The Welshman

WHEEZY COUGHS. Chronic Astbma cured by VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE. Mr. Alfred Harrould, of 64, London Avenue, N.E., Portsmouth, writes:—"About twelve years ago I contracted Baker's Asthma,' and I got so bad that I had to give up my work. I went to several doctors, and tried every advertised remedy, but derived no permanent good. Then I tried Veno's Lightning Cough Cure, and gave it a fair trial, and soon found that the coughing was nothing like as bad, and now I am as well as ever. I always keep a bottle in the house, as I find that one dose only will cure a cold in any of the mem- bers of my family." Veno's Lightning Cough Cure can be bought for 9td., Is. lid., and 2s. 9d. everywhere. (5261

CARMARTHEN CRICKET CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. I The annual meeting of the above club was held in the Boar's Head Hotel, Carmarthen, on Thurs- day evening, 25th ult., when last year's captain of the club, Mr. Poison, presided over a meagre attendance. II The Chairman said that judging by the small in- f terest taken in the club they must be thankful for: small mercies. The secretaries had sent out 90 notices to convene this meeting. j The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The joint secretaries, Mr. Davidson and Mr. D. Thomas then presented their report as follows:— For the season of 1908 21 matches were arranged, of which three had to be cancelled owing to bad weather, and in three cases our opponents failed to turn up. Of the remaining 15 matches five, were won, eight lost, and two drawn. In the case of the defeats ,the margins against us were, ex- cept in three instances, comparatively small. Until our members realise that something more than an appearance on the ground on match days is necessary, our record will not be an enviable I one, and we cannot hope for success against clubsi the members of which put in systematic practice. We have an excellent ground, a pavilion, and an! abundance of material, and yet during last season the ground was on many evenings deserted. The number of our plaving members does not exceed two dozen, and this in a town of over 10,000 in- habitants. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the j' faithful few, we have on no single occasion dur- ing the season had to cancel a match in conse-, quence of our inability to raise a team. The batting averages are headed by our popular capt. Lieut. Poison, and his figures (9.66) would un- questionably have looked much better but for an unfortunate injury to his right thumb. G Gam- ble, who took 50 wickets at a cost of 7.28, takes the bowling prize, and we are sure no one will deny but that he fully deserves it. We are look- ing forward to great things from Charlie dur- ing the coming season. D Thomas was also very successful with the ball, securing 23 wickets at a cost of 8.87. The brunt of the attack has fallen upon these two bowlers. McDonald !has ren- dered yeoman service behind the sticks," and we are justily proud of our wicket-keeper, who has been connected with the Club for a long, period. Financially we are in a good position. Starting the season with a small balance on the right side, it was soon augmented by subscriptions from our patrons, who again subscribed liberally to the club funds, our President, Major Dowdes- well, the high sheriff, heading the list with a handsome donation of JE3 3s. In October last Mr I H .Brunei White very kindly consented to organ- j ise a dramatic entertainment for the benefit of j the club. The performance took place on the 21st J January, and was exceedingly well patronised, j and the Club fund s benefited to the extent of ) L14 10s. Id. The balance sheet, which will be; read out to you, shews a balance in hand of R14 6s. 3d. The payment of 12s. weekly to our groundsman is a heavy drain on the club's re- sources, and it would be well to consider whether an arrangement could not be come to whereby this item might be reduced. In conclusion we I desire to thank all those who have helped to keep the club going, patrons, committee and players, and to express the hope that during the coming season the old hands will again be available, and that we shall have a large number of recruits to our ranks. The usual teams will be met during the coming season, and in addition we are to re- ceive a visit from the Temple C.C., Swansea. I The report was adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. I Major Dowdeswell was re-elected president on I, the motion of Mr. C. N .Phillips, seconded by Mr I C. Gamble. It was pointed out that anybody could be ap- pointed as vice-president on his qualifying for that position. The next business was to appoint a secretary, and 4he Chairman having remarked the co-secre- taries worked well, both were re-appointed. The appointment of treasurer was next con- sidered, and Mr. C. Gamble proposed Mr. C. N. Phillips be re-appointed. Mr. Phillips said as they were going to appoint a new captain, he thought they had better ap- point Mr. Poison as treasurer, and Mr. C Gamble having seconded, the motion was carried. It was decided after some discussion that the treasurer should make out the balance sheet, an'd his duties were also defined. The Chairman said that they were starting with j; a good balance this season, and if they did not have such a good one next season it would not be for the want of looking after. j Mr. C. N .Phillips proposed that Mr. E. F. j Longcroft be appointed captain for the ensuing season, and