Barry Dock News

Owing to a difficulty of securing a suitable NEW POLICE STATION site, the scheme for AT the erection of a new CADOXTON BARRY. Police Station at Cad- oxton-Barry has been deferredifor some time. •Buring the past week, however, representatives of the Glamorgan County Council and Joint Police Committee have inspected a most con- venient piece of land opposite the Wenvoe Arms Hotel, in Vere-street, on which at present stands the old house and premises known as The Cot, which will no doubt form an ideal site for a Police Station, being centrally situated, and in close proximity to the Railway Station. It is probable this site will be adopted. Under the auspices of the South Wales and TECHNICAL CLASSES West of England Federa- FOR tion of Master Bakers' HARRY BAKERS. A sso oi a tiona, arrange- ments have been made for a special visit of the confectionery lecturer of the National Associa- tion to different centres of South Wales and the West of England during July and August. Classes, both theoretical and practical, will be held on Monday and Tuesday of each week in Bristol: on Wednesday, at Neath and on Thursday and Friday, at Cardiff. The Classes at Cardiff will he open to sons, forehands, and "journeymen of all master bakers of the district, including Barry, Penarth, &c., and the pro- moters hope that the bakers of the Barry .district will take full advantage of these special facilities afforded them. Private classes (at which any special subject will be taught) will be held from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m., the fee for the series being only X2 2s and the open classes will be from 6.30 to 8.30 p.m. each day, the fee -for the series being £ 1 Is. Notwithstanding the fact that the National TELEPHONE FACILITIES Telephone Company AT BARRY. have removed their Call-room in Kings- land-crescent, Barry -Docks, to larger and more central premises in Thompson-street, where they have also con- siderably extended facilities for the accommo- dation of the public, they have taken what is apparently a retrograde step in one particular. At the former premises, provision was made in the form of a speaking-room whereby the general public might speak to subscribers, but .at the new premises we understand no such provision is intended to be made. This, in many instances, will be found to be a great in- convenience, and already this inconvenience has begun to be felt, so much so that steps are .likely to be taken to appeal to the National 'Telephone Company, either through the District Council or the Ratepayers' Association, to supply the defect referred to. There has always been a speaking-room at Barry up to the present, and we are convinced, when representations have been made to the Company on the matter, that they will not withhold from Barry, facilities which are supplied to the public of Penarth and other smaller towns. In the last issue of -Fire and Water IS IT RETROGRESSIVE ? appeared an editorial note under the signifi- cant head of Retro- gressive." The writer, who evidently had com- paratively littleor no information at his command, stated that the Barry Council had, in a fit of "economy," decided to relax their precautions against fire. This accusation is as far from the 0 truth as it well can be so far, indeed, that there is I probably no town of its size in the Kingdom with more efficient means at its command than Barry, for coping with outbreaks of fire which may take place. It must be borne in mind that Barry is a town happily supplied with an abundance of water, and this supply is always available for any emergency which may arise. The Barry Company's General Offices are pro- vided with a special system of fire extinquishing -appliances, and there is not a building along the whole of the dockside that could not be efficiently reached by hoses worked by-the dock fire floats. There is only the town itself, there- fore, to be considered so far as the municipal arrangements again ire are concerned. This being the casf* thire is not a building in the town, with th-, exception of five or six houses near the top of Weston Hill — and most of these are unoccupied-which could not be adequately dealt with by the manual arrange- ments, which are always at hand in connection with the four police stations in the town. The steam fire engine, and the Fire Station, are, therefore, luxuries as costly as they are need- less, and the District Council have, under the circumstances, adopted a very sensible course in deciding to dispense with the steam fire engine, and to convert the station to other uses. Those who are acquainted with the town from its cradlehood know full well that Barry has never experienced a fire which has not been promptly and effectively subdued by the police and manual arrangements. The steam fire engine has never been in use during the three years it has been in the town. There is not in fact, a building in any part of the town an outbreak of fire in which could not be fully coped with by the manual facilities. The criticisms of our contemporary may apply to many towns, but in the case of Barry they have practically no bearing in fact, and are, there- fore, not fair comment upon the action of the local authority in this matter.

