The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

EDUCATION AND UNIONISM. The zeal in the cause of general education which has apparently been aroused among us of late is in itself a very satisfactory sign of progress. Bn t if we may judge of the nature of tile movement by the language employed in speeches and writings by its most ardent promoters, we are a long way yet from a real apprecia- tion of the liatme and extent of the advantages which we are to expect from the ditbision of elementary knowledge among the mass of the people. There seem to be very few indeed who are content to take their stand on the solid foundation of Faith. That education is iu itself a good—that, every educated man or woiuau is made a better man or woman thereby—better, not merely with a view to the fuliilmeut of this or that particular theory, but better calculated to satisfy the general purpose for which we exist on the earth—tuese are tnuus Wiiicii people do not deny, but which are too shadowy, too un- exciting, to form the stock of the orator and pamphle- teer. Every one, therefore, recommends education as the great auxiliary towards rendering people tit to carry bis own political or social notions into execution. Some people are all for educating our future masters," in order that the working classes, who are to govern the couutry, may treat us gently when they come into power. Mr Lowe d."he8 into the strange paradox that education is necessary because if the middle classes had been better educated they would never have allowed the Keform Bill to pass at all. Some urge its expediency because they have taken up the fancy that the Prussians beat the Austrians at Sadewa by reason of the superior ex- cellence of their primary schools. Sir James Kay Shut- t'.eworth, in his valuable memorandum ou popular edu- cation (of which we speak with not less respect because the accomplished author indulges iu a crotchet or two at starting), appears, in his character of a Lancashire man, to think that one great reason for a general systum of public education is to be found in the duty of counter- acting the auti-soeial doctrines held by the leaders of trade unions as to the relations of capital and lal,our." It is somewhat disheartening to hear such doctrines pro- pounded by men who are rendering in their way such excellent service, and to feel to what utter disappoint- ment ail such special and narrow anticipations are des- tined. Men .studied the stars in old days in order to learn h )w to prognosticate future events, and chemistry in order to make gold. Their expectations were delusive; but in the pursuit of their vain endeavours they struck out by the way two noble sciences. And in the same way philanthropists are now eager to send their fellow citizens to school, in order to make them better Tories, or better soldiers, or more contented workmen. Such dreams are probably no wiser than those of the astrolo- ger or the alchemist; but the exertions induced by them may result in the general improvement of the national character. Against the leading delusions which mislead mankind to their ruin, blind selfishness, partisanship, the sacrifice of truth to show, of "olill prospective advantage to the gambling chance of immediate gain against all these the educated classes in that inferior sense in which alone the phrase can be practically used are just as ill protected as those which lack education. We are now witnessing the collapse of that huge fabric of fraud and folly, the British railway system. A few speculators have been enriched by it, numberless f iniilies brought to poverty. We all see now, plainly enough, how a little more prudence, and a better com- prehension of their own interest, on the part of the mass of the owners of railway property would have averted the catastrophe. Were these uneducated people ? Was it lack of public instruction, good schools and colleges, and a "ministry of education, which delivered over these unresisting sunerers to be fleeced by directors, and contractors, and lawyers, and linaucers ?" Not in the slightest degree. A few, no doubt, wereioolish victors, such as always suffer on such occasions the majority knew well what they were about, and went into the con- cern ill the true spirit of gamblers. It was no subject of anxiety to them that the lines in which they were con- cerned were governed on principles under which they could not ultimately prosper. They looked only for higher interest fir their money than solid investments could give, and for a time they got it; an,1 for the chance of selling their property at a premium; after which, the deluge. Now, where is the difference in point of sagacity be- tween the motives which have actuated the mass of railway investors and those which have produced and keotup the spirit of trade unionism ? You reason with the members of the unions you prove to them, out of Adam Smith inefragably, that tluir proceedings must, in the long run, injure them by diminihiug the fund for the maintenance of labour. Awt wheu they turu a deaf ear to you, you lament their lack of education, and call out for" more schoolmasters. You mistake tliem. They are not acting iu ignorance but in that principle, mis- taken as regards the whole body who adopt it, but which you cannot prove mistaken as regards each individual gambler, that present gain to the individual is better worth securing than speculative gain to the whole body. One instance of a union havinr by its operations actually raised wages is worth more to then: than a hundred de- monstrations that unions only lower wages in the long run. You may call them, if you please, shortsighted and selfish to call them ignorant is to mistake the nature of the complaint under which they suffer. You might just as well call the brilliant summer assemblies which sit round the tibles of M. Benazet or his successor at Baden a pack of unellucated Philistines, and demand a local rate to send them to school, because it is demon- strable that the whole party taken together must, on the average, lose something in the course of the evening, otherwise M. Ileuazet's tallies could not subsist. We may be certain of this, that the true spirit of the giLtlll,ler-the spirit which tempts to grasp at immediate f'ain for oneself, and to trust to fortune for evading the certain loss which must follow to some (ille-is not a fiend to be exercised by schoolmasters with grammars and primers. No education avails aught against it ex. cept that of circumstances. The railway interest'' have learned their lesson now, and they will not easily forget it. The trade unions we may hope, ate learning theirs. Tbe process of learning tnay be and comparatively imperceptible. Mr Potter and Mr Conolly may go on elaborately proving to their audiences that two and two make live, when the audiences themselves are slowly turning away from tliem and looking foritelp in other directions or it may be violent and rapid, and attended with such calamities as to shake not only these associations themselves, but the very State of which they form component parts. But let us attribute social evils to their several causes, which lie deep in the nature of man and the laws of society, and not repeat the un- meaning phrase which ascribes them oil to the imper- fection of educational institutions. Nothing provokes a man more thau to be told, when he has mismanaged his i affairs, that he ought to have gone to school earlier, and had better go to school now. And there is nothing which the body of our working classes receive with greater irritation and contempt than the patronizing commisera- tion of those who lament their want of instruction, be longing themselves to the well-educated section of the community, iu which, of course, profligacy, and waste- fulness and gambling, and mismanagement are entirely k)ijkiioivii.-I)all Mall (iazettc.

