The Tenby Observer Weekly List of Visitors and Directory

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. Lady St. Davids of Lydstep Haven, who is one of the Life Patrons of the South Wales Nursing Association (which is affiliated with Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses), and who has taken a very deep and practical inte- rest in its formation, requests us to publish the first annual report of the Association, which is as follows '— The South Wales Nursing Association was in- augurated at a meeting held at Cardiff, on July 24th, 19p9, under the Presidency of the Lord Mayor. The Marchioness of Bute, the Lady St. Davids, the Lord Aberdare, Lady Dillwyn Llewelyn, Mrs R. Garnons Williams, Mrs Venables Llewelyn, Mrs Godfrey Clark, Miss Hughes (General Superintendent, Q.V.J.I.N.), Mr Harold Boulton, and Mr Herbert M. Thompson addressed the meeting, and pointed out the urgent need for a central nursing organi- sation to be established in South Wales, describing the practical work proposed and giving the out- line of the proposed Constitution which had received careful consideration at a series of meetings of Welsh men and women held under the auspices of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses during 1908 and 1909. The Provisional Committee was elected and the following Resolution was adopted :— This meeting pledges itself to support the South Wales Nursing Association, and approves j of the work of the Association being carried on by the Provisional Committee till the Spring of 1910, when the first meeting of the representatives of Affiliated Associations and Associates will be called together, the Provisional Committee to consist of all the members who express willing- ness to continue to aid, having power to add to their number." It will be interesting in this first Report to trace the growth of the work from its commence- ment, therefore an account of the preliminary meetings held under the auspices of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses is given as an Appendix to this Report. In response to the unanimous request of the Committee, the Princess of Wales graciously con- sented to accept the Presidency of the Welsh Nursing Associations. The Committee of the South Wales Nursing Association at once arranged to make a systematic enquiry into the number of certified midwives and district nurses throughout South Wales, with a view to ascertaining where their work was most needed at the same time they asked for the names of persons who would like to bo trained as Village Nurses, so that the opportunity for training offered by the Committee might become generally known. In Pembrokeshire the enquiry was made by Miss Lambton and Miss Hewat, and in the other counties by the temporary Super- intendent, Miss Epps, who sent enquiry forms to seventy-six Medical Officers of Health and to the head of every Council School. The Committee have received names of forty applicants for training, and have arranged for the complete training of five and the partial training of four others. Of the candidates selected two are from Brecon- shire, one from Carmarthenshire, one from Car- diganshire, three from Glamorganshire, one from Pembrokeshire, and one from Radnorshire. As soon as sufficient funds are forthcoming many of the other candidates will be trained. The Committee is of opinion that in many places where, owing to the sparseness of the population, it is difficult for a nurse who is only trained as a midwife to maintain herself, it will be found quite possible to raise the necessary funds for the maintenance of a midwife who has also received the additional training which enables her to act as Village Nurse. They therefore realise that most valuable work may be done in co-operation with the County Councils to meet the new needs of the Midwives' Act by supplying midwives who are also Village Nurses, and they have requested the following members to form Sub-Committees in their re- spective Counties to approach the County Coun- cils for the purpose of putting the aims of the South Wales Nursing Association before them and asking for grants towards the training of suitable candidates:—Breconshire, Mrs R. Gar- nons Williams; Cardiganshire, Lady Lloyd of Bronwydd Carmarthenshire, Mrs Pryse-Rice Glamorganshire, Lord Aberdare Pembrokeshire, the Lady St. Davids; Radnorshire, Mrs Venables Llewelyn. The Committeo agreed to arrange provisionally for the training of candidates at several centres, and they gladly accepted the offer of the Cardiff Branch of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute to be one of them. The Cardiff Committee have done all in their power to meet the wishes of the S.W.N.A. and to arrange for the training of candidates as Village Nurses. Two candidates will enter in May and two in September of this year. The Cardiff Committee has, however, pointed out that it is essential to their arrangements that there should be a continuity of pupils, and the S.W.N.A., realising the importance of this, passed the following Resolutions at their Com- mittee and Annual General Meeting :— That a carefully prepared statement re posi- tion of training at the Cardiff Branch cf the Q.V.J.I, should be placed in the hands of the con- venors of the Sub-Committee formed in each County, to approach the County Councils for the purpose 01 requesting them to give a grant to- wards training. The statement to show the im- portance of the training being in Wales, and to point out the benefit it would be to the Princi- pality if this could be arranged." The Committee also recommend that after sufficient funds have been guaranteed for the maintenance expenses of the Association by Foundation Members, a definite amount should be placed on deposit towards