Glamorgan Free Press

LU\NTW!T VARDRE SCHOOL BOARD AHO ITS MASTER AT LOGGERHEADS. At the ordinary meeting of the Llantwit iVardra School Board, held en Monday even- in last, under the presidency of Mr T. Rich- ards, tA question which has been engaging the attention o: the Board for some time past in reference ho their head-master, Mr Lewis Wil- liams, alvuniinr himself from school to attend ilie Por.v,;i<id Board of Guardians and the Llantwit Vardre District Council, came on for discussion ajiin. At the February meeting of the Boi-v Mr Williams wrote asking the Board who !ia-I informed them that he had absented himself from school six times in one week. In replying ilie Board enquireil as to who had laid that statement before him. The following let- t»i- ivii read at the Board meeting on Monday, ;n reply — "Liantwit Fardre Board School, "Llantwit Vardre, "March 3rd, 1899. "Gpenilcr.-en.—In reply to your letter to me asking f,)t- the source of my information con- cerning th? statement made by one of the members e: tha Board that I was one week six tim."1!? absent from school, I regret to in- form you tliit I cannot give you the name fcr the reason that it is my private business, and so altogether outside my province of duty to you as A Board. "It is not my wish to arcruo this question ■with you :>-i a. Board, for every one of you must know Ll-ut to tell such a false and malicious tale aú a public Boarcnd afterwards to state ib-,t one did not believe it, yet never had the courage and honesty bo withdraw it and ex- Tress rjgret for having given it currency, is -in act of v-ickedness pure and simple. Suppose I gave yo,. the information, would that justify or enervate or palliate in the smallest dc- gree tit., wrenr done to me? Does not your letter ad-1 insult to injury? Apply the position to you reives. Suppose I cause a malicious tale to be spread around the neighbourhood and yo'! came to know that I did the mischief, and wher. you remonstrated with me for hav- ing attack you behind vuir back, what would say if I refused to make any amends :0.Ies5 you told me who gave you the information ? Not cn!v that. Whatever is done at the Board is public property, and each member is at libert" to tell his neighbour every tiling, hia only being his own discretion. Besides was it r >r- a very proper thing to do, consid- ering the malicious nature of the story, to give me an opportunity of-defending myself against the effects of a tale so groundless. If the purport of your letter is to b? the future policy of the oBard. then whatever is said at the Boar I about one of your teachers must be suffered without a word of complaint, and no one or; dare to give an opportunity to the teacher to defend himself without subjecting himself to the displeasure of the Board. I hope, gentlemen, in the name of common hon- esty, that you will disclaim sjich a policy, and I am confident you will, but that is just what ft" letter and the reports ir. the newspapers amount to at present. "I am. Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, L. WILLIAMS." The Chairman: I should like to know whether there is anything in the minutes in regard to the matter Mr Williams has referred to. The C'erk replied in the negative. Vice-chairman: It seems to me we cannot go behind the minutes. Now that we have heard tie letter I wish to ask the head-master where he had his information from. The xrxmbor referred to does not screen himself in any way. but he objects to the Board being drawn into the matter. I understand that the head-mister has his remedy with reference to th.3 information he, has received and can re- ceive. As a matter of fact, does not the code say that no portion whatever of the head- teachers time is to be taken up in anything but th3 conduct of the school during school houre. That is distinctly stated in the Code, and also does not the Code state that all ab- sentees from the school during school hours wen to be entered in -he log book? Now, Is it nob a act that our head-teacher has ab- sented himself time after time during the last yar, aId have not entered his absence in the log (Turning to the reporters) Now, gentlemen of the Press, I hope you have taken my words, and take them correctly. The Chairman: I don't see that we have anything to do with it at the present time. If Mr Williams has a grievance it is for him to take his remedy. Mr Rees: Have we taken any action in the matter? Clerk: The Board has taken no action what- ever. The Chairman: He has his remedy, but as to common honesty with regard to us, we ought to be honest towards each other. We ought not to carry things out of this meeting. If we have the courage to speak out more than others, it ought not to be carried out. Me ought to have the courage of our own convictions and speak cut here, .J1d not outside. I gave notice of motion a month to- night, and I will bring it forward now, that is to rescind the motion passed there two months ago on this very question. Now, since I have beer, on the Board this question has cropped up majiy times, and so far as I have been against seme of you here on the question, and afterwards on Mr Williams' side. You know Mr Philiips. that a resolution was proposed that Mr Williams should enter his absences in the log Look, and I moved that tha absences be not entered in that book but in a private book. I now move that we rescind that re- solution.. my reason for so doing being that I am fully convinced I have been doing my best and I am personally, and the Board, enforc- ing some conditions on Mr Williams which are not favourable to him, and in that wav I think it. would be bettor for us to leave Mr Williams alone to take the responsibility upen himself. Mr Lewis: Bees your resolution interfere with him 70nig to Poiu-ypridd ? Chairman: My resolution does not interfere with the r.ermissicn