The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

THE SCHOOL DISPUTE AT I GWESPYB. GHEAT EXCITEMENT AT THE PUBLIC INQUIRY. TENANTS PRODUCE THEIR, NOTICES TO QUIT. I I OPPOSITION TO THE COUNCIL'S I PROPOSALS. Great excitement prevailed in th3 Gwcspvr I and Lla-nasa district on Saturday, when the Public Inquiry, ordered by the Board of Educa- tion, was held at the Wesley an Chapel, Gwcs- pyr, to enquire into th3 application of he Flintshire Eduoatica Authority fcr permission to buud a new school at Gwesnyr. The or- iginal application was to crect a second school at Trek>^n, but the Board of Education had already decided tut both schools were neces- sary, arrd the o:dy question to be decided was as to the site and size of the Gwespyr School. Long before the hour appointed for the in- quiry a large crowd assembled outside the doors of the chapel (a building capable of seat- ing about 20u), ^rid "uard was kept over the I entrance by three policemen, who refused ad- mission to LLil udtd the oSicials of the Board of Education arrived. The interested parties stood abouii ia groups, and discussed the situa- tion animatedly. As scon as the dcors of the.? chapel were opened there was a rush for seats, and the place was quickly filled with an excited crowd. Mr J. E. Taibot was the officer of the Board of Education appointed to conduct the investi- gation, and he was accompanied by Mr C. Jvttcn and Mr F. H. Oates, officials of tihe Ikiard, and by Mr L. J. Roberts. His Majesty's inspector of schools for the district. The i lIlr- shire Lducation authority were represented by their secietary, lr F. Llewelyn-Jones, and the County Council by the Ciork of the Pea<e, Mr R. Bromley. Amo-.g* the prominent members of the autho- rity. prtsent were Mr J. W. Summers, chair- man of the County Oouncil; Mr J. L. Muspratt, chairman of the Education Committee; Mr J. Herbert J.ev\is the member of Parliament for thu co,irfn Mr W. Elwy Williams, lihyl; and Mr Thomas Parry, Mold. Mr Robert Jones and Mr A M. RaUi, County Councillors for the district, occupied seats on the aide of the pulpit, whi'i the following took a kee-n interest in the proceedings, from their places in the chapel :-Couaty Councillor T. D. Jones. llhyl; County Councillor G. T. Williams, Prestatyn: Messrs J. Frimsion, Joseph Williams, Laniel Evans. Rhyl; Dr. To.vnshead. Mr R. Jones. Prestatyn; Mr Inglis, sub-agent to the Mostyn Hall Estate; Mr W. Bulocck, r.nd Mr Batters. Mr A. T. Davjes, of Liyerp.ool, appeared for parents who support the action of the Edacaticin Authority; Mr James Amphlett. Colwyn Bay, for Sir Pycrs Mc^styn, the principal landowner of the parish; Mr F. J. Gandin for Mr C. J. Batters. Alr W. Bukock, Sir Percy E. Bates, and other ratepayers, and also for the Rev. Lktyd Protheroe and the foundation inana- gers of ths Llanasa Church School; Mr A. A. Thomas, one of the ceunsel c.f the National Lnion of Teachers, on behalf of Miss Lombara, the former mistress of Talacre School, and for M*" Thomas, the present ma-ster of the GAi-espy tem|K>r<i.ry Council S-chool; and Mr Joseph" Lloyd. Rhyl, for the parents of 21 children at presont attending Talacre School. Lady Mostyn, of Talacre, and her daughters, occupied one of the pews. and near by was Mr Dawscci, the agent to her husband's estate. Mr Massie, M.P., who had called the attention of the House of Commons to the situatun at Gwespyr, occupied a seat by Mr Herbert Lewis ITC- on the opposite side of the chapel, and close to them wore tne ve:°rnn reformer, the Rev. Dr. Pa.n Jones, the Rev. John Owen, of Mold Rev. R. Jon" Hawar-ien; and other leading Non- coforinis-s of the county. The proceedings 00■ gan promptly at three o'clock, end the inquiry, marked by tense tee'tng throughout., and at times oy uncontrollable explosions of cheering or cries of disapprobation, did not conclude v itn nine o oLtck at ir Talbot piotesre.] again and agair.st the demons'-rations of feeling and twice threatened to adjourn the iE- quiry, a.nc! the) manifestations were less frequent the later sto-ge of the At cne time h; reminded the audienoe that they were not at a political meeting'. So great was the crush that it was almost impossible to get out of the ruom until towards toe close of the in The Inspector said before opening the inquiry he had been instructed to read t.he provisions of an At of Parliament entitled "An Act for the better protection of witnessis giving evi- dence before Royal Commission,or ".Ily coin mitteo of either House of Parliament, or other public inquiry" The section to which he pa.r- ticularly directed attention was the second, which provides that any person who threatens or in any way punishes, damnifies, or injures, or attempts to punish, damnify, or injure any per- son raving evidence before either of the bodies mentioned, unless such evidence be given in bad faith, shall be guilty of a mir-demennour and be liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of £100, cr a maximum imprisonment for three months. Proceeding to state the sub- ject of the inquiry, and what led up to it, the 'n Inspector said that on the 30& November. 