Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

PUBLIC LIBRARIES. DUIl1N the past twelve months considerable progress- &as been made in these districts, especially in the rural parts, in the matter of establishing public libraries and reading rooms. While much progress cannot be reported from the towns, it is gratifying to find that the villages have taken up the matter with commendable enthusiasm and have rapidly fallen into line with the move- ment. But it is nevertheless a hopeful sign that the towns,, although inert compared with the villages, are gradually realizing their dnties- and responsibilities in the matter. More than one abortive attempt to establish public libraries has been made of late at Dolgelley, Lampeter, and Tregaron While regretting that no substantial pro- gress has been made, and no tangible success achieved in the towns, still the efforts made will not have been wholly in vain if they will have educated public opinion and helped to remove the few remaining barriers of prejudice. It is only reasonable to hope that when the next efforts are made the movement will meet with more encourage- ment and support, and that the promoters will be able tc start at least a rung higher than ever before. We are glad to firid that the services of "PHIUP SIDNEY" have proved such a valuable contribution to the awakening in the country districts. A few months ago PHILIP SIDNEY took upon himself the task of advancing the movement for establishing libraries and reading rooms; by arousing the public to a sense of its duty,, and convincing the people of the place and value of such institutions in the life and happiness of the community. In order to carry out his mission he visited a large number of villages in remote country districts and helped them by word and deed either to form new libraries or to improve existing ones. His work has everywhere been attended with remarkable success. He has, through his popular lectures, raised a sum of over thirty pounds for the funds of our County School, and village libraries— and that is a sum which will go far in these days to enrich the shelves of any struggling institution--bub of far greater value than this material aid is the moral support and encouragement given to the people in their noble efforts at self-improvement, through the means of free lending libraries and kindred institutions.

CROWN LANDS AND AFFORESTATION. IN our last issue we called attention to the invaluable services Mr HERBERT LEWIS, M.P., is rendering the country generally, by agitating the public mind on the need of urging the Government to take measures for the afforestation of waste lands in the Principality. There is no doubt, whatever, that in many parts of Wales, vast spaces of land remain waste that could be afforested and that with such manifold advantages to the community, the full extent of which it would be impossible to realize or foresee. By carrying out a comprehensive scheme of afforestation not only would the landscape of the country receive an added charm; but the health and wealth of the people would be materially benefitted for it is an established fact that a well-wooded tract of land is a powerful climatic factor, the hygienic value of which cannot be over estimated and there can be no doubt that extensive forests in this country, as in other countries, could be made to contribute to the wealth of the people. Last week we quoted some im- pressive statistics given by Mr HERBERT LEWIS at the recent conference on Crown Lands, on the work of afforestation as carried on in some Continental countries. This week we give some further figures, also cited by Mr LEWIS, shewing to what extent the subject affects Wales. Mr HERBERT LEWIS said that the rights of the Crown in these lands had been purchased at the commencement of the present reign in exchange for a civil list of < £ 365,000. The Crown was Lord of the Manor of 84,110 acres of unenclosed waste lands in Wales. In addition to manorial rights over the surface of these wastes, it owned, as Lord of the Manor, all the minerals under them. Of these 26,476 were in Cardiganshire, 15,321 in Merionethshire, 13,071 in Car- marthenshire, 11,266 in Radnorshire, 8.288 in Carnarvonshire, 8,377 in Denbighshire, and 1,306 in Flintshire. It also owned the minerals under 90,863 acres of enclosed lands in Wales which formerly belonged to 1 the Crown, the surface of which had been sold, but the minerals under which had been reserved. Of this land, 31,746 acres lay in Merionethshire, 15,572 in Car- diganshire. It further owned the min- erals under 189,828 acres of inclosed land, of which the crown was formerly Lord of the Manor, on the inclosure of which the minerals were reserved to the Crown. Of this land 46,885 acres were in Merionethshire 43,093 in Denbigh, 34,897 in Radnorshire, 31,649 in Carnarvonshire, 8,134 in Flint- shire, 7,987 in Carmarthenshire, and 4,932 in Anglesey. In addition the Crown owned the freehold of about 500 acres, while also certain farms had been recently purchased for the purpose of planting. This acreage appeared large, but through the carelessness and corruption of past administration by far the most important and valuable part of a great national patrimony had been lost. For 50 or 60 years preceding 1849 Crown property of enormous value in North Wales was appropriated by private individuals with the privity and connivance of Crown tenants, sheriffs of counties, lords of the manors, stewards of lordships, bailiffs of hundreds, and Crown officers, who were ex-officio guardians of public rights. A hundred years ago the Crown property in North Wales was of the most valuable nature. It comprised the ancient Forest