It is believed that the Pope will shortly promulgate an energetic denunciation of the Fenians.

THE BANGOR MEMORIALISTS. Sm, -from a perusal or the memorial recently au. dressed to the Bishop of Bangor, of his Lordship's reply thereto, also of criticisms on the subject in the Birnumj- ham Post, I am induced to ask you to iusert iu your paper a few remarks. I woulù touch on nne topic only, namely this: Is a Clergyman's usefulness, especially in a Well1 district, atthistimo, likely to be determined solely by his merely ministerial services ? With reference to this question I would say that I think the proposition of the memorial ists largely to increase the .number of Curates, though doubtless emanating from disinterested and uptight motives, still premature and unwise. Such a proposi- tion recognises only what is merely official and sacer- dotal in the clergyman. It equally does away with whatever weight any clergyman may have as au indivi- dual, and with the influence ne iiasmtuerto oeeu cup- posed to have as a member of a body, designed for the general amelioration of society. In more senses than one should the clergy be "the salt of the earth." They should be enabled not ouly to discharge ministerial functions, but also to take their places in the van of our advancing civilization, and, as far as may be, by precept and example, to bring religion into the occupations aud habits of our ordinary life. If from poverty they are uuable to do this, if they are not so situated as generally to command respect from their flocks, the loss to the spiritual welfare of those very Hocks will be real and great. If religiou be made a mean thing, if its ministers are to be emphatically distinguished by want of culture aud by poverty, is it likely materially to affect our age ? We cannot suppose that economical considerations, true everyw here else, are untrue iu ecclesiastical matters. We cannot give a minimum of reward, we cannot pre- clude hope of advancement and success in the Church and yet expect that the better talent of the rising generation will be devoted to the Church. Yet what the memorialists would do is this: They would suddenly multiply services and create a demand for curates. These curates would have status only as officiating ministers; they would have scarcely any as pastors. Preferment would come with very tardy steps. The inevitable result would be, the intellectual and social degradation of the clergy, and hence serious detriment to the religion of the entire community. And if we consider the case of the Principality we shall at once perceive that much more than the mere performance of the service is req uired of the minister. Preaching is necessary.and the sermon to be acceptable mtiit not be destitute t eloquence, learning, and originality. If the clergyman be a person of some position if aho he plaiuly is a person of educated and refined habits, he will be the more useful. He is expected to sympathize with the intellectual requirements of the times, he must possess theological knowledge and be able to take his part in theological discussions. He is supposed to enjoy to a degree at leasta learned leisure. It is necessary that he be endued with a 'certain in- dividuality and iudepende ice of character. The wishes' of the memorialists perhaps scarcely point in such direction. Let thern remember the circumstances under which they actually live, and not seek to bring about con- ditions which the slightest examination must show to be unsuitable to our times, and in themselves unreal. I am. vour obedient servant, VIGIL.

