Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

i DISTRIBUTION OF CERTIFICATES AT PENYGELLI BOARD SCHOOLS. "[ 1 I On Monday evening an interesting and largely attended meeting took place in the ('alvinistic Chapel, Adwy'r Clawdd, on the occasion of the distribution of certificates obtained by the scholars at the Anllual Inspection of these schools in October last. We may preface our report by observing in reference to the Penygelli Schools, that although they are surrounded by other and recently erected schools, and the infants drafted to a separate department, the average attendance at the Roys' School last year was more than double what it was six years ago when the present excellent master, Mr G. J. J ones, took charge of the school, the average attendance for the last year being 221 boys above seven years of age. Another circumstance worthy of notice is the fact that the Education Department ordered the boys' school to be built for 210 boys—being the amount of accommodation that was expected to be required whereas the actual number in attendance during the last year was 11 more than the Department anticipated would attend. Fortunately, the Board had exceeded the pre- scribed accommodation to the extent of 60 seats, and room is thus afforded for the extra boys. During the last two years two extra subjects have been taught in the school—Physical Geography and English Literature, the complete course of in- struction now including reading, writing, arithmetic, dictation, grammar, geography, history, literature, physical geography, drawing, and mathematics. In the general report on the Schools of Denbigh and Flint by Mr J. Rhys for 187o-(i, it states that in the report of the Com- mittee of Council OIl Education this (Penygelli Boys) School is honourably mentioned by Mr Rhys as one of the best schools in his district." The subsequent reports are equally favourable and the present Inspector, Mr Morgan Owen, corroborates all that has hitherto been said in respect to this admirably conducted establishment. The certiifcates presented on Monday also deserve a word of praise for their beauty of design and execution. The certificates for the special subjects, physical geography, and English literature, are elegantlo illuminated from an exceedingly neat and artisti." design by the master, Mr G. J Jones. The certificate proper is surmounted by the representation of an open book on the leaves of which are inscribed the words Goreu arv arv dysg," the interpretation being The best weapon is the weapon of know- ledge," and the idea is further carried out in emblem by the Welsh weapons of warfare- swords, battle-axe. and spear-placed underneath the open book and crossed by the familiar im- plements of literary labour—the pencil and pen. Over the book is the name of the School, and running down either side the card on an illum- inated scroll is the couplet— "Tis Education forms the common mind -lu.st as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." At the foot of the certificate is the name of the Inspector, T. Morgan Owen, and the Master, Griffith J. Jones. As a work of art, the cer- tificate is unique and well worthy of a handsome frame, the certificate for the single subjects being- similar in design but unilluminated. The meeting commenced shortly after seven o'clock, the chapel being crowded in every part. Mr Hugh Jones, vice-chairman of the School Board, was unanimously voted to the chair, and there were also on the platform Mr Lester, Mr Thos. Bury, Mr T. Roberts, Mr Williamson, Mr Joseph Jones, &c. The proceedings commenced by the school choir, organized and conducted by Mr G..J. Jones, singing "The Whistling Far- mer's Boy," in good style, after which the chair- man called upon Mr Thomas Bury to read the report of the school inspector, in reference to the schools. (Hear, hear). Mr Bury, before proceeding to read what was really a summary of the report of Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, read a letter from the Chairman of the Board, Mr S. T. Baugh, re- gretting his inability through indisposition, to attend the meeting. He, however, took the op- portunity of congratulating the master, Mr j Jones, and his teachers, upon the satisfactory re- suit of their indefatigable labours, and also of saying a few encouraging words to the successful j boys in regard to their indomitable perseverance, and to the unsuccessful, urging them to continue a persevering effort in the future, and asking them ever to hear in min 1 that "knowlede is power." (Applause). Mr Bury then read the following letter from the inspector :— To the Member* of the Penygelli School Board. GENTI.EME.N, -I beg to thank you for your invita- tion, hut I regret a prior engagement will prevent my attending; the meeting convened for the purpose of distributing the honour certificates to those children who have distinguished themselves at the late ex- amination of the I'envgelli Board Schools. I cannot but commend your discernment of the school reiiuireraents of the present day, and your recognition of worth. I only hope the distribution of prizes will have a wholesomely beneficial effect upon all concerned in them that their recipients may be encouraged to further exertions, that non-recipients may be fired with a determination to become recipients upon tho next occasion, and that parents will be stimulated -to do all that lies in their power to help the teachers in t')?ir onerous :utdresponsib!e t?bouM, by sendin their children regularly and puiicttia)(l)luy ri, by sendin,- their ti) 'gellool, Lllt l by seeing that they have every fair play with their home lessons. It would be well if both fathers and mothers fully appreciated the excellent educational advan- tages enjoyed by their children. I trust, too, tint the effects of this distribution and of others will not he confined to the hoys' school days, but that they will cling to them through life, causing them ever to recollect that they are respon- sible members of a great community, and to act as such, to avoid the mean and the wicked, and those j who for self interest go about trying to rouse the evil and selfish of their fellows. Penygelli Boy's School is one of the largest and best of the schools 1:1 the district of Denbigh and Flint, and I shall rejoice to learn in years to come that all the boys examined by me at that school, to- gether with the boys of other schools, have grown up to be good men and honest citizens, and that some of them have become, if Welsh, the best of Welshmen, if Kuglish, the best of Englishmen, in whatever posi- tions in life they have been able under Providence to place themselves. Yours sincerely, T. MORGAS OWEN. Bronwylfa, Rhyl, 18th January, 1878. A letter was also read from Mr Evans, Bron- wylfa, expressing regret at being unable through a prior engagement, to be present, and Mr Bury then read the following summary of Mr Morgan Owen's report on the different departments of the Penygelli Board Schools :— Dni/ti' School.