The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

,B,tath of the orh ICinitanant .of MERIONETH We regret to have to announce the death of Mr. William Robert Maurice \Vynn< of Peniarth, lord lieutenant of Merioneth, which occurred at his London residence at iBuckingham Gate on Friday The deceased was sixty-nine years of age. He had been in indifferent health for several years past and had been to several resorts at home and abroad in the hope of improving his health. Last year he made I a visit to Egypt from which he returned to all appearance considerably worse and though he was able to attend one meeting of Quarter Sessions and to go about of Quarter Sessions and to go about occasionally his illness steadily increased and, after lying critically ill for the past fortnight at his London residence, death occurred on Friday morning. The news of his death, though not unexpected, was received throughout the county and every place where he was known with sorrow and regret and with expressions of deep sympathy with Mrs. Wynne who was in constant attendance on her husband during his illness. Mr. Wynne belonged to one of the oldest families of North Wales and was the elder son of the late Mr. W. E. Wynne, one time member of Parliament for his native county, and an antiquarian of great repute. The younger son was Mr. Owen Slaney Wynne, a useful public man who died in May, 1908. The Wynnes of Peniarth are cadets of the Wynnes of Glyn, who derived from Dominus Otho, supposed to have been of the family of the Gherardini of Florence, who pro- ceeding to Normandy and thence in 1057 to England, acquired through the favour of Edward the Confessor immense possessions in this country. His son Walter Fitz Otho, castellan of Windsor Castle, married Gwladys, daughter of Rhiwallon, brother of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, King of Powys, and his son, Gerald Fitz Walter de Windsor, constable of Pembroke Castle, married Nesta, daughter of Rhys ap Tudor, Prince of South Wales. The Wynnes descend through his daughter Angharad, who was the mother of Giraldus Cambrensis. William Wynne of Wern, married Jane, eldest daughter and sole heiress of Edward Williams of Pen- iarth, Merionethshire, a great-grand- daughter of Sir William Williams, speaker of the House of Commons. His son, Wil- liam, married Elizabeth, youngest daughter and co-heir of the Rev. Philip Puleston, D.D., of Pickhill Half, Denbighshire, a niece of the first Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. Of this marriage there were eleven children, of whom Mr. William Wratkin Edward Wynne was the eldest. A daughter, Jane Sydney, married the late Mr. Joseph Gill, of Trewern, Oswestry, and another daughter, Augusta Frances, married Mr. George Jonathan Scott, of Betton Strange, Shropshire, and Peniarth Ucha, Merion- ethshire. Mr. W. W. E. Wynne married Mary, second of the three daughters of the late Mr. R. A. Slaney, M.P., of Wal ford Manor and Hatton Grange. Of this marriage there were two sons, Mr. William Robert Maurice Wynne, of Pen- iarth. lord lieutenant of Merionethshire, and Mr. Owedi Slaney Wynne, both of whom are now deceased. Born in 1840, Mr. Wynne was educated at Eton and served in the Scots Guards. On the death of his father he succeeded to the Peniarth Estate in Merioneth, a domain of some 9,000 acres in the upper part of the valley of the Disynni and at the feet of Cader Idris and the Bird's Rock, near Towyn. The mansion of Peniarth, the home of the family, stands in an extensive and beautifully wooded park through which the Disynm flows, within 13 short distance /of t'he qu'aiint village of Llanegryn. in the church of which is the family vault of the Wynnes. Mr. Wynne resided for the greater part of his time on his estate, taking a deep interest in the welfare of his tenantry and bringing to bear on the agricultural industry the great intelligence which made him so valuable a personage in the public service of his county. When the question of land ownership and occupa- tion was agitated in his district, he addressed a public meeting at Towyn and literally knocked the bottom out of the agitation as far as the Peniarth Estate was concerned. He pointed out that for generations the rents of the farms on the Estate had been allowed to remain stationary, that son succeeded son for generation after generation, almost from time immemorial, and that a case of vexatious removal for religious or political motives was unknown. Nothing further was heard of the agitation after the meeting. He also gave evidence before the Land Commission where he made as strong case as was possible for the land- owners of Merioneth and stated that as far as he was personally concerned the revenues of the estate were all practically expended on the estate. In this con- nection, it may be said that lie took a deep and active interest in the Merioneth Agricultural Society of which he was more than once president and always an exhibitor and liberal subscriber. He wa. also president of the Peniarth Agricul- tural and Horticultural Society and took great interest in its annual shows. Mr. Wynne was a staunch Churchman and in the great changes which occurred on the passing of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act was the champion of the Church in the retention of local endow- ments for Church purposes as far as was possible under the Act and therein, he proved to be a foreman-If such 30 term mav be allowed—worthy of the steel of any champion which "the other aide" was able to produce. He was a governor of the University College of Wales at Aberyst- wvth and, though his forte was not educa- tion, he nevertheless took interest in the promotion of popular education, though perhaps he was not- an enthusiastic advo- cate of it. He was interested in anti- ouariau research and was the possessor of the famous Hengwrt MSS which lie arranged., some years be.fore his death, through the instrumentality of Sir John WiHia'ms. to sell under certain condition;. to the Welsh National Library at A h'- ystwvth The collection is made up of over' 500 MSS in Welsh and Latin and contains the oldest copy of the a.ncient laws of Wales, the olde-st. versions of the Holy Grail, and other Arthurian romance, as well as the oldest version of the Mabin- ogion.. Mr. Wynne was at his best in poeitics and public affairs of his county. He lived through gr^at changes in both directions. He saw "he introduction of undenomina- I t'onal education in the Act of 1870 and the founding of unsectarian and demo- cratic education in the Intermediate Act ef 1880. a,nd in the establishment of the Welsh University Colleges at Aberystwyth and elsewhero in the Principality, by which the poorest boy or girl in the country can climb to the highest point on the educational ladder. Imbued with the traditions of centuries, it could scarcely be expected that he should throw himself amore into the new order of things. Perhaps his position would be best described as that of one rwho