The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser

"EIN DEWI SANT." TO-DAY the celebration of St. David's Day as a world-wide festival marks an epoch in the national progress. After ages of comparative obscurity the sons of Wales rank with honour amongst the fore- most people of the earth. The anniversary of the Patron Saint not only finds his country far more prosperous and progressive than at any his- torical period, but marks the opening of an even greater age. Therefore, Welshmen have cause to know St. David's Day as symbolic of the nation and national evolution with feelings of gratitude, with national pride, and with the quickening of that love of, and that sacrifice for country for which the sons of the Principality are so justly famed. The honour paid to the anniversary of the Welsh Saint has kept pace with the growth of the nation. St. David's Day is no longer a local festival, observed perhaps by a few enthusiasts in remote places ,but honoured in every city and every land. Throughout England, throughout the Empire, nay, throughout the world, Welshmen at home will be joined by their brethren in honour- ing the land of their birth. The celebration of great and national events should be encouraged as an incentive to patriotism in the highest sense, and every Welshman will realise again on the present occasion that he is a unit of the national life. and that by individual conduct the reputation of a country is enhanced or marred. Welshmen, too, at the shrine of St. David will sacrifice the incense of sentiment. Wales is regarded with astonishment by the peoples of more essentially utilitarian views as a race which has a dual ex- istence; a race of poets and practical business men. Poetry and song must not be sacrificed to commerce, for upon the individuality of Wales depends the national greatness. In the mainte- nance of distinct national life also the highps* characteristics are preserved, and the celebration of St. David's Day and other national festivals has a strong tendency to prevent the national being swallowed up by the international, and the finer traits effaced.

Editorial Notes. When the Radical-Nonconformist-Millennium dawns upon this wicked world, how good and pro- per everyone will be. Man's fleeting sojourn upon old mother earth, celestial beatitude ,in the lan- guage of the old hymn, "Like a little heaven be- low." Everyone will have been cast in the same mould, with a ready-made equipment of rigorous religious views and opinions, and exalted minor morals. In this tropical atmosphere now one wjll even discover that to be exactly like millions of other saintly atoms is a drab, dreary, tortuous existence, before which even the most imaginativr retribution of the wicked pales into insignificance. Fortunately for the peace of mind of the average man the Radical Nonconformist Utopia is likely to remain a purely mythical creation. But the Radical pretensions to leaven the earth are non, the less ludicrous. Under the guise of pious pro- testation the Puritans are eternally claiming not only their own legitimate share of this world's goods, but the whole earth. Everything, neither conceived in the Radical camp or to be annexed, is immediately banned. Had the Education Act of 1902, for example, owed its inception to the Radicals, what a just and beneficial enactment that would have been. Even Old age pensions," or Three acres and a cow" would be sinsterly regarded as the heighth of legislative waste and folly without the Radical label. The Radical Caucus on the Pembrokeshire County Council have mendaciously substituted the Radical-Nonconformist label for public policy, until friends and opponents have alike become weary of the game. Was it a Voluntary School?- Starve it and give the surplus, in addition to rate aid, to the Council School. Was it a Church teacher?—Pay a low salary, and refuse legitimate demands on any pretext, that the teachers who bow to our decree may have additional remunera- tion. Was it a Churchman ?—Let him pay rates for the teaching of Nonconformist children, but debar him from educating his own children. At any rate, he must take what is left. Are we reaping what Churchmen and Conservatives have sown?—Surely the country could have had no edu- cational fabric until the advent of the Radical Caucus on the County Council. Are we putting money into our pockets, because someone else had the wisdom and foresight to erect the Voluntary Schools?—Never mind. Thank Heaven our pockets are sufficiently capacious. Would the whole system of present day education have been impossible without the Education Act of 1J?02 ?— What of that. We secured election in the cry of the Iniquitous Act," and have the electors grown wiser? Meanwhile we are the Philanthro- pic Radicals, the Economic Radicals, the Con- scientious Radicals, the No-Rate-Aid Radicals, and the Passive Resistance Radicals, and has it ever cost us a farthing? Mr. G. P. Brewer is the great financial expert on the Pembrokeshire County Council. Since the lamented death of Mr. Nicholas A. Roch he has stood unrivalled. What Brewer says on financial matters is law to the Radical Caucus. With a view to the forthcoming elections Mr. Brewer's services in bolstering up the overdraft have been in great request by the powers that be. Mr. Brewer's latest statement appears in this week's lissue of the Havierfordv4es<t Telegraph," and should be found instructive reading by the elec- tors. Mr. Brewer says: The overdraft of £ 2.827 included three accounts; one of these—the police pension fund—which was overdrawn £ 234." Later, hi! refers to the adverse balances, and states: These can be adjusted in the current year." In order that there might be no possibility of an error as to the overdraft and the mortgaging of next vear's revenue, we refer to Mr. Brewer again. What the Local Government Board require in such cases is a satisfactory explanation, and which in the present case—had the auditor con- sidered it necessary to have reported it to them- could have been easily given. If the Local Govern- ment dealt with the 26,000 Local Governing Bodies under their control—three-fourths of which appear now and then to have overdrafts—by fining them £ 16,000 for having such an overdraft as £ 311 or even £3,000 as Mr. Walters suggested, it is diffi- cult to say what might happen to some of the local Councils who appear to have gone pretty deeply in the way of overdrafts. Probably Local Government would soon become extinct. With re- ference to the increase in the rate, the cause was fully explained at the County Council meeting. The increase in the last two years has been 3gd. 2 in the k." We like quoting Mr. Brewer. He states financial matters so clearly. Here we have the overdraft of £ 3,000, and the increase in the rate during the last two years of 3^d. in the £ placed absolutely beyond contradiction. Of artful Radical electioneering dodges there has been no end. No sooner is any constituency discovered to be impervious to ordinary methods of Radical attack, than the most reprehensible tactics are immediately resorted to. Perhaps the unkindest cut of all was the deliberate circulation of a rumour throughout the Ambleston Division, for which Mr. Victor Higgon is the Conservative candidate, to the effect that the tenants of the Sealyham Estate were to receive notice termina ting their present tenancies, with a view of rais- ing the rents and making the tenancies terminable on six months' notice. The rumour has been promptly contradicted, fortunately before effect- ing much damage, but the attempt to forever destroy the amicable relations, which have ex- isted for years between owner and tenants on the Sealyham Estate was a piece of electioneering utterly beneath contempt. The mischief makers have also had a right royal time in the Kilgerran Division, where with a persistency worthy of a better cause was stated than Mr. John Vaughan Colby's motor, carriages, horses and men could not legally be used to convey voters to the poll. Where a candidate happens to be absent from home the utility of circulating such reports, even when the statement is quite contrary to election law, is apparent. Then we come to the Rev. H. Evans, rector of Llangwm, who has written to the local papers to contradict the rumour deliberately circulated and repeated that that gentleman is contesting the seat in the Conservative interests. I have been requested to stand as candidate entirely apart from party politics," writes the rev. gentleman. My constituents know my position exactly." If the Radicals were only as wise as they might be. What has the Radical Caucus