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OARMAHTHENI UADRR THE SEARCH-LIGHT.

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OARMAHTHEN I UADRR THE SEARCH-LIGHT. "Come, come, and sit you down you shall n^Ltudge, You shall not go, till I Ret you uy a glass Where you may see the iuinost part of you." SH A EES PEA BE. A Water-tap Inspector and a practical foreman labourer are two of the latest needs of the official world. At this rate, half Carmarthen will soon be officials supported by the other half. We shall each of us keep an official of our own. • There is a growing doubt in many people's minds as to whether the approach ing holiday is Whitsuntide or Christmas. A certain young man who bought a straw hat and a blazer during the hot week in April was seen last Saturday trying to swop them for a chest protector and a pair of cork soles. The Carmarthen Volunteers are a lm anxious to know when they are likely to be paid the shooting prizes which they won last autumn. It is rather a peculiar state of affairs to be giving score for prizes and nine months credit at that. Soon, the arrangements will be made for the next competition and at this rate of going it will be rather difficult to get up enthusiasm over "prizes" which have such an unsub- stantial existence. Two little boys were going along the street the other day, and were conversing about a certain British general. One boy appeared to be an authority on the per- sonal apearance of the celebrity. ■"lies c great big fat man said the youngster -just as fat as Alr-. As fat as rr. remarked the other awe-stricken is well, I never thought of it." Wild horses won't tear from me the name of the respec- ted burgess, who seemed to be regarded as the standard of obesity. But the boy who made the comparison has the making of a great author in him. There is nothing like a concrete illustration. A militiaman was holding forth to an admiring crowd of small boys in Lammas- street a few hours before the departure for Popton last week. We're going out to give the Boers socks he said. This possibly was a sly hit at the "poor stocking less Dutchmen" of whom we have heard. But a glance at the militiaman's substan- tial understandings would convince the on- looker that it would be a far more serious matter if he started to give the Boers the boot. The county magistrates had on Saturday to deal with an application for an exemp- tion under the new Vaccination Act. Of course, the magistrates granted the exemp- tion it is difficult to see how they could do anything else as the law stands. If the applicant says that he conscientiously be- lieves that vaccination would be preju- dicial to the health of the child, he is" en- titled to the exemption. This simply means that anybody who asks for an exemption gets it. It is a stupid law—an idiotic law. But it is the law and the province of the magistrates is to carry out the laws—not to make them. A magistrate has no right to refuse a license, because he does not believe in drinking (It is necessary some- times to emphasize this point). if a justice is not prepared to carry out the law as it stands, he ought to retire frm the bench. Anti-vaccination does not flourish in Car marthen. There have only been two or three applications for exemptions since the new law came into force. Carmarthen is progressive enough but we do not regard novelty as progress. Carmarthen people are not prepared to teach law to the lawyer or medical science to the doctor. Anti- vaccination may be a true gospel but it involves the assumption that 99 per cent. of the medical men know nothing of medi- cine. I should not like to say that 99 per cent of the farmers know nothing about farming, or that 99 per cent, of the teachers knew nothing of education. Miss Elsie Jenkins, a little twelve-year- old girl who is making a name for herself in the Metropolis and neighbourhood, is a member of a Carmarthen family. This young lady, who is described as "the" child vocalist" has lately taken a prominent part at patriotic and other concerts, held at the Alexandria Hall, Plumstead, and else- where, under such distinguished patronage as that of Sir John Puleston, Col. Hughes, M.P., the Lord Mayor, etc., etc. Accord- ing to the notices of the concerts, she has been most succesful (and deservedly so) at her numerous engagements. Miss Jenkins is a grandniece of Mr James Jen- kins, boot and shoe maker, 32, Water-st., and none will be prouder to hear of her success, in keeping up the reputation of the Principality and of Carmarthen, than will her Carmarthen friends. The matter of bathing accommodation has again been discussed by the Chamber of Commerce. As things have been going on of late, it is rather dangerous to hint that anything more is needed which will cost money. But if we cannot have better accommodation, we can at least insist on 1 some slight regard to common descencv. If people nust bathe in the river, there is no need for them to come out whilst in classical costume and promenade along the public footpath by the riverside for a quar- ter of a mile or so. This is quite as dis- graceful and as uncalled for. as it would be in King-street. It is now established that the Borough Police have jurisdiction in the county, so the excuse of this happening on the other side of the rin-er won't hold water. One