The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

ford anb pstrkt TO^XKRUFTCY, &c. FIRST AIEETING. —Thomas Dough- 2, St. James's-square, Aberystwyth, earthenware ^aiine !store dealer and smith. Public examina- January 5, 1.30 p.m., Aberystwyth Court. —Spelter steady, £ 14 17». 6d. to £ 15 for l0s'Uai'y brands. Lead quiet. Swft English pig, £ 12 *.• to £ 12 15.. L. B. Ciiiua pigs, £ 12 17s. 6d.;and Spanish," £ 12 2s. Gd. to £ 12 5s. per ton. W* ^ATKIX WYNN AND HIS TENANTS.—Sir Watkin t'f- .nis Wynn, who is the largest landowner in the lilj'J^'Pality, lias, through his agent, announced a re- 1!!11«()11 of tell per cent. on all rents over his extensive reduction is significant, as Wynustay W have not been raised as rents have been raised on estates. %7)};th WALES SLATE TRADE.—A meeting of North slate quarry proprietors and managers was. held thn ursday at the British Hotel, Bangor, to discuss •HL?riue lists fur the coming year. Mr pre- t -5; and amongst those present were the Hon. Wal- v'ani Messrs Arthur Wyatt, W. A. Darbishire, ^0;ves, A., M. Dunlop, Wiiiiains (Dorothea), and vies. A few minor alteratiolls were decided [ tout the list generally remains unchanged. ) I L -IF "QP' UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES.—Mr W. H. Box, a student of this college, has this week been elected to an open mathematical exhibition of C40 a year for three years at St. John's College, Cambridge. This was one of the very few prizes open at the old uni- versities to students over nineteen years of age. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending 20th Dec., 1885:— Miles open, 17SJ. Passengers, parcels, &c., El,o-,S T merchandise, minerals, and live stock, LI,517 total for the week, ;C 1,595. Aggregate from commencement of half-year to this date, £ 91,431. Actual traffic re- ceipts for the corresponding week last year :—Miles open, 1781. Passengers, parcels, &c., £1,218; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, zCI,474 total for the week, F,2,692 aggregate from commencement of half year to this date, £ 92,514. Increase Passengers, parcels, &e., jEOO merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £ 43; total for the week, £00; aggregate from commencement of half-year to this date. £ 00; Decrease Passengers, parcels. &3., £ 140; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, EO total for the week, £ 97 aggregate from commencement of half-year to this date, £1,083. SIR CHARLES DILKE IN CHELSEA.—A meeting of the Council of the Borough of Chelsea Liberal Association was held on Saturday night at the Welsh Church. Rad- nor-street, King's-road, under the presidency of Mr G. W. Osborn. Sir C. Dilke, M.P., was present, accom- panied by Lady Dilke In the course of his speech, Sir Charles Dilke said I have had so much to do with Welshmen during the past year that I was dis- posed to believe that I had acquired some special know- ledge of the wants of their country, and it was only when I entered this chapel this evening, and saw on the walls two bills, not a word of which I was able to read or pronounce, that my belief that I was some- what acquainted with Welsh ideas recaived a check. ('Hear, hear,' and laughter.) It so happens that during the preparation of the Redistribution Bill I was brought into intimate communication with three Welsh gentlemen-namely, Colonel Owen Jones, C.B., who prepared all the maps for the redistribution, and who was one of the leading men engaged in formulating the scheme of redistribution, Mr Hugh Owen, C.B., and Mr Howell Thomas, who was the secretary of the Redistribution Commission. They are three "good Welshmen, with three good Welsh names, and no one who had anything to do with the Redistribution Bill worked harder, or contributed niore to its success, than they did. (Hear, hear.")

ABERYSTWYTH. REMOVAL.—Dr. Rees Davies, medicel officer of health, has removed from his former residence to a house next door to the London and Provincial Bank, North parade. LITERARY -SOCIETY.Ilr. A. Riddell has been ap- pointed president of the Literary Society, and Miss Sarah Davis and the Rev, J. H. Davies, joint hon. secretaries. THE A.M.C.—The affairs of the Oddfellows' A.M.C. (which was held at Aberystwyth last May) have not yet been settled. Two of the last meetings were called after county court summonses had been issued. FREEMASONRY.—Mr. W. J. Watkins, North Parade, has been re-elected Worshipful Master of the Aberyst- wyth Freemasons. LITIGATION.—A telegram was received at Aberyst- wyth on Wednesday, stating that the sum of over Z4,000 had been awarded the plaintiff in the action brought by Mr. Edward Hanger, formerly of the Belle Vue, Aberystwyth, against Mr. Richard James, solicitor, Llanrwst. IMPROVEMENT.—Mr- George Wilkinson, greengrocer and fruiterer, has effected a great improvement to his shop front in North-parade. Mr. Wilkinson has applied for a renewal of the lease of his house, and this is an instance where the renewal of corporate leases will not only improve the appearance of the town, but provide work for the inhabitants. CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS GOODS.—Those who have not already purchased their stock of cakes and confectionery for Christmas and New Year should pay a visit to the establishment of Mr G. A. Hoffman, North Parade. He has undoubtedly the best show in this line in the town and the shop is replete with every description of seasonable confectionery which is dis- posed of at very reasonable prices. LLANBADARN CHURCH.—The two new bells have been placed in the tower ot Llanbadarn Church, making now a complete peal of eight bells. The new bells bear an inscription commemorating the restora- tion of the church, with the names of the Rev. J. Pugh, the vicar, and of the Churchwardens. A new organ has been put up in the church at the expense of Sir Pryse Pryse, Bart., and will be opened in a short time. OBITUARY.