The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

LLANDYSSUL. MEETING.—A well-contested competitive literary meeting was held at the Tregroes Board Schoolroom orr Friday evening last, Mr Charles Lloyd. J.P., of Waunifov. presided. Mr D. Peters, Aberbank. adju- dicated on the music, Mr J. Jones, New Court, the poetry, the Rev W. G. Jenkins, vicar, Llandyssul, adjudicated the essays, &c. The schoolroom was a cl literally crammed, the majority of those present being obliged to staud throughout the evening.

LLWYNGWRIL. A SAOACIOCS DOG.-Durinu the great snow-storm of last week. a great many sheep were buried under the drifts. Under ordinary circumstances the work of recovering these entails caused considerable trouble upon the farmers. In this neighbourhood however, the work of recovering the sheep was a comparatively easy one, owing to the assistance rendered by a sheep- dog, the property of Mr David Roberts, Carnygadalit. This do pointed out the exact spot where each sheep was buried, without in one single' instance making a mistake. It is claimed by his admirers that he is able to distinguish to bis cwn satisfaction as to whether the sheep lying under the drift be alive or dead, as after pointing out the spot, he commences a vigorous scratching ir the sheep is alive, and seems altogether indifferent if the contrary he the case. indifferent if the contrary he the case.

(Eorresp anb Qiirc. I _r" All letters must he written on one llidt of the paper, and aceom- jn-wed bit the name unti address of the writer, not nccessari.y a 1- —

AT LAST. AT LAST. SIK,—The Corporation have followed your ad vice in respect to removing those hlilsesit the end of Mill-street. What a, splendid improvement to be sure,and what, l' con- venience to the timber merchants of Trefechan. Nobody ever seems to thank you for suggesting these great im- provements. You have fought this question for a long tJ:ne and At b:it"lt is done..something- i, going tü be done to the culvert at Peiiglaise lio.id A last." Please suggest some more improvements- and WATKB. YSTRAD SCHOOL BOARD. SIR,-In your last issue there appeared a letter con- taining seven names as being those of gentlemen calcu- lated to make a good board. I have nothing to say against the proposed members, more than that one name has been left out. Mr "Walter Jenkins, the late treasurer of the P>oard, certainly has equal claims to any, and more than many of your correspondent's nominees. During the last twelve years no one has done so much substantial service in carrying on the work of the Board, and that at 110 small self-sacrifice and c-o t. I hope it was more of an oversight of your correspondent than an intentional slight, to one of the best men in the district. It will be a shame to the Ystrad people if Mr Jenkins is not re-elected.— Truly yours, OBSKKVEK. SIR,- There is an effort being made to call meetings in this district to settle upon members for our School Board. It is a laudable effort, and I for one, sincerely hope the promoters will succeed. 1 have a suggestion td make, which is quite disinterested, but which i hope will facilitate matters. In the parish of Ystrad there promises to be a plethora of candidates residing in two corners of the parish. My suggestion is to divide the parish into three well defined physical sections, and to agree upon one member to represent each section. My knowledge of the parish enables me to make such a division. To the east of the road from Glandwr to Temple bar, thence to Talsarn would be the fast division. To the west of the same road from Glandwr to Temple Bar, thence in a straight line by < h-lligwefrwch, to Pen- sarn, would form the west division. The remainder, including Felinfach and Ystrad villages, would form the north division. This arrangement is the safest and smoothest way to avoid threatening difficulties, and I shall be glad if it is found of any use.—I am, &c., HKDIHVCH. SIR,—In a recent division at this Board the members outvoted the Chairman on a question of importance. The Chairman there and then vacated his seat and has since resigned, and now waits the result of the pending election. A man of his position in the district has a following, which is in a fair way to discredit him. The vice-chair- man offended this party by moving the amendment which defeated the chairman's motion, and ever since li-as been the subject of cowardly attacks. The latest development of there is the sending of anonymous threatening letters. The chairman as a landlord see the folly of introducing Irish practices in agrarian matters, and I believe he quite as strongly repudiates bringing Irish tactics into school board matters, as practised by some of his would-be supporters towards the vice-chair- man. He may well pray, Save me from my friends." Yours, &c.,— NID JOHN JONES. LLAXFIHANGEL YSTRAD SCHOOL BOARD. Slit,— 1 am thankful to Vigilis whoever he may be for having referred to me, in a letter which appeared in the last issue of the Cambrian News as a fit person to repre- sent the ratepayers on the above named board. That, however, would not alone have induced me to allow my name to be nominated, were it n't that I have been requested by a great number of ratepayers, among whom I may mention my nominators, two of the largest rate- payers in the district, viz., Mr Thomas Baynton, Llan, aeron, and Mr Thomas Evans, Tynant, the last mentioned being one of the sitting members, and has been a member of the Board from its formation. Not- withstanding this, I trust that at the various vestry meetings to be held next Saturday, the claims of the several candidates will be carefully sifted, and that matters will he so arranged as to avoid a contest. Most assuredly I shall be quite prepared to waive my claims to -v iiie, attain that object, for it would bo very inconsistent with the present cry of the reduction of salaries prevalent in the country to force OIl an election unncessarily, thereby incurring heavy expenses.—-I am yours &c. Pontfaen, March 10th. THOMAS JENKINS. Siiz,-This much-talked-of contest is at the door, and it behoves all who take an interest in the future welfare of the district to be prepared for their duty at polling booths 011 the 22nd March. There are two air: only two parties seeking our suffrages, and 110 lover of fived.au and education can have any hesitation over their respective merits. They are as gold and brass, easily selected. One party receives its inspiration from two or three mansions towering hanghtily over our he ids and gilded through the sweat of our brows. The exponents of this party's creed of privilege are mostly well to do people, all anti- educationists, and well-known in our midst as parasitical hobnobs, equal to any slavish command from their dic- tators. Their means of warfare are hitherto confined to gross misrepresentations to gull ignorant people, and anonymous letters to defame an opponent. A cause must be weak to require such tactics, and the people who resort to them are unworthy of the support of any right-minded man. Their present education is the futurlIf our children, but this party, being employers of youthful Iabonre-s, and mostly without