The Aberystwyth Times Cardiganshire Chronicle and Merionethshire News

TO ADVERTISERS. ALL ADVERTISEMENTS sent to the ABER- YSIWYTH TIMES are also inserted, without extra charge, in the CAMBRIAN NEWS AND MERI- ONETHSHIRE STANDARD, and thus find their way to a large circle of readers in Merionethshire and Carnarvonshire, as well as Cardiganshire. Advertisements should be sent, not later than Thursday evening if intended for publication in the current week, to the Publisher, PHILIP WILLIAMS 12, Bridge-street, Aberystwyth. OIL PICTURES.—The attention of all lovers of the Fine Arts is called to a series of copies in oil of ,some of the best works of the Italian Masters. They are executed by an Italian artist, and will bear comparison with pictures sold at ten times their cost. The following subjects are on view at ASKEW ROBERTS & Co's., Oswe-try- The First Lesson.14 in. by 11 in F. Buzzi A Romance of the Lagunes 24 18 Gastolni Faust and Margaret. 18 13 B. Guiliano The Kiss 19 „ 16 F. Hayez Tomb of Romeo 18 „ 13 T. Cremona The above, in elegant gilt frames, can be supplied at prices ranging from 15s. to 60s. Other subjects will be received rom time to time. rpHORLEY'S Horse and Cattle Spice will Coax the Appetite A wh' n a l other compounds have failed.—In Penny Packets only.—To be had of all Grocers, Druggists, and Corn Dealers in the Country. rORLEY'S Horse and Cattle Spice will prevent Scour in Calves, and cause them t» thrive amazingly.—See that the Inventor's Signature is on each Penny Packet.—Boxes containing 56 Penny Packets, 4s. dd. fach.—To be had of all Grocers, Druggists, and Corn Dealers in the Country. NOTICES. To CORRESPONDENTS. -We must request those who kindly furnish us with report of local events (which we are always glad to receive) to send their communications to the office as early as possible. NORTH WALES CHURCH TRAINING COLLEGE.—We have received a letter protesting against certain "false state- ments" which, we are informed, have been made re- specting the teaching at this college, and asserting in the most positive terms that that teaching is strictly conso- nant with the generally accepted principles of the mem- bers of the Church of England. We should have in- serted the letter with great readiness but that none of the statements referred to have ever, that we are aware of, appeared in our columns, and most of our readers would not know to what the letter referred. If any such statements have appeared, and our correspondent will refer us to them, the letter shall appear.

The City of Durham has returned from its fruitless cruise in search of the City of Boston, the underwriters have refused to effect any further insurances, and all hope of the safety of the missing steamer must, we fear, be abandoned. -In the House of Commons the Peace Preser- vation Bill has been making good progress, and will speedily become law without material modification. -From abroad the most important intelligence comes in the shape of a letter from the EMPEROR to Mr OLLIVIER, which we give in another column, and which has been accepted with great satisfaction by all but the extreme Imperialists.— The trial of Prince Pierre Bonaparte has continued during the week.

A contemporary recently corrected the report that only eight or nine hundred pounds had been collected towards the Evictions Fund, by showing that the sum credited to Montgomeryshire was altogether wrong, a con- siderable amount having remained in the hands of the treasurer of one district which came more immediately under our notice. It was said at the time that the same thing had, no doubt, happened in other districts, and we now learn that more than 21,600 has been paid into the National Provincial Bank, Aberystwyth, to the credit of the fund, exclusive of several large donations. The result of the debate on the second reading of Mr OSBORNE MORGAN'S Burials Bill cannot be considered altogether satisfactory. The second reading was carried by an overwhelming majority, almost two to one, but another motion, to refer the Bill to a select committee, was also carried. In this case, however, the select com- mittee, it may be reasonably hoped, is hot a mere expedient for quietly burking the Bill. Mr BRUCE, who accepted the principle of the Bill, promised that it should soon come downstairs again, and unless the Government are very blind indeed to the importance of retaining the confidence of their party, the HOME SECRETARY'S promise will be kept. The Bill, in fact, will be converted into a Govern- ment measure, and will then, no doubt, pass into law- unless, indeed, the House of Lords should choose to reject it. Mr MORGAN moved the second reading in an effective speech, in the course of which he adduced the incidents at the funeral of the late Rev. HENRY REES as an example of the hardships of the present law. The large number of petitions presented by Mr HOLLAND and others would be an answer, if answer were needed, to a letter from the Vicar of CARNARVON which has appeared in the Standard. Mr EDWARDS is ill-advised enough to write- The unscrupulous leaders of the political dissenters of Wales have been making great efforts, by means of a deputation that waited upon the Premier, and other agencies, to make it appear that the Welsh people are in favour of the godless education" scheme of the Birmingham League, in preference to Mr Forster's Bill. That the leaders and agitators have taken that position is quite true, but the serious, sincere, religious dissenters (of whom theTe are many thousands in Wales) have declined to stand with them on the irreligious platform. Strangely enough, Mr EDWARDS makes use of a petition in favour of the Bill,—signed, he says, by 1500 persons, many of them earnest dissenters-in support of his asser- tions but what about the almost innumerable petitions on the other side, which have gone up from all parts of the Principality? Out of his own month is Mr EDWARDS condemned-and the next time he writes, with the intention of making any impression upon sen- Bible men, we should advise him not to begin by calling his opponents bad names. The Guardian, in announcing the appointment of the new Bishop of ST. ASAPH, states that "more than two centuries have elapsed since a confirmation service was held in the Welsh language." The statement is inaccurate. The Bishop of BANGOR has always conducted his con- firmations in Dolgelley church in Welsh and the same rule applies, no doubt, to other parts ofthe diocese. There are generally two sets of catechumens, Welsh and English, and, of course, for the latter an English form is used. The previous Bishop of BANGOR, we believe, was accustomed to make his confirmation tours with a Welsh chaplain, who interpreted to the Welsh catechumens. Our Welsh readers will learn with great satisfaction that the QUEEN is likely to take up her residence in North Wales for a portion of the summer. A mansion in per. haps the most beautiful valley -in the Principality, the valley of the Mawddach, between Barmouth and Dolgelley, will possibly be selected for her MAJESTY.

