The Pembroke County Guardian and Cardigan Reporter

NOTES AKO COMMENTS. It is important, as well as highly annis- incx sometimes, to hear other people's opinions of us. A rather distinguished melD, in giving us first impression of Fish- guard the othel day., said that the first thing he" noted in connection with the dis- trict was the contrast between what he called the old and new portion of the in- habitants, and that this contrast instead of applying to two orders of thinking or of living or to two nationalities, was observed throughout the whole of the community. His point was made obvious in a minute when he ^ave particular instances but without mentioning names it would be difficult to explain it here. Let those who wish to puzzle the matter out do so for themselves. 11,11.:1- Another prominent gentleman, who is a resident of the district and a well known public man, while talking a few evenings ago on some matters concerning the wel- n fare of the country at large, and, on ob- serving that a good many men did not realise"their duties of citizenship seriously enough, said that his own experience had -1.9"J"ItL"'l. long mo taught him now tar tne for "ood or bad of a man m any public office extended. He thought that m gen- era1 every administrative body had a great deal to do with forming even the manners of the people over whoso lives they exer- cised so much indirect control. There is no occasion to repeat the profuse compli- ments he paid to this paper when he re- marked that the Press wielded much power in this direction also. Certain unavoidable incidents occurred at times, he said, that whouki be suppressed, and he maintained that much ot the unseemly language and conduct of the public was often due to following the fashion of those in high places. The moral is plain. In -11:11:1\- Our ordinarily expressed desires have been reached this Christmastide, and the weather has afforded a kind of rough baro- meter of the truthfulnes of those desires. The conventional wish of the season is the hope of having a real old-fashioned Christmas," that the weather should be such, that is to say, as it has pleased our most popular painters and novelists to re- present as most appropriate to the festival. But unfortunately there are many practical people whose hopes do not. run parallel with the description of Dickens, for in- stance, who in this matter, must be taken the most typical of the upholders of the h. — il* il— 5 one surly disliker of the lighter side e who has spent a large proportion of 0 own Christmases on the briny remarked phet converse when he was surveying kludge and mud covering the roads not ndred miles from Fishguard on Satur- last, the first evidence of wisdom he )bserved on the part of the suffragists, "frage tes, is their preference to spend- Christmas in Holloway 'gaol. If the of the lady propagandists who have 1 to capture a lord or somebody of kind, to fly to Scotland with to get ed, had condescended to visit these and take a walk along some of our this Christmas, it would not be sur- ig to hear them breathing their re- at havjng to forsake the comfort of 101 for such a purpose. —1!: ii: il ere are many hard things to endure tnis season, besides the cold and the .ish under foot, but the hardest thing of all is probably to listen to the tones and notice the moral superiority- of the man who has decided ta -make, good resolutions Our wise friend the pedlar did an original thfng when instead of spending some gluttonous days in pampered serenity at home, he took his ol' 'oman," as he calls his better half, with him for his first sea trip across to Ireland. Asked what sort of dinner he enjoyed over there on Christmas Dav, he described it as the most excellent he had ever eaten. According to his state- ment it was so rich and so full of varieties that it was enough to make the mouth of a hermit water. When told that in that case he must have polished off the viands with great relish, his reply was, No mister. That b'aint the kind o' sauce I used, I ate it with himagination." -11:11:11-- After asking for a further explanation, he said, You see the 'ol 'oman an' I had ony taken bread and cheese with us, an' when dinner-tine cam' roun' we sat down on the beech at Bally jerry, an' took out oor feed from the red handkerchief Mrs. P. carried along with her and began to regale orselves in style, as the gentry say. r, In Then we began to imagine what all t'other folks were eating at the time, an' with 0 every bite we'd say, naow we are having goose or turkey, or pheasant, or duck, or woodcock, or partridge, till we had gone through the whole menu down to plum pudding an' gin 'ot, that last bein' t'ol gels fancy don't you see? After goin' through the whole list we worked it back again, sidewise an' all ways till we had finished every scrap of oor bread and cheese an' drank every drap o' the ginger beer as we brought with us for the pur- pose. I tell you, mister, it was the finest dinner I ever enjoyed. You try it nex Kismas, but remember not to forget the himagination sauce. It requires that, oh, ay. THE CELT.