the training of a succession of pupils at Cardiff." The Committee wish to record their cordial thanks to the Cardiff Branch of the Q.V.J.I. for the way they have co-operated with them to make the work a success." A letter describing the aims of the organisation and inviting contributions to the funds was sent to a number of those who would, it was hoped, be in sympathy with the work; but it has been im- possible as yet to communicate with all the leading residents in Wales whose sympathy and help may be relied on when the aims of the organisation are placed before them. With a view to enlisting the co-operation of those interested in all parts of the Principality, the Committee has invited its members to form a band of honorary helpers in each district who will help to make the work known and keep them- selves in sympathetic touch with it. In response to the first appeal upwards of £650 in donations and subscriptions has been received up to the present time, and the greater part of this amount has been set aside for the training of candidates. In view of the amount of work and the impor- tance of having a trained Superintendent to arrange all the practical matters connected with the training of the candidates, the Committee on October 27th, 1909, appointed Miss E. M. Epps, a Queen's Nurse, and lately assistant to the General Superintendent of the Q.V.J.I.N., who kindly consented to act as temporary Superintendent. They also decided to make enquiries, with a view to receiving applications from Welsh speaking candidates, to fill the post permanently and at a meeting held at Swansea on February 3rd, 1910, the application of Miss Lena Crowther (Inspector of Midwives for Breconshire and Rad- norshire) was considered, and the appointment as permanent Superintendent was offered to her. The Committee feels confident that through its establishment of a Central Office, presided over bv a Superintendent, the cost of carrying out District Nursing will be lessened, as information will be collected and collated and made available for all parts of South Wales, and thus much over- lapping will be avoided and labour saved. Miss Ellinor Smith (Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute Inspector for Wales) has, by kind con- sent of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute, helped the S.W.N.A. by assisting in the organisa- tion and addressing meetings at the following places:—Talygarn, Pontyclun, Dolaucothy, Pump- saint, Three Cocks, Glasbury-on-Wye, Llantwit Major, Tumble (two meetings), Swansea, Llanga- dock. In addition to speaking on the aims and objects of the central organisation, she has described the practical methods of carrying out the work in local nursing associations. Her personal know- ledge and experience, added to her zeal in the cause of nursing, have been most valuable in arousing interest and in extending sympathy with the aims of the Association. A meeting was held at Swansea on February 4th, by the kind invitation of Lady Dillwyn Llewelyn. There was a large attendance, and the thanks of the Committee are offered to Lady Dillwyn Llewelyn for arranging the meeting, and to Dr. and Mrs Elsworth, at whose house the jneetings of the Executive Committee were held. Five Executive Committee meetings have been held as follows :—Cardiff, July 24th, Carmarthen, September 17th, Cardiff October 27th, 1909; Swansea, February 3rd, and Cardiff, March 30th, 1910, and ten Sub-Committee meetings have also been held. The Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute kindly lent a room as an office during the month of November, 1909, and Lord and Lady St. Davids then placed a roOm at their residence in White- hall at the disposal of the Committee until a small office was taken at 181, Victoria Street, S.W., on February 10th, for three months. In May an office will be temporarily taken at Cardiff, and the question of its permanent position will be the subject of further consideration. In November, 1909, the Committee of the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute communicated with their Affiliated Associations in Wales, re- questing them to transfer their Affiliation fees to the Welsh organisations, and the Committee of the South Wales Nursing Association wish to record their appreciation of this magnanimous action. In response to a circular letter subsequently sent to all Local Nursing Associations in South Wales, the following Associations have already affiliated :— Ammanford, Angle, Aberystwyth, Brynmawr, Cowbridge, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Cardiff, Haverfordwest, Knighton, Laleston, Llandovery, Manorbier, Milford Haven, Morriston, Narberth, Neath, Pembroke-Dock, Pontypridd, Penarth, Porthcawl, Skewen. The Committee realise that one of their most useful functions is to help in uniting the various efforts that are being made in order that district nursing may be efficiently carried out over a large area. They desire, not only to find and train suitable candidates, but to help to find suitable posts for them when trained to encourage localities to form associations on the provident system where as yet no nursing associations exist; to provide nurses, to carry out inspection, and to collect and distri- bute information. They also seek to be of service by co-operation with the County Councils, and by federating all existing associations in a sym- pathetic manner, so that the Annual Meetings may form an important representative assembly •of those who are taking an active part in pro- moting the health of the community, by in- creasing the amount of skilled care given to the new-born and to the aged, to those who are suddenly stricken and to those whose chronic suffering and poverty makes them depend on sympathy that is both