The County Echo

Fishguard Liberal Association SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR MARCH CONTESTS. This association met on Monday night in the Hermon Vestry Room- there being up- wards of one hundred voter-members present under the chairmanship of the Rev Dan Davies (president of the Association). The Association was reconstituted after the customary dissolution prior to a general election,the president, vice president, executive committee, treasurer and secretaries being reappointed. The Secretaries (Messrs 0 D Jones, and D G Thomas) brought forward a copy of the agenda of the meeting of the Liberal Five Hundred to be held at Haverfordwest on Saturday next, which contained business of a- private and urgent character, together with in struction for the appointment of nine repre- sentatives to attend that meeting. The following were appointed for the forthcoming term:-Rev Dan Davies; and Messrs W L Williams, Ben Thomas, B G Llewhelin, 0 D Jones, W Evans, D Roberts, Enoch Davies, J G Martin, and A J Hodges. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION. A short speech on the forthcoming County Council contest was delivered by the Lib- beral candidate-elect (Mr B G Llewlielin) and a suggestion made by the Sees, which was to the effect that a special meeting of the asso- ciation be called, the moment that it was definitely understood that a Conservative candidate for the seat had been selected, was carried. GUARDIANS OF THE POOR. On the matter of the forthcoming trenuial election for guardian for the urban area of Fishguard it was enthusiastically and un- animously decided to ask Messrs L Evans (" Echo ") and Mr W Evans (solicitor), to accept nomination as candidates. Mr L Evans, in thanking the meeting for its unanimous request,referred to the result of a recent election in which he had been con- cerned and criticised the members for their lack of consistency in the matter if electing their representatives to local public bodies. After some little discussion an earnest request was unanimously made by the Assoc- iation to Mr L Evans asking him to accept their invation, they in the meantime pledg- ing themselves to use all their efforts to secure his triumphant return. Mr W Evans asked for time to consider the matter, and promised to give a definite answer on Thursday, when failing Mr Evans' compliancy another candidate is forthcoming. URBAN COUNCIL. On the matter of the Urban Council Elec- tion in April the Association decided to await the nominations before deciding upon suitable Liberal Nonconformist candidates to be run under the auspices of the associ- ation. DISTRICT COUNCIL.' It was unanimously decided to ask Mr J Harries of Trebover, to contest Fishguard Parish South in the Liberal interest, for a seat on the Haverfordwest Rural District Council. The proceedings then terminated with a vote of thanks to the President, Treasurer, and Secretaries, for their services during the year.—Communicated.

CWMGWAUN. Free, Gratis, and for Nothing "-A,local resident who takes a deep interest in the noble art of seif defence and is possessed of an ex- cellent pair of gloves, is teaching the young idea of the locality how to box, his services being rendered quite gratuitously. Not to be e outdone, his wife has now undertaken the task of giving free dancing lessons to the girls of the locality.