THE EQUALIZATION OF THE POOR RATES. At the last meeting of the Machynlleth Guardians, the deputy chairman, Mr DAVIES, of Dolcaradog, called attention to a subject which is exciting considerable in- terest-the equalization of poor rates. The injustice of the present system has been recognized by the country and the Government a parliamentary committee is now sitting to enquire into the general subject of local taxation; and legislation has been promised. Mr DAVIES therefore chose an appropriate time for discussing the matter, and his carefully prepared speech, with its statistics and sug- gested reforms, will be read with much interest beyond the limits of his own Union. His scheme, we imagine, is, in great measure, an original one. He proposes that in future all poor and county rates shall be divided equally between the owners of property, the occupiers, and the State, and' that metallic mines shall be subject to pooJ rates, the assessment being made on the royalty paid to the lord. Mr DAVIES, using an argument which many of our readers will appreciate, contends that, since poverty arises in so great a degree from drink, from which Govern- ment makes a revenue of 218,000,000 a year, it is only just that a portion of the poor rates should come out of the Consolidated Fund. While giving Mr DAVIES credit for his earnest attempt to devise a much needed remedy, we can hardly contribute to the useful discussion of the question better than by enquiring how he would meet certain objections which at once present themselves. One writer (of a valuable essay published by the Local Taxa- Taxation Committee at the office of the Chamber of Agriculture Journal) points out that it would not be just to require the taxpayers of Scotland and Ireland —whose money goes into the Consolidated Fund-to contribute towards the relief of the poor of England and Wales; and we should like to know what Mr DAVIKS has to say upon that point. Then we find that in his evidence before the committee to which we have referred, Mr Tox TAYLOR, an eminent authority, lays it down as his opinion that in the long run tenants have to pay the rates, since landlords recoup themselves by raising the rents; and in this view of the case there seems to us to be great force, though Mr GARNETT, Chief Inspector of the Income Tax, disputed it, arguing that there was a j limit beyond which the landlord could not go. Passing ] to Mother point, we do not see how Mr DATIM'B • I scheme would meet the argument most frequently em- ployed-that the large class of wealthy persons, including manufacturers, bankers, and merchants, whose wealth does not consist of real property, escape their legitimate amount of contribution to the relief of the poor. It is not agriculturists only who insist upon the injustice of this exemption, for men like Mr RATHBONE, who is above all things a commercial representative, have brought the matter before the House of Commons, and any reform which left this great defect untouched would fail to com- mand acceptance. The alternative of a national rate, which Mr DAVIES mentions, is more generally advocated, and the writer of the essay already referred to discusses the proposal and the way in which the objections urged against it might be met. His suggestion, briefly stated, is, that a national rate should be levied on the basis of the income tax, and that, to guard against reckless ex- penditure, some limit, founded upon averages, should be fixed to, the demands of each union upon the national fund. As Mr DAVIES'S scheme is to come before the Guardians at their next meeting, we have thought it might be useful to say a few words both about the plan itself and some of the arguments that may be urged against it; and whatever may be the result, the vice-chairman of the Machynlleth Union deserves the thanks of the ratepayers for calling attention to a matter of such great importance.

otal and plotriet. PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.—In the division on the Re- tirement of Naval Flag Officers, with the majority voted Mr A. H. Brown, Colonel Edwardes, Sir J. Hanmer, Mr W. B. Hughes, Mr C. R. M. Talbot, Hon. C. D. Hanbury Tracy, Mr Vivian, Mr Whalley, and Mr W. Williams. With the minority, Colonel Corbett, Mr Figgins, Gen. Forester, Mr J. R. Ormsby Gore, and Mr Meyrick. ORDINATION AT BANGOR.-The Bishop of Bangor held an ordination at his Cathedral on Sunday week, when the following were admitted :—Deacons David Jones, St. Bees College, licensed to Llanbedr-y-Min and Caerhun, S.C.; John Roberts, St. Bees' College, licensed to the curacy of Uwch-y-Garreg, parish of Machynlleth; Robert Thomas, Trinity College, Dublin, licensed to Llanheblig, S.C.; and the following as priest: Robert Williams, curate of Trefdraeth. THE NEW BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH.ks a meeting held in the vestry of St. David's Church (Welsh), Liverpool, on Thursday evening, March 1st, 1870, it was resolved- That the best thanks of Welsh churchmen are due to the Right Hon. W. Ewart Gladstone, M. P., her Majesty's First Lord of the Treasury, for the recent appointment of a Welshman, by birth and education, to preside over the diocese of St. Asaph thereby recognizing the divinely-implanted prin- ciple of nationality, -which had been discarded by previous Governments for upwards of 130 years; humbly praying that the appointment of a native bishop will prove to be the commence- ment of a new era in the history of the Established Church in the principality of Wales. JOHN JAMES, B.D., Incumbent. ?T JONSITCHARD' } Churchwardens. THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.—The following memorial to Mr Bruce has been adopted at the North Wales Quarterly Meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists at Wrexham :— That your memorialists represent the churches of the Calvinistic body in North Wales, which numbers amongst its members and hearers upwards of two hundred and thirty-five thousand souls. That we have heard with feelings of pleasure that it is the in- tention of her Majesty's Government to undertake the amend- ment of the laws which regulate the grant of licences for the sale of spirituous liquors. That your memorialists have many oppor- tunities for observing the baneful effects of the present system of licensing, especially that which permits the sale of liquors on Sunday, to the serious injury of the morals of the people, and the production of an amount of disorder wholly inconsistent with, and subversive of, the object for which the day is set apart. The adoption of measures which have to any extent re- duced the temptations to intemperance, and lessened the hours in which intoxicating liquors might be legally sold, has resulted in a corresponding reduction of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, as well as by a marked improvement in the social and moral condition of the people. That your memorialists are fully convinced that no measure will meet the wishes of the inhabit; ants of Wales and the nation, unless it gives to a majority of th e ratepayers the power to prohibit the common sale of intoxicating liquors in their respective neighbouihoods. That your me- morialists believe that in the meantime an imperial enactment prohibiting the sale of beer and other fermeuted and distilled liquors during the whole of Sunday is absolutely and imme- diately necessary, and will be hailed with mrcfc satisfaction by the Principality and nation. Your memorialists therefore earnestly pray that her Majesty's Government will introduce such provi- sions in their forthcoming measure as shall test secure the reforms above indicated.—Signed on behalf of the Association, ROGER EDWARDS, moderator. THE CALVINISTIC METHODISTS OF NORTH WALES AND THE EDUCATION BILL.—The following memorial, ad- opted by the Calvinistic Methodists of North Wales, has just been sent to Mr Gladstone on the subject of the Education Bill, which is now before Parliament:— To the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, First Lord of her Majesty s Treasury, the humble memorial of the ministers and elders representing the Calvinistic Methodists of North Wales, assembled at their quarterly association held at Wrexham, March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, 1870. Sheweth,—That the religious denomination which your memorialists represent in North Wales, has, for the last 130 years been labouring with great diligence for the enlightenment and evangelization of the people of the Principality, that it now consists of upwards of 1,000 churches, and numbers among its members and hearers upwards of 235,000 souls; this religious body also, though made up of the poor and the middle class of the population, and having nothing to depend upon but the volutary liberality of its people, has spent a very large sum of money in building places of worship throughout the country, its outlay in this respect during the last twenty years not being less than half a million of money, and its contributions towards the support of the Gospel at home and its propagation abroad, amount annually to upwards of s t_has f 0 i £ 100,000 moreover, this denomination has from its beginning laboured with extreme diligence for the education of the people by means of Sunday Schools, and as the result of their endea- vours, they can, in connection with their brethren of the various other nonconformist bodies in the Principality, point to the fact that the people of Wales generally are able to read the Bible in the vernacular and during the last twenty-six years they have worked earnestly for the promotion of education in day-schools; but from a deep conviction of the utter unsuitability of all ex- cept purely undenominational schools for such a country as Wales in particular, all they have done on behalf of elementary educa- tion has been done, in conjunction with such as would co-operate with them, in building and supporting schools on the principles of the British and Foreign School Society, in which schools, though the Bible is read, yet no sectarian dogmas whatever are inculcated. That your memorialists feel very thankful to her Majesty's Government for introducing such a large and compre- hensive measure of education as that which is now before the country, but feel deeply anxious that certain defects in the same should be removed before it passes into law. That, in par- ticular, your memorialists are profoundly convinced that no schools should be supported by the public money which are not perfectly undenominational, and their experience of British Schools, which are so purely unsectarian that they have never heard of any complaints preferred against them on that account, convince them that the reading of the Bible iu the schools is perfectly compatible with theIr undenominational character. That school boards should be elected by the ratepayers directly, and that by ballot; that they should be elected everywhere, and not only where the education of a district is pronounced unsatis- factory, and that they should also bo elected at once after the passing of the Act. That compulsory attendance should in all cases be made imperative by the legislature, and not kept to the discretion of the school boards. Your memorialists, therefore, for the sake of avoiding ill-feeling and bitter religious contro- versy which otherwise would not fail to arise, pray her Majesty's Government so to alter this Bill as to make the education of the people in all respects perfectly unsectarian, to put the election of the school boards in the hands of the ratepayers, to be de- cided by ballot, to have those boards elected everywhere and at once, and to make compulsory attendance absolute.—And your memorialists will ever pray. Signed on behalf of the Associa- tion, ROGER EDWARDS, Moderator.

