The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

IIE ABERYSTWYTH COCOA T HOUSE. financial success achieved by the Aber- :pt\vyth Cocoa House Company has given rise some correspondence, which those who strove capital in the first instance may fairly object as ungenerous. When the project was first ^o°tcd the promoters were told that their object ;as a good one, but that financial failure Avas ^'tain and, indeed, inevitable. Business men 'stained from taking shares, or took merely a J^inal amount to show their approval of the and altogether the scheme wtite treated C a charitable concern from which no return :s]. be expected in this life. It was, in j^0l't, an investment for another world, in which lley "given to the poor was lent to the UiV[Ilr)' the face of so much doubt and (. Jehef it is not surprising the Directors were -v w Us- Money was carefully husbanded, and a halfpenny was spent that could be 0no c^- The house in Chalybeate-terrace was aU exce^eilt manager in Mrs EVANS £ 0Ji Secured: the place was kept clean; the tool- aUc^ were good and cheap; the public Ox. ^.° the place and at the end of a year's clivefie'nce ^'l(! I^r('ct°rs were able to declare a «tai^ per cent., and to carry a sub-' la^ sum over as a reservo fund. Our t'll" licle,,its have ignored the difficulties c0l111<-e d rat the beginning, and have not 'UCH" tl th( ù y recognized the importance of making COlllllÜertaking pay its way. The Cocoa House to^ have proved that it is possible in a ^a^es aS sma^ as Aberystwyth to pay rent, 7.1 "forking expenses, and a dividend of ii'eserv 0<iU^ aiI<^ yet have a balance left for a fund. The assertion that the Cocoa ii)otey*o -aS fu^ihod the object of the pro- >as ls olliy partially true. Part of that object PeonU £ T°vide a place of resort for country Puvc]lri' 1(-ire they would not be compelled to Emitted SX"CatinS • drinks' It is -freelj (:°Untrv rw" i 111 l,1-ov.;ding accommodation fer sUcce^ofni t Cocoa House has been Voters A «e^° ^10 expectations of its pro- satisfactoryard T!he tpWn' the reSUit'S lci chepvlooc i le v°oms are too small ^iUtive T! V cl^ge of a penny is y 0re attractive and^otf'^ 1>ul,lic house Ja u the Cnf,i n r,s greater advantages +}lat temnernn i ?Ufc' is unfortunate lai1 heavily taY( I S are more expensive avity-taxed beer. Why tllis Fshoukl be so it is difficult to say. Take ginger beer 1 for instance. It ought to be possible to sell ginger beer at fourpence a quart in a place like the Cocoa House, where the bottles remain in the hands of the attendants. What is wanted is a temperance drink in barrels-like cider, for instance—so that the cost of bottling will be avoided. If the Directors could see their way to taking large, commodious premises they would undoubtedly do a business, and would accomplish some of that moral good which at the outset was their chief object. There are at present two excellent premises to let near the present Cocoa House, one the property of Mr. IIOPKIXS, and the other of Mrs. HOWELLS.. It must be remembered that sober men who frequent Cocoa Houses will naturally be more and not less particular allout the accommodation provided for them than if they were drunken. It is right that our correspondents, in all their attempts to extend the usefulness of the Cocoa House, should remember generously the labours of those who worked in the early da3rs, when the scheme was laughed at, or only tolerated as a well-meant effort to achieve the impossible. Nothing could have more clearly proved the advantage of securing financial success than the letters we have published. If, instead of paving i per cent., there had been a consider- able excess of expenditure over receipts, we should probably have heard nothing of the suggestions made by our correspondents. We 1 -1 trust it may be possible to do something towards making the Cocoa House a place of refreshment and entertainment for the inhabitants of the town. Such a place is greatly needed, and now that financial success has been achieved, the public would, we think, come forward to make up any deficiency caused by an honest effort to reach moral success. As regards the public discussion of the subject, there can be no question that the Cocoa House movement will be benefited by discussion, if those who write will only bear in mind that no result is the measure of the desire that brought it about, and that great and self-sacrificing labour often appear to reach only impotent conclusions. Our view of life is not wide enough to enable us to say dogmatically what is 0 success or failure.

LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES. A meeting has been held in London to promote the election of women as poor-law guardians. It Avould be an excellent thing for public life if Avomen generally took a more active part in it. -> On Saturday evening a man named Thomas Williams. who lives in Brewer-street, Aberystwyth, beat his wife in a shocking maimer. On Wednesday lie was brought before the Aberystwyth Bench and sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The punishment seemed to astonish the prisoner. The Syndicate appointed at Cambridge to consider a memorial relating to the higher education of women have reported against admitting women to degrees generally, or to the B.A. degree alone. The Syndicate wisely abstains from giving reasons. It may be wise not to call women bachelors and masters of arts, but there can be no good reasons why women should not be able to obtain the university stamp of education. .;¡. On Tuesday night Mr. LEWIS PUGH Pumi, M.P., 11 gave notice of an amendment which he will move in committee on the Coercion Bill. That the amendment hits a weakness in the Government proposals is atl- mitted by some of the London papers, and our readers will see that it aims at protecting the public from wrong informations, and the LOR]) LIEUTENANT from lying informers. •X- At the Aberdovey Petty Sessions last Friday, two persons were fined for neglecting to report sheep scab. The Bench pointed out that farmers who do not report the existence of disease amongst their sheep, inflict a great injury upon their neighbours. The best argument in cases of this kind is the heaviest possible penalty. It will help to spread information about the law, and will teach men that they cannot be allowed to inflict injury upon others with impunity. i:- At the meetings of the Associated Chambers of Commerce the following resolution was passed, on the motion of Mr PETERS :—"That, in the opinion of the association, the restrictions imposed by the Factory Acts on women operate with such serious disadvantage on those manufactures in which such labour forms an important element that some of these latter have become extinct, or nearly so, in this country." At the time the Ftictory Acts were passed, Mr BRWJIT opposed them on the grounds that less far-seeing men are now opposing them. The Llangollen paper that converted a letter by Colonel PRYSE into a leading article has been requested to publish a letter which contains the following sentence:—"It may be said that I should feel flattered by such appropriation, at the same time I feel bound to take note of the matter, otherwise readers not observing dates might say my letter was a piracy from your paper." The "editor" inserts the letter, but does not admit or excuse the appropriation. In answer to Mr D. R. DAA'IES, Anglesey, on Monday night in the House of Commons, Mr J^AWGKTT said it was now the rule to establish money order and post-office savings banks in all places were the surveyor reported that business would be sufficiently remunera- tive. These rules naturally excludes poor thinly populated districts, and it it to be hoped that some- thing will be done by the Welsh members to get post- offices and savings banks opened in places now denied these conveniences. .;f .x, The sum of fL837 was reported to be the amount of recoverable arrears of poor rates due at Aberystwyth at the end of January. It was stated that the rate had been made two or three months. The sum due appears large, but no conclusion reflecting upon the collector can be deduced from it. The arrears due when the next rate is made will be the test. Of course, if the recoverable arrears were stated a week or two after a rate was made, they might amount to £ 2,000, or more. The Daily Nncn says:—" The Royal Commission oil Education in Wales, appointed last Session, now approaches the termination of its labours. A meeting will be held on Thursday, when the last evidence will be taken, and the Commission will immediately after- wards meet to consider its report. It is probable that among the recommendations of the Commission will be one suggesting a (rovernmeiit grant for the fostering of inter mediate education in the Principality. We trust the Welsh members will be prepared to push forward legislation on the subject. The Local Government Board are a threatening sort of board, but it is rarely that a persevering official or a fighting board cannot get the better of them. They write long letters and say what it will be their painful duty to do," but they never do it. The auditor sur- charges officials, and the Local Government lectures the offender and remits the surcharge,—the offender of course being at liberty to oiiend again. The Aber- ystwyth Board of Guardians are going to complain about some of their officials to the Local Government Board. It would be wiser to save the stamps and stationery. At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the London and Provincial Bank the C;[AIRMAN said that, notwithstanding the prosperous condition of the bank, there had been in operation three causes adverse to large profits. One of these Avas the agricultural depression they so much regretted. The experience of the bank was that their farming friends were a very honest body of men. If the bank had suffered from them at all it was. because of the depression, which prevented their keeping up those satisfactory balances they were wont to do. This tribute to the farmers is well deserved, but will not be less thankfully received on that account. # The Daily News says that Earl GRAxnu; has accepted the presidency of a new Liberal organization in North Shropshire, under whose influence the division will be contested on the first opportunity. Mr. A. R. HEYWOOD LCNSDALE, of Greddington Hall, Whitchureh, will be brought forward in conjunction with another gentleman. The Conservatives have also recently formed an association, of which Major FIELD is president. The sitting members, Lord NEW- PORT and Mr. STANLEY LEIGHTON, were returned unopposed at the general election. If the North Shropshire Liberals work together during the next four or five years, they ought to be successful at the next election. The question whether trade is improving has been discussed at the rooms of the Society of Arts, in Lon- don. One of the speakers said that, so long as our increasing population failed to spread itself over the unoccupied and uncivilized lands which were ready for cultivation, the prosperity of the country required the expansion of its export trade far beyond the present bounds or those that seemed to be within reach. Large landowners do not encourage small holdings, and the people who are ready enough to occupy the land and culti\'ate it are prevented from doing so. Land- lords could largely increase their income by letting out land in from two to ten acre lots 011 long leases, hut they are afraid to do anything unusual. The