any children of their own of schoolage, cares not for education, and goes 111 under disguise to sit the rates ana npnii t1''? is the party of progress, and is the exponent of the fights or the masses in freedom and education. Its candidates are fishting the people's cause, and look for support to the people. They believe in economy consistent with prudence and efficiency. They are not afraid of over- educating the poor farmers or labourer's children, but leave the future to be decided by the survival of the fittest. They do not apprehend that educating all will bring about any revolutionary action except as demanded by a better condition of things. They thoroughly and unreservedly believe in education, and mean to let no- thing hinder its progress. The issue is clear. Serfdom, < privilege, and ignorance against liberty, equality, and knowledge- -darkness against light Fellow ratepayers, the call to duty is loud and imploring, will von obey Be true to yourselves, and nothing wrong can befall you. Never be afraid, the ballot box is as mute as death". Much may depend on everyone's vote. To have a chance: to strike a blow for liberty and light is worth living for. Act your part when you can. Beware of your enemies' tactics. They are subtle and cunning. Stick to princi- ples, and victory will crown the right and defend the winning iarty.Yotirs, &c., AxTl CU^I K. THE ALLOTMENTS QUESTION. SIR,—Being inspired by your invitation in the last ISMIE of the Cambrian News to discuss the above question in its columns, I venture to write my opinions of it in English, although I could make myself better understood if I was to do so in the vernacular. As you suggested in the leading article of the said issue that the Allotments, and. please, let me couple with it the Small Holdings as well, because both constitute the Bill in question, are important and worthy of our con- sideration. In that everybody concurs. Also if you were to say that by the time the said Bill goes trough the various stages in the Representative Chambt'i', and especially through the House of Landowners, it will be so defaced and mutilated that no necromancer can tell what it will be like. That, too, would be equally correct. But nevertheless we see no harm in discussing its pro- visions, because we want the Bill as it ought to be, and not probably as it will be. For our own part we would prefer it as it is in contemplation by Mr Callings to your proposed amendment 011 it, which waS made apparently from an economical point of view, and on reflection we should not scruple to say that you would concur in the same opinion, viz. That your objections to the compul- sory purchase of land by local authorities, as indicated in the following items: Legalexppnses, letting, re-sale, &c.. can well be ignored on taking the first item, legal expenses, which in this case means the costs of transfer, we find that it was a plank in every platform at the last general election. Almost avery candidate irrespective of party, a Ivocated the cheaper transfer of land. And our opinion is that the latter is essential to the other, and that the one will not be enacted until the other will be out of danger, there- fore no legal expenses will be incurred, and as to the other items they are hardly worthy of notice, and we cannot conceive of expenses out of such exceptional occurrences. Again, the cardinal point in Mr Colling's, Bill is to multiply the owners of land in the causes relating to allotments, it provides that less than one and no more than three acres should be purchased according to the respective requirements of applicants and in the clauses relating to small holdings it provides that no less than three and no more than forty acres should be similarly distributed. Now if your proposal to compel land, lords to grant pieces of land at a fair rent was acted upon. then Mr Collings' Bill would as it now stands be ab olutely ineffective in its aims, just and moderate as it is. As to cutting large farms into allotments and small holdings, it would no doubt be a very disagreeable course to pursue, and one that is not in contemplation as far as we under- stand but that they should be at a distance from each other as you put it. would be equally disagreeable we say that they should he neither few nor far between. In rural districts the agricultural labourers constitute the majority, therefore if the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number is acted upon, they must be pro- vided with dwellings fit to live in and such bits of land as they require. It is true that some have not the means to buy a cow and other requisites, then let them have an allotment, others ltt% c the means, therefore grant them small holdings. The Act does not impose the land 011 anyone, but only renders it possible for tho^c who till the soil to have an interest in it, and to do as much as they can out of it, thereby adding a little to their scanty earnings. We think the fact, that those who are so fortunate as to occupy small holdings now are happy, healthy, and well to do considering their station in life, goes far in anticipation of success to the station in life. goes far in anticipation of success to the Act. I was bred and born on a small holding, and 1 can I testify to the bencficial results that would or will accrue from such l j.gi--hitivo justice that has long been denied thousands of families will find it a boon, and it) the country it will have a tendency to make our life inde- pendent and not precarious as it now is. YOLNO LABORER. STRIKES. J SIR.—Have you read Mr Brough's paper on the mineral re, printed in the journal of the • Society of Arts, February 12th. I think if the artisans of English manufacturing j districts studied facts of the kind therein set forth, showing how formidable foreign competition is likely to become, they would be less ready to strike and hamper the progress of manufactures in this country. Hungary has a central position, and now that it is opened up with railways, has cheap labour and abundant food, can invade some of our best markets with its goorls. England only chance to retain them lies in harmony, labour and capita; and mental skill must pull together. You, no doubt, remember the fable of the old clock.