Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

THE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. FOLLOWING so closely upon the strenuous campft/ign of the General Election, it was hardly to be expected that a very keen and general interest would be taken in the County. Council Elections this year. Even in London the public concern in the elections was vary disappoinlsing, the votes registered being much less than three years" ago. Nevertheless, Saturday's polling in London produced a remarkable series of Progressive victories,, and resulted in the wiping out of the majority of 40 which the Moderates," or "Municipal Reformers." as thay now call themselves, w.n in 1907. We rejoice to fmd that a Cardiganshire man-Mr, Wm. Davies;. of Bryngwyn, Borth,—has. again headed the poll at Battersea. Thare was no apathy in this division, for ib polled higker than before, but on the Progressive sid, The lesson, of the elections in. London is that; a policy ef negation is of no use in the-conduct of municipal affairs. No party caa thrive on a. mere negation of its oppon- ents policy,, and the voting on Saturday was primarily a vote of censure on the Moderates"* ideas of local government and on their betrayal of the electors' con- fidence. The- contests in Cardiganshire have strengthened; the Liberal party, in the new Council, but all the elections were not fought on purely political lines. Local and personal Seeling entered very largely into most of them; and, unfortunately, the bitterestlights were those which took place, not between political opponents, but be- tween candidates belonging to the sarno- party. The ratepayers of AI)erayron showed their disapproval of the method used to tay and oust Mr Lima Jones, by returning him with a magnificent majority. Dr. Jenkyn Lewis has also been re-elected, despite the Tory efforts made to prejudice his success while at Llandyssul the Rev. T. Arthur Thomas held his seat against the strongest man the Tories could bring out against him. We did not think it was wise or necessary on this occasion to force a contest in Aber ystwyth but we are at a loss to know why should Mr Fossett Roberts consider himself immune from opposition, and attribute the candidature of lr. Bertie Lloyd to4the "un- worthy, spiteful, and vindictive conduct" of those who forced the election upon the rate- payers. Has not Mr Fossett. Roberts forced an election whenever he has had the chance to do so ?

PROPOSED MUNICIPAL "GROG SllOP." WE trust that the Corporation of Aberyst- wyth will not, at this time of day, add to its present burdens that of running a muni- cipal grog shop," on the Pier. Instead of quibbling over the license, as they did at the last meeting, it would have been much more business-like and becoming on the part of the Town Council to have decided forth- with to do away entirely with the refresh- ment room in connection with the Pavilion. It is wholly unnecessary, and the Council would be ill-advised, to become responsible for it in any shape or form. For whose benefit or comfort, we should like to know, would the Corporation of Aberystwyth be running this grog shop ? For the re- sidents or for the visitors ? It cannot, surelvf be for the townspeople and the re- strictions which the Council have placed, from time to time, on the Pier refreshment room proves that they have formerly held the view that it is not wise to be too ac- commodating to visitors, for their own sakes or that of the town, in matters of this kind. The Council cannot very well maintain now that this refreshment room is wanted for the convenience of visitors at the Pavilion, for they insisted a few years ago on having the eutrance from the one to the other closed and we cannot see that the Corporation would be justified in running the "twrog shop" on the Pier more than any other public house which abuts on the streets Once the Corporation secures a vested in- terest in a thing of this kind there is no knowing where its responsibility will end. If any member of the Council thinks that the acquisition of a grog shop" of this sort would add to the attractions and en- hance the prosperity of the town, all we can say is, that such a member is sadly mis- taken. Inasmuch as the Corporation makes it its duty to induce people to visit the town, it is, one should think, its plain duty to do all it can to reduce the temptations to exces- sive drinking, especially where young people I are concerned and the great majority of the visiting clas these days consists of I young people. The Londor County Council have refused to retain liquor licences on the ? Council's property,, and in so doing have improved the value of the lasd and the sobriety of the people. We wooM recom- mend the Corporation of Aberystwyth to do likewise.