generous and practical for their alleviation. In addition to the generous contributions of Life Patrons (who give JE25 or upwards), and Hon. Vice-Presidents (who give J610 and upwards), the Committee have decided to try to raise a reliable income by asking for subscriptions guaranteed for five or ten years. In order to obtain a continuity of pupils at the Cardiff training centre, and to enable the office and Superintendent to be main- tained, a definite income is essential. Extra trainings can be undertaken when special dona- tions are received, but the permanent structure of the Society requires a steady income. There are many who wish their contributions to be allotted for the training of candidates only, whilst others realise that the general main- tenance of the whole work needs a. special effort and deserves support, because without it the work cannot continue. Therefore the Committee has recommended the formation of an Honorary Council consisting partly of Foundation Members who contribute JElO or £10 10s. annually, guaranteed for five years, or £5 or £5 5s., guaranteed for ten years, for the purpose of maintaining the office, Super- intendent, and general purposes of the organisa- tion, and further to ensure a continuity of trainings being offered systematically to suitable candidates by means of grants of small or larger amounts as may soem best to secure this end. Several friends who wish the organisation plaoed on a secure basis have expressed their approval of this plan, and the Committee earnestly hope that during the ooming year the Association may be placed on a firm and per- manent basis by an increase in the number of subscribers, whilst they may be able to meet the present urgent need for more trained nurses by means of donations, given for the special purpose of training. The first list of the Honorary Coun- cil includes the Duchess of Beaufort, the Mar- chioness of Bute, the Earl of Cawdor, the Earl of Plymouth, Viscount Tredegar, Lord and Lady Aberdare, Lord Glanusk, Sir James Drummond, Bart., Sir Powlett Milbank, Bart., the Lady St. Davids, the Hon. Lady Cowell Stepney, Mrs Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Miss Dillwyn (who generously gave a cheque for JE52 10s., to be placed in a Deposit Account from which jElO 10s. will be paid annually for five years into the Current Account), Mrs Helme, Mrs Alfred Mond, Mrs D. A. Thomas and Merch Cymru." The Committee wish to express their thanks and appreciation of the valuable help afforded to the work by the leading newspapers of South Wales; to the Lord Mayor of Cardiff for lending the Hall at the Law Courts to the President, Hon. Secretary-, and Hon Treasurer; and to Lord Aberdare for kindly acting as Hon. Auditor.

Last Monday week, at a meeting of the Sani- tary Committee of the Ten by Corporation, the B" scheme plans of Mr J. Preece James, sanitary engineer, Tenby, for the extension of the Culvert on the South Sands, were recom- mended for adoption by the Council, by six votes to five. General satisfaction was ex- pressed at this decision of the Committee, as Mr James's scheme is in every way a desirable one, and, what is of great importance to the ratepayers, several thousand pounds cheaper than that favoured by a certain section of the Council. It is now stated, however, that there is a likelihood of the recommendation of the Sanitary Committee being declined, and another and more expensive scheme substi- tuted. A special meeting of the Town Council has been convened for to-morrow (Friday) afternoon, at which the matter will be con- sidered. In the general interests of the town it is to be sincerely hoped that the recommen- dation of the Sanitary Committee re the accep- tance of Mr Preece James's scheme will be carried, and that any attempt to upset it will be frustrated. The scheme is an excellent one in every respect, and from a financial point of view will mean the saving of several thousand pounds of public money. Mr James is a local man who has made an exhaustive study on the Culver, and his "B" scheme has everything to recommend its adoption.

RESULTS OF A SUCCESSFUL SEASON. Most of tho principal seaside resorts in England and Wales (says the Dailj Mail) have had an exceptionally prosperous season. Brighton has had the best season since the South African war. There is no change in the profits for letting the arches on the front, but S600 was taken for the chairs, the {municipal golf links produced JS500, and the races about £1000. The figures for Margate are not yet complete, but the income is in excess of the £10,000 of 1909. The clear profits last year from entertainments were £2500. At Ramsgate the chairs brought in JE750, the takings from the new bathing ground trebled, and from pitches on the sands B550 was realised. Yar- mouth suffered from the absence of camps, but despite that had a good turnover. The rents from beach sites are :—Singors' ring, £600; scenic railway, S650 revolving tower, £200; minstrel arena, £290; beach stalls and struc- tures, B1400 newspaper kiosks, jS52 bathing machines, B85 Gorleston tolls, jB168 pickling plots (for drying herrings), £2000; market, £1420; ground rents, £12,000. The Scar- borough figures are not yet available, but the Corporation is certain to have an increased profit from entertainments. Blackpool reports a record, but furnishes no figures. Eastbourne also enjoyed a prosperous season. Hastings has taken S1500 in chair receipts, out of which the municipal band is paid. At Southend the cliff entertainments brought in nearly £6000, as compared with £5500 last year. The pier earned £5000. Bournemouth earned JS900 from beach bungalows £840 from refreshment rooms £603 from golf links B574 from beach licenses; JS189 from piers; and £1000 from chairs.

