Glamorgan Free Press

T HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE RHONDDA. Ferndale Higher Grade School Extended At Monday's meeting of the .-adyfodwg School Board—Mr T. Bevan, presiding-a let. tor was read from the Education Department calling the attention of the Board to the pre- sent overcrowded state of the Ferndale School. I The number attending the school was far in ex. cess of the accommodation provided, and, al- though attention had been before called to this matter, nothing had been done to increasa tho accommodation. The grant had been suspended l!r. ;l a definite reply would be given. The Clerk said he had not replied to the letter until the adoption or otherwise of the following clause appearing in tho report of the Building Committee at this meeting: "We have received Supply Form 4 from the Education Department, approving of the plans and speeificaticjn of 'proposed additions and alterations to the Ferndale Higher Grade. School, providing additional accommodation for 25a mixed. We have also received the follow- ing tenders for carrying out the work Edward D-mes and Sons, Treherbert, £ 4,057; Morris Morris, Femdale, £ 3.949; Thomas Roberts, (arw, £ 3,500. We recommend that tic tender ot Mr Thomas Roberts be accepted, subject to the approval of the Education Department, and to his sureties being satisfactory and vvili.n^ to join in the contract. In case Mr Roberts does not accept the contract, we rccommend that the tender of Mr Morris Morris be accepted On the proposition of Mr Hood, the following addition was made, to the report: "That in case Mr Roberts does not. accept the contract, or his sureties are not considered satisfactory, that the contract be given to Mr Morris. The Rev W. Morris moved that the report be not. adopted until the committee's report on the subject should be received. Mr H. Abraham seconded. The Vice-chairman said that if it were pos- sible to get another intermediate school they should do so, but as far as he understood, the ah-erations here specified were for the Higher Grade School. The Chairman said he was sorry that the question had again arisen. The matter had been considered again and again, and had been adopted by committee after committee, and the committee had decided upon a system of provid- ing further accommodation. It had been de- cided to have, an organised science school at Femdale, and it was understood it would be maue when wanted. The Department had given them warning before that unless something were done the grants would be with-held. The committee themselves had suggested that an infants' school should be built at the bottom of Ferndale, and to build an audition to the Higher Grade School as well. The accommodation for the girls at the school was 330, but there were 394 attending: accommodation for boys, 330, an,! 360 attending; and accommodation for in- fants, 440, and 495 attending. To find accommo- dation for all those the eornmittoo proposed to build an infants' school, and an addition to the Higher Grade, and they went so far as to select a place for the school. When the matter was thoroughly considered they thought the Fern- dale school as at present plaoe was much more central and much more convenient to children coming from Maerdy, Tylorstown, and Blaen lleohau, and it was near the station, so they thought instead of building at. the bottom of the place it would be better to build an addition to the Ferndale Higher Grade School. They would have to pay for a new site, and it would be an expensive site, whereas by altering the Higher Grade they had the site and not a farthing to pay, so that they had that advantage, and the school was in a most central spot. The Higher Grade was close to the station, and so was con- venient on wet days, whereas at the bottom of the place it would be inconvenient, and thos3 were the reasons why the committee decided upon altering the Higher Grade. Owing to the lower schcols being so small they were obliged to keep the children of the first standard in the infants' school, where they now only earned 17s grant, but if they were put in the lower schoo! tLev would earn 20s 6d, so that the Board wa', thus losing 3s 6d grant per head. If the fifth standard were removed up to the Higher Grade, thj first standard could be moved down to the lower school. Again, by removing the children of the fifth standard to the Higher Grade they cculd earn Pl 6s 61, and the children they sent down Ri Os 6d. If they carried on the altera, tions and made this an organised science school there were 53 children in the seventh standard and 50 in the ex-seventh, who in the organised science school could earn a minimum grant of El 10s, and a maximum of £6 10s instead of Cl 6s as at present. He was giving them th'i reasons why the committee decided upon altering the Higher orade School, as they considered it to be the best mode of meeting the accommodation. He had submitted the case to a large public meeting at Ferndale. and they thoroughly approved of it. and they would be considerably disappointed if the recommendation were not carried. The- objection would not ha.ve cropped up, but for a letter sent there by two of the teachers, because they assumed they would lose something by the new arrangement, but if a class were taken from them they would have others returned to them. Unless this question were decided row, he could assure them that Ferndale would be very much disappointed The Rev W. Morris asked if the increased accommodation would meet the case. The deficiency, he understood, was 320, but accom- modation wa.s provide'! oniv for 230. Tho Chairman replied thati they had decided to build all infants' school as well as to alter the Higher Grade, but they were willing to wait for the infants' school. Mr Morris said the Chairman had not given th' other side of the question. The fact. was that, the cost of educating each child in the Higher Grade would be PA 7s 9d a.gainst £1 14s "in the other school. He was not against the alterations as such, but he would like to under- stand it thoroughly. He would like to know the actual cost, and he simply proposed iiest- poning' the matter until they had the report ot the committee. The Chairman stated that it was. much cheaper to work a large school than a small one. Tha teachers were much more expen- sive, but when they increased the number in the school that expense would decrease. Unless they dooided upon this before September they throw themselves back"for twelve months. Mr John Davies thought by increasing the accommodation at the Higher Grade the v addi- tional cost would be £ 100 per annum more than would be the case at the elementarv school. The Chairman -,a.icl tli-tt the fifth standard would then go up to the Higher Grade and take two specific subjects, for which they would earn three shillings per subject. Mr Hood proposed the recommendation be adopted, and the Chairman seconded. Mr Morris said his amendment was that the matter should be postponed until they obtained the report of the committee upon Higher Grade school in their -strict. The Rev Thomas Williams said ho understood the work of the committee wa-s to see whether they could get more money from the County towards the maintenance of the Higher Grade Schools. Mr H. Abraham objected to standard five be- imr removed from the elementary school, as by taking those away he thought it destroyed the general tone of the school. After some further discussion the question was put, and pve voted for the adoption of "Vie re- put. and five voted for the adoption of the re- carried on tho casting vote cf tlie chairman. The following recommendation of the Man- agement Committee was adopted "We have had under our consideration a joint communication from Mr R. Thompson and Miss M. Jones. Head Teachers of 111" Ferndale Bovs' and Girls' Schools, in reference to the transfer of Standard V children from tho.se schools to the Ferndale Higher Grade School. We recommend that the Clerk be instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the ion, and that it lie on the table."

