The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

^HE^RECTOR^OF MEETHYE ON WELSH DISSENTERS. THE RECTOR of MERTHYR seems to be bent 011 gaining distinction in the Republic of Letters. At least the columns of the Western Mail are considerably indebted to his restless pen. The loss of Mr. "VVATKIN WILLIAMS'S motion has thrown him into ecstacies. In fact, he has soared to such a height that if he be only spared for some fourteen years longer, lie will be able to say, with one of the apostles, I knew a man above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, 1 cannot tell); such an one caught up into the third lieaven." We only hope he will come down to earth once more with limbs un- broken, and that, if not exactly like an apostle, yet like a cat, he will alight upon his feet. His last letter contains a tremendous number of "its;" in short, "it" is a sort of "jack of all trades" forced into his service on every pos- sible occasion. Whenever a hitch occurs it" is jammed into the holo to stop it up. He in- forms us that "we breathe again." That is certainly gratifying, though we did not know, until we saw this exclamation, that our poor Rector had been so hard up for wind. He must have been wrongly accused by those who have hitherto characterised him as long-winded. It seems that he has actually been out of breath. His shortness of breath may. however, be ex- plained by a certain admission which he makes. which is, that "we must be warm." By all means let us be warm. The cold from which the Eector has been suffering may account, for his recent asthma, uow happily removed. We are pleased to observe that he exhorts one great religious duty in the words, "God be praised." He has evidently found out another object of laudation than himself at last. Former letters have told us what I, the poor, persecuted rector of Merthyr have done but now it is no longer, "Let all men praise me, the Rev. JOHN GRIFFITH, M.A. but God be praised." That is a step in advance of former things. Among his various proposals one is for the division of the diocese of St. David's into three dioceses, each with a bishop at its head. Capital! Does not an apostle say, "If any man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work;" and why should not the RECTOR of MERTHYR create a diocese for himself, if he cannot find one in the ordinary way of promotion ? But what does he mean to do in this new diocese ? Why, there are dirty churches, lie tells us, which ought to be cleaned. What on earth this has to do with the creation of new bishopries we cannot for the life of us understand, but th(-r,- seems to be some connection between the two in our worthy Rector's mind. Does he expect the bishop to parade his diocese with a pailful of lime and a long-handled brush over his shoulders ? That would be a change. People would almost be- lieve in the real humanity of bishops if they could set eyes on such a spectacle. If this re- formation is to he brought about, the sooner the Rev. Jonx GRIFFITH, M.A., is made bishop of Pontsticill, or whatever district he may be ap- pointed to, the better for all! Wales and the world generally. But whatever may become of his new bishoprics, his great ambition, after all, is to convert Wales to the fail of an Established Churchman, to persuade it to throw away its own interpretation of the Scriptures, and join that Church which teaches that we are not saved by faith but by means of a. few drops of water poured or sprinkled upon u.s by a priest wearing a white cloak. Nor does he tliink that Welsh Dissenters would for a moment hesitate to accept such a doctrine in lieu of the teaching of the Protestant Reformers, lie says that "they are not Dissenters from principle, but from birth." That is to say. they are Dissenters, not because they can defend what they profess to believe, but simply because their grandmothers were Dissenters. Unfortunately, the RECTOR, whose reasoning faculties may have been famished by his brisk appetite for lawn, has for- gotten to balance the account. Allowing that nine-tenths of the Dissenters are Dissenters for no other reason than that their mothers or fathers were, what about the people who cling to the alien church? How manv of them have drunk in their baptismal regeneration and epis- copacy with their mother's milk? If we are to begin to appeal to reason. the HECTOR may he alarmed at the result, for even he himself would probably have been a Dissenter but for the acci- dent of birth. We will not deny that many persons are Dissenters, chiefly because their parents were Dissenters: but the insinua- tion that Churchmen are seldom or never so, is little short of impertinence. How- ever, we are glad to find that the RECTOR of MERTIIYR is improving in his attitude towards Dissenters. When lie had to give evidence be- fore a Commission of Inquiry appointed bv Par- liament, upwards of twenty years ago, lie said, "they are very excitable—have notlung like what is considered elsewhere a disciplined reli- gious mind [i.e., we presume, similar to his own]. They go to meeting (!) at six, come out at eight, and spend the remainder of the evening in beer-shops. Properly speaking, there is no religion whatever in my parish [of Aberdare]; at least, I have not yet found it." That was hard enough. Where the people who attended the parish church went to after eight o'clock, he did not say; but he made no scruple in sending all the poor folks who went to meeting (that is a cant name for chapel), to the beer-houses. We congratulate him on having so far improved in his opinion of Dis- senters as to say no harder thing against them now than that they are not Dissenters from principle. We think it well, however, to remind him that he must not judge Welsh Dissenters by the few who hang upon his coat-tails, and are amazingly elated if he touch them with the tips of his fingers. These men are nothing at all from principle, and are very poor specimens of what the real, live, Welsh Dissenter is. But even supposing Welsh Dissenters not to be Dissenters from principle, what will the RECTOR gain? He himself is not loquacious from principle, but could all the laws of heaven and earth combined teach him to be silent ? Men may be born in very stiff moulds, and just as we are men, not from principle, but from birth, and are men notwithstanding, so we may stick to our Dissent, however acquired. The RECTOR glories in Mr. VVATKIN WILLIAMS'S defeat. Nobody ever ex- pected him to have a majority, but we may re- mind the RECTOR that when Mr. JOSEPH HUME moved a similar resolution in 1825, in reference to the Irish Church, his motion was negatived without a division. Even Mr. MIALL had only 95 "ayes" in 1856. But where is the Irish Church now? ♦ THE CHAIRMAN AND COLLECTOR OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH. THE special meeting of the Board of Health, held last week, was disgraced by a scene which, we hope, will be the last of its kind in Merthyr. That Board has not been too vigilant in times past, and therefore we would not be at all dis- posed to censure it for looking well after its officials; but the bullying of public servants is a game which the ratepayers are not likely to relish under any circumstances. When an official deserves to be taken to task, let him be taken to task, but personal attacks, for which no apology can be pleaded must be frowned out of our Boards the moment they are attempted. We have no accusation to lodge against the Board as a whole. The Chairman is, in this instance, the sole offender. What could have induced him to fix his fangs so keenly in the sides of the Collector, we are at some loss to divine; but we think the public will look to him for an explanation. He first of all com- plained that Mr. GOODFELLOW