The Llanelly Mercury and South Wales Advertiser

IBirtlia, #arriagfs, nub Ibaibs. I DEATHS. DAVIES.—At Prospect Place, Lianelly, Daniel Da vies, saddler, aged 62 years. DA VUJS.- April 30tb, at Alstread Street, Kidwelly, David Davies, G.W R signalman, aged 52 years. The interment took placeat Whitland on Wednesday.

WEEKLY COMMENTS. I LAST week we dealt at some length with a few of the wilful mis-statements made by our Tory Contemporary regarding the Harbour Loan and our relationship with the Bank of England, and, for the' infor- mation and enlightenment of the Rate- payers generally upon this all-important question to the town of Lianelly, we think it right to proceed with the criticism, and to prove, as we have previously done, how unfair, and, indeed, how wicked it is of our Contemporary to take up the attitude it has upon this question, when it knows that it is wilfully misleading the public, and might thereby—provided the Rate- payers are short-sighted enough to pay I any heed to its vapourings—do the town, as a whole, infinite harm. I )

OUR Contemporary stated that the town I is under no obligation to pay the Bank i a single penny beyond "paying the two shilling rate and handing over the income of the town estate, or, in other words, pay the Bank X9,000 a year." A little further on it states that the Ratepayers are not responsible for the repayment of a single sixpence of the debt of L236,000 which the Trust owe the Bank. If they accept the proposals, what will be their position ? They will have taken upon themselves the whole of the debt. They will have made themselves responsible for the repayment of X236,000, with another Y,40,000 on top of it, and the interest on both sums." With regard to the L40,000, that debt has not been incurred, nor will it be incurred unless the Ratepayers decide that they will require it for the improve- ment of the harbour and channel, so that we need not take this into account. The object which our Contemporary had by its introduction was to show that by ac- cepting the proposals of the Bank the Ratepayers would have to pay £ 11,800 in- stead of £ 9,000 per annum. As not a single penny of the X40,000 has been borrowed, we can leave it for the present out of the question.

WE have to deal more especially with the X236,000, or, to be more accurate, with the £ 237,000. Fortunately, we have in another column a copy of the new Harbour Bill, and in that (if anyone takes the trouble to read it carefully), reference is made to the Indenture of 1905, wherein the Bank, Urban Council, and Trust enter into certain covenants. The Bank agrees to advance certain sums to the Trust,, with the consent of the Urban Council, and the Trust agrees to repay the Bank I the whole of the said sums, together with interest thereon at the rate of four per cent. per annum, and the Urban Council, by way of collateral security, agrees, or I guarantees the payment of the principal sums, and interest on same, until the whole of the debt is paid. In the 1904 Harbour Act, the Trust also agrees to I ma ke provision, or, in other words, to I establish a sinking fund, of such an amount annually as will, in the opinion of the Board of Trade, be sufficient to clear off the whole of the debt owing to the Bank within 55 years of the 29th of September, 1900. In accordance with the Harbour Act of 1904, and the Indenture entered into with the Bank in 1905, these are the obligations and responsibilities of the Harbour Trust and Urban District Council, and in face of these facts, how I- I .? can our uontemporary state, tnat tne Kate- payers will, if they agree to the proposals of the Bank, be taking over responsibilities which did not previously exist, and how can they, by paying three per cent. in- stead of four per cent., increase their liabilities ? The whole statement is but a fabrication, and only intended to mislead the public.

