Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

Aberystwyth Gas Works. SHALL THEY BE PURCHASED BY THE CORPORATION ? IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. RATEPAYERS TO BE CONSULTED. A special meeting of the Aberystwyth Town Council was held on Tuesday at the Council Chamber, Town Hq21, when there were present the Mayor (Councillor William Thomas) in the chair; Councillor Isaac Hop- kins (ex-Mayor), Aldermen Peter Jones and W. H. Palmer; Councillors J. T. Davies Captain David James, Cap- tain: T. Doughton, Daniel Tho- mas, R. Doughton, and J. Gibson, with Mr. A. J. Hughes (town clerk), Mr. Rees Jones (borough surveyor), and Mr. C. Massey (as- sistant. borough accountant). The meeting had been called chiefly to con- sider the important question of the acquire- ment of the Aberystwyth Gas Company's undertaking, and to adopt (if so determined) the following resolution :— That it is desirable, in the interest of the Corporation and of the ratepayers of the Borough, that the undertaking of the Aberystwyth Gas Company be purchased by the Corporation, and for that purpose the necess;«,ry steps be flaken under the provisions of the Aberystwyth Giis Act, 1898, and otherwise to give effect to the said resolution. The Clerk reported he had that day re- ceived the report of Mr. Edward H. Steven- son, of 38, Parliament-street, a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and past president of the Incorporated Gas Institute, on his visit to the premises of the Aberyst- wyth Gas Company. The report was a long one, and at this stage, and with the approval of the Council, he would ask that the reading of the report be deferred. The Ex-Mayor proposed that it be printed and circulated among the members. Alderman Palmer thought it would be bet- ter not to have it printed, as it might be handed about. Mr. J. T. Davies wanted it referred to the Finance Committee. Captain Doughton: But let every mem- ber see it before it is printed. It was decided that the report be referred to a committee of the whole Council, when the question of printing it could be decided. The Mayor then requested the Town Clerk to make a statement on the subject of the meeting. The Town Clerk said as recently as 1898 the Gas Company obtained a new Act with cer- tain) additional power to the powers then vested in them. On that occasion the Cor- poration offered a strenuous opposition to the passing of that Act in the form in which it was presented to Parliament, with the re- sult that the standard price of gas was some- what reduced, and the Gas Works were re- moved from the town to their present posi- tion, and there were other amendments. Not the least important amendment that they were able to get inserted in the Act was the exceptional power to purchase the undertak- ing within a period of thirty years. Gas Companies were constantly applying to Par- liament for additional powers, and Corpora- tions' as a rule watched these applications closely. They found frequently that a Cor- poration asked that a clause be inserted in the Act giving the municipality the power of purchasing the gas undertaking. That power, if granted, was generally required to be ex- ercised within a year, two years being the exception. In this case ,they had the op- tion, upon certain terms, of purchasing the undertaking within thirty years of the year 1898. The Gas Company applied lately to the Board of Trade for further additional powers. Directly the draft Provisional Order was published, he called the Council together, and a comnVttoo was appointed, and the proceedings of the Company had been very closely watched from that time to the present; with the result that certain ob- jections were formulated to be presented to the Board of Trade for their consideration against the granting of a Provisional Order in the form in which it was presented by the Company. Two main points were al- luded to in the objections lodged by the Oorpdration, one being that the standard price of gas was unreasonably high, and the second that the additional borrowing pow- ers which were sought for by the Company were wholly unnecessary and wholly exces- sive, and the committee was advised that if this Provisional Order was allowed to pass unopposed the result would mean that by raising this additional capital the Corpora- tion would be prevented from exercising the power conferred by the Act of 1898 to ac- quire this undertaking. After the objec- tions were filed in the Board of Trade he (the Town Clerk) had an interview with'the Parliamentary agents actinsr on behalf of the Company in London, and an attempt was made to come to some amicable arrangement which. would render unnecessary any further action on the part of the Council. The at- tempt was followed with interviews. with the managing director, Mr. Woodall, and the directors of the Gas Company, who met a deputation from the Council. The Coun- cil's objections were discussed at consider- able length and correspondence ensued, but in the result they were unable to come to terms. He mentioned this to show that the Council had been alive to its duty, and had exercised every possible effort to bring about an amicable settlement. Ultimately, as the matter had to be brought before the Board of Trade, it was resolved that Mr. Stevenson, who advised them so ably in 1898, should again be consulted ,and since then he had visited the works and had inspected the Company's accounts. He had gone care- fully into the matter, and had submitted a report. The resolution on the agenda was a very responsible one, if he might so term it. It was necessary, in order to give effect to the opposition they had presented to the Company's application that the Corporation should pass this resolution witb tine bona fide intention of acting upon it. But he thought for the information of the rate- payers of the town that it was desirable to explain that before the Corporation could legally bind themselves and bind the town to take this important step—and it was a matter of great importance, as it involved very heavy expenditure and responsibility- the law was that under the Borough Funds Act of 1872 and the Amendment Act of 1903 certain proceedings had to be taken, and the object was that everyone should have the fullest opportunity of carefully considering .I J..L. u 0- tius matter ana practically deciding for the Council whether the Council should carry out the purchase or not. Before an appli- cation could be made to the Local Govern- ment Boa. u for permission to promote a Bill in Parliament ,it v, ould be necessary to have a meeting of the Council to decide upon, public notice of which would have to be given in a local newspaper; an absolute majority of the whole of the members of the Council must be secured before that resolution be- came effective. The resolution had. to be twice published at intervals in local news- papers, in two successive weeks, and also announced by placards. That was followed by a public meeting, and if a resolution was passed there in favour of promoting the Bill the Bill proceeded on the other hand, if the whole Bill or any particular clauses were objected to the electors had the power of rejecting or adopting the Bill wholly or in part. The matter did not end even there. because if a certain number at the public meeting-assuming that a resolution was passed for or against—was dissatisfied with the result. it "iv no AnD" + +J.. AJ. I. -1 'U demand a poll of the town. So the Council could venture fearlessly to go forward, hav- ing regard to the opinion which prevailed in the Council. Captain Doughton enquired how many years would they have to pay back the money which would be borrowed. The Town Clerk said he thought it was about thirty years; but in this case there were exceptional circumstances which would justify the Council instead of going to the Local Government Board promoting an Act of Parliament, and a longer term in all pro- bability would be given. It had also been suggested that the Mayor and himself should attend the Board of Trade on the following day in pursuance of the request of that authority. He might say he did not think it was the wish of anyone to act in this mat- ter in a hostile spirit towards the Gas Com- pany. It was not a case of the Corporation seeking to deprive the Company of their pro- perty or anything of that sort. If this mat- ter proceeded the shareholders and those in- terested in the Gas Company would receive their due, and it was to be hoped that as- suming this matter went to the fullest ex- tent and they got Parliamentary powers that they would be able to come to an ami- cable settlement, but failing that the amount of purchase money would have to be referred to arbitration, and the price fixed. The Mayor said the matter had been fully discussed in committee, where they had the advantage] of Mr. Stevenson's report. It was for the Council to adopt the resolution or do otherwise. Mr. J. Gibson said he thought he could venture to submit the resolution, especially after the explanation they had had from the Town Clerk with reference to the safeguards the ratepayers possessed in future action. What had led up to the present opposition was the attempt of the Gas Company to in- crease their present capital without adequate justification. They had tried to meet them in every way; they had had scores of com- mattees and consultations, and he thought what had been driven in upon them during the whole of these committees and consulta- tions was that their only course in the inter- ests of the town was to take steps to buy. The town was now paying for public lighting £ 1,000 a year. There was also the question of the continual breaking up of the roads, which was a serious thing to the town, and the question of the high price of gas for cooking and heating and industry. He thought if the Corporation owned its own gas works it could serve the public better, and any profits made would be the profits of the people. He moved the adoption of the foregoing resolution. Alderman W. H. Palmer, in seconding, said he believed the ratepayers now used a great deal of gas for cooking purposes, and it was coming into use more and more. Any increase in the price of gas, therefore, would seriously affect the ratepayers of the town. He considered something' should be done so that the Gas Works could become the pro- perty of the ratepayers. Captain Doughton said he had great pleas- ure in supporting the resolution, as he be- lieved the acquisition of the Gas Works would be a greater boon to the town than the purchase of the water works. As far as he could understand the annual profits from the gas undertaking would, he believed, be suffi- cient to pay back the capital and interest without drawing anything from the rate- payers. The Mayor said he was rather doubtful as tof the correctness of Captain Doughton's statement. He did not expect that the fi- nancial advantage would be considerable. He had for a long time been opposed to such a step as this being taken, but various reas- ons had made him change his mind. As Alderman Palmer had said, gas for cooking purposes was now coming into greater use. Their streets were also being continually cut up, and whether it was an advantage or a disadvantage financially, he had come to the conclusion that it was a business more for the Council than a private company. They had all noticed the complaints and the grumbling about th cutting up of the streets, and they had been at a disadvantage on that account for years past. Instead of grumbling at other Company's officials, he thought the undertaking should be for good or bad in the hands of the Corporation. He had been brought round on the question dur- ing the last year or two, and as far as his vote went, subject to the approval of the public generally, he was prepared to go in heartily for purchasing the undertaking. Alderman Peter Jones endorsed what had been said by the previous speakers. No doubt, considerable agitation had taken place in the public mind as to municipalities /trading in various d?reetoon\s. But he thought there was perfect unanimity on the question that the water, gas, and tramways, which had to do with the cutting up of the streets, and also were generally used by the public, should be under the control of the municipal authority. As had already been stated, there was no feeling against the Com- pany as a Company, but he thought, taking the broader aspect of the question, that it was advisable that the gas should be, the same as they had the water, and in larger municipalities the tramways, underthe con- trol of the Council The cutting up of the streets had been done at very inconvenient times, whereas if they were in the hands of the municipality he had no doubt whatever they would be able to arrange matters so as to minimise as much as possible the incon- venience to the public. He thought the question of taking over the control of the Gas Works was to take a step similar to that taken by their neighbours all round. Very recently three or four smaller towns in the neighbourhood of Aberystwyth had taken over the gas undertakings. This had result- ed in doing away with any friction which might take place between the Company and the municipal authority. The resolution was then put to the meet- ing and carried unanimously. MONEY COMING IN. The chairman of the Finance Committee announced that two letters had just been re- ceived from) persons willing to advance a total sum of R950 to the Council.

