members and in the policy adopted by the present Council and will chose to represent them out of the remaining candidates those persons whose election will, in their opinion, be conducive to the future good government and welfare of the town. We should be sorry to see anything done next Saturday week that would tend to strike a blow at the future prosperity of Barmouth. Messrs DAVID DAVIES, butcher; EDWARD WILLIAMS, grocer; and DAVID DAVIES, Beach-road have been before the rate- payers on previous occasions and have been rejected. The two last named were members of the old Local Board. What we wish to point out is that Barmouth's great danger is that private considerations will be used to defeat a policy that has turned muddlement into order, and that which was little short of ruin to some- thing approaching success. The rate- payers of the town have the power in their own hands and it is to be hoped they will wield it with wisdom.

EDITORIAL NOTES. A good deal of dissatisfaction is felt in Har- lech with the inconvenient day on which the School Board election is fixed. The day fixed is Wednesday, April 6th, and the general feeling is that in view of the large number of voters who work at Festiniog and only return on Satur days, that the date should have been fixed for Saturday. At the annual meeting of the Merioneth County Council held on Thursday of last week, Dr EDWARD JONES brought up the report of the Finance Committee and read a long and complicated statement of accounts. After the report had been adopted, Mr MORRIS THOMAS called attention to the desirability of furnishing the members with a printed copy of the receipts and expenditure with the agenda every quarter. We think the suggestion is one that it would be to the advantage of the members of the Council to carry out. It is very difficult for members to grasp and assimilate a long and complicated list of figures. In the transac- tion of public business a good d<al is taken for granted. If the accounts were printed quarterly ith the reports, all the members would be able to unders'and and follow the report when read. Welsh Liberal members of Parliament would be wise to learn well the message sent by Mr GLADSTONE to the Irish Nationalists at the ban- quet held in London in celebrat on of St Patrick's day. Mr GLADSTONE said Your cause ia in your own hands if Ireland is disunited her cause so long remains hopeless if on the con- trary, she knows her own mind and is one in spiiit, that cause is irresistible." What is true of Ireland with reftrence to Home Rule is true of Walts with legard to Disestablishment. The Welsh Liber.il members are as united as a hand- ful of dry sand. They are j; alous of one an- other and as vain as peacocks. Sooner or later he Liberal rank and file will see through the sort of action taken by Mr LLOYD GEORGE and more recently by Mr IIERBERT ROBERTS with reference to Home Rule all Round. The per- sonal opinions and waxy reputations of the Welsh members are deemed by them to be of more importance than the desires of the people for religious equality for which they have fought and ma Ie many sacrifices. Bailie POLLARD of Edinburgh gave evidence last week before the Royal Commisaion on the licensing laws. He said "that a great improve- "iiitnt had taken place in that city during the past thirty or forty yfars in the habits "of the people as to di inking. N There was a healthy public opinion among the working classes against drunkenness. The improvement was due in some degree to the better conditions cf life now prevailing. The working classes had bet- ter houses, good food, and good clothing. Slums had bten cleared away; there were open spaces for recreation, and education had had its effect." Teetotalers think the way to gtt rid cf drunken- ness is to close public houses. Instead of direct- ing their efforts to the bettermeLt of the con- ditions under which the lives of the working classes are lived, they make frothy speeches from temp, ranee platforms and ta'k loudly about the cursed drink and at the same time take advan- tage of drink money for the education of their children. If teetotalers would turn their atten- tion to the dens and hovels in slums and alleys where the conditions of life a!most defy des- cription, they Wuuld have got at one great cause of drunkenness. We once knew a County Court judge who, when a woman was being examined in one of his court?, turned round and said, "If this woman is not telling the truih, I will not be- lieve any other witnesses." At Barmouth Petty Sessions held on Friday, three men were charged with having killed rabbits on the land of Mr ANSELL at Dyffryn. Mr A. J. HUGHES, for the men, pleaded guilty, and the Bench in- frc'ed a fioe of half-a-crowu and c: sts including advocate's fefs. Dr CHARLES WILLIAMS, the chairman, in delivering the decision of the Bench, ► ad The Bench wished it to be understood, and tliey might just take that itS a warning from "them, that the very next time any of those cases came before the Bench they would drop the fine. He (the CHAIRMAN) promised them faithfully to stick to that resolution. There would be no fines, but it would be gaol. They should not leave the Court without clearly understanding that. That was the first time for the present defendants to be brought up on that charge and it would b-3 the List time for them to go away merely having paid a fine." What a dreadful thing it is to be sure to take a rabbit No more fines on poachers tried be- fore Dr WILLIAMS, but gaol. We are waiting for the next case. Do the other members of the Bench say gaol, too, for a first offence? We shall see. A discussion took place on Monday at Aber- ystwyth Rural District Council with reference to the size of the stones placid on the roads in the district and the state of the roads generally. Attention was particularly called to stores placed on the road near Figure Four. One thing was made quite clear, namely, that the -SURVEYOR, a'though responsible for the condition of the roads and the size of the stones placed on them, Ï3 powerless to effect improvement owiog to the fact that the Council will not pay their workmen a fair wage. When stones were