The Llanelly Mercury and South Wales Advertiser

ECHOES OF THE WEEK. I -+- [BY "SIRIUS."] 1 GRANTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT. I I have been amused in no small degree by the absurdities promulgated in your Unionist con- temporary in relation to the government grunts which have been received by some of the local authorities in consideration of the Agricultural Bating Act passed by the administration now in office. Your contemporary has gone into ectasies over whitt is tegarded as tbemagnificent position of Llanelly under this particular Act. This ecstatic attitude, however, is about as mis- placed as it can Avellbe. There is no vestige of reason for this boundless and indiscriminate glorification of the government, leastwise, not on the grounds given for its existence in the columns of your contemporary. Now what are the facts of the case? A little examination will be instructive, and will serve, I imagine, to disclose the absurdity of the position assumed by your contemporary. Some time ago, my readers will remember that the Liberal Opposi- tion were engaged in attacking with inspiring persistence the monstrous proposals for relieving the agricultural landowners of the country of about one-half of their due and just burden of the rates and placing upon the shoulders or residents in towns an additional fifty per cent. responsibility in this respect, to make good the relief of the country magnates. The bill was known among the government supporters as the Agricultural Rating Bill, but the Opposition ere long gave the measure its real name, one that offered a real index to the purposes it was intended to serve. By the opposition, there- fore, it was called the Landlords' Relief Bill, as the measure was indisputably designed to relieve the owners of agricultural land of their just share of taxation. It will be remembered that this monstrously unjust bill was pitilessly assailed by some of the Welsh members, par- ticularly Mr. Lloyd George, who proved to the absolute conviction of all impartial minds that the measure was one of the grossest pieces of legislative jobbery ever brought before the notice of Parliament. And this is the measure TQspsctirig which your contemporary asks the people of Llanelly to go wild with ecstasy, How on earth the Act is going to bo an ad van- tage to the local authorities 1 am utterly at a Joss to understand, In its last week's issue' your contemporary enlarged upon the fact that the Llanelly Board of Guardia: s had already received a cheque for a few hun- dred pounds from the imperial exchequers, and dilated upon the circumstance in such terms as to encourage the impression that this was a magnificent thing for the local authority in question. I fail to see it. Indeed, I am dis- posed to think that the only people who will appreciate the grant in the light described will be the friends who direct tne destinies of your contemporary. To talk about the Government crant in question in the light of doing service towards a reduction of thegoneral rate is sheer nonsense. Your contemporary appears to imagine that the grant from Government is a sort of general gift to the local exchequer without any sort of restriction, and enabling the Board of Guardians to relieve all its constituents by a re- duction of the rates leviedfrom time to time—re- duced in proportion to the measure of the Govern- ment bounty. This, as a matter of fact, is absolute nonsense. The Act in question will do nothing of the sort. It will not enable the Board of Guardians to reduce the rates; it merely readjusts the conditions of their imposition. Instead of levying the rate justly upon town and country land as formerly, the local authori- ties will, in future, in respect of agricultural land, levy half the rate only upon the owners, and the other half upon the Imperial exchequer. This however, offers no guarantee of a redaction in the total rate leviable. No bene- fit is conferred upon the local authorities. It is the landlords who will derive the benefit. And at whose expense ? The expense of the people who live in the towns. THE HOSPITAL SCHEME. Now that the town is pledged to the hospital scheme in commemoration of the Queen's diamond jubilee, it is to be earnestly hoped that the ratepayers generally will rally round the cause and guarantee the collection of the fund for which the circumstances of the case can. There is a special reason for this hope arising out of the dismally unsatisfactory meeting held under the auspices of the scheme on Monday evening last. Over a hundred persons were summoned to attend a meeting at the Town Hall to make the necessary arrangements for raising the money. Under a score put in an appearance in response to the circular, and the meeting was therefore not proceeded with. Those present were exceedingly generous in their excuses for the absent friends and I entirely appreciate their charitableness. At the same time, however, I am not disposed to accept the reasons given as a full and satisfac- tory explanation of the paucity of the attend- ance. I fervently trust that the interest in the scheme will immediately deepen. The object j i3 a deserving one and it would be a disgrace to the town ific failed to thoroughly "catch on." The meeting, as will be seen from a notice in another column, was adjourned to this (Thurs- day) evening, when I ardently hope there will be a large attendance of friends of the hospital, thoroughly determined ao make the scheme go. FINANCES OF THE FOOTBALL CLUB. The references made by Mr. Gavin Henry the honorary treasurer of the Llanelly Football Club, to the finances of that body, at the adjourned annual meeting held on Friday last