1905. the local education authority gave notice of their intention to provide a new public elemen- tary sohool for 150 children at or Rear Gwes- pyr. in ths parish of Llanasa. The school was to be available for the township of Gwespyr a.nd portions of the townships of Gronant and Picton, ali in the parish of Llanasa. Objection was raised under the Educaiic- Act of 1302 to this proposal of the local education authority, and ultimately the Board of Education, on the 12th March, decided that the proposed school for 150 childr():1 at Gwespyr was necessary. A ques 'io --i was asked in the House of Commons as to whether, before finally deciding- the question of the si/la of the school, the Boa.rd of 'Educa- tion would sond down an official to t.he locality to inquire Kito the matter, and it was decided that this inquiry should be held. The inspector read the notice published in accordance with the statute, and it stated that the subject of the inquiry was the situation of the new public elementary school proposed to be provided, and the number of children such school should ac- commodate. During t.h? taking down of the names of the parties to the inquiry, objection was raised by- Mr F. Licw. Jones to Mr F. J. Ga-rnlin's state- ment that h appca-red for the managers of the Llanasa Nation u School, ¡;.nd his explanation that he represented the foundation managers oc- casioned an outburst of laughter and applause. The Inspector said he must ask them to re frain as far as possible from applause. He did not think it was a. very satisfactory form of ex- pressing opinion at a meeting called to inquire into facts as that was. Objection was also taken to Lady Mostyn's statement tha*. she appeared for a trustee of Talacre School, Mr Llew. Jones remarking that Talacre School was rot a public elementary school. Therefore, he submitted that the seve- ral managers of that school had no locus standi. The Inspector replied that it was a public inquiry. L--i,dy Mostyn observed that she had perhaps rather r:ot be there except to say that 'he Talacre Schools had been offered over and over again as rvon-provided schools. The Inspect'r said Lady Mostyn must have an opportunity of 1),attiher views. Ladv Mostyn: I am quite willing to be shut out (apnlause). The Inspector: Certainly not. The time will come when you can put your views forward. THE CASE FOR THE EDUCATfON AUTHORITY. Mr F. LLEW. JONES, who spoke with groat feeling, said he felt the responsibility ol the position in which he was placed. He "first pointed out that in all they had done the Edu- cation Authority was unimous. Alluding to the history of the controversy which had necessita- ted :his inquiry, he observed tnafc when the Edu- cation Act of 1902 came into operation one of the schools which oame under the control of the Flintshire Education Authority was the Roman Catholic school at Talacre, distant about a mile froir. Unit chapel. The Talccre school was treated by the authority on exactly the same terms as a.ny other voluntary sohooi in the county of Flint. -Ni rasked whether, inv of what the inspector had said, that the mqui-y ww only in reference to the site and accom- modation of the proposed school it was neces- 1arv to go into the controversy regarding the school. In the interests of time aaid of the peace of t-h tt, locality, he thought perhaps it might not be dvisa-ble to go into the history of tliat controversy. The Inspector replied that technically the subject of the inquiry was limited, but in these sort of inquiries he thoug-it it was advisable to allow a rather wide scope. This matter not being strictly relevant to the inquiry, he I asked Mr Li. Jones to deal with it as concisely as possible. Mr F. Llew. Jones added that as a result of the dispute between the managers of the Talacre Roman Catholic School a.nd the former head mistress, Miss Lombard, that school which is the property of a I charitable trust, was withdrawn from the oon- trol of the Education Authority, and was con- ducted as a "recognised" private school. The Authority wore anxious to arrive at a settlement satisfactory to all parties, but the attempt to arrange a compromise failed, and, there being no public elementary school in the district, the Authority unanimously decided that the only course open to them was to open such a school. That decision had been uphold by the Board of Education. It would 00 shown in evidence that the most advantageous situation for the new school was the immediate vicinity of the building in which the inquiry was now taking place. As to the accommodation which should be provided, the Authority were satisfied that a school for a smaller number than 1.0 would be insufficient. T:13 tempœ3.ry school had ac- I commodation for 60, and it had now 80 on its books, but he thought the Authority would at once take steps to find further temporary accom- modation. The number of 20 had been reached without the least inducement on the part of anyone connected with the Education Authority. Air F. J. Gamlin: We deny that. Mr LIew. Jones said that as to the site of the proposed new school, it would not be advan- tageous that it should be tmit elsewhere than in the ir, media to vicinity of the building in which the nc¡twy was being held (applause) There were gentlemen, the speaker went on to say, represented there that day who had sent memorial > to the Board of Education against the provision of any elementary school—(ap- piiiusi)—ar.J he submitted that their view on this question, tinged as it was by antipathy with any public elementary school whatever in that district, could not have any weight with the Board of Education in the decision of this question. It might be intimated that they were going to have difficulties in acquiring a site at Gwespyr. They were content to leave that 10 the future. Ii, tc use the words of the law courts, judgmont was in their favour, they would take the ,.eo:sr„ry steps afterwards to enforce that judgment as far as it might be necessary to enforce it (a.pplause). The Inspector: Please refrain from applauce, this is LOt, a political meeting (laughter). Mr Amphlett: If my friend wouid show less emotion, there would be less applause (hear, hear). Mr Jones having dealt with the number ol children in attendance a.t the temporary school, Mr Jones said he proposed to call a number of witnesses to tell the inspector what, had been going on in that little peaceful village and its surrounding daring the last few months. He would call ma-nagers of the school who had, within a fow days of that inquiry, been notified that they were to leave their farm holdings. No reason had been assigned, but one witness would tell them that he had been told that it was be- cause of his