—11 in all, this is a very good school. It is ipiite evident that the greatest care is bestowed upon the boys' work by the head master. All the papers were remarkably neat. The weak points were the grammar in the third standard, the geography of the third and fourth standards, and the transpositions in literature. I know it is difficult to teach Welsh boys to write English in their own words, still with patience and practice it can be done. The singing, in which the girls joined, was most favourable. The physical geography was good. The tone of the scholars was most praiseworthy. The reading throughout, the grammar of the upper standards, and the geography of the fifth and sixth standards were particularly note- worthy. The writing and arithmetic of the pupil tenchers were decidedly creditable." The total grant gained in the boys' school was £21 Hs 01, or 20s per head on the average attendance for the year, and CDs Sd on the number presented for The grant in this department has been continually increasing from year to year and showed an advance for the last year of C I (i I", (Id on that of last year, and £lOH !Is 0:1 cOIUIM"(c),1 with sum received for the i year ended September 1S72, the close of the year in which the present master (.Mr H. J. Jones) first took charge of the school. The percentage of passes for that year was 87 per cent., but has been raised considerably since that time, and has ranged as high as 97 per cent. These results must be looked upon as most creditable, especially when it is borne in mind th:tt no child is ever withheld from examination, if he has made up hi prescribed number of attendances, and can be got by any means to school 011 the day of inspection. It gives the Boird very great pleasure to state that seven boys h ive obtained boiji,iir ocrtitt ates," granted hy the Committee of Council on Education, which en- title the hol(ter;i to three sratuitons education, their schooling bring allowed in the Parliamentary (Jrant, upon condition Hut the holders of the certili- O'ltes make the prescribed number of attendances at school, and pass the requisite standard during each of such years. The successful hoys are Thomas Parry, (Jeorie Roberts, Lloyd Llewellyn .)011%, Thomas Edward Jones, Edward Bryan, Rokrt J oues, Abraham Jones. Two extr. or specific subjects haTe heen taken up by the boys; these were English literature and physical geopvaphy. Tiie subjects were divided into second and first year courses. In t.hi S-M'il Y-:ar'* Course the following boys successfully passed—John Bertram Lewis, John Harrison, David Richard Morris, John Samuel Jones, Thomas John Jones, William Jones, Albert Edward Davies, Joseph Bryan. Albert Ashford, Thomas Bryan, William Henry Manual May, Jesse Williams, Henry Jones, John Rohert .Tones, Alfred Kitto, Joseph Miles, David James Price, Edward Douglas, Edward Humphreys, William Lewis, Tiioiniis Owen ChMJes, Joseph Jones, Robert Huihes, Alexander Albert Mackenzie, William Williams, George Roberts, Peter Griffiths. In the Pint Yea>>* Course of the same subjects the following were successful :—O'.voil Williams, John Roberts, Thomas William Davies, Robert Jones, Peter Crewe, Edward Bryan, John Jones. Thomis Edward Jones, Al)i-ali,,iiii Joiies, Robert Beunet Jones, Lloyd Llewellyn Jones, Aaron Owens, Enoch Corbett, rthein Williams, William Thomas, William Smith, Joseph Jones, Samuel Rogers, John Edwards, Thomas Owen Evans, Thomas Wilcoxon, George Roberts, Thomas Parry, Philip Williams. Girls' School. -The report of H. M. Inspector states The rea.dins; was very good there were but three failures in this subject. The spelling was good but the other subjects, in consequence of Mrs Davies' serious and prolonged illness, were not so satisfac- tor\' as in p:lst \'e:lrs," Amount of grant earned 1:81 18s. The Board coii- skiers that the passes in the ordinary subjects, vi; | reading, writing, and arithmetic, have been very satisfactory, the grant gained for these subjects being larger than that of any previous year, the increase this year alone being close upon £ 11. Had the grant for grammar and needlework been obtained the total grant in this department would have amounted to £ 119 2s, but the failure of the girls in these two sub- iectsis sufficientlv accounted for in H. M. Inspector's report as above mentioned. The passes in this school were close upon SS per cent., which will probably compare favourably with any Other girls' school in the neighbourhood. infant School.— The following is an extract from the report On the whole this school has passed a fair examination. The arithmetic and form will need a little more attention. Both spelling and in- telligence were good. The singing was too noisy." The amennt of grant earned was It is gratifying to the Board to he able to call attention to the fact that the grant for the infants is £ .'H IDs more than the previous year, but from the size of the Imild- !n? at Tabor Hill a mucil larger grant might be an- ticipated. hut the irre?UhU'ltV of the attendance greatly affects this School, and retards its success. As an instance, out of 270 names on the registers the average was only 123, and the number that made up their attendances was only 92. Out of these 92 children seven were absent on the day of inspection. The grant in this department is not obtained by in- dividual passes as in the boys' and girls' departments, but by attendances, whereby (is is allowed for every child in average attendance during the school year, and 10s for every child who has been in school 250 times, provided, of course, that the general efficiency of the whole school is satisfactory as so much 11è'I pends upon relarity of attendance in this depart- ment, and indeed in all the schools it is of the greatest importance that parents should be made aware of the loss incurred by the irregularity of their children, not only from an educational point of view; but also financially to the School Board and the ratepayers. The total amount of grant gained by the three de- partments—boys, girls, and infants—amounted to £ 38115s. The report having been received with ap- plause, Mr Bury (continuing) said the object of their present meeting was too well known for him to dilate upon, aond speeches 011 education were scarcely necessary an,1 scarcely profitable in these days, when everybody recognised the vast importance of the subject. As, however, this was the first opportunity he had had of being present amongst them in an official capacity to meet parents and children, he might perhaps be permitted to address a few words to them. It afforded him very great pleasure to place