of Snowdon, with several lordships, manors, and royalties. There were many enfranchised moors, wastes, and commons of great extent. There were numerous rivers, streams, and much valuable shore ground, which were of right Crown property, but which 50 years later had been jobbed away by successive administrations to reward political adherents, or secure political partisans. Those very rights which had been so recklessly or so unscrupulously alienated might have formed a great source of revenue to the country. Such proceedings were now happily no longer possible. The Depart- ment was now administered by men of honour and integrity. What was now complained of was that the general policy of the Depart- ment sometimes led it to t: local authori- ties, representing the public, with as much harshness and severity as it formerly treated favoured individuals with reckless and prodigal generosity. In order to urge the Government to take measures for the afforestation of waste lands in the Princi- 1 pality, Mr HERBERT LEWIS advocates the federation of the Welsh County Councils. I Were all pur local governing bodies to give tbe project the consideration and support it so richly merits their cdifcfcjned efforts to realize the schema could not fail of a speedy uccesa^

MAIN ROADS AND THEIR MAINTENANCE. AT the last meeting of the Merioneth County Council a discussion of general interest took place on the question of the maintenance of main roads. In view of the increasing expense of keeping the county roads in a proper state of repair, it was resolved by a large majority to make a new departure in this respect by letting the work of maintaining the roads by contract, instead of employing direct labour as here- tofore, An expression was given by some members to a fear—thoroughly groundless, we believe—that the letting of the work by contract would inevitably lead to the employment of English capital and the introduction of English labour. Much might be said for and against the system of iotting: such work by contract—In one sense it is a confession of weakness on the part of the Council as a public body, and the devolving of work of this kind, for which it is directly responsible, upon private enterprise is tantamount to an acknowledg- ment that something in the organization has failed to functionate properly. On the other band a wise division of labour is not only desirable, but is invariably a sure path, in the long run, to thoroughness and economy. One member characterized the proposal as a dream. But dreams have led many people to fortunes before to-day, and lack of imagination not infrequently spells ruin. Mr JOHN DAVIBS, Dyffryn, has probably never heard of the dream of the Bristol man which led to- the invention of bullets and the dreamer's fortune. It was pointed out at the Merioneth County Council that one of the advantages of letting by contracts would be that it would do away with the foremen- Speaking as to what they would 'save by this"a^.anf«ment the Hon. C. H. WYNN said several memWS of the County Council had spoken to hiF in reference to the amount paid to their road foremen and what they tad for the mor ey' and 80 forth" At present they spent £ 300} or X400 a year, but by the new arrangement' they would get ow .10 rid of all that. Anothei WaS lnat they would obtain a proper and economic breaking of stone. He did not say that the project wottld be carried out. AU he wanted the Council to do was to give the — ^————1 Main Roads Committee a chance of carrying Ðut. The report of the Merioneth County Council, which we print fally this week, contains much valuable information, of more than local interest, and we commend it to the careful consideration of those. of our readers in Cardiganshire and Montgouaeryshire who tah-e interest in municipal and county work.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. w • Mr D. Davies, of Llandinamy has been elected president of the Montgomeryshire Agricultural Association. T The Central News is authorised to announce the engagement of the Duke of Westminster to Miss Shelagh Cornwallis- West, daughter of Colonel and Mlrs Corn- wallis- West, of Ruthin Castle, Denbighshire. Dt was announced at a meeting of the Cardiff Free Library Committee on Tuesday that Mr W. Scott, formerly of Abarystwyth, had offered to present to the town of Cardiff his complete collection of 56 MSSLand 2,013 books, either printed in Welsh or Delating to Wales. The offer was cordially accepted. One effect of the beer scare in Manchester has been a run on whisky. Ordinarily at this time of the year the demand is a large one in view of the near approach of the Christmas and New Year's festivities, but this year it is unprecedented, and the Excise authorities in the bonded warehouses are hard pressed to keep up with the work. The Sheffield Corporation Health Com- mittee have passed a resolution calling the attention of the Sheffield School Board to the practice of sending scholars to the homes of absent scholars to make inquiries las to the cause of their absence Srom school. The committee are of opinion that the practice is one that is dangerous, and may be the cause of the spread ef infectious disease. The Rev David Morris, vicar of Llanwnen with Silian, near Lampeter, has accepted the living of Derwen, vacated by the death, last month, of the Rev Morgan Hughes. The patron is the Bishop of St. David's. Mr Morris was ordained by th& Bishop of St. David's in 1872, and after holding curacies at Llandeilo Fawr and Llamsamlet was pre- sented to the rectory of Llanwnen with Silian in 1878. Mr Michael Davitt, who. has just returned to London from South Africa, brings over some curious stories of General