BARRY EDUCATION COM- MITTEE: APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS. MR. J. A. HUGHES' REPLY TO MR. MEGGITT. To the Editor of the "BARRY DOCK NEWS." Sir,—I have read with much interest the letter of my friend Mr Meggitt, which appeared on this subject in your last issue, and I take the first opportunity of putting my view of the question before your readers. Under the Education Act, 1902, St. Helen's Roman Catholic School passed under the control of a body of Managers one third of whom are appointed by the Education Committee. The Act gives the Managers certain powers, some of which require confirmation by the Town Education Committee, and some of which do not. The Act gives the Managers of the School the power of appointing and dismissing all teachers, subject to the power of the Education Committee to veto any appointment on education grounds. Mr Meggitt and those who think with him practically say to the Managers of St. Helen's School that if they will give up the power of appointing Teachers, the Education Committee will place St. Helen's Roman Catholic School on the same basis as the Board Schools in the Town. My view of the matter is that it is not right for the Education Committee to endeavour to impose upon the Managers conditions which are at variance with the spirit of the Act of Parliament. The question of the appointment of Teachers in Voluntary Schools was fully discussed in the House of Commons last year, and by a large majority it was decided that the appointment of teachers (subject to the veto referred to above) was to be left in the hands of the Managers, and not to be given to the Education Committee. I think that the Barry Education Committee is an administrative and not a legislative authority, and that it is their duty to loyally carry out the Act. If every local authority is to assume the right of carrying out, or not carrying out, the law this country will soon be reduced to chaos. The neighbouring country of Ireland is an example of the misfortunes which follow on the Local Authorities attempting to assume powers and duties which properly belong to Parliament. Personally I am of opinion that it would be much better if all the Voluntary Schools in the Kingdom (which are practically almost entirely maintained out of public monies) had been put under public control, but this is a matter which must be settled by Parliament and not by local authorities. In a democratic country like ours there is no occasion to resort to open or veiled opposition to any law to get it altered. We make our own laws, and we can alter them without anything approaching to lawlessness. The Daily Chronicle," a paper which has done more for real democracy than any other British paper, in a leading article dealing with this subject, says that it is a device for evading the spirit of the Act, while the observance of the letter is maintained, and that there remains the future danger that the enemies of progress will learn how to turn the weapon against the Liberal Party in order to bring this administration of future Acts to a standstill." In Wales we Liberals and Nonconformists are in the majority, but in England the reverse is the case, and if we determine to administer this Act in accordance with our own personal views and wishes, then the Conservatives and Churchmen in England m,y do the same in the opposite direction. If the policy adopted by Mr Meggitt is approved by a majority of the Education Committee, the following will be the result in Barry :-First, The teachers in St. Helen's Roman Catholic Schools will continue to be paid at a much lower rate than similar teachers under the Board Schools. This practically means that the [teachers will be penalised because they are teachers in a Roman Catholic School. As a Liberal and Nonconformist I have always been taught to believe in the removal of all religious disabilities, and I do not believe that Teachers doing the same work should be paid at a much lower rate because they are teachers in a Roman Catholic School. Dr Macnamara and Mr.Tackroan have prepared a statement of the financial results of the Act in each locality. They estimate that Barry will receive from the Imperial funds a sum of dSl,874 per annum in excess of what the Town formerly received, and they estimate that of this £299 will be required to level up St. Helen's School to the same standard as the Board Schools, leaving a sum of £1,612 per annum which will go in relief of the rates. If Mr Meggitt's view is adopted by the Education Committee, no portion of this sum of £ 1,874 will go to St. Helen's School, although a certain portion of it is paid by the Government in connection with St. Helen's School. The second result will be that the best teachers at St. Helen's School will probably get appoint- ments elsewhere. Some towns in England have already decided to place Voluntary Schools on the same basis as Board Schools, and there is little doubt that, generally speaking, this will be the course adopted in England. We cannot expect teachers to remain here if they can get better salaries elsewhere, nor can we expect to get good teachers at poor salaries if other authorities are paying better salaries. The consequence will be that St. Helen's School will deteriorate as a school, and the Roman Catholic children of Barry will not have as good an education as the other children in the town. On looking round the civilized world I find that the three most educated countries — America. Germany, and England-are Protestant, whilst the two worst educated-Spain and Italy-ttre Roman Catholic. Again, in the United Kingdom, Scotland is the most educated portion, and also the most Proteefcaij t, whilst Ireland is the least educated portion, and the most Roman Catholic. It seems to me that education is on the side of Protestantism and progress, and I cannot understand what possible advantage there can be in depriving Roman Catholic children of the best facilities we can give them for education. The Education Bill contains some clauses which I strongly disapprove of, but I hoped, when it passed into law, that it would remove the great question of Education from the sectarian fights which have done so much to injure education in the Country. In the past the Education Authority was elected chiefly on sectarian lines, and I believe all educationalists agree in saying that our educational policy in the past in this country has been decided more on questions of sectarian feel- ing than on true lines of educational policy. America and Germany, our great rivals in the trade of the world, are already far ahead of us from an educational standpoint, and if we are to hold our own in the future it is absolutely necessary that everthing should be done to improve ,our education system, and this can never be done if the education authorities decide their policy on sectarian rather than educational lines. Some of the statements in Mr Meggitt's letter are inaccurate, and he introduces some personal matters which I venture to think are not worthy of the discussion of this great principle or of him- self, but I do not wish to refer to them, as it seems to me that such arguments only introduce prejudice and heat into the discussion without in any way assisting at the arrival of a right decision.—Yours truly, J. A. HUGHES. Barry, 9th June, 1903.

