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MR ABEL THOMAS.
MR ABEL THOMAS. MR ABEL THOMAS has been chosen in the Liberal intertst to contest East Carmarthen- shire, if the Conservatives can find an opponent who will undertake this most forlorn of political forlorn hopes. There was no lack of Liberals willing to contest the seat, but ultimately the choice lay between Mr GWILYM EVANS and Mr ABEL THOMAS. The fact that Mr GWILYM EVANS had been for a time a Paper Unionist no doubt reduced the number of his supporters. Wales is determined to have nothing what- ever to do with any candidate who in 1886 went over to the Tories. Mr ABEL fll — •11 > A 1 TTAa,aA n. n""l"'r'\t'Y'Iton_N X HUM AS Will go LO toe XLUUOC VA. 'VUHUVU" -we suppose there is no doubt whatever about his return-to speak for Young Wales, and to make known there that the old order of things has utterly passed away in the Principality As opportunity is afforded, Wales is clearing out the old gang of nominal Liberals whose sympathies were with the classes, and who professed a Liberalism which was a mere party badge and nothing more. The process of change must go on until the Welsh members do not count amongst them a single representa- tive of the antiquated sort. The change now being effected is a class change. Mr ABEL THOMAS is not the sort ot man who twenty ysars ago would have been selected to represent a Welsh constituency. The cost of the conflict would have crushed iiim. Even yet the expenses of elections prevent that free choice which the people have a right to exercise in choosing repre- sentative. What is wanted in every constitu- ency is an election fund so that the electors might pick out, not the most suitable man who is able to spend £1,400 or Y,1,500 every three or four years, but the man who is in their opinion absolutely the fittest person to represent them. Mr ABEL THOMAS will not be a silent member, and we hope he will not be a timid member. Sooner or later Wales will find men who will rise above the technicalities of the House of Commons men who will not be measured by the mere votes they give men who will lift their country into a new zone men who, careless of themselves, will embody the national ideals in eloquent speech and fervid action. Not long ago Wales looked away from home for Parlia- mentary representatives, and when the University College of Wales was established it was not believed that men could be found in all Wales capable of managing that institution, and therefore the manage- ment was taken to London, where it still remains. In these days nobody would dream of having any Welsh Institution managed from London. Wales is capable of finding her own members of Parliament her own College Councils; her Own County Councils and her own Home Home Rule Parliament as soon as Home Rule, which is inevitable, is granted. The selection of Mr ABEL THOMAS shows that Wales is quite sound, and that when the general election comes there will be no doubt as to the fate of all trimmers, twicers, and modifiers of Liberalism.
AN IMPORTANT DEPARTURE.
AN IMPORTANT DEPARTURE. IN our advertising columns will be found a notice that the Right Hon. the Earl of IDSBURSTE has instructed Mr JOHN JAMES, auctioneer, to sell the whole of his Shropshire sheep, as his lordship intends to form a Pedigree Flock. This is a step that will have important bearings upon agriculture in Cardiganshire. When once the large land- owners begin to breed pedigree stock the mongrels are doomed. This is just the sphere in which noblemen like Lord LISBURNE have power to render real service to the whole com. munity. What Lord LISBURNE does in reference to sheep some other landowner in the county may do in reference to horses, horned stock, And pigs. Indeed, Lord LISBURNE himself has taken steps to improve the breed of cattle. Example is far more powerful than precept, and when Lord LISBURNE forms a Pedigree Flock it is almost certain that his tenants will not be content with sheep of the greyhound type which grow hair instead of wool and possess almost an antelope's leaping powers. If Lord LISBURNE'S attempt to form a Pedigree Flock of Sheep is not directly profitable, although we see no reason why it should not be profitable, the advantages to the county will be great. Enterprize may not bring obvious pecuniary results which can be distinctly traced to the enterprize, but it is very difficult in any business to achieve ruin by enterprise, The large sums paid at some recent sales of Pedigree Sheep make it clear that only landowners like Lord LISBURNE can undertake the necessarily heavy outlay before any considerable returns are possible. We wish Lord LISBURNE, every success in his new venture, and have little doubt that he will be successful, not only in forming a pedigree flock of sheep, but in giving a much-needed higher tone to the agriculture of the county.
WALES MISTRESS OF HERSELF.
