The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

our "limited circulation," "which is likely to > remain so to lose even a single subscriber), we repeat to Mr Blud our offer of throwing our t columns open to him in order that he may (if he c will) state definitely what the "grave and serious < charges" against the Cowlyd Water Board are. I With respect to Mr Blud's assertion that our i paper is not of an independent character, but ) merely the mouthpiece of one man," that our 1 circulation is limited to a small number and likely to remain so;" we are, personally, of opinion that these remarks are libellous but that is a matter for the proprietors and their lawyers, and not for us, to consider. However, in the interests of our advertisers, and for the information of our readers, we may state (and, in stating it, we are speaking of what we know), that, though our circulation does not equal that of The Times or the Daily Telegraph, still, it is fully on a par with most, and exceeds some of that of our contemporaries in similar places, and, it may please Mr Blud to know, forms a substantial item in our receipts. (W. may also tell our readers, in strict confidence, that we have secured, only this week, three more new subscribers!" Well, we come now to another assertion of Mr Blud's, namely, that our paper is not of an independent character, but merely the mouthpiece of one man." In plain English, this is not true, and we can assure Mr Blud that we would as promptly assail the public conduct of any other members of the Colwyn Bay District Council, as we have assailed the policy with which Mr Blud has connected himself, were we of opinion that that conduct was opposed to the interests of the ratepayers." But may we ask Mr Blud who the one man is, of whom, as he alleges, this journal is the mouthpiece?" It is certainly the mouthpiece of the Editor (who is one man ") but only as that Editor conceives he is voicing the opinions and convictions of the ratepayers, when in accordance with the dictates of the public weal and the public interests. Has Mr Blud any other one man in his mind,— any outsider, who is not the Editor of this paper? If so, let him name him, and not skulk behind a cloud of inuendo, easy to make and difficult to refute. We again offer to Mr Blud the use of our columns to expose this "one man" of whom he asserts this "paper is the mouthpiece," and, although Mr Blud imagines our circulation to be limited, and likely to remain so," we can assure him that amongst our readers there are many whose opinion is worth having even if ours is not. Just one personal paragraph. We beg to assure Mr Blud that we are anxious to help him (or any one else) to further the interests of Colwyn Bay," but we will not cease from expos- ing what we consider the mistaken courses ANOTHER EISTEDDFODIC SUCCESS.—On Thurs- day, February 27th, the Rev W. Evans Jones, the well-known Bard Penllyn," of Colwyn, was informed that he had composed the best "Prydd- est in memory of the late Mr Owen Williams, of Bethel, near Carnarvon. This is the fourth Eisteddfodic victory of Penllyn this year. ENGLISH BAPTIST CHURCH, COLWYN BAY.—At 11.0. a.m. and 630 p.m. next Sunday, March 8th, two sermons will be preached at the English Baptist Church, in connexion wth the Pastor's settlement. In the afternoon the Revs H. H. M'Culiagh and John Edwards will deliver addres- ses at a united special Children's Service, held (at 3.15) in connexion with the Sunday School Anni- versary. On the following Wednesday, March nth, after the annual public tea-meeting (held, at 6.0 p.m., in the Church), the Pastor (Rev H. T. Cousins, F.R.G.S.) will deliver a limelight lecture on Spurgeon's "John Ploughman's Pictures." BACHELORS' SUPPER AT COLWYN. At the bachelors'-supper and entertainment, the Old Colwyn Welsh Baptist Schoolroom was crowded to excess, and every one present was in the best of spirits. The following ladies and gentlemen presided at the various offices most ably :—Mrs R. Jones, Pen y Bryn Mrs Da vies, Fair View Mrs Davies, Bryn Cenin; Miss Evans, Llys Meiriadog Mrs Llew Jones, 7, Church Walks Miss Mary Williams, Plough Terrace Mrs Evans, The Stores Miss Davies, Plough Mrs George D. Williams, Nelson