The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

t A DOLGELLEV OFFICE. j^ST Friday an abortive attempt was made at kj gelley to elect a clerk to the Justices in the FE*CE of the late Mr CHARLES MILLARD. NO ^er *han to. i. magistrates attended, a larger sih .er' we suppose, than since the last t^Pointment. Mr W. R. DAVIES, one of candidates, had addressed a letter to Presiding magistrates, calling attention to « law which states that those entitled to «< •e in the election of clerk are the <stices acting in and for the petty ses- k:Ionàl division." We do not pretend to II Ow when a magistrate is deemed to be ggd. t, in and for a petty sessional lvisi0n." It may be that a court of law hold that a magistrate who only e^derl and voted every time an appoint- was made was "acting in and for e petty sessional division." Mr W. R. VlRs is a man of determination, and it R. °n the cards, if magistrates vote when appointment is made who are not ]e ^ed to vote, that their right will be I« FI!Y J- C* HUGHES, solicitor, Pc e other candidate. Mr W. R. DAVIES Vo^ted against Mr GRIFFITH WILLIAMS'S ?' and Mr J. C. HUGHES protested T|PLQ8T SIR EDMUND BUCKLEY'S vote. When l :tt Vote was taken five supported Mr W. Qd bAvms and fin- Mr J-. C. HUGHES, the election v. as postponed for two Before the time comes for the tlj*' attempt to till the vacant clerkship, h lumber of magistrates anxious to take in the election, whether qualified or ,Qlay *)e increased. In ^these days the Qj.ple has been accepted of deciding by -patters like that which the magistrates k °'gelley failed to decide by open voting. not c^00?e a clerk by lot ? That is ^Oi ^ie Chairman of the Cardiganshire p0iice Committee has been chosen n, or(. occasions than one, and it saves a < lIQt deal of worry and trouble. We do ^derstand the condition of mind which i tl,e es members of public bodies who neglect k,, ordinary duties of those bodies, to go ,vote for a friend or partizan when an tfi^lrifnient has to be made. We have i for many years to arouse the public con- < W ,Ce on this subject, but have not made qnq progress. There is the appointment, < ffje there also are the applicants and their ] s- The possessor of a vote does ask ( S.e^ a lot of very subtle questions in < ^'Stry, but juRt votes for his man and ( Jw s for the next appointment. It is to be s hn^Wed that magistrates and others who 1 6 the power to make appointments are not e^^ther to blame for the way they | their power. Canvassing is some- carried to the point of persecution, He Candidates who are very scrupulous their opponents are likely to win are foe s- particular in securing adherents if j/16'1, own side. We shall be very glad u contest ^or the Dolgelley justices' 8hip does anything towards convincing ^ivfl^rattt,? who do not usually act in the to Sl°n> that it is not in the best of taste ^c £ 0riSne their valuable services to the l0ri official a°d the bestowal of pa- at jJe. If the ten magistrates who voted S&l °!selley last Friday are within their Of tight they must be their own judges "igbOQd taste. If they act beyond their I'ob 1 We think Mr W. R. DAVIES will lI.q ably demonstrate that fact. Candidates .istrates are sll honourable men the fight can be carried on in good 11.1\ iut", and without offensive personalities, °ught (o be carried on, it may not a pleasant break in the monotony f in Merionethshire, but send a little %j!lir>g interest into the neighbouring ^is$les" Nothing particular turns upon are appointment and both the candidates istt olicitors well known in the town and ^«ct. .l

(jal and general notes. At i farmers are beginning to ask where s..0urei"3 are to be found who work for nine or inRs a week. One farmer wishes to say ls labourers average 17s öù a week aud have i besides. He asks if labourers better -VeS w,len they migrate to London and have shillings a week for two rooms ? The chief *hy labourers leave tiie rui'al districts is ;^re is no career before them. In towns 'S °hance to rise. When there are allot- small holdings to be l.ad everywhere, 0 la,„ers ^11 not he as eager as they are now to go 8e towns. LYTTON in hia will said that it ^eb\v ^es^re to be buried in the mausoleum of /he side of his sister, and that the ^is funeral should not exceed £ 5, in "to the cost of the cotfin and of the trans- KCo 'S body t° Knebworth. He wished that t\Venti°nal symbols of affection" should be ^0r his funeral. The real difficulty about tt¡etlts e.^Pensts js that those who have the arrange- ^tjy 1 persist in doing everything on the most lik 6* only by the express desire of1 ^ate Earl of LYTTON for BimpUcity that ation at funerals can be put down. Jh ^°nd ^ress'ves have won all along the line in t County Council elections. This is a be tajetu* sigQ and should enable strong measures ^)le]Q a8»inst owners of hovel dwellings, to* nee(^8 to be educated in order to put ° many of the evils which destroy the Daily Chronicle and the Star hare -Pro?ressive8J an<^ the result is I' lilt .ter(,I1" ry. One of the extraordinary facts Ure 6 ^aily papers is that municipal O1' the •n0t- 8trongiy dealt with. A telegram l>i,incelQ';r^Ues s0ms obscure foreign prince friost -SS have more space given to it than mportant local event. An almanack for this year predicts that there will be an abundance of vermin, such as toads, locusts, and mice. This prediction is a safe one to make. especially as that very astute person the gamekeeper, egged on by his almost equally wise master, is destroying every hawk, owl, and other bird of prey he can reach with his gun. Plagues of rats and mice are bocoming very common, and it is high time for landowners to adopt measures for the