The Cambrian News 1871-2

Mar 11 1871

Board of Guardians. Discussion regarding vaccination facilities against smallpox in Taliesin.

Tre'rddol Petty sessions: Drunkenness. John Davies and David Morgans, both miners, of Tre'rddol, were summoned for being drunk and riotous on the 13th February, at the Halfway Inn, Tre'r dddol. William Daniel, a constable belonging to the parish of Llancynfelin, in proving the charge said he had been called into the Halfway Inn to turn the defendants, who were both drunk and quarelling with a man from talybont, out of the house. At first they refused to go out, but afterwards left and went to their homes. John Davies was fined £1 and costs, and David Morgans 10s. and costs.

Mar 25 1871

Board of Guardians. Further discussion on smallpox vaccination in Taliesin.

April 14 1871

Tre'rddol. Wesleyan Service. On Good Friday the Wesleyans of this place gave their annual treat to the Sunday School and Band of Hope....Addresses by Rev D.Young, Mr William Jones, Post Office, Mr Williams, Ynyslas, Mr D.Morris, Taliesin. Choir led by Mr Thomas Jones, Park gate

July 14 1871

Tre'rddol. Minister's House. A while ago the Wesleyan Methodist society of the above place decided to build a commodious house for their minister. The hon. family of Gogerddan sold a suitable piece of land for the purpose, on very favourable conditions. The contract was let to Mr. Edward Wooley, of Brookcottage, Llandinam, according to designs by Mr David Rees, Taliesin. The house has been finished, and is an ornament to the neighbourhood. On Saturday July 8th, the house being finished according to the contract made with Mr Wooley, the officials, including the ministers of the circuit, the Revs Evan Richards and David Young; Mr Thomas Jones, Post Office, leader; Mr Owe, Dobcletws (sic) chapel steward; Mr James Jones, chapel secretary, with several of the trustees, also Messrs Wooley and Son, contractors, met at Tre'rddol to examine the house, which was pronounced to be according to the specifications, and was handed over to the trustees. A social meeting was held, under the able presidency of Rev Evan Richards, Aberystwyth, superintendent minister. A vote of thanks to Mr Wooley for the faithful and honest manner in which he had fulfilled the contract, was proposed by Mr Thomas Jones, Post Office, senior leader, ably seconded by The Rev D Young, the resident minister, and carried unanimously. We are happy to say that the cost of the house, £350, has been defrayed, the whole debt being paid off at the jubilee of the chapel.

July 28th 1871

Special Petty Sessions, Aberystwyth.

Charge of housebreaking. John William Peter Grote charged with breaking and entering into a dwelling house at Esgairhir Mine Works, Llanfihangel Geneu'r Glyn. David Williams, living at Tre'rddol, and working at the mine, gave evidence....heard sounds of breaking...fetched police from Taliesin....

Prisoner was discharged.

August 11 1871

Tre'rddol Petty sessions, August 3rd. Before Thomas Jones Esq and H C Fryer Esq

Sureties. Rees Morgan of Taliesin was summoned by Isaac Edwards for having used threatening language towards him on 27th July. The magistrates bound the defenant over in his own recognizance of £10, and two sureties in £5 each to keep the peace for 12 months or to have fourteen days imprisonment.

Owen Morgan of Taliesin, miner, was summoned for a similar offence towards Thomas Jones of Taliesin, on July 26th. The complainant said that the defendant was drunk and disorderly at the time. Fined 20s and costs, and bound over, himself in £10, and two sureties in £5 each, to keep the peace for 12 months.

Deserting service Catherine Evans was summoned for deserting the service of David Jenkins, Cololwg, on the 22nd of June. The complainant said he hired the defendant as servant for twelve months at £5 17s 6d. a year. Defendant left his employ on the 22nd of June, and had not since returned. Ordered to return to service, or forfeit three months wages due, and costs.

