The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

NATIONAL PROVIDENCE. THE desire to secure something in the. shape of a scheme of national insurance is very great. Mr RANKIN, M.P., has given notice of some amendments, with this object, to the County Government Bill. He v wishes to take advantage of the reform of local govern- ment in order to unite payment to paupers who will not enter the workhouse wir.h some insistance upon their observance of foresight. His clauses would enable any County Council to draw up a scheme for the establishment- of a county pension and annuity fund. His notion is that able-bodied men and women should pay during the time of their capacity a sufficient weekly sum to unable them at sixty years of age to obtain 2s. a week. The annuity is to carry with it the right to receive in the form of relief such parochial aid as any Board of Guardians may decide to grant. The 2s. is, of course, to be taken into account in granting relief; but the point is that it would enable a provident person to live with- out entering the workhouse. The great difficulty in every scheme that attempts to deal with national provident assurance is in not, injuring or destroying the great voluntary associations which now do so much for the industrial population. The first step towards any satisfactory scheme is to recognize quite frankly certain actual conditions. For instance, there are improvident, wasteful people who never can be made to provide for themselves. They will always spend more than they receive -always consume more than they produce- and no relief that has ultimately to be given to them can be given under too onerous conditions. Second, there are dishonest, untruthful, and otherwise vicious people-including criminals— who will always prefer to prey upon society, and who can never be included in any scheme of thrift, or frugality, or providence Third, there are people of weak intellect and low physical type who fall so far below the mental and physical average that they are never able, however willing, to do more than keep them- selves hovering on the borders of destitution and starvation. Fifth, there are the un- fortunate-the maimed, orphans, widows, and that floating mass of people who provide this country v'ith surplus labour in times of commercial activity, and who live or die in unknown ways when times are bad. These different sections of the community no scheme of national providence, whether com- pulsory or voluntary, will ever effectively reach, and the first step towards real progress is to fully recognize and never to lose sight of this fact. The only question is whether the State provides the thrifty with anything like the same facilities for providence, as the State provides the unthrifty for improvidence. Before the establishment of Post Office Savings Banks there were no easily accessible and general provision for receiving the small savings of the people. There were, we know, savings banks scattered about the land, but the Post 'Office SavingsBanks were the first recognition by the State that something should be done for j the poor besides encouraging them to spend their, earnings in intoxicating drink. How much still remains to be done, even in this direction, is shown by the success of collecting sick and insurance socities, like the Prudential, the Liver, the Pearl, and others. The agents of these societies collect members' contributions and their transactions run into millions of pounds a year. The question we should like to see discussed in the House of Commons, or at a conference of Trade and Friendly Society representatives, is whether some system of payments could not be made by wage-payers —employers of labour-in aid of a State Providence Fund out of which each wage-earner should be entitled to an annuity after a certain age, according to the payments he had made during the wage-earning period of his life. We will try to put the matter as clearly and simply as possible. The dread of every working man as he approaches middle age is that a time will soon come when he will be without the means of pro- viding daily bread for himself. He has joined a friendly society, perhaps, which gives him relief during sickness, and he is a member of a trade society which gives him something when he is out of work. But neither the friendly society nor the trade society, as a rule, professes to give him anything when he is old and simply in- capable of working. What men and women desire is security against disaster and privation. This desire operates very strongly amongst the industrial population of this country, and far more is done in the way of making provision than is generally realized by people who are safe from the haunting fear that embitters many a working man's life. Suppose, as soon as every boy and girl began to work, it were incum- bent upon those who employed them to pay into the Post Office Savings' Bank, or some, other fund, two-and-a-half or five per cent. on all the waues paid, each payment to be credited to the individual wage receivers. If this were done all over the country with mechanics, apprentices, domestic servants, clerks, and even with casual workers, the total sum in the course of a work- ing lifetime would return for the lowest savings an annuity of more than two shillings a week after fifty-five years of age. This scheme could only be worked loosely, but the co-operation of employers would be easily secured and as work- ing people found that their capital was accumu- lating they would be anxious to add to it by additiona1 contributions. There are ways in which this State Providence Fund could be in- creased. First, no distinction should be made in wage-earners. All should contribute until they obtained, say, more than Y,100 a year in wages. Thousands would never claim their benefit, and these contributions would go to the State Fund. All intestate estates might go to this fund. Certain penalties might go in the same way. The State might with great propriety guarantee a small percentage beyond the average rate of interest to these annuitants, or County Councils might be allowed to grant small sums of out-relief to persons in receipt of State annuities contributed for by themselves. In the case of hawkers, coster- mongers, and others, annual licences might be charged for and the amounts credited to the z=, holders of the licences in the annuity fund. It is even possible that owners of cottage property under £10 a year should be compelled to pay two-and-a-half per cent. to the State Fund which should be credited to the tenants. There are many ways in which those who have dealings with the poor might be made to assist in helping them to save small sums of money weekly. As we have already indicated, there is a large residuum of population that never has any margin, and cannot therefore be made to provide for old age under any system, however perfect. If all who would gladly make some provision for themselves if the opportunity were provided could be separ- ated from the residuum, then that residuum itself might be attacked and reduced. The contribution books of the poor would afford a very valuable mass of information as to sick- ness, removals, scarcity of work, &e., and if the great friendly and trade societies could be enlisted in the scheme, pauperism, as we know it in this generation, would gradually be abolished. Until quite recently the resources and powers of the State were not used in any way to solve the problems of poverty. They are not yet used in that direction as they ought to be and as they will be when the people are I faithfully and adequately represented in the House of Commons, but a beginning has been mude.