broken and paid for by the day, the SURVEYOR could see they were broken to the proper s'ze. Now they are broken and paid for by the yard, the result is different. On complaint the man stafed he could not earn a proper wage if he broke the stones as required. This is what came out quite clearly on Monday. Instead of tackling the matter in a business-like manner and trying to remedy the complaints made, "the matter was allowed to drjp." The grinding, cheeseparing policy adopted by public bodies in reference to their workmen is one of the wors features of public life. The rates are saved at the cost of efficiency and the lives of the people, with the result that in the end the lexpenditure is tenfold heavier than if the work had been intelligently tackled at the start There are some members of Aberystwyth Rural District Council whose services could without less and even with advantage be dispensed with at the approaching elections. The following telegrams, which refer to ths action at present being taken by this country in the Soudan, were recently published in the daily papers. Kunar, Sunday:—This morning active preparations were made for an immediate advance, as the miin Dervish force has left Husia and should be close to its objective on the Atbara. Orders have been given for the troops to march very light, and the heavy baggage has been sent on board the boats (n the river or to Dakhila Fort. Every man carries 120 rounds of ammunition, with seventy in reserve. A fierce Band storm began yester- day afternoon and continued all night and this morning. Shortly after reveille to-day, Divine service was held in the British cw p for Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics. The scene was extremely impres sive. At the close, the troops sang Goci Save the Queen,' and then began the bu-t- ling preparations for a march in the forenoon to Hadi Fords, eight miles up the Atbara. The whole of MAHMUD'S army is believed to be taking the desert road for Berber. It is fully anticipated that our troops will engage the enemy shortly and a decisive battle is eagerly looked for." Cairo, Sunday :—This moru- ing the British and Egyptian troops, after Divine service was celebrated in the Bri ti- h camp, started on their march up the Atbara. to meet the combined force of MAHMUD and "OSMAN DIGNA." We are a godly people. First of all, we give each soldier one hundred and twenty rounds of ammunition, next we hold Divine service, and then we start on a march up to Atbara to meet the combined force of MAHMUD and OSMAN DIGNA." If those persons who clamour for war could only realise what it all means, they might alter their opinion?. We are going to engage in a war in the Soudan and GOD is supposed to be on our side. The case put by Mr J. M. WILLIAMS, Bryn. bwl, at a meeting of Aberystwyth Rural District Council on Monday, with refeience to the opposi- tion he was experiencing in the election in his district owing to the action he took in bringing before the Council the case of a boy attending the Intermediate School from a house where there was infectious disease, and the need for supplying Llanfibangel with water, is a good instance of that ignorance of sanitary matters which is responsible for so much sickness and death. The ratepayers of Cyfoethybrenin would rather spread about disease which would cause numerous deaths, and drink dirty water, than be guided by Mr J. M. WILLIAMS. This is the sad truth. The electors of Cyfoethybrenin, owing to their opposition, have forced Mr WILLIAMS to retire for looking after their welfare and trying to lessen the suffering which is so often the result of ignorance and satisfaction with existing practices and conditions however undesirable. A Parish Meeting was held at Corris last week for the purpose of nominating and electing members on the Parish Council for the ensuing yeir. At the meeting, strong feeling was expressed that the Council should proceed without delay with such absolutely necessary work as an entire and systematic method of supplying all parts with pure and wholesome water to take immediate steps to have the vil- lage and neighbourhood lighted aod an assembly room built. Corris is becoming more popular every year with visitors to this district. It is satisfactory to see that the members of the Parish Council realise that success depends upon making the place safe and attractive to visitors. Cll an water is absolutely necessary before success can be achieved and mon°y wisely spent in pro- viding supplies of pure water, light, drainage, and other works is money well spent. Visitors are becoming more particular every year in 'heir choice of places to visit. Dirty water, de- fective drainage, insufficient light, and lack of other conveniences make progress i-npossible. It is to be hoped Corris will carry out thorougly the works undertaken. At a meeting of Merioneth Agricultural Society held at Dolgelley on Friday, the cha;rman, Mr 0. SLANEY VVYNNE, pointed out that the expenses of the Show were increasing every year and that receipts were becoming less. The secretary, Mr E. J.. ROBERTS, Cefntreforisaf, who has worked so strenuously to make the Show a success, re- peated the statement made by the CHAIRMAN and said he hoped the members would give the "matter their serious consideration and endeavour to find some way to lessen the expenditure "and increase the receipts without detracting "from the nsdulness or attraction of the Show." We think it would be a misfortune if the Show were allowed to go down. The farmers of Merionethshire should be encouraged to take a greater interest in the Show than they do at present. It was decided to hold the next Show at Towyn. It was said that when the Show was last held at Towyn, stock trucked at three o'clock had to wait until eight that evening in the Station before being taken away. It was decided to write to the railway authorities in reference to the mr.ttf r, and also ask for a reduction in the rates for the carriage of live stcck. This is an in- stance in which Mr DENNISS, the manager of the Cambrian Railways, will be able to serve the whole district and make it more possible for breeders to exhibit their animals.

