The Welshman

LLANDILO BOARD OF GUARDIANS, I The fortnightly meeting of the Guardians of the I Handilo fawr Union was held at the Town-ball, Llan- dilo, on Saturday last. The chairman, Mr Henry Herbert, presided, and there were also present: Mr T. Rees (vice-chairman), Mrs M. A. Jones, Mr W. Griffiths, I Mr J. Jones, Mr J. Perkins, Mr R. Thomas, Mr Joseph Harries, Colonel Morris, Mr Ivor Morris, Mr J. R. Jones, Mr D W. Lewis, Mr W. Jones, Mr L N. Powell, Mr Jacob Davias, Mr J. Protheroe, Mr Sivell, Mr James Tfceburst. Mr D. Morris, Mr Isaac James, Mr Roderick James, Mr D. Burnett, Mr J. Lloyd, Mr John Williams, Mr Thomas Thomas, Mr J. Lewis Thomas, Mr Lewis Bowen, Mr Stephen Evans, and Mr Dan Da?ies I together with the clerk (Mr R. Sbipley Lewis), the assistant clerk (Mr D. J. Morris), and the master (Mr E. Simon). Master's Report. I The Master reported that there were 46 inmates of the house, as against 37 on the corresponding day last year. Seventy-three vagrants had been relieved during the fortnight, as against 38 in the same period of 1900, an increase of 3.5. In reply to Mr Joseph Harries, the master stated he had plenty of stones for the vagrants. The Rev. David Williams, Methodist, had preached at the house. A Local Government inspector reported visiting to the house as to vaccination, and found it, apparently, complete. The Master applied on behalf of a man in the house, who was very useful in the sick ward, for an extra ounce of tobacco a week. He already had one ounce, but he thought he deserved the extra. He had been in the house for years. On the motion of Mr Powell, seconded by Mr D. W. Lewis, the application was granted. Precepts. The Treasurer reported the following amounts to be due :-Brecbfa, £2 10s; Llanegwad, X64 13s 4d; Llan- fihangel-CilfaVchen, £ 2 10s; Llanfynydd, L42 Llan- gathen, jE31 14s 7d; Llansawel, X10 3s 3td Quarter- bach, jE24 5s. Total, JE177 16s 2'd, and there was a balance of JE310. The Clerk said he had received a precept from the County Council for a rate of 2!d in the £ total, L734 lis Id, payable to the county treasurer on the 15th Jane. He (the cletk) had drawn the precepts on the several parishes, making payable to the treasurer on the 8th June. In answer to Colonel Morris, the Clerk said the last rate was 2d. Colonel Morris-It is going up rapidly, and we should make a protest against it. The Clerk did not think that was so, and in answer to Mr Joseph Harries, he said this was a quarterly call, and came to about 9d in the year. The Relief Lists. On the motion of Mr W. Griffiths, seconded by Mr D. W. Lewis, it was agreed that the relief lists should be taken on four days during the year, instead of two, and, on the suggestion of Mrs Jones, it was further agreed that on those days the Board should meet at half-past ten instead of eleven o'clock. After some diecussion on a motion by Mr Ivor Morris as to all requirements of the. master, beyond the dietary, coming before a committee, it was decided that the House Committee should meet on the Friday evening before the Board meetings. The relieving officer (Mr Davies) reported that he had disbursed relief as follows :—First week, j642 7s against X32 Is 6d, to 241 paupers against 256; second week, I J639 13s against X40 14s 6d to the same number of recipients.

