The Llanelly Mercury and South Wales Advertiser

THE SECTARIAN SPIRIT IN LLANELLY. I REFLECTIONS AND COMMENTS. [BY SIRIUS.] I cannot congratulate the Rev. T. Johns, on the letter which appeared from his pen last week in your two contemporaries in relation to the sectarian spirit in Llanelly. At the outset, I wish to make it clear that I have no sympathy with a harmful sectarianism indeed, if public interest in municipal affairs in Llanelly is to mean also the expansion and intensifica- tion -of sectarian competition in our annually-recurring elections, 1 for one will hail with satisfaction the reduction of public interest to an irreducible minimum. Infinitely better that there should be no inter- est at all than that the gauge and test of candi- dates for municipal honours should be provided in purely denominational watchwords. If the old conditions in vogue in our municipal elec- tions are to be obliterated, and a new specific and unalterable test is to be imposed, let us have an undisguised contest between Liberal and Con- servative. To pit Baptist against Independent, and Calvinistic Methodist against Wesleyan is a desecration of the sacredness of denomina- tional divisions. It is dragging some of our most cherished convictions through the mud. Having cleared the way so far, I will now return to the epistle which has appeared from the pen of the Rev. T. Johns. His letter was published in each of your contemporaries, but I notice that it did not appear in the Llanelly Mercury. Even in this respect,he was certainly ill-advised, although when placed alongside other un- pleasant reflections to which his letter disposes us, this is a mere detail of very small signifi- cance. A week earlier, one of your contempor- aries contained a paragraph, embodied in the week's municipal notes, to the effect that Mr. Johns was charged with having made,two years ago, a communication to a Welsh weekly congratulating the Congregationalists upon the success attending them in the municipal election which had just concluded at Llanelly. I wouldn't have a word of complaint to make against the reverend gentleman if he had con- tented himself with denying the charge. Unfor- tunately, Mr. Johns was not so content. His letter, as a matter of fact, is a long and irritat- ing one. There is not an emollient reference in it from beginning to end. This is much to be regretted. That the paragraph in question did appear in a Welsh newspaper is an absolute certainty. Here, at any rate, we are not dealing with questions of opinion, but those of fact. The paragraph was not merely in the worst of bad tastes, but was in many particulars abso- lutely untrue. In that election, there was not a suggestion made in favour of imposing a seotanan test, nor was a denominational gauge in the least degree the vogue. Curiously enough, a considerable number of Congrega- tionalists were elected, but they did not succeed as Congregationalists. I confidently affirm that the great mass of the ratepayers never gave a thought to the denominational proclivities of the candidates seeking their suffrages. The para- graph in the Tyst, therefore, claiming the elect- ion as a great Congregationalist victory was false- Whoever wrote it committed a gross indiscre- tion, to say the least. It was only human that the Baptists should feel aggrieved at the publication of a statement so entirely at variance with the facts of the situation. There is not a Baptist in the community who desires to charge the Congregationalist body with being privy to the communication. The contribution was doubtless the silly effusion of a rash and an unreasoning denominationalist. The error of the Congregationalists, as a body, was one of omission, not of commission. Much irritation would have been allayed, a great many com- plications avoided, if a Congregationalist of authority, entitled to speak for the entire body, had written to the Tyst repudiating the dan- gerous absurdities promulgated by the correspondent a week earlier. I have not seen ar.y repudiation of the communication to this day. Mr. Johns, in his letter of last week, might have done a great deal to relieve the tension, but I am sorry to a degree to find that he has only made matters worse. Instead of allaying the irritation,he hasincreased it. Instead of content- ing himself with denying the authorship of the letter and repudiating its contents on behalf of the Congregationalists, he calls for the produc- tion of the article, and the naming of the weekly wherein it appeared. The article is a matter of common notoriety, and personally, I have no desire to see it reproduced anywhere. Mr. Johns, however, goes much further than this, and it is in the going further," that the indis- cretion of his communication is most pro- nounced. The comparison instituted between the magnanimous Independent lion and the "BaDtist demon" was in anything but good taste, and is calculated to give rise to much differeace and bitterness where none need exist. When Mr. Johns proceeds to deal with the representation of the various denominations on the School Board, not only is his taste at fault but his facts as well. He charges the Bap- tists with having broken the original compact by running four candidates instead of two. It is quite true that there are four Baptists on the Board at present, but one of the number stood as an independent candidate. Has Mr. Johns forgotten that at the last School Board -election, the Congregationalists also ran three candidates ? If I were disposed to harshly criticise Mr. Johns, there would be room here, but I have great respect for him, and much regret that he should have penned such an extraordinary epistle. In conclusion, Mr. Johns makes the astonishing statement that with one or two exceptions all the principal appointments under the Board are given to Baptist schoolmasters." Perhaps Mr. Johns will give us a chapter and verse.

