The Aberystwith Observer

ABERYSTWYTH WEATHER REPORT. Temperature. Max. Min. Rain. Wind. Sunshine Feb. 4 47-0 43-0 s.w. Nil. 5 47-0 43-0 002 N.W. Nil. 1) 6 45'0 38-0 N.w. 4 hours „ 7 47-0 36'0 S.E. 6 Lours p, 8 44*0 34-0 S.S.E. Nil. I „ 9 45*0 37*0 0*02 s. 1 hour j „ 10 55-0 58-0 0*18 N.W. Nil. The record is taken each morning at 9 o'clock

The Town Clerk asked if there had been any communication from any person about removal. The Chairman: None whatever. Professor Jones pointed out that 44 votect against Aberystwyth. The Mayor proposed the re-election of Mr Vaughan Davies and Mr Greaves to represent the society on the committee o £ the R.A.S.E. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Lord Harlech was appointed a vice-president, and Mr Richard Jones, of Towyn, was elected to the Council. Major Lloyd Hughes was elected on the Council in place of Mr George R. Pryse. who represented Cardiganshire. On the motion of the Mayor, seconded by Mr Richards, a vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman.

PENYGARN. OBITUARY.—The death of lNlrs Jenkins, Dole, Penygarrr, took place on the sth inst. after a short illness. Her husband predeceased her some years ago. She left a son, Mr Tom Jenkins, of the General Post Office, London, and Mrs Edward Pierce, London, and Miss Jenkins, Dole, daughters,, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt. The funeral takes place at Garii Ceme;ery to-day (Wednesday).

BLAENPLWYF. COMPETITIVE. MEETING. competitive mee ing- was held at the above place on Friday. The chair was taken by Mr R. K. Jones, J.P., Aberllolwyn, and Mr Charles Davies, Figure Four, acted as conductor. The adjudicators were, music, Mr J. C. McLean, F.R.CO., Aberystwyth; miscellaneous, Prof. T. A. Levi, M.A., Ll.B., Aberystwyth. The duties of secretary were carried out by Mr John G- Lloyd, Pentre, Llarfarian, and those of treasurer by Mr J. J. Davies, Fr.indea'. The principal awards w«e as follow Choir, Hwy ddtgasant fy Hglwydd ymaith," Aberystwyth, conducted by Mr Tom Morgan, South road; male voice party, "Awn ben yr Wydd'fa," Mr Tom Morgan and party, Aberystwyth quartette, Fonedd gwiw diffrowcli yo. lion," Mr Tom Price jtnd partv, Aberystwyth; quartette, "Yrynysmon," Mr 1). II. Williams and party, Aberyst- wyth; trio, "Duw byda drugarog," Mr D. H. Williams and party; soprano solo, "Morwynig y ffynon," Miss Eunice "Lewis, Aberystwyth contralto solo, Miss Mary Jones, Aberystwyth tenor solo, Bradwriaeth y don," Mr Isaac Hopkins, Aberystwyth solo for children under 19, "Beth. fydcl y cynhauaf Miss Jenkins, Blaenplwyf; im- promptu speech, "The Welsh language," Mr Jenkins, Tyhen; duett, Sibrwyd yr awel," IVlr J. J. Evans, Aber- ystwyth, and friend.

HOCKEY. OSWESTRY v. ABERYSTWYTH COLLEGE. These teams met at Oswestry on Saturday. The visitors won the toss and decided to play with the slope. The visitors' forwards, who were very smart on the ball, m>ide a determined attack on the Oswestry goal, and in the course of it Humphreys scored for them. Oswestry fought hard to make the scores even, but Evans and Morgan played a strong game and defended their goal successfully. Jenkins, on the College right wing, beat all opposition and added a second goal. The visitors were now all over the home defence, and it was only by vigorous tackling that Sheather was able to keep them from scoring Z, further goals. The visitors continued to have the better of the play in the second half, and goals were added by Henry and Jenkins. Then Finchett, after beating the backs, opened the score for the home team. From the bully off, Highnin gained possession, and, after beating Evans, passed to Denniss, who netted the ball. In ths last few minutes of the game, Henry added a fifth goal for the visitors, and the final result was :—Aberystwyth, 5 goals; Oswestry, 2 goals.