LET us now take the next statement. By accepting the proposals, our Contemporary states "the Ratepayers will have laid upon themselves the obligation of paying to the Bank of England, altogether, the huge sum of £ 550,000." How it arrives at this sum is a perfect mystery. But by adding £ 140,000 and Y,70,000, or X210,000, to this, which it avers is the total indebted- ness of the Urban Council, it finds that the town's liability is within appreciable dis- tance of a round million pounds." If it had been wise in its generation, and as it had called the X,236,000 which we owe the Bank X550,000, why did it not also double the Y-140,000 and call it X280,000, and add another XIOO,000 to the £ 70,000—it would then have arrived at the million. But what is the present indebtedness of the town and harbour? It is L236,000 plus X-140,000, or a total of X376,000, which is £ 174,000 less than the indebted- ness of the harbour alone, according to our Contemporary. But if we deduct from this the 70,000 to be borrowed for filtration, and the Y,40,000 for harbour improvement, we shall still be C64,000 under what our Contemporary states is the harbour debt. Will anyone who possesses a grain of common-sense believe a single word of our Contemporary's statement with regard to the over half-a-million" and "within appreciable distance of a million" ? The statement is so ridiculous and absurd that even the man in the street" would treat it as a huge joke.

BUT the very next sentence in our Contem- I porary's statement is also so ridiculous that we are inclined to ask again if the writer was at home or abroad when he penned it ?" It speaks of the million" as a debt which is about to be incurred, for it says "the Ratepayers will be within appreciable distance of a round million pounds. And this, bear in mind, with rates well over ten shillings in the pound, before we have taken over the liability of the huge debt to the Bank of England, before we have spent one farthing on the big sum required for filtration." Had it not been that we owe the Bank the huge sum" stated, our rates would be 7s. 9d. in the X, and not 10s., and had we not built the reser- voirs and the market place, and embarked on enterprises in other ways, our rates would not be more than about 5s. in X. We ad vocate the adoption of a scheme by which the rates will be reduced, and every wise citizen will do the same. Our Contemporary persistently insists upon the rates being ftm ned at the highest figure possible, and, therefore, recommends every Ratepayer to vote against adopting the proposals of the Bank. We advise every Ratepayer who is in any way anxious to retain the rates of the town at the highest figure possible, and to prevent the further prosperity and progress of the town, to follow the advice given by our Tory Con- temporary, and vote against accepting the proposals of the Bank. But we advise every Ratepayer who is anxious to secure a reduction in the rates, and the de- velopment of the harbour, to accept the proposals, and spurn the advice of our Contemporary with the contempt it deserves.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. I DANIEL EVANS, Lakefield Place, Shipping Agent for all principal lines ta all parts of the world. 3867 CANADA.For che,.tpost rates and best routes apply to J. Vaughan Evans, emigration agent, Llanelly. 7738 Mr. Daniel Thomas, aged 54, ironmonger, Loughor, was found suspended by a rope from the ceiling of his house on Tuesday morning. A young man named Benjamin Evans, living in the Kidwelly district, was brought to the Llanelly Hospital on Friday with a gun-shot in his foot. PALMISTRY.—Madame Zippia, Certificated and Diplomed Palmist, gives full reading and best advice. One fee only, Is. Only address- Arcade, Llanelly. 7677 The Lianelly and District Band of Hope Union will hold its annual demonstration on Saturday next. All bands meet at the Town I Hall Square at 2.30 p.m. Anniversary services were held at Moriah Chapel on Sunday last and Monday evening Powerful sermons were delivered by the Rev. W. R. Lewis, Pembroke, and Rev. W. T. Francis, Aberdare. An opportunity for all to hear Miss Rees, Dowlais, the winner of the "Western Mail" I Musical Scholarship. Capel Newydd folks have been lucky enough to secure her services for the opening of the new organ on Tuesday, May 24th. Mr. Austin Jenkins, registrar of the South Wales and Monmouthshire University Col- lege, has just received a subscription of zElOO towards the Building Fund of the University College from Mr. Samuel Williams, M.D., oi Caeglas, Lianelly, an old student of the College. LLANELLY RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION. —The first annual meeting will be held at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening next, May I 10th. Chair to be taken at 7.30 p.m. by Evan Evans, Esq. Ratepayers desirous of becom- ing members can be enrolled at the meeting. -W. P. Rees, J. H, Williams, joint sees. 7768 The composite-built salvage steamer "Al- bert," built at Llanelly in 1870, has been sold to East Cowes owners for about £ 500. j The Llanelly Temperance Choir has a few vacancies for contralto voices. All the other parts are full up. First practice en May 8th, at 8 p.m., at Tabernacle Schoolroom. The committee in charge of the concert for i the benefit of the widow of vhe late John Brazell, which will be held on May 2(th, are working energetically to make it the success .1j it deserves to be.

