Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

The copyright status or ownership of this resource is unknown.
Hide Articles List

7 articles on this Page

Advertising

ITHE WEEK'S NEWS.__

WALES AND WELSHMEN. __————I

THE COAL CRISIS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE rOWYSLANL)…

News
Cite
Share

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE rOWYSLANL) CLUB. The annual meeting of the Powysland Club was held on Monday in the Museum at Welshpool. The Earl of Powis presided, and there were present, ihe Yen. Archdeacon Thomas, the Rev D. Grimalci Davis, Colonel Harrison, Captain Mytton, Mr Stanley Leighton, M.P., the Rev Elias Owen, Mosgrd A. Howell, of Rhiewport, C. W. Williams Wynn, T. Pryce, cf Pentreheylin, R. E. Jones, of Cefn Bryn. talcb, D. P. Owen, Elijah Pryce, Mostyn Pryce, T. Simpson Jones, Dr Barrett, etc. The CHAIRMAN, who was received with applause, in opening the proceedings said he was glad to see such a good attendance, and he had especially to welcome Mr Stanley Leighton, who had come from Oawestry to support them. There were one or two points he wished to call to their minds. He had to remind them of the death of tbeir late secretary who managed their records for so many years. He was sure they would all feel what a loss his death was to the county. He did not wish to say more in the presence of his (the late secretary's) son, but he was sure the full sym- pathy of the Club was with the family in the distress they had suffered in the past year (hear, hear.) ThltY were glad to report that the Editor (Mr Lloyd), who bad sent in his resignation, had kindly undertaken to do the work again, and he had been promised assist- ance, which he was sure could be easily obtained (bear hear ) He had before him one or two papers which he happened to come acrose at Powis Castle, which he thought might be of interest to them. and he must take some slight credit to himself for having preser- ved them-(cheers)-for he found them as near the wastepaper basket as it was possible to go—(laugh- ter)—and the one related to the demolition of Mont- gomery Castle. He had often betore heard different reports of how the Castle had been demolished, but he believed those papers, which had not yet been printed, would set the matter at rest. The Castle was demolished by order of Parliament, who asked its owner Richasd Lord Herbert of Cherbury, to de- stroy it at his own expense, and they undertook to refund him the money for its destruction. As te the refunding of this money, as far as he could make out from the paper it appeared that it cost the owner J64,000 to destroy it, and at the same time he hap. pened to be in the unfortunate position of being in debt to the Parliament. The debt was not a very large one-he believed that it amounted to something like X200-and the generosity of Parliament was such that they undertook to wipe off his debt of X200 to them by cancelling their own debt of X4,000 to him (laughter.) Parliaments, they would see, were generous even in those days (laughter,) There were other papers relating to various other matters, and there was one paper which he thought would be of interest to the county. It was the protection given to the family of Richard Lord Herbert of Cherbury and his family at Llyssin, and it was signed by Fair. fax. He believed that it was a matter which would be of considerable interest to the cou:,ty (hear, hear.) He would be very happy to allow those papers to be looked over, in case any of them were considered worth publication (cheers.) There was one other matter which he would like to consult them upon. He was walking near the Strata Marcella ruin the other day, and he noticed that the horses in the field were damaging the stones there, by kicking them down. He wished to ask them if they thought it would be worth while making a little further protec- tion. He noticed particularly one or two column bases which had been kicked over. He was sure there would be very little difficulty in making a little further protection, and that there would be no diffi- culty in making- arrangements with the tenant to do it if they thought it worth while (cheers.) He did not think there was anything more he wished to speak to them upon. He would only congratulate them upon the past history of the Club, and hoped that in the future it would continue to do equally good work (hear, hear.) He did not think there were now so many matters of interest to be discovered in the county as there were formerly, but as in th" case of the little matter he had shown them, matters ot in terest to the county did sometimes crop up (ch era ) Archdeacon TaomAs then read the annual report as follows: The earnest hope expressed by the members of the Club ai ita annual meeting last year, that the impaired healtii of iti, Editor and principal Hon. Secretary might soon be restoruii, and enable him to fulfil his strong desirs that the publica- tions ahoald proceed with renewed vigour," has not bt.n fulfilled; and we have to-day to record our deep sense of the almost irreparable loss the Club has sustained in the re moval from amongst us of Mr Morris Charles Jones, to whom the Club owes not only its