De Wet, with whom he discussed: the campaign. De Wet spoke well of the: British soldiers, yet not so well of our generals and officers. But one compliment he did pay. After hearing many caustic opinions, Mr Davitt asked him what he thought of General French. Ah," said De Wet, with a changed tone, he is the one Boer general in the British army." At a meeting of the Leicestershire Cham- ber of Commerce, held at Leicester on Saturday, the question, of memorialising Parliament in favour of a Pure Beer Bill came up. Mr Nuttal said the abominable stuff sometimes used in brewing was a dis- grace to the manufacturers and to the Government that passed the free wash-tub. Another speaker said the public ought to know that. chemicals were used instead of malt and hops, and that pure beer would be a benefit to consumers and growers of barley. It was decided to hold further meetings on the subject. I I Mr Brodrick, the new head of the War Office, on Tuesday submitted the Supple- mentary Army Vote for t 16,000,000 for ad- ditional expenditure due to war in South Africa, and what are described as affairs in China." His speech contained nothing new, except the grim announcement that we must look forward up to 31 March to an ex- penditure little short of that which has been borne by the country during the last year— a curious comment on the war being over theory. The speech was one long confession of miscalculation after miscalculation. Mr Brodrick also confessed that all the men out in South Africa, including soldiers, yeo- manry, volunteers of various sorts, and colonials, "were suffering from a natural desire to return home." In a letter to the governors of the Llan- beris Intermediate School Mr William Rathbone, late M.P. for Carnarvonshire, in enclosing X125, half the cost for fitting the school with manual instruction, laundry, and cooking rooms, said:—I hope you will impress upon the people that we are still hazardously far from bringing home to our Welsh young people of both sexes that what is required, both for their own interest and the welfare of Wales, is that they should aim not mainly at qualifying for the ministry, teaching, and standing behind a counter, for which the supply is overstocked with shop- men, copying clerks, and teachers, who are consequently many of them greviously un- derpaid as compared with that of practical artisians, male and female, who are very much wanted, and can anywhere, if thoroughly educated, find profitable work. You are evidently setting about to provide them with the necessary training for this, and it only rests to persuade them to avail themselves of it. If they do, Wales will be an example for the rest of the kingdom, not only for its educational arrangements, but its results in material prosperity and progress. Mr Henry Chaplin presided on Saturday at the third celebration of the establishment of the Lady Warwick Hostel at Reading. He said that one of the chief objects of this agricultural scheme had been to demon- strate to the world that there was an abundant means of women acquiring for themselves a livelihood in the lighter bran- ches of that great industry. Its other object was to stimulate the growth of certain kinds of agricultural produce for which this country is most eminently adapted. Only on Friday he obtained from the Board of Agriculture statistics showing that last year we imported butter to the value of seventeen million pounds; cheese, five and a half 1 millions; eggs, five millions; poultry, eight < hundred thousand pounds; margarine, two < and a half millions. We could have produced ] the whole of it equally well at home. A t great deal of excellent work had been done « in this direction, but much remained to be I done. He had always said that if ten years ago, when the Board of Agriculture was first established, he had been able to persuade the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, as he tried to do, to give the Board XIOO,000 a year, or even X50,000 instead of the present pittance, the foreign butter trade would have been in a very different position to what it was at present, and a large proportion of the im- ported butter would have been made at home. Given two conditions, which were that agri- cultural produce must not be carried by our railways at much cheaper rates than home produce, and that adequate education should be everywhere provided in the lighter bran- ches of agriculture, they could hold their own against all foreign rivals. There is to be a solemn service at St. Paul's Cathedral on the 19th in memory of the soldiers who have fallen during the year in the war in South Africa. A like service was held in St. Paul's this time last year, after our reverses in Natal. The Welsh members have re-elected Mr Alfred Thomas chairman and Mr Brynmor Jones and Mr Herbert Roberts Whips, and have agreed not to move any amendment to the Address this session, but to reserve any action in relation to Welsh questions until the beginning of the regular session next year. The analysis of the list of recent successes in the London University examinations, which appears in another column will help our readers to realize the extent and thoroughness of the work done at the University College- of Wales, Aberystwyth. In arts, it heads the list, and in science it comes third of all the institutions in the kingdom, notwithstanding that it is, com- pared with most of them, sadly handicapped for want of better equipments in the science department. In an article upon the beer-poisoning epidemic the Lancet says it is scandalous that an outbreak of wholesale poisoning must occur and human life be sacrificed before any serious attention is brought to bear