Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

ABERYSTWYTH RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. DANGER OF HOLDING "WYLNOSAU.' Mr D. Morris presided over a meeting of the Aberystwyth Rural District Council on Monday, when there were also present the Rev John Davies, Ceulanymaesmawr; Edward Jones, Cwmrheidol; William Morris, Cyfoethybrenin J. B. Morgan, Cvnnullmawr; Richard James, Henllys; Morgan D. Williams, Issayndre; John Bonner, Liana-fan; John Jones, Llanbadarn Upper; James Jones, Llanbadarn Lower; Win. Mason, Llancynfelin; Evan Jones and David Morgan, Llanfihangel Upper; D. Jones, Llan- gwryfon William Davies, Llanilar; Evan Lewis, Llanrhystyd Haminiog; David Jones, Llanychaiarn; Joseph Parry, Melindwr Rd. Thomas, Tirymynach; David James and Thos. James, Trefurig; Mr Hugh Hughes (clerk), E. Llewelin (assistant clerk), Hughes (sanitary inspector), and the district surveyor. ROAD AT DEVIL'S BRIDGE, Mrs Waddingham, Hafod, wrote with refer- ence to the state of the road leading from Devil's Bridge to Cwmystwyth and the Rhosy- gell road. The large stones placed on the road damaged the india-rubber tyres of her carriage wheels.-The District Surveyor said the stones were properly broken and laid on the road, but it was quite true that the stones would injure the rubber wheels of any carriage.—Mr J. B. Morgan said more money had been spent during the past two months on the roads in that district than the other disricts combined. They could not be expected to make the road into a carri age drive.-It was stated hat there was a grea- amount of timber haulage over the roads, anc on the suggestion of Mr J. B. Morgan the c-lerl was directed to write to Mrs Waddinghan pointing out the large sums of money the Coun eil spent on the roads with a view to having them in good order. PR0P08F.D BRIDGE AT MitCBBANGOR. An estimate amounting to £90 was submitted for the building of a bridge at Maesbangor.- It was resolved that it should be forwarded t( the County Council with an application for a contribution to pay one-third of the cost with the District Council. — Mr Joseph Parry, cn behalf of the inhabitants in the immediate neighbourhood, guaranteed to contribute one third— £ 15 in money and the remainder in* cart ing work. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. Dr James, medical officer of health for thf northern district, reported that the number c' births registered was 214 (104 boys and IK girls), giving a birth rate of 28.8. The numbe- of deaths was 140 (70 males and 70 females), giving a rate of 18.8, which was lower than the average for the past 10 years. The infantile deaths were 16, this giving a satisfactory rate of 74 per 1,000, as compared with 110 for rura1 England and Wales. The principal causes o; death were tubercular and diseases of the re spiratory, organs, heart disease, and cancer There was a great diminution of deaths fror consumption and tubercular diseases as coir pared with the previous year. The district wa; exceptionally free from infectious diseases dur- ing the year. After referring to the long-stand ing nuisances at Llanbadarn in the form of the Fullbrook and the Caehalog drain, Dr James went on to say it was a wonder between thes. two abominations that the inhabitants were not perpetually suffering from sore throats, diph- theria, and other diseases. In connection with diphtheria cases at Llanbadarnfawr, Dr James said a "wvlnos was held in the stricken house, and that little children were taken in to view the dead. He had on several occasions vigor- I ously condemned the practice of holding "wylnosau," and of the habit the people had of congregating in small houses and places unsuit- able to hold public meetings at any time apart from the presence of the dead. To hold 11 wylnos in such a small house and under sue! circumstances deserved the severest condemna- tion. It was disease and death defying fool hardiness. Such mistaken sympathy did not justify people to risk the spreading of a virulent disease like diphtheria. It was the duty of every intelligent and right-minded person tc prevent the spread of disease. The clergy and ministers of all denominations were well aware of the danger, and were, he believed, unani- mously of opinion the meetings should not be held in such places. It was not necessary tc close the school simply because of the wylnos," and that little children should be exposed tc the contagion of diphtheria. He hoped ener- getic action would be taken with reference tc certain water supplies previously reported on It was necessary to exercise strict supervisior with reference to carrying out the building by laws.