ABERYSTWYTH. MARKET, MONDAY.-The market here last Monday was very veil attended and the following prices were realized —Wheat from 6s. to 6s. 9d. barley, 3s. 6d. to 5s. oats, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. per bushel; beef, 6d. to 8Jd. mutton, 6Jd. to 8d.; pork, d. to 8d. per lb. Eggs 8 for 6d. Wool, lid. per lb. ARRIVAL OF VISITORS.-We are happy to learn that several families have already arrived here notwithstanding the cold weather. As the sunny spring days and pleasant weather are now anticipated, we may find the town filling with visitor earlier this year than usual, to which our numerous lodginghouse keepers would have no objection. -Communicated. BOARD OF GUARDIANS (Monday).—Present: William Jones, Esq. (chairman), Messrs P. Williams, John Jones, John Watkins, Joel Morgan, Morgan Richards, Richard Jones, David J. Davies, Ebenezer Hughes, David Stephens, Robert Roberts, John Jones, J. R. Richards; Hugh Hughes, clerk; Drs James and Roberts were also in attendance. The number at present in the house was reported to be 54. There was no business of public in- terest. OUR MISSING V.ESSIZLS. -Great anxiety was felt by the inhabitants of this town for some time respecting the safety and whereabouts of a few vessels belonging to this port. The suspense of mind was somewhat lessened, when the good news arrived announcing the safety of the Dreadnought and all the crew; but another vessel, the New Diligence, Captain Lewis Davies, has not as yet been Is heard of. As the master and all the crew belong to this place, the missing vessel forms the general topic of conversation. SUDDEN DEATH. —It is our painful duty to record the very sudden death of Mr John Hughes, of Queen-street, who had been for a great number of yeaes ostler at the Gogerddan Arms Hotel. His death took place on Tues- day morning, under the following circumstances. Deceased had occasion to attend rather early at the stables on Tuesday morning, to get the horses fed and to be in readi- ness for some commercial gentlemen, and, while in the yard pursuing his work, he fell down in a fit, and was dis- covered by the boots in that state. The boots lost no time in summoning the head ostler and some of the deceased's relatives to the spot. The poor man was im- mediately conveyed home, where he expired, after having spoken a few words, between ten and eleven o'clock that morning. The deceased had been failing in health for some time, and was under medical treatment at the time of his death. PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY.—Before the Mayor and John Davies, Esq. Non-payment of Poor Rates.—Mr Richard Samuel, the collector of poor rates, summoned the following persons for refusing to pay the rates :—John Davies, Prospect- street, Richard flushes, Globe Inn, Market-street, Henry Michael, Portland-lane, Wm. Jones and David Jones, Portland-lane, J. M. Davies, Antaron Cottage, Thomas Williams, Bridge-street, David Clayton, Rheidol-place, William Evans, Vulcan-place, Owen Edwards, Thomas Morgans, Thomas Davies, and Thomas Jones, all of Skinner-street, and Joseph Price, of Eagle-court. All the defendants were ordered to pay. Mary James, of Prospect-street, Chas. Lewis, High-street, Mary James, Skinner-street, and John Owens, of Little Darkgate- street, were also summoned, but their cases were ordered to stand over at present, so that they might have an op. I portunity of appealing to the vestry to have the rates remitted. ( Assault and Battery. William Evans, son of Mr Evans, auctioneer in this town, was summoned by John Jones, carman, of North-parade, for assaulting him.— John Jones, the complainant, said that last Wednesday night, when he was closing up his yard, the defendant came into the yard and began to make use of it for a pur- Eose which he did not approve. The complainant told im to go further on, and upon that was struck by the de- fendant on the head, and felled to the ground. The defend- ant went out to the street and challenged complainant to come out to fight.-Mary Jones, a servant at Mr Julian's, grocer, gave corroborative evidence.—The defendant was fiaed 10s., and 8s. 6d., costs. A Publican Fined for Keeping a Disorderly House.- Benjamin Jones, the landlord of the Cambrian Inn, North Parade, was summoned for this offence. -P.C. Evan Jones said that last Saturday night, about ten o'clock, he was standing by the Cambrian Inn, kept by the defendant, when he heard a great noise in the house there was sing- ing, cursing, and swearing. He then saw a woman struck by a man, and she fell to the ground. He went into the house and found that this man had been drinking there. He afterwards turned in about eleven o'clock, and saw several of the men with drink before them, and in a state of drunkenness.—Sergeant Evans said that he also went to the Cambrian Inn about half-past eleven o'clock on Saturday night, when he saw several men in the house highly inebriated and very noisy.—The defendant denied that the people in the house were either drunk or noisy, and called James Bubb, who said, in corroboration of the defendant's statement, that he lodged at the Cambrian Inn, and was there on Saturday night when the constable came into the house. The people who were in the house at the time were not drunk. Some of the people came in there from the King's Head public house, where a raffle had taken place.—The defendant was fined 10s., including costs. Another Chimney on Fire.-Zophar Humphreys, the landlord of the Heart of Oak public house was summoned for permitting his chimney to take fire. -P.C. James said that on Friday afternoon last he saw defendant's chimney on fire. He went into the house and found that it was quite an accident.—The defendant explained to the Bench how the chimney had taken fire, and contended that it was an inevitable accident, and called his servant girl to cor- roborate his statement.—The defendant, however, was fined 2s. 6d., including costs. COMMISSIONERS' MEETING, TUESDAY.—Present: The Mayor (Mr John Matthews), Mr Charles Hackney, Mr J. H. Jones, Mr J. Williams, Mr E. Ellis, Mr T. Jones, Dr C. R. Williams, Mr John Jones (Great Dark- gate-street), Mr John Davies, Mr Richard Delahoyde, Mr John Hughes, Captain C. Bassett Lewis, Mr T. Williams, Mr E. W. Jones, Mr David Roberts, Mr J. Davies (harbour master), Mr J. J. Atwood, Mr Hugh Hughes, Mr J. P. Jones, Mr Philip Williams, Mr J. Watkin, Mr R. Samuel, Mr Morris Jones; MrW. T. Thomas, clerk; Mr David Lloyd, assistant clerk. This was a special meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration the report of the committee appointed to enquire into the best mode of providing the town of Aberystwyth with a good supply of water, during the ensuing summer, to discuss the question of providing and laying down new waterpipes; and to make enquiries with regard to the progress of the by-laws, and adopt such measures in relation thereto as the Commissioners at such meeting considered necessary." THE ROOM OF THE HALLKEEPER. The MAYOR called attention to the room occupied by the halllseeper, which was in a most disgraceful state. He wished to know who was responsible for the necessary repairs, the Commissioners or the Town Council. Mr THOMAS JONES called attention to the general con- dition of the flues on the Town Hall, and suggested that they should be raised, in order to obviate the evil com- plained of. The CLERK said that the room was barely habitable; there was no room like it in the town. He did not know that the Commissioners had anything to do with the im- provements or the general condition of the building. Mr THOMAS JONES thought that the Town Council or the County Magistrates were responsible. The MAYOR suggested that the matter should be left in the hands of the Town Hall