WALES MISTRESS OF HERSELF. WELSH Disestablishment has been formally accepted as an item in the programme of the English Liberals and is to be pressed forward as soon as Irish Home Rule is carried, or be passed concurrently with Irish Home Rule. The less far-seeing Liberals of Wales may now be tempted to say that the battle is won and that there is no further occasion for strife or anxiety. This is not the fact. We are now only within sight of the real battle. All that has gone before t<M hAAn mprp rl,-irniishinL,-the snap shots of p 'I. the advanced guard. Welsh Liberals must remember that they have not yet secured dis- establishmeat. They have only got the subject accepted by a Liberal organization like their own, only more powerful The real work of the campaign has yet to begin, and the prob- abilities are that many a weary fight will have to be fought before victory is finally won. One thing has been made clear during the past few weeks, namely, that Wales is mistress of her- self. Whether candidates like it or not they will have to pledge themselves to oppose any Government that does not proceed to the removal of the grievance which is represented by the Established Church in Wales. The rank and file of the electors in Wales have never yet wielded the power they possess, but they are awakening. They begin to realize that if they are to control their own political destinies they must be up and doing in quiet times and must not trust to whatever work can be done after Parliament has been dissolved. They must not be led away by high-sounding platform speeches delivered by candidates who are prepared to say almost anything to win seats. Now is the time for work. Now is the time for voters in every constituency to ask themselves calmly and deliberately how they are being served by their members, and what sort of members they ought to choose. We have been sneeringly asked many a time what the thirty-four members of Wales can do in a House of Commons consisting of six hundred and seventy representatives. We say without hesitation that they can wreck Govern- ments. Over and over again in the history of this country thirty-four members, by transferring their votes from one side to the other, which mean sixty eight votes on a division, have defeated Governments. Wales is determined in future to be heard in Parliament as she has never been heard before. She is already mistress of herself and is gradually providing herself with representatives who will look to Wales and not to the Liberal Whips for approval and rebuke. The new class of member is not perfect, but he makes further change not only possible, but comparatively oa nw r(11,n. 11 AtioA aP rtrtm rv\ fa nn hoIttoa/? UtIOjf. JL UC Xiuuoo VA VUU4 uiuuo io 'pa.J. QJ.J .a\:lu. and will remain paralysed until the common people cast aside the traditions of the past and elect strong, fearless men who can bear ridicule and scorn for the sake of their country. What Wales has begun to do in County Councils she will before long do in Parliament. The common people must trust themselves and be less willing to believe evil of themselves. There is scarcely a labourer in Wales who would not make a better member of Parliament than twenty out of the thirty-four members make who now represent the Principality in the House of Commons. This is equally true of members of Boards of Guardians, Town Councils, Local Boards, County Councils and other bodies. What Welsh electors have to do is to look for the best men wherever they are to be found and elect them to places of honour, power, and profit. This is the only way for Wales to be- come more and more mistress of herself. We admit there is no virtue in poverty, but it is equally true that there is no virtue in riches. There is no danger that poverty will be over- represented in the House of Commons or else- where. There are scores of Welshmen in every county who are able to do good work for their own districts by serving on local public bodies. After having received local training and experience the best of them will find their way to the House of Commons, where by eloquence, courage, insight, and assiduity they will make amends for their scant numbers. We are rejoiced to see that Wales is mistress of herself, and we urge Young Wales not to rest content with what has been secured, but to start afresh as if nothing whatever had been done. Wales has many needs, as her bare mountains, her harbourles9 coasts, and her undeveloped re- sources abandantly testify. The Welsh thirty- four members are no longer an obedient con- tingent of the English Liberal Party, but the representatives of the Welsh Nation, a nation determined to secure for itself distinct, although not separate, existence. ♦
IWANTED AT ABERYSTWYTH.
I WANTED AT ABERYSTWYTH. FOR upwards of fifteen years it has been recognized at Aberystwyth that decent cottages for working men are greatly needed. Several times attempts have been made to establish building societies in order to supply this need, but every effort has hitherto ended without practical results. We suppose there is no occasion to prove that cottages are needed if existing insanitary dwellings are to be got rid of and the working men of the town and their families are to be decently housed. Fifty houses are required at least, and the question is how to secure their erection. Cottage property is not a form of investment that capitalists seek, and we take it for granted that these fifty houses can only be erected by men who are will- ing to be satisfied with four or five per cent. on their outlay. Charity in this matter is not required, but on the other hand large profits cannot be expected. What is most urgently required is that those inhabitants of the town who could find the necessary capital should be convinced that on many grounds decent habitations ought to be built. If the working men of the town could be brought together and could be persuaded to speak freely they could easily make out a case which would leave no doubt in any reasonable mind as to what ought to be done. Houses which would cost about £100 each ought to be built and they should be built in lots of eight or ten in different parts of the town. Eight or ten could be built in Trefechan eight or ten on the Buarth; and eight or ten in Mill- street. If a building society were formed the necesseary capital would, we believe, be subscribed. The difficulty is in finding some one to take the initiative. It is desirable that working m3n themselves should take part in a movement of this kind, but as a rule working men who live in small towns do not feel secure enough in their work to invest in building societies, and the bulk of the capital, therefore, would have to be provided by those who realize the great importance of providing workmen with houses fit to live in. The Town Council have powers which might be exercised with great advantage but, unfortunately, this is a large undertaking for the benefit of a section of the com- munity that does not often try to make itself heard, and that is willing to bear much more than is generally believed in silence. We have in the town of Aberystwyth some very sagacious critics, whose great riKldnHnn 113 fVtof UTa oi«a n "urnuCt j_ vvjuvtivii io wnaw nu ""a.U UiifCtjro "I.I1J.è) CQ pull down but never build up. Here is an instance where we are anxious to build up as well as well as pull down, and we shall be glad to receive the help of those who dislike destructive criticism, in the truly philanthropic work of erecting fifty or sixty houses in different parts of the town. To close cottages which are not fit for human habitation until other houses are provided would entail hardship upon the poorest and most helpless. This is not a grand scheme, or one that will bring either profit or honour to those who engage in it, but it is a piece of practical work which ought to be done; and can be done if a few people will only lend money at four or even five per cent. interest. There is, it will be seen, not even much self-sacrifice in what we suggest and hope to see carried out. This is a subject on which we have written many times with that iteration and reiteration whiah seem to be -1 1 • i aosoiuteiy necessary in order to get anything done. Fewer than half-a-dozen men whom we could name are well able to do all that is required, and they would confer a great boon upon the poor and at the same timE improve Aberystwyth as a health resort by getting rid of all the blind courts and alleys of the town.