— Yours truly, CO-OFKRATION. THE LAND QUESTION" IN WALES. --Tiie visit of Mr Michael Davitt to Wales and his it, 0-i a speech at Festiniog h is apparently been far reaching in its influence. Mr Llewelyn in the south cries as one in the wilderness, beware of Davitt! Mr Wynne, Peniarth hastens with all speed from the metropolis to warn the tenant farmers in Towyn against this wicked, wicked man and again the genial Mr Dunlop pens a line from far off Westminster, to assme the people of Merioneth they are far too good to make friends with the agitator from Ireland. Of course these kindiy warnings are all in the interest of the people of Wales. Altrmisin, yea its distilled Had the landlords not been, are they not now, and will they not ever be the best friends of the farmer and country at large Most assuredly, and the fanners know it, for do they not with all urgency disclaim any alliance with the land reformer of Erin lest it should give this kind-hearted class a moment's anxiety ? What simpletons The distressed state of agriculture in Wales did not merely date from the advent of Davitt, and the preaching in of th,t solemn truth, that rever- berated in the distant hills. but it is only subsequent to this that the anxiety proclaimed now by the landlords for their tenants' interests began to be made known. So as not to hurt the susceptibilities of the farmers, I will not say this apphrehension 011 the part of the landlords arises from self-interest, but may I ask whether judging from past records it is not jus-, a little bit possible it may be so? What has Davitt said that should give rise to such com- motion—I have the report oi his speech, as reported in the Cambrian News before me, and I find he says "There is in the pernicious principle of land-monoply sufficient to justify you or any other people rising in peaceful, constitutional revolt against it. Two hundred and thirty-two individuals own one million and a half acres of the land of this Princi- pality." Is that true, or is it not V I find that so staid an authority on political economy as Adam Smith de- scribes any such monopoly as injurious. Has this mono- poly in land contributed to the general weal in Wales or elsewhere ? If I read history aright it says 110, and if therefore true, is it not, like other truths, worthy of all acceptance. Further, Davitt says, In such a system people necessarily lose their independence, &c." Need I adduce evidence of this from a radius of ten miles of Towvn church? Again, You are also probably aware that the landlords invaded the comn ollaes and appropriated them for their own purposes. Not ten miles from Aberdovey there is a "tne wall that would speak to the same effect, and a fencing that would follow in endorsement, had they utterance. And again he reminds his hearers, There is another evil arising, out of landlordism partly- the tithe ques- tion." Mr. Wynne says abolition of tithes would not benefit the farmers. "Abolish it and let us see. To remedy this state of things, to remove, to eradicate these crying evils, Mr. Davitt consistently advocates the aboli- tion of landlords, and it seem; to me he is principally blamed and even execrated for his consistency. That he is misinterpreted and misrepresented is beyond a doubt. Abolition of landlords means confication. it is said, not- withstanding that Davitt, in speaking of the question, takes pains to prove the contrary. At Festiniog he spoke explicitly of a peaceful and constitutional revolt. In a letter to myself he defines the expression further, with saying that "by the abolition of landlordism is meant a legislative removal of such land system. We demand the abolition of landlordism, as we effected the abolition of the state church in Ireland in IMC't, and the enactment of anv measure for a land reform of this kind hy. the Imperial Parliament, necessarily implies that such legislation will be in accordance with justice. This of course applies to the abolition of landlordism in Wales, England, and Scotland, as well as in Ireland." You ask sir, in your able paper does any reasonable being imagine that such a law could be passed, or that it would be just, and at the risk of being considered an "unreason- able being." I will say yes, when the matter is sufficiently ventilated, and matured as it will be in the course of time, and further that with this as an ultimate object, and whilst maturing the tenant farmer will be concurrently benefited. Mr nunlop and Mr Wynne observe that farmers' clubs are being instituted, and very condescendingly pat the farmer on the back and say the Club is a good thing to check the local rating, and watch the railway rates, (iood objects in their way doubtless and very ingeniously put. Will Messrs Dunlop and Wynne not add a. further suggestion, that the clubs might profitably enquire '01 whether landlordism has had anything to do with railway rates. But, to draw to a close, and I must apologise for trespassing so much on your space, I would respectfully beg Mr Dunlop to disabuse his mind of the Welsh people being so fond of the old families of the Plas and Oastell as lie thinks.—Mr Dunlop has learnt a deal in Merioneth, and will doubtless continue to do so, and in the course of time he will know the Welsh people love most, those who fight for their liberties, and assist them to maintain their own, and help them to rwaiii what is justifiably theirs.-Young Wales, fight for the retention of its ancient language, and possession of the father land. For the welfare, not of a restricted few I !),it, of the community at large and it will PENNALIAN. MR. DAYITT IX WALES. J SIK,—Not very long ago you, sir, were described by the landlords of Wales as an individual who was setting class against class, stirring up enmity and strife between land- lord and tenant, causing no end (Of mischief, and you were branded as an agitator that ought to be hounded out of the country. If the Farmers' Alliance struggled to plant itself in Cardiganshire, you were at the root of it. If the Land Nationalization Society sent a deputa- tion to visit Aberystwyth, it was at your instigation. If a landlord failed to dispose of his estates. letters were written to show that it was all through that pernicious agitator, the Editor of the Cambria) 1 Nwtt Tenapts were warned against you. and if some of them ever paid you a visit it had to be clone in !\Tleedemus's fashion. Great St;t"t what a change: Landlords and agents seem to I ( have found out within the last few weeks that you nr ¡1,: perfect saint, and that the landlords, tenants, a.nd Ubn'drers of Wales should give you one great Hallelojiui shout of thanksgiving." Have you changed, siK or are the land- lords changing, and finding out that it would have been wiser for them if they had listened to your reasonable demands long ago ? Something is up, for even you your- self seem to be a little alarmed at this gush of new love, and I see you make a mild protest against it. c all know that Mr Davitt has been to Wales.