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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES. MR. A. C. HUMPHREYS-OWEN OX LORD BE AC0NSFI KLD'S NOVELS-CONTNGSBY. SYBIL, AND TANCRED. Last Friday evening Mr A. C, Humpheys-Owen, Glansevern, delivered a lecture before the Debating Society of the University College of Wales, Mr Marshall presiding, supported by the Pev T. C. Edwards, M.A., the principal. There was a large attendance of the college staff, students and their frieu la. The lecture (of which we heard accidentally) was much t(,o rapidly utteivd to be fully compre- hended, and all of it could not he heard beyond the second row of seats. After a brief introduction, Mr Humphreys-Owen said-I am never tired of novel reading, and I am not adverse to dabbling now and then in politics, hut I make it a condition that my novels shall be good, and my polities, as tar as may oe. at first hand. I did not think that the conditions could be better fulfilled than by the best novels of the n,o.;¡t brilliant English politician of the present century—Lord Beaconsfield. (Applause.) I spoke a few minutes ago of this evening's talk. I used the expression advisedly. I make no pretensian of writing an elaborate literary criticism of the novelist. I know my place before a College audience far too well and if I am honoured by the attention of any Dames of the Primrose League they need not dread e"en a whisper of partisan politics. (Laughter and cheers.) All I hope to do is to have a chat about the books and their aathor quite as desultory and almost as fragmentary as if we were sitting together over the walnuts and the wine. (Hear, hear.) A story with a purpose is usualiy the quintessence of dulness. The tale itself is stale or improbable, the style something between that of a bad sermon and a child's story book. Yet in apite of long sketches and didactic discussion, and although we are scarcely for a moment allowed to forget that he wishes to impress his ideas upou us rather than tell vis his story Lord Beaconstield never Be'etiiS to me dull. Paradoxical he may be or even obscure sometimes, but wearsome, never. What is the secret ? I think it is partly his complete knowledge of the life which he mainly aims at depicting—that of English politicians of both sexes—but chiefly his vivacity. Here is a little specimen. He is Describing a dinner party after a party skirmish- The guests had scarcely seated themselves when the two absent ones arrived. 'Well, you did not divide, Vavasour,' said Lord Henry. 'Did I not ?' said Vavasour, 'and nearly beat the Government. You are a pretty fellow 'I was paired.' 'With someone who could not stay,' said Vavasour. Your brother, Mrs Coningsby, behaved like a man, sacrificed his dinner, and made a capital speech.' 'Qh Oswald, did he speak ? Did you speak, Harry ?' 'No I voted. There was too much speaking as it was. If Vavasour had not replied, I believe we should have won.' 'But then, my dear fellow, think of my points, think how they laid themselves open 'A majority is always the best repartee,' said Coningsby.' (Laughter.) After giving, to be quite impartial, extracts giving a description of Liberal wirepullers of a rotten borough in search of a candidate, and as a pendant, reflections of some young Conservatives after a-successful contest, the lecturer quoted a bit of sprightly jesting at the expense of the Darwinians- After making herself very agreeable, Lady Constance took up a book which was at hand, and said, Do you know this ?' And Tancred, opening a volume which he had never seen, and then turning to its little page, found it was The Revelations of Chaos,' [Vestiges of Creation] a startling work just published, and of which a rumour had reached him. 'No,' he replied, 'I have not seen it.' I will lend it you it you like. It is one of those books on& must read. It explains everything, and it is written in a very agreeable style.' 'It explains everything! said Tancred, it must, indeed, be a very remarkable book 'I think it will just suit you,' said Lady Constance. Do you know, I thought SM several times while I was reading it.' To judge by the title, the subject is rather obscure,' said Tancred. No longer so,' said Lady Constance. 'It is treated scientifically everything is explained by geology and astronomy and in that way. It shows you exactly how a star is formed, nothing can be so pretty A cluster of vapour, the cream of the milky way, a sort of celestial cheese churned into light. You must read, it 'tis charming.' Nobody ever saw a star formed,' said Tancred. 'Perhaps not. You must read the "Revelations," it is all explained. But what is most interesting is the way in which man has been developed. You know all is development. The principle is perpetually going on. first, there was nothing, then there was something, then, I forget the next, I think there were shells, then fishes, then we came, let me see did we come next ? Never mind that, we came at last. And the next change there will be something very superior to us, something with wings. Ah that's it. We were fishes, and I believe we shall be crows.' (Laughter). But it would be unjust to take incid- ental bits of satire as representative of more than style and spirits. The novels express their author's ideas on the three greatest subjects of human interest— Politics, Society and Religion. Let us see how far we can enter into them what, in modern phrase, is the message he wishes to bring to us. Coningsby, Sybil and Tancred were written in the early years of the ministry formed by Sir Robert Peel in 1841. The subject of Coniugsby is the position of English parties just after the reform of 1S32 that of Sybil the con- dition of the people while Tancred is devoted to the author's views of the influence of the East and especially of Judaism. Coningsby is the orphan grandson of the Marquis of Monmouth. He is educated at Eton and Cambridge by his grandfather introduced hy him into the best social and political circles of England, treated as the heir to all the old man's great possessions, and of course loves and is loved by a charming heroine. He forfeits for a time all his great prospects by an )Htiml:Y refusal to adopt the cynical politics of his grandfather, but by a simple novelist's device regains them all; and the voiumo closes with his marriage and tiiumphant entry into Parliament. The story, you see, is of the simplest. There are none of the JUÙlle artifices, the ingenious entanglements, and un- expected catabtrOpneS by which VS ilkie Collins or Charles Reade rivet our attention nor have we any of those minute touchos, each apparently so insignificant, "by which Miss Austin or Gecrge Eiiot huild up a character. Lord Monmouth, n gby, Lord Eskdale, Henry Sidney and the rest we know as much about. after they have spoken half-a-dozen sentences as when we come to the end of the book. But the clearness and keenmss of the descriptions and the liveliness of the style make up for all that. Could a volume make any clearer the characters and relations of the great man and his parasite than this— Mr Rigby was member for one of Lord Monmouth's boroughs. He was manager of Lord Monmouth's parliamentary influence, and the auditor of his vast {•states. He was more he was Lord Monmouth's com- panion when in England, his correspondent when abroad hardly his councellor, for Lord Monmouth never required advice but Mr Rigby could instruct him in matters of detail which Mr Rigby made amusing. Rigby was not a professional man, indeed his origin, education, early pursuits, and studies were equally obscure, but he had contrived in good time to squeeze himself into Parliament by means no one could ever comprehend, and then set up to be a perfect man of business. The world took him at his word, for he was bold, acute, and voluble with no thought, but a good deal of desultory- information and though destitute of all imagination and noble sentiment, was blessed with a vigorous mendacious fancy, fruitful in small expedients and never happier than when devising shifts for great men's scrapes. They say that all of us have one chance in this life, and so it was with Rigby. After a struggle of many years, and after a long series of the usual alternativis of small successes and small failures, after a few cieverish speeches and a good many cleverish pam- phlets, with a considerable reputation, indeed, for pasquinades, most of which he never wrote, and articles in reviews to which it was whispered he had contributed, Rigby, who had already intrigued himself into a subordinate office, met with Lord Monmouth. 