The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

SECONDARY EDUCATION IN I WALES. THE primary education of the people of Wales is in a fair way to reach a satisfai tory standard of excellence within a reasonable time. The Educa- tion Acts have placed Board Schools in every dis- trict where voluntary effort was weak or unable to meet the requirements of the times, and the poor are consequently well supplied with cheap and efficient instruction, which, however, is not yet appreciated at its full value. The Colleges of the Principality which deal with higher education, are hindered in their efforts to give a thorough high class education by the unsatisfactory state of the secondary schools, and it may be said, without much fear of contradiction, that these schools are greatly in need of reorganization and improvement. The grammar schools, with two or three excep- tions, are not by any means efficient, and, on that account it is satisfactory to know that they are occupying the attention of the Commissioners. The middle class schools in Wales, which, at the present time manifest the greatest degree of pros- perity, are private adventure schools. In the p erl counties of Denbigh, Carnarvon, Montgomery, 0 Merioneth, and Cardigan, the proprietors of these schools in some cases, have sunk large In sums in building extensive premises, and in at least one instance scholarships are offered at the U Diversity College of Wales to successful boys. The weakness in these schools is that they depend for their character, and often, for existence on their founders, whose chief object necessarily is pecuniary gain. They possess no elements of permanence, and, as a rule, on changing hands, dwindle away to insignificance. There is no reason why the proprietors of the more successful middle-class boys' schools in Wales should not accept a scheme for securing the transferrence of their property on mortgage to trustees, and for i electing' managers, governors, masters, &c., on plans similar to those under which the best grammar schools in England are conducted. Of course, the present proprietors would have to be carefully secured fiom loss, but that could easily be done. If transferred to wisely constituted public bodies, there can be no doubt these schools would become a power in the country and would mark an epoch in the secondary education of Wales. As long as a school is private property, the public cannot be appealed to for funds to found scholarships and exhibitions. The grammar schools already in possession of Trustees and Governors could more easily be improved but there is nothing to proven? 'lie conversion cf the large, successful private ad\o;/ure schools into grammar schools. Proprietors, at any rate, would lose nothing, and if they gained othing Z, el beyond the reputation of founding a school, that is an honour not to be despised. But in addition to this, there would be the advantage of transfer- ring to a permanent body at its full value a property that would be depreciated by being thrown into the open market. There is nothing whatever to prevent the carrying out of a scheme that would, on the one hand, secure the pro- prietors of private adventure schools from loss, and on the other, advance secondary educa- tion far beyond any point that can possibly be reached whilst the school-; are private property. The Council of tho University College of Wales are at present, too lms'ny engaged in the work of that Instituiion to take an active part in schemes of the kind here indie .ted but the founding of new grammar schools and the reorganization of old ones is tin kind of work that might with advantage be taken up by a body like the Council when the claims of the College arc Jess pressing. Ystrad Meurig School, we admit., is not an encouraging example, but there are bright days in store for Ystrad Meurig, and what the founder of that school did is within reach of th.e proprietors cf the large and successful piiva'o adventure schools in different p'1tt:-> of Lh'1 Principality.