CARDIGAN Bankruptcy Examination.—At the Car- marthenshire Bankruptcy Court held on Wed- nesday in last week,Da vid Tegwell Evans came up for examination. Bankrupt had been trading as Evans and Co., at the Royal Exchange (grocery) Stores, 52, Pendre, Car- digan. His gross liabilities amounted to 1;2618 136. 9d., his deficiency being ztl,465 13s. lid. The causes of his failure were alleged to be loss by fire in May, 1902, and depreciation in value of property. The re- ceiving order was made on a creditor's peti- tion, the act of bankruptcy being that the debtor, in January last, executed an assign- ment of his property to a trustee for the benefit of his creditors generally. The Official Receiver had been in possession ot the estate under an interim receiving order, since January 20th. Debtor was adjudged bankrupt on the 7th ultimo. The bankrupt who was 41 years of age, stated that he commenced business at 52, High-street, Cardigan, in June, 1898, with a capital of £65. In Sep- tember, 1902, he removed to his present pre- mises, which were built under his own sup- ervision at an estimated cost of £ 1,400. His failure was traceable largely to this venture. Thifj property was mortgaged for £1,030, while he only estimated it to realise JE900. After an exhaustive inquiry the examination was adjourned for a month, the bankrupt in the meantime to furnish an amended ac- count. Mr. Collins, chaptered accountant, Bristol, was present as trustee, Mr. H. Bru- nei White, solicitor, Carmarthen, appeared for bankrupt, and Mr. James John, solictor, Carmarthen, represented petitioning credi- tors. BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS. A borough PettySessione was held on Thursday last at the Council Chamber, Guild liall, before Messrs E. C. Evans, E. Mathias, and T. H. Williams -Ti,ansici-Aii application for the tempor- ary transfer of the Shipwright Arms was made by Mr. Frederick W. Greenway, and was granted. Drunk and Disorderly.—P.C. Thomas Jones summoned Benjamin Davies, Mill- street, Cardigan, mariner, for being drunk and disorderly at Mill-street on 2nd March last.—Defendant appeared and pleaded guilty.—A fine of 5s. and costs was imposed. A Neglectful Husband.-fhe defendant in the previous case, Benjamin Davies was sum- moned by his wife, Rebecca Davies, for neg- lecting to provide her reasonable maintenance. She also applied for a separation order.— Rebecca Davies said defendant did not re- side with her. He had deserted her, and did not provide her reasonable maintenance. They had been apart since January 5th, 1904, and during that time she had not had sufficient from him to keep her. The last time she had money was six weeks before Christmas, when she only had 10s. He had been working in Glamorganshire as a collier and used to earn 5s. 9d. a turn, only coming the previous Monday.—Benjamin Davies said the reason why he did not live with his wife was tJiat she was always making accusations that lie had another wife and children. She refused to admit him to the house. He had paid her nothing since Christmas, but up till then had sent her money regularly. He saw her the Tuesday previous, when her words were "go to your wife and children." De- fendant said he was still prepared to live with her, provided she would not make those ac- cusations.—The wife here got into an ex- cited state and made some rambling accusa- tions. The,' thread of her story appeared to be that defendant had another wife and seventeen children. On one occasion, she said, the three of them had slept together, and defendant administered chloroform to her, but she was too strong for the dose and nothing escaped her notice.—The bench en- quired the name of the other woman, and Mrs. Davies replied "a. Mrs. Davies."—Lot- tie Davies, Greenfield-square, daughter-in- law of the parties, said she knew defendant had given her plenty of money. Witness was living with her for three months, and at one time she used to get El every fortnight, and at other times 10s. She never saw the defendant with any other woman.—In reply to the Bench, witness said she used to fill up the postal orders for the plaintiff to cash them.—After having the room cleared, the parties were pressed by the magistrates to settle it among themselves, but this settle- ment failing, they dismissed the case for want of evidence. BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY The annual gathering of the Cardigan auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society took place at the Guild Hall on Tuesday evening in last week, when there was a very good attendance, Mr. Lewis Ev- ans, J.P., was the chairman in the absence of the Mayor (Mr. J. Darnel), and the pre- sident of the BrancAf 4Mr. Morgan Richard- son), and he was snupported on the platform by the Rev. D. J. Evans, vicar, Rev. T. J. Morris, Capel Mair, Messrs Beynon Evans, E. Ceredig Evans, J. C. Roberts, and Sam- uel Owens (local secretary), with the Rev. J. Hughes Parry ,rector ot Rudbaxton, as deputaion from the parent society. Before calling upon the secretary to read the financial report the Chairman explained that as Mr. Daniel was in London, and Mr. Morgan Richardson was out of town, the honour of filling the chair had fallen upon him as vice-chairman. He would not de- tain them with a speech that night, as he knew they were all anxious to hear the de- putation. The secretary reported that the annual subscriptions fronfy the different chapels amounted last year to £21 17s. There was an adverse balance at the end of the pre- vious year of £1 lB. 9d., a cheque for j618 had been sent to the Parent Society, and allowing for other expenditure there was now a balance on the year of lis. 3d. They received about E19 7s. 3d., and in addition a donation from the president (Mr. Morgan- Richardson) of £ 2 2s. towards the centenary fund, and a cheque for JE21 9s. 3d. had been forwarded on this account. Mr. Beynon Evans moved the adoption of the report. He considered it a very favour- able one, as they had converted an adverse balance with a credit balance, and had col- lected altogether L39 as. 3d. There was now a greatly increased demand for Bibles, and they were doing a great deal of good by sending this money. Mr. E. Ceredig Evans, seconding, said he was glad to do so, because he had had the pleasure of reading the report for seven- teen years, and also because the 'little place" he was connected with was again at the top in the amounts