Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

A RUNAWAY MEAT VAN ON THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. Early on Monday morning, just in advance of the 6 35 from Llanidloes, a meat van at Llanidloes station was started from a siding, apparently by the strong wind. It proceeded down the line at a terrific speed bffore the gale, and passed several stations at an alarming rate. The officia,ls at Llanidloes sent a telegraphic message down the line which was consequently kept clear, and at Moat Lane an engine was in preparation to give chase immediately the runaway passed through. It was overtaken near to Scafell where it bad slackened speed owing to au incline and was taken back. Much amusement was caused at Moat Lane where several gentlemen coming to Newtown on business usually join. the first patsenger train down, and hearing the rumbling of the runaway ran in the darkness when they were yet a good distance from the station took this to be their train and ran almcat breathlessly en to the platform. Hern they saw Councillor E. R. Jones, Caersws, placidly walking up and down the platform, and were in- formed by him that it was a special meat train that had just gone by "like a flash." Fortunately no accident of any kind occurred.

-+- At the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce dinner on Tuesday night a letter was read from Mr Hanbury, M.P., stating that the doctor had fOl. bidden him to keep any engagement this side of Christmas.

TOWYN AND PENNAL SCHOOL BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Board was lwld on Tuesday afternoon »t Cadvan Hoose. Thete weie present Mr Edward Rowlands '(chairman), presid- ing, the Rev Robert Jores, Messrs John Evans (Dolaugwyn), William Jones, and E. L. Rowlands (Aberdovey), with Mr Ernest Richards (assistant clerk), and John Owen (attendance offioer). SALARY. The first matter was the consideration of the request made by the attendance officer for an increase of salary.—The Chairman read over a list of the duties which after consideration were increased in some particulars, and said the officer was called upon to devote more time to the work. TJtie salary was mcreassu iu SOOO, ana SL >,««« AOOIDOI to give a bonus in addition if the percentage of attendance waa increased. The settlement amount of the bonus was deferred until the next meeting. A CONTRACTOR'S CLAIM. A letter was read from Mr G. G. Jones, Bryn- crug, stating that he had made a mistake in calcu- lating for carrying on the work at Bryncrog by which he was X30 out of pocket. He hoped that the Board would take this matter into consideration and endeavour to meet him.—Mr Bassett the archi- tect wrote recommending that hi3 claim of X5 2s. 7d be paid. It appeared that there was some misunderstanding between the two, and the Chair- man remarked on the discrepancy.—The Clerk said the contractor had already received the Board's sanction to amend his contract from X100 to £ 135. —Mr John Evans pointed out that the original contract came up to that of other contractors when the work was let out.-Mr E. L. Rowlands said the architect had not given them an explanation. He suggested they should ask him to do so, at the same time he did not think the contractor could hope for any allowance. — The suggestion was C,9 adopted. THE ATTENDANCE. Mr E. L. Rowlands brought up the monthly returns. They were as follows :—Towyn Mixed School, number on books 114, average 86, percent- age 84; Towyn Infants, 86, 59, 70; PeDnal, 128, 108, 84"1; Bryncrug, 133, 108, 77; Towyn National, 81, 65, 78; Aberdovey National, 55, 44, 80-2 Aber- dovey Board, 170, 139, 84. He said the average ,9 was low on account of the prevalence of illness throughout the district. For this reason they had deferred action in several bad cases, and the quarterly returns had not been examined by the attendance officer. They recommended that the schools should be closed from December 19ch to January 15th, and this was agreed to. BRYNCRUG SCHOOL. In reply to the Board's inquiry as to the staff at this school, the clei-k read the report of the local B.answers' meeting. They stated they were of opinion that one assistant teacher might be dis- pensed with and two pupil teachers appointed in- stead. They wished to state they had no control over the last appointment which had been sanc- tioned by the Board. They felt it would be best to defer the suggested re-arrangement until the end jf the school year next April.-The Chairman said this appointment rested entirely with the Board so that it was not necessary for the local managers to have any control over it as suggested in the minutes.