Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

PRESENTATION TO THE HON. INA DOUGLAS PENNANT. The following is a copy of a resolution passed at a. Meeting of the workmen and officials now employed at the Peurhyn Quarry Resolved unanimously, that we, the workmen and officials now employed at the Penrhyn Quarry, beg to tender to the Hon Tna Douglas Pennant our tnoøt respectful and sincere congratulations on the occasion of her approaching marriage, and to ask her kind acceptance of the accompanying tea kettle and candelabra, which we are proud to have the Privilege of offering as an expression of our sincere regard and esteem for herself personally, and our attachment and respect for Lord and Lady Penrhyn ^id family, from whom we have always received jJJ health and in sickness, the greatest possible mdness and consideration. Signed on behalf of the workmen and officials £ P Meares, R Williams, W McKie, J Jack, E Mills Roberts, David D Davies, H P Roberts, R J Jones, /William Thomas, John Evans, W J Griffith, John r^omas, Robert Jones, David Pritchard, Melancthon y^illiams, Percival Jones, William Roberts, John ^*ilHams, David Evans, William Edwards, W W "OQes, William Roberts, John Ellis Jones, and Henry Pritchard.

Mr Cecil Rhodes and Dr Jameson returned to South Africa ou Saturday by the Union Castle W Briton. King George of Greece had a narrow escape from a serious accident a few days ago. He was (ac. cording to the Pall Mall Gazette) visiting the Zoo- opfical Gardens, and had entered the ostriches enclosure when one of the birds made a sudden Swoop upon him. The King managed to get out- o without being hurt, but his escape was largely J16 to the curator of the Gardens, who drew the tack upon himself and was badly lacerated about

POULTRY. KEEPERS should procure a useful Book on Poultry-keeping and Thorley's Almanack for 1902, both of which will be sent on of two penny stamps (to cover postage) ddress Almanack Dept., Joseph Thorley (Ltd.), •ng's Cross, London, the Proprietors of Ovum, oriey's Poultry Spice.

PUBLICATIONS. THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA ITS CAUSE AND CONDUCT, by A. Conan Doyle, 6d. (Smith, Elder and Co. In his preface the author savs For some reason, which may be either arrogance or apathy, the British are very slow to state their case to the world. At present the reasons for our actions and the methods which we have used are set forth in many Blue-books, tracts, and leaflets, but have never, so far as I know, been collected into one small volume. In view of the persistent slanders to which our poli- ticians and onr soldiers have been equally exposed, it becomes a duty which we owe to our national honour to lay the facts before the world. I wish someone more competent, and with some official authority, had undertaken the task, which I have tried to do as best I might from an independent standpoint. There was never a war in history in which the right was absolutely on one side, or in which no in. cidents of the campaign were open to criticism. I do not pretend that it was so here. But I do not think that any unprejudiced man can read the facts without acknowledging that the British Govern- ment has done its best to avoid war, and the British Army to wage it with humanity. To my publisher and to myself this worn nas been its own reward. In this way we hope to put the price within the reach of all, and yet leave a profit for the vendor. Our further ambition is, however, to translate it into all European tongues, and to send a free copy to every deputy and every newspaper on the Contiuent and in America. For this work money will be needed-a considerable Bum. We propose to make an appeal to the public for these funds. Any sums which are sent to me or to my publisher will be devoted to this work. There cannot be too much, for the more we get the more we shall do. I may add that I have not burdened my pages with continual references. My quotations are re- liable and can always, if recessary, be substantiated.

Mr J W Mortimer, Principal Officer of Customs at Conway, has been promoted to Aberystwyth, as the Principal Officer of Customs and Registrar of Shipping at that port. He is succeeded at Conway by Mr N Scott, of Campbelltown, Scotland.

