Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

Small habits well pursued betimes May reach the dignity of crimes. HANNAH MOOHE. Do to-day's duty, fight to-day's temptation do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see, and could not understand if you saw them." CHARLES KIGSLEY. »

A Little Sermon. Prune thou thy words, the thoughts control That o'er thee swell and throng; They will condense within thy soul, And change to purpose strong. But he who lets his feelings run In soft luxurious flow, Shrinks when hard service must be done, And faints at every woe. Faith's meanest deed more favour bears, Where hearts and wills are weighed, Than brightest transports, choicest prayers, Which bloom their hour and fade. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN. ■ =♦

An Autumnal Evening. The evening had already deepened into night. Along the sere and melancholy woods the autumnal winds crept with a lowly but gathering moan. Where the water held its course, a damp and ghostly mist clogged the air but the skies were calm, and chequered only by few clouds, that swept in long, white, spectral streaks over the solemn stars. Now and then the bat wheeled swiftly round, almost touching the figure of the student, as he walked musingly onward. And the owl, that before the month waned many days would be seen no more in that region, came heavily from the trees, like a guilty thought that deserts its shade. It was one of those nights, half dim, half glorious, which mark the early decline of the year- Nature seemed restless and instinct with change; there were those signs in the atmosphere which leave the most experienced in doubt whether the morning may rise in storm or sunshine. And in this particular period, the skyey influences seem to tincture the animal life with their own mysterious and wayward spirit of change. The birds desert their summer haunts; an unaccountable disquietude pervades the brute creation even men in this unsettled season have considered-themselves, more than at others stirred by the motion and whisperings of their genius. And every creature that flows upon the tide of the Universal Life of Things, feels upon the ruffled surface the mighty and solemn change which is at work within its depths. LORD LYTTON.

This is not a Miserable Life. They who say that this is a miserableglife say not well. It is a misanthropy or a diseased imagination only that says this. Life is liable to misery, but misery is not its very being; it is not a miserable existence. Witness—I know not what things to say, or how many. The eye is opened to a, world of beauty, and to a heaven-all sublimity and loveliness. The ear heareth tones and voices that touch the heart with joy, with rapture. The great wide atmosphere breathes upon us, bathes us with softness and fragrance. Then look deeper. How many conditions are happy ? Childhood is happy, and youth is prevailingly happy, and pros- perity hath its joy, and wealth its satisfaction; .and the warm blood that flows in the ruddy cheek and sinewy arms of honest poverty is a still better gift. No song is so hearty and cheering—none that steals forth from the windows of gay saloons —as the song of honest labour among the hills and mountains. Oh! to be a man, with the true energies and affections of a man; all men feel it to be good. To be a healthful, strong, true- hearted, and loving man, how much better is it than to be the minion or master of any condition, lord, landgrave, king or Caesar! How many affec- tions, too, are happy! gratitude, generosity, pity, love, and consciousness of being beloved. And to bow the heart, in lowliness and adoration, before the infinite, all-blessing, ever-blessed One, to see in the all-surrounding brightness and glory, not beauty and majesty only, but the all-beautiful, all-majestic, all conscious Mind and Spirit of love this is to be filled with more than created fulness —it is to be filled with all the fulness of God. DEWEY, »

Causes of War. What are sufficient causes of war let JUO man say, let no legislator say, until the question of war is directly and inevitably before him. Jumste may be permitted, with comparative safety, to pile tome upon tome of interminable disquisition upon the motives, reasons, and causes of just and unjust war. Metaphysicians may be suffered with im- punity to spin the thread of their speculations until it is attenuated to a cobweb; but for a body .created for the government of a great nation, and ior the adjustment and protection of its infinitely diversified interests, it is worse than folly to -speculate upon the causes of war, until the great -question shall be presented for immediate action —until they -shall hold the united question of -cause, motive, and present expediency, in the very palm of the hands. War is a tremendous evil. Come when it will, unless it shall come in the necessary defence of our national security, or of that honour under whose protection national security reposes, it will come too soon, too soon for our national prosperity-too soon for our individual happiness—too soon for the frugal, in- dustrious, and virtuous habits of our citizens-too soon, perhaps, for our most precious institutions. The man who, for any cause, save the sacred cause of public security, which makes all wars defensive —the man who, for any cause but this, shall pro- mote or compel this final and terrible resort, assumes a responsibility second to none, nay, transcendently deeper and higher than any which man can assume before his fellow-man, or in the presence of God, his Creator. BLNNEY. o

Little Things. The most careful attention and painstaking industry always mark the true worker. The greatest men are not the men who despise small things, but those who improve them most carefully. A Russian proverb says of a man who does not observe things: He goes through the forest, and sees no firewood." Sir," said Dr. Samuel Johnson on one occasion to a fine gentleman just returned from Italy, some men will learn more in the Hampstead stao-e-coach than others in the tour of Europe." 4The mind sees as well as the eye. Where un- thinking gazers observe nothing, men of intelligent vision see into the root of the matter put before their eyes, attentively noting differences, making ,comparisons, and seeing exactly what the thing means. In this way the telescope was invented by Galileo, and this proved the beginning of the modern science of astronomy. Brunei took his first lesson in forming the Thames Tunnel from the tiny ship-worm. He saw how the little creature bored through the wood with its well-armed head, first in one direction and then in another, till the archway was complete, and by exactly copying the work on a large scale be was at length enabled to accomplish his great engineering work. It is the intelligent eye of the careful observer which gives apparently trifling sights their value. So trifling a matter as the sight of seaweed floating past his ship enabled Columbus to put an end to the mutiny which arose among his sailors at not discovering land, and to assure them that the New World was not far off. There is nothing so small that it should remain forgotten, and there is no fact, however trivial, but may prove useful in some way or other if carefully interpreted. The famous chalk-hills of England were built by tiny insects, detected only by the help of the microscope. The close observance of little things is the secret of all true success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit in life. Human knowledge is but the accumulation of small facts, made by successive generations of men—the little bits of experience carefully treasured up by them growing into a mighty pyramid. SMILES.