given to Mr Williams to go. It has only to do away with the entrance of absence from school in a private book. 1 should like to say something more. The first week we discussed this matter there was not one of our friends the reporters Here at the Board meeting. On the following Friday after, I move 1 that resolution, an article appeared in the "Criamorgan Free Press and two of us members of the Board had it. and I daresay most cr voa have read the article I refer to. Who sunplied that information to the Editor of tha "Free Press?" That's the question; i jA exac-h- the same as the other information which had gone out with regard to the other matter. Some of us have a reputation as well as Mr Williams, and the editor of the "Free Press." We have a reputation which we must uphold, and I want to know who supplied that information. I say he had not the courage of his conviction to write it, and what is more, it betrayed its writer, and I want to know who supplied the information to the Press. I am personally quite willing for my actions on the Board to be criticised by any one. I am at any rate fully convinced that I am doing my best according to my convictions, but to do that and then to be set up to ridicule is, I think, going a bit too far. I, however, shall not reply. If I did, I would do so in my own name. I did not intertere in the matter at all The Editor of the "Free Press" seemingly has plenty of time, but it would be better if he looked after his own school; he has plenty of work there. I am sure he has plenty to do to look after the Llwynvoia Schools. We all know the history of the Llwynypia affair; you know, and if it were not for the papers giving a. report about it. it would not have come out in his paper. I refer to these things because I think it was a mean thing to do. I don't know who wrote the article, and perhaps 1 never will come to know; I have. mv convic- tious on the question. At this point the Chairman moved his reso- lution. Mr Lewis asked whether that did away with the master being permitted to go away. The Chairman replied in the negative. The Vice-chairman sold that inasmuch as the meetings of the Distri* Council were held during school hours, the position of Mr Wil- liams as head-teacher and District Councillor was untenable on the face of the Code. He, therefore, contended that it was a breach of duty on the part ci the Board to countenance such things. He be;> 1 to second the motion. Mr 1. Williams said that the head-master had had the permission of that Board to attend. Vice-chairman: It seems that he has. week by week. Mr Lewis: I sb-culd like to know the mean-- in of the motion, because we have given him I this permission. The Chairman said that. that motion had nothing whatever to do with the original one. Mr Jenkins' remarks have nothing to do with this resolution. Mr Lewis: Do I understand from Mr Jenkins that ho has not had permission. Chairman: We can't discuss that properly now. If you wish to give notice of motion en that question we can deal with it afterward.. Clerk: What we are now dealing with is simply the question of the private book, and that the absences be entered on the lo- book. Chairman: The responsibility will afterwards fall on Mr Williams, and it will be for the Beard to take any action afterwards if the entries are not made. In allowing him to entei t. i-i absences in a private book, we shield him after this resolution is passed this will not be the case. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried. The Chairman said thÜ as the motion had been carried, the old resolution would stand, au i the responsibility of absences from school would now be on Mr Williams. The Chairman said there was another ques- tion which he would like to ask the Board,and that was whether the head-master had a right to close the school without consulting the managers.. The Clerk asked what Mr Richards meant by closing the school ? Mr Richards: To give a holiday. Clerk: Certainly not. The Chairman said that on the previous Thursday Mr Williams allowed a large number ..f older children to attend a ploughing match in the neighbourhood. They went back to school as usual, and at 20 minutes past two they were dismissed. That very aftemocn he and Mr Bryant had arranged to visit the school; no sooner were they inside the child- ren were dismissed. The Clerk observed tha.t it was the practice to allow school masters to dismiss children when there was a small attendance in order that the average attendance should not be affected. Mr Walters said that Mr Williams had asked him to allow him to give the children a holiday and permission was granted to dismiss the children. The Chairman thougut that the school mana- gers for the month should -ive such permission. The Clerk argued that, wherever possible the school managers should be consulted by the master, when ha wished to give a half-holiday. The Vice-chairman was not in favour of a motion that the master consult any two mem- bers of the Board when he wished to absent himself from school, and also when he desired to close the school. If he was compelled to ask the permission of the two school managers it: was possible that the rranagers would be the very members who would object to Mr Wil- liams leaving his school, and consequently for centain months in the year Mr Williams would not be able to go to Pontypridd. The Chairman said he should not suggest that only the school managers should be con- sulted with a view of preventing Mr Williams attending the Council and Guardian meetings. Furthermore, he found that Mr Williams gave orders for certain wori' ha objected to this. Orders should lie given by the managers of the Board. A resolution was passed that in future the schoolmaster be asked to obtain the permission of two members of the Board when he re- quired to close the school.