will, I feel confident, be read with appreciation by all who are interested in football in Llanelly. Mr. Henry availed himself of the opportunity presented of alluding at some length to certain rumours which had been in circulation respect- ing the finances of the club. I don't know I what the rumours were the writer of this column not having been made a depositary for their receipt by those who joined in the circulation of the statements. It seems to me, however, that the rumours could not have cast any reflection on Mr. Henry himself, leastwise not with any reason, for Mr. Henry is respected wherever he is known. He is as honest as the day. It seems to i me, albeit, if I may be permitted to make the observation, that football in Llan- elly is conducted on a scale much too elabor- ately expensive. This is not in the least a charge against Mr. Henry. It is. however, a charge against the committee, and I make it in no captions spirit, but in the hope that steps will be taken to modify the scale on which the sport is now carried on. For instance, I learn -on good authority that notwithstand- ing the splendid season through which the club I has passed, and the magnificent" gates which have been obtained, there is even now a fairly heavy debt to be faced. It appears to me that if I we cannot escape from debt after such a season I as that just closed, we shall never be free. 1 There must during the season have been an enormous expenditure, one in relation to which I should be glad to receive a comprehen- sive statement by the committee. i THE FREE. LIBRARY QUESTION. ) I The debate on the bree -binary question at ] Fdday evening's meeting of the Governing body J of the I- Meeliaiiies' Institution was excellent in every respect. I have from time to time been present at meetings of the body j najned when questions affecting the a(Iniinistra. tion of the Institution have been discussed in a most enlightened spirit, and with an absence of irritation not characteristic of all quasi- public bodies. I have, however, to state that I have never been present at a meeting of the com- mittee when the question under notice has been more ably, broadly, thoroughly, and instruc- tively di sc u ss e d than that on thecarpet on Friday evening. There can be no doubt that the pro- moters of the change-a change wholly desir- able in my opinion—have gone into the question with a patience, a thoroughness and the true spitit of inquiry leaving nothing to be desired, with the result that an invincible case has been made out in favour of the conversion of the Institution into a Free Library The groups of facts and figures embodied in the speeches on the occasion under notice were most instructive, and insofar as my judgment is concerned the arguments in fivour of the change are simply unanswerable. I would refer especially to the valuable speeches of Mr. W. David and Mr. It. Stuart who dealt with the question of finance with a completeness and satisfactoriness offering every guarantee that when the motion comes before a special general meeting of members it will be carried by all overwhelming majority.  A PASSION FOR AD.TPUENMENT, J j A P ASSIOS FOR AD,T91;RNl\IENT. I The plea of Mr.J. L. Thomas at the last meet- ing of the Llanelly Board of Guardians for a still further adjournment of a decision respect- ing the recommendation of the committee in relation to the proposed appointment of a vaccination officer was as unreasonable as it was misplaced. There was every presumption justifying the conclusion that the question was one requiring immediate settlement in the in- terests of an efficient administratioll of poor law affairs,and the persistent efforts of illr.Tiion-iasto secure an adjournment of the discussion were singularly out of place. I would not refer to the question here but for the constancy with which the plea was urged, for not content wit h the loss of one amendment, Mr. Thomas moved another with as little force of argnment. in its favour as the first. It seems to me that the line ought to be drawn somewhere. A policy of obstruction is as objectionable on a Board of Guardians as in the House of Commous, and it ought to be wiped out" as much in one place r tlS the other.

THOSE WHO LABOUR. « —- I [BY GEORGE H. 'VOOD.] I Last Saturday was Labour Day, and at Hyde Park we had the usual de- monstration and mass meeting. I am glad to say that the meeting was in every I way a success. A resolution was carried calling for the socialisation of the land and means of production. Labour Day is becoming an insti- I tution now, and rightly so. We have the Bank 1 Holiday, a holiday designed more especially for shop-assistants, clerks, etc 7 we have Christmas day, Easter Monday, and Whit Monday, which are church holidays. Surely we can afford also that labour should have one holiday peculiarly its own! Marx and his fellow workers in the early socialist cause laid an especial stress on Labour Day as an International Labour Holi- day. We have ad vanced since then, and now we find that the S.D.F., the I.L.P., and many of the trade unions make one of the items of | their programmes the observations of Labour j Day as a general holiday." I The Government Employers' Liability Bill has been introduced in the House of Commons by Sir Matthew White Ridley, I cannot say much for the Right Hon. member's elucidation of the government proposals. His explanations were sometimes as clear as spring water—sometimes as mud. The opposition, generally, expresssed great disappointment with the measure. Weak and shuffling," were words applied on all sides. Coming to the main principles of the Bill, as explained by Sir M. Ridley. we nnd that it is introduced