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ECHOES OF THE WEEK. +. —I

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ECHOES OF THE WEEK. +. — [Bv SIRIUS."] THE INCORPORATION OF THE Towx. The Llanelly delegates present at the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers last week at Swansea must have been impressed with the painful contrast presented in the reception given to the delegates by certain of the towns adjacent to the centre where the conference was held. It is at functions of this kind that the insignificance of unincorporated towns is shewn up by the pomp, pagaentry, and dignity of communities which have had the pluck to go in for charters of incorporation' On Easter Monday in connection with the func- tion under notice it was perfectly humiliating to note the small one-horse show which Llanelly made in comparison with some of the other towns, Aberavon and Neath, par e.rample. I have been in conversation with more than one of the delegates present at Swansea on the occasion named, and from all I hear the same story—the story of a sense of humiliation and littleness in having to take a back seat to towns of considerably less commercial and administra- tive importance to our own. I venture to think that if a poll were taken of the scholastic fraternity of the town on this question, not a vote would be cast against steps being immediately taken to obtain a charter of in- corporation. We are from time to time receiving constant reminders of the need of the dignity associated with the municipal condition I have described, and since we are hearing so much just now of diamond jubilee celebrations, I respectfully suggest that the Llanelly Borough Council might do a worse thing than that of resolving to celebrate the occasion by applying for a charter of incorpora- tion. THE CHARITIES OF THE UNION. The proceedings of the conference practically closed on Thursday, the two remaining days being devoted to excursions organised by the Swansea branch under the auspices of the TJnion. The business on Thursday was specially interesting, chiefly consisting as it did of the presentation of purses to the officials of the union by the various affiliated branches up and down the country for the maintenance of the orphanages conducted under the regis of the organization. Some thousands of pounds were thus contributed, the West Lambeth branch taking first position with the magnificent sum of £ 1,342. Swansea contributed £1,1f50,to which Sir John Llewellyn added £ 21; Rhondda, £ 200 Llanelly £ 172 and Merthyr, 210;5. It will be seen from this that Llanelly made a respectable donation, and I heartily congratulate the mem- bers of the local branch upon the enthusiastic efforts which culminated in such an eminently satisfactory result. THE FOOTBALL CLUB BANQUET. As a Llanellyite who has followed the doings of the football club very closely during the season just closed, I earnestly hope that the banquet to be given in their honour on Satur- day evening next will be the success it deserves to be, and I hope, with equal fervency, that the testimonial fund, now being raised in honour of the two teams, will be popular among all sections of the inhabitants. The season has been a remarkable one in many respects. The first fifteen fixture card was played tliroucli, as my readers are aware, with the loss of only one match, and that loss was registered under particularly hard condi- tions. But for inefficient refereeing, Llanelly would undoubtedly have won, and as the score stands, the Scarlets only lost by a place kick. The second fifteen, in like manner, have had an eminently successful season, and after a spirited competition were able to capture the South Wales Challenge Cup. There is every excuse, therefore, why the close of the season should be celebrated by an evening out." A WATER SUPPLY QUESTION. I There is an appreciable element of satisfaction in the fact that the Llanelly Borough Council have at length vigorously taken up the question introduced to their notice by the Rural District Council, of supplying Llwynhendy and Burry Port with water from the town reservoirs. From the moment the question was mooted- some twelve months ago I should imagine—it appeared to me to a very desirable arrangement in the interests of both bodies and the constitu- ents whom they serve. The town authorities, however, have been very slow in getting to work, slow at any rate,in facilitating the details with which such a proposal is inevitably asso- ciated. I am rejoiced, however, to find that at last the members have taken the "bull by the horns," having given evidence that no effort shall now be lacking on their part to- wards bringing the long-continued negotiations to a close. I repeat a hope, which I expressed long ago, that the question will be carried to a successful issue. It is absolutely unnecessary that the rural authorities should go to a large expenditure in constructing storage accommo- dation when the parishes in need could be supplied by the nrban authority—with advan- tage to the rural districts, and with profit to the town. This is an arrangement in vogue in many districts outside our own, aud there is an absolute dearth of reasons why it should not become the vogue here. THE UNIVERSITY OFFICES. I The court of governors of the newly-founded Welsh University have pitiably funked the responsibility of selecting a site for the Regis- trar's offices. The long-looked for meetings took place last week end at Shrews- bury, and the representatives of the • various towns in competition for the distinct appeared with their petitions and their pledges, which they duly elaborated before the Court. The Court listened patiently. And that was about all the members were disposed to do. When the work of selection was opened a tendency was disclosed in favour of deferring the choice for five long years. As the discussion proceeded, this tendency was strengthened, and when a vote was taken a proposal embodying the feeling described was carried by a large majority. This is a singularly impotent con- clusion. We were absolutely unprepared for such a pitiable exhibition of delay and hesitation. If there were any special reasons why the choice should be deferred, why were these special reasons not discovered before P There is no excuse for the Court of governors. They stirred up the keenest of competitions among a dozen towns, imposing no inconsiderable burden of cost upon each of the localities seeking the honour, and in the end, the assem- bled adjudicators of the claims of the competitors hurriedly dropped the lot and told them to renew their applications five years hence. My readers will, I imagine, join with me in saying Absurd to a degree." THE EMBANKMENT QUESTION. I From what I have gleaned in unofficial quarters—and the newspaper man frequently plants his feet with inconsiderable cautiousness in fields which the proverbial angel would fear to tread—counsel's opinion in relation to the position occupied by the Borough Council in connection with the proposed raising of the sea embankment is not quite so satisfactory as it might be. I make no pretension to an ac- quaintance with the text of the opinion in question, and I hope that the rumoured incom- plete satisfaction of his terms is groundless in fact. However that may be, whether the rumour be true or false, I fervently trust that the Council will persistently avail themselves of every means in their power to guarantee a solution of this vexed question at the earliest date possible. t believe that the members are now determined to exert every effort designed to properly protect the Dock District ere another winter is here, and I com- pliment them on their determination. If what 1 am informed is true, a deputation has been appointed to wait on Sir Arthur Stepney upon his return to Llanelly. It will be a general hope that his return will be a speedy one, especially so when regard is paid to the convic- tion cherished in not a few quarters that when the facts are fully placed before Sir Arthur, he will immediately fall in with the proposed strengthening and raising of the mud-wall,

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