DOMESTIC SQUARRLES AT CLYDACH VALE. Reform the I-strid maeestrst.as on Mondav, Mary Muia Lewis, Clvdar.h Vale, summoned Iser husband, Edward, for assault. The evidence showed th?t ever since their marriage Hiey l ad bpen on verv unhappv tprms On the 7th inst. the complainant had called her husband to go to work, and as she was reaching some plates from a cubbonrd near which the defendant was sitting, she accidentally stepped on one of his boots. He immediately got: angrv and caught bold of a knife from the tibi- and threatened to run it through hpr b-- brains. A quarrel ensued, and defendant threw his hoot wich struck her. Re then thrpw a poker at her, causing a bruise on her leg. Defendant: denied th^se ehar./es and said that there could be no happiness in the house as long as hpr Mstcr was in the same honsp as them. Mr T, P Jenkins was of opinion that nrnc,PA- incs should he taken f r persistent cruelty and not for assault; this charge would, therefore, fall through.

Ton ran iity what you like, but I know well T Harris's groceries nona can excel. The 7«etr«J Stores, Tsff street, 2343

Proposed Conversion into a Pupil Teachers' Centre. At the monthly meeting of the School Board on Monday, Mr T. Bevan presid- ing, Mr David Williams, in accordance with his notice of motion, proposed "That the neces- sary steps be taken to convert one of the Hafod Board Schools into a Pupil Teachers' Centre and Deaf and Dumb School." In doing so, Mr Williams said this was not a new question, as it had been before tho Board on more than one occasion, and he found that on the 13i h of Juno, 1895, a conference was held between four repre- sentatives of that Board and four of the Ponty- pridd School Board, together with their clerks. At that conferences arrangements were brought about—and very good arrangements from the Pontypridd point of view. The terms were that Pontypridd were to pay E60 rent and the net cost per child out of the Pontypridd rate. The two Boards entered into an agreement, to be terminated by twelve month. notice, but when the representatives of the Pcntypridd Board went back and reported to their Board they declined to have anything to do with Ystradyfodwg unless the terms of sections 49 and SO of the Elementary Education Act were adopted. On December 26th all order v/as made making Pontypridd contributory. UltL mately it was resolved to manage Hafod schools under a joint committee, but, he was sorrv to say, this Board could not enforce that clause upon the Pontypridd Board. The clause in the Elementary Act of 1897 said they "may" adopt it. Since December, 1896, the Pontypridd Board had done nothing in the matter. Some time ago their (Ystrad's) clerk wrote to the Pontypridd Board asking for the number of children they wanted accommodation for at Hafod, but he was referred to the headmaster at Hafod. That was not a proper reply to make. He would like to call their attention to the following figures, which were prepared by the clerk, and which wculd stand close inspec.' tion Under the present arrangement the school received E465 15s lid per year out of the rates, but under the proposed arrangement they would only be given £ 260 7s lOd, thus saving £ 205 8s Id per annum. NEW SCHEME PONTYPRIDD CONTRIBU- TORY. GAIN". L s. d. Actual saving as above (per annum) 205 8 1 Savings in erections :— (a) P.T. Centre n200 0 0 (b) D. and D. School 800 0 0 £ 4000 0 0 Repayment. l-Wrll of £ 40C0 (per an.) 133 0 0 Interest, £ 4000 at 3 (per annum) 140 0 0 2 Total E478 8 1 LOSS. £ s. d. Contributions by Pontypridd :— Accommodation, 900. Pontypridd probably, 300 l-3rd. l-3rd of £ 4Co 13s lid (per annum). 155 5 3 1-3rd of ( titstandidg loan of 1-1900 and £ 2633. Repayment, l-30th of £ f613 (per an,) 87 L" 4 Interest, £ 2633 @ (per annum) 92 3 0 Net gain (per annum) 143 4 6 zE478 8 1 The present girfcj' school could be turned into a mixed school with very little expense,the infan s' school could be turned into a deaf and dumb school, and the boys' school used for the pupil teachers. Some might say it was hard on Pontypridd, but why the ratepayers of Ystradyfodwg should maintain those 300 cxuiU- ren he did not know. They found than an addi- tional small room would not do for the pupil teachers' centre. He trusted they would take this matter into consideration, and use their own building. The only objections he could see might be fh;{t the Educational Department would not sanction the exclusion of the Ponty- pridd children, but the refusal of the Depart- ment would be grossly unjust to Ystradyfodwg. because the pos^on wa,4 a new one, created by the confirming order of the Local Govern- ment Board, whereby the Hafod School (with others) became vested in Ystradyfodwg, and was vastly different to the case of a School Board attempting to oust a contributory dis- trict. Such refusal would mean the ol the Ystrall Board, in their endeavur to make the best use of their property, having regard to the altered conditions of things brought about by the confirming order of the Local Govern- ment Board. The number of Pontypridd child- ren now attending Hafod school was so large as to demand that the Pontypridd Board should make their own provision for their education, and he did not consider it right to the ratei- payers, for them to assume the refusal of the Educational Department. The idea that a small room at Porth, in connection with a new school at Perth, would satisfy the Educational Depart, ment was not well founded, and there was no decision arrived at as to the new schools at Porth. Mr W. W. Hood s(>eolHlt>f!, and said he v'n thought Mr Williams had put the saving per year at a very modest figura. He made it to be about £ 530. Mr H. Abraham moved an amendment that the schools should ha allowed to remain as they were. He believed the present school was required by the Ystrad Board alone, ail'¡ the population at Hafod was increasing rapidly. There were plenty of demands for houses there now, and he knew there would be about 60 to 80 houses there, so he thought the school would be required for their own purposes at once.. Mr Williams had said it would cost about £ 4,000 to build a new school at Porth, but he thought an additional class room there—to hold about 80—would be quite sumcient, as 70 was about the highest number attending there at the si me time. They would not require to build a school to hold all the teachers, but only the highest attending at one time, that would be about 80 and the cost, therefore, would be about £ 800. As regards the deaf and dumb they had a room for them at present, but should they build another room at Porth they would have plenty of room for the deaf and dumb. Then they would require additional passes for the teachers, and these would cost about E30. Hf, did not believe the Department would ever agree to such a thing. They could not expect the Pontypridd Board to pay unltess they gave them representation, but he did not say they wanted to give them representation. Ho did not think they would save anything by this new arrangement. Mr John Davies: Pontypridd Board states we have never written to them with regard to the order obtained by this Board. Mr Hood: Pontypridd Board made specific terms with us which were not carried out after- wards. The Rev W. Lewis seconded the amendment. and asked if it was the intention of the Board to make, Hafod a mixed school like, Llwvnypia. Mr Williams: Yes. The Rev W. Lewis: And the dismissal of an assistant. Mr Williams: Yes, but we can place the assis- tant in another of our schools. Mr D. R. Jones wanted to postpone the mat- ter for a month. The Clerk stated that a letter had been re. ceived from the Science and Art Department complaining of the inadequacy of the present school, and advising the Board to lose no -me in making permanent arrangements. Mr D. Williams said it was not fair to have two more representatives from the lower part of the district. He took it there could be no objection to a mixed school, as they had three already. Ultimately the matter was postponed for a month. --+--

