Prestatyn Weekly

Natal and the Imperial Government The incident which nearly resulted in th* resignation of the Natal Ministry last weel will enable sober-minded people to guagt fairly accurately how far we can count upon the loyalty of the Colonies. Here is a case it which Great Britain acted within he! undoubted rights—rights which, if she aban- doned, would place her in the dangerous position of being drawn into complications— and this action is resented by one of hei smallest dependencies. Natal availed herself of the assistance of the mother country, in men and money, to suppress a rebellion of the natives. A court martial condemned twelve of the insurrectionaries to death. This was notified to the Imperial Government without giving thuui the least information as to the reason why such a drastic measure was to be carried out in such haste. The home Government asked for a postponement of the sentence, pending the desired information, and the fat was in the fire." It is only a few years since Natal was the field in which the British Army were fighting stubbornly against a brave foe, to secure the ascendancy of men who then loudly pro- claimed they were Britons. These so-called Britons boasted then of their loyalty, and said their chief concern was to preserve) South Africa for the British Empire. But n >w. having secured for themselves that ascendancy, they say you must leave us entirely alum;, to do just as we please." Ay! even if that liberty should result in another great war, and the spending of another 25.0,0 )0,000 or more, of British sovereigns. England has had plenty of reason to guard ag dnst such men as Rhodes, Jameson, and the like filibusters, having too much sway and en- gaging in raids. They are the very men who are the first to turn their backs on the old country after they have gained their ends. In proof of this we have only to consider the actiou of the Jameson Government of Cape Colony, and the rand-owners who have joined the Natal Government, in crying "hands off" to the Imperial- Government. Imperialists indeed We know better to-day where to look for the little Englauders. 0

The Coming Budget. It is said the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have three or foar millions surplus to deal with. Will Mr Asquith reduce the income tax ? or will he take something off the sugar or tea duties ? are the questions now asked. The general opinion is that tea will benefit. W"v

The New Rules for Parliament. There is a division of opinion as to whatlier the abandonment of the old late sittings is in the interests of legislation. It is said that Gladstone's great measures were pushed through between midnight and two and three In the morning. On the other hand Mr Keir Hardin, and others, consider that the shorter the hours of the House, the more business- like would the proceedings become.

France and Germany. The trouble between these countries over the Morocco question is now considered to be at an end.

Mrs Williams, Hiraddug Villas.

New Dyserth." We have received the following communi- cation from" X "In your issue of last week a writer described the parts of Dyserth known as Ochr-y-foel and Tan-y.foel as New Dyserth." This is not quite correct, for there are houses in these parts quite as old as those situated in Dyserth proper. That these mentioned parts should have a new name there is no doubt. Increasing as they are at present, Ochr-y-foel and Tan-y- foel will grow into one whol^of considerable size, and I beg to suggest that the best name for these parts would be Upper Dyserth, and Lower Dyserth for Dyserth proper at the bottom.

Musical Successes. It is gratifying to hear that four of the young people from this place took prizes at Newmarket concert last week. The names will be found in the report of the concert under the head of Newmarket.

Horeb Chapel. This place of worship is at present under- going external repairs, and it is expected that when complete, the appearance of the building will be considerably improved.

English Congregational Union. The annual assembly of the North Wales Congregational Union was hold at liliyl this week, under the presidency of the liev. T. Grasquoine, B.A. B mgor. The report of the secretary, the Rev. T. Lloyd, Colwyn Bay. showed that the year had been one of steady and faithful work in all the churches and that some of the churches of this district had made exceptional progress, amongst which is Christ Church, liliyl. under the pastorship of the Rev. J. Pandy Williams, who had received a hundred new members into fellowship during the year. The Welsh Congregational Church, Dyserth z' was received into the Union. It has been customary to hold English services at this church during- the summer months for the last few years, and occasionally on Sunday evenings during the winter months, but in future English services will be he] 4 every Sunday throughout the year. The preacher announced for next Sunday evening is the Hev. Ben Williams, Prestatyn (pastor of the Church).

Newmarket. -0 C.M. Concert. The postponed concert in conncection with the C.M. Chapel was held on Thursday week, Rev Meurig Jones (Llanasa) being the conductor. The prize-winners were as follows: Juvenile recitation, Miss Gladys Thomas and Mr T. J. Hughes, both of Dyserth (equal) Essay, Mr A. Owen, Brynllystyn, Gwespyr; Bass solo, Mr J. Williams, Dyserth Soprano solo, Miss Gladys Thomas Dyserth Tenor solo, Mr. Oliver Parry, Gwaonysgor; Challenge y Z, Solo, Mr J. Roberts, Dyserth Recitation. Mr J. Jones, Ffynongroew. Miss E. L. Roberts accompanied with her usual ability. The meeting was brought to a close after the usual vote of thanks, and rendering of the Welsh National Anthem.