— Miss Roberts wrote stating she did not think that the Board had treated her very fairly in the matter of salary. She certainly thought she was entitled to a rise according to the scale.—Mr Jno. Evans asked whether she was not right in her contention.—Mr Wm. Jones replied the Clerk had explained that the Board was not bound to carry out the scale. He felt thnt if this were not so they could all ask for a rise. Every case was being treated on its own merits.—Mr Evans thought this was a meritorious case. Mis'! Roberts was doinar good wo'-k.—Mr E. L. Rowlands said the Board felt that the salaries were going very high. He wn ^~t asainsfc granting an increase, but it was o •( -itiori of ways and means. -Mr Jno. Evans mc uioi ed that there was a wide difference between the salaries of teachers under the Board who were practicably doing the same work.—The Chairman suggested the question be referred to the Bryncrug managers for further consideration, and they would be perhaps able to supply them with more information by the next meet -After some further discussion this course was agreed to. PENNAL SCHOOL. The managers of this school recommended that Miss Perkins should be received from doing the work of sewing mistress, which would be carried out in future by Miss Davies and Miss Humphreys. This rearrangement would work out more sa.t;s. factodlJ .-The recommendation was adopted. MR H. ROWLANDS AND THE BOARD. Mr H. Rowland*, pilot, Aberdovey, again wrote regarding the appointment of pupil teacher at the Aberdovey school. The resolution come to at the last Board meeting was that he should find stronger proof in support of his allegation as to favouritism. in his lettêr- he I eiterated his statement that pre- ference was to be given to a pupil who had been at a County Intermediate School. The girl ap- pointed had not been, while his daughter had spent two yeara at the Towyn School. He thought this would aerionsly affect his daughter's future, and be had not been able to get a satisfactory reply from the local managers, whom he did not cousidt r had taken all her qualifications into consideration.—The Chairman said that the Board had not yet received an explanation of the matter from the managers.— Mr E. L. Rowlands said the matter had been care- fully considered by them and they had a thorough knowledge of the candidates and they had unani- mously decided in favour of the one appointed. He might say that no credentials bad been re- ceived from Miss Rowlands although they had made enquiries. The rest of the discussion was taken in committee after which the Clerk was directed to reply that, the Board could not do any- thing further. CORRESPONDENCE. The architect of the Pantperthog School wrote stating he was pushing on the work as fast as possible at that place and hoped to report greater progress soon.—A letter from Mr Ffestin Williams stated that heating apparatus was required there as the grates were very ineffective. The man igvra were asked to see into the matter together with Mr Pryce Hughes.—Applications were received from Mr J. Gwilym Evans on behalf of the Welsh Wesleyan Church, Towyn, and from Mr E. L. Row- laads for the use of the school premises.—The Rev Rebert Jenes said that the former place would be under repair For three months and they wished the services to be conducted at the new infanta school in the meantime. Permission was given at the usual fees.—Mr Rowlands sai l the Aberdovey So ho >1 was wanted for a Chiistmas Day entertain- ment and this was also granted.—The request of the TOiVyn managers for a grant towards a piano was deferred. A supplementary grant of X3 7s 4d was received from the County Governing Body towards the evening schools. —A circular was read from a. federation of teachers who intend holding a demonstration on the Education Bill at Cardiff ia January, but ifc wa« pointed out that Towyn waa nob sufficiently central for the members to attend.

VOLUNTEER CAMP GROUND AT TOWYN. Lieut-Colonel Pryce-Jones, M.P., has loneo in communication with the Chairman of the Urban District Council of Towyn, and Mr J. D. Latimer of the same place in reference to the rent of the camping ground for the South Wales Borderers Volunteer Brigade with the result that better terms have been offered to the Brigade Major, and it is now expected that Towyn will be the place of en- campment and tho date probably July 18 to 25. The Commanding Officers of the Battalions of this Brigade belonging to South Wales have been anxious for some years to camp at Towyn as one Battalion (the 5th) has Companies at Towyn, Aber- dovey and Aberystwyth, as well as in the adjoining county of Montgomeryshire. It is also expected that the Shropshire Brigade will camp there.