UNIVERSITY AND MIDDLE CLASS EDUCATION IN WALES. Slil,-H.,tving now a second time, and flnally, redgned the work of travelling for the University Collegi of Wales I wish, by your permission, to state to those friends of Education in the Principality, and elsewhere, who have at my solicitation become subscribers to our Fund, tli tt this step, though originating in my own sole determination, has not been taken from any change of views respecting the merits of the euterpri-e, or any lack of resolution still to render it all the assistance I can afford. I deem it olle of the happiest allotments of my life to have been permitted to begin this work for the elevation of my native country.and prosecute it up to its present pretty well established position; aud it is not at all likely that my interest in what has cost me no little labour and anxiety, and is fitted to confer un. speakable benefit on Wales, will ever cease. We have a subscription list approaching £ 14,000 (to say nothing of land, and a large Museum of great value conditionally given us, and which may yet to some extent become available) and the noblest building iu the Principality, a Freehold, purchased for £ 10,00ij, as the future home of the Institution. What we now especially want, Ltiter gathering in all the promised subscriptions, is a Grant of Money from Parliament to completely finish the building, and carry on academic operations. Thc peuple of Wales have clearly as much right to assistance of this kind as those of Scotland or Ireland. But, the time has now come for opening up a wider field of action for the educational benefit of Walts. It is known to all that the cell tml idea of our scheme from the beginning has been Middle Ultiss Education of the amplest and most superior kiud. The present juncture is auspicious for the further development of that idea. Public opinion aud Parliamentary movements show that a crisis is at hand, not only as it respects popular or elementary, but Middle Class and University Educa- tion. Earl Russell's resolutions in the House of Lords, the Commission now sitting on Endowed Schools, and a measure in preparation on the subject of Endowment and Universities, are all signs of coming opportunity which we should be unwise to neglect. It has therefore been Stlgge.StCLI,-and in the sugges- I entirely concur—that a Council of Middle Class Education for Wales be formed for the special purpose of watching and encouraging Parliamentary action, in the interests of Wales, aud promoting the formation of unsectarian Middle Class Schools. Among the best educated and foremost itieu iu Wales there is but one opinion oil the importance and need of economical and efficient schools for the iddle Class, although many disapprove of tho idea uf a separate University. It is clear also that c. Uuiversity, even if obtained to-morroiv, or a first class College, without a concurrent supply of schools to prepare young men fur its higher studies, would be ill a great measure a thing of name and orna- ment ullIy-tue capital of a Corinthian column without the column to support it. lint ou this subject I hopo again soon to address you. I am, yours very truly, 3, Cra\'t'11 St., W.C" THOS. NICHOLAS. 3, Craven St., W.C„ London, Feb. 4th, 1868.

NORTH WALES TRAINING COLLEGE. SIR,—There are certain errors in your report of the proceedings of the committee of the Training College which require correction. 1st. There was not one Merionethshire Curate present, but there were four benficed clergymen from that county. 2. Mr Ellis did not charge the Clerical Secretary with having entrapped certain members of the committee by clling a special meeting to hear the report of her Ma- jesty's Inspector, but by absenting himself with the minute book, after having called that meeting. It wag well known that the college was ill a diiliculty because the finance committee would not act, and it was probably assumed that the members of committee, who met the Inspector, would solve the difficulty lay signing cheques for the amount required. This they did, after the finance committee had distinctly declined to act; alld then they are, with an air of triumph, chirged with having done an irregular act, and with having made themselves personally liable, as if the committee had not the power to set aside a linance committee who refused to do their duty, and to transact any other business, though the meeting had one special object. Mr Bulkeley Hughes stated that he had been present at special uieetiugs, at which other business had been transacted, but as the Clerical Secretary had neglected to take minutes of any special meeting, there was no written evidence to adduce, and it served his purpose to represent a meeting, of all others the most important, to hear II.M.'s Inspector's report, as of no moment, whereas that report is the committee's security that the college is in a satisfactory coudition and upon it depends the continuance of the government grant. I I designated such conduct'laying a trap, and though I withdrew the word trap in deference to the Iiishop, I cannot congratulate the Clerical Secretary on the im- pression which that proceeding has left upon the minds of more than one member of the committee. You have been instructed to say that Mr Boucher desired publi- city for the proceedings if he himself was allowed to be present. This is unhistorieal. He claimed to be present, because he is the only person competent, to afford trust- worthy information as to the affairs of the college, and lie asked for the admission of reporters in order to save the public, from such misstatements as you have been in- duced to publish. You are given to understand that both the secretaries have resigned. They certainly did uot tender their resignation to the committee but it is to be hoped they will have the prudence to anticipate their fate. Your informant might have told you that there was a balance of over £8!10 in favour of the college at the commencement of the year, notwithstanding the financial secretary's neglect to collect the subscrip- tions, his receipts amounting to only .£37 out of a list amounting to £ 121 or more. The public ought to know that it was decided, months ago, that until the Archbishop shall give judgment upon the appeal, the Principal must be treated, as he is in Jaw, as de facto Principal; but, to say nothing about the Clerical Secretary's attempt to conceal the fact that he had re- ceived any clllnmunieation from his grace, notwithstand- ing this decision, emphatically confirmed by the Bishop of St. Asaph, the secretaries have, without any instruc- tions from the committee, pursued a course of petty annoyance towards the Principal, a clergyman of high attainments and tilling a much more important position than that of a rector of a country living, and that con- duct has with marvellous patience been tolerated by the committee. Your informant ought to have told you the story of the handbill, which was printed by mistake, and iutended to iuform the good people of Carnarvon that the office of principal was vacant, and of au attempt made by one of the secretaries to force his way into the class-room of the college, in order, by flaunting it before the students, to create a rebellion. Ileought to have told you how his conduct was censured at the meeting on Tuesday, although he had said that it was with pain he performed a necesiary duty He might have told you (in his own aiitliority. while alleging that lie was acting under instructions, he tried to cause a separation between the Principal and the Vice-principal, by ignoring the former and tendering sums to the latter, .just to keep the college afloat, until the Archbishop's urged for ad- verse judgment should arrive, but all has been in vain. Truth and right prevail at last. It is well that the public should know also that I have been assured on the authority of a dignitary of thatdiocese that there were not four clergymen in the whole of St. Asapu, whatever may be their religious views, who do not regard Mr Boucher as a harshly treated man. P. C. ELLIS. I Llanfairfechan, Feb. 4, 1S66.