Our Jokes Competition — Prizes have been awarded this week to J. Edwards, 61, East Road, Tylorstown. for "A Reason for Marrying," and to Sergeant Pearce, Pontypridd, for "He gave him the weight." A REASON FOR MARRYING. In the North of England, where rabbit cours- ing is much in vogue, swift, well-trained dogs often win large sums in prizes. It is, therefore, little to be wondered at that the owners of these animals should bestow so much attention upon them. An old Yorkshire collier, well-known for his. success in the coursing' field, recently surprised dl his friends by marrying a very unprepossess- ing woman. Ho had always been considered a confirmed hater of the other sex. "Why has ta gone and got spliced, lad, at thy agoo?" that's not much of a tale," answered the old man stolidly. "I agree wi' ye 'at Betsy yonder is no beauty—if she had been I shouldn't have wed her. But that there dog o'mine, he simply pining for somebody to look aftei him while Iwas busy at t' pit. I couldn't bear to leave him in the house by liissen, so I liit on the. i-ift of marrying Betsy. She's not 'aNI- ec r&e, but she's mighty good company for t' dog."—J.E., Tylorstown. HE GAVE HIM THE WEIGHT. P.1.t was an employee hi a shop where the scarcity of help had compelled the grocer to take on an assistant, who was entirely without any experience. One day the grocer, in weigh- ing out a purchase to a customer, searched in vain for a weight. "Patrick," he called out, "where's the pound weight?" "The pound weight is it? Shure it's Mister Jones that has the pound weight." 'Vr Jone6 has it? What do you mean?" '•An' didn't yes tell me to be perlite to the regular cuqtomerpp" "Of course I did?" "Well, thin, Mister Jones comes in the day for a pound o' tay; an' says he whin I axe. him what quality o' tay he wud -ave. 'Whativer ye give me,' says he, 'give me the weight!' So I put the pound weight in the package wid the tay, perlite like, an' it's himself that's gone wid it. "-Sergeant Pearce, Pontypridd. KEEN SENSE OF HUMOUR. I believe that parrot," said a Yankee gentle man recently, showing a family net to a visitor "has a highly cultivated sense of humour. Op- posite my residence here a few months ago were some buildings in course of erection, and the men at the top of the scaffold were in the habit of calling for the material they wanted. In a very short time Polly learned the term? bv heart, and we heard her crying away: 'Mor- tar!' More mortar!' More brick!' and the like. One Irish labourer she fooled complately One day I remained.at home and sat reading in the room here. Polly was uttering her cries repeatedly, and at last I went to the window and watched. No sooner did the labourer re- lieve himself of a load than the everlasting cry, 'More mortar!' assailed his ears. He bore it with exemplary patience till the mortar board on the top of the scaffold was piled up. but once more the order for 'mortar, more mortar,' was given. This exasperated him, and throw, ing down his hod he bawled out to the brick- layer above: I 'Is it mortar mad that yez are? Sure a man must have a hundred legs and the back of a bull to wait on the loikes of yez."—D.W.D., Tre- alaw. WHERE THE TIP WAS WANTED. An old gentleman, before getting into an ex. press at Euston, tipped the guard and said: I "I wish you would, make sure of oatehing the 11.45 at Crewe. The guard went to the engine-driver, who had been a witness of the tipping business, and said; "Here, Billy. this gentleman wants to catch the 11.45 at Crewe." They arrived at Crewe just in time to see the 11.45 leaving the station. The old gentle- man went in a rage to the driver and shouted "Weren't you told to ca-tch the ll.<+v?" The impassive driver, with a solemn wink, replied, "Yes, sir; but you greased the wrong end of the train." Our old friend will tip the driver next time he to travel unusually fa.st.T.H.J.. Ferndale. A CURIOUS SWINDLE. At Ambleside, in the Lake district, a curious swindle was recently perpetrated. A showman scj up a booth, ami when, he had gathered a crowd he called out: "Walk up, walk up, and inspect this curious plic-nonieiion-,L real live womanfish, the cnly cne in existence. The place was crammed, the curtains rose, and a young lady dressed all in black appeared on the stage, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am the womanfish. There's my marriage certificate. My husband's name was Fish. He was killed last summer through a fall off a scaffolding, and as he has left me with four children unprovided for, I will take the liberty to go round and make a collection on their behalf."—R.W., Trealaw. WHAT HE WOULD CALL THEM. Ca.rl was a boy of seven years: at least, the story gives him no more—who lived on the Back Bay in Boston, and he was greatly excited when he heard that. twins were born in a neighbouring house. He a-sked all manner of questions of his school teacher about the subject, until he had formed a fair estimate as to what twhLs really were. With great impatience he waited until evening came, in order to tell his father the wonderful news. He ended his part of informa- tion by saying eagerly: "I got names for them. If they were mine I'd call them Peter and Repeater." "That's very nice," said the father, pleased with his son's brightness. "But if they wero girls?" Carl's ardour was by no means dampened. After awhile he pulled his father's evening paper and said solemnly, "If they were girls I'd call them Kate and Duplicate." "But, Carl," said the father, I am sorry, but I understand, that one is a boy and the other a girl." Chagrined, but by no means daunted, Carl went and went and curled himself upcn the sofa to think out the new complication. All at once he burst out, "Papa. if one was a baby boy and the other a giri baby, I'd—I'd call them Max and Climax!' —J.J., Cwmpark. WALES SCORED. AtTrafalgar two Welshmen happened to be stationed near each other when the celebrated intimation was displayed from Nelson's ship: "Read it, Gwilym," said one to the other: 'England expects every man to do his duty,' noi a word from dear old Wales even on this occasion." Shoni cocked his eye at the object for a mo- ment, and, turning to his mate, thtis addressed him: "Pooh, Gwilym, is that all your sense? Wales knows well enough that her sons will do their duty—that's a hint to them English." HE WANTED WATER. One of those "English muffs, ye kno' went over into "the States" the other day from Canada. He took lodgings at an inn in a bor- der village, whioii shall be nameless. He had dinner, and among those who sat at the table with him was the waiting maid, whom he desig- nated as "servant" but JJ<ê received an indig- nant correction from the landlord. 0- "We call our servants sir, They air not oppressed; they air not Russian serfs." "All right," said the Englishman, "I shall re- member." And he did; for in the morning he awoke the house by calling out at tha top ot his voice, which was like the tearing of a strong rag, "Help! help! Water! water!" In an instant every person equal to the task rushed into his room with a pail of water. "r am much obliged to you, I am sure," he said; "but I don't want so much water, ye kno' —I only wallted enough to shave with." "Shave with!" said the landlord; what did you mean by calling 'Help! water? We thought the house was on fire." "You told me to call the servant 'Help," and I did. Did you think I would cry 'Water' when I meant fire ?"-T.E.L., Penygraig. HE KNEW HIS FATHER. A teacher asked one of her boys what three from four left. The little boy said "None." "Now, come," said the teacher, "ifthere were four pints 0f beer on a table, and you had one, and your mother had one, and your father had one, how many would be left?" one, how many would be left?" "None," said the boy. "You don't know your arithmetic," said the teacher. "No," srud ihe Iii tü hov, "hut I know my Waits!, wu. <