^ but that is nothing, "Oh, no, we never mention him," only to point that he is a man that has been to prison, but they do not at the same time say that Mr Davitt's imprisonment was one of the beginnings of the end of landlords and injustice to Ireland and if he lives a short time longer he will see his country reaping the reward of "the judicial sentence in a criminal court." Whether Mr Davitt has come at the invitation of those "unconnected with the agricul- tural world" or no, is of small import. Those who brought him into this country have the welfare of Wales and Welsh farmers at heart, and can move the W elsh agricultural world if they chose to go about it. I admit it will require a good deal of work, because on the whole we Welsh farmers arc not made of the same true stuff as the Irish. As yet the farming portion of us are not true to one another. That was a good sample of the Welsh tenant who the other day took a goose as a present to his landlord, after having, along with the other tenants, signed a petition for an abatement in rents, or those tenants of Mr Wynne's who refused to join the farmers' society at Towyn last week. But believe me, sir, we are mepding a little suffering is a splendid tonic in the way of giving men pluck. A little more of hard struggling to make ends meet, and a very little agitation, will bind us close enough together. A great many of us now simply don't care what turns up or what the end is.. Mr Dunlop says "there is every reason to hope for better things before long," then goes on to prove most conclu- sively that there are no grounds for hope whatever. Mr C. l-L Williams' description of the Welsh tenants is partly true, but "'tis a pity'tis true." We are a hard- working class of men, no doubt of it, or we could not pay the rents of our over-rented farms. Had we to engage labour like English farmers, we could not carry on at all in the best of times. The land in Wales according to the quality is much higher rented than in England. The Welsh farmer has only been able to get along because he works his farm with his family, and lives Oil as poor fare as the English labourer; even the Welsh labourer, in the meantime, has the best of it. It is quite true, Mr C. R. Williams, we have no pianos in our homes, although we, as a nation, are most susceptible to the purifying and elevating influence of music. Welsh farming will not afford pianos, and Mr Williams seems to think this rather a good thing. It is all very well to tell the tenants not to listen to agitators, but go to your landlords and get what you want. We have gone to our landlords and asked for very reasonable things, and we have not got what we wanted. We can't get what we want. New tenants may get a little, but old ones nothing. Landlords will not meet their tenants and consider their case." I can tell landlords this, that if they are to save them- selves and the present race of tenants—in many cases it is too late now—they will have to meet their tenants and adjust the rents to the present prices of agricultural pro- duce. We don't want the land for nothing. We are anxious to pay rent, but we cannot pay rent much longer out of capital. We are tired of receiving doles pauper- like at rent day. We want the thing finally settled that we may go in and work the land with heart anr1 will, and make the best out «>f it, for ourselves and landlord. As things are now we have no heart to work. Our capital is yearly decreasing, and many <>f us are in arrears with rent, and there seems 110 possible chance of us ever being able to pay it. We want a fresh start, landlords should have nothing to do with tenants who have 110 capital to work the farms, and farms will never be empty when they are rented at a price that men can live on them, farming being one of the most honourable of all oceupa- tions. This, 110 doubt, will mean large curtailment of expenses at the peas," and perhaps a little work (which would be an excellent thing) 011 the part of its owner. I think it is Rusk in who snv¡. X(, refinements are de. sirable which cannot be connected with toil. It would I' be far better, for instance, that a gentlemen should be seen mowing his own fields than riding over other peoples'—Yours, A FAItIlYIt. -=-==- A LAWYER'S BILL OF COSTS. Sm,- I was glad to see that you published the results of taxing Mr Griliith Jones's bill of costs in the cause Hughes v. Gibson. I11 this cause the plaintiff's counsel suggested that a verdict should b» entered for the paltry sum of forty shillings ant) costs, ithough the damages had been laid at £ 1,000. Theu Mr Griffith Jones sent in had been laid at £1.000. Theu Mr Griffith Jones sent in a bill for which was reduced on taxation by more than £ 170. It seems to me that there is something very w.-orig somewhere when a bill of £ 378 can bo reduced to £ 208. Was the bill a rea-oaable bill when it was sent in ? If so, Was the reduction of £ 170 an unreasonable re- duction ? 011 the other hand, was the bill an unrenson- abie bill when sent in, and was the reduction of £ 170 fair and reasonable ? This is a question of great interest to the general public. 1 have my o ./n opinion of the action from frst to last, but at present I am anxious to obtain light on the bill of costs which is well calculated to frighten people who dare not tax a lawyers' bill.—Yours A.B. CEMMAES FARMERS' CLUB. SIR,—Allow me to correct an error which appeared in your report of thft proceedings of he above club. Amongst other statements, I am reported to have said that" I knew for a fact that there had been a petition for a reduction in rent, signed by several farmers, for- warded to an influential landowner in the neighbourhood, and which received a very cool greeting, the gentleman not having the courtesy to reply." This is rather an im- portant statement, and may be correct, or otherwise; but certainly I did not mention such a Case, neither was such a case referred to by any other member of the club. In fact, the interesting (?) question of rent was not discussed at the above or at any other meeting of the club. I should scarcely have thought this correction neces- sary but for the club having solicited the support of the landlords, which has been liberally given for years, with one or two exceptions. It would have appeared rather ungrateful on the part of the members to use it as a means of creating discord between landlords and tenants, as it would appear to be the case from your correspondent's narrative of the proceedings.—I am, sir, yours, &c., Cemmaes Road. DAVID EDWARDS. ALLOTMENTS. SIR,-It is astonishing what progress we are making towards a settlement of the great question of Allot- ments. Here is a question that a few short weeks ago was pronounced to be impracticable and unjust, coy- ceded in principle, and we are invited to discuss the details and even the cow which was thought so formidable has proved a most amiable creature and we find Tory landlords volunntarily granting what weak- kneed Liberals object to be compeiled to give. Com- pelled? Ah. there lies the sting, but it must be so. What is objected to is not so much the parting with a few acres of land for the purpose of Allotments, nor can they object to the fair price. but that it should be entirely free from their control and not held on con- dition that you serve me and at my price, or other- wise give up your cottage and land. There must be a system adopted that will leave the labourer free to choose the best market for his hire, without having to give up his home, or it will place them :n a worse position than they are at present, therefore I object to the voluntary system which is growing so fashionable, it is too late in the day for that. Furthermore, I cannot separate in my mind the idea of new and improved dwellings from the Allotments, and I have in my miud clusters of detached cottages (I like the idea of being able to walk round my own house) each with its garden and convenient allotment varying in quantity from a quarter to three acres to suit the re- quirements of the tenant. I would have them located as conveniently as possible to the Board Schools as I think it would be less hardship to the labourer to walk one cr one-and-half miles to his