collected. (Hear, hear.) The report was unanimously adopted. The Rev. D. J. Evans. M.A., said he had much pleasure in moving the resolution "that in accepting the report this meeting gives thanks to Almighty God for his mani- fest favour continually received on the lab- ours of the Bible Society, and prays especi- ally that in this year, the 101st of the Soc- iety's existence, there may be greater inter- est and reverence for the Holy Scriptures, and a keener sense of the responsibility for world-wide circulation, and that Christian people of all nations may give this book the foremost place in their prayer and activities." Mr. Evans said this was the first meeting he had attended since he had been in Cardigan. not however from any lack of interest in the doings of this wonderful society, but rather to the circumstances of the evening services during that time of the year. For how could a man be indifferent to the doings of a soc- iety which placed the bible in the hands of every person in his mother tongue? It was simply marvellous to think that whereas a hundred years ago the Bible was printed in the language of peoples totalling one fifth of the whole race, to-day it was printed in the language of neonles rmmVior-imr tenths of mankind. What could they do without the Bible ? There were Christians existing before a word of the new testament was written, but we were thankful because we had in it a record of the boundless love of God in Jesus Christ. He would like to testify as a clergyman to the indebtedness of their great missionaiy societies to this Bible Society. The Society for the Propaga- tion and the Gospel in Foreign parts was "sing sixty translations, and' the Church Missionary Society eighty translations, all furnished by the British and Foreign Bible Society—(hear, hear) and applause). The Bible was to-day the most powerful instru- ment for welding and drawing together all those who bowed the knee to Jesus. (Ap- plause.) The Rev. J. Hughes Parry, who spoke next addressed his hearers as. "dear Christian fi'r.pnds." He said that. when the history of the nineteenth century came to be writ- ten one of the most interesting chapters would! be the one tracing the inception and growth and work of thosev great philanth- ropic societies which, as they all knew, were striving with might and main to cope with the sufferings of mankind. There was a vast number at work, not only in our lancbs, striving to rescue the perish- ing, to care for the dying, to lift up the poor into a better state, and to cast some real light on tiie toilsome paths of those walking in darkness, who were utterly heed- less of the great future before them, living without hope. and without God. Let them remember that all those great agencits, tueu' hospitals, infirmaries, workhouses, and hoinefe were the result of Christianity, the result of that mighty love which was in Christ Jesus. VYltri this they must also 01 necessity admit aii-d recognise fully the great- ness of the aims of the Society to support which they had that evening come there. The object of the Society was the circulating of trie word of God in all the languages 01 the world, and it had the feeding and cheer- ing of so many missionary societies, its glory being this book. "the book of God, and the god of books." John Ruskin, the great- est art critic of his time, had borne the in- teresting testimony that "to my early know- ledge of the Bible I attribute the best part of my taste in literature, and the most pre- cious—the one essential part-of my educa- tion." As mere literature the Bible was magnificent, but it was more than mere lit- erature. When on his deathbed Sir Walter Scott asked his son-in-law to read to him, and the latter asked him what he should read, Sir Walter's reply being "There is only one book." Many agencies were trying to stem the torrent of the sufferings and mis- ery of this world, but the Bible went further, it showed that sin was the one prolific source from which those sufferings sprang. They were living in wonderful times now, but I none of the great inventions could save them from the punishment of their sins. There was only one way for safety, and that was told in the old, old story of Jesus Christ. After speaking for a few minutes in Welsh, Mr. Parry said that during last year the word of God was translated into eight new languages for the first time, and he then proceeded to give an idea of the labour iu- volved in this work. There were many difficulties to be coped with, students had to be in a country for years learning the lan- guage of a people, and then, unprovided with any dictionary, or grammar, had to trans- late the word into such ideas as the natives would comprehend. For what did he know about justification by faith, or about the in- carnation these terms would not have any special significance to him. Ini one trans- lation twenty years was spent in learning the language, and the translation occupied another twenty years. Again, when the book had been translated, there was still the difficulty of printing it so that the natives could understand it. The sum of £ 4,000 was spent on this branch of the work last year, so he thought they could honestly claim that the society was the greatest phil- anthropical institution in the world. Touch- ing upon the distribution of the Bible, he mentioned the work that was being done by the Bible women in India, where the book was read to 32,000 of the women, 2,000 of them iearning to read it for themselves dur- ing the last twelve months. (Applause). They had also 860 colporteurs, who annu- ally circulated some two million copies of the word of God. These men were in many cases carrying their lives in their hands. penetrating almost inaccessible forests, and working far away from the centres of popu- lation. They had a large number in France, where the work had been very difficult, as up till recently there had existed anything but a friendly feeling towards this country, now however, through the good services of King Edward and the President of the French Republic, things had greatly chang- ed for the better since the time when the country was not at all a comfortable place for them to work in. One element in the difficulty had been that practically the French people were a nation of infidels, gen- erally speaking. It was a terrible indict- ment, but it was a fact. If they got a man to believe too much, there would come a re- action