connection .yih this school (cries of Shame "). He would submit evidence that when the new school was opened most of the children of school-going age in Gwespyr would immediately seek admission to it. On this point he would have to call witnesses, who had, within a few days of the inquiry, been notified that they must leave their farm holdings, and who believed that the only reason for then- being evicted was their support of the new school (loud cries of "Shame"). When the Board of Education, through the Commissioner, had hea.rd what these men had to say they would, he felt sure; conclude that the district required a. school for all the children of school-going age in or near that village, for he believed that when the present reign of intimidation ceased these children would fork info it (cheers). A matter to which lie felt bound to call attention was a document typed on the Talacre Estate notepaper. It was signed by the agent, of the estate, and had been largely distributed among the householders of Gwespyr. The last sentence read: "It is only fair t-o let you know t^efore the inquiry that it will be useless for you to select a si.e at Gwespyr for the proposed new school, as those who do .not like the Talacre School, have already one in Gronant. It deir- lv meant that those of the villagers who were r.ot prepared to bow their knee to the owner of the est tie would be compelled to leave the homes which were' endeared to them and seek work a. J shelter in other places. He could not believe that such a thing as that wouid ever happen. 1\11' G::r¡Ù:1: It is cd] the creation oÍ your own mind. Mr Llewelyn Jones, proceeding, said that, if it should happen, owing to the policy he had described being carried out, that the new Council Schcol were unr.ecessa.ry a.t Gwespyr, the majority of the ratepayers of that parish and of Flintshire would be prepared gladly to contribute towards the of a building every stone ol which would be a silent tribute to the loyalty to principle and the sell-sacrifice of the men of Gwespyr (cheers and derisive laughter xrorn the opposing section of the audience). l\1r S. EV-AXS! county surveyor, pnt in a pbn showing the positions of the existing schools. The Gronant Council School and the Llanasa Church Sch'ol, he said, were li miles dist&r.l f:om Gwespyr. Replying to the Commissioners. Mr Llewelyn Jones saiii it was the view of the EducationAutho t a school for 150 at Gwer.pyr would- only suffice for the immediate district. In addition a new sehcol was to be built Trciog-a.n, at the oppo-ite border of the large parish of Lla-n- £ ,sa. and it would be necessary to rebuild the Gronant Co wed School, which had been con- demned. As to that" schiol, however, the autho lity had not yet come to a definite decision. Sever:! questions were put to Mr S: Evans a, to t.<e distance to (rt\!e, schools, and he rc- plied that he had taken the distances from the the map by the nearest public way. If he had msasured the roads with the up and downs the distance would be greater. • Lady Mostyn said that the distance to Gron- ant. Schcol was greatly reduced by the children being able to walk through the Talacre Park. O.i its being announced that Gronant School would have to be rebuilt as well as new schools a.t Gwespvr and Trelogan, Mr W. 13ukx,k iepied: Poor ratepayers. Lady Mostyn stated thai she believed Sir Pyers Mostyn had a ieady agreed to give land for enlarging Gronant &h001. CV.'DZNCS or 7-KANT3. Mr F.DY, JOXES. of Ty nyn-.orfa Farm, who was loudly cheered on entering the box, said he was a member of the Holywell Rural Dis- trict Council, acid was a me-r:ager of the Gwes- pyr temporary Council School. He had lived on the TaJacre estate icr 60 years, and had been a tenant for 58 years. His present farm he had occupied for eleven \'C<8. the rent of it being £323 Is per annum. Notice to quit had been served upon him. As he had never been ia arrear with his re-r.t, end no complaint had been made against him his manage ment of the farm. he could only think that the reason for his being removed was his supposed sympathy with the new Council School. Mr Amphlett objected to the evidence, and thought it was a pity to rouse the feelings of the people and to create discord in a district which had lived so peaceiu) (laughter). The Inspector said the evidence was to a cer* tain extent relevant.. Witness, p;weeding*, said that on November SCth he received a notice to quit his farm (pro- duced) Mr Lw..eY:1 Jones: You are to give up pos session of the land on November 30th next, and •oui housjon May (cries of "Shame") \Vltn >s ad led .hat in his opinion the new should be built within a quarter of a mile of the Wcsleyan Chapel, and that it should accommodate 150 children. Mr Batters: \1r Jones has no children of his own, a.nd so he does not want a. school (cheers and derisive Wr Amphlett said he was quite prepared to take up Sir Pvers Mostyn's case and to light it to the end. but he did not think that they were doing the right thing to create so much bad feeling. If the way things were going on was an index of the feeling- of the Education Committee, i was to be greatly regretted. About last Mai eh witness explained to Mr A. rj!.Daviec;, who examined him upon the point, that he met Sir Pvers Mostyn and asked the reason of his having then had notice to quit a lodge used as the dwelling of his married daughter. Sir Pyers, instead of replying, in quired why his grand-chiidresn were going to the Gwespyr temporary school, arid the witness an swered that the children did not belong to him, but to his daughter. Witnces, proceeding, said that on November 30th ha received a NOTICE TO QUIT his farm (produced). Mr Llewoiyn Jones: You are to give up possession of the land on November 30th next, and your house on May Ibt? — Yes (cries of "Shame"). Wit nets added that in his opinion the new school should be built witnin a quarter of a mile of the Wcsleyan