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ROUND AND ABOUT TOWYN.
ROUND AND ABOUT TOWYN. Towyn abounds in pleasant excursions, and the visitor, if the weather is favourable, need never be at a loss where to go and what to see. Every week- day during the summer months Mr. Carter's well- appointed coaches or Chars -a-banc, run from the railway station to Talyllyn by way of the Dysynui Valley, returning by a different route, or to Pennal and back, a delightful drive of about 20 miles, ten of which on the return journey are along the sea coast. If we take this trip we pass through what is known as "THE HAPPY VALLEY," and an opportunity is afforded visitors of ascend- ing Cae Ceinach hill, permission for which. has been kindly granted by the Marchioness of Lon- donderry. A most charming view of the estu- ary of the Dovey and the surrounding country can be obtained from this point. RAIL AND COACH EXCURSIONS are arranged daily by the Cambrian Railways Com- pany to Tanybwlch and Maentwrog, the Raven and Cataract Waterfalls; to Dolgelley, the Torrent Walk, the Precipice Walk, Ty'nygroes, and the three Waterfalls; to Cwmbychan Lake to which a combined and short walking tour over the moun- tains may be added. This does not by any means exhaust the programme as reference to the Com- pany's advertisements will show, but in this article we have to deal with these walke, and drives rather nearer home first premising that there is excellent boating and fishing on the Dysynni river which here empties itself into the sea. The first excursion to which we will refer is that DOLGOCH FALLS. I- _u'- -l"n 11 TO TAL-Y-LLYN AND BACK. We start soon after ten o'clock in the morning from the railway station in a comfortable char-a-banc and are soon bowling along the main street, past the Church, the Whitehall and Corbett Arms Hotels up Maengwyn street into the Bryncrug road. In a few minutes the Cemetery on the right is left behind, and we soon reach YNYS-Y-MAENGWYN park where we just catch a glimpse of the historical and picturesque mansion of Mr. John Corbett, to whom Towyn owes so much. The ancient seat was burnt during the civil wars of 1643 to prevent its affording shelter to the Parliamentary party. Con- tinuing our journey three fields, called Dolyffrwya, are pointed out, on our left, within the area of which Prince Llewellyn is said to have fought a great battle. Further on we reach BRYNCRUG near which village there once stood the Manor House from which the same Prince wrote his letters to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and where 20 years later Edward 1. dated a charter. A mound or tumulus on the hill-side less than half a mile south rof the bridge is called Tomen Ddreiniog. At Bryncrug is pointed out the cottage where at one time lived Mary J ones, whose name is mentioned as the person who probably was the means of starting the British and Foreign Bible Society. Continuing our journey for about a mile and a half a halt is made at CEFNCOCH, a roadside inn, where the opportunity, first of taking refreshments and afterwards of visiting Llanegryn Church is offered. The building stands on an eminence and is an ancient structure in the early- English style of architecture. There is an elaborately carved oak screen and rood loft said to have been brought from Cwmmer Abbey, near Dolgelley. A curious Norman font will also attract attention. Proceeding on our way we arrive in succession at the villages of LLANEGRYN AND PENIARTH, and then following the line of the valley with the Cader Idris Range bounding the wild prospect on our left we wind round past one of the most remarkable features of this district and a prominent object from many points of view—Craig-y-Deryn, or, as it is more popularly called THE BIRD ROCK. This rock, the dwelling of the hawk and the cormorant, is about 700 feet in height and the view from its summit is only equalled by Cader Idris without its attendant fatigue. It derives its name from the number of birds which frequent it in the breeding season and thus find shelter for them- selves and their progeny. Other frequenters of the Craig are sheep, of the small mountain breed, abounding in these solitudes. On the northern side or the summit are traces of fortifica- tions and on the opposite side of the vale are remains of Roman entrenchments. Re- suming our course to Talyllyn, we soon arrive at the top of the hill leading down to ABERGYNOLWYN and this we descend on foot. Arrived at the village we see a very pretty chuich and beyond it are the late quarries of Bryn- eglwys. This is the terminus of the Toy Railway from Towyn. From here the journey to the lake is soon accomplished, the distance being about 3 miles. The view of the lake, as