The Merthyr Express

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Rhymney Valley Echoes [By "RECOBDEB."] The palatial buildings of the Hengoed Girls' ciiool are approaching completion. They are undoubtedly the most unpopular buildings in the valley Sentiment in Hengoed on the heavy expenditure incurred is not of a nature that is k -il?- to ffratify'n8' to the promoters. The buildings are looked upon as the colossal monu- ment of a wanton waste of money, and the Rec- tor of Gellygaer's stern protest against the pro- ject has now the approbation of most people. ft would be well if all Gellygaer's representa- J lives were men of his calibre-wise in word and Strong in action. The discussion at the meeting of the Govern- ors of the Gellygaei County Schools about the withholding by the County Authorities of a portion of the Government grant requires fuller explanation than has yet been given, as to its feason and object, before one can express any Opinion on its merit or demerit. It may be, as aften is the case with trustees who hold back Honey, because of some uncanny disposition Manifested or suspected, in the beneficiaries. But the Governors have a right to know the whys and wherefores." it The proposed erection by the Monmouthshire luthorities of a secondary school at Fluer-de-lis Is to he greatly deplored by the public of the RJiymney Valley, both on the Monmouthshire and Glamorgan sides. In the first place it will be an unnecessary expense entailed on the rate- payers of Monmouthshire. "Unnecessary" be- cause the Pengam and Hengoed schools are ¡ bpen to pupils from the Monmouthshire side, fcnd are practically as conveniently situated for them as the new school will be on the site proposed. In the second place it will take away pupils from the two existing schools, and so cause a harrowing down in their curriculum because of the necessary reduction of the staff of teachers. And thus three schools will not cover such a fcfieful range of subjects as the two schools are tiow doing. In the course of a few years, as the popula- tion increases, such a school may be found to be necessary; but at the present time it is not 10, and having regard to the present burdens of he ratepayers, all expenditure which is not pressing ought to be postponed as long as possi- ble. It is to be hoped that those gentlemen who re- present any district of the Rhymney Valley on the respective Councils of Glamorgan and Mon- ttbouthshire will do all in their power to show the needlessness of this project at the present time, its injurious effects in the cause of edu- cation by curtailing the range of subjects at present being taught, and the need of keep- ing down expenditure, and thus do what they can to check the reaJisation at the present time bf this pernicious project. The decision come to by the Caerphilly Coun- cil, on Tuesday, may serve to show Coun. Lewis Edwards that the members there have no wish to be baptised in the Caiacb Brook at the pre- sent time, and that they are desirous of making It more suitable for such a purpose. The Gelly- gaer Council will see in the steps proposed to be taken by the Caerphilly Council a disposi- tion to meet their wishes, and so, I am sure, the wishes of those who reside near the fostid stream. It is to be hoped that the new arrangement U) the time of the meeting, which Mr B Hughes and the Rector of Gellygaer were able to adjust between them, viz., once, instead of twice a month, and at 3.30 instead of one o'clock, will meet the convenience of all. I was certain there was no desire to exclude the attendance of •Jiv when the time was first altered to one o'clock, but. it soon became apparent that that hour v7ould greatly curtail the attendances, which voould have been something of a calamity. There is nothing in the time now ai- fanged, I venture to think, that will prevent the attendance of any. When schoolmasters are elected on a public body it should surely be within their rights to attend, and it is to be hoped that the new hour will be convenient for them. The Bedlinog members are those who will still be the most inconvenienced. .¡¡. ?í' It. is worthy of note, too, that the voices of Bedlinog and Trelewis are now very much heard in the Council. The memorable storm of October 19th brought the former ward to the front. Its representatives found theii voices then, and have not since lost them—nor do I wish they should, seeing they speak with rea- son. Much could be said about the discussion on the salaries of the collectors. With all the world against them one would think the last thing they would do would be to alienate the sympathy of their employers. Yet the atti- tude they have assumed is a provocative one. Servants are not masters, except in regard to their services, and these, of course, they can refuse. There were, however, I am inclined to think, few in the parish who will disagree with what the Rector of Gellygaer said on the sub- ject. If local bodies have no power to regulate the j&laries of their officials in accordance with the prices ruling in what may be termed uhe labour market, they had better leave the local administration entirely in the hands of the Local Government Board, and then, I am in- clined to think, the people themselves would soon deal with the Local Government Board.

