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FOOTBALL.
FOOTBALL. FORECAST COMPETITION. The conditions are as follows :—Every week the sum of One Pound is offered to the person who sends to the Editor the actual forecast of the results of the matches given for competition the preceding week, and in the event of no one giving the actual scores the sum of Ten Shillings will be given to the person who predicts nearest the actual scores. Each person competing must use the coupon to be found on this page. No old coupons will be allowed, neither will any recognition be given to forecasts other than on the proper coupon. Each competitor must cut out the coupon, and fill in the names of the competing teams, with their scores, thus: Bolton W. 4, Sunderland 2;" in the case of a draw insert Portmadoc 1, Penygroes 1;" as the case may be, and forward in a sealed envelope to the "Editor, COUNTY TIMES Office, Welshpool," by whom it must be received not later than first post on Saturday morning in each week, the envelope to be endorsed Competition." Four points will be allowed for an actual result, three points for a result one goal out, two points fer two goals out, and one point for three goals out. In the case of a draw the same conditions will apply. One or more forecasts may be sent in by the same person but in each case the correct eoupon must be used. The Editor's award is in all cases final. Again no competitor succeeded in prophesying the actual scores of the teams concerned, and there. fore the consolation prize of 10s. goes to Mr. Richard Evans, postman, Welshpool, whose coupon was the nearest being correct. The following are the matches for competition on November 27th coupons must reach the head office, not later than first post on November 27th, otherwise they will be disqualified. II Builth v Towyn 2 Chirk v Druids 3 Aberdare or Swansea v Aberystwyth 4 Newtown v Oswestry United SI ASSOCIATION COUPON. (TO BE DETACHED). Itil NOTEKBSR THJE 18 TH, 1897. 0 J3 CO £ CLUB n CLUB r 1 2 I I I 3 Ul- 4 I I I Name Address Coupons must not be folded. -A
"IN DARKEST BARMOUTH."
"IN DARKEST BARMOUTH." PUBLIC MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE TOWN. QUESTIONS BY RATEPAYERS. On Friday evening, at the Assembly Room, Barmouth, a meeting of ratepayers, conveyed by the Rev. J. Gwynoro Davies, the chairman of the Urban District Council, was held to consider the present financial position of the town. The meeting was well attended, but the room was not filled. The chair was occupied by Mr W. J. Morris, draper, and he was supported on the platform by the Rev. J. Gwynoro Davies (chairman of the Council), Councillors II. Wynne Williams, John Parry, John Richards, Evan Richards, Wm. Owen, O. W. Morris, and R. W. Jones; with Mr J. H. Richards (chair- man of the Ratepayers' Union), Mr W. 0. Williams (secretary of the Union), Alderman Lewis Lewis, Mr John Adams (surveyor), and Mr David Owen. Amongst others present were: Dr. Lloyd, Major Corder, Mr David Davies (Beach Road), Mr J. M. Jones, Dr. Williams, Mr Robert Lewis, Mr John Evans, C.C., Mr M. J.Morris, Mr G. E. Owen, Mr 0. Parry, Mr J. Morgan, Mr T. Blackburn, Mr Griffith Edwards, Capt. W. Morris, Capt. John Griffith, and Mr Robert Williams. The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting was called at the request of ratepayers to reply to the state- ments made at a meeting held in that room about a week previous, and to lay facts before them of the present financial position of the town. Figures would be laid before the meeting which could be vouched for (hear, hear). At the meeting held about a week ago it was stated that two persons had been appointed by the Union to submit certain proposals to the Council. This was utterly untrue, and came from a source from which they could not expect any- thing better. After the facts had been put before them that evening any ratepayeis would be at liberty to ask questions, but he urged upon those present to give the speakers fair play, and to submit the questions at the proper time, after the addresses were delivered. He was very glad that the state of the town at present was much better than it was years ago. The present Council might have been mistaken in their judgment, but who was there living who had not made mistakes. No man, and no local authority could boast of that. Mistakes had been made in Barmoeth by local authorities other than the Council. The Council had, however, done excellent work, although they had been unsuccessful, and perhaps made a mis- take, in connection with the recent lawsuit. Had they foreseen the result of the lawsuit they might have acted differently, but facts were laid before them which were so prominent that it was im- possible for them to remain silent. The persons who were in office before them were not aware that the work had not been completed, or they might have tried to rectify the error. But matters were not so bad as they had been represented by some persons, and he hoped the Council would be able to emerge successfully out of the difficulty (great cheering). In conclusion, that instead of offering suggestions at the meeting about a week ago the one who was most prominent had what he might term a dagger in his hand, and was not possessed of a desire to assist the Council out of the present difficulty (great