Tumble Competitive Concert. There is every prospect of a good competi- tive concert here next Saturday. Will inten- ding competitors please note that the prelimi- nary test is to be held at 3 p.m.? I

DROWNING FATALITY. BODY RECOVERED, BUT TOO LATE. A man named Daniel Thomas, widower, aged 66 years, of Inkerman Street, was drowned near the Waddell Stages, near the North Dock, on Tuesday. John Roberts, who was walking along the stage, heard a splash and saw Thomas struggling in the water. When going for a life-buoy, Roberts met a pilot named W. H. Hughes, who immediately dived into the water and recovered the body. Arti- ficial respiration was resorted to, but without avail, and a. few minutes later Dr. Samuel Williams pronounced life extinct. Deceased had a bottle of medicine in his pocket, and had only consulted Dr Williams that morning. The inquest was held at Park Church I Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, and a ver- diet of "Accidentally drowned" was brought I in. -■ I

NO MORE BEER. ) FOR TWELVE MONTHS! I At the Police Court. on Monday Henry Wat- son, St. David's Square was summoned for drunkenness on April 13tli and 25th. The Clerk: The list of convictions is accu- mulating against this man very rapidly. Watson: I am willing to be placed under probation for three or six months, so that I cannot get beer. Watson was bound over in a sum of £5 to abstain from entering a public-house or tak- ing any intoxicants for a period of twelve months.

ELECTION EXPENSES. I COUNCIL OFFICIALS AND DOUBLE PAY. At a meeting of the Finance Committee on Monday night, Mr. Nathan Griffiths, perusing the accounts, observed that through the cussedness of some people there was an elec- tion in the town recently (laughter). He would like to know how many of the staff of the Clerk and Surveyor took part in ii. He had names in front of him of persons who had submitted accounts for £2 2s. If any of the Clerks took part, he would also like to know whether they were also paid extra re- muneration. The Clerk: Four of the clerks were 'engaged. Mr. Griffiths: I do not object to them. The Chairman: I think the distribution was fair. Mr. Griffiths: The distribution was not fair, because I did not have one (laughter). The Chairman: You had no business to forsake your own ward (renewed laughter). Mr. W. Bram.well Jones: Ward No. I was I pretty stiff. The Chairman said that half of the zP-55 4s 9d. in respect of the costs of the election were incurred by the Board of Guardians. because Mr. Spowart was returning officer for both elections. The account was then passed.

UNFAIR ASSESSMENT. I At the monthly meeting of the Urban Dis- trict Council on Monday night, Mr. E. T. Jones presiding, Mr. Nathan Griffiths referred to the assessable values for the year ended 31st March, 1909, of the railways in the three wards. It was, he said, a very important matter. The whole of the railways in Ward I., which included the railway of Messrs. Waddell and the Stradey private railway, were assessed at £ 52; Ward II., £ 4-2 10s.; and Ward III., £ 1475 The latter was properly assessed, but did they consider that £ 52 was a fair assessable value for the Mynyd'd Mawr Railway and the Stradey private railway? The traffic on these railways of late cntild only be equalled by the Tsif Vale railways. The Chairman: The answer is obvious. 1 dare say you will take the opportunity oi raising this question in the proper quarter. Mr. Bramwell Jones said that reference had been made to Wards I. and II., but the same thing applied to Ward III., especially, with regard to the permanent way of the Great Western Railway, which had been improx ed of late. Mr. Griffiths: That is so. The Chairman: This matter be brought forward at a meeting of the Assessment Com- mittee.