Committee, and this was agreed to. THE SUPPLY OF WATER. Mr THOMAS JONES, in the absence of Mr Pell, as know- ing most of the part which the committee had taken as to the means of obtaining a temporary supply of water for the town, said that Mr Julian could not leave the house, Mr Benjamin Hughes had not attended the committee, the Mayor was from home, and the matter was con- sequently left chiefly in the hands of Mr Pell and himself. In company with Jesse Morgan they went to the Foundry and tasted the water. They found from the report of Mr Drury that the result of boring that well was most satis- factory. They went a distance of 27 or 28 feet below the surface, passing through several strata of soil and peat until they got to the clean gravel, and then the water beat them, and rose to within 9 feet of the surface. As to machinery, Mr Ellis had the different parts of an engine, 8 or 9 horse power, which he would put up, and perhaps attend to for a guaranteed time at a lower price than they had yet heard of. They thought that the best plan was to sink a well just outside Mr Edward Jones's field on the Corporation land, where there was, doubtless, abundance of water. Mr Jesse Morgan recommended them to go to Plascrflg, but this was overruled on account of the cost of pipes and other expenses, which would be much heavier than in the site they had selected. The Committee had been waiting the arrival of the report of Mr Arnold Taylor before they presented the result of their enquiries to the Board. He thought it was a great pity that the Board had not purchased the borers which had been offered to them. Mr J. J. ATWOOD-NVbat about the chalybeate water? Mr THOS. JONES said that they had crossed the chaly- beate water, and found it perfectly clean and distinct. From the current of the stream, the chalybeate water could easily be kept distinct by puddling, and he thought there was no danger of its penetrating. In that cutting they had tapped, within a few feet of the surface, a beautiful, clear stream. The CLERK said that as the cost would come out of the rates, it was necessary that the cost of a temporary scheme should be as low as possible. Mr THOS. JONES said this scheme was the lowest in cost that they could meet with. He suggested that the Board should purchase the borers belonging to Mr Paul. They were appliances that the Board of Commissioners ought to possess. The CLERK suggested that the borers should be borrowed from Mr Paul, in order that their working might be as- certained before purchase. Mr THOS. JONES said that it would be desirable first to bore for the water before they incurred the cost of ma- chinery. Mr ATWOOD asked whether the trial made at the Foundry was not sufficient; without incurring expense in further experiments. He thought that such water might be found anywhere in the Flats. Mr THOS. JONES said the probable cost would be only £18 or £20, and it was necessary that they should have the borers first. They were necessary adjuncts to the town, just as a fire-escape should be. They had no fire-escape in Aberystwyth, and if loss of life should occur from the want of a fire-escape, someone would be blamed. Dr C. R. WILLIAMS thought the water should first be analyzed. Mr THOMAS JONES was sure that water at that depth must be good. Mr ATWOOD-Will this carry us over three or four years? Mr THOMAS. JONES-I should think so. Mr Ellis has an engine of nearly ten-horse power, and that is the cheapest we can think of. By buying the engine cheaply from him, we can perhaps also obtain his superintendence, and he is one of the best hydraulic engineers, in a simple way, that I know of. Capt. BASSETT LEWIS thought that Mr Jones's inform- ation was very acceptable, and suggested that his remarks should be drawn up to form the basis of a contract for carrying out the propositions made by him in such re- marks. Mr THOMAS JONES recommended that the water should he pumped to the nearest main, near Shiloh chapel, so as not to interfere with Mr Ellis, who pumps by contract. Mr ATWOOD urged the purchase of a borer, so as to establish the fact that water was there. Captain BASSETT LEWIS—Have we not got a water company. The CLERK—Yes, a reservoir company; but I would advise that you have a special committee for this business. Mr JESSE MORGAN thought that Plascrug would be the safest place, and he would prefer going there for water, only the expense would be greater. The CLERK—Would the expense of boring at Plascrug be greater than where Mr Thos. Jones names ? Mr JESSE MORGAN-No. The CLERK—Then why not make the experiment in both places ? Mr JESSE MORGAN said that if they went to Plascrug they would have to ask permission from Colonel Powell, while the site suggested by Mr Thomas Jones was corpor- ation land. The cost of boring would not be more than 30s. if there was no rock to get through. Mr J. J. ATWOOD moved that the borers be purchased from Mr Paul, and that the necessary experiments be made under the superintendence of the Reservoir Com- mittee. Mr PHILIP WILLIAMS seconded the motion. Dr C. RICE WILLIAMS hoped that after the experiment was made they would have a written, not a verbal, report by the Committee. Mr EDWARD ELLIS asked whether it would not be desirable to ascertain whether a borer could not be had at a cheaper rater than from Capt. PauL Mr ATWOOD said that no price was named. Mr Thomas was to negotiate for its purchase, and if an extravagant price was asked then they could go to another market. The borers were of no use to Mr Paul, were quite new, and doubtless might be purchased at a very low figure. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Capt. BASSETT LEWIS asked Mr Thomas whether it would be regular to communicate with Mr Arnold Taylor to hurry his report, so as to see whether this scheme might not be embodied with their future permanent scheme. Mr THOMAS said that there could be no harm in press- ing him for the report, under the circumstances. The gentleman was not disposed to be critical, and was easily accessible. Captain BASSSTT LEWIS looked upon the matter as highly important, and proposed that Mr Thomas com- municate with Mr Arnold Taylor as requested. Dr C. RICE WILLIAMS seconded the motion, which was carried. THE WATER PIPES. The CLERK said that the next matter was as to the sup ply of water pipes. The only difficulty was the payment. It was getting late in the season, and they might be patched to last over another year. To relay the pipes would cost several hundreds of pounds. Mr J. J. ATWOOD complained that there was no system [ in laying down the pipes. There were large pipes and small pipes in the same streets, and they tried to fill the large pipes with the small ones. If they had the system of their water supply on paper it would look most ridiculous. .The CLERK said that they had no money to pay for pipes, and thought that the Btreets should not be broken up at this time of the year, and these, he urged, were two reasons why the matter should be deferred. MrJEssE MORGAN said that the main pipes were very bad, they had been down thirty-three years, and now required looking after. The demand for water was in- creasing annually, and it was most necessary that they should have the requisite appliances in good order. In answer to Capt. Bassett Lewis, Mr Jesse Morgan said that the fire hose was kept in the yard of the Commis sioners. Mr EDWD. ELLIS thought it necessary that the public should know where the hose was kept in case of fire. Mr ATWOOD suggested that it should be kept at the Eolice station. In case of fire the police could attach the ose, while the water was being turned on. Mr DAVID WILLIAMS thought that if they wanted the hose kept in order, they should allow it to remain in the custody of Mr Jesse Morgan. Mr JESSE MORGAN said that there were a great many streets without hydrants. Capt. BASSETT LEWIS said that in case of fire not one half of the people would know where to go for assistance. It was part of the duty of the Board to look into the question. There was no fire engine in the town, and as the houses were built, if a fire broke out, much damage must occur. He proposed to bring forward the subject at the next Board. The question of procuring further water pipes was, by mutual consent, deferred for the present. THE BY-LAWS. The CLERK said that he expected to have the by-laws down, confirmed, in two days or so. The next meeting will be the monthly meeting held on April 5th. THE EDUCATION BILL.