The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

Lighting-up Time. Dec. 25-Friday 4 53 p.m. „ 26-Saturday 4 53 27-SUnday 4 53 „ 28-Monday 4 54 „ 29-Tuesday 4 55 „ 30 —WEDNESDAY 4 56 (/ 11 3 i-Thursday 4 58 TTT=

Births, Marriages, and Deaths. SILVER WEDDING. MORGAN—JAMES—On December 31st, 1878, in the Parish Church of Llanilar, near Aberystwyth, Rev. William Morgan (" PonfrO "), to Louisa Jane James. DEATHS OGDEN-On the 21st inst., at Colwyn Bay, Samuel Ogden, J. P., of Park-place, Cheetliam Hill, in his 85th year. ROBERTS—At 121, Crosby Road South, Seaforth, aged 8 years, Edith Myfanwy, beloved daughter of R. Roberts, F.R.C.V.S., "Lond.late of Abergele and Conway. C-23D II II Funerals Completely Furnished by D. ALLEN & SONS, STATION ROAD, COLWYN BAT. TELEPHONE 0197. II STATION ROAD, COLWYN BAY. II Telera.ms-Al1en's. Undertakers, CoIwyu Bay: j 47 r:

To Correspondents. It is particularly requested that all letters and contributions intended for publication, and all communications having reference to the same be addressed- THE EDITOR, Pioneer Offices, Colwyn Bay To Advertisers: Change of copy for serial advertise- ments must be received not later than Wednesday Morning next week, otherwise insertions cannot be guaranteed. Vox POPULI."—Your letter re "English clergy- man for Colwyn Bay will appear next week. J.B.MTill insert next week. R.L.P." (Llanfair).—The editor is not responsible for unused M.SS. R.P.Your letter contains too many personali- ties. Besides, it is far too long. J.L."—We are obliged for your good wishes, and heartily reciprocate them.

A Merry Christmas. ONCE more the season has arrived when we shall exchange the time-worn but never wearisome greeting-Ii A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." There are few people who can anticipate the coming of the great Christian festival, the celebration of Christ's nativity, without a quickening of the pulse and a glad feel- ing that we can at one period of the year reasonably efface business cares and worries, and endeavour to draw every class of the community into the enchanted circle of Christmas cheer. One agreeable sign of the times is the growing anxiety which those, who are happily endowed with a goodly share of the world's bounty show, to make Christmas blessings a reality, instead of an allusive term, to the poor and needy. Many a dark and deso- late home would remain dreary and cheer- less but for these good Samaritans whose philanthropic efforts bring joy and happi- ness to their less fortunate brethren A well-known writer gives his idea as to how Christmas should be spent in the following words :The ideal Christmas begins and ends in unselfishness to be practised with all your heart, with all your will, with all the power of your purse and the energy of your imagination. Then you will find the philosopher's stone, then the com- monest coin will be transmuted into pure gold. No discomfort will annoy you, no noise, or bother, or mystery. You will laugh with the loudest, be busy with the busiest, and be happy with the happiest." This is indeed a cheerful prospect to take of the season of peace and goodwill and it is one which we are sure will commend itself to our numerous readers. Then again we must not forget- the children. The late Edna Lyall, whose pathetic and beautiful ideal of Christmas will be treasured by many, said, Christmas to be ideal demands children in the house. If you havn't them of your own you must borrow them." This is no doubt the ideal Christmas of many. In conclusion, we hope the Christmas of 1903 will be a happy and joyful anniversary for us all. I.-

I,t is stated t'hlalt ifihe Conway Union Assess- ment CammA'tltee hiave decidedl to appeal against the recent decision. of the Qoliwyn Bay miagis- tnateis in xdgiaridl to iflhe assesismenir o>f the X!aIÜünétl'Pro,vindiléd Bank premises a't Colwyn; Bay. ,lr D. LDoyd'-Getorge, M.P., addressed his constituents alt iCatiloclieifih. on Friday night, Bit Xevin on Saturday afternoon, and at Pwllheli on- .Saturday night. 'He will close his present: totir of (the consÜtuenoy ai Carnarvon! on Janu- ary 5, when he is to .-be sujpipkMfted1 by S'ir Edwardi Grey.

♦ Denbighshire and the Education Act. The Appointed Day Postponed. THE Board of Education have now treated Den- bighshire ais they treated Flintshire the other day. Yesltierday the clerk of the peasee re- ceived an. official intimation tihlat the "appointed day" had been postponed from January ISit to February isit. The country must, aifter the Flintshire precedent, have been mtore, or less prepared; for the ndhlce, and the County Council will meet ait Wrex'ham on Monday next to con- sider the position.