Chapel, and that it should accommodate 150 children. By Mr A. T. Davies: He knew of no reason outside this school question why he had received notice to quit. Last March he had notice to ojult in respect of a cottage, and when he ackcd Sir Pycrs Mostyn the reason Sir Pyers asked him about his grand-children being fent to the temporary school, and witness said he could not help it. By Mr Gamlin: The proposed provision of school accommodation was for Gwespyr and the neighbourhood. He did not want children to come from Llanasa and Ffynnongroew. There was only one now from Ffynnimgroew and none from. Gronant and Llanasa. Mr Gamlin: I suggest tha.t they have been withdrawn a.nd brought from Ffynnongroew and other places in order to swell the number (loud cries of "No"). Is that right or wrong? — Wrong. Witness added that his daughter who used to live a.t tho lower lodge had been turned away. By Mr Amphlett: Witness's farm was the home farm, and in Sir Pycrs's father's time it :#■ f was occupied with the house. He never knew of apy attempt to turn the children or anv of the tenants into CatholiŒ (apnlause). Can you point in all Walœ to a. better land- lord than Sir Pyers Mostyn?—Whatever I want from Sir Pyers I get from him; fairplay to him; Sir Pyers himself is very good. Witness, in reply to another question, said that In February last he thought a* new school was not necessary, but things were altered now. Mr Amphlett: What is altered? Witness was unable to make his reply clear in English, and there were loud cries of "Welsh," "Speak Welsh," followed by applause. The Inspector, who had made several attempts to suppress the interjections of the people, said that if they continued he wsa afraid he would have to adjourn the inquiry. Replying to Mr Llewellyn Jones, Witness said that neither Sir Pyers nor his agent had told him that his farm was wanted in order to be turned into the home farm again. Mr A. T. Davies: Is the instruction in the TahMro School now given by nur: — Yes, now. Where is your daughter now living? — She sleeps in a room belonging to my house, and is living in the Granary (cries of "Shame"). John Owen, of Bryniiystyn Farm, said he was one o: the managers of the temporary school, and an elder and treasurer of the Methodist chapel. His farm was 79 acres, a.nd his rent, which had never been in arrear, £100. There had been no dispute between him and the land- lord, but he received notice to quit on the 30th November. By Mr A. T. Davies: Witnces asked Mr Daw- son, the agent, if there was anything personal against him, and the agent said "No," and that it was on account of the bother about the school ("Shame"). Mr Davies: Anvthing else?—And the Land Bill. "That did you say?—I said I had been there a very long time, and was one of the oldest tenants, and he said he could not say anything final that day. W itness added that he was in favour of a county school at Gwespyr to accommodate 150 children. By Mr Gamlin: He was prepared to pay his part of the cost. He thought schools were necessary at Gwespyr, Grona-nt. and Trelogan. OBJECTIONS TO NUNS. By Mr Lloyd: He objected to the "sisters" 3.S t.22..CIl C ;-s. But there are a great number of people who do not lind a uiiticultv?—Not in this village. By Mr Thomas: While there were lay teachers in tne Talacre School you were satisfied?—Yes. By Mr Amphlett: Miss Lombard, who was a Catholic, exercised no religious influence. He did not know whether or not the nuns did, and did not know if there were seventy or cignty pupils at Talacre now. Public opinion was against the nuns. Are you afraid of them?—Yes; but I know very little about them. Are you prepared to say that you got notice because of your interference about tne school? —Yes. How do you know it? — Because there is nothing personal against me. I am blamed for having had a hand in it, though I had not. I have told Lady Mostyn that, an she said I could have prevented it. By Mr A. T. Davies: He had received the following letter from Sir Mostyn:—"Dear Air Owen,—As you say, aU your children were educated at Talacre. 1 did the best 1 could tor your good and respected w.te, and have been very deep.y pained at the course you have taken against me. You have had a chance to ioi your feelings be known, which have not been ioyul. No one regrets more than I do to be at tne necessity to give you notice. It is a great pain to us all.—Your faithfully. PYERS W. MOSTYN." Have you ever been disloyal to your landlord? -No- Have you been -actuated in this matter by any feelings against your landlord?—No. Have you had any quarrel or dispute w:th your landlord'!—No; we are satisfied to be his tenants. Witness added that he objected to the present school at Talacre because there was no public control and no conscience clause. John Blythyn. farmer and shoemaker, M.id he had been tenant of Sir Pycrs Mostyn for twenty-seven years. IE" gre.9.í.tr,a:ld'fathcr, grandfather, and uncle had occupied the farm, and hi" grc3.t-gra.nclfa t h-or ha-d enclosed a part of it from the mountain. Witness had received notice to quit. At a meeting at Llanasa. early this year, at which Sir Pvers's agent was pre- sent, witness voted in favour of schools at Gwes- pyr and Trelogan. By Mr A. 'i. Davies: Lady Mostyn was pre- sent at the meeting, and aeked that the dissension should end, and tnat they should be a.t peace. Since then notices to qll:, had been received. He had received no complaint about his farming. He had been askeJ to pay k's rent month.y, .and Mr Davison, the agent, told him Ql tin: 5th ult. that he was leading "the others not to do He also shown a piece of paper intimating that after November lot his rent would be increased in consequeneo of the building of new schools in the parish. By Mr Gamlin: His rent was ;S10 lOs. He knew that tnrce-.ourtlis of the cost of the schools would la.! on the parish. Very likely a corscuier- able amount v.ou.d ia.l oJ¡!:ltyeri3. AJ ha really wanted was public control. Dou you know mat the temporary school is BO insanitary that one 0; the scholars has died from diphtheria: The Inspector: We have nothing to do with that. Mr Amphlett You have, been treated very well, have you not?