The Aberystwith Observer

THE CONSERVATIVE WORKING MEN'S CONVERSAZIONE. The fourth annual conversazione in connection with the Conservative Club in thii town took place at the Assembly Rooms, Great Darkgate-street, on Wed- nelvay night, and was certainly, with the exception of the first year, the most successful yet held under the auspices of the society. Profiting by the experience already gained, the committee were care- ful to make the most detailed arrangements, and these, thanks to the judicious management of those to whom the affairs were entrusted, were carried out to the letter, and contributed greatly to the success which we now have to chronicle. The following was the programme :—Pianoforte solo, Miss Roberts song, Queen of the Earth," Miss lJollie Jenkins; sony, The Chieftain's Wife," Mr G. Searle; song, I may, or may not," Miss Price song, The Light- house light," Mr James; song, "The P.imrose Maid," (sung for the first time) Miss Jenkins song, Love is a Dream," Mr Maldwyn Evans; song1, Ruby," Miss Katie Jones pianoforte solo, Lieder ohne Worte," Miss Roberts; song, "TheNightlesa Land," Miss M. E. James song, "Here's to the Year that's Awa," Miss Pollie Jenkins; comic song, If you can't do him any good, don't do him any harm," Mr W, P. Owen. The Aberystwyth Snow- drops.—Interlocutor, Mr Johnson; tambo, Mr F. Edwards; bones, MrH. Wheatley. Opening chorus, "Dashing through the snow," the Snowdrops song. "A Lighthouse by the Sea," Mr Maldwyn Evana comic song, The put away Brigade," Mr F. Edwards; song, Rock me to sleep, Mother," Mr G. Searle; comic song, "Ducksy Wucksy, Nieey Picey," Mr H. Wheatley song, See that my Grave," Mr James; comic song, "Yes, indeed, to goodness," Mr F. Edwards song, Only a Flower," Mr Morgan comic song, "The wild, wild west of London," Mr H. Wheatley; finale, "God save the Queen." The chair was occupied by Mr J. C. Harford, mayor of Lampeter, and the room was crowded to excess. The walls were very neatly decorated with ivy, evergreen, and appropriate mottoes, and this, addea to the really brilliant and select audience assembled, made the scene a decidedly gay and pretty one. Mrs Smith, 24, Great Darkgate-street, provided the solubles to an unlimited extent in the billiard-room, and a tem- perate use of these beverasres added to the comfort of those present. At the lower end of the room Mrs Hawkins, Pier-street, had laid out a really rich and choice provision of confectionery, &c., and we are pleased to say that as both Mrs Hawkins and Mrs Smith were most reasonable in the'»;- charges, they did a good stroke of business in their separate depart- ments. The Chairman very briefly opened the pro- ceedings by referring to the great pleasure he had in complying with the request of the committee to pre- side, and also to the service which the Club bad ren- dered the town of Lampeter by opening a similar institution there. Of the performance we have only to say that it was really above the average. Miss Pollie Jenkins, of Swansea, sang most sweetly the "Primrose Maid," which was sang for the first time before a provincial audience, being an exceedingly taking and pretty political song which speaks well of the ability of the author, Mr Chas. D. Ace. while Miss Jenkins' rendering was simply perfect, and she j was rewarded with an undeniable encore, a like result I following her rendering of "Here's to the year that's awa." Miss Price also was rery successful in her song, and was encored. Miss M. E. James sang well, and of course Mr Maldwyn Evans was up to his usual key, receiving an encore to which he was justly entitled. Of Mr dearie, Miss Kate Jones, Mr James, and Mr W. P. Owen, we have only to say that they sang well, and the Aberystwyth Snowdrops, composed of amateurs of the town, did credit to themselves in their songs and jokes, the latter being remarkably funny. Mr J. P. Lewis pro- posed a vote of thanks to Mr Harford for presiding, and it was carried with acclamation. Mr B. E. Morgan asked the thanks of the audience to the per- formers, and they were very liberally bestowed. Dancing commenced shortly atter 10.30 to the straiBS of an excellent band provided by Mr C. K. Wheatley. The M ,0's, who carried out their duties in a most efficient manner, were Mr H. J. Rhys and Mr O. L. Roberts; while the duties of stewards were taken and carried out satisfactorily by Messrs J. P. Lewis, B. E. Morgan, H. P. Hawkins, Lewis Evans, B. J. Jones, G. Rowley, Maldwyn Evans, W. Williams, and F. Edwards. Dancing was kept up till about six o'clock on Thursday morning, and everything passed off in a manner that was creditable and satisfactory to all.

THE FIRE BRIGADE. Mr D. C. Roberts, mayor, desires to acknowledge receipt of the following further subscriptions :— X s d J. Francis, Esq., Wallog. 5 5 0 E. J. Jones, Esq., Fronygog 1 1 0 Rev LI. Edwards, M.A. 1 1 0 Messrs Roberts, Son and Evans 1 1 0 J. W. Szlumper. Esq. 1 1 0 Dr Ethe 1 1 0 Alliance Assurance Co., per J. R. Rees, Esq. 3 3 0 Phoenix Fire Assurance Co., per E. Jones- Williams, Esq. 3 3 0 J. D. Perrott, Esq. 110 Imperial Fire Assurance Co., per do. 1 1 0 Dr Jacob Roberts 0 10 0 Rev T. R. Morice, M.A. 0 10 6 R. J. Davies, Esq., Cwrtmawr 0 10 6 RevT. Levi 0 10 0 W. Williams, Esq., Solicitor 0 10 6 J. Evans, Esq., Solicitor. 0 10 6 Mr T. E. Salmon, Lisburne Arms. 0 5 0 Further subscriptions will be acknowledged.