PERSONAL. Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest was one of the guests at Gopsall Hall during the visit of the King and Queen. The Countess of Bradford has been succeeded by Lady Eva DugdaJej as lady-in-waiting to the Princess of Wales. The Queen has announced her intention of giving a, Christmas dinner to women and children living in London or its suburbs who became widows or orphans through the late war in South Africa. The King was the principal oponaor on Tuesday morning at the baptism of the infant son of Lord and Lady Castlereagh, which took place at the Chapel, St. James's Palace, in tie presence of Ire select oongregafion. The names given to the chi'd were Edward Charles Stewart Robert and the god parents were the King, the Hon, A. Meade, and the Duchess of Tcck. A marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place between Lady Sybil Primrose, elder daughter of the Earl of Rosebery, and Mr Charles John Cecil Grant of the Coldstream Guards. Mr Grant served in South Africa in 1899-1900 with the Kimberley Relief Force, under Lord Methuen, and was present at the battle of the Modder River, where he was wounded. Mr Grant is a son of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Grant, R.E., K.C.B., by Victoria, daughter of the late Mr John Cotes of Woodcote Hall, Shropshire, and widow of Mr T. Owen of Condover Hall. The late Mr C. C. Cotes, for many years one of the Liberal Whip"; was therefore his uncle.

« At Wrexham on Tuesday a now home Ifor boys in connection with the Church of England Waifs and Strays' Society was dedicated by the Bishop of St. Asaph and formally opened by Lady Penrbyn. At the Bangor Police Court on fTu esday, some boys, charged with stealing ginger-beer and sweets, &c., were fined Bums ranging up to £ 1 and costs, while 2 of them were ordered to be birched. At the same court a coachman named David Roberts, who was charged with throwing at his wife a lighted lamp, which burst into flames when it struck the ground, and whoae behaviour for the intervention of the police, was fined 108 and costs. ♦

-+- STRANGE DROWNING CASE AT ARTHOG. On Saturday afternoon an inquest was held at Bronmeirion House, Art hog, by Mr R. Guthrie Jones (deputy coroner), and a jury, of which the Rev B. Thomas was the foreman, on the body of William Henry Bevan, a boy from the St Deiniol's Home for Waifs and Strays, Artt-og. He had been found drowned the previous evening in the river Morfa, lying on his back but with his head resting on the bank out of the water. The matron of the home said that the deceased was between six and seven years of age and had come into the honae three y3ars ago. About mid-day on Friday she last saw him alive, when she told him that he would have to go to bed after coming out of school at four o'clock, a* & punishment for fighting on the previous morn- ing. He came home at the time stated and went to bed as ordered. Tea was Bent up to him between 5-30 and 6 p.m. by Fred Carter another boy in the homes. A little after six p.m. when the younjpr lads were being prepared for bed, Carter came down and said that Bevan was not in bed. A search was then instituted all over the house and the adjoining premises but without result. She then sent for the Rev. Edwin Davies and Captain Garnett. Mr Davies was not at home, but Mr Garnett came there at snce and with the other lads commenced to search the river as far as the falls. Shortly afterwards Mr Jobn Jones, Glanfryn terrace, joined in the search, and at laat thpy found the body in a part of the river behind the home.—The Coroner asked for a copy of the rules for maintaining discipline.—The Matron con- fessed that she had sent one of the lads to school in a girls' dress, and that she had sent the deceased to sohool for two days, with a label attached to his arm bearing the words, I am a thief." This pun- ishment was not according to the rules but she had seen it done at other plaaes.-The inqaest was adjourned until Tuesday evening. At the adjourned inquest held on Tuesday several witnesses were called as to the conduct of the Home and Dr Hugh Jones submitted the result of his post-mortem examination. The jury returned a verdict of death resulting from shock and ex- posure. A rider was added suggesting the Home should be managed by a man and wife and not by a single person as at present. The practices of compelling children to wear badges and dipping in a well as reported above were strongly cendemned; at the same time the jury gave it as their firm conviction that the managers knew nothing of these irregularities.