BARRY DISTRICT COUNCIL. MONTHLY MEETING OF THE MEMBERS. BARRY TO COLCOT NEW ROAD SCHEME. DEFEATED AFTER LONG DISCUSSION. THE OLD LANE WILL PROBABLY BE WIDENED. BARRY DIRECTORS AND MORE DRY DOCK ACCOMMODATION. The monthly meeting of the Barry Urban District Council was held at the Council Chamber, Gas and Water Offices, Barry Docks, on Monday evening last, when the members in attendance were Mr J. A. Manaton, J, P. (chairman), Mr J. Arthur Hughes (deputy-chairman), Alderman J. C. Meggitt. J.P., Mr J. H. Jose, Mr James Jones, Mr J. Milward, Mr A. Ti, White, Mr D. Lloyd, and the Rev Ben Evans, with Mr T. B. Tordoff (clerk), Mr J. C. Pardoe, A.M.I.C.B. (surveyor), and Mr C. B. Brown (accountant:) RHOOSE WATER SUPPLY. Mr Milward enquired what were the special arrangements made with the landowners in con- nection with the water supply to Rhoose ? The Chairman Mr Milward knows as well as the rest of the members of the Council. No arrangements have been made with the landowners; we simply supply the water to the Llandaff and Dinas Powis Rural District Council in bulk, and they will make all arrangements with the land- owners. NEW ROAD FROM BARRY TO COLCOT. Mr Milward enquired whether he would be in order in moving a resolution with reference to the recommendations of the Public Works Committee, with regard to the proposed construction of a new road from Romilly-road Schools to the junction of Barry-road and Colcot-road, in face of the motion of which Mr Jose had given notice ? The Chairman suggested that Mr Jose might move his resolution forthwith, so as to pub Mr Milward in order. Mr Jose accordingly moved that all resolutions dealing with Colcot-road be rescinded, so as to take into consideration the desirability of constructing such portions as the Public Works Committee may deem necessary, and also the construction of a road from Holton Buildings to Pontypridd-road. This was duly seconded and agreed to. Mr Milward then moved an amendment to the recommendations of the Public Works Committee in reference to the scheme for the new road between Romilly-road School and Colcot-road. He was, he explained, entirely unconvmected with any syndicate interested in land in the district, and was, therefore, at liberty to speak freely on this subject. According to the scheme submitted by the Public Works Committee, the Council were prepared to undertake the liability of making a road, 1,020 yards in length, from Romilly-road School to the junction of Barry-road and Calcot- road, at a cost of £3,592, irrespective of £ 252 for fencing. The Committee, however, had not included in their estimate a sum of at least £1,000 which it would cost to lay out as a park the seven acres of land which would be given by the Estate Company in conjunction with the road. This figure was rather under than over estimated. .1 The fencing of the park, 2,000 yards, including gates and posts, would mean another £750. Then there would be a caretaker's lodge to be provided, including tool house, conservatory, and cooling frames for flowers, which he estimated would cost a further sum of at least £ 600. Water rate and other rates and taxes he put down at £ 37 10s per year, which, capitalised over a period of 23 years, at 3i per cent., would mean £ 1,000. Then the Council would have to employ three men and a boy, with horse and cart, to look after the park this would mean £ 7 per week,or £360 a year. Added to this sum, Mr Milward said, they should take into account the sum of JS261, the Surveyor's estimate for short roads off the proposed new road and £ 1,020, half cost of the lower road, making a total of £18,075, from which would have to be deducted £ 3,381, the estimated cost of the old road, includ- ing fencing, bringing the net cost of the proposed new road to £14,694, or no less than £ 2,000 an acre for what wa,s said to be a handsome gift of seven acres of land to the Council. The figures which he had submitted were based in each instance on a low estimate. Looking at the matter from a ground landlord's point of view, he calculated the entire frontage of the gift of land at 5,160ft., which would provide 258 building plots of 20ft. each frontage, say at £ 3 each, making a total of L774 a year, which, capitalised at 23 years' purchase, would mean jE17,802 increased value of the land. He considered the Council had done too much of this sort of thing already, and if the ground landlords wanted the road they should make it themselves. He contended these figures would bear comparison and investigation, and he felt that the Council were not justified in carrying out the scheme, which was merely an adventure. The town was already full of white elephants, and, with the exception of the gas under- taking, there was not a single public undertaking in the town which was in any way remunerative. Mr Milward added that the Council were not justified in launching upon an expenditure of £ 14,000 in the construction