because of the vast number of accidents to those who labour. The measure is not designed to in any way affect the Em- ployers' Liability Actof 1880, and the principle of employers' liability is almost-generally accepted on both sides of the House. The great battle has been, and, seemingly, will be for a long while, over the question of contracting out. The first point in the Home Secretary's speech was con- tracting out, and it was also the last. The present measure will allow of contracting out, but even here there is a new order. The regis- trar of Friendly Societies will be called upon to examine each scheme of insurance, and should he consider that the proposed benefits are not equivalent to these which, in case of an accident the workman would get under the new measure, he will have the power te refuse to pass thera. The provisions of the bill as to compensation, are, roughly—in case of death, an amount equal to 3 years' wages, with a minimum amount of £ 150 and a maximum of £ 300. Thus, the worker's survivor would get £ 150, if he earned any sum nrider C50 per annum, and would only get £ 300 eve. if he earned that amount in a year. The minimum may be fair, but the maximum is manifestly unfair. For instance, many pieceworkers in engineering works earn over £ 100 per annum. Surely if the widow of the workman earning t60 perai) ii tim, is entitled to tISO, the widow of the workman earning £ 120 (as many do earn) should be entitled to £ 360 ? Why fix a minimum at all ? We can- not sum up human life's value to another in £ s. d. The loss of a beloved husband,—the breadwinner of the family-can mever be re- placed by a payment of a paltry few hundred pounds. The same mean shortsightedness prevails when the provisions in case of accidents are considered. The liablity is to be fifty per cent. of the injured man's wag, with a maximum of £ 1 per week. The maximum here is fixed, but no minimum. At this rate the man earning 12s. per week, (as Mr. Tom Mann once stated that many do at Dowlais and other South Wales ironworks) will only receive 6s. per week! This is an outrageous unfairness. If the work- man has a part payment of his wages when ill, and they are not enough to keep him (and 7s. surely is not enough), and he applies to the Poor Law Guardians, they must not give him ary more. and all they can offer is a bed in the work- house infirmary. A fine thing The other provision is that the measure shall apply to all factories, but, unfortunately, neither to domestic servants nor seamen. There was one very interesting statement made however. The Home Secretary first, and, in the course of the debate, the Colonial Secretary, both made a special note of the fact, that the provisions of the measure would burden industry to the extent of, at the maximum, as in mines, one per cent. of its income, whilst the general average would be Is. to 2s. per £ 100 of the industrial income. This is not a very large price to pay for the free use of flesh and blood ? Mr. Asquith's criticism of the measure was very trenchant. His objections were mainly that selected industries only are brought under its operations; that instead of paying for accidents we should prevent them, or at least, make more stringent precautions against their recurrence, that there is not freedom of con- tract because the Registrar of Friendly Societies has power to interfere; that proceedings to recover damages are altogether too costly, and that the building trades are not covered by it. Each of these objections is quite valid, and the Government will have a lot to do to quiet the determined opposition which is being raised against a half-hearted measure." So soon as the bill is printed, I shall hope to give a com- plete resume- of it in the columns of the Mercury.

THE "SOSPAX EACH." BANQUET TO THE LLANELLY FOOT- BALL TEAMS. INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS AT THE STEPNEY ARMS HOTEL. A complimentary banquet was given the Llanelly football teams, firt and second fifteens, at the Stepney Arms Hotel, on Saturday last, in recogni- tion of their briUiaut performances during the season. The large billiard room had been beauti- fully decorated for the occasion and no expense had been spared to make the event a success in every respect. The emblem of the team, the '• Sospan fach," was exhibited in a prominent position in the room, decorated with the colours of the team. The spread was recherche to a degree, and reflected great credit, on the host (Mr. S. Lloyd). Mr. E. Trubshaw (the chairman of the Borough Council), presided, and amongst others present were Dr. Samuel, Rev. Philip Rees, Dr. Price, Messrs. F. Buckley, T. J. Williams, Gwynne Th -mas, Isaac Phillips, D. W. Rees, D L. Joseph, G. F. Blake, F. L. Rees, Llewellyn John, J. Howell, R. H. Linn, D. R. Williams, D. R. Edmunds, W. Wilkins, Gavin Henry, A. B. Parham, R. C. Jenkins, Philip Mitchell, E. J. Powell, D. H. Bowen, J. Randell, R. Evans, J. Morgan (Swansea), J. E. Cloke, R. Wilkins, R. Thomas, E. F. Da vies, E. Roberts, George M- >rgan, D. Griffiths, W. Y. Ncvill, G. R. Gwillim (California), W. Bevan, W. J. Leakey, W. Badger, Owen Badger (capt.), T. Prosser (captain of the" A" team). and all the members of both teams, together with the secretary (Mr. J. Griffiths). After the cloth had been removed the chairman proposed the toast of the Queen and the Royal Family," remarking that on the 22nd of June Her Majesty would have reigned longer than any ruler England had ever possessed. She would then have reigned GO years (applause). The toast was received with musical houours. The Clergy and Ministers of all denominations" was proposed by Mr. T. J. Williams, who remarked that they