inception, but its remark- able success and usefulness through the long period of a quarter of a century. How largely the Montgomeryshire Collections have been indebted to his action and thought- ful mind is attested by the long list of articles, contributed by him to tho twenty-six volumes, enumerated on pa^e 218 of the May issue. The "School of Art" and the .Public Library, which may be said to have grown out of the Club, bear witness to his practical and philanthropic spirit' a*the Transactions do to his learning, while tho •' Museum," in which the Olub, the Collections, the School of Art, and the Library, all find a centre and a home, will stand as a permanent memorial of his service as one of the most useful 1 no 10m and loyal of the sons of Powyaland. Indeed, he has empha- sised his interest, if possible, by a legacy of £ 100 to the Museum. And here, at all events, we can justly apply the well known tribute, Si monumentum queris, circumspice." Nor is this by any means our only losts. The death of Mr Edward Rowley Morris has deprived us of another devoted antiquary, whoso many and valued contributions have long enriched our volumes, and of whose "History of the Parish of Kerry," a further instalment appeared in the last Part that has been issued of the Collections." Indeed, it was to him the Club mainly looked for the supply of material for its Record Department," which was taken up so warmly two years ago at the suggestion of Mr R. E. Jones, and of whose abundant store the report last year gave substantial evidence. And yet again we have to add the name of the Rev. Griffith Edwards, Rector of Llangadvan, to whose careful pen we owe the Histories of the Parishes of Garthbeibio, Llang&dvan.and Llanerfyl. And yet once more we have to record the loss of another distinguished scholar and ardent Welshman, Mr Howell W. Lloyd. whose contributions, sometimes directly, but more often indirectly, as the coadjutor of the late Mr J. Y. W. Lloyd, have enriched our pages. Other members who disap- pear fro 31 our list this year are the late Sir Love Jones- Parry, Bart., of Madryn, and the Rev. George Sandford, to whose many contributions the Club is greatly indebted. Tho year has, indeed, been one of unusual trial to the stability of the Powyeland Club, not only; from these heavy losses, but also from the difficulty of worthily supplying their vacant places. The Rev. W. Valentine lJoyd. the co secretary and learned coadjutor of Mr Morris C. Jones for the last ten years, whose knowledge of Powysland Family History is unsurpassed, and whose Sheriffs of Mont- gomeryshire." and other genealogical articles have thrown much light on the history of the county, has written to ex- press, with great regret, his inability from ill-health to sus- tain the responsibilities of editor and secretary, a r eg rut which none feel more keenly than your Council, and they join unanimonsly in appealing to him to reconsider his resig- nation, while they undertake to relieve him of as large a por- tion as possible of the actual labours of the post. With this view they recommend the appointment of (a) an Editorial Committee to consist of Archdeacon Thomas, the Rev, Elias Owen, M.A., F.S.A., Mr. R. E. Jones, Mr Richard Williams, F.R.H.S.; (b) a Secretary for secretarial duties, and they ask Mr Simpson Jones to accept that office; and (c) an Assistant Secretary to collect the aubecriptioas. In this way they believe that not only will the present difficulty be overcome, but that the original purpose of com- pleting the Parochial Histories may be carried out; and that the now Record Department will form an important and valuable feature; in the Collections of the future; so that whenever it may be thought advisable to close the publica- tions, there will be left for the men and women of Powys- land, monumentum aere perennius." The number of members at the present time is one hundred and forty-three, and it will. be seen from the state- ment of accounts that the Club is in a fairly good condition financially. Looking back on the long series of volumes of the Mont gomeryshire Collections," and the annual increasing diffi- culty of finding ready access to the large amount of informa- tion they contain, it appears to the Council to be highly de. sirable that the Index should be prepared iu order to make its treasures more available, and at the same time it would largely enhance the value of the publication. Into the vacancy on the Council caused by the death of Mr E. Rowley Morris, it is proposed that Deveretix Herbert Mytton, Esq., be elected. In moving its adoption the Archdeacon said he need not add one word to the feeling expressed by the President with regard to their late Secretary and Editor. Never before had they realised so much a on that occasion the debt they owed him for the labour and unceasing care and interest he had bestowed upon the Club year after year. It war when they were placed in a great difficulty, and did not even know until that morning how they would get out of it, that they fully realised the extent of his services to the Club (hear, hear). He was sure the words of the report and the expressions of the President were words and expressions in