pro- tection of those birds and other animals which prey mainly on vermin, even if now and then they do take a head of game. Farmers have enough to con- tend against without having to fight rats and mice. It is said that "one of the most patriotic personages in England is trying to create panic about the British navy by attempting to show that it is only about half as strong as it ought to be. The ruling classes of this country have so managed that about sixty millions of revenue are expended every year in paying for old wars and preparing for new ones. Where is the Liberal cry for economy? When money has to be saved by governments it is not saved out of army and navy expenditure, but out of the sunis devoted to the payment of debt, and in delaying necessary refotms. A few pounds are begrudged fcr educations, but twenty millions are squandered without a thought on more war ships. The high and patriotic person" who is belittling the British navy in foreign papers should be dragged to the light. Is he a pensioner on the country he is betraying ? An Anglesey county court case has ended in the whole estate being absorbed in costs. This is not a very remarkable ending to a Welsh law case, but in this instance there is a deficiency of £3 15s 6d. which the poor lawyers will have to lose, and the question is whether something should not be done fer them ? The way law suits are started and carried on in Wales is one of the wonders of the country, and when whole estates have been swallowed up, as in the Anglesey instance, the litigants are pre- pared to find more money to still go on fighting. We are sorry for the lawyers who are JE3 15s. 6d. short of their taxed costs, and we implore a sym- pathetic public to com9 to the rescue. .)Eo The Cambrian Railway Company, with fine con- tempt for the comfort of their customers and supreme disregard for the convenience of their own servants, evidently do not intend to improve the Aberystwyth station. The pillars which obstruct the platform are to remain. The insufficient plat- form accommodation is not to be increased. The rat-hole arrangement for supplying tickets is to con- tinue. Excursionists are to be loaded in the spare ground sidings. We believe the plans are ready to bring before any government official who may have to hold an inquiry in order to show that the Com- pany intended to remedy the defects. Plans of this sort are really useful, but in this case are somewhat at a discount. « Nothing is more difficult than to persuade people who are hindering the progress of institutions and movements that their retirement would be an un- mixed blessing. Lord ABERDAKE and the other members of the College Council who are responsible for all sorts of mudclements cling like limpets to bheir places. The College was burnt down in 1885 and the people who have muddled the registrarship are just the same people who lost the opportunity Df obtaining money to rebuild the College. The people who have neglected the Deed of Settlement are the same people who have landed the College in i debt of eight or tea thousand pounds. The old students, as we have pointed out many a time, are willing to help the College, but nobody can help an institution that is muddled from year to year as the University College of Wales is muddled. A Swiss writer says that the question of peace or war in Europe is not to be settled by France and Germany alone, but by an European understanding. Disarmament is out of the question so long as Germany holds Alsace-Lorraine against the will of France. These two provinces are not worth the ost of tfhe present standing army kept up by jrermany. We quite understand that Germany jould not give up these provinces, but might not something be den" to put an end to the determina- :ion of France to wipe out what is considered to be ¡he dishonour of 1870 ? It is only by an under- standing amongst the States of Europe that the crushing armaments which are surely eating the ueart out of the nations can be reduced. The nations are reeling under th(ir loads of debt towards bankruptcy to uphold the played-out game of fewer than a dozen kings and emperors. When will the Qntions awake ? A great reform might easily be effected in the administration of justice if the powers of County Court Judges were increased. The limit of the jurisdiction of county courts is £ 50 in common law and jE500 in equity causes. No greater issues are involved in £ 50 than in £ 1,000. What is wanted is that all sorts of business which has now to be taken to London and to Assize Courts should be tried in what ought tc be really county courts. If Parliament were not completely blocked by absurd compliance with all sorts of antiquated and obsolete forms and usages, a measure of this kmd would be passed, ard we should hear no more of the block in the London courts. Thousands of cases are taken from the country to London which could be far more cheaply and satisfactorily settled in the districts where all the parties live. The districts of County Court Judges would have to be smaller and the remuneration would have to be greater. The work done 'oy County Court Judges is, on the whole, satisfactory and the extension of their jurisdiction would be a great ain to the country. ♦ Indignation meetings have been held at Hull to protest against a School Board prosecution in that town, and Mr LABOCCUERE is indignant, Here is the case as stated in Mr LABOUCHERE'S paper "A girl named FLORENCE CAWOOD, who had been licensed from a truant school as assistant or servant to a shopkeeper in the town, went out from her mistress's house on a Sunday night and retrained with a friend at the house of the