held a watching bri,,f for the Church and Con- servative Par sy, of which he was the champion. He also Raw a radical change in Parliament.ary representation through successive extensions o.f the franchise and in the administrative county bodies. In- stead, however, of letting things go by default, as has been the case in other Welsh counties, he more than once fought the county seat in what was from the first a hopeless contest and, obtaining a seat on the first County Council, he letained his position up to the time of his death and nowhere wa. his counsels listened to with more respectful attention, his in- creasing indisposition of late years un- fortunately lessened his activity in county work. He represented the county on the DoveVj Mawddach. and Glaslyn Fishery Board where his technical knowledge in the compilation of bvelaws was frequently of great value. I In October of 1862 Mr. Wynne qualified as justice of the peace for Merionpth nv-rl at the time of his decease was the third oldest magistrate in the county. Sir Edmund Buckley cnab'fieri .A Mr Charles Jones of Rossett, iieai- Wrexham, in 1861. On the death of Mr. Pryce of Cyfronydd (who succeeded Lord M-ostvn), Mr. Wynne was appointed lord lieutenant of the county and c-ustos rolulorum, and on the death of the Marquess of London- derry he was elected chairman of Quarter Sessions. Though he had been trained, as a s.oklier a.nd not as a lawyer, he brought to bear on the trial of intricate cases a clear judicial mind and a remarkably- mtelligent grasp of the salient facts brought out in evidence. His summings up to the jury were often models of terse- ness and lucidity and his conduct of the court and of the innumerable county meet- ings over which he presided as lord lieu- tenant was, as might have been expected, always dignified and impartial His connection with the political life of tho county dated back to the days when the Conservative Party had held un- broken representation fnom tihe rtim when the shire first sent a member to Parliament. The seat of Merioneth had been a safe seat for the Conservatives for over 200 years. Through the extension of the franchise and the inclusion of quarry- men and tradesmen and householders in the list of voters, Mr Wynne saw the seat made an equally safe seat for the Liberal party. It is interesting to note that as far back as 1836 there had been a contest between Mr Richards of Caervnwch, representing the Conservatives, and Sir William Wynne of Talsarnau, represent- ing the Liberals. It is equally interest- ing to note that the electorate of the county of that period was under 600. Out of that number 501 voted for the Con- servative candidate, as against 150 only for the Liberal candidate, and the result was so conclusive that from- 1836 to 1859 the Conservatives were allowed a walk over. In 1859, however, Mr. David Williams (father of the present representa- tive of the county) 'contested the (seat- against Mr W W E Wynne, father of Mr Wynne, now deceased, but was defeated by a majority of forty votes only, which he reduced in an election in 1865 to thirty- one. In 1865 Mr W. W E. Wynne issued the following address:—" A dissolution of Par- liament within a few weeks being now certain, I think it due to vou at once to announce that it is not my intention again to solicit at your hands a renewal of that trust which upon previous occasions you have been pleased to repose in me. For nearly thirteen years, and in three succes- sive parliaments, I have been honoured by your confidence, and I hope that you will consider that during that time I have con- sistently adhered to those principles which first obtained for me the distinction of your choice." This was followed by an address by Mr. W. R. M. Wynne, in which he said—"My father having announced his intention of retiring from Parliament at the approaching dissolution, I venture to offer myself as a candidate for your suffrages. My politics are Conservative, but I shall never be found obstinately resisting those changes which the lapse of time and the progress of the country may necessitate. I am deeply attached to the Established Church, but I should wish to accord to all that perfect religious liberty which I claim for myself. I should gladly see the vexed question of the church rates brought to a satisfactory and amicable solution. I am in favour of the strictest economy in every department of the public service that is compatible with its efficiency. My personal observation of the results of a democratic government in America has only served to strengthen my attachment to our own more truly liberal institutions. Connected by every affec- tionate tie of long friendship, family residence, and property with the county of Merioneth, our local interests are identical and shall ever receive my warmest and most anxious attention. I hope soon to have an opportunity of explaining my political views to you per- sonally which I can do more fully than in the limits of an address." Mr. Wynne was returned, but Mr David Williams had reduced the Conservative majority to thirty-one. Between that and the subsequent election in 1868 the elec- torate had not only been increased by the Reform Bill of 1867, but it is said that Mr Wvnne had given offence to some of the older members of his own party by voting in favour of the abolition of university tests. Therefore when the 1868 election ensued Mr David Williams came out. Mr Wynne carried on the contest until a few days before the poll. He then retired and Mr. Williams was returned unopposed as the first. Liberal representative of the county of Merioneth. Dying in 1869, Mr. Williams was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Holland of Caerdeon, who came into the county in connection with slate quarrying in the Festiniog district, who in turn was succeeded in 1885 by Mr Robertson of Pale. In that election Mr. Morgan Lloyd, who had been spoken of as a Liberal candidate when Mr. Holland was selected, came out as a Liberal candidate and a native of the county to oppose Mr Robertson. Mr Wynne of Peniarth then came out in the Con- servative interest. After a spirited con- test, in which every hole and corner of the countv was visited by the three candidates and feeling ran high between the two Liberal sections. Mr. Robertson was re- turned by 3,784 Votes, Mr. Wynne coming second with 2.209 votes, and Mr. Morgan Lloyd third with 1,907 votes. Mr iRobert- son represented the county until 1886 when he voted against Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule Bill, and a general election occurred on the defeat of that measure. In that election Mr. Tom Ellis of Cynlas was returned as the Liberal member against Mr. John Vaughan of Nannau, and on Mr. Fllis's death the seat was filled for a short time by Mr. O. M. Edwards of Oxford, and then Mr. A. Osmond Williams, of Deu- draeth, son of the first Liberal member for the county, became the Liberal member and has occupied the seat up to the present time. On the