ABERYSTWYTH. ABERYSTWYTH V. CHIRK.—The following will play for Aberystwyth on Saturday Goal, Roose hacks, W. R. Jones* and Bill Davies halves, Smith, .T. H. Edwards and Parry forwards, G. Green, Charlie Davies, T, Jenkins, A. Green, and J. C. Rea. R.S.P.C.A.—Mrs Vaughan Davies, who is now in France, has sent to Mrs E. James, honorary secretary of the Sub-branch, a donation of five pounds to the funds. This will very greatly assist in defraying the expense of carrying on the work. Mrs Davies ii very helpful to the local societies in the generous contributions she always gives when called upon to do so. SUDDEN DEATH—On Tuesday Mr Wm. Lewis, a commercial traveller of Cardiff, was found dead in liii bed at the house of Mr H. H. Davies, I Pier-street. Deceased had buried his wife on March 19th and being in failing health came up to Aber- ystwyth to visit his sister-in-law, Mrs H. H. Davies. Death is believed to have been due to heart disease. Deceased was 68 years of age. PARLIAMENTARY.—Mr Vaughan Davies. M.P., has been placed upon the Committee of the Merchant Shipping Mercantile Fund Bill now before Parliament. This is a Bill brought in by the Chanc-llnr of the Exchequer, Mr Ritchie, and Mr Long and is meant to amend the law with regard to the provisions for the payment of certain expanses under the Merchant Shipping Act of ]894- and with regard to Ifvjing of light dues. MEMORIAL SERVICE.—On Sunday evening a memorial service was held in honour of Miss Willard, the temperance reformer of the Un'ted States, America, at the English Congr-gaticnal Church, Portland-street. The meeting was presided over by Principal Roberts, U.C.W. The introductory service was given by the Rev T. A. Penry. Mrs Principal Roberts afterwards read an intf resting sketch on Miss Willard's life. There was a large "nd appreciative audience. BISHOP MORGAN AND THE WELSH BTBLE, At a meeting of the Church League on Tuesday evening, the Rev J E. Lloyd read an interesting pq'per on Bishop William Morgan and the Welsh Bible." A discussion followed in which the chair- man (Archdeacon Protheroe), the Rev J. H. Farmer and Mr T. Griffiths, (Queen's-road) took part. Business in connection with the League was a terwards transacted, when it v as; decided to hold a social gathering in about a month's time. FOOT --ALL. -A friendly wasplaved hetween Town and College on Saturday. In the first half Gaer Jones scored for the town and shortly afterwards Jos. Lewis equalised. There was no score in the second half and the game ended in a draw of one goal each. The Congregational United have practically won the championship of the Junior League. On Saturday they defeated U.C. W. Reserve by three to one. The United have won four games out of four played and have scored nineteen goals against their oppnnents' two. GYMNASTIC DISPLAY.—On Saturday evening a gymnastic display was given at the College Hall by the s'udents. Mr T. K. Brighonse, M.A. presided, and there was a large attendance. Those taking part were Messrs F. L. Cattll. G. Ambrose Williams, Evan Roberts, Charles O'Brien, A. P. Davies, A. W. Warrinpton, Fisher, Halliwell, Durdon, A. Green, and R. M. Shaxby. The programme concluded with a tug of war in which Arts (led hy Mr Mellor) defeated Science (led by Mr Roose) by two to one. Afterward the gold championship medal was presented to Mr Cattell by Mrs Warrington. LYIHG-IN AID AND UORCAS SOCIETIES.