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LOCAL AND DISTRICT.

.. VOLUNTEER NEWS.

THE RETURN OF THE VOLUNTEERS.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

THE RETURN OF THE VOLUN- TEERS. HOW THEY ARE TO BE WELCOMED HOME. URBAN COUNCIL APATHETIC. As we stated a fortnight ago the five volunteers from South Africa who, for upwards of twelve months have been taking their share of the hard work and hard knocks in South Africa, are expected to arrive at Southampton on Tuesday next. From there they will entrain with the remainder of the company for Wrexham. Here they will go into barracks; and may not be disbanded for some days. Arrangements, however, have been made for entertaining the company to a dinner at Wrexham, on the night of their arrival, at which the commanding officer will be supported by the chief officers of the company. For the following evening Captain Griffiths, in command of the H. (Llangollen) Company, has made an application with a view to securing the attendance of the five local men at a dinner, to which they will be invited as his guests. This, in view of the hesitation of the Urban Council to move in the matter, he is now organizing. The services of the Glyndyfrdwy brass band have been secured, and they. together with the local bugle band, will meet the men on their arrival at the railway station and precede them to the Hand Hotel, where it is anticipated that a representative company will be assembled to greet them, many of the leading residents of the town and neighbourhood having come forward to supplement Captain Griffiths's efforts. After the dinner, and the post prandial speeches, the evening will be devoted to harmony, and no effort will be neglected to indicate that the loyal inhabitants of Llangollen thoroughly appreciate the gallant manner in which Col.-Sergt. Selby, Corporal W. H. Hughes, Lce-Corpl. George Hughes, Private Robert Jones and Private E. Green have, with others, served their King and Country on veldt and kopje in South Africa. Whilst the majority of the Urban Council appear to see difficulties in the way of organizing a celebration, which they fear pledges them, in some sort, to acquiescence in the policy that has brought about the war, a minority opposes the view which the greater number have so far taken of the matter, and would like to have seen the duty of maintaining the credit of their native town in this matter, which has devolved upon Capt. Griffiths and others, taken up by the official representatives of the ratepayers. The following correspondence, however, shows that any movement in this direction was not to be hoped for, and forms the Captain's justification for stepping into the breach :— (COPY.) April 27th, 1901. To the Chairman of the Urban District Council. Dear Sir.-Re return of local voiunteers from the front. I gather from the Llangollen Advertiser that it was suggested at a meeting of the Urban District Council some few weeks back that the Council should take this matter in hand as representing the town. As the time is now short I shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly inform me whether the Council intend moving, otherwise as the officer in Command of the H. Company I should wish to take the necessary steps to ensure the men a fitting welcome.—Yours faith- fulfy, J. E. GRIFFITHS, Capt. Commanding H. Company. To this the following reply was received on Tuesday, 30th ult :— (COPY.) Dear Mr. Griffiths,-re Volunteers. I beg to state that I have made enquiry and fir.d this matter has not been brought before the Council up to Saturday last. However, if you are satisfied that there is a desire in the town to hold a public meeting to consider the question I, or the vice-chairman, will agree to call a meeting conditionally that you send us a requisition signed by a dozen respectable tradesmen; but please understand that the future work as to the conduct of the meeting will rest with you. This is the way I acted the time before.—Yours faithfully, WILLIAM COWARD. April 29th, 1901. In this connection we re-print the following extract from our report of the meeting of the Urban District Council, of December 4th, when, it will be remembered, a statement was promul- gated, which subsequently turned out to be incorrect, that the men would reach England before Christmas :— THE RETURNING VOLUNTEERS. Mr. B. Roberts asked what steps the Council pro- posed to take with a view to welcoming the local volunteers on their return from the front.—Mr. Parry An application to the chairman of the Council to take some steps will be the proper course.-The chairman said if it were a town celebration he should say the chairman of the Council should make the arrangements; and when they knew the volunteers were on their way they might call a public meeting.— The clerk: In reference to that I should like to make a suggestion. I think it is due to them for what they have done for their Queen and Country that we should have a roll of honour placed in the Assembly Rooms with the names and dates and particulars of service. Bearing on the matter, Capt. J. E. Griffiths addresses the following letter to the Advertiser :— (COPY.) Sir,-It seems only right that a fitting welcome should be extended to the members of the local Volunteer Company who are now on their way from South Africa. The above letters speak for them- selves, and I leave the public to judge whether in view of the evident reluctance of the Council to make a move, I am justified in my decision to undertake the entire responsibility connected with the arrange- ments, full particulars of which appear in your columns of to-day. It is not, we are assured, the intention