SrR,-Allow me to correct a mistake in yonr account of the ahoye meeting. Your informant says, "There was a large number of Merionethshire Curates" at the meeting. Allow me to inform yon there was not one Merionethshire Curate in the room. I ALPHA.

RITUALISM IN BEAUNTARIS-AN EXPLANA- TION. Sin,-Un(ler this heading, in your last impression, II. W. W." professes to be much surprised that a former correspondent should complain of ritualism having been introduced into Beaumaris church. 11. W. W." is puzzled to see where it is, for to him it seems" that the intoning of the service is the sore point' with your correspondent," and which in his eyes is very remotely if at all connected with ritualism. But it appears to me, and I have no doubt to many others, that there is a sorer "point" than intoning the service, brought under the notice of the public by the correspondence which appeared in your impression of the 18th inst. I refer to the very serious charge brought against the Rector of Beaumaris, that of having deceived Sir Richard Bulkeley. That charge has gone forth to the world, which has no alternative but to accept of it as the truth while it remains unchallenged and undisputed. Unless the Rev. John Williams can come forward, and sither disprove the truth of the statement, that he gave Sir Richard Bulkeley the promise of not introducing the practices of ritualism into the performance of divine service in Beaumaris church, or make evident that neither in his" iutoningr the service," nor in his bearing at the Communion table, is there a vestige or a trace of these so-called ritualistic practices, It will he obvious to all, that through most unworthy means, he has been and is now, performing the various functions of his high and sacred office, preaching the "word of truth," and dispensing the" bread of life" to perishing fellow-sinners, in the position to which he has attained the use of these means. In the interests of truth and justice, for the sake of the sacred cause of religion, and for the glory of the Master whom he professes 11 serve, it is to be hop el the Hev. John Williams can and will come forward, and wipe off the foul stain which now tarnishes his name and character. I am, your. truly, VERITAS VINCIT,

BEAUMARIS CHURCH SERVICES. SIR,-I beg, for the information of H. W. W. and the public generally to say that at a time when there was no afternoon service in Beaumaris Church. Dr Hill un- dertook the duty and did intone the Psalms, tc., in some slight degree, but conducted the service chiefly for his own pupils, and as he was well known in the town as a gentleman, a scholar, and a christian, no one felt inclined to object. Besides what was then done was so different from the performance of the Rev. J. Williams, as quite to justify the words of Sir Richard Bulkeley's letter. Certainly not to speak of the candles, the elevation of the cup, and other mummeries, the service under Mr Williams has been conducted in a manner totally new to us here,' so new and strange that were any other English service accessible, I should no longer worship in Beaumaris Church. PRO VERITATE. (We have omitted the remaining paragraphs in this letter, simply and solely because they are so personal as toiuvolvea question of libel. However wrong people niav be in their religious views or practices, the law will not permit us to call them fools and lunatics. Our correspondents must avoid this style of composi- tion, or their communications cannot be inserted. Clever and smartly-written letters are frequently put into our waste-basket from no other cause than their illegal personalities. -ED. N. W. C.)

ANGLESEY CONSTABULARY. Sitt,Perceivitig that the Chief Constable of Carnar- vonshire in his special report, dated the 25th ult., calcu- lates that the cost in the £ per unit of the force in this county amounts to £ 73, I believe that, according to the total net expenditure furnished, as having passed through my official accounts during the year ending September 29th, 1807, he is correct,; but as my state- ment contains several large sums, uamely, conveyance and subsistence of prisoners, prosecution of vagrants, &c., station house repairs, cattle plague expenses, and pay of additional constables, and other miscellaneous items chargeable on distinct rates, the unit cost (even after adding per contra contributions, and as due to the superannuation fund, to the net cost) will remain about Itifi, as against the pulice rates. Several unavoidable expenses were incurred last year, otherwise the cost per unit would not have exceeded the average limit. Yours respectfully, I). W. GRIFFITH, Chief Coustable, Cuuuty of Anglesey. Meuai Bridge, February 4, 18(38.