his small services at the disposal of the headmaster by laying before them the report he had just read. (Hear, hear.) Meetings like the present must he productive "f a vaefc amount of good, and would, he hoped, set many a young heart burning with aspirations to rival those boys who had obtained honour certificates, and might be entitled, under certain circumstances, to the three years' gratuitous education supplied by the Government. The Government evidently con- sidered that they were acting wisely in paying for the gratuitous education of these children for three years, and every educated man or boy should remember that they were of vast con- sequence, even from the narrow monetary point of view, to the State generally. (Hear, hear.) The boys that evening were to be presented with certificates got up by the Master (Mr Jones), in graceful form and elegant design, and which were to be given to those boys who had been fortunate enough to obtain what were known as "honour certificates." In regard to these certificates lie would call their attention to the regulations respecting the payment of school fees under the Elementary Education Act, 1876, on behalf of children who obtain certain certificates of proficiency and due attendance at school, as follows :—If a child attending a public Elementary School, being less than 11 years of age at the yearly examination of the scholars of such school for annual grants, is certified in a form to be prescribed for the purpose by the Education Department, viz. :-( (J ) To have passed in each of the three subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic, in the standard fixed by the 4th or any higher standard of the code of the Department; and (b) to have made 00O attend- ances, after five years of age, in not more than two public elementary schools during each year, for twu previous years. (In 1879 this will be raised to three, in 1880 to and in 1881 to Jire years). The school fee charged for such child at any public elementary school in tlie course of the next three years may be paid by the Depart- ment. Not more than 10 per cent, of the chil- dren above ?even years of 3e presented for examination in ? school, in any year, htIl become entitled to the payment of their fees under this order, and if the children I¡, qualified for ?uch payment exceeded the said percentage, those who have attended the greatest number of times shall have the preference. The i continuance of the payment of the fee for a child shall be conditional upon the child (et) attending one school in each school-year for not less than 350 attendances in the year, (h) obtaining at the end of the year a certificate of proficiency in reading, writing, and elementary arithmetic, ac- cording to a standard higher than the standard passed at the end of the previous year, and (e) passing iu one of the specific subjects of secular instruction contained in the Fourth Schedule in the Code of the Education Department. Such, then, were the conditions under which these honour certificates" were obtainable, and they tended to show how much the certificates ought to be prized. (Hear, hear.) He might mention that there was an equally satisfactory report to the one just read to be brought forward in regard to the Bersham school, and this report would he placed in the hands of the reporters, and would, no doubt, appear in due course in the public press. (Applause.) Before he sat down he wished to refer to the eminently satisfactory work which- had been accomplished at the Penygelli school by the very excellent and pains- taking master, Mr G. J. Jones. (Cheers.) He had many opportunities of personally judging of Mr Jones' capabilities, and he thought, when they read the results of the examinations, the highest possible honour was reflected upon his exertions, and that, he was sure, was Mr Jones' highest and greatest reward. (Applause.) Of course the other teachers and assistants were equally worthy of praise in their respective capacities, because unless the Educational Ship was properly manned, the work and discipline of the school could not possibly be satisfactorily and efficiently carried out. (Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, the good results of the training recei ved, as shown in the examination reports, would not stop there, but that the education afforded in that school would be productive of higher and permanent results in the future life of those children who were attending the school. In the present month's number of the Fortnightly Review was a paper by Professor Huxley upon Tech- nical Education," and in that article he spoke of the elementary schools now happiliy established all over the country as the most important and beneficial result of the corporate action of the people in our day. He also said An education better in its processes, better in its substance, than that which was accessible to the majority of well-to-do Britons a quarter of a. century ago is now obtainable by every child in the land." Again, "Many a man whose so-called education cost a good deal of valuable money and occupied many a year of valuable time, leaves the in- spection of a well-ordered Elementary school devoutly wishing that in his young days he had had the chance of being as well taught as these boys and girls are. (Hear, hear). These were the opinions of one of the ablest men of the day, and they came home to them all. Even lie (the speaker) could remember what Education was a quarter of a century ago, and the opportunities he had as a boy of acquiring information were infinitely less than those afforded by the Peny- gelli Board Schools to the children in attendance there. They were thoroughly grounded and well taught. They were not over-taught, because he was sure the Board would not wish to impress parents with the idea that any advantage would accrue for over-educating their children. Very few indeed could ever hope to rise to distinction. Statistics showed that there was scarcely one in every 4000 who by natural capacity could rise to anything worthy of the name of "distinction," and they knew themselves that those worthy of the name were few and far between, perhaps not I one in some millions. Still there was hope be- fore every child who had education. They knew that the priceless stores of knowledge were open to their grasp, and if they had leisure time they should, when educated, apply their leisure to I improving themselves and refining their minds in the acquisition of such knowledge that would he a boon to them and to those by whom they were surrounded. (Hear, hear). Let them therefore spend their time—not by wasting it- but applying it to the highest and noblest of all uses. (Applause). He was not going to trouble them with a set speech, and as there was a lengthy programme to go