CONSTITUTION HILL. ABERYSTWYTH. LICENCE REFUSED AGAIN. A FOUR HOURS' SITTING AT LL AN B A DARN. The Magistrates' Room at Llanbadarn, pre- sented an unusual appearance on Thursday, when an application was made to the Bench by Mr. Lloyd Morgan, M.P., on behalf of the Aberystwyth Im- provement Company for a license for Constitution Hill. The announcement that the Company in- tended making the application had excited a great amount of interest among all sections of the com- munity at Aberystwyth, and it was not surprising to see so many leading inhabitants pushing their way into the little room attached to the Black Lion. The Magistrates present were:— Dr. Morgan (in the chair), Major "Hugh Bonsall, B. Ellis Morgan, David Thomas, Thomas Griffiths, and Thomas James, Esqrs. They sat round a square table placed in the centre of the room, being surrounded on all sides by ladies and gentle- men whose hearts, judging from their faces, seemed to throb with the alternating emotions of fear and hope, according as the case was going for or against them. Amongst the ladies present were Mrs. Principal Roberts, and Mrs. Angus, who followed the case right through. Mr. T. J. Samuel appeared to oppose the application on behalf of the North Cardiganshire Temperance Union. co Mr. Lloyd Morgan, M.P., said that this was an application for a six day license to sell beer, wines and spirits on Constitution Hill. The applicant was Mrs. Hindle, Hefreshment Managress under the Aberystwyth Improvement Company. A similar application was made to the Licensing Justices in 1894, and in 1897. In 1894 it was granted, but the Conforming Committee declined to confirm it. He did not think, if they granted the license on the present occasion, they need anticipate any difficulty in putting before the Con- firming Committee such a case as would induce them to confirm a license which on a former occasion they did not think it wise to. The application was made in the name of Mrs. Hindle. It had to be made in the name of an individual to comply with the Licensing Act, but it was really an application made on behalf of the Aberystwyth Improvement Company. He would not weary their Worships with a long speech as they probably knew all about the Improvement Com- pany and their premises at the top of the hill which they were spending so much money over. They had expended at Aberystwyth a very large sum— something like £ 150,000. A large sum had been expended in laying out Constitution Hill so as to make it attractive to visitors. They were desirous of promoting the interests of the Company and also of doing everything they could to benefit Aber- ystwyth. It had been suggested in some quarter that if this license was granted would have the effect of turning Constitution Hill—and, indeed, according to some of them, the whole of Aber- ystwyth—into an absolute pandemonium. He need not tell them that if the license was granted the hill would not be conducted in a way that would give anyone the right to say that it had been conducted in an improper manner. The Company had far too much at stake in the town to allow anything of the kind. If it injured Aberyst- wyth—if anything prevented quiet, respectable people coming here to enjoy the place as a seaside resort-it would of course injure the Company. It was proposed if this license wa-s granted to make a very considerable addition to the buildings on Constitution Hill. He put in a plan of the pro- posed new buildings, and said that great care would be taken if the license was granted to have that portion of the building in which refreshments would be sold entirely separate from every other part, the reading room, the place for recreation, &c, There would be no communication between them. It was proposed to spend on the new building a sum of something like Z2,000, and when it was erected they (the magistrates) would be satisfied that it was admirably adapted for the sale of intoxicating liquors. Constitution Hill was a place that bad been growing in public favour from the time the railway was constructed, and the number of people that frequented it had very much increased every year. During the present season it had been visited by 107,000 people, and those who wanted to have refreshments other than teetotal refreshments were unable to get anything when they got up there. The Company found that a considerable proportion of those who visited the Hill were not satisfied with having no intoxicating beverages, and they had constantly made application to Mr. Marks, the managing director of the Company, for oppor- tunities to have such refreshments there. The absence of a license there had given rise to ap- parently very great inconvenience to a very large number of people, and Mr. Marks would tell them that large bodies of excursionists not only com- municated with him -before coming there as to the facilities there were for obtaining the kind of refreshments which they required, but there had been constant complaints made by people that they had to go down from the Hill into the town in order to be served with what they wanted. The absence of a license had also given rise to a very undesirable state of things. People who came from a distance, finding they could not get what they wanted on the Hill, sent down the town for beer or brought up bottles of beer or spirits with them and drank it there, leaving the bottles about, which caused a great nuisance. Such people were much more likely to drink to excess than if they were able to buy the drink on the Hill. He would put forward strong evidence as to the public re- quirements. If they granted the license it would be conducted in a manner to which it would be impossible for anybody to take exception. The Company had at present a license granted to them in respect to the Hotel Cambria and the Pier Pavilion, and though the granting of the license had been opposed by practically the same gentle- men that were now opposing— Mr. Samuel; No, Mr. Lloyd Morgan said he meant to say that the opposition from the town was practically the same, and nobody with any knowledge of Aberystwyth could suggest that either of these places had been conducted in a way that made it possible for any one to complain. Therefore it was only fair and reasonable to assume in favour of the Company that if the license was granted the same kind of thing would take place, and