4 He was just the auimal that Lord Monmouth wanted. Lord Monmouth always looked upon human nature with the callous eye of a jockey. He surveyed Rigby and determined to buy him. He bought him, with hi* clear head, his indefatigible industry, his audacious tongue, and his ready and unscrupulous pen with all his dates, all his lampoons, all his private memoirs, and all his political intrugues. It was a good purchase. Kiir'y became a great personage, and Lord Monmouth's man. Once more to complete Lord Monmnutli.- 'Ah What a man exclaimed the Princess Colonna. 'What a pity it is you have a House of Commons here! England would be the greatest country in the world if it were not for the House of Commons. It makes sn much confusion!' 'Don't abuse our property said Lord Eskdale Lord Monmouth and I have still twenty votes of the same body between us.' .JT»« 'And there is a combination,' said Rigby, 'by which yon may still keep them.' 'Ah! now for Rigbys combination, said Lord Esk- dale. The only thing that can save this country, said lvigby, i.'i a coalition OIl a sliding scale.' 'You had better buy up the, Birmingham Union and the other bodies,' sai l Lord -Monmouth; 'I believe it might all be done fa1 two or three hundred thousand pounds; and fhe newspapers too. Pitt would have settled this business long ago.' (Laughter and cheers.) But we must not forget Con- ingsby. He is depicted as deeply dissatisfied, as almost every one of us has been at some time or other, with I life and its aflairs, and craving enlightenment- from his I elders he goes to Mr. Rigby as a veteran politician, and this is what he gets- Mr. Rigby began by ascribing everything to the Re- form Bill, and then referred to several of his own speeches on Schedule A. Then he told Coningsby that want of religious faith was solely occasioned by want of churches a.nd want of loyalty by (ieorgo IV. having shut himself up too much at the cottage in Windsor Park, entirely against the advice of Mr. Rigby. He assured Coningsby that the Church Commission was operating wonders, and that with private benevolence --he had himself siib-ei ibed £.i,ÛOÚ for Lord Monmouth—we should soon have churches enough. The great question now was their architecture. Had George IV. lived, all would have been right. They would iv-ve been built on the model of the Buddhist pagoda. As for loyalty, if the present king went regu- larly to Ascot races, he had 110 doubt all would go right. Finally, Mr. Rigby impressed on Coningsby to read the Qimrterhi Review with great attention and to make him- self master of Mr. Wordy's History of the late War," in twenty volumes, a capital work, which prdved that Pro- vidence was on the side of the Tories. ( (Laughter.) Not much more encouraging this to the enthusiasm of youth than a hailstorm to a hothouse flower. But we are not left with this cold negation. The hero himself developea his own theory, a theory which we may well believe was Mr. Disraeli's own and this it is-- I 'Many men in this country,' said Mill bank, and espe- I. cially in the class to which I belong, are reconciled to the contemplation of democracy, because they have accus- tomed themselves to believe that it is the only power by which we can sweep away those sectional privileges and interests that impede the intelligence and industry of the community.' 'And yet,' said Coningsby. the only way to terminate what in the language of the present day is called clasc; legislation is not to entrust power to. classes. You would find a locofoco majority as much addicted to class legisla- tion as a factitious aristocracy. The only power that has no class sympathy is the sovereign.' But suppose the case of an arbitrary sovereign, what would be your check against him ?' 'The same as against an arbitrary parliament.' But Parliament is responsible.' 'To whom?' To their constituent body. Suppose it was to vote'itself perpetual ?' 'But public opinion would prevent that.' I A lid is public opinion of less influence on an indivi- dual than on a body? But public opinion may be indifferent. A nation may- be misled may be corru t.' If the nation that elects the Parliament be corrupt, the elected body will resemble it. The nation that is corrupt deserves to fall. But this only shows that there is something to be considered beyond forms of govern- ment—national character. And herein mainly should we repose our hopes. If a nation bo led to aim at the. good and the great, depend upon it, whatever be its form, the government will respond to its convictions and its senti- ments. I Do you then declare against Parliamentary govern- ment ?' 'Far from it. I look upon political change as the great- est of evils, for it comprehends all. But if we have no faith in the permanence of the existing settlement; if the, very individuals who establish it are year after year pro- posing their modifications or their reconstructions, so also while we uphold what exists ought we to prepare our- selves for the change we deem impending ?' :s- ow, I would not that either ourselves or our fellow citizens should be taken unawares as in 1832, when the very men who opposed the Reform Bill offered contrary objections to it which destroyed each other, so ignorant were they of its real character, its historical causes, its political consequences. We should now so act that, when the occasion arrives, we should clearly comprehend what we want and have formed an opinion as to the best means by which that want can be supplied. 'For this purpose I would accustom the public mind to the contemplation of an existing though torpid power in the constitution capable of removing our social grievances, were we to transfer to it those prerogatives which the Parliament has gradually usurped, and used in a manner which has produced the present material and moral dis- organization. The House of Commons is the House of a few, the Sovereign is the Sovereign of all. The proper leader of the people is the individual who sits upon the throne.' 'Then you abjure the representative principle Why so ? Representation is not necessary, or even in a principal sense, Parliamentary. Parliament is not sitting at this moment, and yet the nation is represented in its highest as well as in its most minute interests. Not a grievance escapes notice and redress. I see in the newspapers this morning that a pedadogue has brutally chastised his pupils. It is a fact known all over England. We must not forget that a principle, of Government is reserved for our days that we shall not find in our Aristotles, or even in the forests of Tacitus, nor in our Saxon Wittenageiriotes, nor in our Plantagenet Parlia- ments. Opinion is now supreme and Opinion speaks in print. The representation of the Press is far more com- plete than the representation of Parliament. Parlia- mentary representation was the happy device of a ruder age, to which it was admirably adapted an age of semi-civilization when there was a leading class in the community but it exhibits many symptoms of desuetude. It is controlled by a system of representa- tion more vigorous and compresentative, which absorbs its duties and fulfils them more efficiently and in which discussion is pursued on fairer terms, and often with more depth and information.' And to what powt-r would you entrust- the power of taxation ?' 