The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

WATER SUPPLY. THE RAILWAY SERVICE. The monthly meeting of this council was held on Friday in the Council Chamber, Milford Haven, when there were present, Mr. J. WhkihsT (chairman),, Col. Roberts (vice- chairman), Messis. C. T. Blethyn, J. R. Gar- rett, J. B. Gaskell, G. S. Kelway, J. Hire, J. Walkley, J. Thomas, W. Williams, J. Rees, Geo. Cole, and Dr. Davies. GAS AND WATER COMMITTEE. Col. Roberst moved the acceptance of the report of this committee, which chiefly re- ferred to a tensor for coal. The, tender of the Broughton and Plas Power Company for hand-picked gas coal at 20s. 6d. a ton was re- commended and accepted. WATER ENGINEER'S REPORT. Col. Roberts read ,i extract from a letter re- ceived from the engineer since the last meet- ing. He reported that he had inspected the new waterworks, and was pleased to say that the progress made was in every way sat- isfactory, and the work was being thoroughly well carried out. In addition to what was suggested in the report, the committee desired him to ask the sanction of the council to em- ploy John Shepherd at a weekly wage of 20s. Shepherd had finished his apprentice- ship, but the gas manager found he, had work for him for the next two or three months. Mr. James Thomas seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. SANITARY COMMITTEE. This committee reported as followsYour committee estimates it will require the sum of zP-380 to carry out the work of their depart- ment during the ensuing year; recommend that tenders be invited for the removal of' house and street refuse contents of ashpits, etc., (including Hubberston village and Fort Hubberston), and road scrapings for the year from 31st March next, on the same conditions as last year; also for team labour for the same period and that a schedule of prices be given by those tendering for the emptying of cesspits, etc.; also recommend that an appli- cation be made to the Local Government Board to increasing the Inspector of Nuisances salary from £80 to £90 per annum; and, report that they have approved of the sanitary arrange- ments shewn on the following plans (1) eight houses proposed to be built by Messrs. Wm. and Geo. Cole, in Great North Road, and Hospital Road; one house proposed to be built by Mr. S. A. Ccott in Hospital Road. Mr. Walkley moved the adoption of the re- port, which was seconded by Mr. Garrett, and carried. AN INCREASED ESTIMATE. Mr. Kelway said he was not present at the meeting, and he noticed an increase of Z50 in the estimated amount required. For what particular work was that required? Colonel Roberts said it was for increased work owing to the increase in the population and buildings. He thought Mr. Kelway ought to be satisfied that it was so. Mr. Kelway: Satisfied with increased expen- diture without knowing what it is for? There is not much satisfaction in that. The Chairman was proceeding when Mr. Kelway said he had not had an answer. The chairman: Are we to read out all the items ? Mr. Kelway: If you say that the increased expenditure is for various work consequent upon the town's development I shall be satis- fied. The Chairman said that was so, and the matter dropped. HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS. This Committee recommended, among other matters, that the tender of G. W. Scale and John Thomas for 1,000 tons of Annikell stone, and the tender of W. T. Devonald for 500 tons of Bolton Hill stone be accepted; that they had received the following tenders for widen- ing Point-street between the Old Fishguard Arms and Mr. John Lewis's house, viz. :-E. A. Scott, Z17 10s.; Phelps and Owens', £ 16; James Thomas, £10 18s.; and Benjamin Rogers, £9 7s. They recommended that Benjamin Rogers's tender be accepted. That they had received the following tenders for a supply of Royal Daylight petroleum, viz. :-J. H. Rowland, 7d. per gallon; G. Foster, 7d. per gallon, and recommended that G. Foster's tender be accepted. The committee estimated they will require the sum of iEl,843 9s. to carry out the I work of their department during the. ensuing year. They recommended as follows, viz. :— "That, conjointly with the cemetery com- mittee, an extra man be engaged for six months; that tenders be invited for a supply of tram labour for their department for the year ending March 31, 1908; that three dozen bass brooms (cost £2 2s.) be ordered; that they have approved of the following plan, viz. Eight houses for W. and G. Cole, Great North-road and Hospital-road; one house for S. A. Scott, Hospital-road; and recommended them to the council for approval. Mr. Blethyn moved, and Dr. Davies seconded the adoption of the report. A RETROGRADE STEP. Mr. Kelway asked if the committee weret not taking a retrograde step in going in for In- ferior stone for covering the roadis, by preferring Annekell to Porthgain stone. He considered Porthgain superior to any stone they could get, and in view of the increased traffic it was essential to have good material. The prices as tendered were the same this year as last year. Mr. Blethyn asked the surveyor to show the stone put before the committee. They con- sidered it to be equal to Porthgain. Mr. Kelway said it seemed strange Annekell should be &o much better this year, and the surveyor should recommend this year what he could not do last year. The recommendations of the committee were adopted. FINANCE. The recommendations of the Finance Com- mittee referred to the payment of bills. Mr. Rees asked a number of questions, which were satisfactorily answered, as to the payment i of certain bills. Mr. Cole said whenever there was any con- siderable sum of money to be spent the com- mittee asked for tenders. Colonel Roberts, replying to Dr. Davies, said certain bills had been left unpaid until an explanation had been given, but it had been explained by Mr. Williams that certain goods had been ordered on his responsibility because to have waited for a committee meeting to sanction the expenditure the work would have been delayed. The finance accounts were passed. REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. A numerously signed petition was presented, asking that a dangerous curve in a road at Hubberston, where it joins the Haverfordwest road, should be dealt with, as in its present f condition it was dangerous. I The Chairman said it was an important matter, but as it would entail some consider- able expense to carry out, it should be referred to the oommittee to collect data. This was accordingly done. THE RAILWAY SERVICE. Mr. James Thomas asked if anything had been heard from the Great Western Railway touching the matter of a better railway ser- vice? The Clerk said nothing beyond an acknow- ledgment of his letter. Mr. James Thomas: I suggest that we write again. It is no use going on like this. Hear, hear.) It is important that this matter should be attended to, and brought to a head without delay. (Hear, hear.). The clerk was instructed to write to the Great Western Railway again. CEMETERY COMMITTEE. This Committee recommended that, con- jointly with the Highway Committee, an extra man be engaged for six months.—This was agreed to.