ADDITIONS TO THE COMMISSION WANTED. For some time past it has been obvious that the Tenby Bench of Magistrates stands in need of additions. In numerical strength it has dur- ing the last couple of years suffered a shrinkage which there has been no attempt to make good; and it can fairly be said that at the present moment its total force for all practical working purposes does not exceed half-a-dozen, and out of this number two are not full-fledged Justices of the Peace, but simply as Mayor and ex- Mayor, occupy a seat ex-offixio, which by the effluxion of time will become extinguished. By death there have been several removals from the local Commission of the Peace, whilst indis- position has deterred other magistrates from occupying seats. The circumstances altogether are such as to make the creation of new Justices an imperative necessity at Tenby, and we trust that the serious attention of the Lord Chancellor will be duly called to the matter by those whose duty and business it is to deal with the case. That there are plenty of suitable and qualified gentlemen in the Borough from whom a selection might with advantage be made will be acknowledged after a glance round. For one thing we agree with the proposition advanced in certain quarters that every man who has dis- charged the office of Chief Magistrate has earned r_l In a title to be placed upon the Commission of the Peace in his own community, provided there is a need for additions. If a man is qualified to occupy the civic chair it ought to be accepted as a guarantee that he is capable of acting as one of the Great Unpaid. Selections to the Bench ought to be made entirely independent of poli- tical partisanship. -This phase of the matter has been so seriously condemned lately that there is every indication of the strictures having had a general salutary effect; and for the future there seems a prospect of appoint- ments in this direction being made quite irre- spective of the Government in office. It is several years now since any additions were made to the Commission of the Peace at Tenby, and considering the existing state of things magisterially, we certainly consider that the time has arrived when an expansion in this direction might with general advantage be made. In fact, the exigencies of the case demand it there is, in a sense, a dearth of magistrates, and it is essential that the defect should be remedied without further delay.

GREAT SCHEME FOR VILLAGES. ELOQUENT PLEA BY LADY ST. DAVIDS. The South Wales Nursing Association held a meeting at the Shire Hall, Carmarthen, on Tuesday afternoon, Sir James Drummond, Bart., C.B., Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire, presiding over a large and influential gathering. The ladies were the principal speakers, and they were warmly congratulated by the Bishop of St. David's, who said he had been greatly instructed. The Chairman said he thought Lady St. Davids and her friends might congratulate themselves on the support given that afternoon in the most estimable work which they bad met to discuss. They all knew how very important it was to have nurses not only in our towns, but in our country districts, especially in the latter, where important cases might be far removed from a doctor. He was personally interested in the work, and had had a district nurse for Talley and Llansawel for 18 years. (Applause.) He advocated Welsh nurses and emergency or under- study nurses. He read a number of letters from absentees who expressed sympathy with the movement. Mrs Do Rutzen, of Sumner Place, London, treasurer of the Association, proposed That this meeting recognises that there is urgent need for the extension of district nursing in South Wales, and cordially approves of the aims and objects of the South Wales Nursing Association. Mrs Du Buisson, Glynhir, seconded. Lady St. Davids, in supporting, said it was a happy augury of hope to the South Wales Nursing Association that the Lord Lieutenant of Carmar- thenshire should honour it by presiding at this meeting, and that so many well-known leaders of thought and supporters of philanthropic en- deavour were present. (Applause.) Her Lady- ship outlined the history of the South Wales Nursing Association, stating that the scheme for providing certified midwives with some know- ledge of general nursing, that is, village nurses for rural districts, was the direct result of the Mid- wives Act of 1902. It was evident that in many country districts there was need of certified mid- wives to replace the women who did not hold the necessary qualification. To meet this difficulty associations had been formed to train women of the counties as midwives, and also to give them some experience of general nursing in the homes of the people. In return for their training these women agreed to work wherever required for a fixed period. It was pointed out that there was no intention of the midwives to enter into competition with the medical men. In many dis- tricts members of the medical profession were working in the kindliest way with those who bad formed Nursing Associations. In the first year the association had trained or were training 11 candidates as village nurses. They had appointed a Queen's nurse as superintendent, established a small office near the training home at Cardiff, and made arrangements for the training of candi- dates there as far as possible. They bad had the advice and sympathy of distinguished men and women throughout the Principality in helping them to establish a reliable information bureau, had undertaken the examination of midwives in Breconshire and Radnorshire under the County Councils, had placed their scheme before all the South Wales County Councils, and had received promises of help from several, including that of Carmarthenshire. (Applause.) Almost their first work was to try and obtain reliable statistics as to wllere the dearth of nurses were greatest. In Carmarthenshire there were at present five parishes that had Queen's nurses, 14 that had trained, but non-Queen's nurses. In the other parishes there were neither Queen's nor other trained nurses. There was in all those districts need of them, and in a considerable number there was urgent need, for in some there was no resi- dent midwife. The appeal for so strenuous effort was because the unnecessary mortality of infants was a national danger, and because many of those who did survive in the districts where infant mor- tality was heaviest were often sickly. Recent in- vestigations showed that many suffered for life because the first principles of health had been ignored during the tender years of infancy. It was those who survived and lived maimed lives whose hurt called so piteously for help.