PER CENTAGE OF PASSES IN SCHOOLS. SIR,—As the writer of the paragraph relating to Con- way Schools, I have to thank aschool manager for point- ing out the error as to the per-centage of passes in Eng- land ani I Wales, and thus giving me an opportunity of explaining what might possibly lead to a charge of having made an attempt to elevate the Conway Schools by unfairly lowering others. The extreme right hand column on page 12 of the report (1866-67) has the heading Per-centage of the whole number of children examined in each standard, who passed completely under Standards." Through glancing at this too hastily, the precise meaning was missed, an,1 this column was erroneously looked upon as showing the gross per-centage of passes, whereas, it only shows the per-centage of children who passed in all the subjects. In this way, the number sixty-four (decimals omitted), which appears in the column named, was taken as representing a per-centage, which, as your correspondent clearly proves, is over eighty-three. By the Committee of Council, and a vast majority of school managers, reports and per-centages of passes are considered tests of etlicieucy not absolutely infallible tests, of course, but still, tests which indicate pretty cer- tainly, on the whole, the efficiency or inefficiency of the schools reported on. Whether this opinion is wrong, aud a school manager's right, or vice versa, is not for me to determine; but, I think, experience will give its ver- dict against him. I am, sir, Yours, &c., Z.

V E 11 S E S, Written by an Old Bachelor, to be sung by a Girl's School. An "Old Bachelor ought to be ashamed of himself to send us such limping lines for publication. We insert them, however, as a "warning" to others and to prove to our laity Teaders what "horrid stuff that disagreeable biped, an 01, Bachelor, can aoinetimes produce as a substitute for "rhyuie andreason, [Tune — "God save the Queen."] Think of our gracious Queen, Discarding -Crinoline Sistel's- and wives! Which means, curtail our skirt, From dragging through the dirt, Escaping fire and hurt, ltiskilig our lives, For all we learn and know, On them our thanks bestow, Teachers of youth. Long may her majesty, Learn us humility, To conquer vanity, Loving tho truth. Thus may we all progress, Taught by our Governess, How to behave. Come then assist our Queen, To banish crinoline, Exclaim with modest mien, Fashion's a slave. Now from her trammels free. Live in sincerity, Calm and serene. Join hands in unity, Charity—and purity, Singing in harmony, "Uod save the Queen." J. S. P.

THE CAMBKUN KAIIWAY COMPANY. Before Lord Justice Cairns, Jan. 13, 23. Railway Companies' A ct-Scltemc outside Creditors— i Injunction. Thi,i was a motion I)y the C;ttiil,ri,,tn I" tilw.ty C,)rii- pany, on appeal from V.O. Wood's order, auoteot which will be found in 2 Notes of C'as^s, 342. Mr G. -\i. Gifl',ml awl ..J r .\Iackeon were for the appellant. Mr Wilcock, Mr James, Mr Cotton, Mr A. Smith, Mr W, Cooper, Mr W. Pearson, Mr A. Ii. Lauglcy, Mr U. Morgan,and Mr J. Edlvards on behalf of landowners who had taken proceedings to enforce payment of the purchass-mouey of their lauds supported the V.C.'s order. HU Lordship held that although ill bi-i opinion out- side eieditors-i.e. creditors not inclizded, in the parti- cular classeH mentioned in tactions 10.15 of the Act— would not be bound by a scheme, even wheu duly eon- firmed by this Court .should, in itd discretion, think tit to do so, be restrained from prosecuting any action, &C., pending the discussion ef a selietiie, and that section 23 did not, as was contended in the CM ,e of landowner*, interfere with such power of the Court, the words in to I 11 that section nor shall anything ueremoerore couuuu»'u referring, in his opiuiou, only to the previous part of the section, and not of the Act. But though the Court had the power to grant the limited injunction before-men- tioned, it would not in its discretion exercise that power unless it saw that the proposed scheme contained proper and reasonable provisions for the payment of debt-s. The present scheme, however, was, ill his opiuiou, not of that character, as it provided for the payment of debts by issuing to the creditors bOlJd, and securities which might be of a very different value from cish pay- ment. His Lordship therefore thought the refusal of the Vice-chancellor to grant the injunction was right; but inasmuch as his honour had grounded his order upon a wrong construction of the Act, he varied the order by striking out a declaration which it contaiued, and gave no cost-i against the company. In the Equity Court on Thursday week, before Sir W. Page Wood, Mr G. W. Giffiril, Q.C., alld .Ilr W. \V. Mackeson moved for leave to file a new scheme in this matter, notwithstanding that the old scheme was still on the file. The three months within which a scheme, under the railway compauies act, 1S')7, must be assented to, in order to become binding and effectual, would, in this instance expire on that day. The motion was made On the affidavit of the company's solicitor, who set forth the order made by his houour on the 17th of December, and the (lecision of Lord Cairns ou the 11th of January last varying the same, and stated that it had become ab-olutely necessary to vary the scheme in order to make provision for the immediate satisfaction of the landowner I anti other creditor where ageLit4 were reqnired, and that a new scheme had been accordingly prepared. 1 Mr Druce, Q appeared for other ptrtiej. The Vice-chancellor made an order tint, notwithstand- ing the existence of the oi iginal scheme, the company might be at liberty t > file the now scheme forthwith, the company thereby undertaking to abide by any order the court migh t make in regard to taking the original scheme off the file, or in respect of costs, or otherwise, under the original schema and directed the order to be dated on Friday last, when the time would have run out. Before Vice-Chancellor Stuart.—Lewes v. Cambrian Railway Co. Railway Company—Specific Performance—Rcfcnnce as to Title. Thi was a Ruit for the specific performance of an agreement for the purchase of land by the company, and the only question ws whether the defendants were en- titled to a reference as to title. Th^pUiuufTs evidence showed that au abstract had been delivered, that the re- quisitions thereon had been answered, and that a convey- ancehad been prepared and engrossed. Ou the ot her, hand, the defendants by their anower denied that they had accepted the title, although they did not dispute the plaintiff's evidence. Mr Ii;\c >n and Mr Archibald Smith, for the plaintiff. Mr Greene and Mr Fry for the defendants. Stuart, V.C. hel,l that the title had been accepted.

