BARRY DOCK LIBERAL WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND INSTITUTE. ".|1893-04-07|The South Wales Star

BARRY DOCK LIBERAL WORKING…

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BARRY DOCK LIBERAL WORKING MEN'S CLUB AND INSTITUTE. VOTE OF CENSURE ox MR. A. J. WILLIAMS, M.P. On Wednesday evening last at Thompson-street, Barry Dock, the premises known as the Barry Dock Liberal Working Men's Club and Institute were opened by Mr. Samuel Lewis. It had been announced by placards that Mr. Arthur J. Williams. M.P., would perform the opening ceremony at 7 o'clock, but at 8 p.m. that gentle- man had not arrived, and it was decided to com- mence proceedings. Mr. S. Lewis said he felt very much disappointed, and no doubt they all felt the same, that their member was not present, and he (Mr. Lewis) felt sure that if Mr. Arthur J. Williams felt as much interest in that undertaking as he did he would have been present. (Hear, hear.) What was the cause of his disappointing them he did not know. They were all in the dark upon the subject. They had received no reason for his disappointing them. and therefore they had to do the best they could without him. He was but one, but as their repre- sentative and member they would like to have had him there. Had Mr. Arthur J. Williams been there he the (chairman) would have felt it a great honour to be in that position. Had their member been there, he would have turned those words into a different channel. It was not the first time he had spoken in the presence of a member of Parliament, but he-should like if Mr. Williams had kept his appointment. He had made the appointment in his (the chairman's) presence, and' had entered the date in his pocket-book— raying that the 5th would give them time to ad- -vertise the opening of the club. Mr. Williams seemed pleased with the idea of starting such an Association in Barry Dock. and promised faith- fully to be present on the 5th inst. The Chairman called upon the secretary to read the report and correspondence. Mr. F. Heulin, secretary, then read a. report, in which it was stated that since the general election there was felt in the South Ward the need of a Club for political and social intercourse. The first step taken was to approach Mr. Taylor, secretary of the Liberal Association. That gentleman entered heartily into the scheme, and promised to bring the matter before the party. He also assured the depu- tation that such a club would meet a lone- felt want; but as he was leaving the district he (Mr. Taylor) wrote to Mr. A. J. Williams upon the subject, and received the following reply House of Commons, ( March 2nd, 1893. Dear Mr. Taylor,-I feel sure that a real working man's club ought to be a blessing at such a place as Cadoxton-Barry. My two elder brothers were mainly instrumental in starting the working men's club at Swansea. They, however, insisted that it should be entirely in the hands of the working men themselves. From very small beginning in a building be- hind the Swansea bank, of which my brother Leonard was manager at the time, it has grown to be one of the most flourishing working man's elub in the kingdom. I would strongly urge them to start in the same way, and to keep the club in their own hands.—Yours very truly, ARTHUR J. WILLIAMS. Mr. T. J. iHughes, the secretary of ithe South Glamorganshire Liberal Association, was next approached, and he promised to give the move- ment his support. That gentleman had written as follows:- South Glamorganshire Liberal Association, Bridgend, Glamorganshire, 2nd March, 1893. My Dear Sir,—I am so glad to hear that you uu propose to establish a Liberal Club and Institute at Barry Dock. The premises intended appear to me to be most suitable, and I am quite sure our party will fully take advantage of the oppor- tunity you are thus placing before them. I shall be happy to become a member, and am oonvinced that Mr. Arthur Williams will heartily support the movement. Yours faithfully. T. J. HUGHES, Sec. Feeling more bold, they then approached Mr. A. J. Williams, and received the following reply to their letter House of Commons, March 7th, 1893. Dear Sir,—I am very much pleased to hear that you have made such a good beginning. I shall be very glad to become a life member, and president for the first year, but I think you would do well to have a local man for your president in the year which follows.