The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

Death ot Cot. tfocKley Roderick, Llamdly. A GElNTLJiJMAN OF MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES. The 'death of Lieut.-Col. W. Buckley .Roderick, V.D., took place at his residence, Ftronlheulog, Llaiieily, on Saturday, after a short illness. The meswB was quite unexpected as earlier in the week it was reported that the deceased gentleman was treco-vering from a (heart affection. The announcement of his death came as a severe shock to the 00011- munity, in which he had (held an honoured place, it being felt that by his untimely death Llanelly has lost O'Die of its most useful citizens. I The deceased genitlemaai was iborn on the 17th January, 1862, being the elldest son of the la/fce Mr Wiiiliam Roderick, manager of the, London aaid Provincial Bank, Llanely, and the 3/ate Mrs Roderick, daughter of the late Mr James Buckley, of Penyfai and Cas- tellgorfod. He was educated at Sidney Col- lege, where he doubly distinguished himself as a scholar and a brilliant athlete. He had a passion for athletics, and HaneUyites still recall with pride his prowess on the bicycle track and in the football field. After leaving school he was articled in 1880 to Messrs Johnson and Stead, a well kmown LlaneHy firm of solicitors, who at that time had an extensive practice. "Whilst studying law he did not forget his old love of outdoor sports, and in 1881 he won the gold medal and the five mile amateur cycling championship of South Wales at Cardiff. He ad-so become one of the most prominent members of the Llen- elly football team, aiqd acquired a national reputation as a three-quarter. He had a hand in bringing the cup to Llanelly in the season 1881-2, and in, 1884 he gained his cap aaid played for Wales agadnist Ireland. Other members of the team at that time included such well kn' wn sportsmen as Fred Nelson Powell, George Watke/ys, W. Y. Nevill, R. W. Evans, and David John. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1885, and he forthwith conimenoed what quickly became one of the most lucrative practices in the Principality. He won an enviable position for himself in legal circles, and the business grew to such proportions that in 1899 he took Mr Martin B. Richards into partnership. Four years later a third part- ner joined the firm in the person of Mr G. Clarke Williams, B.A., since which date the practice has been carried on under the style of Roderick Richards, and Williams. In 1885 he was appointed agent to the Buckley Estate, and in, December, 1892, was appointed coroner for the honour or lordship and liberty of Kidwelly. The quaint title < demotes the coroner for the Lknely district and a considerable portion of East Carmar- thenshire. Several important issues came before him for decision. The most import- ant of these was at the inquiry arising out of the disaster to the Great Western Railway express near Loughor. Mr Roderick con- ducted that iniporbant inquiry coii- sumate skill, and his summing up is still re- membered as a masterpiece of its kind, and at the close of the inquiry Colonel Yürke, on behalf of the Board of Trade, paid the coroner a high tribute for the manner in which he had conducted the proceedings. Since November, 1895, Mr Roderick had occupied tthe positions of registrar and high bailiff for the Llanelly County Court, his predecessor lbeing the Qiate- Mr J. LJoyd Moons. For some time he was ebairrnaii of the Llamelly and Myiiydimawr Railway Company j but relinquished that position as a protest 1 against a policy adopted by Mr Waddell towards the minority shareholders. He was keenly interested in, the commercial life of the town, and up to its sale to the Bargoed Company recently he was one of the princi- pal promoters of the PmMumry Gol'lie-iy. At one, time it seemed likely tbat Mr Roderick would become a prominient figure in the offi- cial public life of the town. and he served a useful apprenticeship in this respect as a ( member of the old local board of health and ,( the harbour commission. His heart, how- ever, was never In this work, and at the first] opportunity he retired from both positions. ( AS A VOLUNTEER, Outside his professional and semi-profes- sional work his affections, there can be no ( doubt, were priJlltCipalQy directed to the Volun teer movement. His connection with the local force dated back to 1882, and he passed through the various grades until he Was gazetted as lieutcolonel commanding the < Llanelly detachment, Curiously enougjh, his lamented father was also the coiiiiiiaiidi,iii, officer before him. It is