The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

CARMARTHEN. ] UNDER THE. SEARCHLIGHT. Come, come, and sib you duwl1 yon shall nul budge You shall not go, till I set yon up a glass Where you may see the inmost jwut of you." .SHAKESPEARE. The United States Government has. declared mules and donkeys to be eotitr# banl of war." It id ueeful to know this. If any of our local mules and donkeys want to keep out of trouble they had better stay at home until the trouble has blown over. A notice has been circulated lately to which it is well that public attention should be drawn. This is that which relates to the Protection of Wild Birds. Any person who during the present season is found snaring any of the protected birds, or being in possession of their young, is liable to divers pains and penalties. It is only proper that every effort should I):, made towards pre- serving as far as possible one of the must important elements in rural attractions. The jackdaw, I am happy to be assured, is not protected. 'J herefore, you are entirely at liberty tosh->< :f as many jackdaws as you like and it is a pity that the same course of treatment ca::iiot be applied to the ultra-humanitarian people who would object to such an eminently wusiblo measure. Some of the birds sold in the market on Saturday would soull-by internal evidence, as the Higher Critics would biiy-ti) have been extremely wild birds in their day. i Is Their tough muscular development bespeaks plenty of iresh air and exercise—and who- ever had the job of caching them must have had plenty of exercise too. Fowls aud ducks over 20 years of ago ought really to be protectod; it is a shameless atrocity to bring an ancient, venerable, and matronly bird to market after a long life spent in the service of an ungrateful country. I am afraid that I do ii(it hold orthodox views in regard to the Muzzling Question. But I am not going to pretend—like a certain well-known journalistic Kir Roger de Coverloy-that there is a good deal to be said on both sides." I have noticed that people who begin liko that are the most stubborn in insisting on their own views. No; I am in favour of the Muzzling Order up to the hiJt as far as Carmarthen, or any other populous place, is concerned. Nobody in Carmarthen or in any town like it wants a dog except 10 look at. Now a dog is just as nice to look at when he has a muzzle on as when he is not so adorned. In fact; a nice comfortable muzzle if properly ornamented adds as much to a dog's appearance as the trappings do to that of a horse. And the muzzle would nullify the danger which the dogs of Carmarthen undoubtedly are to the community at present. Children are not safe, whde at times it is impossible to go a walk a hundred yards along the streets without meeting about a dozen more or leps mangy curs seeking whom they may devour. And when they take to chasing flies or one another woe betide the short-sighted pedestrian; aud as for the cyclist he (or she) had better make his (or her; will. If you are cycling and a dog crosses your path it means a new set of false tooth at the very least, and the iniquitous Inland Revenue won't allow that as a deduction in your Income Tax schedule. Some day a party of cyclists will be coming through one of our principal streets and n one of these gangs of dogs will be scamper ing across the thoroughfare at the same time. And then ono of the scavengiiif carts will have to bo Oi dered out to gather up the fragments. But even then the Carmar- then public will not be convinced of the necessity of doing something to suppress the dog nuisance. No; in Carmarthen wo regard everything —abuses and ail —as part of a great design. The dirty-faced gang at the street corners, the Sunday drinking, the beastly carnival at fair time, the bad smells from the sewers, the pudding-paths which do duty as pave- ments-all these are part of tho eternal fitness of things, with which it would bo blasphemous and revolutionary to meddle. So the Carmarthen dogs will have their day, and a good deal more, for a long time to come. Of course, none of those remarks apply to dogs kept in the country. A dog is a necessity in tho country to the farmer, to the sportsman, or even to the poacher. And if you muzzle the dog he is absolutely use- less for minding sheep, or fT hunting. In the country it is as well—for everybodv, except the Excise—not to have a dog at all as to have it muzzled. :¥c The annnal meeting of the Literary and Scientific Institute takes place shortly but it is not to be expected that any very animated discussions will take place thereat. Several suggestions have been thrown out from time to time as to opening the Reading Room on Sunday but these have been received with a tadaverous apathy which is infinitely more paralyz- ing that the fiercest opposition. You can fight against opposition but nothing can be done in the face of an indifference which is absolutely impenetrable. *• Mr Howell Howells, Pontearreg, who is well-known as a philatelist, is also the possessor of a scrap-book containing auto- graph letters from SIR Walter Scott, Tom Moore, Jane Porter, Thomas Campbell (the Scotsman who wrote "Ye Mariners of England") and many forgotten worthies. The communication ftoai the first-named In which he speaks appreciatively of Burns has undoubtedly a great historical and literary f value. Tobacco has come down sixpence in the pound on account of tho alterations in the Budget, and flour and other provisions ara climbing up as high as the clouds