FISHGUARD. DEATH. The death occurred on Thursday last at Newport Road. Lower Fishguard, of. Mrs. Elizabeth James, wife of Mr. John James, after a very short illness, at the age of 47 years. The funeral took place on Monday last at Macpelah burying ground, Dinas. REV. THOMAS PHILLIPS'S WILL. The will of the late Rev. Thomas Phil- lips, Llanelly, who died on November 23rd last, son of Mrs. Phillips, Fishguard, and nephew of Mr. Thomas, jeweller, Fish- guard, has just been proved, and shows that Mr. Phiiliips left estate valued at £ 655, and probate of his will has been granted to his widow, Mrs. Jessie Mary Phillips. CHRISTMAS AT THE NATIONAL SCHOOL. On Friday evening last, happy and hilar- ious scenes were witnessed at the National school, when the distribution of gifts from the Christmas tree therein fixed took place. The children were highly delighted with the presents they received and enjoyed them all the more because of the fun which the process of dividing their presents among them provided. Besides the child- ren there were also many grown-up people present. WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE. The watch-night service at St. Mary's Church on New Year's eve was attended by a large number of people, including not only churchmen, but those from the differ- ent denominations as well. The vicar, Rev. W. Evans, M.A., officiated through- out ana preached an impressive sermon, calling upon his hearers to eschejft the faults and bad habits they had been addict- ed to during the past year and to resolve upon new ways, as another year was com- mencing, Finally he wished all the con- gre A Happy New Year. The ch-urch remained decorated since Christmas Day, and of the large number present most of them seemed to thoroughly ap- preciate the service. fHE SITUATION AT 'FRISCO. Seeing that there are several Welshmen in 'Frisco from Fishguard and neighbour- hood, the following account of things out there may prove interesting to some of our i-eaders :-Statistics go to show that since the fire new buildings have been erected at the rate of one each 48 minutes. How is that? Labour is at a premium. Brick- layers and plumbers are being paid seven to eight dollars per day of eight hours, car- penters six dollars, hod-carriers four to live dollars, plasterers eight dollars, and so on down the line. Coal stevedores' rates are six dollars for nine hours; overtime, Sunday, and holidays, one dollar per hour. these ii-ien are living like fighting cocks, and most of them spend their money as fast as they get it. Again, there has been distributed in the city some 150,000,000 dollars insurance money, so that you can readily imagine things are humming. The look-out to me is that, barring a "General Black Friday." we are cooing to have lively times for the next ) few years. TABERNACLE SUNDAY SCHOOL. The quarterly meeting of the above Sun- day School took place on Sunday after- noon last. Despite the inclemency of the weather a good number was present, and a most pleasant afternoon was spent. The diligent superintendent of the school, Mr. John E. James, presided. Several hymns were rendered by the choir, under the lead- ership of Miss Maggie Bevan. The duties of accompanist were ably carried out by Miss