CWM-MERFYN. SILOA CHAPEL --A successful competitive meeting was held at this chapel on Satur- day evening, Mr J. O. Jones in the chair. The Rev E. J. Davies, Capel Bangor, and Mr Davies, C.M., Rhydypenau, were the adjudi- cators. The awards were made as follows :— Solo for children under 10, Kate Mary Williams and Lizzie Jenkins (equal) recita- tion for children under 12, Kate M. Williams and Lizzie Hughes (equal) solo for children under 15. Sally Evans two verses, "CoIled Colli Oedfa." P.O. Davies, Goginan soprano solo, Jane E. Evans and Polly Jenkins (equal); the Ten Commandments, to be recited by two, Susannah Edwards and Mabel O. Jones baritone solo, Johnny Williams recitation, Bedd y Dya Tlavvd," Mabel O. Jones letter from prodigal son, John Ponterwyd children's party, party conducted by William Evans octette, prize divided between Pen- rhyncoch and Penbont. The following also contributed to the programme —Eunice Lewis. Jane E. Evans, Lizzie Owen, and Mrs Saycell.

A LIVING AND ADVANCING CHURCH." THE draft scheme of the Welsh Federa- tion of the Free Church Councils Organ- isation for the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church in Wales has met with severe but well-merited criticism. Itig proposals are so unjust and savour so much of sectarian jealousy and animus against the Church that they have aroused no enthusiasm among the more sober and ir-minded supporters of the Government. the Church in Wales had been decreasing aumbers or in vigour or in her hold upon people, something might perhaps be said lor the drastic proposals of the Welsh Dissenters. But the precise opposite is the case, as we propose to show. As long ago as 1891 Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE affirmed from his place in the House of Commons that— Undoubtedly the Established Church in Wales is an advancing Church, an active Church, a living Church, and I hope very distinctly a rising Church, fro21 elevation to elevation. But great though the advance had been for the thirty or furty years previous to 1891, it has been accelerated since that day- Judged by any standard the Church in Wales is fulfilling her high mission more completely every year. As far as spiritual progress can be gauged by statistics the official figures of the four Welsh dioceses confirm the weighty testimony of Mr. GLADSTONE and of other qualified observers. that the Church is active and advancing. For instance, we that in the largely rural diocese of St. David's, while the increase of population between 1381 and 1901 was under six per cenc., the figures for the perjod between 1877 and 1905 show a far greater proportionate progress. Thus there was an increase in the parochial clergy l'rom 440 to 517 in Sunday services, from 789 to 1.218 iu communi- cants, from 26,589 to 63,565: in Sunday scholars, from 25,000 to 47,847 in baptisms, from 18,572 infants and 426 adults in the three years commencing with 1877 to 15.033 iufants and 953 adults in the three years commencing with 1903 in those con- firmed, from 5.909 in the three years com- mencing with 1877 to 10.800 in the three years commencing with 1904. Since 1877, twenty-two new parishes have been formed, 104 new churches built, and 290 churches enlarged or restored. Between 1874 and 1906 inclusive, ,6688.312-was expended on church building, restoration. and furniture, as compared with£3i4,48.5 (exclusive of sums under £500) expended upon the same objects between 1840 and 1873 inclusive. The annual average of the voluntary con- tributions raised in the diocese towards different Church purposes for the three years commencing with 1903 was £ 97,889, <18 compared with a corresponding- annua! average of £ 66,312 for the three years commencing with 1890. Turning to the more urban diocese of Llanciaff, we find that in Cardiff, for instance, the population increased from 82.000 in 1881 to 164,000 in 1901 the parishes increased in number from 6 to 13, the churches from 17 to 38, the clergy from 22 to 46, and the church accommodation from 7.870 to 16.874. In the district which }l'Y'>" incJud\!s the town of Barry, with the Barry Docks, the population was 619 in 1&85 but in 1901 it had risen to 25,669. In 1885 the number of churches and clergy was four and three respectively; in 1905 there were 11 churches and 9 clergy respec- tively. In the Rhondda Valley, where in 1883 the population numbered 85,000, there were seven churches and 10 mission rooms, with a seating accommodation of 4,930; in 1905 the numbers had been increased to 20 churches and 26 mission rooms, providinp- aecommodation for 17,000 out of a popula- tion which by this time had grown to < 113,735, Within the same period the number of clergy had increased from 14 to 43. and eight new parishes had been formed and endowed. Similar evidence could be adduced in relation to the North Wales dioceses of Bangor and St. Asaph, and when the facts ¡ collected by the Royal Commission upon the Church in Wales are published it will be seen that the Church is stronger at the present time than any other religious body m Wales and if her present rate of pro- gression be maintained, her adherents will in a comparatively few years outnumber those of all the Nonconformist sects put together. A perception of these facts no doubt accounts for the extreme anxiety of the political Nonconformists, to. force a measure of Disestablishment to the front without further delay. They realise that it is "now or never" with them. and they further have a very strong suspicion (which we believe to be well founded) that the masses in Wales—including not a few of the Nonconformist laity as distinguished from their ministers a.nd leaders—are be- coming more or less indifferent to proposals for the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church. This is partly owing to a more and accurate knowledge of the facts of the case, through the efforts of the Church Defence and Instruction Committee, and partly, we think, to a realisation by the people* of th> increasingly political and un- spiritual attitude of Dissent as compared with the pastoral and directly religious work of the clergy. It remains for Churchmen both in England and Wales to take advan- 1 tage of these conditions, and by whole- hearted support of their'local and central defensive organisations to ensure that the tern tacts of the case are ever more widely known. Thus, we believe, will a selfish and unscrupulous agitation be defeated even more completely than was the previous Dis- establishment campaign which culminated in 1895,