of a new road when the town could be equally well served by the widening of the existing road at a cost of £ 3,000 or £ 4,000. Mr Milward concluded by moving as an amendment that the old road be widened to 60 feet instead of the construction of the new road. Mr D. Lloyd seconded. Mr Jose said he too was quite unconnected with any syndicates. He would have preferred if the figures submitted by Mr Milward had been published, so that an opportunity might be given to duly consider them before passing a resolution thereon. The Public Works Committee certainly did not view the matter in the same light as Mr Milward did, neither did Mr Milward himself advance these arguments at the Committee meeting. Mr Jose reminded Mr Milward that it was not intended to put up the fencing for a period of five years. The making of the new road, or the widening of the old road was an absolute public necessity. and the estimated difference between the entire cost of the new road and the widening of the old road was only £ 463. He thought, therefore, the making of the new road was much the better scheme, for, in addition to having the new road, possessing therefrom an excellent view of the channel and surrounding country, they would also have, as they had already heard, as a gift from the Barry Estate Company, who gave up the land for the purpose, a depth of 135 feet. about seven acres in extent, along the line of the proposed road, which it was proposed to use for public gardens. The laying out of this land in the manner I suggested by Mr Milward had never entered the minds of the Committee such a course would be altogether too expensive. Everyone knew that the present road between Barry and Colcot was in every sense dangerous, and if anything serious should happen there the Council would be- morally if not legally responsible, and he considered it was their duty to carry out this long deferred improvement as soon as possible. The Council should not be led away by fancy tales and fancy figures sprung upon them by Mr Milward without notice or without due consideration. If they widened the old road they would have to carry out the private improvements on both sides of the road, but in the case of the new road only on the south side, for the landowners would undertake to do the private improvements on the j north side. Taking all the circumstances into consideration, he was convinced that the new road scheme would be the cheapest and most advan- tageous to the town, and be hoped the Council would adopt this scheme. Mr Milward reminded the Council that this was only a section of a greater scheme to construct a new main road from Barry as far as the public arattoir at Cadoxton, at a cost of £ 60,0C0, and he thought the Council ought to be very careful, in the present state of the district, how the public money was expended. Rev Ben Evans said the old road had served the purposes of that district for many years, and he did not think the traffic over the road had in- creased very much. The Barry Estate Company were prepared to give a piece of land for the for- mation of a new road it was true, but he should like to know whether they had a guarantee from the other landlords that land would be forthcom- ing for the construction of the remainder of the road. Without such a guarantee he did not think they would be justified in proceed- ing with this scheme. Let them take the Gladstone road for instance the greater portion of this road had been completed for nearly four years, but there was a portion at Cadoxton not yet completed owing to the difficulty with the landowners. The Council has already several big schemes in hand. There was the small pox hospital scheme, whether temporary or permanent; then there was the Shelter at Barry Island. The Education Committee would also have to spend some £ 15,000 or £ 20,000 on the erection of schools in the near future, and a con- siderable portion of this sum would have to be spent almost immediately. They should be care- ful, therefore, to have the necessary guarantee before committing themselves to any further new schemes. He did not know whether they had public opinion with them in this matter. He thought the Council would be consulting its own dignity, and influence, and responsibility if they ascertained the feeling of the ratepayers, and took the public with them in this matter. This was the first time he had heard of this scheme, and he did not know whether the publie had had an opportnnity of discussing it. Until this had been done, and until the guarantee which be had suggested had been obtained, he felt it would be his duty to vote for the amendment. Mr J. A. Hughes said as a shareholder of the Barry Estate Company he would not be able to vote on this question, but he was quite entitled to speak. The question of this new road was one upon which the ratepayers of the West Ward felt very strongly, and more than one local election had been