—Last Sunday, Mr. Richard Hughes, farmer, Tanygarreg, Blaenpennal, died at the age of sixty-four, he having been suffering from asthma and broncho-pneumonia. He was attended in his illness by Dr. Evan Lloyd, of Tregaron. He was the son of Mr. Hughes, Bryncrwyn, Blaenpennal, and appears early in life to have had his leg amputated. For many years he carried on the trade of tailoring at Aberystwyth and, marrying the daughter of Mr. Jones, Bryngarw, he removed to Tanygarreg Farm, which he continued to occupy up to the time of his death. It was not, however, as a farmer that he was best know in the county, but for his apparently insatiable desire for litigation. It is said that he was more or less in- timately engaged in over 100 lawsuits, two or three of which were pending at the time of his death, and that he voluntarily interested himself in hundreds more in which he had no personal concern. He was con- sequently a well-known figure in the courte of law in the county, from Quarter Sessions and Court Bach to Petty Sessions. The amount of legal lore he had picked up in practice was remarkable, and his advice was held in great esteem by the country-side, and especially at Tre- garon, where he found many people after his own heart, and where his presence will be missed, He is also said to have been remarkably 'cute in other directions, par- ticularly in land-surveying, being able by a system of his own to arrive at accurate measurement iu a re- remarkably short time. WRECKS OF ABERYSTWYTH SHIPS. During the month of November two ships belonging to the port of Aberystwyth became total wrecks on the coast of Morocco, and the crews had narrow escapes of drowning. A terrific gale continued to blow for seve- ral days, and the sea became boisterous. The Jane Llewelyn went on shore on the 12th of November, and the Sol way, after holding on for five days longer, parted her cables and drifted on to the rocks, where she rolled over on her side to the imminent peril of the crew and rapidly went to pieces. The Jane Llewelyn was a brigantine belonging to Aberystwyth, snd owned by Captain Evans, Mr. Edward Jones, Laura-place, Mrs. Lloyd, St. James's- square, and Mr. William Jones, brother-in-law of the captain. Her master was Captain Evans, Aberystw yth, the mate belonged to Aberdeen, and of the crew, only one man. William Thomas Jones, belonged to Aberyst- wyth. He was the son of the late Mr. Thomas Jones, carrier. The vessel was loading beans at Saffi for Queenstown or Falmouth for orders, and was anchored in the bay. About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th November, however, she parted her cables and drifted on to the sandy shore. The crew saved themselves by ropes, and were subsequently enabled to get their clothes, but finally the ship was dashed to pieces by the breakers. The crew had been under- going quarantine, but the Spill authorities held it to be insufficient, and the men had to live for several days in a tent on the sea shore outside the walls of the town. The Solway was wrecked on the 17th November on the same coast. She was a brig built in Cumberland of about 340 tons, and was owned by Mr. John Matthias, Bridge-street, Mr. Thomas Hugh Jones, Captain Davies, Chalybeate-terrace, and Mr. William Edwards, Cambrian place. Her master was Captain Samuel Jones, of 24, Mill-street, son-in-law of Mr. William Edwards, who was accompanied by his wife and child, the latter being only a littlo over five months old. The mate was a native of Aberystwyth (Mr David Thomas, Vulcan-street. Mr Edward Jones, the boatswain, was a native of New Quay Mr Wm. Jones was the cook, and among the crew were Mr George Evans, Pembroke, and Arthur Jones, Gray's Inn-lane, Aberystwyth, brother of the captain, a lad between fourteen and fifteen years of age. The Solway, like the Jane Llewelyn, was also anchored in the open bay off Saffi, and was also loading beans for Queens- town or Falmouth for orders, having been chartered by Mr William Thomas, broker, of Brunswick-street, Liverpool. The captain, mate, and the rest of the crew had not taken off their clothes for about a week, expecting almost every moment for the cables to part and the ship to meet the same fate as her companion. On the 17th of November, between eight and nine at night, a terrific gale blew from the W.S.W. towards the land, and the sea ran mountains high, breaking with fearful force on the rock-bound coast. It was then observed that she was dragging her three anchors. Shortly afterwards the cables parted and she drifted rapidly shorewards, where Captain Evans, of the Jane Llewelyn, had kindled a fire in order to enable the crew of the Solway to steer, if possible, for the sandy shore and not go upon the rocks. It appeared as if the Jane Llewelyn had gone on to a beach similar to that in front of the Terrace at Aberystwyth, and it was Captain Evan's desire to guide the crew of the Solway to a similar spot. The Solway, however, was drifting on to a reef of rocks under a bluff something like that at Craiglais, over which reef a fearful sea was running. In a short time after her cables parted the vessel struck on the rock, and after one or two rolls, her cargo shifted and she listed on to her side with her deck exposed to the fury of tiie waves from the open sea. Mrs Jones, the wife of the captain with her infant was then got out on t. the i 'IJ | side of the ship, and there she clung with the captain and rest of the crew while preparations were being made to provide escape by getting a rope from the ship to the shore. While in this perilous position, it was seen that the deck had been battered in by the waves, that the stores were floating about in the sea, and that the ship was going to pieces. A small line was cast ashore, « hich was seized by Captain Evans and his mate, and subsequently a rope was drawn from the ship and fastened to the shore, and