NOTES ANil COMMENTS. The Boarti of Trade returns for February, issued on Monday, arer,marked by a consider- able improvement in nearly all branches of trade. The total increase, as compared. with February of 1909, wis £ 6,067,000. -11-- The death is announced of the Rev Dd Evans Archdeacon of St. Asaph at the advanced I age of 85 years. He was a native of liJan- rhystyd, Cardiganshire. A biograpiiical notice is given in another part of this issue. -(!- Mr. Walter Roch has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in the appoint- ment of, the Development Commissioners, he will, consider the particular interests of Wales and of Weish agriculture, and ap- point one Commissioner, conversant with these conditions. The text was issued this week of the bill presented by Mr. Gourtliope to prohibit the use of hop substitutes and to provide for tBe marking, of imported hops. The measure seeks to impose that if any brewer for sale uses any hop substitute in the brewing or preservation of beer, or receives or has in his custody or possession any article in con>- travention of this section; he shall incur an Excise penalty of £100, and the article shall be forfeited. -If- According to Sir Edward Strachey, 4,470 agricultural labourers, or 34 per cent, of the total number of applications, were in. 1908 supplied with small holdings under the Small Holdings Act of 1908; while in 1909 the number was 893, civ 25 per cent. This. is, of course, far from satisfactory. In not a few ceruntias those whose duty it is to ad- minister; the Act are swayed by strong pre- judices- and the measure1 becomes a dead letter. -¡/i-- Somer searching of Hearti appears to have arisen among London Churchmen, says the "DaiIJII News," over the fact that Mr. Bal- four and his colleagues were to be enter- tained by the City Tomes on "Friday, March 4th, which is ,of course, a fast day of the Prayer Book. It is asserted that this ,aaw- lessness" is not mere infringement of some disputed rubric, but direct and deliberate defiance of the plaA rule of the Church; and' it is the Tories who call themselves the "Church Party." -11- Ott January 1st, 1907, there were, in England" and Wales, 234,004 children of all kinds in receipt of Poor Law relief—a total which has varied very little during the past twenty-five years* Nearly 74 per cent, are on out-door relief. It is only necessary to mention these figures in order to show what a tremendous responsibility on the part of the State is here revealed.. Upon the future: of these children much depends. Experi- ence shows that outdoor relief for children is not nearly so satisfactory as boarding, them out. -11- Within the next few months it is probable that the British Government will take some drastic step to improve the deplorable traffic in decrepit horses. Mr. George Greenwood, the Liberal member for Peterborough, is about to bring in a Bill to check the traffic. The traffic in these old horses is enormous, amounting to between 40,000 and 50,000 a year. In 1904, 24,198 decrepit horses were imported by Belgium and Holland; 36,313 in 1905, 46,886 in 1906, and 45,492 in 1907; and this figure has been maintained in the last two years. Since 1902 the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have obtained 687 convictions against persons for travelling these horses on the road to the docks for shipment abroad. The reason for the traffic is well-known, especially after the last General Election. n Giving evidence before the Royal Com- mission on the selection of magistrates, the Lord Chancellor said he thought the pre- ponderance of Conservative magistrates was due to the system followed and not to de- liberate political partiality. He said it was desirable that t11e Bench should include men of alll creeds, opinions, and classes, and that the neutral element—persons who took no part whatever in politics—should be re- presented. This class was liable to be. squeezed out under the existing system. He also deemed it desirable that workmen should be appointed. He suggested the appointment of locaft committees in counties to report to the Lord Chancellor and the Lords Lieutenant both as to the necessity of appointments and as to the persons who should fill them. -11- Attention has already been called in these columns to the remarkable decline of con- victions for drunkenness in Edinburgh since the raising of the whisky duty. A corres- pondent in the "Manchester Guardian" now gives figures of the decline in several English towns, and it is worth whble to publish some of them because they provide a