THE MOST NUTRITIOUS. IE P P S S GRATEFUL—COMFORTING. "=' I;ils-1 V m- .J SUPPER 4447 A Book for Ladies The information contained in this book ought fo be known by every married woman, and i will not liarn the unmarried to rpi(i. 'HIP BOOK is conveniently divided into twelve chapters. The f;r.,t chapter treats on womanhood. The second charter treats of marriage from a doctor's standpoint; pnints out the best agpi for marriage, and furnishes useful information that one can ordinarily only from an intelligent doctor. The third chapter treats of the marriage of blood relations and condemns such marriages as a rule. Certain people believe that women should brirg forth in pain and trouble, but the hygienic physician says that confinements can be made comparatively easy if certain rules are obeyed these rules are given. ° The tenth chapter tplls how to treat the mother till she is up and about again. The book is full of useful information, and no book is written which goes so thoroughly into such matters Pome may think too much is told T such c.1 scarcely be the case, <or knowledge ip ->->wer and the means of attaining happiness. The book can be had in envelope from Dr. T. R. Allison, 266 Box, 4. Spanish Place, Manchester square, London, W., in return for a postal order for Is. 2d. 4334

New Schools for Treherbert. GRAND OPENING FUNCTION. ADDRESS BY MR LLOYD GEORGE. M.P. Truly may it be stated that the opening ceremony in connection with the Treherbert New Infants' and Girls' School, which took place on Thursday last, was a red letter day in the history of education of Upper Rhondda. The event was looked forward to locally with the keenest interest, and it is not too much to I say that the jubilant manner in which it was celebrated did credit to both the inhabitants and the local members of the district. The preparations were perfect, and of a most ela- borate character. The new schools are situated on the brow of a hill overlooking the valley, and are substantially built, well ventilated, and thoroughly equipped. The two schools have been built apart, and each contains a large schoolroom and four classrooms, with the customary cloak room and lavatories. Ae- commodation has been provided for 367 scho- lars in the infant school, and at the girls' school, 250. The schools have been built at a cost of £4.528 on a site leased from the Mar- quis of Bute. Mr Jacob Rees, architect to the Ystradyfodwg School Board, who was the designer, displayed much originality in the whole construction, especially in connection with the covered play grounds at the basement of the schools, which were provided in addi- tion to the open air play grounds. The con- tractors. Messrs J. Evans and Sons, Treher- bert, also deserve complimenting for the splen- did workmanship and the prompt manner in which the schools were erected. The local members, Messrs David Williams, and D. R. Jones, spared nothing in providing for the visitors, and the convenience of the opening 'fiaiction. On Wednesday evening, a soiree was held in honour of the event, to which a large number of teachers and voung people of the Upper Rhondda were invited. During the evening songs were rendered bv Misses Elv and Annie Jenkins,, Mr G. P. Williams, and W. Jones, and selections bv the Treherbert Brass Band. After refreshments were partaken of a very enjoyable dance was participated in, Mr E. R. Jones Ynyswen Schools, officiating as M.C. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very enjoyable evening to a close. OPENING CEREMONY. The formal opening of the schools took place on Thursday, glorious weather prevailing. The streets were cray with bunting and streamers bearing words of welcome. The opening ceremony was performed by Miss Ada Jones, Maindv, Ynyshir, the only lady member of the Board. Mr D. Lloyd George, M.P. for the Carnarvon Boroughs, together with Mabon, M.P., delivered addresses. The arrival of th* two o'clock train, by which the hon. mem- bers, Miss Jones' visitors, travelled, was wel- comed in by the firing of rockets and fog sig- nals. They were received upon the platform bv Alderman W. Morgan, J.P., Rev W. Mor- ris (vice-chairman of Llie Board). Councillor D. Williams, Mr D. R. Jones. and other gentlemen. Amongst the arrivals were Miss Ada Jones, Mr D. Lloyd, George, M.P., W. Abraham, M.P., Mrs Abraham, Mr T. Bevan (chairman of the Board) Rev E. W. Davies, Ton; Mr D. Thomas, Trealaw; Mr W. G. Howells, (clerk to the School Board). Upon tiu arrival of the visitors on the platform a procession was formed,headed by the Treher- bert Brass Band, followed by the above-named ladies and gentlemen, together with a large number of clergy and ministers and prominent citizens, including Dr Warburton, Mrs D. R. Jones, Mr Enoch Davies. Rev W. Lewis (R.D.) M. Enoch Davies, Rev and Mrs W. Charles, Treorky; Rev D. R. Jones, Treorky, Messrs D. Glass, R. Davies. J. Hiley. Councillor D. Daronwy Isaac, E. Cule, and Mr D. Beynon. The road lending from the station to the new schools was lined with hundreds of people,the school children, who were neatly attired,cheer- ing lustily as the procession wended its way towards "the schools. Upon arriving at the schools the opening ceremony was at once pro- ceeded with. The beautifully designed gold keys were presented to Mr Lloyd George and Miss Ada Jones, the former by Mr D. R. Jones and the latter by Alderman W. Morgan. The Infants' Schools were opened by the hon. mem- ber. and the Girls' by Miss Ada Jones. Aftel an inspection of the building, the company re- tired to the girls' department, where Mr T. Be,an, chairman of the School Board, together with the other members of the Board, presi- ded over a large attendance. t Mr T. Bevan, in addressing the meeting. said that the old raying was that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. He was glad to find one exception and he had much pleasure in calling upon Miss Ada Jones to open the new schools. Miss Jones had gained the respect of all the members of the Board- (applause)—and he hoped she would still con- tinue to take a lively interest in