cheering and applause). The Rev. P. J. ROBERTS said he had one important remark to make at that stage. He referred to reports that had appeared in the Manchester Guardian. The report of the last meeting held under the auspices of the Ratepayers' Union was not correct, as he (the speaker) had pointed out in a letter sent to that paper afterwards. He hoped that that evening the correspondent of the Manchester Guardian would give a fair and correct report of the proceedings. He was sorry to say that the Guardian had on the last occasion declined to substantiate the truth. He trusted that the reports in all the papers would be fair, correct, and impartial. Mr W. O. WILLIAMS, secretary to the Ratepayers' Union, next addressed the meeting. He said he was present that evening on behalf of the Union, and to repudiate certain statements made at the meeting held the week previous. The Ratepayers' Association had been much abused, but he felt it to be an honour to stand before them on that occasion an behalf of the Association (hear, hear). It had often been said that nothing could last very long in Barmouth, but the Union, which was now in the seventh year of its existence, was much stronger and more prosperous than it had ever been, and they had every reason to believe that it would get stronger. As members of the Union, they were continually abused by the local Press and its supporters. He ventured to state that those reflections cast upon them week after week were done with complete knowledge, that they were misleading, unjust, and totally untrue. His object that evening was to place before them, especially those who read the attacks made upon the Union in the local Press, the truth respecting the Union, and in so doing he trusted that those who were not at present in love with the Union would afterwards hold a different opinion of what he considered to be one of the best institutions in Barmouth at the present time (applause). He did not mean the reports but the criticism. They would take no notice of the very offensive and in- discreet names they were called in the Press-they were unworthy of the least consideration. He would give them one instance of what bad appeared in the Barmouth paper. In a leaderette It stated that Alderman Lewis and Mr W. J. Morris were appointed by the Ratepayers' Union Executive Committee to ask certain questions. He said there was not an atom of truth in that statement. Ad- dressing Alderman Lewis, he asked if the state- ment he had made was true, and if he was appoint- ed, as stated. (Alderman Lewis No never.") Then turning to the Chairman, he asked him the same questions, and he also replied in the negative. Mr Williams, proceeding, said he showed those facts so that they may see how they were treated. He would next take two or three statements that had appeared in print, and said that at election time they were simple in themselves, but they were very misleading. Firstly, it was stated that the Union was but smalt in numbers—only a handful of boys and youths. Secondly, that they were not rate- payers. Thirdly, that there were no property owners who were members of the Union. Continu- ing, Mr Williams said that the total strength of the Union was 142 members. Out of that number there were two-he wanted to be fair, to give the truth, and had gone to a lot of trouble to give the actual facts—out of that number there were two non-voters, there were also two members who were not ratepayers. That made a total of four, and, deducting that number, they had 138 members who were ratepayers and also property owners. That was not, however, the whole strength of the Ratepayers' Association. They had a large and influential following. He would prove this by giving an analysis of the result of the voting at the last election. At that election the total number of votes recorded in favour of the nominees of the Ratepayers' Association was 713, and the total number for the opposition-he was not Major Best and would not call it the clique "—was 283. This gave a majority for the Union of 430. If those votes were valued at X5 each, the total value of the votes of the nominees of the Union was .63,565, whilst the total value of the votes of the opposition would come to zCI,415, making a diff-rence in favour of the Union of zC2,150 (cheers). He would next deal with the second accusation, that the Union had no ratepayers as members. As he had already stated there were 138 ratepayers who were mem- bers of the Union. Let them take the rateable value of Barmouth, which was £ 11,000. The total rateable value of the property of the 138 members was X3,051 12s, which was something over £ 22 per head. Let them again take the number of votes recorded in favour of the Union nominees. They polled a number that was only short of 45 to be equal to three to one for the opposition. They would fix the number say at 2J. They would find that the total rateable value of the Union and its followers was over zP,8,000, which only left £ 3,000 to the opposition (great cheering). With regard to the third insinuation that there were no property owners in the Union, he ventured to say that there were. Out of the total of 142 members there were 53 property owner, but they would have to deduct four as their property was situated outside the area of the Council. From the