Mr. C. Gamble seconded, the motion I being carried unanimously. Mr. Longcroft said he had great pleasure in j accepting the position. He did not know whether he would be able to play in every match, but he would do all in his power to help the team. He hoped every member of the team would turn out end do his best. Mr. C .Gamble proposed Mr. Harry Lewis be (tppointed vice-captain, and Sergt. McDonald pro- posed Mr. C .Gamble. Mr. Llewellyn seconded, and the latter was carried. j Mr. Gamble said he wished to thank them for the honour they had done him by appointing him the vice-captain. He would do all he could to help the team and would look after the ground. ) The ora committee were re-appointed. There were three vacancies in it. and these on a vote being taken were filled by Mr. J .N. Lewis, Mr. Blackie, and Mr. H. Lewis. } The advisability of holding a smoking concert was next considered. The Chairman said there was no question about' holding a smoker. It was on what date? Mr. Phillips said they ought to hold a smoker if only to help Mrs. Olive for the way in which she helps the club, and for letting them have the use of the room that night free. The Chairman said they would have to depead on the weather when they were going to start the season. Mr. Davidson said the first fixture so far was for the 13th May. The Chairman said that last year they wer fairly crippled through giving 12s. a week to the groundsman. He hoped they would devise some means to lessen that this year. Mr. Longcroft asked could they not have the smoker on the night of the Point-to-Point races, which were on the 15th April. Mr. Phillips said the hotel would be full. It was decided to hold a smoker some time in April. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CLUB. Mr. Longcroft said he hoped that the practice ground would be kept in good condition. If tli5 ground would be in the same condition as last year he would not go down to practice.. It would not be much trouble to keep a small piece for practising. The Chairman said the ground was full of holas last year, but he hoped it would be in a better con- dition this season. The ground was now fenced and not open like last year. The practice ground should be kept in as good a condition as possible. Mr. Longcroft asked could they not have a larger machine so as to help the man employed on the ground? Another point he wished to raise and that was that the boys of the Carmarthen Grammar School be allowed to play on paying a nominal fee. The Chairman said there was a resolution on the book that the boys be allowed to be members I for 2s. 6d. Mr. Phillips said he thought Mr. Longcroft's suggestion was a good one. Mr. Llewellyn said he did not think so. The boys had their own ground to play on every night. Mr. Longcroft proposed they have the Gram- mar School XI. and the reserves. Mr. Phillips proposed that they be allowed to join the club on payment of a nominal sum of 2s. for the season. Mr. Llewellyn seconded and it was carried, and a copy of the resolution was requested to be sent to the headmaster of the school, Mr Allen, to an- nounce it to the school. Mr. Llewellyn said he should like to see a selec- tion committee appointed, to consist of the Cap- tain, Vice-Captain, the two secretaries, and the following two names, Mr. C .N .Phillips and Mr. Poison. Mr. Davidson said that was out of order as there was a rule which stated that the selection committee be composed of the captains and sec- retaries. Mr. Longcroft said he should like to have a committee appointed who knew the players. Mr. C. L. Jones moved that the old rule be rescinded, and that the names of the two gentle- men be added to the captains and secretaries on the selection committee. Mr. C. Gamble seconded Mr. Longcroft wanted to know what power the captain and vice-captain would have on the com- mittee. Perhaps if they did not agree on the same player they might come to blows The Chairman said that as a captain for the last four years he found no difficulty as to who to leave out, but who to put in. They were hoping to look forward for better things next year. Mr .C. Gamble said he should like to see non- playing members on the selection committee. After some discussion Mr. C. N. Phillips and Sergt McDonald were added to the present selec- tion committee. Mr. Longcroft said he was willing to give a prize of a bat or bathing gloves value 12s. 6d. to the member who shows the greatest precision on the field, and his offer was gratefully accepted. He also asked whether they could not join the County Club, Llanelly. They might have sorru help in grants or something. The subscription fee was only 10s. 6d. Mr. Llewellyn said the reason the County Club would not give them a grant last year was be- cause they did not employ aprofessional. The Chairman said they had a worthy represen- ? tative in the county last ;e?,r in the person of their new captain, Mr. Longcroft, and he hoped he would be in it this year.

The militant suffragists made their weekly raid on the House of Commons on the 24th ult. 29 persons were arrested. Sir John Benn, M.P., has discovered a prayer in the liturgy of Edward VI. dealing with the ownership of land, which he proposes to use as an argument for the taxation of land. Mr. H .E. H. James, B.A.. director of educa- tion, delivered a lecture on The Literature of Pembrokeshire," at a meeting of the Fisliguar Cymmrodorion Society. The Rev. D. P. Davil presided over a large attendance, and the address was much appreciated.