Gwespyr. A Recollection, an Objection, and an Expectation. To the Editor of the" Prestatyn Weekly." Dear Sir,—The report of the resolution passed at the adjourned Parish meeting at Ffynongroew on the 14th ult., came as a surprise to the majority of the people living in that portion of the parish in which the schools are situated. At the first meeting Sir Pyers Mostyn was asked if he were willing to open the Talacre school as a non-provided public elementary school. After due con- sideration he decided to do so, and issued the necessary notices. He and his friends natur- ally concluded that this action closed the matter, and there being nothing to discusss 0 In did not attend the adjourned meeting. In the discussions which have been going on on this educational question in the Parish of Llanasa, I have observed statements that the tenants of Sir Pyers Mostyn have been afraid of standing up and demanding their rights." These sort of statements doubtless sound very plausible and form a very strong appeal to sickly sentimentality, but are surely a libel on the courage and conscientiousness of the tenants on the estate, and indirectly, but none the less pointedly, on the landlord. A public meeting will be held at the Talacre school on Saturday evening, the 7th inst., at 7 p.m. to discuss these matters and the school question generally, and I shall then be glad to meet any cases of either direct or in- direct intimidation.—Yours faithfully, Estate Office, ROBT. A. DAWSON. Talacre.

JUST ARRIVED: A Grand Assortment of New m n:ju Huge Stock to Select from; Prices from 2td. per dozen upwards A Book of Patterns sent anywhere on Application. ROBT. OWEN, Ffynnongroew.

History of Ffynnongroew. Our readers will bo glad to know that we are making arrangements to publish a series of short articles dealing with the history of Ffynnongroew district for the past half century.

Billy Bray." On Easter Tuesday, the Rev F. Jewell of Prestatyn, will lecture at the English Con- gregational Church on Billy Bray, the world-famed Cornishman." The reputation of Mr Jewell as a lecturer, together with the fact that he himself is a Cornishman, and knew Billy Bray in his best days, will doubt- less ensure a crowded audience on this occa- sion. Mr J. Petrie of Holywell will occupy the chair.

A REFUTATION. To the Editor of the Prestatyn Weekly." Sir,-I would like to aak "Ratepayer," whose letter appeared in the last issue of the I- Prestatyn Weekly," why he had not the courage to sign his name to his letter, or why he was so cowardly as to jump from the Talacre School dispute to an attack on the Catholic religion. It is quite clear he knows nothing of that religion. He says he is sick of hearing Roman Catholics speak about their religion. Pray where does he hear them? There is only a small sprinkling of Catholics in the district, and I fail to see where he could have heard them. He says does not their religion often end in infidelity," and asks what is the result in France where 10,000,000 Catholics have declared themselves infidels." He goes on to say that the two greatest nations of Europe, France and Spain, are decaying through the influence of this religion. In the first place, how could Catholics be infidels at the same time.. France has a population of 38,961,915. In every 1,000 of these 98i) are Catholics, Ifi Protestants, 1 Jew, and 3 other sects. In the French colonies there are about 60,000,(>00 subjects with about the same proportion of Catholics. The French people contribute to the funds for the propogation of the faith amongst the heathen nations more than all the Catholic nations in the world put together. Then wlwre are the 10,000,OUO infidels to be found? Only in the fertile mind of 'Ratepayer.' It will come as a surprise to most people to t learn that France is a decaying nation, i Why, she was never more powerful than she a is at the present day. Would Russia be so I anxious to have her as an ally, or would t England make so much about the Entente ) Cordiale which we have read so much about i in the papers lately if she were a decaying nation ? { He will admit that Spain was never any- r thing but Catholic, and when it was the greatest nation it was Catholic, and more so then than to-day. The fact is, religion has ( nothing to do with the decaying of nations. I The prosperity of a nation is no guarantee t that its religion is the right one. Where did a God ever favour the rich, or show them that q they were the acceptable ones, but He did to I the poor. The population of Spain is 18,618,086. These are all Catholics with r the exception of 8,000 Protestants and 1,000 Jews. This census was taken in January, i 1906. s I should like to ask Ratepayer how it is in Protestant Germany that there are so many infidels, socialists, &c. Do they come from the ranks of the Catholic Church ? Nothing of the kind. How is it 'that the v Protestant Kaiser goes out of his way to show p his respect for the head of the Catholic o Church ? The fact is, the Kaiser knows and t believes that the Catholic or centre party is the great bulwark against infidelity and socialism. If Ratepayer wants infidels, i he need not go beyond England and Wales, t and they are not recruited from the Catholic f ranks. Of the 800,000,000 Catholics through- out the world, they all believe as one man. Union is strength. What good is Protestant- N ism against infidelity, a religion which is t divided into about 800 sects in England and Wales, alono. This is according to J Whittaker's Almanack. p Should Ratepayer reply to this letter, I hope he will do so over his own name. t: Yours &c,, P. COLOHAN. I]