Shire Hall, Haverfordwest, Saturday: Before Mr. W. Davies, Westfield (presiding), Mr. A. W. Massy, Major 0. H. S. Williams, and Mr. J. T. Fisher. NO LIGHT. George Eynon, High Street, Neyland, was summoned for riding a bicycle without a light at 9.30 p.m. on February 1st. P.C. 36 proved the charge. When defendant saw witness he dismounted and said he had no oil. He then lit his lamp and went on. Richard Hughes, High Street, Neyland, was at the instance of the same constable charged with a like offence at the same time and place. Hughes told the policeman he did not know the lamp had gone out. The defendants, neither of whom appeared, were each fined Is. and costs. STRAY COWS. Matthew Morgan, Honeyborough Green, Ney- land, did not appear in answer to a charge of allowing three cows to stray on the highway called Honeyborough Road on February 6th. P.C. Bassett said that on Wednesday, Feb- ruary 6th, he found three cows straying on Honeyborough Road. He drove them to de- fendant's house, where they were claimed by his son. This was Morgan's first offence. He had not been warned. A fine of 6d., without costs was opposed. NOT BACK EARLY. Edward Warlow, Hill, Burton, was mulcted in a fine of Is. and costs for riding a bicycle without a light at 8.40 p.m. on the 11th inst. P.C. Nicholas (11) met defendant on the Pembroke Ferry Road on the day in question. He sai-I he had been to Fishguard and meant to be back early. SUNDAY DPJINIONG. George Morgan, Travellers' Rest, Freystrop, was summoned for keeping open his licensed premises for the sale of intoxicating liquor on Sunday, January 27th. Fred Havard, West Farm, Llangwm, and Joseph James, Llangwm Hill, were summoned for being on licensed premises. The case against Morgan was taken first. Defendant's wife appeared, and Mr. W. J. Jones conducted the case for the defence. P.S. James said that at 7.45 p.m. on Sunday, January 27th, in company with another con- stable, both in plain clothes, he visited the Travellers' Rest. They went in, and in the front room found Havard and James. On the table was a bottle of stout and two glasses. He asked Havard what he was doing there, and he replied, "drinking stout," adding that. they had come from Hook. Cross-examined by Mr. W. J. Jones: There was no secrecy about it at all, and no con- fusion. The landlady invited them to search the house. He had no reason to doubt that the young men came from Hook. P.C. Nicholas (11), in reply to Deputy Chief Constable John James, said he knew the young men, and also where they lived. He had me'a- sured t he distance from both houses to the Travellers' Rest, along the shortest road. The distance from Havard's house was one mile, 1,400 rds, and from James', two miles 969 yards. This was a public thoroughfare and was used by children to school. By Mr. W. J. Jones: I go over this road, but it is not up to my knees in mud. The distance round the highway is about 4 miles. Deputy Chief-Constable James: It is the shortest way and not the longest that is reckoned. Mr. Jones: The shortest practical way. Addressing the Bench, Mir. Jones said the only question was whether the landlady took proper precautions to prevent an illicit sale. Fortunately the Act itself afforded protection by a section which stated that if in the course of the proceedings defendant failed to prove that the purchaser was a bona fide traveller, but proved that he believed the purchaser to be such and took all necessary precautions to ascertain whether he was or not, then the justices shall dismiss the ease. If the justices thought that the persons had falsely repre- sented themselves to be bona fide travellers, they should differentiate between the licensee and the purchasers. If their worships thought his client acted honestly and believed that these men were travellers, then the Act said not that they may, but, the section was so strong that it read "they shall dismiss the case." His cilient was in a very feeble state of health and the business was practically carried on by his wife. Mrs. Morgan believed that these young men came to her house round Troopers' Inn, and when the constables called there was no secrecy. The beer, stout, and glasses were there, and the constables were invited to go round the house. There was another strong point in his client's fav- our. Some time previously a constable called on a Sunday morning and invited her to sup- ply a man from Hook with drink. The Magistrates said this was not evidence, and the clerk said he was bound to advise the magistrates it was no defence to say "she believed" that they were travellers. Mr. Jones said he relied on the section of the Act. The Clerk: If you fail to prove that they were bona fide travellers. Mr. Jones: The section protects me. 1 in reply to her advocate, Mrs. Morgan said she was the wife of the licensee of the Travel- lers' Rest, an inn on the Pembroke Road. She Had a seven days' license. On the Sunday in question two young men from Hook came to her house and asked for drink. She asked them if they were travellers, and she believed that they were. She knew it was almost im- possible for anyone to come along the short road at night time. They told her that they were" sweethearting," which she knew to be true. The distance round the roadway was about 4 miles. Had they come the other road they would have been up to their knees in muck, but their boots were quite clean. She believed them to be bona fide travellers. Cross-examined by Deputy-Chief Constable James: She was born here and knew the young men well. They visited her house occasional- ly. She knew they could come the other way. She had not been that way for some years. The Clerk: Then you don't know the state of the road. Asked what precautions she took to find out that the men had come round the road de- fendant repeated that their boots were clean. Thoy had no leggings on. The magistrates considered the case proved, and fined the licensee 10s. and costs. The case against Havard and James for be- ing on the premises was next proceeded with. The same evidence for the prosecution was re- peated, and defendants contended that as they came round the road they were travellers. They had witnesses to prove that. The Clerk advised them not to waste money in trying to prove which way they came, and they were each fined 6d. and costs, making a total of 7s. in each case. THEFT OF HAY. At the instance of Mr. Basil Jones, hay merchant, Old Bridge, Haverfordwest, Thomas James, City Road, Haverfordwest, was charged with stealing four trusses of hay of the value of 7s 6d. on January 31st. David Jenkins:, Broad Haven, was cFajrged with receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. W. J. Jones prosecuted, and in opening the case, said Mr. Bftsil Jones was a hay merchant. Thomas James was charged with larceny, and Jenkins with receiving the stolen goods. The facts were short and clear, Mr. Jones was in the habit of purchasing hay and employed a man to cut and truss it, but con- fined the selling entirely to himself. He bought some hay at Druidstone, and employed James to cut and truss it. He was given no pow- er to sell it. In this case, Mr. Jones went down for a load on January 31st, and found no one there. There were 65 trusses of hay and ho removed 38. When he returned on the follow- ing day for another load the 27 trusses were not as he had left them, and James was con- spicuous by his absence. The rick had been newly cut, and from enquiries in the neigh bourhood he traced the destiny of the hay to the defendant Jenkins' house. He afterwards had a search wan-rant issued and had Jenkins arrested. The latter afterwards volunteered a statement to the effect that he had bought the trusses at Is. Id a truss, the ordinary price being Is. 10d. When James was asked to ic- count for the absence of some of the hay, he at first denied it, but afterwards said he had sold some bedding to Jenkins, but not any hay. Jenkins must have known he was barter- ing for what was not James' own, for the price suggested larceny. The possession of the fruits of a crime a short time after the crime