—I paid the rent every ;>ear and he made me lepair his property. What h-L-i made you stay so long if he has treated you 6U badly?—Because the place IS my home, and is sacred to me as the home of my ancestors. Have you not given a lot of trouble with your rent?—No, sir. I have always paid it promptly and punctually, ao my receipts will show. Mr A. T. Davies: You pay rates on vcur house?—I do. And if schools were put up you wouid have to pay increasczi l<ltC'6?-Ycs And you fail to see why the rent shjind be put u!-I do, fir. Thomas G. Jones, clerk of the Llanasa F., rifh Council, 5tatcd thi.t at a parish 1Il,j:j ad- journed from the 28th February :o the J4;h March a resolution supporting the action of the Count? Council was balloted on and 1-avied Ly 135 to 12. Mr Gamlin examined witness to show tn.1t client's absence fro:1) th0 adjourned I <-onrig accounted for the large majority. tnat meet- ing, witness said, the Rev. Pan Jones said he would sooner divide the world with :he devil than divide a scliool with Roman Catholics, because he would know what to expect. J( I¡: the devil (laughter). Mr Amphlett: The general eeling was that there wa3 NO MORE POPULAR LANDLORD IN NORTH WALES than Sir Pyers Mostyn. Sir had never, to his knowledge, cried to get 1 e people to adopt his own ichgion. J. B. Thomas, master of the Gwespyr tem- porary school, said that in January there were iorty-rive children on the register, and now eighty. He denied having touted for scholars, lie believed the bulk o tne children now going ta Taiacrc would attend the new school. There were some Catholic children in the tem- porary school. By Mr Lloyd: He did not think it was necessary to build the school further away in the interests either of educational efficiency or the harmony of the district. The Rev. D. Meurig Jones, Weslcyan minister, also gave evidence in support of the scheme. Replying to Mr Davies, he said he believed a reign of terror existed in the village, and that the notices to quit had had the effect of making a good many people afraid to express their views. IVople were expecting omething to happen every day. By Mr Lloyd: He suggested that some children were sent to Talacre School because the pa-rents were afraid. If that school were re-opened on the old conditions there would be no demand for a new school. Bv Mr Amphlett The supporters of the County Council were stronger in numbers and in moral influence, though not financially, than those of the Talaore School. He was frightened of the nuns as a religious order, and because of their vows. What do you know of their vows?—Very litt'e. Do you suggest there is any influence to in- duce a Protestant child to become a Roman Catholic-?—I suggest there may. I believe there is a Roman Catholic influence influencing the children there now. Mr A. T. Davies: The claim is that there must be a Roman Catholic atmosphere throughout. Do you object to the children of a parish that Is overwhelmingly Nonconformist being sur- rounded with the teaching of "sisters" in a Roman Catholic atmosphere for five hours a. day at)d five days a week?—I do. Moses Davies. called bv Mr Davies. said he occupied a small farm of seven or eight acres under Sir Pyers Mostyn, whose tenant he had been for forty-eight years, and he had paid his rent of f21 regularly. He was a deacon of the Oalvinistic 'Methodist Church at Gwespyr, where the temporary school was held, and t.he school- master lodged with him. He had received notice to quit, and his son, who had been employed in the gardens of Talacre Hall, had been dis- charged, a.nd superseded by a Roman Catholic. No reason for the notice to quit had been given. By Mr Amphlett: He had not agitated.for a school. He tnought he got the notice because he wa -lodging the schoolmaster. You don't know the reason?—No. -=- Mr Amphlett: And I don't think Sir Pvers Mostyn is bound to come hero to tell you either (cries of "He is"). Mr Da viee: Is it usual for landlords in Flint- shire to give notice to old tenants without a scrap of reason?—No, indeed, sir. William Griffiths, a manager of the temporary school, also supported the scheme. He was pre- pared to pay towards the cost, and wouid sell all his property for the sake of his conscience. Mr Gamlin: You don't mind sacrificing Sir Pyers and others?—They would nay their share. Mr Gamlin: The lion's share would be paid by Sir Pyers. r Garnlm, speaking on behalf of some of the larger ratepayers of the parish, com. rl IJcd that the Board of Education had oorne to the ccnc'iuit oil that- a Council school was required w:thcut hea.riug the objections. He o.ierod a petition from a la.rge number of ratepayers ag-nst the proposal. The Inspector that objections to the pro.pcfi.als v.ere roceived and cor>ciered by the Board in the ordinary way. CHURCH SCHOOL EVIDENCE. Mr Gaiiilm thou suggested,that the Beard of Lduc-at.iCLi should ooms:<ler whether a school at Gronant should be substituted for the one protK.eed for Gw^bpyr. He ccnipla-med of the partisan spirit of tne Fiuiit'thiie County COlin- oj :ntl triG!f C>rk. lie called William Buieock, J.P., quarry proprietor, of G.\ooó;pyr, who gave h:1 account; or various In3-Cltl.c..gS held in tho parish. Ho and his f rieiKiS did not «.ttond the Ffyiii.c..groew nioi-tin-g bocaute Sir Pyors had p- to carry 0:1 the Talacro school as before. 11e thought if they were to ha<e addit.onai school aec-mmodiii'itu it would be better to tulars-e the- G-roinant Council Schoc: LuAiy Mostyn said that bir Pyers had offered land for that purpose. Witexts replying to Mr A. T. Davies, sai-d he thought that, after tho way .the lloetyn iiad supported education in the district feir fifty years, the way they 1 ai been treated was a scandal and a shame. Mr Davies You expect people to bow to the wiohes of the Mostyn family :—Certainly not. Vo you approve of thE.o(;ice!5 \,0 q_'it—1 don't know anything about that. I am not going to express any opinion of anotaor man's conduct. I Then why do yen condemn your neighbours, air?