'To some power that would employ it more discreetly than in creating our present amount of debt and in estab- lishing our present system of imports. In a word, true wisdom lies in the policy that would effect its ends by the influence of opinion, and yet by the means of existing forms. Nevertheless, if we are forced to revolutions, lft us propose to our consideration the idea of a free Monarchy-, established on fundamental laws, itself the apex of a vast pile of municipal and local government, ruling an educated people, represented by a free and intellectual press, Before such a royal authority, supported by such a national opinion, the sectional anomalies of our country would disappear. Under such a system, where qualification would not be parliamentary, but personal, even statesmen would lip educated. We should have no more diplomatists who could not speak French, no more bishops ignorant of theology, nor more generals-in-chief who never saw a. field. there is a polity adapted -to our laws, our in- stitutions, our feelings, our manners, our traditions a polity capable of great ends and appealing to high senti- ment; a polity which in my opinion would render Government an object of iiPtioual affection which Would terminate sectional anomalies, esimge religions heats, and e\tinguisix Chart-i?m.' This then is the message of Conigsby—the empire of public opinion embodied in, to use the phrase of his ftvourite author, a Patriot King. It is a fair vision that he places before us. A ruler above and beyond the temporary and accidental strife of factions aud their leaders, feeling himself and his prerogatives securely I guarded by the la .v aud therefore watchfully protecting the rigMs of all other orders in the state, impartially reconciling the conflicting theories and supplementing the inadequate conceptions of political leaders—the friend of all sides, the partisan of none. It only we could secure such a monarch, not as a happy accident but as a permanent institution, what a solution of all our politicil troubles it would be. Do you wonder that the auth jr seized the opportunity when fate gave iteo him of creating an empress ? (Cheers.) Lord Beacons- field was more than suspected of describing his contem- poraries in his novels. In a list which I have, profess- ing to be a key to Coningsby, the name of Gladstone— (applause) -is prefixed to that of Oswald Millbank. the school friend whom Coningsby saves from drowning and whose sister be marries— 0 Oswald Millbank was of a proud and independent nature reserved, a little stern. The early and constantly reiterated dogma of his father, that he belonged to a class debarred from its just position in the social system, had aggravated the grave and somewhat discontented humour of his blood. His talents were considerable, though I invested with no dazzling quality. He had not that quick and brilli-int apprehension, which, combined with a memory of rare retentiveness, had already advanced Coningsby far beyond his age, and made him already looked to as the future hero of the school. But Millbank possessed one of those strong, industrious volitions whose perseverance amounts almost to genius, and nearly att-tins its results Millbank was not blessed with the charm of manner. He seemed close and cold but he was courageous, just and inflexible never bullied, and to his utiiio, t would prevent tyranny. The little boys looked up to him as a stern protector and his word, too, throughout the school was a proverb and truth ranks a great deal among boys. In a Millbank was respected by those amongjwhsm he lived and schoolboys scan character more nicely than men suppose. (Hear, hear and applause). Sybil takes its name from the daughter of an ancient family, whose father, Walter Gerard is the right hand of a great manufacturer, a true captain of industry. She is passionately loved by Stephen Morley, a friend and companion of her brother, and a representative of that revolt against social wretchedness which finds its expression in Socialism and Chartism. Walter Gerard and Stephen Morley are gradually drawn into a futile plan of insur- I rection. The conspiracy, like most conspiracies, is betrayed, but not until a furious riot has broken out in which both Morley and Gerard are slain. But besides Morley, Sybil hasanothev suitor, Charles Eurernoiit, the hero of the book. Egremont is the younger son of a noble house. He enters the scene as an idler who fights for and wins a seat in Parliament simply because his mother wishes him. But association with Sybil and her father, whom he first meets in the ruins of an old abbey, on whose spoils his family was gonnded. rouse all his better nature, and he developes into a warm and sagacious friend of the people. Perhaps we may be tempted to thiuk that the continuation of hi3 career, his succession to his brother's earldom, aud the regain- ing by Sybil of her great ancestral property somewhat out of harmony. But a man can only give us what he has; and lavish magnificence and worldly splendour are inseparable from Disraeli's work. On these two main threads, the lives of Sybil and Egremont, are • numerous persons and incidents, all in some way or other illustrations of the main theme of the story. The scene is laid partly in an agricultural country, hut mainly in the manufacturing districts. The enormous rapidity with which population grew under the influ- ence of the great manulaeturiug inventions of the last century, the lavish squandering of wealth in the great war against Napoleon, and the utter disorganization of thecountry. due tothefabsurd exaggeration and distortion by the capitalist classes and some of their imitators among the landowners of the teaching of Adam Smith, had made England of fifty years ago a land of almost inconceivable wretchedness. Lisctu to the key note of the book- It is a community of purpose that constitutes society,' continued the younger stranger. Without that men may be drawn iuto contiguity, but they still continue virtually isolated. In cities that condition is aggravated. A density of population implies a severer struggle for existence, and a consequent repulsion of elements brought into too close contact. In great cities men are brought together by the desire of gain. They are not in a state of co-operation, but of isolation, as to the making of fortunes and for all the rest they are careless of neigh- bours. Christianity teaches us to love our neighbours as ourselves—modern society acknowledges no neighbour. 'Well, society may be in its infancy,' said Egremont, slightly smiling but, say what you like, our Queen reigns over the greatest nation that ever existed.' Which nation ? asked the younger stranger, for she reigns over two.' The stranger paused. Egremont was silent, but looked enquiringly. Yes,' resumed the younger stranger, after a moment's interval. "Two nations; between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy who are as ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts, and feelings as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets; who arc formed by a different breeding, are fed by different food, are ordered by different manners, and are not governed by the same law.' You speak of said Egremont, hesitatingly. 'The Rich and the Poor.' Disraeli undoubtedly was largely indebted to Cobbett, for his views of the effect of the Reformation, or rather of the wholesale waste of public property by which that great religious movement was disgraced, upon English social life, and of the Revolution of 168S upon a politi- cal system. It is worth observing that these ideas, checked for at least a generation by the brilliant genius of Rlacaulay, are now again being seriously discussed. The discredit into which the grave shortcomings of an industrial system has brought the economic school which arrogates to itself the orthodox s-iuccession to Adam Smith has naturally extended to the popular version of English history which starts with the year 1S15 and canonizes the exploits of the Auti-Corn Law League, and the assured victory of religious freedom over the dogmatism of Romish theologians, enables us to contemplate with calmer and more impartial eyes that great institution, the medwval Church. After quoting passages both as to the Reformation and the Revolution, and what the author had to say for the monasteries, the lecturer proceedeii- We know the miserable and inevitable result. There are some here who will recollect the Chartist and Rebecca Riots of forty years ago. The description of a Lancashire strike and the destruction of a great nobleman's castle by an infuriated mob is one of the most striking scenes of the novel. It is far too lony to quote. I prefer giving you the foil to all this misery in the description —a description. I am happy to think, true jf many more industrial establishments now than it was forty years ago—of what a manufacturer who recog- nizes his duty can do for his dependents. But forty years ago, as to-day, there were those whose views of social happiness were not met by such remedies a3 these. Gerard, the foreman of the Trafford factory, discusses it with Morley, the Socialist. It is wild enough. What is worth notice is that with little vari- ation we hear the same discussion going on about us