Jan 12 1872

Tre'rddol Petty Sessions, Thursday Jan 4th, before H C Fryer and Thomas Jones

Alleged Malicious Damage. Mary Williams, Owen Hughes, Owen Griffiths, Mary James, Margaret Edwards, and Elizabeth James, were summoned by Sir Pryse Pryse, for malicious damage. John Morris Jones said that he found the defendants in Alltycrib wood on December 18th. That wood belonged to Sir Pryse Pryse. The defenants were collecting leaves. Had warned them not to trespass. The summonses were dismissed.

Assault. John M Jones was summoned for having assaulted Evan Lloyd, miner, of Bryngolan, on Dec 18th. Fined 10s. including costs.

Drunk. J M Jones was fined 5s, including costs, for drunkenness, on Dec. 18th

9 Feb 1872

Tre'r ddol Petty Sessions, Thursday Feb 1st, before H C Fryer Esq.

A Pugilistic Affair Evan Richards, Richard Jones, Edward Jones and John Morris, were summoned by P.S.Morgan for having caused a breach of the peace. John Evans of Llwynglasbach, said that on Saturday, Jan 20th, at seven in the evening, he was at the Black Lion Inn, Talybont, and the four defendants were also there. The defendants went to a field belonging to the inn to fight, and witness, with some scores of people, went with them. It was a moonlight night. Richard Jones and Edward Jones were the fighters, and the other defendants were "seconds". There was a noise. The Bench ordered the defendants to find sureties, and bound them over in their own recognizance of £5 each to keep the peace for six months.

More Fighting John Pritchard and Elias Davies were summoned by P.S. Morgan for disorderly conduct. Wm.Daniel, Tre'rddol, said that on the 18th of January, at nine p.m., the defendants, who did not appear sober, were scuffling on the turnpike road. Jphn Davies, landlord of the Halfway Inn, said that the defendants had been drinking. He saw a blow given. Pritchard was the first down on the ground. Pritchard was bound over in the sum of £10, and one surety of £5 to keep the peace for twelve months, and Davies in the sum of £5 and one surety in the like amount, to keep the peace for six months.

14 June 1872

Tre'rddol Petty Sessions, Tuesday June 6th

Drunk Richard Williams, Tre'rddol was fined 10s. and costs, for having been drunk on March 30th

Assaults Mary Jones was summoned for having assaulted John Jones, a little boy, on the 8th May, by striking him on the forehead with a stone. The blow was a severe one, and the boy fainted. Defendant said the blow was accidental. Fined 10s. Sarah Jones was summoned for having assaulted Mary Jones, the defendant in the previous case. A witness said that the parties fell out and belaboured each other unmercifully with besoms. The Bench dismissed this case.

9 August 1872

LLANCYNFELIN SCHOOL BOARD, Saturday August 3rd.