t. RO I.N C-tie "Warms and Cheeks" irry, it i. is wort h One tastc is worth a chapter of talk." 1 -<• .y:i £ 632*

TRACES OF THE ROMAMS IN THE TAF VALLEY II AND ITS VICINITIES. But to return to the Gafel—it's meaning is ex- actly the same as another place that is well- known: Ffrwd-y-fal (val). which was well known in the preceding generation for its celebrated school, kept by the Rev. W. Davies, Ph.D., and afterwards a professor at Carmarthen College, in I the time the writer was there. | GAFEL BRIDGE (PONS.). I There is another Latin word in the name Pont- y-gafel, viz., its first syllable, Pont. There must have been a much earlier bridge over the Gafel than the present one, which is modern. The early Britons were not bridge-makers; this was an art they learned from the Romans, consequently they adopted the Latin term, Pons, gen. Pontis. The Romans could not have crossed the Gafel when in flood, and must have built a bridge. This must I have been far back, inasmuch as the name Ponty- gafel dates much further back than any account I preserved in the memory of man; and the fact of a bridge here gave its name to the farm. MILLSTONES. I Another proof of the antiquity of this place is found in the fact that a mill-stone was found near here, a few years ago, in the ground, of a smaller size and differing from modern mill-stones. Even last summer in digging about Derlwyn (Oak- grove\ the new residence of E. H. James, Esq., there was a mill-stone found under the surface of the ground. Both mill-stones are in the keeping of Mr. E. H. James. There is no account of a grist mill in this part, or near Derlwyn and Pontvgafel: and no water could have been util- ised in old times, as far as is known where the latter was found; but possibly, in the times of the Romans the water of the Gafel might have j turned one for their benefit. The oldest water- mills known of in this part were turned by larger streams, and some by the Taf or its tributaries, i Those mill-stones referred to, for all we know, might have ground corn for the Romans in this j part of the Taf Valley. PENCELLI. I Further down the Valley, after passing by! Glandwr Chapel, and nearly opposite on the east- ern side of the Taf, stands Pencelli, the Tro- j nest-top, a farm which slopes down to the Taf I river. In the marsh, somewhat south of the foot- bridge, in the Pencelli marsh, there were found, j when turning up the soil, several earthenware vessels or urns, so I have been told by the son of my late friend, Mr. Lewis Phillips, who was one who made the discovery. I was not able to see any of them, they not having been kept. being j considered of no value or importance. There is no house, nor any tradition of a house near where the discovery was made. I conclude that it was a burying-ground of the Romans, and that the earthenware were urns. It may be possible' bv careful search, to discover some similar ones. Who can tell ? Considering that this valley was an important part of Roman occupation, owing to the lead mines, etc., this would prove a suit- 3,ble spot for a burying-ground, out of the pro- bability of being disturbed, and yet near an im- portant thoroughfare. It lies near the river Taf. on the extreme west of JSglwys-fair-a-churig par- ish. A further search might reveal more re- mains. There are no graves nor mounds here. inasmuch as the Romar: corpsps were burnt, and their ashes preserved in earthenware pots or urns, which were buried, except when kept by relatives in their houses. The fact of there being earthen- ",He found here, as well as in other places (some having been found in the ground on Brenni Fawr mornmn). indicates that there must have been an ear til en ware manufactory somewhere in these part. Where could it have been? I will make a suggestion, from the fact that there is a place- name not. far off. in the upper part of what is now called Cwmeedni (Foxes valley), a continuation of "Aqua vallis." There is a house and tene- ment called Dol-llestr, i.e., Vessel Mead, or VesselMeadow. I have often wondered why it is so called. It may be that earthenware was manufactured there in ancient times, and that the name has been retained. This is only my suggestion. Possibly further research may throw j more light on the matter, either to prove or dis- prove it. It certainly is suggestive, and not a far-fetched coincident. Mnny a time I have rambled over the Pencelli Roman Burying-ground. without a surmise that underneath lie the ashes of dead. Longfellow, in hi Hiawatha) says of the North American In- dian burying-ground: On the grave-posts of our fathers are no signs, no figures painted; who lie in those graves we know not; only know they are our fathers. But there are not even grave-posts here. But I I may be allowed to write an epitaph to commem- orate them in their last resting place— Underneath the turfy surface, Near where Taf so lively flows, Those once brisk in war and commerce, Quiet lie in death's repose. Conquerors of many nations, Formerly both strong and brave. Here at last they had cremation- At Pencelli found a grave. I PANTYCAWS. ) Once more returning to the causeway leading from Gavel bridge to Pengawsey, in Llanglyd- wen, we must somehow make our way, in Roman times, to Castellgarw, a fort or castle, on the Roman road, through West Carmarthenshire to St. David's. This road led by Pantycaws, at the extreme south of Llanglydwen, separating it from Cilmaenllwyd parish, near where stands Maenhir, so called from the high stone pillar in an adjoin- ing field, commemorative of some important 1 event, or indicating the spot where some prince or warrior lie buried. A small brook crosses the road, on each side of which stand several cottages of farm labourers. This spot, near which the Council School was erected some years ago, is named Pantycaws. Someone, to show his learn- ing, snid that its meaning was cheese-hollow, as caws in the Welsh means cheese, and pant, hol- low. The name is a corruption of Causeway, and is a part of the old Roman road, as above men- tioned. A little distance further on westward at the junction of two roads stands a house named Pantymenyn. meaning as the people of the place say, Butter-hollow. As Pantycaws, they say, means Cheese-hollow, this means, of course. Butter-hollow. Having mistaken the meaning of the one, they naturally mistake the other. The people of this part are in the habit of adding the letter n to meini (stones), as in Carnmeini, which they call Carnmenvn, Butter-Cairn, instead of Stones-Cairn." There were upright stones near Pantvmenyn. as it is called, and Panty meini would be the proper name. At this spot the old Causeway would be to the right, and to Sarnavi. and thence to the field on Castellgarw land, called Park-Castell, where stood the castle on the Roman causeway, leading further west. There used to he large mound s here, and there are some still, remains of the Roman castle. which gave its name to the farm, Castellgarw, of which name there will be more said further on, in connection with the rivers of Llanglydwen. J. LLOYD JAMES (" Clwydwenfro.") (To be continued).