LAMPETER. Four services were held in the parish church, and two in each of the district churches on Christmas day. Holy communion was celebrated twice in the parish church, and once in each of the hamlets; com- pared with the number of communicants last year there was an increase of 50 in the parish churoh alone. S-. Peter's was very prettily decorated by the following ladies :-The Misses Harford, Misses Daven Jones, Back, Hughes, Davies, Jenkins, Mrs Jamea, Mrs Evr-ns, Miss Jones and Miss Lloyd. St. Mary's was beautified by the means of evergreens by the Falcondale family, and St. John's, Pentrebach, by Mrs and Miss Price, Doldrement, and Miss Maud Green. On Christmas eve X6 worth of clothing was distributed amongst the sick and poor of the town. The young ladies who formed the sswing class deserve very great praise for their indefatigable exertions in converting the raw material, purchased by the pro- ceeds of a charity entertainment, into various articles of clothing. The recipients, it need hardly be said, were very thankful for their Christmas gifts.

HIGHMEAD, LLANYBYTHER. RENT AUDIT.—The half-year's rent audit took place on Wednesday week at Highmead, when an excellent dinner was served out for the tenants, after which the evening was spent in discussing various subjects. Mr Davies, Micsygar, was elected chair- man. After a few words he called on Colonel Evans to address them. He made an excellent speach which lasted nearly an hour. He dwelt on farming; gave his reasons for not giving an abatement in rent —becanse that his rents had not been raised since he has come to the possession of the estate that he had expended much money for the improvement of his farms. Still he would give particular attention to any tenant who thought his rent too high. If they could nfct agree then the tenaat could call in a valuer and he would abide by his decision. He dwelt also n pon coursing on hi t tenants farms. He wished to make it clear that he never has given leave to any person to go across their farms, as they well knew he had always—even before the Hares and Rabbits Bill was passed—left the matter entirely in the hands of the tenants, and they could do what they thought proper with them. He also dwelt at some length on the Allotments Bill. He sympathized very much with poor labourers who bad to maintain themselves and their families with only 12s a week. He sincerely hoped that his large farm holders would be witling to part with a field or two, when it would mean a great deal to a poor labourer. He spoke also on the Land League, some measures of which he thought sensible enough, but he would ask them to consider carefully what they were doing before becoming members. He asked them to consider the objects of the League, and what it would ultimately prove- what to the landlord and what to the tenant. He spoke of our relations one to another as human beings-the results of deeds derogatory to society. Before a country can prosper her sons must have a good faith in the laws of the realm, and of the admicistation of justice, otherwise men will not lay out their money, and the result will be that a gloom will be cast on that particular country. The last subject he handled was tithes, on which he spoke very forcibly. He dwelt on the prescriptive rights as to tithes. Many of the tenants being unable to understand English, the chairman called upon Mr T. E. Jones, a student of St. David's College, to give the substance of the speech in Welsh, which he did to the satisfaction of all present. Then followed speeches by J. Evans, Rhydiau, T. Fox, Wempa Lodge. Songs, by John Evans, Sangini; J. Evans, Rhydiau. The following toasts were drunk :— The health of Colonel and Mrs Davies Evans, proposed by the Chairman the health of Mr Bertie, by T. E. Jones the health of Miss Viola, by T. Thomas, Tyn- ffynon Mr Delme, by the Chairman Mr Allen, by Daniel Davies, Penpontbren. A very enjoyable evening was spent, and after the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, who had so ably presided, the meet- ing was brought to a close.