when he would believe too little, and the pendulum had swung back in France in this manner. Speaking of a country whose inhabitants number nearly a fourth of the whole world, the speaker remarked that a wonderful door was opening in China, the people being greatly desirous of hearing God's word. During last year the Society published he went on, five and a half mil- lion copies of the word of God, and a total of 186,000 000 during the century of its exist- ence. This work of course called for money, and among their many faithful collectors was a parrot, which, when it saw a visitor entering the house, would say, walk in, drop something in the bible-box," and when it heard a coin drop in it would shout, "hip- hip-hooray." It had altogether collected R46 2a. 8d. (Laughter, and applause). After relating one or two appropriate and humour- oualy pointed anecdotes, Mr. Parry said there yet remained much work to be done, indeed it was hard t realise its magnity. When the great work had accomplished its mission, then from every land and from every tribe would ascend a peon of praise to the Redeemer, the whole universe being the vast orchestra. (Warm applause). Alderman J. C. Roberta proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker, and this having been seconded by Mr. J. Jones, St. Mary- street, was carried unanimously. Mr. Hughes Parry thanked the meeting, and moved that a similar vote be accorded the Chairman.—Mr. Samuel Owen seconded, and the motion was heartily agreed to. ji j_

ABEix DOVKY. Overseers.—The Urban Dictrict Council have appointed the following to be overseers Messrs. W. Jones Hughes (Aberdovey), Dan- iel Edward (Towyn), Robert Richards, Bryn- crug), and D. Davies (Tafolgraig). It wae decided at Friday's meeting that the over- seers should make an application that the whole of the Machynlleth Union should be revalued. District Council.—At the District Coun- cil last week a letter was read from Mr. C. S. Denniss stating the Volunteer Authorities complained that it would be impossible to come and camp at Towyn again as the farm- ers charged so excessively for any damage done by the men while training and crossing the fields.—A member stated that the charges made by the fanners was in no way excessive considering the nature and the. amount of damage done, much of which was avoidable. It was decided to meet Mr. Denniss to dis- cuss the matter.—An appliction was read asking the Council to support the claims of Cardiff for the Welsh National Library and Museum.—No application had been received from Aberystwyth. It was decided to leave the matter in abeyance for the present. Election.—To-day is the last day for re- ceiving nominations for the District Council Election. The retiring candidates are:— Aberdovey ward—Messrs. E. L. Rowlands, and A. Tomlins; Towyn ward, Messrs. J. D Latimer and W. Rowlands; Rural Ward- Messrs. John Roberts and D. C. Davies. It is said that Mr. D. C. Davies will not seek re-election, and, at a. recent Vestry meeting Mr. John Roberts, junior, auctioneer, was chosen to succeed his father. It is stated that Mr. E. L. Rowlands also will retire; but that pressure will be brought to bear upon him to seek re-election as he has prov- ed a most useful and faithful member. It is expected that some surprises will take place in the Towyn Ward and that a keen contest will be witnessed there. Literary Institute.—At the last monthly meeting of the committee of the Literary Institute there were present Messrs. W. Jones Hughes (in the chair), J. D. Hughes. Captain Edwards. Captain Evans, and Messrs. R. Williams, J. P. Lewis, R. Ffestin Williams, R. Griffith, W. D. Evans, and the secretaries, Messrs. G. Williams and W. J. Eves.-It was decided to. accent the offer nf T h i- Messrs. Thruston to send magazines every month into the room.—Collectors were ap- pointed to look after the subscriptions.—It was decided to give an annual report to each of the quarterly members, and to distribute the remainder in the town.—It was resolved to ask one of the members of the temper- ance party to speak Oil behalf of the library at the Sunday evening meetings.—The date of the lecture of the Rev. W. Lloyd Davies was fixed for Friday evening, March 24th. —It was resolved to forward the following resolution to the Privy Council, through the member for the county (Mr. Osmond Wil- liams), upon the settlement of a site for the National Museum :—"That this committee, representing the members of the Aberdovey Literary Institute, beg respectfully to point out to the committee a keen disappointment will be felt throughout Mid and North Wales if the Welsh National Library and Museum should be located at the extreme end of South Wales, and they also sincerely trust that the committee will consider the great sacrifice made by the people of this district and especially the quarrvmen in the great k movement which resulted in the foundation of the first University College of Wales at ■ I Aberystwyth."—It was decided that the question of an increase in t. he number oi magazines be left until the ne* ;t meeting.— The carmaker gave notice that xie would re- I new at the next meeting his appi lcation. for an increase in his salary. Too Bad.—The attendance of members at I the meeting of the Dictrict Education Com- mittee is iso very bad that it is time it?ome attention should be called to the mattx"1'. I' ihe indifference of a large number-we mlg'" truly say of the majority of the members is most, reprehensible and reflects great dis- I credit upon the new body. The bulk of the work is left to about half-a-dozen members with the result that the remainder fall into crass ignorance of their duties; and when they do attend on certain occasions they be- come, in consequence, barriers to all progress. Obituary.— By the death of Mr. Edward Owen, Copper Hill-street, which took place on luesday in last week, Aberdovey has lost one of its oldest inhabitants. He was well- known in the place, having been gravedigoer since the opening of the cemetery. He was a native ot Montgomeryshire, but removed when a youth to Cnwch-coch, Cardiganshire where lie lived for many years, and after having married at that place removed to Aberdovey, about 45 to 50 years ago. His wife predeceased him about 15 months ago. It is said that, although almost 80 years of age, he had never known illness and had never been confined to his bed until a veek or so before his death. Steady, sober indus- trious, he was much respected by all w}10 knew him. He leaves a son and two daughters. The founerai t-ook place on Sat- J afternoon, the Rev. J. Roberts, officiating. iiducation Committee.