figures they would see that there were only 49 property owners resident in the district. The total value of their property was X87,400, and in the face of that he said it was the Union that should be consulted first of all (applause). Let them compare the number present that evening with the number present a week ago; let them compare the number on the platform with the number on the very same platform the week previous. There were only eight on the platform, and two of them were non-voters. He would refer L_ 'I n to one more matter Detore concluding his remarks. At the meeting referred to they had a very eloquent speech from Major Best, the chief constable. He said that the Union was composed of irresponsible persons, and a clique, and something else, and he did not know what they were not called (laughter). He was glad to inform the other side —he did not know whether Major Best went to the trouble of ascertaining who were the members- that they had three Justices of the Peace as mem- bers, one Alderman, and one County Councillor, the chairman and members of the Local Governing Body of the Intermediate School, chairman of the Board of Guardians, chairman, vice-chairman, and two members of the School Board, leading trades- men, and the honest, intelligent working men who were debarred from being present at the meeting held last week (loud and prolonged cheering). Major Best's speech was very fluent and it got warmer and warmer as he went on, and by the time he got to the end it had got up to a very high pitch (laughter). He had called them a clique, although they were in the majority. They were also called irresponsible persons. He could not make out what he meant. He meant by a clique those in the minority, and they certainly were not in the minority. With regard to the irresponsible persons, he hoped the Major would be as fluent in his quarterly report to the Quarter Sessions, and that he would call the attention of the Lord- Lieutenant and the Lord Chancellor of the last Government to their appointment of Justices. How could they expect to have justice from the Bar- mouth Bench of Magistrates, when there were three irresponsible justices sitting on that Bench ? Major Best said he had never mixed in public matters before except as president of an eisteddfod, where he was a success. In his first public meet- ing, however, he -was a complete failure in every respect (loud applause). He evidently was not aware of what he was talking about. At first he thought he did not mean what he said, but when he (the speaker) found out that two of those justices were before him he came to the conclusion he must have meant it. He could not understand why they were abused in that manner, but if last week's meeting was the first shot at the Union in connec- tion with the election campaign they were quite ready to meet them, and they would face them. They bad been ready before, and he could assure those gentlemen that they would again be ready next time (cheers). Those who desired to become members of the Council should join the Ratepayers' Union, the members of which they would find to be the best friends of the town (great cheering). Mr J. H. RICHARDS, the chairman of the Rate- payers' Union, said that in the first place he desired to confirm what the Rev P. J. Roberts had said. He did make a mistake and he acknowledged it. Before he had seen Mr Roberts he had sent the contra- diction, but somehow or other it did not go in. He had acted quite fairly in the matter. The Rev P. J. ROBERTS I thank Mr Richards very much. While Barmouth had men of the stamp of Mr Richards its future was safe. Mr RICHARDS, proceeding, said Mr W. O. Wil- liams in his admirable speech had uttered what he had intended to say. It was the desire of the executive of the Itatepavers' Union to protest against the resolution moved by Major Best, al- though it was not put to the meeting, and evidently Major Best was like the old tailor who thought, the best thing was to run away. The resolution moved by Major Best-, was: "That this meeting of rate- payers and property owners protests gainst the conduct of the Urban District Council in consulting only a comparatively small and irresponsible section of ratepayers on matters of vital interest to the town generally, and this meeting also protests against the Council identifying itself with a clique." They would soon find out whether they were a clique. He, as a representative of the Ratepayers' Union, had nothing to do with the first part of the resolution. It was matter for the Council, and no doubt they would successfully repel that part; but the last part concerned the Union, and it was for them to deal with. It was plain where Major Best got his speech from-" It was the hands of Esau, but the voice of Jacob (great laughter). It was easy to see who the person was who had worded the resolution, as his voice could be heard in it (cheers). Mr Williams had refuted the remark that they were irresponsible persons and a clique. They lived in an age in which Jack thought himself as good as his master, and had as good a right to think for himself as his master or even the parish priest (cheers). These men complained that they were holdicg meetings in the schoolroom. They did so, and the reason for so doing was that they thought the salvation of the town rested