COUNCILLOR'S INSINUATIONS. I DEPRECATED BY THE CHAIRMAN. I At a meeting of the Finance Committee ou Monday evening, Mr. E. T. Jones presiding. Mr. William Vivian, referring to an account submitted by Messrs. D. Anderson and Co. for zP34 2s., for a supply cf lamps, asked whether the Council sanctioned the order. The Chairman replied that the Surveyor was at liberty to make the best arrangement. Mr. Vivian: I have a catalogue here, and I do not think it is right that the discount should be torn out of it. There is nothing secret about it, and it should be put before the members. I propose that before tbe Sur- veyor orders anything again he should invite tenders from local people. Here is another account by Parkinson and Cowan, Ltd., for lamps, amounting to £20 8s. I do not see the discount marked off on ihat either. The Surveyor: I order the material in the cheapest market, and there is 25 per cent, dis- count on it. It was decided to reier the matter to a I s u b- c o m m i 11 e e. Mr. W. Vivian; referring to an account su b- mitted by the Welsbach Incandescent Co. for £ 3 17s., in respect of mantles, said 1113 mantles could also be obtained locally. When purchasing again, he proposed that the letters "L.U.D.C." be imprinted on them, as it would be a safeguard as to where they would be used. The Chairman regretted the trend of the discussion. Insinuations had been thrown out and suggestions made that mantles were being used elsewhere. The proposition was carried. Reference was made to the dilaioriness oi the Committee in dealing with the accounts, whereupon Mr. N. Griffiths protested, stating j that he objected to such remarks. He knew how bills had been passed there, and the ratepayers knew it, and they showed their ) disapproval in the last election. Mr D. James Davies: Particularly the Board of Guardians election í Mr. F. Vivian: I would not have ihat, Mr. j Griffiths. It is personal. Mr. Griffiths: The cock will crow some- j times, even if it is only a bantam (laughter).