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LIFE IN HENGOED. tBY GiRALD-us.) Record U. Leaving Maesycwmmer behind us, we turned westward to go to a place called Hengoed, which is in the province of Gwladforgan; that is, the land of Morgan, and separated from Monmouthshire by the river Khymney. In my former record, I did not mention two notable places at Maesycwmmer, "Zoar" and "Tabor." The former is of great antiquity, for into it, it is recorded, Lot, the righteous man, entered at sunrise (Gen., xix., 23). They do not enter it now so early. Perhaps it is because the family of Lot in Maesycwmmer is now extinct. "Tabor," too, is a renowned place, for it is supposed by some that it was the scene of Transfiguration—which was a mir- aculous change, and when there were extra- ordinary appearances and manifestations. No- thing of the kind is expected now. The only thing which remains is the tabernacle building enthusiasm, and getting into debt to carry it through. We enquired for "Nebo," being much desirous of sing the famous place where Moses obtained his vision of the Pro- mised Land. No one could show us the place, but people informed us that they had heard there was such a mount, but that the vision could only be seen on very rare occasions, and by means of a powerful telescope, and even then it was very dim. Men versed in science and very much skilled therein, say that the reason the Promised Land cannot be seen so clearly as in the olden times is not due—as the un- believing try to how-to its baing a mythical land, and existing merely in the imagination of monks and poets, but because the atmos- phere of the earth has become much more murky and beclouded, and also because of the ignorance of many who, professing to know the direction thereof without the aid of a compass, never succeed in directing the gaze L -1-. to tne rigut, quarter. 1 can vouch for its exist- ence, for I have met with aged men and pilgrims who have told me they have eeen it, and when I have asked them'to describe it unto me. they have said it transcended the imagination and expression of man to reveal, and that in its vision, pain and sorrow ceased, and eartb S riches appeared corrupt and can- kered. I have asked such ancients ako why the present generation cannot discern it, and their answer has been that only unto those who are possessed of simple faith, "clean hands, and a pure heart," is this bsatific vision given to enjoy. And so we passed on, and, as I have said, leaving Maesycwmmer behind us and proceed)- ed to Hengoed, keeping along by the great viaduct. There is a bridge over the river Rhymney, at the lowest point of the valley, which takes its name from the river. We crossed over the river a j quickly as possible, because of the ill odours which arise therefrom. We feared greatly that it would give Arch- bishop Baldwin a bad throat. As it was, he was seized with a vio!ent fit of sneezing. The Archbishop said that when he returned to town he would report the state of this river to one John Burns. The Archbishop asked how it was that the river smelt thus, and when he was informed of the way in which it was polluted, he said, eveii as the Psalter hath it: "They are altogether become filthy and abom- inable in their doings. and destruction and misery are in their ways." We ascended the hill, after we had crossed the river, and were pleasantly received by an amiable man whoso name was Sidney, who did greatly refresh our travel-stained feet, and presented the Archbishop with a pair of "Holdfast sandals; albeit he was not a eon of. the Church. Two friars of the party were seized with a great desire to enter a room just here to play a game of "a hundred up," which consii-teth in knocking three balls of ivory with long sticks, but their attention was diverted by seeing a large concourse of girls coming down the hill from the schools of Henv goed. A turning to the right brought us to the State Intelligence Department, where we obtained many letters which had been await- ing us, and from wlvenoe various messages were sent. The man hei-e-wl;o bore the name of one of glorious memory, even St. Edmund, king and martyr—in the calendar, imparted to us much information about the place. We gathered much knowledge at Hengoed. It was impossible to ask anyone about anybody else which they did not know. Although the inhabitants are divided into families, living in separate houses, with gates and doors, yet one tells another all they are doing or purposing to do-so that one family may contain a know- ledge of the life and doings of all the others, and what they do not know, they can well imagine. When the Archbishop heard this, he ordered all his records to be kept under lock and key. We found, too, that we always met and spoke to the best person in Hengoed, so that the Archbishop refrained from address" ing the people, for, said he, not only have we an "All Saints" Day in the calendar, but we have I now discovered their abode-in South Wales. What else .could we expect of a. people whose face is directed to Zoar and Tabor? We met here one who unfolded to us a tale of the past concerning the affairs of the parish, from which it appeared that Hengoed was not always as good as it is to-day. He also show- ed us into the Government House-a fine building of red stone and brick, where 21 re- presentatives elected of the people meet to pass resolutions. The wise men of the parish a.re elected for this special purpose of passing resolutions, and I am glad that