h v Lady Mostyn and Rev. Meurig Jones. SIR,-Allow me to express my gratitude to G Lady Mostyn for pointing out two statements in my letter which her ladyship holds to be mis-statements," and quite inaccurate." This is the first: "I understand that the ti trustees insist that two of these sisters be appointed and acknowledged as head and assistant mistresses by the C.C., before the p school is handed back as a non-provided t] school." My authority for the abovo statement is a report of a letter read before the Flintshire Education Committee from Father Dumphy, That Sir Pyers Mostyn of Talacre had brought two sisters (of the Order of Little Sisters of the Poor) who hold certificates as j. teachers, to form the staff of Talacre R.C. School would the education authority be willing to take over the school as a non- provided one, subject to the two being engaged as teachers by the Education Committee." That report, I persume, will justify all the reference in my letter, to the appointment of two, and, a certain Order." The other statement, which her ladyship denomi- nates as "equally untrue" is this: "The first duty of these teachers, I believe, is to their church, and secondary to the state, primary to saturst'i the minds of the children with the principles and influences of Boman Catholicism, (I don't say to proselytize them formally), secondary to give them secular education The statement is, to the best of my judgment, a fair and logical conclusion. I referred to the Sisters not in their private capa- city but as public servants, not as privato individuals but as the staff of Talacre B.C. School," to which the children of Gwespyr are invited. With their private life and aim my letter had nothing to' do. Now I maintain that a public servant, as such, has to identify himself with the aim of the power that do employ and appoint him. For instance, the aim of the state primary is to make the children good citizens, train them thoroughly in secular education. A school master appointed by the State, has to identify himself with that aim his private aim, whatever it be, must be at least secondary to that, as teacher of the children. Now the teachers,or aball we say the headmistress of Talacre, is not appointed by the State, either diroctly or indirectly. The appointnent is I believe, by the ltC, Church, through its lay or ministerial channel, or it may be partly by both. What is the aim of this powrr i.e. the Roman Catholic Church? Primary to make the children thorough R.C. Christ- ians, secondary, good citizens. Therefore I still maintain that the headmistress of Talacre School, as a public servant, appointed by the Roman Catho- lic Church, must identify herself with the aim of that Church, by davoting her time and talents to make the children under her care, primary, strong R.C. Christians, and secondary, good British subjects. And, furthermore. I think the fact of one being a member of the Order referred to in Father Durnphy's letter greatly intensifies the consciousness of one's duty to spread, in every possible legitimate way. the principles and influences of the Roman Catholic Church.—Yours faithfully, Llanasa. D. MBCRIG JONES.

+—_ GWESPYR SCHOOL. To the Editor .of the "Prestatyn Weekly." Sir.—" Should it over have been openod ?" We were told 1 ist week in the" Prestatyn Weekly that this is the crux of the whole matter, and probably it is one of the most important queries re the above school. I trieLl to answer it in the affirmative at the last Parish meeting hold at Ffynongroew a few weeks ago, and the answer, I believe, was satisfactory to the majority at that meeting, and if the above query had been offered as such at first in your paper. instead of as an answer to another question, a reply would also have been given ere this in the "Prestatyn Weekly." I will put the answer to it in a catechismal form that perhaps might better suit some of your readers. Who opened this school ? The Gwespyr School was opened by the Flintshire County Council with the consent of the Board of Education (London), and as a practical and satisfac- tory reply to the Board of Education's inquiry re school accommodation in the district of Gwespyr after the withdrawal of Talacre school from the C.C. The C.C. had the support not only of the Board of Education in opening this new school, but also the hearty support of an overwhelming majority of the ratepayers of the Llanasa Parish, as shown by the votes recorded for the new school at the Parish meeting at Ffynongroew on March 14th, 1906, i.e., 135 for and 12 against. In the report of the Flint- shire Education Committee for last week we are told that the Board of Education had recognised as necessary the Council School at Gwespyr in tem- porary premises. Why was the Gwespyr School opened ? First, because the trustees of the Talacre Sohool withdrew their school from the C.C. and from the public, to be carried on as a private B.C. school open to the children of Gwespyr and Talacre, con- trolled absolutely by the trustees. Government officials, i.e., School Attendance Oilicer, Inspector, etc would have no authority to enter tho premises. Secondly, because the Talacre Schools were turned into a Convent, with a number of Sisters or nuns brought here to live on the school premises. The following report appeared in the" Prestatyn Weekly of January 25th New Arrangements at the Schools. The Talacre Schools, now to be known Ill! St. Winefryde's Talacre Convent, are staffed by Miss Wood, Mother M. Theresa Raou'x/" Mother Augus- tine Pigott is mentioned as a qualified nurse, and Mother Emily as a teacher of French. Need I say that I refer to the above ladies not in a disrespectful manner? I quote from the report merely for the purpose of substantiating the assertion that Talacre schools have been turned into a Convent with nuns living on the school premises. Now we, as Protes- tants, object to have our children taught in a Convent instead of a public school'. We equally object to have nuns or any other ecclesiastics of any sect whatever living on elementary school premises. Thirdly, because there was no school accommoda- tion for the children, of Gwespyr anywhere else, and the C.C. could not compel them to attend Talacre School. School. What was the purpose of opening Gwespyr School ? The true purpose of opening the Gwespyr school was to secure to the children of Gwespyr the same treatment as all other children of England and Wales get. Why should these children be educated by charity when they are entitled to be educated by the State in a public elementary school, their parents paying the education rate like others throughout the county ?—Yours etc., Ll^jaasa. D. MEUBIG JONES.