that every precaution would be taken so that the Hill would be conducted in such a way that no offence would be caused to anybody. If they granted the license it was proposed to put the following rules in force:—(1) no persons under 18 years of age to be served with any drink; (2) no treating of young persons to be allowed at the bar; (3) no person to be served with two personal drinks at one visit to the bar; (4) no papers or periodicals to be kept in the bar, and no games to be allowed. The last was not an unimportant proviso, as it showed that nothing would be done to induce people to stay on there and go on drink- ing; any one desiring to read a newspaper or play at some game would have to go to another part of which did not communicate with the licensed part. The bar would be opened at 11 a.m., and closed at 11 p.m and no person showing the slightest signs of intoxication would be served with drink or allowed to remain there. Alluding to the opposi- tion the learned counsel observed that he under- stood the application was opposed by the college authorites who Relieved a license would be pre- judicial to the interests of the students. He thought he would be able to show that these fears were entirely groundless because it was not pro- posed to open this place for the sale of drink-or indeed to keep the hill open at all-after the end of September when the railway was closed. It would iolily be open during July August and September. Since the college was closed during these months he could not make out what kind of case the college authorities would be able to make out. It might be said that the conditions he had read out could not be attached to the license. That was perfectly true, but on the other hand, the magistrates had the remedy in their own hands. If these conditions were not complied with, the magistrates would be able to refuse the renewal in a subsequent year. The only other opposition he was aware of came from the various bodies in the town representing the tem- perance party. He desired to speak with all respect of people who hold temperance and teetotal views. He certainly had not come there to make an attack upon them. He was not instructed to do so, and if he had been he would not do it. No doubt the teetotal question was an element to be considered, but what they (the magistrates) had to consider was the public requirements. When they remembered that 107,000 people visited the Hill during the present season; that constant ap- plication was made to Mr. Marks for a license; that complaints were made by people that they were unable to get the refreshments they wanted the undesirable state of things that people were able to take drink up there and consume it without any control; when they remembered all these things be should have thought the case put forward was irresistible. The section of the community who did not go to the length of the teetotal part3 in reference to the drink question were certainlj entitled to fair and reasonable consideration at th( hands of the magistrates, and he was sure thE magistrates would not allow any bias or prejudic( to play any part in their deliberations. Mr. Croydon Marks, managing director of th< Improvement Company, then fgave evidence. He explained by means of a plan what premise: it was proposed to erect if the license wa granted. The licensed premises would be erecte< on the Clarach side of the hill, not on the sit4 where the existing refreshment was. That woul( be u^ed as a place for recreation, and the smal bouse was now called The Club would be use< as a reading and magazine room. It was propose< to have one main entrance to the licensed premises which would face the sea; there would be no back entrance and no other way of approach. There would be no exit but from the front. There would be no communication with any other part of the building. It was intended to have a lea- room. It was proposed to spend £2,000 on the building. Since the opening of the railway 400,000 people had visited the hill, and 107,450 people this season. They employed men whom they called their ground policemen whose duty it was to be responsible for the safety of the place and the good behaviour of visitors. He was con- sl stantly up there himself, and had had inquiries as to whether refreshments could be obtained. Wit- ness alluded to the letter he had received on behalf of bodies of excursionists from a distance as to whether they had a license and stating that, if not, they must bring their own refreshments. He instanced Mr. Prvee Joiies'people (2,500) from Newtown, and read a letter he had received from their representative suggesting a license. He had often had requests of this nature, and had had complaints from excursionists ov ing to the absence of a license. When they got on the hill they said they had to go down again in order to get some beer. People took up bottles of beer and spirits which they drank on the hill and afterwards left the bottles about in dangerous places. After one trip over 24 bottles were picked up—which was evidence that people had been drinking constantly all the time they were there. In the event of the license being granted the rules already mentioned would be rigidly enforced. The Company had a license for the pier. The number of people who visited the pier during the present season was 113,300 and he had not heard a single complaint. During the present season they had had two occasional licenses on the Hill. He was up on one occassion. There was no excessive drinking—nothing of the sort. He invited the police to go up on these occasions if they desired to, and undertook to pay, in order that they might see the manner in which it was conducted; and no complaint was made to him that it was improperly conducted on either occasion. There were 3,000 people there on the first, and 2,000 on the second occasion. He knew of similar places for which licenses were granted—Douglas Head, Isle of Man, where he bad seen 10,000 people, and no excessive drinking that place immediately overlooked the sea, and it was public ground, whereas Constitution Hill was en- closed. At Scarborough the spa where there was a license overlooked the sea and was approached by a cliff railway, up and down which hundreds of thousands of people went every season. He had been there and seen no excess of drinking. He had never heard of