Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
MlD-OARDlGANSIIIRE' EDUCATIONAL…
MlD-OARDlGANSIIIRE EDUCATIONAL CON- FERENCE. ATTENDANCE AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. PROPOSED UNITED ACTION BY TEACHERS, SCHOOL BOARDS. AND MAGISTRATES. A conference of head teachers, members of school boards, managers e,f voluntary schools and ethers taking an interest in elementary and second- ary education was held at Fe!infa?h, near Lam- peter, on Saturday. July 1st, with the view of con- sidering what steps to take towards remedying the poor state of the attendance at elemen'ary schools in the county. The conference was called by the. Llanfihangel Ystrad U D. School Brard.through Mr Daniel Watkins, who was amply repaid for the great trouble he has taken in the matter by the hearty response given all rcund to his invitation. The chair was taken by Mr Darlington, H.M. in- spector of schools for the district. who was sup- ported 08 the platform by Mr E C. Willmott, member of the Executive Committee of the National Union of Teachers Mr T. H. R. Hughes, J.P., Neuaddfawr the Rev J. l Griffiths, J.P., Aberayron; Mr Morgan Evans, J.P., LUnarth the Rev T. C. Edmunds, J.P., IVefilan Mr D Tivy Jones, m.yor of Lampeter Mr Daniel Jones, chairman of the Llanfihangel Ystrad School Reard. Among others present were Profe-sor Robert Williams, Lampeter; Mr J. M. Howell, J.P., Miss Evans, Aberayron Dr Evans, Tynant the Rev — Morris, Silian the Rev B. C. Davie?, Tyny- gwndwn Mr D. E. Davies, Gelly, chairman of the Llancrwys School Board Messrs M. Griffiths, D. Jones (Cribin), D. Hughes and J. Davies, members of the Llanfihangel School Board, and Mr Daniel Watkins, member of that Bo .r¡j and hon. sec. of the Conterencp. Tht re were aUo present the following headmssters and iieadin^trt«srs of elementary schools — Mr Daa Jenkius, Faidy- brenin Mr Davies, Ram Mr Lewis, Lampeter Miss Bowen and Mrs Jones, Lam peter; Mr L-wis, Llanybyther Mr Jones, Llangfitho Mr Davie, Llanddewibrefi Mr Thomas, New Court Mr Griffiths, Cribin Mr Jones, Llanwnen Mr Stewart, Sitian Mr Jones, Bettws Mr s LlaDgybi Mr Davies, Farmers Mi-s Evans, Di- hewid Miss Jacob, Llanarth Air Richard Davies, Talgarreg Air Issac Rvaos, Mydroilyn Mr R. E. Bevan, Llanarth Mr H. Jones, Penlone Mr J. R. Davies and Mr H. Jones, Aberayron Mr S E. Davies, Llanddewi Aberarth Mr T. R. Da\ies, Llannon Mr D. Rees, Pennant Mr W. Morgans, Croaa Inn Mr W. D. Evans, Ci'.cenin, Mr J. B., Jones, Ciliau Park Mr J. LI. Davies, Felinfach and Mr D. Davies, Bwlchllan. As will be seen by the above list, there wt re schoolmastersand school- mistresses present from all parts of the county in spite of the boisterous weather and the great dis- tances over bad roads through the bleakest country which some of them had to travel. This i& evid- ence alike of the widespread character of the evil complained of in the circular and of the large place which the prosperity of their schools occupies in the hearts of elementary school teachers ot Cardiganshire. The CHAIRyrA, speaking in Welsh, said—The fact of the holding of a meeting of this kind is a hopeful sign, and the recent revival of interest in the whole question of school attendance is ODe of the encouraging elements of the situation. (Hear, hear.) It was high time to move in the matter. Wales has been far too self-satisfied in reference to education and is too inclined to rest upon her cars. For years the inspectors have been calling serious attention to the subject of attendance at elementary schools and it is to Mr Legard thaj; the honour is due of having moved first in the matter and of having had something done. (Heir, hear) It is remarkable how little is generally known of the true relative position of Wales in regard to school attendance compared with the other parts of the United Kingdom. Our system of education is com- plete and there is a natural tendency to suppose that because the machinery is perfect that the edu- cation itself is faultless, but while we have been congratulating ourselves upon being better than our neighbours on the ether side of Offa's Dykp, the fact has been too much ignored that the attendance In Welsh schooIs is considerably lower than it is ill England. The reports of examiners in intermedi- mediate schools have been a rude awakening to us and have shown us thaé for some reason or other the state of education in Wales is considerably below what we had thought it was. Side by side with ignorance of facts has been ignorance of the law. When I commenced to exercise pressure on school boards and school managers, I found much ignor- ance of the state of the law in regard to the com- pulsory attendance of children and especially as to the age when a child was permitted to leave school and the standard which he was compelled to pass. There are many cases of schools in a pitiful state as regards attendance which I could mention, but I will not go into det.iiis at present. There is on" thing I want to lay special emphasis upon, and that ts, that in the ultimate resort, everything depends upon the public mind—upon the enlightened co- operation of the public-—(applause)—and the diffi- culty in Wales is that public opinion is not suffi- ently enlightened upon tnis subject. I will quote the word3 of the Departmental Committee of 18S1, which were as follows: There is iu Wales much enthusiasm for education in singular combination with considerable ignorance of what is meant by the word." This is as true to-day as it was eighteen years ago, though since then education has made considerable strides. (Hear, hear.) People in Wales know how to make sacrifices for secondary education and for higher education, and yet they have not succeeded in grasping the elementary fact cf the necessity of sending their children to school regularly. There is in Wales zial without know- ledge. (Hear.) How is it that public opinion in Wales is not so enlightened as it is in Scotland ? Well, it is a matter of history. In Scotland, they have had an excellent educational system for centuries, while Wales was almost destitute of educational opportunities until some twenty years ago. Hence the absence of a.n educated public opinion in Wales as compared with Scotland. People in W ales do not realise how much they lose and their children lose by being absent from school on one day oat of five. (Applause.) They do not realise how much the whole school loses by the absence of a number of children every day in the week—(hear, hear)—and I tell you, we must educate the parents before we can expect to educate the children. (Laughter and applause.) I do hope and trust that a tew era is now dawning upon Wales. There are signs that the public mind has been roused, and I hope that one of the results of this conference will be that the people will be awakened to a sense of their duties in-this matter. (Cheers.) Recently some gentle- men from London have been giving us their views upon this subject. I have not read their speeches, but I understand that they laid special emphasis on the fact that as regards attendance in elemen- tary schools WTales comes out a bad third as com- pared with Scotland and England. Well, there is nothing new in that. Some of us have been preaching that for years—(hear, hear)—but for my own part I am glad to obtaiu the assistance of these gentlemen and we welcome their criticism so far as it is based upon knowledge and syrr pathy. (Cheers.) Wales in the past has learned much from her critics and she is ready to learn from them in the future. However, I do not wish to leave the impression upon anybody's mind that I credit Wales with being a bad third in education generally, as she is in the matter of attendance. If Wales is behind in some of these things, she is an easy first in others. (Cheers.) For it is not by talking about education that Wales has shown the greatness of her love towards it, but she had paid towards it generously, wil- lingly, not from her wealth, but from her poverty. (Loud cheers.) We readily admit that there is much ignorance in Wales in reference to the true means of education and its true nature, but Wales does not yield to England in her love for education. This is not easy optimism, it is the saving factor of the situation, for it is this spirit that created her intermediate schools, her colleges, and her University—(cheers)—and it is to this that we must look to remedy the manifold faults of our elementary education. We must educate public opinion upon this subject, and for this reason I welcome this conference, because I believe it will be the means of awakening interest and securing the co-operation of parents and the public generally in the difficult work we have before us. (Loud applause.) The Rev T. C. EDMUNDS moved That this meet- ing is of opinion that the model bylaws issued by the Education Department should be immediately adopted throughout Mid-Cardiganshire without a half-time clause and with Standard V. or any standard above that as a standard of exemption." He said—It affords me much pleasure to obey Mr Watkins's request to move this resolution knowing that he has the good of the schools at heart, and I certainly hope and trust that this meeting will briog forth good froit. (Hear, hear.) After what Mr Darlington has told us so excellently in regard to the schools, I do not think it necessary for me to go into the matter at any length. I may say that for the last twenty years I have been more or less associated with public schools and the most vexed question at all times has been the question of attendance. (Hear, hear.) Resolutions upon resolutions have been passed, but so far nothing has really been done. The non attendance of cbil dren is not only a loss to the school managers and to the school, but the greatest loss of all is to the children themselves. (Applause.) Why are we in Wales so much behind other people in this direction? I believe it is simDly because there is not sufficient pressure brought to bear upon parents to compel them to attend school. I do not know where the fault lies. It is not altogether the fault of the parents, though they are more or lesa to blame but I think that if the school managers exercised their authority a little more stringently thft attendance would improve immensely. (Hear, Je»r ) I should prefer that Standard VI. should be the standard of exemption. I believe our children leave school a great deal too soon. A child in Standard V. when he leaves school, in a short time has forgotten everything he has learned, and for that reason I would make the standard of ex- emption higher. (Applause.) Mr LLOYD, Adsolwen, Llanon, seconding the pro- position, said he would also prefer the standard being the sixth. Now they experienced great diffi- culty in keeping the children at school until they had passed the