Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

NOTICE. This column is devoted to better thoughts for quiet moments. Can the wiles of Art, the grasp of Power, Snatch the rich relics of a well-spent hour ? These, when the trembling spirit wings her flight, Pour round her path a stream of living light. ROGERS.

The Mowers. (A hymn for infant minds.) The sun had risen, the air was sweet, And brightly shone the dew, And cheerful sounds and busy feet, Now passed lone meadows through. And waving like a floweiy sea Of gay and spiral bloom. The hay-fields rippled merrily In beauty and perfume. I saw the early mowers pass Along that pleasant dell, And rank on rank the shining grass Around them quickly fell. I looked, and far and wide at noon The fallen flowers were spread; < And all, as rose the evening moon, Beneath the scythe were dead. A fable full of truth to me, Is this the mower's tale: I soon a broken stem shall be, Like hay that strews the vale. At early dawn or closing light, The scythe of deathmay fall: Then let me learn the lesson right, So full of truth to all. JANE TAYLOR. ■ ■ I—

Hitch your Wagon to a Star. Too low, too weak, too wrong to live the life Which bears the touch of conscience unafraid To dull to dare, no courage for the strife, z7, The soul's true self forsaken or betrayed. No life, no hope, yet visions come Of early longings for the life sublime, Of days of youthful insight midih the hum Of warring passions, urging me to climb. No help, alas, no hope of climbing now, For age creeps on and senses duller grow, The heights are steep and duty stern of brow, Has lost her smile for wanderers to and fro. 0 bright and morning star of warmth and light, Which lighteth every man or young or old, Draw after thee the soul that lives in night, And sets on lire the heart that hugs the cold. A. C. —

Moral Principles. All moral evils grow from two roots, from ignor- ance or selfishness, from lack of knowledge or lack of love. Growth in knowledge and the search after truth are amongst the purest and most sti- mulating of human pleasures. When the divinely implanted germ thereto lies in every creature-for let it be taken always as a necessary postulate in all moral questions that excellence and happiness consist in the evoking of energy, and that energy -can in no wise be evoked so well as by struggling with evils and overcoming difficulties. PROFESSOR BLACKIE.

Which is Nobler? Let no possible loss of influence, or patronage. or gold tempt you to the doing of that which your judgment and your conscience disapprove. Better a thousand times to be slandered than to sin; nobler to spend your days in all the bitterness of unheeded struggle than become a hollow parasite, r,9 to gain a hollow friend. Worthier far to remain poor for ever, the brave and self-respecting heir of the crust and of the spring than, in another sense than Shakespeare's, to coin your heart," and for the vile drachmas which are the hire of wrong to drop your generous blood." PUXSHON'S LECTURES.

Suffering. Suffering comes to us through and from our whole nature. It cannot be winked out of sight. It cannot be thrust into a subordinate place in the picture of human life. It is the chief burden of history. It is the solemn theme of one of the highest departments of literature, the tragic drama. It gives to fictions their deep interest. It wails through much of our poetry. A large part of human vocations are intended to shut up some of its avenues. It has left traces on every human countenance over which years have passed. It is, to not a few, the most vivid recollection of life. CHANNING. .»

Must be at Business. There is nothing sadder than that a man shall live until seventy years and ten more, and then be unable to keep away from the grindstone. Poor old man! he must be carried to his work every morning at eight o'clock, or he will go mad. He has read so little, thought so little, laid up so little in his mind, that if he be not taken to the scene of his daily employment he will not know where he is, he will be a prey to solitude; he has no thought to cheer him, no music in his soul, nothing to sing to him, no heart-brood that will come to him and «ay, Loneliness to the wise is impossible. I do not'call that working. Some of you, I fear, are working in that way. There are some great men in London who could not do without the ware- house. It is essential to them that they should be there. Some of them hardly know their own ware- house from another man's; memory is giving way, the power of identification is becoming blunted; but still to be in the neighbourhood is to be as near heaven as they will ever get. REV. JOSEPH PARKER.

» Enjoyment. It is something to look upon enjoyment, so that it be free and wild, and in the face of nature, though it is but the enjoyment of an idiot. It is something to know that Heaven has left the capacity of gladness in such a creature's breast; it is something to be assured that, however lightly men may crush that faculty in their fellows, the great Creator of mankind imparts it even to His despised and slighted work. Ye men of gloom and austerity, who paint the face of infinite bene- volence with an eternal frown, read in the ever- lasting book, wide open to your view, the lesson it would leach. Its pictures are in black and sombre hues, but bright and glowing tints; its music-save when ye drown it—is not in sighs and groans, but songs and cheerful sounds. Listen to the million voices in the summer air, and find one dismal as your own. Remember, if ye can, the sense of hope and pleasure which every glad return of day awakens in the breast of all your kind who have not changed their nature: and Jearn some wisdom even from the witless, when their hearts are lifted up they know not why, by all the mirth and happiness it brings. DICKENS.