TOWN COUNCIL. A meeting of the council was held at the Town flail on Wednesday afternoon. Present-Mr D. C. -Roberts (mayor); Aldermen David Roberts, Peter Jones and C. M. Williams; Councillors George ween, Eichard James, W. H. Palmer, B. E. Morgan, wiffith Williams, Thomas Griffiths, William Thomas, John Morgan, John Evans, and John Jenkins; Messrs Hugh Hughes, for the Town Clerk Griffith Jones, corporation solicitor; and H. L. Evans, borough accountant. «VL BILLS, &c. ihe bills and salaries due from the Corporation Were ordered to be paid. INTEREST. J Payment of half-year's interest on the sum of "5,424 was ordered. THE BRYNYMOR FOOTPATH. A letter addressed by Colonel Williams to the ^ouncil as to the terms upon which the roadway may HPn^nue<i and lead into V aenor-road, was referred *0 the public works committee. CLAIMS. A letter was received from Mr Rowlands, solicitor, Machynlleth, on behalf of Mr Rowlands, Gilfach- Soch, who made a claim upon the council in respect "to the rent of a certain drain passing under his pro- perty, and threatening that unless the claim was Satisfied legal proceedings would be taken. Referred to the public works committee. Capt Morgan Owen wrote a letter calling attention to his claim against the council for X9 9s for six Qa,ys work alleged to have been done in connection With the Fairy. The Mayor stated tha.t this matter had been con- sidered many times, and the Town Clerk had told them that there was nothing due to him. The letter was ordered to lie on the table. HARBOUR COMMITTEE. Mr George Green read the following reports: Minutes of a meeting of the harbour committee held on Rofawr on Wednesday, 21st December. -PMaent—Mr D. C. Roberts (mayor), Councillors -John Jenkins, William Thomas, George Green, chair- bl&n, the harbour master, and borough surveyor. a?his meeting was convened to inspect the timber jetties on Rofawr reported by the borough surveyor as having been considerably damaged during the late gales. Your committee instructed the borough sur- veyor to repair the jetties on the western end of iSofawr, and to use all the timber suitable for the Work now in stock, and that the men now employed on the pier be engaged for the work. Minutes of a meeting of the harbour committee, held at the Corporation offices on Monday, January 2nd. Present-Councillors Griffith Williams, Richard James, William Thomas, D. C. Roberts (mayor), and George Green. The following labour sheets and bills due from the Corporation in respect of this depart- ment were examined and passed :—Labour sheet, .£12 lis 2d Jenkin Thomas, £1 lis 2d John Mor- gan, timber, £2215s Id; do., do., X15 4s; income tax on annuities, £11 7s 5d Capt Thomas, harbour master, X5 12s 7d; total, £ 69 10s 5d. Mr Green proposed, and Mr Griffith Williams seconded, the adoption of the reports. Carried. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. Alderman Peter Jones lead the following report: -Minutes of a meeting of the public works committee, which met near the Welsh Baptist chapel, Portland- street, on Wednesday, 21st December. Present- Mr D. C. Roberts, mayor, Aldermen David Roberts and C. M. Williams, Councillors John Jenkins, Wm. Thomas, George Green, Alderman Peter Jones, chairmam, and the borough surveyor. Your com- mittee recommend that the application of the trustees of the new Baptist chapel to place kerbing and rail- Migs in Portland-street projecting 11 inches be ganted, provided that the trustees place the line of the new wall in Baker-street further back than the one 18 inches for a length of 12 yards. Mr Htigh Hughes, solicitor, has notified his willingness to the urinal being placed in a garden owned by him and occupied by Mr Edward Mathews on the follow- ing terms That 7s 6d be paid by way of compensa- tion and 2s 6d per annum rent until the piece of land be required for building or other purposes. Your com- mittee recommend that a short agreement be drawn em- bodying the terms. Recommend that instructions be given to the borough surveyor to place kerbing on the south side of North-parade and that the width of the flagging in front of Mr Baker's shop be removed about three feet, and that the kerbing be placed in a line from this spot to the Fox Vaults. Alderman Jones proposed, and Mr Richard James seconded, the adoption of the report. Carried. Mr B E. Morgan asked if the work was to be done in North-parade before the other work already deter- mined upon, as for instance that which was ordered to be done at the upper part of the Terrace. Mr William Thomas said that the stones required la North-parade would be of a different kind to those Weired on the Terrace, and he saw no reason why both could not be carried out at once. Mr B. E. Morgan was satisfied if that was so. FINANCE COMMITTEE. Mr Richard James reported :—Minutes of a meet- ing of the finance committee held at the corporation unices on Monday, 2nd January. Present—Mr D. C. Roberts, mayor, Councillors Richard James, George Green, Alderman John James, chairman, Alderman C. M. Williams, the borough surveyor, and borough accountant. Your committee recommend that the rate collector be instructed to summon all parties in arrears on the 29th Sept., 1887. The labour sheets and bills due from the corporation were examined and passed. e Mr R. James proposed the adoption of th report. Mr George Green seconded, and it was carried. MARKETS COMMITTEE. Mr Richard James read a report of the markets committee held at the Assembly Rooms on Monday, January 2nd. Your committee met a number of representative farmers at a meeting convened this dày at the Assembly Rooms for the purpose of dis- cussing any suggestions for the improvement of our markets and fairs. Resolved, that the horse fairs this year be held on the 7th May and 17th September next. After a discussion on the subject a Committee of farmers was appointed by the farmers present to arrange a meeting of farmers and dealers w> be held on Monday, the 16th inst., at which it will «e proposed that a committee of farmers and dealers we appointed to meet this committee to discuss and onsider the whole matter. Your committee authorised the payment of the expense of advertising wie meeting referred to, and now ask that the same be under the circumstances confirmed. This report was adopted. PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMITTEE. Mr W. H. Palmer read the following report:- Minutes of a meeting held at the Assembly Rooms on Saturday, 17th December. Present-Mr D. C Roberts mayor, Alderman C. M. Williams, Coun- cillors John Evans, John Morgan, W. H Palmer chairman. It was proposed that the following gentlemen be added to the committee Rev Mr Protheroe, Mr W. R. Hall, Professor Angus, Mr J. P. Lewis, and Mr Thomas Owen. Resolved, that the chairman write to the Downie's Bequest Com- mittee asking them to contribute to the funds of the public library for the purchase of new books that a gas meter be purchased for the large room that B,COO circulars be printed and circulated in the town giving full information in reference to the reading tooms and library that a platform be made for the two seats in the billiard room and that a set of new billiard balls be purchased; that six chairs and purchased for the Town Hall, and a gaslight be placed in the jury room. The report was adopted. ABOLITION OF TOLLS. In r, turnpike gates in the county Ure abohtlon of Mr William Thomas was in favour of delaying the have time to consider it; but might ASiSor8 proposed a resolution in favour of their abolition. ratepayers. Those residing outside the northern gates had to pay rates, and when they wished to engage vehicular traffic they had to pay tolls as well. aberystwyth union contributed about two-thirds of the whole amount of tollage received throughout the nw y' a-nj 1 ,^erefore pressed heavily against the industries conducted in this part of the abolished 0 PP^ed out that if the gates were the Government'. get a much larSer subsidy from apon femer^aT^i'ie«!aS Sa*tL Tery unequally were Dut un I1™ the tx*rnpike gates seaport towns • qo traffic was taken from Strata Florida' years a#0 all the minerals up to lWay from Aberv^+nea+Iy Machynlleth were taken tS by^aihSy?twyth al0ne' but now they were tb^MrTY™ s?PP°rted the motion, saying the roadsIffihp^1 w^° was to maintain Portion of a r(3 ^0^shed the gates ? He knew one K-ere no a-ate* ^adingup to Llanafan where there ratefto'Jiiithe c™plained of the they could showthton that piece of road. Unless to the farmers ariri +v would be of more advantage vould be far better tn l„ toW?,Sp°°Ple he thought it fhey knew where the hni^ I g as they wero* bulk of the money now came from, and that was from the visitors, who d d not complain |that there were two gates bet on tins town and Devil's Bridge. Mr John Jenkins Bat they swear a great d11 about it. Mr W. H. Palmer supported the motion, and said he did not think there were now a hundred gates in all England, and the majority were in Cardiganshire. Mr B. E. Morgan stated that one time he was opposed to doing away with the gates, but he was now in favour of their abolition. Mr Peter Jones having replied to Mr Griffiths, the motion was agreed to, and the council went into committee, the question which occupied their atten- tion being a communication from Mr John Lloyd with reference to the delay in the completion of the new Tretechan bridge, and an application for com- pensation in respect of the temporary bridge. Mr Conacher, manager of the Cambrian Railways, afterwards held a consultation with the council to devise improved railway facilities and the best means of making the attractions of the town better known to visitors.