LLANDILO RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. I A meeting of this Council was held at the Town-hall, Llandilo, on Saturday last, Mr D. Davies, J.P., pre- siding. Sanitary. The Sanitary Inspector reported a dwelling-house I belonging to Llaneawel Mill as quite unfit for human habitation on account of its dilapidation and bad state of repair. He had written to the owner, the Bev J. Davies, Noyadd Brynllyn, near Talgarth, and had re- ceived from him a reply stating that he received no rent, and had told the people to take another house in the village, where there were several vacant. Colonel Morris said the owner apparently wanted to shirk his duty, and he proposed the law should bo applied. The Clerk said the course to take would be to write to the tenant to gbt another house, and if he did not, they should apply for a closing order. It was agreed this should be done. Brechfa Bridge. The committee which was appointed to meet the trustees of the chapel near Brechfa Bridge reported that they had arranged with the trustees should do what they required to improve the entrance to the chapel and cellar, and that the Council should contribute JE2 10s. in full settlement. The report was confirmed. Proposed Main Roads. Mr Ivor Morris moved that the County Council be asked to take over the following roads, and to declare them main roads From Ammanford-square to Amman- ford Station; from Ammanford-square to Pantyffsnon Station from Dyffryn Lodge, now Mr Jacob Davies' shop, to Tirydail Station and three roads in Llandebie parish. The motion was carried. Mr J. R. Jones moved that the County Council be asked to take over the road leading from Brynamman School, in the parish of Quarter-bach, to the eastern boundary of the parish, and to declare the same to be a main road. L Mr Ivor Morris seconded, and the motion was agreed LO. Pentwyn Road. The Surveyor produced plans and estimates for deviating the Pentwyn-road, Bettws, and also for making a new road in lieu thereof. The proposed new road," he said, I I starts in the centre of Bettws village, and runs over Maesy bettws and Glynyrader farms into Maesyquarre road, the total length being 1,052 yards. The proposed road runs over some of the beat land belonging to the said farms, and will be nearly level the greater part of the way. Some cutting and filling will be required at the boundary to the farms, so as to have a proper gradient. Inasmuch as the new road will open up some of the finest building sites in the locality, it would, in my opinion, be more advantageous for the owners of the land that wire fencing were put up -I! in preierence to neages ana banks, and which would to some extent lessen the cost of making the road. In arriving at the total cost of this road, I have not included anythirg for the land, as I am of opinion that the owners would be amply compensated by its enhanced value, with the exception of some small leasehold gardens, for which, probably, some compensation would be required. I estimate the cost at j6417. In regard to the proposed deviation of the old Pentwyn road, and the weiring of the Amman, as bhown on the plan, I estimate the cost of the deviation and weiring from a to b at 1220 10s, and from I to c at £297 10s. Wern I it not for the great inconvenient and dangerous level crossing at the Ammanford colliery, I should not hesitate to regard the deviation of the old road as more suitable for the convenience of the public and the least costly, if the land for the purpose could be got for its value." Mr Ivor Morris-What power have we to compel the Ammanford colliery to make the tramway a safe one? The Surveyor said there wab an agreement in force between the Ammanford colliery and the Council to the effect that they have to maintain a level crossing and pay a certain sum every year. Mr Morris—Can we compel them to fence off their property. Colonel Morris-The property at present is utterly unprotected, and a dangerous place for the public, is it The Surveyor said since he wrote out this report he had, at the suggestion of the Chairman, seen one of the owners and a trustee- Mr Harries and Mr Jones-and they were prepared, if the other parties would agree, to allow the Council the land for the deviation carried out already for the sum of £5 a year, and that would include pulling down the old building near Pentwyn to give sixteen square yards more road there. I With regard to the cost in that case, he had included in his estimate for weiring L150, but he did not think it would be neceseary to go to that expense if they were I only annual tenants. Fifty pounds would be ample. That would reduoe the estimate by 4100. The Clerk-One would be permanent, and the other not. I Mr D. W. Lewis—That would not make a private road for them ? The Surveyor—We should simply be annual tenants. The Chairman-Once we make the road, it is not I likely they will ask us to go out of it. Mr D. W. Lewis—We shall be at their mercy. I would rather be quite clear, and have it the property of the ratepayers. Suppose people wanted to build there, and something arose between the owners of the land ? Colonel Morris said some of them had visited the spot and saw the state of the old road. It bad been carried away for a distance of 56 yards by the stream. Njw they eould acquire land under the law, without asking the owners for their permission. They could enter into land if it had a standing crop on it. But they did not play into their bands, and he had been told there had been some understanding—a secret treaty as it were- with the owners of Pentwyn that the road would be on their land, and as long as it was there, the Council would keep the river in order. Now, if euch was the case, they had committed themselves. He wanted to know whether there was an undeistanding of that bind J or not. If there was not, then they could proceed I with the scheme on its own merits. There were three alternative plans, and if they had to maintain that old cliff, the expense would be unknown. It was a matter of impossibility. This was a very big question, and those plans ought to be thoroughly scrutinised by a special body of men who understood those things, before the question should be really submitted to the Council as a body. He was, however, prepared to propose the new road, as he was told Lord Dynevor was prepared to give his land for nothing. The Surveyor said there was no arrangement with the owners of the land. Mr W. Griffiths proposed they should take the old road. After some further discussion, the whole question was deferred for a month, the Surveyor being instructed to bring additional particulars.