WELSH MILITARY SPIRIT.
WELSH MILITARY SPIRIT. IN a speech delivered at Dolgelley last week Colonel LIDDELL referred to some editor of a newspaper who had tried to make out that the Welsh people would not fight even to defend their homes. We do not believe that there is such a newspaper editor in Wales. It is not to fighting that the Welsh people object, when fighting is necessary, but to playing at soldiers and creating a war spirit which it is wiser to leave uncreated. Captain CASSON used the strongest argument we have yet heard in favour of the volunteer movement in Merionethshire, namely, that it will cost the aristocratic people nothing who will shine as officers. The whole sacrifice will fall upon the rank and file, who will lose wages in order to attend drill. We can remember when the volunteers were established in 1859. The country was then told that the volunteers would save the taxes by rendering a standing army practically unnecessary. The expenditure on the army and navy has been doubled since 1859, and the volunteers have cost millions since then and have never done a pennyworth of any sort of service. We are slow to believe that Merionethshire, even with the assistance of Portraadoc, will form a battalion of volunteers, but as far as publicity goes we have given the movement all the help in our power. It is not absence of pugnacity, but excess of common sense, that will prevent the volunteer movement in Merionethshire from being successful. The quarrymen of Festiniog would rather practice a chorus or a cantata than be drilled as soldiers, but if there were some real fighting to be done, and the cause were just, we have no doubt they would be there. A guard of honour will never be wanted again for the QUEEN in Merioneth- shire. Besides, why should a guard of honour for the QUEBN be composed of military men. Merionethshire will provide the QUEEN a civilian guard of honour twenty or thirty thousand strong. It is non- sense to talk about the QUEEN in this effort to kindle the military spirit in Merionethshire. We still think Colonel LIDDELL has missed his vocation. He is a very nice man and he ought to have been in the ministry. It is not yet too late. Let somebody get the COLONEL an American D.D. and give him a "call." He can then act as recruit- ing sergeant for the army of the QUEEN while he seeks followers for the army of the LORD, who, we are told, its a man of war. We still have doubts about the Merionethshire battalion of volunteers, but are willing to abide the event.
LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES
LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES In another part of the papar we publish the half. yearly balance sheet of the London and Provincial Bank. The shares are very high, having this week changed hands at £19 15s. with the Dividend. ♦ The reckless riding of bicyclists is causing accidents in all directions. There is only one remedy. The bicyclists who run people down must be sued for damages and must be proceeded against by the police. They will learn moderation when they have been made to understand that the public cannot be run over with impunity. The poor clergyman's wife, whose case is not suited to a home, is still advertizing in London papers for small donations. The amonnt spent in advertisements would have given her a month at the seaside and something over for an outfit. What is the secret in these advertisements ? The gentry of this district are great believers in sport. They would not shoot a fox and they will not kill fish with lime, but they will net their own waters so as to prevent anyone but themselves getting fish. Sport The sport is to look after number one. It is not possible to discuss this question in detail, but publio utteranees are not always in harmony with private acts. • » The attempt to increase the prices obtained for Salt has succeeded, and the result is that salt Union shares have fallen in value. The dividend has dropped from ten per cent. to six per cent. In the long run it will be discovered that free trade is the only safe course. Dear salt in England means the loss of the industry, although the promoters of the Salt Union did not believe that loss of trade would be the result of higher prices. Low prices are met by labour-saving and other inventions. Protection means decay and death, and all Trusts and Syndicates are forms of protection. A job, a most palpable job. That is the unanimous verdict in reference to the appointment of Sir JOHN PULESTON as Constable of Carnarvon Castle. This is the sort of thing that the people should protest against with all their might. If Sir JOHN PCLESTON is to be constable of Carnarvon Castle he ought never to be the Tory candidate for the Carnarvon Boroughs. There should be protest-vigorous and unanimous-against this shameful job. Now is the opportunity of Mr LLOYD GEORGE. The weather is still unsettled, but there has been sufficient sunshine to enable farmers to get in the bulk of their hay. The crops are heavy, and although some hay has been spoiled the crops are better than they would have been if rain had not been frequent. All that is now wanted is bright, warm weather to ripen the grain crops which have not yet suffered much. Notwithstanding the gloom of July, the harvest prospects are hopeful. There is plenty of grass, and stock are doing fairly well. Fruit is not plentiful, but the hedgerows are rich in hazel nuts. Last year a nut could be found scarcely anywhere. Not long ago the Duke of CAMBRIDGE delivered a speech to the Guards before their embarkment. No reporters were