PARLIAMENTARY. MR CHAMBERLAIN AND GERMANY. Saturday. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Balfour, n reply to a number of questions, said that no issurances had been officially asked for by the Ger- man Government with regard to Mr Chamberlain's speech at Edinburgh. No charges of barbarity had been made by Mr Chamberlain against the German or any other army, and that fact was pointed out by Lord Lansdowne in an unofficial conversation with the Garman Ambassador. In the opinion of the Government nothing required to be said in the direction either of qualifying or withdrawing the speech of Mr Chamberlain. WALES AND ROME RULE. Mr J H Lewis moved and Mr Frank Edwards seconded an amendment to the Address, declaring that, in view of the failure of Parliament during the past six years to consider the interests of the people of Wales, it was desirable that a large extension of powers of self-government should be conferred upon the Principality. The amendment was supported by a number of Welsh members. Mr Long, in reply, said that it had not been shown that Wales snffered from any particular grievance < which did not affect the rest of the country. At the same time he was of opinion that a great deal more power might be given to the local authorities for the discharge of duties now performed by the Lecal Government Board, but if that were done it must be done in England as well as in Wales. On a division the amendment was defeated by 164 votes to 117 majority, 47. BOERS AND PEACE PROPOSALS. Tuesday. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Cham- berlain, in reply to Mr Bowles, said that with regard to the statement of Mr Schalk Burger in a letter to General Kitchener of 5th September latt, that his Government was considering the desirabilty of sending in a joint proposal for peace to the British Government, it was clear from Mr Burger's own words that the proposal was to be based on the independence ot the Republics, which was ex- cluded by Lord Kitchener's reply, in accordance with the declared policy of the Government. So far as he was aware, no further communication had been received. THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. The debate on the Address was resumed by Mr Cawley, who moved an amendment representing that the House, while prepared to support all proper measures for the effective prosecution of the war in South Africa, is of opinion that the course pursued by your Majesty's Ministers and their attitude with regard to a settlement have not con. duced to the early termination of the war, and the establishment of a durable peace."—Mr M'Kenna seconded the amendment, which was supported by Sir C Dilke and Mr Trevelyan, and opposed by Captain Seely and Sir H Vincsnt.—Mr Chamberlain replied. Touching upon the question of the con- centration camps, he argaed that the responsibility for the terrible mortality rested on the shoulders of the Boer commandants, who forced the women and children upon our hands. It was open to the Government to have refused to take charge of them, and in that case, although it was possible that the suffering to infants inflicted might have been terrible, the war would long ago have been brought to a close. He admitted that the mortality in the camps was to be deplored, but quoted General Viijoen's testimony to the care and humanity shown by those in charge. Discussing the terms of peace, he said that the terms offered by Lord Kitchener had been flatly refused. Since then we had been put to heavy loss in life and treasure, and to say that after all that we were to take up matters exactly as they were seemed to him bad policy and to be practically to encourage the Boers to continue the struggle. So far as the terms represented the spirit in which the Govern- ment approached the conclusion of peace they still stood, but in their details they must be modified- and in our favour.—Mr Dillon moved an amend- ment to Mr Cawley's amendment omitting the words while prepared to support all proper measures for the effective prosecution of the war in South Africa."—Ou a division, this was rejected by 283 votes to 64. GOVERNMENT MAJORITY,210. Address was resumed by Mr Winston Churchill, who urged the necessity for sending a steady supply of reinforcements to South Africa, and sug- gested the reconsideration of the question of em. ploying Indian troops in the war. Sir W Harcourt, who followed, said he preferred a finish to the war on fair and reasonable terms to a fight to a finish without any terms, and he thought it was a dis- couragement to the Boers to sue for peace to learn from the Colonial Secretary that the terms offered in March last did not now stand. The amendment. was rejected by 333 votes to 123.

VOLUNTEER NOTES. [BY RIFLEMAN.] To judge by the result of the new regulations for Tolunteers, the force is now passing through the most critical period in its history. The general opinion is that unless the regulations are revised, some thousands of men will have to go, the chief difficulty, as I pointed out last week, is the diffi- culty of compulsory attendance at the annual training; and another point which has been lost sight of, and a most important one, is the financial side of the question. Every Volunteer commanding officer finds him- self hampered by this question, unless he is rich enough to be able to take no notice of it. The Government should, at any rate, relieve every Volunteer C. O. of all financial responsibility, and in the event of the capitation grant earned by an efficient corps not being sufficient to pay all ex- penses, whatever they may be, the Government should come forward and make good the deficit. By so doing, much would be done to encourage volunteering, and a great weight would be lifted from the minds of the Volunteer C.O. It is understood in military circles that khaki is to be abolished throughout the British Army at the close of the present war. The new cloth selected is a drab mixture, which, although perhaps it will lot look so neat as khaki, will have many advant- ages attached to it. From Tommy's point of view -,he chief drawback to khaki is the easy manner in which it is dirtied, the smallest spots showing up it once on a new piece of cloth. With the drab material this, however, will not be the case-a point in its favour which will he gladly welcomed by the men. The War Office origiually intended to supply each man with a working dress of khaki in addition to his drab regimental uniform, but sub- sequently the authorities changed their miuds and have now decided to do away with it. The material in which the 5th V.B. S.W.B. i" clothed is probably the nearest approach to the proposed new drab. The question of equipment has been shown in the present war to be of the greatest importance. Little fault can be found with the working dress of the Dandy Fifth," except perhaps the use of the pouches. These should have given way to bando- liers. The carrying of the great coat has always been a matter of speculation, but all who have carried it on the waist belt will agree that the weight is much more easily borne by that than by the present method of fixing on to the shoulders, which is extremely tiring on a heavy march, and causes sore shoulders. The mess tin could be very well dispensed with in peace time. A method adopted by some Volunteer Corps of carrying the great coat is by rolling up, tying both ends, and slinging over one shoulder and under the armpiis. This is the most comfortable of all. An improve- ment on the present style is very much to be desired, and if the last were adopted there would be fewer cases of men falling ont of the ranks,

CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. — Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending January 19. h. 19C2. Miles open, 250. Passengers, parcels, horses carriages dogs and mails. £ 2,331; merchandise! minerals,'and live stock, £ 2,763 total for the week £ 5 C94; aggregate from commencement of half-year £ 13 61l. Actual traffic receipts for the correspond- ing week of last vear Miles open, 250. Passengers, parcels, &c, £2,117; merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 2 720- total for the week, 94,83'7 aggregate from commencement of half.) ear, £ 13,028. Increase for the week, passengers, parcels, &c., £214 increase, merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 43; total increase for the week, JE257 aggregate increase, passengers, parcels, &o £271 aggregate increase, merchandise, minerals, &c., £312 aggregate in. crease from commencement of half-year, .boHJ$