inhabitants of Aberystwyth will learn with interest that somebody has taken occasion to suggest to the Charity Commissioners the appointment of two additional trustees for Do\xu;: bequest. The names suggested are those of Colonel PRYSE, the Lord Lieutenant of the County, and Mr E. J. JONES, timber merchant. Colonel PRYSE resides in the country, and can scarcely be expected to attend every little meeting of the trustees. Mr E. J. JONES, a good churchman and a sound Tory, resides in town, and will rarely be absent. The suggested appointments are in the place of the late Mr THOMAS JO-NEs and of Sir PRYSE PRYSE, who has resigned. Colonel PRYSE will be a gain to the Liberal side, as lie is a sound man of 'business, and he is not averse to a fight if he sees occasion for it. If lie can do something towards preventing the utter I pauperisation of the town he will render good service. At the Lampeter Board of Guardians on Friday last a letter was read from the CUIEE CONSTABLE of Carmar- then to the etfec tthat he would gladly support an appli- cation made to the SECRETARY of STATE by the Board of Guardians in respect to the bodies of two infants recently found in the Teify. The Board did not think they ought to take the initiative in detecting crime. The Board had the subject brought before them through having to pay for the burial of one of the children. It seems to us that the steps suggested by the Lampeter Board ought to have been taken long ago. It is scarcely credible that infants can be flung into the Teify without causing more commotion than if they were kittens. Do these two bodies represent all or only a portion of the infanticide in the district. There is in existence a Railway Commissioners' Court, which experience has proved possesses the power and the will to afford the public relief from the arbitrary rules and regulations of railway companies. Railway companies can be forced to provide decent station accomodation and other facilities. A good deal of ink has been wasted upon the Cambrian and Manchester and Milford Railway Companies without much effect. The next thing will be to try an appeal to the Railway Commission. Photographs of the Manchester and Milford railway stations would be all the evidence required to put the company to great expense. The Cambrian is better off as regards stations, but some of the carriages are unfit to travel in. Experience shows that railways will do what they are compelled to do. Compulsion must be applied. Argument and protest are perfectly useless. Mr. LEWIS PUGH PCOH* M.P.'S Bill to amend the licensing laws, if it passes will disqualify, in addition to hundreds in other parts of the country, three members of the Aberystwyth Bench, namely, h ISAAC MORGAN, Mr EDWARD HAAIER, and and Mr JOHN WATKIXS. We publish the Bill in another column, and our readers will see that the provisions are of a most sweeping and drastic natuie. No subterfuge of any kind will avail the seller of intoxicating drinks. He must abstain from taking part in the administration of justice. It is monstrous that in any part of the country publicans should go reeling home drunk at eleven o'clock at night, and should sit on the Bench at ten o'clock the next morning to try drunkards! Tlie Bill, if it becomes law, will put an end to this scandal. It is said the Government intend to press the Bill through. When the Tory Bench at Aberystwyth is reduced it will not be so difficult for the Liberals to obtain a fair share of influence. The Dolgelley Board of Guardians are presided over by Mr. EDWARD GRIFFITH, a gentleman who has devoted much time to the administration of the Poor Laws in the Union. At the last meeting of the Board, during a brief conversation suggested by the statistics, he said that, on the whole, the return might be considered satisfactory. He pointed out that, in con- sequence of a payment of Is. Sd. for school books, no fewer than seven had been added to the list of paupers. Our contention with the Dolgelley Board is that the house test is not steadily and firmly applied that out- relief is given in cases where no relief at all should be given that non-resident out-relief is given that grants of shoes, clothes, bedding, and other things are made that, in short, the long tried principles adopted in the best managed unions are either ignored at Dolgelley or only partially applied. We believe a good deal has been done at Dolgelley to bring the administration of relief into a more satisfactory state than it used to be a few years ago, but large sums are still expended which bring no desirable result. From time to time we have called attention to the unnecessary demands made upon local rates by the low fees charged at Board Schools. Not many weeks ago Ave published a statement showing that Towyn Board School, of which Mr. C. F. THRUSTON is chair- man, is almost self supporting. There is no reason why those who are well able to afford it should not pay the full cost of the ^lucation their children receive at Board Schools. The fees are ridiculously low in many instances and if they were raised no injury need be inflicted upon the very poor* whose fees could be arranged. For instance it might be arranged that labourers should pay the present low fees, that artisans should pay an increase, and that professional men and farmers should pay fees that would cover more than all the cost of the education. There are children sent to the Board School at Aberystwyth whose parents would-as readily pay 6d. as Id.—parents who regret that their children should receive rate- aided education but who are helpless under the present inelastic system. The Education Department ought certainly to make greater allowances for build- ing purposes to poor thinly populated districts, where the cost of buildings have imposed crushing burdens. This subject is one that Boards of Guardians might with great propriety press upon Government with a view of obtaining additional relief. Pauperism has increased "in Aberystwyth, and the RELIEVING OFFICER, in answer to a question put at the last meeting of the Board, said that the increase was due to "natural" causes. The blame cannot lie saddled upon the town guardians. As Mr HAAIER pointed out the town guardians have done their duty, and cannot be blamed for the increase; but we do not think the increase can be set down to an influx of paupers from the country. There is no evidence to show that people have come into the town from the country, but rather the opposite. The RELIEA~ING OFFICER attributes the increase to "natural" causes, and it would be well to enquire what are the natural causes of pauperism, and to ask whether any of those natural causes operate in Aberystwyth. In the old times pauperism was created by people think- ing it their duty to maintain those who were able, but not very Avilling, to maintain themselves. This is just what has happened at Aberystwyth. DÜ\\XIE'S bequest has been so used that