Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

THE NEW FACULTY OF LAW. On Tuesday evening Sir Lewis Morris, in the absence of Lord Rendel, presided over a crowded ^meeting held in the Examination Hall for the pur. pose of listening to an address by Lord Justice Yaughan Williams, who took for his subject "What is Jurisprudence and is there a Science of Law?" The Vice-President had to announce, much to the regret of all present, that the Lord Justice was un- able to leave his hotel, and his paper would be read by Principal Roberts.-Before proceeding with the reading of the paper the Principal read a letter from Lord Rendel which was sent to the Lord Justice in which he expressed his regret at not being able to attend the meetings, and further saidI desire to interest you in our Welsh library, now grbwing into national importance and demanding a "national sympathy arid consideration. I wish you also to see how we at Aberystwyth are testing with prudence, but with courage, by a small Hostel for men students, the value to our College of some oloser companionship and solidity amongst under- graduates. Principal Roberts stated that the new department had already 12 students, and another class of 18 were proceeding through a course of constitutional law. He then proceeded to read the paper, a summary of the points of which is given below. „ WHAT IS JURISPRUDENCE r His Lordship wrote:—I hope and believe that in a Welsh School of Law you will find jurisprudence studied, discussed, and taught as a theory in its most scientific aspect with the same thoroughness and the same enthusiasm that you would find it studied, discussed and taught in a German Uni- versity. Having made this observation by way of preface, I will proceed to discuss the subject which I have chosen—What is jurisprudence, and is there a. science of the law from a professional lawyer's point of view ? If anyone were asked whether the study of law was to be encouraged at a university colW". I suppose he would answer, -ten. I tfm i., L sire, however, that everyone would have the same conception of what in meant by a study of the law. Jt is a very good thing, no doubt, if you are going to enter the legal profession, to learn what are the laws of your country—what is the written law, that is to say, the statute law, and what is the unwritten law, that into say, the common law; but to teach such things, that is to say, to teach what the law is, as distinguished from teaching how the law grew to be so seeins rather the function of a school than of V university, and such study would hardly justify the establishment of a law chair at a university. It is not sufficient to justify the establishment of a law faculty that universities should pro. pb§e to teach the code of a particular nati m or even the respective codes of law of various nations. The university must teach a uni- versal science of law, and to do this must by ita orofeaaora and students so conduct scientific Mrestigation of law as to arrive at scientific results, and by scientific results I do net mean re- faults relating merely to national or local law. I mean results which endure for the benefit of the whole civilised world. The faculty of law must embrace not only the study and teaching of What is the law of this or that nation or com- munity, but also must embrace the science of the law commonly called jurisprudence, which can no more be merely local than could the science of medicine. It may be generalisations from one local law, but the generalisations will hold good everywhere. The study of Roman law, the study of the laws of Great Britain, pistjTtpd present, the study of the codes of Jastinian and the code Napoleon, the study of the laws of Howell bda—all have a value to students of law and history, but the law of the past and the history of the past are hardly scientific ends. Why then do we find -professors of law and history at almost every university P I think that the reason is that both in law and in history the professors try to evolve out of the legal or historical facts which they have gleaned from the past or the pre- sent generalisations or theoretical principles cap- able of application in the government of nations in legislation and in the construction and application of laws passed for the regulation of the conduct of citizens inter se. Such generalisations seem to be scientific in so fat as they are universal. The generalisations which civilised mankind accept Constitute the philosophy of law or of history as the Case nltfy be, but the science of neither one nor the other is an exact science. All you can do in either oase is to try to approximate the truth, and thereby to develop the nobler instincts of mankind.—At its conclusion, on the motion of Mr Ellis Jones Griffiths, seconded by "Mr Llewelyn Williams, a vote of thanks was passed to the Lord Justice for his address.