fought upon it. He pointed out the many disadvantages and inconveniences attendant upon the existing lane, which he believed was the worst bit of road in the whole district, and inas- much as it was the main approach from Barry to the County School and to the Cemetery, the new road should have been made long ago. But the question was, which was the best scheme ? The one scheme was to widen the existing road, which unfortunately was in a hollow, but the line of the proposed new road was on the brow of the hill, from which a commanding view would be obtained, and the land which would not be required for the road might be utilised for public gardens. The making of this road to a width of 60ft., and a length of 1.020 yards, was estimated to cost £ 3,592, with j6252 in addition if the road was to be fenced, whereas the widening of the old road to GOft., and a length of 897 yards, would cost £3,159, and the fencing an additional £222. If the town would not continue to grow as it was anticipated it would, the laying out of the land on the south side of the new road for public gardens would not, of course, be carried out for a number of years, but the land could in the meantime be utilised for allotments. At the same time he hoped to live to see the whole length of new road made from Barry to Cadoxton, but whether the greater scheme was carried out or not the present scheme was complete in itself, and it was greatly needed. He hoped therefore, the Council would adopt the suggestion of the Committee. Mr White endorsed the remarks of Mr Hughes that the views of the electors of the West Ward had on two occasions been expressed in favour of this roan. The ratepayers of Barry almost to a man were in favour of the new road scheme, ^especially when it was considered it would only cost £ 463 more than the widening of the old road. He was prepared to admit that it would benefit the landowners, but the town generally, and this part of the district in particular, would also benefit in equal proportion, for he was convinced that the making of this road would enable a better class of property to be put up, and consequently a better class of tenants would be attracted to the district. The Chairman was surprised that the Rev Ben Evans had not heard of this scheme before. It had been under consideration by the Council for fully three years. It was part of a bigger scheme, no doubt, but it was also a complete scheme in itself, and, as had already been pointed out, if the new road was made the ratepayers would only have to pay for private improvements on one side In his opinion this scheme was undoubtedly the best of the two. Mr James Jones asked what were the conditions under which the land was obtained from the Barry Estate Company ? The Chairman replied that the conditions were fully explained in the minutes before the meeting. A vote was then taken, when Messrs J. Milward, D. Lloyd, James Jones, and the Rev Ben Evans supported the amendment and the Chairman, Messrs J. C. Meggitt, J. H. Jose. and A. T. White voted for the adoption of the proposals of the Committee, the Chairman also giving his casting- vote for the latter. At a later stage of the meet- ing, the Clerk pointed out that the resolution would not be legally effective unless passed by the votes of two-thirds of the members. This being the case, the recommendations of the Committee were lost. Mr Meggitt next proposed that the fencing be not put up until the land had been covered by buildings along the north side Rev B. Evans seconded, and this was agreed to unanimously. Mr Milward intimated his intention also to oppose the scheme at the Local Government Board inquiry, when he would also name the parties interested therein. Mr Lloyd proposed as a further amendment that the land on the south side of the road to a depth of 135 feet be used for public purposes instead of for public gardens. Mr James Jones seconded. Three members voted for the amendment, and five against, Mr Hughes remaining neutral throughout. RAIN WATER CHANNELS. At the suggestion of Mr Jose, the Council agreed to abandon the idea of laying down cast-iron rain- water channels in the street pavements, on the ground that the system was an antiquated one, and had been abandoned in most of the larger towns. COST OF WORKING THE REFUSE DESTRUCTOR. At the suggestion of Mr Meggitt, it was resolved that a statement showing the receipts and expen- diture for the past three years in connection with refuse destructor, prepared by the Accountant, be printed in the minutes. THE SMALL-POX HOSPITAL. The Health Committee having recommended that the Surveyor be asked to submit a plan of the observation block of the proposed permanent Small Pox Hospital, sufficient to accommodate eight patients, Mr Meggitt asked if this was part of the per- manent scheme ? The Chairman replied in the negative. Mr Milward said it was part of the permanent building. The Chairman I mean that