The Rhondda Leader

Rhondda School Board. The monthly meeting of the Rhondda School Board was held at Tynycymmer Hall, Porth, on Monday, Mr. W. Jenkins, J.P., in the chair. Others present were: Miss Ada Jones, Rev. W. Lewis, Rev. W. Charles, Rev. Thos. Williams, Rev. Row- land Morgan, Messrs. Dl. Thomas, D. R. Jones, Henry Abraham, Dd. Lloyd, and Jonathan Rees, with the clerk, Mr. W. G. Howells. Lectures at Ferndale. The committee of the Ferndale Popular Lectures wrote asking permission to use North Street Schools, Ferndale, for the purpose of giving lectures.—As the nature of the lectures was not specifically mentioned. Miss Jones, Mr. Abraham, and the Clerk were instructed to ascer- tain their nature before permission would be given. The Education Department, approved the plans of the new school at Bodringallt (providing accommodation for 362 infants and 317 girls), and the site' of the Mardy girls' school. The application of the local Technical Sub-Committee' for the use of the schools to1 hold technical instruction classes during the coming session was granted. The architect reported that the founda- tion of the Blaenycwm Infants School was laid already all round that the master's house at Dinas was making satisfactory progress; that the contractor had started at the Gelli schools; and that the Mardy Infants' School was completed. Llwyncelyn Site. In a supplementary report the Building Committee stated that the lessors and lessees were prepared to sell the site be- hind Primrose, terrace, Porth, for the Llwyncelyn school, upon certain condi- tions.—The Committee recommended that the offer be accepted, and this course the Board agreed to. The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to P,5,038 19s. 8cl. After that day's payments there would be a balance of £ 1,925 to the credit of the Board.. The Committee, recommended the ap- pointment of Miss Rosa K. Morris as teacher of needlework at the Porth Higher Grade School. The condition of the approach to the Llwynypia. Schools on the south side was the cause of a, complaint, by the At- tendance Committee, who said another accident had occurred there lately, when a little girl had her arm broken. The Committee hoped something would be done to improve the approach.—It was reported that, Mr. Hood was attending to the matter. Nominal Appointments. It appeared that a number of children residing at Gilfach Goch, within the boundaries of the Rhondda parish, at tended the Gilfach school of the Llantri- sant School Board, and that other children residing at Penrhiwfer and Trebanog (out side this parish) attended the Ystrady- fodwg schools at Williamstown and Cym- mer. In order to enable the attendance officers to deal with such of these children who were irregular in their attendance at school, the Committee recommended, if the Llantrisant Board agreed, that their at- tendance officer be appointed by the Rhon- dda Board at a nominal salary of 10s. per annum to look after the Ystradyfodwg children, and that a, similar appointment should be made by the Llantrisant School Board with respect to the Ystradyfodwg attendance officer. The returns of the attendance officers shewed that during the month ended Sep- tember 20th, the average attendance at the schools was 20, 483, equal to 81 per cent, as compared with 80.2 the previous month. Higher Elementary Schools. The School Management Committee, in their report, said they had received a letter from the Board of Education stating that they had at present under their con- sideration the question of the recognition of the Ystrad Higher Grade School as a Higher Elementary School, and hoped soon to be able to communicate their de- cision on the matter. Until that decision, it was not possible for the Board to give their final approval to the plans, since the planning of the school must differ consider- ably according to whether it was intended for a Higher Elementary School, or for an ordinary public elementary school. Resignations. The resignations of the following teachers were! received —M. A. Thomas, Mardy Infants' School S. A. Jones, as- sistant, Fernda,le Infants' School; Eliz. Jones, 'assistant, Cwmclydach Girls' School; Edith M. Jones, assistant, Pentre Infants' School. Mr. R. D. Chalke. headmaster of the Pupil Teachers' Centre, was, on his ap- plication, given an increase of R20 per annum, and £ 10 per annum hereafter until a maximum of P-300 is reached. The Committee recommended that in future all persons passing the Junior Cer- tificate examination and desiring to be apprenticed, shall, upon appointment, serve two months on probation without payment, their continued engagement thereafter to be conditional upon the head teacher satisfactorily reporting as to their teaching abilities. The headmaster of Mardy Boys' School had attended before the Committeet with reference to the failure of his school to earn the higher grant. Mr. Lewis com- plained of the frequent absence of teachers through illness during the, year, and the frequent changes in the staff; but the Committee had no reason to believe that that, school was exceptional in that re- spect. They, however, recommended that, another certificated assistant be appointed for the school. In connection with the proposed higher elementary schools at Porth and Ystrad, the Chairman, Mr. Dl. Thomas, and the Clerk had been deputed by the Committee to wait upon the Board of Education with the view of urging the views of the Board upon the matter. Cookery Results. The report, of Miss Hester Davies on the result of her recent examination of the cookery classes was received, from which it appeared that in Mrs. Sarah A. Owens' district 109 passed first class; 39 second class, with no failures. The prize winners were: Annie Thomas, Florence, Griffiths, Edith Abraham, Gwen Bevan, Mary A. Bayliss, Jenny Evans, Blodwen Pugh, Sarah Weaver, Sarah J. Smith, Margaret J. Morgan, and Gerty Davies. Miss Emily M. Collins' district.-131 passed first. class, 60 second class, and 12 failures. Prize winners Vera. Matthews, Ann Bevan, Jennie Jones, Emily Taylor, Minnie Thomas, Poly Watts, Ethel Thomas, Alice Phillips, Mary J. Headly. Esther Ann Jones, Sarah Evans,, Annie Masters, Esther Phillips, Maggie Williams, and Blodwen Davies. Miss, Lizzie M. Evans' district.-184 passed first class, 66 second class, and 4 failures. Prize winners: Jane Morris, Martha Lewis, May Jones, Maggie Lewis, Maggie Morgan, Annie Powell, Louisa Hughes, Minnie Hughes, Rose Phillips, Alice Elliott, Jessie M. Owen, Margt. J. Jones, Margretta Williamsi, Eleanor Lewis, Mary Jenkins, Margt. Ann Thomas, Lavinia, Smith, Emma Gough, and Ceinwen Thomas. Miss, Maud M. Cooke's district-132 passed first class, 49 second class, and two failures. Prize winners: Lucy Davies, Agnes Winfield, Mary L. Jenkins, Alice Davies, Mary Dixon, Rosy Lewis, Annie Mandy, Sarah Meredith, Catherine Thomas, Gerty Davies, Edith M. Thomas, Annie Lewis, Bessie Evans, and Florrie Chapman. The Committee desired to record their high appreciation of Mrs. Isaac, Treorchy, whilst on the Cookery Cimmittee and who was now leaving the district. The following ladies were added to the committee:—Mrs. D. R. Jones, Treher- bert; Mrs. Charles, Treorchy; Mrs. Ed- wards, Ton; Mrs. Evans, Vicarage, Llwyn- ypiai; Mrs. Anderson, Llwynypia; Mrs. Evan Davies, Penygraig; Mrs. J. D. Williams, Trealaw; Mrs. Thomas, Vicar- age, Cymmer; Mrs. Joyce, Glynrhondda, and Miss Hannah. Ferndale. The Evening School Committee reported having received the authority of the County Council to continue the 25 evening schools, the day science school at Fern- dale, and pupil teachers' school at Porth. "B.P." Anti-Cigarette League. The Moral and Religious Instruction Committee recommended that it be a sug- gestion to head-teachers to form a Courtesy Guild" in all boys' and girls' departments ,and a B.