on account of the War. It is explained by some authorities that the fall in the price of tobacco is so small that the customer will get little benefit from it. But when bread and flour go up the consumer gets th. whole benefit of it and the tradesman loses nothing. It is the customer who seems destined to lose in any case. On Monday next the "old hands" of the Militia assemble at tho Barrack Square, and they and the recruits will proceed to Popton the same evening for the usual month's training. The resultant partings will be tearful—and perhaps beerful as well. # The Borough Magistrates have more fun in their composition than I ever beforo gave them credit for. On Saturday they gave Sleepy Dick" seven days' imprisonment for sleeping in unoccupied premises. Now, how in the name of common-sense could the premises have been unoccupied if a man were sleeping in them ? This is quite as bad as what the Irishwoman said of Succi, the professional faster—that he was making a living by starving himself to death." "The Parvenu is a very good name for a piay, but if the authut had (aIlecl it The Upstart in plain English it would have been a greater attraction tJvon than it was. If you tdl a man that you j Fwill contuse his optic if he is not careful, only a glimmering of the truth dawns upon him; but if you tell hi;n you are going to I Z;) give him one in the eye," the facts of the (asli burst upon him with a lightning glare. The grand old grime of furnishing "startling ittjlllS" of local intelligence out 0 0 of the unconsidered trifles in last week's Reporter goes on with a refreshing vigour. £ am thinking of making a scrap-book out of them. And the best of it is-to judge by past experience-that some few months hence the literary Autolycus will get up quite calmly and try to sun himself in the smiles of an admiring public for having called attention to what everybody in the town knows very well at the time was very much second-hand. *f, This is all part of a system which newspapers used to adopt about forty years ;igo-to pretend that they know of the existence of no other publication in the world. However, I am happy to say that everybody else in town—except these i*ir,teyiders "-seorn s fully conscious of our existence. And it is not these awful out and out Radicals" who are to be exclusively credited for this either. The most flattering testimonials we receive are from Torics- although the Principality does not contain a more uncornpromisiug opponent of Toryism than the Reporter. But people read a newspaper fur new?, not for opinions and the paper will necessarily be the most popular which is the best informed as to local doings. And so it is Big people decided that it ought not to be-but the public won't be dictated to. # x- It was most amusing to watch some of the Militiamen marching after the Volunteers on Monday evening. It was a decided case of the" Long and the Short" of it. The march-out looked like a procession of giants and dwarfs from some menagerie. The Volunteers were on an average four inehes tailor than the Militiamen. Militia- men had better stay away on a similar occasion in the future. -ir Now that the Corporation has done so much for Blue-street, they might go one better and give it all a civilised appearance. There is one piece facing the foundry, and extending for some yards, which has no footpath and which has a decidely down-at- heel look about it. Perhaps our new Surveyor will effect some improvement there at present it looks liko a spot in the middle of an uninhabited wilderness. T It will be well for somo members of the public to realise that this paper is not an advertising medium run on philanthropic lines. We cannot even give free advertise ments to a good cause "—because every cause is a good cause in the estimation of somebody. Newspapers are run on commercial lims sympathy is no more use to us than to a grocer or a draper. Some people are innocent enough to think Z) that they ought to have advertisements fcr nothing and a free copy of the paper to boot I wonder if they ask their grocer for a sack of flour for nothing Whatever is worth having is worth paying for. Now that the summer is coming on it is as well to remind tradesmen that they are incurring a great risk by placing out awnings which descend to within a few feet of the pavement. This is distinctly illegal; whether seven or eight feet is the legal minimum, I cannot say at present; but the fact is self-evident that many of the awnings seen in Carmarthen are not much more than four feet high at the lowest part. Tradesmen may say that the public can look out." They are wrong there. The streets are public property, and the dirtiest tramp has the same rights in the Queen's highway as the Right Honourable Lord- knows-who. It is for the tradesmen to "look out and see that they do not cause any inconvenience to the public for if any- thing happens, they are responsible for tho damage." No one has any more right to endanger hats and their contents by these low awnings than he has to erect a barricade across Picton-terrace. • Tho following lines have been suggested to a correspondent by some comments which I made a fortnight ago regarding the unequal manner in which publicans are dealt with on the occasion of a raid :— TIIE LAY OF THE INNOCENT INNKEEPER. ( With apologies to .11". GIl. Ekn.) It's a Great Big Shame The Periiee is on ter me, Who never did no wrong before, Just becoa' I &o!d a drink on Sunday night, "Which pubs is doin' by the score. There's