work. than that small children should be compelled to walk the same dis- tance to school. Again, the school-room might be used as a public hall or libraiy. I should like to see such arrangements, which would enable an ordinarily thrifty and industrious man to purchase his own hold- ing within a reasonable term of years in fact it should become a sort of family saving's bank. A RADICAL. AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION, INDIAN EX- PORTS, AND THE CURRENCY QUESTION. Sitt,-Tli(- annual production of gold, says Mr. Giffen in the Contemporary Review for June, 1880, was—from 1852 to 1 Sod. 30,000,000?.; 1857 to I860, 25,000,0001.; 1861 to 18(56, 23,000,000/ 18'>7 to 1871, 22,000,000/ and is HOW only In,OOO,Ooor.; but 1.2,000,0001. were required up to 1872 for the ordinary wear and tear of coinage and increase of the gold-using population. In the last thirteen yeans, however, Germany, the United States, and other countries litvii coined 200,000, 0001 and therefore the ordinary demand has not been fully supplied. Hence gold has become scarce and prices of commodi- ties have fallen in relation to gold. Among other prices the price of silver has fallen. It was. about twenty years ago, worth 5s. lid. per ouncc, and is now worth only os. lid., so that the rupee, which is still legal tender in India for rent, taxes, &c.. for 2< may be bought In England to-day for Is. ;-) 29-32d Jj: 1870 its price hero was 1; !)d. The Bombay Chamber of Commerce, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway Company, and a member of the Indian Chuncil have all recently described the fall in the value of the rupee as an immense stimulus to (Indian) ex- portation, and the latter gentleman forecasts a further fall of gths of a penny per annum in the value of the rupee. A Hindu farmer who received 2 rupees 3 annas per maund for his wheat at Calcutta, in 1870 would be paid in silver 43s. lOd. per quarter, but it would only cost the English merchant in gold 38s. 8d, and at the same price in 188;¡ it would cost him 32s. 9d. per quarter, a difference in exchange which will a profit after paying freight to London, where it is sold in competition with English wheat, at much Ivss than its cost of production. The depreciation in silver, then, acts as a bounty on Indian exports, but as a heavy duty 011 imports. It is chiefly Indian wheat, however, which has driven out of cultivation a million acres of our wheat lands in the last ten years, and it will drive out more as Indian wheat im- ports are this year larger than ever. Montgomeryshire wheat production, with its low av; v. ports are this year larger than ever. Montgomeryshire wheat production, with its low av; v. age of 1'J'S'i bushels per acre, and high cost of cultivation, must go long before the rest of the United Kingdom, with its higher average of 28"80 bushels aud lower cost. The reduction in the area of the United Kingdom has also reduced the production of food for cattle in the straw of the uncultivated wdieat lauds, and the green crops of half a million acres which have also gone out of cultivation. This is probably the main reason for the decline in the demand for store stock. If no changes are to be expected in the currency, all rents and conditions of tenancy based upon wheat pro- duction, and the raising of store stock must therefore need revision in the expection of a further fall of prices and consequent revolution in Montgomeryshire agricul- ture. Interest also needs revision. 100'. consols from 1805 to 1870 were worth 31. f>s. 9d. per an. 1870 1875 „ 3/. 4s. lOd. 1875 1880 3/. 3s. Od. 1880 „ 1885 „ 21.19s. lid. „ There is thus a fall of nearly 10/. in every 100/. nf interest paid for consols up to 1870, most of whieh has taken place in the last five years, and as rents, profits, and wages have fallen, interest on mortgages and permanent loans in the last five years, and as rents, profits, and wages have fallen, interest on mortgages and permanent loans should also he reduced. _y Agriculture has also been affeoted indirectly through the decline in manufacturing industries. The sugar in- dustry has been deranged, not only by French bounties, but by imports from silver-using countries, such as India and Java. The Dundee jute industry has suffered by an enormous increase in manuractured goods from India as well as in the raw material, and by the continuous de- cline in prices, which makes stocks of all kinds daily worth less money. The Lancashire cotton mills are los- ing money from the continuous fall in cotton values, and must have increasing difficulty in forcing the sale of th ir goods in India, as a rupee will now only purchase Is. fid. worth of cloth instead of Is. Oiid. as in 1876, while the manufacturer finds its very difficult te reduce the wages of labour to a corresponding level. Wherever we look v. e find industry depressed, and producers and merchants dis- heartened by the general .shrinkage of values and the startling changes in the current of trade which have brought sudden ruin on thriving industries mch as Welsh lead mining. All these changes and tho continuous fall have made producers timid. All production has been reduced to the supply of immediate demands after stocks have been re- duced to the lowest level possible, the employment of labour has been reduced to a minimum, and wages have of course come down largely. This has in its turn largely affected the demand for the more costly agricultural pro- ducts, meat, butter, cheese, fcc. If, however, we have touched the bottom of the depres- sion, or if our financiers can arrest in any legitimate man- ner the fall of prices, production will at a very early date be called upon for the. supplyof heavier stocks as well as for the demands of consumption, and this will of itself tend to raise prices and to promote brisk trade, high wages, and a. good demand for agricultural products. It is doubtful, however, whether it will ever make it profitable to grow wheat on the poorer lands, or in the imperfect and costly manner in which it has been pro- duced in the past in Wales. If produced at all at a pro- fit, it must be produced more economically by the appli- cation of greater skill and capital upon the same acreage, and trie producer must be at liberty to dispose of the whole crop in the most profitable manner. Tho same reasoning will apply to the more costly agri- cultural products. Risky crops, cultivated in an indiffer- ent manner over a brgf acreage, such as wc now have in Wales, will not pay, now our harvests are equalized by supplies drawn from India, Australia, Russia, North and South America. Now I ask any person interested in agriculture, land- owner, or land agent, or tenant farmers, whether it is possible, to attain the requisite maximum ot agricultural production with the minimum of risk—under yearly tenancy, ordinary agreements, and a general feeling of insecurity «.r dependence upon tlu: good v. ill of even the most estimable jieople. If not, surely everything that will promote better con- ditions for farmers will tend to the genetal prosperity. Land was always worth more in Ulster than in any other part of Ireland, and tenant right will have the same effect in Wale*. J Aberdovey. JOHN ROCKKTSOX. j -P_ -r'Z'T_6- THE ABERAYRON HOAIW OF GUAHDIAK8. j SIS,Allow me to appeal to the i,i throug.il th i ineiiimn of 3 our columns, vviiich i:- < is the only way of rinding hiin, to write once more sub- ( scribing his real name, and giving all the particulars re- the meeting in which Mr Tobit Evans branded some of tho members of the Beard of Guard- ians as illiterate farmers." If lie fails togive his own name, let him supply your readers with the information necessary to enable those who feel so disposed to acquire the corroborative evidence which it would be dedrabh- to obtain in order to confirm the statements made in his letter. It is noticeable that Mr Tobit Evans in ids Setter in your last issue, doos not give the Jie to E. W."