ECHOES OF THE WEEK. [Bv "SIRIUS."] PUPII. TEACHERS' CENTRE CLASS. Mr. J. Duckworth, B.A., chief of the pupil teachers' centre at Llanelly, is to be warmly congratulated on the splendid success obtained by the students of the class at the recent Queen's scholarship examination for admission into the various training colleges of the country. I believe I am correct in saying that this year's successes establish a record, gratifying both to Mr. Duckworth and all those concerned in edu- I cational work at Llanelly, together with the public generally. Out of sixteen candidates presented there is not a single failure, and eight of the sixteen won places in the first division, some taking very honourable positions on the list. This is eminently satisfactory proof of good work done at the centre. These results go to shew that the centre is now firmly established on a sound basis, and the work, having once commenced to tell, one is entitled to hope that even more gratifying results will be registered in the future. THE JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS. I It seems to me that the time has come for making preparations for the celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at Llanelly. I am not referring to the steps needful for establish- ing a permanent reminder in our midst of the long and beneficent reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty. If an allusion to the permanent form of the celebration may be permitted here, it may I think with propriety and accuracy be remarked that all sections of the population are pretty well agreed that the Hospital, the liquidation of the debt, and the expansion of its boundaries, should be the recipient of our philantrophy. I wish to direct attention, how- ever, to the necessary details connected with the fleeting- commemoration of the great reign. As June 22nd is to be a general holiday, it appears to me that Llanelly ought to come out handsomely [in the celebration of the great eveiat. The children, I imagine, ought to have a genuine day out," and a pyrotechnic exhibition ought to be guaranteed for the evening. These, how- ever, are only a few suggestions, and the real purpose of this note is to stir up the patriotic spirit in the town with the view of having a celebration committee formed to take the work in hand, THE CONTEST IN No. II WARD. j Your Unionist contemporary in its issue of last week made a few obviously spiteful references to the successful candidature of Mr. Arthur Edgar Davies in Ward II. I have no objection to criticism, however strong, provided it is fair. The criticism under notice, however, is the apotheosis of unfairness. Your contemporary objects not so much to the fact that Mr. Davies was returned at the head of the poll by a tremendous majority, but to the fact that Mr. Davies occupies that dis- tinguished position without any assistance from itself. This, however, offers no excuse for the under-the-belt-hitting in which your contem- porary indulged last Thursday. The allusion to the fictitious confusion in the minds of the ratepayers of Mr. Arthur Edgar Davies with Mr. Arthur D. Davies appeared to be introduced for the express purpose of instituting, in the worst of bad taste, a contrast between the philanthropic intuitions of both gentlemen, whereas your contemporary had no ground for suggesting that a contrast was possible. The absurdity and illogicalness of your contem- porary's criticism, however, appeared chiefly in the other reason offered for the large majority of Mr. Davies. The supplementary reason was that Mr. Davies and some of his friends had made a thorough canvass of the ward. Anyone with a grain of common sense would see that both reasons cannot hold good together. If, as your contemporary stated, Mr. Davies and his friends made a thorough canvass of the district, there could have been no confusion in the minds of the ratepayers as to who and what Mr. Davies, the candidate, was. I PROPOSED FREE LIBRARY. It is extremely gratifying to me to find that the governing body of the Llanelly Mechanics' Institution is vigorously and thoroughly inves- tigating the question of converting the present institution into a free library. As one in sym pathy with the free library movement, this thorough investigation is especially gratifying, because I am convinced that the more exhaus- tive the investigation is, the more certain will be the decision of the committee in favour of the proposal which the Rev. Elvet Lewis has so ably submitted to his fellow-committeemen. The debate on the question at the last meeting of the committee on Friday evening was ex- ceedingly full and interesting, most of the ground both for and against being well covered by the respective advocates of both principles. It seems to me, however, that the opponents of the proposal, skilful as they are in debate, are fighting against a great and irresistible development of contemporary civilization and developments of this kind, thwarted perhaps for a time, are bound eventually to prevail. I would recommend to the attention of my readers the excellent editorial note in the Western Mail in support