cottages kno;v!i as Dafarn Newvdd were in a d-feelive and dilapidated state, and the same was to be said of the co'tagas known as Bronmeirion and Glanllifon. The walls and roof of Glan'rafon were defective the house being damp. This house had been reported previously by the Medical Officer. He had made a house-to-house inspection of a part of the Llanaber parish. The farmhouse Goetre- ucbaf was in a very bad state, and the house was without any sanitary accommodation. There were also defects at Fronhenlog, a small holding in the same district, and the same was said of Coedmoel. Sylraen in the same pariah was in a thoroughly good order, except that the priry accommodation T5tEe1:-f £ r^nXiai!iAh^1lb?_r9m0died atonoe. ennoha, Llwynonfach, and Glandwrucha, and Pant- ygwaaddwch in the Celynin district. Rhos, Llinegryn, WAS a group of cotfagas, the bedrooms of which were very confined and without ceilings". The privy accommodation waa also very bad, and there were pigstyea about the place. At several places the Council's requirements had been carried out, but at Cyfaneddfack at Celynin, where a statutory notice had been served, nothing had been done. — The Medical Officer referring to the tiaughter-hoawe at Corrie said it was not right that animals should be slaughtered in such a place which was totally unfit for the purpose. Under the Public Health Act he believed they had the power to compel the owner to discontinue the practice.— Mr Cadwaladr Roberts asked whather it would not be best to accord the same treatment in all these cases. It was well known thatanimats were killed in this style in other parts of the district.—Dr Jones replied that there was a practice of killing amongst, the farmers occaaionally, very probably under similar circamstances, but in this particular instance it was regularly done.—The Cleik was directed to wiite to the occupier drawing attention to the matter and asking him to desiat or provide a suitable slaughter-house. — Mr Owen Jones, agent of the Peniarth estate, wrote stating that the work of repairing Top Pendre and Glandwr lilanpgryn had been carried out.-Th. ReT J ohu Harries, the now Vicar of Llanfachreth, wrote stating that the living had not yet been hanled 8,.er to him, but as soon as this was done be would see that the Council's requirements were carried out -Mr Charles Williams, Oswestry, wrote that the farmhouse of Galail would be seen to as soon as possible.—After some discusfdoa it was decided to serve notices requiring the repairs mentioned to be curried out, and to take proceedings in cases where statutory notices ha,d not been complied with. The Inspector was congratulated on the way in which he was carrying out the work and on the progress which was being made.-The Clerk men- tioned that proceedings had been taken at Towyc police sessions as ordered. The Bench had, however, declined to grant him the usual costs which had amounted to 92 2s. This it appeared was then made payable from the Council.—Mr Cadwaladr Roberts remarked that they had already takea notice of one Magisterial Bench and he asked whether they should not do the same in this case (Itughter).-The Clerk added he always received his costs at other place?.—Mr E. P. Jones said that he had been told tlxpt the Towyn Bench had con- sidered the case to be a very poor one.—Mr Hugh Jones asked whether the remark was made durii g the hearing.-Mr Jones said "no," but added if he had been there he would certainly have asked a question or two.—Dr Jones said the result of the proceedings proved that there bad been a case. The Chairman suggested they should write to the Benchasking them why they had not made the usual order.-The Clerk said it was left to their discretion. Mr C. Roberta proposed that the next time they had a case to come on, that the Clerk should make a request for the costs as direct from the Council. —Mr Owen Jenes seconded, and this was agreed to. THE LLWYNGWRIL WATER SCHEME. The Clerk said a delay bad occurred in fixing upon the tenders for this scheme because the Local Government Board had sent down the wrong plans. They also sent down forms regarding the loan which was a matter of detail, and be had also received a copy of the lease from the Countess de Morella. This required them to have the work completed in six montua 1..L lie was afraid that could not be done.-It was eventually decided to call a special meeting of the Council that day fortnigkt to discuss the scheme. FINANCS. The nnauciallltatemant showed that tkere was a sum of X205 15s in the treasurer's hands. The cheques for that day amounted to £106 5s 8d, Qf which the highways reached JE92 95 lOd ami the sanitary work £ 13 15s lOd. There was a balance of C99 88 6d. The arrears of calls amounted to £ 177. They were Brithdir £37, Llanaber z622, Llanddwywe zCP, Llanegrya £14, Llauenddwyn JE28, Llanfachreth £19, Llanfihangel £13, and Talyllyn £42. HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Highway Board was held after the Council meeting. Mr J. R. Dix, manager of the Carrie Railway, wrote asking for specific dates and times as to leaving the gates over the railway closed. Complaints had been made that this was being done by the Company.—It was decided to ask the Parish Council to supply the same.