Holy Church is represented thereon by two of her sons. There are likewise school-masters, a doctor, engineers, coal-miners, farmers, and contrac- tors. It is pleasant to see m«n thus engaged, and sacrificing themselves in "doing good"—for a? the Apostle says, "To do good and to dia tribute, forget not." Most people seem to forget the distributing part, and this latter many esteem as the best part of the Apostle's precept, and call it the "sharing out" precept -it i? better to them because they hope to re- ceive withal something that others distribute. Here, too. are the offices of the overseer;— who are above scrutiny. Their payers :r", beyond question. Their- is the scat of d'gnity. They mafce demands which cone may refuse, unless, in the colloquial phrase of the country, they submit to be "sola up." A proof that "slavery" is not confined to Timbuctoo or the Soudan. It is by thia law that some axe emptied in order that others may be filled. Truly, many live the Gospel without knowing it; and* it sheweth that Gospel law is not a law of soft fleece to recline upon, but a shackle of iron. "Matthew," now under the name of William, sits at the receipt of custom to re- ceive the shekels of the people, and informs the people every six months how much thev mu-t pay—if they do not wish to be- "sold up." Here also is a large school for girls, to which they travel by railway. It was a most diverting sIght. for some of the friars of the party to behold the numbers of them as they arrived, ^and which caused one of our party to say: "Were I not a holy friar, I would choose to be a ticket collector at Hengoed Station." Ascending the hill still further, there is an iron building in which the evils done in the valley are judged twice a month. Many a sad tale has been unfolded there. Diogenes, it is said. wanted to find a man. If he had lived at Hengoed, he could always have found two or three men under the rail- way bridge. Many narratives are told there; many plans and schemes are hatched there. What the Royal Exchange is to the city of London, that is this epace, beneath the railway bridge, to Hengoed. Hengced has also a bowling green and an inn; also an ancient chapel where, I have been told, there has been much rivalry in times gone by, and the fist of man has decided who was the best preacher. Sunday is the day when Hengoed is seen at its best and in its best, for it is the spiritual 'bath day—wherein the grime of the week is cleansed off, and much complexion cream rubbed in, to begin the next week fair. Soros patronise the baths at Maesycwmmer; others those of Ystrad Mynach—and some few there may be who bathe at home.

GELLYGAER OFFICIALS' SALARIES DISTRICT COUNCIL AND THE ASSISTANT OVERSEERS. QUESTION OF AUTHORITY RAISED. At the meeting of the Gellygaer District Council, on Monday, a letter was read from the two rate collectors to the effect that they de- sired their appointment under the Council to t)4) made more definite than at present, and the remuneration decided upon, as it place-d them in an awkward position when applying for the guarantee bond. They also asked that their claims should be fixed on the basis of the col- lectors' salaries paid by neighbouring Coun- cils, a list of which was given viz., Aberdare, £210; Abercarn, £140; Abertillerv, £150. Bed- wellty, £ 60; Caerphilly, £ 278: Mountain Ash, £ 425; Tredegar, £ 160 and 2i per cent for above a. certain amount; collected. The Rector: What do they get as assistant overseers?—The Chairman J6120 each.—Mr. W. Hammonds: And £50 each for collecting the general district rate.—The Chairman: You should either appoint them or somebody else-, as the overseers are in an awkward position, not a penny of the poor rate having been col- lected as the general district rate has to go on the same demand note.—A Member: What is their position?—The Chairman: The Local Government Board says we have no right to interfere with them.—The Rector: When did the Local Government Board say that?—The Chairman: The Auditor said it, and the col- lectors gave us to understand that if we inter- fered with their salary they would sue for it.— Mr. W. Hammonds, holding out a document bearing on the point, said You can alter the salaries if you desire to do so. "NOT GOING TO BE BLUFFED." The Rector: I have taken some interest in this matter, and know for a fact that the late Parish Council increased the stipend of the assistant overseer by £60. If you can increase it you can decrease it. I am "not going to be bluffed by these officers. If they say they will sue us let them do so, and if the Auditor sup- ports their contention he had better come and collect the rates himself (hear, hear).—The De- puty Clerk- To-day you have to decide what vou will pay them for collecting the general dis- trict rate.—The Chairman: I don't think it wise to appoint anybody permanently.—Mr Walter Lewis: Are they engaged by us now?— The Chairman: They are engaged by you now because you have control of the- overseers. They are directly under you, and when I mentioned the matter to them they pulled out this order from the* Local Government Board.—Mr. W. Lewis: What is Mr Harries' salary?—The Chair-1 man £ 432 Is.—Mr. W Lewis: And the other two JB120 each.—Mr. W. Hammonds: Yes, and £50- more each for the general district rate. Mr. W. Lewis said he would like to see the Auditor come before the Council and justify such salves. Here was one man getting J6432, and it was absurd to think he was doing as much as the other two, and was yet paid double as much as the two. He agreed with the Rec- tor. The Chairman said he would like to split up the salaries into three, but felt they were out of order in discussing the matter then, and thought it had better be left over till the next meeting.