-1I;us;0i:5. had been committed was prima facie evidence of the guilt of the crime. Jenkins must have known that he was dealing with a thief, and he was as much a thief as the other, as he was there as the incijunt point of larceny- the stealing and taking away. The purchaser participated in the crime. Tho prosecutor, Mr. Basil Jones, repeated the facts mentioned by his solicitor, on oath. When he visited Jenkins' house, he identified the trusses of hay. Jenkins subsequently came to his house at the Old Bridge. He said he bought hay from James at Is. Id. a truss. He afterwards said he had previously paid Is. 9d. a truss to a farmer living near Broad Haven. James: I sold no hay. Prosecutor: The hay was gone. P.C. James (36), said he was stationed at Little Haven. On Saturday, the 2nd of this month, from information received, respecting some hay that had been stolen from Druid- stone, he proceeded to the latter place, and from enquiries there made, went to David Jenkins' house. He saw defendant's son stand- ing by the door of the chaff-room. He went inside and there saw four trusses of hay. The son said his father had gone from home. He told them not to touch the hay. On the 14th he saw defendant and handed him a search warrant. Witness asked Jenkins to accompany him to his house and they went in to the chaffroom. He then lead him the warrant, charged, and cautioned him. He replied, "I did not steal the hay; I bought it from Tom James and paid his 13d. a truss for it. I'll tell you the whole thing." On the previous Thursday, he was mixing culm and Tom James came in to him and asked him if he wanted any bedding. Asked what sort he had, James replied "I've got some good thatch; come up and have a look at it." Jenkins went up in the afternoon with his pony and cart. When he got there, he found that James had no bedding, so he had four trusses of hay and paid 4s. 4d. He said he thought James had a perfect right to sell. He himself did not put his hands to it, James put it in the cart and Jenkins took it home. This was Jenkin's story. Continuing his evidence, P.C. James said he had had the hay stored at Mrs. Brock's ever since. He took Jenkins before Mr. Ho- well Walters and had him remanded. Jenkins (to witness): When I told you he sold the hay, didn't I say he told me it was not the best quality? Witness: You might have told me that. Albert James, a youth living at City Road, Haverfordwest, said he knew defendant James. The latter asked him to take a letter to Mr. Jenkins' house. He did it, but did not know what the letter contained. He delivered the letter to Jenkins' son. Both defendants elected to be dealt with summarily. Jenkins pleaded not guilty, and James pleaded guilty. Jenkins had nothing to say more than what the constable had said. George Davies said he was a mason, living at Broad Haven. He met James in Quay-street, and the latter asked him to call and tell Jen- kins to cut the cords Off the hay and shake it up. Janus said he never mentioned the cords. Ho only told him to shake it up to make it look like bedding. (Laughter). Jenkins said James had offered hay for sale at the Royal." He had no idea who the man was and had never seen him with my eyes before. In reply to the magistrates, Deputy-Chief Constable James said there was nothing against James, and the Chairman addressing defen- dants, said Jenkins should have taken more care. He knew the price of good hay. The Bench had decided to discharge him, but James would be fined R.1 and costs-in all £ 2 0s. 6d. SENT TO PRISON. Matthew H. Powell, Roch, was brought up in custody charged with disobeying a bastardy order. The arrears and costs amounted to iplio. Powell admitted thnt he owed arrears amounting to £9 16s. Sarah Thomas, Roch, the mother of the child said she had had 5s. that day fortnight, but she had only had 25s. for 15 months. Defendant said he paid all he had a fort- night ago, and he had paid £ 1 before. He could not pay the whole amount in a short time. All that was on the farm belonged to someone else. The magistrates ordered defendant's re- movel to Carmarthen for seven days.