fourth standard. He agreed with Mr Darlington that they would have to educate the parents before they could get at the children. He feared that the educational movement in Wales had begun at the top instead of at the bottom. (Laughtei and hear, hear.) School boards at present were backward in prosecuting," and then when they did prosecute magistrates were backward in the matter of fining. He therefore thought it would be a goid plan to have a conference of schoolmasters, school boards, and magistrates so as to secure a better un- derstanding all round. (Applause.) Mr T. H. R. HUGHES, who was received with cheers, said in regard to the question of exemption that great difficulty was at present found in keeping children until they had passed the fourth standard. The other day a farmer was telling him he feared that with all this education they would before very long have no working men. He (Mr Hughe). however, thought that if children everywhere wera like they were at Llanwenog, where very few passed their fourth standard, there was no fear of that coming about. (Laughter.) Mr JENKIN LLOYD, Tregaron, said he was in full sympathy With this movement and as one who had had something to do with the question of attendance he was glad to see that something wis going to be done at last. The first thing vhat was wanted was co-operation and a good understanding all round. At present school boards did not work togeth, rand if one board took drastic measures there was always a quiet little b ard close hy which did nothing at all and the children fled to that school. (Hear, hear.) There was no doubt much to be done. At present it was as if a Welshman was going to run a hundred yards race with an Englishman and a ( tchman and he gave them fifty yards start. Welsh children were handicapped in their race in life by the neglect of Welsh parents in this matter. (Applause.) The Rev Mr MORRIS, Silian, was in favour of rai-ing the standard to the sixth, and asked the Chairman whether it would not be possible to insert in the bylaws the words "Fifth or any standard above that." The CHAIRMAN thought the exact standard would have to ba mentioned. The Rev J. M. GRIFFITHS, Aberaeron, said he wa- going to move an amendment to the orginial proposition. Sp-aking for himself, he considered tuat Standard VI., W 1S quite low enough. (Fear, hear.) If they raised the standard and fixed it at Standard VI. th^y would undoubtedly find that the parents would be much more assiduous in their efforts to make the'r chiloren attend. It was not difficult for a child of average intelligence to reach the sixth standard a" a comparatively young age. His (the speaker's) child was now only ust ten and long before he reached his eleventh year he would be 10 Standard VI. and before he was twelve he would have passed that standard. He though* a child of ordinary intelligence could pass Standard VI. before the age of twelve and he maintained that no child under twelve should be allowed to leave school to do manual labour. (Hear, hear.) He begged to move that the standard of exemption should be the sixth and not the fifth. Mr T. H. R. HUGHES seconded the amendment. Mr MORGAN EVANS, J.P thought it would be better to leave the proposition as it stood. It would be quite easy to raise the standard again, but by placing the standard too high now they would be risking the loss of the co-operation of some of the school boards. The CHAIRMAN then put the amendment, for which thirty-one voted. The Rev Mr MORRIS—May I ask whether it is possible to embody the resolution as it reads in the bylaws? The CHAIRMAN—I do not think so, as a particular standard is mentioned in the model bylaws. Of course, it rests with the Education Department, but it is extremely unlikely that they will depart from the existing form of the bylaws in this particular, The proposition was then put to the meeting and, thirty-five voting for it, it was carried. Mr MORGAN EVANS, J.P., moved "that a certain minimum percentage of attendances should be re- quired annually of each child between five and fourteen years of ae and not iegaly eiritled to exemption from school attendance." Mr Evans he had beeu cmnect'd with a school board for exactly twenty-eight years and had been a-i faith- ful to the work which devolved upon him in that oipacity as circumstances permitted. His ex- perience was that there were special difficulties in tÜe way of board schools carrymg out their duties. The first difficulty was in connection with those who contributed the education, that was, the staff He took advantage of the presence of her Majesty's Inspector at that meeting to say that he believed there" as considerable fault attached to 'he Edu- cation Department in this matter. He (Mr Evans) did not admit the right of the Education Department to say that there should be a certain number of teachers for a school of so much average atten- dance, only to find fault if the school boards did not employ more. (Hear, hear.) The gicond dfficulty was the attendance at school. He feared that was not a matter to he dealt with altogether in the abstract. They might be able to initiate a system of dealing with the question of non-atten- daoce generally, but after all the greatest difficulty would be experienced in dealing with individual cases. (Hear, hear.) However, one thing was manifestly essential and that was the co operation of school boards all over the district. He had observed that in all schools the worst cases were those of children living on the borders of the school districts who, if they were dealt with by one board, would go under the other. (Hear,hear.) Again they wanted a change in the method of dealing with recalcitrant parents, A more futile remedy for the neglect of parents to send their children to schorl could not be conceived than a fine of five shillings and costs and the chance of being left off with a caution. (Laughter.) He knew parents who said, It is more advantageous for us to run the ri-k of being fined five shillings," because it was merely a risk. Very often it paid better to let the child go out to work and pay an occasional five shillings, as the earnings would amount to perhaps double that sum. (Hear, hear.) The only way to deal with this kind of thing was to tackle the employer, because the line in his case was much heavier. He expected more from the co operation of school boards and magistrates than from anything. (Applause.) It was high time that parents were roused to a sense of their duty to their children. This period was the most crucial period in the existence of the child, when his nature was unfolding and he was beginning to open his eyes to observe the world around him. (Hear, hear.) It was astonishing how indifferent parents were in this matter. Many of them would not get up a quarter of an hour earlier in order to send their children to school in time. It was the indifferent parents who ruined children—the parents who did not care whether they went to school or not. These children went out into life without any definite aim or object and became, if not actual beggars, what was next door to that. (Aj plause.) Mr D. JONES, chairman of the Llanfihangel Ystrad School Board, seconded the motion, observ- ing that it was time something was done in this matter, for on the attendance of the children of this generation at their elementary schools depended the future of Wales—Cymru Fydd. (Applause.) Mr WILLMOTT supported the motion, remarking at the outset that he would have preferred to have it couched in more definite terms. He would like to have a certain minimum per centage set down. Proceeding, he said there was no doubt that the most serious hindrance to the education of the country was the way in which children attended their schools. (Hear, hear.) Let them consider for a moment how many children did attend schools throughout England and Wales every day. At present there were absent every day that the schools were open over a million children. Every morning and afternoon in London there were over 100,000 children absent and the worst feature in this was the fact that these children, almost without exception, were the children of thriftless, careless parents who'did not care what became of their children and the very children which they wanted to get into tpeir schools. (Hear, hear.) But do what they would they could not bring these children to school and they gradually drifted into the street and made up in the end a large proportion of the criminals of the country. The bulk of parents no doubt sent their children to school with great regularity and at great sacrifice, but if they went and looked at the registers of the schools of the country what did they find ? They found that a large per centage of children were habitually absent whose parents did not trouble or care whether they went to school or did not. Yet they were supposed to have compulsory education. In the Act of IS70 provision waif made that every child should receive an efficient education and should attend school regularly, but it had become practic ally a dead letter. When the Act was introduced Sir Charles Dilke said it was the most tyrannical Act passed by any country and yet this very Act was now laughed at alike by the parents and em- ployers of school children. (Hear, hear.) The law was all right, but it was the administration of it that they grumbled at and be took it that one of the objects of that meeting was to try and secure a better administration of the Education Act. (Ap- plause.) He believed that at present in the majority of places children left school at any time after they had passed the first standard. He believed that was so in Cardiganshire. He had been making enquiries and he had found that prac- tically the same method of dealing with this matter prevailed here as all over the country. He did not wish to cast all the blame on the attendance officers for this state of things. As a rule, he believed that the attendance officer tried to do his best, but what did they do with him? He had to walk from village to village and do a lot of hard work and I they paii him, in some cases, five pounds a year. (Laughter.) The attendance officer knew he could not do the work properly for that amount and the whole thing became a farce as far as he was con- cerned. But, suppose the attendance officer did his work and brought some parents before the board or an attendance committee, every sort of frivolous excuses were accepted and it was with the greatest difficulty in the world that he could get them to put the Act into force. But, again, suppose the attendance committee did take action and brought the people before the magistrates, what happened ? In many cases the magistrate did not want to be unpopular in his own district and winked at the offence. (Hear, hear.) Now, he