-TOWN'S MEETING. A town's meeting, convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of education, and particu- larly the bearing of Mr Forster's Bill upon the educational requirements of Aberystwyth, was held at the County Hall on Tuesday evening. His worship the mayor, John Matthews, Esq., presided, and the attendance, which was not large, included the Rev. A. Griffith, LL.B., the Rev. Griffith Davies (C.M.), the Rev. D. Thomas (B.M.), Mr W. H. Rowse, Mr Richard Roberts (ex-mayor), Mr David Jenkin Davies, the Rev. John Saunders (I.M.), the Rev. Edward Williams (B.M.), Mr Philip Williams, Mr David Williams, the Rev. E. Richards (Wesleyan), Dr Morris Jones, &c. In opening the proceedings, the MAYOR said that the meeting had been convened in compliance with a numer- ously signed requisition. Many gentlemen would speak upon the several resolutions to be proposed, and he had no intention of inflicting upon the meeting any preliminary speech, but without preface would call upon the Rev. David Thomas to move the first resolution. The Rev. D. THOMAS said that the resolution he had to propose was-" That whilst this meeting is grateful for the action which the Government has taken in bringing a Bill before the country, with a view to secure the primary education of every child, many of the provisions of which we approve, it is nevertheless of opinion that there ought to be some provisions therein for the speedy amalgama- tion of denominational schools into one national system, so that there shall be but one class of elementary schools throughout the land, which must be purely unsectarian in their instruction and management." The question which they had that evening been called together to discuss was now agitating the country, and was a question of the greatest importance, and called for most earnest, careful, and impartial consideration. He was glad to see that the dark night of apathy had now passed away, that the day of care- lessness on this matter was now no more, and that a spirit of enquiry was awakening amongst the people; and he had no doubt that in the course of a few years we should have a sound national system of education which would be a boon to the country, and would usher in a period of peace, contentment, and happiness, which this country had never before enjoyed. In years gone by the educa- tion of the poor man's child was looked upon as unneces- sary, if not mischievous but now a marvelous change had taken place, the rights of our common humanity were becoming recognized, and the nation now felt that it was a duty to help the education of the masses of our country- men. (Applause.) It would be a great gratification to the majority of the people of this country, and especially to the Principality of Wales, if the present Government would, by wise concessions, finally solve the great problem of National Education. The nation laboured under great obligations to Mr Forster for having taken up the subject with such promptitude, and for having framed a measure which he had hoped would be favourable to the opinions of the people. They all recognized his courage, his purity of intention, his vast experience, and great patriotism, and, in his opinion, there was no man better qualified to deal with and settle this all-important question, than Mr Forster. (Applause.) Still Mr Forster had no idea that public feeling was rising strongly against denominational education, so strongly that no Government could stifle such feeling, and if they attempted to do so, he greatly feared that any Government, however strong, must perish in the attempt. He did not anticipate that any such catastrophe would take place, for they knew the men now at the helm of Government to be reasonable men, who were ready and willing to listen and defer to the voice of public remonstrance, and it was clear from the reception which had been accorded to the Birmingham League and to the Welsh Deputation, as well as from the latest utter- ances of Mr Gladstone, that the voice of public opinion would be listened to by the Government. It must be ad- mitted that there were sad blemishes in the Bill, which must be rubbed out before the measure could be made acceptable to the country. (Applause.) Nothing but a purely unsectarian scheme of education would satisfy the country. (Applause.) He had no wish to speak of the Bill as being radically bad, nothing was gained by'taking extreme opinions upon any point, and for two principles embodied in the Bill they ought to be thankful. The Bill endeavoured to create schools where none existed, and by compulsion tens of thousands of children would be brought under instruction, instead of swelling the number of the profligate and the profane who run loose about our streets. The State now recognized its duty to educate the children of the country, and this was one great point gained. Much had been said about the parsimony of the amount allowed in grants to our elementary schools, and respect- ing the cost which would be entailed in carrying out a system of national education, but let them look at the large sums annually spent to keep up the workhouses, the prisons, and the army and navy estimates, and if they spent a million or two on the education of the poor, it would lessen considerably the burdens of taxation now pressing upon the public, and would do away with much of that vast amount of crime which was rampant in our midst, and which filled our gaols and workhouses. (Ap- plause.) The great blot upon the Bill was the manner in which it endeavoured to meet the religious difficulty, by giving a new lease of life to the old denominational sys- tem, and if this Bill was unaltered, then the denomina- tional schools in the country would be doubled. (Hear, hear.) Now could not these schools be amalgamated into one grand national system of education? (Hear, hear.) They owed much to the denominational system, and they should feel thankful for what it had done; but, after all, it had been weighed in the balance, and found wanting. (Hear, hear.) It had not been able to cope effectually with all the misery and crime by which it was surrounded; it had simply touched the skirts of the evil, the heart it had never reached, and this must be done before England could rise to a higher social station than she now enjoyed. The denominational system had been asked for in Ireland, and what did that mean but giving over the country into the hands of the Roman Catholic priests, and rather than support this, he would see the denominational system plucked up by the roots. (Hear, hear.) If a denomina- tional system of education were permitted in England, how could they refuse it to Ireland ? They could not heal a nation's wounds by refusing to give to Ireland what they were ready to concede to England. (Hear, hear.) Another potent fact which called for a national system of education was the vast amount of ignorance that existed in this country, which was a blot upon our national escutcheon that should at once be wiped off. At the present time there were no less than