House Mrs John Jones, 15, Church Walks Mrs John Williams, Rock Cottage Mrs R. J. Lewis, London House; Mrs James Williams, Elian View Mrs Roberts, Arvon Cottage Mrs Crosby, Colwyn Bay Mrs Lloyd, Fair View Miss Roberts, Colwyn Bay Mrs Davies, Mona Villa Mrs Parry, Talhaiarn House Miss Burnham,-the captain being Mr Lewis (London House). At 8 o'clock, a concert was held, at the Chapel, and, under the presi- dency of Mr Lloyd Evans (Colwyn Bay), the fol- lowing programme was ably sustained:—Anthem, Cyfodwn ac Esgynwn i Seion," St Paul's Choral Union (Conductor, Mr William Williams); song, Hen Gadlef Morgan," and, as an encore, Mae nghalon yn Nghymru," Mr Llew Davies impromptu speech-making competition song, The Flowers' Message," Miss Jones (Llysfaen); duett, Music sweet shall flow to-night," the Misses Jones; song, Fy ngwlad fy Ngenedig- aeth," Mr W. Davies song, Deigryn ar fedd fy Mam duett, "Y Lili a'r Rhosyn"; anthem, "Enaid Cu," St Paul's Choral Union"; finale, Hen wlad fy Nhadau." COLWYN BAY LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. -On Tuesday evening, March 3rd, the fifth general meeting ot the above-named Society was held at the Public Hall, where a lecture was delivered by Mr Newstead, F.E.S., Curator of the Grosvenor Museum, Chester, upon "British Birds, their habits and wanderings," illustrated by about too lantern-slides, mostly taken from the exhibits in the Grosvenor Museum. In spite of wet weather, there was a good attendance, both of the members and of the general public. The President (Mr A. O. Walker, J.P., F.L.S.), in introducing the lecturer, stated that the Society was only formed in October of last year, four meetings had been held since that time, and the number of members was now 83 this would be the last meeting of the Winter Session, but it was intended to hold Field Meetings (commencing in May) during the summer, up to October, the commencement of the next Winter Session. Mr Newstead then proceeded with his lecture. After dealing with the distribution of the swallow tribe and their migrations, he referred to the snow- bunting, a bird which inhabits the extreme North, and which occasionally appears on our shores during the winter. A group (containing a specimen recently obtained, near the Dingle, at Colwyn Bay) was shown on the screen. A strong appeal was made, by the lecturer, to the ladies present, to abstain from wearing the feathers of the egret, vhich are used extensively in feminine headgear, —a practice which occasions great cruelty to the )irds, which are killed in such large numbers luring the breeding season, as to threaten the ;ntire extinction of this beautiful species. The ecture was listened-to throughout with great nterest, the superb grouping of birds, which had seen specially prepared by the lecturer himself, aeing greatly admired. WELSH THEATRICALS AT COLWYN BAY. [FROM A CORRESPONDENT]. On Thursday, February 27th, a dramatised version of the popular Welsh novel "Rhys Lewis," was performed in Welsh, at the Public Hall, Colwyn Bay, by an amatenr Company styled The Cambrian Dramatic Company," and hailing from Llanrwst. The performance of plays is quite a new departure in Welsh life, but, judging from the reception deservedly given by a large and thoroughly representative Welsh audience to the playing of Rhys Lewis," it may safely be predicted that the departure has come to stay. And why not ? The Welsh, even in an alien tongue, are renowned for their histrionic and musical abilities. Speaking of the play as a whole, the writer of the dramatised version may be congratulated on the production, especially when it is considered that the novel Rhys Lewis is one which no one but a plucky amateur would attempt to dramatise. That the writer is an amateur, there can be no doubt, the positions, long speeches, and dialogues being often at fault, and the division of the play into seven Acts (which Acts are further divided into thirteen scenes), leaves no question as to the authorship still, as an amateur, the author is certainly deserving of praise. The acting in nearly all the leading parts was remarkably well done, but the arrangements were bad from first to last. Let the Llanrwst amateurs give more attention to