M. Thomas, Goodwick House. Ap- pended Vs the programme:—Recitation, 46th Psalm, Mr. T. H. Roberts, Hill Ter- race; hymn, Arglwydd, Iesu'r Bugail Mwyn," choir; prayer, Mr. O. R. James, West Street; recitation, My Mother's Prayer," Master Geo. Baden Collins, Lower Fishguard; recitation, "I am a Little Soldier," Master D. Ll. Narbett, Square; duet, My Mother's Bible," Masters Bertie Jenkins and T. H. Roberts; recitation, Love one Another," Miss M. L. Owen. Lower Fishguard; recitation, Cyfaill Pechadur," Master Lawrence Davies, Lower Fishguard; recitation, Yr Ysgol Sul," Miss H. M. Owen, Lower Fishguard; hymn, "Is my name written there? choir; recitation, Mother, what is Death? Master Clifford Williams, Hill Terrace; solo, "Bring them in," Miss Mary L. James, West Street; recitation, Y Beibl," Master Willie Owen, Lower Fish- guard'; recitation, Amddifad a'r Angel," Master Ebenezer Rowlands, Rope Walk; solo, I have a Saviour," Miss Ethel Roberts, Anchor House; solo, "Dim ond lesu," Miss M. Rowlands, Rope Walk; hymn, Sing them over again to me," choir; solo, Miss Annie Thomas, Smith SLreet. Addresses on The Sunday School were given by the Rev. W Mor- lais Davies, Messrs. John E. James, Thos. Edwards, Edward Davies, and O. R. James. Solo, I know He's "Mine," Miss Maggie Bevan, Main Street; prayer, Rev. W. Morlais Davies. CANTATA AT TOWER HILL. A very pleasant evening was spent on Monday at Tower Hill Chapel, when a children's cantata entitled A cold water concert was performed. The youthful singers and reciters went through their parts exceedingly well. They had been carefully trained by Miss E. A. Howells, who has shown herself on several other occasions capable of much painstaking labour where the teaching of children in anv musical direction is concerned. Miss Howell also acted as accompanist during the evening, and the chair was taken by Mr. T. Meyler. chepaist. The^^Dyiuv* eral songs by well-known local vocalists, and many encores were given. The follow- ing is a list of the items enjoyed by the audience:—Solo, Mr. Bateman; piano- forte solo, Mis Lena Blank; song, "Greet- ing," Miss Nancy Bateman; "The Wel- come song," by the -children's choir, fol- lowed by prayer and scripture reading. ",The beautiful, lovely and true," das the next item, and I'd never make cider" came after. Pianoforte duet, Misses Blank and Collier; exercise, Dare to do right solo, Miss M. Blank; children's song, Enlisted for life solo, King's Busi- ness," Miss Lalla James; recitation, Miss Annie Yaughan Thomas; children's song,. A Band of Brothers pianoforte solo, Miss A. Thomas; recitation, Miss Maud Blank; song, Mountain streams solo, Miss M. J. Howells; recitation, Master Clifford Williams; pianoforte duet, -Misses Lalla James and Maud Blank; recitation, Master John Morgan; dialogue, "The dew drop"; recitation and song "Long, long ago"; pianoforte duet, Misses Howells; solo, Miss Lalla James; recita- tion, Miss Bella Jones; song, Miss M. J. Howells; drill, "Cold water is King"; solo, Mr. John Roblyn; solo, Miss Nar- bett; solo, Miss Bevan. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. T. Lewis, chemist proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Howells for training the children so well, and Capt. Thomas seconded.