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION AT CARMAR- THEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL. The annual Speech Day at Carmarthen Grammar School on Friday evening was once more the occasion for a gathering of considerable di- mensions, including parents and friends of the scholars, and others whose interest in the educa- tion of the young is shown by their regular pre- sence and their connection with the management. The ceremony was held in the Big School, and the entrance of the Mayor (Mr. J ,Crossman), the Headmaster (Mr. E. S. Allen), the Rev. Fuller Mills, Rev .J. Marsden, Rev. D. J. Thomas, the form masters, and others, was the signal of an outburst of cheering from the boys relegated to the rear of the company" The Headmaster, in presenting his report, said it was the same subject from the sam3 person to very largely the same audience once again. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many friends there, and stated that he had made up his mind to be brief. He was not conscious of any sigh of regret at his saying this—(laughter)—but his reason was that they had this year introduce d a play, for which they were indebted to Mr. Ellis, assisted by Mr .Lewis, which was somewhat longer than usual. It *as quite true the proportion of certificates gained this year was not so high, but when they came to make an analysis of the marks there was no gainsaying this fact that it took the sting out of this preliminary prick. Let them cull one or two little facts that would prove this. He found no less than 131 papers in which over sixty per cent. of marks were gained. That was a very high number, and he found the highest paper was 100 per cent (applause). Taking one or two more instances he found first of all, looking at tHe honours work that there were very many papers of an extremely good character, excellent in fact. The French conversation worked out at 72 per cent.; every boy got distinction in it—(ap- plause)—as good as a native very nearly (laugii- ter). For all French honours presented the aver- age was 60 per cent. One paper on mathematical honours there was the remarkable high average of 75 for all the boys who went in, and in another 68 per cent., which was again exceedingly goo i. Then looking further qfield a nd taking larger averages and larger numbers, the arithmetic of the junior boys there were about 20 who took the paper, and they all might have been given 6t marks. Again .the junior Latin they might have all been given 62 marks in the second of their two papers. Selecting one or two from the senior honours, geography was 62 per cent. This was by no means an exhaustive account of the work that had been done. He could go on giving them many instances of excellent work done during this year. The record was by no means a skimpy one. It was a record of good work well done, and was due to the good efforts of his staff, who put their heads together without knocking them, and en- deavoured to achieve the end they had in view. This opinion of his, formulated on these facts, was most clearly backed up by a report of the school, which really did not absolutely come within the purview of the work he was taking, but was the triennial report which had just reached him, and it made very good reading. Ever since he had been here, a good many years now. he did not remember anything which was so consistently in praise of what had been done there. The work all round these three inspectors had considered was up to a very satisfactory standard (applause). The success list was then read out, followed by the list of prize winners, to whom their awards were handed by the Mayor. SUCCESS LIST. Honours Certificates, C. W.B. H. C. Lewis, H. T. Norton, with distinction in French. W. J. i>avies, with distinction in French. Senior Certificates. T. J .Evans, with two distinctions. O. Griffiths. P. M. Jones, with five distinctions. P .L. Jones, with one distinction. A. J. Thomas. L. R. Thomas, with one distinction. G. Williams. Junior Certificates. D. E. Davies, with two distinctions. T: M. Davies. T. W. Davies, with one distinction. T. E. GWYIl. W. G. Phillips. ) T. Rees, with four distinctions. j T. A. Roberts. F. Roderick.. j J. Simon, with one distinction. j! T. Williams. London Matriculation j First Division—W. J. Davies. Second division—P .M. Jones, D. Griffiths, D j G. Williams. Preliminary examination for the Certificate- P M. Jones, with four distinctions; E .Thomas, with three distinctions; D. G. Williams with two distinctions: A. V. Thomas, with one distinc- tion; W .Evans, D .S. O. Johns, D. Rees, W. G. j Hopkins, H. Lewis. Pupil Teacher Examination-Part I. I E. G. Rees, T. M. Thomas, J Bruiaker. I At Aberystwith Scholarship Examinations- -P. M. Jones gained an open exhibition, and P .A. Lewis a close one; whilst W. A. J. Marsden gained a R30 Cli ssical Scholarship at St. David's Col- lege, Lampeter; F. S. Jones completed his degree course at Cambridge with 2nd claSs honours in Moral Science: and F. H. TriStrafh his'at Aber- ystwith, with 1st class honours in French. j Board of Education Certificates in Art. ) Model Drawing—First class, D. Rees, D. G. Williams; Second class, A. V. Thomas, E. Thomas Freehand—First class, E. Thomas, E. Jones, D .S. 0. Johns, A .V. Thomas, D. Rees, J. An- drews; Second class D. Jones, W. G. Hopkins, D. Howell, T. M. Thomas, J. Brunker, E. G. Rees. PRIZE LIST. i Form Via.