MEETING OF THE COURT OF GOVERNORS. Alderman Ffoulkes Roberts presided over the annual meeting of the Court of Governors which was held in the Library at the College. There was a large attendance of delegates and representatives from the various affiliated colleges of Wales. TIlE PRINCIPAL'S REPORT. Principal Roberts presented his report on the working of the college. He said that the number of students in session was 476 and of this number 166 were new students. There were in session 216 women students. Of the total number in college South Wales supplied 245, North Wales 65, and 166 were drawn from other counties than Wales. The Chairman asked what was the percentage of English students. Principal Roberts said that it worked out at one. third. He might point out that the increase was under the head of Welsh students, and that had been the case all along. He called attention to the large proportion of students who had graduated with honours, and pointed out that the awards made by the Senate upon the entrance examination had been secured by pupils drawn very largely from the Welsh schools (applause). That he considered extremely gratifying, and so far from the standard of the competition having gone down, he never remembered a keener compe- tition than the one held in September. Going on to refer to reports of the various departments he said that the Welsh Library Committee had an extremely important report to present, and he hoped that the Press would give it full publicity. The report had been drawn up by experts who declared that the Welsh books in the library were amongst the richest collection to be found. They were looking forward to the time when students from other countries would visit the College for the purpose of consulting the MSS. to be found in the library (applause). In his report Professor Sudborough complained that there was a pressing need for increased room in the laboratory and he commended this to the consideration of the Court. He was extremely glad to state that they had appointed a lecturer in dyeing. The death of Principal Viriamu Jones had thrown more respons- ibility upon the shoalders of the younger genera- tion whose duty it was now to continue the great work laid upon such noble foundations by those no longer with them (hear, hear). TREASURER'S REPORT. Mr D C Roberts, Aberystwyth, presented the report of the treasurers, and drew attention to the continual growth which was observal in the Col- lege. The increase in students' fees upon the previous year was £ 365, and further on in the report the increase during the last ten years was strikingly exhibited. In 1890-1 the fees were dEl,366 and the salaries of the College staff £ 3,805; now the fees were £5,141, and the salaries £ 8,671. This increase, it should be noted, was not a casual increase, but was rather a steady growth from year to year. This success brought with it responsi- bility and they were now face to face with a crisis. More room was demanded for the better carrying out of the work of the College, and this had to be provided and the forward movement continued or they had to make a stand at the piesent position. The people of Wales had responded splendidly in the past and he felt sure that they would do so in the future. For his part he hoped that the college would never be out of debt, for being in debt meant also making strides forward and he hoped that the Court would take the necessary step to bring about the further provision asked for by the chemical department (applause). The treasurers regretted to report that the expenditure for the year had slightly exceeded the receipts. The summary showed that the credit balance of zP,33 16s lid with which the year opened had been changed into a small deficit at the close of £ 23 11s 4d. The expenditure had consequently exceeded the receipts by zC57 8s 3d. The balance sheets clearly showed that if the college was to keep pace with the increased demands arising from its very success, its friends must not cease to give that financial assistance which had never failed the the college in the past, and the treasurers earnestly appealed for subscriptions towards the restoration fund, so that the necessary increased accommoda- tion might be provided without delay. AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT. Mr Rd Jones, Pertheirin, presented the report of the Agricultural Department. Sir Lewis Morris had that morning alluded to the apprehension felt at the establishment of the agricultural side of the College, but he thought that by that the agri- cultural department had passed what they might call the experimental stage of its existence, and might now, at any rate, be placed with the category of the living departments of that College (applause). The distinctions earned by the students of this department were what any College might well be proud of, and he was furthermore pleased to note that the value of the agricultural course at that College was recognised over the border, and that they had students there from Staffordshire and Warwickshire. He complained that the farmers did not take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the College of having their fertilizers and feed. ing stuffs analysed. In Carmarthenshire the County Council had arranged with the College to have the samples analysed free of charge, and this seemed to work very well. The farmers, he said, were ever ready to combine on politics and religion, but they would not co-operate