MAENCLOCHOC. CHRISTMAS SERVICES. Several meetings were held in this local- ity on Christmas Day. The usual services were held at the Maen- clochog and Llangolman Churches, cond cted by the vicar, Rev. D. Howe 7 1. At Llandilo in the afternoon, the Lland.10 and Tabernacle Sunday schools met together to recite porhons of scrip- ture, etc. The Llandilo children recited a catechism on "Heaven," and sang the "Glory song." The adults recited 1. John v., and sang an anthem, conducted by Mrs. A. Melchor. The Tabernacle children recited two chapters from Y Fam a'r Plentyn," and rendered two tunes, Praise the Lord and "The Sweet Story of old," under the leadership of Mr. John Jenkins. The lesson of the adults was Hebrews xii. An anthem was also con- ducted by the old veteran Mr. Dl. Wil- liams. Both schools were-questioned by the Rev. D. Williams, pastor, who also conducted the devotional part. In the evening an united musical festival was held under the presidency of the Rev. D. W il- Tiams. Mr. W.Melchior introduced. Mrs. D. Davies, Maengwyn was the conductor, and as usual he did his work in a most efficient manner. All the tunes sung were from Y Caniedydd Cynulleidfaol," and the singing on the whole was -very good-. the rendering of some of the tunes being most effective. Two short addresses were given by Mr. W. Melchior and Rev. D. Williams. There was a fairly large audience, and the meeting turned out very successful. THE WEATHER. Last week we experienced very severe weather. We had hailstones, snow, frost, thunder and lightning. We have not had such a depth of snow for about twelve years,. On Friday night the wind was high and the snow drifted very badly, so that on Saturday the roads were in several places quite impassable. The railway too was blocked for a great part of the day. The first train which was able to pass was the 2.35 p.m. from Clynderwen to Good- wick. Last Sunday the congregations at all the places of worship were very thin indeed, and after the heavy downfall of snow on Saturday night, and the drifts, it could hardly be otherwise, for to travel a long way through the snow was most iffiQult.,

PRIZE DAY. REV. R. WILLIAMS' ADDRESS. The following is our report of the address delivered by the Rev. Richard Williams on the above occasion. It was unavoidably crowded out of our last issue:— After congratulating the managers, the staff, and scholars on the success achieved by the school, Mr. Williams proceeded:- l" came across a very interesting passage the other day bearing upon the dilhculty of teaching, which at the same time shows what variety is possible in the life of the student. He (the teacher), spurs the in- dolent, stimulates the sluggish, challenges the inattentive, restrains the forward, con- trols the rash, exposes the cureless, en- courages the timid, and helps the dull." I have no doubt that all teachers get an experience of this variety and have to re- sort to these and as many other methods as they can devise'in order to accomplish the great end for which students come to them. This naturally causes us to ask what then is the aim of teaching. \Yhat is it that brings you to this school? You are here for no less a purpose than to be fitted for life's journey. The aim is to help you to face and to conquer life's difficulties. Yes, and to be the better for the struggle. This great purpose cannot be realized un- less certain conditions are observed. Suc- cess depends upon this. We shall this afternoon name four such conditions- Resolution, recreation, rest, and respect. RESOLUTION. Success demands resolution. It has been well said that knowledge is worth just what it costs. That does not mean what it costs the parents, although the child should never forget that. "It really encourages all those who love to promote knowledge to see how parents are ever getting readier to sacrifice for the education of their child- ren, and it ill becomes any child to be blind to the sacrifice. The great question, however, is not what does it cost the par- ent, but what does it cost you. W hat does study cost you Now, I feel sure, could we enter your mind sometimes as it is per- plexed by problems, we would hear a voice whisper, or perhaps shout within you, why all this difficulty? Surely my teachers are very hard, or I am very stupid. But neither of these are true of necessity. There must be difficulty before there can be culture. If you experience no difficulty you may be very sure that you are not re- ceiving true culture. There should always be a grappling with difficulties, because the aim is not to give you something which you can suck in like a sponge, with neither effort nor thought, but something which by its very difficulty compels you to grapple and thus strengthens your mind. Your teachers well know that you will daily be face to face with difficulty in your future life, and that your success will depend upon the quality of your mind, hence the constant dmlculties they give while you are here. For just as the blacksmith's arm becomes strong by constant use, so will your mind by