The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

CORRESPONDENCE. We do not hold ourselves responsible foi the opinions of our correspondents. OUR BELGIAN GUESTS. To the Editor. Sir,— Now that the Refugee Committee have made adequate provision for the material well-being of their guests it is ime that they face a still more difficult problem, the provision of suitable work for the able-bodied men at Hendre Mynach. For healthy men who have been working all their lives to be with- out anything to do for months cannot but be demoralizing and the sooner the question is considered the better. The danger is that if they are forced to live a life of inactivity during their stay with us they will, on their return to their native land, have lost their taste for work, and may drift into the ranks of the unemployable. It is therefore a moral obligation on us to endeavour to save them from this. It is possible that the committee are afraid that they will be depriving local workmen of work and wages if they take any steps in the matter. But I venture to believe that if the Urban Council and the Refugee Committee met to discuss the question ,from various points of view they would be able to devise some scheme that would not affect local employment. For instance, the Urban Council might be able to induce some of the owners of building-sites in Barmouth to pay for clearing and laying out artistically some of the unsightly plots that disfigure our town and foreshore. This kind of work would appeal to almost every Belgian peasant, and it is a work that would greatly conduce to the future prosperity of Barmouth. At present it is not unusual to hear visitors saying You have magnificent scenery around Bar- mouth, but your town is scarcely worthy of it," and pointing to building sites Jittered with every kind of rubbish. And I feel sure that it would not be a difficult matter to obtain gifts of trees and shrubs to plant in various places. All the inhabitants would profit from such work, and it ia needless to say that the Belgians themselves would be delighted to do something to repay Bar- mouth for its hospitality. Possibly the Council and the Committee will be able to devise some other and better employ- ment for them. At any rate it is to be hoped that tb y will take the matter up without delay Yours etc, EDMUND D. JONES. To the Editor. Sir,— As we have suffered considerable an- noyance from an untrue report that has been circulated in the town respecting the billeting of 19 soldiers in our house I on Thursday last, may we ask you for space in the next issue of your valuable I paper to insett the enclosed letter from Major W. M. Richards, as we wish to publicly refute the charges made against us, and to state that if we can find out the names of those who have made I these charges proceedings will at once "be instituted against those persons. Yours faithfully, v ERNEST LLOYD. Min-y-Mor, Barmouth. Jan. 25, 1915. I Borthwen, Penrhyndeudraeth, I N. Wales. Mr Lloyd, Sunday, Jan. 24. Min-y- Mor. Dear Sir,—Referring to your letter in the matter of the beds provided at your house for my men, I can only say that I much regret that.you are having trouble over this. The officer in charge of the platoon these men came from, reported to me just before we left Barmouth, that a lot of his men complained that the beds were damp. 1 was tied to time, or would have gone to your house my- self. However, I was able to send an- other officer, who was staying behind in Barmouth with the football team. On his journey up, at Harlech, in the- evening he reported that there was not a luord of truth in the report, and the beds and blankets were perfectly dry, and must have been dry when the men first entered your house. As regards sheets, I consider you did perfectly right in not supplying sheets I to the men, blankets are much better for them when they are on the march like this, and there is far less risk of their catching cold. I am sorry this has happened, as it distresses me very I much that vou should have been said to have provided damp beds, which I II am convinced is quite untrue. On the catering you seem to have done i the men uncommonly well. I' I think probably the follow- ing iswhat happened :-The two I men who got ringing the gong, at I 12.45 a.m., were probably, as you say, not quite sober, and got into their heads the beds were damp. The I others, fearing trouble, thought they bad better all keep to the same story, < and their officer being very inexper- ienced in dealing with soldiers (the officers are the difficult question all the time in Kitchener's Army) be- lieved all they told him. I never be- lieved a word of it until I was able to in vestigate properly. I can only say you may show this letter to anybody who tries to make mischief. Yours faithfully, (Major) W. M. RICHARDS.

CHURCH AND CHAPEL ORDER OF SERVICES. I ENGLISH. I S. John's Church, 11 and 6.30. Llanaber Church, 11.15. Clergy, Rev. R. Lloyd Roberts, M.A., R.D. (rector of the Parish), Rev. R, vVFd, B.A., and Rev. R. Lloyd Jones, B.A. Catholic Church, 1] and 6.30. Rev. Father Wilcock. Christ Church (English Presbyterian), 11 and 6.30. Rev. S. T Hughes. English Congregational Church, 11 and 6 30. Rev. W. Glandwr- Morgan (pastor) WELSH. I Llanaber Church, 10 and 6. S. David's Church, 10 and G. Caersalem Chapel, 10 and 6. ) Rev. T. R. Jones, Towyn. v Park Road Chapel, 10 and 6. Rev. Thomas Hughes, B.A., Rbiw. Wesleyan Chapel, 10 and 6. Rev. E. J. Parry (pastor). Siloam Chapel, 10 and 6. Rev. G. Parry, Llanbadarn Baptist Chapel, 10 and 6. Student from Bangor College.