the work of the Board. That was only one of the many honours conferred upon her. With reference to their worthv local members, they could take it from him that they were very energetic and aggressive gentlemen, and ought to be thanked in a large degree for the new and excellent schools—(hear, hear)—although every member of the Board felt that the old schools were dilapidated and obsolete. They had exper- ienced a great difficulty in obtaining a site,and had had to pay an extravagant price for it. However, they had had to accept the inevi- table. Their motto was efficiency consistent with economy, and to properly equip their schools and secure perfect sanitation in order to protect the health and physique of both teachers and scholars. (Hear. hear). Some of their schools were old. and they had altered them to keep abreast with the times, and they endeavoured to procure the best staff of teach- ers possible, and to furnish the schools with the best and most modern apparatus. If their annual results were perused they would be found to compare most favourably with any in the kingdom. No doubt all nresent had fol- lowed the discussions of the Higher Grade School question. It was a bold suggestion to make that they would build two new Higher Gradf School- The powerful specch made b\ th. vice-chairman had established beyond dcubt that the question was of vital interest, and that th" children of the parish should en- joy equal privileges.. He was pleased to state that fi committee had been appointed to carrv oU- the scheme. Some people might find fault with increasing the rates; if they were compared they would be rounel to he most reasonable. The rates varied from Is to 2s 6d it,- the, £ District Council rate, 2s 6d; poor- rate, Is Od; counter rate—for which they got rext to nothing in retnrn-7d: educational late. Is m th3 E. It might interest them to know that the total cost to equip each child was £ 8. Yearly cost of the parish. £1 per head,, including, maintenance, building, and demonstration. Taking the average stay of a child in school as being 8 years, it only came tn a total of £ 8. It was now too late in the day to say they did not get the advantage cf an early education, and argue as to why they should contribute to the education of others. Education was now a question of necessity, rh! success of every nation depending upon its completeness in this direction. As chairman of the Beard, it was his duty to say a word to parents present. Now that they had provided that excellent building, it was their duty to co-operate with them ani to take full advan- tages of the privileges bv sending their child- ren to school regularly, and thus assisting m reducing the cost per head. Miss Ada Jones, on rising, said it was hardly fair to ask her to speak in the presence of Mr Lloyd George and Mabon. (Laughter). She wished to sincerely and heartily thank them for the kind and hearty manner in which she had been received, and could assure them that it afforded her the greatest pleasure in doing the little she had done as a member of the School Board. (Hear, hear). She never re- gretted having given up any form of pleasure or entertainment in order to attend the Board meetings. Her duty bad been her greatest pleasure. The Chairman next invited Mr D. Lloyd George, M.P., to address the company. After congratulating the Chairman upon his excellent speech, and Miss Jones upon her grand maiden oratorical effort—(laughter)— the hon. gentkman said his first pleasant duty was to thank them for the kind manner in which they had received him, and also to con- gratulate them upon the magnificent buildings they had erected for the education of the young in that part of the Valley. (Hear, hear). They had been founded by the people, maintained and controlled and run entirely in the interest of the people, and not for any part or section, however worthy they might be. He was very pleased to hear from Mr Bevan of the excellent efforts made in the Valleys for the cause of education. He considered that the education movement in Wales and its de- velopment during the last 30 or 40 years was one of the most striking of modern times. (Hear, hear). Any one' who read any work upon education could not fail to be struck by the effort of the Welsh people in educating their children during the present generation. (Applause). There was one thin7 which the chairman had stated in has address with which he felt highly pleased, and that was that they were doing all they could towards the success of Higher Education in the Valley. Their School Board was one of the finest in the king- dom—{cheers)—and thev had gone in for a graduated system of education. First of all they had the primary schools, then a couple of Higher Grade Schools, and then a secondary school, and he was exceedinglv glad to find that the experiment had proved such a success, and lie was told that they were considering the advisability of erecting two additional Higher Grade Schools in the Valley. There was a great advantage in setting up these schools for the sake of secondary education, and from one point of view there was nothing more important to the nation than its second- ary education, and now they were beginning to realise its value in Wales. The endeavours of Wales were not to be compared with those of England for a moment. At the present time they were paying in Wales 5d. per head towards her education, .whereas in England they paid only lid. per head; consequently the next generation of Wales would be ten times better men than the English generation.