THE GAS COMPANIES OF THE KINGDOM. THE ABERYSTWYTH GAS COMPANY. The annual gas returns have just been published. One relates to all authorised gas undertakings in the United Kingdom belonging to local authorities, for the year ending 25th March, 1887, and the other to all the authorised gas undertakings not belonging to local authorities, The latter is made up to 31st Deeember, 1886. In a few cases the returns are up to the 30th June last. It seems a pity to delay the whole return because a few eccentric companies will not make up their accounts in accordance with the general custom. At the end of the year comprised in the returns the paid up capital and amount borrowed by all the undertakings was £56,362,000, an increase of jBl,230,0tK) over the previous year. Of this, < £ 35,513,000 belonged to the companies as distinct from the undertakings of the local authorities. The paid up capital of the companies was < £ 30,960,000, an increase of < £ 860,000; and the amount borrowed £ 5,680,000, an increase of < £ 276,000. The number of tons of coal carbonized by the companies was 5,778,000, an increase of 182,000 tons over 1885. The gas made from this averaged, in 1885, 10,170 cubic feet per ton, and in 1886, 10,220. The amount sold in 1885 per ton of coal used was 9,320, and last year 9,390. It therefore appears that during 1886 each ton of coal produced 50 cubic feet of gas more than in 1885, showing better management or better coal. The amount of gas sold in 1886 was per ton of coal carb -nized 70 feet more than in 1885. The companies therefore were able to sell all their extra production, and 20 cubic feet per ton besides, saved from pre- vious waste. These figures will enable our readers to compare the following return with the average of the gas companies of the kingdom, and will show whether our local company is better or worse than the average. The illuminating power of the gas as prescribed in the Act under which each company is established varies from 10 candle power, as at Taunton, where 17'11 candle power is supplied, to 20 candle power at Liverpool, where the gas is equal to 211 candles. The Sheffield and the Plymouth gas companies supply the cheapest gas. Their charge is Is lOd per 1,000 cubic feet, its illuminating power being 17'81 candles. With respect to meters some companies make no charge, others do not supply them. At Cheltenham a three-lierht meter is charged la per annum, and in the neighbouring town of Stroud the consumer has to pay 6" for a similar meter. In some places the charge is 10 or 12t per cent. on the cost, there being a greater variety in the charge for meters than in any other particular connected with gas. The following information is given respecting the Aberystwyth gas company, which is established under the Act of Parliament, or Provisional Orders, Aberystwyth Gas Act, 1873, c. 28. The total amount of share capital ..authorised on the 31st December, 1886, consisted of < £ 8,600 in 10 per cent. stock, < £ 15,000 in 7 per cent. stock, total £ 23,000. Of this there was then paid up £ 8,000. The maximum dividends per cent. per annum authorised to be paid, or the standard rates for sliding scale, were 10 and 7 per cent. During the year ending the 31st December, 1886, the dividend paid on each class of stock or shares was 7t per cent. The total loan capital authorised, including debenture stock, was .£5,737, and the total amount issued .£600. On the loans and debenture stock outstanding at the end of last year, the rate of interest paid was 4! per cent. The maximum price authorised to be charged per 1,000 cubic feet is 6s 8d in the borough, and 7s 4d outside the borousrh. That actually charged on the Slst December, 1886, was 4s 3d, 4s 5d, and 4s 7d for cooking, heating, and motive power, 3s 8d, 3s lOd, and 4s, and for public lamps 4s 3d. Meter rent was charged per annum to private consumers according to the size of the meter in use, at 4s and upwards public lamps are not supplied by the com- pany. By the authority under which the company acts, the illuminating of the gas to be supplied is not to be under 14 candles. That annually supplied was equal to 16 candles. During 1886 the number of tons of coal carbonised was 1,700, from which 17,000,000 cubic feet of gas was made. Of this private consumers took 14,730,000 cubic feet, and public lamps, exclusive of the amount used at works, took 770,000 cubic feet, the total amount being 15,500,000. The length of gas mains was 4 miles, The number of consumers on 31st December was 800, and the number of public lamps lighted during the year was 150. In order to afford comparison, we give the following figures for the year 1885 :-Tons of coal carbonised, 1,500; cubic feet of gas made, 14,800,000 cubic feet of gas supplied to private customers, 11,358,900; cubic feet of gas supplied to public lamps (exclusive of amount used at works), 829,600 the total being, 12,188,500 length of gas mains, 6 miles; number of consumers in 1885, 730 number of public lamps then lighted, 150. The only legally authorised gas companies in Cardiganshire are in Aberystwyth and Lampeter.

NEW QUAY. ENTERTAINMENT.—On Thursday evening, Dec. 29th, a public entertainment was held at the British schoolroom, under the auspices of the New Quay debating society. It was presided over by Dr T. Evans. The first part of the proceedings was a debate on the House of Lords." Messrs T. Lloyd, C.M., C. J. Hughes, B.A., and J. James spoke for and advocated the retaining of the House of Lords. For the abolition the following spoke:—Messrs J. Silvan Evans, T. P. Timothy, J. L. Jones, H. J. Davies, Rhys E. Roderick, J. Price, J. O. Lloyd, and the Rev D. Jones. On being put to the vote (members of the debating society only were allowed to vote), there was found a majority of ten for the abolition of the Lords. The other items on the pro- gramme were :—A collection of epitaphs by Mr J. L. Jones; solo, Mr G. J. Davies; a collection of wittiisms, Mr J. Silvan Evans solo, Miss H. M. Davies a lecture on Lectures," Mr C. J. Hughes quartette on fife, Messrs G. Ivor Davies, D. O. Davies, T. P. Timothy and D. R. Davies recitation, "The Quack Doctor," Mr J. James; solo and chorus, Mr D. O. Rees and party; final, "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau." The proceeds, which, after deducting costs amount to a goodly sum, are to be devoted towards the presenting of books to the New Quay literary institute.