ABERYSTWYTH FREE LIBRARY. THE Aberystwyth Town Library contains perhaps the poorest collection of books ever got together in a town where the Public Libraries Act is in force. The rate of a penny in the pound barely pays rent and expenses, and consequently there are no funds out of which to repair old "books, much less to purchase iiew ones, rbe need for money o purchase books has been pointed oui from time to time, but the fact that the library is in receipt of a penny rate kills private generosity, and has hitherto been deemed a sufficient answer to every attempt to obtain subscriptions. A. Library Committee, composed of Town Coun- cillors and others, is in existence, but what they do more than struggle ineffectually with an ever- present debt it i- hard to say, as they seldom present reports. Some months ago the library and reading-room were removed from Pier-street, ",1 n' +I- "An" 1,0<0 h" rl -1 tixiu Miiuts tucu UVLiUJ.1Jt5 aaa uicu uvilc ur alU. Whether the Committee succeeds in obtaining the amount realized by the penny rate is not widely known, but it seems that the few pounds realized by fines and chance subscriptions are swallowed up in expenses. The expenses which swallow up every thing are maioly incurred in providing papers and light and attendance for the reading room which is open free of charge. It seems to be doubtful whether the penny rate ought not to be applied to the library alone, and whether the reading room ought not to be either seif-supporting or kept up by private subscription. The gentlemen who go to the reading room every morning to see the daily papers surely would not object to pay a penny or twopence a week towards the expenses, and many of those who take out books if they gave the matter a thought, would be will- ing to subscribe a trifle in aid of a fund to pur- chase new books. The advantages of a good library are now so generally admitted that it is unnecessary to jepeat them but it is still necessary to point out that a good library is a costly thing, and therefore cannot be obtained without money. Many of the books in the Aberystwyth Town J ibrary were worthless nib- bish to begin with many more are rendered, useless by having lost leaves and sections and nearly all are disfigured with, the writing of the idiots into whose hands; they have unfortunately fallen. Of course the bulk of the readers who frequent the library are honest men and women of sound mind, who never write comments on the margins of books not their own. Sometimes the comments are not only out of place, but indecent. It is on behalf of the respectable frequenters of the library- that we plead for new books, and trust that un or two vain, prurient scribblers will not be allowed to withhold from the bulk of the people much needed library food. The sum of £lUO ought not to be difficult. to raise among those who have been benefited by the library and reading room. This sum would not, of course, go far in books, but it would do something to keep in circulation works that cannot fail to have a healthy influence. The library needs help, and it is to be hoped the committee and those who proless to have the well-being of the poor at heart will see if some- thing cannot be dune to obtain some new books.

LOCAL AND DISTRICT NOTES. A London corespondent of the Western Mail writes-I understand that the donation of £]00 which Lord Prxnnvx has sent in aid of the funds of the University College of Wales is a direct consequence of the strong representations made by I.ord Aberdare and other sneakers at the recent deputation to the Duke of RICHMOND and GORDON* in favour of the claims of the institution. I am not aware whether Lord PiL\KHY>s name has previously figured in the list of subscrioers, but this I think I can say, that the real merits of the case have never before been brought under his lord- ships notice. While I am on the subject of Aherystwyth ( ollege I wish to make an observation of a personal na- ture. I am informed that certain statements which you published for me some weeks ago with reference tojDr EDWAKOS, of the College, and his views upon the na tional scholarship question, were commented upon in a weekly paper called the Cambrian News. I have not seen a copy of the paper myself, but on reference to my ''Mitchell's Newspaper Directory" I find that such a journal exists. My informant tells me that in a recent number of the said Cambrian Neics it is asserted that I am in the habit of calling at the Offices of University College, Aberystwyth, in Queen Victoria-street, and "pumping" Mr. HCGH OWES and the clerks for items of news about the institution. Now, as to that, I can only say that I was never in the offices of the Abervst- whth College in my life that to my knowledge I never exchanged a word with any of its clerks; that I am not acquainted with Mr. HUGH OWEN, and that he is not 1acquainted with me. If the editor of the newspaper of which I have spoken can prove his assertion, I am pre- pared to hand over the same amount of money as Lord PENRHYN has just subscribed, either for the good of the College or for the good of the Cambrian News, as the editor of that newspaper may be pleased to decide. And in the event of my challenge to him being declined, I shall expect him to publish his regret that he should have given prominence to an injurious and totally un- founded assertion. If I am misinformed in my facts, and can be satisfied that no such statement concerning me appeared in the Cambrian Neics, I shall be all the better pleased. [In explanation of the way apocryphal and other para- graphs relating to the College get into the Western Mail, we were informed six months ago, on unimpeachable authority, that the London correspondent of that paper called, as he has a right to call, at the offices of the College nearly every day for information. It is well that the London Correspondent, in writing his paragraphs, should see they are in accord with