allowed to be present, but the public expected to see a report of the speech, and a report was prepared which had no points of likeness to the real utterance, but that did not trouble either the reporters or the public. If people will not allow newspapers to report correctly they are almost sure to report incorrectly. The only person who has suffered by not allowing reporters to be present when the speech was delivered is the Duke of CAMBRIDGB himself. His ROYAL HIGHNESS knows he did not say what is attributed to him, but what he did say he does not know. The moral of this is that reporters should be encouraged to report what is said, as they are in danger of reporting what is not said when they are refused admittance to important functions. The narrower sort are disturbed because the Prince of WALES suggested some time ago that the name of Cardinal MANNING should immediately follow his own. The precedence thus given as a matter of courtesy to a Roman Catholic has stirred the muddy waters of sectarian hate, and long letters are being sent to the papers in protest. When will it be discovered that professing Christians need not fight each other for what they call truth. Here is one extract from a long letter we have been asked to publish -Alas how long is this re-established "pristine purity to remain? How long will our Church withstand the insidious efforts of the "Rom ish party in her midst to engraft upon it the varied inventions of the dark ages, the un- clean confessional, the invocation and intercession of saints, the worship of the blessed VIRGIN, the awful doctrine of transubstantiation, and the other papist innovations which they now fondly hope are in a fair way of being adopted by it." Are Nonconformists true to the freedom their ancestors fought and suffered for ? Are there no superstitions and traditions and weaknesses in Non- conformity 2 Are there no doctrines believed amongst Nonconformists quite as awful" as the doctrine of transubstantiation ? II Sir EDWIN ARNOLD in the seclusion of his Japanese home, it is said, is completing his poem, Ths Light of the World. Sir E )WIN ARNOLD has informed a Jnp&nese jiurnulist iiial, his earnest purpose throughout has been to convert Ciiris- tians to Christianity." Ah, that ia a stupendous task. The Jews who crncified CHRIST thought they were religious. The Christiana of the present day have no notion that they need to be converted t" Christianity. If ever the religion of CHKIST IS re- I verted to the change in the world will be rapid, but what will become of churches and chapels and creeds. Even the central idea of the method of CHRIST is ignored. We await with profound interest the conversion of Chribtians to Christianity. There are millions of the disciples of PAUL vrho fondly think they are the followers of CHRIST. » Something will have to be done to convince Welsh members of Parliament that they must be present at important divisions. It is well known that Wales can obtain no sort of concession from the POSTMASTER-GENERAL and vet on Mr PICKERSGILLV motion on the Post-office Estimates to reduce the salary of the POSTMASTER-GENERAL, in order to draw attention to the postmen's grievance?, thirteen Welsh members were absent. In another important division to include religion in the forth- coming census eighteen Welsh members were ab- sent. We utterly fail to see what use the Welsh members are if they are never in their plac,.s when important divisions are taken. Wales i? growing weary of this scandalous neglect. Welsh representation is a pure farce as may be seen by anyone who takes the trouble to examine thu division lists. There was a discussion in the House of Commons last week in reference to the cession to Germany of Heligoland. It was stated that we have added a million square miles of territory to the dominions of this country by the German bargaiu. Mt LABOUCHERE said that we were the most thorough- going buccaneers and land grabbers in the world. This statement was not disputed, but was greeted with laughter. This theft of land is not subject matter for laughter, as will sooner or later be dis- covered. We are a pious nation of thieves, and we condone our robbery by pretending to take the Christian religion to the people we have plundered. k A sum of £ 4,000 is required at Aberystwyth in the interests of religion, decency, and comfort to build houses for the working people. This money could easily be obtained to build another unnecessary church or chapel, but cannot be got merely to save the lives of the poor, at least it has not as yet been forthcoming. Last week at Manchester a pre- liminary meeting was held for the purpose of forming a workmen's dwellings company, with a capital of £250,000, to erect artisans dwellings in Manchester and Salford. Dr VAUGHAN, Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, said Manchester and Salford were in the possession of about the worst reputation of any of the great towns so far as health wu concerned. It was a disgrace that the poorer clastes of Manchester and Salford should be allowed to live in the filthy hovels and the unwholesome tenements into which they were now forced. By thousands they were losing their health and sinking into premature graves because they were not properly housed. It was not their fault, for they could not build houses for them- selves. Making all due allowance for the un- avoidable high death rate of a large town, there was in Salford every year a procession of 1,000 corpses to the cemetery more than there should have been. Dr BRIERLEY said the averages supplied to