the crew began their passage over it, the youngest going first according to the rule of the sea. The baby was tied to the breast of the boatswain and carried by him to the shore. Mrs Jones had borne up remarkably well until she saw her infant taken off the ship, when she uttered a piercing cry for her child. It was, however, taken safely to the land, where its mother, having been lashed to a iife-buoy, and conveyed over the intervening space ultimately joined it,and was followed by the crew, the mate and the captain corning off last. The party then had a dangerous climb up the cliff before they were got into a place' of shelter. The crew lost all their clothing, except what they stood in, though the mate saw his muffler subsequently doing duty as a turban on the head of a Moor, and another native was swelling about in one of the captain's shirts with the name plainly marked on the breast. The British Consul at Saffi entertained the shipwrecked British Consul at Saffi entertained the shipwrecked crew, and finally provided them with a passage to London in the S.S. Magadore, "whence they were sent to their homes by the Shipwrecked Mariner's Society. Captain and Mrs Jones areexpected in Aberystwyth before the end of the week. t UV'T',T CiT7^C< ^TA\Tn TTT TX "u iXiiiJLX vv JSU.NHSDAY, DECEMBER ZORB.— Before George Green, Esq., m?.yor, Peter Jones, Richard James, Da¡id Jenkin Davies, E. P. Wynne, and Thomas Hugh Jones, Esqs. jYetr Magistrates.—Mr. Thomas Hugh Jones and Mr. E. P. Wynne made the usual declaration and took, their seats on the bench. Charge of UnhacJ'uUi/ Exposing Game for -Sale.- George Wilkinson, game dealer, North-parade, was charged with having unlawfully exposed for sale six heads of grouse at Aberystwyth on the 21st December. The defendant said it quite escaped his mind that the time expired on the Sunday night. He was very sorry that he had allowed himself to come within the clutches of the law, and this was the first time he had the hon- our to appear before the Bench in this capacity. He did not believe he would have been there if the police had been left to themselves. Some of his friends had informed them of the occurrence. The time expired at twelve o'clock on Sunday night, and the birds were ex- posed on the following Monday morning.—Superinten- dent Lloyd said there was no intention on the part of the police to ask for any penalty. The birds were ex- posed, and after being informed of it they were bouild to take notice of it.—The Bench dismissed the charge. Charge of Theft.—Thomas Price, Portland Lane, school boy, was charged with having stolen one live fowl, value l. 6d., from Buarth Mawr, the property of Robert R. Ellis, iNorthgate Foundry, on the 16th December. --Charles Jones, Yaenor-road, school boy (14), was also charged with the same offerice.-Price admitted having been in the gang, but he did not steal the hen.—Charles Jones pleaded not guilty.—Robert Ellis said he missed the fowl on Thursday. In con- sequence of what he heard, he made enquiries, and found the hen in the possession of David Felix. He had not sold it to anybody. He identified it by a malformation of the foot, and it also had a broken leg. —Elizabeth Felix said that on the 17th December, the defendant Price brought the hen produced to her, and wanted to sell it for one shilling. He was accompanied by Mr. Atwood's son. He stated his willingness to accept ten pence for the bird, and said that his sister had sent him with it. She had not seen Jones at the time.—Mr. Joseph Evans, who appeared for Charles Jones, submitted that what evidence they had already had did not touch the case as far as Jones was concerned. -By Superintendent Lloyd She met Jones in Terrace- road about six o'clock the same evening. He said the hen was his, and that he found it near the Board School, and sent Price to sell it. She said she would keep the hen until the following morning, because someone must have lost, it and she would try and find out the owner. He replied, Very well; I will try and do the same.Sergeant Evans proved having received the hen from the witness Felix.—Mr. Joseph Evans addressei the Bench, and submitted that a case had not been made out against the boys.—The Bench decided that the case had been made out, but they wished to deal with them as lenient as possible, and fined them 5s. and costs. Although they were liable to imprisonment, the Bench thought that a fine would have the necessary effect. Assault Case.—Augusta Goss Wemyss, the Green, Trefechan summoned Margaret Redfern of the same place for having assaulted her on the 22tid -on(I 23rd November— Cross-summonses were also issued—Mr Humphreys appeared for Miss Wemyss and Mr Joseph Evans for Redfern—Mr Humphreys said that since coming into court the parties had come to a settlement. The case bad no public interest. It related to family matters and would doubtless give the bench consider- able pain. Under the circumstances with their per- mission the cases would be withdrawn—The bench consented to this arrangement and remarked that they regretted that the matter had been brought before them at all. o c, Att> n>ian<:e.—Dinah Rees, plasterer's wife St David's-place Wtts ordered to send her 'child to school. S. Roberts, Corporation-street, laundress, who it was said defied both the School Board and the magistrates was fined 5s. A charge against William Price, Pcrtland-lane was adjourned for a month to give the boy an opportunity to attend. METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, ABERYSTWYTH. Att. Dry Wet ter. Ther. Bulb. Bulb. Max. Min. Rain. Wind. Dec. i ii. ci e de, deL,. deg in. 16 30-400 51 46 44' 49 40 — S.S.E. 17 30-54S 54 50 49-5 51 42 -04 S. 18 30-493,52 40 39-5 52 38 '04 N.E. 19 30*224 32 41 40 45 38 S.E. 20 30 042 51 45 43 45 40 S. 21 30-140 53 40 44 51 44 -04 S. 22 30-350 53 44*5 42 47 43 N. D. REES DA vns. M. B Medical Officer of Health.