A special meeting of this board was called for last Saturday for the purpose of deciding whether the board would open negociations with the Wesleyan connection for the purchase of their chapel at Tre'rddol for the purpose of converting it into a schoolroom to supply the deficiency of school accomodation in the parish. The meeting excited some interest as the Wesleyans wished to sell the chapel to the School Board, and the Calvinist Methodists were opposed to it, and the representatives of the two denominations on the Board held views identical with those of their constituents. The Board consists of five mebers, and they were all present, viz, H C Fryer Esq, Chairman (Churchman), The Rev. David Young, vice-chairman (Wesleyan), Mr Thomas Jones (Wesleyan), the Rev. William Thomas (Churchman), Mr Thomas Thomas (Calvinistic Methodist). A warm discussion took place, in which it was urged on behalf of the Wesleyans that it would be a saving of upwards of £100 to the parish to buy the Wesleyan chapel, instead of building a new schoolroom, while Mr Thomas Thomas, of Neuadd, on behalf of the Calvinistic Methodists, answered that, in the long run,instead of being a saving would be a loss, that it would be penny wise and pound foolish, the building being ill-adapted for a schoolroom, having no playground except the graveyard, and that it would be highly improper to allow the children to desecrate the resting place of the illustrious dead. He also argued that the site was not a central one. The Wesleyans replied, that with a small outlay the building might be made suitable to keep a school, that the graveyard would not be sold, and a playground might be bought adjoining the chapel, the Act of Parliament giving compulsory powers to buy. With regard to question of site, they begged to remind Mr Thomas that not long ago an application had been made to the Education Department for a grant towards building a British school-room, and that the site then fixed upon, even according to his showing, was farther still from the centre of the parish and population. Mr Thomas said that application was made for a purpose, not with the intention of actually erecting a British school-room, but to counteract a similar application for a grant to extend the present school buildings (in which at that time a national school was kept). Mr Thomas, seeing the majority going against him, made a forcible appeal to the Board to allow the matter to be decided by the majority of the parishioners, assigning as reasons that at the formation of the Board it was agreed on all hands that the Church was always to have two members, the Wesleyans and the Methodists were to have two, and one alternately. Unfortunately for his side, it was their time then to have only one member and the Wesleyans two; but if things were reversed the majority, which the Wesleyans then possessed, would have been converted into a minority. He asked the Board not to allow such an important thing to be decided by chance. The Chairman thought that polling the parish would set one chapel against the other, and that a bitter feeling would be enjendered. A resolution was passed to the effect that the chapel be bought if they could agree to the price, but subject to the approval of the Education Department. The Calvinistic Methodists are still determined to offer every opposition in their power, and to leave no stone unturned. A memorial has been prepared, to be signed by the parishioners, asking the School Board to rescind the resolution, and allow the matter to be determined by the majority of the parishioners. Communicated.

TRE'RDDOL PETTY SESSIONS Thursday August 1st

Breach of the peace Rees Morgan, charged with having been drunk and abusive at the Royal Oak, Taliesin, and abusive towards P S Morgan, on the 14th of June, was bound over to keep the peace. Owen Morgan was charged with having been drunk on July 21st. Mr Ravenhill appeared for the defendant, who, having been previously convicted for drunkenness, was bound over to keep the peace.

Alleged Threat Enoch James, Borth, was summoned by Mary Jenkins for having threatened her. Case dismissed.

COUNTY COURT Monday August 5th

Trespass by Cattle David Roderick, Taliesin v. Enoch Lewis. Plaintiff sought to recover damages for trespass by defendants cattle. Plaintiff enclosed the land in question, and had been in possession of it for three years. He took his land from Rees Morgan. It was common for eleven years, and three years ago he entered upon it at a rent of 30s. a year. He had only paid £1 a year. Some years ago he had paid 30s. for the same land. He was not a bail for Rees Morgan. John Jones, Taliesin, often turned a cow and a heifer on to the land. He had not, however, done so since the present action had been entered. The defendant and about a dozen other persons turned their cattle upon his (the witnesses) land as upon a common. On Saturday, June 15th, he saw three cows and two heifers belonging to the defendant trespassing on his land. The cattle then remained four hours. He estimated the damage done by the cattle at £1. He would expect compensation from the other cattle owners. - Judgement for 1s. was taken by consent, and it was understood that the trespass must cease.

23 August 1872

Tre'rddol - Departure of the Rev. D Young.