—The Rector: But we are considering these two collectors to-day, and they ought to be considered apart from Mr. Harries.—Mr. B. Hughes: You want to get to know your position from the Local Government Board, and you are told that you cannot touch them.— The Chairman: Last year we paid them ;i;,25 each for collecting a six months' rate, and I should like a. proposition as to what we are to paythe for collecting the current rate.—Mr. W. Lewis said he did not see that they could deal with the two without the other No amount of polishing would get rid of the fact that here was a man getting double what two men were getting for doing similar work.—The Chairman Will someone propose that we leave the mat- ter over till the next meeting?—Mr J. Mor- gan: The rate ought to be collected, and I move that they be paid the same as for the previous six months.—Mr. W. Lewis: I will support it if we can get the matter settled in the meantime.—Mr. W. Lewis: Cannot we appoint someone to deal with this matter of the collectors?—The Chairman I think the Clerk might be instructed to write to the Local Go- vernment Board as to whether we can deal with the salaries either by increase or decrease. THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY The Rector: It will be a. very sorry thing for this parish to be in the leading strings of the Local Government Board or anybody else. We have a duty to perform by the ratepayers. We have to do what we think is right and just. I feel that the question as to the assistant overseer ought to be considered, and I feel that Mr. Harries should have definite duties to per- form, and should receive a fair and adequate salary for the purpose thereof. I do not want anv man to work for nothing; but when I find, as"I have found, that the money which Mr. Harries received last year was out of all pro- portion to what was fair I think the Council should reconsider both his position and his salary. If we do wrong, Mr. Harries will have the opportunity of appealing to the Local Gov- ernment Board. Up to the present we have not dealt with Mr. Harries' salary. We have dealt with the Clerk's and Surveyor's salaries, and the very same tale about, getting redress from the Local Government Board would apply equally to the Surveyor and the Clerk, who could have turned round and told us we had no right to interfere with their stipends. Well, if that were so, I would say let the Surveyor and the Clerk bring: their grievance before us, and we would consider it on its merits. Let us then deal with Mr. Harries in the way that we think to- fair, just and proper. There was a letter from the Local Government Board say- ing that Mr. Harries was to be continued on the same terms and conditions as before.—Mr. Hughes: A life appointment.—The Rector: And we do not want to throw him out of his appointment, but the terms had been raised. There was also another factor in the pro- blem: when he had an increase he was Clerk to the Parish Council and had something to do for it. But the Parish Council is gone, and it is absurd to suppose that we have to go on paying that. Are we going to tolerate any per- son that we may not look at unless he threatens to do this or that with us? Let him go and do what he likes, and we will do what we think to be fair. If he has a grievance, let him bring it forward. I would never be a party to do an injury to Mr. Harries, or anybody eke. Let us deal with this matter in a fair and just way, and take the consequences of what Mr. Harries may do; let him appeal and do what he likes. Mr. W. Lewis said it was against his inclina- tion to reduce any man's salary, but there was one aspect in the case which had not been men- tioned Mr. Harries was, as it were, farming out the work to other people, and he (Mr. Lewis) had a deeply rooted objection to that. Already that matter had been going pretty well round. At Morthyr be had seen men who had spent a lifetime in official work and were yet not called public servants. He agreed with all the Rector had said.—The Chairman: I think the Rector has rather led you to think that the assistant overseer has frightened the over- seers, but I was never yet afraid of any man unless he came upon me in the dark. This matter, however, I think, should bo left over to the next meeting.—Mr W. Lewis then re- commended that the Council should obtain a barrister's opinion on the subject.—The Rector opposed this, and said that if they did wrong without intending it it was for Mr. Harries and the collectors to get advice or appeal to the Local Government- Board. The Rector then gave notice of motion that this question be con- sidered at the next meeting, and that the over- seers bo prepared with a recommendation.—Mr. W. Lewis: That will suit me.—The Chairman: I don't see that the overseers can give you any advice as they are under the control of the Council, and I feel it is you who must thresh this matter out. I am not satisfied with the con- dition of things.—Mr. J. Morgan thought the matter ought to be settled in Council, and fin- ally, on the motion of Mr. W. Hammonds, se- conded by Mr. Lewis Edwards, it was decided to hold a special meeting to consider the assist- ant overseer's salary on the 7th June, at 5.30.