on the County Council done for the working classes? Nothing, except to try and lower the wages of the labourers on the roads, and deprive some poor struggling girl of her miserable pittance as a supernumary teacher. What did Mr. J. H. Griffiths, the Radical representative from St. David's on the County Council ask the other day? "Why should the roadmen on the county main roads be paid 2s. a week more than the roadmen on the district roads?" The wages of the County Council's road- men amount to the magnificent sum of 18s. a week, yet the main roads involve an outlay of Z100 per mile. In the same breadth Mr. J .Howard Griffiths supported the granting of a retiring pen- sion to the superintendent of the Joint Counties Asylum of el50 a year. But that was by no means all the Radical nostrum which Mr. J. Howard Griffiths has endeavoured to administer from time to time to the County Council's less fortunate employees. At Solva there is a unfortunate sup- plementary teacher, who, for some reason, the local managers have "got their knife" into, and to whom they are meting out the treatment usually reserved to the Education Committee for the staff- of the voluntary schools. At the last meeting of the Education Committee Mr. J. Howard Griffiths complained that the Staffing Committee had de- cided against the unanimous wishes of the local managers to give an increase of salary to a sup- plementary teacher at Solva. The reason given for the objection was that the teacher did not study sufficiently out of school hours to please "their excellencies the Solva Managers," who had threatened to resign in a body. As long as the teacher fulfilled all required of her in the school that is all the Education Committee can demand. But the matter has still to come up for revision. Perhaps after all, to satisfy "their excellencies the Solva Managers," the poor girl teacher will sacrifice her bread and butter. One of the finest tributes to the Education Act of 1902 from a Radical source we ever remember to have heard was paid by Mr. S. B. Sketch, the chair- man of the Education Committee this week. We have already shown, how previous to the passing of the Act, the existing education system of the county was chaotic, ineffectual and utterly behind the age, now let us see the contrast, now that the numerous and conflicting authorities are. united under the control of one central authority in each county, the County Council. Mr. Sketch said: The attendance of the children in the elemen- tary schools was a matter which affected not only the education of the children, but the finances of the county considerably. Since the "Appointed day" the number of scholars in attendance at the schools had increased by about 1,000, which meant increased grants of about £2,000 a year. While the financial consideration was an im- portant one, what he set most vilue on was the education of 1,000 additional children in the county." So say we all Mr. Sketch, but "Honour where honour is due," to the Education Act ol ) 1901. If there be wisdom in a multitude of counsel- lors the Radicals possess a distinct advantage. A perfect Babel of tongues, all clamouring different statements, on the platform, and through the not less effective medium of publicity, the Press. The correspondence columns of our Radical con- temporary the Haverfordwest Telegraph" are 0 swollen with a deluge of letters, anonymous and otherwise, and which, so far as they refer to state- ments published in the "Herald," may be very 1 easily dealt with here. The anonymous correspon- dent who shelters himself behind thenom deplume ? of "Fair Play," and asks WThy don't these grum- blers come out like men and fight their battle c fairly, and not hit a man behind his back," writes, "I should think the reply of the Rev. James j Phillips to the most scandalous attacks made c upon him ought to satisfy any fair-minded readers, t As a member of the Education Committee I can vouch for the accuracy of his statement. The c case of Miss Ruth Evans is quite different, as in I this instance, the age limit does not apply. Miss t Evans withdrew her resignation and was allowed to go on at the old salary. If there had been any 1 objection to it why did not the sectarian mem- ] bers raise a protest at the Managers' meeting? We heard no complaint until now, when it would appear to some readers a suitable bogey to use as an election cry. The writer of the article in last week's "Herald" now says that owing to Miss ( Skyrme being a member of the Church of Eng- land she did not get the appointment. There were five or six applicants of equal merit to Miss Skyrme, and I should like to ask why should she be singled out as the martyr? But if such had been the case,- I say if-what has any sec- tarian to grumble at ?"——Now what has any Con- servative to grumble at? Miss Ruth Evans re- signed her position. The Education Committee accepted the resignation, and advertised the vacancy at £90 per annum in the newspapers. There were several applications, of which infinitely the most suitable was that of Miss Skyrme, whose qualifications, we say. were higher than those oorfsessed by Miss Evans. Miss Skyrme was a Churchwoman, so the Education Committee ap- nroached Miss Ruth Evans, and asked her to ithpr retain, or re-accept the appointment, not at the advertised salary of P,90 a year, but at her old salary of kllo, which has sfnce been raised to £125 per annum. The whole procedure from adver- tising the "vacancy" onwards was irregular and illegal. What has any Sectarian to grumble at?" In conclusion, therefore, we are glad to see the large number of Churchmen and Conservatives who have come forward to fight the battle of jus- tice to the eoluntary schools, to strike a great blow for good education, and fair play all round. Under the Radical regime the children and teachers of Pembrokeshire have been educationally starved. If every child in Pembrokeshire is to have a fair and equal start in life the Radical Caucus must be cast adrift, and men elected to the County Council who will administer the Education Act of 1902 with impartial justice. How long the Radi- cal tyranny is to continue is a question which the electors of Pembrokeshire will be called upon to lecide on Tuesday, and if they so choose they can do much to remedy the evil by refusing their support to all those candidates who will not nledge themselves to give fairplay to all schoolt. If the ratepayers are also really desirous of keeping down the rates of the county they had better vote for the Church and Conservative candidates, who will not allow the rates to be increased under any new Radical Act of Parliament by the unneces- sary extravagance of replacing the voluntary schools by opposition buildings. Finally as a clergyman has tritely observed, let the electors vote for the retention of the Bible and less rates. Low rates are guaranteed by the use free of rent, as at present, of Church Schools, and fair playy all round is guaranteed by the present law, which offers, so far as voluntary schools are concerned, nothing to one religious body that is not offered on the same terms to every Sect in the land. John Jones is a successful tradesman, and he has a family of six children. He is a Churchman, and, as he believes in a real religious education, he sends his children to the voluntary school. His neighbour, William Jenkins, is also a success- ful tradesman, and he, too, has six children, and they are sent to the Council School. Mr. S. B. Sketch is the general manager of the educational system in Pembrokeshire, and it is interesting to note how he does his work. As John Jones and William Jenkins pay equal rates, they are entitled to equal service. But Mr. S. B. Sketch takes the greatest care that the whole of the education rates paid by John Jones and William Jenkins are used to educate the children of William Jenkins alone. Not a penny of this money is spent on John Jones's children. It is all wanted for the children of William Jenkins, so the children of John Jones "may go to hang." There are over 6,000 boys and girls in Pembrokeshire who are treated like John Jones's children. They are the helpless victims of the Welsh Revolt policy: the whole future is stunted because the Revolters do not know of any other way of worrying the parson. It is the most un-Christian thing ever done in politics.

St. Mary's Church, Haverfordwest. Sunday, March, 3rd. 3rd Sunday in Lent Holy Communion, 8.0 a.m. Matins and Holy Communion, 11.0 a.m. Benedicite, MilJer Hymn, 254, 311. Evensong, 6.0 a.m Magnificat and Nunc Dimittib, Garrett Hymns, 263, 514, 109, 252 "Story of the Cross."