had been dilatory in collecting the rates. Of course, if this could have been proved, the offence was serious enough to demand attention. But, as a closer examination of the accounts most clearly demon- strates, the charge had no foundation whatever to rest upon. The Chairman maintained that about a month previous to the meeting t500 of the March water rate were uncollected, and that, just a few days before, only £ 100 of that amount had been received. Well, the simple question is, Is this true ? An inquiry into the facts has satisfied us that it is not. Even if it had been true, we could not, in all fairness, have attached blame to the Collector, for he was not put in possession of the bills until the time for paying the rates had nearly expired. Thus, for example, the bills for the water-rate, which should all have been paid in by December 25th, 1869, were not placed in the Collector's hands until the 13th day of that month, and even then he did not receive them all, but had them doled out to him in various instalments up to the 16th day of February, 1870. Then, again, the first instalment of bills for the water- rate, which should, according to the Chairman, have been collected by the 2.5th day of March, was not placed in the Collector's hands till the 21st day of March, about four days before the work of collecting should have been completed. We repeat, then, that even had the Chairman's accusation been well founded, it would, under the circumstances just mentioned, have been wholly unjustifiable. A Collector cannot work miracles, even when a Chairman holds the mystic wand. If he is to complete his task on a certain date, he must have the necessary materials placed at his disposal in due time. It was a tyrant who, first of all. refused the straw, and then imperiously commanded his slaves to manufacture bricks but, happily for us. tyrants enjoy very little favour now in any civilised community, and we are, therefore, much mistaken if a Chairman will be publicly applauded, who petulantly orders an official to collect rates without bills.. ,But the case of the Chairman of our Local Hoard is made ten- fold more desperate by the fact that his charge is entirely without foundation. We find that bills for water-rates for the two quarters ending March 25th, and amounting to t2681 5s. l-ld. 4 had been received by the Collector, and that £ 23-32 7s. 11 i d of thatjjamount had actually been collected. The vacancies for these two quarters amounted to £108' 8s. 6d., which, when added to the sum collected, make a sum total of zC2440 16s. 5J-d. How much, then, remained uncollected? £ 500? Or even 400 ? For the Chairman admitted that about £ 1 00 of the zC500 had been collected within a few days previous to his remarks. Unfortunately for the Chairman, the sum is neither X500 nor £400, but only £ 240 16s. 5Ad., and it is only fair to state that much even of this balance would, in all probability, have been gathered in, had it not been for the untoward circumstance that bills of particulars, which the Collector had not in his possession, were demanded by certain parties before they would consent to pay. The collector who preceded Mr. GOODFELLOW used to be complimented by the present Chairman for having done his work well, and yet Mr. GOODFELLOW can show an improvement of JE600 per annum on his water-rate collection alone, as compared with the result obtained by his predecessor. Nor is it only in regard to the water- rate that the Collector has been pains-taking, for we find that of the £ 6904 7s. lOfd. due on the general district rate for the half-year ending October, 1869, theCollectorpaidin £6567 Is. 6d., which, allowing tl49 16s. 7d. for vacancies, left a balance of only .£ 187 9s. 9id. to be 4 carried over to the new rate. The present rate was made on the 6th of April, and we under- stand that at the very time Mr. W. JOXES was venting his displeasure upon the Collector, 12060 13s. 8id. of that sum had been collected. The Board, however, did not support the Chair- man in his most unjustifiable onslaught on the Collector, and, therefore, he may himself have discovered by this time how little sympathy a similar attack is likely to meet with on a future occasion. Mr. GOODFELLOW is, perhaps, not the man he would have liked to favour with the appointment; but as long as Mr. GOODFELLOW does his work well, the public of Merthyr have too strong a sense of fair plav to stand quietly by and see him bullied. We hope that a rumour current in the town, and bearing upon this very subject, is not correct. We say we hope it is not, but it is reported that since the appointment of Mr. HAVARD as book-keeper, the Chairman informed him that if he would keep the books according to his directions and act in every respect under his advice, he would, ere long, have the collection also under his control. We can hardly think that the Chairman supposes himself to be omnipotent, but the rumour is winged by a high authority. In these days, when men are allowed to dictate to a public Board as to the salary they mean to have before accepting an appointment," anything is possible. $0 MR. WATKIN WILLIAMS'S MOTION. THE true character of Her Majesty's present Ministers is daily becoming more and more trans- parent. When Irish grievances are discussed before the House, their lips drop liberalism, justice, and equality, in a constant stream. Nothing is more scandalous, in their estimation, than an alien church in Ireland —a church deserted by the people, forsaken by the poor, and countenanced only by the rich. The very same monstrosity exists in Wales, but they cannot see anything monstrous in it at all. They have even resolved, at whatever risk, to insult the whole body of Nonconformists throughout England and Wales by giving school. boards power to build church schools at the ex- pense of everyone, and then to compel even the children of Dissenters to attend them. They are very anxious, also, to enact good land laws in Ire- land for the benefit of ill-used tenants, but Welsh and English tenants may remain under tyrannical oppression without hope of redress. Owing to certain geographical difficulties, not to be easily overcome, Welsh schools are not built on Irish soil, Llandaff Cathedral is not in Dublin, and the land of Wales is not a part of the Isle of Erin. For this reason, neither Mr. GLADSTONE, nor any of his coadjutors, can see any evil whatever in the Principality, but everything goes on as 0 merrily as a marriage bell. It is not without re- luctance that we write thus of the great leader of our own party, and of those who are his right-hand men in the British legislature but we never had confidence in any Liberal M inistiy so far as the settlement of religious or ecclesiastical discussions is concerned. Save in the solitary war against University Tests, we have never had any reason to expect even-handed justice on religious questions from the present or from any former administration. Even the University Tests Bill was only very recently taken up by Government. The Irish Church Bill, which Mr. GLADSTONE and his ministry seem to regard as a sufficient witness for all time to come of their jealous regard for the rights of their fellow country- men, was positively wasteful in its prodigal pro- visions for the old Establishment. As an eccle- siastical administration, we would place quite as much confidence in the party so well headed by Mr. DISRAELI as in those who at present assume the name of Liberals, and in some respects deserve the name, but are among the rankest of Conservatives in all matters of Church and State. For Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS'S motion for the disestablish- ment and disendowment of the Church in Wales j we never anticipated