friend's mother till Tuesday. She was charged at the "police-court with escaping from her mistress, and was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment and four years in a reformatory. The girl will be sixteen years old in April, so that she will thus be kept in virtual imprisonment till she is all but twenty years of age. The sole offence recorded against this girl is that of playing truapt-first from school and, in the above case, from her mistress but as a set-off to this, the mistress gives her -in excellent character in other respects. An in- dignation meeting has been held in Hull in sup- port of an appeal to the HOME SECRETARY on the girl's behalf." Then Mr LABOCTCHERE concludes in this way I should hope that Mr MATTHEWS will not only release her at once, but will also call the attention cf the Educational Department to the wooden-headed and stony-hearted conduct of which the Hull School Board have been guilty in instigating such a prosecution." Now, we really must remonstrate with Mr LABOUCHERE. Does he not see that FLORENCE CAWOOD is only a girl, and as her whole sex is unrepresented in Parliament, and as no women has a vote, it is quite right that FLORENCE CAWOOD should be treated as the slave she is. The law is agsinst FLORENCE GAWOOD, and simply because phe is a woman it is in no danger of 1. being protested against in the House of Commons, where no woman has a seat, and for whose members i no woman has a vote. Mr LABOUCHERE cannot en- slave women and pass vmjuft laws against them and then prevent injustice Mr LABOUCHERE and all these who prevent justice being done to women are to blame for the wrong done to FLORENCE CAWOOD. We used to think that Mr LABOUCHERE was a Radical, Vut we find h is merely a programme I Liberal like almost all the others. Mr HENRY TATE offered the nation a valuable collection of pictures and also offered to spend £80,000 in building a gallery to put them in if the Government would give him a site at South Kensing- ton. The Government say they cannot give him the site and the offer of pictures and money has had to be withdrawn. The obstacles thrown in the way of anyone who wants to benefit the nation are very great and numerous. It is said that scientific men want the site Mr TATE required, but they have no national gift to make. They only want to keep something eo that it can be used when it is wanted. It is almost incredible that a gift like Mr HENRY J TATE'S should have to be withdrawn, but such is the case. Some of theJ members of the Dolgelley Local Board say that the death rate of over thirty-four per 1,000 for the past year is not very unfavourable It is about three times as bad as it opght to be. That is all. The MEDICAL OFFICER says it is an exceedingly high rate. We believe it is the highest death rate for a whole year of any town in the United Kingdom. If that is not bad, we should like to know what is bad. We would say more, but in face of the intelligent opinion of some mem- bers of the Local Board, we abstain. What can be said to the inhabitants of a small town like Dol- gelley who are not disturbed by a death rate of thirty-four per 1,000. Why, the place is more fatal than a battlefield. During the year there have been thirty-six more deaths than births, which means that the town will soon be depopulated. Not so very unfavourable The whole thing is incredible. The average ichurcii parson has no idea how completely he is out of sympathy with the people and with the spirit of the times. The acceptance by Government of the proposal that State-aided schools shall be used for public meetings has completely shocked the clerical mind. That public money should be given in support of denominational teaching does not shock the clergy that the rate- paid attendance officers should hunt up scholars for denominational schools does not shock them but that the only public building in a district should be open to all the public has shaken them to their foundations. The London Conservative papers are full of the lamentations of parsons who evidently feel that their worst enemies are of their own household. If the clergy cannot trust a Tory Government who are they trust? Mr BRYCE, M.P., who has eleven times brought a motion before the House of Commons in favour of giving the public access to uncultivated mountains and moorlands, has at last been successful, the motion being accepted by the SOLICITOR- GENERAL for SCOTLAND on behalf of the Govern- ment. In this matter what is good for Scotland is good for Wiles. Near Aberystwyth and elsewhere there are to be found landowners who, as Mr BRYCE said about the landlords of Scotland, still talk about the land as if they had made it. We have often wondered that landowners have not hit on the cheap way to popularity which is open to them by thowing open to the public lands which could not possibly be injured by being walked over. The Government have admitted that the acceptance of Mr BRYCE'S motion entails legislation. When this matter is legislated upon it is to be hoped that Wales will be included in the measure, for Welsh mountains and moorlands are as attractive as any in the kingdom. V • Last week the working women of Vienna held a meeting to discuss their position. One speaker said that working woman must not expect any results from the emancipation striven for by educated women. She must hope that the workmen's aions would be fulfilled, and then she would not have to work hard, but would be able to return to her woman's miesion of bringing up her children and providing for her family's comfort. Another woman rose to protest against this, wisely declaring that the working women asked