Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

FOOTBALL CHAT. [_ LINESMAN.] Tbêre was no football ia this district on Satur- day, several mar,ches having been postponed, to the hard weather and various reasons. Much speculation goes on as to what team will be selected to play against Bala Press at Dolgelley next Saturday for much depends upsn the result. The support given the club this season iA, as has been repeatedly pointed out, of a disheartening character and poor as it ia, it will be worse unlets the Rovers play up to the mark and, make their opponents go all the way to win. It is to be hoped that the older players in the team will turn up trumps" and ignore the petty differences which exist between the Commit. ee and also, I am Eorry to say, the players themselves. The division which needs strengthening is tie defence. With two good backs and a steady half- back line, the front line would be befcfer able to make their presence felt. The march between the Wednesday and the School last Wednesday afternoon proved a very interesting game. The School eleven is well balanced, and is in the pink of condition, and their success of late can hardly be wondered at. The shopkeepers were very far from being entirely out of it and lasted well, being aided by several ex- perienced p!ayers. A correspondent draws attention to the fact that Gladstone Davies has been unduly criticised in the most important matches which have been played this year. This player naturally resents these statements, the bul k of which are quite untrue. Daries will be sympathised with by all good sports- men. He is a host in himself, and there is no better player in a very wide radius. Various remedies have been suggested for (.he disorderly scenes that have disgraced some football grounds recently, but the cure tests entirely with the spec- tators themselves, who should see to it that nothing unseemly takas place. The bailing of players after playing a hard game is one of the most cowardly actions that can be conceived. Much could be done around here if the clubs were more closely con- nected with the Association. As things are any disturbance is winked at, unless there is a very serious offence.

THE LEAGUE. Goals. P. W. L. D. F A. PTS. West Bromwich. 15 11 2 2 32 16 24 Notts County 16 8 3 5 19 18 21 Derby County 15 9 4 2 31 19 20 Sheffield W'u'day 15 9 5 1 26 19 19 Sheffield United.. 15 9 5 1 19 13 19 Stoke 15 7 4 4 21 16 18 Liverp(ol 14 7 5 2 36 22 16 Notts Forest 16 6 6 4 18 21 16 Bury. 13 6 5 2 19 13 14 Wolverhampton.. 15 5 6 4 22 25 14 Sunderland 14 4 5 5 19 20 13 Everton 16 5 8 3 24 25 13 Newcastle United 14 6 7 1 21 24 13 Middlesbiough. 15 5 7 3 16 24 13 Aston "Villa 13 5 6 2 21 17 12 BlackburnEovers 15 4 9 2 21 35 10 Grimsby 14 1 9 4 17 33 6 Bolton Wand. 14 0 11 3 12 34 3 THE COMBINATION. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. PTS. Witton Albion 13 8 2 3 31 21 19 Wrexham 9 8 0 1 38 4 17 Naatwich 11 6 3 2 24 21 14 Birkenhead 10 6 3 1 22 13 13 Chester 10 4 2 4 22 11 12 Burslem PortVale 11 5 4 2 29 20 12 Oswestry 10 5 4 1 23 16 11 Middlewieh 11 3 4 4 15 27 10 White St arWand. 7 4 3 0 10 12 8 N'ton-le-Wiliows. 11 4 7 0 28 42 8 Chirk 8 3 4 1 16 19 7 *Bangor 11 4 6 1 21 33 7 Winsford 13 3 9 1 27 36 7 Tranmere Royers 13 2 10 1 15 39 5 Rhyl 7 2 5 0 12 18 4 Two points deducted for playing an ineligible man. ♦

FRIENDLY MATCHES. TOWYN COUNTY SCHOOL V. TOWYN WEDNESDAY. —A match was played between the above teams cn Wednesday afternoon, at the Corbett Arms ground. The weather was cold and a sharp breeze blear from end to end. The number of epetators was small, but the game proved to be well contested, and therefore interesting. Mr D. Evans acted as referee. The School front rank at once got going neatly, and swept up towards the Wednesday goal, but they we;e met by good defensive tactics, and despite strenuous efforts failed to b.eak thiougb. The Hcliday men brightened up directly, and soon gained confidence, and had quite as much of tha game as ihtir more experienced opponents. The right wing pair put in a lot of useful work and gave the halves and backs a busy time, but their com- rades on the left were mnch les< reliable, and this nullified their play. The School forwaida displayed pre(ty and effective combination, bnt the game had progressed f(,r a considerable time before J. O. Jones sent in a capital shot which went through. This was all the scoring up to half-time. The Wednes<<ny were now aided by t e wind but they were kept on the defensive for some time after the restart. The pressure was not very effective, and was relieved bl Wynne getting away well After some give and take play this forward equalised with a good s-hot. Thus enc uraged they pegged away steadily and shortly after the samo player beat the goalkeeper with a fine attempt. Btfore the end the school played up strongly, and Roberts equalised, the match thus resulting in a, draw of two goals each.