—H. C. Lewis; Form VI.b, W. J. Davies; Form V., T. P .Evans; Form IV., D. E. Davies; Form III., C. G. Lewis; Form II., H. i Parry; Form I., D. R. Williams. I Set I., W. J .Davies; Set II., P. M. Jones; i Set III., T. Rees; Set IV., F Treavett and W. Brunker; Set V., James; Set VI., J. Rees. Division la., J. S. Lewis; Division lb., P. M. j Jones; Division 11., T. R .Evans; Division III., f T. Rees; Division IV., P. J. Williams; Divis-.m V., W. Spurrell. ) Art I., T. Williams; Art II., W. Brunker; III Walton. Special prizes: H. T. Norton, J. Simon, A. Bowen, W. J. Davies, C. Davies, L. R. Thomas. Merit prize (presented by His Worship the Mayor): H .C. Lewis. ) In presenting H. C. Lewis with a half-sovereign j the Mayor said he would read out what a fellow- student wrote of him, and when a fellow student wrote in this strain there must be some good in the young man. "H .C. Lewis is quite one of the finest characters in school (applause). There is nothing underhand about him—(hear, hear)—and above all he is a fine sport. There is not a boy in the school that deserves the prize more as Bertie: does" (applause). He (the Mayor) thought that was a very fine tribute from a young man to a fellow student. j The Headmaster then proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for coming there to preside, and also i to Mr. Collier for helping with the stage, and Dr ¡' Richards for the loan of chairs. j The vote was heartily accorded. j The Mayor said w hen Mr. Allen asked him tc. preside he gave him a clear hint that a long 1 speech was not necessary, and in fairness to him he thought he ought to say he clothed it in such beautiful language it was not by any means offen- sive—(laughter)—and he really complimented him upon the nice way in which he did it, and as far as he (the Mayor) was concerned he gained his point. For this year he thought they would 5,11 agree that he (the Mayor) was a busy man. His commercial duties supplemented by his municipal: duties would not allow him to make a long speech, but had Mr. Allen known him better he felt sure he would have deemed it quite unnecessary to al l, 1 e have made the hint at all, because his (the Mayor's) most intimate friends told him that brevity was the only redeeming feature in hig: speeches—(laughter)—so that if brevity was a virtue he would endeavour to maintain that re- putation and be as brief as possible. He thought they would all agree they had heard an excellent report, and one of which the Masters ought to feel very proud, as it was some compensation for the labour they had expended upon their pupils during the last twelve months. As parents he thought they ought to feel exceedingly proud they had a school of such standing in their midst to send their boys to. To him it was most gratify- ing because he was told upon pretty good author- ity that the plan of coaching the more forward students at the expense of the duller ones simply to produce a big pass list was not the practice of that school (hear, hear). He understood its car- dinal point was to so thoroughly teach each sub- j I ject as to bring up the tone of the whole school, and not to particularly specialise any promising i boy. There might be in that audience probably 1 some people who might think that was not the proper procedure to adopt, and he was not quite sure whether he did not at one time himself think ) that way, but he could assure them he was not that way of thinking to-day. He would tell them why. He knew lads who were once scholars here, and had since gone to the Universities and done fairly well there. They had written home that i whatever success they had achieved in their uni- versities, whether it was much or little, was thoroughly due to the grounding which they re- j ceived within these walls (hear, hear). He knew j of no higher tribute that any ox-pupil could pay to their old master than to recognise past services and he thought they would agree with him thdy had a very good reason as parents to be for hav- ing such a good school. He might also tell them that in classics and science this school was about one of the best in Wales. With an intelligent audience of that sort it would be presumption on his part to attempt to urge parents to give their children a good education. He did not know any- j thing better they could give them, because edu- J cation after all was one of those agencies that heloed them to the greatest pleasures ther6 in life; the sort of thing nobody could rob them off. and he knew of no better legacy that they could leave them. To the boys he would say, Don't fritter away your time in school. Play j n, strenuous game whether in work or recreation. Play the man always—(hear, hear)—and