NOTES. The new village reading room was opened at Penparke on Friday evening. Prof. Anwyl, that most indefatigable of Welsh scholars, attended to perform the opening eeremony. He spoke briefly on the good these village libraries accomplished, and looked forward to a prosperous year's work The death took place in London on Friday of Mr. W. R. M. Wynne, of Peniarth, j Towyn, Lord Lieutenant of Merionethshire. ) He was the owner of a valuable collection of Welsh MSS., and these will in all probability be transferred to the National Library of Wales. His grandfather was a well-known antiquarian, and his son, the father of Mr. W. li. M. Wynne, came into possession of the Heng-wrt collection of MSS., tormed originally by Robert Vaughan in the 17th centurv. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Aberystwyth Infirmary and Cardiganshire General Hospital was held on Saturday. Captain Cosens presided over a smaller attendance than in previous years. The annual report showed a slight deficit on the (le I year's working, and there was some criticism as to the cost of electric lighting. The total cost of this luminant was a few shillings short of £ 40, and facts were adduced by Captain James, chairman of the Free Library Committee, to demonstrate the savings effected at the Library by the use of gas. The Committee have promised to con- sider the question, but we hope before they decide upon the substitution of gas for electric light they will weigh the dis- advantage of having gas in sick wards. It is common knowledge that oxygen is used up at a great rate by gas lights, and on the grounds of health electric light should be retained in the sick wards. The suggestion i made by the Rev. George Eyre Evans that :71 a "Hospital Sunday" should be established in the town and district is one worthy of the earnest consideration of the management. Six months work is hardly long enough in which to judge of the value of an institution like the West Wales Sanatorium for the treatment of consumptives, but we gather from the report presented to the annual meting of the Governors that already a considerable number of patients have been treated with satisfactory results. At the end of the year 20 patients were undergoing treatment, and from this we must conclude that the institution is well started on its merciful mission of succour for those who fall victims to the dread scourge of con- sumption. The good that such a beneficient institution can accomplish in helping to cneck the spread of the disease will largely depend upon the patients themselves care- f fully following out the rules laid down for the treatment of the disease in the homes of the people, and here local authorities may materially assist hv directing their officials to pay close attention to the sanitation of dwellings. The importance of having the Welsh coast resorts fittingly placed before the public at the International Exhibition to be held at the White City, London, this year, is, we are pleased to note, recei ving the close attention of the Cambrian Railway officials, and with the object of securing combined action a conference of the various local authorities and the railway officials will shortly be held. The International Exhibition officials propose to allocate a portion of the White City to models of the chief holiday resorts of the world, and in this connection an opportunity is afforded the "Welsh coast towns of bringing before the cosmopolitan crowds that yearly flock to the Exhibition the great beauties of the Welsh scenery. We hope the Aberystwyth Town Council will see that the claims of the Queen of Welsh watering places receives due recognition; and if it should be put 4P forward that the available funds are limited the Council might see their wav to curtail the usual summer advertising and instead make a special effort in producing a model of the town and bay, which would arrest the attention of sight-seers and attract visitors to the district. At the meeting of the Cardigan County Council held in November it was resolved not to exercise the compulsory powers vested in the Council under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act. This evidently has not found favour with a section of the Council, and accordingly a notice of motion to rescind the resolution has been signed by eleven members of the Council, and it will come before the Council at its meeting on Thursday. The Nonconformist Prpss seems greatly perturbed over the attention drawn to the decrease in their numbers in Wales, and to the inference naturally drawn from the