Thursday, March 21—Moravian Bazaar at Tem- perance Hall. Thursday, April 4th—Mr. Hugh J. Protheroe Thomas' Social Evening at St. Martin's Parish Hall. Further particulars wil be given. I'KMBHOKKfe.HlKK AND H AVKRFOR DWKST INFIR- MARY.—uinIjer of patients in ti.e above institution, for the week anHing Fernary 23rd, 17 admitted, 2 discharged, 1 outpatients, 88. At the Tabernacle Schoolroon on Monday evening Mr and Mrs D. T. Rees entertained the members lit the Tabernacle choir to supper. An excellent repast was provided, and at the close Rev. E. Nicholeon Jones proposed a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Recs, referring to the great debt w hich the church owed Mr Rees as organist. Mr Llewellin Phillips seconded the vote, which was carried and Mr Rees suitably replied. We regret to record the sudden death on Saturbay morning last, of Mi Levi Williams, Kell Park and lormerly of Green Plain Farm. Deceased who bore all irreproachable character, was well-know n in the ilistrict as a very successful farmer. He was a Non- conformist and Liberal and for many year* senior lieacon of Salem Baptist Church. The funeral took place Wednesday. The death of Miss Patsie Lewis, Picton Place bicb took place very suddenly in London on Wednes ■ lay, removes from our midst one of chose retiring, unobtrusive souls, whom to know was one of life's most real pleasures. To tboae most intimately ac ■ juainted with Miss Lewis' memory will be cherished long as that of one possessed of a kind and generous heart, unselfish to a fault, ever with a thought for others, silently diffusing the sweetness of her win- some nature upon those piivileged to come in con- tact with her. Some years ago it will be remember ed that Miss Lewis joined with others in the conduct of a mission to the poor on the kilns and greatly endeared herself to children and others of her associates. A number of officers of the Regular Army are this week on a staff ride in West Wales. For a couple of days they had their headquarters at the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen, and proceeded to Pern lirokeshire on Wednesday, some in motor-cars, others on bicycles, their baggage being sent on by train to Nurberth and Tenby* The military visitorsinctuded General Scott and Major Cummings, Pembroke Dock Colonel Close, Cardiff Captain Southern, Captain Her bert Stepney, Captain Richards, Cap- tain Willlums, Captaiu Follet, Captain Barrett, Captain Giffard, Captain Burton, and Colonel Bam- lield, Cardiff, who were accompanied on Wednes- day by Captain Foster, the adjutant of the Car- marthenshire Royal Garrison Artillejy Militia. HAVERFORDWEST EISTEDDFOD.—The following gentlemen have very kindly promised to act as presidents at the forthcoming Eisteddfod on Whit- Monday :—Morning meeting, Sir Charles E. G. Philipps, Bart., Picton Castle; afternoon meeting, Owen Philipps, Esq., M.P., Amroth Castle; even- ing concert, His Worship the Mayor, Councillor James Reynolds. Dr. Henry Owen, of Poyston, in addition to his usual annual subscription, has kindly presented the Haverfordwest Boys' Brigade with two minia- ture rifles of the improved new century pattern, for target practice, which are highly appreciated by the boys, who promise to become crack shots. A meeting was held at the Council Schools, Saundersfoot on behalf of the candidature of Mr. C. H. R. Vickerman. Sir Charles Philipps pre- sided over a large attendance, which included Mr. Herbert Lewis (Hean Castle), Mr. H. Philipps, (Picton Castle), Mr. Richards (county Conservative agent), and Mr. Lawrence. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, dealt with the duties which de- volved upon County Council administration.—Mr. Vickerman, in an excellent speech, enfolded his electoral programme, and contradicted certain Radical rumours.—Mr. Richards spoke at length on the Education Question.—Mr. Herbert Lewis proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Lawrence (Mr. Vickerman's opponent), and carried.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS. BIRTHS. On the 23rd nit., at 52, Barn Street, in this town, the wife of Thomas Henry James, Petty Officer R.N. of a son. On the 16th ult., at 1, Ehenezer Row, in this town, the wife of Mr George Thomas, of a son. On the 24th ult.. at 16, Old Bridge, in this town, the wife of Mr Gilbert Thomas, of a son. DEATHS. On the 18th nit., at 60. Sultan Road, Portsmouth, Martha, the beloved wife of William Jenkins Thamas !ate chief writer, R.N., and sister of the late Mr William Davies, of Palmerston. IN MEMORIAM. In loving memory of Evan Owen Phillips, Dean of St. Davids, who died March 2nd, 1907. When the Lord shall summon us, Whom thou bast left behind, May we, untainted by this world, As sure a welcome find May each, Jike thee depart in peace, To be a glorious guest— Where the wicked cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest

At Northwich Rural Council meeting on Friday Mr. Watts, advocating an amendment of the regu- lations relating to children on canal boats, in- stanced cases of cruelty, and stated that it was ascertained some time ago that two children en- gaged in boat life were sold by their father for half a crown. An agreement was signed on a will' form, the parties thinking this legalised the trans- action. The Council decided to approach Parlia- I ment on the subject. f

l Appointment of Chief Constable. BY THE STANDING JOINT COMMITTEE. iR. FRED B. SUMMERS' SELECTION BY LARGE MAJORITY. iRATUITY TO THE LATE CHIEF'S WIlTOW. A special meeting of the members of the Stand- ng Joint Committee for the purpose of the ap- lointment of a new Chief Constable for the county, ,nd other business, was held at the Shire Hall on Vednesday, when Sir Charles Philipps, Bart., oc- upied the chair, and there were also present: dessrs. W. Howell Walters, E. Robinson, Egerton Ulen, T. Llewellin, A. W. Massy, E. H. James, Edward Laws, R. H. Buckby, J. Howard Griffiths, i. B. Sketch, C. Mathias, J. C. Yorke, Joseph Chomas, Colonel Ivor Phillips, Captain Gower, md Dr. Griffith. The Chairman mentioned that the Clerk, Mr. N. Davies George, was unable to be present owing o a severe attack of influenza. They regretted his ndisposition, and hoped he would have a speedy recovery. THE LATE CHIEF CONSTABLE. The Deputy Clerk read a minute of the previous meeting to the effect that the question of the granting of a gratuity to the widow of the late Chief Constable had been considered. The Deputy- Chief Constable reported that the late Chief had taken up the appointment in 1879, and died on December 15th, 1905, so that his length of sefvice was 27 years and 168 days. Under Section 12 of the Police Act of 1890 the Standing Joint Committee were empowered to grant to the widow a gratuity not exceeding the amount of one month's salary for every year's completed service. The salary of the late Chief Constable was R.390 a year, which at £32 10s. a month made the maximum gratuity which could be granted to the widow £ 877 10s. On the resolution of Dr. Griffith, seconded by Mr. E. Robinson, the consideration of the matter was adjourned until the next meeting, Lord Kensing- ton giving notice that he should move a motion to grant a gratuity to the widow of the late Chief Constable. .It was resolved that the question be considered in private. After a lengthy discussion the Chair- man stated that it had been decided to grant Mrs. Webb-Bowen £500. SELECTION OF A CHIEF CONSTABLE. The Chairman said it was resolved at the last meeting to advertise for a Chief Constable at a salary of R,300 per annum and £ 100 a year allow- ance for uniform, travelling and other expenses. The age limit was fixed at between 35 and 45, can- didates with police service coming under? the usual regulations, and all the applications were to be in by February 2nd. There were 71 applica- tions, and first of all he presumed they would take the list as read. The work of putting the ap- plications in order had been undertaken with great ability by their clerk, Mr. W. Davies George, being nominally in charge of a small committee. Mr. Massy asked if every candidate below or about the age limit were to be barred? Supposing a man was just over 45 years of age. The Chairman said if a man were 45 yesterday he would be eligible, but not otherwise, that was provided he was not a member of a police force. Mr. Egerton Allen said their Clerk had placed a D for disqualified opposite the names of a num- ber of candidates under and above the age limit. The Chairman said he had carefully considered the question of their procedure that morning, and consulted with Dr. Griffith, the chairman of the County Council, other members, and magistrates, and in the first instance each member of the Standing Joint Committee would write down the name of one candidate on a piece of paper. Every candidate who received two or more votes would have his name put to a second vote and so on, until one candidate obtained the requisite majority. Mr. Sketch proposed, and Mr Robinson seconded, that the vote should be taken by ballot, but this was negatived on a majority. Mr. Sketch enquired if a voting paper without the name of the voter attached would render the vote invalid. It was decided by a majority that all the papers must be signed. After the papers had been handed in and scrutinized, the Chairman announced the result of the voting as follows:- Fred B. Summers, assistant commissioner Burmah Police, Rangoon Town 10 H. Hickman Bromfield, captain and hon- orary major 3rd S.W. Borderers, D.S.O., present occupation land agent 3 John James, Deputy-Chief-Constable, Pem- brokeshire Police 3 Maurice Tomlin, major Yorkshire Regt. 1 Dr. Griffith then proposed the appointment of Mr. Fred Summers as chief constable of the county. Colonel Ivor Philipps seconded, and the resolu- tion was carried unanimously. THE NEW CHIEF. Mr. Fred B. Summers, the newly appointed chief constable for the county is 41 years of age, and the third son of the late E. James Bowlas Summers, Rosemoor, Pembrokeshire. He was educated at Cheltenham College, and afterwards proceeded to India, where he joined the Burmah Police in the year 1886, in which force he has continually served. He was through the Upper Burmah War of 1885-87, and received the medal and clasp for his services. He continued to serve in Upper Burmah until 1896. In 1898 he was posted to Rangoon Town, and in 1899 was selected for the post of Assistant Commissioner of Police, at Rangoon Town, with a population of 300,000, and a police force of 1,000 men, and still holds that appointment. His twenty years' experience of police work has made him thoroughly conver- sant with all its branches. He has received testi- monials, amongst others, from Sir Herbert Thirkele, and Mr. R. G. P. P. McDowell, Commis- sioner of Police, Rangoon, and an officer of twenty- seven years' police service. Mr. Fred Summers is now on his way home from India, and will arrive in England on March 10th.

