Llandudno Advertiser and List of Visitors

LLANDUDNO'S NEW J.P. We offer our heartiest congratulations to Mr T. W. Griffith upon the well- deserved honour which has been con- ferred upon him by his appointment, as a justice of the Peace for the County of Carnarvonshire, and in So doing we are simply voicing the general feeling of the inhabitants of Llandudno and the whole of North Carnarvonshire). Mr Griffith, who is a native of the county town, came to Llandudno over thirty years ago, and has taken a leading: part, in thepublic life of the county, and the town of his adop- tion. For a long; period he was a mem- ber of the School Board;, has been asso- ciated without initerriiption for many years wifth the Llandudno. Urban Council, and in 1896 was elected its chairman, a position he held with credit to the Coun- cil and himself. For six years he has been one of the representatives of Llandudno I' on the Carnarvonshire County Council, and no member is held in greater esteem by his confreres as proved by his selec- tion as chairman of the Police Com- mittee in succession to :S6r 'Hugh Elllis Nanney, generally considered the most important, committee under the. control of the County Authority. The honour has been won by hard work in the public interest, and we are eased that his ser- vices have now met with the recogni- tion they fully merit.

LLANDUDNO AS IT WAS. A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF LLANDUDNO. Reverting again for a short while to the period of the memorable gale of the 26th of October, 1859, we find that prior to 1859 an electric telegraph cable was in use from the Great, Orme's Head Tele- graph Station to Point Lynas, Anglesey. The station at that time was situated on the summit of the Orme. This cable had been laid by the Mersey Docks Board in .connection with signalling1 information regarding passing ships. We are unable to ascertain how many years prior to. 1859 that this cable was laid, but we know it is an absolute fact that. it was in use as stated; neither are we. in a posi- tion to 'state, definitely, but it is most probable that this was at, least one of the, first marine electric telegraph cables that was laid for this purpose. The first, line of Semaphore telegraphic signals from n b Liverpool to Holyhead began working; in October 1827, one. of the stations in this line of communications was on the sum- mit of the Great Orme. Now the Royal Charter was on her star- board tack, viz., standing toward the shore. Thinking1 they were near the land the ICiaptan ordered the ship to put, about, but she failed in her stays, and in order to obviate running her ashore the anchors werecasit, out. The position of the ship at the time was. ibet,we,en the Orme and Lynas point,, of course nearer Lynas, and it is most likely that the Royal Charter was outside the direct line from the Oraie to Lynas. The galle was so terrible that. she dragged her anchors until at last she grounded, and seafaring experts believe that., her anchors were dragged across, this cable and caused it to snap; at any rate it is certain that the cable was not workable after the gale, and the wires, were placed overland. To confirm this, in a short time after, one of the Llan- dudno boats when fishing beyond the Orme grabbled up part of a, wire cable, and several recollect seeing it, as it. laid on the Llandudno beach, where it was L left for some time. This without doubt, was a remnant of the Orme Lynas tele- graph caibile. In treating marine arrange ments, We may be allowed with some pro- priety to record some particulars regard- ing the establishment, of a, lifeboat service at, Llandudno. This highly desirable accession to the coast was the result of the benevolence of two. ladies who were frequent visitors to Llandudno at that.. time, viz., the Misses Brown, of Tloxteth Park, Liverpool, who presented the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with the sum of £ 2.00 on the cionditlilon that it shouild be devoted to the establishment of a lifeboat. at Llandudno., which they de- signed as a memorial to a departed sister, and to be called "Sisters Memorial." The local ,committee appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements was selected from the several parishes of Llandudno, Eg. wys lilies, Llandrillo, Conway and Dwygyfylchi. The late Mr John Wil- liams, Bodafon, was appointed to be the firsit, secretary, and Tuesday January 18th, 1861, was the .selected day for launching: the new lifeboat. The day was observed as a holiday in the district, and there was a very large concourse: of peo- ple, including ail the school children of Llandudno and the neighbourhood to. wit- ness the interesting scene. Lady Augusita Mostyn consented to name the boat, and after a, short but appropriate religious service, performed by the late Rev. John Morgan, M.A., Rector of the parish, Lady Augusta Mostyn performed the usual launching ceremony, and pro- nouncing "Success to the Sisters Memorial" the boat slid into its element amidst the enthusiasm of the spectators, and with lifelike pride rode (gallantly upon the breakers (there being a strong sea breeze). The cheers rent the a|i|r; three for Lady Augusta Mostyn,, three for the crew, and three for the chairman of the committee. Thus the boat demon- strated on the sea thatt its future task was to rescue those who "cry unto the Lord in their trouble" and bring them "to the haven which they would be." 'On the evening of the launching day a splendid dinner was given at, the, St. George's Hotel by the Committee to the crew and others. The usual toasts were given. The Rev. John Morgan in pro- posing the health of the crew said he wished them every success in their perilous dutiJes, and also said that in future it, woufld give him much pleasure should any of the lifeboat crew wished to be married he would be most happy to tie the nuptial knOlt free-of any charge. The first coxswain was the late respected: Mr Hugh Jones, Rowen House, Madoc Street, and he very successfully perform- ed his duty for many years. During1 the first, ten years service the lifeboat was launched for actual service twenty times, and on these occasions was instrumental in saving about 40 lives. The lifeboats at Ljlandudno have saved lives as fomows: -Nos. 1 and 2, ".Sisters Memorial" 35 lives; "Suiilight" No. 1, 26 lives; "Theodorei Price," 6 lives and 1 dog's life, making a grland total of 67 lives. During this period the respective coxswains were Richard Jones, John Hughes, and Eldward Griffiths. John Williams has probably seen more service with the lifeboat than any other person now living, he being on board on nearly ,all the occasions when rescues were effected. Several of theise) services have attended with the greatest risks, and although the 'bat was submerged and capsized no "hand" was ever lost, nor has the boat been reported to headquarters otherwise than as behaving remarkably well. On one occasion the boat was launched in response to a call. The ship was a distance out at sea. It was blow- ing a gale from the n.n.w and the sea was high; after sailing out, for, miles, a, tug boat forestalled her. Owing to ihe high sea prevailing it was decided to take the boat to Rhyl. When within a, mile from shore she was struck by an enor- mous wave, capsized and swamped; she soon righted. One of the crew, who was a "character," and who had held to the boat and had gone round with her, called out, "Ladis is there anyone drowned be- sides mysejif." However, all the crew managed to get on board, although many were in a very .exhausted condition. May the present boat which is one of the most seaworthy on the coast yet be the means of saving many lives from the perils of the sea. The Rev. John Raymond, the present energetic secretary and his com- mittee., are to be commended for thejir services in securing all the up-to-cla,t, appliances, and for other manifold ser- vices in connection with the lifeboat.