prosecution would stop the evil for that v season at any rate. This would do the community more good than using the ener- gies of our zealous police force in roping in unmuzzled dogs. A boy who smashed part of the fountain in the Park last week was discharged with a caution. If cautions were, however, administered with a good Xo. 3 cane, there would be no more wilful damage for a good twelvemonth. Ko; I have not given my opinion on the Asylum drainage dispute, although asked by several friends. Those who ought to be authorities regard it as a toss-up," what the Local Government Board may do when it comes to an enquiry. I could verv easily stuff myself with the case and grow ponder ously dogmatic. But nobodv knows any- thing about it. Even the Local Govern- ment Board fences with the subject. How ever, no matter who eventually will have to pay the piper, there is no doubt of one thing-the Asylum ought to be drained immmediatelv. Something really is going to happen. New pipes have been laid in Mill-street. Now that this part of the town has been discovered by Corporationism, there is no saying what piay happen. People freauenting the Recreation Ground complain of being turned out at 8 p.m. This is ridiculous in daylight. Besides, the bye-laws adopted fix the closing of the gates in May at 9 p.m. and the opening at 6 a.m. The Park Committee should see to this. I have received from 461 Sapper A. Evans, of the Royal Engineers Telegraph Battalion, Lord Roberts' Field Force, South Africa, a couple of copies of the Friend (Bloemfontein). The advertisements and proclamations in two languages must remind Carmarthen people of many bilingual notices issued in the it Principality. The correspondents who edit: the paper appear to be given to a withering sarcasm. Says one, If you come with a company they will give you coffee. If you come alone they will snipe you. By this you may know the Loyal District." The sender of the paper is, of course, our townsman, Mr Arthur Evans, whose letters from the front have as vivid word-pictures thrown those of the professional war correspondents into the shade. I have also to thank some unknown friend who has sent me a copy from New Zealand of the Oiaro Daily Times, which contains an account of the departure of the contingent thence for Scuth Africa. Major Francis and Yajor Davies figure prominently on the roll of officers and there is not much presumption in surmising that they are of Welsh extraction. At St. Matthews (Anglican) Church, Canon Richards (another Welshman evidently) took a prominent part in the service at St. Joseph's Reman Catholic Cathedral, Dean Mackay (a Scot), and Father Ryan (Irish, of course), and at the First Church (Nonconformist), Rev A. Norrh (English), and the Rev J J Lewis (Welsh), all commended the volunteers for fighting in a good cause. It is not a sectarian or a party question evidently out there. .¡č The petition to the Bishop of Swansea asking him to remain at Carmarthen has been very largely signed in the parish. We all know what petitions are worth. Some members of the congregation would prefer that the Bishop remain and others think that it is not exactly the thing for the vicar of a large and important parish to have a very large portion of his time occupied in duties outside the parish, and for which he receives additional remuneration. There are two views of the question, and, of course, everybody has a right to adopt whichever view he chooses. But nobody can tell what is the view of the large majority, unless a full meeting of the congregation is called, and a vote taken on the question (by ballot, of course). An opinion so taken would be worth something. Now I know as a matter of fact (and we all know) that th,; petition contains the signatures of individuals who have been amongst the readiest to express dissatis- faction at the vicar's plurality of appoint- ments. We all know very well how the thing is done. Somebody brings you a petition, and says, Do you mind signing this? How many have the backbone to say no," if they honestly differ from the prayer of the petition ? Besides no member of a Church likes to run the risk of having in after years a pastor whom it is known Ù he wished to see elsewhere. Such a situation is extremely awkward in any church. Besides numbers of the signatories may have thought that the petition would be of a very little weight in the matter, as the Bishop might do what he considered better without being much moved by such appeals. At any rate some prominent Churchmen had the manliness to refuse to sign the paper. One man went further. "No," he said, ;t I won't sign it, but if you put down £ 5 each to increase the Bishop's stipend here, FH do the same." The offer was not closed with. If it ii really desired to ascertain the views of the congregation let a plebiscite be taken. Petitions are no good. Any influential person promoting a petition asking the Bishop to go could get plenty of signatures—and possibly to a great extent the same signatures as those which figure on the present document. On Monday the water was turned off in Blue-street for the best part of the day. The ratepayers used to be warned of such things but ratepayers now are not worth consider- ing. They are simple the stupid donkeys whose sole use is to bear the burdens on their shoulders. The decision of