fact, viz., that dissent is on the wane in the Principality. Whatever explanation may be offered by the Free Churches as to the net increase as a result of the revival, the figures, which are quoted in one of their leading organs for this purpose, show clearly that, though they may attract a large number of people to their ranks during the excitement of a revival, they are apparently unable to retain their hold upon a con- siderable number thus enrolled £ or instance, in the, figures referred to above, in the case of the Welsh Wesleyans, Welsh Calvinistic Methodists, and-Welsh Congregationalism, w 11 a decrease is shown for the past two years, which in each case is larger in 1907 than in 1906, amounting in the two years to 10,322; and to these are added the decrease in Wesleyans in the Cardiff and Swansea districts, and in the Welsh Baptists for the year 1907, amounting to 6,392, making a total decrease of 16,714. Comparing these figures with those of the Church, we must conclude that while the latter show steady increase and progress the former show exactly the reverse. Another great nourish of trumpets has been sounded by the Welsh disestablishes, this time at Carmarthen, where an afternoon conference and an evening meeting were held. But they do not seem to have been very happy gatherings. The afternoon con- ference was perhaps noticeable for the apologies for absence sent by Welsh M.P.s who bad promised to attend, and for the number of political agents who are reported to have taken part in the proceedings. Desparate efforts seem- to have been made to prod the Government into some sort of action with regard tp Disestablishment, and to intimidate Mr. Lloyd George in particular. The evening meeting is best' described by a correspondent who writes as follows: I attended the public meeting of | the Liberationists held last night at Carmar- then. The meeting was from every point of view a complete failure. It must be remembered that it bad been thoroughly boomed, with the promise of half a dozen members of Parliament but alas! only one turned up at the public meeting. The deelgates that attended the conference were chiefly preachers." The fact is, Disestablishment is not wanted by the Welsh people, but only by a party of political agitators. The annual meeting of subscribers to the Aberystwyth Entire Horse Society was held on Monday. Sir Edward Webley Parry- Pryse, Barr., presided over a smaller attend- ance than in former years. It was agreed to change the date of the show from the first Monday in April to Monday, the 3rd of May, and to add a thoroughbred class to the list of prizes. The Inland Revenue officials have dis- covered a new sort of hen that lays the golden egg of income tax, for at the meeting of the Aberystwyth Rural Council on Mon- day a claim was received for the payment of £7 lis. on the profits made on the water supplies of Borth, Llanbadarn, and Tre'r- ddol. As a matter of fact Tre'rddol receipts on account of the water supply do not cover the actual cost of construction, and in respect to Llanbadarn no allowance appears to have been made for repayment of principal and interest. These items are not included in the working expenses, and for that reason no allowance is made. The Rev. N. Thomas' suggestion that the Government were hard up for cash was an obvious deduction but what a poor sort of hen roost this is to rob. The Rev. M. Jones Powell, D.D., vicar of St. Michael's, presided over the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Aberyst- wyth branch of the N.S.P.C.C., which was held on Friday, and deliyered one of his customary well-thought-out speeches. He said the Society met with some criticism from people who were prepared to criticise anything, but be had been informed by a prominent physician that the work done by the Society was admirable. There are ppople always to be found on the look out to catch the Society tripping, but their opportunities in this direction are very few and far between, and they rarely succeed in their object. It is impossible to measure the sterling worth of the Society's work by an occasional prosecution in the courts, for the real work mainly consists in preventing cruelty, and here an immense amount of 2'ood has been done. There were no prose- cutions in Aberystwyth district during the Z, year, although 14 cases of complaint were inquired into. These concerned the welfare of 57 children, and 13 of the cases were of exposure and neglect. It is satisfactory to note that a warning word brought about the necessary improvement in the treatment of the children.