which they all most heartily joined. Nor need he add one word with regard to Mr Edward Rowley Mdrris, in whom Montgomeryshire had lost an antiquarian who was most devoted to his work, and to whom he thought they should have looked more than anyone else to fill tho gap caused by the-death of Mr Jones (hear, hear) He would like to add an expression of their deep obligation to Mr Sandford, who, though he did not live within the borders of Powysland, had from the earliest days of the Club shown the greatest interest in their work, and they owed to him many of their most interesting articles. It was his great age of 77 which had induced him to withdraw in the hope of rest. In that rest and retirement he had their most cordial sympathy, and their somewhat selfish hope that he would still be able to contribute to the pages of the Journal (hear, hear). As to Mr Valentine Lloyd, the co-secretary and co-editor with Mr Morris Jones, who wrote a few weeks ago to say it was impossible in his present state of health to continne the responsibilities of his position, that morning they had received his final reply consenting to act as editor on condition that he was relieved from the secre- tarial duties. He thought that the Club would very readily grant that condition in the confidence that Mr Lloyd would be able to devote more time than ever with the publications of the Club. No one who had read tha Sheriffs cf Montgomeryshire" and other articles bearing on family history, could be other than most grateful to him for continuing in his office-(cheers)-and all the more so because in the very last volume he had resumed his moat admirable aocounts of-the Sheriffs of Montgomery (cheers). In orJer to relieve him editorially the committee had proposed a list in which there wer« the names of the Rev Elias Owen-whom be was pleased to see present —(hear, hear),—and who had become a resident in their midst—Mr R. E. Jones, than whom he thought no one was more competent to take up the work of the second division, and Mr Richard Williams who had already shown his ability in the matter. They were also very glad that Mr Simpeon Jones had con- sented to act as secretary, and to continue the con- nection which had so long existed between Gungrog and the Powysland Museum (cheers). The number of members was very satisfactory, 143. When the Club started they had GO or 80 members. Since then they had grown very largely, and they might congratulate themselves that after a life of seven and twenty years they were in so good a position (cho- --rg). The report referred to the parochial histories, and expressed a hope that they might be carriod out. There were some parishes, very important ones too, that had not yet liao their story told in the columns of the Tran- bactione. and he earnestly hoped that the gap would be supplied. He was glad to announce that that morning he bad received a promise from one of their members that he would undertake the work of record- ing the history of Llanc'ysilio (cheers). He referred to Mr Pryou of Pentrelieyjin (cheers). Mr Pryce had also suggested another idea, which he hoped the Club would in future, if not immediately, take into consid- eration. It was the copying out of the parochial registers of the county—(hear, hear)—and Mr Pryoe had shewn his loyalty and goodwill to the Club by undertaking to copy his (the spt sker',s) registers, for which he was very grateful to him. He hoped the time would come when the registers of every parish in the county would be copied out (hear, hear). It wouid require to be done on some common stated form, so that every parish might be in the fame form. Then with regard to the index. At the end of the 14th volume there was a useiul index, but they hoped to be able before long to complete the index for the whole series (hear, hear). The Rev D. GRIMALDI Dzvls. in seconding the motion, said he cordially endorsed what Archdeacon Thomas had said with regard to the great loss they had sustained during the past year in the death of their most indefatigable secretary, Mr Morris Charles Jones. He had had ample means cf judging and observing the great zeal, energy, and self-sacrifice which he displayed on all occasions to further the good of Welshpool and the county of Montgomery. He felt quite certain it would be a long time before the loss they had sustained by his death would be supplied. He considered the late Mr Jones one of the foremost of the sons of Montgomeryshire—(hear, hear) and a man who, all his lite, devoted himself to the good of his native county, more especially in his last years. As long as that building, with its museum and library remained, he felt certain Mr Morris Charles Jones could have no better memorial (bear, hear). Personally he felt his loss most keenly. He believed he had lost one of the best friends he 6VPr had in the pariah, and one of his firmest and strongest supporters (cheers). They had in Mr Rowley Morris, too, lost an excellent member of the Club, but he felt very hopeful that with the help of those gentlemen who had been named to succeed their late friends, that the club would go on prosper- ing. He thought it was a great credit to the county that had a Club like that. The work it had done would be a most valuable record of the county (oijeers).