MERIONETH COUNTY COUNCIL QUARTERLY MEETING. A meeting of the County Council was held at the Shire Hall, Doigelley, on Tburr;,day. There were present Mr E. W. P. Evans ( -hairman) presiding; Morris Thomas, Corris, vice-chairman Aldermen W. Hughes, Dolgelley; Evan Joues, Bodrenig; Wm. Jones, Talsarnau: Lewis Lewis, Barmouth; the Hon C. H. Wynn, Rug; Dr Hughes, Bala; H. Haydn Jones, Towyn; J. Hughes Jones an 1 Wm. Jones, Aberdovev Dr John Jones, Dolgelley; Councillors Dd. Edwards, Carrog Ffoulkes Jones, Corwen E. Williamson, Corwen; W. E. Williams, Llandrillo; John Parry, Bala; Robt. Evans, Llanfor; J. Meyrick Jones and Griffith Price, Dolarelley Jno. Nvan. Barmouth; Owen Jones, Bontddu; John Di),N Dyffrvn; W. K. M. Wymm, Peniarth (lord lieutenant) J. Pugh Jones, Corris; E. P. Jones Dr Roberts, J. Lloyd Jones, D. G. Jones and O. G. Williams, Festiriiog; B. R Evans, Talsaraau; Mo-tes Kellow, Llanfrotheo; John Roberts, Towyn with Mr Robt. Jones, clerk, and Mr David Breeze, assistant clerk THK MAIN ROADS: THE TOWYN CLAIM C5S8UR3D. The Main Roads Commit l ee recommended Lhat the sums of £ 20 to Bala, £ 305 to F«stiniog, and 9165 to Towyn Urban District Councils be paid for the maintenance of the main roads in their dislricts according tij the contract. The committee sub- mitted that the offer of tie Towyn District Council to enter into a contract for the repair and main- tenance of the district roads for three years at an annual cost of £1,300 be not entertained, and that a sab-committee consisting of Alderman Evan Jones, the Hon C. H. Wynn, and Councillor Owen Jones be appointed to attend at Towyn for the purpose of making a careful examination of the roads. They would be authorised to engage an expert to assist them and the Towyn Council would be invited to appoint represen.tative, to meet them. The suggestion liotn the clerk of the Dolgelley Council would be, acted upon and a committee con- sisting of Aldermen Evan Jones, Hon. 0. IT. Wynn., and H. Haydn Jones would meet the representa- tives of the Council to discuss the differences that bad arisen with reference to the claim for road main- tenance and, if possible, arrange terms of F<:Ue- meufc without resorting to arbitration. Messrs Davies Bros, of Barmouth, to be paid the sum of £ 344 on account of their conti act. That the work of improving the toad near Tynant School, Maen- twrog, be carried out at a cost not exceeding £47, and that a sum of £ 30 be drawn to meet the wages of work nen for repairing the county bridges.—Dr Jfhn Joues said it was with great pleasure that he found tie Council had accepted the olive branch offered f hem by Dolgelley. He felt sure with a .'ittle give and take the matter could be amicably settled. They all regretted that friction should rTl havrt a i^n be'.ween the Barmouth and Dolgelley Council, a t.jc County Council, which partook, as f ii; member bad remarked of the nature of a civil war (laughter). However, tbe maintenance of the roads in future was a serious matter. The present system was very unsatisfactory. The County Council found the money and the District Council-! spent it. This was a system which he considered rotten to the core. He had been read- ing up the discussions on the Education Bill and he found that, the great objection raised against it was that one authority found the money and the other ep^nt it fhear, hear, and laughter). He asked the County Council to be consistent, with itself. The demand of the the Towyn Council was, in his opin- ion, most preposterous. He was sure that if the money were to be levied in the Towyn district the members would not d'eam of asking for such an enormous sum, and if every Council acted on the same basis it would mean the bankruptcy of the whole county. He considered that the County Council sh 'uld make an earnest appeal to the different Councils to meet them in a friendly con- f ere tire, a nd ask them to discuss the question in its proper light.—"Mr John Davies asked what the differsn«a was between the case of Barmouth and Do'gelhjy.—The Hoa. C. H. Wynn replied that the difference in the amount of the claim was so great that they could not possibly come to terms.— MrW. R. M. Wynne (Lord Lieutenant) also felt the demand of the Towyn Council was exorbitant,. He koelV- the road ft very welt and it had often been remarked to him that they were in excellent con- dition. The application simply amounted to a lavish and unnecessary expenditure of pubiio money. He fully agreed with Dr Jones that the present Sysfctm was very unsatisfactory.