Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

THE MARKET HOUSE AND THE PUBLIC.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

THE MARKET HOUSE AND THE PUBLIC. THE classic legends afford abundant materials to point a moral or to adorn a tale. Some people are fond of histori- cal parallels, more especially those who are partial to the theory, that the events of the world form a kind of cycle in their succession, which, when exhausted appear again with a similar ,life, but somewhat altered external forms. Without going minutely into this question, which would be foreign to our present purpose, it will help a stranger to our town," to form a correct appreciation of its public status, as far as a strong, consistent, and hearty co-opera- tive spirit is concerned, by calling to mind the agreeable and entertaining labours of Sisyphus, who for some cause or the other—as to which precisely the old legends are by no means agreed—spent his time in rolling a massive piece of marble up a rather steep hill, and before he could con- gratulate himself upon the result of his achievement, it rolled down again whereupon he was compelled to begin rolled down again whereupon he was compelled to begin de novo, and this to continue ad infinitum. Now it is but fair to state at the outset—and this, we fancy, will be freely admitted—that it is not, as a rule, possible to per- fectly parallelize—to coin a word—any two events, whe- ther fabulous or historical. The history of public opinion or public effort in Pontypridd, has frequently met with the fate which attended the successive exertions of Sisy- phus. If an effort is made to promote some cause of im- portance to the general well-being and happiness of the masses, in the first place it is found the up-hill work, and when the snmmit is in sight, and within easy reach ap- parently, down goes the project, and the indefatigable Sisyphi have to toil again. There cannot be but one opinion among all sensible men in Pontypridd, that the present location of the Pontypridd Institute has become inadequate, unhealthy, insufficient, and undignified. The Institute is a growing body, but at present it is really cramped and confined like a pedal organ of a Chinese lady. The Institute is not as yet sufficiently popularized, and this arises from the want of developing its resourses. We should like to see a large number of the colliers and chain- works' men members of the Institute. To attract such men we require a geological and mechanical museum we require an active expansion of all the facilities of which such an Institute as ours is capable. At present, we are assuming a quiescent and passive attitude. An energetic committee, alive to the wants and necessities of the dis- trict, would initiate drawing classes classes for chemistry, geology, and mechanics but this seems somewhat prema- ture, when the capacities of the present rooms are taken into consideration; yet, much, even under the present arrangement, could be accomplished. In fact, the Insti- tute under the control of a committee composed of intelli- gent, active, and experienced men, -would accomplish a great deal yet for the Institute, and for the town. Of course, in these remarks we do not for a moment wish to throw any doubt whatever upon the qualities of the gentle- men who are taking so active a part as secretaries to the Prize Distribution Scheme, as they have certainly shown the ability to initiate, and the energy to execute, in a most gratifying manner, and if they are not disgusted by obsta- cles thrown in their way by conceited ignorance or insuffer- able pretence, the future of the Institute is yet a bright one. But with regard to its expansion, how can this be accomplished ? Here we wish to secure the suffrages of all the well-wishers of the Institute, the ministers, tradesmen, and professional men of the town. The question of a new, convenient, and commodious room for the members, has now become a necessity, and the time i3 now ripe for its discussion. The intention of building a large room for this purpose under the auspices of a Limited Liability Com- pany, or otherwise, may be in the presence of a building easily adapted for the object in view conveniently shelved. The crockery market occupying as it does a large area of the market, really utilizes less space than this part of the market is capable of affording. Why cannot the energies of the members as soon as the prize drawing has been completed, be devoted to this spot ? The whole space occupied by the vendors of china ware could be taken, we have no doubt, without detriment to existing interests. Supposing the roof raised about 12 or 14 feet, l and windows inserted at intervals, a good floor could be laid down, underneath which a tolerable arcade could be constructed, into which the gas could be brought. This opening up of a market trade, especially on Saturday night, become peculiarly a propos when a general feeling seems to exist in favour of having a market on that night in addi- tion to the weekly market on Wednesday. It is con- sidered that the importance of Pontypridd, it being the centre of a rapidly increasing population, has attained such a point as to render the opening of the market on Saturday nights highly desirable and convenient. Now the question of expense is of course an important one but when the estimate assumed to be required in converting this large building into a commodious room, some 90 feet by 30 feet, together with utilizing the ground floor, is compared with the advantages derivable from such a con- version, the outlay will be found a. most profitable invest- ment, as the pecuniary results must of necessity, when everything is taken into consideration, furnish a per cent- age which in a few years wbuld recoup the promoters, the committee of the Institute to wit, to the whole extent of their invested capital, besides giving the members the benefit of convenient and extensive .remises convertible into a multiplicity of town purposes. We have every reason to believe that no insuperable obstacle would be thrown in the way of accomplishing so desirable and expe- dient a step on the part of the persons more immediately I concerned, a result fraught with so many advantages favorable to the progress of the town, and constituting as it does a step in the right direction. ART UNION or GREAT BRITAIN.