the public as to the death-rate were delusive, for he had found on analysing them that there were courts and passages in Manchester where the death-rate was over 120 per 1,000. It was stated that the dwellings would pay at least five per cent. on capital, and a committee was appointed to report on the possibility of forming a company. What is true of Manchester and Salford is true of almost every town and village in the land. We have forty or fifty hovels in Aberystwyth which are a disgrace to civilization. There can be no peace until these hovels give place to deoent houses. There is no part of the country where the local gentry have so completely dropped out of every department of public life as they have dropped out in Cardiganshire. There was a time, for instance, when the Cardiganshire Horse Breeding Association was favourably mentioned in Parliament, but now Cardiganshire has no position whatever in horse. breeding, notwithstanding the fact that Government devotes £5,000 a year towards the encourage- ment of horse-breeding. In the House of Commons last week, Mr A. PEASE asked the President of the Board of Argriculture whether the Government could announce their intention to carry out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding in their third report, with regard to raising the amount disposable for Queen's premiums and the encouragement of horse breeding, from £ 5,000 to :110,000, and the advisability of prepar- ing returns containing reliable information as to the number and description of horses in the United Kingdom. Mr CHAPLIN said his attention had already been devoted to that subject, but he was afraid that the returns recommended by the Royal Commission would involve considerable difficulty. The matter, however, was being considered, and he hoped to be able to make some improvement, at all events, in the existing system before the next returns were issued. The experiment of devoting the sum in question to Queen's premiums, instead of to Queen's plates, had been extremely successful, and, personally he should be glad to see the sum raised from £ 5,000 to £ 10,000. That, however, was a matter for consideration of his right hon. iriend the Chancellor of the Exohequer. Something ought to be done in the direction of promoting horse breeding in Cardiganshire, but what that something should be it is not easy to say in the absence of local leaders. Mi EVANS, of Rhiwarthen, near Aberystwyth, does something, but he needs co-operation. Last week in the House of Commons Mr ATKIN- SON who had been accused of addressing the House of Commons as a Dissenter repudiated the fact and said :—" No, I am not a Dissenter, I am a Noncon- formist." The House of Commons, in its ignorant way, laughed at a distinction which did not seem to mark a difference. For years we have tried to impress members of the Church of England with the fact that Nonconformists are not Dissenters. The whole force of the demand in Wales for Disestablishment rests on the fact that Noncon- formists are not Dissenters. There is no Dissent in Wales. but the hnlk nf thA nennlo arn 'Mnnnnn. -JI .t"r" "1..1- formists who claim and intend to obtain religions equality. There was nothing to laugh at when Mr ATKINSON said that he was not a Dissenter but a Nonconformist. Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL has been comparing modern Radicals, greatly to their disadvantage, with Mr COBDEN, Mr BRIGHT, and others. We can re- member when Mr COBDEN and Mr BRIGHT were abused as demagogues and almost as traitors by every Con- servative in the country. We have seen Mr GLAD- STONE accused of all the crimes a politician can be guilty of, but we have no doubt that in a few years Radicals will be reminded of the great virtues of Mr GLADSTONE. Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL may think it serves his purpose to say that the modern Radical is a very poor animal, but we think as good men are probably to be found in the House of Commons to-day as were found in it when Mr COBDEN and M r BRIGHT were in the fulness of their power. We are still of opinion that Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL is the only Tory who sees how his party can hold office. He has a programme-a Radical pro- gramme—and the Tories can carry it out if they are so minded. The Radicals have the House of Lords against them when any reform is passed by the House of Commons. The strange thing is that the Tories do not yet recognize that Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL IS their prophet and saviour. ¡ Lat week an illustration of the uses of the phono. graph was given in the presence of Mr GLADSTONE when a speech of General SHERMAN'S, spoken last April, was repeated. One of the greatest uses we can t ink of to which the phonograph can be put would he to preserve the exact pronunciation of every word in the English language. By this means the changes in spoken language could be measured and many interesting discoveries made. If Madame PATTI sai g ■' Home, ^weet Home" into the phonograph the notes when released a hundred years hence would teach the siugers of that day many a curious lesson. The tones of ancient musical instruments would be gladly listened to if the phonograph had been in existence a thousand years ago. A speech in the Cornish language wo,ild be valuable. Stored up sounds of many kinds would have distinct value in times to come. Would the repetition of a speech by the phonograph be evidence in a court of law ? ♦ #- Lard ROSEBERY has been addressing an East-end audience on love for flowers. The occasion