success. We always felt that he had not properly and carefully prepared the ground. We give him all credit for good motives, for true patriotism, and for sterling courage. But the mere tabling of a resolution is not always the most effectual remedy for a public grievance. The case of the Welsh Church should have been brought prominently before the Welsh constituen- cies, and made the one theme of debate and tea- table talk from Holyhead to Cardiff; petitions should have been forwarded from every parish and district in the Principality, and the gentlemen who either represent, or pretend to represent, the feelings and opinions of the people in Wales should have been waited upon by some of their leading supporters, and politely requested to listen to a few words of plain speaking. We feel satisfied that such a sound would have gone forth from Wales as would have made it a simple impossibility for Mr. Gladstone so entirely and absolutely to distinguish between the case of Wales and that of Ireland—as he evidently thought himself entitled to do. In point of fact, the only material distinc- tion is the absence from Wales of that lawless and reckless violence which have made life and pro- perty insecure in Ireland. Translate Fenianism to Wales, and the Welsh and Irish Churches will stand exactly on a level. These preliminary steps, however, had not been taken. The Welsh people were comparatively silent, holding no meetings, signing no petitions, and consequently Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS'S motion seemed to be entirely unsup- ported. He succeeded in carrying only 44 adhe- rents into the lobby with him, while 209 voted against his proposition. It is rumoured that he would not have pressed his motion to a division, had not one influential member insisted on it, but that he would have been content at present with having aired the question before the House. This would, perhaps, have been the wisest course, if no object was to be gained but eliciting an expression of opinion from the Premier, but we are far from sorry at the course adopted. It is not always enough to know what Mr. GLADSTONE has to say. We require to ascertain, also, what the represen- tatives of the people are prepared to do. As for Mr. GLADSTONE, he hardly spoke on this occasion like himself. There was a vein of bitterness in his remarks; and an evident ignorance of the facts of the case revealed itself more than once. As a specimen of this ignorance, we may refer to his allusion to marriage returns. Taking as his guide the number of persons married in the Established Church as compared with those not so married, he concludes that "the religion of the Established Church is the religion of a considerable majority of the people of England." It is unfor- tunate that Mr. GLADSTONE does not know that thousands of people are married in churches and chapels who do not belong to any religious body that thousands of Dissenters are married at church from mere caprice or vanity, or because they have no registered chapel at hand to go to, and that many parish clergymen have so little shame, and so little conscience, as to tell their parishioners that persons not married by an Anglican priest are not married at all, and that men and women who live together after marriage in a Dissenting chapel are no better than fornicators and adulterers. Many persons have thus been terrified into priestly marriage by these wicked remonstrances. A man who would quote the registrar's returns of mar- riages as an argument in favour of the power of the Church Establishment only proves his want of acquaintance with simple facts. But, notwith- standing this unfortunate illustration, we can well afford £ E hear Mr. GLADSTONE denounce at- tempts at church disestablishment on this side of the Channel, if we only know that our representa tives will not follow him. For this reason, the division has served a most important end. It has so far determined who are, and who are not, fit to represent Wales in the British House of Commons. Men who are not prepared to render a simple act of justice to the great majority of the people have certainly no claim upon the people's votes, and the division on Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS'S motion will therefore enable constituencies to determine what their conduct should be at the next election. Merthyr is very fortunate in this respect. At the last general election, some five thousand electors recorded their votes in such a way as to make the voice of this great Nonconformist constituency quite neutral on the question of questions in Wales — Unsectarian Schools, and Religious Equality. It is true that these were not promi- nent subjects at the hustings, or the five thousand would have fallen to a much lower figure. StilJ, the effect would have been all the same. Had these five thousand had their way, we should have wit- nessed the galling spectacle-RICHARD for, and BRUCE against, Unsectarian Education; and, at last, RICHARD for, and BRUCE against, Religious Equality. Now, however, the result is quite dif- ferent. Merthyr has recorded two votes in favour of the disestablishment and disendowment of the Church in Wales, and we have every reason to believe that Mr. FOTHERGILL, who has hitherto co-operated warmly with Mr. RICHARD, will be found fighting by his side when the Education Bill goes into Committee. We congratulate the borough on this result, for every friend of political and religious freedom must now be convinced that we should have been the mere laughing stock of the country if we had practically disenfranchised ourselves by sending one man to Parliament to shout Ayey and another to shout No. The motion of Mr. WATKIN WILLIAMS has been lost, but the result will not be lost. The question has been ventilated, the true character of Welsh representa- tives has been unveiled, the future is so far pro- vided for, and when the subject is brought up again, as it will be session after session, the minority will be larger still, and will go on in- creasing until the Church in Wales ceases to be the pampered pet of Parliament and the State. We are only sorry that in marching towards this ul- timate issue, the Nonconformist Liberals of Eng- land, Wales, and Scotland, should find fresh cause to distrust a leader who has, in many battles, de- served well of them.

ART UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN.-We bfg to call the attention of our readers to the announcement, in another column, of the next drawing of this Art Union, which is advertised to take place on the 25th of this month. The first prize has been selected from the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, where it is now being exhibited. It is a most beautiful painting by James Hayllar, Esq., entitled The Last Load," value 150 guineas. It represents one of those familiar scenes so highly appreciated by every lover of nature, both in town and country, and the artist has given it with such a faithful and masterly hand- clothing it, as it were, with such poetic imagination, that one can almost feel the calm serenity of the evening, with its golden setting sun, and sniff the scent of new-mown hay." It was in the Royal Academy last year, and the Art Critic of the Times, in his notice of that exhibition, says :Another picture conveying a delightful sentiment of a pleasant country time and work is Mr. Hayllar's Last Load (94), a hay cart in a wood-girt field, with a glow of sunset upon its fragrant load, and a golden and purple sun gleaming through the trees." The committee have had the painting photographed by Mr. Hayward, of Finchley, and a copy, album size, will be given z&a.souVenir to each purchaser of twenty tickets. The second prize is a large and talented Fruit Peace, by Chas. Stuart, Esq., F.S.A., valued at JE85, in which pine apples, melons, grapes, peaches, and other rich and luscious fruits are piled most provokingly tempting, on a table, upon which a large golden tankard and salver are introduced, whilst a distant view of St. Mark's, Venice, through an opening in the rich crimson curtains, complete a picture that for beauty of execution and talent in grouping, has scarcely, if ever, been excelled. In this drawing there will be at least 1,000 prizes of paintings and other works of art, particulars of which are contained in the detailed prize lists, which, together with tickets, one shilling each, may be obtained from the agents whose names are appended to the adver- tisement, until the evening of Wednesday, June 15th, but not later.