CPSTIAJHTY AliD PROGRESS. Further Correspondence. MR. J. MOROAK.-Your letter is held over until next week. To the Editor. Sir,—Some errors crept. into my article last week on "Christianity and Progress." They are of So grave a character as to call for a cor- rection. In that part of my letter where 1 am refuting Mr Hammond's Vox Poputi fallacy, I am made to say that Mr Hammond's criterion ot truth is by the "counting of Moses." It should be counting of noses. Here is another- "that Church Councils mailed the slave sellers." What I intended to convey was that. "Church Councils by their decisions nvested the slaves fetters." Thanking you lor the tolerance which has enabled me to have our say on the side of the question which is the reverse of being popular, I am, etc., J. LEWIS. To the Editor. Sir,—It was with no small amount of astorl ishment that I read in your issue of the 10th inst. J. Lewis' wonderful conglomerate, and with an over-towering sense 01 my littleness and ig- norance, compared with i-e mighty learning therein exinbited, it is with fear and trembling that i atcempt to take part l nthe discussion. I fcliatt not abtempt to criticise much of it-, for the simple reason that it is practically void 01 critical matter, though full ot misapplied asser- tion and quotations. To criticise such a production so full of asser- tion, aclnussidn, and contradiction would be easy, but "infra digitatem." For instance, take his assertion, cile natural expansion ot the human mind is incompatible with the pre- servation and maintenance of the Church and its pet theories," etc., etc.; his admission that the Jtiible has a science, and that Christianity is a "force," his contradiction m building on "revo- lution is not a theory, but a demonstrated fact, am. then saying that "the tneory of Evolution is altogether irreconcilable with that of Creation. There is much of the ludicrous in the manner in which the whoio of Revelation and Science, past and present, is summed up and dismissed in one column of newspaper by J. Lewis. Not- withstanding the aid of three dictionaries, I confess my inability to discover any originality 01 newness of thought in the whole column. True, there is a tinge of the dramatic in the sentences "I prefer taking my stand with the few that think than go with the whole herd of unthinking animals,' 'etc. Complimentary with a vengeance! O! Lewis, live for ever,great is thy learning, dazzling our dim vision, and flooding our dark minds with the light of thy classical glory. Science and quotation are hurled upon us with inimitable simplicity; we are led from Creation to Revolution, from Cosmogony to Evolution, from ethics to insult, from logic-chopping to chops without logic, with breathless rapidity, anei before we realise our position, wo are dismissed with "1 challenge," etc.; "such is Christianity, the most ,progressi ve force in Here I en- tirely agree with him on one essential point- Christianity a force. It is a force, and force implies motion, and motion implies, direction, and direction implies laws, and laws implies lawgiver, and lawgiver implies reason, thought, life, etc., etc. Evolve it forward or reason it backward, the result is the same. I shall, therefore, only deal with one of his assertions in this letter, namely "Evolution," and that be- cause I am unwilling to allow any science or doctrine to be ilLtreated or misrepresented, it I am aware of it. I must, in this case, be al- lowed to presume certain things, for certain reasons. As I write, I hear an engine whistling and I presume there is one near; walking along the road, I heard a loud braying, and I pre- sumed that a donkey was near, though there was no actual proof in either case; so when J. Lewis quotes "Evolution" I presume he knows something*about it. Naturally, then, the ques- tion arises, "What is Evolution?" Ruling the Bible and its adherents out of court, J. Lewis states that "Evolution is not a theory, but a demonstrated fact," and in support of his learned and incisive statement he mentions Darwin, Spencer, and Huxley. Surely they are honoured by his magnanimous reference to them But in order to prove our foregoing presump- tion, let these gentlemen speak for themselves, remembering that the Mcsaic Ccsmogony has been dismissed by J. Lewis. "Darwin, in his "Origin of Species" writes: "There is a grandeur in this view of life with its several powers having been originally breathed by the Creator, into a few forms or one—from so simple a beginning endless forms mcst beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved. Again, "Geology gives no evidence in favour of Evolution-breaks are constantly cccurriv- in the organic chain—there is scarcely a single point on which facts cannot be adduced opjiosite to those to which I have arrived. It seemed worth while to try how far the principle of Evolution would throw light upon the more complex problems in the natural history cf man. I am aware natural history of man. I am aware that much remains doubtful, but I have cnclea. voured to give a fair view of the whole case." Thank you, Mr Darwin. J. Lewis, please copy. Spencer, on account of his clearness, we will dismiss after hearing his definition of Evolution. Listen carefully "Evolution is an integration of matter, and concomitant uissipation of motion; during which the matter passes from an indefinite, incoherent- homogeneity to a de- finite, coherent heterogeneity; and during which the retained motion undergoes a parallel trans- foriwationi" How simple! J. LQwis, please explain. Huxley next: "That if he could go far enough back, he should witness the evolution of living protoplasms from not living matter; but as the evidence now stands, it is not absolutely proven that a group of animals having all the characters exhibited by species in nature, has ever been originated by selection, whether artificial or natural. If anyone chooses to say that the creative work took place and natural science does not affirm, natural science is not in a posi- tion to disprove the accuracy of the statement—it appears to me that the scientific investigator is wholly incompetent to say anything at all about the first origin of the material universe. The whole power of his orginon vanishes when he has to step beyond the chain of natural causes and events." J. Lewis, please learn. It is necessary for me to stop now, though such testimonies could be continued indefinitely. I have refrained from quoting any scientfic authorities who demonstrate the harmony be- tween the Mosaic Cosmogony and modern sci- enea and discovery. I wait for J. Lewis to demonstrate evolution as an incontrovertible fact. I have refrained from interfering between him and Mr Hammond and will not touch upon his statement of Christianity being anti-progres- sive until he gives a clear definition of what he calls 'progressive movement." for the reason that unless we agree upon a basis or foundation, upon which to lay our arguments, it is worse than time wasted to discuss that matter. "Flower in the crannied wall. I pluck you out of the crannies; I hold you here, root and all, in my hand, Little flower-but if I could understand What you are, root and all, and all in all, I shouid know what God and man is." -Tennyson. I am, etc. Porth. JAMES BAKER. To the Editor. Sir,Will you kindly allow me a little of your valuable space to answer the attack upon Christianity by your Maerdy correspondent ? It would be hardly considered necessary to pay Mr Lewis the compliment of a reply were it not that there arc those who would be deluded by his erroneous statements if left unchallenged He represents his attack as an "Impeachment of Christianity," and he describes the latter as a "pernicious superstition." Christians can afford to lausdi at an "impeacli. ment" by the hands of men who are as tares among the wheat. The "pernicious superstition' as he is pleased to term Christianity, is one for which men have laid down their lives. May 1 ask