did a great deal of good throughout the country. He was very sorry to see so little broad cloth present that evening, as he believed that if ministers attended football matches oftener they would be able to enlighten the minds of their people more. Hev. Philip Rees suitably responded. He said that they had that day a new bishop, who was an old footballer, and he was sure that if he paid a visit to Llanelly on Saturday, he would be pleased to go to Stradey. He protested strongly against the abuse poured on football. He thought that the young men should do something more than merely go and watch the matches—they should play, and become real supporters of the game. He hoped that the Llanellytcam would always have fixtures with Lampeter, and as they all knew, they would be well-cared for in the college (laughter and applause). Song, Mr. R. H. Linn. Mr. D. Rees Edmunds proposed the I-Arftiy, Navy, and Auxiliary Forces." Having regard to the state of affairs abroad, a man, whatever his home politics, must believe in their defensive forces. Their forces had proved over and over again their worth, and the indomitable British courage had always been shown wherever they had fought. Ever since the days of Drake and Frobisher, Britain had been mistress of the seas. He was not an admirer of the German Emperor, but even that gentleman's words were excellent when he said that they required In everything" unanimity in co-operation, and unanimity in obedience." That was what was ever required. Song, Mr. R. C. David. Lieut. Buckley in response to the proposed toast said that the army had taken a prominent part in everything. They seemed fond of fighting, just as the Llanelly football club seemed fond of meeting strong antagonists. The army was ready to go anywhere and everywhere. The taxpayer was getting good returns for his money. An army was necessary in peace time as a preservative. If they had no auxiliary forces they would have conscrip- tion. He thanked them on behalf of his company, the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry for coupling his name with the toast. Capt. Phillips also responded, observing that he regarded the navy as the bulwark of the nation. He also referred to tile volunteers of Llanelly as having the best shooting club in Wales. No other town in Wales could boast of what they had, a Queen's prizeman. He thought it would be a good thing if the Llanelly Footballers would join the volunteers (applause). Lieut. Thomas also responded. Song, Mr. R. C. Jenkins. "The President (Mr. Mansel Lewis) "was sub- mitted by Mr. J. Allen Williams. He said that they could not help receiving the toast with enthusiasm, for the club owed much to him through his allowing them the use of the ground. Before they had this excellent ground they us id to play on the public park and at that time no interest was taken in the game. But when they approached their worthy president he readily con- tented to place Stradey at their disposal (cheers). The toast was accorded ringing musical honours. Mr. George Blake, (Stradey estate agent), re- sponded on behalf of Mr. Lewis, thanking them for the generous recognition they had given to Mr. Lewis. There was a time when they had to play on the park, and were unable to charge for admission. Representations were made by him to Mr. Lewis, and he said they might have Stradey, for he believed in everything would develop pluck and physical endurance. There was no doubt that football was a glorious game, and there was no doubt that Llanelly was its finest exponent. He was sure that Mr. Lewis would be proud to know how generously they had thanked him. There was no fault at all to be found with the football club. There had, after a big match, been a little damage, but it only wanted a representation to the football committee to get it repaired. He congratulated them heartily upon the development that had been made in football. He recollected the time when the first jersey was donned under the name of the Llanelly Football club. Mr. J. H. Rogers and him- self and others were at that time to be seen on the warpath (laughter). They never played to win, but simply for the love of the game. This, he thought, was about 30 years ago. Mr. D. W. Rees proposed the "Town and Trade," observing that he was sincerely hopeful of the town, though there was a little tinplate cloud hanging over it. He was sorry that they had not a mayor. They ought to be incorporated. They would wel- c nile with glee and approbation Mr. Trubshaw as first Mayor. Whistling solo, Mr. T. J. Williams. Mr. Gwynne Thomas, in reply to the Town and Trade,"remarked that he felt that on a festive occasion as that, the less shop fc-tlked the better, but he could not help observing that Llanelly was one of the soundest financial towns in the United Kingdom. There might be a cloud over the tinplate trade. So there had been before, but it had righted itself. Mr. W. Y. Nevill, in response, said that it would be always their ambition to hold the town in the forefront, and in that they may take a leaf out of the book of their football club. Song, Mr. D. L. Joseph. The Chairman then submitted "The Llanelly Football Team." He congratulated them upon ) attaining the premier position in the football world. They were fit and able to cope with any team in the United Kingdom. He was reminded by the cup before him that Llanelly had before been the first team in Wales. He congratulated the "A" team upon their success and upon their bringing the cup to. th" town again. The play of the first team had bH1 due to thorough combination and esprit- cle corps. It was due to careful training, but not over-training. They had. done wonderfully well