having to concentrate your attention on subjects which seem at the moment too great for you, but which really call out the possibilities that are in you. Be determined therefore to meet your difficulties as conquerors. Never worry, worry helps no one. Never be satisfied, for then you hava ceased to grow. But fill your m'ind with ideals that shall urge you on. Ideals which thall beckon you upwards through the difficulty to success. When you feel the drudgery of Latin de- clensions and conjugations, he inspired by the hope that you will soon read Latin authors, and thus be able to catch the spirit of great minds of the past that will caus_e„. ypu jo ;yuftvTre W'a loss to know why any person who has any feelings at all should compel you to rack your brain, expressing, explaining, and ex- pending euclid, look forward to the time what that exactness of thought shall help you (easily) to conquer easily difficulties nearer home. Success then needs will power, a will set on success kept from flag- ging by an inflow of life from its ideals. But never allow dreams of success to cause you to neglect present duty. Ideals exist to inspire one to duty, never to take the place of duty. Right use of the present is really what shall determine what you are to be. Set yourselves therefore for culture, through conquest of difficulties as they arise. This then leads us to our second point RECREATION. This again is esential to true culture. The person who has met his (difficulties) duties in the strong way indicated, will feel ready for a change. It is as necessary to forget your work as to remember it. Dullness, not culture is the result of unbroken work. The body must get fair play, or it refuses to serve the mind. I was glad to see that the managers of a certain high school were forced to get larger desks, because, through recreation the girls were so much bigger than in former C, years. Mr. chairman, if your managers have not already antici- pated such consequences of exercise, it is my sincere wish that you shall soon be face to face with the same problem. But in addition to its effect upon the body, re- creation plays an important part in the true education of the student. What can better prepare one for the conditions of real iue than the games of to-day. To reach your goal, you must work all to- gether. There must be no selfishness, or failure may crown the efforts of all with disgrace. What courage? What test of patience ? What tact is there needed ? And you may be very sure that he who works well will also enjoy this expense of energy which we call recrea- tion. We have now reached our third point, REST. Having worked with resolution and had our fill of recreation, we shall truly expect a refreshing rest. To no mere worker can we promise this, as his mind will be too cloudy for repose. While on the other hand no one who lives for recreation de- serves this calm repose. To the one, how- ever, who has rightly distributed duty and delight, rest is not only necessary, but welcome. At last we have reached point four. RESPECT. What shall we say here? Respect your teachers, even as you do your parents and those who love you. They are your friends, trust them. Go to them in respect for courage when you are in difficulty. Re- member that they have a far deeper interest in you than merely to teach you the sub- jects. They desire nothing more than to n get into the real touch of sympathy with you. There would be little to inspire them when teaching those dry bones which have long ago become worse than monotonous to them were it not that through these very things, they hope to produce in some meas- ure true manhood and womanhood in you, and thus set you on life's way with high ideals and equal ..ttainments. Respect your teachers therefore with that deep re- spect which spells sympathy, that calls them friends, and which loses them too much to cause them unneccessary trouble. Above all, respect yourselves. In vain will you succeed in examinations and gain dis- tinctions, while you deteriorate in charac- ter. Respect yourselves too much to stain your good name, or in any way to violate your true self. I have known Oxford grad- uates work for a labourer's wage. Why? because 'they liad.Iost their character. Re- spect yourselves. Respect others. Seek to get into touch by your studies with those master spirits who have made the world, -v and who will also make you by giving you their spirit. May your respect for persons lead yell to reverence Him who gave them to you Nothing but reverence for the Giver of all can cause you to suc-cesfully use voir opportunities and culture in the great battle of life. May such success crown your immediate efforts and thus fit you fo- the futme, is the sincere wish of the speaker. --+--