—The monthly meet- ing of the lowyn District Managers was held at Aberuovey Council School on Fridav arternoon. Uwing to tjhei absence of the chairman and vice-chairman the chair -n taken by Mr. J. M. James, C.C. There weie also present iiaism. J. P. Jones, Corns- Ed. norlands, Aberdovey; J. Hughes Jones J.P., Rev. R. it William, M.A., W. Jones, Abergynolwyn; E. Rowland, Pennal; Hum- phrey Jones, Maespandy, Lleweiyn jol, e,s, (attendance officer), and D. Ivor Jones (clerk).—The attendance at all the schools was on the whole satisfactory.—Ordeis were given to take proceedings against the par- ents of several children, who have been ab- sent from school.—A vote of sympathy was passed withj Mr. Williams, headmaster of iynyberth School in his severe illness.-Th-o place of holding at Aberdovey was referred to the Aberdovey Managers.—Several bills had been sent in without the signature of managers, and had to be deterred.-It was' resolved to distribute surplus school books to the pupils.—The election of chairman and vice-chairman was deferred to next meeting. in meetings in future are to be held the first Tuesday in each month. A Stick in the Mud Policy.—At a meeting of the Urban District Council held on Friday the chief matter for discussion was the ques- tion of getting Towyn to adopt the system of flushing. It was pointed out that there are between 60 and 70 houses at Towyn with- out proper means of flushing closets, while there are only 4 houses so situated at Aber- dovey. The Aberdovey members strongly advocated that this section of the Public Health Act should be applied at Towyn as it was at Aberdovey. There was an ample supply of water. The Towyn members, how- ever, supported by their auxiliary forces from the country, outvoted the Party of Health and Progress by one vote. So the lowyn lodging house keepers can sing "as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be."

IV Revolt in Merioneth. PAST POLICY AND PRESENT POSITION BY MR. HAYDN JONES. The schools in this county on the passing of the Act of 1902 were 52 provided, 27 non- provided, with an average attendance of 1,551 in non-provided schools and 5,981 in provided schools. Mr. Howard Jones, a Churchman, was appointed to report on all schools with absolute impartiality. A copy of the report, with the requirements which the architect thought necessary and which the Committee also considered essential, was posted to the correspondent of every non-provided school as far back as August, 1903. Former Position of Voluntary Schools. The statistics supplied by the managers of non-provided schools in response to the in- quiries of the Committee showed (1) that the cost of maintaining the 27 non-provided schools prior to the passing of the Educa- tion Act, 1902, amounted to £ 4,590 12s. 9d.; (2) that the income from grants amounted to £ 3,113 13s. 10.; and (3) that the deficiency between income and expenditure, which amounted to £ 1,476 18s. 9d., was partly met by voluntary subscriptions (£826 2s. 8d.), endowments (£17[j 3s. 10d., and sales of work (£339 8s. 2d.). totalling RI,340 14s. Sd., which was still short by JE136 4s. Id. of the expenditure. County Council's Attitude. From the outset it was felt by the public representatives on the County Council that the policy of handing over public rates to the managers of non-provided schools, with- out having the control of such schools, should not be tolerated. On the other hand, it was felt desirable to endeavour to come to an arrangement with the managers, whereby such control would be given to the Council, and accordingly it was decided to summon a conference of representatives of managers of non-provided schools to endeavour to tormu- late a syllabus of religious instruction suit- able for all schools, the question of relig- ious instruction being alleged of the one reason why managers would not transfer the schools to the public authority. This con- ference was held on the 9th July, 1903. The result was the appointment of a committee of 14 members, seven to represent the Vol- untary school managers and seven to repre- sent the County Council, "to consider the question of a syllabus or syllabuses of relig- ious instruction for the schools of Merion- eth." The date of meeting was fixed and the members summoned thereto, but shortly be- fore the day of meeting intimation was made that the representatives oil the Voluntary managers would not attend. In June, 1903, the County Council resolved that until com- plete control of the non-provided schools were given no rates would be applied in their support. The situation at present is as follows:— 24 non-provided schools, 55 provided. No rate has been levied in support of the non- provided schools, but from October 1st, 1903, to October 31st, 1904, all grants paid in re- spect of these schools were handed over to the managers. The County Council have, in accordance with the terms of the Education Act, 1902, elected a representative manager for each school, and called upon the minor authorities to do likewise. The Financial Problem. The managers prior to the Act of 1902 spent in maintaining these 24 schools the sum of £ 3,769 2s. lid. Can these schools be maintained, even at the pre-1902 state of efficiency, without rate aid ? It is impossible as the following figures prove. The number of scholars in average attendance is, say, 1,313, and the amount of grant payable in respect of these, including the new aid grant under section 10 of the Education Act, 1902, and small population grant, £ 2,761 7s. 8d' There is a deficit of LI,007 15s. 3d., even if the schools were maintained at the pre-1902 state of efficiency. The resolution not to pay rat 's in support of the ncn-provided schools and the fact that the grants are £1,007 15s. 3d. less than the cost of mainten- ance as witnessed by the expenditure of managers, explain the present arrears, for which the managers are pressing the Board of Education to put the Education (Defaulting Authorities) Act, 1904. int-o operation. At present the managers of practically every non-provided school have sought the ¡ assistance of the Board of Education to re- cover for them these arrears of maintenance. The Board of Education have intimated that, unless a satisfactory