chape about in plenty Wot 'ave played this game Regler eiaoo the Art was made, There's the sort to drop on, Not a bloke like me, It the coppers wants to make a raid. The writer assures me that these verses are of an essentially attic character. I should have thought them myself Elen-ic in style. Afcer many delays and various viccissitudes the new triple lamp in Guildhall square is, at last. an accomplished fact. The platform round the base has taken away the unfinished appearance it has worn for the last few weeks. •* I have great hopes of that lamp. I regard it as a kind of missionary. Carmarthen people have been told so often that their town is well lighted that they were at last coming to believe the shameless fiction. But now that they have one decent light in the town, they will gradually begin to realise how dark the other thoroughfares are. The first step towards improvement is a thorough consciousness of our own short- comings this truth has a physical as well as a spiritual application. The new Welsh church paper, we arc informed by the promoters, will not be under the supreme control of the clergy z,Y although not antagonistic to their personal interests." The promoters had better begin hunting for perpetual motion or for the philosophers' stone. « Supreme control is the only thiug which the clergy will ever be satisfied with; anything else must be antagonistic to their personal interests. Anything in the nature of a newspaper which the clergy cannot boss to the full, they must inevitably regard as a potential enemy. Many of those who were at the Assembly Rooms to witness the performance of the Parvenu" complain bitteily of the sanitary arrangements—or rather the almost utter lack of them—in the building. Not only is the provision made ridiculously out of proportion to the size of the audience but somebody in authority has a humorous knack of turning the key in the door, and so for tho time being absolutely wiping out of existence whatever little accommodation there is. It is tho duty of the Licensing Committee of the County Council to inspect all places of public entertainment in the district, and to see that they comply with reasonable requirements as to sanitation and safety. But the Licensing Commitcee-as far as I know—has not been heard of for years; and if they .were, they would not probably do very much. Public opinion locally does not exact a high standard in those matters. The actioo of the Town Council in regard to similar matters has shown that an undue squeamishuess on the subject is regarded as a reprehensible evidence of tho demoralising influence of all enervating and effete civilisation. Oi* bumn;or his come indeed! A hawthorn is in lull bloom in a garden in Jacksou's- lane. The double-barrelled incandescent lamp which has been placed in front of Mr Walter Lloyd's premises in Lammas-street is an immenso improvement to the thoroughfare. I understand that very shortly—perhaps even before this reaches the public—some- what s milar lamps will be provided for Carmarthen IIouso and tho Anchor House. Wo are progrjssiug. It was announced from the pulpit of St. Peter's Church on Sundiy that a meeting ot the c ngregation" would be Jl,IJ the I (3 (I ty for the purpose of deciding what action should be taken with regard to providing tho church with a new heating apparatus. It was not tho churchwardens and sidesmen" this time. This extctly corresponds with my views of clericalism as I have repeatedly alfirm, d them When it conies to raking in the cash, why everybody is good enough to take a hand in it. -tf -*• Some tini" ago A, Welsh Churchman" wrote tolling me that he never saw tho clergy near his p'acø even in times of sickness. But i'U gmvauUe one thing—- they would suddenly re uomber him if they bad an axe to grind. These c,lei ics and their helpers—may decide that you are one to he sat upon bat your money is always orthodox. Judis .Iscanut would bo a big if he was free with his cash. Ono of the London newspaper corres- pondents, spoaking of tho operation:} at Havanna on Sunday night, says "The glare of the searchlight was almost intolerable." This is a statement which many people in Carmarthen will thoroughly endorse. This is what a correspondent lias to say for himself: — DfcAlt AliK'i'Ui'Jt A, —la your iss: e of tho l.'j.h ult, you referred th It. L'toCoseo? Jon-R, in his capacity as Chairman o' tee O.r.-nnrtiir ndnse Co an y CVrwih is tlh' on 1-, -j!)' [.,rllJ i.t l!J j;¡ ¡,<n' iJ tlL3 C,ilJ!I'V that s a I I j uoS knov nr, whether an ihorougi 1>' but 8,) Car p.s my i-iform aiou «0'a, t!wre i,» <■[>- one. C!crji} m«iio! the, E-tabiished Church (viz. iiev It. G Lawrence) in this County ihnt is a J.P. S,), to us" the pluaaj known to alt whist-player- liou-mrs nr, ealy -is hr as both Couforuibt and Nonconformists (nacintrate prenohofs goes i'l this county although 1 fiud that other \\f.l^h o aiuu.8 in South Wales have inore of the reverend ^eutiemen it rates. I cannot ny ho-v many ot thf-ui are or how many of them tire Noncouforciii-tB, but their i!umber art- ns follows -Clr,E,4atbhire has 7 Breckriookshirc, 1; PJ,J}h"jk,hiI(;, Ridnoribirc, 2 and Oar- ruaruhenuoire, divided as fnr as namea goes thus: -Thare are 5 Griffi,hs's, 1 Llovd. 