NATURE JOTTINGS. NOVEIMHEIR, 20.—In the uncertain light., weltl on in the afternoon, the grazing sheep moved silently over the heath, brown patched with withered bracken; not, a, sound, save an incessant murmur from the sea, broke the calm, even the wind had dropped to mere wafts of breeze; a chilling haze made indistinct the distant objects, and the smoke from a farmhouse chimney climbed perpendi- cularly in spiral fashion. Solitude, in- explicably gr and; Nature in a death-like slumber after the exhaustion of its great store of energy—how quickly our thoughts would have: us believe that, the activity of Nature had temporarily ceased, but..a little consideration pre- vented us from being thus beguiled, for when going up the hillside we, noticed that the iivUe rock: huttchinsia was in tiny leaf, that the hard green catkins on the hazels were swelling, and remembered thatt only that very afternoon we had lis- tened to. the strains of a hedgesparrow. Eiven with the begiinning1 of the winter there are promises of the spring. R. W. J.

THE LiLANDUDNO1 BRANCH OF THE YOUNG WOMEIN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. A party of 78 sat: down to an excellent tea in the. Cocoa House on Friday last, and a most enjoyable evening was spentl. A letter was read from the Liady Augusta. Mostyn regretting that she was not able to be present, and one, also from Miss Beamish. Mrsi Marks and Mrs Cotton also sent notes saying1 how sorry they were not able to be present. Mrs Dawson, an honorary associate of long standing, was much missed, and the members were quite sympathetic, when they heard of the serious illness of her sister, which was the cause of her absence. The attendance was good and the programme, was well carried out. 'Songs and solos were sweet- ly sung by the following ladies:—Mrs Reeves Hughe*, the Misses Mt( s:an, Miss Rowlands, Miss Grafton and Miss Owen. Recitations1 were given by Mrs Squirrel!, Mfes Goddart, Miss Linton, Miss Higginbottom, and Miss Tomieson. Miss Lewis Lloyd gave an earnest ad- dress, and also, sang the sacred song, "Everybody should know," with chorus. Mrs Lewis. Lloyd and Miss T'yrer were among the accompanists during the even- ing. The hon. secretary gave a short account of the work of the Y.W.C.A. dur- ing the past winter months, and remind- ed the members that they would always have la, warm welcome at the Bible Class, which would be held at the Cocoa House, on Friday evenings alt 7-15. Each one received the beautiful motto card and the almanac containing; the list of scripture studies for the coming year. Eight new' members gave in their names for admission. The beautiful flowers with which the, tables were decorated were given by Mr and Mrs Joseph and other friends., and aifterwards were willingly carried away by the members for the sick friends unable to be present.. Among those' present were Mrs Peers, Mrs Lever, Miss Amelia Barker, Mrs Raymond, Mrs Roberts (Huyton), Miss Grey, Miss Jones, Mrs and Miss Burwell. Dona- tions towards the tea were kindly given by Mrs Dawson, Miss Barker and the hon. secretary.—(Contributed).

BILLIARD MATCH. LLANDUDNO Y.M.C.A. v. COLWYN BAY Y.M.C.A. The return match between teams repre- senting the, Y.M.C.A. of Llandudno and the Y.M.C.A. of Colwyn Bay was played at Llandudno on Wednesday evening last. The first match was played the previous week at Cbliwyn Bay, and resulted in a victory for the Llandudno men by 106 points, the victory being repeated on Wednesday by 113, points. The follow- ing were the players — Odlwyn Bay. Hammar 68 Roberts 100 Oreese 51 Wiooildridge 100 Daviee 32 Draycott 100 451 Llandudno. Husband 100 Davies 79 Mudd 100 Bradfbury 94 T. Roberts 100 Morris 91 564