point of view which ought to be taken when the whisky duty comes up for consideration. The figures are those which have been reported at the Brewster Sessions of this year. In Salford the number of convictions was 2,796, a de- cline of 436. In Preston there was a de- crease of 235. In Sheffield there were 1,674 convictions, against 1,830 for the previous year. In Newcastle there were 2,861 pro- secutions, a decrease of 473. Birken- head showed quite remarkable figures, 2,157 prosecutions, as against 3,130-a decline of one-third. The Birmingham figures, too, are remarkable—2,502, as compared with 3,645 in 1907. In Leeds there were 2,245 pro- secutions, a decrease of 352. The Manches- ter county division hhows a decrease of 174. Bury shows a decrease of over 25 per cent., Blackburn of 20 per cent., Leigh of 30 per cent., Stockport about 20 per cent., Black- burn about 12 per cent. Our contempor- ary's correspondent observes that this as- pect of the raising of the whisky duty has not yet had full value given to it. Of course no one would attribute the decrease entirely to the raising of that duty, but, on the other hand, it would not be fair when the financial results of the duty are under consideration to leave out the social results. The price of beer has not been -raised out- side London, but the raising of the price of whisky was over the whole country. Conse- il quently temperance people feel that it is no ^tret-ching of the case to connect the higher price of whiskey with the decline of drunk- enness. -{r- The Na tion holds that a General Elec- tion in the near future can be faced with equanimity "provided we remain, as we now have every hope of remaining, a united party, clear as io its aims and free from all suspicion of weakness on its avowed prin- ciples" As to our prospects of success, they will depend largely on two considerations. The first is the maintenance of the alli- ance between the British and Irish de- mocracies; the second, closely ijkteittwined with it, is the safe passage of the Budget into law. Mr. Redmond, who has been very justly laying great stress on tIie- im- portance of co-operation between the 4temocratic elements in the two islands, cannot do msre to forward a firm under- standing than by making his fellow- countrymen appreciate the importance atta.ched to th, Budget on this side of St. Geowge's Channel. For the moment, the Nation trusts that the democratic parties, having now a clear issue before them, will refrain, so far as humotl nature allows, from vain recrim- inations as to what was, or what might have betsn, last, month, and will force them- selves fto the full recognition of the serious fact that the maia battle on the greatest constitutional issue since 1832 still lies be- fore thenu, that defeat. means not only the indefinite postponement of social progress, but the triumph of a definite policy of Re- action, Protection, and Militarism."

LAMPETER Sliiloh.-On Sunday, evidning the sol,,retary of Slliloh. C.M. read a communica- tion from tie Rev. S.. E. Prytherch, of Fal- mouth-road, London, formally accepting the invitation of the chapel to become its pastor. Oentrall Africa.At the weekly meet- ^he Soar C.E.S. oil Friday evening, the Rev. EL Evans presiding, Mr D J Davies, College-street, gave an illustrated lecture on "Central Africa." A CalL-The Hev T. Arthur Thomas, p. y/i, T ? ^ghsh Congregational tjhureh at Jbhnstown, Cheshire has accepted the pastorate of Dogley Lane, Huddersfiekl. Mr: Thomas; who is the son of Mr. J. Wal- ter Thomas, College-street, is to be con- gratulated upon obtaining such an import- ant appointment. Three Counties' Festival—The idea of of 84ngm £ festival representative ?ountLs nf n°n^fega^nal °hurch^ »n the !°?pf Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire at the National Eistedd- fod pavilion at Carmarthen next year is being most favourably supported, and there is every reason to believe that it will be carried out. It was, at the suggestion of Alderman Timothy Richards that the move- ment was initiate by the Cardiganshire Congregational Association. Liberalism —At a meeting of the local branch of Young, Liberals held at Brondeifi .J. 'I. room last Wednesday evening, Mr. Ev-au, Davies, Soar House, read an instruc- tive paper on "The aims and objects of the League." The Revs. D. Jones, T. U. lWd- erick, Messrs. Tivy Jones, Timothy Evans, Tom Roberts and Davies (Cribyn) com- mented upon the paper in favourable terms. Mr. Davies also) announced that the congre- gation at Brondeifi had unanimously con- sented to the meetings being held at the vestry room on reasonable terms, an an- nounceme It which was most cordially re- ceived and' acknowledged by an unanimous i xu ,^n^' ^he secretary reported that the roll of membership had made a .satisfactory increase. The Rev. H. P. I Atkins occupied the chair. The Election of Guardians.