ENTRE NOUS. RUMOURS of an imminent bye-election in the Parliamentary representation of the County continue to fill the air, but we have beeo privileged to see a letter in which Mr. WALTER F. ROCH, M.P., states emphatically that there is no prospect whatever of my leaving Pem- brokeshire until the electors give me notice to quit" THE Urban and Rural Councils-more es- pecially the former—will be well-advised to approach circumspectly the proposals of the County Council in respect to the future of Goodwick Bridge. The old adage that, if a thing be worth doing at all, it is worth doing well, naturally applies to a very great extent in this case, but the Fishguard authority is by no means in a financial position to justify I undue speculation for the benefit of posterity. Hence, it behoves those who are responsible for the town's expenditure to ensure the receipt of a quid pro quo, and any negotia- tions which may ensue should be based upon the principle that the thorongfare involved is a main road in fact and should, consequent- ly, be recognised as one in theory. Precisely to what extent the Urban Council will be able to press its advantage in this respect re- mains to be seen, but it appears to be fairly obvious that, at the present moment, it holds the whip hand. The County Council has provisionally undertaken to main" the Parrog road, and it is inconcievable that it would undertake such a responsibility were it not prepared to carry the scheme to its logical conclusion. A main road which ended in what is practically a dangerous cul de sac would be a preposterous innovation, and it behoves the Fishguard representatives to see to it that, even at the risk of perpetuating that danger, the Parrog road shall remain a bottle-neck unless the County be prepared to take over the whole thoroughfare once the town has borne its quota of the expense in- volved in a scheme infinitely more ambitious than that of which it is itself the author. THE defects-if any-of a legislative measure appear never to be discovered until it has be- come inscribed upon the Statute Book of the Realm, and the latest instance is afforded by the Local Authorities (Admission of the Press) Act (1908), which makes no provision in res- pect to what are commonly known as Com- mittees of the Whole Council. So far as our experience in divers parts of the country is concerned, it had been the general custom, prior to the passage of this measure, to admit reporters to such meetings, but last week the Fishguard Urban District Council decided otherwise, and there can be no question that, on the strict letter of the law it was in that particular instance empowered so to do, inas- much as the Committee had been appointed by resolution at the last meeting of the authority. We would, however, point out that this reason would not be operative in the case of a Committee of the Whole Council convened by the Chairman or the Clerk with- out preliminary resolution, and that, under such circumstances, journalists in attendance would be perfectly entitled to regard the as- semblage as an extraordinary meeting until such time as the members had, by formal resolution, decided that they be excluded, such exclusion, be it noted, being applicable only to a portion of the proceedings. • « • • THE Twentieth Century bids fair to go down to posterity as-inter alia-the Age of Rail- way Combines. The example was set many years ago by the amalgamation of the South Eastern and Chatham lines, whilst recently the air has been full of projects some of which have never yet emerged from the domain of negotiation, whilst others have been ruthless- ly wrecked in one or other of the committee- rooms of the Palace of Westminster. Never- theless, much that is useful has been accom- plished by the aid of working agreements, which do not need Parliamentary sanction, the initiative in this respect being, we believe, set by the L. and N.W. and the L. and Y. Companies. For a considerable period past rumour has coupled the name of the Great Western with that of the London and South Western, and on Friday an official announce- ment was made by the Chairman of the latter corporation, which appears to indicate that there is a prospect of the project maturing at no very distant date. Anything which tends to promote the commercial and financial prosperity of the Company to which the Twin Towns owe so much cannot fail to re- act beneficially upon the local community, and should consequently be cordially welcom- ed by all who have at heart the prosperity of the new port. ONE cannot but feel that the Fishguard Market House Company acted somewhat injudiciously at its annual meeting in declin- ing to adjourn the consideration of the scheme for roofing-in the Central Market. Having gone to considerable expense in the prepara- tion of plans, elevations, sections and estima- tes, one would have imagined that the very least which would have been done would have been to have accorded the suggestions careful consideration. Viewed superficially, the course adopted may appear to be a wise policy, but, as was cogently pointed out by Dr. O'DONNEL, it affords no such finality as would have been the case had the matter been fully threshed out at an adjourned meet- ing of the shareholders. ft THE substantial figure of upwards of [II, which is the extent to which the Pembroke- shire and Haverfordwest Infirmary has bene- fitted by the recent juvenile fancy dress ball at Fishguard, redounds greatly to the credit of all who laboured so zealously in the pro- motion of what will, it is generally hoped, become an annual function, and must be particularly gratifying to the honorary secre- tary, to whose assiduity the success of the event is in no small measure attributable. (!; O IN another column will be found a report of the deliberations of the Fishguard Liberal Association, from which it will be gathered that it is the intention of local Radicals to run the municipal elections in March and April on strictly party lines. Whilst cog- nisant of the fact that the function cf an independent newspaper is neither to commend nor to condone such proposals, we are forced to admit that the complete elimination of the political from local elections is not as yet possible. So long as the party system prevails in legislation, so long also, to a lesser extent, must it prevail in administration. The veriest novice who is but conversant with the ele- mentary principles of popular government must recognise that the administrative duties of a County, District, or Urban Coun- cil are defined by Statute Law, which are, after all, nothing but the product of a set of political principles held by the predominant party in the House of Commons. When such laws are enacted, we are forced to the con- clusion that, whilst it is not to the best inter- ests of it town to be represented by partisans on municipal bodies, so long as the public is of opinion that a party feeling is necessary to accurate legislation, so long will the pre- valence of party feeling in the administration of those self-same laws be inevitable. None the less, we would cordially welcome its era- diction ? ? «• '.X LOCAL house-owners would be well-advised not to over-estimate the value of the property at their disposal, lest they drive intending residents into the country. During the past few days we have learned of a gentleman who, sooner than pay what he regards as an exhorbitant rent, is seeking a residence in one of the outlying villages, and in this age of cycles it is not to be wondered at should others emulate his example. w ? (¡¡o SLOWLY but surely Fishguard is progressing. Hitherto the pupil's at the Girls' National School have had to be content with desks which had been removed from the Newport National School as unsuited to the youth of the Ancient Borough, but which were, pres- umably, quite good enough for the future mothers of Abergwaun. Now, however, afrer a presumably honourable existence which can be traced back as far as I878-and which probably extends still further into the realms of antiquity-these dilapidated fittings have been condemned by His Majesty's Inspector, and we have no doubt that, when the Educa- tion Authority can spare time from its troubles and trials with the various bodies subordinate to it, desks in accordance with modern ideas of comfort and hygenie will be provided, so that the pupils attending the National Schools may be at no disadvantage compared with their fellows at the Council School. I WF cannot too strongly deprecate the per- sistent circulation of rumours that the con- struction of the new breakwater will result in the employment of a large number—assess- ed variously at either hundreds or thousands —of men. Anyone cognisant of the nature of the works under contemplation must be aware that the statement is purely fallacious, and it is impossible accurately to estimate the extent of the damage likely to be occas- ioned by the encouragement of small capital- ists to invest their savings in new shops, or the misery that may arise through the influx of large numbers of unemployed deluded into belief that work can be had for the asking.