death of Mr. Holland, Mr. Wynne was appointed constable of Harlech Castle, a stronghold which an ancestor of his had once declared he would E-old until all tho old women of France talked about it as he had once held a castle in France until 'all the old women in Wales talked about it. Mr. Wynne took great interest in the maintenance of these historic ruins: and when some years ago a musical festival was annually held in the court yard he not only placed the castle at the disnosal of the bards, but sometimes presided at the festivals, and always generously patronised the institution. Mr. Wynne was chairman of the, Towvn Bench of Magistrates and was also a justice of the peace for Mont- gomeryshire and sometimes sat at Mach- ynlleth. In 1891 Mr. Wynne married Winifred Frances, daughter of the late Mr. W. Kendall and widow of Mr. R. J. William- son. who survives. The home-coming to Peniarth was marl," the oeeas-on of great rejoicing in the Dysynni Valley and of presentations by the tenantry and bv the Llanegryn Debating Society, as well as with an address bv the neople of Towyn and Llanegryn. The address was signed b-p- Dr. Grosholz, Mr. F. W. Kirkby. Messrs IVilliam Rowlands, Edward Jonc, William Phillips, Owen Jones, and J. Jones, and stated that the presentees were glad to have that opportunity or expressing the general respect and high esteem in which Mr. Wynne was held in the district and throughout the county. His labour for so manv years ii coliiic<,t;oll with all public* affairs'for the benefit of the county, and his universal kindness to the tenants and all neighbours had earned the ndmiration and affection of all who had been associated with him. Mr. Wynne replied in English and also in 117elsb. addressing the assembly as "old friends and ii(,izlil)oiirs," humor- ously observing that Mrs. Wvnne had not v"t learnt Welsh. but no doubt would soon do -to.. and suggesting that his old bachelor- friend. Mr. Rowland Davies, despair but follow the example that he (Mr Wynne) had set him of taking a wife, though somewhat late in life. Ten years ago, Mr. Wynne added. the" IuHl presented him with an address when he sucee-ded to the estate, since when it had alwavs been his endeavour to fulfil to the best of his ability the duties which the possession of property entailed. For the many years he had lived among them no < ross word had ever passed between him and his neighbours and tenants, either at Towyn j or Llanegryn or in any part of the county. In the Shire Hall at Dolgellev hang portraits of several county worthies -some of them nainted bv artists of crreat fame—from Sir Robert Vaughan, the jo'V old squire of Nannau in breeches polig" ']I, who represented the county for fortv vears. down to fr, Pochards of Caerynwch and Mr. Lewis Williams. Fronwnion. whom many of the present gereration remember The other portraits are of Mr. Edwarel Llovd of Rhao-jr.qtt. Sir Herbert "VVil1!-ir-c Vaue-han. M.P., Nannau, and Mr Richard Wat km Price of Rhiwbis. Tn 190*1 i*. wv deeded to add to their number the por- trait of Mr. Wynne. a. replica of a portrait painted hy the Hml..Tn"" Colljer "t Pp"- iarth. In July of 1905, the Peniarth Portrait was formally presented to Mr. Wynne at a county meeting at T\>srel'ey in recognition of the valuable- sorvices he had rendered to Merioneth. The -n^esentation was made bv the Hon. C. H. Wvnn of IPil who. in the course of his remarks, said they had assembled that day to do honour to a man to whom honour was due—a man upon whom her late Majesty th Queen conferred the great honour of being her representative in +he county—a man who bad faithfully fulfilled that position of trust and importance under the Queen and also in the reign of his most. gracious majestv King Edward. Mr. Wvnne of Peniarth was a man who thoroughly under- stood the responsible position he occupied as lord lieutenant of the county and had faithfully, earnestly, and devotedly fulfilled that tr ust. He had previously been appointed chairman of the Quarter Sessions. His tact, ability, and judgment demanded the approval of all. In criminal business no innocent person was likely to suffer through any negligence or want of attention on the Chairman's part; and. on the other hand., no guiltv person was likely to escape through neglect to weigh the evidence carefully, pro and con, and 00 present it to the jury. It was now some sixteen vears ago since the Local Govern- ment Act was passed, and durin g the whole of that time Mr. Wvnne had served on the County Council, havin27 gained that honourable position by popular vote. As one of the County Council, Mr. Wvnne had been a useful member, never losing sight of the interests of the district he repre- sented, while doing justice to the county as a whole. His courtesy and straight- forwardness had gained the affection and approval of both his friends and fellows. There seemed to be in connection with that presentation a. consensus of opinion among persons of different shades of political and religious opinions. Church and Chapel, Torv and Liberal, high and low, wishing to do honour to t'he man who deserved it. In acknowledging the presentation, Mr. Wynne said that all he had done and all the time he had given to the county had been gladly done and given, without thought of reward or recompense. The fact that the portrait came from men of different shades of political and religious opinion more than anything else enhanced the great value of the gift. As had been said by one or two speakers, they lived in a changed world; but he was proud and thankful that though his political senti- ments had not been in accord with those of the great majority of the county, which he regretted, still it was to him a matter of unbounded interest and of the deepest satisfaction that -no shadow had ever fallen or the slightest thing had ever ruffled the tranquility of their firm and private friendship. It was forty-three years since, as a youth, he took his magisterial oath in that hall. It was twenty years since he had the great honour of being member of Parliament. WTien he abandoned the noble service in the army, to which he was greatly -devoted and attached, he thought he had better do something in the county. He was appointed deputy chairman of Quarter Sessions by the favour of his fellow magis- trates, and was sixteen years ago appointed chairman without any legal training and he could not have fulfilled the office had it not been for the unswerving support by Mr. Robert Jones, clerk of the peace. In looking back over past years any retrospect must be tinged with sadness when he recalled to mind dear old friends Avho had crossed the bar. He could not but remember that he was only the third survivor of the Bench when he took the oath. The retrospect was, however, brightened by the presence of many surviving persons and by welcoming men of younger generations who were willing and ready to take part in the service of the county. Since his early days the manage- ment of county affairs had