to-day. Modern Socialism is not new in itself it is only new to our generation. Love in these novels plays a. very subordinate part. A novel without a heroine is indeed almost unthinkable. But Edith Millbank, the heroine of Coningsby, is only a charming shadow, whiie she who gives her name to Sybil and Eva, the heroine of Tancred are interesting as types of the two races—the Saxon and the Jewish. They guide their lovers, not by their affections, but by their ideas and their intellect. Iu fact the ladies are politicians first and women after. (Laughter.) Do you wonder at his saying he should never marry for love, for all their friends who had, either beat their wives or lived apart from them. (Laughter.) Tancred is a romance from beginning to end. Great English nobles, wondrous Hebrew bankers, lovely and enthusiastic Hebrew maidens, Arab sheikhs, princes of Lebanon, worshippers of the old gods of Greece, come and go through its pages, but through all aud dorminating all runs the author's confidence in the power and destiny of his race. I purposely postponed saying anything earlier in the evening of this part of my subject. In Sybil, i.deed, it is least redominentof the three. The Jew has always been a trafficker and a mac of the cities. He takes little or no share in agriculture or manufacture. But even in Sybil it is characteristic that when the author aims at lowering Rome he does it by exalting Jerusalem. I feel that I must tread somewhat lightly here. I fully believe that his reverenco for the faith of his forefathers and his views of its relation to Christianity were among the deepest convictions of Lord Beaconstield's mind, but I feel that even to enlarge upon them, much more to dissect and criticize on such an occasion as this cannot but wear a certain savouring of irreverence. But no such suspicion can attach to the genuine and honest pride in this race and their institutions which appear in passages in Tancred aud Coningsby. It is not, how- ever, only the race and institutions of which he is proud. After giving a-passage describing Sidonia the Jew, and his letter of credit, the lecturer added— What are we to say of such superhuman magnificence;? It is mere burlesque ? Is the writer simply trying to see how wide he can make the rustics gape ? I am not sure. I have cast "bout a good deal for the true explanation, and at last somehow there came to my mind a famous speech in which occurred a famous phrase— intoxicated with the exuberance of his own verbosity." When Tancred was written one of the keenest diplomatic struggles of modern times had just taken place betweeu France and England for power and influence !n the MeditGrraueati. It was then that Lord Palmers ton SOiifc his famous unofficial message to the French Government that Mehemet Ali, the pasha of Egypt, their protege, could be chucked into the Nile aud France lose her ships, colonies and commerce in one campaign. Syria, as it still is. a country where French influence was strong, and the character of Fackredeen, the prince of Lebanon, is oue of Disraeli's most brilliant creations. The lecturer then gave Fackredeen'a ideas about his debts, the restoration of empire to the East by which the Queen of England was to remove her seat of empire from London to Delhi, and with that characteristic and fascinating mingling of the ambitions of the nineteenth century with the gorgeous fancies of the Arabian nights, bade his audience good night. (Applause.) Mr KNOWLF.S proposed a vote of thanks to Mr A. C. Humphreys-Owen for his excellent lecture, and it was seconded by Mr —. JONKS. who in his remarks hoped that the next time they had a visit from Mr Hum- phreys-Owen it would be as M.P. for the Montgomery Boroughs. (Cheers.) Both speakres hoped that Mr Humphreys-Owen would give the studeuts another lecture. (Applause.) Mr A. C. HUMPHREYS OWEN acknowledged the vote, and in doing so congratulated the College upon its renewed strength and vigour. The result of the catastrophe of last summer had been apparently to bring up the number of students to a higher standard than had ever been attained before, and not only was the College successful in numbers, but he was happy to think successful also in life and especially in the old Universities. (Applause.) The PRINCIPAL seconded a. vote of thanks to the Chairman, Mr Marshall, which had been proposed by Mr HUMPHREYS-OWEN*. He referred to the valuable work Mr Humphreys-Oweu had done in committee for the College, and joined with Mr Knowles and Mr Jones in desiring another lecture by him As he had that night given them Lord Beaconsfield as a novelist parhaps he would next give them Mr Gladstone as a theologian. (Loud cheers.). Mr MARSHALL acknowledged the vote of thanks and the meeting separated.
! MAENTWROG.
MAENTWROG. LAND LEAGUE MEETING —A meeting in connection with the proposed Land League was held at Maent- wrog on Friday evening when Mr John Morgan Cany- coed presided. There was not a large attendance, only about eighteen farmers being present. The meeting was addressed by Messrs William Jones, Bronyfoel, Jones, Goppa Farm. John Hughes, Hafod Fawr, Edward Jones, Tanybwlch Mills, and others.
PONT LLAjNIQ.
PONT LLAjNIQ. TROTTING MATCIIFS.—These matches came off on Wednesday, March 3rd, at Pont Lhnio. under the managership of Messrs L. E. Jones. Llanio, Eran Morgau, John Davies, Llangeitho, Daniel Thomas, Tynilwyn, Smith, Derry Ormond, Jones, Pantyrhew, fee., and they were a decided success in spite of the weather and snowdrifts. The rces were exciting and well contested. Open race. 1, T. Rowland,-Tregaron, 2, W. Rees, Waunfawr, 3, B. J. Evans, Llanfair. Farmers' race. 1. C. Davies, Pengraig, 2, T. L'oyd, Penbrynrhag. 3, Daniel Thomas Tynilwyn. Ponies race. 1. C. Davies, Pengraig. 2, T. Davies, Plashach. 3, 1'. Rowland, Railway. Hurdles. 1. J. Jones, Rhiwoneu, 2, J. Jenkins. Penbryn, 3. J. Jeakins, Blaenplwyf. Sweepstakes. 1, W. Rees. Waunfawr. Much praise is due to Mr and Mrs Davies, Derry Arms, for their hospitality.
-_"-'- ------------------'-----ABERYSTWYTH."
ABERYSTWYTH." SANITARY AUTHORITY, MONDAY, MARCH 8TH.— Present: Mr. Vuughan Davies, chairman, Mr. Hugh S. Richardeu, vice-chairman, the Rev. John Pugh, Mr. W. Jones, Brynowen, Mr. Thomas Smim, Gal- mast, Mr. H. S. Davies, Gla¡Ùafou, fr, Hugh Hughes, clerk, and Mr. David Jones, sanitary in- spector. Bortk. —'] he special meeting had been called to ap- point a Parochial Committee for Borth, but as no one a,t ceudcii trom Boriii with a list of names of persons eligible to act on the committee, the further considera- tiulI of the subject was deferred.—Mr. W. Jones, Bryn- owen. advised the Board to act cautiously, tor when a Parochial Committee was appointed on a previous oc- casion they went into expense in so reckless a manner that It was found desirable to extingnish them. Inspector's Report,—The Inspector reported as fol- lows On the 5rh March I wrote again to SIr Pryse Pryse according to your directions at the last meeting, calling attention to the renewed deprivation of from the Penrnyncocli water supply. On the 11th I found the water had been madt. to flow freely again and continued so until the 27th. The.work has been this time partly reconstructed. The school at Chancery has had to be closed on account of measles. Aber- decnaut is a cottage occupied by oue Anne James, and has become unfit for human habitation on account of dilapidation. There is also another cottage of tne name of Tauyrallt in the same neighbourhood occupied by one Margaret Humphreys that has become unfit for habitation for the same reason. On visiting the place on the 25th I found that the occupier takes the necessary steps to leave in a regular way next Michaelmas which will in my opinion meet the case. AJy attention having been called as to the advisability of visiting at an early date the dwelling- houses of David Davies and Elizabeth Mason, both undertenants on Llettyhen farm, Tirmynach, with the view of condemning them as unlit for Habitation. On examination I found tjits case of David Davies a weak one, and I learnt that Elizabeth Mason has given a notice, and David Davies is going to give a notice to disengage in a regular way next Michaelmas. These proceedings in my opinion render interference on the pait of this Board necessary here also.—The Inspector was directed to call the attention of. Mr Richardes, Penglaise, to the case of Anue Janu s.