—I am yours, &C.. ANTI-ISOSH. Lreli PARISH OF TOWYN AND THBOARD OF GUARDIANS. Sm,-The annual election of guardians is close at hand, and now therefore is the time to call attention to the ui- adequate representation of the parish of Towyn and the AlachynHech Board of Guardians. The rtiteable value of tho parish, I am told is very nearly equal to one-third of the whole union. The popu- lation and number of inhabited houses s'and in the same proport on. But Towyn is only entitled under existing arrangements to elect three out of the hi. Clm elected guardians, or in other words three instead of five. Some of the other parishes in the union are well-represented by ex-otficio guardians, notably Machynlleth, while Towyn if 1 am correctly informed was not during the last year represented by a single ex-officio at any iiieetiiii, of the Board. The parish is now only represented by two guard- ians, one residing at Aberdovey and the other living somewhere near Bryncrug. The Relieving Officer also lives at Aberdovey so that Towyn the most populous place and that important part of the l'ari,}¡ bordering on Pennal and containing the village of Cwrt and the hamlets of Taunewydion and Bryniaubychain are as it were in no man's care, hence 110 doubt the bitter complaints so often heard. The present guardian for Aberdovey has served the parish long and faithfully, but he ought to have the assistance of four others in order to do the work whieh fall to the share of those who undertake the thankless office, and I trust that someone with time and material at his command will take up the matter in earnest and will persist in it until adequate representation is secured for the parish. Those who feel acutely from the prevailing depre-eiou should look into this important matter as it concerns them closely.—I am &e. The following letter appeared in a portion of our edition last week :— TOWYN TOWN PUMP. SIK,—A few weeks ago you kindly published a. few words of enquiry frjm me respecting the proceeds of penny reading held in the Market Hall about tho year 1808. As I said before that these entertainments were given towards erecting an ornamental and substantial town pump in the square. At least that was the object of those meetings but, what has become of the money collected. I am at a loss to say, neither can I point out the treasurer, may be that there were more than one treasurer belonging to the committee. [ never heard that there was one secretary appointed. Of course, in those days there were no school boards, and whenever anything of the sort was got up in Towyn the inhabitants left it entirely in the hands of a few men to do just as they like, so it was along with the town pump entertain- ment. Balance sheets were then unknown in the town, but there are a few in Towyn at present who know perhaps all about these entertainments, and could enlighten me on the subject. The money collected belongs to the public, and the public ought to have the benefit of it by seeing the old iron pipe, that has been in use for many years, replaced with an ornamental and substantial pump in the square. There is sufficient money collected, I understand, but I am at a loss to find out the treasurer so that I may mention it to him, but I am determined along with a few other water drinkers to hunt the matter up and see that the public shall have what belongs to them. "trusting that someone will kindly let me know who is the treasurer and what has become of the money with interest.—I am JUMBO. THE FUTURE OF BALA SIK,—I was exceedingly glad to read E. 1,1. I's excellent letter in your issue of February 20th on the above subject. It was indeed a timely epistle and I sincerely hope it will be the means of stimulating the inhabitants of Hala from the lethargy which has characterised them for such a long period of time. It is a great pity that the beautiful sheet of water in close juxtaposition to the town, by the aid of which the people of Bala could derive an immense benefit, has not been turned into more useful account long ago. 1 read in one of the papers that the committee selected to enquire what scheme would be most practical at the pre- sent juncture have decided upon a Limited Liability Com- pany, and that the shares are being taken up rapidly by the townspeople in general. Well done Bala now\s your time or never. If you want to impVove the trade of the town by inducing visitors from all parts of the country and likewise bringing an indirect benefit to all, you must support the committee. You have before you for the first time during this cen- tury the best opportunity of bringing this to a practical issue. I find that the secretary and one or two llf the canvassers are working with might and main in this direction. Why do hundreds of people go down to Llan- gollen instead of going on to Bala Is the scenery more attractive there than at Bala I don't think so. A gentleman who stood near me at the hast regatta remarked that he had travelled over Switzerland and other foreign couiiti ies, but in the wholeeoursc of his existence he said h. had never witnessed such a beautiful view as he saw that day. He characterized the scenery as of singular variety, beauty, and grandeur. Scarcity of boats 011 the lake has always been the great obstacle in preventing visitors and excursionists from visiting Bala. Now old Bala. boys who have been successful in business in London, Liverpool, Manchester and elsewhere, throw in your mite and thus enable the committee to bring your native tow n to the attention of the largo towns of England generiilly. I sincerely hope the Cambridge and Oxford boat race will take place some day on Bala lake. AX OLD BALA Boy. PORTMADOC VERSUS DEGANWV. Sill,—Last Friday evening a very important meeting was held by the inhabitants of this town presided over by Mr John Ernest Greaves, the high sheriff of the county of Carnarvon, and Mr Charles Benson, ajjent of the Oakeley Quarries wharfs, to take into consideration the threatened strong competition by the London and North Western Company it to the trade of this place. A great many have been alive to the danger of this I diversion of our shipment of slates, and have been continually urging Wiose who have the chief power to do their utmost to keep the business in the place some three or four years ago. Others as v.cll as myself have had space oil