difficult to ade- quately describe Col. (Roderick's services to Volunteering. The efficiency of his men was of the passions of his aaid he grudged neither time nor trouble nor money to briaig the force up to th eideal he had set. Under his wise and enthusiastic control the move- menlt has prospered exceedingly in Llanelly. out as a I-eaderof men., and he was one of the His fine, handsome appearance marked him one of the best known figures at the annual camp. As had been expected he was deeply interested in the new Territoi-ital Army scheme for South Wales. Upon this he held very stron/g views, iaotid he was successful in inducing the War Office to considerablv modify their first proposals so far as South Wale? was. concerned. The War Office first proposed tilat Breconshire should be joined with Carmarthenshire. Col. Roderick verv quickly exposed the absurdity of such a pro- posal, and did not hesitate to send his views to headquarters. The Carmarthen County Association was formed a few weeks ago, and the deceased was unanimously appolntecl viice-ohairmani. 4n Volunteering matters alone his death is nothing short of a calamity to West Wales. SRCCESSFU, L AGRICULTURIST. The deceased gentleman, was also an agri- curist of no mean order, and he devoted con- siderable time and money to the breeding of cattle aiid At Goodig his farm near Burry Port, lie had «. ranownted herd of Jer- sej_ cattle, with which he had achieved not- able siuocesseis at the Royal and Bath and West of England shows. He was largely instrumental in establishing tfe Carmarthen shire Stud Company, of which he became the chairman in succession to his uncle, the late Mr W. J. Buckley. Tlhe. St. Clears Butter actory was one of his projects, and in other ways he had served in improving agriculture in the county. He had occupied the position of president of the Caimiaaithensliire Agri- cultural Society, and was patron of various local societies and organisations. Mr Roderiick married in. 186 EHa Augusta, tilip daughter of Captain and Mrs Hume Aleholl, of 23, Connaught square, Louden, who survives him with four sons and two daughters. His eldest son. Mr Hiwno Buckley Roderick, was articled to his father only a year or so ago, and has just passed his intermediate law exaaninratioau The deeased gentleman! leaves two brothers, viiz., Dr Sid. J. Roderick, medical officer of health for Llanelly, and Dr Hanry Buckley Roderick, of Cambridge; while his eistitei's are Mrs R. A. Nevill, of Ferryeide; Mrs Long-Price, Talley; and the Misses JSodefrxcK, or UIJB- eithen, Burry Port. Mr Roderi-bk m artkd in 1886 Ella Augusta Prince or Wales Lodge fo Freemasons, bav- in goccupied the Worshipful Master's chair for two yeaxs-in, 891, and again in 1895. He was a man of upright character and of a dis- position that made haim anxious to be of ser- vice to the comtmunity.

Newcastle Eml) n Petty Sessions. These sessions were held at the Magis- trates Room on the 31st ult., 64ore Messrs A. H. Jones, John. Lewis, and the Rey W. Powell. P.S. Wiilliam Harries charged Edwin. Jones, Fronfelen, Cenarth, haulier, with being drunk and disorderly on the 11th of November last, and also with assault. Mr Roy Evans, solicitor, Newcastle Emlyn appeared for the police, land H. Brunei White, solicitor, Carmarthen, defended. Complainant said that on the 11th Novem- ber last, he went to Eden Farm, Cilrihedyn, where there was a public auction, and beeor distributed. Eden Arms is close to the farm. He had turned one man out of the inn before 8.30 p.m. About that time he heard loud talking and bad language in the house. He went in. as far as the parlour dooor, and had a conversation with Griffith Jones. Defen- dant was there. He was drunk and excited, and wanted to know what business he had to come in, and added that he had agreat mind to put witness on the road. Witness told him to leave him alone, and told the landlord not to supply defendant with any more drink About 10 p.m., witness was outside, amd heard the landlord tell the people to leave. They did not obey, and witness went in and told the people to listen to the landlord. They then started to go ouF. Defendant and John Davies were last. In the passage, the defendant raised his arm and gave witness a push and swore, and tried to pull him out. He said, "D—, come out here; I'll give it to you." Witness walked out followed by John Davies, and the dooor was locked behind us. David Evans said, "Harries turned us out before 10," and defendant said "Do men d and ran. on to witness -aaid struck him twice in he chest with both fists,. Wit- ness said "Drop