assurance is given that these arrears will be paid, it will be neces- sary to pay such an amount of the grants of the provided schools to the managers of the non-provided schools as will extinguish the arrears In the meantime the Education Committee have called the Board's attention to the state of the school buildings, which is such as, in more cases than one. to call for the closing of the school, and in the majority of the cases to require extensive alterations and repairs The Board have expressed their decision not to support the requirements of the Committee in the matter of putting the building in order, until the arrears have been paid No Rate-And the Consequences. The County Council and Education Com- I mittee have determined that no rate aid I snail be extended. The situation is there- J fore critical, and although the Committee- are fully alive to the fact that the Board may transfer some of the grants payable in respect ot the Council Schools to the non- provided schools they will in no way depart from their resolution. It has been suggested that the Committee might without paying rates maintain the non-provided schools entirely upon Excheq- !Jnr £ rj?nt* o?dy the grant under section 10 w the Education Act, 1902, were entirely applied for those schools. This is perfect- ly true; but the grant is payable in respect of every scholar in all schools, and not in re- spect of scholars in non-provided schools only Were the grant thus applied-and it may have been intended by the Government that it should be-it would simply mean that a greater sum (equivalent to the amount re- quired to maintain these non-provided schools) would have to be levied by way of rates in support of the provided schools. This obviously is a distinction without a difference as the support of the non-provided schools from this grant would simply mean the de- pletion of the grants paid in respect of other* schools and the consequent increase is rates to make this good. Will Merioneth fight ? f Yes,to the end. The transfer of funds earned by the provid- ed schools to the managers of noy)-provided schools in no way deters the Committee fron their determination to decline to maintain these schools till they have absolute control of the funds needed to maintain them. Oae- thing is certain. Merioneth will select her own time, her own ways and methods to rø- taliate, but retaliate she will. No-i con form- ists feel the position keenly, but the battle will be waged not on the narrow issues of church and chapel, but on the broad issue of the right of the people to manage their own money—the right of public control wherever public rates are applied.

All letters m!1t be written on ,'ne side or i Me pape and accompanied by tbe na ';) Mi iressof the writer, as a guarantee of I..j faith.

THE PROPOSED LAMPKTEK-ABbftA, KON AND NEW yi Al LIGHT KAlLvv A To the Editor of the "Welsh Gazette." Sir,It is very giaiiiying o le-rii Uiat the. ts-bove Railway scheme lias iiad tucu a hold in the minds of the Mid-Cardiganshire ic-in. lile pub- lic meetings .vliich have been he.d in tne month a ebruary iu the vaiiuus p^ribi.et, Iu.vc- sliowu the endlusiasul una the deep interest we L«..J.e in the scheme, vve regiet that the Coun,y accepted in August the evidence of the Giibiu de- legates, as they were only supporting the favoured fie We are uot ourpiiaeu at the _ili 01 Mr. Walter Davies, fighting "doggedly" for the Cribtn- ires, as we find him at the last County Council, seconding a motion which was not ior the benefit of the greatest number. I must join with Mr. Harford by saying that the Aberayion members did not fight aSchey ought to at the August meet- ing. I trust that they are by this well ve-sod in the present scheme, and its claims in o;der to show luridly to their co-members the n ceisity to have their support. We are sorry that Mr. Dan Jenkins is not the member for Nantcwnlle. He was a most faithful member, and abie to put. his shoulder to the wheel when necessary. 1'.0 doubt "Diwlas" is one of those persons tha: do not- be- lieve in the construction of a Railway, as he is trying to throw dust into the eyes of some narrow minded speculators. He says that the M. and M. Railway does not pay a dividend. I say that it pays a substantial dividend to the County. Suppose if labourers, larir.ers, etc., were obliged to haul their coals, lime, etc from the pits as in years gone by? What a boon it is to take our live stock, e,c., ..way into different districts. The M.and M. has been the means to improve the markets considerably. Had there been so much traffic on the M. and M. some 30 years ago when the line was in its in- fancy, as there is at the present, I have no hesita- tion to say that every shareholder would receive very high percentage of dividend. Traffic has increased enormously during the last 1-40 y("rs. I well remember "Jacky" Post driving the two wheeler road car mail from Lanipe:er to Aberay- ron, with about the quantity of letters ,s at the present day. The only conveyance for passengers was a small one-horse van running abc-ut three or four times a week. What is our history today? A splendid mall car is running between these two places with accommodation to carry a good num- ber of passengers. Very often passengers on the road are very much disapponted to hesr the driver spying: "No vacant seats." The four wheeler coach which runs daily, is always heavily loaded with luggage and passengers. People these days have no time to walk.time is money. The County Council should not have any hesita- t!on to grant the money asked for by he pro- moters. The line will run through excellent agri- cultural districts, and it taps thickly-populated neighbourhoods. No doubt, the trade at Talsarn, Abermeurig, Llwyngroes, and Bwlchllan, etc., would receive a new impulse by its aid. ot less In importance for their various industries are the villages of Felinfach, Ystrad, Cilcennin, Pen- nant, Dihewld, Mydroilyn, Ciliau Aeron. Oakford. Llanartli, etc. All these are within easy reach to the proposed Railway. And no doubt, they will play an important factor by rendering the finan- cial statement a favourable aid. The Tanat Valley Railway should not be com- pared to our proposed Railway, it cannot be con- structed on the same basts as the T. V. Railway. In conclusion, I very much hope that the Finance Committee will give a hearty support to the pro- moters at their next meeting. Vale of Aeron. AGRICOLA.

