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Another so-called capital of the Boers has fallen into our hands by General Plutner'sj occupation of Petersburg. Unfortunately the occupation and "e-OCCUPation'. of 'towns fhas^been a process so often repeated during the war that it conveys little definite hope of'forwarding',the campaign materi- aHy. The Boer disappears from one town only to Set up his standard in another, although it must be confessed that such captures of ammunition as are this week recorded must considerably weaken his powerjof resistance. One hopeful feature that has recently come to light is the formation of bodies of burgher police. Many of these men Were actually in arms against us earlier in the war, but having been convinced of the futility of resistance are coming forward under British officers to help in putting down the marauding bands whose :primary method of warfare is to loot Indiscriminately all property, whether British or Dutch. The crisis in China is averted, for the present. How long the smouldering embers will remain before they burst into flame is a matter of perilous uncertainty. Russia has agreed not to press for- ward the Manchurian treaty, but possession is Markedly nine-tenths of the law in the present case. Treaty or no treaty, Russia will triumph unless her troops are withdrawn from the territory in question; That is the way Japan looks at it. The latter Power is, as far as the heads of its government are concerned, disposed seemingly to await the next manifestation of Muscovite guile, but the people are seriously debating whether, as war is sure to come, it had not better be undertaken at once. This attitude of the nation receives confirmation from the fact that Japan has been preparing for another war ever since the end of her conflict with China, and has added six battleships of the.first-class of her Navy, and sanctioned an additional expenditure this year of four millions sterling upon military measures. *#* No good is likely to rssult from indulgence in such extravagance of speech as that of Mr Ben Tillett at the meeting of the Penrhyn quarrymen on Monday last. There is neither sense nor argu- ment in the wild assertions of which the Trade Union delegate was guilty. If a reconciliation is to be brought about it will be by sane consideration of the methods best adapted to meet the wishes of the disputants, not by flighty rhetoric. The Working man has no greater enemy to his trne interests than the demagogue who stirs up class bitterness. The Penrhyn management still demand specific instances of grievances and the fact that none have been brought forward must weaken the case of the men in the eyes of unprejudiced People, and tend, therefore, to alienate sympathy from them. The suppression of Mr Young's letter at the meeting was a seriously mistaken policy. However much the assembly might have been against accepting its proposals, the documents should in fairness have been produced. As to the resolutions concerning arbitration, such a method of procedure seems useless in face of the determi- nation of the employer to deal with his men at first: hand, which he undoubtedly has the right to insist upon, especially in face of the fact that no griev- ance has been particularised. Whatever course the men decide upon, they would do well to rid them- selves of such advisers as Mr Ben Tillett. "II< The promoters of the Barmouth Eisteddfod have been taught a lesson by their experience on Monday last. During no portion of the morning or the afternoon meetings was the Assembly Room filled, and the committee should lose no time in finding out the reason for the dwindling attendarce. The prize offered for the band contest failed to attract a single band, the chief choral competition wap not in evidence, and on the other musical piece one choir only, and that the local one, put in an appear- ance. The number of visitors to the town was also much less than in previous years. Possibly the committee will find themselves, despite these adverse circumstances, with a substantial balaiace as the amount of the prizes withdrawn amounts to a considerable sum, but the moral effect will be great. Next year's eisteddfod should be exten- sively advertised, and the public confidence restored. There is no reason why the Barmouth eisteddfod should not be far more successful than it at present is,. and the committee would do well to abolish the penny wise and pound foolish policy they have adopted, and advertise the eisteddfod as it deserves to be advertised in the interests of the townspeople and those willing to compete. «< Once again there was no criminal business to be transacted at the Merionethshire Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, and the Chairman was the recipient of the usual gift of a pair of white gloves. There have been many such Sessions of late years, indic- ating a freedom from serious offences highly creditable to the county. The petition sent by the Merionethshire Police Force to the Joint Committee will commend itself to most people as a reasonable demand. It was clearly shown at the meeting, that while the Force, thanks to the energy and the ability of Major Best (the chief constable), are not a whit behind any other Force in North Wales, they are the most poorly paid. A difference of three shillings in the weekly pay of an ordinary constable's on appoint- ment, seems a sufficient justification of the petition presented on their behalf. Possibly it would not be wise to raise the salaries off hand before the county had been afforded a sufficient time to con- sider the facts brought forward. There is some ground for surprise that the Force have not petitioned tile Committee before llotv. 1\0 nr:e \yho takes the trouble to compare the H-HIB of pay of this county with other counties can fairly object to the application. Major Best is to be congratulated upon having such an efficient Force, especially when the poor pay is borne in mind. V The formation of golf links at Towyn is a matter that, judging from opinions expressed, would meet with popular support, and there can be no question that the establishment of facilities for this popular form of recreation would result in an additional influx of visitors. There is no lack of ground which could be found on either side of the town. Some z6200 to £ 300 would probably be required at the outset, but this would be repaid in the course of a few seasons by the increased prosperity of lodging-house keepers. Such a question should b<s taken up by the local authorities who have, or should have, the welfare of the town at heart. »

TOWYN.

BARMOUTH CHAIR EISTEDDFOD.

BARMOUTH.

LLWYNGWRIL.