NARBERTH RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. I The usual meeting of this Council was held at Narberth on Tuesday last, Mr D. Humphreys, chair- man, presiding. Mr Bowen gave notice of motion to rescind the reso- lution passed at the last meeting granting a gratuity of X5 to John Scourfield, the roadman. The Begelly Parish Council wrote calling attention to the want of a water supply for the Post Office and three houses in Begelly. The Council presumed no certificate had been granted, but the houses were tenanted. It was decided the sanitary inspector should serve notices. Narberth Affairs. Mr Thomas Jones, Elm Grove, Penally, wrote calling attention to the condition of the Narberth town drains passing through his property at Green Gardens, in the occupation of Mr Palmer Morgan, where at times the sewage overflows on the premises within a few feet of the dwelling-house. Such a nuisance must seriously endanger the health of the occupier of the house, and he trusted immediate steps would be taken to abate it. The Sanitary Inspector said this would be abated when the drain over Plas Farm was cleaned. He re- ported that he called upon Mr Herbert Owens, Plas Farm, about the cleaning out of the drains in his meadow next to the church, that takes off part of the sewage from the town. He declines doing it, as he considered it to be none of his business. The cost for cleaning out the drain would be about C3. After some discussion, it was decided to call upon the Narberth Sanitary Authority to carry out the work. The Local Government Board communicated to the Council a letter received from the Narberth Parish Council and the Board's reply thereto. The Parish Council wrote applying to the Local Government Board to grant unto the Narberth Rural District Council urban powers under Section 162 and 163 of the Public Health Act, 1875, for the purpose of dealing with the lighting of the borough of Narberth, being part of, and situate within, the parish of Narberth North. The Board replied that they assumed the proposal of the Parish Council of Narberth North was that the Rural District Council of Narberth should purchase the-undertaking of a local gas company, and also supersede an existing authority acting under the Lighting and Watching Act, 1833. It would be contrary, however, to the Board's practice to put Section 162 of the Public Health Act, 1873, in force in a rural district or parish, and as regards Section 163 of the Act, this power would require to be supplemented by the powers of Section 161, first para- graph, before the Rural District Council could contract for the lighting of the streets and public buildings in the parish. The Chairman said they had nothing to do with this matter at present. They must wait and see the result of the application for urban powers for Narberth. The seal of the Council was affixed to a petition to the -Lord-Lieutenant of Pembrokeshire to obtain the addition of the name of Mr George Morgan, late chairman of the Council, to the commission of the peace for the county. Some discussion took place on the report of the sur- veyor that some steps should be taken to stop the waste of water in the town of Narberth, and it was decided to issue notices warning people against using water for washing traps, building purposes, watering gardens, &c., and also that the taps should be locked from 10 p.m. to G a.m. during the summer months. The question of further extending the Butter Factory drain was discussed, and the Sanitary Inspector reported the cost- would be S 17 Os. 9d. It appeared that the f owner of the land objected to the drain being extended through his field, as originally planned, and, therefore, the cost was greater. In the course of the discussion, it was stated that the Council had a right to carry their drain through the field, and, on the motion of Mr D. T. Lewis, seconded by Mr R. Ward, it was decided that the inspector make a report at the next meeting upon the drain, and that the same be considered with a view to serving notice upon Mr Davies of the intention to carry the drain into effect. I Medical Reports. The medical officers' reports were again further con- sidered. Dr Morgan urged the necessity for the erection of a public abattoir at Narberth. It was stated that if the bye-laws were carried out there would be no such necessity. The Sanitary Inspector said all had been cleared and lime- washed during the last fortnight. In- structions were given him to see that the bye-laws were rigidly carried out in future.—It was also decided to arrange for the regular flushing of the public urinal. The imperfect construction of the gutters on the roadsides in the village of Templeton was referred to, and the Sanitary Inspector suggested the matter should be reported to the County Council, who were the owners of the road, with a request that they should remedy it. The County Council drains were in a wretched state- not good enough to carry off the water from their own roads.