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. HER MAJESTY'S LEVEE.—Among the gentlemen pre- sented at the levee held on Wednesday, at St. James's Palace, by the Prince of Wales, on behalf of her Majesty, was Mr Richard Fothergill, M.P. The presentation was made by Mr C. R. M. Talbot, M.P., the lord-lieutenant of the county. WOTHERSPOON v. CUKRIK.—When a man has discovered a useful article and spent half a lifetime, a and great deal of money in putting it before the public, some adventurer is sure to deprive him of the reward of his exertions. Mr. Wothcrspoon, of Paisley, has in this way been compelled to apply for an injunction to restrain John Currie for using the word Glenfield" in connection with starch manufactured by him, the name of Glenfield Starch" having been used by Mr. Wotherspoon for many years. The Yice-Chancellor (Malins) said he had never seen a case in which the defendant had been guilty of more repre- hensible conduct as a tradesman, and at once granted the injunction in the terms asked for. -Wisbech Advertiser, March 10th, 1870. WHAT IS A "PHANTOM DELUSION?"—Most newspaper readers will doubtlessly find themselves in a quandary in endeavouring to understand what a "phantom delusion" may mean. The explanation was by our townsman, Mr Goodwin, at a meeting of schoolmasters held in Swansea last week. "There was no religious difficulty," said the worthy schoolmaster [at his school], it was a mere phantom delusion, got up by political agitators for party purposes." A METAPHYSICAL DISTINCTION. Mr David Richards, of the Penydarrun National School, favoured the audience at the same meeting with the fol- lowing fine distinction between a lie and a fib.— "A lie," said this teacher of the Church Catechism, and of Christian morality, "is an attempt to deceive; but if any cue said that he received his name from his godfathers and godmothers, when it was well known that he had not got anv godfathers or godmothers, it was a fib to say that was a li 1 THE PROPOSED PUBLIC MONUMENT TO A WELSH BARD. —Those "f our readers who subscribed towards the fund raised for erecting a. monument over the remains of the Rev. J. Williams (Caledfryn), in consideration of the ser- vice done by him to Welsh literature, of the valued aid rendered to Welsh Bards and iterary men, by his unbiassed and enlightened adjudications. as well as unremitting exer- tions to elevate the style, and refine the taste of the Welsh press and pulpit, will be glad to hear that the committee, out of twenty-eight designs sent in by Welsh, English, and Scotch sculptors, have selected one sent in by Mr A, H. James, of the Marble Works, Newport, Monmouthshire. The monument wiil he erected at Groeswen, near Caer- philly, and will be composed entirely of massive blocks of Aberdeen red granite, standing upwards of nine feet high, the shaft; being panelled to receive a bronze medallion lil \eness of the deceased, surrounded with a wreath of laurel and bay leaves, with the inscription intertwined Caledfryn, ganwyd ChwefrorG, 1801; bu farw Mawrth 23. 1869." MARKET SQUARE UHTTRCH.—The Sunday bchool m con- nection with the above Church held its anniversary services on Sunday last. In the morning ihe Rev. F. S. Johnstone preached a sermon specially adapted to children and young people, who we were glad to notice were in attendance in large numbers. In the afternoon Mr W. L. Daniel ex- amined the schonlupon The birth and childhood of Jesus Christ." The examination was thoroughly testing in its character, and the questions were all very fairly answered. Masters John Davies and Thomas Morgan recited very cleverly pieces appropriate for the occasion. An interest- ing incident occurred during the afternoon, being the pre- sentation to a young man named William Powis, of a very handsome volume, as a testimony of the good-will of his fellow-teachers towards him, and of their kind wishes for his prosperity in Australia, for which colony he intended starting on the following day. The Hcv. T. Williams, B.A., High-street, preached in the evening an excellent sermon, and which was listened to most attentively throughout. Unlike meetings of this kind held in most places of worship, there were no collections at any of the services, the Market Square Church having, we under- stand, given up the practice of making collections, and also done away with seat rents, their place of worship being to its attendants thus not only free in theory but in practice. THE NONCONFORMIST CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. —A meeting of the Central Committee of Nonconformists was held in Birmingham, on Monday afternoon, to consider the concessions of Mr Forster. The leading denominations were well represented. Three resolutions were passed, which set forth that the amendments of the Government had altoge- ther failed to remove the fundamental objection urged against the Bill by the vast majority of Nonconformists, inasmuch as it still left it in the power of school boards to require the schoolmaster to teach sectarian formularies, catechism, and dogmas in rate aided schools. The second resolution expressed the determination of Nonconformists to offer the most strenuous resistance to the passing of the measure as it stands, and in the judgment of the Central Committee the grave responsibility of delaying a general and efficient system of national education would rest with the supporters of the Bill. The only amendment which would be accepted by Nonconformists would be one provid- ing, That in any schools wholly or in part maintained out of local rates under this Act no religious instruction shall be given or religious observance practised other than the reading of the Scriptures, and that such reading shall be protected by a time-table conscience clause." ANDIAL COURAGE INFERIOR TO MORAL BRAVERY.