Penarth Chronicle and District Advertiser

Notes and Comments. VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS AND STATB AID. SOME time before the proposal to grant additional Sttte aid to Voluntary Schools became a burning question, there was a bulky Blue-book published, giving the balance sheet of every Voluntary School in England and WaleQ, one important item specially set out being the amount received from voluntary subscriptions and church and chapel collections. This information is increased in value by the amount of voluntary aid being calculated at per head of the children attending eaoh school. In view of the action which the Governmer t is expectcd to take with regard to the Voluntary Schools, the proportions of State and voluntary aid are just now matters of great interest, and as no later return is likely to be I issued on this poid, we give the figures applying to hlS School District from the return issued in 1894. The book from which we quote, containing over 800 closely-printed folio pages, occupied a considerable time in compilation, consequently the statistics it gives are only brought doam to the year ended August 31st, 1893, but as the figures do not vary I much from year to year, one twelve-month is as good as another for purposes of comparison. Even in 20 yeara the variation has not been great, as shown by be following ratio of school income per head from 1873 to 1893:- School Income per head. Yean. Voluntary Sub, Bates, Grants s. d. £ g. d. s. d. 1873.7 71. 1 0 91 12 21 4 2 1883. 6 8f 0 16 1 16 l| 1893 6 8 £ 0 19 9f ,1S 5§ The voluntary contributions in the County of Glam- organ during the year in question was at the rate of r, 6s. Old. per head, 4 The following figures refer to Voluntary Schools only, and show (1) the total of the year's income of each school, (2) the portion of that income which waS derived from voluntary subscriptions or collections. (8) the amount per head of the scholars that that volui- tary aid represents, and (4) the year's total expendi- ture. By comparing the last column with the firat. it will 1=6 seen how the voluntary principle wai successful in keeping several schools solvent Voluntary Contribution*, Total Name of Total which are included in expett School. Income. £ the Total Income. diture Voluntary Contribution*, Total Name of Total which are included in expett School. Income. £ the Total Income. diture Total Amount j Per Head National 496 £ 80 lis- 0d. 7s. 8d. £ 124 Roman. Catholic. 200 £ 33 18s. 6d. J 5s. 4 £ d- £ 197 Roman. Catholic. t 200 X33 18s. 6d. J 58. 4td. £197 AT the first meeting of the School ^BoardJ held on Thursday evening, the Rector was elected Chairman and Mr. Lloyd Vice-Chairman. Wereserve our comments until next week.

Gospel Temperance Meetings, On Wednesday evening a well-attended meeting was held in the Presbyterian schoolroom, Plassey Street. The chair was taken by Mr R. Brice. The Scriptures were read by Mr Hayter and Mr Dykes offered prayer, Miss Paterson was the soloist, and Miss K; Bull gave a capital recitation. A powerful address was delivered by the Rev. W. Spurgeon, of Cardiff, whose intense earnestness riveted the at* tention of his audience. He cautioned his hearers not to over-estiniate or under-estimate the strength of the enemy. Although the trade might make a boast, and say they had millions of money vested in the liquor traffic, and although there are between three and four hundred men in the House of Commons in- terested in their trade, I care not, for with God :on our side we have right and might, and did He not say The silver and the gold are mine, and the cattle npon the hills ? Fear ? No We have nothing to fear. The lecturer thrilled the audience as he related incidents of terrible suffering caused by the drink, and some of his illustrations moved the people to tears. At the close of the lecture several pledges were take* Mr Tennyson Smith's seven day's Mission will com* memce on Saturday, the 14th inst.