— The Rector said they might as well consider the Fire Brigade question at the same time, as it might ba well to have the hose there. THE CLERK'S SALARY. After the district rate had been officially seal- ed—which, it was stated by Mr Harries, would bring in £10,930-the Council discussed the question of the Clerk's salary —The Chairman said he was in favour of deferring the matter till the Clerk was present, but this wa.s not agreed to.—A motion was made by Mr. Ham- monds that the Clerk's salary should remain as it was. They had just had to increase the rate. and that surely was not a time to raise salaries. The application of the Council's workmen for twopence a day more was refused, then why should they give an increase of £50 a year to one man?—Mr. W Lewis seconded. The Rector said he felt called upon to say a. few words for the Council's consideration. He had stood out from the first fo: the princi- ple of inclusive salaries for all work done by their officials. On his proposition the Clerk's salary was fixed at £200, with extra for High Court or Parliamentary work. By the Clerk's fault, however, one fact was not made known to them which was that he had much work in regard to contracts and loans, and for which he was not paid at all. Furthermore the work of the Council had largely increased, and he was, therefore, of opinion that £200 was really an inadequate amount for the Clerk's work, and he moved that the salary be increased from £200 to £250, and he would also be prepared to in- clude the condition that the Clerk appoint his deputy to reside in the parish.—Mr Lewis Ed- wards seconded this.—Mr. W Lewis said he had always been on the side of good wages, but in this case the principle and circumstances were wrong. Mr. James was a very courteous man, but he was living away and farming the work, and that principle was wrong from start to finish. It was not that they were paying too much but that the principle was wrong.—The Chairman: It comes to this. we have not an office for his clerk.—Mr. W Lewis: Here is a room.—-The Clerk Bot he could not keep docu- ments in the board-room.—The Rector: When are the plans of the new offices coming before us?—The Surveyor: They are ready. Mr. Hammonds referred to an account of for Parliamentary work which the Finance Committee had had to pass, but the R-ect^. ■ showsd that thus was an acoouui prior to the i re-instatement of the Clerk on the new condi- tions, and said it only showed the tremendous lot he had to do.—Mr. Hammonds said it was unfair that the ratepayers should have extra expenses to bear by reason of the Clerk living ai Merthyr. Mr B. Hughes said it was unfair to discuss these matters in the absence of the Clerk.—The Chairman: 1 don't think so.—Mr. Hammonds quoted figures of salaries paid by other Councils, and said he was surprised that those who had stood out against an increase of twopence a day for the working men should sup- port this increase.—The Rector: The more I see of Mr. Hammonds the higher is my opinion of his abilities, and I believe he wants to be fair, but in this case he is a little bit too clever He says that the very men supporting- this are those who refused the working man 2d. a day more. That is not true so far as 1 am concerned I say pay a man a fair and reasonable wage for what he does. 1'.11'. Hammonds would pay a working man for doing nothing whereas I would pay him for doing a fair day's work.— Mr. Hammonds: There are no idle men in my ward.—The motion was then put. and six voted for the increase, and five against,—Mr Walter Lewis: The increase is granted by six members out of 21.-The- Chairman; This is one of the worst and most untruthful statements a mem- ber could make I say it is by six members out of eleven.—Messrs. \V. Lewis, L. P. Edwards. B. Hughes, Jas. Morgan, and W. Hammonds voted against.

GELLYGAER DISTRICT COUNCIL PROPOSED RECREATION GROUNDS. MR. L. EDWARDS WOULD LIKE TO BAPTIZE CAERPHILLY COUNCILLORS. A meeting of the Gellygaer District Coun- ■ oil was held at Hengoed on Monday There were present:—Mr. W. B. Lloyd (in the chair), Rev. T. J. Jones, Rev. T. Rees, Dr J. Rich ards, Messrs. L. P. Edwards, D S. Jones J. Morgan. W Hammonds, B. Hughes, G I\1. Evans. J. Jones, L. Edwards, W. Lewis with the deputy clcrk (Mr. Ernest McLeodj, the surveyor (Mr. J. P. Jone-s), and the medical officer of health (Dr. W. W. Jones). The Finance Committee recommended the payment of accounts amounting to about £352; £150 of this was for wages, J652 for salaries and professional attendance, and £15 for fire- men's boots. The remainder was for sundry accounte.—The Public Works Committee re- commended that the owners of Mount Pl<»n«Mnf Cottages, Twyn Houses, Pond Cottages ?nd Gate House, Butetown, be served with notices requiring them to provide the houses with a supply of water The question of the hour of meeting again came before-the Council, Mr. B. Hughes mov- ing, in accordance with notice of motion, that the ordinary meetings of the Council be held monthly, on the first Monday of each month, Mr. Hughes said he thought this might meet the difficulty which some of the members ex- perienced in consequence of the hour having been altered from 4.30 to 1 o'clock, as it pro- vided for only one meeting a month instead of two.—Mr. Lewis Edwards seconded. The Rev. T. J. Jones suggested that, in view of the serious complaints which had been made as to the inconvenience of the hour at which they now met, permission be given to bring for- ward a motion to arrange a compromise be tween 1 o'clock and the old 5 o'clock. It seemed to him a serious thing to disfranchise certain members who could not be present at 1 o'clock. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they had certain capable members who were en- gaged at school and could not be present at 1 o'clock. There were also certain representa- tives of working men. Whether they were paid or not, he could not say, but there were some representatives who did not get paid at all, and thus the present hour disfranchised very estimable and useful members of the Council. Half-past four o'clock was, in his opinion, too te, and caused the work to be rushed through, and he felt that some com- promise ought to be arranged, and the differ- ence split to, say. half-past three.—The Chair man (Mr. Lloyd) said he quite agreed with the Rector, and would move the suspension of standing orders to discuss the matter. This having been seconded and agreed to, Mr. Lloyd proposed as a rider to Mr. B Hughes's motion that the Council meetings be held once a. njonth at 3.30 p.m., and Mr. John Jones seconded.—Mr. Walter Lewis urged that they they should try to get the most convenient time.—Mr. Lewis Edwards and Mr. G. M. Evans said the most convenient time for them was 1 o'clock, as there was no train service from Bedlinog from 12 o'clock until 5.—The Chairman. It seems to me you do not under- stand what you want.—Mr. W. Lewis: Yes, we do. I know my mind, but I don't want to disfranchise anybody if it can be avoided; but the case of the members for Bedlinog is not so difficult as ours.—It was finally decided to hold the meetings once a month at half-past three. only Messrs. L. Edwards and G. M Evans voting against it. I The state of the Caiach Brook at Nelson came before the Council, the Caerphilly Coun- cil asking that the time to enable them to put this matter right should be further extended.— Mr. Lewis Edwards and the Rv. T. Rees urged that the matter had now been allowed to go on for nearly two years, and nothing had been done, and that the matter should no longer be allowed to remain in this unsatisfac- tory state.—Mr. B. Hughes moved that fur- ther time bo given tho Caerphilly Council as to proceed against them would be like cutting off their nose to spite their face. If members knew the true state of their own parish, thov would not concern themselves with others.— Mr. Hammonds said that if their parish was so bad, it was time they were informed about it.—Mr. Lewis Edwards said there had been enough correspondence about the state of the brook. It was disgraceful, and he would like to dip the Caerphilly councillors and baptize them in it (laughter). He moved that the attention of the County Medical Officer of Health be called to it..—This was agreed to. An application of Mr. W. T. Watkins was considered in respect to a licence for a slaugh- ter-hou-se by the Cylla brook at Ystrad Myn- ach. The Medical Officer of Health opposed the granting of the licence until the public water supply was connected.—The Chairman said the Council had put the applicant to con- siderable expense by passing the plans for the slaughter-house, and ther directly the house had been put up, refused him a licence.—Mr. W. Lewis said he presumed that all they had to do was to tell him to apply to the Rhymney and Aber Water Company and give him the licence. The Rector intimated that the trustee of cer- tain lands at Gilfach (Mr. A. C. Thomas) had been good enough to inform him that he was prepared to let tho Council have a piece of land very convenient for a recreation ground at a very nominal rent. The trustees could not give the land absolutely, but would let it for a nominal sum.—Mr. Hammonds moved that the Clerk write for terms. — This was seconded and agreed to. The Rector drew attention to the fact that the footpath from the Cylla to Hengoed was still impassable, and desired to know what was being done in regard to the diversion of the path arranged for at a previous meeting.—Tho I Surveyor stated that plans had been referred to the owners of each plot of land, and three refusals had been made.—Tbe Rector then moved that the Clerk b? instructed to write to the Powell Duffryn Company, requesting thsm to nt once carry out thair undertaking in re- gard to cleaning this path.—Mr. Walter Lewis seconded, and the resolution was parsed. The estimate of J64 for the Sanitary Inspec- tor's uniform by Mr. L. Edwards, of Bargocd. was accepted, and- also for mackintoshes at £2 5s. each. Mr. Walter Lewis gave notice of motIon. that the Council consider the advisability of i improving the Bargoed Recreation Ground in such a way as will enable the public to enjoy it. He said that he thought some means could be found to do this, and yet get their money back. A letter was read from Mr. Samuel Davies offering a plot of ground for the proposed new Toad between Pengam and Ystrad Mynach for offering a plot of ground for the proposed new Toad between Pengam and Ystrad Mynach for £ 520.—The Rector of Gellygaer said his vote would not go for that road if they put ob- stacles in the way like that.—On the motion 'I' of Mr. W. Lewis, seconded by Mr. L. P. Ed- wards, it was decided not to accept the offer. The Rector drew Attention to the insuffic- iency of detail in the estimates, which merely gave a comparison of the estimated expendi- ture for last year and this. He wanted a third column, showing the actual amount spent last year on each of the different items. —The Clerk was instructed to prepare this.