an accident on the Hill; nor had he had any complaint. It was the usual thing to grant a license for a place of this kind. In cross-examination by Mr. Samuel, Mr. Marks said he knew of no place with gardens in the kingdom similar to the Constitution Hill that had no license. He had not heard of such places thai had licenses and had given them up. There I been a great increase in the number of people iha. went up the hill this year, though it had no lie use, but that was because a large number of vi-i;rs came to Aberystwvtli. He wrote to Pryce donc;, and Company to corroborate what they had -aid. He could not produce the letter from Oldhan and Birmingham because he did not keep them. any had complained to him, but he had special c to remember this one because for the Nev-t « n trip they went and got a license themselves. The application was for a license to sell beer either on or off the premises. Mr. Samuel: So it does not matter what elll ranee there is. People can take the beer to the t d lwr rooms?—Yes, but we would not let them. Would you prevent them taking it out?-No. Further cross-examined He had only known of one drunken person on the Hill, and he was ordered off. His men had orders, when there was anyone showing the slightest sign of intoxication, to send them out at once. The rules would be carried out. He should soon hear if they were not. They would guess a young man's age by his looks. A person would not be served more than once at a time. If a person went out and came in immediately they would consider that frivolous and refuse to serve." How will you be able to satisfy the magistrates that these rules will be carried out?—We will pro- vide ground policemen. Mr. Samuel observed that that would not, be satisfying the magistrates, and witness said Mr. Samuel was attacking his credit. Mr. Samuel: Dear me I I never intended doing anything of the kind. I have great respect fur Mr. Marks, but at the same time I have to ask these questions. I say again it will be impossible to satisfy the magistrates that these rules are carried out. Witness: They are carried out at the Birming- ham waterworks. In further reply, witness stated that in obtaining the number which had been quoted, the numbers coming up and going down had been counted. Witness explained that persons coming up frequently went out through the wicket gate, and often persons who had been, say, to Clarach, came in and rode down. Mr. Samuel: In that case you must be counting the same persons twice, because the same persons who come up often go down again.—You are for- getting another gate. But you must admit that the same people come up and go down sometimes.—Yes, but we do not add the three gates, and many go out and walk down. T. E. Salmon, licensed victualler, and a member of the Town Council, was next called. He said he had lived at Aberystwyth for thirty years. He certainly thought the license was required for Con- stitution Hill. He had heard frequent complaints from visitors and excursionists because no intoxi- cants were sold on the Hill. He lived opposi, the Station, and visitors and excursionists leaving frequently came to his house and he had opportunities of hearing their opinions. Visitors went up there to enjoy themselves. He thought the granting of the license would be no detriment to the temperance or any other cause. Cross-examined The people who went up the hill were mostly visitors, but young men from the town went up in the evening. You opposed the resolution against the :;ccnse and amongst other things you said tha- Aber- ystwyth was well supplied with public-house- -No, I said a license would not be detrimental he students, and I maintained that although f ere were 150 houses already they had not j i. ved detrimental to the students, and that was llt a little excuse* Did you say that parents sent their children here because there were so many publichouses ?--I said the fact that there were so many public did not injure the students. Services of the formal notices having been proved— The Chief Constable rose and said he objected to the granting of the license. He did not consider that the license was required, and the siti. ition was a most dangerous one. People going up here did not always come back by train, and the path ran along the side of the precipice, which was a most dangerous place. If a license was granu he would consider it his duty to apply for an ino. ase of the police force, because with the numbei that he had now at his disposal he could not g-iv. the necessary police protection. The railway also, in his opinion, was very dangerous, especially if a man drank to excess; it was hard to sa) what might result. Cross-examined: You say this is a dangerous place. Do you mean by that outside the losed part?—Anyone can go outside through 1 gate, or, what is worse, tumble over the fence There was a barbed wire on the fence, but it v. i easy to get over, as the land above was much vLer than the land below. Have you ever tried to get over barbed w;re?— Yes, and I have got over many times. I can step over it easily. If the Company gives an undertaking b raise their fence your first objection comes to an end ?- I don't say that they can go through the turn stile. Of course you are assuming that this place would be dangerous to a drunken man ?—It is not very safe for a sober man. There has been no accident- during the nine years I have been here, but a man was killed there before my time. He only though; the railway was dangerous to a drunken man. if a license was granted he would have to send il) a policeman every day. Mr, Lloyd Morgan said that was his case. Mr. Samuel, before addressing the Bench r, the defence, raised an objection because the apj L"r,m (Mrs.Hindle) was not present. The Clerk said this was only necessary in oi a renewal. Mr. Samuel then presented petitions from i he Nonconformist chapels in the town, the Sa^ < Army, the Rechabites, the Good Tempi; • be North Cardiganshire (C.M.) Monthly • u; g, Women's Temperance Association, and some • ;e ministers of the town (including the Rev. "V i.. Footman, curate of Holy Trinity, and N. Thomas, vicar of Llanbadarn), and resoluti- fr aVi the Town Council and College Council. v mention of the Salvation Army there w;, laughter, and Mr. Samuel told the scoffer, T K any body of men were doing good work in A <■■■y t l wyth it was