-P. Anti-Cigarette League in every boys' school. Rev. W. Charles objected to the words "Baden-Powell." He thought it would foster too military a spirit in the boys. His motion to eliminate the "B.-P." found no seconder. Appointments. The following appointments were made by the Staffing Committee: -Sidney Lewis, (!.< j'.t., Cenarth, to R!denrhoud<!a John Phillips, C.A., Neath, to Ti-eaiaw Rhys Evans, certificated assistant, Herne Bay, to Mardy; Dd. Emiyn Davies, certi- ficated assistant, Lower Coy Church, to Hafod Annie Emily Thornhill, certificated assistant, Bath, to Ferndale Bessie Cowden, ex-p.t., Swansea, to Graigddu; Grace Humphries, certificated assistant, Festiniog, to Porth; Ada Mary Bush, certificated assistant, Bristol, to Ynyshir Margretta Owen, certificated assistant, Wotton-under-Edge, to Pontygwaith; Jennie Williams, ex-p.t., Denbigh, to Fern- dale; Edith Mary James, ex-p.t., Neath, to Mardy; Mary Thomas, certificated as- sistant, Dinorwio, to Blaenllechau Mary Morgan, certificated assistant, Portmadoe, to Cwmclydach Jessie Llewellyn, Ystrad- Rhondda, to' Ton, on probation Dorothy E. Roberts, certificated assistant, from Portmadoe, to Tylorstown. Deputation from Pentre. A deputation from Pentre, consisting of Messrs. Lewis Lewis, W. Griffiths, and W. Davies, members of thei Cambria Glee Society, Pentre, waited upon the Board to seek permission for the loan of the Higher Grade School, Pentre, on Sunday afternoons between the hours of 4.30 and 5.30, for the purpose of holding a singing practice. The Board's present rule did not allow of a practice being held on Sunday until after eight o'clock. The Board pointed out that their rules did not allow them to entertain the request, so Mr. D. Lloyd gave notice of motion to amend the rules at, the next, meeting. The New Rate. It was proposed by Mr. Daniel Thomas, chairman of the Finance Committee, that a, precept for tlS,500 be issued upon the overseers for the ensuing, six months, equal to a. rate of ninepence in the t.

Presentation Meeting at Ciydach Vale. On Wednesday evening a meeting was held at Gosen Congregational Chapel for the purpose of presenting Mr. Tom Williams, draper, with a handsome book- case on the occasion of his marriage. Mr. Williams has been a, most faithful and ener- getic teacher at the Sunday School of the above church, and the members of his class took this opportunity of showing their appreciation of his efforts on their behalf for the last eight years. There was a good attendance, over which Mr. William Bateman presided. After a humorous speech by the chairman, the following in- teresting programme was gone through, the accompanist being Mr. W. T. David, Tonypandy :—Song, "Mentra Gwen," Mr. Tom Thomas; song, "Hen iaith fy mam," Miss M. Morris song, I fyny bo'r nod," Mr. Morgan Jones recitation, Tori amod priodas," Mr. Tom Roderick; song, The Last Watch," Mr. Tom Hughes; recita- tion, Fe ddaeth y gath o'f cwdyn," Mr. D. Evans; song, Queen of the Earth," Mr. Edwards; song, Loch Lomond," Miss Lizzie Jones; duet, Lie treigla'r Caveri," Messrs. M. Jones and Tom Hughes; song, "Y Teithiwr a'i Gi," Mr. Tom Thomas. During the evening Mr. Bateman presented Mr. Williams with the bookcase, complimenting him on his mar- riage, and wishing him every joy and hap- piness. The Rev. J. Walters also, sub- mitted his felicitations. Mr. Williams, in response, thanked all very heartily for their kind feeling. The following bards contributed verses of congratulation: — Messrs. Thomas Davies, James Morris, David Jones, Job Edwards, Ted Woods, and Morgan Jones. The rendering of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau brought a, most successful meeting to a close.