—Yours very faithfully, AETHUE J. WILLIAMS. Hearing that Mr. Williams was visitng Cadoxton a deputation waited upon him, and he fixed that night for opening the club. Already some people had been libelling the respectability of the elub, but he (the secretary) declared it to be hona-fide, and the committee had adopted rules of the Cardiff Liberal Club, which had been submitted to Mr. A. J. Williams. It was the intention of the com- mittee to carry on the club to suit both sections, so that the temperance portion could belong as well as others. The coffee-room was separated from the inner building, while access could be obtained to the billiard and recreation rooms with- out passing by the bar. The earnest desire of the committee was to make the club and association a credit to the Liberal cause. (Applause.) At the conclusion of the report, the Chairman stated that those who desired to become members could do so, the subscription being 5s. per year for members. £ 5 5s. life members, and 10s. 6d. and 41 Is. of honorary members. Mr. T. Varian proposed that a vote of censure be passed on Mr. A. J. Williams, M.P., for his non- attendance, and for not sending either a telegram or letter. or letter. Mr. K. Lloyd, seconded, and the vote was carried with two dissentients. Mr. Varian then proposed that a letter and the vote of censure be forwarded to Mr. Williams, but The Chairman did not think that was necessary, as that gentleman would see it in the papers. Mr. T. Drake hoped that no one would think that Club was a bogus affair. It was nothing of the sort, and they had already 200 members. (Applause.) The Chairman, in declaring the Club opened in ,accordance with the rules, said they had delayed the meeting, hoping against hope that Mr. Wil- liams would have been present. He hoped, now they had started, that they would all work together a-pd do what they could not only for the Club but for the Liberal cause. He had been told that there were certain parties who did not like thg Club because they had not been consulted. They had as much right to bind themselves together in Barry Dock as those of Cadoxton or Barry. If there was anyone jealous of their movement, now that the thing was started they should throw all jealousy on one side and help them as much as they could. How could anyone tell how the Club would be con- ducted before it was begun ? The Committee were determined to carry the Club on in a proper manner, and they asked the members to assist them in doing so. (Applause.) TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTH WALES STAR. SJR, Some time ago I was informed that it was proposed to establish a Working Men's Club and Institute at Barry Dock, and was asked whether I would become its President. I replied that I should be glad to see such a Club established, and was willing to become its President, provided I was satisfied that it was a bona-fide Working Men's Club. On being in- formed that this Club had been established, I consented to attend and open it last Wednesday. J did so, of course, on the understanding that a f large number of Liberal working men had been enrolled members; that they had met and appointed a Committee of their own class who would have complete control over the Club pre- mises and the management. On inquiry, how- ever, I found that no members had been enrolled, that the Committee, therefore, was self-appointed. Nor can I find that prominent Liberals of all kinds are taking any part in the movement. Under these circumstances I feel that I could not consistently be present.— I am, yours truly, ARTHUR J. WILLIAMS. Coedymwstwr, Bridgend, April 4.