detail, and not let bad management spoil what is otherwise a well-played and interest- ing drama. To give a summary of the play, which is without a plot, and which took over three hours in representation, is out of the question, but a few remarks are certainly called-for to point out some of the inexcusable mistakes in the management. The curtain rises to the hero Rhys," a boy of 12, who tells us of his boyhood, his friends, his mother, and his big (collier) brother Bob, thereby at once introducing his audience to most of the principal .characters. The first Act goes off verv. v- "urrtenly Rhys appears -ars) a d,jpearance, whilst 111s mother and brother (who appeared with him in the first Act), are not a day older,— in fact, have not changed a ribbon or a collar, much less a wrinkle. Next is seen the unpardon- able offence of one person taking 2, 3, 4, and 5 different characters in the play, and even going so far as to appear in each one without any attempt at making up," and, worse than all, acting the different roles in the same costume for example, Bob the Collier of a few Acts gone, is now the College Student (and aspirant for pulpit honours) in the same suit as did duty 15 years ago for the Collier. His acting in the Student's role was as bad as his representation of the Collier was good. Wil Bryan, the Hero's Friend, is a good part, and was well done, but the speeches are too long, and should be cut down considerably. This actor would have been well advised to have let alone the other parts he took, namely the Policeman and (later) the Student. Rhvs cannot be congratulated on his rendering of Daniel Owen's hero, and he will do well to study the character so beautifully portrayed by the able Welsh novelist. The principal part in the play, is that of the village cobbler Thomas Bartley, and the part is well cast. The player, whoever he may be, is a comedian of very rare ability. The power of sustaining tor over 3 hours a part in which some of the most difficult bits of satire are coupled with a true interpretation of Welsh character, is a feat worthy of the best amateur. The only mistake this actor made, was using certain articles of apparel which had previously been introduced to his audience by Wil Bryan. The Llanrwst amateurs will con- siderably improve their show if they will procure a scene for Bala," a few more costumes, &c., and get different pieces of bacon for Bartley's presentation to Mari Lewis when Rhys is in his 12th year, and for the presentation to Rhys at College fifteen years later. A COLWYN BAY SENSATION. SEQUEL TO A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE. Considerable excitement was caused at Colwyn Bay on Monday afternoon when it became generally understood that a man well-known in Colwyn Bay had been arrested by Sergeant Bresse, ot Bangor, assisted by Acting-Sergeant Henry Jones, of Colwyn Bay, on a charge of making false attestations before a Surrogate in respect to a recent marriage he had contracted with a young lady stated to be of Irish birth, and possessed of some means, and who last year is said to have won a valuable scholarship at one of the North Wales schools. The prisoner, it was further stated, would be brought before the magistrates on the following morning, when it was expected that some sensational evidence would be forthcoming. The manner in which the capture was effected, reflected the highest credit on Sergeants Breese and Jones, who were acting on the instructions of Superintendent Harris, of Bangor. POLICE PROCEEDINGS. At the Bangor Police Court, on Tuesday, March 3rd, before Messrs. Thomas Lewis and W. Pugh, David James Morgan, alias Captain Foster, was charged with knowingly and wilfully making a certain false declaration and signing a false notice or certificate, to wit, an affidavit re- quired by the Marriage Acts, for the purpose of procuring a marriage between himself and Paulein Annie Sadlier,—to the effect that he had resided at the Liverpool Exchange Inn, Holyhead-road, Upper Bangor, for the space of fifteen days prior to the 21st November, 1895, which was untrue. The prisoner was arrested at Colwyn Bay on the Monday night, at his house, and on Tuesday the young lady named appeared in Court