INACCURATE REPORTS. Complaints by Presiding Magistrate At Mathry Sessions. At the close of the proceedings at the Dewsland Petty and Licensing Sessions, held in the Court House, Mathry, on Friday after- noon, The Presiding Magistrate (Mr Charles Mathias) suggested that if Pressmen reported the proceedings of that court at all they ought to do so correctly, adding that he had recently seen in a paper a report which was not correct. Our representative (who was the only jour- nalist present) suggested to his worship the desirability of specifying the paper which was the source of complaint. Mr Mathias, however, declined to do so, though he added that the Clerk (Mr R T P Williams) had had occasion previously to complain about the matter. Interviewed subsequently by our represen- tative, Mr Mathias eventually consented to disclose the identity of the paper in question, and stated that written complaints upon the matter had been sent to the editor thereof on previous occasions. Needless to say, the Echo was in no way implicated. We may add that we have for long sym- pathised with the Dewsland Justices in the discreditable manner in which their pro- ceedings are frequently reported in certain irresponsible quarters.

The County Member. Another Rumour. Reynolds' Weekly News says that efforts .are being made to induce Mr Lloyd George to appoint a Welshman as his parliamentary private secretary. Mr Lloyd George is be- lieved not to be averse to this step, and three promising young members of Parliament, who are believed to have ambitions for office, are mentioned as being in the "running for this appointment—Mr Walter F Roch, Mr Llewellyn Williams, and Mr Ellis Griffith. Mr Roch gives such high promise, and the appointment has within it such great possi- bilities, that we hope the member for Pem- brokeshire will be the selection of the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer.—An important an- nouncement on this subject will be found in our editorial columns.