was an ivimal exhibition of the St. George's-in-the-East Window Garden Society, which was formed three ye\rs ago to encourage window gardening among the poor of the district. There is nothing that can do more for the people of towns than to bring to them flowers-gorgeous, delicate, perfumed flowers. Even in small towns there is need for flowers. Just now up Penglaise-road, Aberystwyth, outside Mr ROWLEY'S residence, there i3 a magnificent fuschia ia rich fulness of flower. Children are almost always fond of flowers. It is a pity that prizes are not given at elementary schools for the cultivation of iiidow plants and for knowledge of wild plants and flowers. The question has been raised in Montgomeryshire whether a reduction might not be made in the number of workhouses, and a conference has been held at Newtown with this object. There is no reason why workhouses should not be reduced in number, or, indeed, why they should not be got rid of altogether. It has been suggested that the disused workhouses might be converted into Inter- mediate Schools. If an effort were made to reduce pauperism, and it could easily be reduced by reasonable management, Wales might be placed at the head of the United Kingdom. If the Aber- ystwyth Workhouse could be secured for an Inter- mediate School-and it could easily be done-several important questions would be settled. Amongst religious, temperate, frugal people like the Welsh, there would be no difficulty in practically abolishing pauperism. There are not more than half as many paupers now in Wales as there were twenty years ago. Until quite recently the subject of pauperism was not considered to be one of importance. We have always considered this subject to be one of vital interest, and it is satisfactory to know that the public are trying to realize that the condition of the poor ia deserving of the most careful consideration. One of those reforms has been started on Austrian and Hungarian railways which it is wonderful was not adopted long ago in this country. It is called the zone system of traffic. This tariff for passenger traffic on the Austrian State Railway has, we are told, already been attended by most satisfactory results, as may be gathered from the fact that the returns for the first fortnight, show, in spite of the unfavourable weather, aa increase of four hundred and fifty-seven thousand one hundred and sixty passengers, and of forty-five thousand one hundred and thirty-seven florins in the gross receipts as compared with the corresponding period of last year. This result is the more important as the tariff has, so far, come into force for local passenger traffic only, and has not yet bfaen extended to fast and long-distance trains. Indeed it is chiefly on the local and short distance traffic that the tariff is destined to confer immense benefits. Under the old tariff the third-class fare was at the rate of 2.40 kreutzers per kilometre, or three-farthings per mil?, whereas under the zone tariff it is reduced to one kreutzer, per kilometre, or one-third of a penny per mile, that unit being doubled for second and trebled for first class. The tickets are issued without being stamped or clipped they may be used on any day, or in any month or year, and for a journey in either direction from the station of issue. For fast and long-distance trains the fares will be fifty per cent. more, according to the different zones; on the other hand, the allowance of twenty-five kilogrammes of luggage will be abolished. How it happens that railway managers are not taught by their own cheap excursions to lower the rates is one of the mysteries of life. Railway companies run empty trains which might just as well, and far more profitably, be full. One of the great English companies will be introducing the zone system and then the small companies will follow suit.
DOLGELLEY
DOLGELLEY SWDDEN DEATH.—On Monday evening last, Mr Allen Mair, of Abergwynant Farm, a well known farmer in this district was seized with palsey. He lingered till morning when death ensued. Dr Jones, Caerffynon, was summoned and was prompt in attendance, but the patient was beyond any medical skill. The funeral will take place at Llanelltyd this day (Friday), private. DELIBERATE SUICIDIC. -An inquest on the body of John Leopold Edwards, mining captain, was held at the Shire Hall, before Mr W. R. Davies, coroner, on Wed- nesday morning, the 30th, and the following jury Messrs William Owen, foreman; Evan Edwards, draper; Griffith Owen, currier; John Evans, corn merchant; John Thomas, builder John Evans, Lion- street David Roberts, Bridge-street; Ellis Jones, Gas Works Evan Raes, bootmaker William Hughes, printer John Edwards, ironmonger Humphrey Pughe, tailor; Edward Williams, printer. The body of the deceased was found in a pool at the top of the Torrent Walks on Tuesday by some fisherman. Deceased went from home on Thursday last but left no message and some anxiety prevailed as to his safety, but it was generally believed he would turn up. He was married but had no children.