—The Chairman said that th"y were no doubt voicing the opinion of the whole Council. — Hoa C. R. Wynn said they had been very willing t,) take over the nuin roads, but they had DO p. wer to compel the Urban Districts except that they did it voluntarily. There was no doubt but tat the contract system was a far more satisfactory method of dealing with the question. He personally felt it could be done at a gr-ab sav- ing The blame should be placed upon the right shouldeis. The additional rate on the main roaJs Wa'i dile t.o the heavy expenditure of the Urban Districts (hear, bear).The Chairman of the Main Roads Committee said that Bala and Festiniog Councils bad not stated what they intended doing with i-egaid to the maintenance of their roads.- Mr Haydn Jones referring to the c'aim of £ 1,300 made by Towvn Council, said he had discussed the matter fully with the local members and had tried to show how unreasonable their claim was. The whole claim consisted of Cl025 for the road main- tenance andE275 for footpaths fortha forthcoming three years. The claim was in his own opinion pre- posterous. The nte lble value of Towyn district was JE15,430, and to spend £1,025 on that assess- ment was very unjust. If every Council spent at this ra'e their expenditure would reach a very heavy figure. According to the rateable value Towyn were not entitled to more than £441, com- pared with the expenditure of the other districts as a basis. They bad been receiving during the past few years at the rate of £660, but now they were almost doubling that figure. The Surveyor had told him that in order to put the roads into a proper eond tion this expenditure would have to be kept up for 10 or 12 years. In his opinion the Towyn roads were at the present time the best in the countv. He would suggest that a committee be app tinted to go into the matter thoroughly. Their weakness at Barmouth at the arbitration inquiry bad b'. '-a due to the fact that the County Council could not produce any §stateoaents of figu.es, and t,y :-im :iv a,i ex parte statem^Lt. If the Towyn Council decided to go in fur arbitration, which he ,thought was probable, they should be readv. They would then have something t) place before the inspector. The Towyn Council seemed to be of opinion that the County Council was a rich body, and this misunderstanding shoutd ba correc- ted. As a matter of fact all they got from the Treasury was the sum of £7,000 and they found that in two departments alone this amount was practically exhausted. They then had to go on to the rates, which was the point they wanted to bring home to the people. That was the root of all the expenditure, and it was a great mistake that this Council had not fully considered the question. He did not want the rates to be kept down without reason, but he felt they could have betoer roads for much less than what they gave at present, and he wanted to see an end of this wanton expenditure. The attention of the public should be drawn to the fact that it was not the County Council that was extravagant but the Urban Councils themse;ves (hear hear).—The committee's recommendation was then adopted, and Mr W. R. M. Wynne was added to the committee deputed to visit Towyn. Some discussion took place over the cot)ciit,ion of the road near Croesddwyafon Quarry, Feslimog. -The County Surveyor said that, it was in a shock- ing condition, due to the heavy traffic at the quarry, and until the road was put in proper order he would be unable to grant a certificate for the amount due to the District Council.—-Mr D. G. Williams s,¡.id the Quarry Company should contribute towards its maintenance as it was undoubted'y extraordinary expenditure. The District Couucil had done all that was reasonable and they could not help it.- The Chairman said that the difficulty was that the amount could not be paid over to the District Council unless a clean certificate could be given. He proposed that the Festiniog Council be asked to put the place in order by December 31st, and charge the quarry owners for the extraordinary expendi- ture.—It was eventually decided to leave the matter in abeyance until the road was put in proper order. —The County Agent (Mr E. Vaughton) having read his report oa the roadg which be maintained were in a satisfactory condition, a large number of coun- cillors made complaints regarding their own special districts.— Mr Williamson mentioned the roads in the district of Edeyrnion— Mr E. R. Evans and Mr Wm Jones said that the condition of a road near Talsarnau was very dangerous.— In reply to a query by Mr J. Davies, the agent said that Cae- cethin Hill, Llanbedr, had already beea seen to by Mr Griffith, Dolgelley.