on the ratepayers, knowing how the town was managed. They held the meeting in thas room because they could not afford to pay for the Assembly Room, as that might make the exchequer of the Union a, bid as the old Local Board was when they were turned out of office (cheers and langhter). He desired to refer to articles in the local paper. They found in it sometimes what he might term a great thump- ing lie (laughter). He referred to one article in particular under the heading "Information wanted." The person who wrote the article was sedly in need of information himself (cheers). It stated that at election time members of different connexions were sent out purposely on the principle of religious equality." That was not the truth, as he was in one end with three Methodists, in the north end there were four Methodists, but not because thi-v were Methodists but members of the Union. In another part there were three Wesleyans, and in another part two Churchmen and one Independent. The Union was not adopting devices to secure votes. But could the other side say that ? Their meetings were called hole-and-corner ones, but what about the smoke-room of a certain hotel ? (Great cheering). The Rev J. GWYNORO DAVIES, the Chairman of the Council, said he had hoped, and ardently hoped to appear before them in the capacity of a member of the Council for the last, time. He had looked forward to the day when all bitterness and un- pleasantness would be abolished, when the rate- payers, be they young or old, working men 01 capitalists, be they Chuwhmeu or Nonconformists, Tories or Radicals, would forget everything in their desire to further the interests of Barmouth (chet rs). That meeting was called in response to another meeting held a few days previous. The chairman of that meeting at the commencement had expressed a hope that no bitter feelings would be exhibited. It was true that at the cir.se of the meeting, not in a very graceful way and 110 in the best feeling the olive branch was held out, but who would accept the olive branch after three or four speakers had been using their" tar brushes" all through in a most reckless manner. Every sentence delivered was a spark thrown recklessly into the midst of gun powder. Let them take another illustration every sentence that was delivered was a stab. Take for instance, the first resolution but before doing so he desired to refer to the action of the promoter of the meeting the previous- w-ek in holding a public meeting. Dealing with rhe best interests of Barmouth at an hoar when ir was im- possible for a large section of the most intelligent people to attend (cheers). He assured thorn tint was done with an object, and was a studied insu't to the intelligence and to the good breeding of Bar- mouth working men. By so doing thev boycott, d them and treated them a if they were dirt. He ventured to say that the 1IJ""¡¡"g vvas 'i,„n ?i hour in order to keep the wovkinsy T p meetings held in the scboof,flom I.)" e nm were called hole-and-corner mrat-iugs uric a clique but what he asked was where were the resolutions submitted to the other meeting drawn up Had they not a rehearsal that very morning before r'hev appeared in that room in the afternoon ? They knew where the resolutions were drafted and where the spirit was put into the mind to make the delivery more fluent. He was glad to notice i.ir Lloyd present, he wished he was in the ch*,> rhat evening to show that he Was not a one-sided man. If he consented to be tt, chairman for?;. sn:l clique then surely he would consent to act, in that capacity for a large body of ratepayers as they were represented by the Ratepayers' Union. They had given him the chance, but for his own reason's he had not consented. He was, however, glad to see him present, as that showed that he was not to be put in the category of those who would not hear both sides (cheers). The members of the Council attended the meeting last week, but he was unable to do so. The Rev E. Hughes, Mr Allsopp, Maior Best, and Mr Griffith, Glyn, were the principal actors in the farce played in that room the previous week. If ever there W>lS a masquerade it was played then. They came 10 the meeting with a formidable resolution which condemned the policv -not one action, not one ac, but the whole work of the Council during the three rears root ard branch (cheers). If the Rev E. Hughes was at the helm of the town's affairs he was against the policy of the Council in reference to the water works. The workmen would have been dismissed, and he therefore, in the resolution asked them to condemn the Council for re-starting the water works. The Council had also saved a sum of X300 odd every year in the interests by transferring the loan. lie wanted to make that clear, and if Mr Jones, the Bank, had been present, he would have appealed to him. The Rev Edward Hughes had entered into an agreement with the Economic to borrow a cer- tain sum of money at 4 per cent per annum, and he bound the ratepayers hand and foot to pay that 4 per cent for 60 years. He said the Rev E Hughes had no right to do so, as they could get a loan at 3! per cent. When the matter was placed before the Local Government Board officials they said it was almost criminal to bind Barmouth to pay such an exorbitant and outrageous interest. Now, the
FOOTBALL NOTES.