been entirely changed by the substitution—he hoped for the better—of a popular elected body in- stead of the old Court of Quarter Sessions Modern generations would find the work more complex and difficult, but he felt that they would rise to the occasion and carry on the work with care, efficiency, integrity, and economy. They should remember that it was better to be groping for something than to sit still in silent unconcern. He who does his best leaves nought undone that man can do." It was a high and unexpected honour for him to have a place amongst those good men and true who had done so much service. With the sole exception of Sir Herbert Vaughan, he knew all the others whose portraits were on the wall and his father and he had received many kindnesses from all of them. The portrait would be placed in the halls of Peniarth with the portrait of eight of his ancestors in a direct line, three of whom had been lieutenants of the county. Before rising at Dolgellev County Court, on Saturday, Judge Wm. Evans re- ferred to the loss the county had sustained in the death of the Lord Lieutenant. He felt sure that the whole county joined in extending the fullest svmpathv to the family in their bereave- ment.-—-Mr. J. Charles Hughes, registrar, said he felt a deep personal loss. having been closely connected as clerk to the Lord Lieutenant for many years. The loss would be felt in many ways. but would not be more sincerely expressed than had been done by his Honour.—Mr. J. K. Fox, as a member of the bar and a county mag- istrate, expressed his respectful concurrence and said the loss was one which would be difficult to replace. A memorial service was held on Wednes- day afterr-)n at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks. The body TO brought from London on Tuesday for incerment in the family vault at Llanegryn Church on Wednesday after- noon. Thotign a strong wind blew from the north-west and the mountain tops weie covered with snow. the day was fine and, though in the height of winter, the valley and the mountains were beautified with charming effects of light and shade. Shortly after two o'clock, the cortege was marshalled in the following order:- The Clergy; the tenantry, the hearse, the chief mourners and the household staff. In this order the cortege left the house and proceeded to the lodge gates on the Llanegryn side where it was joined by county magistracy and members of public bodies, and the general public, after which it proceeded to the church. At the head of the procession were the Dean of Bangor and the Rev. W. Hughes, vicar of the parish. The tenantry followed with Mr. William Richards, Pensarn. the oldest tenant on the estate. Mr. John Roberts, Caerffynon. and Mr. Tudor, ^'anmachlas. at their head, followed by Mr. Roberts. Perfedd11ant: Mr. Jones. Gvvyddelfvnydd; Mr. D. Williams, Glan- morfa the Rev W. Davids. Llanegrvn Mr. 'Richard Vaughan, Tymawr: Mr. Rowlands, Talybont :Mr..Tones, Bodowen Mr. Ellis Lewis, Celmi Mr. Lewis. PAn-I iarthganol; Mr. Lewis. Glanmorfamawr; AT-. T» U fT HT_ T nr. rugn, J..VIHM w an -vlt. ,i ones, maes: Mr. Jones. Cilcemmaes: Mr. Richards. Brvncrug; Mr. Jones. Nancow Mr. Jones. Genfron Mr. Roberts, Braich- vrhenllvs: Mr. Roberts. Cefnc^mberth: Mr W. Roberts. Llechlwvd Mr W. Jones, nbidd: Mr. M ason, "Rhvdycrew: Mr. Gabriel. Waun Mrs. Lloyd. Nant: Mr. Hugh Elba Bryncrfig; Mr AVilliam Jones. Glanmorfaba^b • Mr. Ben net Davi°s. Llan- egryn: Mr. Pugh Tvddvnl,cli Mr Pugh. Bert.hlwvd Mr. Evans. Bryneithvn Mr. Griffiths. Gilsnrn • Mr. Jnnt's. Tynllan Mr P ii gli. Brvncrug: Mr. Jo^es, Baobvsil Mr. .T. Parry, representing Mr. G i hi von, Tou- f inmi; I-fr. Lewis and Mr. Jones, Tri-Vad. The chief mourner^ wprp rn Wynne was was aceomn«n'°d bv Mrs. Price of Rb'ivlas and Miss Burton Pl,; in n carriage, the other r>11!ef refoH-vw- on foot Burteu T.{)1"rl TTenvon. Lord H^rle^b Mr >V"-f rel n"qypl1. Nanteos • S'r W. Wvnn. 'H Robert William^ Wvm Arthur yyip. Mr..Terrnvn. M">\ E. K. T. CV,vK,vH. Mr. IR-. T-h Price, Rhiwlas: and the R«v. C'on \V'l''am«. InAlnrlNI ;11 the magistracy, member? of public h(vlir>R. and ,+'1,('r were Mr, A. Osmond Williams, M.P.. d°ntitv chairman "f Quarter Sessions; Mr n M. 'rrpnves. Wern: Mr. Munro Edwards, Dol^eran Colonel Pryee Jones, Newtewn: Mr R, Prvs Oiven, Aelvhrvn Mr. W. J. Wright- Llanbedr: Major Hamilton Pryce frepre- senting the Cyfronydd family); Captain t Richards: Caervnwch; Mr. R. C. Anwvl, Llugwy; Mr. W. H. More (representing Sir Stafford Howard, commissioner of Woods and Forests): Dr. H. Walker, Cor- wen Mr John Charles Hughes (represent- ing Colonel Scott, the sheriff, who has gone abroad); Mr. G. H. Ellis, Penymount, Fes- tiniog Mr. Mevrick Jones, Dolgellev: Dr. John Joner., Wen a]It; Mr. John Evans, Tanrhiw, Barmouth Mr H. Haydn J^nes, Pantneuadd: Mr. David iBreese, clerk of the peace Mr. D. N. Kirk by, Mr. W. W. Kirkby, M'lesneuadd; Mr. Orford, Bryn- ff.vnon Mr. Chidlaw Roberts. Leahurst Mr. -T. M. Howell, Aberdo vev: Mr Edward W ilhams., Corris Mr. J. Maethlon James. Towyn Mr. E. L. Rowlands, Aberdovoy: Mr. Hove a "d Jcnes, Ynyslas Mr. R. Guthrie Jones, Dolgellev- Mr. David Gillart, Towyn Mr. T. F. Roberts, M.A.. principal of the University College of Wales at Abervstwyth; Mr. Ballingef, chief librarian National Library of Wales Dr. iRowlands, Towyn fr. W. H. Gough (representing the Cambrian Railways Com- pany, in the unavoidable absence of Mr. C. S. Denniss, the general manager): Mr. Thomas Jones, chief constable of rer- oneth the Rev. John Lloyd, rector oT Dolgellev; the Rev. P. J. B. Ffoulkes. "Rode Rectory; the Rev. R. R. Roberts Towyn; Mr. D. E. Davies, Barmouth; Mr iRoberts. Rhydgarnedd, secretary of Meri- oneth Agricultural Society; Mr. David Lloyd, Pant; Mr. Latimer, Mr. W Rowlands, Mr. S. Edmunds, Mr SilvaiiuF Evans, Towyn Mr. J. Evans, Dolaugwyn Mr. J. C. Edwards. Towyn: Mr William Jones Tanvbryn; Mr. D. Evans, solicitor. Machynlleth and others. The Hon. C. H. Wynn was prevented from attending through illness. The coffin and hearse were covered with beautiful wreaths and crosses. Mrs. Wynne placed a magnificent cross of violets on the coffin and a wreath of carnations. Wreaths and crosses were also sent by the Officers of the Scots Guards, Major and Mrs. Burton Phillipson, Miss Burton Phillipson and Bee; Phillip and Agnes Gin, Arthur and Mary Williams. WTynn, the Hon. Mrs. Bucklev Owen, Mrs. Scott, Betton Strange, Lady Williams Wynn, Mrs and Miss Pugh, Sir William and Lady Bennett, Miss Davies, Mr. Papworth and Scurry; Mr. and Mrs Fisher, Dr. and Mrs Harold des Vause, M'r. Tower. Mr Samuel Bird, Rose M. Evton, Mrs. Kirkby, Llan- fendigaed Mr. Wynne Kirkby, Mrs Pryce, late Cyfronydd, and Alty Pryce, Mabel, Annie, and Edge, Mr. J. Langford, Betton Strange; Dr and Mrs H. Rowlands, Mrs. Holland, household servants at Peniarth, garden staff at Peniarth. Mr R Prys Owen, Aelybryn, Chancellor Williams, Llanrhydd- lan; Mrs. Charles Williams, Mrs. Corbett, Ynysmaengwyn; Mrs. Scott, Peniarth- ucha: Mr. Owen