said, that the law, as regards attendance at schools, should be applied in the same way as law concerning every other offence. If a man was brought up for keeping a dog without a licence or anything of that kind he was soon brought to his senses. But for non-attendance the fines were small—the maximum penaJty was only five shilling^—and very often the cases were adjourned for a month or two, which was the v. ry worst thing that could be done, for during that period the child never went to school at all and when the time was up the parents were only too glad to pay the fine out of his earnings. In Sctland the fine was never less than 20s aud costs and if they went to Germany they did not get fined at all, but they were put in prison. (Laughter and hear, hear.) Now, he did not say for a moment that the magistrates were really against popular education, but he did say that they did not grasp the situation. They forgot or did not realise that the schools of the present day were the training grounds of the nation. If they took these things a little more into consideration they would impress upon parents the value of regular attendance at school. He thought a meeting of this kind would do a great deal in districts like that, where the attendance was undoubtedly bad-(hear, hear)- especially when they could get a gentleman like Mr Darlington to take the chair, and as many magistrates as they could get on the platform. That meeting, he thought, was a credit to Mr Watkins who orgauized the meeting. (Hear, hsar.) Now was the remedy fur this state of things? He would increase the maximum fine, to. one thing. If they went to the pockets of the parents they would find that they would soon send their children to school. Again magistrates should have a list of legitimate excuses to accept and out- side these they should not be allowed to move— they would be bound to convict. (Hear, hear) It was not a bit of good managers of schools and school boards going on building and furnishing schools unless they could bring parents to thoroughly understand that it was a serious crime to rob their children of the education within their grasp. (Applause,) Mr Willmott went on to refer to the Half-timers' Bill now before Parliament which he said had been spoiled by the com- promise which the promoters had been forced to arrive at owing to the opposition of members representing the agricultural community. Coming to the s'ate of attendance in the immediate neigh- bourhood, he said from the Government returns he found that the percentage of children attending schools throughout the country was :—Scotland, 84*3 England, 81 6—just what Scotland was six years ago- Wales, 75 86 Cardiganshire, 72 97, be ing one of the three lowest counties in England and Wales. The lowest countyinEnglandwasthatwhich had a percentage of 74, so that Cirdiganshire was much lower than the lowest of the English counties. Now, he did not see why this should be so. The children of Wales were quite as intelligent as those of any other part of the United Kingdom. Coming to Mid-Cardiganshire, he found that the percent- age was more serious even than that of the whole of Cardiganshire. He believed it was as low as 61'. Ir one school, the percentage was as low as forty. D yas time the authorities were roused to a sense ol their responsibility. It was a curious fact that in the matter of children leaving school, Cardigan- shire had a better percentage than that for the whole of England and Wales. The percentage of children who attended in Cardiganshire after pass ing the exemption standard was 22*1 and the per- centage for the whole of England and Wales was 19'7. (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, he urged thai the conscience of the country should be roused. So fong as the present state of things was allowed to continue, so long would the crime of the country would increase and grow. (Applause.) Mr DAXIEL WATKINS explained the purport of the resolution in Welsh, and, referring to the ques- tion of child labour, said in the parish of Ys rad no child leaving school ever applied for a labour certificate, and it was the same in most other par- ishes. Unless Mr Darlington put his foot down and stopped the grant, there was no hope of our school boards doing anything. (Hear, hear.) Why were our school boards so apathetic? Ii was because persons became members who had no object except to continue to sit on the boards and who would not do their duty if it meant ri.king the loss of a single vote. (Cheers.) The Rev J. M. GRIFFITHS next moved That the managers, head teachers, and others engaged in Mid-Cardiganshire in the administration of the El-mentary Education Acts should form themselves into an association to carry out the resolutions passed at this meeting and to consider other 'natters of common interest, and that the immedi- pte arrangements be entrusted to a committee con- sisting of one representative from each body of school managers joining the association, and a certa;n proportionate number to be agreed upon of head teachers." In doing so, he said great credit was due to the Ystrad School Board, and especially to Mr D. Watkins, the hon. secretary, for having called that meeting. (Hear, hear.) They were not there that day to reproach each other. If they were to do that it would be a very easy thing to find faults on all sides in regard to the administration of the Education Acts. He quite agreed with Mr Willmott as to the necessity of increasing the maximum fine. He thought per- sons should be fined not up to five shillings, but up to five pounds according to their circumstances. (Hear, hear.) But so long as the law remained as it was, magistrates could not go higher than five shillings including costs. They were told that magistrates did not do their duty because they did not wish to be unpopular. That might be true, but he should like to ask whether school boards and school attendance commttees were quite blameless in the matter. (Applause.) He was sure he could answer for the Aberayron bench that they were quite as anxious to administer the law as the generality of school managers. Continuing, the speaker emphasized the recessity of having the casts better prepared before going before the magistrates and if necessary engaging solicitors. But he was surprised that the people of Cardigan- shire who, he vas sure, were as shrewd as any people in the world—(laughter)—did not see what they lost by this non-attendance, heavy ratepayers as they were. A great loss was the loss to the child, and to the nation, and the future of our country, but there was also a substantial loss to the ratepayel s. (Applause.) He maintai-jei that if all did their duty the percentage for Cardigan- shire could be raited to sctaething like ninetv (Applause.) Mr D. TIVY JOES seconded the proposition and said he was not going to offer a word of apology for the magistrates who took a lenient view of what had been properly described that day as a crime, but he might be allowed, with due respect to school boards and attendance committees, to mention the fact that during his short experience as magistrate he had seen cases brought before the Bench in such an unprepared, unmethodical man- ner that no jury in the world, let alone magis- trates, would convict. (Hear, hear.) The least thing that could be asked was that the case should be prepared be- fore-coming into Court. In conclusion, he said he was glad to see Mr Willmott preseut that day. He (the speaker) would like to tell him in common with the other friends there that day that though the role of candid friend was never a pleas- ant one, there was no danger of Welshmen resent- ing the efforts of anyone who tried to assist them to reach high educational ideals, and they would be thankful in the end for any remarks which might at first be a little unpalatable. (Applause.) The Rev J. M. GRIFFITHS expressed the sincere hope that one of the matters considered by thill Association would be the establishment of central classes for pupil teachers. (Applause.) Of all the weaknesses in our system of elementary education, he was convinced that the greatest was the lack of means for training their pupil teachers who were also over-worked. (Hear, hear.) He hoped they would be able to form central classes in the district where pupil teachers could be trained and he was sure that school managers all over the district would be glad to contribute towards the expenses. (Applause.) Professor ROBERT WILLIAMS supported the motion, and speaking in Welsh, sid it was time that the standard of elementary education was raised. There was no class of men whom he ad- mired more than teachers of elementary schools— (hear, hear)—and he said this with all sincerity— that they did not receive the support which they ought to receive. (Applause.) Much had been said as to the faults in our system of elementary education and it had been suggested that the parents should be educated. He would go further and say that school boards should be educated. (Laughter.) One lesson they ought to be taught was to pay more salaries to their teachers. (Applause by the teachers.) He could tell them that he did not consider his work to be a whit more important than the work of an ele- mentary teacher. (Cheers.) To secure the reforms which they desired they must get co-operation among school boards. He thought it would be a good thing to have a county council of education, as it were, made up of men who were not afraid of doing their duty from fear of being lower on the poll next time. (Hear, hear.) He might say in reference to the training of school teachers that if that might be of any use to them he would take a class of teachers in history at Lampeter College free of charge. (Loud applause.) The proposition was then carried and it was decided that two representatives on the Association should be elected by the headmasters of each of the three unions of Mid-Cardiganshire and a represen- tative should he elected by each school board. Mr Watkins and Mr Lewis, Lampeter, were appointed hon. secretaries. Mr J. M. HOWELL, J.P., Aberayron, proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Mr Willmott for their attendance, remarking that they would never forget the part which both took in that move- ment. Their thanks were also due to Mr Watkins, the disinterested aod indefatigable secretary, to the credit was due for that successful meet- ing. (Applause.) Mr DAN JENKINS seconded the proposition which was carried amid applause. Both Mr WILLMOTT and the CHAIRMAN then re- sponded, the latter observing that Mr Legard had written declaring his sympathy with the movement, but was unable to be present. He was at Lam- peter on Tuesday and it was impossible for him to come down to Lampeter twice in one week. The meeting then broke
TREGARON.