facts, and it is also well that the public should know how the paragraphs are manufactured. His words would not have been noticed in these columns bad they not contained an unfounded assertion respecting the Principal, who was falsely repre- sented as opposed to the scheme for county scholarships- By the. way Principal T. C. EDWARDS is not Dr." EDWARDS. The word pumping was not used in describing the process by which the information is obtained. Mr. HCGH OWEN was not referred to either directly or indb rectly, but the clerks were expressly mentioned. With these exceptions the foregoing parapraph is unobjection- able. We have nothing to retract.Ei). C.X.] In order to contradict certain statements which had been circulated by a maliciously disposed person re- specting the health of Aberystwyth, Mr. MORRIS JONES, M.R.C.S., presented a report to the Town Council last week, showing the death-rate for the past quarter to be a decimal point over seventeen, and the health of the town to be consequently satisfactory. The death-rate of Lon- don for the past week was a little over twenty-one. Mr. JAMES SAUVAGE, a student at the Royal Academy of Music, and well known in the Principality, won the silver medal on the 7th of July, and the gold medal on the 14th. Last year he won the bronze medal. Mr. SAUVAGE is the first who has won the bronze, silver, and gold medals within two years. This is the kind of succsss that young Welshmen should aim at. Let the composers, poets, and singers of Wales follow Mr. SAUVAGE'S example and compete for place with aspirants for honour from all parts of the United Kingdom. MISS MARY DAVIES was also a prize taker. The scheme for providing swimming baths. &c., at Aber- ystwyth is being pushed forward, and it is hoped the baths will be opened next year. The permanent Directors of the Company will be elected at the first meeting of shareholders. 7:- The Petty Sessions at Llanbadarn on Wednesday last were heavier than usual. A woman was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for damaging growing hay on the 11th of July. Her daughter was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a wire post on the 9th. The prosecutor in these cases was Mr. DAVID JOXES, nuisance inspector. Two men, named JAMES RILEY and ISAAC WILLIAMS were charged by Mr. DAWSON, railway accountant, with assaulting him, and inciting him to commit a breach of the peace. Each of the defendants was fined and costs. The practice among young men of insulting peaceable people on the roads is one that needs checking, and no doubt the magis- trates will visit with the necessary severity acts of moles- tation. An assault case. in which a cross summons had been taken out, occupied the Bench a considerable time. Ultimately the Bench decided to fine th part- à course which if more frequently adopted woul^p^j. j to these squabbles. A man for a, seWivf offence of drunkenness was fined ::1°" and cosh. Eown. IjTit.w [ all Irishman, was charged with highway robbery. The accused was thought tQ he tfilfferni^- from want of food, aad the prosecutor, therefore, off¡¡rçc1 to gi\'e him supper. lodging, and breakfast next morning. With this inten- tion accused and prosecutor went towards the house of the latter. When a little above the Workhouse, prose- cutor says accused grabbed at his watch and ran off with it. The accused denied his guilt, and was committed for trial at the next quarter sessions, <1:- oij. # Let Aberystwyth be consoled A Ndrth Wales paper IIAYioI, "lhyl is certainly not near so full of visitors as is usually_ the case at this season of the year, and Llan- dudno is still worse off for visitors. Slackness of trade is said to be the chief cause. i- -?'. The bazaar, to be held at the end of next month in aid of the Llanbadarn Church Restoration Fûnd, it is ex- pected will be very successful. A large sum of money is wanted, however, to carry out the work, and it is to be hoped the friends of the Church of England will do their utmost to enable the VICAR to complete the restoration in one contract. The sum of £ 2,000 is required. The Governor of Cardigan Gaol is trying to obtain, by private subscriptions, enough money to purchase a har- monium for the prison chapel. Notices have been issued that the streets and footpaths of Aberystwyth are not to be obstructed. The nuisance has recently grown to alarming proportions. In some streets pedestrians are driven kito the carriage way. Sir T. D. LLOYD, who up to 186.5 represented the county of Cardigan in Parliament, and who from that time until January, IS74, sat for the Cardigan Boroughs, died sud- denly on Saturday last. The deceased gentleman was known far and wide for his gentle courtesy to everyone with whom he came in contact. In another column we give some account of the deceased's family. During the past fortnight rain has fallen to such an ex- tent that a large quantity of hay in Merionethshire and Cardiganshire has been greatly injured. St. David's College, Lampeter, is notoriously inadequate to meet the demands made upon it by the students it con- tains. More space is required, and better accommodation is urgently needed. Notwithstanding these facts, the Professors of St. David's are constantly implying that that College is able to do the work of the University College of Wales, which has about one hundred students —a greater number than are now studying at Lampeter. St. David's will weaken its position, and alienate its friends by this constant attempt to repudiate its real work. To walk a quarter of a mile every ten minutes night and day until a thousand miles have been covered is no doubt a feat of no ordinary kind, and it is certainly as uspless as it is remarkable. This walking feat has been performed by a man named GALE at Cardiff, and occupied him twenty-eight days. Undertakings c>f this kind pay, and for some reason one of the South Wales daily papers has done all that could be done to work up the excitement.