— Mere animal courage is often associated with the worst vices. The most wonderful examples of it may be found in the history of pirates and robbers, whose fearlessnes is generally proportioned to the insensibility of their con- sciences and to the enormity of their crimes. And military courage is easily attained by the most debased and un- principled men. who may be brave from the absence of all reflection, prodigal of life because their vices have robbed life of its blessings, and especially brave because the sword of martial law is hanging over their heads. If war be a blessing because it awakens energy and courage, then the savage state is peculiarly privileged, for every savage is a soldier On the same principle those early periods of society were happy, when men were called to contend not only with one another, but with beasts of prey for to these excitements we owe the heroism of Hercules and Theseus. On the same principle the feudal ages were more favoured than the present. I repeat, we need not war to awaken human energy. There is at least equal sslu scope for courage and magnanimity in blessing, as in destroying mankind. The condition of the human race offers inexhaustible objects for enterprise, and fortitude, and magnanimity. In relieving the countless wants and sorrows of the world, in exploring unknown regions, in carrying the arts and virtues of civilisation to unimproved communities, in extending the bounds of knowledge, in diffusing the spirit of freedom, and especially in spreading the light and influence of Christianity, how much may be dared, how much endured? Philanthropy invites us to services which demand the most intense, and elevated, and resolute, and adventurous activity. Let it not be imagined that were nations imbued with the spirit of Christianity they would slumber in ignoble ease that instead of the high-minded murderers who are formed on the present system of war, we should have effeminate and timid slaves. Christsan benevolence is as active as it is forbearing. It will give a new extension to the heart, open a wider sphere to enterprise, inspire a courage of exhaustless resource, and prompt to every sacrifice and exposure for the improvement and happiness of the human race. The energy of this principle has been tried and displayed in the fortitude of the martyr, and in the patient labours of those who have carried the Gospel into the dreary abodes of idolatry. Away, then, with the argu- ment that war is needed as a nursery of heroism.- Chan ning. IMPORTANT TO TRADESMEN.—Those of our readers who fortunately have no occasion to attend at the County Courts, have no idea of the excellent advice to suitors which is now and again given by His Honour Judge Falconer. At a recent sitting he addressed the following sensible and practical observations to tradesmen, on their obligations, moral and legal, when they supplied goods, through the agency of third parties, on credit Ser- vants," said his Honour, are not agents to pledge the credit of their employers without express or implied per- mission. What the circumstances may be under which permission is implied are so various as to be utterly be- yond complete specincation; and no man of common sense, and no man wishing to avoid costly law proceedings, would think of allowing his chance of payment for goods ordered by his servant to depend on implied authority. Whenever a servant is for the first time permitted by his employer to charge his credit, no tradesman is safe if he fail, without delay, to ask the employer if the servant or alleged agent had his authority to charge his credit. The day will come when the question will have to be asked, and they should ask the question as soon as the goods were sold. Don't think you are safe because you may infer from bits of law a conclusion favourable to the risk which, through the neglect of inquiry, may be incurred. Such fragments of law may puzzle and mislead you. At the earliest moment after or before purchases are completed, address the person you intend to charge, and ask if he will pay you. Make instant enquiries of the person whom you believe, through the agent, is becoming your debtor, and you will avoid the chances of a probable, and sometimes a ruinous, law suit. Conduct your business so that you may not need the aid of lawyers, nor be compelled to pay money out of your pocket to witnesses, nor he compelled to waste your time in courts of law, and needlessly, on account of your own neglect of caution and prudence, bring your neighbours into court as witnesses and jurors, and interfere with their daily pur- suits. What may be profitable to lawyers will be costly to you, and may occasion exceeding inconvenience to your fellow-tradesmen. Remember that the pursuit of your own business cannot be separated from a consideration of your duty towards your neighbours. The explanation of the legal grounds of a judicial decision may oftentimes need an elaborate exposition of the reasons which govern those who make it; but rules of conduct in the daily baying and selling of goods do not need the study of con- flicting legal decisons. Whatever act in life may cause a doubt of its correctness, forbear to do. Abstain, therefore, to charge a man with a debt whtn you can apply to him, and ascertain if you are doing what is right. Otherwise you may find that you have thrown away your goods, wasted your money, and made yourselves pitiable objects of warning to the public as unsuccessful Plaintiffs inlegal proceedings, in conse- quence of incautious sales of goods to unauthorised ser- vants. The law does give protection. The protection is that tradesmen shall apply to the employer and ask if he has sanctioned his servant in pledging his credit. Bread is a necessary of life, and may be included, when urgently needed, among other things as "necessaries but they are none of them necessaries of credit when the employer is near, or the servant has no authority to pledge the credit of his employer. The ordinary rules of morals are the true rules of law: and law in these cases is a rule of conduct. If you are told that every servant has the purse of his employer in his charge, common sense and common honesty ought to suggest to every tradesman that, if the employer is by law in this helpless condition, the law would be a bad law, and ought not to exist for a day, and it would be a cruel law in its operation. What I have several times declared the law to be, expresses a rule of conduct which makes trade safe, prevents fraud and dis- honesty, and imposes what no honest tradesman would regard to be unpleasant trouble, knowing, as he must know, the advantages its observance gives to him. Security thus caused encourages trade, and enlarges its boundaries. i And yet, when I use the word security," I am reminded j how vainly 1 am constantly engaged in telling both men and women how to make themselves and their households secure. I tell them not to take forty shillings' worth of goods, when ten shillings' worth at a time is enough. I tell them to trade with one person of a calling at a time, and they persist in dealing with several. I tell them to preserve their homes from executions, and keep their husbands from commitment to gaol, by being mode. rate in what they buy, and they grasp at as much as they can get. I tell tradesmen how they can keep out of law, but unfortunately very many of them prefer to act on ad- vice which involves them in law suits, THE WOMEN'S SUEFRAGE QUESTION.—We understand the lecturer to-night on the Women's Suffrage question is Mr Moncure Conway a gentleman who, at the age of 21, sacrificed his patrimony to conscientious scruples as to slave- holding his father having been a Virginian slave-holder. His attainments in the literary world are to) well-known to require recapitulation. J. C. FOWLER, ESQ. -This gentleman after his arduous judicial duties of the year. is at present enjoying a season of relaxation. We are sure that all who know him will join us in the hope that he will thoroughly enjoy his holi- days, and that he will return to us with invigorated health. Mr. MANLEY'S OPERA COMPANY have been performing at the Drill Halt during the present week, with, we are sorry to find, but indifferent success. They are announced to continue their stay during next week, when we hope thir endeavours to please will meet with a larger share of reward. CORRECTION.—In our report of the Eisteddfod held in the Temperance Hall last week, we inadvertently stated that the Bethel Band of Hope Choir won the prize for singing I Only beginning the journey it should have been the Zoar Rand of Hope Choir. WELSH WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETINGS.—The meeting of the Welsh Wesleyan Ministers of South and part of North Wales, were bell at Shiloh Chapel, Merthyr, during the past week. We understand there were present about fifty ministers, and also a large number of delegates from the various South Wales circuits. These district meetings we learn are essentially meetings for business in connection with the Wesleyan body. In these the appointment of ministers to the various Welsh circuits is practically made, and it is also in these that the young ministers on probation are recommended for ordination. Among the most notable ministers who were present at those meetings were the Rev Dr Jobson, president of the Conference, the Rev Mr Roberts, late of Huddersfield, the Rev C. Prest London, &c., &c. The conference under the presidency of the Rev Mr Jenkins, of Merthyr, continued throughout Wednesday and Thursday, sermons were preached at the above chapel, at 7 10, 2, and 6 o'clock, and we believe they were given with great eloquence and etfect. On Wednesday Dr Jobson preached an English Sermon, and the Rev Mr Wilcox a Welsh Sermon. The chapel was crowded by a congregation composed of members of all denominations, and the sermon of the President of the Conference was, if not so eloquent as some had anticipated eminently practical. We rejoice to hear that our Wesleyan friends express themselves highly gratified with the kindness evin- ced by the town generally in showing its hospitality to the strangers present at these meetings. DOWLAI S. SAD ACCIDENT.—On Friday last an accident occurred at the Bargoed Coal Pit, which was attended we regret to state with a loss of two lives, as well as injury to three other persons. It appears that the stage was descending the pit, and by some means, at present unexplained, the rope got off the drum, and the carriage precipitated to the bottom, the heavy rope falling upon it. The two persons killed are Owen Williams, Caeharris, and John Jenkins, Incline Top, Penydarren, each of them 26 years of age. The persons injured are William Hughes, William Jenkins. and William Davies. An inquest has been opened by T. Williams, Esq., deputy coroner, and some prelim- inary evid nee taken, after which it was adjourned for the presence of T. E. Wales, Esq., Government Inspector for the district. MERTHYR BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual weekly meeting was held on Saturday, when there were present :—Messrs. G. T. Clark (Chairman), R. H. Rhys. J. Matthews, D. E. Williams, W. L. Daniel. T. Williams, J. Williams, N. B. Allen, J. W. James, G. Per- rot, W. Gould, M. Edwards, J. W. Jones, E. Lewis, J. Rhys, Rees Lewis, G. Martin, R. Thomas, J. Rees, J. Rhys, and the Revs. J. Griffiths and G. C. F Harries. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. FINANCE. The report of the Finance Committeee was read and adopted, and the several accounts were ordered to be paid as recommended. FEVER REFUGE EXPENSES. Mr J. Matthews (one of the Finance Committee) stated that they had examined the above account sent in by the Board of Health, and they found that all the persons charged for were paupers with the exception of two, who were officers at the Refuge, who had contracted the disease whilst at their duty. They had proposed paying one-half the account ( £ 71 8s lOd) less the amount charged for the two officers referred to. The Clerk stated that the item for the two officers was JE11 Is Sd. Mr R. H. Rhys thought it was a very fair way of deal- ing with the matter. It was then agreed to pay the Board of Health the sum of f:M 3s 7d. THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO SQUIRE INTO THE MORTALITY AT THE INFIRMARY. The Rev. J. Griffith, Chairman of the Committee ap- pointed to enquire into the causes of the increased mor- tality at the Infirmary during the half-year ending 31st of March, 1870. read the following report:— To the Merthyr Tydfil Board of Guardians. Gentlemen, — We went into all the facts connected with the case, as they seemed to us, most carefully. We found that in the half-year in question there were 151 deaths arising from the following causes, as seen per accompanying schedule. We further inquired into the deaths ending March 31, 1809, and found them, as per same schedule, to be 35. Of these, it will be observed that in the half-year ending March, 1870, there were 17 deaths of children of from 4 years of age and under and for the half-year ending March, 18W, there were 10 deaths of children of the same age. On examining the schedule it will be found that out of 01 deaths, (j occurred by accidents, thus reducing the number to 5b. In the half year ending March 31, lHi9, there were ro deaths from accidents. On eliminating, therefore, the number of accidents from the gross number, 61. and taking into consideration the increaser-l mortality in the town, we find that the deaths in the infirmary do not much exceed the increased number of deaths in the neighbourhood. This increase would be amply accounted for by taking into consideration the impover- ished and diseased state of those who are sent into the infirmary of a workhouse. With regard to the deaths from accidents, they were of so severe a character that, after examining the Master and Sister Frances, the committee are not at all surprised at the result For example, the first was William .1 0nes, a man who had come from Dowlais. His leg was amputated the next day. He lived for eight weeks. He was of a very consumptive disposition. Two of his children have since died, one from consumption, and the other from whooping ceugli. The second was David VVatkins This, also, was an amputated case, but the operation had bsen performed outside. He died in five days of poison of the blood He was sixty years of age. The third was James Gleeson. He came in with both leg and body very much crushed the leg was amputated. He was a strong man, but Sister Frances thinks he died more from internal injury than from the effects of the opera- tion John Davies was suffering from a severe burn. He lived only ten days, and died of lockjaw Howell Williams was another case of severe burn. He came from Aberdare in an open cart on the 0th of March, a most bitterly cold day, and the man died the same evening. Thomas Edwards died of a sheck, after an explosion of gunpowder. He lived only three days. Before we conclude, we think we ought, in justice, to call your attention to the successful way in which fever has been treated during the period under investigation, viz., from October 1, 1869, to March 31, 1870. There were 23 cases in the infirmary, and only two deaths. In the previous half-year, from April 30, 1809, to September 30, 1809, there were about 30 cases of fever, and six deaths. The Rev. gentleman then moved that the report be adopted and entered in the minutes. Mr Gould seconded the proposition, and it was agreed to unanimously. Mr R. H. Rhys was very much gratified with the report, for it removed all doubts that had lately been raised, and circulated within the last six months throughout the town. What bad been said lately was a great reflection upon the skill and attention of the medical Jofficer, and the officers of the house generally, and not only upon them, but also upon the Board itself. This was the reason he had proposed that a committee should be appointed to enquire into the causes of the increase, and he was now very much pleased with the result of the committee's in- vestigation. He supported the proposal that the report be adopted, and entered on the minute book. The Chairman hoped the report of the committee would be well known throughout the town, for it clearcd away all the doubts that might have previously existed. The re- port seemed to him very conclusive and satisfactory, and he hoped all the members were of the same opinion. He quite agreed with Mr Rhys that it was their duty to ap- point the committee when such damaging reports" ere cir- culated, Mr R. H. Rhys drew the attention of the