TREGARON. MONTHLY MARKET.—The monthly market of July is usually a small one and the one held on Tuesday last was by far the smallest held this year. There was a large number of dealers present, but the number of cattle brought to the fair was very small. Cows with calves were sold well and realised from twelve to fifteen pounds Thirteen truck loads were despatched by the M. and M. Railway to various parts of the country. OBITUARY.—On Friday, June 30th, this district lost one of its oldest, if not the oldest, resi- dents in the person of Mrs Hannah James, who had lived for many years with her nephew, Mr John James of Tynycoruel (late Maesglas), Berth. At the time of her death she was ninety-three years of age. Her remains were buried on Mon- day last at the Tregaron C.M. Burial Ground. The Revs Dr Rees, Bronant, and Morgan EvalOs officiated. FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.—The general committee in connection with the Glaoau Teifi ac Aeron Choral Festival was held on Tuesday afternoon, the 4th July, at the Tregaron C.M. Chapel and was well-attended by delegates from all the churches concerned. The following officers were elected for the ending year :—Chairman of Committee, Mr (i. T. Lewis, B.A., headmaster Intermediate School treasurer, Mr John Evans, Cefnbanadl, Llwynpiod: secretary, Mr Wm. Hughes, C.M., Casteil Flemish Board School, Berth. It was decided unanimously that the next festival be held at the Tregaron C.M. Chapel, on Wednesday, the 13th day of June, 1900. The following persons were elected to preside at the various meetings of the next festival :—Morning meeting, Rev T. M. Jones, Ysbytty afternoon, Mr Hugh Jones, Aeron Villa, late Esgairhendy, Blaenpenal; evening', Rev John Evans, Abermeurig.—It was resolved that the Committee for the selection of nf xt year's programme meet at Llangeitho on Saturday, 8th July. Mr J. T. Rees, Mus. Bac., Pengarn, was selected con- ductor of cymanfa 1900 by a large majority. CHARGE OF THEFT. — Before D. J. Williams, J.P., and David Davies, J. P., Esqrs., at a special Petty Sessions held in the Town Hall on Tuesday last, thrse young men, who gave the following names James Rafferty, tinman, of Morriston (22), Edward Jones (19), and John Jones (15), basket makers, were placed at the dock charged with stealing a greyhound from a field at Llettemsais, Llanio Road, on Friday, June 30th. The grey hound was the property of David Edwards, licensed hawker, who was camping on the said field. The dog was tied to his van. The accused pleaded not guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. They said the greyhound vas given them in exchange for another dog by prosecutor's son during the abssnca of his parents. In giving evidence against the offenders, the lad, who is eight years old, denied having given his consent to the transaction, hut asked them to await his father's return. They were all found guilty and Rafferty and Edward Jones were sentenced to a week's imprisonment with hard labour. John Jones was fined 5s includ- ing costs, his age being taken into consideration. PARISH COUNCIL.- A special meeting of the Trc- garon Parish Council was held on Friday evening, June 30th, when the following were present: Messrs. E. W, Bebb, vice-chairman (presiding), Thomas Rees, platelayer David Rowlands, Dol- dre Joseph Edwards, mason Jonathan Thomas, Market-square; E. Isaac Davies, Pantsheriff; W. R. Jenkins, Sunny Hill Hotel H. W. Jones, Station-road G. C, Evans, Chapel-street, and Miss Anne Jenkins, clerk.—This meeting was specially convened at the instance of the Tregaron District Council, with the view of appointing three delegates to represent the Parish Council on a joint committee for aga n taking into consideration the best means of supplying the town with a whole some and plentiful supply of water. As usual, a long and heated discission ensued on the water question genHally, but it was ultimately resolved to appoint Messrs. WT. R. Jenkins, H. Wr. Jones, and Joseph Edwards as representatives of the Council on the joint committee. BOARD OF GUARDIANS, TUESDAY, JULY 4TH. -Present: Mr Hugh Herberts, Nantcwnlle, chairman, presiding Mr Evau Evans, Lledrod Lower, vice-chairman Messrs David Williams Bettws Leiki E. Lloyd, BlaenpeDnal D. J. Williams, R. James, and R. Ei ans, Caron Lower; R. Jones, Caron Upper: Thomas Jones and Daniel Lodwick, Gattheli David Davies and William Rees, Gnrwydd Thomas Davies, Gwyn- fil John Jones, G wnmvs Upper Peter Davies, Langeitho D. W. E Rowlands, Llanio United John Owens, Llanbadarn Evan Evans, Lledrod Lower Rev T. R. Morgan, Lledrod Upper Thomas Edwards, Nantcwnlle William Jones and Lewis Oliver, Ysbytty Charles Jenkins, Ystrad Meurig Messrs Jeukin Lloyd, clerk M. Morgan, master Rees Rowlands, relieving officer. Statistics.—Out-relief administered during the past fortnight, the combined district, per Mr Rees Rowlands, £13 Is Od to 154 paupers; correspond- ing period last year, £;)9 5s Od to 147 paupers. Number of vagrants relieved during the past fort- night, 8. Number of inmates in the House, 17; corresponding period last year, 17. Condolence.—On the proposition of Mr R. Jones, seconded by Mr Evan Lloyd, a vote of condolence was passed with Dr J. Morgan in his bereavement. Correspondence.—The'Clerk read a letter from the North Brierley Union asking the Board to join in petitioning that chairmen of boards of guardians should act as justices of the peace.—The suggestion was adopted. The Relief List.—It was decided that the Relieving Officer should prepare the list for the half year and that the Clerk should get it printed by that day fortnight. RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL, TUESDAY, JULY 4TH.—Present Mr David Davies, chairman, presiding, and the members present at the Board meeting, with Messrs Jenkin Lloyd, clerk: Morgan Jones and S. Tregoning, surveyors and J. P. Rees, inspector. Penbontbren Bridge.—The Surveyor stated that the necessary quantity of stone had not been carted there as yet, but nearly a hundred loads had been supplied. Ffair Rhos Water Supply.—It was decided, in reference to the Ffair Rhos water supply, that the Clerk should write to the owners stating that if they did not carry out a scheme the Council would do so and that they would have to bear the expense. Bills.—The Council formed itself into two com- mittees in order to check the bills for the upper and lower districts which were presented by the two surveyors.—The bills for the two districts amounted to £ 180.—The Clerk was instructed to draw cheques for that amount by the next meeting.