—The suggestion was adopted. Dr Morgans also referred to the increase of deaths by consumption in that district, and suggested that they should petition the County Council for the erection of suitable places as sanitoria for the proper treatment of the disease in its early stages. It was a far more press- ing need than an infectious hospital. There should also be suitable homes for the isolation of more advanced cases. The Chairman suggested that there were plenty of empty rooms in the Workhouse that could be used as a sanatorium. They could accommodate all the cases for miles round, and if they called it a sanatorium it would, perhaps, "go down better with people. Mr Benjamin Jones thought the doctor would want buildings on Prescelly mountains or somewhere up there (laughter). The Chairman said the Workhouse was in a very healthy spot, and stood on a hill. On the motion of Mr R. Ward, seconded by the Chairman, it was decided to form a committee to con- sider the desirability of utilising the empty rooms of Workhouse, and the question of calling the attention of the County Council to the matter. Mr D. T. Lewis proposed that Messrs Humphreys, Ward, Buckby, and T. Morgan be the committee, and this was agreed to. Mr Griffith Thomas thought the landlords should be called upon to provide better cottages and give more room. They could not get people to separate, but if they had more rooms in their cottages they might be more apart. The Chairman said he understood from the doctor that he had great difficulty in getting people to separate. Dr. Evans' report dealt chiefly with the Saundersfoot drainage, and as an enquiry is about to be held into the matter it was not discussed. Dr. Price's report was considered highly satisfactory. There was a decrease in the number of deaths from con- sumption, and most of the deaths occurred from old age. He said Penffordd water supply might be better. The Sanitary Inspector said there was a public tap there, but Mr Griffith Thomas though that had failed. There being no councillor from the district, the matter was deferred. With regard to Llandissilio, the Doctor reported that all the old straw-thatched houses had been pulled down, and four-roomed houses erected in place with plenty of sunlight and fresh air.—The only j complaint the samtary inspector and surveyor had to make about this village was that the people were damming up the gutters, and making pools for their ducks, which were a great nuisance on the road.-The Llandissitio Parish Council sent a resolution as follows « That this Council i requests the Narberth Rural District Cauncil to instruct the medical officer of health for the district to inspect and report on the sanitary condition of Llandissilio village, in the county of Pembroke, such report to be sent to the clerk of the Council at the earliest con- vemence. It was decided to send a copy of the doctor's observations on the village. It was decided to appoint a committee jointly with Amroth Parish Council to deal with the question of the Cliff road. Mr Scott, a well-known Rochdale merohant, who freqnently visited Tenby, died at that town on the morning of the 23rd inst. The remains were conveyed to Rochdale on Friday The Bishop of St David's held a cmSrmation service at the L anycrwys Parish Church oi Friday, when 33 candidatep, of ages ranging from It to 82 years, were presented. His Lordship delivertd a very appropriate ¡ address.

SYNOD OF THE WELSH CALVINISTIC 1 METHODISTS. These meetings, to which we referred shortly in last Welshman, were continued at Aberystwith on Wednes- day and Thursday, 22nd and 23rd inst. On Wednesday, the Rev. Cynddylan Jones, D.D., of Cardiff (moderator), presided. A very voluminous report of the foreign mission work in Khassia (India) and Brittany was presented on behalf of the Missions Board by the secretary pro tern, the Rev. E. J. Evans, Walton. The churches in Khassia, Jaintia, and the plains, in. cluding children, numbered 15 048, an increase on the preceding year of 1,056. The communi- cants had increased by 413, probationers by 214, and children by 429. The hearers totalled 19,335, an jn- crease of 748; Sunday school members 13,878, aa increase of 129 and day scholars 7,269, an increase of 142 The collections in the native churches amounted to £ 1,440, an increase of E228. The mission collections in this country had last year realised R5,823, an increase of JE331 5s. 9d. The receipts from all sources were £7.978 10s. On the other hand, the expenditure had been £ 13,397 18s. 9d., the difference of £5419 being met by the grants received from the Jubilee Col. lection Fund. The Moderator then extended the right hand of fellowship in hearty welcome to the missionaries who had just returned home on furlough. These were the Revs. Griffith Griffiths, M.B O. M., Laitlyngkot; John Jones, Wahiajer; Miss E. A. Roberts, Sylhet; and Miss Laura Evans, Silchan-all from India; the Rev. W. Jenkyn Jones and Mrs Jones, of Quimper, Brittany. The Rev. J. Ceredig Evans was also present to bid fare- well previous to his return to take charge of the mission district in Mawlai, Khassia. Addresses were delivered by the missionaries. The Rev. Griffith Ellis, M. AL, Bootle, declared that unless the contributions of the churches were sub- stantially inereased, there was nothing for it but to withdraw eome of the missionaries and curtail ex- penses. Mr Evan Evans, Aberystwith, submitted the report of the Book Committee, which showed that the year's publications included 16,000 copies of Dr Cynddylan Jones's handbook on the Gospel of St John, and 23.000 copies of the text books on the same subject by the Rev. T. E. Roberts, M.A.; 5,000 copies of the Year Book, and 5,000 of the almanac and directory. The connexional statisticians, Revs. Joseph Evans, Denbigh, and J. T. Morgan, Garn, reported that while at the beginning of the 19th century there were about 300 Calvinistio Methodist chapels in Wales, they now possessed 1,672 chapels, with 879 other buildings apatt from chapel houses and 188 manses. There was this year an increase of 18 in the number of manses, but the increase had taken place in the popul,)us counties, where houses were plentiful. The communicants now num- bered 158,114, an increase on the preceding year of 2,056. There was a corresponding increase in the num- ber of children in the churehes. Expulsions were few, but backsliders continue to be numbered by the thoosanJs." The number of hearers had increased by 4,709, bringing the total to 319,261. Members of con- gregations who were not members of churches num- bered 86,314. The report concluded with the following summary of the statistics