of the proposed change, and especially that portion dealing with the success of the free library movement at Cardiff and Swansea, to which the supporters of a free library at Llanelly have referred as evidence of the use- fulness of the movement. I fervently hope that the committee will speedily give their assent to the proposal and accelerate so far as they can the preliminaries connected with carrying the proposal to a successful issue. One word of caution I would offer, and only one. I have already said that the committee are pur- suing a thorough and exhaustive investigation, but it is necessary that the investigation should not be unduly delayed in the interests of the existing institution. If the latter is to be con- verted into a free library, the sooner we know it the better. The question, moreover, has been simmering for months, and it is time that a decisive settlement was come to one way or the other. THE VOTING AT MOREWOOD'S. I The voting at Morewood's in connection with the appointment rendered vacant by the lamen- ted death of Dr. Jones presents one eminently gratifying feature. I am not concerned with the appointment per se. It seems to me that this is a question that had best be left to the men themselves. For myself, at any rate, I propose to say nothing thereon. The gratifying I feature to which I have referred is the small number of spoilt votes recorded in the initial ballot on Saturday last. Out of nearly a thou- sand hands who went to the poll, there was only one who absolutely ruined his paper. There were five men who did not rigidly o bserve the conditions imposed, but four of those left no doubt as to the doctors of their choice. The votes of those four men would have been considered valid in any parliamentary or a municipal election. The number of spoilt votes, therefore, is reduced to one. This is extremely gratifying and reflects the greatest credit upon the intelligent interest taken in the contest by the employees of Messrs. Morewood & Co. This irreducible minimum compares very favourably, to say the least, with the spoilt votes which went unrecorded at the recent selection at the Borough Council in relation to the appointment of a town clerk. I ECHO OF THE BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTION. In one of your contemporaries last week an unfortunate and misleading comment was made in reference to the recent Borough Council Election. The comment is doubly unfortunate by reason of the fact that it is calculated to embitter the relationship existing between two powerful Nonconformist bodies in the town, denominations between whom the incautious and imprudent statements of over-zealous friends had previously hastened a spirit of strain and division. The reference in question was to the effect that the defeat of Mr. David Thomas and Mr. Owen Charles in Ward III was due to the fact that both the Rev. Idwal Jones and the Rev. W Trevor Jones had been actively engaged in canvassing on the other side. Now I happen to know fiom personal investigation that there is absolutely no truth in this state- ment, and inasmuch as the reference is not unnaturally calculated to deepen an already accentuated sectarian difference, it is a thousand pities that the allusion was made. I am informed on good authority that neither at Bethel nor at Bethania was any special interest taken in the contest. There was cer- tainly no advice, not to speak of instructions, offered to the worshippers as to the men in whose favour they should register their votes. Then as to the specific charge against the reverend gentlemen who minister to the needs of the congregations mentioned, in both cases it is particularly wide of the mark. While the polling was taking place, the Rev. Idwal Jones was, as a matter of fact, in North Wales. As to the Rev. Trevor Jones, he contented himself with going to the polling booth, registering his vote, and returning home.

MR. FO WLER AND THE HARBOUR BOARD- THE RESIDENT ENGINEER ON HIS DEFENCE. "AN ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION." A meeting of the Llanelly Harbour Commission- ers was held on Monday last at the Town Hall, Mr. John Griffiths presiding, when Mr. Fowler, the resident harbour engineer, embodied in his report a reply to the animadversions made at the previous meeting when be was absent. Mr. Fowler stated "It was necessary for me to be absent from the last meeting of the Commission in consequence of the preparation of the opposition to the Burry Port Bill consequently I was unable to offer any explanation of matters upon which there appeared to be some mis- understanding, to refute certain statements which, as published in the local newspapers, were absolutely untrue. I venture to ask your indulgence for the following explanation of these matters. The estimation of quantities by an independent surveyor was re- commended by Sir Alexander Rendel as your responsible engineer, it being a custom in his office, and not because he or I were incompetent, or had no time, or required any additional assistance for the same; we have got the quantities out over and over again for this work. At the same