-Next Thurs- day is the day for nominating Guardians, and the Borough is now represented by the Hev. R. C. Jones, Messrs. J. C. Harford and Evan- Davies, Bryngeler, three members who have been most faithful and assiduous in the performance of their duties. There is occasionally a desire to change the repre- sentation with a, view of getting better re- presentatives, and to give other aspirants an opportunity of learning the routine of Poor Law work, but all who have watched the career of the three retiring members will admit. chat the interests of the town and especially the poor are well looked after. In all probability there will be no contest. The Institute.—A general meeting of the members took place on Friday evening last under the presidency of the Mayor (Alder- man D. F. Lloyd). The chief business for transaction was to receive the revised rules submitted tv the committee and which on the motion of Mr. Daniel Watkins, second- ed by Mr. J. S. Jones were adopted. In reply to Mr. J. E. Lloyd it was stated that the same committee would remain in force until the next meeting. Mr. J. Emrys Jones proposed that the guarantors and mortgagee, Messrs. J. E. Lloyd, Daniel Watkins, J. S. Jones, Wm. Davies and D. F. Lloyd, should be re-elected on the com- mittee unopposed, and that they should be the last to retire fron the list.—Mr. J. E. Evans seconded. Mr. Jos. Jenkins raised a technical objection, and that having been upheld, it. was agreed that all the com- mittee should be elected by ballot, the poll tPc,take Place on Wednesday 23rd inst. Atcerwards the members .were entertained with a programm of songs and recitations •7 following:—Selections on the gramo- phone Mr Idns Jones; song, "Homeward bound, Mr, E. W. Davies; Kong, Mr. D. JM Lloyd; penilllion singing, Mr. Rhvs 1 ho mas; song, "Sea, sea, sea," Mr. J. T. onmes; recitation, Mr. Tom Roberts; song, ''Pride of the prairie," Mr. Terwyn Dav- ies: song, "Alone on the raft," Mr D. B Williams, song, Mr. O. S. Davies.

LLANON. Competitive Meeting.—On Thursday a competitive meeting was held at the above place. Dr. Lewis, Lfanon, presiding. The Rev E. Davies (Powys), Llanon, acted as conductor. The Rev. P. H. Lewis adjudi- cated the singing, and the Rev. D. G. Lewis, Salem, adjudicated the prose, recitations, etc The following were the successful com- petitors:—Translation, Mr. J. R. Jones, Llanon; recitation for children under 10, "Croesaw eira glan," 1, Wiillie Davies, Clar- ovine, and D. M. James, Ceylon Shop Q 'J- S. Jones Tregynan; recitation under 1?' t S £ ?ivyn eh^" R M Davies. Morawel; J- Williams, Portugal; Dorothy M Ev ei L + Tir ,n,ml,na,: r,e:cKa,tion «nder lCh "Yr as- teiraio bur hoelion," 1, J. pr0sser Evans, Gwaicaeau; 2 H. M. Jenkins; recitation for any age, "Y Merthyr," Miss E. C. Evans, C.M., Brynherbert; stanza, "Dewi Sant," J. It. Jones, Llanon: four verses "Port of Fishguard," J. R. Jones, Llanon; tune com- position, Mr. J. Ceredig Davies, Aberyst- wyth; solo, boys under 10 "Tyr'd, tyr'd at Iesu," D. M. Lewis, Lhvynon, Llanon • J Sk £ °nes' Tregy«an, and D. P. Morgan Llanrhystyd; solo for girls under 10 "Eto mae lile," It. M. Davies, Mora- wel, and D. M. Evans, Alumina, Llanon solo,^ boysunder 12, "Dim ond clydudd ar- fau," J. M. 8. Jones, Trogynan; solo for girls under 12, "0 fewn vchvdic M. J. Thomas, Portland place, .and Aeronw," Clarke, White Hail; solo, boys under 16, "Mae eisiau Di bob avvr," J. M. S. Jones, Jregynan; solo for girls under 16, "Geiriau chwerwon, Beryl Rowlands, Pantanamlwg and M. Davies, Llanrhystyd; hymn tune for competitors over 50, Mr. D. Williams, Mile Lnd, and Mr. D. Parry, Morfa Uchaf, Llanon; tenor solo, "Cartref," 1, Mr. T Morgans Rhiwgoch^, Mr. Arthur Skiwers, Mile -bnd, Llanon; contralto solo, "A raid i r meddwyn farw," Mrs. James, Maesy- llyn, Llanon; soprano solo, "Efe a sych y dagrau ffwrdd," Miss Rosie Jones, Llanon; quartette, "Caerdaf," Mm. James, Maes- yi'lyn^ and party; octette, "Seren Bethle- hem," Penant parry *ed by Mr. D. Jenkins, Gorswen; juvenile choir, "Rhiwbeth i'w wneud yn y nef," Llanrhystyd and Llanon competed. The first under the conductor- ship of Mr. J. M. Jones, Tregynan, carried off the prize: and the second, led by Mrs. James, Maesyllyn also gave an excellent rendering of the tune.