1 Th )ma°, 1 Price, 1 Spencer, I Phillips, I Jon!N, 1 Lnvrence,' 1 Bowen, I Crockrs, lOwen, 1 Piickard, an 1 Willhms. who i also n magistrate in two counties, viz R iduorsliire and Brecknock: hire I a r-, Eir, ¡ Ose WHO DOY'T BELIEVE IV PIUZACKEB MAGISTRATES, B-; HE CONFORMIST OR is -I,. I should like this correspondent to explain himself a little further. I should be pleased to know what is his objection to reverend gentlemen as J.P.'s. Nobody would be so foolish as to advocate that a gentleman should be looked up to simply because ho has a Rev." before his name. But if I, or my correspondent, had the necessary qualifi- cations we might become migisti-a'es why should a minister be disqualified under the same circumstances ? A minister has to pay his rates and taxes like the rest of us. A few more reverend gentlemen would at times be all immense improvement on the class of ignorant and conceited bumpkins who form such a considerable percentage of the occupants of County and Borough Benches in Eugland and Wales. i.¡;. Now that there is so much additional light knocking about, it is strange that the 0 9 1 street most in need of light -Mit I-street-is entirely overlooked. The middle of that street is an devoid of light as the top of Pønlan and yet no fussy reformer dreams of doing anything for it. If Picton-terrace were in anything like a similar condition the Press and tho Council Chamber would ring with the per-fervid denunciations of the authorities. I know very well that nothing I can say will induce the Corporation to place the much-wanted light in Mill-street-whieh would be a great gain from a sanitary and a moral standpoint. But those concerned will have the pleasure of knowing at any rate that everybody in the town has not been hypnotised into the belief that such monumental ineptitude is the perfection of common-sense. The public won't take Corporation methods at the Corporation valuation. I am in receipt of the following :— DEAR Slrt,M y I SUGGEST a way whereby our F.re Brigade can have practices a iitrlo oftener. and which practicffi can be of some benefit to them, boih as regards gaining kmwladpc in thfir drill aDd aho to be a tiuancial success, viz I am certain that if they would undertako the cleaning of windows with the hose, and take one or two streets at n practice, that they would find that t'le occupiers of the houses who?e windows they would thus clean would willingly give sixpence or a shilling according to the eizs of the house-fur tho work done, as it would not take them very long to each home. I am nure that they would inako a very fair harvest. Yours, etc., AN OCCUPIER. #- .¡;. The Carmarthen public will be sorry to hear of the departure of Mr Carter, the highly-respected G.W.R. stationmaster at Carmarthen, who, after three years'residence here, removes to Pontypool Road this week to take up the position of chief clerk to the Supt. of the Pontypool division. He will be succeeded at Carmarthen by Mr Hopkin Davies, the stationmaster of Gowerton. ALETHEIA.

PENSARN, CARMARTHEN. BABELL.-On Thursday evening, the 21st inst., the Young People's Improvement and Debating Society held its usual meeting, which was well attended. The Rev S. Evans (pastor), presided. After an appropriate solo by Mr John Jones, a very able paper was read by Miss Jane Davies, giving a brief history of the martyr, John Penry. Miss Davies is to be complimented on the way she treated the subject. Mr John Owens and Mr David Evans also spoke on the same subject. A recitation was then given by Mr D. Rees, followed by a solo by Miss John, in her usual sweet style. After a few remarks from the Chairman, who spoke honourably with regard to these meetings, and urged on all to make an effort to attend the next one, as it is understood to be the last of the season. A very enjoyable evening was spent. C, EXTRACT FUOM A LECTURE ON Foons AND THEIR VALUES," BY DR. ANOREVV WILSON, F.R.S.E., etc.—" If any motives—first, of due regard for health, and second, of getting full food-value for money expended—can be said to weigh with us in choosing our foods, then I say that Cocoa (Epps's being the most nutritious) should be made to replace tea and i coffee without hesitation. Cocoa is a food tea and coffee are not fOOlb. This is the whole science of the matter in a nutbhell, and he who runs may reid the obvious moral of the story."

St. Clears Market. MR LLOYD MORGAN ASKS A QUES. TION IN PARLIAMENT. In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Lloyd Morgan asked whether the President of the Local Government Board was aware that one of the largest and best attended monthlv fairs in- the county of Carmarthen, viz,—the ono held at St. Clear's -ivas about to be suspended owing to the local authorities having no power to carry out an order of the Board of Agriculture in regard to market places whether neither the Carmarthenshire County Couucil nor the Rural District Council in which St Clear's is situate had any power to borrow or expend the money necessary for the purpose of making the improvements 'required by the Depart- ment and whether owing to the groat difficulty of carrying out the order so far as St Cle.ir s was concerned lie would consider the question of rescinding it, and if not whether ho would grant an extension of time boforo the order came int,) force so as to prevent serious injury to the prosperity of this agricultural district. Mr Walter Long said it had bnen necessary to give the closing order, the operation of which hud been postponed from time to time on receipt of assurance that the necessary wo.k would be put in hand. Ho h id hoard nothing as yet of th e difficulties to which the bon. member referred, but was willing to consider any lurther representation the local authority might wish to make on the subject.