Jones, Bryngwyn; Mr. and Mrs. Orford, Brynffynon; Mr. D. M. Kirkby, Trefaesucha Mr. R. M. Greaves, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Kirkby, Mr. and Mrs. Price, Rhiwlas; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, Rhagatt; Colonel, Mrs., and Miss Scott, Penmaenucha; Mr. J. Jermyn, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Buddicum, Mr. and Mrs. Chidlaw Roberts, Leahurst; Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Denniss, Oswestry; Marie and Trevor Corbet, Cousin Frankey, Mr. Williamson, Sir Ralph and Lady Pavne Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. A. Osmond Williams, Deudraeth: Lady Mabel Kenyon Slaney, Mrs. Alfred Hughes, Captain and Mrs. iRobin Price, Captain and Mrs Richards, Caerynwch; the Hon C. H. and Mrs. WTynn, Rug Mr and Mrs. F. J. Walton, Lord and Lady Mostyn, the staff at Dolrhvd, Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan, Nannau, and the Rev. D. and Mrs. Hughes. The entrance to the family vault at the eastern side of the Church at Llanegryn was richly lined with moss picked out with white flowers. The body was met at the Lych Gate by the Dean of Bangor who was accompanied by the Rev. D. Hughes, Llanegryn, and the Rev. D. R. Pughe, vicar of Towyn, and escorted into the Church, the Dean 'of Bangor reading the opening passages of the Burial Service. The service was con- tinued in the church by the Vicars of Llan- egryn and Towyn and the choir Isang "Sleep on Beloved," the "Dead March" being played on the organ by Mr. R. O. Jones as the cortege left for the graveside. The Dean of Bangor read the committal sentences, and the fine old Welsh hymn. "0 Fryniau Oaersalem," was impressively sung by the choir and the congregation.

Towyn Intermediate ischool. The annual meeting of the Towyn Inter- mediate School waG held in thsa Assembly Rooms of the Schooi on Tuesday afternoon for the distribution of prizes. The chair was taken by Alderman Haydn Jones who was supported by Mr David Davits, M.P., Plasdinam; Principal T. F. Roberts, M.A., of the University College of Wales; the Rev Robert Jones, Mr W. Jones Hughes, Ab^rdovey; Mr Howard Jones, architect, Ynyslas; and Mr Meyrick Roberts, Towyn. The Chauman referred to the time when the school numbered forty-four only. Since thi n the school had gone up to 170. For the first time that day they met in their new commodious hall and to see present their friend and neighbour, Mr David Davied. (Cheers.) He thought it would be useful and interesting to have a history of the school written by which it would be seen that it had made a remarkable growth. It was a school of the people as would be seen by the subscriptions, and it could not fafi as long as the people regarded the school as their own. So far the school buildings had been extended and renewed without entrenching upon tThe rates, and that had been done to a large extent through the generosity of Mr David Davies. (Cheers.) They had great pleasure in see- ing him present to distribute prizes in the new sdhool buildings which had b?en erected mainly by his assistance. (Cheers.) Though great advances had been made, thpre was still much to be clow. The chemical laboratories had to be renewed, more schoiamhips were wanted enabling pupils to proceed to Aberystwytili and other places oi higher education, the provision of a. gymnasium, a suitable playground, and a hostel for the girls. (Hear, hear.*) The boys would be provided for in the old school buildings. In fact, he wanted to see the school the best school in the country. (Cheers.) The Headmaster (Mr Thomas Jonefi) re- ported an average of 168 scholars per term, increasing from 115 in 1902-3 to 149 in 1906-7. The numbers had been steadily going up, and last year there was an in- crease of 19 on the highest previous record. The number of girls for the past four years had been steadily going up. tn" average for the past year being 58. That was a very satisfactory featur?. They now constituted quite half the number admitted from the school district. During the past year 63 new pupils were admitted of whom 30 were girls. The numbers the present term wen, 172-64 being girls. Sixteen pupils had been 4 or more years in school. Of the 47 admitted in 1904-5 only 8 re- mained. It thus appeared that about 37 D"r cent stayed on for a fourth year. Some minor changes had been made in thi.> curri- culum. More prominence was given'to the Welsh language without making, it im- po-rdl/r' for those who required French to do so. The quality of the work done had been on the whole very satisfactory and quite equal to that of past years. At the honours stage the standard reached was considerably lower than that of previous yarn, partly due to the scholars being pre- sented for the examination after Tittle more than one year's preparation. Better tmngs were expected this year. The usual inspections by the Board of Education and the Central We;h Board were held. No complaints" 'had been made and the inspectors found thing. in a satisfactory state. Seventy certificates had been gained. At the honours stage one of the pupils was third in the county and 44th in "Waler.. O'f the seniors nine qualified for th^ matriculation of the University of Wales. In June Robert T PD R-ob rts -at the entrance •■r.br>if>rship examination into Rugby Schoo1 and though he had no spi-cial preparation of anv kind, he took place in the science and mathematics group and was awarded a -/•^ola.Viip of £ 60 per annum. At tli, eutr^ri^e scholarship examination, 40 cand:datrs presented themselves. The candidates from Towyn district accredited fkorviWes mrd-, creditably, showing that t1, nu-ditv of work done in the primary ^•hoo'r equal to f\at of anv in the e-vuntv The tep o-irl in the c^'ntv wac f"0.m Towvn Council School. The ^-o^ond 1. k-ic from Ab-Tyiov,-v Council Schoo1 n n t V- c-"ve^t«h pla"<-> was. taken by a pn-pil from Tynvherth. He congratulated the l-dma~ters' rn -xcell^nt'worlc done fa"t that there were in the sdhoor nii,nil-, from all thelementary schco1- of the district, with two exceptions, ''how^l how well the institution was serving the district. He could not close without reforzing to the improved conditions under which the staff now worked. The new premises gave entire satisfaction. The record in the old premises had bco-x satisfactory, but he hoped the work of the future would be better and that tha prosperity of the school wou'd more than justify the Governors in providing so coa- venient and beautiful a new home. Mr David Davids then presented the prizes in the fofiowing order:- Form Via—Dewi Williams, 1st in classics and history; Jessie Jones, 1st in Mathe- matics, peysios and chemistry; R os,,i I io Jones, 1st in English, Latin. Form Vlb- Dorothy Roberts, 1st in French D K Steadman, 1st in Mathematics; A Ll. Rees, first in physios and history: Ivor P Morris, first in ell(-m:lstrv. V., G E Roberts, first in Eliglish and Latin L W Roberts, first in history, French and math matics; D P Thomas, first in Latin; W G