BETILEJSDA. LOCAL hOMW OF HEALTH. The monthly meeting of the Bethesda Local Board of Health was held on Saturday last, the 1st iustant, in the usual room at the Douglas Arms Hotel, when the following members were presentCaptain Ircilillilger, iu the chair Archdeacon Evans Mr William Parry Mr Hichard Hughes; and Mr Kiehard Owens, Mr W. Y. Hardie, clerk, waj likewise present. The Chairman read the minutes of the previous meeting. The Flagging of Hiyh-strect.-The Clerk reported that the committee appointed at the last meeting to examine the flJutpatl" iu High-street iu order to ascer- tiiu the state of the flagging, &c., had not sent iu any report. The Chairman (who was not present at the previous meeting) remarked that iu the minutes he saw nothing relating to the quality of the tlags to be used, only the thickness of them, whereas the quality was the more important uititter,of the two. The hard part of the slate rock was the best for flagging purposes. The Clerk stated that the board had not decided to have the whole of the footpaths fhgged-those who had pebbling before their houses now were to be allowed to Continue them. The Chairman expressed surprise that such a thing should be permitted by the board. There must be uniformity in the footpaths, or how could they compel one persou to flag whiUt another was allowed to use peb- bling. There would be nothing but confusion unless the board insisted upon uniformity. Mr Richard Hughes observed that there were a num- ber of persons who had paved before their houses twenty years ago, and it was as good theu as now and he did not see why they should be compelled to take up the paving in order to put the flags in their places. He wished to know whether the board had power to com- pel such persons to flag the footpath? The Chairman said if they did not adopt a uniform system and flag the whole of the footpaths, they had better, in his opinion, let the matter alone altogether. A mixed plan of that kind would never answer. The Clerk replied that the board had the power to compel all persons to flag before their houses. Archdeacon Evans admitted thoy had the power, but it was a matter of courtesy with the board in reference to the ratepayers. Mr William Parry observed that at the first lie was in favour of allowing those parties whose pavement was in a good state, to keep it so but he had since considered the matter over in his mind, and he had come to the conclusion that it would be much better to have all the footpaths flagged, so that they may all be uniform. He had paving before his own house, but lie was quite wil- ling to take it up and to put flags in its place. After some further conversation, it was decided to postpone the further consideration of the question until after the committee had sent in their report. Caclhvynyrydd Drainage —It was ordered at the pre vious meeting that notices should be sewed upon all the owners of houses in Caelhvyngrydd to make drains from their houses to the main drain there and which had beeu made at the expense of the board. The Clerk reported that all the notices had not been served owing to there being some difficulty in fmdiug out where all the owners resided. He then proceeded to explain to the Chairman how the drainage matter stood there. A great number of houses had been built on one side of the hill for some two or three hundred yards or more, but out of that number only three lit(il made drains from their houses to the main sewer, but they threw the slops upon the surface, and the drain was only used to take away the surface water. But beyond these houses there were others which could not, from their position, be drained into the main sewer, and to do this another main drain would have to be made which would be a very large undertaking, and the board could not well decide upon that in the absence of Lord Penrhyn. Archdeacon Evans remarked that the houses alluded to by Ilr llardiehad a natural drainage in a brook which ran past in the hollow; and he must say that the place ivust be healthy, as he never found any bad smells when visiting there, which he did occasionally. Alr Richard Hughes said he did not see why the board should go to so much expense of making drains there, as they paid but a very little to the rates. Mr Parry thought they should be treated in the same way as they were at Pantdrainiog, as they were placed iu precisely the same circumstances. Tae Chairman remarked that the question had better be postponed until the whole of the notices had been served, and then they could come to a decision upon it. The matter was, therefore, postponed until the next meeting. The Steeds at the back of Captl Mazer.