Carmarthen County Petty essiolls. SATURDAY.—Before Sir Lewis Morris, Peubryu (in the chair); Mr D. L. Jones, Derlwyu; and Mr J. Lloyd Thomas, Gilfach. AN UNSUSTAINED CASE. John W Vaughan, shoemaker, Llan- defeiliog, was charged with being illegally on licensed premises after hours. I )efendallt pleaded guilty. In answer to questions, P.S. Thomas said that the house referred to was the Red Lion Inn, Llandefeiiiog. A conviction had been obtained against the house some five years ago, when the police watched it from the Chu chyard. It was a difficult house to watch. Defendant said ho had been in the house before ten o'clock, and had gone out. On the road, he met a plumber who was staying there, and who asked him to come to the house and see some gut. He went back for that purpose, and had not a single drop of drink there. 0 Tho Ch-rk (Mr W. Morgan Griffiths) asked defendant if he said that he had had no drink in the house and did not go there for tho purposo of having drink. Defjn dant said that that was so. The Clerk said then that defendant had better plead Not guilty." Defendant, with the permission of the bench, then withdrew his original plea. A telegram was then put in showing that P.C. Davies, Ferry side, the only witness in the case, was at Portsmouth, whither he had escorted a deserter. The case was dismissed. DEBT AND DESERTION. Arthur English was charged with desertion. tD P.C. William James said he saw the defendant passing through St. Clears the previous day. He noticed that defendant was wearing a pair of Army boots. Defendant first denied that he belonged to the Army, but afterwards admitted that he had deserted from the 2nd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers at Pembroke Dock. Defendant said he left the Army because ho wasE.5 in debt. He had not desertod he was merely absent without leave. The Bench remanded defendant, pending the arrival of the military escort.

MONDAY.—Before the Mayor (Mr H B. White) Mr Henry Howells, the Studio and Mr T. Davies, Quay. THE LITTLE WATER-STREET TROUBLE. The adjourned ease of T. Bevan, Little Water-street, against Mrs Evans, his next- door neghbour, for wilful damage, came up for consideration. The Clerk said there was no wall between the houses but only two lath partitions with a space between, against which it would not be safe to lean anywhere. On the complainant's side there was a big piece of the plaster and paper knocked out. On the other side there was a small bulge which might have been caused by one blow. The spot was only 3 ft. 6 in. above the floor, so that the damage was not consistent with the defendant's story of hanging up hams. The damage would be covered by 3s or 4s. The Mayor said that the defendant would be fined Is, with 8s 6d costs, and 3s 6d for the damage—13s in all.

The Influenza Epidemic. At the present time, everywhere, almost, is the lnfluenza. ThousaLds of patients are down with this terrible scourge, which has again visited our country, i and is committing frightful havoc among all classes of society. It is much more prevalent than is generally known, the cases are more severe than on former occasions. Having observed its ravages and its baneful effects on the constitution on the occasion of its former visits, we cannot but regard its recurrence with special dread, as a great many have not yet, if they ever will, regain their former health. The present form of the disorder attacks the organs of digestion, as well as the lungs. Nor are the symptoms precisely the same in each individual. Many, too, feel the after effects of Influenza for months and months. To have the microbes or bacilli in the blood evon for three days seems thoroughly to weaken and exhaust the constitution. Now, as a preventative, we I know of nothing equal to Gwilyn Evans' Quinine Bitters, The Vegetable Tonic. A few strong doses taken in time have often proved effectual in warding off attacks of this malady, and always succeed in mitigating their severity when a patient is under their influence. Do you suffer from Chills, alternating with Sudden Flushes, Severe Headache, accompanied by difficulty of breathing, and, symptoms of Catarrh, Pains in the Chest, under and betwten the Shoulders, and a stiffness and soreness of the muscles, Loss of Appetite and Nervousness, or are you oppressed with gloomy forebodings and depressed spirits? If you suffer from any of these symptoms, know that they I are the, forerunners of Influenza, and it behoves you to resort at once to an effective aud suitable remedy, and that is Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitter, The Vegetable Tonic. Sold iu bottles, 2s. 9d. and 4s. Gd, each. Avoid Imitations. ¡