ABERYSTWYTH POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS. NOTHING seems to have been heard of the attempt to obtain improved postal arrangements for Aberystwyth and the upper portions of Car- diganshire. Petitions are easily disposed of, and polite letters undertaking to give the subject careful consideration are quickly written. As we have stated before, a consider- able annual outlay on the part of the Post Office Department is necessary in order to meet the requirements of the town. This outlay will not be incurred if there is any way of evading it, and it behoves, not only the local authorities, | bat the inhabitants of the town generally, to bestir themselves and see that the request they have made is backed by every kind of force they can command. Perhaps nothing makes visiturs feel how far they are removed from centres of life as the late delivery of letters and the early departure of the mails. Importunity is the only effective weapon, and it must be wielded steadily until opposition has been beaten down. What is required is, first, that letters should arrive in the town at six o'clock instead of half-past seven. Second, that more assistance should be obtained, so that the delivery may be more quickly made than at present. Third, that more clerks should be on duty in the office during the summer months Fourth, that instead of the mails going out at six o'clock they should not leave until seven, and that letters should be posted until half-past six at the Post Office without extra postage, and at the railway station until the train leaves with extra postage. To facilitate house-to-house delivery occupiers of houses are requested to provide letter openings in their doors. This can be done at a maximum outlay of about a shilling a house. An accelerated mail service would, of course, bring other obvious advantages to the town by carrying passengers as well as letters more quickly. We do not want to make much of this side of the question, but it would be folly to ignore the fact that if the mails can be accelerated the whole district will be brought appreciably nearer the centres of population. Aberystwyth is much worse off in respect to the receipt and delivery of letters than other small places on the coast. Barmouth, for instance, is much better off. We trust the matter will be kept vigorously alive, and that the TOWN CLERK of Aberystwyth will be assisted in every possible way.

LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES. The sentence of six months' imprisonment on Mr JOHN DILLOX has been confirmed. If the nations that make up the United Kingdom allow this sentence to expire they are unworthy of their history. The Liberal members in the House of Commons should take action at once. •» Speaking at Bootle on Saturday Mr BRADLAUGH said that the growth of pensions was due in this country to the apathy of electors, and they would continue to grow until such apathy was set aside. Millions a year are paid in pensions merely to make way for fresh placemen who will, in their turns, be pensioned. The apathy of the electors is stupendous. The present condition of the Marine Parade at Aber- wyth is so utterly unsatisfactory that something ought to be done without delay. Visitors cannot walk on the loose shingle which ought to be carefully swept off. It is said that next year something permanent will be done, but the place should be made fit to walk on now, and the only course possible is to sweep the pebbles off. They have been down several weeks and have not set. They will never set. V;sitors are com- plaining bitterly of the condition of the Parade, and it is to be hoped the Council will see that some altera- tion is made. The House of Commons has decided that the travelling expenses of members of the new County Councils shall not be paid. This will prevent poor men, however well qualified, from becoming members. The fear of the Government was that if members of County Councils were paid members of Parliament would soon insist on payment. That only compara- tively rich men can be members of the County Councils is assured by the fact that they will have to pay their own travelling and other expenses. For- tunately they will not be called upon to pay the official expenses of elections. •3V This week Mr JotiN DILLON will go to gaol for six months for an offence that is no offence in any part of the United Kingdom, except Ireland. Mr JOHN DILLON has never had a word breathed against him. He is in every sense a gentleman. His imprisonment is an atrocity that ought to arouse every man and woman in the country to protest. As soon as the prison doors close upon him a great and united cry for his release should go up to Parliament. This brutal system should end sometime and now is surely the time. Patience becomes cowardice. If the country remains quiet under the imprisonment of Mr JOHN DILLOX then the battle of Home Rule is lost and coercion is the Tory salvation of force Lord SALISBURY believes it to be. Merionethshire, Cardiganshire, and Montgomery- shire are each to have fifty-six County Councillors, and in each county there will be fourteen aldermen, if aldermen are retained. Much -will depend on the first members elected. Until the Bill is passed and the electoral districts are fixed it will not be possible to take definite action as to the choice of candidates, but it is high time for the ratepayers to be casting about for the most likely men to represent them and to fight their battles for them in the new local parlia- ments. One thing is certain, the aldermen should not be chosen from the list of defeated Conservative candidates, but from the elected members. It will be unfortunate if any members of the County Councils escape popular election. If there are many more elections like that at Ayt* on Friday last the Bill will never become law, I The enormous charges made for the transfer of land j is well illustrated by the following instance. The Atherstone Rural Sanitary Authority recently pur- chased from the trustees of the Chetwynd Estate a piece of land about an eighth of an acre in extent, the price agreed upon being £ .10. The legal charges incurred in connection with the transfer included j jitems of £ 22 10s.id., £ 21, £ 13 18s., £ 7 5s., and £ 3 14s. Sd., amounting altogether to nearly £ 70, so that the sanitary authority had to pay £ 120 for £50 ¡ worth of land. At the outset £ 50 was a good price for an eighth of an acre of land. The demand