with the prisoner, crying bitterly. Mr S. R. Dew prosecuted on behalf of the police, and said that the offence was perjury in fact, being made so by statutes (which he read). Continuing, Mr Dew said that the prisoner had resided for some time with his sister at Colwyn Bay. He seemed to have visited Bangor and gone to the Liverpool Exchange, and there saw the proprietess of the Liverpool Exchange, and gave her the impression that he intended to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the house. However that might be, the fact remained that he asked the landlady to say, if she were asked, that he had been staying at the house for five weeks. The landlady would give evidence to the effect that, as a matter of fact, the prisoner had not stayed there a single night. Mr J. H. Roberts, Clerk at the Diocesan Registry Office, having produced a copy of the marriage licence, the Rev. W. Edwards, Senior Vicar of Bangor, Surrogate, gave evidence as to the making by the prisoner of the usual affidavit in connexion with the issue of a licence for marriage, which the witness duly filled in on the prisoner's information. Before the prisoner had sworn to the affidavit, he signed it in the witness's presence, and afterwards the witness administered the oath to prisoner. The affidavit produced, was that made on that occasion. It described the prisoner as a widower, and the lady as a spinster, of Avoca," Hawarden-road, Colwyn Bay, and under 21 years of age, and stated that the consent of Mrs S. L. Ritchie, the young lady's guardian, her father being dead, had been obtained to the marriage. The witness would not have issued that licence had these declarations not been made. He made inquiries at the Liverpool Exchange Inn, and subsequently solemnised the marriage at the Cathedral. By Mr H. Rowland, who appeared for the prisoner:-The witness said he read the affidavit out to the prisoner before the prisoner signed it, and in reply to his questions the prisoner said that he was in the habit of going to Colwyn Bay, but the Liverpool Exchange Inn was his Bangor address, and he had lived there five weeks. Mrs Walker, of the Liverpool Exchange Inn, identified the prisoner, who came to her and asked if the house was to let, and she replied that she thought it was. He, however, declined to look through the house. Later the same day, the prisoner, came in again, and said that he would take the house. Then he said, "Perhaps some- one will call. If anyone does will you say I have been staying here five weeks ? He said that he had come from Colwyn Bay, and that he was going to marry a young lady from Colwyn Bay. On the following day, the prisoner called again, and asked whether anybody had been. In the meantime the Rev W. Edwards had called, and she informed the prisoner of the fact. She in- formed the clergyman that the prisoner had re- sided in the house for five weeks. Mr Dew applied for a remand, but Mr Rowland objected, holding that the case had been carried as far as possible, and he (Mr Rowland) was pre- pared to go on at once. He asked what was the other evidence for which they were to wait ? Mr Dew said that it would not be prudent in the interests of justice, to say what further evidence he intended to produce, but it was such that very serious developments might be expected,—very serious indeed. His friend could apply for bail, but he was instructed by the police to ask for a remand. The young lady, who had all along sat by the prisoner's side, supported by the prisoner's arm, now broke into audible sobbing. After a little consideration, the Bench fixed bail at 1: 100, the prisoner in L50, and two sureties of £25 each. Mr Rowland asked that one bail for L50 instead of two for £25 might be accepted. He had one ready. At this stage, Mrs Griffiths, the prisoner's sister, walked into the witness-box. Mr Dew I strongly object. We have facts from the Sergeant of Police, and I ask for two sureties for the bail already mentioned, and if any lady who attempted to resist the Sergeant when he entered the house to effect the man's arrest is offered as bail, I shall certainly object. Mrs Griffiths (from the witness-box) I will answer any questions you like to put to me, Your Worships. Mr Rowland What is your name ?