pauperism has been nurtured and developed with what result we know. The result was anticipated, and cannot have come to thoughtful men as a surprise. It is impossible to give three or four hundred pounds a year away in a town as small as Aberystwyth without doing mischief. The Aberystwyth Board of Guardians need not seek laboriously for the cause of the increased pauperism in the town. They have it close at hand in DOWNIE'S bequest mischievously administered. The Aberyst- wyth Union is losing ground. The LORD CHANCELLOR has asked county court judges to make a return of the rate of interest charged by money-lenders, and to state what they think ought to be the maximum rate of interest to be allowed. On Friday last Vice-Chancellor MALINS had two money- lending cases before him. He spoke very plainly against the iniquitous system. In each the property of the borrower had been seized upon default of payment of an instalment in the return of the loan. The interest demanded was enormous, and the Qv'n:x' Counsel instructed in the cases by the money-lenders, Mr. HIGGINS and Mr. GLASSE, pressed strenuously that the whole amount of the usurious interest should be paid before possession was withdrawn. The VICE CHANCELLOR said he was shocked to see QUEEN'S Counsel engaged on behalf of such persons and that it was not the duty of a counsel to observe his instruc- tions so closely in such cases. In one case the VICE CHANCELLOR said "the defendant must come and show himself. Those money-lenders generally appeared under false names. When this gentleman appears lie will be asked what excuse he has to offer, after adver- tising to lend money to respectable persons on advan- tageous terms, Avithont fees or securities, for charging them fifty or bixty per cent." Of course lie will have no excuse to offer except the credulity and ignorance of the borrowers. Here is the sort of circular these money-lenders issue 31st January, 3SSI. Sir,— We beg to inform yon that we continue to make advances of large or small amounts, and for such periLlls as may be desired, upon note of hand, simply. With approved security we procure loans at five per cent. per annum, repayable by instalments over a term of years. All communications should he made by letter in the first instance to us. at the above address, and will be held in the strictest confidence and receive our immediate attention.—We are, sir, your faithful servant." The five per cent, turns out sometimes to be as high (l forty per cent. The drainage and water supply of villages and rural districts are matters which are gradually coming to the front. The sanitary evils are so glaring in many rural districts that it is impossible to ignore them, and although nuisance inspectors have not been able to ac- complish great reforms, their reports and the publicity given to them have giadually formed and educated public opinion. The inhabitants of villages, scarcely ever free from fever, are beginning to understand that they possess the power to get rid of disease by obtaining better drainage and purer and ampler-supplies of water. At the Dolgelley Board of Guardians on Saturday last the drainage of the village of Lbvyngwril was dis- cussed, and the question was raised whether tlie whole parish or only a portion of it should be assessed for the expense. The landowners profess to be unable to understand how the village of Llwyngwril is of any benefit to the farmers of the whole parish, and seem to imagine that the cost of the drainage ought to be paid by the village itself and by the few farmers in its immediate 1(!t e neighbourhood. Farmers and landowners need to be reminded that the village is a great convenience to them in every way. It is there the labourers live there the shops for suppljdng the district are established. Yilbges are the common product and common con- venience of the districts in which they are found. The railway station at Llwyngwril is a convenience secured because of the existence of the village, and no farmer in the parish will say that a railway station is not a convenience. At first glance it may seem a hardship that farmers at the extreme limits of the parish should be rated for improvements in the village, but Avhen it is remembered that the existence of a parish is a direct benefit to every fanner in it, the hardship disappears. The benefits derived by farmers from villages and towns are often denied by fanners and landoAvners but when they have land to let or sell they never forget to announce that it is near a railway station, and within a short distance of a village or town.

|CociU anb District. PETITIONS FOR LIQUIDATION.—Thomas Thomas. Oddfellows' Ilm, • Wern, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, licensed victualler. J. Jenkins, New-road, Llanelly. grocer. John Parry, shoemaker, Gogerddan Cottages, Aberystwyth. DIOCESE OF BANGOR. — The Bishop of Bangor will hold confirmations in the archdeaconry of Meironeth in the ensuing spring as follows :—March loth, Llan- gurig March 10th, Caersws March 17th, Llanbryn- mair; March 18th, Mallwyd; March 21st, Machynlleth; March 22nd, Aberganolwyn; March, 23rd, Dolgelley; March 24th, Barmouth March 2-oth. Harlech March 28th, Ffestiniog; March 29th, Portmadoc; March 30th, Criccieth; March 31st, Pwllheli; April 1st, Mevllteyrn; April 2nd Nevin. Wherever it is required there will be separate continuations in Welsh and English. THE ROSEBUSH AND FISHGUARD RAILWAY BILL.- This Bill on Friday came before Mr. Examiner Frere for a statement of proofs, after the first reading of the Bill in the House of Commons, Proofs were submitted of the Wharncliff meeting of the company having been held to consider the Bill, and complied with the stand- ing orders. THE CARMARTHEN AND CARDIGAN RAILWAY BILL.— This Bill was on Friday before the examiner for state- ment of proofs, after the first reading of the Bill in the House of Lords. Evidence Avas given that a Wharn- cllif iiieetiii, of the company had been held to consider tne -bill, and that it was approved by the proprietors. The examiner declared the standing order complied with. THE RECTORY OF PENAIAKNMAWK.—The rectory of PeiunaenmaAvr, vacant by the preferment of tile Rev. D. Jones to the living of LlanenddAvyn-cum-Llan- ddwye, Barmouth, has been accepted by the Rev. J. A. Howell, curate for Neath, a son of the vicar of Wrexham. The value of the living, according to the Diocesan Calendar published by Messrs. Nixon and Jarvis, is about £ 200, the Rev. H. Roberts, vicar of Llangemiew, being the patron. According to the same authority, the net value of Llanddwye is £ 280, with five acres of glebe. The churchwardens of Pen- maenmawr on Tuesday waited upon the Rev. D. Jones, and presented him, on behalf of the parishioners with a drawing-room clock and vases en suite, as a memento of his nine vu-LI-S, association Avith the parish. PAREIAAIENTARY.