when you study, work hard, and remember that you are having opportunities now that are going to serve you excellently in time to come. You cannot all win prizes, but you can all lift the tone of the school, both mentally and morally. I would like you to look after your moral side more than the other. It is necessary you should attempt it both, because after all education is undoubtedly ij good, but it would be better, supplemented with J moral lives, and you should try to cultivate good manners. You can be cheerful. All despise mean- ness. There are many excellent things you can I all do, and when you are playing, take plenty of I it. Health is essential to success, and it is as essential you should look after your games as to your studies. Education without health is not a bit of good it is like a bird with one of its wings clipped. If you try and build up your body I feel sure success is in store for you. Life will be a pleasure, and you will be a comfort to all you come in contact with (cheers). Rev. Fuller Mills, in proposing a vote of thanks to the Mayor for distributing the prizes, and for j his speech, congratulated Mr. Allen and the staff ) upon the upkeep of the efficiency of the school. He was delighted with the report. It was per- haps not so showy as reports they had had in years gone by, but he thought the thing that satisfied them most was the quality of the work which had been done, and he as one of the man- agers of the school, along with his friend Mr. Marsden, would feel he could support the head- master—(cheers)—in any appeals he might makein the years that were before them, so far as they possibly could to keep him and his staff in the work they had in hand (applause). He had pleas- ure in moving this vote of thanks because he thought the town had this year an excellent Mayor. At the outset perhaps some of them wondered what kind of a mayor he would make, but at the present time they were satisfied the borough had made an excellent choice when it put the Mayor, Mr Crossman, in the chair (applause). He had known him for many years as a good neigh bour. He did not think they had had a single quarrel yet, although they had approached it once or twice, but it had been over their dogs (laugh- ter). He had always wanted his dog to master, and the Mayor wanted his to master. However they had managed to watch a great number of squabbles between these two dogs without having any high words whatever (laughter). He hoped the Mayor would see to keeping the rates down if it be possible for the sake of so many of them who were poor burdened ratepayers, and he was sure that achievement combined with his other good qualities would enable him to end his year of office 1 with the hope of being re-elected for the secon 1 year. He had given the boys good advice, and if they took it some of them would follow in hia footsteps and become Mayors of Carmarthen (ap- plause). Rev. J. Marsden seconded, and the motion was twarmly carried. The Mayor briefly replied, and said he only wished he could keep down the rates. It was not so easy to carry that out, though they were do- ing their very best, and beyond that no man could go. He wanted to say it gave him a lot of pleas- ure to be present there that afternoon. This school had a particular hold upon him because both his sons were educated there, and if he had more, he was sorry he hadn't, they should cer- tainly come here too (hear, hear). The boys' choir then sang under the conductor- ship of the Headmaster a school song, Now is the Hour (Farmer); glee, As Torrents in Summer (Elgar); and" Carmen Mariduneuse" (The Headmaster), all very nicely rendered. The school has just now a number of small boys with very good voices, and the music shewed great im- provement in the matter of tunefulness. Master j Isaac played the accompaniments very capably, t The play attempted by the boys was more am- bitious than in previous years, and the manner I in which it was presented gave evidence on the part of some of the actors of budding histrionic I ability. The piece performed was a capitally con- densed exerpt from Sheridan's Scheming Lieu- tenant," and great credit is due to Mr. Ellis and Mr. J .W .Lewis for the manner in which the boys had been drilled into their parts. Each boy I did excellently, and without belittling the efforts I of any one of them, special mention must be made 1 of the really clever acting throughout of S. J ? Lewis as Dr. Rosy; of L. R. Thomas as Lieut. O'Connor, especially when in disguise as Humph- rey Hum, while W .J. Davies gave a good repre- sentation of Justice Credulous. H. C. Reeves's make up as Mrs. Credulous was admirable, as also was C. P. S. Jones's as Lauretta, and their little squabbling scene was very well carried out. The other boys included in the cast, each of whom as before mentioned did his part wnthout a fault- were J. I. Davies as Sergeant Trounce; J. F. R. Thomas, Corporal Flint; T. M. Davies, Private Soldier; and H. V. Brookes, man servant. The proceedings closed with cheers and Go1 Save the King.