would Mr Lewis, or those who think: with him lay down their lives for the sake of their pet theories? I will now give an illustration which has been used by me before, but will bear repetition. An Atheist was. some years ago, declaiming against Christianity, when a man from the audience ascended the platform and asked the lecturer whether he had any children. ''Ye,' replied; "a little dri." "And would you, sir, prefer for that little girl to be brought up an Atheist or a Christian?" The man paused for a moment, while the'tears trickled down his cheeks, and he replied. "A Christian." Such is the conduct of these iconoclasts when put to the test. T understand Mr Lewis 1 oes no. raise any question as to the effect, of Christ- ianity upon a people's progress, for his question, is "how the apple of commercial prosperity has fot. inside the crust of religious revivalism.' But what. he "inI10:1dl"" is the system of ethics or moral philosophy which is embodied in the term Christianity, and is the cause of the good results achieved. This appears to me a very foolish position to take up. He does not appeal to grasp tho fact that "as a. man sows, so must lv. von, V- 1 — <h- G.ir-f -mis-l-'J, the poverty and misery of the drunkard? These are things he witnesses every day, and he also sees how the honest, upright, temperate, indus- trious, and moral man thrives, and is prosper- ous in his career. Now, the latter are principles which are taught among Christians as rules of conduct in life, and what is true of an individual is also true of a nation, but your correspondent's knowledge of history is so superficial that it is useless giving him illuslraticns. The illustration given in my last letter of the French revolution was entirely thrown away by him, but I have no doubt it was appreciated by your readers, who are thus led to reflect to what savagery man will allow himself to go, when unrestrained by religion. The unbeliever prefers not io deal with facts as shewn by results, but intes to speculate on abstract tneorics. I am not sur- prised at Mr tie wis' reference to the foot of the Chinese, for he would find it less suited to his theory to study the head. A short time spent on this subject would be sufficient to convince any one having the full use of his faculties mat religion is a part of man's nature since "God breathed into man the breath of life." This is sufficiently demonstrated among uncivilized na- tions, who make images to worship; they must satisfy this instinct, and in the absence of better knowledge they improvise cods of their own. The reader will remember how even in ancient Athens St. Paul found an altar "To the Un- known God," such was their anxiety that no deitv should be forgotten. Mr Lewis states that "what is infinite is unthinkable." What if it is-is that any reason why we should not be- lieve in it? The air we breathe might be de- scribed as infinite, for it is boundless in extent, illimitable, and yet we can still breathe this air into our lungs, and it is the means of keeping us alive; we can also utilise it for aerial voyages and as propelling power. We can believe in the air because we breathe it; we can believe in God, because however degraded man becomes he has still got a soul, a part of God's spirit, and therefore cannot in his heart doubt the existence of God. Mr Lewis, with that self-confidence which is bom of ignorance, takes u subject, of Christ ianity as if lie were another Solomon, but there is this difference: although the heart of Solo- men was turned from God through the weak- ness of his hitman nature, we are not told that he ever denied the existence of God, but we are informed that he confessed the error of his ways, a thing we can hardly expect from the wise man of Maerdy. His supreme contempt for logic, and the fact that he chooses to pass the most imjxirtant part of my letter without comment, is inexplicable, otherwise than as an admission of mo weakness cf his case. I do not, as Mr Lewis suggests, "sneer at the verities of science," but in studying science compara- tively one learns the grave scientific errors of the past to consider tho po-vdnhty of errors in the present, and would therefore prefer to trust in a Divinely revealed religion which is confirmed by modern discovery, and that has been the giuding light of generations which have lived and passed away, rather than to trust the chimerical phantasm of ignorant scoffers. They are pleased to call themselves the apostles of modern free thought. Alas! that men should abuse their freedom and the faculties that God has given them. Mr Lewis a-sks what I think of Goldwin Smith's contention as to the doctriae of the Atonement, as quoted by him, and I say at once that I have no knowledge of this "ripe scholar," and \ve-uld rathen trust Profejf-or Hitchcock, who states that "scientific truth, rightly understood, is religious truth." As regards the theory of evolution as applied to man, it is so much contested by scientific men that Mr Lewis has no right to assume that it is "an admitted fact." lie also states that some, of Christ's best etiiical teaching can be paralleled from ancient writings." This is really becking the yuestion. I need only remind him of the fate of ancient or modern authors. "It was given out," says a modern writer, "that Homer had stolen from anterior poets whatever was most remarkable in the Iliad and Odyssey. Nancrates even points out the source in the li- brary at Memphis in a temple of Vulcan, which according to him the blind bard completely pillaged." It has also been. attempted to de- prive Shakespere of the credit of his writing, and to impute their authorship to Bacon. I could give numerous instances if necessary on this subject. With reference to another part of his letter I am pleased to find according to his statement that Americans, after all, are not so bad as they are described, for lie tells us there arc "20 mil- lions of communicants," and this in a country which has only known civilisation for 400 years, surely nothing can speak more grandly of the power of the Bible among such a heterogeneous population. Your correspondent complains that Freethinkers are denied the right of propagat- in their falsehoods. I reply. Quite ri lit; why should their periodicals be allowed in a public library? Is it because they make the young dutiful to their parents, and honest, sober and trustworthy in their lives, that he requests this? If you take away from man's conscience the restraint of religion, what will you give him as a substitute wherewith to guide his life? You have nothing to offer liim, therefore do not attempt to take away his staff, and tell him to trust in a rec-d. I appeal to working men not to allow this man to draw their sympathy by (he use cf a few choice rhrases apparently in their interest, while he is endeavouring to undermine their religion. Working-men of to- day know that they can trust to the honour of a Christian for justice, but it would be difficult to define the honour of an infidel. Your corres- pondent asserts that "infidels have always been the pioneers of "regressive movements in all countries." If he means the progress of poverty lying, immorality, and dishonesty, I quite agree with him. Mr Lewis ana his confederates re- mind me of that marvellous little insect which builds what are known as the Coral Islands. It has wonderful ingenuity, but it is still an insect, and cannot live above water level. The unseen coral reefs produced by this insect are sometimes the cause of great loss of life, by the founder- ing of ships, just as through want of knowledge Christians are sometimes shipwrecked by these insects of the human species. I now conclude with the words of a great writer, "Let him see who has eyes to sec; but should the light, by being brought too close to his eyes, produce phrensy, he may burn himself by endeavouring to extinguish the torck of truth." I am, etc., J. HAMMOND. Pontypridd, 10th July.