CHEERFULNESS." I have always preferred cheerfulness to mirth. The latter I consider as an act, the former as a habit, of the mind. Mirth is short and transient, cheerfulness fixed and permanent. Those are often raised into the greatest transports of mirth who are sub- ject to th,: greatest depressions of melan- choly on the contrary, cheerfulness, though it does not give the mind such an exquisite gladness, prevents us from falling into any depths of sorrow. Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, nnd gli-cterc, for a moment; cheerful- ness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual, serenity. ADDISON.

THE NEW HIGH SHERIFF OF CARDIGANSHIRE, A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. Mr. Joon Thomas, J.P., of vrondolayv New Quay who has just been appointed to the office of High SheriS for the County of Cardigan, is the latest link in a long family chain, extending over several centuries of worthy Sheriffs for the County. Mr- Thomas is the, son of the Jenkin ThornnA ot Khydceir and Pontshuen, and of his wife- Elizabeth who survives and now resides at Clettwr Villa in the sheltered and picturesque Vale of Clett.wr. He is the grandson of the late John Thomas, "Y Fadfa," afterwards of Criborfawr, and great-grandson of the' ,late Thomas and Margaret Jenkins, of Llawrcwrt, an old residence with interest- ,ing historic relations. Margaret Jenkins among those who knew her-and she was the centre of a large circle of admiring, friends, was an exceedingly popular lady, gifted in an exceptional degree with the- power of making' amd preserving friendship, of rare tact, and mother wit resembling genius in acute discernment. She was sis- ter to John Jones, of Gellifaharen, and Thomas Jones of Cwmgyfeile, the latter gentleman being the great grandfather of Dr. Lynn Thomas, C.B., J.P., F.R.C.S., of Cardiff, who, by the- way, has also (1907-8) served his King and- County in the capacity of High Sheriff. Another distinguished great-grandson of Margaret Jenkins sur- vives in the person of Mr. Johnny Evans, a. partner in the firm of Messrs. A. H. Allen and Partners, public analysts, of Sheffield. The new sheriff and Dr. Lynn Thomas find a common ancestor in' the person of their great-great-grandmother, Mary Jones, of Fairdiefavqr (Margaret Jenkins' mother) from whom through her father, Rhys Tho- mas, and (vaulting a few generations, all in direct line) through Evan Lloyd, High Sheriff of Cai-anganshire- in 1686, and his father David Llwyd of Alltyodyn, "a strict adherent of Gharies I," and David Llwyd of Castell Hywel, first member of Parliament for Cardiganshire (1545), whose brother Hugh Llwyd was four times High Sheriff of the same County (namely 1575, 1584, 1594 and 1599), and Griffith Gochv whose near kins- man, Cadwgan Voel, the., hero of Cressy, first ordered the wearing of: tao leek in celebra- tion of his victory (whicH! it is asseveratOO, is the origin of. the custom of wearing the leek on St. David's Day), the line of ancestry Proceeds upward direotly to Oadifor ab Dina- wol whose motto was "Sic itur ad astra," a man "of great valour, and conduct," whb, jfor taking by force, of' arms the Castle of Cardigan from the. Earl: of Clare, was made, Lord of Nantser and" "rewarded with divers territories" by the Great Lord Rhys Prince of South Wales. In, passing on from this. brief indication of. Mr .Thomas' pedigree it, may not be uninteresting to mention that a nephew of the aforementioned Mary- Jones of Faidrefaw, married Mary Edwards, "Twm o'i- Nant's" niece, by which marriage she became mistress of laanfairpertheynddu,, a residence, closely associated with the his- tory of Mr. Thomas' family. In the comparatively recent death of the-, greatly lamented v. Thomas Thomas, J P., Greenpark, Mr. Thomas was deprived of an uncle whom he held in the highest. esteem and affection. Dr. Evan Evans of Lampeter, Dr. Evan Jones of "Y Bryn" Llanybyther., Dr. W. J. Davies of Aberay- ron, and Councillor D. Martin Jones of Gwion Castile, and also Messrs. Thomas. Jones