POKTMADOC. OHKIST.MA.STIDE.—In the appearance of the shops, in the genei-al topic of conversation, and in other ways, the approach of Christmas is again brought before everybody's notice. The private schools have had their parties and interesting entertainments the chilcren in rest 116 the public schools are jubilant at their approaching holidays, and maDY Lomes are already merrier, if noisier, by the return home of sons and daughters from distant schools. The usual literary meetings in con- nection with the chapels are announced, and the newly- formed dancing class has taken time by the forelock and had a Ions evening's enjoyment at this happy pas- time. The weather of late has more resembled mild spring than severe winter, but it has now become colder and possibty even yet Christmas may put oa its characteristic garments aud wrap the ground in snow or ice. SUDDEN DEATH OK MR. DAVID ROBERTS.—On Sun- characteristic garments aud wrap the ground in snow or ice. SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. DAVID ROBERTS.—On Sun- day evening last deep regret and surprise w^as ex- pressed by everybody on hearing of the death of one of the mosj popular gentlemen of Portmadoc, Mr David Roberts, of Garth villa, Portmadoc. Mr Roberts had been in his usual go d state of health, and on Sunday evening went to chapel as usual. On his way home he called, as was his custom at the house of a friend, Mr Jones, N. and S. W. Bank, and when sitting down ex- claimed that he felt very ill. Mr Jones noticing a change coining over Mr Robert's face sent his son across the street at once for a doctor, but though the latter arrived within five minutes of Mr Roberts attack he was too late. That gentleman having died in the meantime. Mr Roberts came to live in Portmadoc about 25 years since, His business capacity soon brought him to the fore, and for many years past he has been looked up to as one of the most discriminating business men iu the town and his opinion was always eagerly sought and highly valued. Air Roberts was for many years a member of the Port- madoc Local Board, and the loss of so practical and exc-cllcnt a member will be greatly felt. In his private life Mr Roberts's qualities were as marked as in his business. Kind, affable, courteous, he was ever teady to help any good cause, and his unostentatious charity which scarce let his right hand see what his left hand did has long been known in many a poor home. Mr Roberts was a prominent member of the SAlem Congre- gational chapel.At the inquest held on the body of Robert Joies, whose sudden death at the Quarrymen's Aviiis, Portmadoc, was mentioned in our last week's issue, a verdict of death from disease of the heart was returtit-(I.Aiiotlier sudden death occurred on Satur- day evening last to Mrs Griffith, who was on a visit to her daughter, Mrs Cathcome Owens, High-street, Portmadoc, and who was in apparently good health shortly before her death. The cause of death is stated to have been apoplexy. HISTRIONIC SOCIETY. -PERFORMANCE OF "THE DEAL BOATMAN" ANJJ "THE BENGAL TIGER.' — The performances of this Society have always been. conducted in a manner which has secured the goodwill and support of the re- sidents. not of Portmadoc alone, but also of the sur- rounding district, and that of Thursday I'nd Friday nigkts last, it may safeiy be said, will increase the renown aud esteem in which t Society is held, Roth the pieces taken in hand required really good v acting with good acting the merits of the pieces would ensure their success without it they would be sure to drag and fall flat on the audience. It was, therefore, a bold stroke for amateurs in a small place ,11- .J.&- lJ like Portmadoc to choose the pieces named Jrat' the result proves that they did not over-estimate thsir powers, and the extra risk run by them has rulted fn such signal success as could not have been achipve-J witt-i tamer plays. The casts of the pieces were as follows :— The Deal Boatman. Sir John Haughton, Mr H. Matthews; Edward Leslie, (his nephew) Air W. E. C. Mee; George Preseott, M.A., (a poor relation of Sir John's, acting as tutor to Edward, Mr Arthur Thomas Jacob Vance, (a Deal Boatman) Mr L. X. Trickett; Matt. Bramber. (a Pilot's apprentice) Mr H. Beale Phil. Burkett, (a Deal Pilot) Mr R. LI. Evans Mrs Bridgitt, (Jacob Vance's sister-in-law) Miss Ada May Mary Vance, Frauleiu Gebser The Bengal Tiger, Sir Paul Pagoda, Mr H. Beale Edward Henderson, (his nephew) Mr A. Thomas Arthur Onslow, Air R. W. Brcadie David, Air R. Ll. Evans Miss Yellowleaf, Airs Beale Charlotte Henderson, Miss Ada Thomas Sir Paul's Attendant, Air W. Williams. In "The Deal Boatman' the principal part of the work devoted upon the heroine of the piece Alary Vance, the distracted lover who had promised her hand to the humble pilot's apprentice, while her heart had been won by the visitor Air Leslie Jacob Vance, the Deal Boatman, Edward Leslie, Sir John Haughton and Mrs Bridget. As the first named Fraulein Gebster beautifully expressed the varied passions of love, duty, and confidence, and eminently contributed to the succe^; of the play. Air Trickett has previously taken several characters in other pieces, the proud and irritable old gentleman, and on the last occasion, the gentlemanly and handsome young tutor, but great as has been his success in these, he excelled them all as the honest fisherman of Deal. In the hearty homeliness Íle exhibited in his cottage with his adopted daughter; in the vehemence of his grief at finding that his daughter had run away with his visitor; and in the truly grand scene with Sir John Haughton the true expression of the part entrusted to him was really excellent. It was, too, in the present state of public feeling, a treat to hear the applause which greeted the passionate outburst to which he gave vent on being offered monetary compensation for what he feared to be the disgrace of his daughter. Air, Mee had no easy task, yet he accredited himself exceedingly well. What the piece would have been without Miss May it is difficult to think. When all about was gloom, she, "who had lived in the very best of families," went about her domestic duties in a man- ner which fairly brought down the house and carried an air of lightness to pervade every scene in which she was present, while her "get up" was most precise. Sir John Haughton had not very much to do as compared with the others named, but a better Sir John could scarcely have been found. The others who took part in the piece, though their labour was light, had spared no pains to perfect themselves in what they had to do, and there is no doubt that this careful attention even to little details accounts in a great mea- sure for the unvarying success which has attended the representations of this society. In The Bengal Tiger the greatest portion of the labour fell upon Mrs Beale, in whom, indeed, was all the plotting. Her naivete before her friends, Mr and Miss Henderson, and the artful manner in which she sought to wile the wealthy East