Phrases. Nowadays, if you will take the trouble to watch a big building in course of erection, you will notice that nearly all the work has been done somewhere else. There is no confusion, and very little noise. Solid blocks of stone and mighty timbers are hoisted into their places and fitted without trouble they have been sawn and shaped elsewhere by other hands. Even the door and window frames are put in solid; they have been cut and moulded somewhere in the forests of Norway or America. The same process has been at work with our everyday language. Few men can organise their mental commissariat well enough to have fresh ideas always on tap. But potted phrases are easy to carry, and they keep. Ninty-nine public speakers out of a hun- dred would relapse into silence if they were obliged to hew out phrases for themselves. The labour would be too vast. For every new one implies a process of thought and the business of a public speaker, as we all know, is to speak, not to think. Where would the platform speaker be without the congealed lumps of words which give i weight to his utterances, and which he can heave in bodily as they stand 1 We have no time to delve in our minds for an idea whenever we want an epithet. We prefer to get our phrases made up and ready for use, as we buy our pate- de-foie-gras, our Swiss milk, and our evening neckties. GLOBE.

DEBATE ON SUNDAY CLOSING FOR ENGLAND. HOUSE OF COMMONS, WEDNESDAY. THE SERVICE FRANCHISE BILL. The House went into Committee on the Service Franchise Bill. Mr. M'Kenna (R., Monmouthshire, N.) proposed to leave out the words from the first clause And the dwelling-house is not inhabited by any persons under whom such man serves in such offices, service, or employment." He explained that unless these words were omitted the fact of an employer living on the premises would disen- franchise all his assistants who also lived on the premises. Sir J. BLUNDELL MAPLE (U., Camberwell), who was in charge of the Bill, opposed the amend- ment, but on a division the amendment was carried by 58 to 40. The announcement of the figures was received with loud Opposition cheering, and Sir J. Blundell Maple at once left the House. Mr. M'KENNA announced that owing to the fact that hon. members opposite were not present in their usual numbers lie would not proceed with his amendments (laughter and cheers.) Sir C. DILKE (R., Forest of Dean) said he should adopt the same course (laughter.) The Bill then passed through Committee amid ironical cheers, and was reported to the House. On the Speaker asking for a day for the report stage, in the absence of Sir J. Blundell Maple, there was no reply, but derisive cries from the Radical benches of This day six months." Ultimately Mr. James Lowther appointed Wednesday next, though it was pointed out that his name did not appear on the Bill. THE EDUCATION BILL. The Education of Children Bill passed through Committee, and was ordered to be reported to the House as amended amid loud cheers. SUNDAY CLOSING IN ENGLAND. Mr. TRITTON (U., Lambeth) moved the second reading of the Intoxicating Liquors (Sunday Clos- ing) Bill. Mr. Tritton said the measuse had only been brought forward after long and careful con- sideration. No object had more closely engaged the attention of temperance workers than the question of opening public-houses on Sundays. Pesonally, he admitted he was not in favour of absolute Closing, and he knew that many others were in favour of giving facilities at least for the purchase by the working classes of their dinner or supper beer on Sundays. He hoped that all those who took that view would approve of the manner in which that difficulty had been met by the Bill. The Bill provided, in short, for the closing of all premises in which intoxicating liquors is sold by retail during the whole of Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday, but that the licensing authorities should have power to grant an order enabling any public-house to open on any such day for two hours for the sale of liquor to be sold off the premises. The Act did not apply to Scotland, Ireland, or Wales, and would come into operation on August 20th 1899. He hoped the Government would take up this measure, and let it be read a second time and referred to a committee. He was confident that the Bill would meet with no opposi- tion from the solitary representative of the Govern- ment then on the Treasury Bench, Mr. T. W. Russell (laughter). Mr. COLVILLE (R., Lanark) seconded the motion. Mr. JAMES W. LOWTIIER (U., Cumberland, Penritb), opposed the Bill. He would not move the rejection, but hoped, in view of the fate that attended the recent Scotch measure, and the fact that the Royal Commission had not yet reported, the Bill would be withdrawn. Mr. NUSSEY (R., Pontefract) moved that no Bill to restrict the sale of intoxicating liquors was satisfactory which did not embody the principle of Local Option, Mr. COURTNEY WARNER (R., Stafford, Lich- field), seconded. Mr. GALLOWAY (R, Montrose) moved the adjournment of the debate maintaining that the Bill was a piece of grandmotherly legislation, and would not do anything to diminish the consump- tion of intoxicating liquuor. Mr. GIBSON BOWLES (U., Lynn Regis), de- clared that the Bill was a nauseating attempt to curtail the liberties of the people. Temperance was making fearful progress in this country and the temperate man ordinarily was a poor, sallow, and selfish individual (laughter). Was there anyone in the whole world North the living who was a temperat.e man? Martin Lnther and Napoleon were not. Yet now moderate drinkers dared hardly show theii faces, and refreshment bars at the railway stations, .vhere formerly only intoxicating liquors were sdd, were now over- flowing with milk and botey-(lau,-hter)-and poor, pale whisky was out of date. Those in favour of the Bill took it for granted that the working man abused, instead of used the public- house on Sunday, This Bill involved the liberties of the people, and should not be decided by a snap division. The adjournment was carritd by 95 to 85. WINE AND BEER HOUSES ACT AMEND- MENT BII-L. The Orders of the day were got through so rapidly that members were unprepared to explain their Bills. Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE (R., Carnarvon), however, moved the second reading of the Wine and Beer Houses Act Amendment Bill and amid derisive cheering, explained that it sought to place the objections to beerhouse licenss on a similar foot- ing to other licenses. Mr. COURTNEY (U., Cornwall, Bodmin) gave as his reason for supporting tie Bill the fact that it gave the justices a wider discussion in granting and refusing licenses than they possessed at present. Mr. JESSE COLLINGS (Under-Secretary for the Home Office) said the Government preferred to await the report of the Roy;l Commission before giving an opinion on this or aiy similar Blil (iron- ical cheers). Mr. GIBSON BOWLES: Then how will you vote? Mr. COLLINGS I must have that to the hon. member's superior judgment-and it is a superior jndgment (laughter). Mr. H. ROBERTS (R., Deibighshire W.) sup- ported the Bill. Mr. RICHARDS (U., Finslury E.) moved the adjournment of the House. The SPEAKER objected to jutting the question, seeing that the debate had rui on so far, and that there was a prospect of an ear], division. Mr. TOMLINSON (U., Preson) moved the re- jection of the Bill. On a division the Bill was reected by 183 to 138. HOUSE OF LORDS, THURSDAY. The LORD CHANCELLOR ook his seat at a quarter past four o'clock. The chief business before th; House being the consideration of Her Majesty's message with refer- ence to the grant to Lord Kitclenerand the motion that the thanks of the House bs given to the forces engaged in the Soudan, there vas a large attend- ance of peers, and the ladies' galleries were also well filled. Contrary to expeciation, Lord Kitch- ener did not take his seat, but took up a position on the steps of the Throne. The Earl of SELBORNE, relying to the Earl of Camperdown, who asked a juestion relative to affairs in South Africa, made statement in iden- tical terms with the communbation to the other House by Mr. Chamberlain. THE GRANT TO LORI KITCHENER. The Marquess of SALISBURY then moved that her Majesty's message relativi to the grant to Lord Kitchener be taken into coisideration. Honour had been done Lord KitchenQ" in giving him a seat in that House, and it was suiable and proper that they should make provision b enable him to main- tain it. He, therefore, mlved that the House concur with the other Ho'se of Parliament in making provision for Lord Ktchener in accordance with the terms of her Majesty's gracious message, z_1 The Earl of KIMBERLEY agreed with the re- marks made by the noble M.rquess, but expressed regret at the manner in wlich the body of the Mahdi had been disposed of though he admitted the necessity of removing tie Mahdi's tomb, which might otherwise have becone a focus of discontent. The Marquess of SALISBJRY, in reply, said the account had to be taken o the possibility of a revival of national feeling it the country, and he did not think Lord Kitcherur was to blame, even if he forgot for the niomentwhat the opinion might be in London. THANKS TO THE CONQUERING ARMY. The motion having beenigreed to, z, The Marquees of SALI113URY nexed moved a vote of thanks to the fores engaged in the recent operations in the Soudai. His lordship, after paying a high meed of prase to all concerned, re- marked that, the campaigmvould have the result of largely increasing British ame and intluence over the whole world. The Earl of KBIBERLYalso spoke in eulogistic terms of the high qualitiesdisplayed by the troops, I and heartily seconded themotion, which was then agreed to. HOUSE OF COMJONS.—Thursday. IRISH EMIGRATION TO AMERICA. Mr. G. BALFOUR (ChH Secretary for Ireland), t reylying to a question ty Captain Donelan (N., Cork, E.), stated that the emigration from Ireland to the United States this year was, on the whole, less than the average for ten years past. Captain DONELAN Will 'the right hon. gentle- man appoint a Committee to inquire into the cause of this steady drain on Ireland's population ? Mr. GERALD BALFOUR No, sir. As far as I can judge, the emigration from Ireland depends largely on the state of trade in America. NEXT WEEK'S BUSINESS. The First Lord of the Treasury announced that on Monday he would take the Private Bill Pro- cedure (Scotland) Bill, on Tuesday the third reading of the London Government and Finance Bills, and on Thursday the vote of censure in regard to the sugar bounties. He was unable to state when the Committee on municipal trading would be proceeded with. CHINESE QUESTION. Mr. BRODRICK (Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs), replying to Mr. Lambeth (R. Devon, South Moulton), promised that Her Majesty's Government would use their best efforts to prevent British goods being subjected to differential treat- ment on Chinese railways. The Clause in the Anglo-Russian Agreement did not cover the question of railway communication with Peking. THE PERSIAN GULF. Mr. BRODRICK informed Mr. J, M. Maclean (U., Cardiff), that the Government were fully alive to the necessity of maintaining British interests in the Persian Gulf. THE SOUDAN. Mr. ERODRICK, in answering Mr. Scott (R.1 Lancashire, Leigh), said it is impossible for me to make any statement as to whether military opera- tions may be necessary in the Soudan next autnmn or not; nor has any question arisen as to the 1 nature of the troops to be employed. UNDERSIZED FISH. Mr. RITCHIE (President of the Board of Trade) asked leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the destruction of undersized fish (Laughter.) He was sure the House would release the importance of preventing the injury done to the fishing industry by the destruction of the food supply of the country. The Bill was brought in and read a first time. THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION. Mr. BALFOUR, who was cheered on rising to propose that the thanks of the House of Commons be given to Lord Kitchener, his officers, and the men, British, Egyptian, and Soudanese, who took part in the recent campaign in the Soudan, commented on the gallantry and good conduct displayed by the rank and file in the operations. Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN seconded, but Mr. DAVID opposed, and challenged a division upon the first question out by the speaker, viz., that the thanks of the House be given to Lord Kitchener. The resolution, however, was agreed to by 221 to 20, and ultimately the vote was adopted. The House rose at 12 10.

