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A NOTABLE CAREER.

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A NOTABLE CAREER. ROMANCE OF a FORTUNE BUILDER. The death of Mr, Solomon Andrews oc- curred at a quarter to 6 on Monday morning at his residence, Newport-road, Cardiff. Mr. Andrews, who was 73 years of age. had been in failing health for a considerable time past, suffering from diabetes, and had been under the care of Dr. A. P. Fiddiaiv In the early part of last year, as an indirect cause of that eompiaiui, one of his feet became d':L-- eased-, and amputation was rendered neces- sary. 1lr. Andrews made a good recovery from the operation, and later in the year v,s able to proceed to Pwiineli. During the last few weeks, however, he gradaiai;y became worse and had to take to his bed. and expired from heart failure, due to the strain of the malady to which lie was a victim. Mr. Andrews was the owner of Brynineniii Colliery, a pan-proprietor of the Gas Coal Collieries (Limited), a# M-eiros. Lianharran. and was a co-director with his son (Mr. F. E. Andrews) and the late Mr. T. J. Masters, Lanellay Hall. A sister—Mrs. Harris—re- sides in Grove-road, Bridcrend. A SELF-MADE MAX. I The late Mr. Andrews was a remaakabie man in many respects. As a seif-made man there- were fewer more interesting examples in the whole country than! he. He had not- I the assistance of a good education. Indeed, it was only in his later years that he learnt to read and write, and yet he had at his fin- gers' ends the particulars of each of hi-s varied' undertakings, involving the circulation of hundreds of thousands of pounds annually. He controlled each concern with such success that he not only became a. rich man, but also gave employment every succeeding year to a larger and larger-number of people, and other men, of wealth bowed to his judgments. It was well over half a century ago that Mr. Solomon Andrews came to Card'iff. He was alone, and had neither friends nor rela- tions in the town. He commenced business as a, confectioner in a small way in James- street. Docks, selling sweetmeats, which he madie- hmiseh. He paradc-d St. Mary-street and High-street, carrving the products of his industry on a large wooden try. suspended in front of him by a strap over the shoulder. Then business improved, and he hired a stalll at the entrance to the old market. It is said that he would walk to Cowbridge- on Tuesdays to dispose of his wares. He is well remembered by the old boys of the Eagle School in that town, now elderly men. who were very good customers. CARRYING PASSENGERS IN CARDIFF. It would be difficult to say what directed his attention to the position of a. cab pro- prietor, but while still a stall-holder in Car- diff Market he became the owner of cabs and hoi-ses. until eventually he owned probably one-half the total number of cabs running in the town. He subsequently started running omnibuses between Cardiff and Penarth, and purchased some old tene- ments at the lower end' of St. Mary-street, converting them into a kind of waiting office for passengers. This venture proved a great success. Premises were built at Penarth. with stabling for 50 horses. He subsequently commenced running omni- buses from High-street to the Docks. In 1878. and Cardiff tramwavs were opened first from High-street to the Docks, and later from Canton, to the Docks. Mr. Andrews offered tosen his busses to the company, but they said, -No we will run you off the roads. Tliat rather angered Mr. Andrews, whose buses competed with the trams with con- siderable success for many years. He had new buses constructed according to his own design, which would allow of the wheels run- ning on the tramway metals, thus reducing to a minimum the jolting which occurred when running on the macadamised roads. OPERATIONS IN ENGLAND. Not content with his aspirations in Car- diff, he started omnibuses at Plymouth, Portsmouth, and other places. In. 1888 the Cardiff and Provincial Tram- ways Company raised further capital, and bought up Air. Andrews's buses, horses, carriage building works, etc., the transfer being made in May, 1888. and the Provincial Tramways Company paid Mr. Andrews £ 65,000. In 1878 air Act was obtained for the con- struction of a tramway from Splotlands to Penarth Dock, but the tram-lines were only laid down between bplotlands and Grange- town. All-. Andrews built the cars and pro- vided the horses, and subsequently too'k over the tramway, guaranteeing the shareholders a fixed dividend for fifteen years. This undertaking was also taken over by the Pro- vincial Tramways Company in 1888, Mr. Andrews only obtaining the right to run his 'buses to and from Penarth. About a dozen years ago Mr. Andrews started running omnibuses in London, and was the first to run from the Eelephant and Castle over London Bridge to the Angel for a. penny. A total abstainer himself, Mi-. Andrews encouraged temperance, and opened coffee taverns in all parts of Cardiff, and at Penarth and Barry. Fruit and confection- ery were also sold by him at other shops in large quantities. These businesses almost in- variably succeeded. A GREAT BUILDER. iMany years ago Mr. Andrews commenced the erection of dwelling-houses, shops, works, and places of business. He also erected some of the finest buildings in Cardiff. In St. Alary-street he erected large shops, with offices above and workshops over, the build- ing being six storeys high, at a cost of £15,000. This was commonly known at the time as Solomon's Temple." From a builder of houses and leaseholder he became a landowner, purchaema the freehold of a farm at a time when there appeared little- probability of its becoming building land, but its close proximity to Llandaff and Cardiff caused it soon afterwards to be taken as a site for workmen's dwellings. CREATION OF A TOWN. One of the greatest of his schemes was that which aimed at the development of Pwllheli, a small town in Carnarvonshire. Ho conceived the idea of building here ta fashionable seaside resort for visitors bent on pleasure for the summer, or a resort for the sick during the winter, the climate being mild and healthy. He built ,a fine terraoe of houses, with a fillie promenade in front-, and these are always occupied by visitors during the holiday season. He formed new streets, erected dwelliiighouses, and shops, and really created a new town. Mr. And lews has also spent a. large amount i of money in improving Barmouth as a holiday resort, and there laid a narrow gauge tram- way to one of the outlying villages. Mr. Andrews was a native of Trowbridge. His brother, Mr. Jacob Andrews, has reside-d in Carmarthen for many years, where he carries on a confectionery business in King- street. Another brother. Mr. James An- drews. wa-s in the same line at Llanelly, and later became owner of the tramways. He is now living in retirement at the Mumbles. The deceased was a member of the Wes- leyan Methodist body, with which all his | family have been more or less closely con- | nected.

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BLAENGARW.

PONTYCYMMER.

GILFACH GOCH.

OGMORE VALE.

NANTYMOEL.

DEPUTATIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE…

SHORT LIST FOR AGENCY.

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THE RECENT LAND PURCHASE.

THE PENSIONS SUB-COMMITTEE.

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