TENBY COTTAGE HOSPITAL. The following subscriptions and donations are acknowledged with thank s: Fleet-Surgeon J. H. Thomas, R.N £ 2 2 0 Messrs. Atkins and Coomb 0 5 0 Mr H. Mortimer Allen 0 2 6 Mr James Bowen 0 2 6 Mr F. Billing 0 2 6 Mr Alderman G. Chiles 0 10 6 Mr C. Farley 0 5 0 Mr W. Gunter 0 2 6 Mr C. J. Hoffmann 0 2 6 Mr Edwin Lloyd 0 10 6 Messrs. Lloyd. 0 5 0 Mrs Peard o 2 6 Mr Wilfred Rees [ 0 5 0 Mr G. H. Sandercock 0 5 0 Mr Howard C. Thomas 1 1 0 Mrs Rayner Wood. 0 5 0 Caldey Village Church Collection (per the Rt. Rev. the Abbot of Caldey).. 0 13 0 Ebenezer Cold Inn Church Collection (per Rev. T. Erasmus Gravell) 0 12 0 Bethesda Presbyterian Church Harvest Thanksgiving Service (per Mr Lewis Thomas) 2 0 0 Tenby Wesleyan Church Hospital Sun- day Collection (per Mr Geo. Thomas) 4 3 4 G. E MAINLAND, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer.

'8' I am accused by Spectator," a writer in a local contemporary, with having made a mis-statement with re- gard to the construction of a sewer to the Jubilee Cottages, Belvedere, and the New Road. Every word I said at the meeting of the Ratepayers' Asso- ciation was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and Spec- tator and his friends can put them in their pipes and smoke them. I repeat that, although a member of the Town Council, as well as the owner of six houses it was proposed to connect with this new sewer, I received no official intimation that the Local Government Board had sanctioned the loan, that the money had been obtained, or that the work was about to be commenced. # I do believe that advantage was taken of my absence, because from previous correspondence which had taken place between myself and the Town Council before I became a member, as well as the statement made by me to the Govern- ment Inspector, the Corporation were well aware how seriously I objected to the work being done simply because there was no proper outlet on the South Sands. I stated plainly that I was anxious to forego the advantages of a main sewer being laid to my houses in the interests of Tenby at large, and not because I in any way objected to the construction of a sewer under suitable conditions. # # My readers will, no doubt, observe that "Spectator" makes no attempt to maintain that a sewer was urgently required, neither does he argue that men of common sense would take care that the sewage at its outlet was not likely to do serious harm before they arranged to deposit an extra quantity at the mouth of the outfall. I am not sure if I have mentioned before what Councillors are aware of, that I went to the Local Government Board and inter- viewed one of the officials responsible for the sanctioning of the loan. This gentleman told me that the Board did not like to refuse because it was con- trary to their rule to object to loans used for the purpose of providing drainage to houses which had none, but that the consequence of the Tenby Town Council spending £500 would mean a very serious outlay on the ex- tension of the Culvert which they should oblige them to proceed with. # Proof of this is now very obvious, for ever since the Jubilee sewer has been constructed the Town Clerk has periodically received communications from the Local Government Board demanding that the work of extending the Western Outfall should be taken in hand and I contend that had they carried out the suggestion made by me to them by letter and by statements before the Government Inspector they would have extended the Culvert before they constructed the Jubilee sewer. And the curious fact remains that the work was commenced in my absence, although I was the most interested party concerned. It might very well have been allowed to remain over for two or three years had the best in- terests of the town been consulted. The flimsy foundation for Specta- tor's" attack on me should be sufficient evidence to the ratepayers of the par- lous state into which he and his friends have got by their idiotic