Indiaman to settle his money upon her were simply charming. She had an immense amount of talking to \.10, and had she been slow the piece must inevitably have failed as a farce but she spoke so glibly, modulated her voice so suit- ably, and altogether acted so well as to fill the place with merriment. Gracefulness, ease, and clearness of voice were the principal requirements of Alisa Ada Thomas, Mr Arthur Thomas, and Air Broadie, and nothing was wanting in this respect in any of them. They had to remain on the stage a long time and played their respective parts well. Air Beale and Air R. Ll. Evans had difficult parts and got through them with credit, the audience much enjoying the way the characters were taken by them. It always adds to the zest of a report to have some- thing to find fault with, but the acting was so good as to give no chance in that respect. May we, however, suggest some extra assistance in moving the scenery in the intervals. True there was some excellent music by Air Hopkinson, Miss Bessie Griffiths, Miss Honfray, and others, not forgetting Air Evan Davies, who dresses up so very comically to sing his (and the audience's) favourite songs of Coinin* thro' the rye," and "The awful little scrub," but it is only natural the audience should become impatient when they find themselves detained until nearly eleven o'clock. The performances were very well patronised, among those present being most of the gentry from Portmadoc and the district, and many from Penrhyn, Talsarnau, Criccieth, and Pwllheli. EDUCATIONAL MEETING.—In connection with the breaking up for the Christmas holidays of the Llwyn Onn Grammar School, Portmadoc An entertainment was given by the boys at which the cause of Inter- mediate Education in Wales was brought prominently before the large assembly present. In taking the chair, Dr Jones Morris said, he did so with the greater pleasure as one member of their family had taken honours at Cambridge, and he considered that that was due in a very great degree to the education received at Llwyn Onn Grammar School. Another reason was that he thought everybody ought to show their ap- preciation of having in their midst an excellent inter- mediate school such as this. It would be in the recollection of many present that some years ago those who were desirous of extending their education beyond the elementary schools had to go away from home and perhaps suffered somewhat from the loss of proper parental care. He also as Secretary of the local committee of the University College of Wales must express the sincere regret of such committee at the loss of two of their warmest supporters within the last month or two. There was not one who so thoroughly devoted himself to the cause of education as the late Capt. Peter Jones, and there was never a meeting called which Capt. Peter Jones failed to i, attend, and his practical good sense was always of great value. Mr David Roberts, the last who had been taken away, was also most anxious to do the utmost he could to further in this county, and through North Wales, that great object, the advancement of cduca- tion. (Applause.) Professor Henry Jones had been expected to attend, but owing to Air Lewis having to alter the night he was unable to be present. Air Cad- waladr Davies, the secretary of the University College of North Wales was, however, present and expressed the pleasure he had in coming to Portmadoc, as he had been here on previous occasions and had always found a desire to assist in promoting education. He recollected a, visit here some ten or twelve years ago when he appealed on behalf of the Aber- ystwyth :college, and did not appeal in vain. He a short time ago came to appeal on behalf of the College at Bangor and found them in full sympathy with the movement. In connection with the meeting that even- ing he wished to call the particular attention of those present to one thing which was essential to higher edu- cation and that was that whatever the ability of the teacher, whatever hiseharacter, whatever the suitability of the material he had to work upon, he couid do very little good in the promotion of a thorough and efficient system of education without their sympathy and sup- port of the community among whom he worked. The number of boys in the Portmadoc School was about thirty boys out of a population of about 3,000. If the educational zeal of Portmadoc were to be judged by that standard it would be very low. But apparent lack of interest in intermediate education was due to want of means of giving adequate expression to it. He suggested that with the view of promoting higher edu- cation a committee should be formed of the most in- fiuential members of the different classes of the com- munity of Portmadoc to assist the Grammar school and thought it might not only do good to the school bat might also form the nucleus of a committee which might take in hand the whole subject of education as it affects Portmadoc. With regard to what had been done in the past ten or twelve years, he did not think they in North Wales had the full benefit, and he was not sorry that the Intermediate Education Bill had been postponed, for there was no greater danger in public life than that legislation should outrun public opinion. Did the people really know what they wanted or was there a public opinion which should grieve our government or representative in this matter? In every other public movement deputations wait upon the representatives, but so far as he knew this had scarcely been done at all on this question, and he was glad of the opportunity of appealing to the people of Portmadoc to form some sort of committee for the purpose of assisting to develop the existing means of intermediatf education, and to see that their interests are not for- gotten or ignored when this subject next comes before Parliament. The speaker then urged that what was wanted was not merely higher education from the English poiut of view but that the national character of the people of Wales should be taken into account. From the earliest times they had possessed a love of music and of literature, aud any system of Welsh national edncation ought to take hold of these traits i and develop them, and he therefore thought they ought not to be affiliated to the London University, but should have a national Welsh university of their own. He also advocated such a system of education as would enable the humblest boy, if possessed of talent, to reach the highest point of educational exellency. The speaker was repeatedly applauded during his address. The boys of the school gave an interesting miscella- neous entertainment ot songs and recitations, many of the latter in character.

LLANBEDR. RENT AUDIT.—On the 22nd December the rent audit of the Merioneth estate ot Mr Wm. Ansell, of London, was held at the Victoria Inn. We are pleased to say that the tenants went home in better humour than they did six months ago, as the gentleman presented them a return of ten per cent. on the six months due.

