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AMMANFORD NOTES. NIGHT SCHOOL. A preliminary meeting to discuss the above object was held (by the kind invitation of Watcyn Wyn) at the Hope Academy, on Tuesday even- ing, the 1st inst. A moderate number, I am told, put in an appearance, but it was not patronised as so deserving an institution should be. Watcyn Wyn, having in his usual pleasant manner shown the audience over his model establishment, business was begun. Mr Phillips, of Parcyrhun, took the chair. He gave in a brief speech a few anecdotes of his school days, and then called upon Watcyn Wyn to give an explanation of what evening classes were. He (Watcyn Wyn) said that his colleague, Mr T. J. Thomas and himself, had thought of the subject of pvAninor classes before the present time, but there was no room existing available for holding the same- He then described the object and working of the classes. The Rev J. C. Evans and the present Mayor of Ammanford" having expressed their views, the meeting was left open. It was moved and carried unani- mously that evening classes should be brought into existence, and the nights reserved would be Tuesday and Friday nights, the fee from now to Christmas being the extremely low sum of five shillings. Mr John Davies said that men work- ing in different parts of the Tinworks could only attend two out of every three weeks, as they would be working on the night shift on the other week. But Watcyn Wyn was, as usual, equal to the occasion, and said the men in question could come to him in the day- time when he was criticising and correcting the class working on the same subject. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. LETTER DELIVERY. Our energetic chemist, or Mayor I should say, has once more shown his interest in the inhabi- tants of Ammanford by inducing the Post Office authorities to deliver the North Mail letters, which were heretofore called for. The following is a copy of the letter received by Mr Evans :— General Post Office, London, Oct. 1st, 1889. Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 3rd ultimo, I have to inform you that arrangements have now been made for the delivery, by postman, of letters arriving at Ammanford by the North Mail. The delivery should commence under ordinary circumstances at about 11.30 a.m. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) EDWARD GELD, (For the Secretary.) Mr E. Evans. The postal arrangements at Ammanford are, in the opinion of business people, irregular, espe- cially in the telegraphic line, there being occa- sionally delays in the transmission and delivery of telegraphic messages, but it may be hoped that this grievance will gradually be got over. The inhabitants of Ammanford ought really to reward Mr Evans' strenuous efforts, as if ever a mayor of any town did his duty efficiently it is Mr Evans. SALE. An important sale of horses, cattle, pigs, and farm utensils, &c., took place last week at Bwlch- y-Mynydd, the residence of our late respected neighbour, Mr Philip John. The property being too extensive for Mrs John's management she, I am informed, has been persuaded to retire to a less important freehold. Mr W. Jones, Glancen- nen, was the auctioneer. The prices were un- usually high, a result of the usual period of credit having been extended to nine months. Horses and ponies fetched from JE28 up to 237 milch cows from 216 upwards heifers (two years old) from Ell, and store pigs from 23 10s. There was an universal feeling of regret at the unavoidable absence of our popular County Councillor, who usually wields the hammer at these local sales. An old stager" informed me that there was a lack of the go," that Council- lor Jones maintains, in Mr Wm. Jones' conduct of the sale. THE DEBATING SOCIETY. My criticisms of last week on the bridge ques- tion must have caused a mist to have arisen upon the eyes of Ammanford's elect. Walking the other evening through the leading thoroughfare I saw the announcement that a paper on the Bettws Bridge would be read by Mr Williams, of Maes- quarre, before the Debating Society on Friday night. I had heard nothing of this, and was rather taken by surprise. I therefore enquired of the tenant whether the paper had not been inserted in the windows during the previous twenty-four hours. He stated it had been there for a week. Being slightly incredulous on the subject, I advanced my steps to the Reading- room, and found it perfectly true. I was not present at the last meeting of the society when Watcyn Wyn read a paper on Impressions of the Brecon Eisteddfod," so I cannot state whether the audience this time was larger than on the previous occasion, but I may say there were not many short of a dozen ladies present, and perhaps three dozen of the sterner sex. Mr Councillor Jones took the chair, and in a brief but interest- ing speech said they all knew that they had come together to hear Mr Williams read his paper, and to discuss