upon matters more closely bound up with their interests, therefore he was glad to note that a farmers' association had been formed which would help to keep the men in touch with each other after leaving college (hear, hear). THE WELSH LIBRARY. Mr Llewelyn Williams presented the report on this library. It stated that the library had now been in existence for five years, and ranked as one of the most complete and extensive of its kind in existence. In response to the appeal made by the Principal five years ago, a very large number of Welsh books and manuscripts had been from time to time presented. It would not be invidious to mention amougst the donors the late Principal Edwards, of Bala College, who presented to the library his collection of Welsh manuscripts, many of which are of great value. By far the largest accession to the library bad been made during the course of the present year by the purchase of the collections of Gwalter Meehan and the Rev Owen Jones, B.A., Llansantffraid. The Owen Jones collection added to what was undoubtedly an already excellent library, included seven works of the 16th, 125 of the 17th, and 526 of the 18th centuries. The Philological section of the library, maintained by an annual grant, had made great strides within the last two or three years. There already existed an excellent nucleus of Irish Books, and particular attention was paid to the amassing of material for the study of Irish. This would require something like JE350 to rebind the books, and they made an appeal to the many supporters of the College to come to their aid in this matter. In moving that the reports be received the Vice- Chairman said he remembered when they started with 29 students, and at that time he and Sir Hugh Owen went round Wales appealing for help. They had much to discourage them, and he related how at Chester the public meeting called in support of the movement was attended by more reporters than audience. In Anglesey the first time they went round they did not get enough to pay their expenses and altogether it was I very disheartening, but now at the end of thirty years instead of twenty-nine students they had up- wards of 500 (cheers). There was still a debt of some £ 8,000 on the college and he hoped that some rich gentlemen would put their hands in their pockets and help them out of it (hear). Mrs Humphreys-Owen moved the adoption of the reports, and said that owing to an important engagement in London, Mr Humphreys-Owen was not able to be present, and this was the first governors' meeting he had missed for twenty-seven years. Principal Roberts formally moved a vote of con. dolence with the family of the late Principal Jones, which was eaified. On the motion of Mr J C Harford, Falcondale, seconded by Mr Hugh Lewis, of Newtown, a resolu. tion approving of the appointment of the lecturer on dyeing and asking for the co-operation of the authorities of Montgomery, Merioneth and Cardigan was passed. In reply to Mr J M Howell, Aberayon, the Principal said that the classes at the College would not begin until next summer. Mr R Williams, of Newtown, proposed a vote of thanks to the Welsh Library Committee and paid a tribute to the work of Mr J H Davies, of Cwrt- mawr. Professor Darlington seconded and the vote was carried. Dr Emrys Jones, of Manchester, moved that the Court request the Council to take into immediate consideration the improvement of the chemical laboratory as stated in the report of that depart- ment and report to the next meeting of the Court. Mr Fryer seconded.—Carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The Court re-elected Sir Lewis Morris junior ^ice-president for another five years, and Mr Hum- phreys-Owen, M.P., and Sir John Williams were re-elected treasurers for three years. Miss E P Hughes was elected a woman member of the Council. The Court will meet next spring at Newtown, Montgomeryshire. Mrs Humphreys-Owen ques- tioned whether the Court could be accommodated as she knew that at Welshpiool two ladies had to walk about the streets looking for lodgings. Mr Hugh Lewis, of Newtown, retorted that the accom- modation at Newtown was superior to Welshpool (laughter). On the motion of the Rev Prebendary Williams a vote of thanks was passed to Alderman Roberts for presiding. The following ware elected members of Council in the room of members who retire :—Messrs Lewis Angell, Eastbourne; T Darlington, Aberystwyth; T Lumley Davies, Liverpool; Thomas Davies, Liverpool; Stephen Evans, Brockley, S.W.; H C Fryer, Aberystwyth David Davies, Llandinam J Lloyd Morgan, M.P., London; Henry Owen, Lon- don Richard Jones, Caersws Rev Ellis Edwards, Bala Rev Lewis James, Narberth Alderman Edward Jones, Trewythen; Dr A Garrod Thomas, Newport, Mon. ELECTION OF GOVERNORS. The following were elected Governors of the college :—Hon W N Bruce, Charity Commission; Mr David Davies, Llandinam; Mrs T E Ellis, Lon- don Mr E Vincent Ev;,ns, London; Professor J Young Evans, Trevecca College Mr Morgan Evans, Aberayron; Principal W J Evans, Carmarthen Lt. Gen Sir James Hills-Johnes, Llanwrda; Mr David Howell, Aberystwyth; Miss E E Constance Jones, Girton College, Cambridge; Dr A Emrys Jones, Manchester; Rev H Elvet Lewis, London; Sir Marteine Lloyd, Bart, Llandyesul; Mrs Humphreys- Owen, Berriew; Lord Powis, Powis Castle; Rev Principal Owen Prys, Trevecea College; the Bishop of St David's; Miss K Trubshaw, Aberystwyth; Professor Hugh Williams, Bala Mr Roland Vaughan Williams, London.