the Salvation Army (hear, heat- 'Ke- ferring to the resolution of the Town Coun i r Samuel said six members voted for it, two ricai'w-.i r and two remained neutral. Continuing, hes; i: the magistrates refused the application s. :.1 years ago. they earned the heartfelt thank, people of the district for making such a br. and refusing an unreasonable applicali Town Council, who had passed a resolution 3 it, bad the interest of the town at heart, and w s its requirements. Therefore these resoii- sshould have great weight. With regard b 1 resolution from the College Council, Aberystv 2 undoubtedly, depended almost entirely for 1 months of the year on the College, which was iIn 1 chief sourse of revenue since the mining ii:<- n 1 ceased. The College Council had the weliai i large number of young people at heart, r>> believed that the interest of these young people would be prejudiced by the granting of a license for Constitution Hill. Their resolution, therefore, should have considerable influence on the Bench. It had been stated that the hill would be closed during the time the students were here, but there were a large number of students there during the vacation. New branches of study were were being introduced. Only this summer lectures on music had been introduced, and there were also agricultural classes. The Court then adjourned for an hour. Upon the hearing being resumed the Court was far more crowded than in the morning. Miss Hindle was now present and Mr. Lloyd Morgan said if the Bench desired she would give evidence. Mr. Samuel objected saying that his learned friend had closed his case, but the Bench decided against him. Miss Hindle then gave formal evidence to the effect that she was manageress of the refreshment department of the Hotel Cambria, and the Hill under the Improvement Company, and she now applied for a license for the refreshment room on the Hill. Mr. Samuel said he had no questions to ask the witness. D, Pugh Evans, clerk in the employ of Mr. A. J. Hughes, solicitor, and Thomas Reeves, gave formal evidence as to posting of notices. Mr Samuel then continued his speech. He re marked that the chapel petitions, &c., represented 5,000 people in Aberystwyth. At each chapel it was unanimously decided to ask the Bench to refuse the license. Not half these 5.000 people who had signed the petitions were teetotallers, or advocates of temperance in any way, and this showed that there was a deep feeling in the town against the license being granted. Dealing with the evidence Mr. Samuel remarked that Mr. Marks had said that he had had requests from Oldham, Birmingham, and Newtown to apply for a license. Those were the only three instances that he could bring forward out of the several thousands that visited the Hill during the season. Moreover Mr. Marks admitted that he had written to the Pryse Jones' Company for the letter was read. On ex- ceptional occasions he saw no harm in having occasional licenses, and the Improvement Company had power to apply for such licenses when the necessities of the case demanded it. Mr. Salmon, the other witness in support of the application, stated that there was at Aberystwyth one public house to every 129 inhabitants and that showed that people sent their children to Aber- ystwyth because there were plenty of public-houses in the town. What an absurd thing for a Town Councillor to say. Mr. Salmon (interposing) said the reports of his speech in the newspapers were condensed, and were not correct. Mr. Samuel, continuing, alluded to the sharp decline from the summit of the Hill to the fence and urged that there were dangers inside as well as outside to persons under the influence of drink. L'ndoubtedly there would be drunkeness to some extent if the license was granted. There were no licensed houses in any village, however well con- ducted, where occasionally there was not a drunken man. Stringent rules might be lixed, but it was doubtful whether they could be carried out to the letter. Customers would not regard the rules. As to the outside of the Hill the danger to a man not under the influence of drink was great, but under the influence of drink it would oe terribly in- creased. Unless the greatest care was exercised in going down the public portion of the Hill a person would instantly fall over the precipice. Even staunch teetotallers had nearly fallen over the precipice on several occasions, and if a drunken man was to make the attempt the results could easily be fatal. He was extremely sorry that application for a license for those beautiful grounds should be made. If granted, one of the greatest attractions connected with Aberystwyth would be defiled, because unquestionably if the license was granted it would amount to the defiling of the beautiful gardens. Another matter which the Bench had to consider was the fact that in granting the application they would be granting a new license. Formerly when applications for licenses were made they were to take the place of licenses of other houses. But this was a new vested interest, and the Bench were aware that there was a ten- dency in legislation to reduce the number of licenses in every way-that was, there was a tendency to curtail the means of intemper- ance. TheJLicensing Commission were unanimously agreed that no new licenses ought to be granted, and he hoped when a measure making this com- pulsory was introduced, as no doubt it would, that the learned counsel would vote in favour of such a measure. In 1894 the Bench, after a long delibera- tion, refused the application then made, and they deserved the thanks of North Cardiganshire for having done so. No new circumstances had arisen. Aberystwyth had one of the most successful seasons that they had ever had this year. There had been more visitors than ever, and according to Mr. Marks there had been more people on the Hill than in the previous seasons the place had been open. He submitted that a licence would lessen the present attractions of the Hill, and that if granted less people would go there. The Bench must also study teetotalers to some extent. The latter did not care to be drinking with intoxicated persons. The granting of the licence would be detrimental to the town as an educational centre, and the town would to that extent be debased. He had every con- fidence in the Bench and that they would carefully weigh the arguments