for cheap and simple transfer of land will grow in strength and intensity. If the same extortionate charges were I made for the transfer of any other commodity an j uproar would be created at once. j | Lord Lisp.ruNK is still spoken of as the most likely future Lord Lieutenant for Cardiganshire. Sir -MARTEINL LLOYD has dropped out of the running for reasons well known in the county. The question now is whether political services or rank is to. be recognized, and the belief is growing that rank will, win. If Lord LISJIUKNE is appointed we shall probably not have a Conservative candidate in the county for many years to come. It is difficult to understand why Lord LISBURNE does not receive an English peerage. *• The Church of England in Wales disestablishment farce was again brought before the House of Commons on Tuesday when Mr DILWYX postponed his motion for the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales to the earliest date he could find with a favourable opportunity of bringing it forward so as to enable him to obtain a full discussion of the question. Is it not high time that this task should be given into other hands? Wales is laughing at Mr DILWYN and asking why lie should so persistently befool himself in this way. The day is not far distant when men of another mould will represent Wales in Parliament. 1 I. One of the meanings of the Ayr election is that Scotland, as well as Ireland and Wales, wants Home Rule. Wales, for instance, will take County Councils, but Wales wants a General Council of the Nation and will have it too. We are asked sometimes what Wales would do with a National Council. The answer is plain and simple. She would disestablish the Church make education free give fixity of tenure to tenants prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks abolish the lav: of primogeniture reform the bastardy laws establish cheap courts of justice abolish the game laws reform railway ii-iiliitgemelit establish a Welsh university; perfect secondary education afforest waste lands. Indeed there is as much work to do in Wales as would occupy a Welsh Parliament twenty or thirty years without any new schemes being brought forward. Home Rule is sure to be given to every part of the United Kingdom and Ireland will secure the boon first. Last week at St Albans Ciry Sessions, Com- mandant BOOTH was fined and costs for in- fringing the bye-laws on Sunday, the June, on the occasion of the Salvation Army street riots. The defendant was absent. There is great difficulty in understanding the position taken up by the Salvation Army in reference to obstruction and uproar in the streets. That the Salvation Army should have the right to make itself as obnoxious even as the regular army we willingly concede, but even the regular army would not be allowed to beat drums and to create all would not be allowed to beat drums and to create all sorts of noises in the streets hour after hour. Rate- payers who do not belong to any sort of army have rights which ought to be respected. When organized religion invades private rights and destroys private peace—when, in short, decent life in this world is rendered impossible on the pretence of preparing for the world to come, it is high time that religion should be reformed. The progress of the Local Government Bill through the House of Commons reveals that the measure is defective in numerous details which the Government refuse to alter. There is to be a great effort to retain one of the licensing clauses, namely, clause 9, which is as _follows: After the appointed day the council "of each county may from time to time make, rescind, and vary regulations providing that all houses and premises in which any intoxicating liquor is sold or exposed for sale by retail in their county, or in any "specified part of their county, shall be closed on all "or any of the following days, namely, Sunday, "Christmas Day, and Good Friday, and that either during the whole day, or during such of the hours during which by law those premises might otherwise be opeii, as are specified in the regulations." This is only one of those valuable provisions which have been sacrifice(I in obedience to the unreasonable cry, against compensation. Something would be gained if even this clause could be saved from the wreck. 4 even this clause could be saved from the wreck. 4 From some remarks made by Mr PETER JONEs at the last Council meeting, some of our readers might imagine that we had not acted quite fairly towards the Town Council in the matter of the advertisement inserted in last year's Cardigan Bay Visitor. The advertisement paid for by the town was a view of Plyn- limon Lake and an account of the water supply. The space occupied by this block and description was forty-eight inches, or over two columns, and we fixed no limit. The price charged to ordinary advertisers was los. an inch. This would have come to 936. We charged only £ 20, and obtained a costly block in addition. We did this as what we thought was our share of making known a public matter. The other column of description which we gave to Aberystwyth was given as we gave descrip- tions of other places. We took our chance at Aber- ystwyth for advertisements, but at other places we were assisted by committees, and in some places were guaranteed. Aberystwyth had the first page of the paper. The success of the Cardigan Bay Visitor was sufficiently great to justify a continu- ance of the paper, a fact that speaks for itself. The venture was a purely commercial one, and we acted from the beginning on simple business principles. If we had lost a lot of money in the paper we should not have complained, and if we make money out of it we shall succeed where the knowing ones expected failure. The speculation was a considerable one, and we gave the Corporation much more for their money than we gave any private advertizer. We have improved the Aberystwyth information this year. Mr PETER JONES'S poor opinion of newspapers is of long standing and well known if not well understood. Members of Parliament, candidates for seats in Parliament, and others, may find it necessary to applaud the temperance principle of not securing salvation from drink if it costs anything, but the principle is not capable of "a good defence. At any rate we have never seen any sound reasons given why publicans, if prevented from carrying on their business, should not be compensated for any loss they might be put to. Poor