during the past, year; the sospan had not been broken. All that it had sustained was the merest scratch. He would have liked them to have had an 1 unbroken record, but lie was sure that Glo'ster and all the teams in South Wales would acknowledge that it was the best in the arena. Passing to the action of the International Union, he described its action as thoroughly ill-advised. The toast was received with enthusiasm, and the "Sospan Fach" having been duly chanted, Mr. Wilkins said that Captain Badger bad asked him to apologise for him, as he was no publio speaker The teams hoped that they would be able to keep together next season, and even do a little better. They did not grudge Glo'ster their victory, but they made the mistake of treating them too cheaply. They were pleased that they had satisfied not only Llanelly people, but the people of Wales altogether. Llanelly had been running for first honours now for several seasons. They had been willing to grant | Newport first honours, but this year they had fought out and won the championship, and at the end Newport players admitted that they were beaten at every point of the game. Mr. Tom Prosser (captain of the A" team) also responded in suitable terms. The" A "Leam had been looked after better this season, but there was still room for improvement. Song Mr. D. Davies. Mr. D. R. Williams submitted, The Llanelly Athletic clubs," eulogising the kindred associations. He thought those clubs ought to be amalgamated. Mr E. Roberts responded on behalf of the Quoit- ling club, and Mr. D. H. Bowen for the Shooting club. Dr. Richard Samuel proposed the toast of "The Welsh Rugby Union," Mr. Gavin Henry, one of the vice-presidents, responded. Mr. F. L. Rees proposed the toast of the "Press." Mr. B. R. Jones responded. Mr. J. A. Williams proposed the toast of the chairman. The Chairman fitly responded. The toast of the Host having been drunk, the proceedings terminated with the singing of Gotl save the Queen." Mr. F. L. Rees ably accompanied on the piano.

THE INCORPORATION I OF THE TO WN. THE TOWN CLERK TO BRING UP A 1 REPORT. At the ordinary meeting of the Llanelly Borough Council, held on Monday, Mr. Ernest Trubshaw presiding, the question of the incorporation of the town was raised. Mr. Maybery said: I desire to move the suspen- sion of the standing orders in order to ascertain the views of the Council on the question of the incorporation of the town. It appears to me that this is a fitting opportunity to take steps towards the incorporation of the town because we shall have to borrow a large amount of money this year, and I understand from financial people that it is quite probable we may be able to boriow the amount we require at a less rate of interest I if the town were incorporated than as a District Council. This, therefore, is an appropriate time for taking the matter in hand, particularly if we go quickly about it as we will get the advantage, if any, from incorporation. Another reason why it would be specially appropriate just now is that it would be a fiLting celebration of the Queen's Diamond J-ubilee. Some few years ago the matter was taken in hand before but it was opposed then on the ground that the police rate would be considerably increased, as we should have to sup- port our own police, but if we can borrow the money we require at a quarter or half per cent. less in consequence of incorporation, the saving thus effected would go a long way towards defraying the extra police cost. I don't desire to force this matter forward in anyway but it struck me that this was an opportune time for considering the question, as it will have to be considered sooner or later, and as we are likely to get something out of it, the present is the time for taking up the question. No doubt, incorporated towns can borrow money at cheaper rates than districts councils. I move the suspension of the standing orders. Mr. D. W. Rees: I second. The suspension was cart-ied. Mr. Maybery: I now move that the clerk be authorised to submit a report on the question. Mr. D. W. Rees: I second that with great pleasure. Mr. J. Griffiths: What about the School Board rate? The borough would have to be content with a rate of its own, and it would be doubled, so we were informed on the last occasion. Mr. Maybery: Those are details which will have to be gone into later. I merely move that the clerk should bring up a report. Mr. Knoyle: Will particulars be given of the rates of interest for incorporated towns and District Councils'? The Chairman: The rates vary from time to time, and it will be difficult to make any comparison unless you take an incorporated town and a District Council borrowing at the same time. The motion was then carried.

STEEL BARS FROM AMERICA. The Old Castle and Western Tinplate Works, Llanelly, are now working on a cargo of steel bars imported from America.

PARK CHURCH CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the above society was held on Friday evening last, the Rev. Elvet Lewis presiding. Mr. Brasonwas.re-elected president, and Mr. Martin Davies, lion. sec.

DEPARTURE OF MRS. JOHN I DANIELL FOR SOUTH AFRICA. I On Friday last, Mrs. John Daniell and family, and Miss Wheatcroft, niece of the well-known Mr. E. T. Hooley, left London for Cape Town in the Dunvageu Castle," the new steamer of the Castle Line. Mr. John Oweu Williams, Castle Buildings, Llanelly, joined the steamer at Southampton on Saturday, while Mr. Christopher Evans sailed the same day in the" St. Louis" tor New York. There was a large number of friends present at Lhuielly Station on Wednesday and Friday to see them leave. Mr. J. L. Bowen, Llanelly, the agent of the line, had the bookings.