one or two occasions to writo on this subject in the Cambrian New*, but many at that time would not believe there was any real fear, and those who were afraid of this calamity were first put down as croakers, but nowt' e danger is conspicuous to everr the most_ stoic,d and those who believed us safe from all competition. I, for one, am very glad to find that the inhabitants of Portrnadoc are alive to their interest even 011 the eleventh hour. 1 am sorry that I cannot give you a report of the several interesting speeches that were delivered at the meeting, and which very likely your reporter has taken notes of. They contained most valuable information in connection with our import and export trades. I will briefly give my ideas and impressions from facts stated at the meeting oil the situation of the shipping of this port. The London and North Western Railway Company have spent about a million of money to make their railway from Bettws-y- coed to Festiniog, and have now completed a dock and convenient wharfs at Deganwv, between Conway and Llandudno, at which place they offer great facilities and cheap rates to importers and exporters of slates, &c., which will be a strong inducement to divert the. business from Portmadoc to Deganwy. At present there appears a very strong case in favour of Deganwy, and unless something is done immediately by those in power on the Portmadoc side, this slate traffic is sure to slip out of their hands and once it goes away, it will be almost impossible to bring it back, and there are several important changes and reforms necessary to lie performed before we will be safely able to retain this trade. It is useless to mince matters, and all those interested had better look the facts "seriously" in the face at onco with out any more dallying. It is best for them to take the but! by the horns," and come to business with intelligence and a wakefulness to the peril. I will state the principal impressions of the meeting, and what were the chief re- forms advocated,as necessary in oider to keep the slate trade in Portmadoc. 1st. It is of great importance that the FVstiniog and Portmadoc railway should lower their rates in a sub- stantial manner for the carrying of goods, slates, and passengers to and from Portmadoc. 2nd. The Portmadoc harbour should bo improved in almost everything. It should be cleaned and deepened I with dredges, proper moorings should be fixed iu the harbour, a patent slip and accommodation for repairing vessels, better conveniences for discharging imported goods, the moderating of the rents and ground rents of the wharfs and railways, the harbour dues should be lowered materially, the reducing of rates and taxes upon the same. A swing bridge should be made to admit vessels to the upper harbour (Llyn Bach), so that the vessels loaded with corn could discharge at the flour mills. If this accommodation was made, it would induce manufacturers, &c., t ) establish works round this harbour. 3rd. The Cambrian Railway Co. should make branches from its railway to all the wharfs. 4th. The ballast wharf should be in the hands of the harbour proprietor, and 110 charge should be made for clearing out ballast from the ships arriving at the port, more than would cover the expenses. The ballast bank front should be repaired to prevent the ballast from breach- ing out into the river and forming dangerous bauks. 5th. The Portmadoc tugboats company should reduce their charges to meet, the present depre-sed state of freights, and the pilotage charges should also be revised. 1 consider it very important for those interested in the Fe-tiniog Railway and Portmadoc Harbour to look ser- iously into those matters or Portmadoc will certainly "go to the dogs," and the majority of the inhabitants ruined through having important stakes ir. the place. The value of the house and shop property is depreciating fcarfullj* and are cheifly held by the people. v to Degamoythe Festiniog Railway as well as Portm id ic generally will have its trade destroyed C,)1JlT,kt¡.ty. >. OWKN MCRltls KOBEKTS. Portmadoc, March 8th, 1886. I "t"Ot>o.I- 'u:< -=: PIGEON-SHOOTING AT BARMOUTH. Sir.—I v. as sen y to see Mr Griffith Edwards HAD Ilocd ill., is;E.I.) L.J J. ill. \i<eH{_ r, JUSTIFY was vsell aivate of the ski i .< bh w iiich he could wield a redoubtable pen, yet I m>»si. confers that, I did not give him credit for b; it:g aide to cram so many in- accuracies aud miserable sophisms into such small sp ice. I can assure him that the lea-t said about the scene on the Barim ul-h Keen a lion Ground ou Feb. Ifith. the better for all cuiieerned, both the peceacores et defensors. I have no wi«h to expose this pitiful transaction any further L merely desired to call ,attention to tho disrepufabie sport about to be iutro- flucud. into our innist, and to protest against, and if possible to prevent the recurrence of the painful scene Witnessed-at the last prgeon-shootiiig match on the Recreation Ground. The off nsiveness of Mr Edwards' style equa s the wtakness of his arguments. lie a'ctri- "ntes to me malicious and splenetic motives, and he du'>s ine a spiteful and impertinent meddler. He eudeavouis to justify pigeon-shooting matches on three grounds, which are so lud;crouslv ulltenable tnat no- thing lout the dury of administering; a well-merited reproof to tjus advocate or ertiehy would induce me to notice them. 1. Mr Edwards says that the gentlemen engaged in this sport at Barmouth are the principal promoters of the Recreation Ground improvements* &o., and therefore they should be allowed to do j wh it they like there. We w illingly admit and gratefully acknowledge the indebtedness of the town to these, gentlemen for the liberal maimer in which they have acted in the matter of the recreation ground, but if they, in return, demand the right to introduce into Barmouth barbaous amusements they enacted t«o high a price for their services. No many considerations can compensate for moral degeneration. Pigeon-shooting matches merely help to gratify brutal propensities, and no toivn can afford to see this element increased. 2. Mr Edwards hints that the Prince of YV.des and "a lengthy list of aristocrats are in favour of the pnctief. Incredible, as it may seem to him and many who hold similar opinion-, the moral law docs not derive its authority from the practices of H.R.H. the hriiiee of Wales, and the principles of humanity are not dependent upon the good pleasure of British aristocrats. 3. Mr Edwards asserts that the pigeons themselves like it. aud that, if they could speak they would be thankful for the privilege of being shot at in this manner. Until the parliament of pigeons shall meet and publish the result of its deliberations upon this vital and fatal question of their commonwealth it is too soon for Mr Edwards to be positive, respecting the pigeons' pre- ferences. Lastly I am reminded that it would be more upright to write under my own name. That cuts both ways. I have a name and I am not ashamed of it nor of my words. There are names atAjarmouth that add weight to insignificant words, and there are other names that make the weightiest words seems lighter than chaff. If Mr Edwards wishes to know more particular by who I may be, let i*e inform him that I am a R.