To the Editor o! the Pembrokeshire Herald." Dear Sir,-A rumour has been circulated throughout the Ambleston Division, for which Mr. Victor Higgon is a candidate, to the effect that the tenants of the Sealyham Estate are to receive notice terminating their present tenancies with the object of raising their rents and making their future tenancies terminable on six months' notice. We are authorised by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Higgon to give this rumour an unqualified contradiction, and to say there is no truth in it whatever. The rumour has evidently been originated and circulated for the express purpose of prejudicing Mr. Higgon's candidature.—Yours faithfully, JAMES THOMAS & SON, Agents for the Sealyham Estate. 9, Victoria Place, Haverfordwest, 25th February, 1907. Sir,-There were 10,899 children educated in the Elementary Schools of the county, in the financial year 1905-6, of whom 5,611 were in Non-Provided or Voluntary Schools, and 5,888 were in Provided or Council Schools. The cost per head in average attendance in Coun- cil Schools was 42 16s. 5^d., and in Voluntary Schools was k2 5s. 8d., of which( as near as I can see), 1,2 Is. 2d. would come out of grants. Under the various items of expenditure we nnn Council Voluntary Schools Schools X s d £ s d Furniture 12317 3 0 4 6 Maintenances and Buildings.. 191 1 7 0 0 0 Rents 391911 0 0 0 Rates, Taxes and Insurance 144 8 6 0 0 0 Group Clerks 334 0 0 0 0 0 Loans (Repayment & Interest) 1302 17 6 0 0 0 i.e. Voluntary are responsible where 0 0 0 appears A policy which would transfer the charges from voluntary subscriptions to rates does not seem likely to commend itself to ratepayers. Yet if Voluntary Schools were destroyed this would be the result. These charges would be much in- creased by the necessity, in some cases, of build- ing new schools. But even if this policy did commend itself to the ratepayers, the method of bringing it about by understaffing the Voluntary Schools, and so injuring the children, and by underpaying the teachers, does not seem fair to either parents, scholars, teachers, or ratepayers, and to many would seem positively cruel.—Yours faithfully, GEO. C. HILBERS. Sir,-In the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph," of February 17tli, Mr. Brewer, in a long and somewhat involved letter (which must be very bewildering to those readers who are not thoroughly familiar with the subject) makes this statement, Mr. Howell Walters must have made a serious mistake in his calculations." I entirely deny that they are my calculations. The figures are not mine; they are the Auditor's, and the figures announced by the Clerk to the assembled Council ,at the February meeting, on a motion proposed by Me, That the Clerk state the figures to the Council." I am in no way responsible for the figures. All that I have done is to bring these figures before the Council, which seems to be looked upon by a certain section of the Council as a great inconvenience. With regard to the figures voiced by Colonel Ivor Philipps, and prepared by Mr. Egerton Allen, how many months ago is it since Mr. Allen prepared and had printed by the Finance Com- mittee for circulation among that body, an elabo- rate statement of figures, showing a far larger over- draft than I have ever accused the Council of amassing. Mr. Brewer says: The overdraft will disappear without the aid of any rate money." I only wish it might be so; but I cannot believe it. With regard to another letter in the same issue t c from some one who is ashamed to sign his own a name, and complaining that I am not a payer of a large rates, I should like to remind your readers that before the institution of County Councils, C and the blessings of a popularly elected body, the work of the county was transacted in Quarter Sessions by men who, like myself, were not t directly payers of large rates, and I think those v who can remember the time will recognise that I the work was done far more economically ,and I t venture to suggest more efficiently.—I am, Sir, c yours faithfully, 1 W. HOWELL WALTERS. I Haroldstone Hall, c March 1st, 1907. s ■ ( t

Agricultural Notes. 1 MARCH. ( With the advent of March, agriculturists begin to wake up and rub their eyes and realize that Spring has come, and with it the busiest season of the year. Not only have the stock to be fed throughout the month, but tillage operations also t begin, so the farmer is kept moving. Happily the land will dress well this year for the severe frost 1 has pulverized the ground, unless unusual wet weather should unseasonably intervene a good tilth will be obtained without much labour. Oats is the first cereal to be sown in Pembrokeshire, but it is not of much use stating at what time of the month it should be sown, so much depends on the season and the character of the soil. Be- ginners who are uncertain on this matter will do well to follow the example of an experienced far- mer in their immediate neighbourhood; it should nevertheless be borne in mind that a good sample of corn is rarely obtained from late sowing. Where there is a large acreage of corn to be drilled, an early start is advisable, or the last sowing of barley may be too late to give it a fair chance. This has been an expensive winter to the stock- keeper, and large inroads have been made on the hay and straw ricks. Luckily the supply was and is still abundant, but all the same May Day will be heartily welcomed this year. The present price of feeding stuffs does not encourage the produc- tion of beef, and those who do so largely may be considered public benefactors, for it is hard to see how their own pockets can be lined in the process. Lambs are coming thick on some farms, but there are more losses than usual with the ewes. The wet and severe winter is responsible for this, for the sheep is naturally a lover of dry herbage and hilly ground, and never takes kindly to low lying land and wet pastures. The scourge of abortion in cattle, lately referred to in this paper, is perhaps the most serious matter that can engage the attention of agriculturists at present. It causes more loss and inconvenience than all the other diseases of cattle put together. If the Agricultural Department, by its researches could find a remedy for this, it would justify its existence ,and confer a lasting benefit on the country. The Pembroke Farmers Club is showing a good example in its action concerning the destruction of wood-pigeons. They have requested the land- owners, sporting tenants and farmers in their dis- trict to line the woods with guns for one afternoon in each week in February. This was also done last year with good effect, over 1,000 head being accounted for. Other societies may well take a hint and assist in the diminution of this pest. The* triennial election for County, District and Parish Councils will soon take place. In all these local elections the best man should be selected irrespective of politics. Unhappily this is seldom done, and politics creep in, accentuating differ- ences, to the detriment and delay of public busi- ness. Economy is the point farmers should lay stress on, and no candidate should receive their support who does not put it in the forefront. All farmers are rigid economists; it would be strange if they were not so. If they were treated justly and put on an equal footing with the rest of the community as regards their contributions to the rates, I do not suppose they would be more so than other men, but when they are assessed out of all proportion to their income and paying capacity, the wonder is, not that they are econo- mists of the first-water, but that they do not rise in a body and refuse to pay what is so manifestly unfair. It speaks volumes for their law-abiding character that they patiently endure such impo- sition. Almost all the candidates for the County Council profess economy in their election ad- dresses, but it is a "New Economy"; economy which must not be mentioned without the addi- tion of the blessed word efficiency," and that means, in education matters, at least, the gratifi- cation of every fad that ingenious extravagance can devise. We hear a lot of the New Theology," but the "New Economy" is equally deserving of notice, and about on a par as regards its utility. In effect, these new economists say—the best way to save money is to spend it. If these worthies were to apply the same system of finance to their private incomes, they would, probably, in less than twelve months be holding an interesting and humorous conversation with the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy. If every householder paid rates directly, and not, as is too often the case now, indirectly, it would be a step in the right direc- tion. When the landlord pays, the necessity of retrenchment is not so forcibly evident. AGRICOLA."