drunkards may continue to go to eternal destruction at the rate of we do not know how many thousands a year widows and orphans may be manu- factured as usual; crime may spring unchecked from the drinking habits of the people—every evil that drink causes is to be continued in preference to paying pub- licans compensation for their property Suppose the cast of suppressing the liquor traffic amounted to three hundred millions or twice, or even thrice, that sum, surely eternal sal vation is worth more than all the money ? We may be told that ultimately the right to suppress public houses will be obtained without the condition of compensation. Perhaps so. But thinks of the moral and physical ruin in the meantime Perhaps total abstainers only draw their awful examples for the platform. Here is a case that makes one think that all the expressed horror is not quite real. King QUA MIX FORI, made a modest request to Sir BRAND- FORD GRIFFITH, Governor of the Gold Coast, on the occasion of his recent visit to his Majesty's dominions. All that King QUAMIN FORI wanted was that her MAJESTY'S representative would instruct the merchants of Addah to pay for palm oil in cash instead of in gin. Sir BRANLKORD felt himself compelled to answer this appeal with an official non possunms, aud to explain to the KING and the chiefs who supported this request that lie "could not interfere with the course of trade, that the matter was one between the buyer and seller, and that they had the remedy in their own hands." We are a pre-eminently pious people own hands." We are a pre-eminently pious people and a picture used to be exhibited in which a Bible was pointed out as the cause of England's greatness. In future a gin bottle would be a fitter emblem. It seems that King after King with whom the GOVERNOR held a palaver during his official progress asked for a. supply of handcuffs. Will compensation-detesting temperance societies insist that King QUAMIN FORI'S subjects shall in future be paid in cash instead of gin for palm oil ? We have responsibilities towards the poor savage, and one of them surely is to see that we do not poison them with bad gin. The political organization of Cardiganshire is in anything but a satisfactory condition. The local centres seem to be left in ignorance of what steps they should take in reference to registration and the utter disorganization of the Tory party is the only Liberal safety. An enormous quantity of fruit is brought into this country from America, France, Spain, and now even Africa is successfully entering the market. Tasmania, again, has to be added to the countries contributing to make good the deficiency in the production of apples in this country. About 13,000 bushels were shipped in one vessel which has recently arrived, and another consider- able cargo was to follow. Growers in Tasmania, it is said, are preparing for more extensive shipments next season. Apples, at any rate, ought to be grown in abundance at home. They are a crop that keeps well, and if the right sort is grown they fetch high prices. in the market all the year round. Unfortunately, tenants cannot be expected to plant fruit trees, and landowners say that when fruit trees are planted tenants will not take care of them, but allow animals to destroy them. There is a great opening for the fruit and vegetable grower in this country, but he will be kept m the background until local railway managers give the home grower equally favourable terms with the foreign producer. Some of the papers see so clearly how Mr SINCLAIR was sure to defeat the Tory candidate at Ayr that it is marvellous they did not persuade Mr ASHLEY not to put himself to the trouble of going to the poll. The Standard, for instance, says :—"There is, of course, a reason for everything and reasons can be found for the victory of Mr SINCLAIR without supposing that "public opinion has undergone any change on the question of Home Rule. If the Opposition "permit themselves to imagine that the elections which they have lately won denote any real change in public feeling on the subject of Home Rule, they "deceive themselves most egregiously. The country 11 el is not prepared to adopt the cry of 'Ireland a nation,' whatever the Parnellites may think. There is no reason for alarm on that head. We feel confident that there has been no retrogression of Unionist opinion since the verdict of the country was last taken on the subject." It is to the return of a Con- servative member for Conservative Thanet that the Tories are now looking for consolation. The Paper Unionists have disappeared from the country and be- fore long they will have disappeared from the House of Commons. Working dairies are undoubtedly necessary to enable first-class butter to be made. The Land Agent* Record says:—"Itinerant working dairies, "giving both practical and scientific instruction as "they pass from village to village, would create an interest in the work, which would be of lasting "benetitto the locality. In several districts of the country this plan is being to some extent carried out by county agricultural societies. In Cornwall "Miss SPOONER, of the Dairy Supply Company, Limited, has made a tour of t/ie county, not only "giving simple instructions in butter making, the use of the separator, and its advantages over setting and scaldiiig, but also wholesome advice as to the feeding and treatment of dairy cows. The meetings "were held at convenient centres, both during the day and in the evening; and it was evident from the questions asked, and in the interest displayed by tlie farming population at the only meeting we could 9 ,"I attend, that the money spent by the Royal Agri- cultural Society of Cornwall in promoting this tour, "will do much to create a healthy desire for further information, and result in an improvement of the unprofitable system of butter making so long in vogue in what ought to be—if not one of our best—at least a good dairy district." This is what we want in Cardiganshire and Merionethshire. Instruction in butter making must be given if Welsh farmers are to hold their own. We are often told that more butter is made now than can be sold in the district. This may be true. but the time is coming when railway companies will take farm produce at low rates to centres of great population. Besides, whatever diffi- culties there may be in filltling markets for butter, surely good butter will sell more readily than bad, and will fetch better prices.