Gellygaer Isolation Hospital Scheme. The committee appointed to select \>cites for an isolation hospital have reported to the Gellygaer Council that they visited Heolddu Uchaf Farm and Gwaunarlwvddes Uchaf on the 15th of May, and resolved to recommend the report of the Health Committee of the 29th April for adoption.—The report referred to stated that the fist-named site, Heolddu- uchaf, had evidences of coal working quite near the surface, and so it was not thought prudent to erect a hospital at great expense there. The report then stated that, subject to a report of an expert mining engineer on the position of the coal under Gwaunarlwyddes Uchaf favourable, this site should be adopted.—The Sites Committee also recom- mended that Mr. Llewellyn Watkms, mining engineer, of Nelson, should be engaged to re- port. on the Gwaunarlwyddes site.

Bones r ,800 Years Old? ROMAN URN AT GELLYGAER. An interesting end has been made in GeBy- gaer Village. While some excavating opera- tions were in progress a day or two ago, for the purpose of building, a Roman urn was dug up. On examination of the relic, It was found to contain a quantity of human bones which, it is conjectured, have lain there since the Roman occupation.

EAST OR WEST—BiiRRY'S IS BEST, j

A Bargoed Insurance Claim. NO FRAUDULENT REPRESENTATION. JUDGE AND TOUTING AGENTS. At Merthyr County Court last Friday, be- fore Judge Bryn Roberts, Emma Sheen, Bar- goed, claimed from the Royal Liver Friendly Society the return of premiums, amounting to £ 13 6s.. in respect of two policies of insurance which were effected on the 14th of December 1905.—Mr W Harold S. Stowe (instructed b;. Mr. D. Edward Jones) appeared for the plain tiff, and Mr. F. S. Simons for the defendanti. Mr. Stowe said that the plaintiff was induccc by her brother-in-law, an agent of the company, j to effect the insurances upon the lives of hei j father and mother respectively. It was on- I of those cases where an agent of an insurant company went round a district among pcov who were poor and ignorant of matters of and got them to take policies. Some y later the plaintiff way told by an inspe-vi of the Society that the policies were wor. I nothing; that, in fact. they were invalid. 1; consequence of this statement, she put herseli in communication with the Society and askeo for the return of the premiums, but she gOl no satisfaction. She consulted a solicitor, who also wrote to the Society, but the only reply received was that the matter was under con- sideration. Nothing, however, had been done by the defendants, hence the case was brought into court. His Honour held that the plaintiff had not been induced to enter into the contract by any fraudulent representation, and he gave judg ment for the Society In this case there was no insurable interest so that the insurance of the parents was illegal. He declined, however, to grant them costs, saying that companies whose agents went touting from house to house accepted insurances wholesale which they perftctly well knew to be quite illegal.

Visitors at Bargoed Colliery. The Surveyors' Institution concluded their visit to Cardiff last Friday, when one party visited the Bargoed Colliery of the Powell Duffryn Company, and the other went for a trip to Efracombe. The Bargoed visit was paid on the invitation of Mr. Joseph Shaw (chairman of the Powell Duffryn Company), and Mr. E. Hann (one of the directors). The party, numbering about 33, arrived early in the afternoon, and were conducted round the Rur- face of the collieries—which holds the world's record of having wound 'in a day over 4,000 tons of coal—by Mr. J. M. Greenhow, mechan- ical engineer; Mr. Frank Ha-nn, and Mr. J. Phillips. They were especially interested in the electrical apparatus. The majority of the party descended the shaft, and were subse- quently entertained at lunch in the spacious hall attached to the colliery premises. Mr. Vernon presided at the luncheon, and votes of thanks wsre passed for the kind invitation ex- tended by the' Powell Duffryn Company. The party left Bargoed by the Rhymney train for Caerphilly where a visit was paid to the his- toric castle, the visitors being conducted over the ruins by Mr. W. Ware. Mr. Illtyd Tho- mas, Cardiff. read some notes of reference pre- pared by Mr; John Stuart Corbett, and after the perty had made a close inspection of the ruins, tea was provided in the banqueting hall.