through, he would "ay no more except to express the hope that all the classes present might prosper in every way. He had intended to say a few words respecting the Art and Science Class which had been estab- lished amongst them and which he wished every possible success and prosperity. He was sure j some knowledge of drawing was a great advan- tage to anyone, and lie would urge every boy and girl to see what they could do to acquire some slight degree of knowledge of the pleasing and useful art. They had plenty of subjects in the glorious landscapes of the beautiful country around them and every study that could induce them to practice the delightful pastime. Trusting, in conclusion, that the success of the art and science classes would be firmly established, he begged to thank them for the very patient hear- ing- they had g iven to his remarks. (Applause). The Chairman having spoken in Welsh, the choir sang the glee-" Let it pass," after which Mr Williamson, addressed the meeting, observ- ing that there were certain points in the report which some, perhaps would like to have explailie, I more clearly. With regard to the Girls' School, for instance, the report stated that the reading, writing, &c., was very good, but that the needle- work and grammar were not so good. These, however, were two extra subjects, and if his in- formation was correct there was scarcely a Girls' School in the neighbourhood which satisfied the present inspector in those two respects. Referring to the Infant School, he found that out of 220 names on the register the average attendance was only 123. Now this Was a point of the utmost importance in every respect and one to which parents should pay particular attention and try to remedy by sending their children regularly to school. One of the most' disagreeable duties the Board had to perform was the enforcement of the regular attendance of those children who were irregular. The Attend-1 ance Officer reported the cases, and it became necessary to bring parents before the magistrates. ] The Board had no option in the matter, but were compelled by the law of the land to adopt that course. If people were only fully alive to the benefits derived by the chilJren, they would cer- tainly ensure their regular attendance, and thus obviate the most disagreeable part of the Board's work. (Hear, hear.) Keferriug to a report of the! distribution of prizes at the Bunbury Grammar School, Cheshire, at Christmas, he called atten- tion to several remarkable instances of school attendance that were recorded. One boy named Challoner had only been absent once in seven years, except three days at his father's death I another hadnotbeen absent at all during five years, and a third only once absent in the same period. These were farmer's sons, two of whom had to walk a mile and a half to school each day, and the third boy nearly a mile. In 1871, at the same school, one boy who received a prize had only been absent once in six years, and another was not even once absent during six years and a half. These facts he thought went very far to show that regular attendances were not im- possible. (Applause). ( 1" IM IM fiij The certificates were then distributed by- Ml's Thos. Williams, Coedpoeth, the master, Mr Jones, expressing a hope that the parents would! take care of the cards for the children to look | upon when they grew up. Mr Thomas Roberts next delivered a capital Welsh address, in the course of which he observed that in Germany there was a law prohibiting any man to marry unless he could write his name; Mr Roberts humorously adding that if that were the law in this country, the female portion of the community would lose no time in looking after the education of the males in that particular re- spect. (Applause and laughter.) The glee, "Spring," was then effectively sung by the choir, after which, Mr Lester rose, amid considerable applause, to address the meeting. He said he had been very much pleased to sit and listen to the singing of the children, who were not only good children, but excellent singers. He had looked with very great interest upon the progress of the Penygelli School under its excellent master, Mr Jones, to whom, however, he had not always been particu- larly partial as a man. Therefore what he might say about him would not come altogether from an unbiased mind. He was, notwithstanding that, Mund to assert publicly at that meeting, that Mr Jones was certainly one of the best school- masters in that district. (Hear, hear.) He said this simply because statistics told him that I the .school over which Mr Jones presided was 15 per cent. higher in the statistical results of exami- j nations than the average passes throughout the kingdom. To account for this satisfactory state of things, there must either be a good school- master or the pupils must be remarkably sharp and quick, and intelligent, and talented, or there must be a very good School Board. With all due deference to the School Boord and the I cleverness of the children, he was inclined to give the larger share of the credit to the schoolmaster, Mr J ones. (Hear, hear.) Judging the tree by its fruit, and going no further than that, lie found that this school had turned out three ex- cellent schoolmasters. One was Mr Brooks, son of their old friend John Brooks (schoolmaster at I Hope) who was taught entirely at Penygelli; ) then they had Mr William Davies, master of the school at Llangynog (son of Mr Edward Davies, of Adwy); and the third was Mr Griffiths, schoolmaster at Llanrwst. Well, Hope they knew was a good school, and he read the other day the certificate of the Government Inspector for the school at Llangynog, and no schoolmaster need hold up a better piece of parchment than Mr Davies had got. But all this arose out of the Penygelli School, and the good teaching and training of the indefatigable master, Mr .Tones. (Applause.) He had in his hand about twenty names of boys who had done remarkably well in different offices and other responsible situations to which they had gone direct from Penygelli School. All those boys were doing well and were a credit to Mr Jones, the Penygelli School, and especially the School Board. (Applause.) He was anxious to bear his humble testimony to the work done by Mr Jones, whom he wished them to appreciate for his labours' sake, and he knew the greatest compliment he could po SFI ibly receive was by parents sending their children regularly to school. (Hear, hear.) There was a feeling, referred to by his friend, Mr Roberts, that in the present day they were carrying this matter of education with too high a hand, and that they were making efforts to teach boys and girls higher subjects which they might very well do without. He only wished he had time to show to them that it was capable of