iJtisceUrmsmtsV YOUTH WANTED as apprentice for Bake. house every opportunity given to learo a high-class trade. Apply, Hopwood, X.L., Prestatyn. 1 LOST a Doctor's BLACK LEATHER BAG, containing instruments. Finder, upon bringing the same to this office, will be rewarded. gTRAYED from the Common, Top Prestatyn in February, a 1-year-old RAM; mark; V-shaped piece of right ear clipped,—Owner, H. Eilis, Ty tTeha, Gwaenysgor. PROPERTY for SALE, by Private Treaty, Houses. Shops, and Land. -Apply, Thomas Williams, Bradford House, Prestatyn EGGS for HATCHING Hondans, White Leghorns, Buff Orpingtons, 8/6 per sitting; First crosses, Houdan White Leu- horns, Houdan-Bnff Orpingtons, 8/- per sitting.- E. E. Williams, Bryn Hyfryd, Victoria Road, Prestatyn. TO LET, Doubled-fronted HOUSE and Garden, known as Wylfa," Warren Road, Prestatyn. Rent £ 20.—Apply, A. Lewis Jones, Solicitor, Rhyl and Prestatyn. \V ALLIS AND SCOTT, Auctioneers and Estate Agents, have houses to Let at tho following rents £13, £ 21, £ 28, and £ 35; also Modern Villas and Building Land for Sale privately.' Offices: High St., Prestatyn, Mr. Joseph 'Williams, Auctioneer, Valuer, and House Agent, County Chambers, Rhyl, Has Opened Branch Offices at Stafford Chambers, HIGH ST., PRESTATYN Where all business entrusted to him will have his immediate and personal attention. Rhyl Telephone: No. 0179. Prestatyn Telephone: No. 4y4. Pendre House School, PRESTATYN, NOHTH WALES. Sctiool and Klitfergarten. Principal MISS ETHEL HICKSON (Teachers' Diploma University of Cambridge). MR. BRYAN E. WARHURST, Professor of Music. Member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, Prepares Pupils for the Associated Board of the R ival Aoitdemv of Music, tho Royal Co.lu^o of Musie, t.ho Trinity College London, and the Incorporatexl Society of Musicians Organ, Pianoforte, Singing, Harmony, Theory, &c. LATEST SUCCESSES: April, 1904, Advanced Senior, Pianoforte, R.A.M. •' '• t, ■» Tluory „ July, „ Advanced Son., Pitno. (Honours), Trin. Call., London „ "Advanced Senior, Organ, I.S.M. » .i Pianoforte, I.S.M. Dec. „ Third Grade, tI „ Second Grade, >• .i Singing July, 1 905, Third Grade, „ „ S'ild Grade, Pianoforte (H'rs), „ t.i (Pass) „ „ „ First Grade „ „ Mr. Warhurst makes a Speciality of preparing Candidates fo the above Examinations, and visits Prestatyn on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Organ Recitals, Concerts, Eisteddfodau. For term*, Address-Haydn House, Brighton Road, Rhyl. HENRY DOWELL, Coal Merchant, Office: Station Yard, Prestatyn, Orders promptly attended to. Best House Coal always in Stock. :a. J. R. Williams, BOOT & SHOE MAKER. Repairs neatly and promptly executed. Boots n.ade to order with Eest English Leather. High Street (gffiSMy, Prestatyn. r Thomas & Walkley, Architects and Surveyors, PRESTATYN. Preliminary Sketches Free. Seasonable charges.