On Wednesday, July 25, Mr. Bright unveiled the Cob- den statue at Bradford, and afterwards spoke at a public luncheon given by the President of the Chamber of Com- merce, and at a great public meeting which was held at St. George's Hall. The Rev. Dr. Pope has been elected President of the Wesleyan Conference for the ensuing year, and the Rev. Dr. Williams chosen to the office of secretary. j

LOCAL AND DISTRICT. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES.—Lord Pemhvn hls sent to the Honorary Secretary a cheque for £ 100 "in aid of the funds of this college. PRIVATE BILLS IS PARLIAMENT.—In the House of Commons on Monday, July 23, the Royal Assent was gn en o\ Commission to the Worcester and Aberystwyth .J unction Ha.ilway Bill and the Severn and Wye Railway and Canal Bill. *D-'1IHE G1'I ASAPH'S VISITATIONS.—The Bishop of bt. Asaph purposes to hold his triennial visita- tion on Monday, October 1, at St. Asaph Tuesday. Oc- tober 2, at Corwen; W ednesday, October 3. Wrexham Ihursday October 4, Oswestry; Friday; October 5 \V elsh}>lol. The f oundation stone of a new English Presbvt°rian church was laid at Pensarn—a rising waterilJg place on the Denbighshire coast—on Wednesday afternoon July :th. hy Mrs. John Roberts. The cost of the site and building will be defrayed hv Messrs. David Roberts and John Roberts, of Hope-street. Pensarn. THE C ARNARVONSIIIRE -NI I- -TIE P Y. the reward of £ 100 offered by the county in addition to "that given by the relatives, the police are still without any clue as to the whereabouts of .Jane Owen. the woman who mysteriously disappeared from Penrallt Inco, near Trefriw on the morning of April 12. Under the direction of ap ..in ear^oii, the chief constable, all the mountain lakes adjacent to Penrallt Inco have been examined by divers, but with no satisfactory result. THE MONTGOMERY BOROUGHS ELECTION.-Tlie ex- penses have been published of the election held in May last. The expenses of the successful Liberal candidate (the Hon. F. to. A Hanbury Tracy, were £ 1.212 1 :í", 10d., oi which £:¡o2 b. Is set down for professional expense". The Conservative and unsuccessful candidate spent £ 3 Ooo hs..id., of which £ 1,880 16s. Nd. is for solici- tors and professional claims. BALA AND I E^TINIOG RAILWAY.—It has been stated in some of the \Y elsh papers that the firs'- sod of the Bala and Festiniog Railway is to be cut shortly. We believe this announcement as yet is premature. At one time it had been resolved by the directors to apply by advertise- ment in July for terms, &c., for making a small portion of the line in the Bala end, about 1A miles: since then, we believe, for certain reasons it has been determined to go in for the whole length of the line rather than apart. This will require time for the remaining parts of the land to be secured, and upon this also will depend the time of commencing the work. Every effort is being made by the promoters to arradge for the purchase of land unsecured, CHATTER WEEK AT ST. ASAPH.—On Wednesday, July 24, there was a large gathering of clergy and laity of the diocese of St. Asaph to attend the annual diocesan meet- ings held during the week. The first business was the meeting of the Clergy idows and Orphans Society, under the presidency of the Bishop. The report showed that during the year fifty-three widows and orphans had been in receipt of grants amounting to £ 585, and dona- tions had been given to Mrs. Jackson, widow of the late diocesan inspector. The year's income, including £ 266 subscriptions and £ 17 0s. 9d. collections, amounted to £ 693 10s. The list of grants was considered, and in all ;nt:n0P t.ViAxr woro ronoirofl A 1-r r«r.AA n_- w^ -T- legacy 01 x.ruv was re- ceived from the late Mr. Griffiths, Caerhun.— The annual meeting of the Church Building Society followed. The report showed that during the year grants amounting to 4:600 had been made towards new churches at Mold and Wrexham, and restorations at Bangor, Llandrynog, Cwm, Llanfairtalhaiarn, Newtown, and Llansannan these grants supplementing local contributions of 4:15,623. The income from all sources was £ 1,218, and a balance remained of £54ï, but it is estimated that the probable balance this year, after meeting heavy grants, will only be £ 15 13s. 6d. Grants were made at the meeting as follow Brvmbo Bwlchgwyn, £ 25 Lodge, £ 50 Penycae, £ 50.