Haverfordwest Town Council. CONTINUED WASTAGE OF WATER SATISFACTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENT. At an ordinary monthly meeting of the Haver- fordwest Town Council, held at the Council Cham- ber on Tuesday evening, the Mayor (Councillor J. Reynolds) occupied the chair, and there were also present Alderman T. L. James, Councillors J. H Bishop, H. J. E .Price, W. G. Rowlands, T. H. Thomas, G. Merchant Phillips, Philip White, W. J. Jones, Isaiah Reynolds, George Davies, Hugh J. P. Thomas, and Reid. TOWN'S WATER SUPPLY. Alderman T. L. James moved the adoption of the report of the Water Committee, which recom- mended bills for payment amounting to £56 3s. Id. The committee also recommended the acceptance of Mr. John Paton's offer for old pipes and scrap iron at 55s. per ton for whole pipes, and 45s. per ton for broken pipes and scrap, subject to Mr. Paton agreeing with the Surveyor as to what pipes were to be considered whole. A letter from the Postmaster with reference to the rate charged for the supply of water to the Post Office, was referred to the Surveyor for a report as to the quantity now used. The committee recommended that the arrangement with the Guardians as to the supply of water to the Workhouse be em- bodied in an agreement, and they understood that course would be acceptable to the Guardians. The Clerk said he had written to Mr. Paton with reference to the pipes, and suggested that that gentleman should come down and see the Sur- veyor the following day. He had written to the Postmaster with regard to the supply of water to the Post Office, enquiring how the quantities men- tioned in the letter to the Council had been arrived at, but so far he had not received the information. THE QUESTION OF WASTAGE. Mr. George Davies enquired what steps had been taken by the Water Committee in compli- ance with the resolution passed by the Council at their November meeting empowering the committee to engage an expert to make an examination of the pipes and mains with a view of discovering the leakages. His own opinion was that they should have a continuous supply of water, and that everything that could possibly be done should be done in that direction. The Mayor: We have tried the continuous supply of water, and it was not a success. Mr. Davies: There was a resolution at the Novem- ber meeting that an expert should be engaged. The Clerk pointed out that by the resolution re- ferred to the Council merely delegated powers to the Water Committee to employ an expert if neces sary. The hours fixed for the supply of water were from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., until further notice. Alderman James said the resolution was passed to enable the Water Committee to discover the leakages. They had been endeavouring to find out where the water was wasting. He understood that a leakage had now been discovered at the rising main at Crowhill. He had made enquiries and had found that no other leakages had been discovered. In consequence of the wastage of the water in the manner described they were unable to ascertain the actual consumption of water. Until the wastage was remedied they would be unable to meet the demand for a constant supply of water. At a test they had ascertained the depth of water in the reservoir to be equivalent to 20,000 gallons less than was shown by the meter. He had been informed of a leakage at Barnsley, but had not yet received full particulars. Mr. Isaiah Reynolds said he should like to know if the machine purchased for testing the quantity of water had been practically utilized, and if the officials properly understood how to obtain tests by that method. Alderman James replied that frequent tests had been made with the machine, which, however, only showed the quantity of water per hour, and did not show the quantity of water actually con- sumed. The machine was like a thermometer, and rose and fell according to the various hours. Mr. Reynolds thought if the machine was not properly understood that was just the reason why an expert should be employed. It was ridiculous if the officials were only pretending to find out the leakages. Alderman James said that Mr. Gibbon had made a test of the quantity of water consumed through- out the district. Mr. Price pointed out the discrepancy of 20,000 gallons between the quantity of water in the reser- voir and as shown by the meter. Alderman James said at present it was very difficult to obtain accurate results because they were pumping thirteen hours a day, and also at night for Portfield. The meter during the day sometimes showed 117,000 gallons. In pumping they were often 15,000 gollons ahead of the con- sumption. Mr. Reid agreed with Mr. Davies, that if the have ascertained where the wastage was occurring, have ascertained where the wastage was occuring, and the quantity of the water lost in that manner. They knew there was a wastage which would have to be stopped. They had not sufficient water in the reservoir to supply the demand. Alderman James observed that they were able to pump 11,000 to 12,000 gallons of water per hour. The pumps, however, only worked from nine to ten hours ,and as the supply was continued for a longer period they could not keep up with it. Mr. Hugh Thomas enquired why a meter had not been placed on the rising main to check the meter at the reservoir? Alderman James replied that the new meter did not register the quantity of water consumed. Tltey had no means of ascertaining what wastage was taking place in the rising main. Mr. Price: How did you ascertain the 27,000 gallons ? Alderman James said they found out how much water there was in the reservoir, and then kept the pumps working all night, and examined the reservoir again next morning. They checked the results by the meter with the discrepancy shown. Mr. Hugh Thomas proposed that the present meter be tested, and that a uew meter be pur- hased and placed at the head of the rising main. .nd then they would have one meter to check .gainst the other. Mr. Davies: What would a new meter cost the Council? Alderman James: About £25. Mr. Bishop said that according to the resolu- ion read by the Town Clerk the Water Committee vere empowered to employ an expert if necessary. Ie thought if the matter were referred back to he committee that would meet the requirements )f the case. He was very pleased to see Mr. Hugh rhomas taking such an interest in that question. Ie hoped that he would attend the next meeting )f the Water Committee. He proposed that a ipecial meeting of the committee should be called. )ne of the first things the committee would have o find out was whether all the water was delivered nto the reservoir that was pumped. Mr. Rowlands seconded. Mr. W. J. Jones thought they would all be more jr less at fault as to what ought to be done until :hey employed someone qualified to give them sound and good advice. A resolution passed by :he Council empowered the committee to employ in expert if necessary, so he supported the sug- gestion put forward by Mr. Davies. Mr. Davies said he was quite satisfied with the publicity that matter had received, and he thought the question might now very well be referred back for consideration by the Water Committee. Alderman James said he had a bill from the contractor for the work at Crow Hill. The ac- count. P,23, was not included in the report, but was due. It was resolved that the bill be paid imme- diately. The report of the Water Committee was then adopted. SANITARY MATTERS. Mr. J. H. Bishop presented the report of the Sanitary Committee:—The committee recom- mended bills for payment amounting to £153 16s. 8d. The Inspector of Nuisances had been directed to serve the occupier of a stable in Dew Street with notice to clean same within three days, and the committee directed the Medical Officer of Health and Inspector to inspect the premises, and report thereon to the next committee meeting. The committee recommend the sealing of a pre- cept to the Overseers of the parish of Prendergast for iP,20 10s. lid., required by the Prendergast Joint Burial Board for burial purposes. The committee reported that the Local Government Board had sanctioned the proposed appointment of Surveyor and Inspector. Mr. Price asked what the Sanitary Committee considered would be the cost of pumping out the water at the quarry at Portfield. The Surveyor replied that they were now en- gaged in pumping out the water at the Porffield