Board to the case of Howell Williams. It was stated in the report that he was brought over from Aberdare in an open cart "on a most bitterly cold day, and the man died on the same evening." The Rev. J. Griffith stated that he had intended bringing this before the Board, for he thought it should be taken notice of. To bring a man over the mountain on a cold day, as the Sister said, in an open cart, was he thought enough to cause the man's death in the state that he was in. Mr W. L. Daniel remarked that the man was covered with burns. When they enquired into the case, the com- mittee were perfectly satisfied from what the master said that the Relieving Officer at Aberdare had done his best under the circumstances. The Rev. G. C. F. Harries said he did not remember anything of the kind. The Rev. J. Griffith did not think anything was said at the committee meeting about it, for if there had he should certainly have heard it, and if what Mr Daniel had said occurred he should have mentioned it then. The Chairman thought this had nothing to do with the Board. Mr. Daniel remarked that as the Master and the Relieving Officer were in the room, they ought to be allowed to say if what he had said was not correct. ifiMr It. H. Rhys thought it was strange that the com- mittee, if they were not satisfied, had not said so in the report, or added a postscript to the report. The relieving officer ought to be heard. 0 Mr W. David stated that the man was brought to him in a cart about half-past five o'clock on the Sunday morning referred to in the report. He was severely burnt at the upper yard at Llwydcoed Works. Immediately the poor man was brought to him he went and got a covered car- riage to take him over to the Union. When the carriage came he refused to go in, for he could not sit, and was bound to lie down on his back as he was in such pain. We saw the poor fellow was in such a bad state that it would never do to keep him waiting until he went over to Merthyr for the regular ambulance, so he went without the loss of any unnecessary time, and got a spring cart in which he put a lot of straw for him to lie upon, and covered him with some rugs, and endeavoured to make him as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. Before starting he gave him three penny worth ot brandy, and again gave him the same quantity when at the half-way house on the mountain. He accompanied him ovel to the Infirmary himself.. Mr li. Thomas was satisfied with the explanation, ana could well understand that a person in his state covered with burns, would rather have been laid down than kept in with burns, would rather have been laid down than kept in a sitting posture. The Chairman concurred.. The Master remarked that he had stated the case to the Committee, but he supposed the Rev. gentlemen did not hear him. The Rev. J. Griffith said the Master mus nave told Mr Daniel himself, for h*Aha(i not heard a. word of it. Ihe Chairman observed that in reading the report it seemed as if there was blame to be attached to theSRe- lieving Officer, but he thought that Air David s statement had materially altered the aspect of the case, and it was now for them to say whether the explanation was satis- factory. The Rev. J. Griffith remarked that if they had heard these explanations before they would not have said any- thing. MASTER S REPORT. The usual weekly report wasread bythe Master, from which it appeared that there had been 27 admitted, 0 born, 14 discharged, 3 died during the week, remaining in the house 314, as against 224 in the corresponding week of last year, in the infirmary 57. 0 This concluded the public business. MERTHYR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH.

The usual bi-monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, when there were presentMessrs. W. Harris, (chairman), E. Purchase, J. Jones, T. Williams, W. Gould, W. L. Daniel, J. W. James, T. Jenkins, and R. Thomas. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting as well as those of the special meeting were read and confirmed. THE NEW BOOK-KEEPER. Mr R. Thomas asked if the agreement with Mr Havard, ha new book per, had been signed The Deputy-Clerk said it had not. Mr R. Thomas said he should at their first meeting in July move that the resolution passed at their special meeting, appointing Mr Havard as book-keeper at E200 per year be rescinded. He based his objection to the appointment upon various points which he should make known at the proper time. Mr Jones said that was so long, could he not bring it for- ward at the next meeting of the Board. Mr Thomas said he could not, for he should not be able to attend the next meeting. Mr Purchase remarked that the appointment was made according to the advertisement. Mr Thomas But the advertisement did not say J200 per year. Mr Williams It stated not less than £150. Mr Thomas objected to selecting a man for £200, whilst several men quite as competent offered to do it for £150. He was in a position to show that Mr Havard had been canvassed respecting the situation. He had nothing to say against Mr Havard personally, but what he objected to was the unfair way in which the whole affair was transacted. He intended moving at the next meeting but one, that the resolution passed at the special meeting of the Board ap- pointing Mr Havard, as book-keeper, at a salary of £200 per year be rescinded. Mr James remarked that Mr Havard had already coni. menced his duties. Mr Thomas That has nothing to do with my resolution. Mr James did not think they could do anything in the matter now. Mr Gould observed that Mr Thomas had simply given notice of a motion, and they would have an opportunity of discussing it again. Mr Thomas again stated that he based his objection to the appointment, partly upon the fact that the election was not conducted in a fair and legal manner. MR PURCHASE. The above gentleman signed the usual declarations as to his qualification as ratepayer to sit upon the Board. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The following report was then read To the Merthyr Tydfil Local Board of Healtlt. Gentlemen,—Having, as directed by you, again conferred with Mr Thomas, Superintendent of the County Constabulary, in Merthyr. with respect to arrangements for extinguishing fires, I beg to submit the following recommendations, viz I.-That. by permission of the owners of the Merthyr Market House, a suitable alarm bell be placed in the turret of the said Market House. 2.—That a volunteer auxiliary force be established, consisting twelve able, steady men, of the class of masons, carpenters, and slaters, to act under the direction of the Superintendent of Police. 3. -That half-a-day in each month be set apart for practising the use of the hose and tire escape by the police and volunteers. 4 -That each member of the fire brigade be provided with a round jacket. 5.—That each member of the brigade be allowed a reasonable sum, to be agreed upon for attending at a fire, and also for the time employed in practising. In the event of the change of contractors for scavenging the Merthyr District, it will be necessary to appoint a person to value the plant to be transferred from the old to the new contractor. I beg to report that during the present season it will be neces- sary to paint the external wood and iron-work of the buildings, &c., of the Water Works at Penybryn, Pentwyn, and top of Dowlais. I beg to report that during the present season it will also be necessary to extend the dry breast walling for a. distance of about 120 yards on the western side of the Pentwyn Reservoir. I beg to report that the large regulating valve in the Penydarran fields has got out of proper working order, and that it may be necessary to obtain the assistance of a man in the employ of the makers of the valve to put it right. 