(Laugh. te" and cheers). He would not say that they were not so at the present time, but the dis- parity would be ten times greater. If they went to any county in Buropo or America they would find tho graduated system in its per- fection. In Switzerland, the education of children was a state matter and not a private speculation. The community benefitted by this, and it was also better for the State it- self, being more economical. In Switzerland. the mother of democracy, they had recognised it as their duty to provide the best education for all classes of children. (Hear, hear). There they had primary schools. Higher Grade Schools, Secondary Schools, and their Uiiivcr- sities, and the result was the Swiss people were the best educated people of the world. We cannot hold our own with them when we have to compete. The same thing applied to Germany. Any one who read their pamphlets would soon discover the fact. Any child in the land, irrespective of class or means, could obtain the best educational advantages. The adoption of the graduated system was the reason that Germany had been so successful. The same thing applied to America. The great difficulty experienced in regard to secon- dary education in Wales was the lack of funds. We supposed that that was the chronic diffi- culty of most people. (Laughter). It is won- derful what a great amount of good it can do. (Loud laughter). Another difficulty experi- enced was that a great amount of the best time, temper, and energy of the teachers in the Higher Grade Schools was expended in im- parting elementary knowledge to the children. The children should be thoroughly grounded in the elementary work before thev entered the higher schools and colleges. When child- ren were once grounded in the elements of knowledge, they could handle the higher sub- jects with greater dexterity. Thus they were relieved in a financial success when they were building Higher Grade Schools; they were re-illy giving financial support to the secondary school. He congratulated their Board upon their school at Pentre. which had an accom- modation for 400, and was perfectly crowded. He was also told that the Ferndalo school was also crowded, and he ventured to say if they built two more schools those also would be crowded. There was nothing that he was prouder of than the thirst for knowledge exist- ing in the land, and which would socn make it one of the leading nations in the world. There was an idea in Switzerland, the base and foun- dation of education, that every child, however rich or poor, was entitled to the privileges of the best education, and that was the system they were trying to establish in Wales. (Hear, hear). The poorer the man was the better his education ought to be, and the greater was h;3 plea for being educated. The children of the rich had their privileges, advantages, and op- portunities. Ignorance made no difference to their living; it was the children of the poor who needed educaiion. (Cheers). He wished to say one thing: As long as a child was well educated, he would not be poor to the end of his days; he would be as rich as the richest man in the land: as Ruskin put it, he would keep the company of kings, kings of literature, kings of thought, kings who did not sit on thrones and wield sceptres, but who swerved the realms of the mind, which were infinite. The best education was not the teaching of a irreat amount of Euclid, geometry, and cribbed C<Bsar—(laughter)—but that which t aught the child to think in the right way. They did not want a sameness about the system of educa- tion similar to the system of making sausages in America,all the' same size,colour.and quali'v. but something which would develop the p-enitis and character of the mind itself, that was the system they wanted in this country. Give a. child a good education, and he would never be poor, but could be introduced into the best of society. (Applause). The dawn of the new educational year was upon them. Education was not for the few nor for those who had exceptional nrivileges, but for all. The poorer a man's circumstances the greater is his need for education, and the intellect which God had given him should put him in the way of ob- taining it. (Loud applause). Mr W. Abraham, M.P.. said they were never prouder of their country and countrymen than when they met on occasions cf that kind. (Applause). It was not necessary to-day to go to the Rhondda Valley to preach the necessity of elementary education. He was clad to say on behalf of their School Beard—which was second to none in the kingdom—(applause)— that they had done all in their power to fm ther the interests of education. The standard of education should be raised so as to bring capital and labour on more equal basis, not by means of lowering capital but by bringing la- bour up; labour had been down so long, the aid of the lever of education was wan ed to bring them nT), not that thev wanted to do away with labour, but that they wanted the machine of the present to be the machinist oi the future. (Applause). Mr Evan Cule, Treherbert, spcke cn the let educational progress. He said that in that parish the author of the first translation of the I Holy Writ had lived, and that he was an an- cestor of Councillor Llewelyn and Mr Morgan Llewelyn, and several respectable families oi that district. The Rev W. Lewis, Rural Dean, a member of the School Board, in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers, ob- served that Mr Cule's remarks about the first translation of Holy Writ should be taken with a great deal of salt. ("Oh. oh!" and laugter). Aldermain W. Morgan seconded the vote, which was carried with acclamation. In replying, Mr Lloyd George said that he had never seen a more striking and effective syllabus of moral and religious instruction than that provided by the Committee of the Ystrad- yfodwg Board, who were to be complimented upon the intelligence and good sense which they had shown. (Loud applause). An adjournment was then made to the In- fants' department of the school, where the company were entertained to an excellent lun- cheon contributed by Messrs David Williams and D. R. Jones, the two local members of the Board. To the Editor. Sir.-Will you very kindly allow me to ask the Rev W. Lewis, Rural Dean, Ystradyfod. wg, through your columns, to name what part of the speech I delivered at the opening of the schools at Treherbert on Thursday, March Sth, required "to be received with a grain of | .>alt, as I thought it was not opportune to reply then? I do so through your paper.— Yours respectfully, EVAN CULE.