time I do not understand that I am to pay for recommendations made by Sir Alexander, but for assistance in such work as I am unable to do myself. I submit a letter from Sir Alexander on the subject. It was said at the last meeting that 1 bad not engaged a clerk, and that I had not kept my agreement with the Commissioners. I understood that the arrangement you were good enough to make, was that J. should engage such additional assistance as I required for the dock work. I engaged a clerk on the 23rd November, 1896, and that is all the assistance that I require at present. It was conveyed that because I had not got a clerk (which was untrue) that the independent surveyor's services were necessary, and that my reports were seven months in arrear, which was also an inaccurate statement, and which Mr. Guest was good enough to correct in the earliest issue of the press. Sinee coming to Llanelly my reports have been sent to the Town Hall on the Thursday preceding the meeting, and if they have not been printed in time the onus rests on someone else. The February report was late, as on on Thursday I received instructions from the Docks Improvement Committee at 11 o'clock to proceed to London at 1 o'clock. I was, consequently, unable to write my report until the Saturday. The March re- port was delivered at the Town Hall by my clerk on the Thursday preceding the meeting. With regard to the progress of the dock plans, I gave you to under- stand that they would take three months to prepare after the completion of the borings. I have Sir Alex- ander's letter of December 6th, 1896, in which he writes as follows I have yours of the 3rd with plans shewing site and result of borings. I think we cau now go on with the plans.' I consider that as the plans were completed in February, they would have been unreliable had they been prepared by any- one, however expeditious, in a shorter space of time. My report on pilotage was considered incomprehensive. In this respect I believe I have acted strictly in accord- ance with your instructions. And I beg to inform you that you have already received a report in considerable detail on this subject, extending over three-and-a-half pages of foolscap, and I naturally understood that that report would be considered as read, as.1 am still of the same opinion on the matter. With regard to the additional remuneration which you were good enough to give me for the undoubted additional work in connection with the Dock, I had less time to consider my position than the Commission- ers, as I did not know what your intentions were until the morning of the meeting, and when the matter was mentioned, to me I suggested that my remuneration should be independent of additional assistance as I did not know what assistance I should require, but the decision of the Commissioners was as it stands in the Minute Book and was considered the best and probably the most economical. If there is any misunderstanding it requires no formality so far as I am personally con- cerned to reconsider your decision, as I do not wish it to be considered that I am being remunerated under false representations. I do not consider that the additional work has been in any way exaggerated." The Chairman said be objected to the Com- missioners paying a surveyor of estimates, because Mr. Fowler hadn't carried out his supposed agree- ment with the Commissioners, Mr. Trubshaw had moved that Mr. Fowler should engage a qualified assistant. Mr. Trubshaw No, I didn't. The Chairman: It was put down to you. I say that jE600 per annum is too much for Llanelly to give to Mr. Fowler and a boy. We can't afford it, and I am sorry Mr. Fowler was not present at the last meeting. As you haven't carried out your arrangement with the Commissioners, I think you should pay for the surveyor. I shall give notice of that for the next meeting. Mr. Guest: Who seconded the motion sanctioning the arrangement? I understood that it was Mr. Griffiths. I ask that question because at one of the election meetings Mr. Griffiths allowed Mr. Hughes to get all the blame although he was present at the meeting. The Chairman I don't believe I seconded it. The Clerk: The names of the mover and seconder are not recorded. Mr. Trubshaw said he was sorry to hear of the threatened motion by the chairman. He believed the chairman had lost sight of the reasons why the extra remuneration was given to Mr. Fowler. It was not that he was to spend it all in engaging assistants but as a personal reward while the new work was being carried out. The extra £300 was part of a commission clue to the engineer. It was not really part of his salary, though it appeared as such. It was a division of commission on the work between Sir Alexander Rendel and Mr. Fowler. It was an arrangement, indeed, guaranteeing a distinct saving to the Commissioners. The Chairman I am very glad to have it ex- plained. The rumour outside is different. Mr. Trubshaw: 'Rumours outside are insub- stantial. Mr. Brodie then moved that the Commissioners express themselves fully satisfied with the explana- tion of Mr. Fowler. Mr. Thompson seconded, and it was unanimously carried.