I (toiTcsponbcnce. I XOT VENOM. SIK,—TIV Pvit 3[m, Gazette of Dec. 17th "ays' Air t-rladstone hsix one** tiiat under the most trying circumstances, viniScatwi '11S r^lt: t° be regarded as' the only leader of the Ettglisb vleople. We are enabled to announce this morning that tKe great statesman against whom the leaders of the triah' iyv ^(,l l'ty directed the whole force of an envenomed and ui?sf-r*l)uIous opposition, has decided to declare in favour of a and satisfactory measure of Home Rule for Ireland." To call the Irish oppesiifson envenomed is quite ridiculous. The Parnell party were not | hostile to the Liberals at all, they only tried to increase the number of Conservatives in order to bring the t'alance of power in the New Parliament as near an even beam as j possible that so theiv influence might be felt in eithn scale into which the prospeet of their own advantage in- duced them to throw themselves. The move was not conceived in any venomous spirit it wa.- diplomatic pure and simple. Air < dad -tone's expression of opinion in Home Rule shows its success. They have made their friendship indispensable to the Liberals. No doubt its priep will be high. Yours truly A NATIVE OF DUBLIN. I THE MERIONETHSHIRE ELECTION. ] SIN,- In last week's i-sue of your valuable paper, there ] are two very interesting letters >igned respectively i "Politicus and John Robertson." on the much dis-1 cussed subject of the Merionethshire Elect-ion. 1 Both letters are conceived in that lofty and dignified t tone that has of late so much obtained among a section of ] the Liberal party in this county. For clearnpss and pcr- J spicuity of style, it would, perhaps, be difficult to match the letter of John Robertson"; and as one naturally shrinks from subjecting ideas so felicitously expressed to the ordeal of vulgar criticism, I will content myself bv merely drawing the attention of your numerous readers to it as a literary chef-d ojuvre. I may, however, incid- entally remark that it bears strong internal evidence of having been written soon after the declaration of the poll. Politicus strong points are evidently brilliant with and subtle humour, together with a refined and delicate sense of justice in his treatment of opponents which is truly admirable. In dealing with the masterly productions of your two correspondents it would ill become me, a benighted Tory, to adopt any other tone than a purely apologetic one. Tories in these days of enlightenment may indeed be permitted to exist; but it would be intolerable presumption to hint e at their being either actuated by anything bearing even the slightest resemblance to purity of motive or guided in the remotest degree by principle. In extenuation of the Tory offence of having sympathised with Mr Morgan Lloyd I venture to ask, in all humility, whether it is not possible that the Tories of Alerioneth may have been led to this on national and patriotic grounds ? ] am fully aware that Tories are not supposed to have national and patriotic instincts but still, it is just possible some little of this feeling may yet exist amongst these. Again, it is conceivable that the Tories may have felt some repug- nance to the methods adopted to foist Mr Robert.son upon the county a repugnance which. if I recollect rightly, was shared in by many Liberals and found eloquent expression not so long ago in the leading columns of your paper. But then, what right have Tories to ob- ject to wire-pulling? What interest can they possibly have in the actions of the Liberal managers ? It may also have wounded the feelings of the Tories that Aber- ystwyth College was not an institution of such profound interest to Mr. Robertson before his candidature was -ts. assured. It may have occurred to them that the establish- ment of scholarships in connection with that college, but confined to natives of Alerionethshire, had an ugly look about it, to say the least under the circumstances. But then, I am painfully aware that it is ridiculous for Tories to be so absurdly fastidious about such trifles. It has also occurred to many lories, and, possibly also to many Liberals among the Wesleyans, the Independents, and Baptists of the connty, that it was not wholly to their advantage, that the representation of Wales should be rapidly assuming the character of a Calvinistic Methodist synod and that Mr Robertson was aggravating this con- dition of things by his very recent and opportune dis- covery that he also was a member of that highly-favoured denomination. Love of fair play and sympathy for the weaker side, are, I am well aware, regarded as weak- nesses and follies, rather than virtues by a certain class of politicians and so I assume these to be of little weight in balancing considerations of political expediency. If, however, Mr Morgan Lloyd is a Tory in disguise, as "Politicus" seems to think, this concerns Mi- Morgan Lloyd and not the Tories; and the latter must be credited with the possession of wonderful powers of in- tuition, of having been able to recognise one of their own kith and kin. ;n one whose political creed Is not less Radical than that of Air Henry Robertson. Of course, the Tories are the only class of people base enough to be able to rejoice at the spectacle of strife and division in an enemy's camp. Modern Radicalism is too sacred a cause for the disunion in its ranks to be made the subject of such unhallowed joy. It is only divisions, where they exist, among the Tories that. are fitting subjects for caustic animadversion and the secret but joyful uplifting of the thankful Radical soul. Apologising for the length of this letter and trusting to your well known spirit of fair play and kind indulgence to one who can only sign himself .„ VII M A Mi-en- AursEU TORY. Alerionethshire. December 23rd.

p(ltt anb Atliletits. Note" of local football, cricket, and other matches wUl be inserted in thin column, and should be sent to the Editor as soon after they come off as possible.

FOOTBALL. AEEKYSTWYTIT TOWN V. CELTS. On Saturday afternoon last the Celts added one more to their long list of victories won during the season, when they (lefeated the Town team by six goals to one. The game was played on the Town ground behind the Ropewalk, and soon after the commencement it was sufficiently evident to all the knowing ones that the Town team could not possibly hope to compete success' fully with their younger opponents, and the result as stated above verified their opinion. The Town team left the ground a few minutes before the call of time, on the plea that it was too dark to play, but the Celts remained, fearing that that was an attempt on their part to have it declared a drawn game. A football match was played at Criccieth on Saturday between a team from Penrhyndeudraeth and the Criccieth Football Club. The game however terminated unpleasantly through an accident which happened to F. Draper, the vice captain of the Criccieth team. It appears that Draper, in running to kick the ball, collided with one of the Penrhyn men, with the result that the former sustained a fracture of the large bone of the left leg. Aledical aid was speedily obtained and the injured man was removed to his lodgings. At. a meeting of the Penrhyn club held that day much sorrow was expressed for what had occurred. A vote of sympathy was also passed at the weekly practice of the members of the Criccieth church choir of which Draper was also a member. He is now progressing very favourably towards recovery.