♦ St, Asaph and Bangor Ordinations. ON Sunday a joint ordination service for the dioceses of Bangor and of St Asaph was held at the Cathedral, Bangor, when the following ordinations were made Deacons.—Robert Peter Hughes, B.A., St David's College, Lampeter. By letters dismissory from the Bishop of St. Asaph, John Jones, B.A., St. David's College, Lampeter, Jesus College, Oxford, and St. Michael's College, Abeidare. Priests -John Wheldon Griffith, King's College, London, and Bangor School of Divinity William John Williams, B.A., St. David's College, Lampe- ter Samuel Jenkin Evans, B.A.,St. John's College, Oxford, and Ely Theological College. By letters dimissory from the Bishop of St Asaph: Douglas John Scurry Jones, Jesus College, Oxford, and St. David's College, Lampeter, B.A. David Lewis Williams, St. John's College, Cambridge, and St. Michael's College, Aberdare, B.A.; Thomas Pugh Jones, Durham, University, B.A.; Paul Thomas Kirk, Trinity College, Dublin, B.A. Gospeller Preacher. The Rev. E Lorimer Thomas, M.A. Licences to Curacies.—The Rev. Robert Peter Hughes, B.A., to Llanfair P.G. with Llandysilio the Rev. Daniel Jones, B.A,, to Llandyfwydog- with-Llanfihanjeltre'rbeirdd.

Speech Days. ABERYSTWYTH. The annual Speech-day was held on Thursday and was presided over by Mr R. Richards. The Head Master (Mr D. Samuel) said 550 pupils had passed through the school since its opening. At the present time the total number was 124. The prizes were distributed by Mrs Levi, and Professor D. Morgan Lewis (Aberystwyth) deliv- ered an addresss.'

BETHESDA. The annual speech-day was held on Friday. The Rev R. Williams (Llanllechid) presided. The Chairman said they had again to congratu- late themselves on the continued progress of the school. This had been so marked, and had been secured under such unfavourable conditions that the Governors had passed a special vote of congrat- ulation which he now had the pleasure of publicly conveying to the school staff. (Applause) The chief drawback had proved to be the short period for which children attended the school, making any great progress or successes by such children im- possible. The Governors proposed building a school gymnasium during the coming year. (Applause ) The Head Master (Mr D. J. Williams) said that out of the six years during which the school had been in the new buildings four had been years of strife, struggle, and strike. Notwithstanding all this the school had made marked progress in num- bers, staff, and buildings-a record probably unpre- cedented in the educational history of the kingdom. (Applause.) Not only had the numbers been fully maintained, but a larger proportion of children had remained three years and over in the school. (Applause ) There had been a large increase in the income of the school from science grants, and an extra teacher had been added to the staff, which now numbered five jfully qualified teachers. (Applause.) A sum of £200 had been spent on increased accommodation, and they had still a reserve of ^"400 in the bank towards future developments. (Applause.) Mr D. Griffith Davies, clerk to the Governors, gave an interesting (resume) of the history of the school, and the Rev Caenog Jones also spoke. Mrs Griffith Davies distributed the prizes and certificates.

PWLLHELI. The annual distribution of prizes took place on Thursday, Dr Wynne Griffith presiding. The Head Master, in his annual report, said the year opened with 96 pupils and finished with 79. He exhorted parents not to take their children from school in the middle of the year, pointing out the consequent lost educational opportunity and the monetary loss in grants. Mrs Yale distributed the prizes and certificates, and speeches followed by Alderman Anthony, Messrs Robyns Owen, Tudwal Davies, D. H. Davies, and O. G. Jones.

DENBIGH. The annual prize day at Denbigh was held on Saturday. Mr J. Harrison Jones presided. The Chairman said that the buildings had proved to be exceedingly suitable, and he congratulated the school upon its very favourable position. The Headmaster (Mr D. H. Davies) reported that at the beginning of the year the pupils numbered 54 now the number exceeded 60, the highest in Z!1 the history of the school. (Applause). The prizes were then distributed by the Mayor, and addresses were delivered by several members of the Local Governing Body.