-The motion was carried unanimously. Mr R. E. JONES then read the report of the Record department. They regretted that little progress had been made in the past year in the work of continuing the catalogue of documents relating to Montgomery- shire deposited in the Record Office, in consequence ef the illness and death of Mr Rowley Morris, to whom the execution of the work had been entrusted. A further portion of the index to the Inquisitions Post mortem, was however, received from him short- ly before his decease, and this portion of the cata- iogue was now complete. ILIS was the last work in wnich Mr Rowley Morris was engaged. The com- mittee desired to express their cieep sense of the value of the help which he gave to them so willingly, and the fiteiing of profound regret with which they w I regarded his loss. The sum of .£301311 had been ex- pended up to the present time, and there remained a balance in the handa of the treasurer. Uncollected subscriptions amounted to £ 9. The further con- tinuance of the work in which the ccmmittee were .1 .-ed was greatty to be des:rjd, aod would receive their early attention, but it would necessarily depend on a renewal of the subscriptions to the special fund, for which they earnestly ask. In moving the adop- tion of the report Mr Jones said he begged to repeat that which the report stated—the hope that those who had kindly given subscriptions in the past would kindly renew them (hear, hear). The cost of carrying out that work would, he feared, be greatly increased, as the work done by Mr Morris could not be done by any other man on anything like the sar-c WM, but if the members of the club would only furnish them with money they hoped sooner or later to do that which they had undertaken to do. He felt quite sare that, although it might not be interesting reading, it would be of the utmost value to the antiquaries of that county (hear, hear). Capt. MYTTON seconded the motion, and said he joined with the other members of the Club in their regret at the death of Mr Rowley Morris, who devoted so much of his time and talent to trying to complete the records. By his death they were placed in a very unfortunate position, but they might hope that some young person would rise up to complete the work he had so ably begun (hear, hear). The report was adopted unanimously. The CHAIRMAN said it had fallen to his lot to propose a vote of condolence with Mrs Morris C. Jones and her family at Gungrog. He had men- tioned in his opening address, and Archdeacon Thomas had said how sensible the Club was of the loss they had sustained, but he thought they might couple with that the fact that in Mr Morris Jones they had lost a man who was always ready to help in all good works affecting that county and town. On this account, and because Mr Jones had for many years been their neighbour, he asked them to adopt that vote of condolence. He did not think it neces- sary to say more. He felt that sympathy was best expressed in a few words. He therefore asked them to adopt the motion. Dr BARRETT, in seconding the motion, said he agreed with his lordship that the occasion was one for sympathy and condolence, and not for many worde. Mr Jones's deeds were known to them, and his works were around them (cheers). The vote was agreed to. The Rev ELIAS OWEN said he had to propose a vote of condolenco with Mrs Rowley Morris and family. Unfortunately, they had that year to mourn the leas of those who had been with them a large number of years. Humanly speaking, life did not last long, and still they must deeply regret those who had gone before. He had had the pleasure of a long acquaintance with Mr Rowley Morris-more than a score of years-and during that time he had noticed how much he had done for the county, and how hard he had been working for it. But that was only the public side of the man's character, and when they come to the loss the family had sustained it was a very different matter. The family must feel the loss very much more than they could feel it. It was possible that a successor might be found to do the work in connection with the Club, but a father once lost, was lost for ever. He was therefore sure that they felt the most heartfelt sympathy with the bereaved lady and her family. Mr Morris had left a clever family behind him, especially one of his daughters, whom he knew to be remarlaably clever. It vi a3 quite possible that this lady might carry on the labours of her father. She assisted him con- siderably in his literary work and he merely threw this cut as a suggestion. Mr ELIJAH PRYCE seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr SIMPSON JONES said he had only bad a list of the funds from the treasurer that morning, and it was not a very correct list. It seemed that the sub- scriptions and arrears due to the Club amounted to X177 odd, and of that t68 only had been received, so that the arrears amounted to .