— — hipving. Week ending December 23rd. ———————————————————————————————— ABERAYRON. ARPIN-ED. --Ianthe, s.s., Evans, Bristol; Aeron Belle, Evans, Porthcawl; Linnet, Thomas, Porthcawl; Jane, Alorgans, Pembrey: Alartha Jane, Morgans, Porth- jcawl; Alary ADD, Rees, Aberdovey; Antelope, Davies, Swansea; John Jimes, Williams. Swansea; Cadwgan, James, Bristol. SAILEI).-Iautfie, s.s., Evans, Bristol; Antelope, Davies, Swansea; John James, Williams, Swansea Linnet, Thomas, Troon.

The Board of Guardians of the Swaffham Union have accepted a tender for the supply of good bread and flour to the workhouse at lid. per stone of 141b. for the ensumg quarter. At the headquarters of the AletropolitanFire Brigade, on Tuesday, a singular discovery of honey was made. On a fire being lit in a room where there had not been one for some months, the chimney was found to smoke, and on the fireman putting his arm up the chimney to ascertain the cause, he found an old shirt, in which a large swarm of bees had evidently lived. There was a fine mass of honey, but the bees had disappeared. In the Rollox division of Glasgow the expenses of Air Cuthbertson, unsuccessful Conservative candidate, were 1:615 in the Bridgton division Mr E. Russel, the successful Liberal, expended F,366 and in the Cam- lachie division the expenses of Mr James Martin, the Radical candidate, who was unsuccessful, amounted to £Hi0. A London correspondent writes:-An entirely novel Pdtptatioti of "Much Ado About Nothing" was pri- vately acted a few days ago in a certain house in Pic- cadilly. A noHemau, who is in the sixties, has a young wife, and is of a painfully jealous disposition. Returning home one evening unexpectedly, he sur- prized his wife in the act of perusing a letter, which, at his approoch, she hastily concealed in her bosom. His lordship asked to see the paper; her ladyship refused to show it. The suspicious husband thereupon ran up- stairs tor a revolver, and on returning pointed the weapon at his wife, and swore to kill her unless she at once obeyed him. She screamed and fainted. Ser- vants eutered. In their presence the jealous one drew forth from his wife's dress the cause of quarrel. It was a dunning letter from a dressmaker for a debt of nine hundred pounds, Ladies making Christmas purchases, or expecting Christmas accounts, beware.

'0 '<J -1». -<tol I hunting Jlppmntmrnts. THE PLAS MACHYNLLETH HARRIERS: VV'ILL :E £ ? Tuesday, December 29fch Ge'Iegeff Friday, January 1st Esgairgadvythr Ji-ach day at 10 o'clock. I THE ABERYSTWYTH BEAGLES. WILL MSET i Tuesday, 29th December Brynllwyd I Friday, let January Di/aa Each day at 12. THE NEUADDFAWR FOXHOUNDS WILL AXSET Monday, December 28th Falcondal* at ] 0. Thursday, December 31st Llidiadnenoa at 10.30 o'clock. &

There were great demonstrations on Tuesday in honour of the return from th",ir wedding tour of Sir Richard and Lady William Bulkeley. The local batteries of Naval Artillery Volunteers, in which Sir Richard is an honorary lieutenant, acted as a guard of honour. An address was presented, and, on behalf of the subscribers, Colonel Hampton Lewis presented the bride with a diamond bracelet. At night th-ere was a public dinner at the Town-nail, and the place was. illuminated. The Bishop of Peterborough will introduce this bill into the House of ords early in the approaching j session. The preamble sets forth that- Whtrcas. according to the common law of this realm, every parish church in England and Wales, if fcr the free use in common of all parishioners of the parish to which such church belohgs, for the purpose of Divine worship according to the rites and ctremyrles of the Church of England, and whereas the rights of the parishoners ae- cording to law have for many years past been infringed in many parishes and places by the appro- priation of seats and pews to certain of the parishioners to the exclusion of others, and especially of the poorer classes, to the great hindrance of religion, and it is e){ pedient that such common law should be declared with a view to its better observance. Cia tzsewi enacts that "every parish church in England and Wales is hereby declared to be for the free use in common of all the par- ishioners for the purposes of Di-ine worship according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, There are other clauses saving vested interests and the letting of seats under certain Acts. The rights of the ordinary over the fabric and the powers of church- wardens to preserve order would also remain untouched The effect of the bill would be to declare all churches free, with the exception of those built under special local Acts, which are very few in numder, and modern ones possessing legal scales of pew rents assigned under the Church Building or New Parishes Acts. These two classes of churches number at the outside about 2,000 out of the 15,000 churches in the country.