ALL WHO SUFFER FROM I RUPTURES. Had better cousult Mr. DAVID CHARLES, Peulleeh Cottages, Pwll, Llanelly, who has received the following testimonials, and about 120 others, which will appear from time to time in this paper :— Bwlchymynydd, Nr. Loughor, December 17th, 1890. DEAR SIR,-It affords me much satisfaction to inform you that your Worthy Ointment cured my little boy of a severe Rupture, after all other remedies and treatments had been tried and failed. I shall in future recommend it to all persons suffering from Rupture.— Yours faithfully, Mr. D, Charles. THOMAS MORGANS. 4 Bryn Road, Sea Side, Llanelly, July 14th, 1896. DEAn Sm,- I have much jileasare in testifying that my little son, William E. Maddock, is thoroughly cured by you, being Ruptured from birth. He is now a strong healthy boy of three years old, running about without truss. You can make use of this to any purpose, as he has been under no other treatment but yours.-Yours gratefully, Mr. D. Charles. D. B. MADDOCK. I

HIGHWAY COMMITTEE THE PROPOSED BRIDGE OVER THE LLIEDI. A meeting of the Highway Committee of the Llanelly Borough Council was held at the Town Hali, on Friday last. Mr. J. S. Tregoning proposed that Mr. J. Griffiths be appointed chairman. Mr. J. Thomas seconded and Mr. Hansard sup. ported the appointment, and the motion was carried. Mr. J. Griffiths took the chair and thanked the members for appointing him chairman. THE DAY OP MEETING. The Chairman said that they should now con- sider the day of aeating. They had a large amount of work to go through in this committee, which often detained the meeting, of the Sanitary Committee. Mr. J. S. Tregoning was of opinion that it would be a good thing if the Surveyor could bring up the same amount of work each meeting. Mr. A. E. Davies The business has been in- creasing from time to time; that is the explanation no doubt. The Clerk: I had intended suggesting that the meetings be held once a month, but at present I will not do so. The Chairman said that there would be an enormous amount of work to go through, if they had the meetings every month. Finally it was resolved to let the present arrangement continue. WATER WORKS COMMITTEE. The Chairman said that on the recommendation of the Council, they had to appoint two members to represent them on the Water Works Committee. It was decided that the chairman and Mr. Hansard should represent them on the committee. LAYING OUT NEW STKBETS. Mr. Dan Williams submitted a plan for laying out new streets at Box. The committee recommended same for approval. A BRIDGN Ovisit THE LLIEDI. Mr. Blake submitted a plan for a bridge over the Lliedi river near the Old Castle The Surveyor said he saw no objection to the bridge being built as shewn on the plan, but sug- gested that no points be fixed on the highway. The commtttee recommended the approval of the plan, subject to no points being fixed on the highway, and that the lines crossing the road be pitched and maintained to the satisfaction of the Council. THE WIDENING OF CHURCH STREET. The Surveyor reported that Mr. Wm. Thomas was about to carry out some alterations to his premises in Church-street, but before doing so, he asked him to submit his lowest price for setting back the buildings in line with Union-terrace, thus increasing the width of Church-street by 3 feet. The price asked for was £350. It was recommended that the offer be declined. OPENING OF BRYN ROAD INTO VICTORIA ROAD. (Pl I iiie ourveyor reported in reteronce to tne opening up of Bryn-road into Victoria-road. He visited the district with Mr Blake, and that gentleman promised to let him know in a few days what lie was prepared to contribute towards the same. He (the surveyor) hoped by the next meeting to be able to give the committee the terms upoii x; hich the improvement could be carried out. DOLAU SUBWAY. The Surveyor further reported that Mr. Blakeand himself visited Dolau in reference to the subway, and Mr. Blake promised to let him hare the terms upon which the work could be carried out. FIRE. Captain Scott submitted the cost of attending the recent fires as follows :-Mr. Newmark S:3 12s. 6d. Mr. D. C. Parry, £3 7s. Gd. Church-street, £3 12s. Gd. total, £ 10 12s. Gd. Mr, A. E. Davies: How are you going to check these figures ? The Chairman There is no check on them, simply what Captain Scott submits. Mr. Tregoning said the fire brigade's charges were not excessive at all. The Committee recommended that the Clerk write to the different Insurance companies, asking them to pay the amount of expenses incurred. <>