[This column is devoted to contributions on Local Antiquites, Folklore, Place Names, etc ][ Evan Thomas Rhys. Little is known about this worthy, but his songs and epigrams are still on currency in Mid- Cardiganshire. He appears to have been born at Llwyndafydd and lived and died at Llanarth. There his memory is stilll green, though there is no stone to mark his resting place, nor any tablet to bear his name down to posterity. Even the date of his birth and death is uncertain and it is not known whether he lived to a green old age or died comparatively young. However, the follow- ing letter written by Lewis Morris o Foil in the year 1760, throws a little light on his history. Lewis Morris lived at Penrhyn in the parish of Llanbadarn Fawr, and he was an excellent poet and scholar. At Ystrad Meurig, Edward Richard kept his school and having tastes similar to Lewis Morris the two became great friends. The follow- ing extract written by Lewis Morris to Edward Richard explains itself I told you in my last which I sent by Jack (L.M.'s son), that I intended to go to Cardigan. I did so in order to appear for my friend, and with a view, perchance, of meeting with a person of my own taste. I knew that about half the gentry in those part of Wales were to assemble there at the election, and I had a good chance of picking up a Mathematician, as an antiquary or a naturalist. These arts are in England the necessary qualifica- tions of a gentleman. But 0, my countrymen, how are we fallen You are a curious man and want to. know the event of my researches. I will tell you. After the strictest enquiry and now and then dropping my bait, I met with nothing in the world but Bombalio, Clangor, Stridor, Taratantura, Murmur. Not so much as a piece of a Welsh poet to be seen or heard of, no manner of relief to a weather beaten muse, except I had been a duck everybody's view seems to have been wetting his bill. In my journey, however, I did meet at Llanarth, a thing in the shape of a man designed for a poet, and contained very good stuff, it had fallen into good hands to be modelled. He hath travelled, he hath seen St. Pauls and Westminster Abbey, and hath sung to the King, God stand with his Grace Though he never saw him. He hath read over polemical writers. He hath Stackhouse and Tillotson at his fingers' end, and he showed me a printed paper, called by some a ballad, wherein he answers the queries of a certain Welsh Clergy- man about Predestinaion and Freewill. This was y maen tramgwydd published about 1755-1760. The clergyman was probably Daniel Rowland, Llengeitho. The poetry is tolerable and the matter excellent. He would stand a quarter of an hour in one posture like the statute of the gladiator at Mr. Bevan's and made an excellent figure, though by trade a little slender shoemaker. He is not above fifty years of age, and his intellects are very strong, therefore he may be licked up into the form of a poet; with a little trouble. He is known p by the name of Evan Thomas, Crydd a Phrydydd." It is therefore clear that E. Thomas Rhys was born about 1710. LANLWYD.