management of public affairs. I have more than a suspicion that Spectator" enjoys the confidence of the Incubus," and I am sure many readers of his notes, myself included, would be obliged if he would tell us- Why JE200 per annum is paid to an absentee Treasurer? Why a reduction of about cS75 per annum in the refuse removal contract was not accepted ? Why the Tenby Marine Baths, built and.fitted up with public money at a cost of nearly £2000, is now let in tene- ments ? Why members are allowed to reap pecuniary benefit from the Tenby Town Council ? If he will be good enough to reply to these few questions I shall be glad to put some more, by- and-bye. Again. Why should not the Mayors of Tenby be selected in the Council Chamber? Who gives the "Incubus" authority to invite some gentlemen to fill the office, and prevent the discussion of others being asked? A short time ago, in reply to my application for an opportunity, I was informed "We don't choose our Mayor until after November 1st;" also, "We always choose one at a. meeting specially called for the pur- pose." I reported that these statements did not coincide with my experience of the last two Mayors but I would wait and see." Last week I heard by chance that Mr Clement Williams is to be the new Mayor." Sure enough, this popular gentleman informed me that he had been asked, but under medical advice had declined the honour. I suppose it can only be the "Incubus" who presumed to make the request. No one else would have the assurance. I quote the facts, that ratepayers may know whom to thank for the brilliant occupants of Tenby's mayoral chair officiating during the last few years, and realize that fitness for the office of Mayor does not appear to count as much as good service to the "Incubus." Don't we want a Ratepayers' Associa- tion ? Don't we just? P.S.—I have just heard that a bona, fide gentleman has been asked to be Mayor of Tenby for next year, and will accept office. I should like to have joined in asking him; but though I did not get the chance, I shall shout "Hooray!" as loud as the "Incubus" if the news is true. # Last May I gave the Coronation Garden a top dressing of four loads of black mud and sand from Tenby Har- bour, and I now invite all occupiers of land in the immediate neighbourhood of the town to take a look at the beau- tiful clover thickly mingled with the grass growing in this garden. I can positively say that no clover was visible last year, and as far as I am able to judge its luxuriant growth is to be entirely attributed to the top dressing of muddy sand given it in the spring. 1f.* I had previously heard that this fertilizer gave wonderful results in the improving of grass lands, but this is the first time that I have had actual experience of it. The winter will soon be with us, and many will want to top dress their meadows, so I very cordially invite them to take advantage of the offer still open by which the Town Council contribute sixpence per load towards the cost of removing the black sand from our little Harbour. 1f Nearly 200 loads have already been carted away, greatly to the improve- ment of the Harbour, and I estimate that another 300 loads would make it clean looking as well as sweet smelling. This state of things would be as much to the advantage of Tenby as a health resort as the fertilizer will improve the land on which it is placed. I respect- fully ask for the help of every rate- payer who is also an occupier of land in carrying out this work. Perhaps the Rector and Churchwardens could see their way to spend two or three pounds on their beautiful little field beside the Rectory. I am sure the result would be very gratifying. 1(. # Mr D. Harrison has very kindly given me 5s. towards my little fund for helping an invalid widow and her family of six. I have enough money to ( last for the next four or five weeks, but the fund will remain open, and I hope to receive further contributions from charitable readers. F. B. M. THE TATLER."

