The South Wales Daily Post

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4. 1894. I NOTES & COMMENTS -4, — I The first Lord Swansea had a funeral worthy of his useful and honourable life. It was an event made memorable by many circumstances. Every ciaas in the com- I munity, from the highest to .the lowest, I contributed to swell the proportions of a gathering, the like of which has never I before been brought together in I Wales. The whole town aud district were literally in moaning, and more impressive almost than the huge multitude which flocked to pay to noble dust the tribute of its grief were the demeanour and bearing of the people. For hours the town was 1 practically empty, and carried in every j street the outward vesture of woe. If the soul in its flight could have looked back to -the old home of the dead nobleman, what more convincing testimony to the grateful appreciation of past effort could have been made visible to it than this spectacle of a people knitted together by one common tie of sorrow and respect. May the second Lord Svranse* draw inspiration from the last page in his noble father's earthly career. II The letter of the Rev. John Pollock, which appears in another column, will, we doubt not, favourably impress the reader by reason of its frankness and admirable tone, It emphasises the truth indicated by us on Saturuay that, whether adopted by us on Saturuay that, whether adopted for weal or woe, the policy of the Church in running seven candidates had the sanction of representative gather- ings of the party. Mr. Pollock does not mince matters, but with refreshing candour discloses all the circumstances which contributed to the disaster suffered by the Church. In- cidentally he refers to one feature of con- tested elections which should have the ¡ attention of the authorities. It is the vexatious interference to which the electors are subjected in exercising the privilege of voting. The spirit, if not the letter, of the law is violated when elec- tors are not permitted free and un- I trammeled admission into the polling booths. That the interference on this occasion was excessive no one, who visited thA polling booths, can, for a moment, I doubt; and in the interest of the large I body of male-electors who resent inter- ference, and of the lady-voters, to many of I whom the ordeal was painful, we hope that the responsible authorities in future will see that the zeal of canvassers and others I its kept within reasonable bounds. All doubt now disappears respecting the intervtious of Mr Brynmor Jones, Q.C., M.P. He is determined to hazard ihe cast of the die in Swansea District. His disclosure of the fact clears the air con- siderably. and enables the Liberal electors to calculate with certainties instead of I possibilities. The triangular duel will be of fascinating interest. For the next few weeks there will be no end of wire-pulling The experience; of Mr. Jones will indicate the degree of strength possessed by the supposed popu- lar prejudice against the legal profession. Hitherto, at all events, it has not prevented sixteen legal gentlemen—or more than half the total number—securing Welsh seats. Many things will probably happen I before Mr. William Williams will be furnished with a successor, and there are I I lively days ahead for the Swansea District 11 electors. The Parish Councils Act may be said to become an actuality to-day. Some saven thousand parishes in England and Wales must, whether they like it or not, have a Council; in six thousand other parishes, which have a population of 300 or under, ¡ the choice will be given to the I parishioners to have a separate Council or not. The electors include I all householders and lodgers whose names are Oil the Parliamentary or County I Council lists, and, in addition, women occupying house or land on their own account, for whom a special register has been prepared. i The first duty of the parochial electors is to attend the meeting which must be held thilJ evening not earlier than MX o'clock. Where the population is over 800, the meeting will at onco proceed to olect a chairman, who will then receive nominations for the council. If only the required uumber are nominated, the'candidates will be declared elected forthwith. If there is an excess of candidates, the fate of each can be decided by a show of hands. But any I candidate can .-1; aaide this vote I by demanding a poll. This, in brief, ¡ I is a description of thawork which devolves this evening on the parochial electors who i attend the statutory meetings. It is to be I' hoped that thia great .scheme for the extension of local government will be approached in a sober and temperate spirit. The measure can bo made highly beneficial, and great mischief can I also be wrought by it. Whether at first the Parish Councils Act serves as a blessing or a curse depends upon those entrusted with its administration. Major Jones' experience in the Carmar- then Boroughs was calculated to convince him of the precarious character of his hold upon the seat. While he had Mr. Tom Ellis or Mr. Broadhurat to act as an attracting force the! outward appearance of strength was main- I tained. But once the foreign element was withdrawn, and the little major bad to depend upon himself, the change was pain- ful. The Carmarthen Borough seat can be won at the next election in the com- monest of canters by Sir John J. Jenkins or any other good Unionist candidate.