quarry. The pumps, which were capable of rais- ing 35,000 gallons an hour, would pump the quarry dry in about half a day. It would not be a very expensive matter. They would be able to obtain a large quantity of stone of good quality. CONDITION OF THE ROADS. Mr. W. J. Jones enquired what had become of their steam roller? Quite a quantity of stone had been recently placed on the road leading from the Swan Square to North Gate without the use of the steam roller. The Surveyor said the steam roller had been over the stones. Mr. W. J. Jones: I should like you to come and see the road. The Surveyor explained that the steam roller had been at work at the quarry for the last few days. They were trying to save the Council the expense of a traction engine at Portfield. When the work was finished the road would be again rolled. Mr. W. J. Jones thought the rolling ought to have been finished when the stone was put on the road, and the job completed. The road was in a disgraceful state. The Surveyor: All the roads are bad this weather. Mr. Price agreed that the roads were bad. The Haven road was in a disgraceful state. He though,t however, they were living from hand to mouth. Mr. Bishop presented an account for the erection of an engine shed at Portfield, amounting to £15, which he proposed should be paid. The Surveyor said they had kept back the work of the erection of the engine shed at Portfield until they were ready, and the shed had only been erected during the past week. The account was ordered to be paid, and the report of the committee adopted. COUNCIL'S GAS UNDERTAKING. Mr. Philip White submitted the report of the Gas Committee, which stated that the committee recommended bills for payment amounting to JE210 10s. 8d., and gas loan £ 271 14s. 8d. The com- mittee had considered the correspondence with the gas coal contractors as to the non-delivery of a supply of coal owing to an accident to the ship, and the Town Clerk was instructed to write the company that inasmuch as the accident did not come within the exemption clause in their con- tract the Council would hold them responsible for any loss sustained by the non-delivery of the coal ordered. The committee recommended that the offer of Mr. John Paton for scrap iron be accepted; and that the tender of Messrs. Stewart and Lloyds, Birmingham, for the supply of 400 yards of gas main pipes at.-E59s.lOd. per ton be accepted. QUESTION OF LEGAL LIABILITY. Mr. W .J. Jones asked the Town Clerk if he had received any reply to the letter addressed to the gas coal contractors? The Clerk replied that he had received a letter. The contractors, however, did not deal with the question of liability, but asked for a copy of the contracts, and he sent them a duplicate. The Mayor observed that they would be short of coal. The Clerk said that the coal was delivered by small steamers at the wharf. The gas coal con- tractors now stated that to deliver the coal by rail would cost the Gas Committee a higher rate per ton. The contract with the gas coal contractors stated that the owners would not be liable for failure on their part to comply with the terms caused solely by strikes or accidents, causing a stoppage of the contractor's works,_but that clause did not cover non-compliance by reason of an acci- dent to a vessel which the contractors had hired. Mr. W. J. Jones agreed with the opinion ex- pressed by the Town Clerk. On the motion of Mr. Reid it was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to the contractors stating that the Council would hold them respon- sible for the fulfilment of the contract by the de- livery of the coj.1 at the prices stipulated in the agreement. Mr. Hugh Thomas enquired how much scrap iron was there, and what the price was? The Clerk replied that the contract with Mr. John Paton covered both the reports of the Gas Committee and the Water Committee. The price was 55s. a ton for the whole pipes, and 45s. per ton for the broken iron. The Clerk stated that he had received a letter from Messrs. Stewart and Lloyds stating that in reference to the Council's esteemed order for 400 yards of 3in. iron gas pipes through a clerical error the price, which was quoted P.5 9s. 10d., should have been iC6 9s. 10d. per ton. The Sur- veyor had recommended that the next lowest con- tract, Messrs. Needham's at ik5 15s. per ton should be accepted. Mr. Isaiah Reynolds moved that Messrs. Rees and Roberts' contract zE33 a yard, which worked out at £7 a ton, be accepted. Mr. Reid moved that Messrs. Needham's tender for the work be accepted. Mr. W. J. Jones seconded. He thought that the lowest tender should be accepted. This was agreed to, and the Clerk instructed to telegraph the order to Messrs. Needham. The re- port was adopted. BOROUGH COMMITTEE'S ADMINISTRATION. Mr. T. H .Thomas moved the adoption of the re- port of the Borough Committee, which recom- mended bills for payment amounting to C82 Os. 10d. The committee recommended that after supplying the Council and staff with the Council Year-book, the surplus copies to be sold for 3s. each. That Mr. Thomas Harries' application for the tenancy of the premises on Jubilee Gardens be granted at a yearly rent of £10, from 25th March next. The Market Inspector attended the meeting and asked for a revision of the hours for opening the Meat Market on Fridays, and on consideration the com- mittee ordered that in future the hours should be from 8 to 12 in the forenoon, and 1 to 5 in the afternoon. The Borough Surveyor was instructed to inspect the state of the butcher's blocks in the Meat Market, to do the necessary repairs, number same according to the stalls, and discard those unfit for use. Mr. Hugh Thomas said with reference to the publication of the Council's year-book he should like to ask whether he was a member of the Sanitary Committee or of the Water Committee? The Mayor: Why haven't they put your name down. Mr. Reid asked the Clerk with reference to the application of Mr. Harries for the tenancy in Jubilee Gardens whether the structures there be- longed to Mr. Harries, or to the Council ? The Clerk replied that the structures were origi- nally erected 1 late Mr. Levi Harries of the Salutation lio and the father of the present tenant, who had the premises on a lease. When the lease expired the Council took over the struc- tures. The present tenant rented the place from year to year. Mr. T. H. Thomas asked that an account for £ 6 Is. 6d., due for the erection of stalls at the meat market be accepted, and this was agreed to. HAVERFORDWEST FAIRS. Mr. Reid said he thought they ought to advertise the Haverfordwest Fairs in the daily Press. At one time he always used to see the fairs in the "Western Mail," but he. had not seen the fairs for the last month or so. He thought it ought to be an instruction to advertise the fairs in those lists. The Clerk replied that so far as he knew the list of local fairs had always been inserted in the Western Mail." There was no charge for the insertion of the fairs in that list. He had, how- ever not seen the list for the last month or so. The information was supplied to the Mail" from his office, and he would write and draw their at- tention to the matter. He might say that the fairs were not held on fixed dates, but were arranged in connection with the fairs at Pembroke, Carew, Newport, and other places. The March fair, how- ever, nearly always fell on the third Tuesday in the month. The Clerk said he had written to the Postmaster stating that the Council would allow a pole to be erected in the position required, but that as the place was private property a rental of 6d. per annum would be required, and an undertak- ing to remove the pole on three months' notice. The Postmaster had replied, agreeing to the terms suggested. ACCOUNTANT'S QUARTERLY REPORT. Mr. Warren, in his report, stated: "I herewith present four statements showing all receipts, pay- ments and transfers from April 1st to the present. The debit balances are-Borough Fund, L20 12s. lOsd.; Gas Works Accounts, r,680 14s. Id.; Sanitary Account, £1,696 14s. 5^d.; Water Account, JS140 4s. ?sd.; making a total of £2,538 6s. lO^d. The capital expenditure in this is iE256 14s. 8d. for purifier and mains; and f.72 9s. lid. Work- house main; making a total of £329 4s. 7d., leav- ing a net revenue overdraft of £2,209 Is. 5 £ d., which is £576 19s. less than this time last year. The Mayor observed that that was a very satis- factory report.