HUNTING. GOGERDDAN FOXHOUNDS. MEET Weather permitting. Friday, Februry 12th Goginan. At 10.30 a.m. Tuesday, Fob. 16th Cwmrhaidr Rock At 11.

WELSH NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members and sub- scribers to the Welsh National Agricultural Show was held at the Lion Hotel, Aberyst- wyth, at nuon to-day (Wednesday). There were present Messrs Vaughan Davies, M.P., Geo. R. Pryse, C. M. Williams, ex-mayoe; Major Hughes, Alltlwyd, Edwin Morris, Arthur Jones, L.C. & Midland Bank (hon. treasurer), Maxwell Wood, Dr James, D. Lewis, Llanrhystyd, G. Checkland Williams, T. Edwards, Great Darkgate street, Prof. Bryner Jones, J. Pugh, iVncwmmawr, J. T. Davies, mayor, Evan Richards, Penuwch, Rufus Williams, A. J. Hughes, town clerk, and Mr T. Loveden Pryse, general manager. On the proposition <>f Major Hughes seconded by the Ex-Mayor, Mr Vaughan Davies was voted to the chair. Letters regretting inability to be present were received from Lord Harlech, Sir H. Aubrey Fletcher, M.P., Sir Powleit Milbank, Messrs R. M. Greaves, Portmados, Hugh Peel, Ellesmere, W. Forrest r Addie, Welsh- pool, and Evan Jones, Llandilo. The Chairman said many from North Wales were unable to be present owing to the funeral of Mr Wynne, of Peniarth, whose death had been not only a loss to Merioneth but to Wales generally, COUNCIL'S REPORT. The report of the Council was as follows :— We are pleased to be able to report that H.R.H. the Prince of Wales has consented to the society awarding a silver medal to the winner of His Royal Highness' challenge cup for Welsh cobs. The Council are pleased to be able to submit a balance sheet showing a credit of aElO 7s 4d on the year's working, which ohey consider very creditable. Member-- ship again shows an increase, eleven new members having been elected during the year. The best thanks of the society are due to the Right Hon. Lord Harlech for kindly acting as president for the past year, and we are glad to be able to announce that the Right Hon. Sir H. Aubrey Fletcher, Bart., P.O., M.P., has kindly consented to act as his successor. The Council, with a view to ascertaining the wishes of every member on the question of the location of the show for 1909, decided to take the vote of the members. The voting cards having been received and counted, the follow- ing is the result For Aberystwyth 145 Elsewhere 49 Total 194 Total 194 Two voting papers spodt two voted neutral. The above figures being classified were :-From outside the union of Aberystwyth—61 voted for Aberystwyth, 44 for elsewhere. Voters inside the union of Aberystwyth— 84 voted for Aberystwyth, 5 for elsewhere. We are pleased to be able to report that a Bill has been intro- duced into Parliament with reference to clear- ing the hills and commons of undesirable sires. Your committee recommend that two members be elected to represent the society on the Committee of the R.A.S.E. and other bodies during the coming year. Before proceeding with the usual business the Chairman said it gave him much pleasure to present the silver medal for H.R.H. Prince of Wales' prize to Mr H. P. Edwards, Loves- grove farm. The medal was received by Mr Tom Edwards, and the Chairman congratu- lated the firm upon the splendid way in which they turned out their horses and waggons. He also presented a second prize medal to Mr J. Pugh, Pencwmmawr, and expressed the hope that breeders would endeavour to restore the old Welsh cub. The Chairman proceeded to deal with the report of the Council and balance sheet, and said that at last year's show a sum of £ 800 was taken at the gate (hear, hear). That proved that the show was not held in a corner of Wales as some people appeared to think (hear, hear). Every county in Wales was represented at the show. All that went to show that Aberystwyth was not the un- getatable place some people said it was. Personally he was willing to follow the show to any part of Wales (applause). On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Dr James, Sir Aubrey Fletcher was appointed president, and a warm vote of thanks was passed to Lord Harlech, the retir- ing president. Going on to speak of the feeling which appeared to prevail in some quarters as to the location of the show, the Chairman said Aber- ystwyth was especially well adapted for a show. Last year 23 special trains had to be accommodated, and these were matters that required proper consideration. They had been told that it would cost e300 to t450 to remove the show, but before this could be done he thought they should insist upon a gurantee fund being provided and the whole thing carried out on business lines. The Town Clerk said the Mayor and himself had been asked to attend and place before the meeting copies of resolutions passed by a committee of the Council in which whilst they were ready to support the removal of the show subject to the society being indemnified against any loss they repudiated any sugges- tion that the Council was influenced by selfish motives in supporting the town's claim. The Town had supported the show because they believed it was in the interests of the society that it should be held at Aberystwyth. If it was necessary to obtain a guarantee of £1,000 or more for the National Eisteddfod it was equally necessary to have a like fund for that show. He asked that copies of the resolution should be placed on the minutes of the society. Prof Bryner Jones said they could not shut their eyes to the fact that there "as a strong feeling outside that the show should be held elsewhere and he thought the Council should make a definite recommendation upon that point. He was of opinion that the Council should have recommended the removal of the 1910 show, and in order to allay suspicion he asked that it should be made clear that sub- ject to a guarantee being provided Aberyst- wyth people did not desire to retain the show. Mr George R. Pryse felt very much the same as the previous speaker. He believed if the show was moved more members would join, and he thought the Council ought to be respon- sible for a certain policy. The Town Clerk pointed out there was nothing before them in the way of applications for the show's removal. Mr Loveden Pryse said Anglesey, Pembroke, and even Glamorgan went strongly for Aber- ystwyth. Mr C. M. Williams said in 1908 Aberystwyth received 43 votes, but this year the votes had gone up to 61. In contrast to this he showed that Welshpool received only 7 as against 17 last year, Cardiff 2 against 6, Wrexham 1 against 2, Llandrindod 1 against 2, Swansea 2 against 2, Bangor, Carnarvon, Rhyl, Denbigh and Mold 1 each. There were 30 odd votes in favour of "elsewhere," provided sufficient funds were guaranteed. He could assure the meeting that Aberystwyth would support the show elsewhere if it could be shown that its removal would be an advantage. He paid a warm compliment to the work of Mr Loveden Pryse as general manager. The Chairman said he ruled the recommenda- tion referred to by Professor Jones out of order because the Council had only to deal with the show of 1909, but they could bring forward the question of removal upon giving notice. He-held that under the present condition of things they were bound to be guided by a vote of the members.