-Tlie board at their last meeting refused an application to erect a shed at the back of the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, as in their opinion it could not be done without its causing a great nuisance. At this meeting Mr Thomas lloberts applied for permission to build three sheds, with privies, in the same place. In the conversation which followed, it was shown that the privies would be close to the chapel wall, and that the moisture would necessarily percolate through the soil 1 under it; also that there was a drain not far from the corner end of the chapel, and that if the sheds were made with their fronts the reverse way to what was shewn on the plan, then a drain might be made at the back of the sheds to take the drainage matter to the sewer at the said corner. The surveyor (Mr Hughes) was directed to see Mr Roberts, and to explain that point to him, and in the meanwhile the board would withhold its decision on the subject. The Bilh.—The monthly accounts were then produced and checked, and were ultimat-ly passed. Amongst the number was X 11 6.1 for the Brynteg drainage; but as the work was not quite completed, it wa., decided to give a cheque f.»r £ 1". The Inspector said that he had made no report, ,tF; tlkere %vas ii(,tliing to rei)ort iii) )ii. The Chairman reunited Li I:tt the rnillenium must cer- tainly have arrived at Bethesda if there were nothing in the shape of nuisances t > complain of. Ocrlan—Outstanding Accounts.— This subject having been introduced and discussed, it was ordered that the several accounts of money due and owing from various freeholders at Gerlau, be immediately made out by the Clerk and sent in, with the view of having them col- lected in as speedily as possible. This concluded the business of the meeting. PLORGHTSG MATCH.—On Saturday last a ploughing mtch, open to the district, took place at Bethesda in a field belonging to Mr John Thomas, Ddenvendeg. and who has been for a gre,it many years an accountant at the PellhYll Slate Ijllarry-tL-e farm in question, Tan-y. clwt, being formerly held by Mr Thomas's mother, who lived in the bouse attached to the farm, and not at Dderwendeg, which is opposite to the corn ruin Oil the oppoMte side of the river. It W,18 arranged that live I prize should be given to the five best ploughers, and the necessary funds were obtained by Mr Thomas and his friend.tl,e latter being principally connected with the quarry. The judges wert-Ir William Iiiiglie,, Were, Bangor; and Mr Hugh Roberts, formerly employed on the Penrhyn Cactle farm at Tynewydd. The held to he ploughed was a piece of meadow land, about half of which was a Miff loamy soil, and the other half being somewhat rough and gravelly. Eight teams made their appearance; and although there was a stif fgale blowing in the morn- ing (the fag-end of the tempest, which blew the whole of Friday night), the weather was dry though very raw and cold. A large number of person* were preseut the whole of the aft, riioon, cold as it was, as the match caused considerable interest, as some of the competitors were famous ploughmen, and had carried otl prizes in other aud larger fields. It was quite evident that the men exerted themselves to the utmost and did their very best to win, and the work was of a char- acter. It was nearly five o'clock wheu the l ist allot- ment was finished, and then the judges put in an ap- pearance and commenced their task, which, to the unini- tiated in ploughing, did not by any meant) seem to be a very easy one. 'I'lie f,ll(,witig %vei-e the iwar(f, with the amount of the prizes given: —1st pi iz, 12 ll,s Od, Mr Thomas, Llanddeimven ploughman, Evan Th >UMS, his son. 2nd prize. [2 (I; 0,1, plpughmiln, Owen William^ Llanllechid. Third ptize, £ 1 lUs Od, Mr J«-hn li berts, Coed liowell, Llandegai; ploughman, Owen Jones. Fourth prize, £ 1 Os Od, Mr Evan Evans, Lr« n'jowen, Bangor; ploughmau, Robert Williams; and the fifth prize, £ 0 iOs Od, Vr Griiffth Jones, Vodel, Bangor; ploughman, John Humphreys. The decisions gave general satisfaction, as they were pretty much in accord* i auce with the opimous «>t the more knowing w tne lookers-on. The winner of the fir-t piize was quite a lad; and it was remarked that one of his two horse» was an old veteran mare twenty-two years of age. The owners of the teams, the ploughmen, aud several personal friends d Mr Thomas's then retired to Dderwen* deg, where they partook of an excellent dinner kindly provided by Mr alit Mrs Thomas, to which of course, extra justice was done. The men connected with the teitus were likewise treated to refreshments at the adjoining inn. The above was the only ploughing match which has taken place at Bethesda for many years past.