SHOULD SCHOOLS BE SECULARIZED ? RECTOR OF PRENDERGAST'S VIEWS. The Tector of Prendergast, the Rev. D. Akrill Jones, has been interviewed as to what would be the result of a policy of secularising the ele- mentary schools in Pembrokeshire. The sub- ject was discussed, it will be remembered, at a rtecent meeting of the. Pembroke County Association of Teachers :— You ask me" said the rev. gentleman, what in my opinion would be the out- come of the secularising policy in our elementary schools, in its influence) upon the life of this parish? In order to answer that question, the position of things here must be clearly defined. We have no church school, but only a council school. Since its erection, aftecr the passing of the Act of 1870, there has been given a very excellent un- denominational teaching, according fto the "Cowper Temple" clause, and in accordance with a syllabus which, as far as it goes, is eminently satisfactory. The result has been that our children, in the hands of earnest religious teachers, have been given a sound Biblical knowledge. The effect of this teach- ing has been very manifest upon the children in their Sunday school work, and has been most useful in building up a more definite religious belief on a Sunday. There can be no question, either as to its influence upon the lives of children of careless and irreligious parents, as it has been the means, later in life, of leading them to seek more definite instruction, and to find a place in the active life of the religious bodies. As rector of the parish, I have every reason to be grateful for the fact that this state of things has existed for so many years under our local education authority. Now with regard to the question as to the state of things which would result, should this be removed from the school, and a secularis- ing policy adopted, or should the teaching of religious knowledge be relegated to a time out- side school hours. In my opinion the children of irreligious parents, who go to no place of worship, and who attend no Sunday school, would be in the one case absent and so re- ceive no religious guidance of any kind, as would, of course, be the case under a pureJy secularising policy. The resultant would be in my parish, in which there is a large poor population, the creation of a solid body of children with no religious principles of any kind; they would form a corrupting influence in the life of the remaining portion, and would become the means of perpetuating and ex- tending the evil as the men and women of the next generation. It may be said why don't the churches get hold of these people, and is it not the duty of the church rather than of the state schools to deal with all religious questions? Mv re- ply is that both the church and other religious bodies have done their utmost to reach these children and have failed. My parish is not sufficiently populous to contain within it any large number of people who are not constantly being brought within the influence either of the church or one of the other religious bodies; and should parents definitely refuse to give their children the advantages of a religious education it is surely the duty of the state, which recognises the value in the life of the nation of a religious influence, to see that these children are not deprived of it iu con- sequence of the carelessness of their parents. If the nation rccognies its obligation to the children of the country to see that they re- ceive a sound secular education, whether the parents desire it or not, surely that same na- tion, recognising the paramount power of re- ligion, should also see that these children re- ceive, in some form or other, that which is considered to be of such vital importance to the welfare of the people. I was very interested to find that at the meeting of the County Association of Teachers at Haverfordwest, a few days ago, Mr. T. C. Rees, one of the most'experie need of our head- masters in our council schools, gave it as his opinion that his experience for good over the children in the school during the remaining portion of the day, found its inspiration in the half-hour of religious instruction with which every day commenced. That is a testimonial which is of the very highest value. Then too, should the schools be secularized a solid body of irreligious children will grow up within the school itself, and will constitute a contaminating influence upon the children of religious parents within that school; for there is no influence which is more powerful for good or far evil upon a child than that of his companions and associates."