TREGARON BREWSTER SESSIONS TUESDAY. Before Mr D J Williams, chairman, Rev D Edwardes, Rev T R Davies, Dr Lloyd, Messrs Peter Dil vies, Evan Evans, and DD Evans. In his report Supt. Jones stated there were 9 seven-day licenses, 25 six-day licenses, and one wine license in the division, which gave a percentage of 233"58 persons to each publie house exclusive of the wine license. Thirty- one persons had been proceeded against for drunkenness, being au increase of 8 on the previous year. All were convicted and fined except one female tramp who was proceeded against for having been drunk in ekarge of a child under 7 years of age, and dismissed with a caution. A blacklister was one of those proceeded against and fined. The licensee of the Crown and Anchor, Tregaron, was pro- ceeded against for permitting drunkenness and for selling intoxicating liquors to a drunken person was convicted and lined on both. charges. The licensee of the Cross Inn, Lianddewi Brefi, was proceeded against for keeping open during prohibited hours, and was convicted and fined, and charge of selling intoxicating liquors during prohibited hours against him was withdrawn on payment of costs. Two were transferred during the year and one occasional licence had beei granted. The Pontargamddwr Arms, Tregaron, had been sold and had been closed since November last. At the last licensing sessions five houses were referred to Quarter Sessions for compensation, three were then renewed and two. the Rhyd- galed Arms, Ystrad Meurig, and Vedw Arms, Bettws Leiki, were compensated and had since been closed. He drew attention to the Licen- sing Act of 1904, which gave power to refer bouses to Quarter Sessions for compensation if they considered a further reduction was required. There being no application for the renewal of the Pontargamddwr Arms, the licence was not granted. The Clerk was instructed to send a letter to the licensees of the Cross Inn, Llanddewi Brefi, aud the Crown and Anchor, Tregaron, against whom there had been con- victions to appear in person at the next adjourned sessions. Instructions were given to the Chief Constable to Jay objection to the following licenses: — Cross Inn, Ffair Rhos, 1 Fountain Inn, Swyddtlynon, Blue Bell, Nant- cwnlle, and King's Arms, Lledrod.

LLANILAR. DEBATING SOCIETY.—Although there were several counter attractions in the neighbouring villages, there was a good muster of members last Friday. A debate took place on Does the eisteddfod justify its existence." The affirmative was taken by Mr R. R. Roberts; Blae gader, in a well thought out paper, and he was seconded by Mr M. T. -Jones. Mr Mo-gan Edwards, leader of the' negative, lett his paper to be re -d by Mr J. Thomas, Rhosgoch. There was no one ready to second his views, ar.d after a short but very interest- ing discussion in which the following took part, Messrs E. Lloyd, Thomas, Evans, William Evans, Jonathan Davies, I). J. Benjamin, and J. J. lones, the house divided with the result that 27 voted for the eisteddfod and 9 against. Next Friday night Dr Rees will lead off in the debate That the last Licensing Bill should tend to make the country more sober," and will be opposed by Mr M. T. Joues.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS. DEATHS. JENKINS.—February 5th, at Oak Honse* Dolau, in the parish of Cynniillmawr, Margaret Jenkins, aged 76 years. WILLIAMS,—February 5th, at Bryntirion Upper Borth, David Williams, a^ el 45 years