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While we are sure the people of Aberdovey, under ordinary circumstances, would extend a hearty wel- come to Mr Solomon Andrews, or indeed to any other gentleman who mgbt come to develop the fesoarooscf the town, we must advise the towns- people not to surrender their rights without a quid pro quo. Some time ago we made a careful inquiry into tb? ownership or titled the land in question &Dd we coold come to ro other conclusion, on evidence which we coos*der would be strong enough to ensure a favourable verd'CO at the hands of any judicial coarfc cf ?pqu'ry, that the land known as Aberdovey Common is RetuaTty a common, that the commoners have certain rights to graze the land, that they have a vested interest in it, and that their rights bare not lapsed through failure to assert them. These rights have been asserted within recent years and we have no hesitation in saying that the Commons Preservation Society will see that these .rights are not swallowed up in a scholarship or a, donation to the Aberdovey library. ### We need not be told that it is unwise in the interests of Aberdovey to create a barrier to the operations and speculations of Mr Andrews. We know we reflect the wishes of the townspeople when we extend to him a most hearty invitation, but we cannot invite him to take possession of the grazing surface, which belongs to Commoners, any more than we can invite him to take possession of the land of Sir Wa-tkin Williams-Wynn, the Earl of Powis, or any other landowner. Eights are rights all the world over, whether on the Aberdovey Com- mon or in Mr Andrews' own house. Our advice to the Commons Committee is to carefully examine the title of the Commoners, then ascertain if the Commoners are willing to forego their right and on what terms, if any. In the next place we suggest they should consider the benefits which the Com- mon confers upon the town, and in any agreement to which they may come with Mr Andrews to see that all rights shall be recognised or the owners compensated. Further let there be an agreement that any new streets, which may be laid out, shall be wide and well made, with good broad parapets, and that all houses erected shall be of a certain class and uniform. The sand rights must also be preserved and some tipping accommodation provided if possible. Over and above this will be the question of Mr Andrews' gift or, in business phraseology, payment for the considerations be will receive and the rights he will acquire. As to the form this should take we offer only the barest suggestion. But it ought not to take the form of a scholarship or of a donation to the Library. It must be something which will benefit the whole of Aberdovey, and not one student a trifle smarter than the rest of his class, something which will assist Aberdovey in its character as a watering place, and add to its attractions from the point of view of the visitors who are the main source of income of so many householders and tradesmen, and, consequently, of the town as a whole. Our columns are open for suggestions. # The little god who knows everything is always with us. It is well known that the men who alone can conduct newspapers successfully are all outside the newspaper world, and that our Generals in South Africa are the biggest fools it would be possible to select for the work. The bar parlours and mutual improvement debating societies vie with each other in the production of every imaginary form of hero to meet every imaginary form of crisis and, further, the finest politicians, colonial, military and naval administrators are the politicians and administrators of the pint pot and clay pipe. There are some hundreds of thousands, ranging from school boys to persons who, by changing hands in the South African game with Sir Alfred Milner, could have secured all that we wanted and much besides. The number who could have done better than Sir Redvera Buller is legion, while there is an absolute surfeit of genie who could knock Mr Chamberlain, Mr Balfour and Lord Salisbury in'.o a cocked hat. Thev know everything before it happens, and whatever takes place finds them gravely saying "I told you so." The man on the spot apparently knows not half as much asthosewl:oarenot,andthosewbohave never seen the shoies of Africa know its geography and its people, its problems and and its difficulties better than those who rave teen there a lifetime. The Corgregational minister at home knows far more than the whole body of the Congregational Union of Natal-at least to judge by the pulpit utterances of ihe RJV Z Mather, of Barmouth, He has f&Uen into the swim of the insignificant minority and ha.3 corsidered a bash of foolish charges and r-'dictt'ous aeserfcioas sufficiently nutritious spiritual food for his Seek. Quoth Mr Mather: "The war was unnecessary and unjust, and murderous and should have been avoided." The Natal Congregational Union Humanely speaking the war was inevitable prepared for by the Bosrs with a view to political domination over the whole of Se uth Africa." Canon Farmer (for the last five years in Pretoria): War was absolutely necessary and could not have been avoided. Permanent peace in South Africa is not, and was not, possible without war." Mr Matber: If it bad Dot been for the discovery of gold in that country there would have been no war. What were the Boers fighting for ? Who were fighting for freedom and righteousness ?" The Natal Congregatioaal Union: I The plea of fighting for independence has been but a blind to hide the real aim of the enormous military preparations of the Re- publics which commenced years before the diaasterous Jameson raid." Mr Mather: "The time would come when tba whole question would be considered deliberately, fairly, and impartially, when it would be seen who were in the right. How true were the words of the Bible that the root of all evil was the love of money." The Natal Congregational Union They desire to impress upon their fellow- Christians in England that the Boer ideal of government is a military oligarchy, the power being exclusively in Dutch bands; while the British ideal is based upon the equality of all white men and the humane and just treatment of the native races and they believe that this is only to be realised by the complete success of the British arms. For this great end large numbers of the Colonists of Natal, very many of whom belong to the Churches and Sunday Schools of the Union, are now fightiao- at the front.' # There is in addition to these quotations an op n letter from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kim- berley declaring Mr Chamberlain's indictment of the Boers to be fair. The Churchmen, Noncon- formists and Roman Catholics on the spot are therefore united in their condemnation of Kruger. If Mr Mather, of Barmouth has taken a correct attitude, his fellow-Christians on the spot-- as earnest and truly Christian as Mr Mather—are either hoin fools or idiots, or they are supporting a cause which they know to be unjust. There is another alternative which we hesitate to put for- ward, but we do so because it is one of the argu- ments used by Mr Mather, not against these Curistain brethroa, but ag:1iust the supporters of the cause ge-aerilly. What about the gold mires ? Have the representatives of Christ ia the Trans- vaal, in the Free Stare, Griqualand West, in Natal and in Cape Colony, b3en caught iu the grip of the go'd fever and — BOUGHT P Let Mr Mather answer the question. Oor columns are open to him. Mr Mather will also perhaps favour us with his idsas, as a Christian miniate- on per- sonal freedom and political equality, and let ns know under what conditions, if any, he would give a vote to au Onclander. Will he, as a representa. tive of the people, give a definite unqualified answei -a Yes or a No—to the question of whether the majority or the minority should rule a country. And if it should happen that the majority own three-fifths of the country and pay nine-tenths of the taxes, is their right to have a voice in the government of that country increased or diminished ? We are not surprised to bear tbat the Reserve Section of the 5th Volunteer Battalion South Wales Borderers has been abandoned in consequerca of ibe very stringent regulations. The line measure- ments of the chest require one iach more than those oj the Yohiatsers, and this one inch has made all the difference, as, but for this cause alone, we can state on the beat authority, the Reserve Section could have easily been found. It is sincerely hoped that the War Office Authorities may yet deem fit to relax this stringent regulation. We note that a Company of ever ICO men of the London Irish were this week reduced for this cause to one section. In the nozb place, owing 10 the Battalion being a small one in point of numbers and barely of thi 03 years' standing it bag been found difficult to fulfil the conditions of efficiency for the last two years and this h3'; also knocked out many anxious to join. Again, the higher standard of height required for tbs [;UJ, the age requirements, and the necessity of being a marksman under the new conditions which simulated that a man must have been a first-class shot last, year have also told on a certain number. Finally, 9 officers and about 130 nco-eom utipgjoaud officers and men volunteered for South. A and but for these various regula- tions they wonkl have supplied more than a full Company.

TOWYN. J

ABERDOVEY.

DOLGELLiSY.

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