a Caerphilly Castle Eisteddfod. On Whit-Mondav, Caerphilly Castle will be the scene of the 21st annual Eisteddfod, which promises to be a great success. The number of competitors is enormous, and eolipses all previous records. Given fine weather, the patrons of this annual event will have an en- joyable day within the historic old castle. The choral competitions include choirs from Barry, Cwmaman, Mountain Ash, Troedvrhiw. Foch- riw, Pentre, Treorchy, Pontypridd Town, Sar- dis (Pontypridd). Blaenclvdach and Clydach Vale, Porth and Cymmer, Caerphilly, and Mer- thyr Vale. The bardic productions are of high merit, and included in the list are believed to be the work of some of the, best authora, hail- ing from North and South Wales, London, Liverpool, and America. "Englynion" and poems have been received bearing the follow- ing nom-de-plumes:—Poems (21): "Awel o Ddyffryn Clwyd," "Ar v Gorwel," "Gwnd y Wawr," "Ponfrith," "Glanavon," "Avon," "Orpheus," "Tolynnor," "Gwlithyn Mai," "Cantor v Bore," "Boreu-godwr." "Rhwng y Brieill," "Tant y Deffroad," "Ar y Gamfa," "Tremiedydd," "Ehedydd," "Mailliw," "An. adl Gwanwyn," "Tant y Wawr," "Anarawd," and "D'liau o Gawgciau'r Dolydd." "Eng- 1 lyn" (46): "Edgar," "Ceredig," "Morfilwr," "Pegynwr," "Able Seaman," "Meonfardd." "Broma," 'Commodore Pieary," "Ofnus," "Heli," "Mab v Mor," "Egniol," "Sentinel," "Hen Fardd Llosg ar Fwrdd y Llong," "Gwynt y Gogledd," "Dysgybl," "Tomos," "Jack Tar No. l," "Phil," "Ithel," "Philly," "Clement," "Cadben Jones," "Laplander," "Crwtyn y Caban," "Cabin Boy," "Condor, "Hwyr Alaw yr Elyrch," "Boatswain," 11 ma- "Ap Gosteg," "Min y Mor," "lanci," "Morwr No. I," "Vanson," "Morwr No. 2," "Pwy byna.g yw PibonWy," "Pegymydd," "Min Hwyr, "Gvda'r Wawr," "Mab y Don," "Ifor." 'Ap Tomos, "Hen Wr," "Morwr No. 3," "Jack Tar No. 2." The order of the day is now ready, and all visitors to the Eisteddfod will find in it every information, including the times of trains and fares, and copies may be had from the Secretary for 2 £ d., post frea.

ABERGAVENNY. CHTTBCH EXTENSION.—At a general meeting of the Church Extension Building Committee held on Friday evening in Holy Trinity School- room. with the Vicar in the chair, and a large attendance, the Hon. Secretary (Mr. Wallace J. Tong) reported that four tenders had been received for the building of the north aisle, vestry, and porch, namely: Messrs. Broad, of Great Malvern. £ 1,299 15s. 5d.; Messrs. Moon, Newport, £ 1,295; Messrs. Strong, Kiddermin- ster, £ 1,180; Messrs. J. G. Thomas and Son, Abergavenny, £ 1,175; and that the Executive Committee had decided to give the work to Messrs. J. G. Thomas and Son. The archi- tect's estimate was reported to be £ 1.200.

-0 Abergavenny Whit-Tuesday Sports The members of the Abergavenny Amateur Athletic Association have put forward a very big programme for their Whit-Tuesday's meet- ing. They had intended holding the pony races and timbering competition on Whit- Monday, but owing to the New Athletic Ground not being completed, they have de- cided to merge the Monday's programme into the Whit-Tuesday one. They have secured a record entry for all the various competitions. In the timbering competition, there are entries from all the leading timbermen and colliers-of South Wales, whilst in the pony races there are entries from all parts of the country, there being no less than nineteen entries in cachevent. The A.A.A.A. are second to none for their athletic programme, and the enterprising hon. secretary, Aldermstn Z. Wheatley, has been fortunate in securing the first entry of Reggie C. Walker, South Africa, of Olympic fame, after his return from his wonderful victories in South Africa. During the time he haa been in South Africa, he has captured every sprint record, and, R. Walker stands out a.; the one athlete in the world. Readers will remember his wonderful perform- ance at the August Sports held at Aber- gavenny, and he repeated that time in South Africa. No doubt, the public of Wa!es and the West of England will give him a hearty reception upon his first appearance on Tues- day next. The pick of the athletic world will also be there, whilst the cyclists have rallied to the Hon. Sec.'s appeal, there baing about fifty in each event, amongst them being W. J. Bailey,, London, the holder of the world's unpaced record; H. Minton. the holder of the world's quarter mile flying start record. Many Manchester, Birmingham, and Sheffield riders have also entered. There are also artistes at Abergavenny Castle, and there will be dancing a.nd fireworks displays on Monday and Tues- da.v. The arrangements are being ably ar- ranged under the presidency of Alderman Straker, and the secretarial duties are being carried out by Alderman Z. Wheatley.

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