Wedded Joys at Trealaw CRUEL HUSBAND APPEARS IN COURT SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. It is but seldom that John Barleycorn is truly represented at the Ystrad Police- Court. As a rule his victims appear in the sacrod Hall of Justice wearing a kind of repentant expression and sober appearance. But on Monday, before Mr Ignatius Williams, a man named Abel Lewis collier, Trealaw, appeared in a very beery condL tion. Whether the excessive heat of the pre- vious day had produced an unquenchable thirst, or he had been sleeping near a, brewery, defen- dant sayeth not. He appeared to be quite happy in the environments of the Court, and and for a support. for his shaky and quivering constitution, he had the friendly dcck-rail. Abel appeared in Court to give hist reasons for having been trinity of using cowardly conduct towards his beloved wife, Elizabeth. The complainant presented a very respectable appea.rance, much in contrast with that of her husband. She was a Cymraes "o waed coch cyfan." and her evi- dence was given in the vernacular. Mr Lewis said that for the last two year? her life had been one of misery owins to the defendant's drunkea habits. On the night- of the. 29th ult., he re- turned home "paralytic" drunk, and at once commenced to abuse her, striking her twice on the head. Abel was bound over to keep the peace, and was also ordered to pay the costs, but' not possessing the needful, he went down for fourteen days to get sober.

Diamond Jubilee af Queen Victoria. Too late to sing! Not so. I guess, Of Jubilee; no, never; Since "Free the Press," let. me confess,— This will be now for ever; The day of Jubilee is come— The hulls are smiles and laughter; Our song of joy will thrill the home And heart of th' Hereafter. With hom and ha.rp, musicians all, Scot, Irish, Welsh, and Saxon; They turn the street to dancing hall. And ha.ve to pay no tax on; For once each man throughout the lanil Turns bard with muse hot-burning; And sings the praises oyer grand, And rhymes with classic learning. The dreaming sword in rust and cold Forgets his way so gory, His tongue grim Politics do, hold For lwac;) to Rad and Tory; A day for me to shout in verse, And critics not to burn me; Of kings I only can converse To-day—their age conoern me. Ye, British bards, bards born to sing, Come, tune your hearts of fire; And let the muse vibrate the string- The string of ancient lyre; Union of love is all the talk By workin? man and master; Both hand in hand they take a walk—- No "strike" will bring disaster. The age for Castle to see the Cot, And Cot to drop his grumbling; Success to both will end the plot With no disgrace or humbling; The heart of Farmer Llwyd Cwm Llin, Affection doth inspire. True union will exist between The tenant and th' Esquire. With love and justice on tho throne, Wo fear no oppressing, With sound of Heaven in tongue and tone. The reign has been a blessing: The cannon turns his prose to rhyme, His irtiso is made of tliwiler; Elcctric forces beat the time, And rocks applaud with wonder. The echo shouts "encore" aloud From glens with keen desire; The mountain proud, from clime of cloud, Answers with tongue of fire; A day for kings has dawned a.t last To fjfreet the British nation; For royal cornets blow the blast To swell the salutation. Victoria has led the British race For sixty years with pleasure; Hail! good victorious reign of grace, Truth stamps thy ruling mnre. With truth in heart and law in hand She smashed the band of error; "Away!" she said, "from British land, With tyrant and with terror; And let my children for my fame Help me to reign in glory. That Future may not blush with shame,. In telling of my story." The schools were closed in many lands For ages of vacation; But. Good Victoria to us hands The gift of education; The desert smiles in Britain fair- No spot of night left glooming— Bright dawn of truth in balmy air Turns all to Eden-blooming. Ascending high, earth down below, The Frenchmen a.re most fond ia, For of all ages, we must know, This is the age of Blondin; In going down we challenge France To deepness of no ending; For we, to better our chance. Have Darwin for descending. The age of Darwin though be this- The age of evolution— Our land has felt-it is a bliss— No lash of revolution; Our Queen gave railways to the world, And telegrapliic wonders; And Distance overboard she hurled, To pay Crimean blunders. Fast-living kings are apt to blame AI1 beings except the wrong one— They would live long a life of fame By means against the long one; Saith curling lip of Scorn,—'T trow Victoria is too clever. 'For kings may come, and kings may go, But she goes on for ever. The cry of nations was for bread, Kiiicrs laughed at their madness; But British children from the dead Were saved to life of gladness; Victoria heard the crv of need, And bitter lamentation, Her prayer, a sigh: a tear, her creed; But saved us from starvation. She never said we were to blame, Nor this, nor that upbraiding In time, of need her love beca.me Not empty words, but aiding; She never savs, "Come, come and eaf: And nothing at our reaching; But gives us bread; nor spoils the meat By nice advice and preacliing. Her faith and catechism are found In "Helping one another," She helps the homeless from the ground The orphan finds its mother; This Jubilee, rare gift divine, Gives speech to harp and finger, More words, to prose, would turn my linek My language now may linger. This world, not made for ard. to sing, Is but an empty bubble, Let kings an l poets, the *ong to ring. I The song that conquers trouble; The sun of freedom shines above, Where now we are assembling, Before the King of kings in love We kneel in thanks and treirJblin^. *Lord Tennvson's Brook. Pyte. Son.! h Wales. fSURNOS JONES.