—On Tuesday night, Mr. Lewis Pugh Pugb, the member for Cardiganshire, gave notice of the following amendment :—" In Committee on the Coercion Bill, to move the insertion of Avords in the first clause requiring the Lord Lieutenant to issue a warrant of arrest only 011 the evidence or affidavit of two Avitnesses. and a further Amendment empowering the Lord Lieutenant to direct proceedings to be taken against any such witnesses as may have committed perjury." The Daily commenting on tlie amend- ments to be moved says. Ir. Pugh will propose in Committee that the powers of the Lord Lieutenant be restricted by making it necessary for him to base his exercise of them on the evidence of two Avitnesses, who, if their statements should afterwards appear to have been Avilfullv false, are to be prosecuted for perjiuy. Whether this particular suggestion be practicable or not, it is certainly undesirable that the zeal of informers should be unduly stimulated at the same time that their risks are materially diminished. Mr. Stansfeld's proposal that the grounds of arrest shall appear on the face of the Avarrant Avould perhaps secure the main object of Mi-. Push's amendment." MR. L. P. PUGH, M.P., ON CURRENT EVENTS.—At the second anniversary of the opening of the New Jewin Welsh Chapel recently celebrated, Mr. L. P. Pugh, M.P., the chairman at a public meeting, took occasion to praise the Methodist connection in the metropolis and other large towns for the care shewn towards young people and others coming up from Wales, and as a Churchman expressed a desire that his church should emulace the Methocusts 111 tais respect. Commenting on a letter from the Rev. Ishmael Janes, Avherein the writer stated that Wales without the Methodist revival would probably have relapsed into barbarism, the Chairman remarked that this statement could only be a speculative one, but there was no doubt the revival alluded to was of unmixed good to the Welsh people. Turning to the condition of Ireland, Mr. Puirh pointed out that numbers of the Irish people were at present not far removed from barbarism. But, lie asked, was it entirely their own faultLie thought not. For 300 years successive Governments had sent out com missions to inquire into the matter. These hrvariably pointed out the one same great grievances— a grievance not yet redressed. All righted-minded people must deplore the outrages committed in Ire- land. and law and order must be restored before remedial measures can be proposed and passed. When this had been done, however, he trusted that a fair chance would be given to the Irish people to SilOW Avhat, under more favourable circumstances, they would accomplish. Dwelling on the affairs of the Transvaal, the lion, member expressed a hope that as soon we could do so—reasonably and with honour—Ave should retire from the country, providing always that the Boers make sufficient provision for the protection &c., of the natives. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. D. C. Davies, LA., and others. THE NORTH WALES SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO A,, i-)IALS. -Tile second annual meeting of subscribers to this branch of the above society was held on Saturday, at the British Hotel, Bangor, under the presidency of the Rev. T. Morgan, the attendance including the High Sheriff 0? Anglesey (Major Platt), Mr. Hall, the Rev. T. Lewis Jones, Mr. W. Jarvis (honorary secretary), and others. Letters of apology for noil-attendance* were read from the Bishop "of Bangor, Captain Verney, (chairman of the Anglesea sesslois), Colonel the Hon. W. E. Sackviile West, and others. The annual report, presented by ilr. Warren, the district inspector in charge of the branch, shoAved that during the year the number of prosecutions had been 14-4; total since the commence- lllcnt of the branch, 246. The convictions included Bangor, Llandudno, Abergele, Mcnai Bridge, Llan- gefni, Pwllheli, Rhyl, Holyhead, Beaumaris, Carnar- von, Portmadoc, Llanrwst, and Bettws-y-Coed. The fines inflicted, no part of which are received by the society, which depends entirely upon voluntary contri- butions, varied from £ 0 downwards, one offender being committed for one month Avithout tiie option of a fine, and another fourteen days; Avhilst three were com- mittell in default of fines. The number of prosecu- tions, however, showed but a small proportion of the work done, inasmuch as the society's officers had, in a vast number of instances, cautioned persons who, owing to ignorance or apathy, worked their animals III an unfit state. In that way much good was done. The committee expressed their thanks for the co-opera- tion and the kind assistance of the chief-constable of Anglesey (Colonel Thomas), the chief-constable cf Carnarvonshire (Major Clayton), and the clerks of the several petty sessional divisions, at the same time paying a Avell-merited compliment to the zeal, tact, and discretion exercised by Mr. Warren, the inspector in charge of the branch.—The report was adopted, attention being drawn by Mr. Hall to the desirability of instituting sub-branches throughout the counties and the more general co-operation of ladies' com- I mittees. —The honorary secretaries (Major Piatt, and Mr. W. Jarvis), were re-elected honorary secretaries with the addition of the Rev. I.eAvis Jones. THE AITOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES.—At the meeting of the Oswestry town council, on Monday a correspondence was read Avith the Lord Chancellor on tiie subject of the proposed appointment of the mayor (Mr. Thomas Minshall, Liberal) as a magistrate of the borough. The Lord Chancellor wished" to be | furnished with any observations the Town Cor.ni1 might wish to offer upon the subject. The Mayo having vacated the chair, it was taken by Alderman Owen; and 011 the motion of Mr. T. Whitfield, (Conservative), seconded by Mr. Alderman SaA'in, (Conservative), the proposed appointment Avas unani- mously approved. In January, IbTO. the name of Mi- Thomas Minsliall was included amongst the names' submitted to the Lord Chancellor by the Town Council for appointment to the office of borough magistrate, but although every member of the Town. Council voted in favour of Mr. Minshall, the then Lord Chancellor (Lord Cairns) passed him over in favour of a gentleman not nominated by the Council, Councillor John Thomas having referred to this fact, and proposed that a minute or their proceedings in January, IS79, should be forwarded to the Lord Chancellor, Mr. Whitfield said it had not been custom- ary to place solicitors upon the commission. of the peace, and he believed that was the reason Mr. Minshall's name was passed over. Mr. John Thomas pointed out that in the neighbouring town of Wrexham, Mr. Chilton, a solicitor, was made a borough magistrate by the late Lord Chancellor. Councillor Bailey said the plain English of it was that Mr. Minshall's name was struck off the list by Lord Cairns simply because he was a Nonconformist and a Liberal. The subject then dropped.