:7ll • "MACHYNLLETH. I'-.:,¡,.-è.:6.-'.[]
<c>:7ll "MACHYNLLETH. :,¡,è.:6. [] PROPOSED UNDENOMINATIONAL SCHOOL. Last week a public meeting was held at the Maea- gwyn Schoolroom to consider the advisability of estab- lishing an iindenominatior.iil elementary school for Machynlleth. The Rev. JOSIAH was vofed to the chair, and in commencing the meeting gave a consise statement of facts relating to education in Machynlleth from the year 1836 up to the present. He referred to the old schools that were held in the town by Nonconformists which eventually failed through want of support. The object of the meeting was to test the feeling of the Nonconformists of Machynlleth as to the advisability of establishing an elementary school for the town on the voluntary system several people thinking that if it was desirable the present was the best time in which to establish the school. (Cheers). Mr L. FKOULKES JONES, Bodloudeb, proposed that in the opinion of that meeting increased educational facilities were required for Machynlleth and that it was desirable to establish a school on the British School system. The proposition was seconded by Mr LEWIS \VILLLUIS, who, as an old inhabitant of the town, referred to the educational institutions in the town he had attended as a boy. Then the master and children could attend their own Sunday schools and religious meetings, but subsequently that had been altered, and one schoolmaster, who was a deacon with the Wesley- ans, had before the end of hi? term of office to give up his connection with the Wesleyans and go over to the Church of England. He referred to other instances of hardship experienced by Nonconformists in connection with the present educational system, and for that reason supported the proposition and would do his ut- most to carry it out. The proposition was put to the meeting and carried without a dissentient. b 1 Mr J. BEN NET DAVIES. the Foundry, proposed that a Committee should be formed consisting of persons represertirg the various denominations of the town. Mr LLOYD, fl-innel manufacturer, seconded the pro- position and it was supported by Mr William Jones. Mr David Jones, Aberlh-feny office, and Mr David Jones, Dolwrach, and carried. The Committee met at the end of the meeting, and the matter having being warmly taken up, arrange- ments]; have been made to open a school without delay.
TOW YN.
TOW YN. I.VCMMKST WKATUKR — The snow which fell on the first of this month remains in huge piles along thu road sides, and in all the corners into which it drifted. Farmers arc all the time engaged 011 the forlorn hope of finding- their sh*c-p, vast numbers of which have been buried in the snow. Some dogs show remarkable ability in marking where sheep lie IJUdecllllany feet below the snow, snd a yoeat many have been rescued through the instrumentality thatBotherw:se would have been lost. Sheep generally were in a poor condition before they were overtaken by the severity of the almost unpreeidentedly at this time of the year hard w eather. The gravest fears are entertained the lambing- season will prove disastrous. Muny people are out of work in the country villages. WINTKII CHAMTY COMMITTI'.B.—The demands upon the resources of this committee have been unexpectedly increased through the additional privation caused by the seveiity of the weather. The cottages of the poor proved totally inadequate to keep out the driven snow, and the intense'y coid wind, and the result is sick- ness and much additional misery. Fresh appeals have been made for assistance, and it is hoped that reacfy response will be made to them, hacause the need is really tp-eater than it has been for manv years. Instances of want bordering on starvation which have biion relieved by means of this fund might be given. Work is still more difficult to get, because of the Inclemency of the weather. On the eve of Shrove Tuesday at 7.30. p.1I1., a special evensong was held in St. Cadvan's Church, Towyn, at which the liev. Canon Hody of Durham preached-to an uiisurJlv large congregation. The evensong served as a Vigil to a Clergy Retreat- appointed bv the Jjoril B'shop of the Diocese which takes place this" eck, The I service was fully choral t;¡2 first porti:-a pf which was intoned by Canon Body whilst the latter part, was deputed between the liev i), K. Herbert, curat- and W. Richards, of Cetnmae-, Mont. As a full choml senice is a rare oeenrence, it wa in conjunction with the visit of thc Itev CanO;1 looked forwllrd to 11.<¡ a prc:ihatiol1 of a sacred musical treat. The service was fairly rendered throughout as is usually the c ise by small parish choirs. St. Cadvan's choir arc donned in surplices, Imd taking its formation and composition of small boys into consideration, deserves its dne praise: though ample room for training awl improving is manifest. Speaking minutely the service was as follows Preccs and responses! '• Taliis' grand in G. the Psalms for the day were sung to third tone, third ending, tonus peregiinus and the sixth tone" respect- ively, though fairly chanted—ryttimically, liveliness usually or at leadt cught to he noticeable Jll the proper rcndcrlng of the Psalms was mirred considerably by too dray,1 and slow. Thc Magnificat was better sung to the third tone fifth ending. The Xunc DinÙti" to first tone second ending. The hymns went fairly well with flue regard to expression. were numbers •260 ollice hnl1/J. i43 hefore sermon and 31 after sermon. Canon Body took for his text Hebrews Orh chapter, ls-t part of 14th verse, and d. iivercd an able discourse 011 the influence of the Holy Spirit. Chiefly by contrast with the "fire" which kindled the sacrifices of the old dispensation and that the Christian life was not pJen8in:: tú GoJ except it to iJe influenced hy the fiery baptism of the Spirit. He interestingly quoted and contrasted the shadows of the Old Dispensation of the Book of Leviticus, which he said was so closely linked with the substances of the Book of Hebrews that the stndy of one rendered the study of the oiher an absolute necessity. The same "fire" had been mani- fested in the upper room at .Jerusalem, whee a new anù more glorious Dispensation had been kindled after the great High Priest had once and for all enter- d the Holy of Holies. The de- livery of the discourse was listened to with due attention. Of late an attempt was made to form a choral union of Church choirs and to arrange a choral festival in connection therewith, but owing to some disagreement among the promoters the project fell through. Lot the attempt be renewed, and a festival on a small scale be planned, say four crave choirs of the immediate district churches, and a great impetus will thereby be given to church music and its proper rendering. PETTY SESSIONS. FRIDAY. MARCH 3TH.Before C. N. Tliruston, Esq., Captain Beadnell and J. Sylves- ter, list}. Licence.—A licence to store mixed explosives was granted to Mr R. D. Pr?ce at Aberllefeny. There were three occupied places within the specified distance 01 200 yards and the consent of the persons interested had been obtained. P.S. Roberts also reported that the store was constructed on a model plan. Non-maintenance.—Evan Gabriel, West End, Cv/m- orth, Festiuioo;, was summoned for having neglected his family.—Wm. Jones said he was relieving officer for the Penr.al district, and that defendant's father had been for 3ix months chargeable to the Machynlleth Union receiving 2s. a week. Defendant was a labourer or quarrymau earning from 18s. to 25s. a week. He had a- wife and three grown-up children. one of whom was ill.—Defendant's wife appeared and stated that. her youngest child between thirteen and fourteen was at school. She produced memoranda from the mannger at Cwuiorthip saying that defendant was earning 3s. a day and that there had been stoppages. The stan- dard wages for rockmen at Cwiuorthin was 3s. 4d. a day.—The Bench made an order of fid. a week.— David Samuel, jun., E'enygarn, Bow-street, was charged with neglecting to maintain his father who was in re- ceipt of 2s. fid. weekly. He had a wife and three children, one of whom was very young. He was now a labourer, but had previously occupied a farm which he left for a good reason which he (witness) preferred not making public.—Defendant stated that for five years he occupied Penrhwgerwcn. having borrowed | money frcin his brother-in-law for the purchase stock from the previous tenant. LafJt autumn he left the farm, Mr Lewis Pugh Pugh wanting to sell it, and he (defendant) had since been living at Penygarn. where lie had no means to contribute towards his father's maintenance, he (defendant) having had little work since Christmas. He had no money left over from the sale of stock. As a matler of fact he expended mere mouey on the farm than he ought to have done, 'expecting to recover it from the Irani. He was not, however, allowed to remain long enough on the farm. —The Bench thought the evidence of means unsatis- saetory, but made an order for the payment of fid. a week." I > ■
-----'¡''a8,._- ------------------ILLANDDEWI…
'¡''a8 I LLANDDEWI BUEfl SCHOOL BOAKD.—A meeting <•••? 0- h •' I.- ion March 4th. Present, Vv. Rces, Wdunfuwr, Ù. Rees, Llwyn, Daniel J. Williams. Peneefn, Jeiikiri Lloyd, Pant, and Rev. L. T. Rowland. B.D. This bring the first meeting of the board after the tri- ennial election the hoard proceeded to elect effic i s. Mr J. Lloyd proposed Mr Rowland, as chairman, and he was seconded by Mr Rees. Llwyn, which carried by four to one. Mr W. Ree;3, Waunfaur, was appointed vice-chairman. The assistant mistrei-s at the school was allowed to resign, owing to family j affairs Mr W. Rees, Waunfawr, proposed a reduction of school f-es. which wag agreed to. The attendance officer was dispensed with. The electi 11 bill or £19 61. as ordered to be paid. The .meeting was a very lively ore. and resulted in many alterations, which time ah ne will explain iu their "effect cn the education of the district. The new board ceem to be im nxed "ith adne sense of their duties.