FESTINIOQ. ADDRESS BY DR. EMRYS JONES. The prize distribution took place on Friday night. Mr W. Owen presided. He referred to the educational advantages of the/ district, but feared that proper use was not made of them. Stress should be laid on sound elementary edu- cation, and the children should not be moved from the lower standards so hurriedly. As a quarry manager he found that many who had -been through the seventh standard were unable to make their monthly accounts in the quarries. They knew more about Latin, chemistry, and algebra, than of simple arithmetic. Referring to the Edu- cation Act, he hoped that the education of the dis- tl ict would benefit by it, although it was not what they wished it to be. (Cheers). Mr F. P. Dodd, head master, reported the num- ber of pupils to be 148, the n jmber of boys and girls being equal. Referring to the pupils' successes in examinations, he said he looked upon their duties as something more than preparing for examinations. He did not wish to exaggerate the value of examinations, but so far no better test had been suggested, and the art of examining has so improved that they were now a much better criterion. He had no patience with some extrem- ists, who almost went the length of asserting that failure to pass an examination, or reluctance to enter for one, was a proof of special ability. (Cheers.) Mr E. R. Davies, clerk of the county of Carnar- von, next addressed the audience. He referred to the education facilities of Festiniog, and was glad to see if they compared theirs with other schools they held their own. With 155 scholars they had 63 certificates Merthyr Tydhl had 18 with 141 scholars, Neath 17 with 168, Pontypridd 37 with 201, and Rhondda 6[ with 261. The average fee in Welsh county schools was £4 10S., whereas at Festiniog it was only ^3. So the parents had no excuse for not sending their children to the school. Referring to the Education Act, he said that it proved the indifference of the country in educational matters. He went on to speak of the low standard of attendance iN Wales and the loss it in- volved, and of the national importance of educa- tion. Dr Emrys Jones, Manchester, having distributed the prizes, delivered a rousing speech in Welsh and English. Man had a spiritual as well as a material side. To make education merely material and scientific was a fatal mistake. The great aim of education was to teach man to realise that he was a spiritual being. It was no religion to go to chapels and sing hymns on Sundays and be a dishonest servant all the rest of the week. In this twentieth century the cultivated man was not a weak, fastidious creature, vain of a little exclusive information, or an uncommon knack in Latin verse or mathematical logic but a man of quick percep- tions, broad sympathies, and wide affinities Addresses were idelivered by Mr J. L. Williams and Mr E. O. Williams, old students of the school.

As a resuilt of Sir Alfred Jones's interview last week with the King of tlhe Belgians it is (believed that valuable corxessii:o:n& in tine Congo Siiaie will be granted to B.ritiisih companies. v A labourer namedi Joftm Rolbli.11sion wa's re- lt-ur.nintg tame from WoodlpiuimpitOaT' on Monday naig'hit wiltlhi his fariher and broker when he fell linto tlhe Lancaster CanaQi. Owing to the in- itense darkness, assistance CGlrJid not be given hiim, anld) toe wtas drowned beifo>re' a llisrht coufid' be proouired.

Denbigh. INFIRMARY BALL.—The annual ball in aid of the above-named institution was held on ThursW evening, when the president was Mr J. -P ljeJ^ Minffordd, Denbigh, and the lady patroness was M- Aitkin, Bodelwyddan. It was a very enjoyable anfi^ and resulted in the handsome sum of £ 123 odd being realised for this excellent institution. VALE OF CLWYD AGRICULTURAL SOCI- ETY.—The annual meeting of this society was hel at Denbigh on Saturday. The secretary subrnitte the balance-sheet for 1903, which showed that the total receipts amounted to X434 and the expenditurl to £ 421. It was resolved that the balance of the aC" counts be handed to the secretary. The Mayor 0 Denbigh (Dr Lloyd) and Mr Armor Jones, Caegwy", were elected vice-presidents for the coming yeai» the officials of the society were re-elected. The elec- tion of president was deferred.

Flint. MAYORAL BANQUET.—The Mayor of Flint (Major C. E. Dyson) gave a banquet in the Town Hall on Wednesday night. 1 he guests incluaea members and officials of the Corporation, county and borough magistrates, chairman of Flintshire County Council (Mr P. P. Pennant), chairman of Standing Joint Police Committee (Mr Llew Jones, Rhyl)i county coroner (Mr Llew. F. Jones), the clergy a2-a ministers of the town, Colonel Sheriff Roberts, Dr Mould Cornish Hull, and others.

Holywell. CHRISTMAS BEER FOR WELSH PAUPERS. -At the fortnightly meeting of the Holywell Guar- dians on Friday Mr S. Wilkinson (Flint) made 18 usual offer to send a barrel of beer for the workhouse inmates' Christmas dinner. It was decided by eleven votes to five to accept the offer.—Mr Wilkinson said he would take care to send something that would do the inmates good, and not harm.—The Rev Dr Oliver said no doubt Mr Wilkinson's offer was dictated by belief that the beer would be for the inmates, benefit but he quite as conscientiously believed it would do them no good, and had voted against it. COUNTY SCHOOL.—At a meeting of the gover- nors of the Holywell County School on Saturday, 31r James Muspratt, J.P., was reappointed chairman for the ensuing year; and Mrs Johnson Jones and Mr P. Harding Roberts were appointed to the vice-chair- The Rev Dr Oliver and Mrs Humphrey Willi0,131? (Flint) were co-opted as members of the court ot governors. A letter was read, amid applause, froin Mr Sydney K. Muspratt, J.P., of Liverpool and Fli*1'1 expressing his intention of handing over to trustees, on behalf of himself and his wife, a sum of money which would produce a sufficient income to provide two annual scholarships of £ 6 each at the school, 0°f to be confined to pupils from the town of Flint, an« the other to be allocated as the governors may thik fit. The scholarships, he explained, were given in memory of his parents, and he wished them to be known as The Richard Muspratt Memorial Scholar- ships." A warm vote of thanks was passed to Bit INIuspratti and the chairman and clerk were deputed to arrange the terms, etc., of the trust.—It was de- cided the annual prize distribution should take place on January 27 next.