itocal anb District. Mr Dillwyn has given notice of opposition to the Tithe Rent-charge Bill and Tithe Rent-charge Recovery Bill. On the second reading of these bills he will move, "That no measure dealing with tithes in Wales will be satisfactory which does not recognise the devotion of that impost to purposes generally satis- factory to the people of Wales." 0 OBITUARY.—At the commencement of the week, Mrs Jane Jeffreys, widow of Mr Edward Jeffreys. Dovey Castle, Glandovey, died at Saundersfoot, Pembroke- shire, and the remains were interred yesterday. Mrs Jeffreys, after the death of her husband some years ago, went to reside at Coed'rarth, where she resided up to to the time of her death. THE WELSH EISTEDDFOD, -Mr Gladstone has definitely promised to attend and preside at the seaond day's proceedings (September 5th) of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, The secretary of the Eisteddfod has received a letter from Mr Pritchard Morgan stating that he wished to present the conductor of the best choir competing at the Eisteddfod with a baton made of Welsh gold, to become the property of any choir winning it two years in succession. MONTGOMERYSHIRE FARMERS AND TITHRs.-The farmers in the district of Meifod, Montgomeryshire, have unanimously decided to refuse to pay tithes due to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford, ex- cept under distraint. About forty ten-days' notices have been served, and Major Godfrey, chief constable of Montgomeryshire, has issued a circular letter, invit- ing the farmers to co-operate with him in endeavouring to preserve the peace during enforced sales. The tithe- owners havingrefused to make any reduction,public feel- ing against them in the district is very strong, and it ia expected that the services of the military, as well as the police, will be called into requisition. Mr Burt, M.P., has given notice of the following motion, for which no day has been fixed To call the attention of the House to the subject of royalties, dead rents, and way leaves of coal, iron, stone, iron ore, and other materials mined or dug in the United Kingdom and to move, that an humble address be presented to Her Majesty, praying Her Majesty to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire as to the amounts paid as royalties, dead rents,, and way leaves on coal, iron stone, and other minerals worked in the United Kingdom to inquire how far these imposts are restrictive of trade and injurious to the public interests." Mr Provand. M.P., has given notice of a motion for the appointment of a committee of inquiry upon the subject. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending June lith, 1888 :— Miles open, 236. Passengers, parcels, &c., £2,049; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, L2,004 total for the week, £ 4,053, Aggregate from commencement of half-year to this date, £ S5,081. Actual traffic re- ceipts for the corresponding week last year :—Miles open, 236. Passengers, parcels, &c. f.2,036 merchandise, minerals, and live stock, 92;010; total for the week, £4,046; aggregate from commencement of half-year to this date, £ 85,451'. Increase • Pas- sengers, parcels, &c, £ 13 merchandise, minerals, and live stock, £ total for the week, 97 aggre- gate from commencement of half-year to this date, £ —. Decrease Passengers, parcels. &c., £-; merchandise, minerals, and live stock, JEC total for the week, £ —; aggregate from commencement of half- year to this date, JE370. Note.—The receipts of the Mid-Wales Railway are included in both years. SOUTH DARREN SILVER-LEAD Co.. LIMITED.—The following circular has been issued by Mr J. H. A. Smith, secretary, of the Company :llth June.—I have much pleasure in handing you the following extracts from the report received on 8th inst. from Capt. Michell. the agent at the mines. Of the 142 end east he says it "is in a wide lode, worth 1-1 tons of silver-lead ore per fm. in the west end of this level the lode has been cut through for about 1 fm. in length, and is going back towards the cross course and holding on in the forebreast, worth fully 1 ton of silver-lead ore per fm." You will see that the bottom levels, east and west, are now in good courses of ore, and at the west end, where the lode was reached by cross- cutting, the ore ground is extending back to the shaft as well as holding on in the forebreast. Owing to the rich quality of the lead ore the price it rea)iset; is nearly equal to that of pig lead, say at present rates £ 12 10s. per ton. The copper is also of very high quality, as may be judged trom the following essays of ore now sampled for sale on the 16th inst., viz. :-15 tons best ore, produce 19-" per cent. copper and 11 ozs. 8 dwts. 16 grs. silver per ton of ore 5 tons slimes, produce 141 per cent. copper and 28 ozs. 1 dwt. 11 grs. silver per ton of ore. BANKRUPTCY.—Receiving order: William Paull, Cwmbrwyno, Llanbadarnfawr, Cardiganshire, farmer. -First meeting and date of public examination David Davies, of Vulcan-place, Aberystwyth, mariner. First meeting, June 22nd, at 12.30 p.m., at the Town Hall, Aberystwyth. Public examination, June 22hd, at •2 35 p.m., at the Town Hall, Aberystwyth.—Adjudi- cation David Davies, of Vulcan-place. Aberystwyth. mariner. THE QUARRY REGULATION BILL.—A deputation of Welsh qnarryowners and quarrymen, accompanied by Messrs. Rathhone, Abraham, Bryn Roberts, T. E. | Ellis, and Broadhurst, M.P.'s, had an interview with the Home Secretary at the House of Commons on Tuesday evening to urge the desirability of passing during the present session the Quarry Regulation Bill in- troduced by Mr Broadhurst, and backed by Mr Childers and the members representing quarry constituencies. The principal object of the measure in question is to j place open quarries under the same supervision as is exercised in regard to underground quarries by the provisions of the Metalliferous Mines Act. Mr Matthews, in reply, said that, after looking further into the Bill, he would consult with Mr Smith as to what could be done in the matter. He promised that the representations of the deputation should have his most favourable consideration, and stated that it was only the pressure of business which prevented him dealing with the subject last session.