A Cardiganshire Property Sale Dispute. SCHAW-PROTHEROE V. A. L. PHILLIPS. In the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, before Mr Justice Kekewick, on Friday last, a summons under the Vendor's and Purchaser's Act with reference to a valuable property situate in the parish of Llangoedaiore, Cardiganshire, and affecting persons well known in Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, was heard. The property in u(. question was the farm, &c., of Penralltuchaf, which was sold in August last by Miss Sehaw-Protheroe, of Waungron, to Mrs A. L. Phillips, of Glanarberth, near Cardigan. Owing apparently to some alleged inaccuracy in the particulars of sale, Mr V. Hawkins (instructed by the purchaser's solicitor, Mr Morgan Richardson, of Cardigan) applied to the Court for a." order to compel the vendor to compensate his client for the supposed wrong, or to cancel the contract. Mr Warrington, Q.C. (instructed by Messrs Berkeley Calcott, for Mr C. E. Morris, solicitor, Carmarthen) resisted the application on the ground that the inaccuracy was entirely trivial and well within the scope of several well-known leading cases, and of the conditions of sale and, furthermore, that the affidavits in support of the summons were very seriously wrong as to the facts. Mr Justice Kekewick, in delivering judgment, inquired whether there were any insinuations of a want of good faith on the part of the vendor, and Counsel for the purchaser admitting that there was no such want of good faith, the Judge dismissed the summons, and ordered the purchaser to pay all the costs, adding that all the purchaser's points remaining for the considerationjof the Court, beyond those voluntarily abandoned at the hearing by the purchaser's solicitor, were also clearly groundless, and that the vendor had done everything that she could have been fairly asked to do in the matter.

Carmarthen School Board. —— MONTHLY MEETING AT THE GUILDHALL. The usual monthly meeting of the Car- marthen School Board was held at the Guildhall on Tuesday. There were present the Rev E. U. Thomas (in the chair), Mr J. P. Carter, Mr H. J. Joues, Mr James John, Rev D. J. Thomas, and the Rev W. W. Lewis. JOHNSTOWN SCHOOL. The Clerk (JMr T. Walters) read the following report of H. M. Inspector on the work done in Johnstown Schools at the recent examination — Mixed Sclwol-The elementary and class subjects were ou the uhtde very fair. Mental arithmetic and the spelling of the third and fourth standird. need attention and the recitation of the third and fourih standards was unintelligent. Infant Clans—The infants had been well taught. A. Jones has obtained a second class in the Queen's Scholarship examination. Total grant £96 12s. Total fee grant, £ 53. The Chairman said that the grant received for this school was £ 5 10s more than last year, despite the fact that the fee-grant was somewhat less in consequence of a slight falling-off in the average attendance. The question of retaining the services of Miss Annie Jones at this school under Art. 50 then came on for consideration. In answer to questions, the Clerk said that the salary usually paid to teachers under Art. 50 was R35. Mr James John moved that the appoint- ment be made at the salary usually paid by the Board to teachers under Art. 50. Mr Carter asked how much the Board paid the sewing-mistress at the Johnstown school 1 The Clerk £7 10s.—The Clerk afterwards asked Mr Gwilym Samuel, the headmaster, if he knew what Miss Jones would be willing to accept. ° Mr Gwilym Samuel did not gave a definite reply to this question. In answer to other questions, he stated that the other teacher under Art, 68 employed at the same school received a salary of £ 32 10s. Mr J. P. Carter then moved that Miss Jones be appointed at a salary of £ 32 10s. Mr James John asked if there was not a resolution on the books to the effect that teachers under Art 50 should be paid C35. The Clerk said that no scale had been fixed, although £ 35 was generally the salary at which they were appointed. Rev D. J. Thomas suggested that Miss Jones be employed at a salary of £ 30, which would be £2 10s less than was paid to the other teacher, who had been there for some years, and had rendered good service. Mr R. J. Jones seconded Mr Carter's resolution. Mr James John said he thought that the Board should deal m the same way with its I teachers who were employed under the same in articles. It was not likely to produce in them enthusiasm for the work if a teacher were paid less than another similarly qualified, because she happened to be employed in a different school. He would be the last to propose that Mrs Bowen, the sewing mistress, should be got rid of but he thought that the fact of her being employed was no reason why Miss Jones should be paid a less salary than was paid to other teachers employed under Art. 51-). Miss Jones would not be employed in teaching the sewing but she would be employed during the whole period of the school hours and, therefore she ought to be paid at the same rate as other teachers employed under the same Article. Hev W. W. Lewis: Is it a question of hours or a question of woik ? Mr James John It is a question of work. She will be employed during the school- time. Rev W. W. Lewis said that she would be exempted from the responsibility for the sewing. The Chairman said that Miss Jones had been employed last year as a pupil-teacher at £ 15. This appointment would mean an increase of Y17 iOs. This wa3 an item which they would bo discussing at the beginning of next year. The motion of Mr Cartor was carried. QUAY-STREET SCHOOL. Mary Elizabeth D;tvies, Quay-street, and Alice Scott, Blue-street, were appointed monitressos at Quay-street School.