Imperial yarliamcnt. HOUSE OF COMMONS, WEDNESDAY. The BARON DE "WORMS gave notice of a question as to the danger to our Indian possessions from Russian intrigues in Central Asia. The motive of the question was the publication in a London ueAvspaper of documents purporting to be correspondence between the English and Russian Governments. In answer t8 Mr. Brand, Mr. GLADSTONE said he was not aware of the manner in which the documents came into the hands of the newspaper in question. The SPEAK EK. laid on the table the regulations for the proceedings of the House whilst the state of public business continues urgent, remarking that he might have occasion to submit others from time to time as the state of the public business required. Mr. SEXTON then resumed the adjourned debate on the second reading of the Coercion Bill. He devoted most of his speech to replying to Alr. Forster's figures in introducing the measure, dwelling on the effect on the mind of the population of the processes of eviction. Mr. T. FRY said he gave the measure only a reluctant support. Mr. LA LOR, Mr. NELSON, Sir P. O'BRIEN, Mr. BYRNE, and Sir JOSEPH M'KENNA, spoke against the Government measure. Mr. FORSTER then replied. He devoted a considerable portion of his speech to answering Mr. Sexton, and generally maintained his original position. The House divided, when there voted for the second reading 3o9, and against it ,jt): The Bill was then read a second time 1Jy a majority of 303. J J

THE SPEAKER'S NEW RULES. The following are the Rules framed by the Speaker for the Regulation of the Business of the House of Commons while the state of Public Business is urged:- -Ilotiole. j-oi- 1. That no Motion for the Adjournment of the House shall be made, except by lec1,ye of the House, before the Orders of the Day or Notices of Motions have been entered upon. 2. That when a Motion is made for the Adjournment of a debate, or of the House, during any debate, the debate thereupon shall be strictly confined to the matter of such Motion. 3. That, if during any debate a Motion be made for the adjournment of the debate, 01 of the House, Mr. Speaker may decline to put the Question thereupon, if, in his judgment, such Motion is made for the purpose of obstruction or, if he think fit to put such Question he may put it from the Chair fortlnvith. 4. That no Member, having spoken to a Motion for the Adjournment of a debate or of the House during any debate, shall be entitled to move, or to speak to any similar Motion, during the same debate. 5. That Mr. Speaker may call the attention 01 the House to continued irrelevance, or tedious repetition, on the part of a Member, and may direct the Member to discontinue his speech. Puttinij iht Question. C. That when it shall appear to Mr. Speaker duriii" any debate to be the general sense of the House zhat the Question be now put, he may so inform the Norl- oil a Motion being made That the question be now put," Mr. Speaker shall forthwith put such Ques- tion and if the same be decided in the affirmative by a majority of three to one, the Question previously under debate shall be forthwith put from the Chair. r R' -s'o'i'u>u dxflf into Commitf' 1 That Avhen the Order of the 1 v for the ^om- —i.„tee 011 any Bib, or other matter declared urgent is read, Mr. Speaker shall forthwith leave the Chair Avithout putting any Question and the Hause hnll thereupon resolve itself into such Committee. of BUI. ax a, „■! S. That 011 reading the Order of the Day for the consideration of a Bill (declared urgent), as amended the House do proceed to consider tlie same, w'ithort Questions put. » L/1!'¡'IOII.. 9. That Avheir, before a division. Mr decision that the "Ayes," or Noes, have"t"s challenged, Mr. Speaker may call upon the Meters challenging it to rise in their places and if they do not exceed tAventy he may fortlnvith dec-bare tll determination of the House. The following are the Rules Regulating the Proceed- ings of a Committee of the Whole House upon any Bill or other Matter declared Urgent Motion* to P,")?Ort Proqr<s.<, 10. That when a Motion is made that the do report Progress, or do leave the chair, tIle dehate snail be strictly confined to the matter c, Mr.-Hn-n 11. That if a Motion that the Chairman do report Progress or do leave the Chair, be made, the Chairman may decine to put the question thereupon, if in his judgement, such motion is made for the'purpo^ of obstruction: or if lie think fit to put such question he may put it from the Chair fortlnvith. 12. That no member having spoken to a motion that the Chairman do report progress or do leave the Chair snail be entitled to move, or to speak to. any similar Motion during the same sitting of the Committee. or 'c, ?. ] 3. That the Chairman may call the attention of tlie Committee to continued irrelevance, or tedious repeti- tion, on the part of the Member and may direct the Member to discontinue his speech. 40 C;, 14. That no Member shall be allowed to speak more than once to the same Question, unless the Member in charge of the Bill, or any Member Ai ho has made a Motion or moved an Amendment, desires to offer explanations. Prvomhle po.<fpow-il. L'l. That the Preamble of a Bill do stand postponed until after the consideration of the C Avithout Question put. D¿ri"iOJl.<. 16. That when, before a Division, the Chairman's ( decision that the "Ayes or "Noes have it, is chal- lenged, the Chairman may call upon the Mer hers challenging it to rise in their places and" -f .10 not exceed twenty he may forthwith dcVe determination of the Committee. to i)e 17. That when, by any of the Rules framed :.y Mr. ^pe.dtei, a. Question is to lie put from tiie Chair forth- with, no Amendment, Adjournment, or Debate shall be alloAved.