[No title]
About midnight on Saturday two goods trains and an excursion train from Liverpool to South Wales collided on the London and North Western Railway, near Winsford. All the trains were more or less wrecked, but happily no lives were lost and comparatively few persons were injured.
LAMPETER.
LAMPETER. OBITUARY.—The death took pLce on Wednesday mornmg of Mr Thomas Owen, 5, College-street, at the age of fifty-nine. Deceased was a native of Llanfair. He left the district when he was a young boy for South Wales where he remained for .forty years. During the last fourteen or fifteen years he lived at Lampeter where he had made him- self liked univermlly. A FORMER PRINCIPAL —A committee has been formed for the purpose of raising a suitable memorial to the work of the late Rev. G. W. Gent, formerly principal of St. Mark's College, Chelsea, and at the time of his death Principal of St. David's College. Lampeter. The movement appears to be in no way connected with Whales, where Principal Gent' work was, unhappily for the Church, of very brief duration, but is intended to commemorate Mr Geut's valuable work in connection with Church education in general. The chairman of the Mem- orial Committee is the Bishop of Rochester and the secretary is the Rev R. Hudson, Mr Gent's suc- cessor in the principalship of St. Mark's College. ECCLESIASTICAL SUCCESS —The Lord Bishop of London has appointed the Rev. B Saunders Lloyd, B.A., assistant priest, St. Paul's, Harriugay, N., and formerly semor curate of Camden Town, N. W., to the post of London Diocesan Home mis- sioner, and also the charge of a new parish at Lower Edmonton, N. The new parish is to be named St. Martin aud is in a rapidly-growing and flourishing district. People are migrating thither in va.t numhers from Whitechapel and other parts of u- End. on account ot the system of cheap fares which the Great Eastern Railway have initiated, E°ii u 18 estlma'ed that in five years the parish will nave a population of 12,000. Mr. Lloyd is the son ot the late Alderman David Lloyd, Dolgwm °USi>on7la^1Pe^er» who was mayor of the town for year 1890 91. J OPENING OF A Nw CHAPEL.—The opening of the new Baptist Chapel, which ia situated on the Carmarthenshire side of the town, was celebrated on luesday and Wednesday by the holding of FuCaS meetings. Among those present were the Kevs Pritchard, Newcastle Emlyn H. J. James, Aberduar D. Phillips, New Court J. avies, Aberayron T. R. Morgan, Swydffynon and a large number of the deacons of the Baptist churches of the neighbourhood, including Dr Morgan, Pontrhydygroes; Councillor Jones, Car- marthen Mr J. Rees, Dolgwm and others. On a w D1lht'the Rev T-Idwal Jones' Llanelly> an Jones, Carmarthen, preached to a Cff)Wf-e COnSre8ation, and on Wednesday morning effective sermons were delivered by the Rev Charles avies, Cardiff, and the Rev Aaron Morgan, Blaen- WOT6 a^ternoon> the Revs T. Idwal Jones a u Jones occupied the pulpit, and the Revs aron Morgan and Charles Davies in the evening, inere were large congregations at all the meetings and good collections were made. The way the sub- scriptions have come in has been very satisfactory and very little of the building debt remains to be r!o!ri i /°,m this time out> services will be held Jones^A T S C^a^e'' is the Rev — ST. DAVID'S COLLEGE SCHOOL.—The terminal meeting of the Managers of this School was held on | iuesday last. Beside the College Board, the two representatives elected by the subscribers, Mr T. Lloyd and Mr D. Tivy Jones (mayor), were present for the first time.—The Principal offered, them a hearty welcome and expressed the hope that their presence might tend to the greater effi- ciency of the School and its greater usefulness to the town and neighbourhood.—The Headmaster then presented his terminal report, from which it appeared there are at present forty-three boys in school and that the examination this time would be carried out by the College Board. A discussion TL « • ^mediate needs of the Schcol followed. e Principal, Headmaster, Mr Lloyd, and Mr Jones were given full powers to make such outlay as was necessary out of the available funds.—The principal said he had already consulted Mr Bankes 1 rrice, the architect, in regard to a thorough remodelling of the laboratory with a view to giv- ing increased facilities for science work.—It was agreed that the prize day should be held about the 9th or 10th of October when the report of the July 1 examination would be presented. It is hoped that J arrangements may be made for making Lampeter s a centre under the Oxford Local Delegacy in which < ease the school will be examined by that body next ( year.—The Headmaster spoke hopefully of the prospects for next term and, with the great and t varied improvements that are being contempla.ted < and the large sum (£60) available for exhibitions, t there ought to be a steady and rapid development. E It will be remembered by those who read the ac- t count of the proceedings on degree day that the t Oxford examiner (3iev E. M. Walker) spoke very t warmly of the quality of the work done by the hoys who came on to the College from t e School, ami tile staff uf tile School are to be congratulated on i his comm-ndat on BOARD OF GUARDIANS, FRIDAY, JUNE 30TH. —Pr sei t Mr David Davies, Felindre, chair- man, presiding; Mr John Fowden, vice-chairman; the Rev R. Crinyn Lampeter; Messis John Davies, Lampeter B. J. Evans, Llanfair- clydogau DaviJ Price, Lampeter Rural Lewis- Dvi s, Llanycrwys David Vtns and William Eh, aft; S, Pencarrng Dd. Lloyd, clerk; E. D. Rees, aasn-tjiit cit-ik Dr Abel Evans and Dr E. C. ^nomas, medical officers Messrs Evan Jones, master nd David Parry and David Evans, re- livin!! office's Statistics Vagrants Decreasing.—Out-relief ad. minist red during the past fortnight, Lampeter dist'ict. p r Mr D. Parry, £40108 Od to 149 paupers. Llany-ythi r district, per Mr David Evans, £38 to 147 pauper- Number of inmates in the House, 15, a decreasj of 3 compared with the correspond- ing period last ye ir. Number of vagrants relieved during the fortnight, 21, a decrease of 14 compared with the corresp n ling f< rtnight la^t year. Number of lunallcs at (Jarmai then Asylum, 16.—The Master reported that 168 vagrants had bten relieved dur- ing the past quarter, compared with 314 in the corresponding quart-r of last year, a decrease of 149. He thought the dt cnase was due to the vig lance of the police and to the new system of detaining tramps for a whoie day and giving them pi-nty of hard work. The Cnairman: It is very gratifying lews. This decrease is a boon to the country.—The other guardians concurred. Vote of Condolence —The Chairman moved a vote of condolence wiih Mr D. H. James, Beily Bedw, a resp cted member of the BOlfd, in the sad death of his wife. The Chairman said the circumstances w-re peculiarly sad, there being ten or eleven chi drcn left b hind. — Mr Lewis Davies seconded the proposition whioh was carried unanimously. Wales for the We.l*h. —The Chairman in going thro gh the relief hook noticed an application by a pauper for a pair 0' blankets. He asked whether the blankets in stock were of Welsh manufacture. —The Master: No, English manufacture. The Guardians have entered into a contract with a local tradesman who snpp'ies English blankets. It is not my Lu:lt.-The Chn;rmalJ: Ko, it is the fault of the Guardians. We ought to think of our countrymen—Mr Lewis Daves Quite so. A Welsh manufacturer has been complaining bitteily to me about these things. We ought to support Welsh industries. An Unpaid Claim.-An elderly man appeared before the Gmrdiacs and said he was not in a position to repay the mouey which the Guardians had advanced to him by way of a loan. It appears that he claims he is entitled to an annuity of £10 under the will of his deceased brother, but the executor of his brother's estate has not paid the claim. He feared that he would have to apply for permanent relief before long.—The Guardians urged upon him to make another effort to secure that which was due tc him under his brother's will. Assessment.—-A meeting of the Assessment Com- mittee was held after the Board meeting under the presidency of Mr Dd. Davies.—The Clerk announced that Mr E. D. Rees, the assistant clerk, would sub- mit a list, showing all properties held under yearly tenancies with the rent paid in respect of each tenement and the amount at which the same were assessed in the valuation list now in force in order to arrive at the increase per cent. at the next meeting.—There was no business to be done. Llanybyther Water Supply.