!CARMARTHEN.
CARMARTHEN. BOARD on GUARDIANS.—The usual meeting of this board was held 011 Saturday at the boardroom. Mr J. Hughes (chairman) presiding. The deaths of several of the inmates of the house were reported, one having been an inmate for 40 years. The re-arrangement of the medical officers' disr-ricts in the parishes O Mydritn, Trelech, and Llanwitiiiio was considered. If was mentioned that possibly medical man was goiog to settle in the district, and, ther.fore. alter some discus- sion as to what arrangements should be made, it was decideil that the guardians of Trelech, Mydrim, and Llanwinuio be appointed a. committee to consider, with the aid of the medical officers of those districts, the whole question and to report to the board in a mouth's time. A sum of £:30 was voted to the clerk for assess- ment work. THK SANITARY COMMITTEE.—A meeting of the Sanitary Committee was held on Siturday, Mr J. Hughes presiding. With regard to the claim made by Mr Peel, Ferryside, to a part of the water coining fiom the Holcombe spring, which forms one of the sources in the new scheme for supplying water to Ferryside village, it was decided that the clerk arrange the matter and then apply to tne Local Government Board for their sanction to borrow the f400 needed to carry out the said scheme, CARMARTHK.SSIIIRE AC;KICULTURAL Soon-NR. —The annual meeting of this society was held at the Boar's Head Hotel on Saturday afternoon, Mr Thomas Morris, Coomb, in the chair. The treasurer's accounts showed an adverse balance of £18 Os. 9d., but the secretary's showed a balance due to the society of f43 10s. 7d. Mr J. H. Thomas. Starling Park, suggested that a prize should be given for the best animal in the cattle classes in the yard, irrespective of age or breed, as was done at most other shows. A good deal of discussion took placo on this. and it was decided to offer an honorary prize for the champion bull and champion cow in the yard of any hreed and any age. The prize list was gone through, and a few slight alterations made. The dates of the shows were fixed as follows :— Entire horses, April 15; cattle, horses, sheep, Ac., September 17 and fat cattle, poultry, &.c., December 15.
NANT CONWAY.
NANT CONWAY. FLSHINO OF THE DISTRICT.—Nant Conway is to be much improved this season. A new species of salmon — "alevin," as they are called—has been brought into the district. The quantity cannot be less than some fifteen thousands. The best preparation has been made at Dolyddelen and Trefriw to let them down to hatch. On Tuesday, March 9th, Mr. Thomas Evans. of Gwydir, made his arrival at Dolyddelen with sixteen thousand new live trout ova from Kowietown, Stirling. They have been set in a ditch prepared for them at the parish. A number of us went there to give a helping hand. as we are very anxious to make the waters of our district swarm with both trout and salmon. It is high time that our lakes and rivers should be like out farmers. Mr. Mclntyre has been working very hard to bring this about. An angling society has been formed and started in the parish, hav- ing for its object to preserve and protect salmon and trout iu the waters of Nant Conway. We want to have revival with this same as we would have with any other branch of trade. We have been neglecting our duty. Our waters been poached. Our object is to tesch and train all those who want to fish to fish fairly and to be worthy followers and disciples of Izaae Walton. We shall have a word again.—Com. LLANRWST FAIR. —On the 8th of March horses, cows, farrow cows, heifer, bullocks in largo numbers were brought here to be exposed for sale. Farmers almost of all kind are in pressing need for cash. Some have been forced to borrow money to pay their rents. Farmer.; like others iu the aristocracy of England are of gigantic and magnanimous feeling. At rent time nor any other time do they wish to be exposed as to there threadbare character. Everyone would rather borrow than beg They would rather do that even if it, were ccinc to smash up in no time. Some people, like this, should rather have recourse to honest stealing tiiau stooping to the wretched policy of mendicancy which is to rife in the country. Bat let me say farmers were very anxious to sell at a dead loss, sell for any price as they had crushing demands for money. They had heavy bills to meet. A couple of cows to calve in a month say, were exposed for sale in a prominent spot in town. Thev were of the best sort, a good species, which could be (disposed of easily, some eighteen months aco for eighteen pounds a but to-day the highest bid was eight pounds, aad ten shillings each. E"en at the close of the fair he felt disposed to sell them for that much. But the bidder backed out. He had to take them home dejected and down-hearted. Another had to peil a good heifer in calf and a farrow cow for the smnil pit tanee of four pounds and ten shillings each. The f sir to-day taking into consideration every species exposed for was some sixty per cent below the prces people used to get two yeass ago.
LLANARTH.