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LLANELLY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS ON COM- MERCIAL EDUCATION. A VALUABLE DISCUSSION. A meeting of the Llanelly Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday evening last. Mr. Dan Williams presided, and was supported by Mr. F. N. Pawell (hon. sec.). NEW MEMBERS. I Mr. D. G. Rees, solicitor, and Mr. D. Williams, accountant, Coldstream Street, were elected members of the chamber. THE NORTH PEMBROKESHIRE RAILWAY. Mr. J. A. Williams gave a report of the proceed ings occuring between the deputation of the Chamber and the Dock Committee of the Harbour Commissioners in connection with the North Pembrokeshire Railway Bill. It will be remembered that a deputation was ap- pointed by the chamber to urge the Harbour Commissioners to induce the promoters of the scheme to make a connection with Llanelly. Mr. Williams said that the deputation had duly waited upon the committee and had been well received. The deputation expressed the view that unless the commissioners could get very good terms from the promoters the commissioners should oppose the Bill. After Mr- David Davies had explained the clauses of the scheme, the committee expressed themselves in sympathy with the views of the deputation. He believed that the promoters had promised the commissioners to bring in a Bill next session giving Llanelly a connection from Pontar- dulais through Llangennech, Llwynhendy, Felin- foel and Dafen. However, as they were aware, Parliament had thrown out the greater portion of the Bill. There was no doubt that the promoters would re-introduce the Bill next session, in which provision would no doubt be made for the Llanelly connection (hear, hear). The President remarked that they were all doubt- less very pleased to receive such a favourable report. When the bill was re-introduced next session, the Chamber would again have to consider the ques- tion. I THE JENNINGS' MEMORIAL FUND. I The President observed that it was the privilege of the Chamber to appoint three representatives to act on the special committee to settle the distribu- tion of the above fund. The following were appointed Mr. Thomas Jones, Mr. Dan Williams and Mr. W. Bowen. QUEE, N'S DIAMOND JUBILEE. I The President stated that the Chamber was asked to appoint two representatives to act on the sub-committee to obtain subscriptions for liquida- ting the debt on the hospital and for the provision of a children's ward. The Council of the Chamber had had the question under consideration and found that the hospital committee had appointed a depu- tation to wait upon the Borough Council on Monday and in view of that fact the Council of the Chamber were 02 opinion that it would be better to defer the consideration of the question until the result of Monday's meeting was known. This was decided to be done. COMMERCIAL EDUCATION. I The President stated that they had now come to the more serious and the more instructive item on the agenda, namely, an address by Mr. Sidney Jones on Commercial Education. It was unnecess- ary for him to introduce Mr. Jones, as he was well- known to them. All he would say was that it was very kind of Mr. Jones to come all the way from. London to deliver this address. Mr. Sidney Jones then delivered his address and opened with a survey of the educational machinery of this country. Having shown that despite the educational changes of recent years, little pro- vision had been made for commercial education, Mr. Jones quoted from a speech by Dr. James, a distinguished American educationalist, as follows: We expect shortly to be able to compete in foreign trade with European nations. In this field England leads by virtue of long possession, France and Germany by better training of their com- mercial youth. We must supply a ready supply of trained men for foreign commercial service, men systematically trained in foreign languages, in the geography and industries of our own and foreign countries, men with considerable knowledge of the general rules of commerce and some of finance." What applied to the United States applied to England with a hundred-fold importance. To provide such a supply was the more immediate and technical function of a commercial school. There could be no doubt that commerce as a study and science did not exist at all in England. At the large public schools, the commercial sides were in nothing less than a scan- dalous state, although the majority of the boys must eventually enter business in some form or other. As far as the work went, that of our higher grade schools was excellent in many ways, but it had a technical tendency, rather than a commercial. Grant-earning also had to be considered, which rather hampered the freedom of the headmasters. The government, by the science and art classes, aided the teaching of some 25 science subjects, but did not look upon any really commercial subject as worthy of being classed under the head of science. Such was the condition of commercial education in the greatest commercial nation in the world. Mr. Jones then surveyed the machinery existing on the continent for imparting a know- ledge of commerce. In France there were many different types of commercial colleges, the most important being under the supervision of the government. In addition to these, there were public and private commercial schools, the management being generally in the hands of the local Chamber of Commerce, while in nearly all cases the initiation had been taken by commercial men. In Germany there were 50 high class schools devoted to commerce, while many were spread over Austria, some in Sweden, Italy, and Belgium, and even Russia ,had the honour of having established a commercial school. The normal course of two years study in a Paris commercial school embraced the following general commercial notions and the studv of commercial documeuts, commercial arithmetic, the elements and general theory of the keeping of accounts, banking and exchange, railways and railway tariffs, commercial