CAERPHILLY DISTRICT COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the Caerphilly District Council was held at the "Council Office, Caerphilly, the vice-chairman (Mr Wm. Thomas) occupying the chair. The attendance included Messrs E. W. M. Corbett. Thomas Gregory, W. E. Jones, Eli Jenkins, David Thomas, Lewis Williams, and J.' P. Cliarles, with the clerk. Mr W. Spickett. Before the commencement of the business of the Council, the Chairman referred to the death of their late member, Mr Henry An- thony, J.P., and moved a vote of condolence with the family. He wa.s sure they would all with one accord pass such a motion, and so express their sympathy at the death of their respected colleague. His death was a sudden one, for at the previous meeting he was with them. and looked as well in health as the rest of them. It was unnecessary for him to say anything in praise of Mr Anthony, his faithful- ness, urbanity, and geniality in presiding over the meetings of the Council for nianv years had endeared him to all. Mr D. E. Jones seconded, and the resolution was passed in silence. The Clerk reported that the balance due to the bank after that day's payments was L316 18s lOd. £ 500 had been paia in by the collector since the last mectitiz. Mr Thomas Rossiter. contractor, Caerphilly, wrote saying that since he had tendered for the Aber Valley Main Sewerage works he found the price of iron had gone up, and he now wished to add to his tender, which was accep- ted, L300. The original tender was P,12,603, and the amended tender £ 12.903, as against £ 12.790, the next tender of Messrs A. S. Morgan and Co., Newport. After some dis- cussion it was decided to offer Mr Rossiter zE12,790, which was subsequently accepted. The Surveyor reported having prepared plans for the accommodation of the overseers at the new Council Offices. He had attended the Roads and Bridges Committee of the Coun- ty Council on the 2nd inst. with reference to the proposed alterations to Cardiff road im- provements opposite the Kings Arms Hotel. The County Council would offer no objection to the alterations suggested. The Committee had made an inspection of the springs in the vicinity of Berthgron. which ib was proposed to utilise for an additional vaier supply for Nelson. A sample of water was taken and sent for araalvsis, and the ina, lyst had reported that the water was very fa- vourable fcr domestic purposes.—It was deci- ded to write to the landowners asking for per- mission to place a tank near the springs. In the absence of the chairman, Councillor William Thomas proposed that the resolution passed at the last meeting refusing to construct a footbridge over the brook between St. Cyno.1 and Nelson, be rescoinded. After some dis- cussion it was decided to erect a footbridge at a cost not exceeding £ 4. A letter was read from the agent of the Llan- ctiacii estate stating that. the landlords were agreeable to the Council taking strips of land to widen the road from Berthgron to Gilwern, provided the Council would arrange with the tirant of Berth-y-Gron Farm. Messrs Topham, Jones, and Railton, wrote with regard to Ihe Council's complaint as to the blasting arrangements at L'.anbradam. This work was being carried out subject to the Mining Acts, and to the satisfaction of H.M. Inspector of Mines. They were aware of the dangers connccted with blasting operaiions, end they took evify precaution to avoid the'n. The Clerk of the County Council also wrote with regard to this mauer. Tho nuisance wa» of a nature whieh was capable of being put a stop to by those who were injured by its exis- tence. If they did not care to move. it seemed hardly worth while for the County Council to do so, as the road was not damaged. Police-Superintendent Giddings wrote sav- ing that I he officers at Taff's Well and Llinbr-i- dach Police Stations were prepared to < take charr-e of the fire appliances at a remuneration cf £ 2 per annum. Twenty-two applications were received for the position of Clerk of Works for the Aber Main Sewerage Scheme, and on the motion of Mr Eli Jenkins, seconded bv Mr D. E. Jones. Mr W. J. Morgan, Aber (the present CWk of Works) was appointed at a salary of L2 per week.

