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ABERYSTWYTH.

♦ Town Council Committees.

ABERAYRON.

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ABERAYRON. PERSONAL.— Private William Davies, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was invalided home from Hong Kong, China, has arrived at Aberayron, and is fast regaining his usual strength. WHEN MAFEKIXG IS RELIEVED. Great pre- parations are being made here to celebrate the relief of Mafeking, inasmuch as the gallant defender is a Welshman, and is assisted by a private from Aberayron. We hope and trust they can hold out until the well-deserved relief comes. URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.—At a special meet- ing of this Council held on Thursday, there were present Councillors D. Evans, J.P. (in the chair), J. T. Evans, vice-chairman, Evan Morris, John Davies, Evan Lewis, John Rees, David Griffiths, Evan Lloyd, J. Davies, J. H. Jones, J. R. Evans, together with the Clerk, lr. B. C. Jones. The meeting had been convened for the purpose of electing medical officer of health and Inspector of nuisance, but there had been no applications received. The Chairman then pointed out that since no applications had been received for the posts they must declare the old hands re-elected. Councillor David Griffiths held that since not one of them had applied for it, and as they were in the Council's employ from year to year, that the post was still open. As no applica- tion whatever had been received, and surely the ones now in employment if they want to continue in harness should apply and make a formal appli- cation. Most of the councillors failed to see this. After some discussion it was resolved to re- appoint Dr. Edward Williams, as medical officer of health, and Mr. John Watkins as inspector of nuisance. LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.—un 11 riclay evening the Literary and Debating Society held its last meeting of the session 1899-1900. The event was celebrated by a grand soiree. Mrs. Munro Hughes, Mrs. J. M. Griffiths, Mrs. B. C. Jones. Mrs. Lima Jones, Mrs. T. Z. Jones, and other ladies presided over the refreshment tables. A well arranged programme was submitted. During tea, selections on the pianoforte were rendered by Mrs. T. Z. Jones, Misses Davies, Tanyfron Villa, and Miss Hughes, R.A.M., Park View Messrs J. R. Davies and J. D.Jenkins then gave a stirring rendering of the famous duett Albion." Musical chairs for juniors, bachelors, and "Old uns" was very amusing. Ir. Denham Evans following in his usual comical style with I've only got eighteen pence," which fairly brough down the house. In • the spelling bee'for boys and girls, Master Lewis 0. Jones and Miss Olive Jones took the prizes re- spectively. Mr. J. D. Jenkins then rendered the patriotic air, "Soldiers of the Queen," which was over and over again repeated. Mr. Sterry alco gave a comic song in character, and the rest of the pro- gramme consisted of amusing games. Alder- man John M. Howell, the retiring president, then delivered a valedictory address as foliows :— This was called a valedictory address because he was wishing them farewell as president of the Society. Following precedent, he should formally hold office till they met again in the autumn, when they would elect a new president. Dr. Davies, the vice- president, would, he hoped, be induced to accept it, for although his professional duties might possibly cause his attendance to be irregular, there would be no difficulty in appointing a vice-president whose attendance might be reckoned upon. It would be well in future to hold the public inaugural meeting, at which the enrolment of members would take place, before arranging the syllabus for the session. The syllabus would thus be formulated, not as was the case at the beginning of that session in anticipation of who the members would be, but after ascertaining who they are. In reviewing the work of the session, which was closing that night, it might be mentioned as a very satisfactory feature that every appointed lecturer and speaker did his or her alloted part. The lectures given were by Mr. J. L. Pickard on "A model kitchen garden on Longfellow," by Miss Scott; and on Matches," by Mr. Dewhurst. They were all of a high order, and didactic in character. The first debate on the experimental proposition "That a permanent peace would not result by annexing the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, with the view of forming with Natal, Cape Colony, and Rhodesia a Dominion of South Africa," was con- verted by the debating skill of Mr. E. Lima Jones into a highly interesting dialectical contest The debate moreover gave the Rev. J. M. Griffiths an opportunity to deliver a fervent patriotic speech, which, if somewhat highly flavoured in its terms of denunciation of the Boers, answered the good purpose of re-assuring those of them who were at the time weak-kneed Britons (cheers). To-day, the war was still waging, but whatever might be their views as to the cause and origin of it, they had the profound satisfaction of witnessing .1 that ties light as air, but firm as steel" bound the mother country and its self-governing Colonies into one great commonwealth. Most assuredly, the spectacle of free British communities sending forth their sons to fight and to die, óI their remains being laid," in the memorable words of Sir Wilfred Laurier: in the same grave, where they will remain, till the end of time in a last fraternal embrace was one of the most remarkable as it was one of the most stirring political developments in the history of the nations (cheers). The debate on the question that Aberayron in its present state did not justify support as a health resort, elicited a notable speech from Mr. C. Denham Evans, which had inspired a sympathetic leading article in a newspaper, and had evoked a remonstrance from the Aberayron Urban District Council (laughter and cheers). There was some good extempore speaking on the subject "that the qualifications for the franchise should be educational," in which Miss Scott and