which he had introduced. (Applause.) Dr. Harris, who was in Court at this stage, caused considerable laughter by stating that the atmosphere of the Court room was really worse than the dangers which would arise from a license to Constitution Hill look at it from the opposition point of view. It was rank poison to remain in a room crowded to suffocation. He hoped that some of those present would be suffocated. (Laughter.) He would not mention names. (More laughter). The Rev. T. Mortimer Green, Registrar of the University College, presented a copy of a resolu- tion passed by the Council of the College against the granting of the license. He objected to it because he thought it would be detrimental to the interests of the College. When the agitation as to the location of the University of Wales was on, it was maintained that it would be better that it should be in a small centre like Aberystwyth, even though under the disadvantage of not having large libraries, museums and art galleries, like large centres, as they thought the absence the exerting and oftentimes demoralising recreation in large towns more than counter-balanced the advantages he had mentioned. The result of examinations bore this out, as for several years Aberystwyth students headed the London B.A. lists, and this was exciting the envy of some other colleges. A gentleman holding the same position as himself in connection with an English University College, on a visit to the town, asked him to account for the unique success of the Aberystwyth College in Degree Examinations, and he told him it was due to the absence of recreations—except such innocent pastimes as tennis, &c.-tO call them from their studies. His friend was quite content with the explanation. He had no hesitation in affirming that it was the absence of distracting recreations that was one of the chief causes of the success of the College. By granting this licence they would be introducing one of their distracting and de- moralising recreations. In reply to Mr. Samuel, Mr. Green said that a large number of students stayed in the town till the end of September. The intermediate examination of the University of Wales, for which many stayed, did not end until the third week in July. It was most essential that distracting recreations should be kept out of the way of students at the time of examination. There were 35 students trying the recent examina- tion. During July and August there had been 36 dairy students and 25 music students. Cross-examined, he admitted that the great bulk of the students left the town on June 28th, and re- assembled on October 3rd, but during September the examinations for entrance scholarships were on, and 80 sat. Again the normal students to the number of 60 came to College in September they were about equally divided in sex; as were also the music students. Last term the total number of students was 424. He did not say the students competing for entrance scholarships would go up the hill, but there was the risk. Mr. C. M. Williams then gave evidence. He read the resolution passed by the Town Council. Mr. Salmon asked him if his (Mr. Salmon's) speech had been correctly reported ? Mr. Williams: Yes, as far as j can say. Pro- ceeding, Mr. Williams said he strongly objected to the granting of the license. In 1897 all the magis- trates now sitting with the exception of one were (;11 the Bench, and no new argument bad been pro- duced to-day why the opinion of the Bench at that time should be altered. He would first of all ex- plain the position of the Town Council in regard to the matter. The opinion of Aberystwyth was now more strongly against the license. In 1897 eight members of the Town Council voted for a resolution asking the Bench not to grant the license and four against. There were 12 members present when the matter came before the Council this time. i-. n, C. Roberts, the surveyor, voted in favour of t bt* le.-oJntion, as did also the person who was 7.<y. r "f the town in 1897, so that they had two -•i the chiei magistrates of the town voting against the licence. Alderman Peter Jones, one of the oldest members of the Town Council, who had represented the ratepayers for something like twenty-two or twenty-threeyears, also voted against the granting of the license. Mr. Robert Doughton, another old member, voted against the application together with Mr. J. P. Thomas and himself. Mr. liad to leave before the voting took plsura, hw b- had every reason to believe that if a | he had been present he would have voted for the i i the resol'unoii. Those who voted against were Mr. f Kalinin and Mr. R. Peake. He might say that Mr. » Wake new was the only person who voted this year against the resolution who had also voted to the same effect in 1897. This really reduced the opposition of two years ago to two only. He might say that five out of those who voted for the resolution voted to the same purpose in 1897. He would like to say that there was a deep feeling in the town against the granting of the licence, and the Town Council in passing that resolution did not do so with the object of dictating to the Bench, but because they were anxious to give an expression of their opinion, as the authority representing the ratepayers of Aberystwyth, and that resolution could be taken as being the opinion of the town. There were two members who remained neutral. One was Alder- man David Roberts, who voted for the application in 1894, but since then had carefully weighed the matter, and this time decided to remain neutral. The other was Mr. Isaac Hopkins. He was also neutral in 1897. The resolution of the Town Council was to the effect that the best interest of the town would be prejudiced by the granting of this licence. He supported what had been stated in the resolution of the College Council to the effect that the granting of the licence would be detrimental to the interests of the students. He had the honour of being a member of the College Council, and he might say that the resolution was not passed by the local members alone, but prac- tically by members from outside. This protest was not the outcome of a temperance fad in any way. It did not come within this arena. They had heard that 107,451 bad visited the gardens this season. Mr. Lloyd Morgan I am sorry to interrupt, but I may say that, however interesting your remarks may be, this