IMPORTANT TO LADIES. By nourishing the body, the cheeks become rosy and plump, whilst the strength and nervous energy thus gained is the natural outcome of increased vitality. Health and happiness arc to a great extent matters of digestion and nutriment. It is only by the proper assimilation of food that the waste of tissue daily taking plate can be stopped. It cannot be done with medicine. It can, however, be done with a perfect food beverage, such as Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa, which possesses exceptional vitalising properties. It will save your digestion part of its work, and is far more nourishing and sustenant than tea or the ordinary cocoa, whilst it possesses a tonic and recuperative force possessed by neither. Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa is pleasant and palatable and embodying as it does the numerous principles contained in Malt, Hops, Kola, and Cocoa, it imparts nourishment and builds up strength. As a Food Beverage it is invaluable. Mrs. King, Linden Cottage. Wimbledon Hill, Surrey, writes I think Dr. Tibbies' Yi-Cocoa a delicious drink, and it quite fulfills all said about it. Mrs. Budden. Bradwardine, Bournemouth, writes I like Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa, and shall certainly use it in future." Nurse Tillotson, Alexandra Hotel, St. Leonard's- on-sea, writes:—"I shall have much pleasure in recommending Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa. I like it very much. Miss S. Pereival, Post Office, Burgh, writes:— I do not think any cocoa can equal Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa." All the leading medical journals recommend Dr Tibbies'Yi-Cocoa, and Dr. G. H. Haslam writes:— It gives me great pleasure in bearing testimony to the value of Vi-Cocoa. a mixture of Malt, Hops, Kola, and Caracas Cocoa Extract. I consider it the very best preparation of the kind in the market, and, as a nourishing drink for children and adults, the finest that has ever been brought before, the public. As a general beverage it excels all previous preparation.s. No house should be without it." Dr. Tibbies' Yi-Cocoa is made up in Gel. packets and 9d. and Is. Gd. tins. It can be obtained from all chemists, grocers, and stores, or from Dr. Tibbies' Vi-Cocoa, Limited, Suffolk House, Cannon Street London. B.C. As an unparalleled test of Inuit, a dainty sample tin of Dr. Tibbies' Yi-Cocoa will be sent free on application to any address, if when writing (a post- card will do) the reader will name the Llanelly Mercury. LUCAJ, ACCENTS OF YI-COCOA :— D. C. Pkpny. Stepney-street. RANDELL & SONS, Vaughan-strect, W. KNOYLE, Cowell-street. PHILLIPS? k Co., Thomas-street.

I MUSTARD AND CRESS. — —♦ Dafen tinplate works is the oldest tinplate factory iu the Llanelly district. School Scene. Teacher Give me the Welsh vrori for sheaves?" Kid "Shafings." The first meeting of the newly-elected Football Com- mittee was held on Monday evening. Lady Vivian and her daughters have left Swansea for their permanent home in London. A new Reehabite tent. was opened on Saturday evening last at Lloyd Street Schoolroom. The annual meeting of the Llanelly Chamber of Commerce will be held to-morraw evening. i Mr. C. H. Glascodine, barrister-at-law, is honorary librarian to the Royal Institution at Swansea. The Rev. J Ossian Davies has received an invitaties to the pitstorate of Paddingtou Congregational Church. Sir Arthur Stepney is going to present Dr. Nansea's, "Farthest North to tile Mechanics' Institution. The a'uiual examinations under the auspices of the Science and Art Department are being held this week at. Llanelly. The new Football Committee have not as yet made the consolation" appointments. These are deferred until August Dr. Llewellyn Bevan will occupy tho pulpit at Maias- fleid College, Oxford, on one of the Sundays duriag the. presetit i-noritli. All the new members of the Llanelly Borough Council have broken the ice," that is to say, they have made their maiden speeches. The chairman of the committee of the Mecha*ics* Institution describes a free library as a refuge for the lounger and a shelter for the tramp. The Rev J. Watson (" Ian Maclaren") has con seated to preach the annual sermon to the students of the Bangor Opngregafcional College next month. A terrible fire occurred at a charity bazaar in Paris on Tuesday, resulting in the death of nearly tw« hundred visitors, many of them of high rank. The new bishop of St. David's was consecrated at St. Paul's Cathedral on Saturday last. Amoug those present was Sir John Jones Jenkins. M.P. The American steel bars, a cargo of which Was recently imported by two local tinplate works, are exceedingly long—something like 30 feet. Mr. Burt's Employers' Liability Bill has bee* backed by Mr. Kandeil, M.P. to whom the Londtn Daily News refers as a typical trade union member. In his valuable book on Free Libraries," Mr. Greenwood makes special reference to Llanelly as a town where a free library ought to be eminently successful. A dividend of 5 per ceut. has been declared Oil Quinine Bitters' shares for the half year ending Marcil. 31st. The ninth annual meeting of the company will be held at Llanelly on Thursday next. Delegates to the forthcoming meetings of the Liberal Federation at Merthyr will note with amusement that while they "are invited to take part in the discussion," they :ire also invited "not to make long speeches." We regret to have to announce the death of Mrs. Peel, of Llanyrallt Park, widow of the latn Mr. Joha Peel, J. P., at her residence Llangadoek, on Monday morning. Mrs. Peel was in her eightieth year. A suggestion has been made by Mr. Philip Mitchellf I who is see. of the Llanelly District of Foresters, that a levy of a penny per member be made on all members of friendly societies in support of the hospital. The late Bishop Hughes, of St. Asaph, was the only Lampeter man who ever became bishop, and his nephew, the late Rev. Joseph Hughes, was one of two who became professors at St. David's College, the other being the late Canon Williams, of Llauelly. At the