correspondence, two living languages, of which one must be English, study of merchandise, chemistry, navigation, his- tory of commerce, commercial legislation, political economy, writing, and shorthand. If the students leaving such schools carried away with them even a rudimentary knowledge of most of those subjects small wonaer was it that German and other foreigners were supplanting our English youth as clerks and correspondents. In addition to the regular schools, there were classes for women, for apprentices and others. At Leipsiz there were classes for apprentices engaged in commercial houses. In many quarters, the mediasval idea was still prevalent in this country that the best training for commerce was the so-called Liberal education— the spending of many yeafs over the classics, and in 9 cases out of 10 with no appreciable result. That idea was, however, changing and it was being recognised that a course of science and modern languages could also develop the reason and ob- serving powers. Soon he hoped this recognition would be extended much further and that school- masters would be more alive to the fact that it was no so much a particular subject that educated a boy as the manner in which that subject was taught. What was wanted in England was (1) a few high grade commercial schools, (2) a thorough re-organ- ization of our secondary schools. When this was done commerce would hold a very prominent place. These changes, however, could only come about through the initiation of the state or of influential men. The Llanelly Chamber could do a great deal by keeping the question of commercial educa- tion before the public, and by inquiring into the exact state of commercial education in the neigh- bourhood. The Chamber might lead the way in seeing that Commercial education received its pro- per consideration from the Intermediate Ediication authorities. Mr. Fielding moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Sidney Jones for his excellent and edifying address. Any gentleman who devoted an evening to tSSe benefit of the Chamber was at least entitled to their thanks. Mr. Jones had placed a mass of interesting and instructive facts before them and these he felt sure would be carefully considered by the Chamber. Mr. J. A. Williams had much pleasure in secon- ding the vote of thanks, remarking that the l excellent paper read by Mr. Jones entirely justified the adjournment of the debate. Comparing the syllabus in the curriculum of commercial education under the London Chamber of Commerce with that in vogue in the various continental centres, the speaker said that the former suffered very materially by the comparison. The con- tinental syllabus was a very valuable one, but upon examination he found that the curriculum of the London Chamber of Commerce did not contain a single subject embodied in the former. Mr. Williams went on to state that the Chamber ought to show a practical interest in the question by offer- ing scholarships to boys for proficiency in commercial subjects already taught in our schools- Mr. Thomas Jones was disposed to thorougly support any practical scheme. Those who could afford to send their children to Germany and France to be educated would no doubt do so, and he would welcome any scheme for enabling other parents to do so. 1- Mr. B. R. Rees cordially supported the vote of thanks to Mr. Jones. If the address had done no more than to awaken an interest in commercial education it would have done good work. Mr. Harry D. Evans gave a series of most inter- esting and instructive instances of the position occupied by France in commercial education. Mr. Frank Randell followed on the some lines. The President also cordially supported the vote of thanks. He thought that the less of Welsh they had in their schools and more of French and German the better. Mr. J. E. Jones considered that the London Cham- ber of Commerce scheme was too ambitious, but he was convinced that something could be done if the commercial men of the district put their heads together. It was moved by Mr. Frank Randell, seconded by Mr. David John, and carried, that the address be printed and circulated among the members. Mr. Luke Bradley followed and also remarked that the less of Welsh they had in their schools the better. The vote of thanks was then carried amid acclamation. Mr. Sidney Jones replied, and corrected Mr. J. A. Williams in his criticism of the scheme of the London Chamber of Commerce. Nor did he agree with sending their youths to France and Germany to be educated. He thought that ought to be done here. Mr. Fielding then moved the following resolu- tion :— That this Chamber Cannot accept the examination scheme of the London Chamber of Commerce relative to commercial education, but suggests that steps should be taken with the view ef establishing some scheme more likely to meet the local rsquirements." Mr. J. Allen Williams seconded, and it was unanimously carried.

INTERESTING PRESENTATION | TO A LLANELLYITE. j RECOGNISING A WORTHY WORKS' I DOCTOR. Dr. J. Lloyd Davies, a nephew of Dr. Lloyd. Llanelly, was made the recipient of a handsome present at Penydarren on Thursday evening last. The Merthyr Times says that on the occasion Peny- darren was the scene of an extraordinary demonstration, Dr. Davies (says the same paper) came to Penydarren some four years ago as the resident member of the Dowlais Iron Company's medical staff, and from the very first his cheery demeanour and bonhomie and his unremitting attention to all classes of patients, made him a favourite with the inhabitants of that busy place, and when it was learned that the doctor had re- solved to return to the town of his birth, viz., Llanelly, to commence a private practice, his old friends felt genuinely sorry. and they resolved to shew their appreciation of his skill as a doctor and his good qualities as a member of society by pre- senting him with a testimonial. An influential committee was formed with Mr. Morgan Williams, the well known colliery workman, as chairman, the Rev. Daniel