CARNARVON. BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The ordinary fortnightly meeting (if this board was held on Saturday lil-t, tue ht iI,stant. Present- Mr Richard Hughes, chairman Mr Robert jone-5, vice-cliairti) iii Messrs. Ellis Griffith, Bettws Garmon William Jones, Clynm>g Thomas Richardson and Griffith Parry, Carnarvon; Hugh Hughes, Llaudwrog Owen Jones and Evan Evans, Llanwnda George Rawness and Humphrey illiams, LlanUyfni; John Griffith, Llanrug; William Owen, Llaufuirisgaer; Robert Roberts, Llanheris Robert Jones, Samuel Jones, and William llugh-'S, Llanddeiu- iolen; John Hughes, Llanidan and Hugh Thomas, Llangeiuwen. The minutes of the previous meeting were read by the Clerk, and confirmed. Increase of Salary.—The Clerk said that it had been resolved at the last meeting to take into consideration to-day the application made by Dr Jones, medical officer of the Anglesey District, for an advance of salary, from jC35 to £ 50. Mr Robert Roberts asked if Dr Jones did not know what his salary would be, at the time of his appoint- ment ? The Clerk explained that at the time Dr Jones was appointed medical-officer there was a talk about in- creasing the salary, several guardians remarking that that was necessary, and Mr Hugh Thomas made a motion to that effect, which, however, the guardiani considered premature, and they did not think it would look very well in them to raise the salary at the time of appointment. It was understood since then that this application would be made, and the guardians promised to give it a fair consideration. In answer to the Chairman, Mr W. Ellis, the reliev- inc-officer, said that the district was worked bv Mr Jones remarkably well, and that gentleman was likely to become very popular. The Chairman maintained that the Anglesey Guar- dians were generally as economical as any of the Guar- dians, but they felt that something must be done in this matter, it being very inconvenient for the doctor to cross the Straits. Dr Jones, having been admitted into the room, stated that he wished to have the salary iucreased to zE50, which, as the Anglesey Guardians could say, was not a bit too much. He give medicine on at) average to about fifty persons per week, and he had to ti-averiie a very wide range of country. His present salary was only D5. which was very inadequate, as ho had to pay very heavy travelling and other expensi8 out of his own poeket. Mr David Thomas, relieving-officer for the Carnarvon District, said that he had about thirty sick poor on an average on his books. Mr Bowness said that the guardians would be willing enough to give Dr Jones the £ 15 advance, if he cunld satisfy them that it was fair he should get it. He wanted Dr Jones to produce statistics of the work performed by him, so as to be a basis for them to go by. Other doctors had done the same work for £ 35. The Chairman said that they had some time ago a doctor with a full diploma, but who resigned because the salary was too small, and it was evident they could not get a fully qualified medical gentleman to fill the office satisfactorily for zC;35 a year. Mr Hugh Thomas said that the Anglesey Guardians had been considering the application before coming to the board, and they were unanimously in favour of acceding to it. The way in which Mr Jones fulfilled the duties of the post was very satisfactory, and he (Mr Ihomas) therefore proposed that the application be granted. Mr Samuel Jones said that if the gentleman con- ducted himself so very creditably, he deserved to be taken notice of. Mr Richardson remarked that the application was a very reasonable one, and ought not to be refused. Mr John Griffith seconded Mr Ihomass motion. Mr Bowness said that Dr Jones had promised at the previous meeting tc bring statistics here to-day to show that he was not pairlin proportion tothe work performed hy him. It was necessary that the guardians should have some basis to go by, or else the other officers might come and ask for an advance. He therefore moved as an amendment that the increase be )tilv ;CIO. The Vice-chairman appealed to Mr Bowness not to occasion any delay, as it was necessary that the question shouSl be finally settled, and they must rely on the testimony given by the Anglesey Guardians and the Relieving-officera. Mr Bowuess ultimately withdrew his amendment, and the original motion was carried unanimously. Dr Jones then thanked the guardians, and retired, the Chairman jocosely remarking that they would be much better pleased if he would come to reside among them. The It' () i-khoii,e I-artl,-Tlie Clerk read the following letter from the Poor Law Board "Poor Law Board, Whitehall, S. W., 22ud January, 1868. Sm,-I am dir. cted by the Poor Law Board to ac- knowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 10th and 18th instant, and to state that they now approve and Isth iilst"Lllt, generally of the alterations which the guardians propose to make with the view to effect certain improvements at the Carnarvon Union Woikhouse as recommended by Mr Doyle, Poor Law Inspector. The board are how- ever of opinion that the airing courts for the children when divided as proposed will be small, aud they re- quest to be informed what number of boys and girls will use them and what means < if exercise are allowed to the children beyond the workhouse premises. The board return the specifications which accom- panied your letter of the 10th instant, and on being in- formed by the guardians of the estimated cost of the intended works, the board will be prepared to authorise the necessary expenditure. ato sit, oj Your obedient servant, H. FLEMING, Secretary To John Thomas, Esq., Clerk," &e.