ABERYSTWYTH. TOLLS.-This Provisional Order was on Friday ordered to be reported to the House of Commons for third reading. BELIEVERS BAPTISM,—Seven persons were baptized on profession of their faith at the Baptist Chapel, Alfred-place, on Friday evening last, by the Rev J A. Morris, minister of the place. W ELSH BAPTIST CHAPEL.—Next Thursday, the memorial stones of the Welsh Baptist Chapel in Baker- street will be laid at three o'clock, and a public meet- ing will be held in the evening. Further information will be found in an advertisement. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.—Messrs M. H. Davis and Sons. implement agents, Bridge-street, are adver- tising in another column a large stock of mowers and reaping machines. The firm sends out an experienced man with each machine sold to instruct the purchaser in its use. DRAPERY.—Mr J. H. Edwards, North Parade and Baker-street, has height a wholesale drapery stock from Messrs Duffield and Smith, Birmingham, at a great discount from cost and next week will offer the inhabitants of Aberystwyth great bargains. Particulars will he found in our advertising columns. ENGLISH WESLEYAN CHAPFL. -The Rev Frederick C. Wright. of Woolwich, who has recently returned from India, has been appointed to the pastorship of the English Wesleyan Chapel until the Conference in August next. Mr Morgan, guard on the M. and M.. a faithful member of the church, has presented it with z.5 worth of hymn books for the use of the congregation. THE COLLEGE.—This evening the Musical Society ot the University College of Wales will give at the Queen's Assembly Rooms songs and scenes from Shakespeare interspersed with tableaux vivants, and concluding with a burlesque. The programme of the entertainment is an attractive one. Particulars will be found in an advertisement. DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Station on Friday, last, June 15th, before D. G. Roberts, Esq. (mayor), Jane Dirwell, of Dumfries, Scotland, accrol)ate wife, was charged with having been drunk on the highway at Aberystwyth on the 14th June.—Discharged. ENTERTAINMENT.—On Tuesday week, July [3rd, Mr Joshua Dyson, who comes to Aberystwyth with an excellent record from other towns, begins in St. James's Hall in Terrace-road a series of entertainments which will continue through the season His entertainments are pictoral, musical and literary. The pictoral is represented by over 3,000 photographic views of places of interest at home and abroad. The views, which are coloured and into which many beautiful effects are introduced, cover an area of 300ft. A gipsy choir of about a dozen well-trained voices supply vocal and instrumental music, and the literary portion of the programme consists of graphic descriptions, humorous stories and thrilling recitations. The exhibitor is Mr i Jossee H&igh, the choir is under the conductorship of Miss Heeley, and the management is the hands of Mr Barnett Pareezer. The following local gentle- men have consented to take the chair for Mr Dyson during the first fortnight His Worship the Mayor, Mr D. C. Roberts, Councillor George Green, Ex-mayor Rev David Williams, M.A., Vicar of Holy Trinity, Mr A. J. Hughes, Town Clerk, Alderman Peter Jones, Rev T. Levi, Rev T. E. Williams, Rev J. A. Morris, Rev T. A. Penry, Rev Llewelyn Edwards, M.A., and the Rev J. G. Davies, and others. FUNERAL.—On Sunday afternoon, the body of the Rev J. Skerratt, late minister of the English Wesleyan Chapel in Queen's-road, was interred in the Aberyst- wyth Cemetery, and the funeral was accompanied by a large number of townspeople. At three o'clock a service was held at the English Wesleyan Chapel, when the Rev J. Moulton, chairman of the Swansea district, and the Rev A. J. Norman, Birmingham, a Wesleyan minister on a visit to the town, read the Wesleyan funeral service, the Rev T. E. Williams, English Baptist, gave out a hymn, the Rev J. Moulton gave a sketch of the deceased's life and labours, and the Rev T. A. Penry, English Congregational, con- cluded the service by prayer. The Rev D. G. Davies, English Presbyterian, was also present amoug the large congregation. Some of the Sunday Schools of the town were dismissed earlier than earlier, and joined the cortege as it proceeded to the Cemetery. The chief mourners were Mrs Skerratt, wife of the deceased, and Mr Way, her brother, Mr Morcom, Queen's-road, and Miss Skerratt, and three children. At the grave the Rev J. Moulton officiated. Sympathy with the widow and orphans was generally felt and much respect mani- fested for the deceased. Wreaths were sent by Mr and Mrs Green, Salisbury House, MrandMrsBanford, Mrand Mrs Davies, Lansdowne House, Mr and Mrs Heath, Trinity Cottages, Miss Morcom, Exeter House, Miss Hunt, Corporation-street, Mrs Joces, Graig goon, Mrs and Miss Pugh, Market-street, Mr3 and Miss F. Gammon, Little Darkgate-street, Mrs Owen and Miss S. J. Owen. Northgate-street, Mrs Griffiths, Salop House, the Misses Jones. Laura-place, Mrs Llewelyn, Little Darkgate-street, Mr and Mrs Evans, chemist. Terrace-road, Mrs Captain Jones, Vaynor-street, Mrs and Miss Colquhoun, and others. PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20TH.—Before D. C. Roberts, Esq., mayor, Dr C. Rice Williams, Richard James and John Morgan, E&qs. -William Williams, at work on the new bridge, of Ebenezer, near Carnarvon, was fined 2s. 6d. with having been drunk on the highway in Great Darkgate-street, on the 16th June and a similar fine was imposed on John Whittington, tailor, for the same offence. The Salvation Army.