—The Llanybyther Rural District Council afterward met with Mr Dd. Davies in the chair.—Mr Morgan Davies, engineer, Swansea, wrote stating that he would be in a position to inspect the springs suggested as the source of water supply for Llanybyther next week. It was resolved that the members of the Council should meet Mr Davies on the following Tuesday and accompany him when he made his inspection. TOWN COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH.—Pre- sent Alderman D. Tivy Jones, mayor, presid- siding Councillor J. E. Lloyd, ex mayor Alderman John Jones and Rees Jones. Coun- cillors J. J. Davies, Joseph Davies, David Price, T. D. Lloyd, Stephen Von Davies, William Davies, and Evan sDavies Messrs D. Lloyd, town clerk E. D. Rees, assistant cltrk and T. Moore, inap ctor and surveyor. THE WATEKWORKS. The Town Clerk read a letter from Mr Davies, the engineer, in which he sra'ed that provided the proposed reservoir was erected at the head of the pipe line, the drawing of water for supplying the houses there would not appreciably inter/ere with the flow into the reservoir, but there might be a serious interiirenee if only a small tank was erected as it would not contain a sufficient volume of water, especially ia summer, to compensate for the draw upon the supply. h was stated that the matter had been dealt ivith by the Committee of the whole Councd.—Tin; Town Clerk said ia accord- ance with the directions of the Council he had asked Mr Davies to prepare a plan showing the main pipe line winch was to be annexed to the deed. He (th- h id not, yet received it. As soon as it arrived the conveyance would be signed. COUNCILLOR J. J. DAVIKS AND OLD-AGE PENSIONS. A ciicular letter was read from the West Ham Town Council asking the Council to join with them in petitioning Pari anient to bring in a Bill provid- ing for a peaion of not less than a shilling a day for each person over fifty years of age.—Mr J, J. Davies observed that it would be a very good thing, but in his opinion fifty years was too early. He himself was considerably over fifty already. (Laughter.)—Mr S. V. Davies You will vote in favour of it if they make up the sum you are entitled to from fifty onwards. — Mr J. J. Davies: Yes. (Laughter.) But I think sixty is soon-enough. I can do a good day's work yet. (Laughter.)—The letter was allowed to lie on the table. OUT OF ORDER. Mr J. J. Davies asked what the Council was go- ing to do in reference to the road to the Mill ?—The Clerk said the Council had no right to take any road over which had nor been placed in a proper condition. — Alderman Rees Jones concurred. — Mr J. J. Davies was going to continue the discussion, when the Mayor said the matter was not regularly before the meeting. Councillor Davies could bring the matter forward at the next meeting if he gave notice.—Air J. J. Davies next asked what was the reason for the new footpath at the lower end of the town not being proceeded with in accordance with the resolution of the Council ? The work had been left uncompleted. —Mr J. Ernest Lloyd said a diffi- culty had arisen. It appeared that if the path was constructed it would cause an accumulation of water and provision would first of all have to be made for draining it. The Streets Committee were going to consider that matter and would report to the Councd at the next meeting.—The matter then dropped. THE COUNCIL r: ETS EXCITED. Mr Evan Davies gave notice that he would pro- pose that the urinal near the Fountain should be removed.—The Mayor said the Council had already passed a resolution to remove it, hut it was left to the Streets Committee to carry that out. However, the majority of the Committee were against doing so and it was never done.—Mr Wm. Davies And we again passed a resolution to remove it.—Mr Evan Davies I must insist upon the resolution of the Council being carried out. — Mr Joseph Davies (excited y) The Streets Committee were not going to do the Council's dirty work for them. — Mr Rees Jones: Whoever brings this matter forward is a tool in the hands of somebody. (Excitedly): They are not fit to be on the Council. — Mr Joseph Davies There would be an agitation in the town if you removed it. Not a man will do it. (To Mr Evan Davies) You are not the man who would do it. You would not dare to do it.— Mr Evan Davies No, get labourers to do it. I am not going to do it. Certainly not.—Mr Joseph Davies The town is against it.—Mr S. V. Davies disputed this remark and several members spoke at a time, the Mayor calling for order.—Mr S. V. Davies There are only a few against it. Mr Evan Davies I insist upon having the resolution carried out. — Alderman Rees Jones Let us have the voice of the ratepayers on it.—Mr S. V. Davies: The question is, are the majority of the Council in favour of removing it?— Alderman Rees Jones: It is a question tor the ratepayers.—Mr S. Y. Davies: VVe represent the ratepayers. If you are going on like this, we had better consult the ratepayers before passing every bill.—The Mayor again asked for order and said unless his ruling was observed, he would declare the meeting at an end.—The matter then dropped, the streets Committee being requested to report on the matter.—The urinal which caused all this excite- ment at the Council is situated near the splendid fountain on the Square which was presented to the town by the late Mr J. Harford. It is a fa.r from sightly object. In fact the inhabitants of this part of the town declare it to be an eyesore and regard it as a grievance. There is no provision whatever for flushing it and at the very time the Council were discussing the matter the odour emanating from it was, to say the least, very unpleasant. THE MARKET PLACE. Mr S. V. Davies drew attention to the state of the market place and asked what the Council was going to do in the matter.^—The Mayor said he could not allow matters of that kind to be continu- ally brought before the Council without notice and suggested that the Committee should consider the matter and bring in a report at the next meeting. —This was agreed to and the Council rose.
YSBYTTS YSTWYTH.
YSBYTTS YSTWYTH. SHEEP SLAUGHTER.—On Saturday night, or rather early on Sunday morning, a large number of sheep grazing on the Drawsallt Common, belongmg to Ysbytty parish, were killed by dogs. Many besides were fatally mauled. The total number killed and wounded is about 70, all of which are lambs. The dogs were caught in the act, but were soon lost sight of, and so could'not be pursued to their homes. It is believed that the person who saw them was able to pick up sufficient marks to identify them. It is sincerely to be hoped that no stone will be left un- turned to make the owner or owners, of the dogs bear a share, if not the whole, of the loss of the owners of the sheep. Those who have suffered the heaviest losses are the following :—Mrs. Thomas, Pantyffynonucha (a striving widow); Messrs. John Parry, Mynachdy Joseph Edwards, Hendrefelen Thomas Lewis, Bwlchgwalltir; William Lewis, Bwlchybardd and Joseph Owen, Y Dderw. TONIC SOLFA.—On Saturday, June 24tb, Mr. R. D. Herbert, G.T.S.C., Lledrod, held an examination in Tonic Solfa in this place, when the following thirteen, out of seventeen presented, succeeded in gaining certificates :—Junior: S. Benjamin, Waun- wen M. Morgan, Tymawr; and M. J. Davies, Pen'rodyn. Elementary S. Davies, Ystwyth Villa; C. Davies, Gwarfelin E. J. Edwards, Gwarcwm D. Oliver, Pant y Chwarel and R. Edwards, Pen- dre. Intermediate C. A. Oliver, Pant y Chwarel D. Oliver, Pant y Chwarel and R. Edwards, Pen- are. Staff Notation, 1st Grade: M. Oliver, Pant y Chwarel 2nd Grade J. Davies, Black Lion. The teacher was Mr. J. Davies, Black Lion, to whose energy and ability the success of the class to a large extent is due. SCHOOL BOARD.—The ordinary meeting of the Board was held on Saturday, July 1st.—A vote of condolence was passed with Dr. Morgan, chairman of the Board, and his family in their bereavement, and also with the family of the late Capt. Peter Gar- land who had been a member of the Board for twenty one years.—Mrs. S. A. Jenkins, School House, was appointed assistant mistress at the school.—The Clerk was instructed to see that certain repairs were carried out at the schools a soon as possible.—The Board recorded their votes in favour of the following persons to represent the school boards of the county on the Court of Governors of the U.C.W.: Dr. Jno. Morgan, Pontrhydygroes Messrs. Peter Jones and D. C. Roberts, Aberystwyth, and J. H. Davies, Cwrt- mawr. — The attendance list for the week was examined and considered very satisfactory, the average being over 100.