Ball Rooms. The visitor who asked about this name is quite right. The building is still called by this name by people who are well on in years, and even by those who are middle-aged. The reason is not far to seek. The building went under the name as The Assembly Rooms," or Public Rooms," and it was opened July 1, 1820, It was erected from the plans of a Mr. Repton, a London architect, by subscription at equal share of B10 each. The ground was given by the late W. E. Powell, M.P., of Namtoes, then Lord-Lieutenant of the County. The building was meant to contain a reading room, a card room, a billiard room, and a promenade or ball room. In an old Aberystwyth guide of 1824, will be found the Rules and Regulations of the Aberystwyth Assembly Rooms, Robert Rathill, Esq., Master of the Ceremonies." Some of the rules are rather amusing-especially those dealing with the dignity and the functions of the M.C. A Welsh harper was weekly in attendance, and so was a small military band, the musicians being perched in the small gallery high up near the ceiling-indeed, this gallery was expressly made for the orchestra. V. M.

Pont Corry. A query was asked a few weeks back in this column as to what the meaning of this name could be. I have not been able to ascertain this, but it will be well, perhaps, for the present generation of Aberystwyth people to know where it was. It was at the entrance into the present Smithfield-road, between the Board School and Mill-street. Less than 40 years ago, a ditch, the pynfarch as it was called, ran along Lewis-terrace, just in front of the entrance to the Railway station and the Board School. It came along Plascrug (where a bit of it is still to be seen), and making a turn near Plascrug- lodge ran in the direction indicated in the preceding sentence, then between the gasworks and the backs of the houses in Mill-street till it emptied itself near the old mill, just under Rheidol-bridge. Pont Gorry crossed this "pynfarch" at the entrance, as I said above, into Smithfield. From Pont Gorry could be seen a long way towards the tan yard. On the other side, just where the Board School is now, the Baptists used to baptise their adherents, in the open air and not in chapel as now-a-days. I I do not know the exact date of the last baptism there-probably about half a century ago. The children of that part of the town used to tell each other that a stone fell from Pont Gorry into the water every time it heard the clock strike twelve, and went back again to its own place in the bridge. The story used to be meant as a catch, the point of it being that an inanimate object—viz., the bridge —could not" hear" the clock strike.

EGRYN, Dyffryn. PREACHING MEETING.—A preaching meeting was held at the above place on Thursday and Friday, when the Rev. T. Charles Williams, Menai Bridge, and Francis Jones, Abergele, officiated. The services were conducted in large building, pertaining in Febonig Farm, and which was properly fitted up for the occasion. The building seated about 400 people. The sermons delivered were effective and much ap- preciated.