logical, reasonable, and undeniable proof that the whole of that assertion was a frfllaey. People thought that if their children were taught the three R's," they were taught enough. He remembered a boy who was taken to a school at Llandudno, where his father told the schoolmaster that he was determined to have his son thoroughly edu- cated, and was therefore going to leave him in school for an entire quarter! (Laughter). Many people thought children could be taught like mushrooms grew—all in one night. Had they considered, in reference to the higher sub- jects, what—putting it upon the lowest ground —was the loss to the school by the irregular at- tendance of the scholars, without considering what was the loss to the boys themselves ? For every boy who passed in music the school 0". tained Is, and in history and grammar -Is. and 4s for those who passed in physical geography and likewise in literature—literature meaning in this instance, the writing as well as the reading of the standard prose, poetry or matters of his- tory. But every child who passed in these higher standards must have passed in the lower before he was eligible to compete in the higher, so that the one was not taught at the expense of other. Looking, now, for a moment at the ques- tion of primary education, and looking at it merely in its legislative or historical aspect, let him assert—as against the opinion which pre- vailed to his knowledge in that district, that this great row and bother about education hsd only arisen within the last few years, and was 3 thing of yesterday and would die to-morrow — that it was nothing of the kind. Education, legislatively speaking, was the subject of Parlia- mentary action before he (the speaker) was bom, and he was getting an old man now. Forty- seven years ago, in 1831, the first Treas uy minute granted the first amount, 220,000, bei/ig the first time the Government touched the ed- ra- tion question with a tremendous long pitchf, They dared not touch it with their fingers, .t they dealt with it, though not very effectually, to the extent of £ 20,000. There were no ScL). I Boards then, and the grant was given to the tw') great educational organisations then existing, f,- wards the erection of new school-houses. In 1846 a system of grants in aid was instituted hy the Committee of Council on Education towards the maintenance of existing schools connected with the various religious bodies. We had ne w come to a little bit of system, as far the Government was concerned. But they v/ei e not satisfied with that. Something more had to be done, and when the Government were at tiW- wits end they generally got out of their difficulty by appointing what was called a royal comnvi- sion, which was to enquire into everything, s;xk the brains of everybody, and then make a report as best they could, after being a long time in doing it. There were three royal commissions ap- pointed, preliminary to more complete legislati ve: action—one to look into the higher education, another the middle class, another to look into the primary or popular education. He was deJh.g now with the commission appointed in is"8 under the chairmanship of the Duke of New- castle, to look into the primary education, ..id which took three years to do the work and ::i 1861, they reported, the practical effect result! in the new code of the committee of council 11 education substituting payment on results" for the "grants in aid" of the old code. In 18(il (the same year), was appointed another com- mission, under the Earl of Clarendon, to repon upon the nine ancient Public Schools of Etcn, Winchester, Westminster, Charter House, St. Paul's, Merchant Tailors, Harrow, Rugby, Shrewsbury. In 1864 they presented their report, which resulted in the Public Schools Act. The next commission was that of 1864, u!:(""I, Lord Taunton, to investigate the intermedk le area, that of the education of the middle classy and in 1867 a report was made, extending to some twenty volumes of Blue Books, wl)i(- resulted, first, in the reform of existing e(.i tional endowments, secondly, the registry of ail teachers, and thirdly, in the general examinati- .i; f all schools and pupils. The first of these reform- was already carried out by means of the Endowed Schools Act, 1869, under which schemes wa e now in course of formation; then we had ire Elementary Education Act of 1870, and J"" Saildoivs Act of 1876, and then the Co-mci! on Education's Code, which wa* altered almost everv time they sat. So that we were, after ail. only in a progressive and transitory state an fL>.1" as education was concerned. (Hear, hear.) In concluding, he would observe that many pecf-ie had said that education had been preache i :-n this country until it had become a perfect lv -e that being the case, he was not going to them any longer. (Applause). Other speakers followed, including i Joseph Jones, who made an excellent WeM: speech upon the 'school attendance, he being followed by Mr Griffith Jones, uje.i the general efficiency of the schools, the addresses being aggreeably interspersed wh-h several additional songs and glees, '1;' T. Roberts, jun., Coedpoeth, ably presiding at the harmonium. We are reque-.ted to state that the reaso;: certificates were granted to the girls was in con- sequence of no specific subjects being taken up by them, certificates being granted for speci e subjects only. HANMER. PETTY SESSIONS, SATURDAY- Before Hon. Geo. Keny-m, Chairman, A. P. Heyward Lonsdale, F.¡., P. W. Godsall, Esq., R How- ard, Esq., Rev. T. H. Puleston, and 0. E. Thornycroft, Esq. Cku.ie C'ixe. -Thomas Edge, Hampton Bani;, was charged with catching' hares on land in t-hi occupation of Mr Gen. C'la.y, B^ttisrield. Will- iitiu Henry Haycock, head gamekeeper to Lord Hannier proved the case. Fined costs. An UitjuM Balance— John Peters, coal dealer, &c., Tallant Green, was summoned by Inspects Bolton for having a coal beam and h.. a pound against the purchaser. Fined 20s an • costs. THE PARSON AND THE FOSTMAX AT L,, HEAIJS. This was a case of cross-.s-np.nion-v betwe-ii the Rev. Thomas Cox, Vicar of Threapwood, and Mr George Lloyd, postal messenger bet.v.?. Threapwood and Wrexham. The Vicar, in ti e first instance, applied to require the p to find sureties to keep the peace for having oil t:o:> Stll January used towards him the words If you come here, I will knock your brains out," the complainant Thomas Cox being thereby afraid that the defendant Lloyd would do him some bodily harm. The cross summons taken out ly George Lloyd required the defendant, Thomas Cox, to find sureties to keep the peace for havinc made Use of threatening language on the 9th January, and also with having v,ss,vlItecl h:1, Mr C. S. Brooke, > antwich, appeared for the Vicar, Lloyd being represented by Mr fcherrati, Wrexham the first