EISTEDDFOD AT SOLVA. A very successful eisteddfodd was held on Christmas .light at Mount Pleasant Baptist Chapel. There was a very large attendance, and the eisteddfodd from every point of view was a complete success. The officials were:—Chairman, Mr. E. H. Lewis, Hendre; conductor, Rev. T. Davies, Felinganol; adjudicators: music, Mr. E. Anthony, Goodwick. literature, Mafonwy; prize bags, Mrs Williams, Gaerfarchell, and Mrs. Jones, Trewellwell. Accompanist, Mrs. Anderson, St. David's; treasurer, Mr B. J. Lewis, Gwynfe House; secretary, Mr. J. J. Jenkins, Hendre Cross Council school. The two last named officials backed up by a good working com- mittee are to be complimented for their untiring energy in connection with the eisteddfodd, the success of which to a cer- tain extent, was due to their efforts. LIST OF COMPETITIONS. Pianoforte solo—Miss Nan Davies, The Manse, Solva. Recitation (to those under 15)-1, M. A. Collins, Fort, Solva; 2, Hannah Williams, Solva. Solo for girls under 12-1, May Davies, Ship Hotel, Solva; 2, Maud Nicholas, Kingheriot. (Jiuldren's choir-1, Solva Warblers (conducted by Mr. B. J. Lewis). Duet (T. and B.)—Mr. Tom Griffiths, Whitchurch; and Mr. J. J. Jenkins, Cwvndv House, Solva. Solo 01 for boys under 16—1, Hedley Gronow, Caerfarchell; 2, Harold Lewis, Caerforiog. Prize bag-Mrs. Ben Thomas, Harbour View; and Miss Miriam Phillips, Council School, Croesgoch. Solo for girls under 16-1, Gertie Davies; 2, Hannah Williams and Kate Roberts (equal); extra prie, M. A. Collins. Best written letter in the Pembrokeshire dialect-Mr. W. John, "County Guar- dian office, Solva. Ladies' choir—Mount Zion (conducted by Mr. W. Beynon). Soprano solo-Miss Bessie Griffiths, Solva. Baritone solo—Mr. John Evans, Croes- goch. Duet, those under 16—Gertie and Ada Davies, Solva; and Hubert and Harold Lewis, Caerforiog (equal). General knowledge—Mr. B. J. Lewis. Duet (S. and A.)—Misses Bessie and Ann Griffiths, Solva. Male voice—Mount Pleasant (conductor, Mr. \V. Evans, Folly House). Recitation (open)—Mr. B. J. Lewis, and Mr. Dan Jones, Cardigan (equal). Quartette—Misses Bessie and Edith Howells, Caerwen; and Messrs. J. J. Jen- kins and Tom Griffiths. Impromptu speech—Mr. B. J. Lewis. Chief choral—Mount Pleasant Choir (conductor, Mr. Tom Griffiths). A vote of thanks was passed, on the pro- position of the conductor, to all those who had in any way assisted in connection with the eisteddfodd. e understand tnat a substantial sum has been netted, and the management committee, therefore, are highly pleased over their efforts to ensure succesi -T We append the remarks of the adjudi- cator (Mr. E. Anthony) in making the various awards :— Ladies' Choir-Two choirs sung. The first choir possessed excellent voices, es- pecially the second sopranos and contraltos. They excelled in tone quality; rhythm and phrasing the expression. The adjudicator emphasised the importance of tone quality and rhythm. These are often neglected, although no pleasurable result can be ob- tained without them. The first choir were awarded the prize for the most finished performance of the evening. Children's choir.—Two choirs competed. The adjudicator in his preliminary obser- vations pointed out the essential feature of good singing. The conductor of a child- ren's choir should aim at beauty of tone. Correct phrasing and rhythm and distinct pronunciation. A grasp of expression, the ability to express the natural in music is not to be expected from children. Child- ren's voices should be handled with care and the adult voice should be all the better for early good training in childhood. The conductor should (1) cause the child to emit an even tone with no evidences of change of register from top to bottom. (2) secure the rhythm of the time signa- ture and thus draw out the innate feeling for accent, which every child possesses, and (3) establish an ideal of enunciation, re- membering that the release of the word is more difficult even than the attack. The pronunciation of the first choir was good. The choir had a correct idea nf rhythm; sang with delicate tone and kept the pitch. In The pronunciation and phrasing of the second choir was also good, but the tone quality of the voices was.not equal to that of the first choir. The choir also showed uncertain intonation. First prize awarded the first choir. Male voice competition. —Three choirs sang. The march "Imdeithgan Rhyfelwyr" consists of three movements-the plan commonly adopted—Introductory, relief, and repetition. The introductory move- ment was well sang by all three choirs, but there was not sufficient contrast between the relief portion, and the principal march when repeated. The adjudicator showed how to secure good unisons and to give ex- pression to the variations in rhythm in the relief portion. The competition between the second and last choirs was a keen one, but for excellence of tone, blend, inton- ation, and unison passages, he awarded the prize to the last choir. Chief Choral competition.—Three choirs sang Salaw's beautiful anthem Enard cu." The adjudicator gave a lengthy ad- judication, pointing out the most common faults in his introductory remarks. These were, thin tone, specially sopranos; wrong idea of rhythm, especially top page 2 un- certainty of time and lack of feeling, and failure of tenor at critical portion of anthem—top page 4. 