On Friday evening, August 16th, the Rev D.Young preached his farewell sermon at the Tre'rddol chapel. The congregation was large. The sermon pathetic and eloquent. At the close of the service Mrs Owen of Dolclettwr, on behalf of the Aberystwyth district, presented the Rev. gentleman with a handsome sum of money. Mrs Owen in a feeling manner discharged her task with her usual ability. Mr T James, postmaster, in referring to the great work accomplished by Mr Young during his three years ministrations in the circuit, said when he went there were several seats unoccipied, but after his arrivel they were soon filled, and the chapel ws soon found too small, many families seeking for sittings while not one could be got, this caused them to agitate for a new chapel, which would be commencd as soon as possible. The kind manner in which all parties had responded to the testimonial proved that Mr Young was a general favourite amongst all the inhabitants. Mr Young said he felt so overcome that he could scarcely command sufficient courage to speak and acknowledge the unexpected kindness of his friends. He felt it very hard to part with the friends of the circuit, especially the Tre'rddol friends, where he had spent the three happiest years of his life. He hoped to meet them often and hear of their success, as his new station at Machynlleth would be so near them, a fact which was a source of great comfort. The meeting was a perfect success. Great regret has already been felt throughout the neighbourhood at Mr Young's departure, amongst all denominations, and many hopes are expressed that soon again they will see him back in Tre'rddol, and throughout the circuit where he had been so acceptable for three years, during which time a new chapel has been built at Aberystwyth and Borth; of Tre'rddol chapel soon to follow, and the repairing of Bontgoch.

13 September 1872

TRE'RDDOL PETTY SESSIONS Thursday September 5th

Pigs on the Highway Mary Davies, Talybont; Evan Felix, Nantllan, Llancynfelin; Thomas Richards, Gwarfelin; and others were summoned for allowing their pigs to stray on highways, and were each fined 5s. including costs.

11 October 1872

TRE'RDDOL PETTY SESSIONS October 3rd

The New Licensing Act Petitions were presented from Borth. Taliesin, Talybont, Tre'rddol and Pengarn, begging the magistrates to exercise the power conferred upon them by the new Licensing Act, by determining that the times for opening and closing public-houses shall not be earlier than 7 a.m. and not later than 10 p.m. respectively on weekdays ad not later than nine p.m. on Sundays. - The magistrates resolved that public-houses should be closed at ten o'clock in the evening on weekdays and nine o'clock on the evening of Sundays, and the hours of opening and closing in the morning of weekdays and other parts of Sundays be as mentioned in the Act of Parliament.

Drunk. Owen Morgan was summoned for drunkenness at Taliesin on the 21st Sept. P.S.Morgan proved the charge. The defendant is under recognisances and it was ordered that they be estreated at the next quarter sessions.

LETTER

The Llancynfelin School board

Sir: During the past few weeks several letters have appeared in the Welsh papers Baner and Y Dywysogaeth on account of the above board having intimated their intention to buy the Wesleyan chapel at Tre'rddol, for the purpose of converting it into a school room, subject, of course, to the approval of the Education Department. Inasmuch as facts have been very much misrepresented in the letters referred to, and as the Cambrian News is comparatively widely circulate amongst all classes in the neighbourhood, I crave of you the favour of allowing me a little space to explain candidly and honestly how matters stand.

The Wesleyan Chapel having been for some tome too small for the congregation, the trustees, a few months ago, decided upon either enlarging it, or building a new one. Some of the members of the board, having become aware of that fact, thought if the Wesleyans were to build a new chapel then the old one could be easily converted into a capital school-room, and that it might be bought for that purpose at considerable advantage to the ratepayers. It was intimated that the trustees would be willing to dispose of it for £250, which sum is not much more than half its real value. But, as soon as some few persons belonging to the Calvinistic congregation at Taliesin became aware of the intention of the board, they became angry, and wrote to the different Welsh papers in such a manner as was calculated, I suppose, to disturb heaven and earth. In the Baner of 25th Sept appeared a communication from "R.M." pretending to deal deliberately and impartially with both sides of the question; but alas! before knowing what fairness was, he exhausted the whole powers of his mind in trying to show and magnify the advantages of one side at the expense of dealing unfairly with the other.