it comes into sight, is very charm- ing, and whilst the coach puts up for an hour or two ample time is given for a walk along its banks or for a mountain ascent. History says that the lake was originally caused by a tremendous landslip which completely barred one end of the valley. How man) years ago it happened nobody ap- pears to know, but the little churchwhich has existed for a great number of years was built upon the debris. This barrier of earth and rock completely stopped the course of the Dy- synni and so its waters accumu- lated in the meadows until the present lake was formed. In the course of time the water found an outlet for itself and irr became reduced in depth until laKegx condition. it arrived at Pry.tLYN CHUECH n QTlfi pomparativelv ancient edifice and oyer the porch is a Welsh inscription of which the following is a translation :— A great and holy house of refuge A royal quire In the face of God and the congregation Except with pure thoughts, Man, come not hither." Several hours can very profitably be spent at Taly- llyn if the visitor is fond of mountain climbs and romantic scenery. Cader Idris may be ascended from here or failing that a walk up to Llynycae is recommended. There is good trout fishing to be had in the lake and boating may be indulged in. The return journey is made by way of DOLGOCH VALLEY, and an opportunity is given to visit the beautiful waterfalls of that name. St. Cadfan is said to have often resorted to this spot as a recluse. The falls are easily reached from the main road the path leading thereto passing under the Talyllyn railway viaduct. Proceeding homewards we pass Dolau Dolangwyn, then Rhydyronen and the last "W feature of special interest is a fine old Elizabethan mansion which stands in its own grounds just off the public highway. Towyn is reached about a quarter to six o'clock. THE NARROW-GUAGE RAILWAY. This little railway runs from Towyn to Aber- gynolwyn ard the varied scenery through which it passes is most impressive. There are four stations —Rhydyronen, Brynglaa, Dolgoch, and Abergynol- ly wyn. At each of these villages there is much to be seen and admired. The waterfalls are not far from Dolgoch Station, and the trams run conveniently so that visitors can, if they wish it, go by one train and return by the next. Dolgoch is also the sta- tion to alight for the Bird Rock The road, how- ever,is not a very good one, and it is well to enquire on e's way along the route. The railway station at Towyn is in a turning out of Maengwyn street, on the right. The carriages are, of course, very small and convenient, and the fares are moderate.
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE A FINE OCTOBER. Another week of delightful autumn weather has established for the present month a record to which it is not easy to recall a parallel. It is many years since farmers have been favoured with so fine an October. The break in the weather which seemed to be imminent when rain set in steadily at about the middle day of the month has yet to come. In- stead of a spell of wet the old conditions reasserted themselves, and have brought us a glorious Indian summer, the daylight of which is too short for its adequate enjoyment in tie open air. AUTUMN FARM WORK. The mangold and potato crops—the latter very poor-are now mostly lifted, and autumn tillage work is proceeding briskly. Not a few farmers have finished wheat sowing, that is, they have seeded all the area they intend to devote to the crop this season. In warm and well-prepared seed beds germination has been prompt, and the braird is green and strong. It may, of course, suffer subse- quently from frost, but the establishment of a vigorous root system on the early side of winter gives the plant a great advantage in its struggle with the elements and is the surest means of check- ing the waste of soil nitrates which might other- wise be incurred under the influence of drenching rains. THE PRICE OF MEAT. For live stock in the fields the open autumn weather is highly favourable. On the other hand, the mild temperatures are reflected in the falling values of meat, the present supply of which exceeds requirements, whereas the warm weather necessi- tates forced sales. The butter markets, again, are glutted with produce, and the Copenhagen official quotation is now about 16s. per cwt. less than at this time last year. Active markets and rising values are usually looked for in September and October, but they have not been experienced this year, a circumstance which in some quarters is attributed to the rapidly-growing facilities for cold storage, whereby large supplies of butter are instantly forthcoming on any indication of better prices. AUSTRALASIAN RABBITS. The rapid