1st choir possessed good voices, but the tone of the sopranos lacked fullnesi The tempo was good, but there was no grasp of expression. 2nd choir possessed excellent voices, but the blend was slightly affected by the faulty production of the tenors. The attack was smart and the allegro movement—pages 3 and 4, was well worked out. The inton- ation at times was uncertain, and the tempo was too fast. 3rd choir. A very powerful choir. The voices were very good in quality, but the altos showed a tendency to force and over- balanced the other parts. This choir opened beautifully, but the intonation of the choir soon became uncertain, and this marred what would otherwise have proved a very good performance. The competition w-s n a close one, but the adjudicator had no hesitation in awarding the first prize to the second choir*

COODWICK. CHRISTMAS TRAFFIC ON THE NEW ROUTE. The Christmas traffic over the new Fish- guard to Rosslare route was surprisingly 0 heavy considering that this was the first season the route has been used for holiday traffic. It is natural that it should com- mend itself to all who want a quick jour- ney to or from Ireland, and this is more desirable during the cold period than at any other time of the year, so that it is possible that in future years extensive pro- I I I visions will have to be made tor tins arUlll;11 migration. On Christmas eve over 400 passengers went across on the turbine steamer, and a special train had to be put on from Cardiff, besides the ordinary ex- press train, to convey manv of the passen- gers and their luggage to Fishguard. The mail and cargo was proportionately large. There was an average of 150 baskets of parcel mail for several trips before Christ- mas, besides the letter bags. This extra- ordinary amount of traffic did not diminish either all at once when Christmas was over, but continued in a moderate degree for the whole of last week and the first part of the present week.

ICE FATALITIES. The pathetic circumstances of a triple ice tragedy, which occurred on Sunday afternoon three miles from Voriv, were revealed at the inquest at York on Alundjiy. The father, Julin Burkell Barnard, who was coachman on the stud farm belonging to Mr. E. G. lew, of Carl- ton Grange, Ponteiract, and the mother were drowned in attempting to save men- son, ag-d nine, who fell into a hole while Sliding oi. pond. The pond is about four feet deep at the edge, with a low, steep bank, which made rescue dnlicult. The latncr got out oi n.s depth, while the mother, approaching from the otner side across the ice, reached forward, thinking she saw her son's head, and with a cry of Harry, speak to me!" fell into the water and was also drowned. Owing to delay in obtaining assistance there waS never any hope of rescue, and hours elapsed before the bedies were recovered. A verdict of Accidentally drowned was re- turned. While a number of boys belonging to members of the Royal Field Artillery stationed at Deep Cut. Aldershot, were slicing on the Basingstoke Canal at Frimley on Sunday evening, the io« gave way. One of the sons of Quartermaster. Sergeant Johnson, 100th Battery, aged nine, fell in, and his brother, aged eleven, ventured out to try and save him. He, too, fell into ttuf- prater, and both were drowned. The other boys were so frightened that thej^ ran home, and it was not until an hour lat,et that what had occurred became known. TheIl the whole of the brigade stationed close by rushed off to the spot, and Corporal Turner, who had just returned from India invalided with ague, dived in under the ice and brought the body of the younger boy out. He went in again and succeeded in finding the other body. Turner is lying dangerously ill as the result of his heroic deed. -————————————-——-

THE PRIMATK'S MESSAGE. The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year message to the clergy and laity of his diocese 'ifilyiJiyisafje '{'li'e'li-rinAue says: The partisan on either side is strangely, perhaps culpably, backward in under- standing his opponent's case, in appreciating his opponent's motive, in respecting his oppo- nent's difficulty. It would surely be well—well in the sight of God and man—if the year of our Lord 1907 could see the exorcism of any narrow and one-sided temper of mind, where such besets us, and in its stead the growth of a sounder appreciation everywhere of the large, true principles, whether religious or national, which, when rightly interpreted and applied, ought to be harmonious and not contradictory. We want the opportunities to be open with absolute equality to all, and we emphatically claim no special privilege either for the Church of England or for any other religious body in the land. There are, of course, many different ways in which these principles might be effec- tively recognised. But recognised they must be in some way—not in theory only, but in fact —if fairness and justice are to prevail. Nor does it seem to us that they are in the least degree incompatible with what is called a national system of education, or with the amplest popular control.'