one-third of the men and women of England who were unable to write their own names. Was not this a startling fact ? (Hear, hear.) He contended that there ought to be no direct religious teaching in any school supported by Government, and anything less than this would never satisfy the noncon- formists of this country. (Applause.) By the term unsectarian' he did not mean the exclusion of the Bible from the day schools, or that the teacher should not be permitted to encourage what was right in his children, and condemn that which was wrong, but he meant that there should be no meddling with religious formularies and dogmas. He believed that a child must have a religious as well as a secular education, that his intellectual faculties must have education as well as his religious powers, but the two must be kept totally distinct in the day schools. (Hear, hear.) If they left the religious part of the ques- tion to religious parents, to the ministers of religion, and to the teaehing of Sunday schools, then the work would be done effectually and well. (Applause.) The Rev. EDWARD WILLIAMS, who spoke in Welsh, seconded the resolution. He said he was glad to see that increased facilities were to be afforded to children. It was a great blessing to have a system of national education, and although the Bill of Mr Forster did not wholly please the nonconformists, still it was a step in the right direction. He strongly urged the system of un- sectarian education, as the only system which could give satisfaction to the nonconformists of the country generally. (Applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. The Rev. JOHN SAUNDERS proposed "That the school boards be elected immediately in every school district, that they be elected by the ratepayers and by ballot, and that the exercise of compulsory powers be not left to their option. The provisions of the Bill were being closely criticised and canvassed throughout the country, and pub- lic opinion was being strongly agitated to pronounce upon the merits and demerits of Mr Forster's measure. It was not pleasant to be called grumblers, or to be charged with being obstructive to the passing of the measure, but if, in their opinion certain of its clauses were wrong, then they had a right to speak out, and to offer their opinion upon these defects in the Bill. Certain of the clauses were, to his mind, quite as objectionable as were the Council of Education grants for elementary schools, as helping those who were well able to help them- selves. Local rates would come in to do away with voluntary subscriptions, and this made the Bill very objectionable. He wished to have a national Bill, to let the Bible have its free course, but he strongly objected to dogmatic teaching in the schools. To the establishment of the school boards he had no objection, but he objected to the mode in which they were to be elected. The rate- payers would have to furnish the greater portion of the amount which supported the school, and surely it was fair that the ratepayers should enjoy the privilege of nominating a board which was to manage a rate collected from the ratepayers, and that the matter should not be left in the discretion of town councils and vestries. (Hear, hear.) In the election of these boards, if the provisions of the Bill were not altered, there must of necessity be danger of collision with party and denomina- tion, jealousies and ill feeling would spring up, and the working of the school would be affected seriously. Then again the conduct of the schools in adjoining parishes or towns would never be upon a uniform system, for it would be found that where there was a predominant denomination, the conduct of the school in that special district would cer- tainly be touched with those sentiments and opinions which were affected by that denomination. It was most unfortunate that these differences of opinion should exist upon the merits of a scheme for national education, but it was only mere justice that the nonconformists should claim and enjoy equal privileges with the other loyal subjects of her Majesty. (Applause.) Mr DAVID JENKINS seconded the resolution in Welsh, explaining the remarks made by the previous speaker, and expressing his full concurrence with them. The motion was carried nem. di3. The Rev. GRIFFITH DAVIES then moved That it is the opinion of this meeting that in dealing with education, the State should be careful not to go beyond its own sphere of action, but should allow the religious training of the young to be cared for, under God, by the Christian Church. According to this resolution the Bible may be freely used in the schools, except for the purpose of im- parting direct religious instruction." In moving the resolution, the speaker, who addressed the audience in Welsh, held that the power of electing the school boards should be vested in the ratepayers, and that it should not be delegated to corporate bodies or vestries. If this clause of the Bill became law, the ratepayers would be invited, at their annual council elections, to Support Jones and the 39 Articles!" or be called upon to Vote for Smith and no Creed!" ("Hear, hear," and laughter.) The Rev. A. GRIFFITH, in seconding the resolution, explained that it had been drawn up owing to a misunder- standing which had arisen from the adoption of a resolu- tion at the recent Educational Conference held at Aber- ystwyth, which, in a certain degree, stultified a motion that had been previously agreed upon. The resolution agreed to at the conference related to the reading of the Bible in the schools, but it was so illogical to many persons, and even ungrammatical, that some strange re- marks had been made upon the passing of such a resolution. It was necessary that the use of the Bible in the day schools should be limited in one respect, viz., that it should not be used for the purpose of giving direct religious teaching. Under the Act the class of schools in the future would be Government schools, supported, not by voluntary contributions, but by the taxes of the whole community; all would have to pay their quota, and the children would be sent to the schools, not at the will of their parents, but because they were sent there by the law. Thus the class of schools would be greatly altered from those already in existence, and, under totally dif- ferent circumstances from the present, they must have a different method of teaching in these new schools. Al- though it might be proper to give the ordinary rudiments of education, still he thought that it would be highly wrong to impart direct religious instruction in these schools. (Hear, hear.) The State, he contended, had no right to go beyond its own legitimate sphere of action in this question. The State had often interfered with reli- gion, but always to its own great detriment and danger. The State was simply the expression of the general religious and moral feeling of the country, and for the State to turn round to control or attempt to prevent the action of all free, religious spirit, was not only a great mis- take but a crime. (Hear, hear.) The time was fast ap- proaching when they would think that for the State to attempt to control religion was as wrong as for a child to disobey its parent—nay further, for the creature to dis- obey his Creator. It was said, let everything be judged by its fruits, and so let them look back through the long vista of years, and see what the inter- ference of the State with religion had pro- duced. They were now meeting in a room which was used as a court of justice, and he only wished that he could put one or two of his old father's friends in the wit- ness box, just to tell them the miseries which resulted from State interference with religion. He should like