RHONDDA SCHOOL BOARD. The monthly meeting of this Board was hel.1 on Monday at 1110 Council Offices, Pentre. Mr T. Bevan presided, and there were also preseftt Rev W. Morri- (vice-chairman), Miss Jones, Rev W. Lewis. R.O., Rev T. Williams, Messrs W. W. Hood. H. Rowling, Daniel Thomas, David Williams. J. E. Jones, W. Jenkins, J.P J, Da vies. D. R. Jones, t'nd H. Abraham, with the clerk. Mr W G. Howell. THE JUBILEE TREATS. The R v V. Morris said that before leaving the minutes he desired to call attention to one niatter.H- thought they ought to put on record their thavks. a> a Board, for the treats the children had received on Jubilee day. He therefore woposed that the Board present their best and .iincerc thanks to those ladies aad gentlemen who had so gent rously provided tea for the «chcol children under the Board on. Jubilee Day, and also to the various local com- mittees for their successful efforts in raising funds to provide for the remainder of the child- ren. He desired that a copy of the resolu- tion should be sent to the various donors. The Rev Lewis seconded, and the reso-Iti. tion was unanimously adopted. ASSISTANT MASTER FOR FORTH CENTRE. The appointment of a certificated assistant master for* the Porth Pupil Teachers' Centre was then proceeded with, and the following applicant appeared before the Board: Messrs T. Botti-.ig, Festiniog: W. E. Davies, Cymmer Board School; E. W. George, Ystrad Higher Grade School; D. James, Templeton, Narberth: and E. Jenkins, Gelli Board School. After being examined by the members as to their ability to Leach Welsh they were allowed to withdraw and the voting then took place. The Rev W. Lewis expressed his dissatisfae. don at the knowledge of Welsh displayed by the applicants, remarking that they were not well up in the literature of their language. The Rev W. Morris thought two of the appli- cants were capable of teaching Welsh to pupil teacherf. Mr W. Jenkins proposed, and Mr Hoed se- conded, the appointment of Mr E. W. George. The RvV W. Morris proposed Mr D. James, and Mr Daniel Thomas seconded. The Ft- r Thomas Williams proposed Mr E. Jenkin.9, btu- no one seconded this nomination. be On being nut the Chairman and Mr D. R. Jor.es remarked i-ue voting was in favour of Mr George, thereupon Mr Daniel Thomas immediatd pointed -.u'. that a miscount had been made, and requetød the Chairman to again count the rotes. On this being done seven were found to have voted in favour of Mr James and five for Mr Georg-r Mr James was, therefore, appoki- ted, and he was instructed that he was not allowed to do any work, particularly "editing, during >•>) iy hours. THE TEACHERS' PICNIC. A letter was read from Mr R. D. Chaike. Perth. Pupil Teachers' Centre, saying that their annual picnic was conditionally fixed for Satur- day July 17th, to the Mumbles, and asked the Board to grant him permission to close the I school in the morning. On the proposition of Mr Jenkins, permission .vas granted. EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY. The Chaiman proposed that the Board desired o express its heartfelt sympathy with Miss Ada Tones and Mr W. W. "Hood (members of the Soard) iu their recent bereavement through the lieath of their brothers, and its pleasure at again seeing Mi&» Jones and Mr Hood present. The Vice-chairman seconded the proposition, "hich wad unanimously carried. Mr Hood suitably thanked the Board. THE LLWYNCELYN SITE. The Building Committee reported: "With reference to the negotiations for the acquisition of the Llwyncelyn site, we ha.ve '•°ceived a communication. from H.M. Inspector ;eclining to approve of the proposed site. The iJoard hav, therefore, no alternative but to .iscontinue negotiations, and a communication Tn this effect. has been sent to Mr W. T. Rees. Mr Hood seaid he had since seen Mr W. T. I dees, who said lie would give the Beard another -lite about 150 to 200 yards lower down. On the proposition of the Vice-chairman the ■alatter was left in the hands of Mr Hood and Mr H. Abraham. IMPROVEMENTS AT PENYGRAIG AND CYMMER. The Committee further reported "We reco»\Jiiend that the plans of the pro- fiosed improvements at Penvgraig and Cymrner Schools be srr-t to tho Education Department )r approval ACCOMMODATION AT MID-RIIONDDA. t "We ha." had under our consideration the t.nuf! report on the Lhvy:. yina School. in which is is stated tuat "the mixed school accommoda- tion is at insufficient for the average ^• tendance.' We recommend that the Clerk be istructcd to reply stating that the new Pont- • hondda Schecl (for the erection of which a -nder ha* bs-n accepted) will relieve the pre- pare on Lr-.vvi rnia School." The report vas adopted. The tender of .efwrs Thomas Thomas. Ltd., Ystrad. or £ 3 19 3d, for the supply of new lead vdleys and alterations of outbuildings at Bod. tngallt was accepted. FINANCE. The Finar. Committee recommended pay- siont of accounts amounting to £ 2.919 16s 41, I ■i d reported "We have «sn.mincd the treasurer's books, and f nd that the General c- c-nnt shows a balance -ne c't' £ 506 12s I'¡ in favour of the Board, and the i.oan Account a credit balance of £ 953 lis lOd. After to-day's payments there will be a balance ■ T £2,443 3d 9d against the Board in the General Account, and in the Loan Account a credit A) lance of JE355 lis 10d. We are, however, in I ed by the assistant overseer that a sum of £ 3.000 will be paid to the treasurer of the Hoard on or before the 12th inst." The report- was adopted. OVERCROWDING AT TYLORSTOWN. The Attendance Committee reported that the ifiorts of the attendance officers shewed the number f children on books to be 21,158: average attendance, 17,043; percentage, 89.5, as mpared with 82.3 last Troitli and 80 during the 1 rpsnndiii, month of year. They further ported "We observe that the Infanta' School at Tv- .stown is much overcrowded. The attendance districts Nos. 3 and 4 ii abnormally low, -ving to the prevalence of measles in the neigh- foods of Penvgrai^ Dinas, Trealaw, Tonypand, Llwynypia. The ber- attendance for the )nth is in district No. 1, with a percentage of l.i.i'. Thrt attelidanco throughout the last-named ht,rict is very good, with the exception of Y-.vswen, which has only a percentage of 63.6." ;'he report was adopted. A RESIGNATION. ;'he School Management Committee reports We havo received a communication from H. 7. Burgess intimating hi-j intention of leaving service of the Board cn this day. We re- emend that he be allowed to leave." Ixiii STAFFING OF THE SCHOOLS. "We recommend that th-i question of r"- 7 mging the staff o? the various sohools be :rred to a -^ommitte consisting of the follow- membe. Mr T. Bevan, Rev T. Williams, -ITr- Daniel Tliomas, Rev W. Lewis, Mr John i.vies, Mr D. R. Jones. Mr S. Abraham, and •- Rev W. Morris." We have received the drawing reports of following sohools: Pontvgwaith, 'Excellent;' ndale Higher Grade, KEict>»;ient," and Fera- 'Good. The rerort was adopted. PONTRHONDDA SCHOOLS. n the pnvp>,it.ion of the Rev W. Morris, e nded by Mr W. J.P., a resolution passed authorising the borrowing cf the o of £ £ 4,420 from the Public Work? Lean ard to mf-t-t the cost of erccti'.ig the Pont- ndda Board School.