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents in this c ilumn. Co respondents are requested to write on one Sl- Ie of the paper only. Whtve letters are signed by a nom de plume, the name and address of the sender must be furnished, not for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with. letters cannot be accepted

Wants Ratepayers to Pay! Sir,—In looking over your last issue, I noticed this:— "Sir Thomas Meyri-ek and the Council-A letter was read from Mr. E. Eaton Evans (clerk of the Main Roads Committee), stating Sir Thomas had complained that the water had undermined the wall near his house, and that he was about putting it into his solicitor's hands." Now sir, let mo ask Sir Thomas, has he done anything to that wall since he came into possession of the estate in the fifties, or has the agent to the place done anything to the wall before that? For I know something about the place for the last sixty years. In fact, I was there when he took possession of the estate. What is the esquire doing in re- turn for what he has had? Half of the town of Pembroke Dock has gone into his hands, and a great deal of Monkton. Were not these houses built by the blood and sinews of the working man? And still he wants the rate- payers to mend the wall which he has done nothing to himself! Now, sir, how will he be when the call comes? He can't take his place with him!—Yours, etc., WILLIAM EVANS. 4, Swanfield Place, Llanelly.

County Council Politics. To the Editor of the "County Guardian." Sir,—With referenco to the recent meeting at Ambleston, at which the Rev. John Rees, of Letterston, is quoted to have given The assembled voters some scriptural ad- vice cn electioneering, admonishing them that when they promised their votes to Mr. Higgon they must not break their word, I agree with the latter remark, and I will not dwell on the priestly despotism exhibited in this clerical piece of advice to the voters, because all voters know full well that the ballot is an absolute secret, and even if a voter cannot record his vote through inability to and read the presiding officer will do so for him as directed, and this officer is bound to secrecy on oath. But it is upon the crafti- ness of this braggadocio that I wish to dilate. Would it not be better if he moved along with present day times, and studied (or read up) something of the more up-to-date burning questions connected with this old theology, and not keep on dishing up the same 6ternal fossilised twaddle which we unfortunate parishioners have to listen to year in year Out? I maintain that the old historic struggle for religious liberty is still very much alive, and when we see a parson introducing any elec- tioneering dodge under the cloak of religion it means that we workers must buckle on our armour and look after our dearly bought rights. The cleric must know, unless he is absolutely optimistic, that the power of the clergy over the masses is gone for over, and to introduce anything of one-sided scriptural colouring into a political meeting is morally wrong and degrading to any rational mind.- Yours, etc.,

Mr. Owen T. Davies, of the Theological College, Aberystwyth, has received a unani- mous call to the pastorate of Ffosyffin and Llanarth Calvinistic Methodist Churches, Cardiganshire.

AT EIN DARLLENWYR. Y mae genym mewn Haw ysgrif gan Fafonwy ar y diweddar Elward Callaghan, Solfach, yr hon t" ddaw allan yn ein rhifyn nesaf. Drwg genym, oherwydd piinder gofod, nad allem (j chyhoeddi yr wythnoe hon, ond y maa yn sicr senym y deil yr ysgrif yn ei bias hyd hyny. Diolch yn fawr iawr. i'r awdwr am ysgcifenu ar yr hen gymeriad arbenig hwn. Mae yn flin genym fed ein darllcnwyr Cymrezg yn gorfod dioddef cymaint y dyddiia hyn. Y "mesur byr" y maent wedi gael er' tro, ond gobeithiwn yn mhon wythnos nen I ddwy i argraffu dwy neu dair colofn fel arfer. Nid oeddem, hyd yn ddiweddar, yn gwybod fod cymaint dyddordeb yn cael ei cymeryd yn y Golofn Gymreig. Felly, rhaid i ni ddarparl; yn helaethach gog/fer a Chymru Sir Benfro. Diolch i'n gohebwyr ffyddlon ar ei "llafurus gariad yn y gcrphenol, ac am ei haddewidion "mawr iawn a gwerthfawr" ynglyn a'r dyfodol. Mae amryw ysgrifau mewn Haw yn aros eu tro. Y GOLYGYDD.

Good Plate is always. acceptable as a Gift. ff °Ur Spedal Sh°W °f Bl9ctro PIat0' whioh wi" wear lika f silver to the end, provides a wide range of choice for jGk lit Pre0ent givers. You dnly get an idea of the outlines r Byfe A.' of these beautiful pieces from the illustrations. Ifc ^R oy d°eSn'fc Bh0W y°U th9 beaufcy' finish» weight, and quality we put into these goods I This you can see only by paying us a visit and handling the goods and examining them carefully. We want you to do this. There are so many artic es from which to choose, from an elaborate tray to trifles like teaspoons, sugar casters, or toast rack. We can show you electro plate ai its best, elegant as silver with all the attraction good silver plate can give. O PANTALL, 11, MARKET STREET, Haverfordwest, AND JEWELLER, 48, HIGH STREET, Neyland.