—————- A CAERPHILLY BREACH OF PROMISE ACTION. AN AMOROUS ARCHITECT. AMUSING LETTERS. At the Glamorgan Assizes on Monday (be fore Justice Darling) Emily Thomas sued Wm. Phillips for breach of promise of marriage. Mr S. T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Messrs George David and Evans), appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Arthur Lewis (instructed by Mr J. H. Jones) for the defendant. THE PLAINTIFF'S CASE. Mr S. T. Evans said that the plaintiff was a single woman living at Caerphilly, and defen- dant during part of tile time of the courtship was engaged in various employments, ll!: was now an architect at New Tredegar, Plaintiff was 25 years of age and defendant 29. The parties met in 1890 at the Casde Hotel, Caerphilly, which was at that time kept by relatives of the plaintiff. The friendship rapid- ly developed into courtship, and defendant promised to marry plaintiff as early as the first t-l July, 1890, a promise that was renwed from time to time. Defendant had subsequently written to ask plaintiff to go and live with him at a seaside place for a week. Plaintiff natiu. ally refused, but she was very fond of the de- fendant, and still corresponded with him. Sub- sequently in 1895 defendant seduced plaintiff, but there had been no child. Defendant had repeatedly promised to marry plaintiff. and gave her an engagement ring. Mr Evans read very amusing selections from the letters sent by 'defendant to the plaintiff. The earliest of these were begun, "Dear Miss Thomas," sub- sequently thev began, ('My dearest Emily," On June 19th, 1830, defendant wrote, "I have been trving all the week to try and distinguish your photo. but am not quite satisfied until I have another promised, because I feel lost without bavin" a look oJ, those eyes of vojrq and see tllO pleasant snnws, 3,wayS make me feel a bit off. I am wlJrliii alone all dav. and the only thin" that I-ecns me R IVP is ibinkiriT of cniovable we bn l ht Knudnv and those 10viD, em^ex I Win" to S'indiv nrvrwor pn.-thor piessant walk and a good old hugging, just to show Here's no ill-feeling." A HOLIDAY AT BOURNEMOUTH. Another letter was as follows: — "Bournemouth, August 10th, 1896. "Dear Emily,-Your most loving letter to hand, and very gfad to hear you have conclu- ded to come to Bournemoutn for a holiday. I have persuaded the landlady I am a mar- ried man, which she thoroughly believes, and that my wife is coming down to spend a week. Therefore you must act fly over it, and we can both stay together comfortably. Try and come down on Friday next; if not. let me know when, and I shall meet you. Hoping you are wel". and lontring to see "our loving face again, —T am. as ever, Willie. x x x x x x "P.S.—Put a wedding ring on your finger." "THOSE BEAUTIFUL EYES." In another letter the following passage oc- curred "After spending such a delightful few hours, dear, with you on Sunday, and coming up to this uncivilised, outlandish part of the globe for a week without even liaviiir a glance into those beautiful eyes, really makes a fellow feel n. bit off, in fact. very much off; of course you know what I mean." A FRONT DOOR INCIDENT. In Januarv. 1894, defendant wrote from the Isle of Wight: — "I felt awfully harassed in not having an opportunity of conversing with you alone. I felt. rather unset over it when I felt those arms entwining my neck at the front door. I felt a pang pierce me iliroiith; I mean a rang of envvness to replenish the same, but unfortun- ately there was someone in the passage behind me. Never mind, Emm. the time will arrive when one of those as of old will meet vour lin-, again. I am full of work at nresent, but will never forget you as long as I live." In another latter asking plaintiff to meet him at Ystrad. he wrote:—"We can discuss pollitics and Church Service together." In other letters statements were made concern- iiiz the position of the defendant, and lie told the plaintiff that his grandfather had died nmfl i III tI-ie would soon be able to marry her. He flVIr Evans) felt bound to sav that defendant hiad produced two letters which he said had been written bv plaintiff t^lin^r him that a child had been born. Plnintiff de.ed that she bad ever written these letters. In er-nchisio'i r-Mi^el asked the jury to find for substantial damages. THE PROMISED ADMITTED. Mr Arthur Lewis said that the promise to marry was admitted. His Lordship said that would shorten mat- ters considerably. Mr S. T. E vans: If the breach is denied how is it that they have not been married? Eindit years is rather a lonz time, isn't it? His Lordship: Probnblv he was wai'ing for the other grandfather to die. (Laughter). PLAINTIFF IN THE BOX. Plaintiff, a pleasant looking young lady,neat- ly attired in a black costume, with sailor hat and white neck kerchief, then entered the box. She gavo her evidence clearly and with