the Town Council now is that they won't take the fairs from the streets until they are compelled to do so— pretty honest, at any rate. The Council was greatly influenced by a "petition" received from some 475 people (of whom perhaps 3°0 were townspeople). What value is to be attached to petitions I have already shown above in referring to another matter. If anybody got up a petition for the removal of the fairs from the streets, I have no doubt 1,000 signatures could be got to it. Nobody doubts that. Mr J F Morris, who supported the petition, said Whatever my own opinions may be, I surrender them to the great mass of the persons I am sent here to represent." A very good principle. But Mr Morris (and other members who went on the same lines) may possibly be mistaken as to what arc the opinions of the great mass of the persons they were sent to represent. At best they only know the opinions of a couple of score of the tradesmen in Priory-street and neighbourhood. But there are 900 voters in the Eastern Ward, and the majority of these have given no opinion. As a matter of fact, the petition was not brought to the general bulk of the ratepayers to sign. This is not exactly the way in which one arrives at the honest opinion of a Ward. However, I agree that the ratepayers have a right to their say in the matter. But the ratepayers as a body are pushed into the background by the handful of people who can buttonhole the Councillors, and bring more or less pressure to bear on them. It may be that the ratepayers as a body wish the present fiithy rowdy savage state of things to continue. Well if the petitioners really want an honest expression of opinion let them call a meeting of ratepayers, and abide by its decision. If they wish to get at the opinion of the town, and not simply to promote their own case, let them do that. Xobody can then grumble at the result. The Vater Tap Inspector will not be killed with hard work. He won't have to mend leaks-simply to report. A man with a wooden leg could inspect the taps in 50 town houses in a day. As there are about 2,000 houses in Carmarthen, this would mean 40 days work to go round the whole town. Now the same house would not want inspecting more than once in six months, so we arrive at the result-that at the very most the water tap inspector would have about So days work in the year, or six and a haif days a month. Paid only Zi a week, he would be having about 13s a day for his J; work Figures are deadly things. Messrs John Lewis & Co's (of Comm rce House) great retiring sale commenced on Friday last. The sale is genuine, and all the stock must be cleared by a specified time, as the premises have been taken over by the London and Provincial Bank (next door). The stock is new, and was bought before the recent advance in prices, so that the public can buy on advantageous terms. This is no lot of stuff bought for sale purposes, but a genuine clearance sale of new goods. -X- Some people want to charge the Sports Committee more than ^21 a day for the Park, because the Committee make a handsome surplus out of it. Even if the surplus were not for public purposes, what has that to do with it ? It is the hard work of the Committee, the advertising, the prizes, etc., which make the affair a success. Suppose a gardener hired a plot of land at £ 10 a year, and made ^300 by growing L, flowers and plants and vegetables on it, would the landlord think he had a claim on the £ 300 ? Suppose I bought a penny copy- book and wrote a story on it, which I sold for a guinea, would the stationer want half a sovereign for the next copy-book? People who argue as to the profit made by a hirer or purchaser have a very poor idea of commerce. Now that Mill-street is opened, the Corporation can improve it if they wish. Years ago, the street sloped down to a gutter in the centre. This was primitive, but tolerable. But now it slopes away from a ridge in the centre to the houses at each side. So it really is carefully arranged to flood houses and to keep the roadway dry. Good old Corporationism 1 It is to be hoped a saner method will be adopted of draining the street. The Surveyor's claim for extra remuneration for the extra work in connection with the water mains is coming on at the next meeting of the Council. As Mr Barnes is paid several hundreds for the engineering of the Water Works, and as there was a Clerk of the Works paid for looking after the renewal of the water mains, and as the Surveyor is to get extra remuneration for the Water Mains, the Recreation Ground, and all the rest, is it too much to ask what his ORDINARY remuneration of £ 180 a year is for. Just for curiosity's sake, let some Councillor tell us. The Council is in a generous mood at present, so nobody will be surprised at anything they vote. The ratepayers "— who are of such importance when it comes to maintaining filthy streets—don't count in money matters. x* Carmarthen, as I have always contended, is in want of a few good slander actions. The want is likely to be gratified. Trade jealousy leads people to place themselves in dangerous positions but it is more than people can be expected to stand-to be accused of fraud and dishonesty. Tradesmen should remember that they are not coster- mongers or editors of newspapers. ALETHEIA.

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