Llandudno. A GOAT from the famous herd in Windsor Grea^ Park, which the King has presented to the Welsn Ragiment, will in the course of a few days be sent to Llandudno. MUTUAL BENEFIT .SOCIETY.—On Wed- nesday Hast week thte annua:! meeting.1 of the (I jarth Mlutual Benefit Society was held B'o'ard: Sfcihoiotls, Mr J. Roberts, Olarellce House, pxasiildtfng. The election olf officers re- sulted as Mr J. Roberts, Oarence- House vice-president, Mr George ■YYii'Oliiams, Alberfgavenny House; committee, iMeSisrs iHuglh Thomas, J. Roberts, J. Oaeet* baim, J. Davies, Daniel J. Jones, Siaimuei Roberts, and O. O. Jones; auditors, Messrs vv. Doiblbinson and IlaroM Hayden; treasurer, Mr D. J. Roberts, Avenlram; Villa; secretary) MT J. R. Evans, Beeich Grove. The sum re- turned as di'vi-ldendl to each member was 185 4'd. This flourishing Society contributed' in :<O scriptions £281 13s, and paid out in sick pit) ^93 7s, and also strengthening the Reaeri- Fund to £59 2S 5d.

Rhyl. LOCAL WIFJDiDJNG.—Oin Tuesday m'ornine the. mamiaige off Miss Ciatherine Elizabeth. Wil- l'iamis, Glanirtalflon, Water-street, dauigthiter ot )tr Dlavid Williilams, farmer, Tonvyn, wiitih Mr R. Rioberts, monumental mason, Ruthin, was sol- emmisedi ait the. Wlater-sitr&eft Bapki'sit Chapel, 31" the; presence of a large number of frieddis. The contnacitunig1 parties are memlhers oif the chap-l- The Rev Th'omas Shankland (pasltor), assisted by the Rev 1. James, Baptist minister, Ruthvfl, officiated!; and the bpide was given away bY her .fafiher, wjhiilsit tihe "ibe^c man" was Davies, of Clonwiay. Miss Annie Wililiiams, srs- ter, acteidi as bridesmaid PREiSBNTFAiTION.—(At ^hi& conclusion of the business at the Cbiwyn Bay Po'l'iice Court on Satufldaiy-, an int-erestiinlg ceremony too!k place, viz., the presentation to Mr Livesef' assistant magistrates' clerk, of a handsome solid silver match box, which bad been sub- sciii'bed for by the members of the polliloe force, and al,30, the inspedtor of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ohiilldren, as a small token, of their esteem, and to mark the ocjoa* eion; of his recent marriage. The presentation was inalde by Inspector Rdberts, in t,he pre- sence of Sengeant Tippett and severiall of the men. In handing the; box to Mr Livesey, the Inspector referred to the courtesy and assist- ance which they had always, relceiived from I" 'Mr Livesey then suitably acknowledged, th0 g-ifo-

Musical Notes. (BY "RUFCS.) A TABLET to the memory of Sir Jdhn was unveiled in Set. Paul's Cathedral last Weo- nesiday. Ills beautiful unaccompanied "Godl so loved the workl," was sungi on trJ10 occasion. Sennet'is '"Mia] Queen," and Mendelssohn 5_ "AISI the hart pants" were performed lately ) Kih,e Portmadtoc Choral Society. The cihoir is condiucted by C. McLean, A.R.C.O. 4 » 'iLlais y Dnrtur," a musical booklet published by Peneerdd' Lly.finwy, Ta'iys'arn, consists so:m!s nine tunes and one anthem for the u- •of children. The book has- been selected a ready for several, cymanfaoedd cajnu. Mnisic finds no< place in LITE curniculuinr oJ .t Llanrwst County School. Why this unllU'USlc. g< j.veTnoTsihip-? • mid! Gailatea" (.Handel) is to t 1 « b/ tihe Fesiti.nio'g. Cnitedl Choir orr. na. 'ifl ^Kt. Mr Ciadwal'adT Roberlts will < and the principal parts well be; t'a^ I ditfa Evans, Dan Price, and E'drwa '■• ,1, chO'Ul" lEveryjahing intended for tbis column. be addressed to "Ru'fus" the "Pioneer'* Co$wyjvBay..