Lloyd, firnt in physics and chemistry. Form IV., Poilie Whitaker, fiitst in EngToh; Huw I Tloyd, first, in history and mathematics; Hywel Rhvs. first in physics and chemistry Arthur Evans, first in woodwork: W J T"iigl-t, fir"t in drawing: Mary Dav? «. first "i eooke>ry and domestic economy; Tegid Williams, first in Latin, French and arith- metic: J Parry Jones, first in Welsh, arithmetic and geography; RPR first in arithmetic. Form III., Annie TI Morris, f,-t in English history and oooki rv: J D Hughe-, first in English: Annie-Pa,-rv, first in French; K. P. Lloyd Wil- bams, first in mathematics and physics; Emrys Thomas, fir-t in chemistry and draw- iug: Gilbert Owen, first in woodwork; Abram Powell, first in arithmetic: Olwea Morris, first- in geography. Form Ilia, Lena Edwards, first in English Georg. Jon'^vs. first in arithmetic, Latin, mathe- matics,, phyfcics, chemistry, and woodwork Mew Jones, first in geography; Julia Evans first in cookery; Gnronwv Wil- liams, firrt in drawing. Form IIb R D .Tones, first in history: Mary E Gabriel, first in Welsh, arithmetic and geography; Mattie Thomas, first in algebra E Rob- erin, first, in pfhvsics and scripture; T Oswald Jampg, firrfc in chemistry"; Stephen Tudor, fivef. in woodwork; Hugh Latimer, fir-t in drawing; Nest Pugh, first in cook- ery. A large number of honours certificates were also presented, Principal Roberts being cheered loudly as he wiais presented with a certificate on behalf ot his son Master Robert T F Roberts. Mr David Daviee, in an address, said he fully recognized that Towyn Soiool had won for itself a position which no other school had won in the whole of Wales si potiition won par-giy owing to hard work done since its foundation and, as a result, th!a successes achieved by the pupils. Per- haps tiome of that success was due to the introduction of boarding for boys which created an e&prit de corps, better discip- line, and a spirit of sacrifice. He hoped boarding accommodation would soon be provided foT the girls. He congratulated the school on ite past year's successes. He was particula-rly interested to find that one hoy had gone on to the great public English school at Rugby. (Cheers.) He did not want to ni-inimift the importance of examinations; but in his opinion the devolopment of character and cultivation of esprit de corps and the creation of a sense of responsibility, were of greater im- portance. The school was the outside world in miniature, and the undertaking of responsibility in school would be of great value, in after life. No ochool could gp on properly without strict and con- sistent discipline. A cadet corps would be a useful way of inculcating discipline and esprit de corps and of training the scholars in co-ordination and co-operation in order to win victories. In order to have a healthy mind they must have a hea'ithy body. He was therefore glad te find that the Governors were oontempla- tl the provision of a gymnasium and a playground. (Hear,. hear.) There seemed to Tie a tendency at the present time to acquire knowledge rather than to learn how to apply knowledge. Solomon spoke of knowledge and he spoke of wisdom and seemed to indicate that he valued the wis- dom which applied knowledge at a higher rate than knowledge, however great un- applied. Rather than cram children with facts and figures, it was far more useful to educate their powers of observation and to apply their knowledge to the solution of problems. (Hear, heaT.) Like Mont- gomeryshire, Merioneth was largely an agricultural county and therefore the edu- cation of the county school should be mainly preparatory for the agricultural in- dustry. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the loan whioh no had made and to which the Chairman had referred, he did not think much of it as a matter of business when it was first proposed to him at three per cent. When, however, he came to think oi it calmly, he did not think it was so bad a speculation after all. (Laughter.) The interest would go towards founding the colonial history scholarship at the University College of Wales" at Aberyst- wyth, a matter which had not' received due attention. The object of the lecture- ship was in order to imprests upon students the fact that history was a vital matter from which lessons might he learnt in what had made the great empires of the past decay and die and how to avoid the defects which had disintegrated them and caused them to die. (Hear, hear.) Principal Roberts said the best in a good school liKe that of Towyn was not revealed in the examination and prize lit>ts, but in the interests it awakened and the character it helped to form. The best thing that couid happen for the pupils would be that they should forget all a.bout the examinations in the absorbing interest of their studies and school life. The curri culum was a plan of life; the time table the ticking ot the clock barely notiwd except when interest flagged Th powers and energies of mind and body so educated would tind natural expressicon in service to the community in craft tradT or Profusion. School like that of' Towvn were needed as much as anything to tS pnA^C+\ thei o £ ti& fut™e firt in MeSiSShS waTto SPfouni th5™h ataf« ufeducatioaal^JIi "ill worthy of thSP f °r other counties. But it mi^U ioneth Tiad f„* £ j £ 'shiJ6 rightly occupied with cation in thea.^T™S>he e?U" rikhtly occupied with Plerf-tiiip- the edu- ucliooi, and that btenawmphshed that a Jpply of tochers couM be expected fitted t^ Jrry s^tem^ atic education forward into those new iS mat many of the would Income tear^More ? if■ "> thY »ouldT"e learned before leaving: school something of the enthusiasm of the true teacher fo? his work. (Hear hear.) The only path 4P Gl sa^y f°r WaJes war, that of advance on the road which u taken. The schools coti™ were the priceless had derived from the zeal an/w ^on they'woujd °^y W^e debt fnd • the widest lines would do •omething to s^ve relion^n T it Wl roil2lon- In a measure vl jn l! aiW; but the best was i • at school let them throw themselves into the work and play of the -'L. 1 scilooi-not into the play without the work or the work without the play; not into lit-c-ratiire without science, still less into F.cience ,itho:ut literature. If they mad" tnat mistake they would bewail their pov- erty and deadness of mind and their bar- renly. ss even in scientific initiative and business resourcefulnesc later on. There was nothing that educated manhood better than the love of a great poet ?ueh as Shake peare. The great scientific men of the past century—Faraday, Tynda.ll, Hux- ley—were great students of literature and great students of nature. But if the school life was reaT and its rann rulvounte to the aspirations of their growing man- hood, and if through it all €her« ran an undertone of reverence befitting thi' land ef their birth, th< n by the aid of such an education, character and personality would ^rneriie on a plane of action higher than before and equal to the taak.s and enter- pri'-ee- hitherto through lack of diY-oipline unfiOfiT >ed or only titfuly accomplished. (Applause.) On the proposition of the Rev Robert Jones, seconded by Mr W. JoneR Hughe*, a vot-Q of thanks was aeoordad te Mr Davies and Principal Roberts and the meeting terminated OR a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Haydn Jam-a for prwiding. During the aftennea. songs a.nd recita- tions werd ably aina lpy th. scholars.