—I don't condemn them. Mr C. J. Batters, a ratepayer, asked if a school for 18 were built at Gronant, and an- other for 150 at Gwoo-pyr, what was to becoma of the Church Schcol at I lanasa ? Vhey would be draining it at bith ends. In con_ rootion with the proposed public expenditure, ho thought the CJounuy Co.,moil to re- cognise the possibility of hits (tiie Point or Air) collier" which employed 600 people, coming to an ecitd owing W &omc a.ccidc.¡¡t. The Rev. William Lloyd Protheroe, vicar of Llanasa, c.a.i.d there were 110 chi.id.ren attending his school, a.nd there was accommodation for 159. If schools were put up both a.t Trelogan I and at Gwespyr, b-c Llanasa school might as well be clocXjd. He deeply depkied the ieeiin(j in tho parish, bat, as vicar, preferred not to express any opinion on thc pœitiJn. Mr Amphlett, i,1 addressing the inspector, said tiie state of ilLfeeliiig in the parish did not lie with Sir Pycrs Mostyn. The whole difficulty had arisen owing to a quarrel, with the head mistress. ACTION AGAINST LADY MOSTYN. Mr A. A. Thomas said that the lady in qucston (Miss Lombard) had already taken a oourso to clear heiseif and to bring Lady Mostyn before the ordinary tribunal, and he did not think the matter should be di-ieusee-d at that inquiry. Mr Ampnlett, proceeding, complained cf of tact in tne matter an the part of tho "ounty Goanc.i, and of virulence and aggr^.ssiverieso on the part of Mr A. T. Davies. 'ii.ere was no ill feeling, ho exuid. between Pye-rs and his tenants, lie had 4.1,0 tenar.t. they had heard of his character as one oi th.3 best landlords Ul Wales, anJ 50: ho was I (iaughi/er). Ho lived among-st his te.. n!s and speiit a is moorey around hiu houoo (loud laugh- ter). It was pitiful that ag.tato.s should make mischi'ef and that ex-par to statements should bo made i.u Parliament. Though 3Jr Pyers hud 450 tenants, only thirteen notices bad been served in all. including cottrgcrs. "I will l.ot call ëir Pyers," taid ;\1r AI1ITJhkt.t: HI would nut- insult him by calling him before a meeting of this disgraceful character" (uproar). The Inspector: It would be just as well to refrain auy derogatory iel>rcnc<s to the character of the inquiry (applause). Mr 4rnphlott: I don't moan t,(> impute any- thing except tho partiRant-hip shown. Mr À. T. Davies: This is an inquiry of tho Bond cf Education. Inspector: Y"c*u must not make any re- ÜC"é:td)!1 û11 trw character cf the inq ulry. M, Amphlett repeated that he would not oall Sir Pycrs to answer why ho had giv^nthe thirteen notices. Th-ey had been given for reaeorih of his own. He (Mr Amphlett had suggested them in crcss-cxamination 8Del would leave them where the" were. •Mr Davies: Ycur suggestion has indig- nantly refuted. Mr Amphlett, proceeding, said it wris admit- ted that Sir Pyers had attempted to bring try) children to liis own belief. 1102 had £15,000 0:1 the education cf the distirct, ¿¡,rJd there was nothing ia his mini 0-, heart to persecute his tcn8.C;t3. Mr Davies The only way to support that is by evidence. Lady Mcetyn (who hsd previously interposed several times in an indistinct voice): We will do it if you like. Mr Amphlett: I must; advise against that course (laughter). I want the bitter feeing to bM increased. It would Lot have helped tho fooling between landlord and ten- ants if I had brought him hero to-uight. SIR PYERS WILL NOT BE COERCED. and will not have tho mailed fist pu'; up to him. He is his own master, but the tenants Ol the estate have lWLt.\Ü¡¡g to fear hom him, and they ought to know it after they have been on the. estate for years. They ought to have had the good sense not to have allowed these things to be stated, arid bitter feelings brought into that meeting. The onlv thing he waiita is for his tarunis and the ratepayers in the matter of school provision. If he decided to leave his homo in Wales there would n serious drop ion the ratable value, tho farms would be maiia^od entirely by an agent. Tha.t would not help tho district, end I ask the people not to continue this bitt-orness. My sole reason for op peeing this school is that it will saddle the parish with a very heavy ex- penditure, and would not; conduce to good edu- cation. If the schools are to be built, I advise that the c-oet should 00 kept down ..6 far as possible. S.r PYOIS, Mr Amphlett revested, does not intend to bully his tenants, and he will not allow himself to be coerced. Mr Joseph L!oy<< said it wiio an unwarrant- able slander to suggest that parents wer" com- .1 to send their children to Talacre school. He was in a position to call parents to eay that there was no eooii^ion whatever. If there was any terrorism in tho viII. ge that- meeting 3howoo which side it was on. Mr Llewellyn Jones said he admitted that the majority of tho children who wont to Talacro were sent vc-Iuntarily. LADY MOSTYN INTERVENES. Lady Mostyn ot Talacro then addressed tho inspector with reference to the children tending Talaere School. A reference (-0 Mr Herebrt LewiG, M.P., brow, "L that gentleman to his feet, and he read a letter which he had front to her ladyship on May 15 latt, in which he told her that he was informed that se-vcral cottagers had been marked for notices to quit, and that the rents of others "had been raised. "Surely," the letter added, "there is scone deplorable mistake about this. I cannot believe that the 'ialacre Mostyn family is acting otherwise than fairly to their te 1 Mints. He went on to appeal for peace, and in reply Lady Mostyn told him that she had nothing whatever to do with the manage- mcÜlt. of the estate. Lady MotsIy.il: All those who have had their r-Mits raised stand up, and these who have been coerced to &2.n.a thir children to school (thore was no response). The Inspector said Lady Mostyn must call evidence as to that. Lad" Mostyn: I have no evidence any- body has been ooeroed. because it; has not taken place. The Inspector: Would you Lke to call Mr Dawson 1 Lady Mo&tyn: No. just want to say that we Irave no knowledge of anyone having been coerced, or of any ranis having been raised except wh0re we doubled thc oot;tage6. Pro- ceeding, her l idyship said their only object was to make, the Talf-cre School of the meet uoe to the people. Some people wanted to wase J35000 in building. Sir pYOrE. had srxnt on education ir, fifty years, and they were now being at.taekod by the County Councih is not a Catholic oiuestion," she said; "these schools aro fleeh of our fiosh and bone of our bone and these schools belong to the people." Her ladyship was understood to add uat Mr Muspratt and Mr Summer6 ha-d askod hel" 1Í the school could bo sold to t. County Coun- cil The Inspector eaid that if the Talacre Schools were acquired by the County Council the whole situation would bo ohanged. If her ladyship wished that, the offer should be sent in to the Council in a formal way. Mr Llewellyn Jones said that a meeting of the education authority would be held in January, at which such a proposal could be considered. La.dy Mostyn said that many proposals had been made by them, but Sir Pyers wr never to be considered. "The County Council," she remarked, "have hun.g us unheard." Miss Mostyn suggested that the inquiry should be adjourned, but The Inspector siuid he had to finish it that day. —————— B—irr—nnminTTiHiwiPi m 11 IMHIL—».MuniHtfc<rrin^^ Lady Moetyn The sisters have been cleared off the board, the Catholics have been ciearod oft, and so the Council have nothing to say about it. I otter the public to have M og Lomba^t back if they will ft|ve her. Will you consider where the 75 children are to go tc if Talaore Schools are ckecd to them 0.1 Mon- day ? Mr A. T. Davies here observed that as thg schools were a charitable trust school could not be closed like that. "). Mr A. T. Davies addreesed the inspector. That inquiry, he said, was unparalleled in tho history ot Wr.ies. He attributed the present Fstr.t-e of things to an endeavour to get rid of the teacher at Talacre, an endeavour to get 00ri.trol over the sehool. :1:1 ioi endeavour on the part of ir Pyors Mostyn to stand betnveeir the people ana their o-ii.jbc.eno.s and their rights as British citizens. He hoped repre- sentations would be made to the H-o;¡.nJ of Education with the result that a. t-chooi would b3 built with walls that would be wails of freedom, arid to which parents would be able to send their children, freo from "sister," or nun, or priest. It was t.hc landlord v, ho was alo;.o io.3p:» .s.b'.e for what had recoiled upon him, and he earnestly hoped that under 'the new order of things the rights of the rvopie- would be respected, and that every vec.tge of oervility would be swept avriv. Tho inquiry, which had lastod over five hours, elosod with a vote of thanks to .he inspector and the singing by the peor.'ie of "The land of my f.dhc 1":0.

PIGS UlN ittLi INSTALMENT PLAIN. PEClii.i(lR CASES FROM PSEITATYN. Two cases relating to the of pigs, from Prestatyn, were with at tile Knyi County ■ LOuii, 011 iiiuay. Miii iiiuzaoota vViliiaa&s, of Chapel-row, Pres- tatyn, sued lÜrt:) Margaret Morgan, of tne Royal Ua.K, Piesvatyn, .or icu, twuuuoe due for two pigs. lUr Jü. H. Roberts appealed ior piain. thf, and Mr J. Pierce L-eYd,j to. the defendant. i'lii^utitt s case was that in ltwj she bOid de- fendant two pigs, and hiid received various small sums on account, tne lust payment being- is, on March 5tn, laud, reducing tne gum to ice.. No account was kept, bat p.dlt111 said her memory very g-ooo. She soid the pigs to defendant belore sfte wad married, defendant s maiden name A being Jones, he alleged tluit defendant said f she would not pay the ba.ance because plain- tilt had told deiendant's brother-m-law about it. In cross-examination, the plaintiff denied that the money was due in respect of two pigs bought by defendant's mother twelve years ago. She ad- mitted that defendant bought and ¡,d for three pigs three years ago, altnougli the then owed money on tHe two otner pigs. She alleged that- deiendant paid small sums on account, as little as 1d,2d, or 3d, and had oniy pa.id Is since- she was married, and that was on Marcn 5th, 1905. Mr Pierce Lewis here produced a calendar, and said that the day was a Sundav. Plaintiff then said she received the Is on a Saturday, at the Royal Oak. Piestatyn. Defendant was called, and stated that her mother owed money for a pig bought twelve years ago, and she (defendant) would not paY it because p.amtiff had told all the village about it. The only pigs she had bought from plaintiff were three, four years ago, and &he paid for them the day she sold them. She denied paying plaintiff Is at tho Royal Oak. The Judge said plaintiff ha.d not proved her case, and he felt it was one of great suspicion. The tame plaintiff sued Mr Edward Pritchard, 6, Cement-terrace, Prestatyn, for 1& 9d, balance in respect of a pig sold to defendant's wifct eieter of the last defendant. Piaintirr said that 2s 6d had been paid out of and the last Is was received from Pritchard at the Royal Oak, the same day as the defendant in the hist case paid her Is. Whe« she asked defendant for the money he eaid he knew nothinv (1,bout it.. Defendant said his wife had left him. and he knew nothing about the nig until a butcher if it was for sale. He did not receive the motley for the pig. The Judge said that defendant should have called his wife. In her absence he would ha-ve to pay. Roth C3.e. were vorv sunjcious, he had ha pod that the wife "would" have been called in the case. An order for 0tJ" month was made.