growth in the importation of Austral- asian rabbits is noteworthy. For the first nine months of each of the last three years we have received from Australasia 17,848 cwt. of rabbits in 1895, 52,603 cwt. in 1896, and 131,287 cwt. in 1897, so that this year's import is over seven times that of 1895, and nearly three times that of 1896. The imports this year have thus far exceeded those of 1895 by 4,672 tons, equivalent, the Colonial Con- signment Company state, to 210,000 New Zealand sheep, or 280,000 Australian sheep, numbers which have probabiy been displaced in consumption by this enemy to the sheep, both alive and dead. THE WHEAT CROP. The unusual difficulty experienced this season in arriving at trustworthy estimates as to the yield of wheat does not appear to diminish as our familiarity with the crop, based upon the results of threshing, increases. The following letter to the Times from a farmer of ripe experience relates to an English district in which the art of wheat-growing has at- tained its highest degree of development" Your remarks upon the yield of corn this year in The Times of October 18th provoke my observation that there is an extraordinary variation in the quantity of produce grown, under apparently similar condi- tions, such as I can hardly remember previously. One can understand in t great drought or a very bad seed time a wide difference in results, but I have this year heard from my neighbours such con- flicting accounts that I should find greater difficulty than usual in striking an average. In mv own case I estimated the yield of wheat on my farm at 44 bushels per acre at the commencement of harvest, but at the conclusion I should have discounted this by deducting two bushels for tai-l and damaged corn. I threshed the produce of one crop, stacked in the field, and I got 50 bushels per acre of 631b. per bushel (equal to 52 bushels of 601b.) I am sure that this is much more than I shall get as an average, but I am at a loss to know why this parti- cular field should be so prolific, for it is not my best land. The crop was after oats following mangel, and there has been no extra manuring nor anything which can account for an exceptional yield." PRICES OF WHEAT AND BARLEY. The first eight weeks of the new cereal year were completed on Saturday, and the official average prices of English wheat per imperial quarter of 4801b., as returned from the 196 statutory markets of England and Wales, were commencing with the week ended September 4, 33s 7d, 33s Id, 33s lOd, 33s lid, 32s 4d, 32s ld, 31s lOd, and 32s 2d. Atfer three weeksof declining averages there was last week a slight advance to the extent of 4d. The 33s lid for the week ended September 25 is the highest weekly average since January, 1892. The quantity reported from the returning markets as sold in the first eisht weeks has been 553,212 qr. in the cereal year 1897-98, and the following quantities in the first eight weeks of the four preceding cereal years -479,703qr. in 1896-97, 260,719qr. in 1895-96, 372,774qr. in 1894-95, 428,338qr. in 1893-94. The quantity of barley is now bulking largely, as is always the case in October. Last week 203,6C4qr. were returned as sold at the averge price of 27s 5d per quarter of 4001b. In the preceding week the average was 28s 9d and the week before it was 29s lOd. IMPORTS FROM IRELAND. The most noteworthy feature in our imports of live stock from Ireland last month was the large increase in the number of cattle, which, at the total of 82,223 head, far exceeded that of any previous month of the year and was greater than the aggregate total for February and March together. Sheep reached our ports to the number of 112,005 head, which is almost identical with the total in June, but falls short of the totals in the two intervening months. With the approach of winter the number of pigs is again increasing, and the September total of 40,632 is the largest fince the month of May. Irish horses were landed in Great Britain to the number of 3,723-a total that was exceeded only in May and July. The totals for the first nine months of 1897, as compared with the first three-fourths of 1896, show increases of 29,467 cattle, 30,281 sheep, and 52,266 pigs; but a decrease in horses to the extent of 2,133. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. The outbreaks of swine fever in Great Britain numbered 23 in the week ended October 16, as agaiust 27 in the previous week and 70 in the corresponding week of last year. No outbreak was reported from Wales. In the week under notice seven outbreaks of anthrax were reported, seven- teen outbreaks of glanders, no case of rabies, and no further outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia. ♦
PENRHYN QUARRY.