£109. They had in the oank at the present time X110, so that if the ariears came in the Club would have about.2200 to its credit (hear, hear). Mr Jones then read the report of the Science and Art Department. The Rev ELIAS OWEN asked if the pupil teachers of the district were allowed to attend the teachers' olasses free of cost. The Rev D. GRIMALDI DAVIS said the managers of the National Schools paid a certain sum for the pupil teachers. The Rev ELIAS OWEN said in that case the result was not very satisfactory, seeing that all failed in perspective. The whole thing wantod rubbing up a little. Mr T. PRYra proposed the adoption of the report. Mr MOSTYN PRYCE seconded the motion, and agreed with what had been said by previous speakers in reference to the late Mr M. C. Jones and Mr Rowley Morris Fortunately, he continued, they had Mr W. Valentine Lloyd (hear, hear). It was very fortunate for them that Mr Lloyd had been spared! to continue his office, as there was no one who could be better inforn.ed than he was in the by-gone annals of the county (hear, hear). It was also a source of gratification to have Lord Powis present in the chair (cheers). They were under a very great obligation to him for coming there that day (cheers). The report was then passed, Mr S. LEIGHTON, M.P., proposed the appointment of a committee, consisting of Archdeacon Thomas, Mr R. E. Jones, Dr. Barrett, Colonel Harrison, the treasurer and the secretary, to enquire into certain details, including the storage of books, which had become too numerous for their shelves, the payment of bille, the disposal of surplus volumes, the rela- tionship of the Club with the Free Library tbe grant ci' £ 5 to che Art Class- 8, Rodney's Pillar', the strata Marcella excavations, the examination of the papers, lo tbe publication of which Lord Powis had strata Marcella excavations, the examination of the papers. to the publication of which Lord Powis had consented, a, d tLe arrD6' ments of the Museum. He Wished to support what the Archdeacon had said, as to the publication of the parochial registers. It was a matter quite within the domain of such a Society, and he thought they ..hou:d not only be published in the Transactions, but separately. and that copies would be tient to the cleig)man of each pnish. In addition to the registers there was a iarlle number of parish books, which were very iD- teresiing, and he hvpAd their local antiquaries would not forget that there was a storehouse of interest in those parochial books. Those books should, he thought, be published separately from the registers, and to add to their interest they should be illustrated, and the registers mipht b" illustrated with pictures of t' e church and tb", monuments in it. Mr D. P. OWEN akE-d what Were the relations of the Corp-oration and rhe Club as to the use of the Club premises and the CHAIRMAN said the matter would be looked into by the proposed committee. The Rev. ELIAS OWEN seconded the motion, which was carried. Archdeacon THOMAS, in the absence of Mr G. D. Harrison, brought forward the question of the condition of Rodney's Pillar on the Breidden. It was not,"nte.-dcd as Mr Leighton suggested to bring the Pillar down there, but be was afraid if some- thing was not done soon it tvculd come down itself (laughter). He could not tell why the Pillar was erected in Montgomeryshire, but be believed it was the only memorial of that able and distinguished commander. Mr LFIGHTON said there was one in Jamaica. Archdeacon THOMAS said he was thinking of this country. There was a place close by called Belle Isle, and though it might be a wi'd idea, it was possibly that because that island was seised by Admiral Rodney the gotd people of Montgomeryshire erected the Pillar about 1784. The Pillar appeared to have been repaired about 1847. but at presei t it was in a very dangerous state. The lightning ooa- ductor on the Pillar was broken in the micdle. Mr Watkin of Weishpool had examined the Pilar, and reported that half of the top below the bail was cot away, and he could not understand how thn ball was sustained. There was a very bad defect half way up the shaft, which would require under-building, and grouting in cement, and all tLe Pillar needed pointing and errout.ing in cement. Mr Dovaston had also written to Mr Harrison offering to subscribe JB3 towards the repair of the Pillar (cheers). He hoped the Committee would consider the matter, and be able to wive the Pillar ^cheers). Mr D. P. OWEN said his father told him the Pillar was erected on the Breidden because Admiral Benbow was born at Criggion. There was an inn at Criggicn called the "Admiral Benbow (laughter). Mr LEIGHTON said he had never before heard the scggestion that Admiral Benbow was born at Criirgion (laughter). He belonged to a well knows Somersetshire family. Archdeacon THOMAS said what was being done was done with the concurrence of the owner of the Breidden, Mr Valentine Vickers. He thought they should empower the Committee to ascertain the poet of making the Pillar secure. The CHAIRMAN said it was suggested to him that the County Council might like to take the matter up as it was a public monument. It was finally decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Committee, and the meeting rloeert with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Col. HARRISON, seconded by Dr. BABRETT.

Advertising

GIRLS OF THE RIGHT SORT.