Pembrokeshire and Haverfordwest Irffirmary. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Governors ind subscribers of the Pembrokeshire and Haver- fordwest Infirmary was held in the Shire Hall an Wednesday afternoon, when Archdeacon Hil- bers occupied the chair, and there were also pre- I sent. Messrs. W. Howell Walters, E. Eaton-Evans [hail. secretary), Ll. Brigstocke, Fred Green, W. F. Griffiths, Mrs. John James, Miss Ada Thomas, Mrs. Massy, Miss Evans, Miss Vaughan James, and Mrs. Frank Edwards. THE YEAR'S WORKING. The Chairman, in presenting the report of the Board of Management, said that statement was most satisfactory and gratifying, and they would be able to see what beneficial results had followed from the working of the institution. The amount of work had very greatly increased. The under- pinning of the institution was a task which also had been carried out exceedingly well, and they were glad to see from the report in a manner which was not at all detrimental to the health of those inside the institution. It was a marvellous thing to see how little disorder was caused by the very important work which had been done to the building. One ward was closed for a time, but the number of in-patients treated had actually in- creased ,and stood much higher than for the last three years. They also found that whilst there had been an increase in the number of in-patients there had been a diminution in the various charges. On the whole he considered those in- terested in the institnte had great cause for con- gratulating themselves on the work done in the institution, as shown by the report. BOARD OF MANAGEMENT REPORT. The Board of Management have the honour to present their Forty-Fifth Annual Report. The out-patients in 1906 numbered 710, a decrease of i ° J inn' anc* on 1904- xhe in-patients num- ered 126. In 1903, 1904 ,and 1905 the numbers innc6 'u anc' ^0r the n^ne years, 1896- two years of Partial closing, 1898 and 1901) the average was 116 patients, and 5,370 days. This year ,though the number of patients was above the average, the number of days spent by them in the Infirmary was only 4 772 while in 1905 118 patients spent there 5,854 days! There has been a corerspondiyg diminution in the charge for diet ,etc.: L279 as compared with £312. There has also been a decrease of.E2210s.in the charges for medicine and surgical appliances, from LnrS' to Z129 9s. Fuel has cost £8 more than in 1905, but Z5 less than in 1904. The average for the last four years has been E58 10s. The gas bill shows a decrease of E2, while the charges for printing, advertising, and stationery— £ 22—are be- low the average. The cost of the nursing staff, which in 1905 was exceptionally low, has this year amounted to £92, but the increased efficiency re- presented by this increased expenditure, will be appreciated by all who have had any personal ac- quaintance with the working of the Institution. Wn Z T!1116 °n furnish'"& and repairs has £ 90. The increase under this head is easily accounted for. The extensive operations connected with the underpinning of the main walls of the building necessarily involved an additional out- lay on other portions, both inside and outside. Apart from the cost of the underpinning of the walls, the total cost of the Infirmary for the year haslfke.en £ J1'°21' a.s against £ 1,016 in 1905, £ 973 in 1904, and £ 995 in 1903. The underpinning, to the necessity of which reference was made in the report for 1905 has been carried out most. success- fully. The outlay, though considerable, has proved to be much less than was at first antici- pated, and the friends of the Infirmary have every reason to congratulate themselves on having secured the services of Mr. Caroe. The generosity of Lord Kensington in paying for the whole of the cement used has lessened the cost of the opera- tion by more than £ 60. To the funds of the In- firmary the cost has amounted to JB414, less kl2 4s. realised by the sale of sheds, timber, etc. To meet this charge £300 was withdrawn from the in- vested monies .leaving a balance of £ 102 ,to be de- frayed out of the current income. The payment of the legacy of the late Mr. John Palmer, announced 111 ,nLear s reP°rt, but received in the financial year 1906. has replaced the amoull, drawn. Under the will of the late Mr. J. Wor- f"1' °* jlynymeI' tlle Infirmary will receive free of d"ty. The income from investments has been £ 151 ,an increase of £ 4 on 1905. It is most gratifying to be able to announce a large in- crease in the income from voluntary contributions The annual subscriptions, which in 1905 had fallen to R,384 for R404 in 1904, have risen to £414. The record years were 1898 and 1899, when the amounts were R426 and £434. We hope that the latter figure may be again reached in 1907. For collec- "u Plac,es of worship the record year was 1905 when they amounted to £ 314. There was a slight falling off in 1906, but the total, £300, ex- ceeded that of any other year previous to 1905. From collecting boxes we have received £18, more than double the amount received in 1905, and con- siderably in excess of any previous year. The street and house collections show a falling off of £ 6, Z46 as against £ 52; but under the circum- stances of the year the result is by no means dis- appointing. It included e28 15s. from Haverford- west, Z2 16s. for the parish of Jeffreston, P.2 8s. 5d. from Walwyn's Castle and Robeston West and E9 from Llawhadden. If other parishes would only follow these excellent examples this source of income would prove of great importance. Under riln •fo' °f don.ations it has been a record year. £ 150 18s. as against £ 51 in 1901, £ 90 in 1902, £ 96 in 1903, <6118 in 1904, and R128 15s. in 1905. The donations for the past year include k5 from Capt Penry, Z5 5s. from Capt. Rose, of Rosehill, iE8 10s. from a concert at Marloes, organised by the parish authorities at Marloes and St. Brides, Z3 from Rhosmarket Male Voice Party, R,4 5s. 6d. from the Male Voice Party of Bethesda Baptist Chapel, Neyland, £10 from the Milford Haven Ambulance Association, and £ 8 from the benefit given by AIZZ»H- <ltudt and S,°ns With their gondolas Altogether the income from voluntary contribu- ?<MKS O a^°ynrio9 £ 9T?\ an increase of £ 44 on 1905 and of £ 102 on what was regarded as the re cord year of 1904. That the balance should have bp.en reduced from £ 101 to R,58, is due to the pay- ment of £ 102 from current income for the under- pinrfing operations and to the other expenses necessarily entailed by these operations. The con- tinued increase in the amount of the voluntary contributions is decisive evidence of the growing popularity of the Infirmary and of the increased confidence felt in its management. The Board wel- come especially the liberality with which congre- gations of all denominations respond to the ap- peals made to them, and the goodwill shown bv the many local efforts on its behalf. The Board trust the public will bear in mind that the useful- ness of the Institution is dependent on the liber- ality of its friends. The more generously it is supported the greater will be its usefulness in the amelioration of suffering and the prolongation of life. MEDICAL OFFICERS' REPORT. The Chairman presented the report of the Medi- cal Officers. In presenting the report of the medical staff for the past year, we are glad to be able to say that the work done was satisfactory. The system of admission by the committee, after due inquiry into the circumstances of the case, works well. Acci- dents and urgent cases, that will not admit of delay ,are admitted without such enquiry. The number of beds ,on the male side, however, is not equal to the demand. The nursing of the Infir- mary has been thoroughly and efficiently done and the work of under-pinning the building inter- fered very little with the work of the wards. At the beginning of the year (1906) there were thirteen patients remaining in the wards from the pre- vious year. During the year 113 patients were ad- mitted, making a total of 126. Of these, two were mothers admitted with infants, sixteen were medi- cal cases, and 108 were surgical. The medical cases included empyema, pleurisy, heart disease, locomotor ataxy, appendicitis, pneumonia, para- lysis, etc., and one case of German measles in a nurse. Major operations of the past year include various amputations, removal of bermiform ap- pendix, strangulated hernia, radical cure of hernia, colotomy, and variotomy, spina bifida, cancer of breast, club foot, etc. At the end of 1906 sixteen patients were still left in. Of the 110 discharged during the year there were seven deaths, one from tubercular disease, one from pneumonia, one fro mtractio nengine crush( died half an hour after admission), one cancer of bladder, one strangulated hernia, one cut throat (dead on ad- mission). Seven were unrelieved or incurable, fifteen were relieved, one was in with an infant, eighty were cured, and the remaining sixteen were stil lin hospital. The out-patient department con- tinues to be heavy, patients coming from all parts ot the county. In concluSIOn, the medical '-staff can only thank the committee and nursing staff generally for their ever-efficient help and courtesy. Signed on behalf of the Medical staff, CHAS. A. BRIGSTOCKE, YARNOLD H. MILLS. Mr. E. Eaton-Evans moved that the accousts and the reports of Board of Management and Medi- cal Officers be adopted. Mr. Fred Green had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, which was carried. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS. Mr. E. Eaton-Evans proposed the re-election of Sir Owen Scourfield, who for many years had occupied that position, as president for the en- suing year. There was no one who took a greater interest in the work of that institution than Sir Owen Scourfield. Mr. Fred Green seconded the proposition, which he was sure they would all very heartily support. On being put to the meeting the resolution was carried. The Chairman proposed the re-election for the year of the following vice-presidents: Earl Cawdor, Lord Kensington, Sir Charles Philipps, Bart., Mr. H. G. Allen, Mr. Charles Mathias, and Mr. Henry Seymour Allen. All these gentlemen had shown a great interest in the work of the institution. Mr. LI. Brigstocke seconded, and the resolution was carried. RE-ELECTION OF MEDICAL OFFICERS. Mr. Fred Green, in proposing the re-election of the medical officers, said he could not let that op- portunity pass without testifying to the splendid services rendered by their medical officers to the Infirmary. He was sure their medical men were second to those of no other similar institution. They discharged their duties nobly, and with con- spicuous ability. Mr. Griffiths briefly seconded, and the vote was carried. Mr. Brigstocke proposed the re-election of the treasurer, hon. secretary, auditor, and dispenser. Mr. E. Eaton-Evans, in seconding, asked that in electing Mr. James Thomas as auditor, Mr. William Henry Skyrme should also be elected an auditor. The resolution was agreed to. The next business was the election of twenty- four other Governors (twelve ladies and twelve gentlemen) on the Board of Management, all the retiring members being eligible for re-election, with the exception of Dr. Griffith, who wished to retire. Votes of thanks to Archdeacon Hilbers for his services in the chair and on the House Committee, to Mr. E. Eaton-Evans as, hon secretary, and the medical officers, etc., terminated the proceedings.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN. SCANDALOUS RADICAL CANARDS. ATTACK ON MR. VICTOR HIGGON. CONSERVATIVE PROSPECTS OF VICTORY. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. We have received the following letter for pub- lication, which tells its own story of reprehensible Radical electioneering dodges:— MORE RADICAL TYRANNY. A FARMER RATEPAYERS GET NO RETURN FOR THEIR MONEY. We have -already described how some of the Pembrokeshire voluntary schools are made to suffer. The teachers are underpaid and the schools are understaffed. The schools are also starved" in the matter of materials by the tyrannical Radical majority. In the Pembroke- shire council schools apparatus, such as books, etc., are allowed at the rate of 3s. per head per scholar. In their fear lest the Letterston farmers should get any value for their own money this has been cut down at Letterston to 2s. 6d. per head! Requisitions are sent in for necessary appli- ances, but they appear to get lost, for either no heed is paid or they are withheld an unconsciously long time. The County Council get the use of the building, and when the stove was worn out for fear lest Letterston should get something back of the £ 68 paid each year in rates the county education authorities called on the managers to make the stove good. The managers successfully appealed to the Board of Education, and the Radi- cal county authority had to climb down. Again, by the rules in vogue in the county the managers have a right to grant eight weeks' holi- day in the course of the year to the children! and because they included Ascension Day in th.V" eight weeks the county authority, in their hatred of anything which pertains to religious observance, sought to pull the Letterston managers over the coals." It was carried to the Board of Educa- tion, and again the Radical education authority were beaten. The county education authority, acting with high-handed intolerance which so often marks Radicals in power, sent an agreement for the headmaster to sign. It contained no clause for carrying out religious instruction, which must be given according to the trust deed. The mana- gers sent it back with a clause, "and will at the time specified on the time table of the school instruct the children attending such school in re- ligious knowledge in accordance with the provi-' sions of the trust deed." Surely this was a fair a reasonable clause, but the Radical authority did not think so, for the proposed agreement is still in abeyance.

MILFORD HAVEN. EXPLOSION ON A SWANSEA TRAWLEB DEATH OF A MILFORD MAN. The steam trawler Manorbier Castle arrived Swansea on Sunday afternoon with the dead boè; of Captain Frederick Bough. It appears thl about 5.30 on the night of the 2lst, whilst tt vessel was in the Bay of Biscay. The captain hB: occasion to go into the engine room to do sonT thing with the gas tank, when it exploded, all, the top of the gas tank struck him on the thro^ inflicting a severe wound. The wound was ba1 daged, and the captain was put into his bun*. He remained unconscious until 7.45 on SaturdS. morning, when he expired. Deceased, who w'j well known in Milford, was a married man, af' lived at Prince of Wales, Road, Swansea. CAUGHT IN TRAWLER'S WINCH. TERRIBLE DEATH OF CARDIFF MAN. Messrs. Neale and West's steam trawler Du" of York early on Monday brought to Cardiff Doc); the dead body of the mate John O'Brien, a marrii man, whose residence is in Pellett Street, Cll diff. It apears that on Saturday, at sea, the ceased, while heaving a lead line, caught his coat'' the winch and waps dragged into the machinel! his body being terribly mangled. Death was il stantaneous. TOTAL ABSTINANCE SOCIETY. A society was formed on Tuesday evening at tJJ' Tabernacle Chapel after a rousing address by 'L4f Morris Morgan, of Swansea. The following officii weite appointed:—President, Mr. R. Colte, CC- vice-president, Rev. J. B. Edwards; hon. tres surer, Mr. D. Dundas Roach; hon. secretary, IVf' F. L. Lowther. Committee: Messrs. J. R. Garre1! W. Cole, T. Mathias, Wilcox, D. T. Pearce, Page, T. Whittow, W. White, A. J. Lewis, af Mrs. Meyler. The above named are requested t attend the first commitee meeting on Wednesd* next, at eight o'clock, in the Tabernacle Chapel. FISH NOTES. f. Owing to bad weather last week supplies were L short on Monday, only 150 kits of hake and packages of mixed in seven steamers being land,14 Eight steamers with 300 kits of hake and II mixed arrived for Tuesday, whilst nine steantf1 landed^ 400 kits of hake and 600 mixed for W<?' nesday's market. Supplies on the East Coast bei11 scantly as well- very high prices rules, plai\ making £4 5s. per box, haddocks 45s., magrifl, 40s., lemons 50s., hake 42s. 6d. to 50s. per kJ Heavy supply on Thursday, nineteen steamers riving, all with big catches, but only sixtet landed about 1,000 kits of hake, and similar qua- tity of mixed. Hake dropped to 30s. per kit, bV other fish kept up very well in price, but not s. high as earlier days. One lucky boat landed. big catch of soles, turbot and mixed fish, gror ing Z385 for a voyage of five days. t The new steam trawler Siluria, built at Goo' for the Pembrokeshire Steam Trawling Company also landed her maiden voyage. The macker' trade very quiet, only small quantities arriving. CRICKET CLUB. h A well attended meeting took place at the Lot Nelson Hotel on Friday last in connection wil, above club, presided over by Mr. G. H. D. Bit, The following officials were elected: Presided Mr. G. H. D. Birt; treasurer, Mr. T. W. Pr 4 ¡. captain, Mr. G. Cole; vice-captain, Mr. J. Rite. committee, Messrs. W. S. Griffith, H. Cole, "w Cole, and A. J. Lewis. Mr. W. G. David consented to act as honorary secretary in whof, capable hands a successful season may be ailt" cipated. HORSE AND CART FALL INTO THE SEA' There is a persistent superstition-not contint to Milford Haven—that if two accidents occ^ there is sure to be a third, and this is really wb: happened at the Milford Docks on Monday night While a horse and cart belonging to Mr. C. Ho 11 grocer, was standing near his provision stores Q the Docks near Hakin Point entrance a little h touched the horse in passing with the result th' the animal, which- had previously been standir quietly, backed to the verge of the Dock wa and horse and cart toppled over into the wate A vessel lying near by just missed receiving ft. falling load. Eye-witnesses of the occurren< were promptly on the spot, and released the hori by cutting the harness. Thus freed the anim swam ashore, which was but a short distant but the cart was smashed. Had the tide been Oj it is probable that the horse would have bel killed. The accident created much excitement. FISHERMAN RESCUED. Shortly before midnight the Dock police wff .Startled by cries emanating from the water, af