-Edward Michael, mason. Bridge-street, charged David Evans, stone cutter, Mill-street, with having used threatening language towards him on the 17th in consequence of which he goes in bodily fear."—Complainant said that on Satur- day night when he was going up the street near the meat market the defendant said I will watch you." When the Salvation Army formed the ring defendant again threatened him, and when he was in the Temper- ance Hall and was about to speak the defendant rose from his seat and held out his fists. One of the "sisters" got up, sat by thedefendantandkept him quiet andcomplainallt left in orderthatthejneetingshoutdnot be disturbed. Again, on Sunday defendant said would get the costq he had paid to Mr Griffith Jones, out of complainant's flesh. David Jones, who lodges with Edward Michael, said he met the defendant last Sunday who asked where Michael was. Witness replied that he was in the house and was going to the Salvation Army meeting. Defendant replied that he would watch the complainant that day as he haj done on Saturday.—Mrs Morris, High-street, said she was at the Temperance Hall. David Evans was rather noisy and when Michael got up to speak, defendant got up and said if compl-iinaut spoke he (defendant) would do also. Witness went to sit by defendant as he was rather noisy. — Georginia Knight said that on Sunday night in the Temperance Hall, Brothnr Evans got up and said if Brother Michael spoke he alsD would speak. She went and stood in front ot defendant and he sat down.—John Hayes said that Evans was rather noisy, having had some beer. Michael went out and Evans became very quiet.— Complainantjstated that the cause of the disturbance was that he had had to put the defendant in the County Court in consequence of which he had to pay £1 costs. —The defendant admitted that he had taken a little drink, but all he did in the Temperance Hal! was to i tell the complainant that if he spoke he (defendant) would speak also. He did not want to stop him, but if he went ahead he (defendant) would go anerJ. too. He did not want to hear defendant speak nor d:d any- body else.—Defendant was bouLid over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for six months. Ejectment.—On the application of Mr A. J. Hughes the Bench granted an order of ejectment against Charlotte Evans, Chalybeate-Terrace. Alleged Assault.- Thoma, Denby, plumber, Mill- street, summoned Thomas Watkins, mariner. Chaly- beate-terrace, for having assaulted him on the 16th and ISth June. Defendant did not appear.—Complainant said that when he was going home through Chalybeate- terrace on Saturday night about 11 o'clock, defendant rushed out of the house and dealt him a severe blow which sent him reeling. Oo Monday I night complainant was at Plas Crug when defendant again rushed at him and struck him en the lips. As soon as he (complainant) could get away he went to the Police Station. He went in bodily fear of defend- j dant and was told that he carried firearms.—A warrsuit ) was issued for the apprehension of defendant.

I CELLAX. THE DEBATING SOCIETY.—On Saturday last, Mr J. Gibson addressed the members of this society and others at Caeronen Chapel. Mr Evans, jun., Teifi Castle, presided. The chief topic dealt with was the County Government Bill now before Parliament. Mr Gibson has been invited to visit other parts of the county and has agreed to "o so.

PENLLWYN. MARRIAGE.—The following is a list of the useful presents, which were received on the occasion of the marriage of Mr Job Sylvanus with Miss M. Richards:— Mr Job Sylvanus, (senior), Dolpandy, home made skirt; Master Tom Sylvanus. ditto, money Miss Anne Sylvanus, 23 Portlaud-street Aberystwyth, money Mr Lewis, ditto, cheque Miss Jones, Rest, chtque Mr J. Richards, Dolblodau, hymubook Mrs Richards, ditto, tea service, silver tea pot and hot water jug Rev W. Richards, Cynon, Bible Mr T. Richards, carving knife and fork Miss E. A. Richards, pair of brass candle sticks; Mrs Jenkins, Aylesbury-street, London, Cream and pink counterpane Mr T. Jenkins, ditto, gold watch and chain Mr John Jenkins, ditto, Family Bible Miss E. Griffiths, ditto, toilet set; Miss M. Jones ditto, pair of Japanese brackets and cream embroidered cover Mr J. Jones ditto, pair of wine bottles Miss E. Griffiths, Hoxton, silver teapot and plush pintray Miss J. Griffiths ditto, pair of paper holders bride's Sandav school class- New Jewin, Sunday Bible Mrs J. Evans, Taiybont, set of chamberware Mrs A. Davies, Queen-street, Aberystwyth, silver cruet stand; Miss M. Evans, Cilcain, silver thimble in case Miss A. Evans, ditto, hand painting ornaments, glass shades and paper knife; Mrs Egan, Blaengenfforda, tea tray, Mrs Morgan, Maesbangor House, white counterpane Miss Morgan, ditto, moustache cup Miss Edwards, ditto, china candlestick Mrs Jones, 8, Powell-street, Aberystwyth, pair of bedroom candle- sticks Miss A. Richards, Dclpandy, set of ornaments; Miss E. Davies, Maesbangor Mill, pair of flower vases Mrs Parry, Tyllwvd, morone table cover Mrs Row- lands. Bangor Cottage, half-dozen silver teaspoons; Miss M. Davies, ditto, wine bottie Miss E. Davies, Dolpandy, sugar basin and cream jag Miss M. James, ditto, china jug and paper bolder; Mrs E. Jones, ditto, jelly jar and cream jag Miss Thomas, Glanpynfarch, water bottles; Miss J. Jones. London, pair of flower vases Miss Hughes, London, silver preserve dish and spoon; Mrs James, ditto, ornamental