Meeting at Fishguard. HUMANITARIANI3M IN PARLIAMENT. Mr. J. Ward, labour member for Stoke-on- Trent, paid a visit to Fishguard and spoke -at the Temperance Hall, on Wednesday night week to an audience compared mainly of Lib erals, including the chief supporters of the liberal cause in the district. The chair was taken by Mr. 0. Gledhill, who was supported on the platform by Mr. 0. D. Jones, secretary of the local Liberal Association. In his remarks the chairman said that there had been some misunderstanding with regard to the arrangements of the meeting, and he presumed that the choice had descended on him to act as chairman, without his actual consent, because he was known to hold inde- pendent views on politics. His views had modified somewhat since he was young, but he was yet in sympathy with all movements carried on with a view to the amelioration of the condition of the poorer labouring class. Mr. J. Ward, M.P., in his introductory re- marks said that the problem before them as Labour members of the House of Commons, was to reduce the misery among the working class. He pointed out the crude notions held by so many as to the. aims of the Labour members and what was meant by Socialism. They wondered whosel prosperty they were going to steal first, and where they would start dividing other people's belongings among them. (Laughter). He had watched the House of Commons for a considerable time before he became a member, and on the whole he had arrived at the some opinion as Michael Davitt, and concluded that it was an assembly where it was impossible for any genuine movement to find support. He had often marvelled at the remarkable amount of ignorance displayed by members of Parlia- ment. But to-day all that was changed, and they had an entirely different assembly. (Cheers). It was a fair indication of how the business of the nation used to be managed that there were no seats for a great many of the members in the House. He was one of those at the beginning of the present Parlia- ment who had to watch the proceedings from behind a bar, and to do so for days before this fault in the management of the House was to a certain extent rectified. What distin- guished this Parliament from any other was its humanitarian tendency. He mentioned, in parentheais, that whatever might be said to the contrary, the House of Commons, was the most difficult assembly to address Then he related how he watched a certain member and heard him address the House on the ques- tion of flogging in the navy, and cu being challenged to produce his facts how the mem- ber read a letter from one of the men on board the warship Colossus, describing cases of flog- ging The speaker was Mr. Swift McNeil, and when he read the letter a cry of "shame" resounded through the House. The speaker according to the traditions and rules called the House to order at the first cry of shame," but as. the member proceeded to give further proof of the flogging that was going on and as other cries of shame" were raised, he took no notice, which showed that the House itself was becoming more influenced by humanitarian feelings. Mr. Ward then related how an order was issued shortly afterwards to abolish flogging of lads and men in the navy. He then dwelt at considerable length on the humanitarian features of the Bill for feeding school children. It had been argued that to feed children who had to go to school break- fastless was to teach parents to shirk their responsibilities, but he wished to show that the suggestion was an absurd one. There were doubtless a percentage of cases in which work- ing inein spent their money on drink instead of providing food for their families, but com- mon sense told them to feed the child first, and make investigations afterwards. The sad- dest sight in London to-day was to see work- ing men going about all day seeking for work and unable to find it. There was one great in- dustry in London which usually employed about a million men, that was the building trade, and the price of money on the bank rate, made all the difference in this trade be- tween success and failure, so that thousands were thrown out of work because of the high price of money. With regard to the Workmen's Compensation Act, which comes into force in July next, he said that Act alone would be well worth the general election. Dealing with the House of Lords he said what they wanted was to represent the members of the second chamber in such a way before the nation as to make them feel themeslves so ridicious that they would reform themselves, and be too much ashamed to come there at all. The chairman said though they might not all be able to agree with what had been said by Mr. Ward, they would all know after that night that a Labour man could be a very good fellow indeed. He hoped Mr. Ward's visit would rub off some of the prejudice that existed in that part of the world against those who held advanced opinions. Mr. 0. D. Jones in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Ward, said that was not the first oc- casion he had been on the platform with Mr. Ward. When he (Mr. Jones) was at Newport he happened to be chairman of the National Democratic League, when Mr. Ward addressed one of their meetings there. Mr. W. J. Vaughan in seconding the vote of thanks to the speaker, said he was in sym- pathy with the humanitarian views he ex- pressed, though he differed on other points as many present were aware. Mr. Ward in acknowledging the vote of thanks said that he understood Mr. Vaughan did not belong to the same political camp as himself, but it was all tht more gracious on Mr. Vaughan's part that he had seconded a vote of ihanks for him