perfect self-possession. After bearing out the facts as stated by her counsel, she was cross- examined at considerable length by Mr Arthur Lewis. She idenied ihavin? w^cn some of the letters put. in by the defendant as having been sent bv her. She had never told defen- dant that she had had money left her *nd she denied ever having said or written that- she had had n, child born as the result of her seduction by the plaintiff. THE DEFENCE. Mr Arthur Lewis then addressed the jury at some length for the defendant, and in the course of his remarks pointed to the fact that plaintiff had said that she had never said one word about the seduction until she mentioned it to her solicitor. Ho (Mr Lewis) would call the defendant and his father and mother, and they would say that plaintiff came to their house on a Sunday afternoon in 1897 and told them that she was in the family way. DEFENDANTS EVIDENCE. Defendant, a slim, light-complexioned young man, was then called. He swore to having received letters from plaintiff in which she stated that she had had a child. He ad- mitted having once hod improper intercourse with plaintiff. Mr S. T- Evans: How is it that your feel- ings for this young ladv have undergone such a change?—Because I have proved her telling such awful untruths about her having had a child. Defendant further said that /he thought ot marrying plaintiff up till the time that she told him untruths at Barry. It was in 1890 that he seduced the plaintiff. Mr Evans: Did you hiear my learned friend say that it was in 1896?-Yes. Well, how do you explain it?—I might have done it again in 1896. Oh, you have done more than once?—Yes. Did you hear what Mr Arthur Lewis said?- Yes. I told my solicitors that I had not se- duecd her. fell- why did you .ell your solicitors an untruth? His Lordship: Why did you tell a lie to rour solicitor? You did not think lie would believe. n' f 1 .Jkoud laughter). No .answer. Defendant said that plaintiff wanted to go to Bournemouth to live with him ns his wife, and that she asked him, to take her. Defendant was thsn cross-examined regard- in the letters, the authorship of which was in dispute. The two envelopes of the two most important letters lie had lost. Mr S. T. Evans: Why you keep them if you ever received them?—Because I thought it was not necessary. Then why keep tine res; 0—Well, I d^ln'tv happen to tear them up. Some fun followed over the question of the "NICE QUIET SPOT" in the Rhondda Valley referred to in one of the letters. Mr Evans: Oh, there is a nice quiet spot m the Rhondcia Valley, is there? Where is it; is it on a mountain top?—I thought it would be some quiet little vilia e. Laughter). His Lordship: Am I to take it that the Rhondda Valley is always in a slate of tur- moil? (Laughter). Mr S. T. Evans: I think it is about the busi- est place in this kingdom. His Lordship (smiling: Oil! (Laughter). Mr Evans (to defendant): I suppose you have never been up there?—No I haven't. U. Evans: Ah, then your education has been sadly neglected. (Lauphter). Now, I ask you, did you write eilher of those letters which y6u say plnintiff wrefe to yon ? No. You are clear about it?—I swear I did not. Why should she write yen such letters?—I cannot make it out. Have you no idea?—I s"npcse it was because she wanted me to marr- h or, Defendant admitted flit ¡, ha'1 seen nJain- tiff within a month of reeling the letter to say that she had had a eMd. DEFENDANT'S PARENTS EXAMINED. Evidence was given by Mrs Phillips, mother of the defendant, concerning the visit of plain- tiff to her. She told witness that she was -in the way," and witness told her tj go and see her son, that shi (witness) knew untiling of it., and that she (plaintiff) didn't look as if she was with child. Thomas Phillips, contractcr, Maesycwmmer, defendant's father, gave his version of the interview with plaintiff on the Sunday after- noon in question. By Mr. S. T. Evans: He listened in the pas- sage to what plaintiff said to his wife. Why didn't you go into the room?Because I wasn't asked. You were interested in itr-I was. Why?—The girl was continually molesting our son. She Wa3 always sending letters and telegrams to my son. Do you think he meant to marry her?—I don't believe he would marry a girl such as she is. Why ?—Simply because of her conduct. How did you know of that?—Public gossip, mv dear sir, told us all a'bout her. Why, yon onlv wanted to go to the railway station. Everybody would come and tell you abaut her conduct and how she was running after our son. Mr Arthur Lewis then addressed the JUry for th" defendant. Mr S. T. Evan-s then addressed tho jury, and ni" Lordship having summed up the iury re- tired. THE VERDICT. The jury, after having been absent for half an hour, returned into court with a verdict for the plaintiff for £ 100.

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