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Ton-Pentre Police Court. Monday.—Before Mr. T. P. Jenkins (in the chair,) Aldermen Wm. Morgan, E. H. Davies, and Richard Lewis, and Mr. J. D. Williams. One Light Only. A. Williams, haulier, Tonypandy, was summoned for driving a two horse van with only one light attached. Mr. D. W. Jones, solicitor, defended, and said the offence occurred at two o'clock in the morning. The defendant had candles in his lamps, but one had gone out in jolting over the stones, and he; was not aware of it, as it, was a moonlight morning. The Bench thought that a technical offence had been committed, and fined defendant 2s. 6d. Henry John, haulier, Pontypridd, and Wm. Evans, haulier, T'reorchy, were fined 5s. and 3s. 6d. respectively for leaving their horses and carts unattended. There were fined for committing nuis- ances:—Evan Williams, Ystrad-Rhondda, 10s. Robert Hatton, collier, Gelli, 10s. and Sidney Dyer, Pentre, 15s. Edgar Davies and Thomas Erasmus, lads of Gelli, were seen kicking the woodwork of the bridge over the' railway near Ys- trad station, and were fined 10s. and 7s. 6d. respectively. Encouraging a Dog Fight. Samuel Watkins, collier, Treorchy, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly, and cruelly illtreating a dog.-SrgeaIlt Gibbon said he saw the defendant urging his dog on to another dog, both of which were fighting. When the dog wat picked up by defendant, the animal bit him on the hand, and defendant said he had a license for the, dog, and could do as he liked with it. Examination shewed that the dog had a, number of wounds, and its ear was split open. Defendant was very drunk, and for some time refused to go home.—Defendant denied having "urged the dog on, or that, he was drunk. He had only arrived in time to pick his animal up to prevent it fighting. The Bench, however, thought, differently, and fined him £1 for his conduct with regard to the dog, and 10s. for being drunk. Drunks. Five cases of being drunk on licensed premises were heard, with the following result:—Hannah Davies, married, Gelli; £1 j John Marlow, collier, Ystrad, 10s. Thos. Cole, engine driver, Treorchy, 15s.; and Dd. Watkins, collier, Treher- bert, 10s. David Griffiths, haulier, Treorchy, was summoned for being drunk and refusing to quit a public house. He was fined 25s. The usual number of cases of drunken- ness were heard and dealt with by the Bench. The following were fined: —Jas. Beynon, Pentre; Dd. Williams, and Geo. Woolford, Pentre; Alfred Champion, and Henry Cook, Ystrad; Wm. Anthony, Pen- tre Joseph Thomas, Pentre; George Jen- kins, Treherbert; John Evans, Treorchy Goliah Evans, Treorchy; Wm. Price. Cwmparc. Conflicting Evidence. David John Gethin and John Davies, colliers, Treorchy, were charged with wounding John Winter, haulier, T'reher- bert.. Mr. J. W. Lewis, solicitor, Merthyr, de- fended: The evidence for the prosecution was, chiefly heard on Monday last, when Winter stated that, whilst on his way from Treherbert to Treorchy, he saw Gethin, who., without, a word, knocked him down, jumped on him, and held him down. Whilst on the, ground, Davies came up, and kicked him on the chest. Winter became unconscious, and was afterwards attended by a doctor, being unable to work. For the defences it; was said that Winter and Gethin had a: quarrel in the Royal Oak, and proceeded to the wood to fight out their grievances. Here Winter pro- bably received his injuries. Later in the evening, Winter set upon Gethin, and thrashed him until the arrival of Davies. According to Winter's story, he had never seen the defendants before they set upon him, but rebutting evidence was was given to the effect that Winter had fought in the, wood with Gethin. The disturbance later in the evening in respect to which the charge was made was spoken to by several witnesses. The origin of the row did not appear to have been seen, but Davies was seen to strike Winter, rendering him senseless. The Bench said they believed Winter and the defendants were in the Royal Oak together, though Winter had misled them by saying he had not, seen them before. They believed a fight had taken place in the wood, and that the disturbance in the evening was the result of that row. Win- ter first attacked Gethin, and Davies, who was set upon by Winter, struck him in self defence. They therefore gave the benefit, of the doubt, to defendants, and dismissed the, case. Keeping a Carriage without a License. Fred Green, Treherbert, was summoned for keeping a carriage without a, license. Excise-officer Pert, proved the case, and defendant was fined 28s. Match and Cigarette in the Pit. Another breach of the, colliery rules, now so common, was heard by the court, the defendant being, Cyrus Evans., labourer, at the Eastern Colliery, Ton, who was charged with having a match in his pocket in the mine. The night fireman, Mr. Griffiths, proved having found a match and a piece Of cigarette in defendant's pocket when in the, pit. Defendant who had been working in the colliery for five weeks, said he did not know how the match got into his pocket. The fireman had cautioned defendant not to take any- thing of a smokable nature into the mine. He had only recently come there from the other side of Aberystwyth. Defendant made. the same statement to the Bench as to the fireman.—The magistrates said they had been thinking seriously whether they would not send defendant to gaol. It was a grave and serious charge, and they believed he, took the cigarette down to smoke. As he, was only a boy, they took a. lenient, view of the case, and fined defendant 40s. and costs.