CUNARD CHATTER. THEATRE ABOARD THE MAyRETANIA On her next voyage from New York to Fishguard the Mauretania will establish a new record for luxurious ocean travel, Mr Charles Frohman having announced that he proposas that week tovinaugurate an ocean- going theatte to present Miss Maria Doro in Mr Edward Lock's three-act play, The Climax," and that he will stage the piece as effectively at sea as in New York. Mr Froh- man believes that, with the advent of giant Cunarders, the day for an ocean-going theatre has undoubtedly arrived. There will be a fixed charge for seats for Miss Doro's per- formance, and the proceeds will be devoted to the Seamen's Fund. The Canadian Northern Railway Company is actively engaged in arranging a new steam-* ship service between Canada and England. The new service will be from Montreal or Quebec to one of the various English ports, and it is hoped that the advantages of Fish- guard, will be fully considered. considered. This development will afford a rail service from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, the Northern Company thus following the lead of the Canadian Pacific in affording through transport from their system to En- gland, a facility which is of unquestionable convenience and advance to travellers. Another contemplated through service be- tween Enland and Canada is that of the Grand Trunk Company, to whose order an up-to-date passenger steamer, the "Prince Rupert," was recently launched from the Tyne shipyard of Messrs Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson. Yet another stride in improving communi- cation between the United Kingdom and the Colonies is the construction of an additional railway from Collooney, Co. Sligo, to Black- sod Bay, to which we have previously re- ferred. The distance from Blacksod Bay to Halifax (Nova Scotia) would be covered by a steamer of fair speed in three and a half days, and other services in connection would enable the journey to Australia, New Zealand and Hong-Kong to be considerably curtailed. The Great Western Railway Company has issued an excellent series of picture postcards depicting the arrival of ocean liners at Fish- Fishguard, and an admirable reproduction of the complete set appears in the current issue of the Company's magazine. WHEN TO SEE THE BOATS. Readers who desire to witness the arrival of Cunard liners are referred to our last issue for particulars as to the hours and dates at which they are expected, such times being the only authentic ones now obtainable. This week's boat is the Umbria," which has never yet visited the port, and her scheduled hour for arrival is one o'clock on Thursday morning. We are officially informed that the reason why the Campania arrived so very con- siderably before the hour at which she was last week expected is that she had just com- pleted her annual survey, and that her engines boilers, and bottom were naturally in tip-top condition.

Local Lifeboat Notes. The February issue of the official organ of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution quotes in extenso the Echo's report of the dedi- cation ceremony of the Fishguard motor lifeboat Charterhouse." Since the first lifeboat was placed at Fish- guard in 1855, no less than 438 lives of sea- men have been saved by the local rescue service. The Institution has voted £ 6 to four men for putting off in a boat in a strong N.W. gale and, at considerable risk, saving two men who were trying to board their trawler in Rosslare Harbour on the 23rd October. The men's boat was swept under one of the piers and one man was thrown overboard. During 1909 the Fishguard lifeboat re- sponded to two calls. At 8.45 p.m. on Janu- ary 8th, she went to the aid of the schooner Unity," of Carnarvon, and rescued four lives; whilst at 8.30 a.m. on July 7th, she assisted to save the ketch Esmeralda, of Milford. Mr William Small, the Assistant Surveyor of Motors, who had charge of the Fishguard motor on the voyage from Harwich makes some very interesting remarks on the merits of the motor, especially as regards the gov- erned engine, reporting that, on the run from Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) to Weymouth, on which occasion they experienced a S.W. gale accompanied by a high head sea, the gov- erned engine proved its merits, as when pas- sing through the heavy race off St. Albans Head, the propeller on two occasions was half out of water, the speed of the engine in an instant being reduced to 250 revolutions, and as the load came on again the governor gently opened the throttle, allowing the en- gine to'run at its proper speed. Had it not been for the activity of the governor on the different loads, when the boat was threshing her stern, there would appear to have been every possibility of her shedding her pro* peller.