LLANDEFEILOG. COMPETITIVE MEKTIXU.—A very succe-sfu competitive meeting was held at Ebeneze Baptist Chapel, Coedybrain, Llandefeilo"- on Saturday evening, the 23rd inst, Aldeniian R. W. Stephens presided. The ndinrllr" were :lusic Mr J D. Junes, schoolmaster, Llandefeilog, who did his duty well, and gave general satisfaction literature, etc., Mr J. Harries, Garclde, Kidwelly, assisted by the 7rPV i ^°"ier) Ferryside, the pastor of the Chapel, who also acted as conductor. Great praise is due to Messrs John Evans, 1 ontmorlais John Davies, Mynyddygarreg Esau Davies, Mynydducha and others who acted as officials and kept everything in good order.

LLANSTEPHAN. GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY.-The Depu- tation Secretary of the G.F.S. held a meeting at Llanstephan on the 20th inst in the National Schoolroom. The meeting was opened by the Vicar (the Rev T. Lewis) with prayer, after which tho Deputation Secretary gave a very interesting and practical address to the members and their friends, explaining the objects and aims of the Society. A book-stall was held, and a good deal of G.F.S. literature disposed of. D The singing of tho members' hymn). and the members' prayer, brought the meeting to a close. LLANSTEPIIAX has abo been very success- ful in the recent Girls' Friendly Society's "Travelling Exhibition," three silver medals, 3 certificates (highly commendeo), and one essay prize having been awarded to this village. j

FERRYSIDE. Mu Jatre3 Routledge, once a prosnincnt journalist died on Monday morning at Eva-terrace, Ferryside, after a very long and painful illness. Deceased who was 63 years of age, commenced his journalist car, c- at an early age. For over a period ot 30 years Mr Routledge was a contributor and reviewer to the S;ieil:itor" In 1870 he was engaged as editor of the Indian p;per," The Friend of India," published at Ca'cutta, and during that time served as Indian correspondent to the Times." On his return from India he published a bu'ky tolume, entitled, Eagliah Rule and Native Faith in India." Mr Routledge also lectured in London and other places on the f-ffairs in India—1870-4. He was editor of among other papers, the Dundee Advertiser," the Weelern Daily Mercury," and lastly of the .1 &wniisea Journal." He was married at Liverpool to Marianne, the eldest daughter of Mr John David, of Kidwelly, who survives him. He leaves no family. The funeral which will be public will take place on Friday at one p in at Kidwelly, where the deceased gentleman r, sided f r ao ne years. FUXERAL OF MR D. T. MORIIIS, LATE OF FERRYSIDE.—The funeral of Mr D. T. Morris, of I\ narth, and formerly of Ferry- side, whoso death it was our sad duty to record In our last issue, took place at Kid.veliy churchyard on Saturday. The officiating clergymen were the Hev D. Jones, zn vicar of Kidwelly, and the Rev —. Kobcrts, St. Paul's, Penarth. The tenants of the deceased acted as beart-rs. The moulTers, besides the members of the family, were:—Mr T. Thomas, Kidwelly; Mr J-. Puudicombe, Cardiff; Mr T S. Puddicombp, Carmarthen; Mr Mac^had, Carmarthen; Mrs Lucius Thomns, Kidwelly and Mrs T. Thomas, Kidwelly. Tho others present included The Members of Penartlx Estoddfocl Committee; Dr Joseph Parry, Penarth Mr W. Singer, Penarth Mr T. E. Joins, Penarth; t Mr J. F. Pickford, Pen ii tu M., D. Parker, Penarth Professor Unwell Mr P. Draper, Penarth Mr J. Pi' hards, Penarth.; Mr H. Smart, Kidwelly; Mr T. It". Griffiths, Kidwelly; Mr W. Thouns, Kidwelly; Mr W. 11. Mitchell, Feiryside Mr J. Lockver, Ferryside; M r W. Davies, Ferryside Mr T. Jones, Carmarthen Messrs J. II. Barker, E. II. Morris, aad 1. W. Barker, of Carmarthi n, and Mr Rowland Brown, Carmarthen. ,Nl,t beautiful wreaths were sent by friends in Carmarthen and Penarth. A beautiful wreath was sent by the Penarth Eisteddfod Committee, of which deceased was a member. Some time before his death the deceased made a memorandum of several details of an autobiographical character. The following extracts therefrom are of aii iuterestiug ch(tracter: I was born on the 11th December, 1845. I went to school at Mr Howell's, Llandovery, until I was seven years, then left with mother for Kidwelly. I next went to Mr Tom Evans' school until I was 9; then to Nicholas's private school ;and after that to tho British until I was 12. I was then with my cousin' Lucius, until I was 13, when I was apprenticed to Bonviile, Anchor House, Llanelly, until I was 11 or a little more. At 18 I was editor of the Cambrian Daily Leader. At 22 I was in business as an auctioneer at Kidwelly, and at 24 published my book of poems, entitled 'Echoes from Wales.' My father was James Morris, a spirit merchant at Llandovery. My mother was Elizabeth, youngest daughter of David Thomas, Iscoed, Ferrysido. My grand- mother, on my mother's side, was a Miss Charles, tho only sister of Charles of Bala. My wife is the only daughter of the late Charles Jones, of Gwermont House, Llunsaint, and grand-daughter of William Davies, of Penrallt, St. Ishmael." A melancholy interest attaches to a poem, entitled u Life," which the deceased wrote for a Penarth newspaper, and which was not published until after his death. The poem concludos :— Life i* biit a tiny wave lh it beats itsell up n thp sl.ore, An 1 thrn returns into jt grave. And tho seas tempenuous roar."