Evans, Vicar of Penydarren, as treasurer, and the indefatigable Mr. Caswallon J. Price, grocer, as secretary, with a committee honestly resolved to do their work in no half- hearted way and it is not a matter of surprise to learn that the sum of something like Y,40 was speed- ily raised. The presentation was made at a public meeting which was held in Elim Welsh Baptist Chapel on Thursday evening and if Dr. Davies had a proud half hour in his life it assuredly ought to have been then. Long before the time announced for the opening of the proceedings crowds began to gather around the place of meeting, and very soon the chapel was crowded in every part, several per- sons not connected with the committee being obliged to seek accommodation on the platform. Large numbers of people failed to gain admittance, The address presented to Dr. Davies, with the purse of gold, was couched in the following terms RESPECTKD SIR,—Though deeply regretting your departure from our neighbourhood, we cannot allow you to leave without expressing our appreciation of the many good qualities which have endeared you to us. It is with very great pleasure we testify to the skilful performance of your duties, and to the prompt, humane, and unremitting attention paid by you to all patients who had come under your hands during your stay of four years in our district. You are leaving behind you an honoured and endeared name, and in taking your departure from amongst us you have our sincere wishes and desires for your future welfare. On behalf of the inhabitants of Penydarren we beg your acceptance of this address and the accompanying purse of gold as a token of confidence, respect, and esteem. Wishing you many years of health and happiness, with God's blessing on your future welfare, we beg to remain, Morgan Williams (chairman). John Jones, and Cas. J- Price (secretary), Rev. Daniel Evans (treasurer)." The address was handed to Dr. Davies by Mr. William Davies, Pond-street, the oldest resident of Pennydarren employed by the Dowlais Company, and one who, moreover, whose life was despaired of a little while ago, but who was successfully treated by the doctor, and eventually restored to health. Mr. Evans wished Dr. Davies long life, and said his name would be cherished by the people of Penydarren. The poor old man was too much overcome by his feelings to proceed any further. Dr. Davies appropriately responded, thanking them for appreciating his poor services so highly. It had been said that he had been always ready when called upon, but that, after all, was onlv what a doctor should be: and for his own part he would say that if he had now and then I put himself to a little inconvenience, it was because he had always found the people of Penydarren a warm-hearted and good natured community—one in whose midst it was a perfect pleasure to work. He should say he had attended the great majority of them (laughter), and he was proud to say he was on terms of the kindliest intimacy with them. He had only been a few months among them before he became so attached to them that he did not want to move away from them. Still the parting had come, almost in spite of him, but he would say that, however long he might live, or wherever he might be, he would always have a warm corner in his heart for the people of Penydarren; and he would be glad at all times to welcome any of them who might call upon him (applause).

I TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. I 11 ANG-RY.WO cannot publish letters of that kind under the cover of a no in de pltme. "INQUIRER."—The law is now amended and the formula you name is unnecessary.

Pro Bono Publico. ALLCOCK'S PLASTERS are now to be had at 7 £ d EACH. Of all dealers. This price puts the original and only genuine Porous Plaster within the reach of all. And don't let anyone persuade you to buy other thau ALLCOCKS'.

MUSTARD AND CRESS. —— <► The Lawn Tennis Club subscription has been raised. Good health to Mr. Llewellyn John, the new captain of the Llanelly Cricket Club At Carmarthen in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee, all the school children are to be presented with appropriate medals. The annual meeting of the Llanelly Cricket Club on Tuesday evening was one of the best ever held under the auspices of the club. The annual meetings of the Llanelly Cricket Club are distinguished not only for a quick and efficient discharge of business, but for wit. On Sunday evening last at Park Church the Rer. Elvet Lewis preached a sermon on Drummond as a Christian teacher" to a large congregation. Mr. Sidney Jones, who was the guest of the Llaa- elly Chamber of Commerce on Friday evening last, was, in his time, eighth wrangler at Cambridge. Affectionate inquiries are being made (says the South Wales Daily Post) as to how Easter eggs can be boiled in a broken sospan. Mr. Tom Hughes 11 brought the house down at the recent Oddfellows' demonstration at Cardiff by the singing of Mary of Argyll." A collection was made .on the football field on Saturday in aid of Mr. Ben Jenkins, a member of the team, who has been ill for some months. Birmingham is busy turning out commemorative jubilee medals. The medals already made, if placed in a column, would reach a height of thirty miles, A debate has been arranged between selected mem- bers of the Swansea Law Students' Society and the Llanelly Law Students' Society, and is to come off on May 5th. The male teachers in the service of the School Board received an invitation to be present at the Chamber of Commerce on Friday evening last, when Mr. Sidney Jones delivered an address on commercial education. A bill has been introduced to Parliament with a view of enabling prisoners to give evidence in their own defence. Mr. J. Lloyd Morgan, M.P. for West Car- marthen, delivered a long speech in the House on the second reading of the bill. Mr. Sidney Jones, who read a paper on commercial education at the Chamber of Commerce on Friday evening, is one of the examiners for the London Cham- ber of Commerce in the commercial tests conducted under the auspices of that body, The adjudication in detail on the chief choral com- petition at the Tonypandy Eisteddfod has now been published. As we stated last week, the Llanelly choir went out of tune in the glee. However, the adjudi- cator gives them rare praise for their "perfect phrasing. Elementary school at Llanelly.