BIRTHS. MARRIAGES. & DEATHS. BIRTHS. JONES -.July 17th. at 7, King-street, Brynmawr, the wife of the lëv, J. M. Junes, Wesleyan minister, of son. MARRIAGES. REACHCROUT—RONNOR-MAURK e—Julv lsth, at Christ'sChureh, Lancaster Gate, London, by the Very Rev. the Dean of St. Asaph uncle of the bride, assisted bv the Rev. Henrv Westmore, rector of Hutton, Brentwood, Richard -Nielvill JJeaehcroft, eldest son of the late Richard Beaehcroft. Ksq., to Charlotte Emily, third daughter of the late K. M. Boimor Maurice, Esq., of Hodynioel, Montgomeryshire. HARTLEY—EDOY—July lsth, at the Parish Church. Llangollen, by the Rev. E. Rhys James, R.D.. vicar. E. Tomson Hartley. M.A., Head Master of the (ii-aiiiiiitr School, Skipton, York- shire, to Amy Lucy, eldest daughter of Walter Eddv, Fron, Llangollen.5 Lj,.NN,]S-HL (illES- Jtllv 16th, at St. Paul's Church. Kirkdale, Liverpool, by the Rev. Edward Lester. M.A., Isaac Lewis, of Denbigh, to Miss Emma Hughes. Waterloo House, Llanfvllin, I ont¡::omeryshi re, WEST— MORGAN—July lstli, at the Baptist Chasel, Higher Temple-street, Manchester, by Mr. S. A. Smith, William West, of Manchester, son of Mr. Thomas W est, (,f Wiiks- worth, Derbyshire, to Mary Jane Morgan, second daughter of Mr. M. Morgan, of Cottenham-street, Manchester (late of Aberystwyth). DEATHS. EVANS—July 17th, aged 77, at 4, Church-street, Newquay, Capt Thos. Evans, formerly of Pantglynhir. HODGSON—July 23rd, at Arjroed Hall. LI mgollen, Leo John Frederick, infant son of Robert Edwai d Hodgson, E-q. HOWELI-—July lyth. at liioad-street, Newtown, Chark-s Bevan only son of Mr. Robert Howell. HUGHES—July 21st, aged 7e, at Aberdovey, Mr. Riehd. Hughes, coal merchant. JONES—July 21st, aged 20, at Hornby, Llandinam, Joseph, son of Mr. Joseph Jones. LEWIS—July lStli. axed 70, Elizabeth, relict of John Lewis, for- merly of the (ireen, Newtown. OWEN—July 20th, aged 42, at Festiniog, Mr. Wm, Owen, stone mason, late of Bangor. WHITE—July oth, at Pontrieket, Tregeiriog, Miss Sarah Eliza- beth White.

By Press Association Telegram. THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. At a meeting of the Wesleyan Conference on Thursday the newly-elected president, Dr. Pope. delivered his in- augural address, dwelling on the annual avowal of fidelity to the peculiarities of doctrine and disci] dine characterising the Society.

THE IvAR. Bucharest. Wednesday evening. The Grand Duke Xichola" has issued a report, in which he says that in the SchipkaPass. when t] e Ttii k, were at- tacked on the 18th July, they hoisted the white flag, when the Russian troops at once ceased firing, and ad vanced to take possession of the entrenchments, but were suddenly met by a charge of shot, which Uirtiet'-d very severe losses unon them, The fallowing dai\ Wh— General Sc'heJ,off ooHmied theiv„; !i. V ".j K)l'* DAoiti )ii which the Turks -.«<< fibfihdoneu, ne found by the side of some Turkish wounded a heap of heads of Russian soldiers, who had been wounded and taken prisoners. r.. v Constantinople, Wedn-sday. :un I acha has been appointed Governor of Adrianople. lhe Russians have burnt Kadikor. St. Petersburg, Thursday. A despatch from Bierla states that the Russian steamer Nicholas attacked the Turkish camp near Silistria, and compelled the enemy to retire. The Nicholas afterwards engaged with a Turkish monitor, causing severe damage and killing several men, but on the approach of two Turkish steamers slowly retreated. 1 OR the 23rdRussian batteries at SloboskinYlestroyed four Turkish steam is. Thursday's Paris states that Prince Gortscha* koff has informed the C abmets of Europe that Russia will vat tfeat directly with Turkey, but is resolved to submit the questions to be solvtd after the war to the arbitration of the Great rowers.