—Miss Jenkin Jones of Dolau has kindly forwarded to the Honorarv Secretary a subscription of j61 towards the funds of the Dorcas Society. This is sub stantial help and is much needed in carrying on the work among the poor. These societies have been in existence for over ten years and have hitherto steered clear of sects or party. They do a distinctive work among the poor in their own homes. The sewing meetings will close for the season about the end of April. It is to be hoped that members will make full and regular atten- dances up to that time or the work will be be- hind. SOIRER. successful soiree" as held at the Wesleyan Church Schoolroom on Wednesday night under the presidency of Mr George Whitp. The tables were presided over by Mrs Snape, Mrs Jones, Mrs Ede, Misoes Collins, Metcalfe, Wilkinson, Morcom, and M. Northey. Miss Phillips. Pier-streel, acted as accompanist. The following took part in the programme The Misses Morcom, Mr W. D. John, B. A., Mr R. G. Burgess, Mr Bernard Lake, B.A. Miss Nanna Roberts, Mr H. S. Allen, B.A., Miss Doug ton. Dr Brough, Miss Fhillips, Miss Burgess, Miss M. Phillips, Mr Mellor, Mr Alfred Jones, Mr J. A Phillips, Mr Scholes. THE POSTAL SERVICE.—In the autumn of last yeir Mr Hibberd of Shewafcury, the surveyor of the district, investigated the complaint of late delivery of letters and it was understood that something would be done. The delay in delivery is occasioned by the time spent ia the Aberyst- wvth Office by arranging letters ready for delivery. That delay could b: avoided by two men d'ing the work in the sorting van. It is undfrstood, how- ever, that no improvement in the delivery is to be made for this summer. On the contrary, the London and North Western Railway Company wanted to bring in the mail train half an hour later. Q U E E SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATION.—The results of the Queen's Scholarship examinations held in December have just been issued, from w..ich it appears that Miss Blanch^ Edith Stock- well and Miss Matilda Benbow, pupil teachers at the Board School, have succeeded in passing^in the first c:asq, the former with distinction in history, which will mean that she will be exempted from taking history from all future examinations. Miss Louisa Thomas, also a pnpil at the Board School has taken a second class, Miss E. WTlkinBon, National School, second class, and Mr W. Long, National School, third class. THE WELSH BAPTIST OOLLFGES. -rhe Committee appointed by the Welsh Baptist Union met at Llanidloes on Wednesday for the purpose ofreoeiv- ing the result of the voting as to the location of two colleges in Wales and to decide upon a future course of action. As the result of the voting, the two colleges will be located at Cardiff and Bangor. The voting was as follows: Cardiff, 989 Bangor, 897 Aberystwyth, 234. BOAT RACE.—The annual boat race between representatives of the Science and Art Departments at the U.C. W., Aberystwyth took place on Satur- day afternoon in the presence of a large number of spectators. The course extended from the Pier to a boat anchored off Clarach and back. Dr Mclntyre acted as judge and Mr Peake as starter. The Arts crew won fasily, maintaining the lea.d from start to finish. The crews were Arts J. Mellor, (stroke), T. E. Soddy, S. O. Morgan, C. Smith, (bow), and A. P. Davies, (cox). Science Ramsdeu, (stroke). Bodfan Griffiths, F. R. Porler, C. O'Brien, (bow) and R. C. Allen, (cox). THE UNION CONTRACTS.—An adjourned meeting of the Board of Guardians was held at the Work. house on Monday for the purpose of opening and considering tenders for supplying the Union with provisions, &c., during the ensuing half year. The contracts were given to the fol- lowing :—Mr John Thomas, drapery Mr G. Scott, AbErbrwynen, milk Mr E. Peters, boots; Mr R. Vaughan, t-tiloring Mr J. E. Theophilus, carting stones; Mr Charles Meehan, coal; Mr H. P. Edwards, meat; Mr D. Williams, coffins Mr Thomas Griffiths, Mr T. Powell, Mr William Richards, and Messrs John James and Co., erocerv Mr E. P. Wynne, diinfctants; and Messrs M. H. Davis and Sons, ironmongery.