—Teacher: "How many colours are there in the rainbow ? The pride of the class: "Three, sir." "What are they, my boy ? -1 Brown, Thomas, and John, sir This is the name of a well-known firm of local b,.iilders.- Western Mail. The Rev. W. Justin Evans' Church at Lewisham has a membership of 982, of whom 6l were admitted during the past year. In the Sunday-schools, there are 1,804 scholars and 141 teachers. The numerouS organizations are well sustained. The income from all sources was £ 3,624. All the public appointments held in Llanelly by the I late Mr. John Jennings have now been filled. Mr. Henry W. Spowart is the new town-clerk, Mr. W. W. Brodie is clerk to the magistrates, Mr. Ifor W. Watkms succeeds to the school board clerkship, while a new secretary to the hospital has been found in Mr. Fred L. Rees. His countrymen will regret to learn that the Rev. Ossian Davies, the distinguished preacher of Bourne- mouth, has broken down in health, and is confined to his house. He was to have officiated at the Star-street Church in Cardiff on Sunday last, but it now transpires that he has been unable for some three weeks past to fulfil any of his engagements. The Japanese are the cleanliest people in the world. There are hot springs up and down the country, in which people occasionally bathe for a month, never once leaving the water, but propping themselves up with stones at night lest they should topple over and be drowned in their sleep The authority quoted above gives his word of honour that he is not yarning." The only football team in Llanelly that can boast of an unbroken record is the Pupil Teachers' Football Club. They played their last match of the season on Saturday last, when they beat the Intermediate School by 1 goal to 1 try. The following is their record up to date Played 2, Won 2. lost 0, Drawn 0. A correspondent adds "Now gentlemen, please line up with the medals and gold watches." An amusing discussion occurred at a meeting of the Borough Council on Monday. One of the members advocated the providing of clothes for the town hall caretaker, whereupon Mr. Brodie inquired if the care- taker had hitherto been walking about the premises without any wearing apparel. Then it was explained that what was wanted was a special distinctive uniform. And the caretaker is to get it. Llanelly, the tin-plate town-we write (says a con- temporary) with the kindest feeling, and only use the phrase in its descriptive sense—would hardly know itself in the pages of an old tourist book published in the first decade of the century by "Edwards and Knibb," of London. The town is there described as a miserable, dirty place, filled with miners and sailors." Hence to Kidwelly," adds the writer, the road leads over the Pentree hills, where the scenery is viewed to great advantage." Mr. Sidney Jones took great pains to prepare a valuable paper on commercial education for the LIan- elly Chamber of Commerce. He had written to several assistants of public schools in the kingdom for infor- mation on the condition of the commercial departments, and one of the replies received was as follows:—" We have a mercantile side in this school, and it is chiefly a refuge for the weak and ungodly. The time is given chiefly to book-keeping and short- hand. As it is, the stupidity of the mercantile side is appalling." Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P., was the victim of a curious accident the other day. He left Swansea by the evening express for London. Upon the arrival of the train at Laudore, he was found unconscious in a first class railway carriage with a wound on the head from which blood was profusely flowing. Mr. Evans was "brought round and said the o-ily explanation he could offer was that he must have swooned and fallen to the floor of the compartment. Mr. Evans—who was prostrated with influenza a few weeks ago-pluckily continued his journey to London. Mr. Tennyson Smith's name is being perpetuated in the Rbondda (says the South Wales Daily News) in a manner which is not likely to commend itself to that stalwart temperance advocate. It appears that recent- ly a new glass measure has found its way to the Rhondda Hotels in the shape of an enlarged tumbler having the capacity of a pint, and it has been named by the local users "Tennyson," in commemoration of the visit of the lecturer to the district some time ago. It is stated that there is a decided rush for "Tennysons," especially in the upper portions of the Valley. A pressman picked up the following in the council chamber of the Town Hall on Monday after the meeting of the Harbour Commissioners:- I a I i" APRIL 26tb, 1897. a I I Llanelly Urban District Council. I I I ROLL CALL. I IR. Guest Absent § W. W. Brodie Absent | David Thomas- Absent Owen Charles Absent 1 IiIIBS  I I Gone to where beyond these voices there is PEACE. A parish councillor in Carmarthenshire, or, rather,, his S mi day hat, has received (says the Western Mail) a considerable honour recently. The great man was proceeding home one stormy night recently, when the wind, in a sportive mood, snatched his hat, which a. search with lanterns and lights could not discover. Six or seven days afterwards a farmer, in watching the arboreal operations of a pnir of rooks, noticed that they were in greater excitement than the usual pre- parations for coming events demanded, and tried to divine the cause of it. At last he understood the mystery. There was the identical bat lost by the councillor, snugly lodged in the branches and taken possession of by the rooks. By this time, probably, it contains the foundations of a future rookery. Our correspondent adds that the councillor is a member of the new Anti-rook Society established in that parish.