Meeting at Haverfordwest. THE GOVERNMENT'S RECORD. On Thursday evening, Mr. Ward addressed a meeting in the Temperance Hall, Haver- fordwest. In the usual fashion there was some slackness" in attending in point of time, but later there were about 300 people present. Mr. Isaiah Reynolds presided, and on the platform, in addition to Mr. Ward, were the Rev. James Phillips, and Mr. W .T. Davies. The chairman introduced Mr. Ward as one of the most eloquent speakers in the House of Commons, in the ranks of the Labour and' Liberal party They heard a good deal about the aspirations of the Labour party, but as a Liberal he viewed the future with consider- able equanimity, for he believed that both Liberal and Labour members would co-operate in the cause of our common humanity This influence had already made itself felt in the present- Parliament. There could be no real Labour representative unless he was a Liberal, and theie could be no ieal Liberal unless he was a Labour also. He in- stanced some of the questions which had al- ready been dealt with in Parliament in sup- port of this view. Mr. John Ward, M.P., had a cordial recep- tion, and began with some humorous remarks upon his ignorance of the ways of this out- of-the-way part of the world; and said on his way down he heard so much Welsh that he was afraid he was coming to address an audience which would not understand him, nor him them. However, he could already see that they understood him, though he pre- sumed they understood Welsh much better. (Laughter). Referring to Mr. Lloyd George, he said he was the only member of the Cabinet who had succeeded in absolutely carrying all measures he introduced into the House )f Commons. It had astonished his enemies, and delighted his friends that the fiery Celt of the platform should have deve- loped so much tact and diplomacy in dealing with his opponents. Sir He.,iry Campbell- Bannerman was not only the leader of the House of Commons, but he had secured the confidence of all parties in the House. He was in doubt if the present administration would last six months but for the remarkable act and sterling honesty of the venerable Pre- mier. He was told that Earl Cawdor, who was the head of the Tory party in that county, was a very good landlord. All he could say was that he know he was a deuced bad legis- lator. Th Labour movement, he said, had come as a protest against the "-spread-eagle- ism" and the imperialism of the last admini- stration. They did not see why we should eveir be looking 7,000 miles away to redress the wrongs of human society, and neglect the wrongs so much nearer home which need- ed remedyiny. They looked upon the empire from an entirely different point of view from the imperialist. The size of in empire did decid)e its greatness, but the happiness and contentment of the people. In a passing re- ference. to the education question, he said Church people were for every talking of the voluntary schools they had built, but he point- ed out that the State had advanced eighteen millions of money for their construction. If we had not squandered 250 millions of our money in South Africa, the Government would have been able to deal with old age pensions. He believed the present Government, if they had the slightest chance, would deal with that question before they went out of office in cuch a way as would be acceptable to the country. He next dealt with the way the Gov- ernment redeemed -the promise to restore to Trades Unions the rights they had exercised with credit and discretion to themselves and everybody concerned for the last 30 years. He passed on to the Compensation Act, which he described as one of the finest pieces of legis- lation ever put on the statute book of any country. If the Government had done nothing else but pass that Act, it had justified its existence. The address was listened to attentively, and at the close the usual votes of thanks were passed.

Meeting at Pembroke Dock. n INTERESTING SPEECH. Mr. John Ward, M.P., gave an address on Friday evening at the Temperance Hall, Pembroke Dock, when Mr. John Rowlands presided over a very fair audience. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, said that there were many people who were con- siderably troubled in mind at the last General Election when so many Labour members were returned to the House of Commons, and these fears were not entirely confined to the Con- servative party, but were shared by a small number of Liberals, and even Radicals. They wondered how these new members would conduct themselves. Speaking for himself, he could say that nothing gave him greater pleasure than watching the returns at the last election, and seeing so many Labour members returned to the House of Commons. The Labour members had done splendid work in Parliament, but he added that he had not been altogether satisfied with the action of the Labour members in one direction. There was one matter on which he was disappointed. During the last election, and' at the present time in the London County Council election, the great principle of the Labour and Progres- sive party was that they would have nothing to do with trusts and combinations. They advocated national workshops. There hap- pened to be national workshops already in this country, but no single member of Parliament got np to advocate the existence of these national workshops. If they believed in the nationalisation of railways and such things, why not also the nationalisation of shipbuild- ing? There were great outcries during the South African war that there were scandals, and men were making extraordinary profits. He failed to see the difference between the man. who made a profit in a bargain with the War Office than one who made an extraordi- nary profit on building a ship. There was no greater argument against a man making £ 60,000 out of a bargain with the War Office than against a man who was made a present of Z60,000 profit on ship-building in excess of what the ship could be built for in the Royal 4 dockyards. (Applause.) Mr. John Ward, who, upon rising, was greeted with hearty applause, said that it seemed strange that at almost every meeting he had attended, in whichever district he happened to be, he found that generally a local subject overshadowed every other pos- sible consideration. If he was in Portsmouth it was the ships that had gone to Chatham which should have come to Portsmouth, and at Pembroke it was that ships had gone to the Clyde and Tyne which should have come there. He must admit that there was some difficulty connected with this subject, but they must remember that the people of the Clyde and the Tyne as well as Pembroke were repre- sented in Parliament, and their representatives said exactly the same thing, except that they made no claim to be national workshops. They claimed that they should be supplied with work, and generally pointed out that if they took the building from one district they inter- fered with it, unless they could prove that there was sufficient work in that locality to give all the employment necessary. He must say that he sympathised entirely with the position of the chairman and of thlft district. He considered himself that the Labour party were, as the chairman suggested, in an illogical position, in that they did not consider national workshops before private yards, and he must say that the statements the chairman had made were perfectly justified. If there was nothing else happened as the result of his visit to that locality, it would be to make him regard tne dockyards as national workshops. He walked through their dockyard that after- noon, and he could not help noticing the differ- ence between it and the bustle, energy, and industry displayed at other dockyards he had sefn at PoTtsmouth, Chatham, and Devonport. Unless there was some improvement soon they would have a howling wilderness and not a dockyard at all. If nothing else happened from his visit to Pembroke Dock, at least he should be always interested in the welfare of the district. (Applause.) Proceeding, he said that when during the last General Election some fifty or sixty Labour men were returned many people were quite alarmed, and the question they asked was Whose property will they be proposing to confiscate first?" (Laughter.) Nothing of that kind had occurred, and people must have been very foolish to think that the-re would be anything of the sort. The working man was, he was afraid, more Conservative than some other classes of society. There was not the slightest fear of this country ever doing anything heroic in the way of social and political reform. After some twenty years of public agitation that was his candid opinion. No section of the community need fear the power of parliamentary legisla- tion being in the hands of the real intelligent leaders of the working classes. Whatever they did would be done with the idea of benefiting the whole of the community and not injuring more than was absolutely necessary any section of his Majesty's subjects. He did not think any of those fears which used to be entertained need give anyone sleepless nights whatever class they belonged to. After re- ferring to the Unemployed Act, the Amended Workmen's "Compensation Act, the Plural Voting Bill, etc., the speaker made a trenchant attack upon the House of Lords. They had not a single qualification for a second chamber, unless, perhaps, it was their absolute ignorance, their extreme idleness, and their extreme wealth. (A Voice: "Nonsense.") Continuing, the speaker said that it was not I nonsense. The last time he was in the House of Lords watching the business he saw a little man taking most voluminous notes, who kept constantly jumping up, and attempting to make a speech, though the rest- appeared to take no notice of him. He inquired who this gentleman was, and discovered that it was the Marquis Townshend, who had been declared incompetent to manage his own affairs. Here Mr. Hinchliffe rose in the body of the hall and attempted to speak amidst consider- able confusion. Eventually the chairman restored order, and said that Mr. Hinchliffe could speak when Mr. Ward had finished. Soon afterwards Mr. Ward concluded and Mr. Hinchliffe rose. It was some time before he could make himself heard, and then he said that it showed the Lords had a considerable amount of common-sense in that as Mr. Ward had said they did not allow the Marquis Townshend to speak. The Chairman then proposed, and Mr. A. J. Adams seconded a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried. The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by Mr. J. Thompson, and seconded by Councillor J. Morgans.