irths, JtoriageB, anb Praths. .Va announcenients of marriages are ;nserttd without sufficient authentication, for want of which, an :>uv cements sent to11 r gry sometimes omitted. A charge of Is., ja-Jd in advance, is viadt, for the words "No Cards," &c., in marriayus, and any addition to the simple record of deaths. BIRTHS. DAVIES. -December 20th, at Pantydefaid, Llanfair- clydogau, the wife of David Davies, of a daughter. EN- s. -December Sth, the wife of Mr. Ellis Evana, Skinner's Arms, DoIgelley, of a daughter. MORGAN.—December 1st, at Pontrhydygroes, the wife of Dr. Morgan, of a daughter. PARRY.—December 6th, the wife of Afr. William Parryt Tanymarian, Blaenar. Festiniog, of a son. PONVELL. -December 3rd, the wife of Mr. Willianv Powell, Sun-street, Festiniog, of a son. ROIIERTS.-Deceml)er 5th, the wife of Mr. W. Roberta, baker, Tanygrisiau, Festiniog, of a son. ROWLANDS.—December 5th, the wife of Mr. Robert Rowlands, Ty'nllwyn, Festiniogf of a son. THOMAS.— December Sth, the wife of Mr. Richard Thomas, Peniel, Festiniog, of a son. WILLIAMS.—December 5th, the wife of Mr. John Wil- liams, St. Alartha-terrace, Blaenau Festiniog, of a. son. MARRIAGES. DAVIES—WILLIAMS.—December 23rd, at the Register Office, Tregaron, before Air. P. Williams, registrar, Air. Edward Davies, of Ty nyrhyd, Blaenpenal, to Miss Margaret Williams, of Ynysgoch, Blaenpenal. HARRIES—JONES.—December ICth, at Bwlchgwynt Calvinistic Alethodist Chapel. Tregaron, before Air. Peter Williams, registrar, Air. Daniel Harries, of Raglanwynt, Cilcwm, to AIISK Mary Jones, the eld- est daugnter of Air. I*. Jones, Maesybettws, Llan- ddewi Brefi. JONES—JENKINS.—December 23rd, at Bwlchygwynt Chapel, Tregaron, before Air. ?. Williams, registrar. Air. Benjamin Jones, of Abernant, Llanwrtyd, to Miss Anne Jenkins, of Gwarcastell, Caron Lower. PAUL—EVANS.—December 2ISI, at St. Cawrdaf'a Church, Abererch, by the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, vicar, Mr. Peter Paul, 10, Snowdon-street, Port- madoc, to Miss Jane Evans, 25, Carnarvon-road, Pwllheli. PHILLIPS—DAVIES.—December 19th, by licence, at St. Peters's Church, Lampeter, by the Rev. D. Jones, vicar, assisted by the Rev. y1. Davies, curate of Abergwily, brotber of the bride, Air. David Phillips, police constable, Borth, Cardiganshire, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Air. Lewis Davies, Lampeter. REES—Jroo.—December 22nd, at the parish church, I Holywell, by the vicar, the Rev. R. O. Williams, ALA., John Robert Rees, of Aberystwyth, to Alary, daughter of Air. Henry Judd, Holywell. j DEATHS. DAVIES.—December 10th. aged years, Owen Davies, Gwarffynon, Llanbadarn Trefeglwys. DAVIES.—December 10th, aged 18 months, David Navies, Gwarnynon, Llanbadarn Trefeglwys. DAVIES.—December 10th. AGIO" 10 months, Evan Davies, Tower, LlansantJ-'raei. T)AVIE.s.-Deceinber 11th, aged SS yearl, Mary Davies, Ffynonoer, Llanfihangel Ystrad. DAVIES.—December 17th, at Hafod Lodge, Pontrhyd- ygroes. aged 72 years, ^ary, wife of Air. John Davies. DAVIES.—December lsttil, t;f,, yeark;, at 19, High- street, Aberystwyth, Air. • ohn Davieu, mariner. ELLIS.—November 28th, aged years;, at 90, Penton- place, Newiugton Park-road, Walworth, London, Air. William Ellis, and was. interred at Tooting Cemetery. Friends will piease accert this intima- tion. EVANS.—December 9th, aged years. David Evans, Llwyn Owen, Llanbadarn TreiegJwys. EVANS.—December 9th. aged 76 years, Elizabeth Evans, Upper Lady well-st;set, Newtown, late of Penllwyn, Kerry. EVANS.—December 17th. a: 7refrivvfach. Gwnnws Lower, aged 19 years, J-oser),. Henry, son of Air John Evans. JONES.—December 14th, aged S- years, at Berthlwyd, Llanafan, Sarah, widow or Mr. John Jcner- JONES.—December 17th, aged 73 years, at Balmoraal House, V ictoria- terrace, Aberystwyth, Margaret, widow of the late Captain .r>hn Jonea, "Truant," of this port. MATTHEWS.—December 17t; aged 14 years, Annie Susan (Susie), eldest daughter of Mr. John Alatthews, National Provincial Bank, Amlwch, Anglesea. '\I or .-Deceii)ber 9th, ageu 2: years, at 96, Man- sel-street, Swansea, Sarah Ann, the second daughter of Air. C. Alorgan, White Hail, Llanilar. PRICE.—December 4th, aged years. Catherine, wife of Mr. Thomas Price, Trye., Horse Shoes, Llauwrda, Carmarthenshire. RAVENIIILL.-—December 10tn. aged 69 years, at New- ent, Gloucestershire, Air. J. l-i'. Ravenhilll, solicitor, Aberystwyth. YAUUHAN.—December 9th. aged 72 years, at: I, Alul- bery-street, Liverpool, Ann, the wife of the late Mr. John Vaughan, Alaindy Hall, Brecon, late county road surveyor for Cardiganshire. WILLIAMS. December litr-" aired 70 years, Henry Williams, of Esgermaeu, Liauiair^lydogau. WILLIAMS. — December 17th, aged 71 years, Mr. John Williams, turner, 2, Idris-terrace, Dolgelley.

1- _n_ -n_ FOR Monuments, Tombs, Headstones, and JD every description of Alcnumental Work, apply to TAMES, HOSKING, and MILLER.. Moor-street, Aberyst- wyth. Shtw Yard, opposite the Railway Station. FUNERAL CARDS FROM Is. PER DOZEN" AT THE f'CAMBRIAN NEWS" PRINTING WORKS, ABERYSTWYTH.