PENRHYN QUARRY. DENIAL BY THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY BREACH OF THE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. The following letter has been sent to the mem- bers of the Deputation Messrs W. H. Williams, Robert Davies, Henry Jones, Bethesda. DEAR SIRS,—In view of the fact that a section of the press has made an unwarrantable and mis- chievous attempt to convey the impression that there has been on the part of the management a breach of the terms of settlement, I feel it is necessary to write somewhat fully in reply to your communication dated 25th September, 1897. In your letter of that date you say you understood that according to the terms of that agreement, to- gether with previous conversations you had with me, not one of the late employes would be left out. In the course of an interview which I had with you on this subject at the quarry on Monday, the 11th inst., you told me that the conversations re- ferred to were those of May last. I, therefore, reminded you of the facts of the case, and you at once admitted that in those conversations I did not make any promise that none of the late employes would be left out. What I really did state in those conversations was as follows :— (1) That there was to be no "black list," i.e., no late employe would be refused employment as a punishment for any act in connection with the strike. (2) That on no account would I make any bar- gain with you as to how many or which of the late employes would be re-admitted, or in what part of the quarry they would be set to work. (3) But I gave you a private assurance that I hoped that, with but very few exceptions, all the late employes who applied for work would within about six weeks' time find themselves at work again pretty much in the same places as before.1 By clause 5 of the terms of settlement the re- admission of all the late employes "as far as practi- cable was promised, and that promise is fulfilled. Out of the whole number of late employes 25 were refused employment owing either to drunk- enness, incompetence, defective eyesight, defective hearing, unfitness for work through being on sick list, or some other equally valid reason which made it impracticable for me to give those men employ- ment and although Mr V. H. Williams in the course of the interview on the 11th inst., remarked —"If you had first of all re-admitted every one of the late employes and a week afterwards had begun to dismiss them, we should not have complained," I still feel (as I explained to you at the time) that if I had taken that course, which I must admit many persons urged me to adopt, it would to my mind have borne the appearance of a want of straight- forward dealing on my part, and moreover I should not, have been consulting the lawful interests of Lord Penrhyn if I had engaged men who were unsuitable for empl,) *v.nent, Yours truly, E. A. YOUNG. Port Penrhyn, Bangor, 20th October, 1897. +
[No title]
At a meetintr of the Radnorshire County Council on Friday resolutions were submitted in favour of holding an inquiry into the charities of the county, and asking the legislature to give effect to the re- commendations of the Welsh l and Commission. B< th were rejected. At Shrewsbury Borough Police Court on Satur- day, Mary Ann Wilde, single woman, Nesscliffe, near Oswestry, was charged with obtaining a large quantity of articles of wearing apparel from several tradesmen of the town. Evidence was given by the assistants of Messrs John Venn and Co., Pride Hill; Messrs Grocott, Forsdick, and Co. Tlie Square; and the Manchester and Bradford Warehouse Com- pany, to show that the prisoner visited their differ- ent places of business and asked for several blouses to take to Miss Wilde, The Peutre, Nesscliffe," on approbation. This was done in every case, but the goods were not returned when promised, nor were they paid for. The prisoner, who cried bitterly during tie hearing of the case, was committed to take her trial at the Shropshire Assizes at Shrews. bury on November 27.
---------TOWYN: WHERE IT IS…
gratifying in the extreme. The health of the children is of course above everything else, and in this district their sanibary requirements receive the fullest attention. On the numerous enjoyable excursions from Towyn-by the Narrow Guage Railway and by brake-we need not now enlarge. Suffice it to say they are all among the most delightful of their kind. There are excellent livery stables in the place, and good horses and carriages can be obtained at any time. The hotel and lodging house ccommodation is excellent, and the terms every- where are very reasonable. After all is said and done, Towyn remains, in fact, as desirable a holiday resort and place of residence as anyone could possibly wish to find. TTIE BIRD ROCK—ANOTHER VIEW.