Dr. Davies took the leading parts. The debate upon the subject of "Voluntary enlistment v. conscription" was striking for the preliminary research which it exhibited, its instructive quality, and the effective and able debate which it evoked (cheers). During the session they had been encouraged and enlivened by the kind patronage of the Rev. T. Evans and Mrs. Evans, of Manor Hall, to whom each one of them felt duly grateful (cheers). Altogether, the session bad fulfilled to a degree, more or less, the ideal of a literary and debating society (cheers). He must be allowed to express a regret that Welsh topics did not receive attention, nor did the absence of them from the curriculum seem to cause any concern to the leading members of the Society. That was a sure sign that in that matter they were in a hopeless condition. They were Welshmen without any attachment apparently to their real names, to their literature, and to their ideals. It was a fact that should not be concealed nor con- doned, it w;t.; a fact to be confessed and bemoaned. It might strike some of them that in a town of about 1400 inhabitants or more a literary society consisting of 70 members was unsatisfactory in point of numbers. He did not think so. A liter- ary society might have two direct objects, to stimu- late a desire, and to afford an opportunity to young people to acquire the use of the valuable weapon of public speech. He feared that they had somewhat abandoned that object. There was another legiti- mate object, that of affording those who had al- ready acquired some proficiency in the practice of public speaking the opportunity to develop a greater proficiency, and to cultivate the enjoyment of the pleasures of polemical discussion. This was chiefly the object to which they had confined them- selves during the past session. Those pleasures were of a high order, without doubt they were of the highest intellectual order. There they were not affected by denominational sympathy or antagonism, by the action of cliquism, by the suffrages of elec- tors, by an inordinate ambition for a chair and its fugitive honours (laughter), nor by the exigencies of rival policies, and of financial questions. Their atmosphere was that of unadulterated reason (laughter and cheers). Their weapons were those of the Athenians in the period of their glory (laughter). There the reasoner and the orator, or the speaker only, prevailed and was acknowledged. The very nature of their exercises, therefore, did not appeal to the majority (laughter). It was sad to contemplate that not a single member of the Aberayron Urban Council partici- pated in those etheral intellectual pleasures (loud laughter). An incidental good result of their organisation was that it brought men and women of all conditions of social standing together (hear, hear). Aloofness bred misunderstanding and mistrust (hear, hear). Distance did not lend enchantment' in the social sphere (laughter). Their's was an age when differences were bridged over; when man was coming to the ascendant, and any agency that expedited that consummation was to be welcomed (cheers). By securing the services of faithful secretaries and devoted officers the society might continue from year to year to per- form its functions successfully. In Mr. David Evans, the senior secretary, they had a reserve force, always ready to be used for the good of the society. Wisely he had left much of the actual work during last session to his colleague, Mr. Dew- hurst (laughter), who brought into action the in- valuable traits of the Englishman—promptitude, punctuality, and fidelity to details (cheers). He desired to express his sincere gratitude to them, and to every member of the society, who so wil- lingly and ably fulfilled the duties alloted to them in the course of the session (cheers). In conclusion, he said with all sincerity, God be with us till we meet again "'(loud applause). The Rev J. M. Griffiths next proposed a vote of thanks to the retiiing chairman (Mr Howell). The Society's success during the past session, Mr Griffiths continued, was due to his devotion, his ability and good attendance. There was not a single meeting he believed Mr Howell had missed. He had presented himself punctually at the ad- vertised time (hear, hear.) The Society was now at the close of its fourth session in as flourishing a state as when it was started (cheers). Aberayron had the name of starting new things in a flourishing and enthusiastic manner but which gradually died a natural death (laughter) but he was glad to say that could not be said about the Literary and De- bating Society (cheers). They had also had some variety in their syllabus. Mr Pickard, of U.C.W., Aberystwyth, had given them a very interesting lecture. After Mr Pickard's visit he bad com- municated with the U.C.W., Aberystwyth, to as- certain if Mr Pickard could not hold a course of lectures at Aberayron and that day he was glad to say he received a reply to the effect that arrangements had been made for holding lectures at Aberayron and Llanarth. He was pleased to propose a most hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Howell. Dr. Davies, the vice-chair- man, seconded Mr. Griffiths's motion, which was carried with acclamation. Mr. Howell, responding, said he was thankful for the kind words spoken of him, adding that much of the success was due to the universal and general loyalty of the members. He was sorry that the vice-chairman, Dr. Davies, was kept away by professional duties, but he hoped he would be persuaded to accept the chair the next session. The chairman next proposed a vote of thanks to the secretaries, Mr. D. Evans and Mr. Dewhurst, which was carried with enthusiasm. Mr. Munro Hughes proposed a hearty vote of thanks to all the ladies who had assisted in bringing the entertainment to such a successful issue. Mr. H. W. Lex, Inland Revenue Officer, seconded, which was carried amidst general enthusiasm. God Save the Queen" brought a very enjoyable meeting to a close.

LLANARTH.

BARMOUTH.

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