them to hear what Griffith Jones, the founder of the sys- tem of circulating schools, had to say upon State interfer- ence, whilst John Wesley could tell them of his experience, how he was driven about from parish to parish unable to find a pulpit in which to preach, until he was driven out to preach in the lanes and byways, and to take tbe world for his parish. He should like to put into the witness box that good old man, Howel Harris, whom the minister of Machynlleth went out to meet with an angry mob, who stoned the old man, and left him for dead upon the road- side. All these would testify to the miseries of State interference with religion, and prove that the State ought to exercise very great care that it did not go beyond its own sphere of action; that it left the religious part of the question to those who were well able and willing to cope with it. (Applause.) He saw by the newspapers that a petition had been sent up from Aberystwyth in favour of sectarian education, and he should be very glad to be in- formed by whom that petition had been forwarded. Certainly not by the people of Aberystwyth. (Hear, hear.) The present meeting was a meeting of the townspeople of Aberystwyth, and the expression of opinion which went forth from that meeting would be accepted as representing the opinion of the town. (Applause.) The Rev. E. RICHARDS then moved, and it was seconded by Dr MORRIS JONES, "That a petition signed by the chairman of this public meeting, containing the views expressed by the foregoing resolutions, be sent forthwith to Sir Thomas D. Lloyd, Bart., M.P., for presentation in the House of Commons." The motion having been carried, the MAYOR said that the Welsh deputation had been most courteously received by Mr Gladstone, Mr Forster, and Earl de Grey, who had asked several questions. In the late discussion several members said that Government had not determined to pass all clauses of the Bill without alteration, that the Bill was open to improvement, and Mr Gladstone said that the conscience clause might be altered. (Hear, hear.) It was now a very invidious clause. A person would be very reluctant to send a written request to the school board, that his child should not receive religious education in the day school. He would not like, if he were a tradesman, to run the risk of offending the squire or parson of the parish. A child of Baptist parents, for instance, would be obliged to learn and repeat decided falsehoods in the church catechism. Could that child, who had never been bap- tized, truthfully reply to the question, Who gave you that name?" in the formula prescribed by the church catechism? (Hear, hear.) Is was clear that the Govern- ment was not wedded to its Bill, and a petition from Aberystwyth would do much good in enabling the Govern- ment to learn what were the real sentiments of the-denomi- national bodies upon this question. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. A. GRIFFITH then moved That a meeting be called at an early date to consider the desirability of forming an Aberystwyth branch of the Welsh Educa- tional Alliance." Mr W. H. ROWSE seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. D. THOMAS proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding. The motion was seconded by Mr RICHARD ROBERTS, and carried with acclamation. The MAYOR, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, said that he did not know that he had ever attended a public meeting the sentiments of which were so thoroughly in unison with his own feelings. Although Mr Gladstone was at the head of the strongest Government that this country had perhaps ever seen, he did not think that that Government, knowing the feelings of this country, would attempt to pass the Bill as it now stood. (Hear, hear.) The proceedings, which passed off very quietly, ter- minated shortly before ten o'clock.

LLANILAR. LARCENY.—At a special sessions held at this place on Friday, the 18th, before G. W. Parry and James Loxdale, Esqs,, a disreputable-looking tramp, named David An- derson, was brought up in custody, charged with stealing wearing apparel from the farm of Penlan Lledrod, on the 11th of March instant.—Joseph Thomas said he was a servant in the employ of John Lloyd, Penllan Lledrod. On the 11th of March he lost a pair of trousers and a waistcoat, which he had placed on his bed in the bedroom on the previous day. When he had occasion to go for his clothes, on the 11th of March, he found they had been taken away, and he immediately gave information to the police officer. The prisoner came to Penlan on Wednes- day, the day preceding the one on which he had missed his clothes, and worked there until about mid-day on Friday, the llth. The prisoner slept in the same bed- room as he did on the night of the 10th inst. Witness went first out of the room in the morning. He did not know why the prisoner had left on Friday.—P. C. Wil- liam Evans said he went to the Aberayron Workhouse, and there saw the prisoner, having the trousers and waist- coat produced on his person. The prisoner in reply to him (the officer) admitted the charge of stealing them.- The Bench, inasmuch as the prisoner had pleaded guilty, committed him to Cardigan Gaol for one month.

A CURIOUS PARAGRAPH. SIR,-In your last impression, under the heading of "Tipyn o Bob Peth," my attention was arrested by the following strange statement"Mr S. Holland presented a petition to the House of Commons last week from the Welsh Calvinistic Church, Barmouth, complaining of the incumbent of the parish not allowing any burial in their burial grounds unless he officiated and was paid his fe. Whatever meaning you may attach to these words, it is but fair to add that the church at Barmouth, or any other of our churches that I am aware of, never gave utterance to such sentiments. Perhaps the following information may give you a clue to see how the paragraph found its way into your columns, someone having run away with a false impression. At a monthly meeting held at Bar- mouth, the beginning of this month, a petition was drawn out and sent to the care of Mr Holland, praying for changes in some of the clauses of the Burial Bill. While approving of its main provisions, it remonstrated against paying the accustomed burial fees to the incumbent when he did not officiate, beyond the lifetime of the present holder of the benefice, thus applying the principle adopted with the Irish Church to the Bill. And further it objected to the repair of churchyards being charged to the poor rates, asking that it should be laid directly to the charge of those immediately concerned in the burials, or to volun- tary contributions from the parishioners generally. By what process of logic or law of transformation these prayers assumed the form found in the above paragraph remains with you to explain. To have allowed it to pass uncontradicted would inflict a double injustice. It would have raised the Barmouth church of the Calvinistic Meth- odists to the unenviable notoriety of making silly com- plaints* in the first place, to Parliament; and in the second place, to the worthy rector of Barmouth. I aM not aware that there has ever been any complaint against his conduct in the burial of the dead. We are waiting for your explanation; and newspapers should be very careful how they sow seeds of discord amongst parties who have hitherto dwelt together ifl peace. I am, yours, &c., Dolgelley, 21st March. DAVID EVANS. [Our correspondent is quite right-newspapers should Be very careful. But, alas, they are not infallible, and mis* takes will arise in the best-regulated offices. The para* graph, of which our correspondent naturally complains, was copied from a contemporary, and found its way by. mistake into our columns.—ED.]