BAMOUTII
BAMOUTII EXCURSION.—On Tuesday an excursion arrived from Llanuwchllyn, Bala, bringing in about 250 persons. WELSH LADIES CHOIR.—The Royal Welsh Ladies Choir will give performances in the town on Satur- day and Sunday, August 11th and 12th. TESTIMONIAL.—The Barmouth Urban District Council have decided to make a testimonial to Mr Evan Jones, assistant clerk at the Council Office, who has secured an appointment in Manchester. METROPOLITAN BANK.—The Metropolitan Bank have converted their sub-branch at Barmouth into a branch. Hitherto the Portmadnc Bank was the head branch. Mr William Williams, who has been sub-manager for a period of five years, has been appointed manager cf the branch. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR SOCIETY —A meeting of the Caersalem Christian Endeavour Society was held after the service on Sunday evening under the presidency of Mr Hugh Evans. An excellent paper was read by Miss Evans, Penmount, on the position of young women in chapel and church. BARMOUTH JUNCTION. — The refreshment rooms which Messrs Solomon Andrews and Son are con- strucing near Barmouth Junction Station are nearing completion. The houses in course of erec- tion on the site of the proposed new town are also being rapidly proceeded with. ISITORS.—There has been a gradual increase in the number of visitors during the past few days and in another week the town will be comparatively full. The U, ban District Council have p it in force stringent regulations as to boating and bathing, with the result that the dangers attendant upon these pleasure have been greatly lessened. PREACHERS.—At the WTesleyan Chapel on Sun- day, the Rev John Hughes, Bangor, preached, and at Chris-t Church the Rev E. H. Blackburn offici- ated. The Rev Newman Hall, the w.-1) known London Congregational minister, will officiate at the Congregational Chapel on two Sundays in August. HEAVY STORM.—Stormy weather set in on Sat- day night and the gale which was a very heavy one last. d until late on Monday night. There were occasional showers of rain. The wind, veering from S. W. to N. N. W., caused sudden changes in the weather. Although there was thunder and lightning in other parts of North Wales, Barmouth was absolutely free in this respfct RATEPAYERS' UNION.—At the last meeting of the Union, resolutions were passed asking the Council to re-consider their decision as to the charge to be levied on the Cambrian Railways Company fnr water, to make ewry effort to impiove the posta delivery, especially in the morning, and to put the Marine-parade in order without delay. The reso- lutions will be considered at the ordinary meeting to be held on Tuesday week. LAUNCH OF THE LIFEBOAT.—On Thursday even ing the crew of the lifeboat held one of their even ing exercises. The bellman having announced the launch, the quay and pier were crowded with visitors and townspeople who came to witness the event. The boat was successfully launched at nine o'clock and returned about two hi urs later. Bar- mouth can now boast of a permanent lifeboat crew. HARLECH DISTRICT NURSE.—Nurse Lewis of the Harlech District Nursing Association has been in- vited to the festival promoted by the Queen's Jubilee Nurse Association to be held at Kensington Palace this month. Medals and badges will be dis- tributed at the festival by H.R.H. Princes* Louise. Nurse Lewis, who is the eldest dauhter of Captain Robert Lewis, master of the s.s. "Telephone," ha- made herself remarkably popular amongst her patients. A CONCESSION.—The Cambrian Railway Com- pany have decided to grant the application made by the Urban District Council some time ago to re- move a portion of the fencing between the bridge and the offices of the Great Western Railway Com- pany in Beach-read. This will be a great boon not only to drivers of vehicles, who hitherto had to take a circular route, but to elderly people who are fre- quent travellers. They will now be able to utilise the road instead of having to go over the bridge On many an occauion passengers have lost thtrir train as the result of the difficulty exp rieuced in going over the bridge. COUNTY SCHOOL.—The'ordinary meeting of the Intermediate School Managers was held on Mon- day evening when there were present Mr W. J. Morris (chairman), Mr Lewis Lewis (vice-chairman), Dr D. A. Hughes, the Rev David Evans, M.A., Mrs Richards (Pensarn), Mrs Gwynoro Davies, and the Architect. Owing to examinations being C10- ducted at the School, the Headmaster was absent and the Clerk was unavoidably absent. Two of the persons invited to lay foundation stones wrote accepting the invitation and the other persons in- vited wrote stating that previous en- gagements prevented them from attending. It was agreed to invite other persons, it having been resolved that four memol ial st, nes should bl" laid in addition to the one laid by Mrs Dr Charles Wil iims, HeDgwm. The date fixed for the cere- mony is July 25th. The architect stated that th work in connection with the new buildings is progressing very satisfactorily. A certificate was submitted by him stating that the contractor was entitled to the sum of a £100. A cheque for that amount was drawn out, this being the first instal- ment paid to the contractor. Mr W. Lewis, Arthog, sent in his resignation as n; e of the managers representing L)ang lynin School Board. His resignation was accepted with deep regret, as he had been a very useful and regular attendant at all the meetings. It was resolved to write to the Clerk of the Llangelynin School Board requesting them to appoint his successor. The architect was requested to order the four native stones suitable for foundation stones, so as to have the names of those who lay them engraved thereon. It was stated that in all probability the school would be carried on in the new buildings early next year. The Clerk was requested to collect all fees and arrears now due before the end of the present term. The meeting was adjourned to Monday, July 10th, for the purpose of conferring with the Headmaster as to the date of opening and also to decide upon the number of scholarships and bursaries to be allotted for the ensuing year. HARBOUR TRUST.—The quarterly meeting of the Trust Committee was held on Monday at the,Boud room when there were present, Alderman Lewis Lewis, chairman Messrs John Evans, C.C., John Garnet, Edward Lewis, Wm. Jones, Wm. Morris, the Harbour Master, Treasurer, and the Seer, trry. —The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. -It was stated that matters arising therefrom had been attended to. The Clerk was instructed to write to the Urban District Council drawing their attention to the nuisance caused by the overflow of water into the Harbour under the Cambrian Railway bridge near St. David's Church and requesting them to remedy the same forthwith either by connecting it with the outfall sewers or by other means. The Harbour Master was directed to provide marIon the Quay where it is required. The former resolutions with regard to the use of the mortuary on the Quay was rescinded and new rules pertaining to the area were adopted. —It was agreed to notify the Coroner and Sergeant Williams of the new rules.—The Harbour Works Committee, with the Harbour Master, Mr Evans (the architect), and Surveyor, were instructed to visit Ynysbrawd and report at a future meeting the approximate sum required to rebuild the break- water on the western side of it which was damaged during the heavy gale of last spring.—Reference was made to the road which leads into the Quay and Harbour in front of the railway bridge.—It was stated that the occupiers of several of the large lodging houses on the road complained that it was not properly looked after during the summer months and that although they paid a large sum in district rates they were debarred from having the advantages of the scavenger's broom.—After deliberation, the Trust decided to employ a man to sweep the road during the months of July, August, and September.—It was further agreed that at the October meeting the matter of dedicating this road to the Urban District Council and from them to the public should be fully considered.—It was pointed out that about JESO is paid in district rates by the different parties concerned in this matter.