—Mr Williamson moved that a small committee be appointed to confer with the agent in each district. -Mt E. R. Jones asked what the members of the Council ia each district were doing. If they did their work properly there need not be any complaint (hear, hear). The motion was carried by a majority of three and the various committees were appointed. THE COUNTY BBIDGSS. Mr E. P.Clones, reporting on the question of repairing Pont-y-pandy bridge, Llauuwchliyn, said that there was a mistaken notion that the bridge was unsafe. He thought that in order to g-t the confidence of the public they should take over the steam roller to test it, and this he maintained would prove that the bridge was quite safe (laughter On inspection they had found that it was quite solid, and there was the genuine old Welsh honesty in its construction (hear, hear). The total cost of demolishing it and rebuilding would am !unt to at lea-it C600 and this was in his opintonunnecessary. -The Chairman said that the resolution passed at the last meeting was to the effect that the bridge should be put into a thorough state of repair. This would have to be formatly -This wai agreed to. — Mr Robert Evans in seconding, said he hoped the members of the Council would be there to see the experiment (laughter). FINANCE. Mr H. Haydn Jones, introducing this report, stated that the Finance Committee recommended that the Bala, Festniog, and Towyn Urban Coun- cils ba paid the sum of C490 as quarterty instal- ments under coatractsfor the maintenance of main roads; Messrs Davies, Barmouth, the sum of £ 1,044 on account of their contract; the county surveyor X50 wages for workmen on bridges and buildings accounts Denbighshire County Council £36 16s. 3d., meiety of cost of repairing the joint county bridge at Bettws; transfer to the County Governing Body of the customs and excise duiies amounting to X591 19s. 4d.; proceeds of rate levied for technical instruction to the same E931 17s.; transfer to the body ef the difference between the amount produced by the above rati and the amount which it would have produced under the former county rate basis of £ 206 16s.; salaries, £ 467; miscellaneous bills, C463 5s.; police, zP,950 bdoe; a. full totalof £5,255 12s. lOd. The commit- tee recommended that the sum above mentioned of £931178. technical rate be transferred to the credit of the County Governing Body, and also the sum of X206 16s.; and that the consideration of the application received from the Universitv College of North Wales, Bangor, tor an annual contribution of z6200 towards the maintenance of the proposed mining department at the college be adjourned sine die. He stated thet the total amount received during the quarter was E9,035 2s. 8d., the expen- diture was £ 5,712 15s. 7d., leaving a balance of JE5,321 on the general account.—Mr W. KpPon mentioned that the County Council had deputed three members to at'end the Rhyl confeience at which the principal of the college had fully ex- plained tho position. He thought that the County Council had committed themselves by so doing. He felt strongly that it was the duty of the Council to support tbe project. They all knew that the country was suffering from keen competition with America and other countries, and it could not be disputed that this was due to the deficiency of technical knowledge.—Dr Roger Hughes (Bala) said that he fully agreed with the remarks made, but it was a question entirely of ways and means. The Finance Committee had decided tl at the Coun- cil could not therefore commit themselves. They would have been pleased to have done so ïJut. they had had to refuse an application from the agricul- tural department of the Aberystwyth College for the same reason.—Mr E. P. Jones agreed.—Mr K, How then moved that the matter be referred back to the committee for reconsideration.—Mr Morri-i Thomas seconded.—The original motion was carried by a majority. THE EXTINCTION OF COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES. The Hon C. H. Wynn then moved the following resolution:—" That we, as the County Council of the County of Merioneth, do appeal to the Prime Minister to withdraw the amendment abolishing County Governing Bodies in Wales and to re-iusert the original clause in the Bill on the plea that the County Governing Bodies have faithfully fulfilled all the duties the Government appointed them to carry out under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, and this County Council are strongly opposed to the amendment of Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., which is antagonistic to the opinion of the majority of Welsh people, and also brought forward without, the mandate even of his constituents." Mr Wynn said a similar resolution had been recently unani- mously adopted by the County Governing Body, but he felt that more s'rength would He behind a resolution by thE County Council. It might be said that it was too late to move the resolution as the Bill had passed through Committee, but he desired to move it as a protest against the abolition of bodies which had done their work well and faith- fully.—Mr John Evans, Barmouth, seconded the motion which was carried. EXTENSION LECTURES. Councillor E. R. Jones, as chairman of the Tech. nical Instruction Committee, moved that a sum of £ 23 be voted for th,, purpose of establishing two centres for extension lectures in the county on Agriculture and of defraying the cost of such lec- tures, in substitution for the two scholarships offered inthe elementary ourse of agriculture.