is not evidence. Mr. Williams I am leading up to my evidence. Mr. Morgan: You may be leading up. but you may be going on for some time before you come to this evidence. What you have hitherto been saying amounts to a speech, and is in no way evidence. Mr. Samuel: He is simply stating his grounds of opposition. Mr. Williams: Exactly. I am giving the grounds of my opposition. The Chairman Come to the point. Mr. Williams, proceeding, said one of his strongest C, reasons for opposing the licence was the highly dangerous position of the Hill. This contention was, he thought, well supported by the evidence of Mr. Marks himself, who said if the licence was granted no persons under eighteen years would be served, and only one drink at a time would be served to each person. Why should the Improve- ment Company in making this application introduce any conditions of this kind unless it was that they recognized that weakness in that case ? When the r' Improvement Company applied for a licence for the Hotel Cambria there was practically no oppo- sition, and then they heard not a word about regulations. Did not that fact prove that the Company themselves recognised that this was a highly dangerous place and undertook to make these conditions in order to lessen the danger. The Bench was fully aware that these conditions could not be carried out. How where they to know whether the persons who came there for drink were not eighteen years of age and that persons only received one serving. If persons who went up the Hill were anxious to have drink, why could they not call at places at the bottom of the Hill? He had been on the Hill on several occasions since 1896. He went there not only for pleasure, but to see how things were conducted there. Many visitors said Aberystwyth was to be congratulated upon having the beautiful gardens free from the taints attending a licence. Whole families of visitors and inhabitants went up the Hill at present who would not go there if there was a licence. Mr. Williams then referred to the fact that at Buxton there were gardens something similar to the Hill gardens. A licence was in force there at one time, but the promoters found it to their ad- vantage to discontinue it. (Applause.) Mr. Williams then proceeded to dwell upon the dangers which an intoxicating person would run if he came down on the public portion of the Hill, and added that he felt strongly that if the licence was granted it would change the class of visitors to the Gardens. Someone had said something about the Isle of Man. They at Aberystwyth were deeply anxious that the town would never descend to the state of some towns in the Isle of Man (applause). Not only would the best interests of Aberystwyth be violated, but but those of the Company if the license was granted in that less persons would visit the Gardens. The Aberystwyth Town Council were at all times anxious to assist the Company in every way, but they felt that in this instance the interests of the town would be affected. It is said that the license would only be put in force three months in the year, but what guarantee bad they that the place would not be open during the twelve months He felt certain that the Standing Joint Committee, of which he was a member, would be against the application in that it would mean an additional police officer would have to be engaged. He had never received any complaints about the fact that there was no license, but he had received con- gratulations. Mr. Lloyd Morgan From whom, gentlemen ? Mr. Williams: Gentlemen and ladies, heads of families. Mr. Lloyd Morgan I have no questions to ask the witness. The Rev. W. L. Footman, curate of Holy Trinity, stated that he frequently visited the Hill and had seen hundreds of persons up there that season. He generally found a lot of visitors of the better class there. He was not a teetotaler himself (applause). Mr. Samuel: Do you come here to object to the license 1 Witness: Yes. Continuing, he said he opposed the license on the grounds which bad not been touched upon before. He came there in the interests of the young people who visited the Hill. Witness described the confetti battles and other recreations carried on on the Hill, and said the introduction of the exciting element of intoxication would make the Hill such a place as respectable parents would hesitate to allow their daughters to go to (applause). Cross-examined: Was on the Hill on the night of the Conservative fete when there was an occasional license. Did you see anything wrong there?: There was a lot of loud talk. He admitted that there were a great many more people there that night than ordinary nights. The Chairman at this stage asked Mr. Samuel whether it was necessary to hear any more evidence? Mr Samuel said he was about to make that remark. The Chairman I think this matter has been pretty well threshed out. Mr. Lloyd Morgan, in his reply, dwelt on the fact that there was no opposition from owners of of adjoining property or from licensed victuallers. Reviewing the evidence against the application, the learned counsel said the evidence of Mr. C. M. Williams was leased on false premises-of fears existing largely in his own mind. It did not matter if every member of the Town Council voted for the resolution, because it was only their indiv- idual opinion. Mr. Williams had made an eloquent speech and it was a pity he did not take to the law in his early days, for he would have made a mark (laughter and applause). He proceeded to lay emphasis on the fact that unless the rules mentioned were carefully observed, the Bench could refuse the renewal of the license next year. No doubt the College opposition was perfectly sincerely put forward, but there was really nothing in it. He could not see how the students would be affected at all. The bulk of the students would be away during the time of the license, and surely persons entering upon examinations, the result of which would have a vital bearing on their future, would not go up to Constitution Hill to spend their evenings in drinking. There was a stronger resolution this year than in 1897 for granting the license because the number of people visiting the hill had trebled. The Court was then cleared and the Magistrates deliberated in private for above five minutes. The Chairman then announced, amid loud applause, that the majority of the Bench were in favour of refusing the application.