for the year 1900Churches, 1,363; chapels and preaching stations, 1,572; Sunday school buildings, 879; manses, 1S8 ministers, 823 preachers, 408 deacons, 5,690 communicants, 158,114 children in the churches, 72,470 pro- bationers, 2,363; total in the churches, 232,947 re- ceived into membership-from the seed of the churches, 4,624 from the world, 3,687 by letters, 14,326 total, 22,637. The financial statement, showing the receipts, was as follows :—Towards the ministry, £ 96,511 3s. 9d.; missions, £ 12,042 18s. Id sustentation fund, S3,159 16s. 3d.; the poor fund, £3,177 2s. 5d.; chapel debts collections, £79,411 16s. 5d. Sunday schools, £ 8,428 7s. 4d. associations and presbyteries, £ 2,226 18s. 9d. pew rents, &c., 427,708 9a. 7d. other sources, £ 51,236 19s. lid. total, f,283,903 12s. 6d. or an average per member of 91 15s. 10|d., a reduction of 5id. The existing chapel debts were returned at X343,290 5s. 4d. There were discussions touchings on the subjects of the English Hymn and Tune Book," "Conuexional Examinations," 4c. Several public meetings were held during the day. The ex-moderator, Rev. J. J. Roberts, presided in the afternoon over a meeting for young people, at which the speakers were the Revs. W. Thomas, Llanrwst; R. J. Rees, M.A. Cardiff; and J. Glyn Davies, Newport. la the evening the returned missionaries addressed at the Tabernacle Chapel a crowded meeting, over which the moderator presided while simultaneously at Siloh Chapel a public meeting was held in the interests of Temperance and the Forward Movement, at which Principal Prys presided, and the speakers included the Revs, Seth Joshua, Cardiff; and Dr Monro Gibson, London. The General Assembly continued its sitting at Aber. ystwyth cn Thursday. The Rev. Dr. Cynddylan Jones again presided. Councillor S. N. Jones (Abertillery) moved that it be an instruction to the Sunday School Committee to re- consider the scale of remuneration paid to the writers of text books and commentaries. He pointed to the large accumulation of profits in connection with the boohroom. He did not think it wise that a religious body like theirs should become a commercial body, and in publishing their books should not aim mainly at profits. It was a new thing for the denomination to make profits. Before the advent of the bookroom they were unknown. The book that had the largest circula- tion, viz., the late Principal Edwards's hand-book on the Hebrews, yielded a profit of only L25. The scale of payment to authors arranged by the committee was £ 3 10s. per sheet of 16 pages crown octavo, and this compared well with what was paid by publishers as a rule but beyond this the committee had agreed that wten a certain circulation was reached the author should be paid an additional honorarium. The Rev. J. Pumsaint Jones (Treharris) seconded Councillor's Jones's motion. Eventually, the Assembly referred the subject to the Finance Committee. The Rev. W. Lewis, Pontypridd, submitted the report of the Temperance Society of the connexion, which stated that the publication of the Gyfres Wen series of booklets on morals and temperance bad not been a success, only a little over half the issue of 14,OOC copies having been sold. The Executive Committee of the society directed the attention of the Assembly to a practice which it was feared many members and some officers of the connexion were guilty of, viz., that of keeping intoxicating liquors in their houses, and the committee submitted a resolution etrongly urging all members to cleanse their houses of the abomioation." Principal Prys expressed regret that in the matter of temperance there was not the same hearty unity and co-operation of the members of the denomination as there was in the matter of missions, Sunday schools, and other branches of denominational activity. Calvin- istio Methodists bad always been in the forefront of the temperance crusade, but be feared that their zeal had cooled, and that they were in danger of losing their pre-eminence. The report was adopted unanimously. The Rev. Daniel Rowlands, M.A., Bangor, moved a series of temperance resolutions. The first urged the churches that had not already done so to use unfer- mented wine in the communion. Another acknowledged with gratitude the past efforts of Welsh members in the interests of temperance, and expressed a hjpe that they would remain equally active to secure measures upon which Wales has set its heart, more especially the passing of the Welsh Sunday Closing Amendment Act, the extension of Sunday closing to Monmouthshire, the Bill for the prohibition of sale of drink to children, and the reforms outlined in Lord Peel's minority report, and especially a local veto Bill for WalEs. The resolutions were agreed to. The Assembly sent its greetings and sympathy to the Revs. George Williams, Llysyfran, Pembrokeshire, David Phillips, Swansea, and Dr. Griffith Parry, Carno, three ex-moderators, who are now prostrate with illness. For years past one of the committees of the Assembly of which the Rev. John Owen, Mold, is secretary, has been helping to provide for the spiritual wants of bodies of Welsh people scattered all over the face of the globe. The 10th annual report stated that in Australia there were 5,000 Welsh people. A Welsh service was held once every Sunday at Sebastopol, Victoria, where a Welsh chapel had been erected at a cost of X2, 000, and the debt had been paid off. A small Welsh colony had been discovered in the Trinity Bay slate-quarrying district of Newfoundland, and a Car- marthen Welsh minister had bean sent to them by the Colonial Missionary Society. In South Africa the Welsh settlers had been scattered by the war, and the committee urged that the Assembly should co-operate with the English Presbyterian Church to provide for the spiritual wants of the Welsh after