Trouble with her Third Husband- Phillip Rees, a, Treorchy contractor, living at 46, Dumfries Street, was sum- moned for cruelly ill-treating his wife. Mr. James Phillips appeared for Mrs. Rees, and Mr. Thos. Phillips defanded. Accord- ing to Mr. James Phillips's statement, defendant had threatened his wife with a knife. They had been married only two years, and during that time had been very cruel to her. Mrs. Rees, bore out this statement, and in, cross-examination said defendant was her third husband.—Ann Williams, complainant's daughter, said she had seen her mother's bruises after her step-father abused her. Dr. Tribe was obliged to, attend to her. Mrs. Kate Jones, complainant's daughter-in-law, also gave evidence. Mr. Thomas Phillips, for the, defence, said it was a weak case, trumped up by a cantankerous old wido,w-(Iaughtier)-and her children, who by their continued rows had nearly broken their father's heart. As for the medical certificate put in, the Bench knew they were, at a discount these days. He asked that the case might be adjourned so as to give, them an oppor- tunity of making it up.—Defendant, on oath, denied having abused his wife, whose family took the whole consarn from his house. The injuries on his wife's body were caused by her sons, when she tried to prevent them kicking him. He ob- ejeted to keeping her sons in idleness. After a lengthy hearing, the Bench said they thought there had been a good deal of cruelty, but the old woman had brought much of it on herself by having her sons with her. They made a maintenance order for 9s. a week, and costs.

Ystrad County Court. T.V.R. Sued. On Thursday (before Judge Gwilynr Williams) Thomas Jones, butcher, Cwm" pare, sued the T.V.R. Company for £11 4s. 5d., the value of hides delivered to the wrong party at Swansea. Mr. D. W. Jones was for the plaintiff, and Mr. W, Griffiths defended. A certain sum had been paid into court, and there was a difference of 93 16s. 9d. between the parties, a question of prices arising. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for the difference. The Cost of Mourning. His Honour, commenting on the fact tha,t a widow, who was sued for a debt, had spent £8 10s. on mourning for her husband, condemned such extravagance by means of other people's money, and ob- served, ".When I mourn, I pay 3s. 6d. iot a tie, and 2s. 6d. for a- pair of gloves, and I am sure I mourn as sincerely as any Of you." Judgment was given for the ptaio- tiff at 4s. a month. Assault at a Conservative Club. John Williams, fitter, a, member of the Treorchy Conservative Club COO" mittee, claimed E20 damages for assault from George Newman, a former manager of the club. Mr. D. W. Jones was fot the plaintiff, and Mr. D. RobertsRosse for the defendant. It wa,s stated tha- defendant was given notice, to terminØite his engagement at the club, but he, re- fused to leave, and remained two months longer. On September 2nd he w'a, ejected, and on the same day plaintiff into the kitchen of the club, and placed ni leg over the, arm. of a settle. I) ef enda-lt came in, and struck plaintiff on t,he kn: with a, poker. Other blows were struck I the scuffle, including one on the side_ Q the head. Dr. Tribe said plaintiff been permanently injured. Mr. said the case had reached a phase w( unexpected by him, and he had not hi » further to say. Defendant admitted t blow on thei knee, but. said he was Pr 3 voked by his goods being taken out, a plaintiff had proved a paddy" towar him. His IJonour described the assa as a very severe one, and gave judgu16 for the sum claimed, with costs.

Cycle Races at Treherbert- On Saturday afternoon Tom James sent champion), Aberaman ,and Phillips, Whitland, ran a series of £ ^5 races, one, two, and three miles, *? £ aies. a-side and the championship of first1 There was but a fair crowd. In the1 event Phillips fell when about hajj;' the In; tile from home, and Tom James won. reel,, second event some fine racing wa3,if a Phillips eventually winning by wheel. In the three-mile race Ja111^ and Phillips won the stakes and chamF ship.