^Justness Jlbbresscs ABERYSTWYTH. THE OLDEST ESTABLISHMENT IN TOWN. RANDOLPH FEAR FISHMONGER, GAME, AND POULTRY DEALER, TERRACE ROAD. Fresh Fish caught by my own boats daily. Fresh Salmon from the Teify and Severn Rivers daily. Best English Poultry dressed as in England, And Fresh Fruit of all kinds always in Stock. Also a good supply of Cut Flowers on hand. Telegraphic Address, FEAR, Aberystwyth. FOR FURNITURE BEDSTEADS & BEDDING, GO TO F. GROVE & CO., UPHOLSTERERS, 36, LITTLE DARKGATE ST., ABERYSTWYTH FOUND. A WONDERFUL CURE FOR RHEUMATISM L OMBAGO, SCIATICA, NEURALGIA, CHEST COLD, SORE THROAT, SPRAINS, BRUISES. INVALUABLE TO FOOTBALL PLAYERS. Prepared by the WELSH GOLDEN RHEUMATIC CURE Co. SOLE AGENT for Aberystwyth— E. P. WYNNE, CHEMIST. t995 hipping MESSRS EVAN MORGAN & c0's movements of Steamers — N movements of Steamers :— 8.8 Port Darwin" loading at Odessa, s.s. "Eastbourne" discharging at Venice. s. s. "Orianda." on passage for London. t765

irths, Marriages, ani) GEATHS. So announcements of marriages are inserted without suffi- cient authentication, lor want of which announcements to us are sometimes omitted. A charge of Is., paid in advance, is mad* for the words "No Cards," skc., in marriages, and an addition to the simple record of deaths. BIRTHS. EDWARDs-March 19th. at Tanybryn, Abervstwyth, the wife of Professor Edward Edwards, U.C.W., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. HUGHES—EVANS—March 17th, by licence, at the Indepen- dent Chapel, Dolgelley, by the Rev W. Pari Huws, minister, in the presence of Mr Tom Parry, registrar, Mr David Owen Hughes, 14, Charlotte-street, Llanberis, to Miss Winifred Evans, No. 2, St. Anne's-square, Bar- mouth. JONES-WILLIAMS-March 9th, at Ebenezer Chapel, (W.), Portmadoc, by the Revs O. Evans and J. J. Roberts (Iolo Caernarfon), Mr David Jones, jun., Gasworks, to Miss Jennie WilliRms, eldest daughter of Captain Edward Williams, Meinon House, Madoc-street, both of Portmadoc. MORGAN—EVANS—March 17th, by licence, at Llanfi- hangel-y-Creuddyn Church, by the Rev J. P. Evans, vicar, Mr Edward Morgan, Dolgelynen, Crosswood, to Miss Margaret Elizabeth Evans, Farmers' Arms, Llan- fihangel-y-Creuddyn. ROB ERTS-H VMPH REYS-Nfarch 23rd, by licence, at Caer- salem Chapel, Barmouth, by the Rev Ebenezer J. Williams. C.M. minister, Ruthin, in the presence of Mr Tom Parry, registrar, Mr John Roberts, Post Office, Llandrillo, to Mrs Gwenllian Humphreys, Idris Tem- perance, Barmouth. ,V LIAMS-OWEN-,Ifarch 21st, at the Register Office, Dolgelley, in the presence of Mr Torn Parry, registrar, Mr Hugh Williams, bootmaker, to Mrs Elizabeth Owen, both of Plasbrith, Dolgelley. WALTERS-REEs-March 4th, at Llanbadarn Fawr Church, by the Rev Mr Thomas, vicar, assisted by the Rev A. Jones, curate, Mr Thomas Walters, Aberyst- wyth, to Miss Catherine Rees, Brynymor Farm, Llan- badarn Fawr. DEATHS. EDWARDS—March 17th, at Meyrick street, Dolgelley, Mrs Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Mr Howell Edwards, eardener, aged fil years. JONES-Alarch 19tb, at Rhiwtelen, Llanfachretb, Mrs Sarah Jones, widow of John Jones. aged 83 years. JosEs-March 22nd, at Quebec-row, Llanbadarn, Thomas Jones, joiner, aged 41 years. LEWIS—March 22nd, at Pier-street, Aberystwyth, Wm. Lewis, commercial traveller, aged 68 years. MORSHF.AO—March 22nd, at Terrace-road, Aberystwyth, Wm. Morshead, blacksmith, aged 68 years. MORGAN--March 22nd, at North-parade, Aberystwyth, John David Morgan, son of W. H. Morgan, confec- tioner, aged 2 years. THOMAS—March 20th, at Parliament-street, Dolgelley, Dr Hugh Thomas, aged 64 years.