for equal rights with men, and would do an eqnal share of work. She complained that the law restricted the freedom of the Press, and then a Government Commissioner interfered. Some sharp words were exchanged, and the official declared the meeting closed, a measure against which the women protested vehe- mently. When women find that Govern- ments are opposed to them and silence them they will rise against their slavery and against their owners. Women have only to demand justice-equal justice with men-in order to bring themselves into collision with the authorities. Freedom has always to be bought with suffering, and women are not going to buy it at any other price. Mr JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, who used to be a Radical and wanted to be a dictator, is in favour of village councils, but he does not think that they would have the enormous effect anticipated hy Gladstonian politicians like Mr JOHN MORLEY. We do not like to even seem to teach Mr CHAMBERLAIN anything, but wise men only expect that village councils would tend to promote the interests of villagers in all things concerning their advancement and the improvement of villages. Where there was no public life in a village, the establishment would not create life but where there was life the village council would give means of expression and power of action. A Town Council, like that at Aber- ystwyth, may allow its own resolutions to remain inoperative and may be mean, or spiteful, or foolish, but from time to time that body is roused to action and reform becomes possible. In twenty or thirty years even a market miy be built at Aberystwyth, but if there were no Council nothing could ever be done. District councils with con- siderable powers are more wanted than village councils. The Local Government Act has stimulated rural life by enabling comparatively poor men to offer themselves for election on county councils. At Machynlleth, for instance, a draper has defeated a member of a noble family. When even Mach- ynlleth asserts itself and wins, it is hard to say what may not happen. We now almost believe that Machynlleth will supply itself with clean water for domestic purposes, and set about the improve- ment of the weekly markets The Welsh have an adage which warns people not to cross bridges before they come to them. This is just what the timid insist upon doing, much to their own and everybody else's discomfort. The colliers have created a great scare by announcing that four or five hundred thousand of them intend to cease work for a fortnight in order to maintain prices. At once the ever-present middle-man grasped the situation, and as soon as the panic, stricken householder ordered more coals he found that the price had been raised. The mines are still at work and there is no coal famine, but coal is as dear as if all the mines in the country had been shut up for a month or two. The miners who have resolved to keep up prices by limiting the coal supply have discovered that already they have punished the poor and seriously interfered with the wages of their fellow-workmen in almost every industry. Further, they have already been com- pelled to remember that there are coal mines in other countries besides England. A very slight rise in the price of coals or any other commodity^ will bring it from other countries, as the coal panic is bringing coal from Belgium. Working mm have many lessons to learn, and there can he no question that they will learn one of them over this idea of ceasing work in order to maintain prices. The only persons really benefited will be the middle-men, who in London have raised the price of coal more than ten shillings a ton. Owing to the increased domestic demand for coal, several mills in Nort.h eaat Lan- cashire, where the miners number 16,000 and the factory operatives 200,000, have had to temporarily stop work. If the collieries stop, it will be almost impossible to continue other industries. Industries are interdependent and even the collier cannot live to himself. With coal scarce and very dear, it ought not to be necessary to advise the people to keep cool.

M E R I ONhE T H CO XTN|T Y COUNCIL. The following are the results of the contested elections in the County of Merioneth :— DYTTRYN. John Davies, Glanymorfa (L), W. Ansell, Corsygedol (C). 82 24 HARLECH, R. T. Jones. surgeon, Penygarth (L). 175 F. R. Lloyd, Bronygraig (C). 58 117 MAENOFFEREN. John Parry Jones, Bink-place (L). ]90 Abraham Evans, schoolmaster (C). 52 CYNFAL. G. H. Ellis, solicitor (U). 56 John Hughes, Hafodfawnsa (L). 45 11 TRAW.SFY.VYDD EASTERN. R. H. Pugh, Brynllifrith (L). David Jones, Goppa (!)• ° 13 DOLGKLLKY SOUTHERN. Morris Jones. Plasncha (L). 145 T. H. Roberts, ironmonger (C). 76 69 DOLGKLLKY NORTHERN. C. E. J. Owen, Henewrtucha (C). 160 W. Hughes, printer (L). 98 62 DOLOELLEY RURAL. Enoch Jones, Cefninaelan (L). 114 David Owen, Crosi Keys (C). 55 59 LLANFACHRETH. John Vaughan. Nannau (C). 135 R. Nanaey Willia.iis, Llwyn (L). 88 47 ABBRDOYEY. Enoch Lewis. Hill (I). 93 Wm. Jones, Sea View Terrace (L). 81 12

I glinting appointments. ^ABERYSTWYTH HARRIERS. MEET Saturday, March 12th 4th milestone Aberayron Road at 12 Wednesday, March IGèh.. 4th milestone Machynlleth Road at 11 Saturday, March 19th .7th milestone Devils Bridge Road at 12

Skipping. For the raerk rtxli.ng March 1th, 1S92. ABERYSTWYTH HARBOUR. ARRIVED. March 5th, Countess of Lishurne, s.s., Jones, Bristol; March 7th, Alice antl Eliza, schooner, Evans, Duddon. SAILED. March 2nd, Flying Dutchman, Ketch, Thomas, Portmadoc; March 3rd, Edith Eleanor, schooner, Ptice. Portmadoc March 7th, Countess of Lisburne, s.s., Jones. Liverpool.