FOOTBALL NOTES. [BY DRIBBLER.] Amongst the many football events of last Satur- day if there was one that pleased me-and there was some that certainly did not please me—it wae the Sheffield United's drawn game with Derby County. At the commencement of the season I gave the County as my favourites for the English Cup. I see no reason to alter it beyond the fact that their most dangerous opponents for the coveted trophy are the eleven they encountered last Saturday. What about next Saturday's match as far as the United are concerned ? No, I do not think they are journeying for defeat, still it will be a wonderful event if the pigmies "-as they are called-do not meet with defeat sooner or later; still their present record beats the past best records of other League teams easily. Barmouth were to have visited Towyn last Saturday in the Cambrian League, but did not. Of course, there is a lot to say and a lot to explain away in this matter, and on that point there need be no doubt, and further-pro bono publico-the League Secretary is in a position to throw some interesting light on the subject not generally known to the public. Why teams can, in spite of hard and fast rules, arrange and re-arrange their fixtures already fixed against all etiquette, &c., I don't know, but as I have already said theie is something very interesting to come forth. It is a certain fact that the events of the last three weeks in connection with the League would never for one moment be tolerated in any other district in Great Britain, and, therefore, why in Merionethshire? "Coming events cast their shadows before," and some weeks ago in these columns I jogged my readers' memories that the dog saw the shadow before he dropped the bone. Well, I have seen the" shadow" but I have not dropped the bone yet. Oh, no! Thereby hangs a tale! Blaenau Festiniog receive a visit from Barmouth next Saturday, but I am rather puzzled to know whether it will be another case a la Towyn. Well, we'll wait and see. Should Barmouth find their way there I am afraid they will come away point- less. My best wishes go with Aberystwyth to Stock- port County next Saturday for the English Cup tie. By no means will I say that they will be defeated, but that they are confronted by a clever and smart team needs no confirmation on my part. I should like to see a draw of it, so that at least we could have the Stockport men down amongst us. Between the two teams Stockport County and Glossop North End I do not think there is much, but the fact of the Aberystwyth men playing from home makes all the difference. They seem to be going thick for Cup ties, but y 11 their anticipations of a visit to Aberdare are shaken. Last Saturday night an Emergency Committee meeting of the Welsh Football Association was held at Wrexham to consider the protest by Aberdare against Swansea, who in their Welsh Cup tie defeated the appellant club by six goals to nil. The Aberdare objection was that Swansea played a pro- fessional who was Mot registered. The protest was upheld according to the rule on the subject. Swan- sea lost the match, but the committee thought they had committed the offence unknowingly, and recommended Aberdare to replay the tie. The consequence is that Aberystwyth, unlike Towyn, do not know where they must play at in the next round. I do not think they have much to fear in eithel Swansea or Aberdare. I wish, nevertheless, I could say the same of Towyn at Builth. I feel sure the following will be interesting to my readers, showing as it does the various colours of the English League:-Aston Villa, claret and light blue; Blackburn Rovers, blue and white quarters; Bolton Wanderers, Bury, Preston North End, and Derby County, white; Everton, blue; Liverpool and Nott's Forest, red; Nott's County, black, and white stripes; Stoke, maroon; Sunderland and Sheffield United, red, and white stripes; Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion, blue, and white stripes; Wolverhampton Wanderers, old gold, and black stripes. ■ ♦