FISHERY CONFERENCE AT CARMARTHEN. SEINE NETS DUTY. The Carmarthen Bay Fishery Board met at the Shire Hall on Tuesday last week for the purpose of conferring with Mr. C. E. Fryer, inspector of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with respect to the proposed reduction of the duty on seine nets, and to consider the correspondence that had passed on the subject. Mr. D. E. Stephens pre-! sided, and the other members present were: Mr. John Lewis, Gwynfryn; Mr. J. LI. Thomas, Cae- glas; Mr. Herbert Peel, Taliaris; Mr. B. A. Lewis, Mr. John Morgan, Carmarthen; Mr. W. H. Dempster, Laugharne; Mr. Jas. Phillips, St. Clears; Mr. Jos. Morgan, Ferryside; Mr. lJavid 1 Lewis and Mr. A. J. Jones, Carmarthen; also the acting-clerk (Mr. G. Morgan-Griffiths), and the Supterintendent Water Bailiff (Mr. H. O. Long Price). Mr. Fryer ,at the outset, said the Board of Ag- riculture and Fisheries enquired what the actual intention of the Fishery Board was in putting the proposal in the form in which it was submitted. The strict reading of their scale of licence duties was that a man paying JE5 was at present not en- titled to fish between St. Govan's Head and the Carmarthen Bar, and a man who paid £ 2 10s. was not entitled to fish anywhere except between those points. Therefore if a man wanted to get a licence to fish in any part of the district he had to pay P,5 plus E2 10s., making jE7 10s. for a gen- eral licence, which was illegal, the maximum being 25. The reduction to L4 would still make it above the maximum, and it was quite impossiblo for the Board above to deliberately confirm a scale of licence duties that was illegal. But let- I ting that pass for the moment, on the merits of the proposal two or three points arose. The fish- ing area was curtailed tliirteen years ago, and it' was very doubtful whether there was any suffi- cient reason for now reducing the rates for the nets. The area for the coracle nets was reduced at the same time, therefore' if there be anything in the argument that the area of the draft nets had been reduced, and that therefore the rate of the licence duty should be reduced, clearly the I rate for the coracle nets ought to be equally re- duced. They could not refuse such a claim from the coracle men on the same ground, because their area had been reduced for considerably more than fifteen years. It had been reported in the newspapers that there was an application for a reduction in the rate on rods, and it looked as if they were opening the flood gates, and having once opened them they would have difficulty in shutting them, because they would have applica- tions from everybody for reductions on some pre- text or other. For this reason the Board in Lon- don felt diffidence in confirming the proposal, es- pecially on the very scant information furnished them by the Clerk. It was stated that the JE5 licence was, notwith- standing the by-law, taken as a general licence covering the whole of the area, and the acting- clerk said there had never been the least difficulty in regard to the scale of licences which had worked quite smoothly for many years past. He had never heard of any ambiguity before. Mr. Fryer said that on the matter of ambiguity. and of the true construction of the scale of licences there could be no question whatever, but he could quite believe that the practice had been to issue licences at jE5 available in any part of the district, but it was not in accordance with the scale of licences as printed. Mr. Joseph Morgan, Ferryside, who proposed the alteration in the scale was called upon to ¡ state his reasons. He said he represented the net men, and had lived amongst them for eight years and knew their condition of life, and what they earned by fishing, which was their only means of livelihood. He was appointed for the special pur- pose of asking for a reduction in their licences if ¡' possible, so as to enable them to earn sufficient. Prior to 1860 no licences were paid for fishing, and there were then 400 fishermen in the river Towy I below Carmarthen. Last year only fourteen I seine net licences were taken out. Although they j had a fairly successful season in fishing for sewin, their takes of salmon were practically nil. He considered it was the duty of the Board who had the supervision of the fishery to assist them to get j a living, and he was rather surprised to find a re- j presentative fro mone of the State offices in Lon- don, governed to-day by a Radical Government- Mr. Fryer—Pardon me; I cannot possibly listen; to anything which relates to party politics (hear, hear) Mr. Jos. Morgan, proceeding, said he did not want to do or say anything that would tell against; the men he represented, but one of the reasons given against this proposed reduction was that it might lead to other reductions. He believed if the matter was fully and carefully examined by the Board, and they found a case they should not be afraid to grant the reduction simply on the ground that other applications might follow. He believed they should deal justly and fairly with:, all sections of the fishermen, and he thought the Board were within their province in reducing the licence from JB5 to 24. He pointed out that the maximum for a rod salmon licence was 30s., and I the amount charged was 21s.. which was a greater proportionate reduction. The other licences. with the exception 6f the coracle men, went out! for pleasure mostly, and could afford to pay the full duty. Alltywathon pool was taken away 15 years ago-- ) Mr. David Lewis—Quite time, too. Mr. Morgan agreed that there was a consider- able amount of fish taken from that pool, and if the old area were restored to the men they would submit to pay the £ 5 without grumbling.One of the special grounds for the reduction was that the fishing banks had changed, and very often r the men only got one.haul in one tide, and they would have to wait their turn to make one haul. He thought it would be very beneficial to them to have the JC1 reduction. Mr. Fryer said they might take it for granted that any re-instatement of nets, either draft or coracle, in the narrow waters of the river at auch a pool as Alltywathon was out of the question al- together. It would not be entertained for a moment. He took up the point of the reduction of nets from 400 to 42 or 56 fishing below Car- marthen, and asked what was the cause of the diminution? The answer to that was a very simple one, the cause being solely the diminution in the number of fish. The whole object of the Board of Conservators and the Board of Agricul- ture and Fisheries, and of Parliament, had B to improve and increase the number of fish and also to increase the fishermen's means of liveli- hood. If the fishing had diminished so much that the men had difficulty in scraping together £(5, and only £ 4 for a licence, he thought that was the strongest argument possible against any re- duction of the rate of licence duty. He wished to say with the greatest seriousness that there was no idea at all of favouritism as between rod fishermen and net fishermen, and of giving facili- ties for one class that were denied to the other. On the contrary, if there be any sympathy in the matter at all, the sympathies of the authorities in London were with the fishermen who earned his living by fishing, and not with the angler, but the authority had to recognise that unless they had the angler they would not have the net fisher- men. It was absolutely essential the fish should get into the upper waters and the anglers have a share of the fish if there were to be any at all for the nets. Mr. James Phillips, C.C., said he acted in this matter on principle. He was not a fisherman, nor interested in the fishing industry, but one of his reasons for supporting the reduction was that a good case had been made out. Owing to the diminution in the fishing the people were leaving Ferryside. and they had to consider the welfare of the village. Mr. Fryer: Pardon me, you have to consider the fishing interest. You are a Board of Conser- vators (hear, hear and applause). Mr. Jos. Morgan: It is very rude for members to interrupt. < Mr. Phillips: Yes, I notice that one gentleman enjoys a little laugh over this. If I am sent here to represent the people am I not right to look f after the interests of the little fishing villages they live in ? I Mr. Frvr: No, you are not. You are appointed t to look after the interests of the fisheries, and the ifshermen as such, and not in any other capac- ity. I take it you are a County Council member, but you were sent here as a fishery member, and you have no more right to consider in this Board the welfare of the inhabitants of Ferryside or any other village as such, than you have to bring in the question of public-house licences, education, or any other burning question of the day. Mr. B. A. Lewis, Carmarthen, said the coracle net men had just as much reason for a reduction as the seine net men. If this reduction was passed he should have to bring the matter before the Board, as the coracle men wanted to be treated in the same way The Inspector: And I believe it is in the air | j that the angler wants a reduction? Mr. Lewis said that was so. Notice of motion had been given for a reduction from a guinea to half a guinea for the rod men's licences, it being believed that this would materially bring about  an augmentation of revenue. ? Mr. Morgan s3id the coracle net was more destructive than the seine net, and the former had a longer time for fishing. Mr. D. Lewis: The seine nets are 200 yard* long and 12ft. deep, and come up to within 68 yards of us, sweeping everything before them. The small coracle nets are only IS years long and [ 18in. deep. I I The Inspector said he understood that a quarrel [ between the seine and coracle net men was settled 1.5 years ago. Mr .H. O. Long Price, superintendent of water bailiffs, gave it as his belief that the Ferryside men had a better season last year than since he was apoointed to his present position four years l ago. He admitted that the beds of the tIIre. rivers had altered. After further discussion the Commissioner sug- i gested that the board of conservators should rele- gate the wnole matter to a sub-committee to fur- ther consider the question. He wished to give them another opportunity of more maturely con- sidering the matter, because he was afraid that on the data he had gathered the Board of Agri- culture and Fisheries would refuse the applica- tion to reduce the licence from £ 5 to E4. Mr. Joseph Morgan: Then I shall resign. It is useless going on like this, because the- matter was relegated to a sub-committee so far back as April last. Mr. Phillips thought that as representatives of a public body the Board above should have a little confidence in the Conservators, who had come to the conclusion a case was made out. To say the Board was going to treat this proposal with con- tempt- Mr. Fryer: I won't argue the matter with you. I have put my points before you. The same amount of confidence you claim here the Board in London claims for itself. Mr. B .A. Lewis did not think it was courteous to a representative of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to say that their application was treated with contempt, especially by a membe.. who admitted he knew absolutely nothing about fishing (hear, hear and laughter). The Board had always given them the greatest consideration. Mr. Jos. Morgan suggested that the Board above should ascertain the state of the fishing at Ferryside, and the changes in the bed of thfe river. Mr. Fryer said he was told at the last enquiry it was not so much the want of fish, but the want of boots. It was not much use going to the draft- ing stations at this time of the year, but :f tiie Board desired any further investigation with tp- gaj-d to the physical configuration of the river he could come or send someone down later. But beds of rivers were changing every tide in some cases, let alone in the season, and they could hardly change the scale of licences every time they had a storm. Mr. Jos Morgan said if the finding of the Board above was detrimental to the fishermen earning a livelihood they would have to go inland to work or swell the ranks of the unemployed. Mr. Fryer: For a pound a year P Mr. Jos. Morgan: Just look at the ripatian owners. We have in Carmarthenshire «-niy three miles of water free for the public. Look at the amount of money we collect fro mthe people for licences, and the amount coming from the nt. fan owners. We are going to spend E40 on stocking the river with salmon peel. The fti-,ei • men who have to earn their living ought LJ he ccnsidered. They feel and justly feel, this is a fight between the riparian owners >nd those i-oor fishermen who have to earn their liveiiho Jll. The Commissioner (interposing): I must ask you not to put these suggestions before IM». I do not look at anything from that point of view (hear, hear). The whole object of the Salmon Acts is to increase the supply of food of the people. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries know the relations between the upper and lower classes, and I cannot allow the occasion of my visit here to be used simply for the purpose of making a political speech on what is, unfortunately, an unnecessary feeling between two classes of fishermen, whose interests are absolutely idntical. The interests of rod ifshermen are exactly the same as the in- terests of net fishermen, and we do not allow it to be suggested that there is any difference between them. The Chairman having thanked the Commis- sioner, the inquiry was closed.