and Sons, auctioneers and valuers, and Messrs. Davies and Evans of the same pro- fession, are cousins of Mr T homas, and men of substance and beneficence and great, popularity in. mid-Cardiganshire, where- their names are house-hold words. Born at Penbontshan in 1861, he was edu- cated in Penbontahaen Grammar School, Broomy Hill Academy, Hereford, and Dol- gelley Grammar School. In 1894, he was. united, in marriage to Elizabeth Jane Evans, a 'lady of excellent parts, and only child of' the late David Evans, Esq., J.P., of YtqUt- dolay, New Quay, a highly esteemed gentle- man who on both his father and mottier's. side was descended from ancient and well connected families, the late Rev W. Hughes* M.A., of Llanddewi Aberarth, and the late* Rev. John Hughes of Penbryn, being mater- nal uncles of his, while the Rev. Evan Lewis of Milwich, Staffordshire was maternal uncle of his father, the late Evan Evans, Esq., of Noyadd, New Quay, from whom* that gentleman inherited the Noyadd estate. Mrs Thomas' mother, the late Mrs. Mary Evans of Vrondolay, and formerly of Nant- remenyn, was the daughter of the late Mr. Keca Jones, Pwillifein, a gentleman well known among Welsh man of letters a& a writer under the pen-name of "Amnon" and as the author of "Crwth Dyffryn Clettwr, a volume in verse sparkling with common sense, humour, and striking originality, of which a very neat and well printed edition, under the editorship of the Rev. 11. J. J<mes, '>e'<^aie> was quite recently pub- lished "Amnon" was brother to the Rev. John Jones, former pastor of Hen-dy-Cwrdd, Aberdare, whose son and successor in the pastorate, the Rev. R. J. Jones, M.A., re- cently resigned his charge, In 1904 Mr. Thomas was placed upon the Commission of the Peace for the county. He is that type of country squire who finds more congenial scope for his activities in the immediate neighbourhood of his own home, and with the interests of that locality he is happily identified. In religion he is a X nitarian-Spiritualist of intense and fervent conviction. In this regard his life is a. union of rigid adherence to principle with a large and sensitive catholicity. The reli- gion of Jesus as he conceives it is meant to put the axe to the root of every evil tree in Church and State. In education, he holds the view that all schools should be definitely moral but not religious, and therefore should he supported' by aJll without distinction of class or creed. Mr. Thomas is a Liberal of advanced views, and keeps himself thor- oi.-ghly abreast of the times on all the lead- ing topics of the day. He is the founder of the New Quay Agricultural Society and is Vice-president of the New Quay Golf Club of which Mr. Vaughan Davies, M.P., is the- President.

LLANBADARN UPPER, Ploughing Match.—A ploughing match was held at Llaindegugain, in a field kindly lent by Mr. Lewis Marzon, on Friday last, when fourteen competitors entered the field. The following awards were made:—Class 1.1 Mr. Edwin Vaughan, Rhiwarth Issaf; 2, Mr. Tommy Rowlands, Tyncastell; 3, divided between Mr. John Evans, Abernant and Mr William D. Stephens, Penlanlas; class 3--1, Mr. David James, Llanerchpentir; 2, Mr. David Williams, Rhydpererinion; 3, Mr. Joseph Davies, Glantrisant; 4, Mr. John Griffiths, Felinhen; 5, Mr. Methusalem Morgans, Troedrhiwlas; best team of horses on the field, Mr. Jenkins, Bryncarnau; best mare on the field, Mr. Jenkins, Bryncarnau host. set of harness on the field, Mr. John Evans, Abernant. Judges:—Ploughing, Mr William Morgans. Nantrydd and Mr. John Davies, Penuwchfach; horses and harness, Mr. James R. James, Peithvll, and Mr. Herbert Matthews, Penparke. Chairman of the Committee Mr D.avidDnvies, Cennant treasurer, Mr. Davi,l Lewis, Ffoslas: secre- tary. Mr. John Rowlands, Llain. The weather was beautifully fine and a large ■crowd of spectators witnessed the matches.

Sir S. T. Evans, the Solicitor General, has been appointed President of the Divorce l Court in succession to Sir John Bigham. Sir Samuel is an old student of Aberystwyth College.