f EXTRAORDINARY MONEY LEXDiX(4 CASE. At the Birmingham County Court OIl Monday, before Mr. Motteram. Charles Burman, a farmer at Alve- church, brought an action against the National Mercantile Bank (Limited), Covent-garden, and who have branch oliices in Great Charles-street Birming- ham. The plaintiff being about to take a farm" under Lord Windsor, saw the defendants's advertisements in the newspapers, Avhich stated that they Avould 'lend for five per cent. The plaintiff wanted 5C0/ and the Manager at the branch office sent a lnan to the i<l'111. the stock of Avhich was worth 2,000". the plain- tiff went to the office he found that he" could only have 2o0/ and for this amount 80', or at the >-r+e of 74;}- per cent., had to be paid as irt.-iWt" was stated that the transaction Avould be private' anl that when plal, itl ff signed, the deed, which was prepared 1 by a firm of Birmingham solicitors, the document was not read to him. It was not till afterwards that he ascertained that he had to pay such a rate of interest or that lie had signed a bill of sale, instead of a simple note of nana.—ihe Judge save judgement lor t; p plafntifi* for 40'.

CARMARTHENSHIRE FARMERS* CLUB. The quarterly meeting of the Carmarthenshire farmers Uvb was heiu at the Nortn Western Hotel, LlandoA-ery, on WednesdaA', the chairmm. h" A-f,. L #L'¿ 'J'llb "J.. J. Lewis, ot Gurry. SCA eral new Ileni,el's NA,ere elected, after wiiich the chairman called unon lr. James Luciley, of lenjfai, to read his paper on "Butter, vi-li-eil til,t gentleman aceordin:_dA~ did. A discussion 011 tne subject was carried on by Mr. Gb^rles xdsnop, Mr. Lees, of Ton, Dr. Hopkins. Mr. H, 1 Morgan, Llwyu, mr. David Prosser and others. The meeting terminated about tive o'clock.

THRIFT. Ox Tuesday niglit, Mr. FAAVCKTT, the Post- Blaster General, in answer to questions put to him in the House of Commons, made a statement which ought to he known in every cottage and mansion in the United kingdom. The POSTMASTER GENERAL, an 11 officer of State who formerly had no relation i '\vith the people, has become their friend. The ?-'lvan Laces lie has recently brought within 1-eacli of "the humblest in the land are not yet fully understood by the people, but already l'esults have been achieved which must inspire ■with hope the hearts of those who strive for the Novation of the people, and who long to see them placed in a position to help themselves. The penny postage stamp system of saving has been Very successful. The experiment, as far as was concerned, was tried iirst in Cardigan- shire, and Cardiganshire stood at the head of all the counties in which the experiment was made. Since the 15th of November the penny postage stamp system of saving has been in operation throughout the entire country, and 1:31 J)OO Bew accounts have been opened, and 3,GOO,000 stamps have been deposited. The blank forms for making these deposits in stamps can be obtained at any post-ottlce. The announcement of these figures was received with cheers in the House of Commons. In addition to the penny savings, the POSTMASTER GENERAL has introduced a system by which small amounts as low as ten pounds can be invested in Government stock—an investment that cannot fail as long as the country itself is safe. Until recently these safe investments were a privilege of the rich and well-to-do. Kow any poor mail with ten pounds laid by can purchase government Stock which will return Illore than three per cent. interest, and Which will be safer than the Bank of England itself. During the ten weeks since it was Possible to invest these small amounts in Government Stock the very large sum of £ 230,087 has been invested. The number of persons who have purchased this stock is 3,700, giving an average of £ 58 for each person, tinder the old system a less sum than £ 10(1 could not be invested, and that could only be (We through a broker, at considerable expense. Of the £ 230,087 invested in Government Stock only X92,000 was Avithdrawn from the Post- office Savings Banks for that purpose the ^niainin" zCI:38,000 was deposited in order to hiake the purchases. We now come to the I'lost extraordinary figures of n 1], Notwith- standing the withdrawal of £ 92,GvJ0 from the ?ost-oflice Savings Banks in order to purchase Government Stock, and in spite of the "^138.000 deposited specially for the purchase of tock, the amount deposited in the Post-office Savings Banks has exceeded the amount with- <h'aY;n Ilv the almost incredible sum of '¡:'R ^23,000, or more than three-quarters of a Million. In the corresponding period of last Year the excess of deposits over withdrawals vas only £ 442,000. The Life Assurance •^opartinent does not prosper, and the reason is tuat the te rms are too unfavourable. The offered by ordinary offices arc unfavour- able enough, but the Governmenttermsarefarless favourable. No allowances have been made for |apses—a, gr-eat source of profit. There is a hf>eat °PEU F°R the POSTMASTER-GENERAL if >. can once popularise life assurance and -amities. There is still much to be done to ^courage thrift by making known amongst the People the facilities provided for them. The su"ject is one that ought to be- explained every school in the land. The Education ■^epartment might with advantage instruct '-cliool Boards to make provision for a regular "^•"position of the principles of thrift in all the elementary schools of the United Kingdom. ■Relies could do much to popularise the schemes t«ie POSTMASTER GEXERAL has introduced, and Newspapers, of course, are powerful in this direction. We are anxious that Wales should well wdien the figures are published, showing the first year's operations. Air ^A\VCKTT'S little book on "Aids to Thrift" can obtained at any post-office free of cost Jy merely asking for it. Somebody might ^aiislate this little book into Welsli, and present lu to the POSTMASTER GENERAL.