G.W.R. AND THE RHONDDA RAILWAY, WHAT OF THE OFFER OF RUNNING POWERS ? THE TWO SIDES OF THE QUES- TION. Tke recent speech of Sir John Llewelyn at the licensed victuallers' banquet, has re- opened the controversy respecting the running powers offered by the Great Western Railway Company to the Rhondda and Swansea Day Railway Company. On a former occasion we endeavoured, by an independent, investiga- tion, to get at the precise facts. it may be recollected, that Sir John Jones Jenkins, upon being asked whether running powers had been offered by the Great Western Rail- way, admitted that they had been, but. added that the offer was not received until it was too late to be of use, as the Rhoudda line had by that time been nearly completed. This narrowed the issue to a question of the tiiutt at which the offer was made. We were enab ed to give dates which placed the offer a long way bask—so far bii'.k, indeed, that, if correct, any possibility of doubt waa ex- cluded as to the unten;ibleneiis oi Sir John's contention. But one story stands good until a better is told, and we were Got unprepared to find the directors of the Rhoudda line advancing reasons why whut seemed the obvious conclusion should not be accepted. But they permitted the controversy to end at that point, and the correctness of the dates and statements were left to go unchallenged. Our self-imposed task, therefore, appearca completed. it is practicaliy invaterial to us what judgment the public of Swa»:spa may pass on the struggle between these competing companies all that we seek to do is to f ar- nish our readers, so far as possible, with the facts, regardless at the effect their disciosuro may have on either undertaking. Whatever view may be taken of the ac-ion of this or that com- bination of capitalists, it is unquestionable that the community is interested in getting at the truth, since a sound judgment is im- isossiblo in its absence. Certain triends of the Ithondda line are scarcely complimentary to its coi,trollers when they will insist upon regarding a search for tho truth as an act of hostility to the undertaking. liow- ever, that shall not deter us from carrying out what we regard as a duty to the public whose interests stand in perii of being jeopardised auud tho clash and conflict of competing companies. Sir John Llewelyn, in his speech, stated that he had heard the chairman of the U-. W.U. say that an offer of running powers into any one oftheG.W.K. siatu.»s at Swansea bad been oiiercd to theRhondda and Swansea Bay Hailway. A couple of days later Mr. Ludlow, the secretary of the Rhondda Railway, stated in the course of an interview that the offor of running powers oauie when the line to Swansea was neiriy ° £ oiupiete. It will be seen that the controversy pursues precisely the same course as it did a few week ago, and to carry it to the point then reached, Mr. Ludlow is invited to say whether or not the arrangement fur running utto the Great Western Railway High-street Station was practically settled in August, 1893, and if so, whether the .Rhondda line was then nearly cempiete, and k2) whether the offer to allow the Rhondda Companv to use the East Dock Station was made on the 4th wt August, 1893, long before the Rhondda Company could put in force the powers obtained in their Act of 1893. Mr. Ludlow farther stated that the Groat Western Company refused to allow the Rhondda Company to complete the junction at Aberavon after they had spent thousands of pounds in laying it down. We are informed that the Great Western Company did not refuse to allow the Rhondda Company to cossp'ete the junction, and Mr. Ludlow is invited to say whether it is not the fact that the Beard of Trade required catch points to be laid in on their (the Rhondda) line away from the junctions and whether the Rhondda Company did or did not decline to put (hem in or to allow the Great Western Company to do so at their (the G. W.R.s) own cost. The foregoing are specific statements which are capable of being tested. We contend that the public whose sympathies are beiig claimed for the ono yido or the other arc fan iy entitled to know where the truth lies. A deat mijijht be said relative to the surrounding circumstances but for the moment the first I r quiremcut is the clearing up of these important points in dispute.

"OURFOTjtbail r 10 T COMPETITION. £5 5S. FOR A CORRECT TIP, ONE GUINEA FOR THE I NEAREST. I We offer a prize of £5501. to the competitor who, on the coupon given beio-.v, wih tend u^, on or before Saturday morning next, the pre- cise ecorfco in .goals and tiies made in the following ma.t.ches: (a) Swansea v. Lampeter College, at Swansea. (b) Morristen T. Trcorky, at Morriston. (c) Neath v. Pontypridd, at Neath. Cd) Aberavon v. Gmngetown at, Ai»eravo:». (el Llaneliv v. Moseiey, ut Llaneily. COUPON No.Ta WyAtR Or. fcCORE. No of For. Agst Win'g I G-. T, I G. X. Pots. I A I I |c 'I I r> E I Total I Name Address — I The character of the coupon has been altered, and a more simpte way of de- ciding the wiuners adopted. Each eota- j iGiitor is invited to gi c the number of points by which each match will be won. &Rci tne prize will be awarded to I the person who 015 the actual number in meat cases. This will gi ve loss scope for iiSeranees of opinion. Our sole desire is to give fair-play all round, and we trust y^at tho ueplan will secure that end. [C^Hipcti! ors must in every ease murk their letters with th« word Competition." Any mipiTier of coupons may be sent in a single eftvola^e.]