TOWYN URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. The meeting of the above was held at Aberdovey on Friday, when there were present Messrs Daniel Edwards (chairman), E. L. Rowlands J. Hughes Jones, Davies and Jones Hughes. A letter was read from the Clerk, Mr. W. Robert Davies, thanking the Council for their kind vote of sympathy with him in his illness and saying he hoped to be able to resume duty shortly. The Chairman: I am sure we all wish Mr. Davies will soon recover. A considerable time was taken up in discussing what should be done in the case of insanitary property belonging respectively to Mr. E. H. Daniel and Mr. Morgan, Machynlleth. It was decided to take proceedings in both cases, a summons having already been issued in the latter case. The Chairman reported that the Council's repre- sentatives had met Mr. Denniss the general manager of the Cambrian Railways Company at Towyn, with respect to the improvement there. The Chairman detailed the agreement come to, which has already appeared in our columns. Mr. Hughes Jones suggested that the Council should endeavour to arrange for Mr Denniss to visit Aberdovey in respect to much needed improve- ments at the station there. Mr. Davies said they had better appoint a deputation to see Mr. Denniss on this matter. The station was in a very bad state. Mr. Rowlands said he was afraid he used rather strong terms in reference to the railway station when he spoke sometime ago, but really it was a great disadvantge to the place. It was agreed to write to Mr. Dennis asking him to appoint a day to meet a deputation. The report of Mr. Edward Williams, inspector of nuisances, was considered, The water in a stream from which several cottages and Tynllwyn Farm were supplied was being polluted by a cow and some ducks. Cynfal Farm, the property of Mr. John Corbett, tenant Robert Pugh, was in a most dilapidated state. Isandula-terrace, Towyn, re- ceiver of rent Mr. Howard Daniel, tenant Joseph Davies, was in a damp and unhealthy state. Gwyddgwian, Erwporther, and Bwlchgwyn farm houses were in an unhealthy condition.—It was agreed that notices should be served in these cases to abate the nuisances. Mr. John Jones' report, which was also read, con- tained nothing of public interest. Mr. E. Vaughan Edmunds, surveyor, presented his first report, and hoped that the confidence they had placed in him by selecting him surveyor would be enhanced by personal knowledge. Entering upon his duties on Monday, be had visited the waterworks at Aberdovey, and found the reservoir full with a little overflow. He understood there was a considerable quantity of water running waste at Aberdovey through defective mains and fittings. This matter would have his immediate attention, so as to have the maximum amount of storage in case a drought might arise. The work at Bwlchgwyn farm to prevent possible diminution of the water supply from this source was being proceeded with, as were also the footpath improvements at Copper- hill-street, Aberdovey. On Tuesday he went to Towyn. The new sewer and water main at Cae Vaenol were being proceeded with. He would be glad to receive the instructions of the Council re- garding Pier-road, Towyn. Both the roadway and the footpaths in some parts were very inconvenient to travel over. Opposite Pier-villas, for about thirty yards, it was very rough and irregular. The amount necessary to place it in a proper condition would be but small. He asked permission to take a pupil in his office. In reference to the footpath along Pier-road, Towyn, the Surveyor said it was in a very bad state and wanted repairing immediately. As regards the cost L5 would go a long way. It was suggested that the matter of this and other Towyn matters be left to the Towyn Com- mittee. Mr. Davies thought that the council should do the work, not a committee. Matters should be approved by the council generally. What was the use of being fifteen members if five were going to do the work. They were sent there by the rate- payers for the district and they acted for the district. Mr. Jones Hughes: We act for our different wards, I believe. Mr. Davies: We have no rule to that effect. Mr. Jones Hughes We have always done so. Mr. Davies: It is no reason why it should con- tinue. The Chairman: We know more about our own places than other people. Mr. Davies: That is quite right, but if you act that why not separate altogether and make Towyn a separate district 1 Mr. Rowlands said that matters affecting heavy expense the whole council should be responsible, but in trifles it might well be left to the local committee. Mr. Davies It is well they should suggest; they know more about the district, but I think it should be brought. before the general meeting for confir- mation. Mr. Jones Hughes proposed that the matter be referred to the Towyn Committee with power to do the work. Mr. Rowlands seconded. Mr. Davies proposed an amendment that the matter be referred to the Towyn Committee, but submitted to the meeting of council before the work was carried out. There was some further discussion, but no one seconded the amendment, and the proposition was accordingly carried, with the addition that not more than P.8 was to be expended in the work. It was agreed to allow the surveyor to employ a pupil in his office. Mr. Hughes, surveyor presented his report on the water supply of Hopeland View. With respect to scheme No. 2, he had been over the ground, and found it very uneven, and probably rocks would interfere with the laying of pipes. But still scheme number 1 was 520 yards in length, and number 2 only 274. The first scheme was estimated to cost L120, and the second E81 5s., a reduction of £38 15. The only thing in favour of 1 was that it provided better facilities for developing the town, the fields near which it ran being admirably situated for building sites. It was agreed to refer this to the public meetin g to be held, and consider it at the next meeting of the council. The Council passed a formal resolution that the old surveyor should hand over the property of the Council to the new surveyor, although Mr. Hughes Jones, who seconded, said he did not thing it was necessary. He added that he was very glad to hear that Mr. Hughes had promised the new sur- veyor every assistance. It was very honourable of him. Mr. Hughes said he was very much obliged for the opinions expressed. He had had a connection with the local Board for twenty years, which had been on the whole pleasant ones, although there had been one or two little storms. He did not think he had had a single enemy on the Council all the time, and he thought too that he was leaving without one. Mr John Bevington wrote that he had been requested by the Lord Bishop of Bangor to draw the attention of the Council to the condition of the wall (under the control of the council), just under Pantidal, and request the council to rebuild the part fallen down, and repair other portions which were bulging out. This matter was referred to the surveyor. To police reports were read relative to the riding of bicycles on the esplanade, which was forbidden by the byelaws of the council. It was resolved to make no notice of the cases reported but to empower the police to prosecute in all further cases of the kind.