NORTH CARDIGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Ox Monday last the annual meeting of the North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society was held in the Town Hall. There was not a good attendance, and ultimately the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight. In addition to the ordin try business of electing officers, etc. the meeting had to discuss a considerable financial deficiency caused, as the PRESIDENT truly said, by the fearful and terrible day on which the show was held last year. Those who were out on the day of the last show will readily admit that rarely has such a tempest of wind and rain been known at that period of the year. The falling off in gate money amounted to £2.3, and naturally enough people who did not visit the show are reluctant to pay their subscriptions. Allowing for the p I subscriptions that are almost certain to be paid there is a deficiency to make up of about £ 40. This is not a large sum, and we do not think there will be any difficulty in obtaining it. The North Cardiganshire Agricultural Society n y has lived through very trying times, and will certainly not die of cold caught on a wet show day. The usefulness of this Society is far too conspicuous for anyone to question the wisdom of maintaining it. We know io has not accomplished all that a perfect Society might have accomplished, but that is not surprising in a world overrun with imperfect b. ings, who do well if they tend towards a better state of things without doing much in the way of reach- ing it. The Society is a practical acknowledg- ment that something can be done, and ought to be done, by landlords and tenants towards increasing the fertility of the soil, introducing better systems of cultiva- tion, improving buildings and fencing, and improving the breeds of stock. Farmers have not subscribed liberally, because they say, with some -show of reason, that the landlords take the bulk of the prizes. Landlords are not enthusiastic, because they say that getting animals ready to exhibit is a costly process, and that the shows are but little better than exhibi- tions of fat stock. It is not desirable that one or two great landowners should provide the bulk of the funds for carrying on the Society but at a time like this they might with great advantage subscribe the deficiency, and give the Society a fresh lease of life. The farmers too should come forward, not only with money but with criticism and suggestion, so that old defects may be got rid of and new attractions may be added. It is not the good we do but the good we try to do that helps the world to better life. The man who stands aside because beneficial results are of slow growth "will never rear oaks." A vigorous Agri- cultural Society is an influence that, operates like climate-it does not so much change the nature of things as it changes the conditions, so that things of different nature can thrive. Nothing must be surrendered, and we are satisfied that nothing will be surrendered. Mr VAUGIIAX DAVIES will do his utmost to hand over a satisfactory balance sheet to his suc- cessor, who, we trust, will be more fortunate in having a favourable show day. The CHAIRMAN read a letter from Mr FRYER, in which the writer expressed a wish to retire from the post of honorary secretary. He says lie occupied the position as representing Gogerddan estate, and his connection with that estate having been severed lie wishes to retire. He also suggests that as Mr WILLIAM MORGAN is really the secretary, and, it will be admitted, a very good secretary, the four honorary see etaries should he called the Executive Committee. The PRESIDENT said it did not matter what they were called if they did the work. This is true, hut it might be wise to increase the four to six or eight, who would be able to meet and carry on the work of the Association as practically it has been carried on by the honorary secretaries. The need for some alteration in the management is obvious, for Mr LEWIS WILLIAMS stated that his place will have to be filled, as it is likely 1w will be leaving the country before the next show is held. At the i meeting to be held next Monday week, it is to bo hoped there will be a large gathering of farmers and landowners, and that the CHAIR- MAN, who has worked courageously under heart- breaking circumstances, will be able to hand over to his successor a clean balance sheet and to announce prospects of a ^brighter year than ii-I I has marked his term of oifi.ee. The district is unfortunate in that two out of the three largest landowners at present take no interest in agri- culture, and do not reside on their property. It is only fair to presume that they know their business, but there are consequences of non- residence and delegated authority which land- owners cannot ahvays contemplate with satis- faction. Notwithstanding everything that is unfaA Ourable, Ave believe the North Cardigan- shire Agricultural Society will survive the cold water thrown upon it last show day, and will live to increase the good its labours have already accomplished..■