LLANARTH. SCHOOL BOARD. — Present Messrs Evans, chairman, Davies. Llwyurheol, J. W. Davies, Cefucocd, J. Thomas, Blaenwern, J. James, Cileert, E. Thomas, Bwlchcefo, and J. M. Ilowell. Aberayron, It was resolved that; the services or the preseut monitor at Xslgareg School should be retained. The appiioa ion of Miss Jacobs for an advance of salary was declimd, giving as reason the depressed state of the country. The request of Mr D. Rees, an ex-pupil teachc-r at Mydroilyn School, to terminate his engagement in order to prepare for the Queen's Scholarship, was granted. The Clerk was directed to advertise for another, salary £30. The Board, failing to get can- didates for pupil teachership, was induced to offer higher t)rms-£7 first year and an advance of £:2 10s. every year one was engaged for the Pen lone School on the above terms. The proposal to build a school- room at Gilfachryda was kst: the amendment to postpone the question till after the election of it new Board was carried five to two. "That this Board desires to place on record its appreciation of the valu- able labours of the several schoolmasters in its service during the year 1885, as proved conclusively by H. M. Inspector's reports just received showing irost satis- factory results." Kotice of motion by the Chairman— That the service of an attendance officer should be for I the present discontinued." Ar.EKYSTWi'TH U.NIVF.BSITY CoLLEGK.—A public meeting to organise a local committee to assist in raising funds towards the restoration of the building was held on the 3rd March at the Board School-room. In the unavoidable absence of Captain Longcroft, Lone, owing to a severe attack of cold, the chair was taken by the Rev Mr Jones, the vicar, who, in his opening remarks, said that Mr Forster's Act of J870 had greatly changed the educational condition of the Principality. Now school accommodation had been well supplied and the young were under efficient in- struction. Lamentable ignorance of the unsurmount- able difficulties the Welsh had to contend with in the education race had caused some to hold them up to derision as a nation supremely ignorant and quite in- different if not even opposed to all secular kuewledgl" This charge, the conduct of the nation with respect to higher education, had been most conclusively falsified. What other people would have done what the Welsh had done in the interest and advancement of higher education ? Upwards of 100,000 poor people had given their pence towards the Sustentation Fund, when Government turned a deaf ear to their request for Parliamentary grant. Quarrymen had subscribed funds sufficient to establish scholarships at the College. The Aberystwyth College is a lasting monument of the deep-rooteu love of the Welsh people for the ad- vantage of education. The Aberystwyth College deserves the national support; it has already done splendid work, and promises better still. Mr Evan; Oak ford, was called to move the first resolution, "That this meeting desires to express its cordial sympathy with the efforts which is being made throughout the Principality to collect fwnds, by individual suhjcrip- tions and Congregational collections, towards the restoration of the building of the University College, Aberystwyth, and pledges its co-operation and woulu suggest, that a collection be made at all places of wor- ship within the district sometime between this and the end of May. The district to comprise Llanarth Church Wern, Vronwen, Pencae, Llwyncelyn, and Myd- j roiiyn Chapels." Mr Evans said he felt very great pleasure in moving the resolution he had just read. Poor Wales had been neglected for ages. Its present adv antages with respect to higher education wure dee to tk strenuous and indefatigable efforts of her noble sons, among whom he named Sir H. Owen, Dr Nicho- las, Dr Charles, and many others whose memories should ever remain dear to us. While other parts of, the United Kingdom received millions out of the Imperial nurse towards higher education, none uniil lately Came to poor Wales. Though she had to pay her quota of was f-ir behind in educational advantages of most of the Continental Principalities Now, having had a start, te had no doubt Wales due course would give a good account of herse Th>. re are nwny considerations why the nation at large shonld heartily support the present movement. Had it not been for the efforts of the friends who estab- lished the College at Aberystwvth. neither of the other two would have existed. The situation of the place being so central and so easy of access—cheap accommodation for the the healthiness of the p!;lc,the noble educational results which had been effected—and it", thoroughly undenominational character. Central WaL.q should certainly spare no efforts to restore thp College bui'ding. He earnestly hoped the appeal of the Council would be generously and liberally responded to. — \^r. Rhystvd Davies seconded the resolution in a few appropriate words, expressing his opinvm that the method adopted by the Councd of ippoalinsr to the nation would prove successful. Mr Davies conelneled by rending his prize ta-szas to tie1 College —The Rev. J. M Prytberch, one of tht or agents, in supporting the resold- tion. crave an histonenl sketch of the higher educa- tional movement in Wales—the success of the College —and concluded with an earnest appeal for the support aud co-operation of the district --Mr. W. Lewis, Pandv. proposed, and the Rev Mr Evans. Bom*ilstone. seconded, that the names re?d form the local com- mittee." Each place is well and fairly represt-iite(I.- A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a, close.
ABERAYRON.
ABERAYRON. THE IANTIIF,—In response to a petition which had been numerously signed by tradesmen who r.re non- ownov«. th ownerpat, their half-yearly meeting held on F;idiv last, decided to grant the request contained in the petition, thnt is. to deliver goods free at the door, and not. rp before, on the pier only. AN ALT.KGF.D Sfriofs CASK OF TTSIN-Q THE KNIFE.— On Monday, the 8th Mireli. John Morgan, junior, Ty- mawr. Llanrhvstyd. farmer's son, was brought up in The custody of P.C. David Davies, Vanrhystiil, before Mr. T. lor. Maddy, Do'aeron. at the in.,tgistrates' clerk's office, Aberayron, charged with having maliciously cut and wounded David Evans, Feiinfawr. Llanrhyetid, a man well known in the onur>tv as the driver of one of the movable thra.-hirg.machine engines, with a knife. The wound was irfbeted on the arm. D,,t,-id Evans I was unable "0 attend the prisoner was therefore re- I manded on bail till Wednesday, the 17th March, when it wrq hoped he cnnlrl do so Prisoner was admitted to I bail, beinsr bound over in his wn recognizances in the I sum of jfnOO and two sureties in the sums of f50 each. I The sureties were Mr. John Morgan, Tymawr, and Mr I R;chard Morgan. Red Lion. Llanrhystid. [ JUVENILE DEBATING SOCIETY.—The weekly meeting I of this society was held on March 5th. Mr D. H. Davies I presiding-. It was proposed and carried unanimously I that the by-laws arø. to be read out once a month. The I election of officers for the ensuing session formed a f part of the meeting. Mr D, H. Davies was appointed I chairman Mr John Jones vice-chairman Mr William I Davies. ex-P.T., secretary Mr John J. Davies, tailor, I financial secretary. The working commi'tee are :— I Messrs John J. Jones. Evan Jones, Bont;, and John J. I Davies. Songs were given by Messrs J. Harries and I Evan Jones. Alban-sqnare "reciration by Mr E. T. I Parry Welsh reading by Mr. D. James, cooper. I Question of debate, "Resolved, that arbitration is | better than war in settling international disputes." I Messrs m. Davfeg. D. Morgan, J. Harries, and John I J Jones appeared for the affirmative; Messrs William I James. Thomas Davies. D, A. Jones, and Moses R. I Jones were for the negative. Noes, G ayes, 12. Mr I John R. Evans acted as critic. I BOARD OF GUARDIANS, Wkdxf.SPAY. MARCH I IOTII--Pre,-et)t The Rev J, H. Davies in the chair, I Messrs Morgin Evans. Oakford. Thomas Jones. Pen- I carreg, Edward Jones, Llacthliw, Edward Jenkins, I Ystrad. Wm. Evans, New Quay, John H. Jones, I Aberayron. I Statistic*. —Out-reliefadministered duringthepastfort- I night Llansantffraed district, per Mr D. Jones, E40 I Os, (id. to 177 paupers anolJaudYfsilio district, per Mr I D. Davies. 1:30 :k3(1. to 156 paupers. Number in the I house, 12; corresponding prricd last year. 15; vagrants I relieved during the past fortnight, 60; last year, cor- I responding period. 36. I
LA.NFIITANGEL YSTRAD.