MACHYNLLETH. The Marchioness of Londonderry sent a Christmas card and toy to each child in the Dublin Hospitals on Monday. CHRISTMAS TREE AND FANCY FAIR.—Sir P. Pryce-Jones on Wednesday week, opened a Christmas Tree and Fancy Fair in the Town Hall, organised in connection with the Wesleyan church, with the object of paying off the debt upon the chapel. Besides contributing a quantity of goods, Sir Pryce- made a number of purchases, in addition to a dona- tion of .£10. On Thursday the bazaar was opened by Mr D. Jones, of AberJefenny, who gave a don a tion of .83. The bazaar was continued through the week, and realized upwards of £226. ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.—The anniversary oi this society was held on Wednesday evening week, when a dinner was held at the White Horse Hotel under the presidency of Mr Joseph Evans, Fronygog, Mr R. Gillart, jun., was vice-chairman. The secretary, Mr J. A. Thomas, in responding to the toast of the Lodge, stated that although com- paratively a new one it numbered seventy members. During the past half-year they had only paid out the sum of dG2 in sick pay, and there had not been one death since the Lodge opened. HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS will be found the best friend to persons afflicted with ulcerations, bad legs, sores, abscesses, fistulas and other painful and com- plicated complaints, Printed and very plain directions for i ,,03 application of the Ointment are wrapped round each pot. Holloway's alterative Pills should be taken throughout the progress of the cure, to maintain the blood in a state of perfect purity, and to prevent the health of the whole body being jeopardised by the local ailments; bad legs, old age's great grievances, are thus readily cured, without confining the patient to bed, or withdrawing from him or her the nutritious diet and generous support so imperatively demanded, when weakening diseases attack advanced years or constitutions evincing premature decrepitude,

No notice can be taken of anonymous communications Whatever is intended for insertion must be authen- ticated by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

THE CHURCH AT ABERYSTWYTH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER. Dear Sir,—As you are desirous of bringing this correspondence to a close, I will be as brief as possible. A Constant Attendant at St. Michael's" now admits that about < £ 4,000 has been promised towards Trinity, after having previously denied it. I think that I have done nothing to draw invidious compari- sons between Mr Williams and Mr Protheroe, and have no desire to do so. Facts speak for themselves. As to the question whether there has been a material decrease in the attendance at St. Michael's, I will leave those who have known the church for ten or twenty years to decide the question, whilst still adhering to my original statement. A s to the effect which a migration of Miss Trubshaw's school from one church to the other would have, I beg to refer "A Constant Attendant" to the census pub- lished in your columns on the 24th. The difference in the attendance at the two churches on the morning of the 18th-when nearly all the school girls were absent, it being vacation-was 46. The school num- bers about 40, and if this number is added to the 164 at Trinity you have equal numbers at the two churches-just as I had guessed. With regard to the school, "A Constant Atten- dant admits that there has been a falling off in one of the St. Michael's schools but says that another has trebled. The latter assertion, I am told, is altogether erroneous. The L-tteiidance there (the Ysgoldy) is just 100 some years ago it was consider- ably higher. If "A Constant Attendant" can produce figures to prove that I am wrong, I shall be very glad until then I must regret what I believe to be the fact that the church has not done well under Mr Protheroe's ministration. Wishing you and your correspondents, and all concerned with the "Observer," a happy new year, I remain, yours faithfully, A CHURCHMAN.

A MIASMATIC AND UNATTRACTIVE PARK. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER. Sir,-The Welsh people say that frequent knocks will crack a stone, and it seems as if the frequency of the adverse remarks in the Observer" will result in flooring the ill-advised project of planting trees on the Llanbadarn Flats, now disguised and dubbed as Plascrug Meadows. Commencing planting trees on the Llanbadarn Flats would be putting in the thin end of the wedge for the consummation of the bombastic and injudi- cious idea of converting the whole place into what goes by ithe attractive, but in this instance wrong, name of recreation ground, otherwise a park. It may not be generally known, sir, especially to the bulk of Aberystwyth people, that these very ¡ Flats are more or less inundated every time there is a high flood in the Rheidol, and that their liability to such uncanny visitations will be much more after the construction of the Plascrug embankment. Aber- ystwyth will be saved from future floods at the expense of the Flats. Here then will be a fine site for tree-planting and recreation ground, forsooth I But independently of utter unsuitability of soil and climate, Llanbadarn Flats are absurdly far and too inconvenient to be a recreation ground for the I generality of Aberystwyth people. They are alto- I gether outside the corporation boundaries, and, on account of their distance, reaching them to children, the aged, and invalids would be aptly described in I the words of a classic of antiquity as bad in winter, hard in summer, and never good." The description could be also strikingly applied to the ground itself. Now. sir, look on this picture and on that." Let any one go round or to the top of Buarth Mawr, and compare this gifted and convenient site with the distant Flats. The first impression will be that there can be no comparison between the two as recreation grounds. The Buarth, with its charming and varied prospects, irresistibly makes a Welshman to think and to feel that the site is a favourable specimen of something characteristically Welsh while the Flats with their dampness and dulness, cannot fail to impress him as something extremely un-Welsh, indeed more like Dutch than anything else. To those (quoting an old Welsh triad) who have an eye to see nature, a heart to feel nature, and courage that will dare to go side by side with nature—"llygad i weled anian, calon i deimlo anian, a dewrder a faidd gytHyned ag anian "—the hygienic and sesthetic merits of this favoured spot cannot fail to be mani- fest. Visitors and excursionists instinctively find out the place, and are liberal in their praise of it even in the state it is, and if the ground was judiciously laid out and thrown open I have no doubt whatever it would be patronised quite as much as the castle walks, if not more so. Ten years ago English visitors told me, sir, there is no site for a recreation ground equal to the Buarth Mawr on the whole west coast of Wales.—I am sir D. PAITH JONES.