THE POPULAR BEVERAGE for Breakfast, Lunchton, Tea, and Supper in all seasons is CAPBCRY'S Coaw —Comforting, strengthening, nouvishins;— for ol(I and young, robust and fcjblc, GAPBTKVS COCOA iS abso- lutely pu re.

ABERYSTWYTH. SCHOOL TREAT.-On Friday, the Mayor gave a tea to the members of Penparke Elementary School. PERSONAL.—The Ladies Pictorial contains an ex- cellent portrait of the Rev E. Killin Roberts who took. part in the Welsh service at St Paul's. FOOTBALL.—A football match under the Association Rules was played on the Lawn Tennis Ground on Saturday afternoon last between Mr W. R. Jones's team and the U.C W. Club. A one-sided game ter- minated in a win for the Collegians by eight goals to two. YELL AXD DRUM BAND.—The Yell and Drum Band has been serenading the Devil with more than usual .t. __1- "'1_ n_ _1_L =- -&. euergy tins ween. oe DaDU, wmcn is laaii grow. ing, has had another yell added to it. It now consists of a drum, a tambourine, and two yells. CO.NCERT.-The eighth annual concert in connection with the Junior Radical Club will be held at the Old Assembly Rooms on Tuesday, April 5th, when the Club Male Voice Party and the amateurs of the town and neighbourhood will take part. Too BAD.—With the advent of March has come the finish of wild bird shooting. On Sunday last several wild swan were seeR outside the Castle Point. The birds swam about and smiled knowingly at several sportsmen who were on the Castle and who felt their positions keenly. THE WEATHER.—After a spell of fine weather, the inhabitants of the coast have experienced during the past week boisterous weather such as is considered to be appropriate to March. The wind blew a gale, and snow aud hail fell at intervals followed by spells of sunshine. SHIPPING.—The General Nott, of which Captain Williams of Borth was master and Captain Thomas Morris, Pier-street, managing director, and the French barque Valentine and Helena got into collision at the beginning of the month and both ships had to be abandoned. The French barque foundered immediately, the- crew being saved by the Barden Towers. The General Nott was taken in tow for several hours, but the crew found that she was sinking and left her. Barden Towers landed the two crews at Hull on Friday. IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY,—Llandudno has organized a strong Improvemnt Society for the purpose of en- gaging a second band, of advertising the town, of watching railway service, and of providing entertain- ments for visitors. The lodging-house keepers and tradesmen have voluntarily consented to pay a certain percentage on their rents and this brings in about £ 400 a year. About 100 bouses a year are added to the town and the place is made successful through the enterprise of the inhabitants and the co-operation of Lord Mostyn and his agent, Mr David Gillart. JUNIOR RADICAL CLUB.—A general meeting of the club was held on Tuesday evening, Councillor T. W. Powell presiding, when Mr D. M. Jones gave an excel- lent paper on Socialism," in which he advocated the nationalization ot the land and industrial capital, thus making the nation the owner of the land as well as of the capital. Messrs George Green and M. L. Vaugban Davids, l'anybwlch, spoke in opposition to the paper, and Mr Jones brought an interesting discussion to a termination, with a reply. The following resolution was unanimously passed. "That this Club hopes th-it no Liberal members will for vote the appointment of Con- servatives as Aldermen of the County Council, as their appointment would necessarily, on a division, neutralise the votes of the elected Liberal members." ALARM OF FIRF.S.—About three o'clock on Monday afternoon, the Fire Brigade assembled on an alarm of fire which was discovered to have broken out in the house occupied by Mr Morcom in Queens'-rovL It appeared that mattresses, which had been placed about the fire for the purpose of airing, had become ignited. The outbreak was detected by one of the children and the fire was extmguished by painters who were at work in the house. The services of the Brigade were, tuerefore, not required. Shortly after five in the evening the Brigade again turned out on an alarm of fire having been received from Llanbadarn. Horses were harnessed to the engine and it was taken over to Pwllhobi when it was found that this fire also had been extinguished. It occurred in the house occupied by Mr Wm. Jones, pattern maker, and it is understood that the damage is covered by insurance. RAILWAY SePPER.-On Saturday evening between thirty and forty of the employees at Aberystwyth sat down to dinner at the Victoria Hotel, under the presi- dency of Mr David Davies, carriage inspector, and the vice presidency of Mr Thomas Williams, engine driver. Among those present were Messrs David Jones, guard, J. Cunningham, Edward Oweii, Edward Grithths, John Hammond, John Jones, J. Evans, Tom Savage, David Baker, J. Beubow, Joseph Salmon, Charies Campbell, Levvi-i Rees, Tom Williams, Edward Jones, R. Jones, John Davies, M. h M David Davies, Evan Edwards, Thomas Owen, T. R. Jones, Charles Jones, John Parry, John Davies, Arthur Williams, William Griffiths George Jones, and others. After the cloth had been removed, several toasts were drunk and songs sung, accompanied on the pianoforte by Miss Cunningham. r PREFERMENT TO THE REV D. DAVIES, B.A., LLAN- ELLY. The Rev David Davies, B.A., who for the last ELLY. The Rev David Davies, B.A., who for the last six years has laboured most successfully as curate in charge of St Peter's in the parish of St Pauls, Llanelly, has been appointed to the living of Llangennech, near Llanelly, in the gift of Mr Alderman David Evans of the same town. The new vicar is the third son of Mr David Davies, 62, Marine-terrace, whose three other sons are also clegymen of the Church of England. The living of Llangennech is worth .