the old, old question of the Bridge. He would not, therefore, detain them with a speech, but called upon Mr Williams, of whose paper the following is a copy :-The other even- ing two gentlemen, accompanying me on my homeward way in Indian file over the Amman, passed some remarks on bridges. Leaving the controversial points out they were something as follows. Since man commenced building there were few structures of his early invention to compare with the Bettws foot-bridge to Ammanford. They thought it full time it should now be placed with curiosities of the past at South Kensington or sent to Jericho. Man, the savage-the inventor and builder of this struc- ture-was a gardener surrounded by rivers, but of his escape from that honest livelihood it is not recorded whether he waded, swam, or drifted on a rolling raft to undiscovered shores. We think it safe to say that he loafed around a long time keeping up a dull trade in broken stone jugs and crokery ware before trying his hand at this bridge. Since this time we can trace the vic- torious march of our savage by improved roads in all parts of the earth—except Bettws. It remained for the Roman Legions to extend won- derful military ways to the remotest parts of the known world even through the isles of Britain. Awaking with conscious power from primitive lethargy, our savage deems himself possessed of all divine attributes, looking for Deity in fire, air, earth, or water-created a little below the angels —if he has not been falling a little lower ever since. His inventive genius has not, however, abated its vigour. Fire and water have become his bondsmen, driving the countless wheels of industry. He has circled the earth with his presence, each hastening mode of transit in suc- cession becoming too slow. He harnesses the lightning to his chariot, and drives with the rapidity of thought without house, without shelter, he has built palace and cottage. He searches all hidden secrets, and looks beyond the stars. His highway is on the deep, and under the adamantine hills. He has done all this, and is it not a shame not to have a decent bridge from Ammanford to 13ettwis T On our old mountain side countless years have changed the deep green of summer to the autumnal fading fleeting beauty. Here and there it is dotted with many a white-washed cottage, and it is a matter for profound regret that there is not a bridge worthy of the name to guide the stranger's footsteps to its hospitable homes. All bountiful nature here has gathered with lavish hand her hoard of mineral wealth. The mountains stand around like giants grim of visage coming down to battle with eternal tempests, where the last jutting spur of Black Mountain stoops low over the Amman, with its triple crown of historic cairns. And across our river, with surroundings of beauty unsurpassed, the modern savage continues to adorn it with a bridge like a wart upon the nose of a man, or a wart upon the neck of a woman. This unique bridge is indeed worthy of more than passing notice. Patched, pieced, and piebald it stands, a venerable monu- ment of departed worth. A bridge across a hundred years, Without a prop to save from sneers, Not even a couple of rotten piers, L, A thing for laughter—fleers and jeers. It must be the resurrected sartor rescirtus, for if ever a cobbler mended, or patcher patched came to this river valley, it is our old foot bridge-the wire ropes gay with shreds from the latest fashions introduced by our enterprising drapers. The loss of these wire ropes robbed it of that variety in drapery it once could boast, as well as the sweet reverence with which the fairer sex ventured upon its unequal undulating planks, watching as it were for pitfalls and snares ail the way across. In its present appearance it seems reformed and improved, like an old tavern with a new sign. Casting away crutches, ropes, or stays, having imbibed intoxicated confidence, it trusts in the new sign, or in patchwork and Providence, for stability. Like an old tar, a veritable ancient mariner on shore from a long voyage, the wide spread legs and wavering arms indicate no great confidence in this stable earth. Altogether there is a rakish and uncertain air about the structure, inciting wonder or causing the stranger to pause and make enquiry and a critical examination before venturing too close. To the unlettered traveller that warning post may mean that there is danger all about, lying around loose; or when, for the first time, he may view it by the dim light of the rising moon, the changing signal lights near by, the sharp whistle of the engine, the deep rumble of that long procession of heavy coal trucks rushing down, the buzz and rattle of saw mills, accompanied by fitful gusts of flame and smoke from the iron foundry, may well warn him that he is approaching a more ghostly spot than Tam O'Shanter fell upon "then "Glimmering through the groaning trees Kirk Alloway seemed all ablaze." It is this ghostly