LLWYNGWRIL. Y DIWEDDAR MRS. ELLIS LEWIS.—Bydd yn ddrwg gan lawer o gyfeillion ddeall am farwolaeth Mrs. Ann Lewis, gweddw y diweddar Ellis Lewis, Collinsville, N. Y., yr hyn gymerodd le yn ei chartref nos Lun, Mai 15, 1899, yn ddisymwth o glefyd y galon, pan oedd yn 81 mlwydd a naw mis oed. Yr oedd Mrs. Lewis yn un o'r sefydlwyr cyn- taf yn y lie, ac yn barchus iawn drwy yr holl gymydogaeth fel mamaeth yn Israel. Merch ydoedd i Mr. and Mrs. David Jones, Gwastadgoed Uchal, gerllaw Llwyngwril, Sir Feironydd. Hi oedd yr henaf o ddeg o blant, o'r rhai nid oes ond yr ieuengaf yn fyw, sef Mrs. Jane Davies, Llwyn- gwril. Aeth pump o'r teulu i'r America, sef Mrs. Lewis, Lewis Jones, Lowville, Owen Jones o Collinsville, a David Jones a John L. Jones, Old Man's Creek, Iowa. Ymbriododd Mrs. Lewis gydag Ellis Lewis yn Nghymru, yn 1841, ac yn mhen blwyddyn, sef yn Mehefin, 1842, ymfudasant gan ymsefydlu i ddechreu yn Constableville, ac wedi wedi hyny ar fferm ar y ffordd i Turin, lie y treuliasant weddill eu hoes mewn cartref cysurus gyda'u mab a'u merch William D. Lewis a Miss Margaret Lewis.

GOGINAN. LLWYDDIANT JAMES RODERICK.—Nid oes dim yn rhoddi i mi fwy o bleser, medd gohebydd mewn papyr newydd o America, na gweled ambell Gymro yn dringo grisiau swyddogaeth; ac un or cyfrywyu James E. Roderick o Hazelton, Pa. Ganwyd ef yn Goginan, Sir Ceredigion, hen sir sydd wedi troi allan gynifcr o ddynion mawr trwy wahanol gyfnodau. Daeth Mr. Roderick i'r wlad hon fel glowr tlawd, gan ddecbrel1 fel torwr glo yn Nhalaeth Pennsylvania, ond nid arosodd yn y fan hon. Dewiswyd ef i fod yn foss; yna yn arolygwr; yn drydydd yn archwiliwr glofeydd (Mine In- spector); ond yn awr wedi cael ei godi yn brif swyddog clan un o gwinniau mwyaf y Dalaeth hon, ac mac yn deilwng o'r swydd yn mhob modd, gan zz, ei fod yn ddyn pwyllog, ac o farn addfed.

Music. The University College, Aberystwyth, is moving apace. Music, which has never been quite neglected at the Institution, is at last about to receive its full meed of recognition. Arrangements have been made for holding short courses of lectures on music at the College during the summer months. The course will comprise the teaching of theory, harmony, counterpart, hymn orchestration, and composition in both notations. All these will be under the charge of the Professor of Music, Mr. D. Jenkins, Mus. Bac. (Cantab). Two lessons a week will also be given on the violin, junior and senior, under the direction of Mr. Bertie Ollerhead, pupil of Herr Veerman, Professor of Utrecht Conser- vatoire. The piano,jorgan, and harmonium will be under the guidance of Mr. B. Trehearne Jordan, a scholar of the Royal College of Music, and a pupil of Sir Walter Barrett, music director to the Queen. It is to be hoped that the lovers of instrumental music, will make an effort to attend these classes, t so that Wales may be equal in instrumental music, | to what she is in choral music. Many an organist at the different chapels and churches would do well to take advantage of that course, by improving their technique on the king of instruments. It is a rare chance to combine a holiday with instruction. Many a lover of the violin, who is labouring under the great disadvantage of no teacher in remote parts of the country, ought to embrace this opportunity of getting some help to manipulate the bow and the string. We should like to see some of the churches coming forward to pay the expenses of a promising young musician as a precentor or choir conductor, to attend these short courses. There is a crying want to raise the tone and ability of one precentor thronghout the country, and we only hope that this will be one out of the many means which the Aberystwyth College has in view, to advance the cause of music in the principality. Students will be prepared for the Members and Advanced certificates in both notation. The teach- ing of two notations is as important as the teach- ing of English and Welsh in our daily schools, We rejoice to think that Aberystwyth is fast com- pleting its scheme of education, and we welcome the present attempt as a very important departure in that direction. The lectures will be given from August 21st to September 16th. —

The Day Training College. REPORT FOR 1898. FIRST YEAR STUDENTS. The needlework and papers of the junior stu- dents showed decided improvement. SECOND YEAR STUDENTS. There was improvement in the students' teach- ing; they were most at ease with children as pupils than with a class of fellow students. There was, however, a tendency to spend too much time on introductory remarks and the point of the lesson was occasionally lost in a multiplicity of explana- tion. The finished work was small in quantity but good in quality the test exercises were also far more satisfactory than those of last year..