-Dr J. Arthur Rees, medical officer fo the southern district, reported that the numbe: of births registered during the year was 101 (4 males and 53 females), being a decrease of 2 as compared with the previous year, and givinr a birth rate of 16.75 per 1,000 of the population compared with 20 in the previous year. Tht deaths registered during the year were 103 (be ing 49 males and 54 females), being an increase of six compared with the previous year. Thf death rate was 17 per 1,000, against 16 last year. Ihe infantile mortality gave the high rate of 207 per 1,000 of the registered births, against 84 in the previous year. Such a high death rate was most exceptional for the district, and wLv—Uld n0t ,8ati9faetorily account for it. 1 hthisis and respiratory diseases were the cause of nearly half of the deaths. Zymotic disease? did not prevail very extensively in the district during the year. There were only six case; notified, as against 25 for the year 1902 Measles was not a notifiable disease in the dip trict, though, in his opinion, it should be ir eluded in the list as it was a highly infection disease and often had complications and sequelae of grave import. Some new dwelling of a substantial character had bee; but on the other hand there were ground: ,1- oheving that other houses were built pal, ,T„ at va?'iancc with the plans and specifier submitted to and approved of by the Coir Unfortunately there was no recognise omciaLto supervise the erection of new with the result that the by-laws were practic- ally a dead letter. He suggested the appoint- ment of a competent person for the post. He was pleased to state that a great improvement I had been effected in the purification process of the effluent from the Frongoch lead mines, which was discharged to the river Ystwyth. Mr Rees drew attention to the unsatisfactory water supplies at various villages. Continuing his re- port, Dr Rees regretted that such a large num- ber of persons in the prime of life should yearly fall vistims to consumption. As the disease was undoubedly preventible and in its incipient stage at least curable, it behoved them to do every- thing in their power to counteract its ravages, and eventually it was to be hoped stamp it out of the land. The diffusion of literature deal- ing with the subject would have a beneficial effect, as also would the sanatorium which was about being erected at Llanybyther. A proposal which if generally carried out would have far reaching results was that every child in the elementary schools should be instructed in the rudiments of the simpler laws of health and temperance. The example set by the Colonies in this respect was one which should be fol- lowed in his country.—The reports will be con- sidered at another meeting of the Council. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Inspector reported that he had inspected t'he drains at Borth and found them and the cesspools full, and they should be cleaned out thoroughly. The old wooden troughing was quite blocked, and he had it cleaned out. The condition of the trough was such that sand was driven into it after every storm, and he asked ■'or the Council's instructions on the matter. He had visited Llanerch, Tre'rddol, and found an old man keeping a common lodging-house. The house was quite unfit for habitation, and the old nan knew nothing as to the registration nor my by-laws relating to common lodging-houses. le warned him against taking in more tramps, md had served notice on the owner as to- the ate of the house. The drain at Llanbadarn mning through Caehalog from the roadside as blocked and the water remained on the ,adside and was offensive. Something should done to remedy same. The brook would be source of nuisance during the summer unless aned out in time.-With regard to the cess- -;1s at Borth, the inspector was directed to ve notices on the owners, and as to the ain a Llanbadarn the Inspector was ordered o see the county surveyor on the matter. GLANFRKAD BOAD. On the motion of the Rev John Davies, a 'ommittee was appointed to visit the Glanfread :'oad, with a view to its being repaired, and the County Council asked to take it over. LLANRHYSTYD COMMON. With reference to the alleged encroachment at Llanrhystyd Common, the clerk was directed to apply to the County Council for permission to take the necessary steps to protect the rights if the commoners. BRIDGE AT RIIOSGOCH FARM. An application was received from the Parcel Canol Parish Council for the erection of a bridge over the brook at Rhosgoch farm, and he clerk was directed to write to the Parish Council asking them what they or the inhabi- ants would contribute towards the cost of a bridge.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EX- OHEQTJiiiK AND WELSH COLLEGES. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has for- warded to Sir Alfred Thomas, M.P., the chair- nan of the Welsh Liberal Party, a copy of his reply to the deputation representative of the Welsh University Colleges which waited upon him at the Treasury on March 3, and laid be- fore him their case for further Treasury contri- butions. The full report of Mr Austin Cham- berlain's specch shows that, after pointing out that the financial position at the present time was not such as to make increased expenditure very easy and that nothing but a very strong conviction of he necessity for, at any rate, mak- ing some beginning in the matter would have induced him at such a time as the present to promise the English colleges to increase their rrant, Mr Chamberlain insisted that this in- creased grant for English colleges was really ;omething in the nature of an equivalent grant for England. This contention he supported with figures, showing that ever since 1885 three Welsh colleges had had £ 4,000 a year each, vhile in 1889 on the English list there were 11 colleges, with an average grant of £ 1,336; and in 1903-4 there were 14 colleges, their average ,r nt being still under £ 2,000. Further, the conditions laid down for England were far more u'duous and exacting than those which had pre- vailed in Wales, and, while the University of Wales had received a grant of £4,000 a year for aany years, no English university, except Lon- don, had hitherto been given a higher grant han £ 2,000. Turning to the new grant, Mr Chamberlain pointed out that, if Parliament approved it, it would amount for England, ex- hiding Monmouth, to £ 54,000, for a population f 30 £ millions—that is to say, £ 1 15s. 4d. per housand of the population; but the existing rants for Wales, including Monmouth,— £ 12,000 r a population of 2,013,000—amounted to £ 5 iOs. 2d. per thousand of the population. The .id which the State gave, he continued, should be in a certain proportion to the aid which was voluntarily provided in the localities, and should be a stimulus to fresh voluntary contributions rather than anything in the nature of a substi tute for them. They in Wales ought to get more help from the great industries of the country, and must make further efforts to secure the local support if they would justify their claim for any increase. Finally, though he did not desire an immediate answer, Mr Chamberlain asked hether they would be prepared, whenever they ^ame to ask again for increased grants, to ac- cept the same kind of inspection and control vhich was applied to the English colleges. Mr S. R. Dew, the solicitor engaged for the

de-nce of Robes t B ughes. Wicklow House, Bangor, wh-v was fenfenoed at the lecent Carnarvonshire A-s'z»s to five years' ppnal servatude for assaulting gH, has forwarded two petitions to the Home S ••r-'tary rraying for a reduction of the sentence The first petition was signed hy ten membars of the jury who convicted Hughes, and the second by over 3,000 officials and members of the general public. The Home Secretary has acknowleged the receipt of the retitions.

FOOTBALL. TUB LEAGUE. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. PTS. Sheffield Wed. 27 16 4 7 38 19 39 Manchester C. 25 15 5 5 54 36 35 Aston Villa. 27 14 8 5 59 39 33 Sunderland. 28 14 9 5 54 38 33 Newcastle U. 28 14 9 5 45 41 33 Wol'hampton. 27 14 8 5 40 51 33 Shelf. United 26 13 7 6 53 45 32 Everton 26 13 9 4 43 28 30 Middlesbro'gh 27 8 10 9 40 36 25 Notts Forest.. 27 9 11 7 51 48 25 Bury 26 6 8 12 37 42 24 Blaekbnrn R. 27 9 12 6 38 45 24 Notts County 29 9 16 4 30 56 22 Derby County 27 6 12 9 47 53 21 Small Heath.. 27 7 13 7 31 46 21 Liverpool 28 7 15 6 39 52 20 Stoke 28 7 16 5 48 52 19 West Br'm'ioh 28 5 14 9 27 47 19 THE COMBINATION. Goals. P. W. L, D, F. A. PTS. Birkenhead. 20 15 3 2 44 20 32 Chester 19 11 5 3 54 28 25 Nautwieh 15 11 3 1 44 19 23 Wiexham 21 10 8 3 45 32 23 Oswestry 19 11 8 0 37 38 22 Tranmere 18 9 7 2 33 35 20 Bacgor 19 9 8 2 53 45 20 Broughton 19 7 9 3 36 36 17 Middlewich. 19 5 10 4 24 49 14 Rhyi 18 6 11 1 32 45 13 Winsford 20 4 11 5 28 41 13 Witton 20 3 10 7 27 42 13 Chirk 19 3 11 5 34 61 11 WELSHPOOL JUNIOR LEAGUE. Goals. P. W. L. D. F. A. PTS. *Casuals 6 5 1 0 18 5 8 Athletic 5 2 1 2 12 12 6 Powis Cas,le 4 2 1 1 12 8 5 Montgomery. 5 0 3 2 6 14 2 County School 4 0 3 1 4 13 1: *Two points deducted for playing an ineligible man. j

FRIENDLY MATCHES. ABERYSTWYTH BARBARIANS V. CREWE WORKS BOILER-MAKERS. The Boiler-Makers team from Crewe fulfilled an engagement with the Barbarians on the Yic- arage field, Aberystwyth, last Saturday. Nice weather favoured the match, and there was a fair,number of spectators. Mr J. C. Rea had charge of the teams, which were as follows: — Crewe: Goal, Lowndes; backs, Eardley and Pailson; half-backs, Seddaway, Robins, and Hewitt; forwards, Barnett, Ralphs, Bennett, Roberts, and Edwards. Barbarians Goal, Claude White; backs, W. Stephenson and Bro- therton; half-backs, E. Peake, A. Potts, and M. Jenkins forwards, Davies, S. Peake, R. Peake, E. D. Richards, and Griffiths. The game opened at a good pace, and the visitors were the first to attack, But Stephenson and Brotherton transferred play, and the Barbarians made a good run. The forwards, however, were beaten by the opposing backs, and play was for a while confined to mid-field. Both sides showed capi- tal form, though one of the home forwards was a bit weak in shooting. A smart combined attack led by R. Peake nearly resulted in the downfall of the Crewe goal, but the defence was good, Poulson especially being prominent. His kicking