Ystrad Higher Grade School. EXAMINATION OF ORGANISED SCIENCE SCHOOL. The examination of the advanced section (Organised Science School) of the above school was held on Jim*1 28th and 29th. It was con- ducted by the following head inspectors of the Science and Art Department: Mr D. E. Jones, B Sc., who was recently appointed also as chief examiner in Science of the Intermediate Schools, and Dr Ball, Ph.D.. assisted by Messrs Skirrow, M A., and Hcoson, B.Sc. Among the subjects in which the pupils were examined were English Latin. French, Geography, Practical and Theo. retical Chemistry, and Physics (Heat, Electrici- ty. etc.), Mathematics, Geometry, Drawing etc. The thoroughness of the examination may be inferred from the number of Inspectors en- caged at the same time and from the length ot time they took. Next year Manual Instruction (woodwork) will he added to the curriculum of the school, and the School Board must be con gratulated on their public spirit in establishing and maintaining such a school, and the inhabi- tants of thl' Rhondda must also be congratu- lated en having a school where such advanced subjects am taught free of cost to the parent. Much higher grants are paid by the Government 011 these technical subjects, and, therefore, the cost to the ratepayer is practically no higher than in an ordinarv school. The examination of the remainder of the school was carried on bv Mr D. V. Be., and Mr ,T F.an-. r.n "'¡ 1 'i .J'jly lJlL.

THE COMMON AS A PARK. Further Discussion at the Council. IMPENDING STORM. At Tuesday's meeting of the Pontypridd Dis- trict Council-Itlr James Roberts, J.P., presid- ing—a letter was read from Mr Pettigrew, land, scape gardener to Lord Bute, acknowledging the receipt of the letter of the Council with re- gard to the laying out of the Common, and say- ing he would be glad to visit the ground in com- pany with the committee on any day except Friday and Monday, and there discuss the mat- ter and report as to the best method of laying the Common out as a, park. A telegram was also received in which Mr Pettigrew said that Thursday, on the arrival of the 1.10 train would be a convenient time for him to wieet the com- mittee. Mr Jones-Powell said there was a feeling in the Town Ward that a town's meeting should be called befcre the Common was laid out. He was only speaking the feeling of the town, and he quite concurred with that feeling. Mr P. Gowan: There will be no money spent. Mr Powell: As long as no monev is spent 1 don't mind. The Chairman said he' did not know what the feeling of the town was. The prinicple was they would have no recreation ground at all. The Common had been handed over into the custody of the Council, and undoubtedly the persons who handed it over expected them to spend money upon it, otherwise it would be kept in the hands of those people to this day, and if they were going to quibble about this matter and shirk these duties the first thing they ought to do was to hand it back. As custodians of the Common they were very much to be blamed for having done nothing. Mr Powell replied that lie did not wish to be at all objectionable, but he did not think there were sufficient members present to discuss the matter. He had ascertained the feeling of the town, and be was told the feeling on the Graig was that they did not feel inclined to have any mcnev spent on the Common at all. If any money had to be spent there was land far more near and more central than the Common. This was already a recreation ground, and the public was perfecVlv satisfied with the Common as it was at present. If this matter were carried out they would have to build walls to enclose the place, dress it with plantations, and all that sort of thing- (Laughter). Mr H. Rowlands: A fine place for a lake. Mr Tom Tador laughed heartily, whereupon Mr Powell said. "You will excuse me. You can lauedi afterwards. Mr Taylor and the members in the vicinity of the Common supnorted the idea because it would improve the value in the immediate neighbourhood where they resided. Mr Tavlor (with great warmth) I object to that. Mr Powell has been alluding to me right through because I seconded the resolution to convert the.'Common into a park. It is ertud to ••v>i o*1 env b r\ t way. Otth' a {'. t C-? cv; -:l;a u il 'I Mr Powell: I dc,n.t \yih k. ,)akc all)" per- sonal reference to Mr Taylor. Mr Taylor But you do. Mr Powell I speak for the fee;b~ of tho inhabitants of the town aim not for those in the vicinity of tho Common. Mr F. G. Edwards I rise to a point of order. Seeing that this matter is likely to give rise to much feeling. I ask you, sir, to declare it out of order. If Mr Powell wislied to speak on the matter he should have done so at, the last meet- ing and not now. The Chairman: I think so. The Deputy.Clerk read out. the resolution on the matter to the effect that a committee be appointed to meet Mr Pettigrev." as to how the Common could be turned into a. park. The Chairman said Mr Powell ought to give notice of motion to rescind this resolution before he would be in order. Mr Powell: I fall down upon this point of order, but I wish to express my feelings. I have no objection at all to obtaining a public park; I am in sympathy with it; but I think we have a site far more central and more accessible than the Common is at present. The Common is at present a public recreation ground, and no cne can take it from them, but if we want a park we have a place more convenient. I hope the Press will take a note of this. Mr W. T. Leyshon said he did not know why the Press should be asked to notice this; it was out of or(ter. The Chairman stated the committee was not permitted to sj)0nJ any money. The recommen- dation of Mr Pettigrew would be brought before the Council before anything would be done, and then Mr Powell could give notice to rescind and put everything back. Mr T. Taylor said he hoped Mr Powell would keep his remarks until they met on a pubLt platform. It was afterwards decided to meet Mr Petti- grew on Thursday.