——.——— THE PENRHYN DISPUTE. THE COST TO THE COUNTY. The Carnarvonshire Joint Police Committee were occupied for some time on Thursday in discussing questions arising directly or indirectly out of the Penrhyn dispute. The Chief Constable (Col Ruck) reported that the military had been withdrawn as well as a number of the Liverpool police. In any future emergency it was decided that the Chief Constable should consult with the Chairman of the committee. The Chief Constable also reported that there were still 20 constables at Bethesda, as against five at ordinary times, and he was unable to,say when they might be withdrawn. The Chairman of the Finance Committee, in presenting bills relat. ing to the trouble at Bethesda, said that the total cost of the dispute on the county since November of last year was £ 1,350. Among the accounts pre. sented were claims by Capt Heron, the officer com- manding the cavalry at Bangor, for,22 18s 3d for carriage of kit, £1 12s for cabs during wet weather, and JE60 representing an allowance of 53 per day to the officers towards their hotel expenses. All the claims were disallowed. A long discussion took place on a resolution moved by the Rev Ceidiog Roberts condemning the introduction of the military as unwise and unjustifiable, and as tending unfairly to prejudice the cause of the men before the public. The voting for and against the resolution was equal and the chairman declined to give a casting vote. On the agenda were several questions which Mr W J Parry proposed to put to Lord Penrhyn. As the latter was absent, and a letter was read from him re- pudiating Mr Parry's right to question him, Mr Parry agreed to postpone the matter. Attention was afterwards drawn to some rather alarming reports as to the practioe by men working in the quarry of carrying firearms. One man had been found practising shooting with a pistol. The Chief Constable stated that as the man had not got a licence for the pistol, the case had been reported to the Inland Revenue officers.

The Secretary of State for War is offering three prizes of £1000, £750, and 500 respectively for the best tractors for military purposes. To eaoh prize will be added a bonus of £10 for every oomplete mile beyond the minium of 40 miles required that the tractor awarded such prize can travel under the conditions therein described, the total amount of this bonus not to exceed the value of the par- ticular prize to which it may be added. The trials which will be conducted by the War Offic;e Com- mittee on Mechanical Transport, will commence in the Spring of 1903, and tractors may be throughly tested. The exact nature of the trials will be determined upon by the Committee. ;J'

A PUBLIC BREAKFAST. In celebratibn of the opening of the Public School of Law, a public breakfast was held in the Examination Hail at the College on Wednesday tabrriinj?. *A splendid repast was provided by Mr ^Stufus ■Willia.ms, of the Lion Hotel, and the com- pany present included Sir Lewis Morris presiding, Itr Vaughan Uavies, M.P. Mr Ellis Jones Griffiths, Principal and Mrs Roberts, Alderman :Ffoulkes Roberts (Manchester), Mr EP Wynne (Mayor), Mrs Ed Davies (Plas Dinan\ Mr Humphreyi-Owen, Mr and Mrs Hugh L. vt id, Miss Carpenter, Mr and Mrs Ed Jones (Trewythen), Mrs Evan Evans (solicitor), Miss Ellis, Dr Emrys Jonea I (Manchester), Mr C E Howell (Welshpool), Mr H Ll Howell (Board of Trade), Professor Darlington, Mr R 0 Jones (Pertheirin), Rev T E Williams (Newtown), Mr J H Davies (Cwrtmawr), Councillor C M Williams (ex-Mayor), Councillor Isaac Hopkins, Mr A J Hughes (town 'clerk), Mr John Evans (county coroner), Mr H C Fryer (clerk to the County Council), Mr and Mrs John Rowlands (Machynlleth), Mr T Mortimer Green, Mr T J Samuel (solicitor), Professor Angus, Professor Marshall, Professor Forsdof, Mr W Watkin (New- town). and Mr D C Roberts. THE TOAST L7ST. The toast of the King and Queen was given by the Chairman, who also gave the toast of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York." This he said was rather a cumbrous title, and he hoped that the day was not far distant when they would be drinking the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales (hear, hear). Principal Roberts said that a large number of apologies for absence had been received. Among the number were letters from Mr Osmond Williams, M.P., Mr Brynmor Jones, M.P., Mr T Evans, M.P., Mr Marchant Williams, Judge William Evans, Messrs Lleufer Thomas, J R Loxdale, Alfred Davies. He also