it is not part of the main building. Mr Hughes said the Council had discussed this question more or less continuously for three years, and he hoped there would be no further discussion until the plans asked for had been submitted. This was agreed to, and the Surveyor was also asked to include in his report a scheme for a temporary building. THE FIRE ENGINEER. Mr Jose drew attention to a minute of the Health Committee with regard to the application of Mr James Hutton, the fire engineer, for compensation for deprivation of appointment. Mr Hutton, he said gave up a permanent situation when appointed three years ago, and had been put to considerable inconvenience and expense when he went into occupation of the Fire Station, for he had to dispose of many things which he could not take into the new building, and had to buy carpets, window-rollers, &c., which would be of no use to him on leaving. He accepted the situation believing it would be a permanent one, I and now he was dismissed with a month's notice because the Council had decided to dispose of the steam fire engine. He considered that Mr Hutton was entitled to reasonable compensation, and he proposed that the matter be referred back to the Committee for further consideration. Mr White seconded. The Chairman agreed that it was rather a hard case. Mr Huttton had made considerable sacrifices and incurred a good deal of expense when he went into the building three years ago, and he suggested that Mr Hutton should be compensated for the loss be would sustain. Mr Hughes said that it was the opinion of the Clerk that it would be illegal to pay Mr Hutton compensation, but his claim might be met by giving him a month's holiday at the conclusion of his period of notice, and paying him for this extra time. Rev Ben Evans agreed that it would be a hard- ship to dispense with the engineer without some form of compensation. It was agreed to refer the matter back to the Health Committee, The Chairman then suggested that Mr Hutton's services be retained until the engine had been disposed of. Mr Jose agreed, and it was resolved on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Milward, that the engineer be re-engaged temporarily, subject to a week's notice. CADOXTON COMMON. Mr Jose having drawn attention to the fact that horses and other animals were allowed to graze on Cadoxton Common on Sundays, the attention of the Surveyor was called to the matter, with a view of steps being taken to prosecute those who sent animals there. MOTION WITH REGARD TO TENDERS. Mr Hughes moved, and it was carried, that in future tenders for haulage, scavenging, coal, and stores be advertised for at an earlier date, so that particulars and prices might be inserted in the printed reports of the Committees concerned, and that this be a definite instruction to all officials of the Council. CONTRACT FOR GAS COAL. The Council accepted the tender of the Plas Coal Company, Broughton, for 10,000 tons of gas coal, at 15s 9d per ton, or 6d per ton less than last year. STALLS AT BARRY ISFCANP. Mr White was of opinion that ,the time had arrived when the Council should more freely grant permits to persons desiring to have stalls on the Sands at Barry Island but Mr Hughes pointed out that Lord Windsor, as owner of the foreshore, objected to the same, and his Lordship would probably be unwilling to renew the lease, which would expire in July, if his wishes were thus disregarded by the Council. NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL TO "MABON." The Chairman and Clerk were appointed mem- bers of the general committee with reference to the national testimonial to Mr W. Abraham, M.P., (Mabon) and, on the proposition of the Rev B. Evans, seconded by Mr Milward, it was resolved that a public meeting be held in the town in furtherance of the scheme, tribute being paid by Mr Evans to the excellent services which had been rendered by Mabon in the cause of the workers, and especially in relation to the recent coal trade dispute. MISCELLANEOUS. The seal of the Council was ordered to be affixed to agreements with reference to the water supply to Rhoose. An offer made to the Council by Messrs Prestich and Hulway of a quantity of gravel was referred to the chairman and engineer of the Gas Depart- ment. PROPOSED DRY DOCK EXTENSION AT BARRY. A letter was read from Mr W. Mein, secretary of the Barry Railway Company, to the effect that the communications of the Barry Council and Chamber of Trade, with reference to the proposed extension of dry dock facilities at Barry, had been discussed by the directors of the Company, but they were of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by their receiving the suggested joint deputation from those bodies in the matter. Rev B. Evans Are we to take it that our views are endorsed by the Barry Company ? (Laughter.) The Council then went into committee for the consideration of several matters in private.