CHURCH NEWS. It is very gratifying to Free Churchmen of every persuasion, says a writer in the "Manchester Guardian," to note the effective and successful manner in which the Rev. Thomas Spurgeon is filling the pastorate of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. When the greatest preacher of the century," to quote Canon Scott-Holland's estimate of the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon, passed away, even the frequenters of the Tabernacle were full of anxious forebodings. But the son has proved himself to be worthy of the honoured name he bears, and though the congregations are not as large as in his father's time, yet the thousands continue to gather and the numerous agencies continue to be worked with vigour and courage. On Sunday Mr. Thomas Spurgeon, on resuming his ministry after the summer holiday, had the satisfaction of announcing that the birthday gifts" of the previous week amounted to nearly £ 700. Some £ 6,000 are still required to meet the cost of the erection of the new tabernacle, which is estimated at £ 40,000. The Rev. Charles Williams, minister of the Cannon-street, Baptist Chapel, Accrington, whose ministerial jubilee was celebrated by the Baptist Union last week, preached to his own congregation on Sunday night, on Fifty years in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ," His text was the publican's appeal to God for mercy-a text which formed the basis of his first discourse to a gather- ing of working people in the shoemaker's cottage in a small hamlet in Surrey 56 or 57 years ago. In the course of his discourse he thanked bis con- gregation for the encouragement and assistance he received during a critical stage in the history of their movement, whea the leaders of the denomina- tion in some parts of the country desired to expel iiim on account of the attitude he at that time took

Educational. MISS PHILLIPS, CERT. R.A.M., R.C.M., AND TRINITY COLLEGE, LONDON, QRGAMST OF WESLEY, CHURCH, With experience in successfully preparing for the above Examinations. Receives Pupils for Organ, Pianoforte, and Singing. Terms on Application. ADDRESS 34, PIER STREET. IIIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS VICTORIA HOUSE, V I C T 0 R I A (MARINE) fjl E R R A C E A BERYSTWYTH. SEPARATE KINDERGARTEN. PRINCIPAL Miss KATE B LLOYD. Certificated Mistress, Assisted by a Staff of highly qualified Resident Governesses. REFERENCES— Thomas Jones, Esq., 15. A., H.M. Inspector of Schools Llanelly; The Rev. O. Evans, D.D., King's Cross, London. E. H. Short, Esq., H.M. Inspector, Abervstwyth. Principal Edwards, D.D., Bala Theological College. Frincipal Roberts, M.A., U.C.W. Principal Prys, M.A., Trevecca College. Dr Scholle Aberdeen University. Rev T. A Penry, Aberystwyth. Pupils prepared for the London and Welsh Matricu- lations, Oxford and Cambridge Examinations, &c. For Terms, &c., apply PRINCIPAL. A ABERYSTWYTH CO-UNTY SCHOOL HEADMASTER MR. DAYID GAMUEL, M.A., (Cantab). SENIOR MISTRESS MISS EDITH ::I\I. ENN-ART, M.A., (Vict) ASSISTANT MASTERS AND MISTRESS MR W, J3EARSOX JPULLER, M. A. IR. THOMAS QWENS, MR- T I I "1 TO WELL. B.A., B.Sc. O e ill (Lond.) MISS S. E. TH01US- DRAWING MR. J. H. APPLETOX, Cert. Art Master. School re-opens September 19th, 1899. Pupils requiring Railway Season Tickets will please apply to me forthwith. JOHN EVANS, 6, Portland Street, Clerk. Aberystwyth. Business Notices. TEMPERANCE COMMERCIAL HOTEL, STATION TERRACE, LAMPETER. Two Minutes walk from the Railway Station. WELL-AIRED BEDS. BATH ROOM. CHARGES MODERATE PROPRIETRESS—MRS S. A. WALTERS. BUY YOUR MEDICINES FROM DAVIES BROS., THE PHARMACY, LAMPETER. ALL DRUGS AND CHEMICALS OF GUARANTEED PURITY. j MR. STEPHEN H. EVANS AUCTIONEER, LAND AGENT AND VALUER. OFFICES:— HARFORD SQUARE, LAMPETER. FOR HIGH-CLASS OUTFITS GO TO TOM JONES, COLLEGE STREET, LAMPETER LATEST STYLE IN TAILORING COM- BINED WITH MODERATE CHARGES. ARTIFICIAL TEETH. MR. JAMES REES (Seventeen years with Messrs. Murphy and Rowley), IJ1RINITY jpLACE, ^BERYSTWYTH. MI? REES visits TREGARON first and last Tuesday in each Month at Mrs. Williams, Stanley House. Visits Machynlleth the Second and Fourth Wednes- days in each Month at Mrs. R. Jones, Pentre- rhydin Street (opposite Lion Hotel). Corns on the 1st and 3rd Saturday in each month at Mr W. Evans, Grocer, Liverpool House, (opposite Slaters Arms. Visits Lampeter the First and Third Fridays in each Month, at R. Evans, milliner, 18, Harford Square. CHABGKS MODBRATB. FOR PURE CONFECTIONERY IN ALL VARIETIES GO TO MORGANS', AT 16, TERRACE ROAD, 27, PIER STREET, AND AT WHOLESALE DEPOT- 55, NORTH PARADE. ABERYSTWYTH The only practical Sugar-Boiler in the town. Fifteen years experience. Shops supplied at lowest terms. FOR THE BEST SELECTION OF ALL KINDS OF TOOLS, TABLE CUTLERY, ELECTRO-PLATED JL GOODS, POCKET KNIVES, RAZORS AND SCISSORS,, CALL AT WM. 11. JONES' IRONMONGERY AND TOOL DEPOT, M ARRET ks TREET, A BERYSTWYTH ALSO THE LARGEST STOCK OF ENAMELLED WARE IN TOWN. Printing. POSTERS. HANDBILLS. CIRCULARS. j PROGRAMMES. 1 i INVOICES. BILLHEADS. MEMORANDUMS. BUSINESS C-k]RDs.ri TIME SIIEETS. > RECEIPT BOOKS. DELIVERY BOOKS. "tbc iileisi) gazette" Office, BRIDGE STREET & GRAY'S INN RD., ABERYSTWYTH. List of some of the principal places where Cbe itfcisD ^zette" is sold: ABERYSTWYTH. ABERATROX. ABERDOVEY. ABERGYXOLWYX. ABERLLEFEXXY. AJBERARTH. AETHOG. BllA. BARMOUTH. BLAEXAU FESTIXIOG BROXAXT. BLAEXPEXXAL. BORTH. Bow STREET BAXGOR. CARDIGAN. CARMARTHEX. CARXARVON CEMMES. CELLAN. CLLCEXXIN. CROSS INN. CORRIS. CORWEX. CRICCIETH. CWMY STWYTH. CRIBYX. DOLGELLEY. DIKAS MAWDDVTY. DERRY ORMOXB. DEVIL'S BRIDGE. DREFACH. DIHEWYD. DYFFRYJ*. EGLWYSFACH. GOGIXAX. HARLECH. LAMPETER. LLAVBADARX FAWR. LLAXFIHAXGEI,. LLAXTARIAN. LLAXWXEX. LLAXWEXOG. LLAXARTH. LLANDDEWI. LLAXGEITHO. LLEDROD. LLAXILAR. LLAXOX. LLANBEDR. LLAXGYBI. LLANYBYTHER. LLAXDYSSUL. LLAXBR Y XMAIR. LLANRHYSTYD. LLANUWCHLLYN. LLWYXGWRIL. MACHYNLLETH. MIXFFORDD NEWCASTLE EMLYN. NEWQUAY. PEXXAL. PONT LLANIO. POXTRH YDFEXDIG AID. PONTRHYDYG ROES. PRHYNDEUDPH. PORTMADOC. PEXLLWYN. PONTERWYD. PEXRHYXCOCH. PEXPARKE. PWLLHELI. RHYDLEWIS. RHYDFYDR. TALYBOXT. TREGAROX. TALSARN. TALSARXAU. TOWYN. TREFEIRIG. YSTRAD. < YSPYTTY YSTWYTH LONDON. LIVERPOOL. LLAXDIIO. LLAXDRIXDOD WELLS. MAXCHESTER. POXTYPRIDD ADVERTISING OO'S BooK STALL. PORTH. PONTIC TMNER