case taken being Cox against Lloyd, for sureties. Mr Cox, examined by Mr Brooke, said O ) the 8th January, I directed my workman Smith to do some work for me in a ditch belonging t > my garden. George Lloyd lives next door an occupies a field adjoining mine. I had previously eiven Smith instructions with regard to Lloyd, whilst he was doing the work I told him to do, the defendant "aJJle up 011 his own side of the hedge. I was in my own field. My woi'Vinaj] stopped to hear what the row was about. The first question I put to Lloyd w;vs asking him t., come and look at the damage that was done hy the water which was coming OIl to the land and washing it down. He however at once got into a towering passion and said if I came into hi-; garden, or field, he would knock my brains out-- that is, if I directed my man to go inside hir, premises. He said subsequently, I only wish, you lay six feet in Threapwood churchyard in- stead of your wife 1 hope I shall live to see yOU OUt, and of course, when you're dead, I will give you musical honours I told him I thought the matter didn't rest entirely with him. I am 01' my oath, and my saying is that lie was mad- dened with drink, or he would not have used such an expression to his clergyman a.nd neigh- bour. I used no threat to him myself in any form or shape. My reason for taking "ff the drain was on account of the damage done by the water which had washed large holes in the field sufficent to bury two horses.—Mr Brooke Web are you really in bodily fear of this man ?-I> Cox Yes, I believe that when he is maddened in drink he does such foolish things, that I should think my life not worth anything. 1 have no malice towards him whatever, and we have Jivell as neighbours for years. The drar; was put down by him, but without my leave. The pipes belonged to him, but were put down without my permission. 1 told his wife that if the pipes were doing me no injury, and if he would give me an acknowledgment that he Jiad put them down without per- mission I would allow them to be put there. I am not aware that my man was talking to Lloyd first. He first asked me what I meant by taking up the pipes ? I told him if he came into the field he would see the reason for himself. He then got into a towering passion, and jumped about the field like a, mad- man, Lloyd forbade Smith putting the soil on his side, and I said to Smith, Don't give any pro- vocation, so that he shan't have an opportunity of saying we did anything contrary to his wishes. He said to me, You shan't nut it upon my land lsaid to Smith, "Do so 1 will defend you in that which is right," After- wards I told him not to do so in order to nvoid giving any cause of offence. It is not a fact that I was close to Lloyd, and on my oath I will swear that I had a.stick in my hand, but did not strike him with it. I merely showed him the stick to show that I was not going to stand quietly by to have my brains knocked out. i never struck him, nor struck at him—that is the greatest, untruth that was ever forged. I never said, "I will knock your head off, nor did I ever use a single threat to him in my life. I did twit him, and said he ought to be where lie was before, breaking stones because he has never profited by his work before. He never bad sense, neither has he got any. Mr Sherratt: That's not a very nice remark for a clergyman, your worships Mr Howard: We can't listen to your opinions, Mr Sherratt—you have only to prove malice. Mr Sherratt (to Mr Cox): Didn't you say to Lloyd you could get, him the sack at any time, but y< .n were sorry for his wife ami family ?— No, I never said anything of the kind.—Didn't you say you would have him up for being ) drflnk?—No.—Didn't he say to you, when you spoke to him about being drunk, that you were oftener drunk than him. and that he should ha ve to bring you up for being drunk on a Sunday ?— No.-At any rate, you had a good deal of angry talk about his wift-- -N(?, I had nothing,- to do with his wife. Re-examined.: Lloyd's wife said to me that he was killing her. He would not listen to me or her but continued his violent conduct. I will swear solemnly that I never struck him or use.1 any threat. Joseph Smith I was working for Mr Cox, taking the drain up out of the ditch. Mr Cox t "] 1 came to me previously and gave me particular instructions wilh respect to George Lloy?. Mr iii,,triiet.,)! a?kt? him must I put the Lloyd (:?,tie iit,, tit,] I Iiiiii shoved fun and h Cox said I mu<t put it .iny- "I' 1 1 \vhe!e !Icc?M to ':ue putting it ()" l'is George Lloyd called Mr Cox by objectionable terms, and threatened to knock his brains out. He appeared to lie in a bad temper. Mr ltrook was proceeding to what t-k piace on the second day (the I.Itli), when Mr Sherratt objected that, the information reierred only to what occurred 011 the Stli in<t., adding that his client was not. prepared to answer anything else lit. The magistrates, however, decided thai, anything that took place on the :th Wllich wiw ottl.-ulai.ted to strengthen his case might be mentioned by the complainant, Mr Mr I Sherratt entering an objection that it was not evidence. Joseph Smith (continuing): Lloyd came on the 9th, and said to Mr Cox, You owe me 2s; pay me." Mr Cox paid him. Lloyd then used other offensive language. Mr Cr. wan on his side of the hedge and Lloyd on hi. Mr Cox didn't attempt to Mtrike Lloyd, and didn't use any threat, but conducted himself ouietly, awl gave no provocation to Lloyd, who said if he hadn't been a clergyman he'd give him r. downright good thrashing.—By Mr Sherratt: Lloyd said if Mr Cox would come on the highway he would stop his croaking. I didn't hear Mr Cox talking about knocking Lloyd's head off on either day. Never heard of any difference between the par- ties before. Lloyd told Mr Cox that he ought to have six feet in the churchyard. might have been something said that I did not hear. Ile-exaiiiined Mr Lloyd's wife did <oIl he could to get him away, saying she had beer, there ten years, and had had no peace of he;' life ever since she had been there. Mr made no threats in my hearing. Mr Sherratt then addressed the F t-.Ii for the defendant, going carefully over the evidence, and confining himself chiefly to what occurred on the Stii January, submitting that wdiat ii»ppej:ed on the |!)th had nothing whatever to do with the inquiry. The words complained of vcre used by Llovd, but he contended that there had been a good deal of provocation on the part Mr Cox, who was the aggressor, and had lost, hi- temper o\ er the altercation respecting the drain. He should call evidence to show that Mr Cox first threatened Lloyd and struck at his h"d, Lloyd however, having avoided the blow. This itself was an assault in law. Lloyd regretted that the altercation had taken place, but he w aid submit that Mr Cox