1 am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, SAMUEL H.UU'UK, Surveyor. Merthyr Tydfil, 1st June, 1870, FIRE BRIGADE. Mr Williams asked if a more powerful bell was needed than the one used at the British Schools. Mr Jenkins thought so. The Surveyor said there was, and one of a different sound. Mr Purchase suggested the church bell. Mr Thomas also thought that the church bell would do very well. The Chairman said that it would take such a time to get into the church to ring the bell. He thought that a bell near the police station would be the best. Mr Thomas thought that a key to open the water plugs should be left at the police station. The Surveyor said there was one there, and had been for years. Mr Thomas said it was very desirable that the water- plugs should be opened once a week, for they soon got very rusty, and it was only with great difficulty that they were opened. The Surveyor said this was regularly done. Mr Thomas said that for his part he was perfectly willing for them to put an alarm bell in the turret of the Market House, though of course they would have to get the consent of his co-proprietors. As they were going to repair the Market House it could be very easily done. Mr Gould remarked that they ought to take into consi- deration the expenses attendant upon getting a staff of men as was proposed by the Surveyor. The Chairman said they could go into details again. It was for them to say whether they would adopt the recom- mendations of the Surveyor. Mr James agreed with Mr Gould that they ought to take into consideration the probable expense first. Mr Purchase moved that Mr Harpur give them a detailed report of the probable cost of what he proposes in his re- port. The Surveyor said he thought it would be about £36 per year. Mr Thomas thought it would be more satisfactory for the Surveyor to report upon the matter, and therefore he begged to second the proposition of Mr Purchase. Mr Gould asked if there was any difficulty experienced at the last fire in getting volunteers to put the fire out. The Surveyor said there was not, though the police per- formed duties that should never devolve npon them. They should only keep the crowd away, but at present they had to work the hose, &c. Mr Gould said that vas an argument in favour of adopt- ing the Surveyor's suggestion of getting some good men trained for the purpose. The Chairman said he had noticed at several fires the want of discipline. The police were obliged, as had been stated, at present to put the fire out, whilst they should be employed in keeping the crowd back. He thought it would be a move in the right direction to appoint a brigade com- posed of masons, carpenters, &c., as was recommended, for these men were accustomed to going up ladders and policemen were not. /;) /;) Mr Jones should like to see the suggestions of the Sur- veyor carried out, but the expense he saw would be very great. He thought the Insurance Companies should be bmule contribute towards the expense of a fire Mr Purchase said that the companies had been applied to several times before, but they had declined to give any- thing. The reason they refused was that not one of them had such a number of insurances in the town that would pay them to contribute anything. Mr Thomas agreed with Mr Jones that the Insurance Companies ought to contribute towards the expense of the fire brigade, and he thought the agents in the town ought to be asked to apply to them. The Chairman thought it would be very desirable also if they agreed to form a fire briaade that the men should live as near to the Market-house as possible. Mr James could see no advantage in this, for supposing the fire broke out in Dowlais ? re & The Chairman said in that case the men would be to- gether. It was then agreed to let the matter stand over until the next meeting, the Surveyor to report at that meeting the probable cost of carrying out the whole of his recommen- dations. ARBITRATOR. The Surveyor said that in case the scavenging contract were given to a new man, they would have to get a person to act as arbitrator, to value the plant transferred to him for the carrying out of his contract. Mr Thomas proposed and Mr Daniel seconded that Mr Jonathan Reynolds, Mill-street, be appointed. Agreed to. THE PAINTING WORK AT PENBRYN. ° Mr Daniel asked how often was the wood and iron work at Penbryn painted ? The Surveyor About once in three years. Mr Jenkins asked what would be the cost of doing the work ? ° The Surveyor said they would advertise for tenders for doing it. It was then agreed to advertise in the TELEGRAPH and Express. THE WALL AT PENTWYN RESERVOIR. Several members stated that they had observed that it was necessary to extend the wall, as was recommended by the Surveyor, Mr James asked how the work would be given out—was it by contract ? The Surveyor stated that it might be called a contract itt one sense, for the work was done at so much per yard. It was agreed that the work should be carried out. THE WATER REGULATING VALVE. The Board agreed that if it was necessary the Surveyor should engage a man, as he recommended in his report to put it all right. A NOVEL WAY OF ECONOMIZING IN THE PARISH. Mr James observed that one or two poor people had ap. plied to the Guardians last week for relief. They stated that they had been employed breaking stones for the Board of Health, but that all the persons so employed bad been stopped. He wished to know if this was true? The Surveyor said it was. They were all discharged bv order of the Chairman, who did so with a view of keeping down the expenses. 8 Mr Williams should certainly like to see the expenses reduced in some other way, for by discharging tl^s^ea they all became paupers. 6 5 ulea Afr James asked about bow much was the total amount paid to these Ynen ? The Surveyor About £3 per week. now*? aske(i if there were any men breaking stones m!LS*U17ejor repHed that there was not one. Thev had months. 83 en at Present to last them for some Mr James remarked that the men generally emnlovpd in stone broking were the weak and infirm men, and there ore he thought that they ought to be kept on now in the- summer instead of putting them on again in the winter h» „ i Afew fufther,r.<?ma!:ks Mf James gave notice that th B drmg sub]ect forward at the next meeting of NEWFOUNDLAND TIP. A letter was read from Superintendent Thomas callxaip attention to the Board to the tipping of night soil on the above tip, by the contractor of the Board. The Chairman said that, must be stopped. The Surveyor said it had, for they were now tipping on the ground they had rented from Mr R. E. Davies hub before they had that ground they had no other place to tip it. Mr Thomas thought it was very proper the Sunerintpn dent should bring it before the Board. &upennten~ TROEDYRHIW. The following was read To the Chairman and Members of the Merthyr TydiU Local' Board of Health. Gentlemen,—The qusstion is often asked in this nlacp—hnn the Board no power in Troedyrhivv, or have they handed us over to the tender mercies of certain.parties who have no respect for the law, and no other principle to govern them but irreed ? to the tender mercies of certain Parties who have no respect for the law, and no other principle to govern them but irreed ? Some months ago we presented to the Board a very numeronslv signed petition, asking the Board to grant us a committee to investigate the encroachment made on the river bed. The Board very promptly complied with our request, and a committee of TOUT investigate the encroachment made on the river bed. The Board very promptly complied with our request, and a committee of your members was appoiuted to enquire into our grievance. Part of