WORK IN THE PEMBROKE YARD. The Active is now making more rapid progress than she did during the first few weeks after being laid down at Pembroke Dock-yard. Last week an additional gang of shipwrights from the Blonde were transferred to her. The ship has now been framed to the height of the lower deck fore and aft, excepting for a short distance at both ends, where this work must be posponed until the stem and the stern post have been erected. The former, which will be formed out of a steel bar, will be forged in the Dock-yard, but the latter will be a heavy steel casting, sup- plied by contract. Special interest attaches to the stem, owing to the unusual form which it will have. The ship will have a ram, but instead of the stem being carried straight in an almost vertical line above water, as with all previous ships of the class, it will be curved forward, so as to form a clipper or Aberdeen bow. All the main bulkheads ef the ship, below the lower deck in the fore part, have been put on board, and most of them, including the magazine bulkheads, in the after part. Thus a skeleton of the lower part of the ship has been practically completed. No date has actually been fixed for the launch of the Active, but it is intended to get the ship ready as soon as possible, because the Amphion has to be laid down, and an expenditure of JE30,217, of which JE10,200 will be for labour and JE12,150 for materials, incurred on her before March 31st next. The estimated expenditure on the Active by that date is £122,823, of which £31,800 is for labour. In order to make the ex- penditure for labour on the Amphion conveniently practicable without overtime, the launch of the Active should take place early in January at the latest. The refit of the Avon is making satisfactory progress. The retubing of the boilers, which is perhaps the biggest section of the work, is well advanced, the funnels, which were taken out and renovated, have been re-erected in the ship. The propelling and auxiliary machinery is under- going a thorough overhaul and repair. The engines have been all taken to pieces, and new bearings are being supplied. The propeller shafts have been taken out, examined, and replaced, and the propellers adjusted, The blades had, it seems, in some cases been twisted away from the proper pitch, either 88 the result of impact with some object in the water or as a conse- quence of torsion. They were re-adjusted by bending them under an hydraulic press. The removal of the propeller shafts and the re-adjust- ment of the propeller blades are, it appears, incidental to all thorough repair" refits.

A HARROWTNCTTALE FROM TENBY. — The following amusing skit appeared in a recent issue of the Pembroke Free Press :— The old moon seemed even to be smiling, reflecting the broad grin that illuminated the face of a learned looking gent. who sat dangling his legs on a gate some little distance outside the Naples of Wales. In congenial company the hours had travelled apace, The last train leaves Tenby at 10.15, and it was the intention of the leg dangler to make his way homeward by its aid. And no thought of trouble crossed his mind— where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise. But on the scene there soon arrived two damsels fair, who informed him that the hour was late and he'd lose the train. But even then he smiled, They're having me on," flashed across his fertile brain. So he gracefully descended from the gate. In the distance he espied another masculine member of the human race. What's the time ? he asked. The gent consulted a gold chrono- meter and then answered 10.30." Oh Where was the gay one's smile ? Gone like the dew on the hill tops when the sun rises in the golden East. What he said is not recorded. The .next scene in this harrowing tale is laid on the railway line between Tenby and Pembroke. Along the track between the gleaming metals a stalwart form strode through the night. Parched was his throat—like a limekiln—and with naught could he assuage his tremendous thirst but the water in the liedgeside pools. And as he walked he vowed strange vows, that he'd be d—d if he'd lose the train again.

A CONTRAST IN HAY CROPS. Mr Ernest Parke records the results of his ninth season's experience in grass manuring at Kineton (Warwickshire), showing, as in former years, that excellent crops can be grown on naturally poor land if suitable fertilisers be used. Portions of two fields are left unmanured, yielding respectively this season only 14cwt. and 15cwt. of hay per acre. In the formet field the yield was increased to 43cwt. per acre by the use ox 3cwt. of superphosphate and licwt. of nitrate of soda, and in the latter field (poor in lime) a similar crop, namely, 44cwt. per acre, was obtained by the aid of 5cwt. of basic slag and l^cwt. of nitrate of soda. The fertilisers required to produce the additional yield of nearly 11 ton of hay per acre cost well under 30s. The addition of potash salts improves the yield further, but only slightly, the soil being naturally fairly rich in available potash, as indicated by the analysis made by Dr. Dyer, who acts as Mr Parke's adviser. Both fields are mown every year, the aftermath being grazed off by stock. Mr Parke describes the herbage on the manured land as luxuriant, consisting of good grasses richly mixed with clover, while the produce of the unmanured laud is thin, wiry, and abounding in weeds.

THE ART OF MLLE. GENEE. We have in Mile. Adeline Genée, despite what has been said about technique and abandon in dancing, oIfe of the most exquisite dancers on the stage. Her dancing of the sailor's hornpipe is, without doubt, the finest piece of work that has been given on the stage in recent years. Genre's dancing of this piece is perfect. In the ballet of Springtime, the Fairy Dance, and the March MiJitaire, as well as in her former Hunting Dance and Sir Roger de Coverley, Genee has asserted herself and won our hearts. And if anything except the real thing can quench one's thirst, it is Gente's dancing in the Spirit of Champagne."