peace is restored. The committee appointed to nominate a Davies lecturer nominated the Rev. William James, Aberdare, for 1902. This was confirmed. Special interest was taken in the reports given of the progress of the efforts made to raise a Twentieth Century Fund of £ 100,000. The South Wales secre- tary, Rev. T. J. Morgan, Garn, said there was now every probability that the goal would be reached. The promises up to date reached X40,454 from North Wales, and X20,209 from South Wales, making a total of £ 60,663, but substantial contributions were continually being received without any preceding promises. On the report of the Education Committee, it was resolved-" 1. That having considered the provisions of the Government Eduoation Bill this Assembly is dissatisfied with their partial and tentative character, and desires to urge the Government to withdraw it and to produce at some later period a much more thorough and efficient measure in order to bring elementary, secondary, and technical education in each district under one authority elected for the purpose. 2. That we ask the Government immediately to introduce a short Bill giving to School Boards the power to carry on the work which the Cockerton judgment has proved to be at present illegal, but which at the same time the Board of Education as well as the bodies which the Board has superseded has consistently and heartily encouraged the School Boards to undertake." The report of the General Committee of the Forward Movement, submitted by the Rev. Lewis Ellis, Rhyl, showed an increase of over 400 in the number of com- municants, which now stood at 2,549, the adherents numbering 15,000 and j,Sunday School members over 6,000. Eight new permanent halls and six temporary balls were opened during the year at a cost of about 915.000, providing seating accommodation for 620 persons. The Rev. Rees Evans, the new secretary, has attained distinction principally through his invaluable servioes in connection with the Trevecoa College Fund He is also one of the best preachers in the denomination.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. The House of Commons, on the 22nd inst., had before it an Irish Bill to amend the Acts of 1883 and 1896, which make provision for the erection of cottages for agricultural labourers. The Bill proposed douses con- ferring greater facilities, encouragement, and powers on public bodies to give former Acts effect. It also made the Acts applicable, not only to agricultural labourers, as at present, but to labourers of every class throughout Ireland. Mr Farrell moved the Second Readirg, and Mr Macartney and Mr Rentoul objected that the Bill would injuriously affect Ulster. Mr T. W. Russell btrongly supported its principle. The Attorney- General for Ireland said that as the Bill neither improved the machinery for carrying out the Labourers Acts nor supplied any adequate or proper machinery for giving effect to the policy of housing the working classes, the Government could not support it. On a division the Bill was rejected by 223 to 137. It was elicited from Mr Balfour, during the question- ing of minsters in the House of Commons on the 23rd inst, that he would be glad to find a comparatively early day for the Second Reading of the Factory and Workshops Bill, in order that it might go to the Grand Committee. But it would be impossible, he added, to pass the measure this year if it were strongly opposed. Regarding the intentions of the Government as to the Bill relating to the Sale of Liquor to Children, Mr Balfour said that he would defer stating them until after Whitsuntide. Mr Balfour's motion that the He use at its rising to- day should adjourn until Thursday, the 6th of June, gave rise to a discussion on a variety of topics which lasted four hours, and was only brought to an end by the closure. Some taunted the Government with fix- ing Thursday in the interest of the Derby-day holiday, which Henry Campbell- Bannerman spoke of as a dis- creditable holidtiy. This remark drew a spirited speech from Mr Chaplin, which created a good deal of amusement on both sides. The amendment was ultimately cleared out of the way by a division, in which the amendment was rej ected by 196 to 166, the small maj ority cf 30 evoking a volley of cheers from tie Opposition. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman inquired when the Government would be in a position to make a state- ment as to the general position in South Africa, and give some indication of the policy of the authorities there in their c fforts to t rirg the war to a close. Mr Brodrick said he hoped the Leadtr of the Opposition would defer his question as to the position in South Africa until the Government bad had an opportunity of consulting with Sir A. Milner after his arrival in this country. Mr M'Kenna then made sirne observations on the appointment as an inspector of schools of Dr. Irvine, a Birmingham doctor, who bad been connected with an institution in that city which advertised his name, and had committed a serious tii nee against the rules of the General Medical Council, which prohibited touting for practice by means of advertisements. The inuendo was that the Colonial Secretary hsd something to do with the appointment. Mr Chamberlain called on Mr M'Kenna to state the nam s and not make insinuations, and Mr M Kenna proceedtd to explain that Dr. Irvine had been brought before the Medical Council, that one of the witnesses in his favour was Mr Chamberlain's brother, and another was a Birmingham alderman, and, as Mr Chamberlain said by way of interjection and supplement, also chairman of the Liberal Association that the charge against him had been proved that he was liable to be struck off the register, but that sentence had been postponed for six months. Mr Chamberlain's reply was very