COUNTY PRISONS. SIR,-The county prisons of Carmarthen and Brecoli are now about being altered and enlarged, at considerable expense, so as to meet the requirements of the Prisons Act, 1865. I believe that other counties in the Princil pality have been required by Government to comply with the Act referred to; and, previously to the accession of the present Ministry to power, the miserable gaol at Car" digan was not only pronounced defective, but the Govern- ment threatened to withdraw the usual allowance unless the county built a suitable prison. Owing to that intima- tion on the part of the Government, it was resolved, at the Cardiganshire quarter sessions, about a year ago, that a new county gaol should be built in a central part of the '51 county. A site was subsequently selected at Lampeter, and a contract for its purchase entered to. Plans of the new prison were approved by the Secretary of State, and arrangements were made with a contractor for its erection; but before proceeding further, it was resolved at quartet u sessions, at the suggestion of the Lord-Lieutenant, that no further steps should be taken in the matter until the red port of the commission called the Judicature Commis" sion" should be issued. The Secretary of Statest as I am informed, assented to the erestion of the new prison being delayed accordingly, and matters have ever since remained in statu quo. I do not know whethet the report of the Judicature Commission is likely to coil* tain any suggestions relating to the altering or rebuilding of county prisons but it certainly appears to me that it waS not contemplated that the commission should deal with such matters. Should, however, several counties be con* solidated for assize purposes, the gaol of the county within which it should be determined to hold the assizes would necessarily have to be enlarged, in order to accommodate the prisoners of the other counties when brought fof trial but all the gaols of the various counties in the Principality, except Cardigan, are now either perfect, ot about being enlarged and altered, so as to meet the wantl and requirements of each respective county only, and no steps are taken by the Government to delay the progress of the works at Carmarthen, Brecon, and elsewhere, a< they have done in Cardiganshire. Having an interest ill the county of Carmarthen, I would ask why that county is put to the expense of altering the county gaol, when it is ot only possible, but probable, that the Judicature Commission will recommend that the assizes for the three counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and Pembroke should be held at Carmarthen, and particularly as the inhabitants of the county of Cardigan have received the indulgence I have referred to. If the rebuilding of the Cardiganshire gaol is to be delayed until the report of the Judicature Commission is issued, why are not the enlargements of the Carmarthen and Brecon gaol delayed ? If, however, eacl* county must have a prison of its own, why is the erection of the Cardiganshire gaol delayed? I hope some satisfactory reasons can be assigned fot this anomalous state of things. Yours obediently, JUSTITIA.

THE DOLGELLEY POST OFFICE. SlR, At the last quarter sessions attention was most properly directed by the chairman to the delays which occurred in the postal deliveries at Dolgelley, and to the circumlocutory way in which the local postal arrangements were conducted by the authorities. Then the whole blame was attributed to the Cambrian Railway Company, who have the carriage of the mails to Dolgelley, and DO little stress was laid by the chairman of quarter sessionS upon the late arrival of the mail bags per rail. The post* master, had, he stated, kindly acquainted him with the result of his observations of some days' want of punctuality on the part of the railway company, and this shortcoming on the part of the railway officials was duly enlarged and commented upon. May I suggest that Mr Richardgt should, before re-introducing the subject, as he promised, to the next sessions, direct his enquiries as to the promptitude of the deliveries of the town, and having done so, kindly inform his brother magistrates as to the infallibility of the local postmaster in this respect 1 Apropos of the mail arrangements of the Cambrian Rail" way on this side of the water, there is one little suggestion which is, I think, well worth the consideration of the traffic manager, and if it can be carried out would reall? be very beneficial to Dolgelley, as well as Barmouth, and the outlying villages, as far as its early postal deliveries are concerned. Why.cannot the mail train be arranged to cross the up passenger train at Barmouth Junction, in" stead of, as at present, at Llwyngwril? Assume that the Pwllheli train is late, as is frequently the case, and that that train comes to grief as regards punctuality, why should the mail be delayed at Llwyngwril ? Cannot the mail be brought on to Barmouth Junction, be made independent of the late arrival of the Carnarvonshire train, and allowed to precede, or even to be taken on by the ordinary paS" senger train to Dolgelley ? This arrangement, if it be feasible, and surely it is, would expedite the delivery of the mails some forty minutes, say half an hour at the least, and if the unnecessary delay, on the part of the loca* postal authorities, which forms the subject for endless dis- cussion and grumbling by Dolgelleyites, were only got rid of, then, perhaps all might rest content. Just another word or two about the post-office. Mr Scudamore is, I see, scouring the country in the matter of the post-office telegraphs. Many Dolgelleyites would, I feel convinced, be delighted to have the honour of a visit from that gen- tleman, if merely to ascertain his opinion of the aptitude of an office for public business, which combines the business of a draper's shop with that of a grocer's store, throwing in the work attendant upon a general post office, with several branches, a money-order office, a telegraph office in futuro, a dog licence office, and—but I think that I have named quite sufficient to shew that the postal arrange* ments must be insufficient to meet the requirements of 9 town like Dolgelley. May that sufficiency suffice to bring about that change and improvement which have long been greatly needed and looked for. Yours, A READER.

jirtte, fflarrtagf.s, and geatto. BIRTHS. 17th, at Glanaran Cottage, Dolgelley, the wife of Mr ROBERTS, station master of a son. 17th, the wife of FRANCIS EVANS, Esq., H.M.C., Gainsborongb, of a son. 21st, the wife of Mr J. B. JONES, Park View, Wrexham, of son. 23rd, the wife of Mr WM. DAVIES, joiner, Powell-street Abel ystwyth, of a son. X MARRIAGES. 18th, at the Parish Church, Llanfair-Caereinion, by the Rev. E. Jones, M.A., THOMAS, only son of Mr WOOD, Groesddu, to Miss M. A. LLOYD, Glanbanw, Llanfair-Caereinion. 24th, at St. Michael's Church, Aberystwyth, by the Rev. O. Davies, B.A., curate, Mr JAMES REES, of the Victoria Inn, TO Miss MARGARET BRODIE, of Castle-street, Aberystwyth. DEATHS. 9th, aged 60, at the residence of her daughter, Post-office# Meifod, MARY FOREMAN. golien' AGED 75' MR EDWARD PARRY, Abbey Cottage, near Llan- 11th, aged 1, CATHERINE, daughter of Mr EVAN REES, High- street, Penrhyndeudraeth. 12th, aged 13, MARY ANN, daughter of WILLIAM and CAROLINB JONES, Britannia Inn, Llangollen. 16th, aged 62, Mr DAVID JONES, weaver, Church-street, Llan- fyllin. 18th, Mr THOMAS EDWARDS, late of the Plough Inn, LlaU" rhaiadr. 18th, aged 60, Mr JOHN DAVIES, butcher, Dolgelley. 19th, aged 32, SARAH, wife of Mr MAURICE THOMAS, of the NoW Inn, Kerry. 20th, at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, OWEN MASSEY JONES Esq., Mynyddydnyfed, Criccieth, Carnarvonshire.

TIDE TABLE FOR ABERYSTWYTH, ABERDOVEY, AND BARMOUTH. March & Aberystwyth. Aberdovey. Barmouth. April. a. ra. p.m. a.m. p.m. a.m. Sat. 26' 2 43 3 27 3 12 3 56 2 52 3 36 Sun. 27 4 11 4 53 4 40 5 22 4 20 5 J> Mon. 28 5 12 5 30 5 41 5 59 5 21 5 Tues. 29 5 59 6 25 6 28 6 54 6 8 6 3* Wed. 30 6 45 7 6 7 14 7 35 6 54 7 Thur. 31 7 24 7 41 7 53 8 10 7 33 7 Fri. 1 7 58 8 14 8 27 8 43 8 7 8 Printed at the Caxton Steam Printing Works, Oswald-road» westry, by ASKEW ROBERTS, EDWARD WOO»AI.I., and HKNKY YENABLES, and Published at 12, Bridge-street, wyth, by PHJJIIP WILLIAM Satuxdcyh March 26th% 1870. wyth, by PHJJIIP WILLIAM I Satuxdcyh March 261A. 1870. -.Ad