TENBY POSTAL MATTERS. To the Editor of the Tenby Observer. SIK,—Some time ago you were good enough to publish more than one letter from me dealing with the management of post office work at Tenby, but as I consider that things are not yet up to the mark" I ask you to spare me still a little more space to air another grievance or two. After my last cycle of letters to the local Press, it is true that some improvement in postal matters did take place, and for the time being I was fairly well satisfied with the accelerated delivery arrange- ments but, alas! the new state of things is not continuing. The season (i.e. the rush of visitors) is over, but instead of getting our morning corres- pondence earlier as a resultant cause of this important fact, we are actually on many mornings of the week getting them latter. Why is this ? Have the authorities with that wonderful eye to economy, generally false in the end when attempted in Government Departments, reduced the staff at Tenby, and thus allowed things to swing round to their former unsatis- factory s.tate? Why, and I ask it in all serious- ness, cannot the residents of the town have their morning letters at the latest by eight o'clock? Surely this is a reasonable enough hour At Bristol,Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea, I under- stand the people there get their first delivery at half-past seven. Of course, they do, for the simple reason that they would not tolerate having them any later. They are public-spirited in those towns, and although red tape may find a lodgment in small benighted places like Tenby and Pem- broke-Dock, there would be no chance for it in other enlightened localities. The most conspicuous feature of the mail deliveries at Tenby is their irregularity. You can never depend upon getting your letters at the same time for two days running. Such erratic behaviour on behalf of the postal authorities would not be stood for five minutes in a business community, but possibly anything will do for sleepy Tenby. Can nothing be done to ensure a regular and early first delivery of letters in this town ? The inconvience, annoyance, and even loss occasioned by this uncertainty in delivery are such that the postal authorities ought really to make some effect to accelerate the first delivery. Nine o'clock is an uncivilized time to be getting your first letters in these modem, hustling, go-a- head days. If the mail train is in at half-past six why should not the letters be sorted and got ready for delivery within the hour ? If the staff avail- able is not large enough to handle the mails more expeditiously then increase it. The Post Office, I take, exists for the convenience of the public, not the public for the convenience of the Post Office. It is supported by public money; it is the most profitable Department in the State; its operations affect the whole of the community; and therefore it should never cease to study how best it can fall in with the needs and wishes of the great public who support it, and yet could not do without it. And the Sunday delivery at Tenby! What shall I say about it? There was a time when we did get our letters at ten o'clock, or even before, but now if we get them just as we are starting out to church we consider ourselves lucky. What is the cause of the delay in delivering letters on Sunday? Why should the public be penalised because there are a few miles to traverse by road, instead of the mails (as on week-days) coming all the way by train ? For the last few months there has not been the slightest dependence on the Sun- day delivery it has been iriitatingly erratic, and calculated to try the most angelic tempers Of the clearances and despatches at Tenby I have not a word to say in complaint; I believe I am correct in stating that they give every satis- faction. It is the deliveries which cause trouble, and the authorities should lose no time in bestir- ing themselves with a view of seeing whether something cannot be done to improve this branch of local post office administration. Summarized briefly, what Tenby wants are earlier deliveries, particularly the^rsf one. There ought, in such a vast organization as the British Post Office, with its unlimited resouroes, to be no insurmountable difficulty in achieving this, even at Tenby, where one is bound to admit local con- ditions are inclined to be somewhat unique, and, at times, unconventional.—Yours truly, Tenby, October 8th, 1910. A MALE. [Although we are pleased to publish our corres- pondent's letter, which, of course, deals with a matter of considerable public importance, we can- not altogether agree with the trend of his remarks. The whole crux of the question of an early and regular first delivery of letters is the train service. Regularity depends entirely upon this, and as long as the mails continue to arrive out of scheduled time, we take it that the deliveries are bound to be correspondingly late.—ED. T. O. [

TENBY RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of the Tenby Observer. SIR,—Bravo! At last Tenby is to have a chance of coming into her own. The formation of a Ratepayers' Association is the finest thing which has yet happened for the town, and I hope that the burgesses will come forward without hesitation and join. Let them remember the chairman's remark at the public meeting last week about" Union being strength." United, the ratepayers of Tenby can wipe the floor," to use an expressive, though perhaps not particularly polite phrase. And it is time the board was swept, or rather the Council Chamber. There are a good many cobwebs there which should be dusted out; and now the Ratepayers' Association comes forward with its new broom, let us hope the spring cleaning will ba of the most effective kind.—Yours, etc., ONE WHO HAS JOINED. Tenby, October 3rd, 1910.

"RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD TENBY" is an in- teresting collection of views of Ten by as it appeared in the latter part of the 18th century, with descriptive letterpress. Every visitor ought to obtain a copy. Price one shilling, from the local newsagents or the Observer Office.