All letters must be written on one side of the paper and accompanied by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Correspondents are urgently requested to send their letters to the office as early as possible.

THE HARBOUR GAP. SIR,-Kindly allow me "a short space to caL attention to the above matter, in hopes that some- thing practicable will be speedily done to remedy the existing evil. I have lived at Tanycae for a large number of years, and can bear testimony that the inhabitants of that district have ample grounds for complaining. The only plan for improvement that suggests itself to my mind is to construct a new sewer, commencing above the Bridge and joining the old arched sewer, and continue it along the riverside down to the old graving dock now known as the Gap, and extend it down along the quay past the steamers' berth to the part generally known as "Y wal fwyn." This would bring the sewage within reach of the current of the river, and it would be swept cleah away and not left at the mercy of the tide. OLD INHABITANT.

MACHYNLLETH. INQUEST.—On Friday Mr. John Rowlands held an inquest at the Town Hall on the body of Hugh Williams Evans, an apprentice with Mr. Hugh Davies, chemist, of this town. The jury were in charge of Sergt. Hamer. Mr. Richard Rees, Paris House, was foreman. Mr. Hugh Davies gave evid- ence of identification, and that the deceased was 17 years of age. Mr. John Thomas said he was fishing on the previous day near Felingerrig, and met the deceased, who was a friend of his- He asked deceased where he was going, and he replied nowhere particular. Witness then asked him if he would come and bathe, and he replied yes, and they both walked down the river and went to Sir John's Pool in the Dovey. Witness undressed first and plunged in to deep water and swam across. Deceased was standing on the bank, and witness called out that if he intended coming in he had better look sharp, as he was not going to stay long in the water. Deceased came in in shallow water and dipped his head twice under water, and then swam across to witness. After resting a short time, deceased went in to the water again, and swam in the direction of a tree growing out of the water. Witness thought he was treading water, and told him to be careful in landing as there were some stones there. The next thing witness heard was deceased calling Johnnie." He then swam across to him, and tried -to catch hold of him by the hair, but failed, as it was too short. Witness then tried to catch hold of him from behind. He seemed to be conscious, and caught hold of witness's leg. Witness felt ex- hausted, and his hands becoming numbed and had to let go, and went up to the land, and shouted for help. Witness had done all he could to get him to the land, but failed. Deceased was accustomed to bathe in the Dysyni and the sea, and was a fair swimmer. The water was not cold. When witness called for help. Mr. B. Pearce followed by Mr. Pattinson came up. Mr. Pearce took off his waders and portion of his clothing, and dived in, but his clothing prevented him getting hold of deceased. He then came to the side, and took off his shirt, and went in again and managed to get hold of the body by means of a fishing rod with a large reel on it.—Benjamin Pearce, watch- maker, said he was fishing on the previous evening, when he heard someone shouting. He re- marked to a friend who was fishing close by that he was afraid there was something wrong, so he went up the bank of the river and saw a boy iun- ning to meet him and shouting. When he came up to the boy he started running and took off his basket, coat and waistcoat, &c, and told the boy to pick them up. When he came to Sir John's pool he saw previous witness, who told him what was the matter. Witness had his wader and brogues on at the time, and ripped them, and after taking off portions of his clothine dived in. but failed to get hold of the body as his clothes im- peded him. Witness then came out and took his shirt off, and went in again, and by means of a fishing rod and reel managed to get the body out. They then did all they possibly could to restore animation. The body felt warm when first taken out. When witness first saw Thomas he was sit- ting on the bank and looked exhausted and excited. Witness knew the river well and considered these pools dangerous for bathing. Dr. Otho Robert Travers said he was staying at the Lion Hotel for the fishing, but lived at St. Leonards- on-Sea. Witness was fishing in the Ffridd Pool with a friend of his, and his attention was drawn to a number of people on the river bank. He did not think much about it at first, but ultimately went up to see what was the matter, and saw the deceased with a number of people about him and some trying artificial respiration. Witness did all. he could to restore respiration, although he thought it was hopeless. He noticed a slight abrasion on the hip. Witness surmised that deceased must have had cramp. In answer to the Coroner, who asked what a person should do when in the water and seized by cramp, witness replied that on feel- ing cramp coming on the bather should turn over on his back and keep from struggling. The cor- oner reviewed the evidence, and the jury brought in a verdict of Accidentally drowned while bathing." A vote of condolence with the deceased's father was passed on the proposition of the chair- man, who in his remarks said that a sister of de- ceased's was buried a fortnight ago.

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