that the recollection, of their welcome home shall be a transient matter so far as the returning volunteers are concerned. A fund is to be raised, to which every householder will have a chance of subscrib- ing, with a view to presenting each of the quintette with a substantial piece of plate-a silver goblet or salver bearing an appropriate inscription, and in this connection, may we suggest, there are other local men who have served, or are serving, at the front whose services should not be overlooked. Other arrangements for their welcome include a supper at the" Grapes" Hotel to which, we understand, they will be entertained by the members of H" Company, on the Saturday evening following their arrival. We subjoin a. few extracts showing what other towns are doing in this respect The Welsh Volunteer Service Company, who arrived at Cardiff on Monday, attended a thanks- giving servioe at Llandaff Cathedral on Tuesday, aad were subsequently entertained to luncheon by the mayor. The Swansea men were welcomed on Taesdayby the mayor at the Free Library, and entertained to dinner on Wednesday. TaB bridge Wells was decorated on Tuesday night in honour of the return of the Volunteers. The men are to get silver watches, subscribed for by the townspeople, and they will shortly be entertained at a public gathering. The Camborne contingent of Cornish Volunteers were enthusiastically welcomed at the station by the district council. Preparations are being made at Shrewsbury to give the home-coming Shropshire Voluatser Service Company a hearty welcoma on its arrival at the county town, which, it is expected, will be on Tuesday next. The Company numbering 93 of all ranks, which is under the command of Lieut. Head, left Cape Town by the Government transport Formosa on April 10, and is due to arrive at Southampten on May 7, at the same time as the Llangollen men. The Mayor and Corporation will attend at the railway station to receive Lieut. Head and his men a processioll will afterwards be formed in the station yard, and will march to the General Market where the men will leave their equipments, have a wash, and then march to St. Chad's Church. After a brief service, the parade will be re-formed and march to the Corn Exchage, where dinner will be provided for the guests, over which the Mayor will preside. Scenes of rejoicing were witnessed at Nortllwieh, Wiasford, and Hartford on Tuesday night on the the return of the local contingents of the Cheshire Volunteers Service Company from the front. The men have spent fourteen months in South Africa, and took part in Lord Roberta' great advance and several engagements. At each station the soldiers were met by Volunteer companies, bands, officials, and crowds. Remarkable enthusiam prevailed in Stockport on Tuesday night when the local men returned home from the front. Shortly before seven o'clock a procession headed by the Mayor of Stoskport, (Councillor A. Johnson), wearing his chain of offioe, the Town Clerk, and members of the Coporation, and including the local detachment of the 4th V.B. C.R., with the band of the regiment, was formed, and marched to the station. Thousands lined the approaehes, and as the train steamed in the cheering was deafening. Of the six Runcorn Volunteers who have served fourteen months at the front, two—Private Timmins and Chadwick-have obtained lucrative situations in South Africa. The other four were welcomed home on Tuesday evening. They were met at the railway station by the F and G Companies and the band of the 2nd Cheshires, and marched through the erowded streets of cheering spectators to the Town Hall, where Mr. W. Handley, vice-chairman of the Council, made a nioe little speech. Thenee through the chief thoroughfares to the Drill Hall, where Captain Ashton dismissed the mea. The men are to be entertained to dinner, and other recognitions of their services to the nation are projected. The names of the six men are inscribed on a brass plate in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, and their portraits, in photographic group, have been placed on the wall. Birmingham gave an uproarious welcome on Tues- day evening to the members of the local Volunteer forces returned from the front. The men, nearly a hundred in number, were met at the railway station by a fall parade of Artillery and Rifle Volunteers, and passed through the densely-crowded and gaily- decorated streets to the Council House, where the Lord Mayor and Corporation gave the returned warriors, who looked exceedingly fit, a cordial welcome, and subsequently entertained them to dinner. Later in the evening they were further entertained by their comrades at the Drill Hall. Early on Friday morning the let Active Service Company of the Border regiment, just returned from South Africa, arrived at Carlisle, the head- quarters of the company, and were accorded a most enthusiastic welcome. At the Drill Hall the men were entertained to breakfast by the Mayor, and at eight o'clock they had a public reception accorded to them by the Mayor and Corporation in front of the Town Hall. They subsequently attended a short thanksgiving service at the Cathedral, and afterwards proceeded to the Castle, where they will be granted a short f arlough,pending their discharge. Arrangements have also been made for a public welcome to the different detachments of the com- pany on their arrival at Penrith, Brampton, Workington, Appleby and other plaoes in the two counties.

^ CORRESPONDENCE.

+ DRUIDS' FOOTBALL PLAYER…

t FRIENDS—OLD AND NEW.

LLANGOLLEN PETTY SESSIONS.

JN D&EMORIAM.

LUNACY IN NORTH WALES.

. OVERSEERS' MEETING.

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