had 110 right to twit him or make any observations as to the manner in which he had treated his wife. Some considerr,t: m, he thought, should be shown to both paities. If Mi' Cox would withdraw his summons, b! thought his client might he inclined to do fie same. Otherwise if the thing were pre-sed ? ?he bitter end he should ask their worships t" reor.he Mr I Cox to find sureties to keep the peac ?. The cross-summons—Lloyd r. Cox —WR.S then read, the information stating that n the 9th January the defendant made use .)f the blowing to the cOlUphinant I have a good mind to come over (iiieiiiiiig the wrinl,, your neck out, and put you over head and heels I into the pit, and drive you into the ho;:se quicker than vou came here and only for my cloth I would. George Lloyd said On the 9tli January I said to Mr Cox, "Do you mean to cletn this pipe lIt'tli(ln't speak at first, and I said "Do you when he replied "You stark-naked fool. I said It takes a wise man to make a fool," and he answered You arc breaking your wife's heart with those Nannies in Wrexham. I said Don't talk about breaking hearts. Y- >1 broke you wife's heart, and sent her to that poor hole in the churchyard." He ¡;airl afterw¡¡,r.J, I've ;t good mind to come over the hedge a:id wring your neck and throw yon into the pit, and send you into the house quicker than yon. came out of it." My wife and another person were present, and heard what took place, but my wife hasbeei: confined, and is not Well enough to ;>.poe.ir here to-day. The conversation referred to lasted abouS a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. _\11 Cox has tried to do me all the injury he can, nnd in consequence of these threats I ¡),;n in bodiiv fear of him,-T!e Chairman Y cu .swear that. Mr Lloyd?—Complainant: Yes, i do. I drove him into a, temper by asking for my rights which he owed me about seven year- ag >. I am in bodily fear of him, and it is my dedre to be peaceable with him and live quietly. —By Mr Brooke: I received the summons on the loth, and went to Mr Sherratt on the f, (lty. After I had been served with the summons for assault and had seen Mr Sherratt, £ took out a summons for assault and sureties.— The Chair- lllall: You have only been in bodily fear since yuu had this summons, then '—Complainant: I was going to take out a summons, but w.Jted to see whether Mr Cox was going to take -ne out. I --By Mr S herratt: I had applied f -r both s ili-t- monses hefore crllnill: to you.— The Chairman But he swears he didn't.—Mr Sheratt: That's I my friend's ingenious way of if. t',e your worship.—Complainant: 1 explained to Mr Bolton on the Wednesday when T applied for the two summonses, that 1 should not have t<tkc]I out the summonses if Mr Cox had not taken one ',iit the if -Nlr lia( l tI-.Lke'li oile with the sureties altogether. Viu" ?-; ?" w??; en-I ditional. Daniel Lloyd (brother to the c' I; .J,ntl corrob crated the plaintiff's evidence. Mr Sherratt said lie felt hound to go on with the assault c;¡se, although it was of a tiivial character, as an assault could be committed, in law, without a blow being struck, and the i-harge was that Mr Cox, in his anger, had struck at Lloyd, who had to duck his liettl to avoid the blow. If necessary, he should a-oc tor an :1(1. t journment in order to produce Lloyd's wife, who v.a- at pr6ent unable to appear. I ,re,?eiit iiiial)IL l,, al)i)ear. th?n ca.?ed, and said that Mr Cox struck at him with a -tick, and he had to duck his Ilelll to avoid tile blow. Mr C-ox also said to him. I could get you the sack many times for being drunk," and lie (Lloyd) replied You needn't talk ahout drunkenness, Mr < 'ox. You get drunk on Saturday night, and ,Ti,t on the Sunday. "-By .\1:" -«>k3: 'Fhf hedge was between Us. Mr Sherratt: I apply for an ad"i"iiniment, your worships, for the attendance 01 the wife. The Chairman: I think there is any grounds for an adjournment. The magistrates then held a short consultation, after which the Chairman said: The Bench have considered the three cases carefully, and have come to the conclusion that t]w jil't (,( ,¡ O\: again-t Lloyd, for sureties—is pro\ ed, and Oil that ¡;be they have decided that Mr Lloyd shall fiiid stirettes to keel) tiie peace towards Mr Cox for the term of six months, himself in 1 two sureties of With regard to the ¡ <h I' tJ oi her cases, they dismiss them an as not being proved, and Mr I.loyd will have to pay all she costs. .Mr Sherratt objected that the B.-neli had no power in these cases to order his client to pay costs, which the magistrates' clerk said were •wiua'ly divided, and each party was therefore ordered to pay his own expenses. I RCTHIR LRCN.RE AT week, a lecture was delivered in the Baptist Chapa!, oil Russia ami Turkey." The Rev. W. T. I .Voles, pastor of theplace, was in the chair. The c}: was W'dl filled on the occasion. THK WATERWORKS.—ON Satur d ay, tl., direc- tors of the Rutlliil Water Company met to examine the several tenders sent in for making the new filter beds and reservoir, Ove. The lowest tender, that of Mr John Griffiths, Trefy- nr.nt, I Juabon, was accepted, the ;>UloU:;t b'li^jj be- uWeen Kl,.T)Oand tl,(;Oo. The works are to be pro- ceeded with forthwith. The new mOlin, in Llan- fwrog have been laid now for nearly two months, ;u 1 the only new applicant for water supply is the Hector of Llanfwrog, for the church. Thi, does not encourage further extension on the part of the Company. S ince Mr David appointment as manager, the affair* of the Water Company have much improved. From the balance sheet just issued, we find the total leceipts for the half-year are £ 270 13s 7d, or an V lie liaid iij) :■ rmu.il income of capital is (of 1:204 remains nrv m the half-year available for dividend. BOA an SCHOOL TREAT.—Boards :u'e not always generous, having too often the fear of the poor ratepayers before their eyes, but though they cannot spend the public money nil persona: re- joicings iike the old corporations used to do, Jieyhave still much power of affording treats to those who are their ¡l:ltb .d:y. This is what the Ruthin School Board did hist Friday. Without touching one penny of the ratepayers' money, they instituted it- which was so liberally responded to, notwith- «iiwdin« all the grumbling about the ^ut)])o.- ed extravagance of Board,, that about 2S0 childieil attending the schools were treated to a snb- stontial tea, and afterwards delighted with prices .,])(I kind words according to their sev-^al deserts. On entering the spacious schools, it w.is at once to be seen that something unusual was going 011 there was the low hum of voices, some- what louder than during school hour- earao.