upon the purity of the national beverage. In Germany, it reminds us, the use of malt u substitutes" is absolutely for- bidden. The "Lancet" suggests that the same wholesome prohibition should be en- forced in this country, and that the whole question of the use of food substitutes ,> t demands searching inquiry if the health of the people is to be protected. That Machynlleth is in sore need of much improvement in its system of public lighting is patent to all who are in any way acquainted with that place. Which way would be the best to supply that need does not seem to be equally clear. But anything better than the present dismal gaslight would be a welcome improvement, and the introduction of a more satisfactory system of public lighting would be hailed with general delight;: and it will be seen from a report we publish this week that a scheme is already afoot to bridle the water of some of the many streams which abound in that neighbourhood for the purposes of lighting the town with electricity. Whether this should be done by a private company or "-by I the people for the people is a question that remains to be considered. ——— >»■ The anniversary of Lady Warwide. hostel for the training of women for Light agricultural pursuits was celebrated on Saturday by holding a meeting at Reading. Mr Chaplin, M.P., who presided, said he had always maintained that if he bad been able to persuade the then Chancellor of the Exchequer to grant EIOO,000 a year, or even X50,000 a year, when the Board of Agriculture was formed ten years ago, the butter trade would have been in a very different condition from what it was now. Given two conditions, British agriculture could hold its own against foreign com- petition. These conditions were, first, that í foreign produce must not be carried on our railways at cheaper rates than the produce we grew ourselves; and, secondly, that adequate education in particular branches such as was given in that institution should be given everywhere. In an able and suggestive address delivered to a gathering of Welshmen in London last week Mr Llewelyn Williams dealt with the Report of the Welsh Land Commission after a fashion somewhat unusual in a sympathetic critic of that document. Mr Williams frankly expressed his preference for the < Report of the minority of the Commission. The majority had, in his own opinion, bor- rowed from the Irish and Scottish Land Acts provisions quite unsuited to the case of the Welsh farmer, while rejecting provisions that did meet his case. Mr Williams would have disputes between landlord aud tenant settled not by a land court, with its costly processes, but by an agricultural expert appointed as arbitrator by the Government. He also traversed the majority's statement that a peasant proprietary was not suited for a country like Wales. Mr Williams, however, made it clearly understood that he would not stop with the recommendations of the minority. They had made a fetish of ? freedom of contract, whereas he would favour a compulsory fixing of rents. A scheme of bnd purchase, also, appeared to him to be an essential adjunct to any satisfactory measure of Welsh land reform. In Merionethshire especially much more merriment and fun than is probably intended is occasioned almost weekly by what is termed the double barreled newspaper." The double barrel paper probably Affords a very convenient method to attack enemies; but it is a method not only unworthy of any paper having the least pretentions to fair- ness and impartiality, but one to which the vilest of the yellow journals has not yet stooped. The readers of that paper have become long familiar with the childish and silly manner in which its editox" tries to wreak his vengeance on those public men who have displeased him. Is it fair and honest to attack any man in the leading columns of a newspaper on reported state- ments while at the same time withholding I the reports themselves from the readers, and thus denying them the privilege of forming their own judgments on the question at issue ? Possibly every man has a right to be a law unto himself; but it does seem t: bigotry in the extreme that any Juan who 1 arrogates unto himself all that is right and fair should systematically ostracise ihp name of his opponents from his public print. Williams has already becime quite a proverb for narrow-mindedness in these parts. At the last meeting of the Festirdog School Board a letter was read by the Clerk from one of the pupil teachers in the service of the Board, asking for exempticn from tho larger portion of his duties that he might have more time to prepare for tie entrance examination for the Baptist Collie in order to enter the ministry.—Mr E. P Jones (the Chairman) said that the teacher had been educated for three years in order to qualify him for the Board's service, and it was only two months since he had commenced duties it one of their schools. He had tie intention ft before entering oa his duties b enter the ¿Il ministry, as he was announce! to preach next Sunday. To be just undcr the agree- ment the expenses of his eduction should be repaid by him, as he was now leaving for another occupation.—The Rev. 0. Richards (the vicar) said the teacher wasgoing in fo, "another trade," and the Rcv Rhydwen Parry said that it was not jus for them to educate persons for three yejrs at the ex- pense of the ratepayers, whilt compelling others to pay themselves.-Otler members felt that the money paid for tbocducatioii of the teacher should be refundec- They all had at heart the future welfare af this young man, but they could not deptrt from the | agr eement signed by him ant ignore their I responsibility to the ratepayeri. ]