THE POST BAG. -+- Let us be thankful uiy brethren," Swansea preacher on Sunday. u for ti>e Bible, and especially for the Svb*?** Gospels." An Empire wag says that altho' t'he PloO- at home is an Erard, pecpie call it a Col* I and Collard, because it has so oft.a collar d in lieu of rent. It is computed that the Swsøea r..fir mentarv Debating Society contains *t half a do en debaters who are anrtatioo* enter another place." A resident of St. Heions-road, whe disturbed last Eight by nocturnal 0BU*^ writes tc ask whether we know the inveo of the concertina. We don t. Miss Eliza Warwick was hoisted into dlt police court dock for the fiftieth time The ckeer which usually signalises the ing of the hatf-eentury was left iin-balload- Fifty years ago Mr. Rice Trevor, who aft^ wards became Lord Dynevor, ooiutod out real grievances of the tenants as clearty they have been stated by the laud refonned themselves this year. Basque and Chinese are be about the- tvo most difficult to,ngues to master. A Llaneily tin-plater considers wile's and her mothers can put. them bDtb sieeJ. Mr. C. H. Glascedine savs of the vaC* | arohdruidship 41 Let the r;g1:: man beohose" at the ri^ht time, in the right wa?." lie 118 fa opiniou that the Shrewsbury election Was a fiasco, "If you say much," said a woman, who was backward in her rent, te landlord, who called for tho arrears, I 8 leave your house." Then the landlord 8 much, and she left. This is hew an EDlPI artisst puLs it. A Llaneily scribe is of opinion Li nolly play at Swansea as thoy against Newport they will wipe tho All off the field whell next they meet. May bu there to see it., which ever way it gogs- One report of Lord Swansea's funeral 9% a list of m«mburs of the Swansea Lih* Club, which included those who attended from the Salisbury latter of whom were in the majority. bers never did prove anything. j A Swansea pretty lassie to her deat 14- Charles: How far is it round the "or-, Ciiariie ? istt t -t twenty-four fchousaB"" Charles (who adores the prefctv girl and P both arms rouud lier): That's all a my love, it is only about twenty-four ivc lisLe was all the world to hiai, —— i ps*" Fina times are promised ti e Swansea .-1 liamentary District. Mr. Iledley went; bnldfceaded, for the Liberal Association evcriiiK at Neath, To make matters for the members of that caucus, Mr. has a strong iollowisig. Is there any L now as to the existence of a bpUt 10 Liberal ca;np ? ) 4 of I; Several of the members of the Lords," emphatically asserted a 3^>ee^1ef at last nights debate "would not, songht the suffrages of the electors,be e'*b<)(4 onaj.ariHi» council?" uOr even the » Board" quietly muttered a Tory, aud gentleman on the Treasury Bench Mr. Morelon Hctilsy, brother of the date for the Swansea Parliamentary D1 is a jolly sort of ch»p. Saturday ^0 at Neath, referring to the support w*11 brother afforded to Mr. Myers again3 Frank Ash Yeo some years ago, sa! jy# "E. H." was a political kit-ten then, e% ei had since opened. iIO* Mr. Hodley is a humorist of brand, says tbe Mail He says that otrV,fa#4 some hitch, his candidature for the District had not been accepted J {#< Liberal Association. Tho hitch ref.r 0 is the failure of Mr. Sedley to get root9 one solitary vote when his nal11& iJú- proposed, Aliitch of that kind is that nakes years to sarmount. There was a burglary at Neath on yfr morning just before the cock creW. Price, in examining the house, found a stocking, and having a liking for CurioS. all sorts, piaced it in a safe spot. tft' arrested on suspicion. Confronted boo "eurio," he said, "I did not wefl £ picked it up and put it in my pocket. just where he gava it all away. .1^ We cull this from a contemporary by tho choristers, the congregation voices took up the blosied words of tb*- beautiful of sacred songs Art thou weary, art thou languid, Ai t. thou sore distressed Come to Ms, saith One, and coming Be at rest. When it is stated that this is the on V$.9 1 aU9g> on the printed sheets which wa» effect is considerably enhanced. Two or three trades councillors ed themselves at Mr. Hediev's mee ^t* Neath last night. But the ctt* appeared to fairly Knock erD he said at he was prepsr support Labour in preference til* Literal Party in the event of that issue. f0rget v Mrg. Janes, Manselion. Dont order a stone of potatoes, some and pepper, and eggs and lemons and pickle*. Mr. Jones: dear, I shan't forget. Mrs. J°uCfs. o W' OIL ves I want a pound of dates, Jo tt;;¡t I Jones: Oh, wall, you'il have to .r.. cUl-e( down fer me, for vou know I cuot reIn I dates-" u t* I A Nonconformist parson, not ""lily Of from Llaneily, drew the following P1 | the patriarch Abraham sitting under a tree at Mamre. Abraham, a)V 1 said, was In those days what call a geiitiemcc farmer. And tb*1 i call a geiitiemcc farmer. And there ,£tinl i I often see him, with my minds e>j under a grand old oak tree sinoiliog and reading the Western MciH" stalf" 1 An inventive Welshman who at the door of the Albert J found it difficult to remt-mber iiie. j those who passed out during the eis get fresh air." He was at bl3. <f \iV°_ ) when a brilliant idea fastened i him, and he thereafter stamped 0 goer on the wrist with the oiScte | the Eisteddfod in violet ink. v ti>' I A Rhondda couple came to o other day to get "spliced." i h d boon carried out betorohand eitttoorate Bcale, and when the I ing came Moses Jones and b'S j arrived in Swansea from the es.riy tram. All the prelimi" j been disposed of the parson pu | question, Will you, Mosos J a SelinaGriffiths, as yc-ur !aw!ui "Why ?" asked Moses j want her, then, Mr. Thomas bach,' replied ihe parson. V sj.«: ♦' We! then, don't bother | fo rard with the job." j