\TEPA YElL THF CASTELL AND PLAS." SIR,—After I read Mr Dunlop's letter in your last issue, such messages as these occupied my mind. How is it that one of r. ty own nationality could have the hardness of heart to give a rosy description of the condition of his agricultural countrymen at the present juncture when they fight against difficulties which threaten to ruin them and their families, and when in a legitimate way en- deavour to draw the attention of their landlords to their grievances? What motive could induce a man to do such an injustice to men weighed down by burdens which evidently cannot be further borne by them ? Must men of other nationalities come to our midst to understand our condition;? Ireland supplied us a Davitt to draw at- tention to our sufferings and Scotland sent us a Dunlop who had the courage to fling aside the "rosy description" and to honestly acknowledge the existence of our grievances by kindly advising the Castell and the Plas to come to our rescue. Men of a G wrtheyrn bias, who for reasons best known to themselves, mislead the landlords as to our sufferings by rosy descriptions, are not the true friends of the "Castell" and the Plas," and they are not the men to perpetuate that feeling of respect towards these which exist among us in spite of many provocations. These are the men who hanker after promotions, the favours of their superiors and the smiles aud the society of the Castell and the "Plas" though it cost ruin to the agricultural [ portion of the community. How long will the Castell and the Plas be without knowing their true and honest friends. The rosy description says that we are contented." Contented. No! Thousand times, no. We are peace- ful to live mostly upon oatmeal bread, the everlasting bacon sometimes seasoned by a chicken, porridge not to help digestion when disordered by the immoderate use of dainties such as "rosy description men require. We know what it is to respect the Castell and Plas at our meals of cawl cenin tatws, llaith, and posal. We have paid our rents in the age-long suit of home-made cloth which has witnessed geneiations of suits of tne "rosy description'' men But we are not ashamed to say that we are not contented when driven from every shelter which thrifty habits and dogged industriousness supplied us, and we do not mean to be contented. God forbid thatwe should allow ourselves to be driven by rosy descriptions to be regardless of peace. Wre are further told that we are prosperous. Yes, prosperous my fellow farmers, when we have to sell our cattle for half the money we used to get; prosperous when we are obliged to borrow money to pay rents, tithes, and to mortgage the stock which we inherited through the thrifts and haid labours of our fathers and mothers. Prosperous, no, unless prosperity is synonymous with ruin. Sir, to agree that our peacefulness is a proof that we have no grievances, is to tempt us to have recourse to violence which at present seems the only way po-sible to drive convictions into some people's mind, according to these men's way of thinking. There is no hope of redressing our grievances, becaase they say if we are peaceful we have no grievances, and if we agitate and try to make our grievanes heard we cfo not deserve sympathy. We are peaceful even in our sufferings, and this is our glory. CmiLYX.

PORTMADOC. SIR,-Having attended a meeting held last Friday in the town hail numerously attended as invited by large pI iuted placards to all who are interested in the trade and future of Portmadoc..No doubt you have the full report of the meeting, but there being very many different views as to the most effectual way to remove immediately much of the depression in Portmadoc. I do not Ilo-c L moment depreciate the action of those most prominent in this movement, at the same time think that most of the remarks will have the effect of showing to the London aud North-western Railway Company the deficiencies of the harbour, the wharfs. the arrangement for transhipment with all the expenses connected with such x number of iuconveniencies, that they iJl have such a report and reference that will be quite sufficient to send them in all matters requisite to secure the large amount of the slate tratiic they expe cted to secure after spending a million of money to gei into the Parish of Festiniog and in the immediate neighbourhood of the Slate Quarries. The public are also aware that the Great Western Railway Company is also at the same spot with the same object in view, viz., to take its share of the traffic direct from Festinioe, thus injuring directly the Festiniog Narrow Gauge Railway, the Cambrian Railway and the trade of Portmadoc. Instead of showing so many complications, ulould it not have been much better to have formed a deputAO0 to consult and explain the different matters directly first, to the Festiniog Railway Company; and. secondly* to the owners of the Harbour ? The Cambrian Rail' ways Company will certainly take care of themselves* and are very judiciously making great preparations at Aberdovey, so that very soon they will have a good share of traffic from Ireland directly with their civo line, which, undoubtedly, will be a great benefit to the line aud to all the several towns on the coast and tb6 immediate neighbourhood. The Cumbrian Company, certainly, by all they have done, expected that Portmadoc would have secured this Irish traffic, having every facility, with wharfs readymade (all beJJg wanted is to dredge the harbour and bar), and being nearer than any other town to the Snowden district* this. certainly, should have been done year ago; and instead of trade being as it is now, so dormant and de" pressed, and to all appearance will be more so, port. madoc ought to be flourishing and doing well, with )10 one to blame but themselves for their present helpleSs condition. It is, now, I fear, too late.Yonrs, &c. SUFFERER.

^hipping. Week ending March loth. e ABERAYRON. ASEIVED.—Aeron Belle, Evans, Porthcawl # wgan. James, Liverpool; s.s. Ianthe, Evans. Brist0 Antelope, Davies, Swansea Jane Morgans, Swansea Mary and Ellen, Evans, London. SATLED.—s.s. Ianthe, Evans, Bristol; Mary Ellen, Evans, Aberdovey Cadwgan, James. Ca^1 Thomas nad sons, Williams, Carnarvon Ina Jones, Liverpool; Antelope. Davies, Swansea.

The medical profession arc now ordering Cadbn1" Cocoa Essence in thousands of cases, because it c0 tains more nutritions and fleshforming elements any other beverage, and is pieferablo to the tbfot starchy cocoa ordinarily sold. When you ask Cadhury's Cocoa Essence be sure that you get It',+:rø mopkeepers often push imitations for the sake of c90. profits. Makers to the Queen. Paris Faubourg-street. Honor1*. 1 !\tC Printed by ,1"11: Uinsox, and published by him at %>. Clw J • terr?;ce, Aberystwyth, in the county of Cardigan; at ill The Putin's. Cambrian House, High-street, Bala- 1 ttlo county of Merioneth; at N.vvin LLOYD'S, Portmadoc. jytf* oo.iiify OF Carnarvon; and :it THOMAS LLOYD'S, Pentrerh street, Machynlleth, in the (ounty of Montgomery, Friday, March 12tii, 1bG.