spirited. He knew nothing whatever of Dr. Irvine, and had never heard of bis name till that night. He explained that certain Birmingham gentle. men had founded achgrity to supply the poor with cheaper medical advice than they were otherwise able to get that sn this way Dr Irvine had contravened a Traces' Union rule of the medical profession that for this he had been condemned by the Medical Council; and that there was nothing whatever against his private character. Sir W. Foster, with much heat, condemned the appointment of a man who was under the ban of one of the highest judicial tribunals of the country-namely, the Medical Council-for 11 infamc-us conduct. Mr Butcher twice asked him to state what the infamous conduct was, but Sir Walter declined, amid much Ministerial laughter; Mr Balfour then moved the closure, which was carried by 191 to 121, and the motion for the adjournment was agreed to without a division. The further debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill was very flat until Mr Mcrley rose. He made out that the charge of thirteen millions annually for the war loans and the extra cost of the Army were equal to X470,000,000 added to the National Debt. Mr Balfour dissented, but the Liberals applauded loudly. The greater part of the speech, however, was devoted to a denunciation of the war, which, in one passage, he said was hateful, insensate, and infatuated, and the con- sequence of which would be uncompensated mischief and irreparable ruin. In his review of the Budget, Mr Morley deacribed it aa a landmark in our fiscal history. It was idle for a militant Imperialist to say that he was an ardent and unshakeable Freetrader. With Imperial militarism, Free Trade would go, and the beginning of the change was this budget, to which, however, he was not opposed because the country bad been launched upon a scheme of policy which had to be provided for, and it was not his business to say how that should be done. Mr Austen Chamberlain replied. Mr Robson having briefly protested against the two latter speeches, because they diverted the debate from the finances cf the war to its policy, the division was taken, and the Second Reading was carried by 236 to 132. Sir C. Dilke endeavoured to obtain from the Government, on Friday, an undertaking that they would not conclude any arrangement with the Congo State which would confer upon it a privileged position in any British or Egyptian territory without the previous knowledge of Parliament. Lord Cranborne replied that the Government could not give any such general undertaking, but he stated that they had no intention of conferring on the Congo State privileges of greater value or extent than those to which it was already entitled. A Select Committee was appointed, to join with a Committee of the Lord?, to consider the constitution of Queen Anne's Bounty, and to report upon its administration. The next Order of the Day was the Committee stage of the Demise of the Crown Bill. Its first Clause provided that a fresh appointment to office within or without the British dominions should not ba necessary on the access:on of a new Sovereign, and to this Mr Dillon moved an amendment limiting the Clause to offices outside his Majesty's dominions. The Attorney General opposed the amendment, on the ground that it would establish one rule for officeti without, and another rule for offices within, the King's dominions. Mr Labouchere, who had ju,t entered the House, supported the amendment, but it was opposed by Lord E. Fitzmaurioe, and was rejected by 162 to 78. Mr E. RobertEon moved the omission of the second sub secticn, which made the Act retrospective in its operation, and which, he said, was an indemnity to certain Ministers who bad, as the law stood at present, forfeited their seats. The Solicitor General ridiculed the amendment, which practically pestprned the operation of the Bill till the next reign. Mr Labouchere declared that the Ministers who bad been re-appointed had forfeited their seats, and the Bill was intended to get them out of the moss. It was a scandalous pro- ceeding, and he would oppose it, standing as an old Conservative in the interest of the constitution. Mr Gibson Bowles advised Mr Labouchere to go to the Courts as a Common Informer, and sue the First Lord of the Treasury for the enormous penalties he had incurred by sitting and voting in tbe House without being a member. The amendment was rejected by 152 to 84. The vote for Engineering Works and Staff, amounting to £ 3,281,000, was discussed for the greater part of the evening. It had been under debate for five hours, when Mr Lloyd George raised the question of the great mortality among the children in the refugee camps in South Africa, and the insufficiency of the shelter and accommodation provided for them. Mr Dillon also enlarged upon this subject. Mr Brodrick Lad not received notica that this matter would be brought forward, and was not provided with details as to the mortality, but he stated that, though the original accommodation might not be all that was desirable, it naa been greatly improved, and the prisoners aud refugees received precisely the samf. rations as were given to our soldiers in the field. After considerable discussion, Mr Lloyd-George divided the House on a reduction of the vote which he had moved, his amend- ment being rejected by 123 to 46. Just before the adjournment of the House, Mr Ritchie read telegrams which he had received with reference to the colliery disaster in Wales. The Anarchist Bresci, who assassinated King Humbert last summer, has committed suicide in the penitentiary of Santo Stefano. In a fit of remorse he tore up bia underclothing into strips, and made a rope, with which he strangled himself. His wife alleges that he was murdered and says she will apply for the body.