was clean; strong, and well judged. There was little to choose between the teams, though the Barbarians were quicker on the bail if anything. S. Peake received a pass from the left, but his final effort was wide of the mark. Soon after Richards put the ball across only z trifle wide. The home players were now having the best of the argument, and a bully near the visitors' goal resulted. Eardley saved what looked likely to be a goal with more luck than judgment, and when the ball was returned the custodian saved well. The interval arrived with no score. Immediately on restarting the Bar- barians forced a corner kick, and the Crewe goal had a narrow escape. Griffiths spoiled a good run by shooting wildly. The visitors then assumed the upper hand, and a couple of corners fell to them in rapid succession, but they could not penetrate the home defence, which was sound. The Barbarians then became aggres- sive, and at length Bob Peake scored a beauti- ful goal. From the centre kick the visitors were again beaten back by the home half-backs, and Richards scored a second goal soon after. Cre'.vc again endeavoured to get through, only to be beaten, and the Barbarians again forced the game, and afer the ball had been landed against the cross-bar and then the upright, Griffiths se cured it from the rebound and again netted. Play was after this transferred by the visitors by means of a pretty run. The ball was sent in from the right, and Barnett headed a goal for Crewe. After this success the visitors put on pressure, and White brought off a grand save at the expense of a corner, which was fruitless. Aberystwyth again got down, and Lowndes, who had been hard pressed several times during the game, again cleared well. Crewe once more rallied, and another determined attack was led by Bennett, who played a pretty forward game. C. White had a couple of stiff shots to tackle, but he saved well. The game ended in favour af Aberystwyth by three goals to one.

GENEROUS OFFER BY MR DAVID DAVIES, OF PLASDINAM. At the Calvinistic Methodists' Association held at Ton Ystrad the announcement was made of a munificent offer by Mr David Davies, of Llandinam. Mr Davies wrote the following letter to the Rev Rees Evans, of Llanwrtyd — "Dear Mr Evans,-I am writing you, as the secretary of the Trevecca College Committee, with reference to the proposed scheme for unit- ing our two colleges—Bala and Trevecca-into one single theological college for the Connexion, and on behalf of my mother, my sisters, and myself, I wish to say that we shall be very glad to subscribe £12,000 towards the erection of a new college, provided that the two following conditions are carried out, viz :-(I) That the present colleges of Bala and Trevecca shall be united into one single college for the whole de- nomination; (2) that this college shall be situ- ated at Aberystwyth. As far as I can gather, the feeling in North and South Wales is run- ning strongly in favour of a united college, and I think Aberystwyth is by far the most central spot in Wales where such a college might with advantage be built; besides, the theological students would there be able to attend classes at the University College, and at the same time would be given an opportunity of mixing in the society of the University students. These are only a few of the advantages which, I think. the union of. our present colleges at Aberyst- wyth would give us. I believe also that at Aber- ystwyth we shall probably be able to secure a very fine site for the proposed new college, so I do hope that North and South Wales will cordi- ally join together to support the scheme. I understand the subject is to be discussed at the Association next week, and I should be very much obliged if you would kindly convey the offer conveyed in this letter to your committee for their consideration. — Believe me, yours faithfully, (Signed) DAVID DAVIES." The matter was discussed, but no decision was arrived at. The further consideration of the matter was deferred to the next meeting of the Association. a

CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS.—Approximate return of traffic receipts for the week ending March 13th 19C4. Miles open, *280. Passengers, parcels, florses, carnages, dogs and mails, £ 1,972; merchandise' minerals, and live stock, £ 2,730 total for the week, 02; aggregate from commencement of half-veal" £ 51,041. Actual traffic receipts for the correupom lug week of .last year Miles open, 250. Passenger* parcels, Ac., £ 1,962; merchandise, mineral ic" £ 2.830 total for the week, £ 4,793 • aggregate f.7m commencement of half > ear, £ 49,999. Increase for the week, passengers, parcel?, &c 10 • decrease, merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 100 • total decrease for the week, £ 90; aggregate increase 9 passengers, parcels &c., £ 625 aggregate increase merchandise, minerals, &c., £ 417; aggregate in. crease from commencement of half-yf ar, £ 1 042 ♦Includes 231 miies of. Light Railways worked by the Company.