£200 per annum together with a residence. Mr Davies was educated at the Aberystwyth Grammar School under the late Mr Edward Jones, after which he proceeded to Lam- peter and graduated in June 1886. In September he was ordained, being priested at the end of the follow- ing year by the Bishop of St David's. His first curacy was in Llanelly, where he has remained up to the present, doing work of great value and worth, of which the parishioners are not slow to speak in praise. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.—As stated last week, the polling in the election of a member for the County Council for one of the divisions of Aberystwyth occurred, resulting in a majority of twelve in favour of Mr John James over Mr Walter Wemyss. During bhe day, an accident happened by the breaking down of one of Mr Wemyss's conveytiieei, but, fortunately, no one was hurt. When the result of the poll was announced, Air James thanked the electors for re- turning him. t-aving that he had done his beat for the town on the Council for the past three years and would look carefully after the interests of the late- pavers in future. — Mr Wemyss, also speaking, thought he had polled remarkably well seeing that he had as an oopouenl; one of the most popular men in Cardigan- shire. A vote of thanks was accorded the Mayor and Town Clprk for their conduct of the election. The number of electors pollc- I i-kis 272 oat of a possible 368. There were two spoiled papers. THE FORESTERS.—The quarterly meeting of Court. Old Castle A.O F. was held at the Talbot Hotel on Tuesday evening under thp presidency of the retiring Chief Ranger, Mr Henry Parry, railway guard, and was largely attended. Two new members were initi- ated and nine candidates proposed for membership. The receipts of the evening amounted to JE45. The following members were elected and installed as officers for the ensuing six months :—Chief Ranger, Mr John J. Jones, coal merchant sub chief, Battery Sergeant-Major Rees senior woodward, Serjeant John Haycocks junior woodward. Mr John Purton senior beadle, Mr Uriel Jones and junior beadle, Mr Evan Rees, Trinity-terrace. On reviewing the numerical and financial state of 'he Court for last vear it was found that on December 31st there was au increased membership of 171. The balance to the credit of the Sick and Funeral Fund stood at f902 193. lid. being an increa«e of 951 ISs. 2d. on the 2 previous year-Y-650 is invested with the Aberystwvth Corporation. The sick allowance of £118 12s. 10d. was paid to 35 members, while £ 48 was advanced as funeral pay. A slight adverse balance in the manage- ment fund was satisfactorily wiped off by a levy. The /Vfoooro TTonvtr ParnT a r» rl Too«vr» T.ØoU71Q\ l:IUU'&.oV&O \a.u .VA. L IOA/' 1.:1 tAoU" "H" .n, reported the condition of the Court to be healthy and prosperous. THE INFIRMARY.—The usual monthly meeting o the Bnard of Management of the Infirmary was held on Thursday of la,t week when there were present Mr J G. W. Boneall. president, in the chair, Messrs C M. Williams, Griffith Williams, John EvanR, Drs Davies and Turner, lr" John James and the Secretary. There are 10 patients in the wards. During the past month 10 were ad mi'ted and 10 dis- charged and one died—total number of in-patients treated 22 237 out-patients were treated of whom 145 were new The following letter was read from Alderman James Jones, Brooklands, Swansea As a native of the neighbourhood of Aberystwyth. I take much interest in everything that benefits the town and the county generally. Judging from thf report which *yon kindly sent me along with your letter of 3rd inst, I venture to think that your excellent institution is not Fupported t, the extent it could and should be. This is much to be regretted and I trust means will he employed to create greater interest in the Infirmary. The institution being unique as far as Cardiganshire is concerned, should enter largely into the thought aud life of the county. With the greatest deference to the wisdom of the Governors I would venture to make a suggestion—that an Infirmary Sunday be given, not only with a view to improve the funds, but to awaken greater public concern in the institution. However, I have much pleasure in enclosing my cheque for £ 25, trusting 11 B t some wealthy and influential gentleman of Cerediypcn will join me in putting their shoulder to the wheol" -On the proposition of Mr C. M. Williams, seconded by Mr Griffith William, a hearty votea of thanks was accorded to Mr Jones for his letter. FAIR.—The usual monthly fair was held on Monday when business was dull and prices low. CRICKET CLUB.—The Ceredigion Cricket Club will hold its annual meeting on Monday next at the Belle Vue Hotel at six o'clock. DEATH OF MRS PERROTT.