—Agnes Marion Griffiths. What property have you ?-I have 24 houses, some of them of £50 rent, and one of my own valued at £3000. Mr Dew I should like to have her sworn. I have certain information with regard to this lady, and I strongly object to her as bail. The Chairman We iiccd "Ot say, Mr Rowland, that the bail must be satisfactory to the police. Mr Rowland Well, they are seldom satisfied, sir. Mrs Griffiths was then sworn, and repeated what she had already said, and was then cross- examined by Mr Dew. Have you a husband ?—Yes. Does he claim this property?—No. Has he ever done ?-No. Does he receive any portion of the rents of this property ?—No. You are the sister of the accused F-Yes. Have you had a distraint levied by the police for rates ?—They have come on me six months before the time. Have you had a distress ?-No, I never had a dis- tress. I have had a summons. Was a distress issued after the summons ?—Not to my knowledge. It could not be without your knowledge, madam, and didn't you threaten to scorch the police for it ?- (A pause). The Chairman: Were you summoned for rates?— Mr Amphlett came on me for rates, and I offered to pay by instalments The Chairman: Really, haven't we got enough property ? Mr Dew: No, sir. I submit that a woman sum- moned for rates, and who has a distraint levied on her goods, is not a proper person as bail. (To the witness): Was a distress put in ?—Yes, but I paid it. She added that a certain person had her money, and made use of it, but he soon sent the police out when she went to him about it. Mr Dew Did the police come into your house r- They came into my house, but they soon went out again. Did you tell the Sergeant of Police who came to arrest your brother an untruth, and say that your brother was not there ?-The witness replied that she understood her brother and his wife had gone out, and the servant girl told her they had gone out, and she told the Sergeant so. Did you tell them they had been gone half-an-hour? —I thought so. Mr Rowland Well, I submit to the Bench that if this woman is not good enough for bail, it places au unnecessary restriction upon this man'e liberty. Mr Dew said that the London Stipendiaries, in granting bail always insisted that it should be after notice to the police, in order that the police might have an opportunity of ascertaining whether the bail was satisfactory or not He thought he had elicited enough from that lady, in spite of her fencing, to show that a distress hnd been levied upon her. The Chairman Could there not be a bad season ? Mr Dew Well, a bad season could not affect a lady with all these £,50 houses, and I venture to say that, notwithstanding any had season, if this lady possesses these houses, she would never, for the sake of her own credit, have suffered the police to enter her house. Then I put it to you the Sergeant says that she put every obstacle in the way of the arrest of this man, and I hold that, since she wanted to prevent this man's arrest, she would willingly sacrifice £ 50 to enable him to get out of the way. The Chairman Well, since the police so strongly object, we must adhere to our first preposition. The prisoner's wife here sobbed: Oh, do let him off. Do let him off. Ultimately the Bench agreed, and remanded the accused till Tuesday next, bail being accepted, him- self in .£50 and two sureties in .£2iJ each. COLWYN BAY EISTEDDFOD. A musical Eisteddfod was held, under the auspices of the Welsh Wesleyans, at the Public Hall, Colwyn Bay, on Monday, March 2nd, when the Hall was crowded to the doors. The Presid- ent was Mr Fras. Nunn; the Conductor, the Rev Hugh Hughes (Carnarvon); the Adjudicators, Mr Wilfred Jones (R.A.M.), and the Revs H. Hughes, O. Evans, and T. C. Roberts; and the Accompanist. Miss Nellie Lloyd. The Artistes were Miss Gertrude Hughes, R.A.M., and Mr Wilfred Jones, R.A.M. The quickstep com- petition took place at one o'clock, Colwyn Band being the only competitors, and carrying away the prize. The only competitor in the Brass Band contest in playing the Gems of Albion" was the Colwyn Brass Band (Conductor, Mr Edwin Jones), which was considered fully worthy the prize (£7 7s). In the competition in