TO BE LET OR SOLD. THE RICHMOND PRIVATE & COMMERCIAL HOTEL. For further particulars apply to II. BARROW EVANS, JUNB., THE RICHMOND, BARMOUTH.

BARHQUTH. Council Schools—These schools were I closed last Monday owing to a non- supply of coal, but we are glad to hear j that this has been remedied. ¡ Extension.—From our advertising columns it will bejseen that Mr Wilkin- son is going in for an extension of his garage, which includes a shop in Jubilee î Road. Military,—Mr J. Cyrus Lloyd, bead. master of the Surbiton Grammar School (brother of Mrs W. Glandwr-Morgan) has been gazetted Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers and is now with his regiment at Colwyn Bay. Tradesmen's Association.—At the last meeting of the above Association, Mr D. Walter Davies presiding, a vote of condolence was passed with Mrs O. W. Morris and family in their sad be- eavement. Memorial Service.—A memorial ser- vice after the late Mr 0. W. Morris, J P., was held at the Wesleyan Chapel last Sunday, when the Rev. E. J. Parry I made touching reference to the depar- ted. At the close of the service the "Dead March" was played on the organ. Death.—We regret to announce the deatrb, after a lingering illness, of Mr J. C. Evans, M.A., headmaster of the Bala County School. He had held the post of headmaster at Bala for thirty- three years. Mr Evans was well-known to Barmouth residents, being a frequent visitor to our town. Sion Debating Society.—At the last meeting of this Society, Mr H. Wynne Williams in the chair, a debate took place on Should Christians patronise Picture Houses." The affirmative was taken by Miss Gwennie Edwards, Mor- ben Villa, and the negative by Miss Jones, Greenhill. After a spiritual de- bate the affirmitive side won by 7 votes. Park Road Literary Society. At the ordinary weekly meeting of the above an address was given by the Rev. E. J. Parry, Wesleyan Minister, on "The position of the Churches in the light of the present war." The chair was taken by Mr Richard Price, Brynithel. Fur- ther remarks were made by Messrs. D. R. Williams, Glanywern 0. F. Roberts, Epworth Terrace, and Lewis Williams, Ceylon House. A vote of thanks to the Rev. E. J. Parry was moved by Mr L. 0 I Evans, Gwelfor. Accident. Yesterday (Wednesday) whilst following his employment on the S.S. Dora, at Aberdovey, Mr John Jones, Bronygraig, fractured his arm. Llanaber Road.—We are glad to find that the Council has at last started the long looked for improvement to this road. A start was made last Monday under Ceilwart Uchaf, and we hope to see the work well in hand before the visitors arrive. Death of a Barmouth Land Owner. —The death took place last week at his residence, Gwernhefin, Bala, of Mr John Williams, J,P., a large owner of property in Barmouth. Mr Williams was well-known in the county as an ex- pert agriculturist. Baptist Chapel.-Last Sunday even- ing, at the Baptist Chapel, Miss Morgan, of Canada, rendered a sacred solo in a fine manner Mr David E. James, The Pharmacy, was elected superintendent of. the Sunday School for the ensuing year, and Mr Anwyl James secretary. Wounded at the Front.—On Monday last news was received that Mr John Edwards, Llwynon Farm, had been wounded at the Front. We are sorry to hear of this occurence as he is the first Baimouth Boy to be wounded in the war, We wish him a speedy re- covery to his usual health. Barmouth Volunteer Training Corps. —All men not eligible for the Regular Territorial or Kitchener's Army are asked to attend the Masonic Hall on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday even- ings at 8 15 p.m., when they can be enrolled in the new company to be formed. The Hon. Secretary will be pleased to give any information re- quired. To the Forces.—As a result of the route march we are glad to find that four have enlisted from Barmoutb. Messrs Ellis and Tommy Roberts, 8, St. George's (sons of Mr Lewis Roberts, postman), have joined the Territorials and will leave to-day (Thursday) for Aberystwyth, and Messrs Llewelyn Davies and David Thomas Brookes, who were employed with Messrs R. Evans & Co., have joined the Royal Field Artillery, and left yesterday (Wed. nesday) for Wrexham. From the Front.—The following is an extract of a letter received by Mr John Edwards, Tyisa, Llanaber, from Pte. 3362 Edward Jones, who is serving with the British Expeditionary Force in Northern France :—" We have had it a bit rough in the trenches lately, as it has been very wet out here. We have had plenty of fighting, but we have come down for a or 4 days' rest, but by the time you receive this letter we will be back again, and we all hope to settle the lot of the Germans before long. Just as I write this, the letters have come in and my name is called with the parcel from mother, for which I am very thankful, as a handkerchief is a new thing out there also the tobaoco. We dare not say much as all the letters are censorsed before they reach you, but if I will be spared by God to return shall tell you all.