LLANILAR. Alleged Theft.James Jones, Glyn Neath, Glam., who had been employed as labourer at Glanystwyth Farm for about three weeko, was brought up at the Aberystwyth Police Station, on Tuesday, charged with stealing a mackintosh, the property of a farm ser- vant. Accused was arrested at Lampeter. wearing the mackintosh, which, it is alleged, has been stolen.—Prisoner was remanded in custody until Friday.

BORTH. Funeral of Mr. Jones, Moclino.-The funeral of the late Mr. James Jones, of Ty- mawr, Mochno, near Borth, took place on Wednesday afternoon in last week. The service in the Llaucynfelin Church was con- ducted by the Rev. Evan Davies. curate in charge, and the Rev. D. Lewis, of Pencareg. At the graveside the Rev. Evan Davies, and the Rev. 0. J. Davies, M.A., vicar of Pres- tatyn, officiated. Among the mourners were eight sons and three daughters of de- deased. Five of the sons are clergymen, viz., the Rev. W. E. Jones, rector of Llan- Uyfni; James Jones, rector of Cathedine, Brecofnshire; Owen Jones, curate, Carmar- then; Richard Jones, curate, Holyhead and R. P. Jones, curate(, Llanidloes. The Rev. G. Edwards, vicar of Carno, nephew of de- ceased, was also present, and Mr. R. E. Jones, nephew, the owner of the Tymawr estate. -:R'

TALYBONT. Success.—Mr. John Rees, a native of Taly- bont, who is at present headmaster of Llan- brynmair School has secured the head-master- ship of the Caersws Council School out of 78 candidates. Also Miss S. E. Morris of Berthlwyd, Talybont, who is at present Queen's Nurse, at. Treorchy, has been suc- cessful in passing the L.O.S. examinations, and is now a fully qualified midwife. Obituary.—We regret to announce the death of Mr. Thomas Hughes Edwards, which occurred at Abercynon, Wednesday, March 8th, at the early age of 27 years. Deceased was a. native of Talybont, being a son of Mr. David Edwards, ore dresser. He served his apprenticeship as pupil teacher at the Board School here. He afterwards occupied the post of assistant master at Derwenlas school, then at Port Talbot and was at the time of his death at the Navigation Schools, Aber- ( cynon. The deceased was of a most kind and genial disposition, and was greatly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. He took a leading part in the revival services when he was home on a visit last Christmas. He inherited his father's love of music, and his loss will be keenly felt in many quarters. Deceased was seized with pneumonia a few weeks ago .and the end was hastened by an attack of typhoid fever. Tlha news of his death has cast a gloom over the whole neigh- bourhood. On account of the fever his body could not be brought home, a fact deep- ly deplored by his numerous friends. The interment took place at Mountain Ash Churchyard. last Saturday, when a large concourse of people gathered together to pay a last tribute of respect. to the departed. Beautiful wreaths had been sent by his re- latives and friends, The deceased leaves a wide circle of relatives to mourn their loss, and widespread sympathy is felt with them « in their sad bereavement. A memorial ser- vice will be held at the Talybont Congrega- tional Chapel next Sunday week. vice will be held at the Talybont Congrega- tional Chapel next Sunday week.

# A marriage is arranged, and will take place in Durham on the 29th inst (instead of the 28th inst). between Captain Henry Charles Warre, D.S.O., King's Royal Rifles, eldest son of the head master of Eton and Mrs. Warre. and Miss Harriet Gwenhwyvar Apper]ey. second daughter of Hr. Newton Wynne Apperley, M.V.O. (private secretary to the Marquis of Londonderry. K G.), and Mrs, Apperley, of South End, Durham. i a