CONCERT AT CADOXTON.

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CONCERT AT CADOXTON. On Wednesday evening a grand concert, at which was given, by special request, the cantata, The Gitania," was held at the Public Hall, Vere- street, Cadoxton. Thare was a large attendance, which included the Rev. E. and the Misses. Morris, Rev. A. E. Couch, Rev. Mr. Usher, Mrs. Dr. Treharne, Misses Williams (Tynewydd), Mr. and Mrs. Williams (Royal Hotel), Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Churchman (Barry-road), Mr. Lewis, Mr. Evans, Mr. Haigh, Inspector and Mrs. Leyshon, Miss Hughes (Golden Grove), Mrs. Moss, Mr., Mrs. and Miss de Boer, Mrs. Xewman, Misses Barstow. pdr. Owens, Miss iGregor, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Osborne, Mrs. Adams, Miss Jenkins, Mr. Rees G. Morris, Miss Thomas, Miss Jones, &c. The hall presented a very gay appearance with flags and bunting hung around the walls. The first part of the programme, consisted of the can- tata, The Gitania" (Roeckel), the caste being as follows :—" Queen of Spain," Miss Lougher, Llancarvan Zayda," Miss Beatrice Small; Page," Miss Wayland Miss Small's pupils, Gipsy girls." The story of the cantata comes from romantic Spain. The daughter of the King of Spain having been carried off in infancy by gipsies, grew up among them in ignorance of her royal origin until an .1 event occurred which re- ealled to her memory her early days. A young page of the Alhambra searching for a lost favourite falcon of the queen in the woods near Granada, suddenly found himself in the midst of the group of gipsy girls spending the summer morning in song and dance. THEY LAUGHINGLY CLAIM HIM AS THEIR CAPTIVE, and a song being fixed on as the pries of his ransom, he sings a quaint old lullaby song which is a great favourite of the queen, and with which she used to sing her lost daughter to sleep. The melody awakens Zayda's memory, and, as she dreamily repeats a verse of the song, visions of her infancy seem to rise before her. The gipsy i girls, in order to rouse her from her sudden sad- I ness, resume their song and dance, In the second scene, Zayda. in perplexity, seeks the Lady of the Enchanted Fountain, who mysteriously hints to her that the song which has been recalled to her memory will be the means of restoring her to her parents. At that time the King of Spain was afflicted with a profound melancholy, from which neither the skill of physicians nor the charm of music could rouse him. Neither the entreaties of the queen and her ladies, nor the song of her gipsy maidens, who had been summoned at the instigation of the page, were successful in moving the king. Zayda, then im- pelled by some strange impulse, began to sing the old lullaby which the page had sung in the forest. The king starts at the sound of her voice, and at the resemblance to her mother, and both he and the queen discover in her their long-lost daughter. Thus all ends in joy and happiness. The characters were very successfully carried out. Miss Beatrice Small made a splendid Zayda," the heroine, whilst Miss Lougher made a very dignified" Queen of Spain." Miss Wehland also was a very fetch- ing page, and some ot the audience were considerably disappointed that a marriage did not take place between the Heroine and the page. Miss Wehland sang Softly Sighs beauti- fully, and she is the possessor of a rich contralto voice. The gipsy children looked remarkably well, and showed that they had received splendid training from Miss Small. The second part of the programme commenced by a very realistic piano- forte duet, "The Sleigh Race," by the Misses Williams, Tynewydd, a tronpe of negroes follow- ing with "The ole banjo." This being the first appearance of such talented darkies from the Plantations at Cadoxton, the audience were un- animous in encoring them. A change from the ridiculous to the sublime was then made, and Mr. De Boer rendered a splendid violin solo, "Traviata." Mr. De Boer was in unusually good form, and his rendition of Verdi's music was a treat, the residents very seldom hear. Miss Small tastefully accompanied Mr. De Boer. Miss Hopkins (Llan- carvan) delighted the audience with her spirited recitation, "The Shipwreck," whilst Mr. H. E. Small sang The Holy City in a manner which "brought down the house." In response to a warm encore he sang "The lass that loves a sailor." Miss Lougher followed on with a good rendering of "The Better Land," and the programme was con- cluded by the quartette, "Good Night." by the niggers, the Misses B. and E. Small, Miss Wehland, Mr. H. E. Small, and the Rev. A. E. Couch. The Rector (Rev. E. Morris) said he wished to thank Miss Small and the ladies and gentlemen who had worked with her in getting up these concerts, and making them such a success. (Hear, hear.) Un- fortunately there had been a debt of £ 50 upon the Old Village Church, and Miss Small and her friends had put themselves to great exertions to clear that debt off. (Applause.) He was deeply grateful to all. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings terminated with God save the Queen."

AT PONTYPRIDD.

¡ ¡ST. NICHOLAS PETTY SESSIONS.

BARRY AND DISTRICT TRADES' COUNCIL. On Thursday evening a meeting of the Trades' Council for the Barry District was held, the President occupying the chair. BURIAL BOARD. Mr*. Rees gave a report of the Burial Board meeting, stating that Mr. W. Thomas, Vere-street, had been elected chairman. He also regretted to state that his motion re the registrar's fees had ( been negatived by the Board. SCHOOL BOARD. Mr. Rees then gave his School Board report, in which he stated that he had attended a School Management Committee meeting, at which only four members were present, out of 11 also a Finance Committee meeting, at which only two, out of 5, were present, the Rev. J. Price, Dr. Livingstone, and Mr. B. Lewis being absent. MR. HARRISON AND THE SOUTH WARD. Considerable discussion took place upon this matter owing to misunderstanding, and on the result it was unanimously resolved to give Mr. Harrison the moral support of tlfir Council in his contest for Local Board honours for the South Ward. MR. PATERSON AND THE WEST WARD. A member of the Council was directed t. convey to Mr. Paterson an intimation that the Trades' Unionists of Barry should give him their moral support in that ward. A memter having asked a question concerning proxies, &c., the meeting terminated.

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