THE CHURCH IN WALES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER. Sir,-In your last week's "Observer" you quote from a series of articles written by a Rev J. Mostyn, Newtown, in the Welsh paper, the Genedl Gym- reig," bearing on the position of the Church and Dissent in that portion of the diocese of Bangor which is situate in the counties of Merioneth and Montgomery, and claiming to be as complete a repre- sentation thereof as has ever been taken. As you have undercaken the labour to translate and then to introduce the statements in question into your columns for the benefit of Englishmen unacquainted with Wales," it would appear that you place reliance upon the figures, and therefore natur- ally wish to enlighten your readers thereof, with the object unquestionably of demonstrating the weak- ness, uselessness and injustice of the Church estab- lishment, in view to its abolition as such. The figures you quote are so startling that I con- sider you ought to be prepared with the most undeniable authority for their correctness before placing them before your numerous English readers with your approval. They appear to be so purposely concocted to favour the false argument for disestablishment, as based upon numbers, that their veracity becomes at once suspicious. Out of 28 parishes in the county of Merioneth, with a population of 38,133, and 22 livings of the value of .£5,842, land and parsonages, you say that the total attendance at all the churches is only 627, one out of every 61; that one-fourth of those churches had congregations under 10 each; that Dolgelley, the largest, has only 84, and Llanfihangel only 4 where- as the Dissenting congregations have 25,142 against the above 627, being 41 to one, irrespective of Roman Catholics, Primitive Methodists, Unitarians. Camp- bellites, Salvation Army, Plymouth Brethren, &c. If you expect your intelligent English readers simple enough to believe this, on the authority of the Genedl or its editor, you must consider that they are more gullible than the most ignorant of the monoglot, misled Welsh. Again, you say that out of eight parishes in Mont- gomeryshire, with a population of 11,356, containing eight benefices of the value of £2,180, glebe land and parsonages, the whole Church attendance is only 295, or one in 36, and you instance one church, viz., Llanbrynmair, worth R330 a year and four acres of land, whose congregation numbers only four all told, showing that the cure of souls, including the parson himself, comes to .£82 10s and an acre of land each. Can you corroborate this by more reliable proof than the word of the aforesaid Rev J. Mostyn ? If so, I ask you in all sincerity to produce it. The thing, as you rightly say, seems to be incredible, but you add that no spurt at counting will materially alter the figures.-Yours, &c., ENQUIRER. Aberystwyth, Jan. 4th, 1888. [" Enquirer has evidently not read with care what appeared in our last issue.—ED.]

THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER." TO THE EDITOR OF THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER. Sir,-Under the above heading in your last issue there appeared a letter which is quite a curiosity in its way; and doubtless many of your readers besides myself will be inclined to hail its,appearance in your columns as a real Christmas treat, for it is quite re- freshing to witness so rare an exhibition of crudities and contradictions. The writer signs himself simply H. D. Morgan. I shall not trespass upon your valu- able space to point out the various crudities and puerilities which characterise his effusion they are patent enough to every reader. You have evinced discretion in treating him as you have done. To allow his letter to appear was the best possible expose of its insensateness. To condescend to enter into a wordy discussion with fault-finding persons is really to play into their hands, for it is the very thing they covet. Life is too short for such logomachy, and it is as fruitless as it is unpleasant. Well might you ask at the close of the letter, What does our correspondent want us to do or leave undone?" for it is difficult to divine. I surmise, however, that the head and front of your offence probably consists in f your having of late dwelt somewhat hard blows at the ritualistic craze to which so many frivolous women and weak-headed men of our day are subject, parties who are ill-pleased with the purely spiritual and anti-ritualistic religion of Jesus Christ, and who greatly prefer having a religion of rites and cere- monies after the fashion of the Pharisees of old to having no religion at all. These would fain super- add to the New Testament a new book of Leviticus of modern formation, which they in their worldly wisdom, deem necessary in order to perfect Christianity and make it a workable religion. I think your independent views on this and some other subjects may have given umbrage to some of your readers, and amongst them, as is very evident, Mr H. D. Morgan. He appeals to you beseechingly not to write any more on theological and ecclesiastical sub- jects, and would fain persuade you to leave them to specialists Very rich suggestion this, and it is to be hopee will receive consideration. As it has been said that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," my concluding remark will be, as a mark of my good faith, and for no other reason, being unknown to you, and doubtless to all your readers, I sign mysolf, your obedient servant," J. D. JONES.

THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER." TO THE EDITOR OF THE ABERYSTWYTH OBSERVER My dear sir, Whilst fully ap-reciating your courtesy in inserting my remonstrance against a certain tine and "conduct" of the "A.O." not observable in it in past times, I am constrained by several considerations from accepting your invitation to enter the "lists" with yon. My object is not logomachy, but a respectful remonstrance against ti.e altered character—the good manners—of the Observer," which it may be is more or less owing to the evil communications and example of a con- temporary, which some Yt3ars back, when I know it, appeared to thrive on low ribaldry and literary (?) garbage What do I want yon to do or ltave un- done?" Well, that's a pretty wide question, and, as I have already mentioned, I must decline to enter into it as fully as demanded; but I may permit my- self to say this—Do justice all round, and lay aside personal animus. Surely your editorial remarks on the clergymen whose sphere of labour lies in S. Michael's parish warrant my saying that to you. It is unfair to your fellow-beings, and disloyal to your Church, to foment and promote a hateful spirit of rivalry and jealousy between two parishes, the clergy and parishoners of which, though they may worship in different buildings, are yet members of one and the same Church. Another thing. Leave sacred subjects alone. 1 here refer to what I unhesitatingly must characterise as profane,—your remarks on the most holy mysteries of the Church of Christ. A correspondent at the time referred to the scanfial as sacrilegious," to which you objected but certainly it could not be on etymological grounds. One feels tempted to ask you, sir, apropos of some remarks in the column of your last issue touching the Rev A. H. Mackonochie, what period you con- sider to be the daik ages when men were groping for the light, &c." I myself should be inclined to put it down as the end of last century, and the beginning of this. I am well aware that the time during which the noble abbeys, minsters, and cathedrals were planted in our land, is by some designated as the time of darkness; and doubtless these sime people would say the days when Llan- badarn-fawr was built must have been "dark" indeed; whilst S. Michael's, Aberystwyth, with its purity and grandeur of lines- Like some tall palm the mystic fabrie sprung!— in the days of sweetness and light," when onr Puritan forefathers affecting the pure and unde- filed "-heu miserandi proavi-showed what they considered worthy as the early sanctuary of the Most High, Four white-washed walls, with plaster cornice round. A lofty gallery and a preaching box, With narrow staircases, and aairower paths, Where blessed sounds of gospel utterances- Another sospel, which is not another,— Boom oiv" upon the first day of the week. And what blessed, enlightened tidings were those boomed forth by the Georgian pteacher as pure and undefiled When with a system and self-confidence Apocalyptic visions he unfolds; Builds up, casts down, or well explains awny Levels exalted truths for earth's low plains, Turns inside out deep mysteries of old, Making the rugged pathway clear and smooth; Or, mystifying messages of love, Curses good works, and rudely damns the Pope Or, dipping deeper in sectarian lore, Draws up the blessed doctrine of free grace, A modern, feeble, legless phantasm- Man a machine, worked only by his God, A plough, a wheel: owns vegetable life; Is not the potter potent with his clay ? Sure, he but does what wills he, with his own I have been led on much further than was my intention, and here I shall summarily put a stop to my peB, trusting my remarks will not, owing to their length, inconvenience you iu the matter of space at your disposal. By the bye, what does your sapient correspondent mean when he says a grain of com- mon sense is worth a load of logic"? In your part of the world do the two belong to different spheres ? Here, outside Offa's Dyke, logic is the science which regulates common sense! H. D. MORGAN. [W J doubt whether Mr Morgan does justice to us in what he says with regard to our remarks respecting the clergy of St Michael's, asd we do not admit that anything has been published in this paper with the intention, nor with the necessary result, of fomenting and promoting a hateful spirit of rivalry between two parishes. As to our leaving sacred subjects alone, we see no reason why newspapers should not deal with religious questions. Our Saviour associated with publicans and sinners, and we believe that religion should enter into every state and condition of life contact with the world cannot injure it. As to the dark ages," we could not well consider that the periods when our noble abbeys, miusters ani cathedrals were erected-if the people were equally good in all other respects- were very dark; certainly we do not think that the erection of a cathedral can well be defined as a deed of darkness. But we cannot approve of the ridicule thrown upon the humbler edifices where many of our forefathers worshipped in days erone by, and where many of our fellow men still worship, the Almighty.—ED .]