SULLY. I DREAD THE APPROACH OF WARM WEATHER," said a man despondently the other day. You need have no fear," replied his friend, if you brace your system now by taking a course of Gwilym Evans' Bitters.-See advt,

LLANCARFAN. THE ANNUAL EISTEDDFOD was held at Llan- carfan Baptist Chapel on Whit-Monday. The programme was augmented by solos, gramaphone selections, &c, The singing of Miss Lizzie Pugh, Cadoxton, was enthusiastically applauded as also was that of Miss May Hopkins, Pancross. Rev Owen Jones, Cowbridge, presided and the prize-winners were the following — Singing by girls, Rachel Davies, Cadoxton, and E. Morgan, Llantrisant; solo, Through all eternity," Miss Lizzie Pugh, Cadoxton recitation for children; Lena Thomas, Kernix, Llancarfan contralto solo, 11 Alone on the Raft," Miss A. John, St. Nicholas solo, Miss May Hopkins best side-board cloth. Miss Maggie Edwards, Broadclosc, Llancarfan solo, The Beggar Girl," Miss Lizzie Pugh recitation, The Ocean," Mr D. G. John, Llancar- fan singing by boys, Glyn Davies. Llancarfan, and Ivor Thomas, Kernix; solo, The Heavenly Song, Miss L. Pugh soprano solo, The Better Land," Miss A. John, St. Nicholas. The adjudi- cator of music was Mr Benjamin Evans. A.C., Landore conductor and literary adjudicator, Rev Morris Isaac, Cadoxton needlework, Mrs Price, Llanbythery and accompanist, Miss J. P. Griffiths, Llancarfan.

PRINTING OT EVERY DESCRIPTION. Executed with Neatnese and Despatch at the Barry Dock News Offices,

BARRY CONGREGATIONALISM. LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH. ADDRESS BY MR. ALBERT SPICER, OF LONDON. SERMON BY THE REV. PRINCIPAL FORSYTH, D.D. Wednesday last was a memorable day in the history of Windsor-road English Congregational Church, Barry, the occasion being the laying of the foundation-stone of the new chapel, which is being erected at a cost of £5,500, the architect of the building being Mr W. E. Knapman, M.S.A., Barry; the contractor, Mr D. G. Price, Penarth and the clerk of works, Mr George Sanders, Barry. The building will be an imposing one, occupying one of the most commanding positions in the town, and will provide accommodation for 650 worshippers. The church was founded thirteen years ago with 40 members, and a temporary chapel, opened in 1890 by the late Rev Dr Berry, of Wolverhampton, was erected, which supplied the needs of the con- gregation for quite a decade. Additional land was then taken for the purposes of a permanent struc- ture, and, as the first instalment of the permanent scheme, a schoolroom, lecture-hall, and other buildings were put up about three years ago at a cost of £4,063, the whole of which has since been defrayed. Steps were then taken in the direction of providing a permanent chapel, and towards the E5,500 which this building will cost, considerably over £2.000 has already been received or promised. The church as we have stated was founded with a membership of 40, and a Sunday school of 56 now the church member- ship is 210, and the Sunday school nearly 500. The meeting which preceded the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone on Wednesday after- noon was held in the large hall, which was crowded. Amongst those present were the Rev P. T. Forsyth, M.A., D.D., principal of Hackney College, London Mr Albert Spicer, London, ex- president of the Congregational Union, and late M.P. for Monmouth Boroughs the Revs C. J. Clarke (pastor of the church), J. Mvdyr Evans, Ben Evans, W. Ingli James, D. H. Williams, M.A., J. Lewis Jenkins. Christmas J. Lewis, T. Pandy John, J. Morris (Cardiff), J. Ibbotson, D. Lee Cann, O. Rees, Alderman J. C. Meggitt, Councillor J. A. Hughes, Dr W. Lloyd Edwards, Mr D. Sibbering Jones, Captain F. Murrell, Mr E. W. Waite, etc. In the course of a suitable devotional service, the Rev C. J. Clarke said the church had journeyed on in the wilderness of hope for thirteen years, but now it was gradually approaching the promised land of realisation. There had been anxieties and disappointments, but they were inconspicuous parts of a very pleasant and successful history of the church. He hoped the new church would prove to be an important asset in the spiritual life of the town, contributing towards the loftiest of all ideals, the salvation of the people. Alderman J. C. Meggitt, the secretary of the church, apologised for the absence of a number of ministers of the gospel, including the Rector of Barry (Rev H. H. Stewart, M.A.) and the Rev J. Williams, Cardiff, the founder of the church. Mr Meggitt gave an outline of the history of the church, as detailed above, and expressed satisfac- tion at the spirit of harmony and co-operation