FOR TttAT WINTER CUUCH. TAKE PEPS AND BREATHE THE BHEATH Of THE RICH PiKE-FGSEST. There are over forty millions of people in the iiiriusli isles, and it is declared that one in every tea is troubled v» ith a wiuter cough.. It nisy be "only a simple cough," aud peoole u.e to bu^y to trouble about bearab^ ailments now-a-days. But u winter coug*1 is never so simple that you can afford to jt'nore it. It conies through neglecting cold, and may go away again when sprifl £ comes rounu. But it has caused 6ei«»otiS mischief to the delicate tissue of the luhgs and bronchial tubes, and when the codgh comes back next winter the mischief is ag gravated. ihen the cough becomes chrolJlC, and lasts all the year round. I- It is just for 'this kind of trouble thl" Peps provide the ideal, treatment. Y011 solve a little Pep 011 your tongue breathe into your weary bungs the hcahll breath of the rich pine woods." In yOll oiin home, or at your work, a handy box 0 Peps endows with the wonderful bCIl fits of the pineair treatment, which made the pine-forest resorts of Switzcrlafl and Norway so famous. < Peps will care the worst cough or co"> They are absolutely sate, beiug free fro^ narcotics or dangerous drugs, and free i'0^ cubebs, stiamonium, ammouiated compoiU103 and other irritating substances. 4 Don't neglect that winter cough, 3^ don't meddic with unscientific, Itoiless, a»j often dangerous cough syrups and mixtures, which do not and cannot rea your lungs when they are swallowed your stomach. ill Peps may be obtained of all chemists, a handy pocket box at Is lid-, °J niO" a large family size. Post tree r.t the prices, direct from The Peps Pastille L<> Carlton Hill, Leeds-

NEIGHBOURS' DISPUTE AT PRESTATYN. ALLEGED TRESPASS BY &HEEP. i On Fridav, at the Rhyl County Court, Mr Wihiaine, P.astinon, Piestatyn, bued his nc& bour, Mr I). Brookes, for recovery ot £ 1 alleged to have been extorted trom him by re„s. Mr F. J. Gamlin appeared ior the [>•» tiff, and Mr John H. Roberts tor the oc ^Mr Gamlin said that on November 12th, of the plaintiff's sheep got on to the defenda land, and the plamtnf alleged that defend^ hedges were in bad condition. Defendant pounded the ehecp and demanded Is tor the trespass. Plaintiff refuse- to pay £ and tendered £ 1, but defendant refused it; »' when his (Mr Gamlin s) managing clerk wc and offered the money, de enda-nt was foui guarding the sheep with a stick, and hi& ton armed With a bill-hook. Deiendant had to paid B2 12s before he would reieasc the Shetl- and plaintiff now claimed for a return Plaintiff gave evidence, and stated that dant dared anyone to touch the sheep. Replying to Mr Holland Roberts, the P'a\ tiff admitted that a large party apprc«achcd t. gate over which defendant and his son keeping guard, and that two policemen a-nd veterinary surgeon were included in the party well as Mr Gainlin's managing clerk. 1 The Judge: Is not this a matter that shot*' be settled out of Court? The parties arc ncign" bouring farmers. A discussion arose as to what was the anioU' of trespass, and whether the money was pal ;j under duress. f The Judge sa.id that in some paces d P r' head per week was ail that was charged fo sheep grazing. He felt that Is per head for o night was an unwarrantable charge. Mr Roberts eventually agreed to judgm^ for JB1 1&3 against the defendant, with costs. «» The Judge (to the parties): I hope you will 1,0 go home and be friends. You are Reighbou^' 60 don't quarfrel.

Mr J. E. Ellis, Under secretary fot Incii^' has resigned <ha-t position on account of health. 1. A meeting' of Tariff Reformers was held ) Chester on Saturday, and addressed bv Mr A. S. Hewins (secretary of the Tariff Coming sion), who "poke with special reference to t. forthcoming Colonial Conference. A LADY STATES. Mrs. Wilkinson, of Nelson, fays:My who suffered from weak kidneys, took « n<? KV and it h.13 done her more good than pound ■» sP1'1 on medical men, i, j Sufferers from Gravel Lumbago, Pains J" Back. Ilmnsy. Diseases of Kidneys, Sct»u Ithoimn :-m. and Gout, will And positive cu|H} HOLDKOYD'S GRAVEL P1J-LS. Is. Hd-, fr Chemists. Post free. 12 stamps, from My*' ROYD'S MEDICAL HALL, G.eckheaton,