basket Miss Bonner, d tto, fancy candlesticks; Miss Evans, ditto, fisli carvers Miss Davies, ditto, pair of Japanese trays Miss M. J, Lewis, ditto, anti- macassar iirs J. Lewis. Tanybank, three bath towels; Mrs Prys, Factory, cheese cover: Mr J. Prys, ditto, dozen dessertspoons and silver forks; Miss H Vaughan, Ty'nyffoidd, flower vase Miss A. Pierce. Tynewydd, ornamental ink bottle Miss A. Richards, Blaengen- ffordd, pair of candlesticks Mrs Jones, ditto, toilet cover Miss Edwards, ditto, china basin and cream jug; Mrs Adams, Board School, glass flower stand Miss Lewis, Llwyniorwerth-uchaf, pair of toilet covers; Miss James. Llwyniorwerth-isaf, china tea kettle and plate Mrs Lewis Grithths, Aberystwyth, cream lace hangings; Mrs J. Thomas, ditto, white damask table cloth; Miss Pierce, ditto, pair of antimacassars Mrs Davies, Biack Horse, pair of bath towels Mrs M. Morgans, Penllwyn, flower basket and wine glasses; Mrs T. Jenkins, Llanfihaugel, half-dozen knifes Miss Ellen Williams, Penbontbren, pair of ornaments; Miss Hughes, Tyllwyd, pair of towels Miss Hughes. Brynyreithin, pair of towels Mrs M. Thomas, Dolpandy, biscuit basket; Mra Richards, Gwarcwm, jelly jar and salt cellar; Mrs James, Bangor Villa, money Mrs Griffiths, Cwmbrwyno. money Mrs Vaughan, Peny- bont, money Mrs Thomas, Tanybank, money Mrs Pierce, Fronheulog, money; Mrs Thomas, Blaengen- ffordd, money. It should also be mentioned that the chapel had been tastefully decorated for the occasion with flowers presented by Mrs James. Broncastell. and others and that at the conclusion of the ceremony, as the happy pair were leaving amidst a shower of flowers, Mendelssohn's Wedding March was ably played by Miss James, Abercwmdoiau.

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, ABERYSTWYTH. Date. Earome- Att. Dry Wet ter. Ther. Bulb. Bulb. Max. Min. Rain. Wind. June. in. deg. deg. deg, deg. dejr. in. 13 29856 58 54 51 60 49 '23 S. W. 14 30'036 59 53 50 57-5 43 -W.,N. W. 15 299SO 58 56 54-5 56*5 49 ■ll'S.SW'" '16 30 03S 59 57-5 51 5 62 47 *02' N. E. 17 30-186 60 59 56 60 o 46 c, W. 18 30 290 61 58 56 63-5 47 W. 19 30*330 62 57 5 53 65 47 X.N.W. Average Max. Tem. in sh-ide for week 60'7 Iin. M 46-g t Total rainfall for week -35 inch D. REES DAVIES, M.B., Medical Officer of Health.

THE SENTENCE ON MR. DILLON CONFIRMED. On Wednesday morning Mr John Dillon, M.P., accompanied by Mr W. O'Brien, M.P., Mr Shaw- Lefevre, Mr T. Harrington, M.P., Professor Stuart, M.P., Mr J. B. Ellis, M.P., Mr Wilfred Blunt and Lady Anne Blunt, and other ladies and gentlemen left Dublin for Dundalk, where the hearing erf the appeal against the sentence of six months' imprisonment passed upon Mr Juhn Dillon by Mr Hamilton, R.M., took place before the county court judge Mr Kisbey, Q.C. A large crowd of people were assembled at the railway- station as the train steamed away, and repeated eheers were given. On the journey from Dublin Mr Dillon was presented with addresses at Dunleer and Drogheda and the train arrived in Dundalk half an hour late. He was received with great enthusiasm. It had been in- tended to present addresses, but time did not admit. Mr Dillon drove at once to the court-house" accompanied by Messrs Shaw-Lefevre, Rountree. Stuart, Ellis Schwaun, O'Brien, Harrington, members of Parliament, and Mr Wilfrid and Lady Blunt. The court was crowded, and some confusion occurred which delayed the opening of the proceedings. Mr Dillon, on entering was heartily applauded, and Judge Kisbey threatened to commit anyone creating a disturbance for contempt. Mr Carson conducted the case on behalf of the Crown and Mr Dillon conducted his own defence. He objected to the reception of evidence as to the speech delivered by him at Kunagh in 1886, recommended tke adoption of the plan of campaign as published in United, Ireland, but tae objection was overruled. Mr Dillon next contended that there was nothing in the speech on which the prosecution was founded to show at what period he recommended the adoption of the plan, and as to the statement that the more he saw of it the more he liked it. he had frequently heard a great number of Englishmen who never set their foot in Ireland at all declare the same thing, and it might as well be sought to include them in the conspiracy.—In the result, the sentence of six months' imprisonment was confirmed, and Mr Dillon was re- moved in custody. In delivering judgment, Judge Kisbey said the plan of campaign having been declared illegal on the highest authority-a point on which he himself had not the slightest doubt-and Mr Dillon having admitted in his speech that he had taken an active part in promoting it, there was no course open to him but to confirm the decision of the court be- low. Mr Rountree and Professor Stuart then handed to Mr Dillon an address signed by 150 English, Scotch, and Welsh members of Parliament, as his colleagues in the House of Commons, expressing their pain and re- sentment at the treatment meted out to him, and their sympathy with^him on the present occasion.

1 lessly. Whether the process of Tory disintegra- tion will be slow or swift depends on many con- ditions hidden from outsiders. The probabili- ties are that the process will be swift. One thing is certain, the Paper Unionist forces are broken up in the country and in the House of Coniiijoiis, and whatever may ultimately happen to the County Government Bill ic has been decided that the magistrates are not to have exclusive control of the police.