—We are happy to state that Mr. Stephens, the courteous station master at Pontypridd, has, as a result of investing a shilling in this Art Union, become the fortunate holder of an artists' proof engraving beautifully framed, and worth ten guineas. The highest prize, value 150 guineas, went to Newport. No FRIENDS.—On Monday last, a man, apparently a soldier, was brought to the Union from the Black Rock public house on the road leading from the Cardiff turnpike road towards Caerphilly. He was quite destitute, with scanty clothing, and found to be deaf and dumb. He has all the marks peculiarly stamped on a man who has led a military life, and has received a wound on his head, which pantomiinically explains was the result of gunshot. He can give no account of himself, nor can aught be obtained from him as to whence he came or where he was going. Up to the present time he has been quite inoffensive we have not heard since whether he has any relatives, or whether he has been claimed. IMPROVEMENTS.—Several buildings in the town are un- dergoing alterations more or less extensive. Mr. Powell, draper, has had a perceptible addition made to his pre- mises, and has erected a very handsome and commodious show-room; Mr. John Jones has converted a small shop between his premises and the extensive pile of Mr. J. Crocket into a neat shop front; Mr. Cousins, of the New Inn Hotel, has taken down the bar, and in its place has substituted a neat, airy, and convenient room, the front of the bar being enclosed by a handsome window-front with slightly mullioned window frames. The whole alteration has been happily conceived and ably executed under the superin tendance of Mr. Barker. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION SCHEME.—The progress of this scheme seems to make rapid strides; already nearly 10,000 tickets have been disposed of, and still the cry is for more. All the parties connected with the scheme are using their utmost endeavours to push the sale of tickets, and up to the present time with complete success. COMMON FAIR. —On Monday the town presented an ani- mated appearance from earliest dawn. On the one hand a large proportion of both townspeople and strangers devo- ted their energies to taking part in the annual saturnalia on the common, where their time was taken up in the in- tellectual occupation of critically examining the bill of fare on the various booths, the contents of which were some- what ostentatiously announced on the platform out- side, where, as usual, more was to be seen than could be witnessed within. After becoming satiated with the various wonders of nature, science and art, and confused no doubt by the horrid din made up of a simultaneous at- tack on barrel organs, trumpets, drums, large and small bells and gongs, the weary pleasure seekers (?) retired to invigoratejand strengthen exhausted nature in the numerous liquor tents freely and gratefully provided by commercial publicans and sinners. As it was just possible that the re-action between active sight-seeing and beer drinking might have become too great for the constitutions of many, the harp and violin and irrepressible square board were at hand, on the last of which a lugubrious offering at the shrine of Terpsichore was attempted. If that goddess had any sense of the beautiful at all, and has not become weakened by age and decrepitude, she must have repudiated the ottering with a sense of the most profound disgust. But vanity is to be found even in a boozing ken. and among a lot of half-tip-«y revellers so that it was not a matter of sur- prise that as fast as one performed his evolutions before an ad- miring audience, and gracefully retired, another should step forward as a candidate for popular favour, this iavour being wrapped up on three of i.s sides by canvas, and supported by malt liquor. The number attending the fair was the largest seen for some years. The darkness soon put an end to the sale ot beer, &c., on the Common, and the gratified public adjourned to the respective minor houses rejoicing in a sign-board, where they kept it up till daylignt did ap- pear." The drunkenness which, in fairness, we must say was not so pronounced as last year, was still very general, Fighting, for real or imaginary evils, occurred at iutervals. and by fitful starts. One man, we are informed, had his ribs broken and numbers of inebriate vi. tims, with an easy indifference to appearances, found a night's rest on the cold, cold ground." So much for the one side. Now as to the other. The greatest difficulties with which parents anxious about the well-being of their children, teachers and pastors about their Sunday schools and flocks, have to con- tend, on the recurring Common fair daj, is to offer some- thing which may be regarded as a stronger counter-attrac- tion to keep the children and youths from the contaminating influences with which fairs of late years abound. Whether they are entirely successlul may be doubted; that the means they adopt are tor the most part effective tor their purpose, may be tairly admitted. The various schools belonging to the different denominations in the town paraded the public streets, siuging various pieces with evi- dent gusto and spirit. Ihe Church schiols, Wesleyan, Baptist, Independent, and Calvinistic Methodist schools, came out in force. Plenty of tea and cake were disposed of, after which the respective places of public woiship were filled with the parents and friends, hearing singing and recitations.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

ABERDARE.

MERTHYR POLICE COURT.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Family Notices

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. ADDRESSED…