AN EMINENT WELSH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST. By the recent death of the Rev Father Henry Bailey Maria Hughes, at Aber.*och, South Carnarvon- shire, a rather notable Welsh figure has been cut off. Father Hughes was b-rn in Carnarvon, his f ither— the Rov Howel Hughes-being curata of Llaubiblig at that time. His father dying very soon afterwards, the children were left under the guardianship of his two brothers-the Rev Thomas Hughes, Calvinistic Methodist minister, Carnarvon, and Mr Owen Hughee, Chwillan, Bangor (who is also a Calvinistic Methodist deacon). The children were brought up in the English church, but on attaining his 17th year, Henry, the eldest son, who while at college had imbibed the doctrines of the Tractarian school, entered the Roman Catholic Church. Being sent to a seminary in Portugal after completing his educa- tion, he was appointed to the charge of a parish in the same country. In a few years he returned to England, and was for some time at Pant Asaph Monastery, near Holywell, North Wales He after- wards returned to Portugal, which country he traversed as a mission apostolic. His success in this work was sc great that he was called upon by his superiors to do the same work in Spain. His linguistic abilities were of a very high order, and he was able to preach in twelve languages, and to converse in two or three more. His services as interpreter were in great request at the (Ecumenical Council in Rome, when the dogma of Infallibility was under discussion and it is cer- tainly a curious fact that the duties of explaining and conveying information to many of the foreign bishops gathered from all parts of the world should have fallen principally upon a Welshman born in Carnarvonshire Father Hughes was one of the few Roman Catholic priests who could preach in the Welsh language, and some years ago, at Bangor, he preached in the vernacular for six nights successively. As a mission apostolic, he had visited some of the Republics of South America, and also Canada, and for two or three years he had charge of the Portuguese church at Boston, United States. Father Hughes, through all his wanderings, had a passionate yearn- ing for ending his days in the land of his fathers, and some two or three years ago he prevailed upon a few powerful Catholic friends to purchase the small island of St Tudwall's, off the Carnarvonshire coast, and not far from Bardsey island, for the purpose of founding a monastery. Since that time he has been unremitting in his attention to his duties, and no doubt the exposure on a bleak island on a stormy coast hastened his end. However much we may differ from the religious opinions held by' Father Hughes, there can be no question of his zeal and earnestness, as well as his patriotism for everything thoroughly Welsh, and we may say without hesitation that in him the Principality has lost one of her pro- minent sons. Father Hughes, it should be stated, was a cousin of the late Rev John Ogwen Jones, M.A., Rbyl, one of the most prominent Calvinistic Methodst preachers of his day.

NEW LAYS OF ERIN. BY A NON-UNIONIST. THE GLORIOUS SUIT OF TWEED. I sing a song of Erin, and of Erin's martyred son, O'Brien the undaunted, who no blue serge would don 0, faithless is the Saxon, and no faith wid him we'll keep, For he shtole O'Brien's breeches whilst the darlint lay ashleep! Nor his breeches shotole they only. but his coat and waistcoat too They left him in his nightshirt, the boy so brave and thrue. But win the ghastly morning that foul theft did re- veal, His wounded lion's roaring thro' all the jail did peal His face beneath the bedclothes the governor did hide, The ruffian turnkeys thrimbled, the recreant math- rons cried. The caitiff landlords oowered in their castles and their halls, For that roar became a tundher, as it passed the dungeon walls. And from shore to shore of Erin the avenging war- cry wint. "They have shtolen O'Brien's breeches, and we will pay no rint." But he, the marthyred innocent, in his bed now calmly lay, Clad in his saintly nightshirt, night by night, and day by day For he knew the hour was coming whin the Saxon foe he'd flout, And from shore to shore of Erin would resound his thriumph shout. For Oireland niver fails her sons in direct hour of need, And pathriot hands were shaping fast a glorious shoot of tweed. In vain doth ghoulish Balfour o'er his victim's tor- tures gloat; Vain, vain the damned larceny of breeches, vest, and coat! O! massive are the prison walls, and shtout the prison doors, And the peelers thramp and thramp widout, and turnkeys crowd the floors But Oireland's love and Oireland's might mocks walls and bolts and bars. And soon a song of victory rises upward to the shtars. For in his cell thriumphant shtands, from touch of blue serge freed, O'Brien as a conquerer grand in his glorious shoot of tweed. *CLOONLOO, Co. Sligo. The Rev. P. Filan, C.C., presided. Resolved :—" That we cannot find words to express the delight that exists amougst the mem- bers of this branch at the cheerful news we have heard of the pure-souled patriot, WM. O'BRIEN, be- ing clad in a new suit of tweed. "-Reports of branch meetings of the National League, United Ireland, December 17th, 1887. "THE LIBERAL UNIONIST."

"THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH THE CURSE OF WALES." The Werin," in an article on the "Established Church, the curse of Wales," says :-We consid. r that the heading of our aiticle is strongly-worded, but we conscientiously believe that it is not a grain too extreme, as we intend shewing further on. Let it be understood at the outset that we intend to de"l with the Church as it is a State institution, and not in any other sense. We doubt whether the Estab- lished Church can call itself a hristian Church in the proper sense of the word, because the essence of Christianity is "not of this world" whereas "this world is the foundation of the State Church this world" prompted Heury VIII. to establish il,, "this werld" maintained it from that period until now, and this world" is its principal supporter iu our days. It is a political organisation intended for worldly purposes, viz., to secure the tithe for its clergy and the eartti for the landlords; audit it succeeds iu accomplishing this, it will have achieved the aim ef its ambition. What but securing the tithe is at the reot of proselytism carried on in several neighbour- hoods just now. Tiie clergy's consiences are forced to admit that more wholesome aud more spiritual food is to be had in the Nonconformist chapels, and yet the clergy strive their utmost to allure Noncon- formists to perish within the naked and damp walls of the churches.

BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES." From The Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette. When one has visited the Royal Dockyards at Woolwich and Chatham, and inspected the great ships of war with their powerful armament which the Admiralty are providing for the protection of Her Majesty's extensive coast lines, he is at once sati-fied that "Britannia still rules the Wales." While there are obvious differences of opinion between experts relative to the value of large and small war-ships in action, one has only to come to Portsmouth Harbour and see such formidable ships as the Inflexible," the IronDuke," the Devasta- tion," and others of equal armament, costing up- wards of a million sterling to produce, with myriads of small torpedo craft, to become convinced that in the ma ter of naval construction, England is not only keeping abreast with other countries but is excelling them. Portsmouth Dockyard and Portsmouth Harbour are names familiar throughout the civil- ised world. It is here that all the war vessels and magnificent troopships of Her Majesty's service are, fitted out for foreign stations. It is said that these ships are supplied with every conceivable necessity for the comfort of the officers and men every precaution is taken to provide against sick- ness and disease caused by the sudden change of climate to wh.ch troops are subjected. It is said that every vessel belonging to Her Majesty's service leaving Portsmouth is not considered ready for sea without a liberal supply of St. Jacobs Oil. This marvellous remedy is not only used extensively on shipboard, but also in the several dockyards above mentioned. Mr Frederick who lives at 62, Gladstons street, Lamport, Ports- mouth, and who has been connected with the fortsmouth Dockyard for upwards of fourteen years, hands us the par- ticulars of the most miraculous cure effected by the use of St. Jacobs Oil in the case of his wife, who for eight years had been a fearful sufferer from rheumatism. Her limbs and shoulders were swollen to three times their natural size her arms and hands were shapeless; much of the time her right shoulder was swollen to that extent that the top of tiie shoulder and the side of her face came to- gether, and she suffered the most intense pain. Four years ago the disease settled in her back, making her completely helpless, the heart became so much involved that she was unable to make the slightest exertion without experiencing great difficulty in breathing. The only way she could lie in bed was by having the back of a chair set up behind her and padded the pillows. Her husband was obliged to carry her up and downstairs, night and morning, and she suffered such excruciating agony that she repeatedly fainted away. She became so much reduced in flesh that Mr Payne says she was little more than a skeleton, she was treated by the best medical skill in Portsmouth and vicinity employing four medical gentlemen in all, each of whom told her and her husband that they could do nothing what- ever for her—that her case was chronic and past all hope of recovery. Her case was considered by her neighbours and members of the church to which she belongs as past help Last summer the medical man then in attendance upon Mrs Payne said, that she "might possibly be made more comfortable and her life prolonged if she was taken away from Portsmouth and the salt air to some inland town but that she could never recover. Acting on his advice Mr Payne had her taken to a small town in Sussex for a few weeks, and here follows a very interesting and most provi- dential circumstance. It seems that the lady to whose house Mrs Payne was carried had herself tben cured of rheumatism in the shoulder by the use of St; Jacob's Oil and was very urgent in her request for Mrs Payne to try it! In less than five minutes after the first application Mrs i'ayne began to experience cessation from pain. After the second application the pain had almost entirely dis- appeared, and before the contents of one bottle was ex- hausted, the pain and swelling had entirely gone and although weak and feeble, Mrs Payue could walk about the house and grounds. Prom that time on she made a most satisfactory, rapid, and permanent recovery. Both Mr Payne and his wife say that she has not been as well as she is now for fourteen years. Mr and Mrs Payne are most respected people, both are members of the Wes- leyan Chapel in Lamport, and Mr Payne, as above stated has been employed at Portsmouth Dockyard for fourteen years. They have the names of the medical men who attended her; also the name and address of the lady to whose house she was taken at Sussex. Mrs Payne will be happy to furnish this lady s address as well as further particulars of her wonderful cure, to any who may desire to communicate with her. The above was such a remarkable case that some of the chemists and dealers in Lamport were called upon with the object in view of obtaining further information respecting this marvellous remedy, among others, Mr Timothy White, 158 and 160, Commercial Road, Lamport, Portsmouth, when interviewed, stated that the demand for this popular remedy was rapidly increasing, that he never buys less than sixty dozen at one order. When a remedy possesses such remarkable curative proper- ties as those above mentioned, it is not to be wondered at that Her Majesty's troopships are never considered ready for sea until a supply is on board.