LLANDEFEILOG. RAMA CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL. On Tuesday evening, the 19th inst, a competitive meeting was held at the above place in whidl everything was confined to the church except tbd reading competition, which was left open to all. It was one of the first meetings of the kind ever held in the place, and it turned out a splendid succoss. The affair was brought about mainly through the instrumentality of Mr B. Morgan. Oroesyee• iog, who has been during the winter months holding singing classes, and the fact of so many taking part in tho different competitions proved that Mr Morgan's labour had not been in vain. We would advise them to kepp on practising. The chair was taken by Mr Janus Griffiths Rose Villa, who also acted as adjudicator on the essay, reading, and recitations, whilst Mr D. J. Griffiths, Cincoed, adjudicated the singing. Both gentlemen gave the utmost satisfaction. The bags- which had been made and given by the young ladies of the Church—deserve to he highly praised as they were most artistically done. It was a great pity that there was not a prize given for the best. It must be said that several items in tho programme had to bo omitted owing to the late hour, to which the meeting extended. The result of the competitions is appended :—Solo for children under 15 1st, Aunie Davies Llwynhelig 2nd, Rachel Davies, Llwyn- celyn 3rd, Annie Davies, Llwynycwcw. Soprano solo for young ivomen 8 competed 1st, Miss L. Davies, Placegwyne. Tenor solo 5 competed 1st, Mr M. Davies, Llwynheiig. Bass solo; 4 competed divided between Mr W. Rees, Placegwyn, and Mr David Jones, Tredegar. Recitation for children under 15 divided between Rachel and Sarah Davies, Llwyncelyn. Recitation for young woinen 5 competed divided between Miss L. Davies, Placeo-wyn* and Miss M. Daniels, To wy Castle. Recitation for young men divided betweeu Mr D. Griffiths, Llwynhelig, and Mr T. Jones, Byrbwil. Reading for children under 'st, Rachel Davies, Llwyncefyn; 2nd, Sarah Davies, Llwyncelyn 3rd, Anna Davies, Llwynycwcw. Reading for men and wituen 1st, Miss Williams, Ferryside 2nd, Mr John Rees. Lan Farm. Essay on "Joseph"; 1st, Mr T. Jones, Byrbwilt 2nd and 3rd, divided • between Mr D. Gsiffiths, Llwynhelig and j Mr J. I horn as, Jrelimsy. Only one prize was for the essay, but the adjudicators declared that the three were deserving of a prize, and he generously gave the 2nd and 3rd prizes. The children sang under the leadership of Mr J. Tllrmas, Trelimsy the Mixed Voice Party under the leadership of Mr J. Price, Towy Castle and the Male Voice Party, under the leadership of Mr Ben Morgan.

LLANWINIO. PAKisn COUNCIL.—-The first meeting of this Council was held on Thursday, the 21st illst. Mr T. H. Lewis, Cilsant, was unani- mously elected chairman for the ensuing year, while the vice-chairman will be filled by Mr W. Phillips, Blaentrade. The two overseers appointed are Mr W. F. Rees, C wm bach Shop, and Mr W. Williams, merchant, L'wmt'elin-Monach. There being a number of cottages in ruins in the parish, the Clerk was directed to make a list of the same so that the necessary steps may be taken to have them eliminated from the valuation list and rate-book. CARMARTHEN Printed and Published by the Proprietress, M. LAWRE.VCS, at her Offioet 3 Ulue-atreet, FIUIMY, April 29th, ISiiS,