singing the Welsh Air 11 Dafydd y Garreg Wen," the prize was awarded to Mr R. J. Roberts, Colwyn Bay. In the Juvenile Choir competition, the test-piece being Dysg i mi dy ddeddfau (D. W. Lewis), the prize ( £ 2 2s. and a silver medal), three Choirs entered, namely, Colwyn Bay Choir, Colwyn Juvenile Choir, and Penmachno Juvenile Choir, the prize was awarded to the Colwyn Bay Juvenile Choir (Mr J. Ll. Roberts). In the recitation competition, The children and the frogs," the prize was awarded to Master Lancelot Owen, Trefriw. In the duett competition, "Y Rhosyn a'r Lili," the prize was awarded to Messrs Llew Jones and Elias Evans (Colwyn). In the soprano solo competition, "LIythyr fy mam," the prize was awarded to Miss Nellie Ann Roberts (Fern Bank), a special prize being awarded to Miss Eliza Jane Wynne. In the quartette competition, Gwnewch i mi feddrod," the prize was awarded to Mr R. J. Roberts's Party. In the chief choral competition, Enaid cu mae dyfroedd oerion (Isalaw), for a prize of k5 and a silver medal, five Choirs were in the contest, and sang in the order namedAbergele Glee Choir, Colwyn Choral Society, Colwyn Bay Choral Society, St Paul's Choral Union, and Warren Road Choir (Rhyl); the prize was awarded to the St Paul's Choral Union (Con- ductor, Mr Wm. Williams). The afternoon meeting, after the passing of a vote of thanks to the President, ended with the solo rendition of "The Land of the Harp," by Miss Gertrude Hughes. The president of the evening meeting, was County-Councillor T. C. Lewis (of the Sycamores, Colwyn Bay), ex-Chairman of the Carnarvonshire County Council. Colwyn (the successful) Band opened the programme with a selection; the Bandmaster was invested by Miss Gertrude Hughes, and applause greeted the announcement that the Band were giving a guinea towards the funds of the Eisteddfod. The President then addressed the audience, referring to the Gorsedd and its antiquity. The next item was the test- piece, by the successful Juvenile Choir, and, this having been most effectively rendered, the Con- ductor was invested by the President. Miss Gertrude Hughes gave a rendering (in Welsh) of The Holy City," the translation being by the Rev H. Hughes; in answer to an overwhelming encore, Miss Hughes sang Entreat me not to leave thee," and again was warmly applauded by the large audience. In the pianoforte competi- tion (for competitors under 16 years of age), "Lays of Cambria" (W. S. Roberts), for a siiver medal, three competed, the successful pianist being Miss Sarah E. Edwards, Conway. The successful Choir (St Paul's Choral Union), then, under the leadership of Mr W. Williams, gave an able rendering of the test-anthem" Enaid Cu" (Isalaw), the Conductor being afterwards invested by Miss Gertrude Hughes. Mr Wilfrid Jones sang I fyny fo'r n6d," and was warmly applauded. In the senior solo competition, Bedd Llewelyn (Emlyn Evans), the prize was divided between Mr Ed. Davies and Mr Llewelyn Jones (Colwyn), Miss Gertrude Hughes investing the two. The successful duettists favoured the audience with the test-duett, and were invested by Miss Lloyd (Colwyn). Miss Gertrude Hughes came forward and sang The Nightingale's Trill," and, in answer to another overwhelming encore, "Bwthyn yr Amddifad." The baritone competition, "Y Fellten" (E. D. Lloyd), took place next, and, after a keen contest, the prize was awarded to Mr J. O. Davies, Colwyn Bay. Miss Nellie Ann Roberts, the successful soprano, sang Llythyr fy mam," the test-piece. The successful Quartette Party (Messrs R. J. Roberts and Party), gave an able rendering of Gwnewch i mi feddrod," the successful Welsh Air competitor afterwards singing Y dyddiau gynt." Miss Gertrude Hughes sang Waiting," with much pathos, and fairly captivated the audience. Mr Wilfrid Jones sang "The Storm-Fiend." After the usual vote of thanks to the President, the Choir sang Cyfodwn ac esgynwn i Seion" (Tanymarian), and the most successful St David's Eisteddfod ever held at the Colwyn Bay Public Hall terminated.—The Committee and Secretary (Mr Owen Jones Roberts) deserve to be compli- mented on their energy. The two Presidents (Messrs F. Nunn and T. C. Lewis) each kindly gave a donation of ,C2 2s, towards the Eisteddfod fund.