—After a protracted and painfull illness, Mrs Perrott, wife of Mr J. J. Perrott, National and Provincial Bank and county treasurer, died at the Bank. Mrs Perrott was a native of Brecon whither her remains will be taken on Saturday for interment in the family vault in Llanfihangel Talyllyn Churchyard. OBITUARY.—On Sunday, Mrs Rowland, wife of Dr J. J. Rowland, died at the Cresent, Birmingham, after a painful illness, at the age of thirty-five. Ihe ueceasea waa the third daughter of the late Mr Thomas Smith, Pier-street. The body was interred on Wednesday at the Aberystwyth Cemetery, the Rev J. H. Protheroe aud the Rev W. Evans officiating. ORGAN RICCITAL.-Oll St. David's Day, Mr Alf. W. Parsons, Mus. Bac., F.C.O., organist of St. Michael's, gave an organ recital at the English Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Llanidloes. The pieces played were rendered in a masterly style and, although of a high classical nature, were much appreciated. Mr Parson s manipulation and execution were exquisite. GENERAL PURPOSES.-No meeting of the General Purposes Committee, to consider the question of engaging a band, advertising the town, has yet been held. The engagement of a band at Aberystwyth is generally left to the last minute and after other watering places have engaged the best performers, and then surprise is expressed why Aberystwyth cannot get as good a band as other places. PETTY SESSIONS. The ordinary weekly petty sessions were held on Wednesday, before the Mayor (W. H. Palmer, Esqr.), Alderman Peter Jones and John Morgan, Esq.—Christopher Jenkins, Pound- place, painter, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in the borough on the 15th March.— P.C. Richard Jones (11) and P.S. Da, id Davies proved the charge, and the Bench imposed a fine of 2s 6d with costs. RECHABITES.—On Wednesday evening a knife and fork tea was given at the Old Assembly Rooms by the Aberystwyth Tent of Rechabites. Mr George Owen, joiner, chief ruler, presided. After the tea, toasts were proposed and responded to and songs given. During the, evening Mr Daniel Thomas, the secretary, stated that the members numbered 114, and that 40 had been admitted during the year, or a net gain, after deduct- ing losses, of 32. The balance in the bank was stated to he JE466 Is 9d. THE TEACHERS' GUILI).-On Friday evening Prof. Lloyd Snape, D.Sc, gave an interesting lecture on Manual instruction," in the chemical theatre at the College. He said that the ided, of manual training was not a new one, though the application only belongs to the last tweuty-five years. He pointed out that the use of tools could only be properly acquired when young. The Lecturer gave a complete comparative synopsis of educational views on this question in Eng- land and America. He referred to the calamitous re- sults ensuing from the divorce of science and art in the union of these is the real progress of the world. One of the uses of n,aunal training is, that it tends to add dignity to labour, a text much preached upon by Carlyle. The organ of touch as embodied in tne hand was so extraordinary that it had been called •' Giant Hand." The great danger now-a-days is that this in- struction is commenced too late in our technical schools. Very interesting were Dr Snape's remarks on Ferrier's experiments on motor centres. The- centres in the hand are not yet absolutely determined, but they appear to be very active between the ages of four and fifteen. Boys left untrained after the latter age can- not be highly trained. As a general fact boys who afterwards became famous showed an aptitude for the plastic and painting arts when young. Here the Lec- turer asked an interesting question. How is a teacher to know whether a boy is more fitted for a profession or an industry, and what industry is he best fitted for?" He said that the answer could not now be given, and peihups was not necessary. With regard to hours of study in I tchools. Dr Woodward, of Washington, U.S.A. thought mathematics should have three hours, history and literature one hour, drawing one hour, and shopwork three. At the Manchester Manual Traiuing School out of thirty hours a week mathematics had five, drawing five, and tools five. Dr Snape considered that a brief apprenticeship to manual work helped a student in the study of Belles Lettres. It was also a training to physique, and for physical development was better than the gymnasium. It tended very largely to make school studies interesting and attractive. It was a help to become quick and handy it cultivated the sense rf touch and quickners of grasp. It was a stimulus to intellect. The mechanical use of tools trained the eye and hand and this re-acted upon the brain. James Watt was a notable instance of a case in which this was exemplified. Testimonies to this were also obtained in Belgium, Bohemia, and other countries. The work done at the Manual Training School at Chicago was exhibited by some slides shown on a screen by means of a lantern—showiag labora- tories for wood-turning, forging, founding, machine tools, chipping, and filing. In discussing the question whether manual instruction in our own country is practicable, Dr Snape briefly narrated what had been (tone in this direction in Finland, France, and Sweden, in the last-named manual training schools have been very largely increased in recent years, and at the