CARDIGAN. FIRST CARDrGAX RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—Captain Wm. Pictou Evans was gazetted Major on the 11th July. PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIFTL-)Ir, J. Harris Williams son of the late Mr. John Williams, chemist, High-street: has passed successfully the preliminary examination of this society. HARMONIUM FOR THE County GAOI..—At a special meeting of the A isitingr Justices, held on the 7th Julv. an application was made by the governor that an instrii- ment should be purchased by private subscription, to be used in me cnapei, and the request was granted on the understanding that the harmonium becomes the propertv of the county, and is used for divine worship onlv. LAW.—Mr. J. Williams, of Penrallt. Aberporth, and articled to Messrs. Jenkins and Evans, solicitors* Cardigan has successfully passed his intermediate examination in the law. ACCIDENT.—On Monday morning, the 23rd July, an accident of a serious character unfortunately took 'place on board the steam ship "Pea Flower," while unloading at her wharf, which was taking place under the superb intendance of Mr. Evan Tucker, mate. As a piece of freestone, weighing about lo cwt., was being raised by some means or other it slipped and fell into the hold again, falling upon a cask containing 00 gallons of ■nn which it shattered to atoms, and fell upon the foot of Tucker, splintering the ancle bone and foot in a shockin- manner.. ° SCHOOL BOARD; TUESDAY, JrLY 24.—Present Messrs Asa J. Evans, O. P. DaN-ies, T. Davies. and Dr, Thomas. In the absence of Dr. Thomas at the commencement of the business, the chair was occupied by Mr. T. Davies.— A cheque was ordered to be drawn for £ 27 14s 2d inte- rest and part prmcIpal of the loan of £ti33,-The Clerk said the next business was to issue a precept. The balance against them at the bank. including the cheque now or- dered, was 18s. 3d. The fact was they had been at first drawing too much from the building fund. The sum named in the present rate for school purposes was tmo. He did not know how much the grant would be. but he believed the schools had passed a good examination. It was proposed by Pr. Thomas that a precept be issued for £220, half to be paid on the 2nd of August, and half on the 30th.—Seconded by Mr. O. P. Davis, and carried unani- mously.

ABERYSTWYTH MAUKi.:T.Wheat sold at 7s. 6d. to Is. od ¥ bushel; barley, .r>s. Od. to .-s. <ul.; oats, 4S. od. to 4s. 3u.- e«W n; to is for a shilling salt butter, is. ls oj$i'u, butter, to ls. 2d. ls. 4d. V Ik fowls, gg.. od. to 4s. od c'umile durks, -is. Od. to 6s. 0d. r couple geese, o.s. Od. to 0s od eueh • turkeys, 0s. Od. to 00s. Od. each potatoes, 0s. od. to is od » measure new potatoes, od. to At t-' ft. Packrt Tea" in perjeetio,i.-POLAND, ROBERTSON k Co's, Pure Teas, Guarantee>1 by Gvvcruuu'nt Inspection can he ob- tained mair-tisnt packets in (juautities rangintrfrom 7 wo Ounces to One1 Mind of most respectable (Jrocers, Chemists. Bakers Confectioners, station,.rs and others, in all towns and villas-s throng.:out the I nited Kingdom, at prices from 2s. per jb., and uiiw.-ir .s Jne public.- ure respectfully requested to ask' for Poland, hooertson, it Oo.'s Pure Teas, which are guaranteed to he unadulterated. An sib. Tin of Pure Tea sent carriage naid to any Railway Station in the United Kingdom on Receipt of Post Office Order. For particulars -f agency atmlv to ilia London Warehouses, Curtain Road, 10: C.