read a letter from Lord Justice Vaughan Williams who was leaving at that momeut for London. His Lordship promised to send to the College as a gift all the text books referred to in his address last night (hear, hear). He would give them the health of the Lord Justice, and this was cordially received. The Chairman conveyed a vote of thanks to his Lordship who informed that he hoped to be in full work at the law courts on the morrow. Principal Roberts said that towards the sugtenta- tion fund of £500 a year a little over C400 hao been obtained and it was very important that they should obtain the remainder as soon as possible, and he therefore appealed to those present to help them in this direction. They were very much in- debted to the London and local committees for the work done by them towards bringing into being the new department. He mentioned that Mr Aeron Thomas, M.P., had sent three of his articled clerks to the college and he hoped that this step would be followed by other firms of solicitors. The Chairman then gave Success to the new School of Faculty of Law." Perhaps he had some claim to speak upon that matter for it might not be generally known that fifteen years ago he practised in London, and he was not wholly without a prac- tice by any means (laughter). But really it did not seem to be good enough, aud he turned his atten- tion to other things (applause). But once a lawyer always a lawyer, and his sympathies were strongly with the legal profession and every branch of the science of law. He had had very little time to study his brief and he could with confidence direct their attention to the address delivered by Prof Levi from which source he had mainly derived his instruction. It would be a very good thing for country gentlemen to make the study of law a part of their education because he was often struck by the extraordinary innocence of other members of the Bench of Magistrates. He had great faith in the future of the new department and coupled with the toast the names of Prof Browne and Prof Levi. Principal Roberts asked that Mr Llewelyn Williams should respond for ti-f s vrristers and Mr John Evans for the solicitors. He was pleased to see Mr A J Hughes, the town clerk, present, and well recovered from his recent illness, and other members of the legal profession. Professor Browne replied with a neat speech and he was followed by Professor Levi who laid stress upon the fact that when Professor Browne and himself came down from London they found that it was not necessary to advocate the claims of legal education. Instead, they found that Welsh and English writers had long expressed the hope that a law faculty would be established in Wales. They found upon inquiry that a commission sitting in in 1894 had suggested that in future years a law faculty would be established in Wales. They found a splendid library of law books at the College, and he had to state that a friend had promised to pre- sent a set of statutes from A.D. 1300 down to the present (hear, hear). They were much gratified by the reception given to the new department which he felt bound to say was no castle built in the air. Mr Llew Williams, in reply, said that the legal history of Wales was practically at present an un- explored country. Who knew anything about the Court of Great Sessions of Wales ? That was a most interesting field for young and old explorers, as was the Court of Marches. Mr John Evans also replied and said that a school of law would educate the public to a much better appreciation of the labours which lawyers have to undergo and that it would once and for all get rid of that foolish charge of dishonesty (laughter). In proposing Success to the College," Mr Vaughan Davies, M.P., desired to say that in his remarks on the previous evening he did not intend to cast any reflection upon the legal profession amongst whose members were some of his best friends. Going on to speak of the Welsh library, he said that they must not blame the Government for not giving Wales a grant for the museum and library, because he heard Sir John Gorst say that the Government would be prepared to consider the question of a grant so soon as Wales decided where the museum should be located. For his part he was satisfied that it should be in Cardiganshire, but the question of the Capital of Wales would have to be settled before anything could be done in this direc- tion.—The toast was well received and acknow- ledged by Prof Angus and Miss Carpenter.