-d:- l es.s was visible on every countenance, la., lies rnd gentlemen were flitting about, some with mates of bread and butter or cake, and sonic with long spouted teapots, from which they were renlen- isHng the mugs of the vounsters and ocead spilling the tea. Sums were at a discount, except addition, ami as for writing it was needless, h.r the facts were too plainly written on the memm y. Passing 011 to the Infant School we saw about 100 infants quite happynntl in many instances actually satislied, so well had Mrs Evans, the sehoe-l mistress, mid other ladies .supplied their waits. The large school-room was profusely de-re,; at-ed, rnd among the company taking part in the work < f the evening we noticed Mr Brooke Cur.liffe, the chairman of the Board. Mrs and Misses Cnn- litfe (2), Mrs and Miss Gibson, Mi-s Buikcley Jones, the Cloisters the Misses Profit (2), MLs Williams, Mrs Young, Mrs Thomas Simon, Mrs Richards and several others, besides Mr Th IJ. I ies, a member of the Board, Mr Hzralb.' ei ts the clerk. Mr Hugh Williams, the master, M: Geor-e Williams the assistant master, and Root. Williams, G.villyiii Robert-, and William rv berts, pupil teachers. Messrs done-' a?: 3 ? >r. I .] t. 11 t supplied the provisions, which were of excellent quality. Tea being over. Mr ('unhffe t->ok tee chair, supported by Mr D. L. Davies and Mr J. Bancroft, county analyst, and a. number or ladies, in opening the I)rocee(iiii.,effe said he had hoped to have seen a large/' number of the p.vents present, to whom he wished to mJdress a few words. He could sincerely con- gratulate those present npon the state of that school, and indeed upon the state of sch ol'nr '.vueraliy within the area of th" Board, ft. foui-d hen the census was taken in that there were 01 the Board district ->■ M children who ou'-rki to be in school, and there were now ei the books of the schools 596, which was 11101 than the reomrement and was a. matter for very Lrieat conL;ra,trlation. (Applause.) Now, :i,? tj school itsdlf, they had (?j nthe books t?- school itsel2f, 'i8 children, while the .?.?;e AttO?-3:M?C'} WM ?? .?. ?) )?,. ?.?-, ? the whole and that was 2 per cent ah .ve tbe average school attendance of the whole kingdom, and was very satisfactory t]iL, (-fiiractey- i," AI" fIf,' teaching and the attention given to it was viown in the met that at the last Government Ins-ect- iou lob were presented for examination 120 passed which was 88 per cent, of the possible passers, and S per cent, above the average o* the whole kingdom. He (Mr Cunliffe) could r ot, however, help 1. iticing that there was a degree of irregularity an I a want of punctuality wr>ioh was to he regretted, this was especially seen a ter hoUdsy. or when something such as a was going on in the town. This should not be in ordinary schools there was no such thing-, and he was sure it would be better to ask the )n;tste) for a holiday, who would, no doubt, (rrii)t one than to be stopping aw ay and interrupting ^the course of school work and besides, in that c-ise the teachers could go too, which would he better than compelling them to stol) in while most of their scholars were out enjoying themH*s Punctuality, too, was most important. If Úw school opened Ltl, let tlielli '-tll be there bv and not dream of coming at 10. Fie begged to take this, his first public opportunity he h-d b,i of tha.nkm? hi" L-'?Iea.?ues. of whom he W:ts y to see only one present, for fill- %tli- ;??'.?,' they had rendered to him in the work 1,if ion during the past thr. e ye:t;'s: t)?.?. ?, ofnce h?d now nearly expired upon the, fc. 1 fallen some of the early pioneer ??,.? ;)j,t could not fall to the lot of chose ? ho shon]?' after them they had had the labour bm t'! h?d also the reward of f"('llng that th"v had d"TI their duty. He must not. Iiov.rver, for--t to" sav a word about their faithfi ul 'iSnd ;1'11:11;; Cierk, ?r Ezi? Kohcrts. H,. )?,j ??. IIf":1I prepared with the exact in f (,I- Iviii,.Ij the Board had required, and ii'l? account.' ?" accurately and LeautifuHy kept ?j?.t.) | not only passed but were :d?;? )?;.?'J'? iii)t i)nly anditorH. i he lieai 1 master, too, ;„„i y "I. 1 f ants d? t?erveo ? wonl "fpr??- ?? ) ..h?rY(tt'?, t manner in which h(' schoo ] had been ??.)?, Mrs ?'?ajM, the infant sc?oo] teacher b\'iu" inart-  marnHd. has retired, hut had vcr'v ku?P' tinned her services for a time. ?)? pcrfonned her duties with ??t eitl.),? and success. To t)?- ehHdrt-n he would say, that Mr Wi?i:)U)s sooke \\dl"f their 'hf. ral conduct, and he (the Chairman) hnp :-ld'i,.v would continue to maintain n?od conduct-mil attention to their studies. There w:?,??, ject he should like to spral. upon, and tlu.t vv;i« the cost of the Board. The rate hud iiv-Tl-1trp,| 2id for the three years, which was a pennv below the average rate for Knelali-'l, while ill < till- average rate was o I. Tin* earnings of tlie too were good. The average earnings p,-i-di>id in Board schools were Us in volnniu-y schools 12s !J!.(I, Ni-Iiilt- in that school it hWI ri-eii to Hi, (;,I ljei, Tii!- average c»st 0? lnran. t:tiTl i ll', Bozti-i t i%-a?: 1:2 1, 4!,fi. 4, f tabling Board school* was f? Is 4Id, of voluntary schoo)s £ 1 13s 5?,d, and of this school ? j?.?j The Chairman then proceeded to hami to the various scholars the very handsome ceitiiie,c-.<„f the state of proficiency to which they had arrived, and the number of times tl, Ind attend?d school. I11 Standard '.was fou id the scholar who had attended the greatest ninnhi „f thn'?. Ann L. Wi]li:nn.?. }'.t)k-r.id,?,.t little lady who said she was going of rrJit. little la,lv Nvi no less than 4'iS times o-t of ;l itt,-ii.iefl iio t i iztii 4'3 ,li possible attendance of 457 times, and she r | I a k:nt! word <'frc<'??;nt)?n for it. I11 t?ie 2nd 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 0th Sb:bï¡i. J)'.?,;? i, Davies had attended 101 time- Albert Reb-rt* 425, and .Jame.- Choke 4*1 times. AhV-d F, Jones 430 times, and Edward F. Artiiur th Attendance O'iicerl had become ipialilied to claim the 'biveriimi-nt certificate of honour by attending school times for two years. a'id |n -ing in tiie fourth Standard. His ft** would now be paid b' v Go- vernment for three yeai'% The proceedingsv.vr.- varied by singing and ivitrdons by the child; n. After a vote of thanks, propped by .Mr B;:e T.ift and seconded by Mr 0. E, JJ.,Ij,< 01 the man, to the ladies who h id existed in tit- tel. and especially to Miss Gibson and Miss (ViHtfV, who had taken a great inter-t in the ..hi. during theyear. this pleasant mei-t-in, ;• ->v,i- nated. POLICE COUNT, MOM-AY.-Bemiv \B I; Jolm*on, the He. t1 Warden, Cunliffe. f)ruoh' Riit-n'x..M argaret .oigli; r did not put in an appearance, was commit;< gaol fi I- itifilitil, with hard labour. offenee, she having been previously >*o.vdi-> P.C..lone-, P) proved the case. The license of th- Whit* H Llangynh'.ifal, wa formally trail-fen,f,d a M* Adams, a trustee to David 1 hi vie*, the oiw i. This was all tlie business.