LA.NFIITANGEL YSTRAD. SCHOOL HOARD. Present. —Messrs Jcnl-in Jenkins. Klacnnlvrf I (vice-ch'.iimuiii). Waiter .lenkins, Aeion ViHa, Evan Evan's, I Cribin, Lewis James, Noyadd-tldu, John Davies, Dreberfedd, I and Jenkin Je rkins (clerk). I I hr ( hacrrnan x Vic.v. iimthon.—The Clerk read a Ion"- ec jimuni- I cation il,Oll) Co!. Lewes re^gnin^ his seat at the Board, and asskm- I ing as his reason the action of the majority in votinn- a«-a>rst hi* I motion at last meeting. The Chairman's letter, the riirht of nub- I lmhxnjr which he received to himself, was a very elaborate docu- I inent.. It* nature may he ule nt d from the letter of the Vice- I chairman to his fellow members, ai d read at this meeting-, it I was as follows. Blaenplwyf, lu rry Ormond, '27th Feb "i^Sd I Gentlemen,—Wo all, I am sure, deeply regret tiie Chairman's I resignation and the reasons set forth for it in'the letter just read I by the Clerk, and no one feels more than I do the less we have I sustained. Though the Chairman at the clo-e of last M eeting I ascribed to ollle of 11,3 motives unworthy of members, my only I apology and excuse for what I then moved and voted for, the I passing of whieh'has enst us our worthy chairman, is that I did I what I thought then, and what I think now, was the ri^tit thing I to do. further b, lieve that those of you who supported me I were actuated hy the same considerations. This step of our I chairman cou!d not reasonably he anticipated to follow the action I of feliow members fcm conviction, and it is much to he denlored I for the sake of all concerned that the ebninlJan should visit mere I divergence oi opin:cn with such an extreme 8ign of displeasure. I As he makes a direct allusion to mo as a member who hardly I acted in a Kencrousway" in movintf the postponement of his I motion. I claim the ri-ht to traverse his recapitulation of his I arguments on behalf cf his motion. No one wish" to deny to I Co!. Lewes his just need of praise for his labours bestowed on the I affairs of this Bo;ird for his nearly three years'membership and I his closer ^tndy of the machinery of the Heard since December | last." I am willing to accept his excuse of "r.et hr.vin^known I the amount of teachers' salaries'' before then for attaekin" them I now at the eve 01 an elect.on, but I do not admit that anv of us 1 were nuite so uninformed of the amount of the cheques we have I been issuing quarterly for the 1 .st ten years, and alon^ with the I chairman durinu: his membership. It is true that we were I present at tho jjxilI; of these sri u.1'cs ten years ago and had this ■ advantage over our chairman, but it is equally true that we have I been present from the entrr.^tmuit of the teachers, then to the I date of our ciiainnan's motion for their dismissal, to weigh and to I watch these engagements resulting in the unfoldiilj,' ot the I education of the district to an undoubted success, and venture I to say thût thi-non, experience of their worth under diitieult I circumstances greatly ei>eoura«ed2 our intercession on behalf I of our teachers at the last meeting, It seems to him that it was I neither just or honourable to the ratepayers or incoming I board" to leave the question to be decided alter the election noW I pending, but I know of nothin? more just or con.-titutional than I to refer the question to the rat" a nri" and] po them ret-urn » I board on the cry raised by him at the death bed of the old board. I I, for one, would not be a party to bequeath to our successors I who are at tho door, a resolution, complicated as it was, which I would tequire the dismissal of the teachers by us and leave the I schools (,;Ot"! for our successors. I do not believe in swapping I horses in the middle of the strea,¡, Owing to payments I having- been made oil!, of the maintenance fund to I clcar debts Oil the building fund, our overdraft* I as our late treasurer here knows to his cost wa" I very heavy three or four years but it has of late sieadity I deerea-ed. The Chairman's ligwres, as agreed to at last meeting I did not prove "that all increase of rate was necessary to cover I present expenditure." I admit that the expenditure is heavy, I and no one 01.1 this rear,! hits better reasons to deplore it than J I have. It will have to be seiiomly considered by the iiew Board, I and no one will have greater satisfaction than niyself if the nfOl\" I Hoard goes in with a successful scheme to decrease the rates- But I cannot hope that the ratepayers who, unlike myself, are mostly parents, will a hoard inimical to an efficient teacb- I ing stair iu our schools, nor capable to destroy the schools without I decreasing the rates. The Chairman has failed to sati.-iy the I Board that his proposed reductions of the salaries would save the I ratepayers, and not the Government. With the present expendi- I ture, tin* Heard lest on last year's grant- over .7 in one schoot. I and that under a ru)e applicabte to all the schools. III reallV I efficient schools like ours it has often been pointed out to us that I there is a close relation between grant claimable and expenditure- I From a return recently prepased by the Cle;k for the Chairman, I | find our yearly aver go about i!4f>, and that each average unit I brings in to ;our funds over £ 1. If the salaries are reduced, as I done in the above school, the grant is open to be tC" I duced through the inefficiency of inferior teachers, or I by Government 1o 17s. tirl. a head, which would mean more th»" I £30 loss of grant yearly, I have had the loan of the j:J8 I Educational Hiue Hook, and have tried to follow our chairiiia" I through it. There is much to he be learnt by it, but as different I boards are differently circumstanced as to convenience price of I school requisites, and many considerations apart- of teacher* I ies, a comparison such a., the chairman makes is not a safe one- I I ,f,A o of the five boards he cites pay more than we do. Two ptf I less, but their t-choois tain 5s. per head less in fraLDt. Are n'e to I cope these two, and lose in grant (besides efficiency) more thai* I £ «0ayearV The other is a neighbour which I hat-c no to I I criticise or copy. In ill," the rate per £ in this district I with that of others, the chairman seems to have overlooked the I important fact thai, in all united districts of four or more school* I there were before tiie advent of a board, voluntary I schoola, which since nave either been kept 011 by voluntary effort' I or transferred to the Hoard at nominal charge. I kr,<>w of n0 I or transferred to the Hoard at nominal charge. I kr,<>w of n0 I district so heavily burdened for buildings as ours, and it is hardl.V I lair to saddle any of it on tiie teachers. I have only 01 e rema** I on hi# brief statement of the present salaries" paid to teacher* I T believe all income earned outside school hours hy all the llIa I I ters should be noted, or none at all. The one lie singles out Ih I not the only cue who has private source of cm,ll1ment, but sU^ I earnings I believe should not count in assessing the'salaries I schoolmasters. I could heartily repeat my expression of rtsfrc*aJ I having to accept the Chairnnui s resignation, and I w ill add th»f I I do not for one moment wish to depreciate our I I do not for one moment wish to depreciate our I superior value a member and head of our Hoard, nor do I „ I to dispute his right to his opinions, but I do certainly claim I equai right to myse'f and you to sp(ak and aet OI|1, nT)jn,oii.r'' I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, Jenkin I vice-chairman. To :he members of the Ystrad School Hoard." I Hoard unanimously adopted the above letter of tiie vice-cbairn'8^ I as their reply to the chairman's letter to the Clerk, and direct' I the Clerk to send a copy of it to Co!. Lewes v, th an explaca*!0, I why it is so sent, and to say that no reservation us to publicat'01 I attached to it. Ordinary business followed. I
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