I NARBERTH BOARD OF GUARDIANS. I The fortnightly meeting of the guardians for the Narberth Union was held at the Workhouse on Tuesday last, Mr R. H. Buckby, J.P., chairman, presiding. There were also present: MrJ. Roberts (vice-chairman), Mr G. Lawrence, Mr G. Killa, Mr Griffith Thomas, Mr J. R. Lewis, Mr Henry Thomas, Mr William Lewis, Mr Benjamin Jones, Mr D. T. Lewis, Mr D. Humphreys, Mr John Bowen, Mr Benjamin Eynon, Mr Robert Ward, Mr Isaac Tribe, Mr James Griffiths, Mr W. Jarmin, Mr William Murray, Mr John Morgan, Mr David Raymond, Mr G. O. Lewis, Mr J. Ll. Jones, Mr John Jones, Mr George Evans, and Mr John Thomas, together with the clerk (Mr Henry Lewis). liie treasurer reported a balance of zCO02 16s. 5d. The Master reported that there were 38 inmates of House, as against 41 on the corresponding day last year. The vagrants relieved during the fortnight numbered 14. The last order for boots supplied by Mr I John Bowen, contractor, were not up to his contract, that was to say all pegged, and not sewn and nailed by blacksmith as per his contract. Mrs M. A. Howells, draper, Narberth, visited the House and kindly gave the old women +1b of tea each, tobacco for the men, and two bottles of sweets for the children. Miss M. S. Clark, of Robeston Wathen, near Narberth, kindly sent six bottles of rhubarb jam for the children. A tramp, by the name of Thomas Jonson, aged 49, relieved the night before, refused to do any work, and was brought before a magistrate and committed to 14 days' hard j labour. Divine service was conducted in the House during the past fortnight by Mr D. J. Griffiths, of Narberth, and Mr A. F. Halkon, Narberth. Mr Nestor Willians, Merryvale, Narberth, kindly enter- tained the children to the annual tea party at Templeton School, and they enjoyed it very much. Mr R. Ward, Sodston, brought a number of books, &c., for the use of the inmates. With regard to the complaint against the contractor, Mr Bowen attended and said the boots were the same as had been supplied by his father and himself for 26 years. He did not supply them to make a profit, but because he considered they were better. He reckoned he lost 6d. per pair on men's boots. The Master said he had been informed that the boots were not up to contract by another bootmaker in the town (laughter). It was decided to accept the boots for this time, and the matter would be further considered subsequently. The Conway Union asked the Board to pass a similar resolution to the following "That this Board protests in the strongest manner against the renewal of the Agricultural Rating Act in its present iniquitous form, regarding as especially unjust and inequitable the provisions whereunder the precepts for poor law union common charges are levied in proportion to the assessable values of parishes, thus causing a burden and injustice on the nation to the benefit of the wealthy class, the landed proprietors, who have for generations in the past legislated to their own advantage, and that this Board also protests against any further class legislation on the lines of graduated taxation, and considers the time has arrived for legislation." Mr R. Ward moved, and Mr D. Humphreys seconded that the resolution be adopted. The Chairman moved that it be allowed to lie on, and this was seconded by Mr Bowen. On a vote being taken there were 14 for the amend- ment and only three for the motion. It was decided, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Ward, to ask the county and borough members to support the Infant Life Protection Act (Amendment) Bill. The out-relief administered during the fortnight was as under: 1st week, £ 82 lIs. to 607 paupers, against £i9 3s. to 620; 2nd week, £77 19s. to 606, against X77 Is. to 619.

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