football banquet on Saturday evening last; the Rev. Philip Rees spoke enthusiastically in favour of football and expressed the opinion that when the nevy bishop of St David's paid a visit to Llanelly he would be as desirous as anyone to see the Scarlets play. One of the hits of the free library discussion by the committee of the Institution on Friday night was that the superior persons who were afraid of catching fleas in consequence of the free admission to the Institution of all and sundry would no doubt set Up a private room of their own. As usual, Mr. Harry Bowen was funny to a degree in his speech at the football banquet, on Saturday night. He remarked that it was quite time Llauelly abandoned the emblem of the sospau. He suggested combination of the Welsh team's coat of arms" and the sospan. The Welsh team glory iu the leek. Ergo, Sospan leak." Now that the Carmarthenshire County Council have increased Coroner Buckley Roderick's salary from £100 to X, 140 a year for inquests in the three Commotts and Kidwelly District, it is the opinion of many that Coroner Thomas Walters and Coroner Shipley Lewis should each have a like favour conferred upon them for work in the western and eastern divisions, very often under great difficulties. A portrait sketch of the Bishop of St. David's in the current number of Tri/sorfa'r Plant reveals the fact that he was baptised by the late Rev. Josiah Evans, Pembrey, Carmarthen, who will be remembered by many of our readers as one of the most respected old ministers belonging to the Calvinistic Methodists of that county. The bishop's mother, who reides with her son, is still a member of a Methodist church near Pwllheli. When Watcyn Wyn dies—may the day be far distant'—there must be no brickwork in his grave. This is the bard's strict injunctiot;, and to make assnr. ance doubly sure, Watcyn, who dearly loves a joke, has written the following epitaph for his own grave- s ton o :— Carodd tra galiodd roi kicks—ar ei hynt I rai o'r hen relics; Ffarweliodd heb ddim ffrolicks, Dyma'r brawd—« dim bricks Among the list of exhibitors this year at the Royal Academy is Mr. W. Thirkell Pearce, of Swansea, the subject of his brush being a full-length portrait in oils of a well-known Swansea gentleman in riding costume. The picture, which is 7 feet by 4 feet, is an admirable likeness. cornpositioii is well balanced, and the picture does the artist infinite credit. This is not the first time Mr. Thirkell Pearce has had the distinguished honour of a place in the Royal Academy, and as he is quite young, we confidently predict for him a brilliant career. The Hon. Misses Rioe, of Dynevor, were among the choralists who recently rendered Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise at the Llandilo Drill Hall. The charming daughters of Lord Dynevor, among many other accomplishments, are possessed of beautiful voices, and their services are frequently given at local charitable concerts. And what is further interesting to note is (says the South Wales Daily News) they almost invariably render their songs in the tongue of their illustrious ancester, Syr Rhys ap Tomos, who on Bosworth Field fought so valiantly for Harry Tudor. The reading of the minutes at Monday's meeting of the Borough Council of the various committees and of former Council meetings occupied three-quarters of an hour. Well may the Chairman have remarked at the close "What a waste of time." This waste might easily be avoided. If the various minutes were printed, and circulated among the members the records could be accepted as read at the monthly meetings. The Council are very chary of printer's ink. It is a wrf customary thing ill other towns for minutes of the kind described to be printed and circulated among the members. A grocer's assistant at Llanelly, in search of work, ad vertises that he is au experieucod assistant, and is "willing to serve from 7 in the morning to 11 every night, including Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday, being well accustomed to the local trade 27 good reference." A corres- pondent in the ShoJI Assistant thinks a fund should be started in connection with the N.U.S.A.W. & C. for the maintenance of an asylnm for the safe keeping of such men. But it is wrong, thinks the editor of that journal, to assume that the advertiser is iu earnest. It is simply an expression of "the woes of shop assist- ants." It. is (snys the Smith Wales Daily News) certain- ly an original method of arresting attention, but then the worshippers of Y Sospan Fach" are nothing if not original. Among the farmers who gave evidence at the Gowcr Light Railway inquiry recently (says the Swansea Post) was a hale and hearty old fellow of about 60 years of age, who said he lived about fourteen or fifteen niiles from Swansea. He came forward with a merry twinkle in his eye that gave unmisfcakeable promise of fun. Mr. Peterson (for the promoters) I believe there is no railway to Gower?—Witness: That's so, Sir:-f-Iow did you get into Swansea this morning- —I walked in, sir. How will you get back this e vening --IVailc back. I suppose, sir How do the passengers travel ?—"Well, this doesn't apply to the present day, but years ago the first-class passenger rode all the way, the second-class walked the steep bill, and the third-class pushed the 'bus,"