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Generous Gift to ConwayI

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Generous Gift to Conway I THE DONOR, MR. ALBERT WOOD, J.P., D.L., PUBLICLY ENTERTAINED. LONG SERIES OF BRILLIANT SPEECHES. A BOROUGH ROLL OF HONOUR. An event of unusually great interest to the ancient Borough of Conway took place on Monday evening last, the occasion being that of a dinner given by His Worship the Mayor of Conway (Dr. R. Arthur-Prichard, J.P.) in cele- bration of the presentation of new municipal offices to the Borough, by Mr. Albert Wood, J.P., D.L., of Bodlondeb. There being no other meeting-place, sufficiently large to accommodate His Worship's guests, the function had ito be held in the GirlsP School, and considering the numerous difficulties in the way, the success which attended the coo version of the largest classroom in, these buildings to its new purpose did great credit to those officials of the Corporation who, had the arrangements, in hand. The room was heavily draped in red, the Borough Arms occupying a conspicuous place. Crossed and re-crossed, as it was, by variegated bunting, there was; little to be seen of the ceil- ing, while (ail four walls were laden wilth a really imposing display of all the well-known colours. The Mayor, who. wore his golden chain and badge of office, h.ad the chief guest, MT. Albert Wood, upon his right, and Mr. Kneeshaw on his left. Amongst others present were the members of the Corporation and officials, who included Deputy Mayor John Williams, Aldermen Felix Hadley and Arthur Netherwood, Councillors James Porter, Dr. M. J. Morgan, W. M. Sever, A. J. Oldman, Edward Jones, Henry Jones, E. Loyd Jones, and Edward Roberts together with the Borough Treasurer (Mr. Owen Rowland), the Borough Accountant (Mr. Hugh Parry), and the Borough Engineer (Mr. F. A. Delamotte); the Rector of Gyffin (Rev. R. Jones), the Rev. W. Edwards (Cadnant Park), the Vicar of Con- way (the Rev. J. W. Roberts), the Rev. Francis G. Jones, the Rev. John Davies. the Rev. Luther Thomas, ithe Rev. A. Fortesque Hubbard, Messrs John Edwards (Proscairon). J. G. Tuxford, J. 0. Thomas (Lliandudno), Sam Chantrey, Robert Roberts (Llandudno), John Dowell, J. E. Con- way-Jones, C. M. Lees, Hugh Owen, Llewelyn Lloyd, David Jones (The Bank), Supt. Rees, R. Crowe, J. P. Griffiths, Lieutenant Arthur Lewis, and J. W. Post. The Town Clerk (Mr. T. E. Parry) was unable to attend owing to an umgenit appointment in London, while letters regretting inability to be present were received from Col. H. Lloyd Mostyn, Col. C. H. Darbishire, Capt. W. A Tuxford, Mr. J. Allanison Picton, and several others. The catering was in Mr. Fred Jones' (The Grosvenor) best style, and an interesting pro- gramme of music was well sustained by the band which Sergeant-Instructor Kenseitt and Mr. T. O. Morgan have made so famous. The Borough Engineer (Mr. F. A. Delamotte) was toast master. AN INTERESTING TOAST LIST. The loyal toasts were submitted in graceful style by His Worship the Mayor. In proposing "Their most Gracious Majesties the King and Queen," the Mayor refer,red to the unveiling of the Queen Victoria memorial by Lord Rosebery, the accounts of which in that day's papers he hoped none present would fail to read. (Applause.) To know King Edward VII. as "King Edward the Peacemaker" was all that loyal men throughout the Kingdom could desire. (Applause.) His Consort, he was also glad to think, was well beloved all through the Empire. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with musical honours. In giving "The Prince and Princess of Wales and all the Royal Family," His Worship dwelt upon the interest the Prince evidently took in Welsh affairs, unmistakeable evidence of which they had had on the occasion of the Prince and Princess' visit to Carnarvon, and His Royal Highness' association with higher education in the Principality. (Applause.) Mr. Kneeshaw proposed "The Clergy and Ministers of all Denominations." He felt it a great honour, he said, to have been called upon to propose the first toast after the loyal toasts. He presumed the Mayor had placed it in his hands as one of the oldest inhabitants of Con- way. Very many years ago he lived in Plas Coch, and since then, of course, he had taken a great interest in Conway. He was in years (gone by a member of the Corporation, but he and others, as a result of the action of time, had been put into the limbo of things forgotten and past—(cries of "No, no")—and were re- placed by such men as the worthy doctor, who was recognised as one of the first Mayors of Wales. (Applause.) Proceeding, Mr. Kneeshaw recited some very interesting reminiscences of youthful days spent in the historic borough. The clergy and minis- ters, he went o.n, were with them wherever they went. They were brought up under their care, and in whateNer,sphere of work they were to be found they deserved honour, for they lived not to accumulate wealth for them- selves, but to accumulate means of grace for others. (Applause.) Calling attention to the Church Conference at Yarmouth,, the speaker said that they could not fail to realise that the so long as he administered to the religious, wel- come every minister, of whatever denomination, so long as he administered to. th ereligious, wel- fare of the Community amongst which they lived. (Applause.) He coupled with the toast the names of the Rev. J. W. Roberts, the Rev. Williams Edwards, and all other ministers pre- sent. (Applause.) The Vicar of Conway (the Rev. J. W. Roberts), who is the Mayor's chaplain, made the first re- sponse. He said it was a little refreshing for them, as clergv, at all events, to be toasted in these days. Instead of being toasted they were more or less roasted, at any rate. that was true of some quarters. (Loud laughter.) He knew a great many of the clergy of that diocese, and he was sure he was not exaggerating when he said that from the Bishop downwards there was no class of men that had the welfare of their country so much at heart and that were more ready to do all that was possible to raise and uplift their fellow-men. (An^lause.) In regard to the ministers of other denominations, who were included in that toast, he knew a great many of them, and he had always managed to live with them on friendly terms. He hoped that in Conway, as in every other place he had been in, they would be able to agree to differ on the things that divided them and work heart and soul in their own way for the good of the ancient borough, and to do so in the spirit of the Master whom they all professed to serve. (Ap- plause.) In regard to the meeting there that night, he thought it was a happy inspiration which promoted the dear old Mayor to ask them there to dine at his expense, and to do honour to one to whom Conway was so much indebted. He knew Mr. Wood was not a man who cared to have his good deedi's paraded before the public, but there was one thing that he could not refrain from telling those assembled there. He (the speaker) had had an opportunity—white horses would not drag out of him how-of,seeing a list of Mr. Wood's private subscriptions, and it amazed him to see what a great number of institutions and philanthropic movements in this country were supported by him. (Lo<ud ap- plause.) He hoped Mr. Wood would lonq live amongst them. The longer he did the higher would he raise 'in their estimation and the deeper would be their regard for him. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The Rev. W. Edwards, in replying, dwelt up- on the changes, from a religious point of view, ,that had taken place in the Conway .and Llan- dudno districts during the 25 years he had re- sided in the neighbourhood. As clergymen and ministers they often, failed in their en-

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Generous Gift to ConwayI