MUSTARD AND CRESS. -0- There are two chapels in New York where th? services are conducted entirejy In Welsh. The Ratepayers' Association will hold its first annual meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday next. The Lianelly Cricket Te:.m will open their season on Saturday, when they play Briton Ferry at Stradey. A receiving order in bankruptcy lias been made against John Morgan -Mereonh. Emlyn Arms, Llanarthney. The local amateur operatic society will pro- bably produce a French pi ay at tne Royalty Theatre next Season. The Local Government Board has refused its sanction to the Spring Gardens Scheme for street improvement. The South Wales Works have applied to the Council for an extra million gallons of water weekly for their new works. Complaints have frequently been made of theft of material at Nevill's Dock, and a new constable has been appointed. loin Mann, the well-known Labour leader, one of the founders of the Dockers' Union, will speak in Lianelly shortly. A great deal of "gas" was wasted at the Council meeting on Monday night. Of course it came from the usual gasometer. Owing to the dispute in the building trade the completion of the new Y.M.C.A. building and the Drill Hall will be delayed. Mr. John Thomas, conductor of the Royal Prize Choir, will shortly deliver a lecture on the tour of the choir through the States. Police investigations are likely to make an example of those who have recently been making targets of windows in Park Lane. The proposal to change the Market Day is likely to be a fiasco. Considerable opposition has already been evinced by the public to- wards it. "When it was dark," by Guy Thorne, will be staged at the Royalty Theatre next week. The public are requested to book their seats in advance. Mr. Herbert Newark will present the Lib- rary at the next meeting of the Committee, with the portraits of the late W. E. Gladstone and Disraeli. Llanelly's new Harbour Bill has been re- ferred to the Standing Orders Committee, which will not meet to decide its fate for another month. It is rumoured that the marriage of Mr. W. Picton Fhilipps, chief constable of Car- marthenshire. to Mrs. Valentin, will be solemnized on Monday next. -The cuckoo was heard in the outskirts of the town on Sunday. How many people, however, were deluded by the effective mimicry of a playful youth? A sum of £100 will be handed over to the Lianelly Cricket Club as the result of the performance of the "Yeomen of the Guard" by the local operatic society. I It is quite as hopeless to endeavour to ex- plain the provisions of a Bill to a certain member of the Harbour Trust as to show the- beauty of a scene to a blind man! The promoters of the new skating rink near the Park have, it is stated, abandoned the scheme, in consequence of a difficulty with regard to the arching of the LliedL river. Lianelly Football Club's action for slander is the first of its kind that has ever been taken into a court of law, and it will pro- bably turn out to be the most interesting case at the next assizes. The resumed hearing of the case in which number of dc^r^z^irorrs ..sre summoned 11\ Messrs. Nevill. Druce, and Co., for alleged breach of contract, will be hear. at th-* Police Court to-day (Thursday). If. is stated that the ratepayers" meeting advertised for Tuesday next has been aban- doned- in favour of the concert to be held at Moriah. which will-be a repetition .f the per- formance of "Queen of the Seasons. It is to be hoped that the building trade dispute, which involves over 400 men. will be amicably settled this week. A favourable settlement has been arrived at in Swansea in a sinnlar request by the men for improved conditions. The notice of motion of Mr. E. T. Jones., chairman of the Urban District Council,. "That the Market day be changed from Thurs- day to Wednesday, and that the hali-holiday be altered from Tuesday to Thursday," has been deferred. Rumours were freely circulated a few days ago that Graham, "the fasting man," had committed suicide through starvation, and that the challenge had been won by Martin Richards. Subsequent inquiries prove that the rumours were false. The Pilot ago ComnuMe cf the Harbcur r: i:l e:\l,tl:i¿j :t:8 :K:{:; :i: steamer "Clarence" outside the Lighthouse, when it was explained that the mishap was due to the breaking of the tow rope when the boat was being towed by the tug. Joiners, carpenters, and all who mve a^ lot of tools to grind would be consu l'ing thr- own interests by introducing Jones's Patent, which is an admirable device for saving i-Iiieh is an better results. This marvel- lous tlYniiJl;- ;lla be s-2e1 at the "Mercury" Office. According to a conversation overheard, there is a fervent desire by some temperance professors that inclement climatic conditions will prevail on Saturday, when the annual demonstration of Band of Hopes will take place. So that their absence will not be noticed. HaneH}> which bee- in past YlIS, p?yed such NA- Present circm!;st.;?CL? ooarly n?'cate that a prominent part in our National Eisteddfod, wiH hardly be represented this year, although returning from his tour, would again aspire it was rumoured that Mr John Thomas, aft?r for the chief choral pri?e. How is; t -h i+ the Lianelly Male Voice Party baa aba" 1,(1 its once most cherished hop?s? A Welsh-speaking boy, on being taught the alphabet, frequent!v forgot the letter "q," which resulted in his being punished by the teacher. So he kept away from school for two months. On returning, the same lesson was giyen hinL and when Ire came to tbe "q" which is pronounced as "cyw" (chicken in Welsh) he paused and said, "Ceiliog." "What?" said the indignant teacher, to which the bov calmly replied, "It was a 'q' (cyw) when I was in school before, but now he i,a S 41-. 9 C ])-Lit n.)w l?c- To-morrow (Friday) will be the jubilee of the formation of the first Rifle Volunteer Corps at LlaneUy. The company was fenmed and the na,rnes giv{'l1 in the 6ih (-f 1860, and it was called the Fifth Carmarthen- shire Rifle Volunteer Corps, the olh(, being s.i,"i?e Rifle Vol,it?er "lie (.1 a i) ? n He-irv way. Ensign Bythway, however, served in the ranks for twelve months before taking up his commission. It would be interesting to know how many of the 70 or 30 young (?) men who joined at the formation are still living to commemorate the jubilee. In Lianelly there are 32 Nonconformist, chapels, and altogether about 50 places of worship and mission halls. Up to quite re- cently the Sabbath was very strictly observed. Following upon the Sunday trading wo now have shows of various kinds open en the Sunday, and a man with a few copper;- to spare may spend them on a game of Hoop-la. and possibly secure a packet of cigarettes. v The police are somewhat inconsistent, for whilst they order people on the fair ground to close the shows and stop the Hoop-la and other games at midnight on Saturday, another show in the main thoroughfare of the town is allowed to remain open all day Sunday.