—Thomas Roberts said I live at Cross Foxes Hotel. I knew John Edwards. I saw him at our house about eight o'clock last Saturday night. He said he was waiting for a trap in order to go to the mine, that was about four o'clock. He talked with me in the workshop for about half-an-hour. He bothered something about Silgwm Mawr Mine, and it seemed to prey upon his mind. When he left he was perfectly sober. He made a remark, "there will be a great deal of work about here in time to come, but I shall not be alive then." He had no money. He wanted a shilling's worth of whiskey, but he witness refused him. P.C. W. R. William, stationed at Dolgelley, said about five o'clock yesterday, I went to Pontarddibin. I could see the feet of a man in the water from the bridge. I drew the body out with a hook. The pool where it lay was about sixteen feet deep. There was a stone eighteen lbs. in weight (produced) tied to the neck with twisted strings of ivy. The body was lying face downwards, the stone being on the back. The head was bleeding, but that injury might have been done when the body was dragged out. There was nothing to indicate violence. His coat I found on the rocks and the poøket book was in it.-John Davies, butcher, corroborated this evidence. He was the first person who saw the body in the water. The following entry was found in deceased's pocket book :—Monday afternoon, Pontar- ddibin—Trouble and disappointment on all sides, I can't bear it any longer. On behalf of my wife will someone see to Anderson and Arnold. Your papers in my pocket book and letters at home. Good-bye Dolgelley and all friends. Sarah be cheerful." The jury found that deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity. PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY, JULY, 29TH.-Before E. Griffith, Esq., Dr Lloyd Williams and Lloyd Richards, Esqrs., and Morris Jones, Esq. Breach, of the. Local Board Byelaws. -An adjourned summons against Mr Ellis Evans, Skinners Arms, for neglecting to cover and drain a manure heap was a heard on Tuesday. Mr W. R. Davies appeared for the Local Board. Mr W. Jones proved the offence. It was reported that the work was being carried on Ellis Evans was therefore only ordered to pay costs and half advocates' fee.—A similar complaint was made against Mr J. Mair Jones, and the same order was made. Transfer of Licence.-The licence of the Howel dda," Drwanant, was transferred to Mr William Jones, son of the late Mr Howell Jones.-Also of the Sun Inn, Llanymawddwy, was transferred from Mr Owen Owen, to Mr J, Griffith I RURAL STNIT ,AP.YktlTHouiTy.-Afteir the Board qf I Guafdi&tiS tneeting last Saturday, ti ir.eecing of the Rural SanUary Authority was held, Mr E. Griffith preaidiog. It was resolved to summon Sir Edmund Buckley, for nr-glpctinn; to construct privies or w-t r ol for a I lot of cotiages at Aberoowarch, Dttxe Mawddwy.- Waenferch, Llanegryn It wais reported that this farmhouse was in a dilapidated condition and noticea had been served, but not complied with. It was decided to take legal proceedings at oy)ce.-Proceed- ings were also ordered to be taken against Mrs Jones, Nan t, Abergyuolwyn, for allowing cottages to be out of repair. Also against Mr Roderick Humphreys, Bontddu, for bad drains, &c., also against Mrs Owen. Borthwnog farm, for not vacating the house.- The B orkhouse Drain The Inspector was requested to bring in a report to the next meeting upon the drain leading from the Workhouse and Slaughter- house. Mr John Jones, formerly of Gwernau Villa, having attended before the meeting to complain of its condition, as he had built a new house close by —• Ynytfaen, Dytfryn It was decided to write to Dr William?, Btmar fawr, to inform him that according to the report of the medical officer of health, the condition of the farmhouse was insanitary, and that unless the matters referred to in the Inspector's letter were attended to, legal proceedings would be taken. GARDEN PARTY AT HENGWRTUCHA. On Wednesday afternoon, Mr C. E. J. Owen, high sheriff of Merioneth, and Mrs Owen, invited trades* men of Dolgelley to a garden party at Hengwrtucha, with the view of showing their good neighbourhood towards the people of the town and its vicinity, The party, reaching Hengwrtucha about four, were received by Mr and Mrs Owen, who were accompanied by Miss Owen, Captain Lewis, of the Buffs, and others. Excellent arrangements had been made for the out- door entertainment, but the weather was not such as to allow the party to enjoy the results of the arrange- ments to their fullest extent. Nevertheless, in the intervals of fairly fine weather, various recreations werelitidulger: in on the bowling gr, en, the Llanfachreth brass band playing selections of music. Subsequently the party sat down to tea at Hengwrtucha, Mrs C. E. J. Owen, presiding. Mr Robert Jones, Telynor Tegid, Llangollen, played a selection of Welsh airs on the harp. The following accepted invitations Captain and Mrs Roberts, FroDallt, Mrs and Misa Evans, Eldon- row, Mrs, Mr T. H. and Miss Roberts. Dr and Mrs Thomas, Mr D. E. and Miss Hughes, Old Post Office, Mr John Evans, flour dealer and Mrs Evans, Mra J. E. and Mrs Jones, Eldou-row, Mr and Mrs Kenrick Roberta, Mrs R. O. Williams, Bridge-street, Mr and Mrs Lewis Williams and Miss Roberts, Penbryn, Mr aud Mrs R P. Roberts, Mr John Williams, shoemaker and Mrs Williams. Mr Humphrey and Mrs Pugh, Mr and Mis Meyrick Jones, Mrs Ellis, Crossby-buildings. Mr and Mrs William Owen, Mr and Mrs Williams, New Shop, Mr John Williams, carver, Mr W. William, watchmaker, Mr and Mrs Mee, Mr and Mrs Willitm, Angel Hotel, Mr and Mrs Tom Parry, Mr and Mrs John Edwards, Mr and Mrs Gruffydd Jones, Mr and Mrs Arnfield, Mrs Margaret Jones. Mr and Mrs Jones, Crossby-buildings, Mr and Mrs Humphrey Parry, Mr and Mrs David Owen, Mr Humphrey Owen and Mrs Owen, Mr and Mrs Humphrey Morris, Mr and Mrs Wynne Williams, chemist, Mr Evan Wynne Williams and Mrs Williams, Mr Edward Williams, printer, and Mrs WTilliams, Mr and Mrs Williams, Workhouse, Mr E P. Williams, Beehive, Mr Rowlaud Jones and Mrs Jones, B.idge- street, Mrs Jones, Henfelin, Mr and Mrs OweD, Penuwciiardre. Mr aud Mrs O. O. Roberts, the Misses Bickuell, Mr and Mrs Richard Griffiths, Mr and Mn W. Jouee, Cemlyn House, and others. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. On Wednesday afternoon the twelfth annual dis- tribution of prizes in connection with Dr Williams' Endowed Schools for Girls, Dolgelley. was made in the Public Rooms, Mr J. E. Greaves, Lord Lieutenantof Car- narvonshire, presiding. There was a large attendance of parents and townspeople and amongst those present were Mr and Mrs A. C. Humphreys-Owen, Clan- severn. The school appears to have been brought by Miss Fewings into an exceedingly satisfactory and prosperous condition. The room had been tastefully decorated and at the lower end were displayed specimens of the scholars' needlewerk, water colour drawings, as well as of their cooking. The CHAIRMAN, commencing the proceedings regretted the absence of Mr Holland, chairman of governors, and trusted that it would never be forgotten that it was through his indefatigable energy and un- tiring patience the school was established at Dol- gelley. (Cheers). While expressing gratitude to Mr Holland for his services rendered let them hope that the years which were still in store for him would be brightened by the knowledge of having done so good a work so well. (Applause). Referring to the school, he remarked thst the progress had been real and substantial and, speaking of the new buildings which had been added, said that more convenient, well- arranged, more airy, wholesome and better adapted did not exist in the kingdom. (Hear, hear). The building fund had been raised by loan for which the governors had made themselves responsible and he hoped the public would recognize the public-spirited action of the governors by sending an ever increasing number of scholars to the institution. The little matter of the footbridge, he observed, had been ami- cably settled and the incident, he hoped, would increase and consolidate the good feeling which existed and ought to exist between the town and school. (Applause). The scholars then went through a programme of j music and song, accompanied by a small orchestra of violinists supplied by the school itself. Mrs Humphreys-Owen, Glanseyern distributed the prizes and addressed encouraging remarks to teachers and scholars, and the'proceedinga were terminated by | a vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by the Rev Daniel Rowlands and seconded by Mr Morris Jones, Plasucha. The programme was as follows: Pianofoi te Quartette, La Bouquetiere," G. Clarke, D. Gossling, M. Jones, and F. Smith; vocal duet, Swiss Morning Hymn," vocal trio, 0 Skylark for thy wing pianoforte solo, Waltz," G. Dawes recitation, One niche the highest," M. Rowlands vocal trio, Three little maids from School ton Gymreig, Pob rhyw Seren" violin quartette, March," Mr Davies, Miss Thomp- son, M. Jones, F. Smith, and D. Ptitchard; violm duett, "Overture to the Marionettes," Mr Davies, Miss Thompson, F. Smith, and M. Jones vocal duet, When the wind bloweth in from the Sea," Ü G. Clarke and M. Jones; vocal trio, Youth, Joy, a and Hope;" pianoforte duet, 11 Norwegian Dance," M. Pritchard and L. Jones recitation, The Owl Critic," Junior Class vocal duet, River National Anthem. The prize list was as follows,-Prize for General Proficiency N. Illius, M. Edwards, T. Evans, L. Rowlands. D. Pritchard, G. Dawes, A. Wordsworth j js L. Williams, prize for collection of wild flowers. FORM iii.-Prize for Examination 1, J. Adams 2, E. Davies 5, S, Thomas 6, K. Hughes 4, M. C. Evans. Prize for General Proficiency: A. M. Edwards; B. King L. W. Jones K. Lloyd 3, M. Jones D, Richards. PROBATIONARY FORM.—Prize for Examination N. Williams. Prize for Genoral Proficiency: L. Parry; F. Rowlands; L. Jones. SPECIAL PRIZES. Cookery 1st Prize D. Gosling; presented by Mrs Holland. i. 2nd L. Davies. • > 3rd M. Puahe. Needlework, C. Lewis; presented by the Head Mistress. Collection of Wild Flowers, L. Jones, presented by Mrs Holland. Highly commended, L. Lumley and J' Davies. Form IV.—L. Williams. Form III.—A. M. Edwards. Commended, May Richardson and J. Rowlands. Music, M. M. Jones.
LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS.
LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS. FORM V.A.-M. Jones, prizes for examination and mathematics certificates, senior Cambridge, S K botany and mathematics stage 2. s L Lumky, prizes for examination and scripture; certificates, senior Cambridge, S.K. botany, mathe- matics and drawing. J' L. Davies, prizes for ^examination, cooking and botany certificates, senior Cambridge, S.K. advanced botany and mathematics. ,^h,°ma8' ptizeS examination and mathematics; certificates, junior ^Cambridge, S.K. mathematics r M. RowlaLds, prize for examination, S. K. botiny certificate. FORM V.B. L. Jones, prizes for examination and collection of wild flowers; certificates S.K. mathe- matics and botany, junior Cambridge. „ G. Jones, prize for examination certificates, junior Cambridge, Trinity College pianoforte, S.K. botany and mathematics. J. Davies, prize for examination certificates, junior Cambridge, S.K. botany and mathematics. i G. Clarke, prize for examination certificates, S.K. botany, drawing and mathematics. L. J. Jones, prize for examination. C. Lewis, » needlework. D. Gosling, „ cooking; certificates, Trinity College, S.K. botray, F. Smith,.certificates, Trinity College, pianoforte and violin. FORM IV Price for examination.-L. Jones, certificate,, music P.F. M. Pughe, prizes for exam- mation and cookery; L. Griffith, S.K. botany. if