BOY'S TERRIBLE PLIGHT. A Belfast schoolboy, named Samuel Atchison, who was missed on Christmas Eve has been found wasted to a skeleton, and at the point of death in the attic of an untenanted house. Rivers and ponds had been dragged by the police, and many search parties had gone out, but it was not until Sunday that the attention of a neigh- bour was drawn to a faint knocking in the attic of the house and the boy was discovered. The police found the inside of the door all clawed where the boy in his agonies of starvation had sought to tear through the panels wih his nails, and even with his teeth. The boy, as he lay moaning and tossing in bed, cried out again and again to imaginary assailants to have pity on him, but there was nothing coherent in his speech. How he came to be in the house, and why the handle should have been removed from the door, are all qutS^ions which are greatly puzzling the police. The boy is in grave danger, but there is some slight hope of his ultimate re- covery.

LORD CRANBROOK'S WILL. The will has been proved of the late Earl of Cranbrook, of Hemsted Park, Cranbrook, Kent. The gross value of the estate being £ 274,098, with £ 273,319 net personality, exclusive of settled property. The Earl left £ 1,000 for distri- bution among servants of long standing, and be- queathed £ 500 to his butler. The Hemsted Park property and the residue of the estate he left to the present Earl, the following articles to devolve as heirlooms: Two marble and bronze busts from the late Queen Victoria. Books from, and written in by, the late Queen Victoria. Presents from Cabinet colleagues. Addresses and presents from tenantry, and Life of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone," by the Right Hon. John Morley, presented by the author.

LIFEBOAT SERVICES IN 1906. The total number of lives saved bv the life- boats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution during the past year was 561. In addition, the institution granted rewards for the saving of 177 li ves by shore-boats and by other means and forty-five vessels and boats were also saved from total or partial loss. The total number of lives for which the Lifeboat Institution has granted rewards since its establishment on March 4, 1824 —eighty-two years ago—has now- reached 46.177.

MID-CORK ELECTION. Mr. D. D. Sheehan, Nationalist, who is now described as a Land and Labour candidate," was on Monday re-elected for Mid-Cork, there being no other candidate nominated. Mr. fanee- han, it may be remembered, resigned his seat in order to test the feeling of his constituents in regard to the action taken by the Nationalist party organisation in excluding hiru. from partici- pation in the election funds. He was strongly supported by Mr. Villiam O'Brien, M.P.

MATHRY. The weekly services held in the Parish Church during Advent were well attended, and appropriate discourses delivered oy the Rev. D. Griffiths, vicar, and the Rev. J. \V. Rees, vicar of Llanrhian. On Christmas Day the morning service was held at 10.30. The vicar impressively conducted the service, and delivered a ser- mon bearing on the birth of the 'Saviour. There was a large congregation, and a great number attended holy communion. The church had been most tastefully decorated b- 3 Misses Griffiths, Vicarage; etc. The singing of hymns and carols was very bright. A collection amounting to £1 I Is. 5'd. was made in aid of the Vest Wales- Sanatorium. The attendance at the even- ing service was a record one.