ADVICE TO MOTHER?.—A e you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth? Go at once to a chem- ist and get a bottle of MRS. WINSIOWS SOOTHING SYRUP, which h-ts bssu used over 50 years by millions of mothers for the children while teeti1.ia. with nerrjjt It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to the tasto, it prod a ms natural quiet sleep by re- lieving the child from pain, and the little chsrjb awakes "as bright as a button." It soothes the chill, softens the gums, allays the pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is tha best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from testhing or other causes. Sold by chemists everywhere, Is. lid. per Dottle.

————<———— small farm, unoccupied, called Wauas, near Tyelancochion, Talians, Llandilo, was on Sunday night destroyed by fire. A rick of hay, valued at about £ 40, was also burned. The' origin of the fire is a mystery.

Liberals Awake. To the Editor of the "County Guardian." Sir,—" To be forewarned is to be forearmed." While the farmer slept the enemy sowed tares in his wheatfield.Those tares in a short time will be seen sprouting, and unless the greatest precaution is taken the ta,re.s will destroy the crop of wheat The County Council elections are at the door, and if the Liberals are wise in their generation they will follow up their vic- tory of 1904, and elect a new council of progres- sives who will, as before, administer Balfour's unjust Education Bill of 1902 in such a manner that we in Pembrokeshire will not have our goods distrained upo'i and sold to provide funds for maintaining Church schools and the teaching of the Church catechism and dogma to Nonconformist children. In England, where the Conservatives dominate the councils, we read of passive resisters. Those are conscien- tious men, and in many instances the most enlightened leaders of Nonconformity, who, rather than pay this most unjust rate, have had some of their most valued goods sold, and others have, as a protest, served long terms of imprisonment rather than submit to endow their alien Church of England in Wales, or assist in propagating its- doctrines. It is high time foir Nonconformity to open its eyes. The Church of England until lately posed as the great rampart of Protestantism against the aggressive Roman Catholicism. But to-day we find .that it is controlled as effectively by the Anglican Ritualistic party as the American oil wells are controlled by Rockfeller. Is it not full time to enlighten our people concerning the many secret societies which honeycomb and undermine the old Establishment to its very foundations? An article or two should be written on the Secret Society of the Holy Cross, its clerical members, its objects, and also its publications." The "Priest in absolu- tion," for instance. A book published by this society of clerics, which the late Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Tait) denounced in the House of Lords as a book that no modest person could read without regret," and that it is a disgrace to the community that such a book should be circulated under, the author- ity of clergymen of the Established Church." A book which the Church Times character- ised as dealing with filth and disgusting sub- jects." Who are those that love darkness rather than light?" and who "hate the light, neither cometh to the light lest their deeds should be reproved." What, again, of the "Corporate Reunion Society," whose avowed object is the reunion of the Church of England with Rome, and the nunneries and monasteries of the Church of England, its confessionals, ornaments, rites, and ceremonies which are borlowed from, and are identical with, the Papal Church of Rome? "The great rampart of Protestantism indeed. If the bishops and clergy at any time in its history could lay claim to such a title, by this time a large army of them have recovered their guns and have joined forces with the Roman Catholics against the Protestants of England, and Wales. The battle of the Reformation mut be fought over again, and that in the very near future. Non- conformists, awake Protect your children I Guard your interests and beware of the wary Jesuitical priest and parson. In a few days our counties will be deluged with leaflets, which, like the proverbial "red herrings," will be used to draw you from the real and true issues at stake, and which, if you followed, will again lead us into the sloughs of cleri- calism and priestcraft.—Yours, etc., OBSERVER.