close the Lecturer exhibited several models which had been worked on the Slojd system by Prof Morgan Lewis. Prof Lewis, a competent authority on this t-3,stem, proposed a vote of thanks to Dr Snape, and gave an interesting speech on Slojd. He had himself Keen it work at Naas in Sweden. In that country there siv 1.200 such schools, and he could testify to the irreat interest taken by boys in their manual work. Mr T. Owen seconded. Previous to the leetare tea and ooflee had been provided by Miss Carpenter to members of the guild in the Examination Hall. THE LAST OF THE MAIL COACH GUARDS. Sir.It may interest some of your older readers to see the following cutting" taken from a London paper At the General Post Office, East, yesterday, in the presence of Mr Hsrbert Joyce, secretary, Colonel Cardin, receiver and accountant-general, the chief officials of the London postal service, and a large gathering of the staff generally, an interesting function, connecting tne present and the past, took place. Mr R. C. Tombs, the retiring controller of the London postal service, presented a testimonial to James Nobbs, the last of the old mail coach guards," who was recently superannuated after more than fifty-five years' service in the Post Office Department. The testi- monial took the form of a mail guard's silver watch and chain, specially made for the purpose, together with a coloured portrait and a purse containing ten sovereigns." James Nobhs was one of the three guards who took charge of the letters from Aberystwyth to Chelten- ham in 1840, if I mistake not, and continued to do so as long as the Mail Coach ran. Leaving the Talbot, Aberystwyth, at 5.«J0 a.m.. the mail was time.! to reach Cheltenham at 11 p.m. Nobbs was said to be the guaid who kept the bast time-he was a good looking, cheery fellow-over the dreary road he had to travel between Aberystwyth and Rhayader, Jack Jones being the coachman, who drove the coach to the last named place in the morning, bringing the return mail back in the evening, arriving at Aberystwyth at 11 p.m. He was about 5 fed 7 inches, a powerfully built n.an, who never to the best of my belief m"t with an accident along his dangerous drive. Mr John Bull mail inspector, who lived at Pantmawr, said he con- sidered Jones the most wonderful coachman in Eng- land and Wales, driving as he did in the winter months almost entirely in the dark, SENEX

PRUDENTIAL ASSURACE COMPANY. The annual statement of accounts and the report of the Prudent al Assurance Company, in which a large number of our readers are interested, will be found m detail in another column after having been certified as correct by the well-known nrm of Deloitte, Dever, Griffiths and Co. Ihe company are carefully repre- sented in this district by Mr T. H. Edwards, super- intendent, Queens road, Mr C. R. Evans, Breni- terrace, Tregaron, and Mr T. Leonard, Poplar road, Macliyiillcth, assistant superintendents, and a staff of twenty-one agents. It appears that the policies in the industrial biaueh amount to the enormous number of 9,617,484, and, in the ordinary branch, to 262,619, or more than one fourth of the entire population of the United Kingdom. In the ordinary branch, the number ofjwlicies issued during the year was 5S.1 IS, assuring £ .),9.V2,493 and producing a new annual nremiom income of 9355,980. The premiums received durmg the year were £ 1.442,(40, an increase of £ 2Sa (¥17 over the year 1890. The increase in the premium receipts for the five y«=ars 1SS7-91 was £ L 045 SO" or-ui annual average increase of £ 209,161. In'the'industrial branch, the premiums received during the year we-e £ 3,688,33S, or an increase of £ 170,413. The tm rc is<> in the premium receipts for the fiv e years wasJt777 043 or an average annual increase of £ 155,927. Ihe tot-il 9.1)- assets of t|.c company are £ 14,023,627 or a *»b,ta,;tial increase of £ 2,043, i0t over tnose of 1^90. That the bociety is coudacted on sound bases is shown by the accountants reports and by the fact tlia.t the surplus of funds over liabilities in the ordinary branch amount to no, le». than^ £ 1|019,SS5, and in the industrial nranch to £ S0a.495.

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f Parliament will see whether the 111 Hon and Crown lands of Wales cannot afforested. There are hundreds of Ie ousands of acres of comparatively worth- 8 J&nd in Wales which can never become Value xmtil the stimulus of private to Qers^^P aQd prospect of profit is brought j kear upon it. Almost the only poor have in land is that it should be Qi 6 produce the greatest possible p of food, and that the food when °duced should be freely sold in the open do 6t' ^an(* °* t,^ie United King- ly1*' had remained common the population the whole country would not now have JjeetLas great as that of London. Mr T. and Lls knows the estuary of the Dovey, ] he knows that thousands of acres of in c°uld be reclaimed, not only there but scores of places round the coast, if it e not for the creatures bound in tape who act on behalf of the Crown. &H 8 ^as Plenty rea^ grievances—bitter a eva-nces—without creating them out of schemes which will bring wealth *iof P°Pulation to a country that is certainly overburdened with either. The cry of ^e*sh water for the Welsh has been pit • an(^ wisely abandoned and it is a y it was ever raised.