— The motion was carried unanimously. DOGS REGULATION BILL. A committee was appointed to take into con- sideration the provision of the Dogs Regulation Bill 1902. A WELSH AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. The following resolution passed by the Carmar- then County Council was adopted on the motion of Mr John Davies That a petition be presented to the Government praying that a Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction similar to that instituted in Ireland be established in Wales; and that ail the Welsh County and County Borough Councils and all Members of Parliament for Wales and Monmouthshire, irrespective of party, be asked to co operate with the Carmarthen Conn y Council in furthering a movement so necessary to the agri- cultural and industrial interests of Wales." A letter was read from the BOlrd of Trade requiring a short statement of the grounds on which the Council base their recommendation that weights and measures of the Metric system should bo made oompulsoty throughout the British Empire and their views as to the period of preparation to be allowed before the change takes effect.—The letter was referred to the Finance Committee. THE ARBITRATION AWARD. Alderman H. Haydn Jones read the decision of the Local Government Board in their "aso with Barmouth Urban Council. The awaid was for £895, each Council to pay their share of the zC20 costs.—Alderman Evan Jones stated that the Bar- mouth claim had been reduced from £1,025 to X895 (hear, hear).

» MISS FRANCES POWER COBBE. A memorial was recsntly presented to Miss Frances Power Cobbe by members of the Central Society for Women's Suffrage and other workers on behalf of the same cause, offering her their heartiest congratulations on t;ta occasion of her eigntieth birthday, and recalling with deep gratitude how much you have contributed to inspire and uplifc the hearts of loilers in the cause of the advancement of women, not only by your personal work or by your writings, but aho by the cheering example of y ,Ul' whole life" Among the fifty names attached to the memorial were those of Lady Fi ance-? Baifour, Mrs Henry Fawcett, Miss Edith Palliser, Mrs Eva MoLaren, Miss Florence Davenpoit Hill, Miss Helen Blackburn, Miss Cons, Mi,s 8abb, Mrs Russell Cooke, and Mrs Broadley Heid. Of these s gnatories it may be mentioned that Miss Babb and Miss Stone both signed the fit ,t petition asking for the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women which was presented to the Hor.se of Com- mons by Mr John Stuart Mill in 1866. The fol- lowing reply to the Address has b ;en received from Miss Cobbe :— "39, York orescent, Clifton.—Dear Miss Palliser, —The Address from the members of the Central Society for Women's Suffrage whicu you have been so good as to forward to me, with such kind ex- pressions, reached me duly last Thursday (the 4th), Will you offer on my behalf to La.iy Frances Bal- four and the other ladies who have signed the A dress my very giateful and co dal thinks for their kind congratulations, and for their expressions respecting my past life and work. I have lived so long out of the world in my Welsh home under Cader Idris, that I might well have been forgotten by my old fellow workers. To find myself remembered by tliem, and known familiarly by name to the yourger generation has cheered me to the heart. Would that I could hope that the short span of life which alone can remain to me could see our sex enfranchised at last. Till we obtain the suffrage we are liable (and I some- times think actually doomed) to have our other otowly found rights taken from us again. To show that my interest in the cause has not declined, I may mention that I have pro nistd to speak on the subject shortly at a newly-f, rmed club for ladies in Clifton-- With sincere thanks, 1 um, dear MIs. Pallis, Yours, FRANCES POWER COBBE."

THE KEN SIT MURDER. The trial of John M'Keever, a yonng Birkenhead labourar, for the murder of Mr John Keusit began on Monday at the Liverpool At-sizes. Evidence was called to show that it was M'Keever who threw the iron bar which struek Mr Keusit upon the left side of the head, causing a wound which resulted in his death. The case for the pros oation Lad not been concluded when the Court adjoined—The hearing was resumed < n Tuesday when some a.-tonishiiftg evidence was given during the day by the police. The prisoner had stated that a young man namcd M'Loughlin WH5 the real offender, and witnesses who were called for the prosecution stated they had seen the man at the ferry. The police officers called, each stated that no efira had been made at the time of the outrage or siucu to find M'Loughlin. Printed and Published by David Rowlands, of 21, Berriew Street, Welshpool, in the County of Montgomery, and at Towyn, in the County of Merioneth.—Thursday, December 11, 19C2.