The papers announce that the Tory Con- federate movement is dead. Perhaps the announcement is exaggerated, but whether it is dead or not it is certainly powerless. It probably costs more to carry the carcase of a sheep from Machynlleth to Aberystwyth. or from Aberystwyth to Lampeter, than from New Zealand to London. The people who are always yelling for increased armaments will have to pay for them. The masses of the people are not going to be starved in order to build un- necessary warships. It is said that since 1890 the land under grass' in England has increased by nearly a million acres and yet the Cockney agri- culturist wants to see the people going back to the land. He might as reason- ably expect them to go back to woad and bows and arrows The Government have a great oppor- tunity in the forthcoming Budget to show the whole of Europe that this country is not eager to increase the cost of arma- ment. Will Mr. LLOYD GEORGE be able to give this assurance? The Oalifornian Hou<-<> of Representa- tives has rejected by forty-eight votes to twenty-eight the Drew Bill prohibiting all aliens from owning land in California. This decision gets rid for the time being of a very serious qiiestloii. The annual meeting of the Aberystwyth Infirmary subscribers was held last Satur- day. Nothing was said about the street collections—a form of obtaining money which has nothing to recommend it, not even legality. There is ample room for ,criticism and suggestion, but the need for them is not yet obvious. The Japanese are determined not to be treated as an inferior people because of their complexion. It is felt in America that, the anti-Japanese action of the Ca li- form an Assembly, with special reference to thr Bill which it has passed making sppare schools for Japanese children com alsorv. • offensive and will create ,le bet- i the two countries, arr. # Marquis of LONDONDERRY, address- e annual meeting of the Royal tc Agricultural Society at Belfast, on id- &1 the agricultural industry was greatest of all industries in _Ireland, and he asked those who would niterfere uith it to remember that farm produce, food and drink stuffs, amounted to over one-half of the total import and export trade of Ireland. The Conservatives of Merionethshire are determined to contest the county at the next election. What they want is a self- sacrificing candidate, for the Conservative, no matter who he is, will surely lose. The Liberal may also lose if a Labour candi- date comes forward. There is p p,v ° time for deliberation. Mr. LLOYD Price' .-Junior, of Rhiwlas, has declined to be the Conservative candidate. There are more definite signs all over the country that national and inter- national trade is improving. This is very distressing to Conservative alarmists and tariff reformers who want to save the nation by taxing food. The principal department of the Lancashire and York- shire Locomotive Works at Horwich will commence working full time. A branch of the Women's Anti- Suffrage League ha,3 been established al Barmouth. A very wise step to take Just think of the folly of contending that mothers should have the same rights and privileges as their own male children. Monstrous! Women should discharge the duties of citizenship and bear its respon- sibilities, but political rights and privileges should be awarded according to sex. No wonder women think that men are fools. The dear food Conspirators have got the Conservatives into an awkward fix. It is felt by them that the millions of the people will not tolerate taxed food and so the poor are told that a tax on bread will not make it dearer and yet farmers are told that they will be pecuniarily bene- fited! This is the little difficulty that has to be got over. What the poor have to prevent is a tax on food. At Bristol a large fund was collected to find employment for the unemployed. i Some of these unemployed ob jected to work on football days and left work to attend the matches! These" sporting" un- employed are now to be discharged. What they want is good pay for doing nothing and extra remuneration to enable them -to attend great football matches. Only v I the State could provide satisfactorily for these unemployed. At Aberystwyth a great temperance meeting has been held. Lady HERBERT ROBERTS presided. From first to as no .a word was said By the speakers a ou e thirty or forty millions of money received every year as revenue from the "cursed" drink traffic. This silence is the most eloquent feature in temperance meetings. It is only when brewers and distillers make money out of the drink traffic that the gains are called unholy and indignation is expressed. At Holywell Rural District Council attention has been called to the urgent "and serious need" for isolation hospitals. .Just think of this need at Holywell where all that is necessary to cure any human ailment is a little of the miraculous ii-ater. The need for recognised all over W a There whatever is done to provi e i • is one consolation, namely, a t ;about three months the Local, o\ Board writes to ask all the p a<^s..i." have done anything! The on y 1 => do is to laugh at the Local Government Board. At the last meeting of the ■Council a representative was app<> n^e ° attend a conference at Machynll-et. °- the purpose of arranging a representation of health aiid pleasure resorts on the -C,ama,tirian Coast at a forthcoming xhibi- tion in London. The CHAIRMAN said tha lie was sorry the Great W estern were not partners in the movement. The Great Western only looks after itself, as •gellev knows quite well- This is a fact a Aberystwyth has yet to discover. In the meantime Aberystwyth shou.d be care u that it does not give something for -mothing. Mr. WILLI A U ROBERT MAURICE WYNNE, the lord lieutenant of Merionethshire, .died on Friday in London at the age 'Of sixty-eight. He was the son of Mr WILLIAM WYNNE, of Peniarth, and was educated at Eton. Mr. WYNNE was for a time in the Scots Guards, and from 1865 to 1868 was member of Parliament for Merioneth. He was constable of Harlech 'Castle and had been lord lieutenant of Merionethshire since 1891. In another part of the paper an account is given of ¡ -his public life and work. Once more the question of Llanfihangel- v-Creuddyn water supply came up at the Aberystwyth Rural Council meeting. The supply is near the churchyard, as has been utated many times before, and is prac- tically human gravy. An estimate is to be prepared showing the cost of providing a pure and adequate water supply. Amoncr t.he other clever things that have been found out by Conservative newspapers this week is "that unless Mr. LLOYD GEORGE can have his way the Chancellor '•'of the Exchequer's early resignation is by "no means unlikely." What a terrible state the Conservatives are in. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE is still in office and quite comfort- able. Mr. JACK BINNS, the heroic wireless operator of the Republic, arrived at Peter- borough on Tuesday and received a civic welcome. In a modest speech he said that there were greater heroes on the ship than himself, amongst them some of the engine room staff, the chief being one who opened the steam escape. Although already up to the neck in water, that man did not stop to think of his own life, but the lives of the passengers on board, and by his gallant action saved all from being blown up. Tho&e were the men that were heroes. Ho himself only did his duty, and was very pleased to do it. The foregoing generous testimony shows that Mr. JACK BINNS is not only a hero, but a gentleman. Mr. ARTHUR PONSONBY, M.P., speaking at Stirling, contended that the efficiency and credit of the Liberal Party depended on a prompt and resolute handling of the problem of the House of Lords. The time was ripe and there could be no advantage in postponing the contest. To secure the ™-remacY of the will of the people, expressed through their elected representa- tives, was the first and most necessary step to reform and progress. Mr. ARTHUR PONBONBY evidently does not know that in Wales there are many Liberals who would rather see a Disestablishment ,Bill passed through the House of Commons and rejected by the Lords than to see the Lords promptly and resolutely handled. Archdeacon CUNNINGHAM, of Ely, has been discussing socialism in a way that shows once more that there are many sorts of socialism and that what one person means by the word another person does not mean. There a.re all sorts of religion —religion that saves and religion that is said to blast. What is true of religion is true of socialism. There is socialism that saves and socialism that rob&. The relief of the poor is socialism; the "nationalis- ing" of the property of individuals is also socialism. Archdeacon CUNNINGHAM does not distinguish between the different sorts of socialism and consequently his words are of no value except to enforce the need for correct definition of what is meant by socialism. The Cardiff Tory paper is ramping mad that Mr. M'KENNA and Mr. MACNAMARA went to Blaenavon on Monday to make speeches and did not reveal any State secrets. There is great fun to be got out of Cardiff Conservative ravings as to what the Government should do. What a pity it is Jhat Mr. LLOYD GEORGE does not take the Western Mail" into his confidence as to his Budget provisions. Our Cardiff contemporary says "It was Mr. M'KENNA'S "duty as First Lord of the Admiralty to "put an end to all anxiety and suspicion "by a declaration that would have left us "under no doubt about the Government's "intentions." How does the foregoing stand for cool impertinence? Wonderful place Cardiff. How dare the Government make arrangements about the navy with- out informing the Cardiff Tory paper what those arrangements are? There are so many cranks dealing with elementary education just now that we are anxious not to increase their number. The number of subjects taught steadily increases and the number of subjects not learnt increases at a somewhat increased rate. A correspondent in one of the papers wisely says that "what is required in the rural elementary school is such a "curriculum as shall stimulate the powers "of observation and reasoning, anil enable "the children to continue for themselves "their education. That really means teaching them (1) to read well and easily, "to understand what they read, to follow "up subjects that interest them in their "reading or in their daily lives; (2) to "observe and take interest in the things "around them; (3) to write and spell well "and easily; (4) to do sums correctly and "quickly, 'in short, the three R's really «well taught." The foregoing embodies what we have said on the subject scores of times. We have a printing works and one of the first and most difficult things we have to do with youths hom elementary vchools is to teach them to read. At the quarterly meeting of the Denbigh- shire County Council, held at Ruthin, it was proposed that a knowledge of Welsh should be an essential qualification for the caretaker of the new county offices. Another proposal wa.s that a knowledge of Welsh was desirable. Then Mr. CROMER, who has not a Welsh name, said the people of Denbighshire were as clannish as the people of Scotland. In the end it was agreed that a knowledge of Welsh is desirable. There can be no doubt that the Welsh people are clannish, but the clan- nishness is mainly unconscious and was brought about by the way all sorts of EnglisIl1 Irish, and Scotch officials were formerly forced upon the Welsh without their having a chance. This. ignoring of the Welsh people has been changed some- what, but there is still too much of it in different departments of public life. There are many worse things in the world than clannishness. The time is not far distant when a demand for knowledge of the Welsh language as a qualification for appointments in WTales will exclude natives of the Principality. .11- Mr. ELLIS DAVIES, M.P., in the course .1 'I of a speech at I4estmiog. last week, con- tended that every citizen has a .right to demand from the State an opportunity of earning his own livelihood. He further contended that if all our citizens have not an opportunity of earning a livelihood the fault lies with the State. The foregoing sounds very nice and ensy, but it is neither. If the State is to find work for everybody, then the State must also have a right to say how many workers there <■ ha 11 be and anybody who unduly increases the number of workers, especially when trade is depressed, will have to be punished in some effective way. Mr. ELLIS DAVIES guroly does not mean to seriously argue that the State is responsible for the in- crease of the population which is going on the rate of more than a thousand a day. Aoco"ding to Mr. ELLIS DAVIES, as soon as a man or woman has reached working age -ili that has to be done is to apply to the State for work at a "living" wage. The whole thing is too utterly absurd for serious rrgumentr With other creatures care is taken that they do not multiply beyond the means of maintenance. We rather think the men of Festiniog axe still laugh- ing at the idea of the authors of large I families leaving the State to find them all work! During the week consols have gone up from about eight-three and a. quarter to eighty-four and a half. This does not look as if there was any fear of the hext Budget. The weather has been cloudy with some rain and high winds. The temperature has not been unduly low. Autumn-sown crops are doing well and the prospect is favourable. Lambing is proceeding under fairly good conditions.