that game," and defendant weoit baekards in a fighting attitude. Dd. Jones, Peairhiw, took defendant away a few yards, but he came back again. Witness told him to go home quietly, as he had done quite enough that night. Witness went towards the front door, and made another run at witness, and Said he was going to giva witness something. Witness went inside, and the door was inunediately locked. Two thuds were heard on the dooor, and a veice outside shoutinig "Open the door and tuirn the b-- out." It was defendant's voice. Immediately afterwards a stone was thrown through the window. -Oross-ex,amined: This is the first time defendant has been charged with drink. It was a mooonlight night, and defendant could be seen. Wm. Picton Evans, Glaspan/t Lodge, said he was outside the inn aJbout 9.30 p.m. Sergt. Harries went in about 10. I was close to the front door, .and could see into the passage. Witness saw defendant push Harries in the passage. Dd. Evans and defendant were swearing. After tfhiey caffi« out, ran at Harries and hit him in the chest with the fist. I was close to defendant, and knew him well. After defondai-itt struck Ha-rries, he went back into the road. He was dramik and excited. After Harries went i-naide the door was shut, witness heard rwic door being kiekedamd a. window lbrul,-eii,. -Cross-exam- tntd. Witness did not see who threw the stone. It was not a moonlight night. Defendant wa scalled, and said that he was ait Eden sale, get-ting there about 4 p.m. A-f ter the sale was over, he went in to the inn :t.n¿ had four or five glasses in the evening. He rode oni horseback to the sale., and he put the horse in a field aibo-ut 20 yards away. He left the in aibout ten minutes to ten. Kvan Evans and Griff Jones came out with him. It was very dark. He went into tho field ifor his mare, leaving the two men. at the gate. He mounted the mare and did not return, to the inn. He did not kick the loor or thro wa stone that night, or assault "he sergeant as stated. He heard about the w next day. It was pitch dark.— Cross- xamind: He was riding a black mare that lay. He did not push Harries i,n the passage Evan, Evans, Cwmbran; Griffith Jones," Penbuarth; and Henry Davies, Eden Arms' corroborated. Defenda-nt was fined £2 including costs for the assault, and the charge of drunk and lisorderly was dismissed. 0 J. A. Byrne, excise officer, Newcastle Enlyn charged Benjamin Richards, Tan- geJinen, Abercyoh, with using a gun for taking game without a license on the 13th of October last.—M;r Stubbs, Supervisor, Cardi- gan piosecuited, and Mr Roy Evans was for defendant.—Defendant was fined £3 includ- mg costs.

Tent Dinner at Llangathen. The Gatheai Independent Order of R-eaba- bites' Tent, numbering 50 members, partook of a most umptuous dinner o Friday, the 31st ult., at their registered office, Cross Inn Schoolroom, Llangathen. The talbles had been very tastefully decorated for the occa- sion by the lady members, and a few friends r I AT nt' Grace having been said by Mr John Morgan (t reasurer), the company par- took of the excellent fare, which was done jnstice to by .all, especially the younger mem- bers of the Teilllt, whose beaming bapp57 faces eminently proved they ha,d completely re- galed themselves with the turkev, beef, jellies bW-mange, and fruit-air proving that the repast was very palatable, and could be thoroughly enjoyed without the cup that inebriates. The post pi-andial proceedings consisted of addressee by Messrs Williams, GrlanduAais; Scurlock, Lanksh; and J. Mor- gan, Tynowydd. The Tent Secretary, Mr J. Jwf Tf ai™ual report ,and balance sheet, whidi proved that the branch, num- enng 30 adults and 20 juvenile members is in a veiy flourishing condition, and the W vfi'uation of the Tent was 22s 9d per £ wbilo that of the Carmarthenshire^ iSrriot is ??r b/ Votes of thaillfa5 wSsami vA>rglasney Rev J. Alex rrjtt of Llangathen, for their kind Who%; Ta tlle, suPPer, and to the ladies 1 prel)ared a»d waited at the dinner A! °i a reiy P'leasant evening to a dose — Mel us moes etto.

LLANARTHNEY. THE livings of Henry's Mote I.URL Bigh, Pembrokeshire, in the o-ift of Sir O Sfourlield, Bant, a,nd the J fS"' respectively, been offertS 1 vLT i* £ ss: is atont £ 365 3 alwuse! j?" '"r'"SS iV" nf EglnTaivrw for about 2-5 yeiMs and al}al.thne'y for the last t'l!giht yeati-s, and at i l PJ'ICPS he proved himself successful as and Pnf!i aiiLd W?s ve,7 111 "eh beloved nd inspected by his i>arishioners.- ]\[r Jones was trained at Lampeter and ordained -i'o-l o1" ? He was Clirate at Glvn x 18r3- and RoS and AOISOJI (Pean.) 1875-0.