which prevailed amongst all denominations of the Christian Church in the town. Mr Albert Spicer, who was introduced to the gathering as a prominent representative of the wider Congregationalism, delivered an inspiring address. For thirty years, he said, he had endeavoured to bring Congregationalists closer to each other, and the outlook at present was a very hopeful one. He felt it was hi. duty to come to Barry on the present occasion to do what he could to advance the interests of united Congrega- tionalism, especially so because his friends, Alderman and Mrs Meggitt, and himself were amongst a small party of Congregationalists who proceeded to the United States to attend the Con- gregational Congress in Boston in 1899. The remarkable growth of Barry called for ever- increasing opportunities for Christian work and influence. The enterprise in which they were that afternoon engaged had not been entered upon in a. spirit of opposition or competition with other branches of the Christian Church, but they felt as Congregationalists that they had their part to take in the work of spreading the gospel of the Redeemer. They believed that the methods they used, and their general church order, were in accordance with the practice of the early Christian Church, and that those methods and practices were still adapted for the Church to-day. They attached importance to certain fundamental Christian truths, but this did not mean that theirs was the only form, yet they believed that only those who professed the name of the Lord Jesus Christ could constitute it. The Church, he believed should be free from all State control and support, and should be qualified to manage its own affairs. As Congregationalists they had not accomplished all they should like to accomplish at the same time they were thankful for what uhey had been able to acnieve in this direction and for the great body of ministers and teachers' they had been able to produce. The Congrega- tional Church had been a distinct force for righteousness, and recognised the work it had yet to perform. He was beginning to get tired of the distinctions set up between home and foreign work. and claimed that in missionary work he was an imperialist of the truest order. But what were the dangers which beset them as a denomin- ation? What were others saying about them? They had had an opportunity lately of seeing themselves as others saw them. Mr Booth, in his "Life and Labour in London," had written a great deal about the work of the different churches in the Metropolis, and whilst on the whole his criticisms were favourable, yet he expressed the opinion that they as Congregationalists were too much a church of the middle classes. They were irot the Church of the aristocracy, he admitted yet Mr Booth overlooked one fact," that they had so many amongst them of the working classes that, when they came in, all distinction at once ceased, and this fact accounted for much of the influence of the Congregational Church. Mr Booth had also attributed to them the possession of a large measure of self-complacency and self-consciousness, but even if this was true it was not without its advantages, for it enabled them the more readily to recognise the good qualities of others On the whole, Mr Booth gave them a good character. It was the duty of the Congregational Church, which Mr Booth had described as more social than religious, good and wholesome, and free from the dangers of reaction, to endeavour to increase its religious influence, and to make its form of worship as attractive as possible from a religious point of view. Mr Spicer spoke of the need of greater personal influence, in- dividual duty, and devotion, and encouragement of pastoral efficiency, concluding by congratulating the members of the Church at Barry upon the encouraging auspices upder which the interesting ceremony that day was conducted. The congregation then adjourned outside, and the foudation Rtone of the new chapel was laid by Mr Albert Spicer, followed by the offering of an earnest dedicatory prayer by the Rev Principal Forsyth, the benediction being pronounced by the Rev J. Morris, Cardiff. A largely-attended public tea followed; and in the evening the Rev Dr Forsyth preached an eloquent and impressive sermon to a crowded con- gregation at the Wesleyan Church, the rev. gentleman taking as his text, What mean ye by these stones?" (Joshua iv., 6). This service was taken part in by the Rev T. Pandy John. Rev J Lewis Jenkins, and the Rev J. Ibbotson. Want of space precludes us from giving an outline of Dr Forsyth's sermon this week, but we hope to be 1 able to do so ia our next issue.