—The Harbour Master, in reply, said that the channel through which the s.s. "Telephone" approaches her unloading berth was in good order. A sum of £150 was expended in deepening the channel at this point. NEXT YEAR'S RATE. — The Urban District Council met on Tuesday afternoon to consider the estimate of expenditure and receipts for the ensuing year and to levy the general district rate. The Rev J. Gwynoro Davies, the mayor, presided, and there were also present, Captain Evan Richaxds, Messrs Edward Williams, Hugh Evans, William Owen, Rd. Roberts, Owen Williams, H. Wynne Williams, O. W. Morris, Wm. George, clerk; Owen Jones, assistant clerk and John Adams, surveyor and inspector.—The Clerk presented the estimate as approved by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. The sum of £715 was put down in respect of public works, including JE40 for sewerage, f50 for water supply, f210 for main roads, f50 for other roads and improvements, f225 for scavenging and collection of. house refuse, and £140 for lighting. For general expenses £650 was voted, including £230 for salaries of officers, £200 for establishment charges, C10 for elections, £200for legal expenses, and £10 for infectious diseases. In respect of loans the sum of £2,534 19s 3d was voted, including £2,140 19s 3d in respect of instalment of proposed loans and interest thereon and jE394 in respect of proposed new loans. The total estimate of expenditure was £3,899 19a 3d. The estimate receipts totalled £357, including from the County Council £2QO in respect of main roads, £10 in respect of the Surveyor's salary, £23 in respect of Inspector's salary, and JE120 in respect of sale of materials, water charges, etc. After deducting the receipts, there was a sum of £3,542 19a 3d to be procured by means of the general district rate. He then proceeded to explain the correspondence which had transpired between the Council's solicitors and Messrs Booth and Co., the solicitors of the Penny Bank Company, since the sanction of the Local Government Board had been received to spread repayment of all loans over a period of sixty years instead of thirty years. From the correspondence it appeared that the Company were fully prepared to carry out the arrangements previously come to with him (the Clerk) when he visited Leeds last Febiuary. The effect of the con- cession by the Local Government Board was to lighten the burdens of the ritepayers to the extent of nearly £500 a year. Adverting to the estimate, the Clerk said the ratable value of the district was £10,500. and to meet the £3,542 19s 3d required, he recommended that a geueial district rate of 4s 9d should be levied. This would mean a decrease or Is on last year's rate. —During the dis- cussion which followed, it was stated that it was possible to reduce the rate by Is 3d or perhaps Is 6d, but this would be cutting it fine and might increase the burdens in the ensuing yelr: A rate of 4s 9d would have the effect of reducing the over- draft on the general account by £ 800,—Mr H W yune Williams movtd the adoption ot the esti- mate and that a rate of 4s 9d in the pound should be levied for the ensuing year, The water rate, 2s, would remain the same. A decrease of Is was considerable.—Mr Owen Williams seconded the proposition.—Mr Edward Williams moved an «niendment that a rate of 4s 31 should be levied. He considered that the Council could reduce the iate by Is 6d if they followed the basis on which the rate was levied last year.—Mr William Owen seconded the amendment.—The proposition was carried, only the propo>er and seconder voting for the amendment, whilst Mr O. W. Mori is remained neutral.—Later in the afternoon a telegram was received from the Penny Bank Company making a further concession, with the resu t trat a special meeting of the Council was held on Thursday (yesterday). -It was stated that the Council were now in a position to make a further reduction of 3d in the general district rate after providing liberally for contingencies -It was unanimously resolved to reduce the general district rate from 4s 9d to 4s 6d.
PWLLHELI.
PWLLHELI. BAND OF NIGGERS.—A band troupe of Diggers have commenced to play here this week. FAIR.—A cattle fair was held on June 28th. The fair was not as successful as the corresponding fair held last year. EXCURSION.—A heavy excursion from Bala arrived here on Thursday last. Tne day was tine and all enjoyed themselves very much. VISITORS.—The directors, General Manager, Engineer, and Solicitor of the Cambrian Railways ,spent the week-end at the West End Hotel. GOVEKNOR.—Captain D. Williams, Cardigan View, has been re-clt cted a governor of the Couuty School as representative of the Town Council. SUCCESS.—Mr. Hugh Hunt, Carnarvon road, has again been successtul in gaining a first class in an examination recently held in St. David's, Lam- peter. SOUTH BEACH COB.—The Council have invited Major O. Ll. J. Evans, Broom Hall, to open the South Beach Cob Tramway when completed. The Hon. F. U. Wynn, who had been previously asked to do so, declined. STEAMER.—Another extra steamer for the con- veyance of goods from Liverpool to Portdinlleyn has commenced to run. It is stated that when a few more are put on, the railway may be extended into Lleyn. COUNTY SCHOOL.—Mr Maurice Jones, Bodmeurig, has been elected parents' representative on the Board of Governors of the County chool. Ml Jones received thirty-seven votes; Mr Abel Williams, Abersoch, five and Mr John Williams, auctioneer, fifteen. OBITUARY.—Mrs Jane Thomas, mother of Capt. John Thomas, of Glanafon, Aberercb, died last week at her residence at the advanced age of 84. She was buried on Tuesday at Abererch. The funeral was private. The Rev D. Jones, vicar, officiated. NEW SHOPS.—Mr S. Andrews has completed four new shops in Cardiff road opposite the tram terminus, and the corner shop and the aojoining shop have been secured by Mrs AI nfield-olle for a music showroom and the other for stationery and a circulating library. EXCURSION.—An excursion from Dyffryn, Pen- sarn, and Harlech, to the number of about 700, arrived here on Tuesday of last week en route to Llanbedrog, where Messrs Solomon Andrews and Son had made preparations for their reception and provision. POLICE COURT.—At the Police Court, before the Mayor and Dr S. W. Griffith, Robert Green was charged by Police Constable Jones with having been drunk and disorderly at Pwllheli on the 8th June.—Fined 2s 61 and 6d costs.—Superin- tendent ^ones complained of the prevalence of street obstructions and stated that hoth Sergsant Jones and himself had called upon tbe delinquents, who viewed the matter very lightly and oidnot I pay due attention to the notice. As the matter was getting very serious, the practice must be put down. The matter was left in the i,a.nds of the police who would act as it was found necessary OBITUARY.—Mrs Williams Jones Parry of Madiyn Castle, sister ofthtiate Sir Love Jones Parry, Bart., and w fe of the late Dr Abraham Jones Williams, of Gelliwtg Hall, Bottwnng, died at Lyons in Franceon the 22nd of July. The body was brought for burial on Mooday week last to Llan dudno where the deceased lady's husband lies buried. Mrs Williams Jones Parry had sent ner luggageo,n to Madryn Castle some tirneago, in- tending to follow it very soon. It was her custom to spend a holiday every year in the home of her childhood. She travelled a great deal and was a splendid linguist, being abletospeak nine languages. She was a kind-hearted and charitable lady.
[No title]
REASONABLE. The following resolution has been passed by the Executive Committee of the Bangor Liberal Association :—" That this As- sociation, whilst claiming for our fellow-citizens in the Transvaal all rights to which they are entitled, deplore the apparent determination of her Majesty's Government to insist, even by force, upon an extension of the franchise, contrary to the terms of the London Convention, which" guarantee the independence of the Transvaal in its internal affairs and this Association desires to express to the local members of Parliament its recognition of their efforts to oppose such a policy and undertakes to support them in this matter in every way pos- sible,"