old bridge, surrounded by malodorous heaps of refuse and rubbish, that we have long wished to see replaced by something more in keeping with civilization and the public safety. That can only be done effectually by building a strong bridge for carts, such as the Board are introducing at most other places where there is need of bridges. Let them do for Ammanford the same as if a guardian travelled thereby, and we will not complain. With regard to money and taxation-the rates which will be required to complete such a bridge-we are now in a position to say that you have full and ample claim upon the public purse for that purpose. You who have borne a hand and your full share in placing bridges over the Amman and Loughor may well look with misgiving upon the dilapi- dated structure near your own doors in flagrant contrast with the bridges at Brynamman, Garnant, Glanamman, and Pontamman or, following the larger stream of the Loughor, we find substantial bridges at Pantyffynnon, Peny- bank, Duffryn, and Bontllwyn. Are there larger centres of population and traffic, at any of these parts than we find at Ammanford? And if not what reason can you give for investing our money at these places and not doing the same here ? Why is this ? We ask of the Board of Guardians. They are wise and honourable men, and will, no doubt, with reason answer-" We are Conserva- tives and practice economy—abroad." Then why, in the name of common honesty, did they not commence economy in bridges at Brynam- man, Garnant, Glanamman, and Pontamman ? What rule of economy have they applied to the bridges at Pantyffynnon, Penybank, Duffryn, and Bontllwyn, that it should stop short at Ammanford ? These are questions to which the great body of the public will demand an answer at the next guardians' election, and no doubtful or shuffling subterfuge can be accepted in answer to why men in public office should not fairly and impartially treat all persons of the Union which has honoured them with its confidence. I had intended making a short comparison of different bridges, their mode of construction, and com- parative expense but of what use can it be to lose our way in details about the stone arch, iron span, or suspension bridges, before deciding the first great step if we are to build a bridge at all ? Perhaps Dr. Lloyd, by surgical skill might con- vince the Board, without driving it into their heads with a mallet, that the great and crying need of this place is-less water and more strong bridge. Let us be outspoken and emphatic, the public money spent in filling, patching and propping a rotten old bridge is money wasted. The money spent in searching for water miles away is not what we want. What we do want is a good bridge and market-place. You have cheerfully given your pro rata share in building distant bridges, and we have never heard that it would be economy to go back to the old style of wading through the water, or clinging to a foot plank rail. You have disputed, counted, and paid the cost of all these bridges in succession, and what we want the present Board to do is to explain, if they can, why Ammanford should be treated with insult and contempt, or to show us a man from any part of this union who is so great a hog as to expect all the good things for himself, and give his neighbour at Ammanford nothing but cobble stones from the generous old river. The speaker resumed his seat amidst loud applause. Mr Evans (chemist), then explained to the meeting that the bridge question had been de- layed owing to the clerk to the Board having kept the books in which all the resolutions passed at public meetings were recorded. He said that we should have an experienced engineer (a native of this place, Mr David Morris, of Brynffin), at home in a short time, and that he or Mr Joseph Rees, of the Raven Inn, also a bridge-maker of great experience, might aid the public with estimates of what the bridge would cost. Watcyn Wyn heartily supported the bridge scheme, and gave an amusing ancedote of a man who was rather the .worse. for liquor finding his way to the river and, missing the bridge, walked through the water, guiding himself by the bridge as a handrail, and remarking, Ni welais i ddim sut peth erioed. Mi welais bout heb un ganllaw, ond welais i ddim canllaw heb un bont." The Chairman said that he had mentioned the bridge to the Glamorganshire County Council, but that they had treated the matter as a joke, and that he thought the best thing to be done was to thoroughly wake up the guardians. Mr Phillips, Parcyrhun, said a few words in favour of the scheme. A vote of thanks to Mr Williams was pro- posed by Watcyn Wyn, and seconded by Mr John Morgan. It was mentioned by Mr Evans, that a public meeting of ratepayers would be held at the reading-room on October 21st, when the clerk to the Board and the guardians were in- vited to attend to hear the matter discussed. ANTI-HUMBUG.

AMMANFORD JOTTINGS.

District 3iitelligence. -