"R.M." alleges, in the first place, that no advantages whatsoever would accrue to the ratepayers by buying the Tre'rddol chapel for £250; and in support of his assertion he says that Mr D Rees has drawn a plan of a schoolroom and proposes to build it for £300. But "R.M." knows well that such a building as was proposed by Mr D Rees would not meet the requirements of the education department, as the plans were disapproved and condemned by the Inspector. Besides, Mr D Rees only offered to make the bare building (such as it was to be) for £300. The site and the playground walls would not be included; whilst the Tre'rddol chapel is a freehold property, containing a place, underneath where a small family lives, and another large room that could be adapted by the Board to hold their meetings in. Again, since the time Mr D Rrees proposed to build a schoolroom for £300, materials of every description, as well as labour, have been considerably raised in value. And it is a fact that building a suitable schoolroom, including a freehold site, playground, walls etc, would cost from £500 to £600. I shall now leave it to the ratepayers to decide whether it would be in their interest to buy the Tre'rddol chapel or not.

Another plea which "R.M." in his letter to the Baner makes use of against buying the chapel is its geographical situation, viz. that Tre'rddol would be quite as inconvenient place to have a schoolroom at all. He maintains, if a straight line was drawn from the River Dyfi to the corner of the present schoolroom, almost all of the children of the parish would be on the Taliesin side of it. The correctness of that statement depends entirely upon from which point on the Dyfi he proposes to draw his line. If he means to take his point about Glandovey railway station he may be right. Let him draw his line from any point he sees proper, but that will not alter, in the last degree, the geographical position of the parish of Llancynfelin. Of the two, it would be more convenient for the children of the Ffermydd yr Ynysoedd and Goitre to go to Tre'rddol than to Taliesin, because the road is much more sheltered in unpropitious weather. The children of the small villages around Tre'rddol, such as Dole, Craigypenrhyn, and Llanerch, as well as Henhafod, Melin Lodge, and the small farms up on the hills, must all go through Tre'rddol to Taliesin. Though Taliesin is a little larger village than Tre'rddol, yet it is evident that a large majority of the population of the parish is on the Tre'rddol side. As there must be two schoolrooms, I ask, is it not right and fair that one of them should be at Tre'rddol? Will the ratepayers in that part of the parish allow the Taliesin people to monopolise the whole privileges to themselves? I should think not; and I may suggest it is high time they should arouse themselves to guard their own rights, and also to memorialize the board to that effect. Moreover, before the School Board was formed, it was once generally agreed to build the new schoolroom at Llanerch, a distance of a few hundred yards from the Wesleyan chapel, and not a word was uttered by anyone to the effect that the place was inconvenient. But now, as ome jealous persons think it would be of advantage to the Wesleyans to sell their chapel they will have it that Te'rddol is anything but a convenient place for a schoolroom. The fact is, those agitators have neither the interest of the ratepayers nor the children in view, but are prompted to agitate by a mean and jealous sectarian spirit, a fact to be greatly deplored in this enlightened age of Christian charity. It matters but very little to the Wesleyans whether the Board will buy their chapel, as it is offered for much less than its value, and they can get more from it by turning it to something else. I maintain it concerns the ratepayers more than the Wesleyans, because by buying it the board evidently would save a considerable sum of the ratepayers money. The Tre'rddol people are not so anxious about selling their chapel but they are very anxious that one of the two schoolrooms should be at Tre'rddol, and they will come out, to a man, to assure that object.

I am, etc. MINIMUS

29 November 1872

COUNTY COURT Nov 22 and 23

The Taliesin Mining Company Sued - Jury Case

Messrs Jones and Griffiths, timber merchants, Ynyslas, Machynlleth and Aberdovey, brought an action against the Taliesin Mining Company, for the recovery of £32 8s. for goods sold and delivered. ... Judgement for £2 11s. delivered

6 December 1872

BORTH

Funeral of Mr John Hughes. On Tuesday Nov 26th, the remains of Mr John Hughes, late of Ty Mawr Farm, near Ynyslas, were interred at Llanfihangel Geneu'r Glyn churchyard, a large crowd of relative and friends having congregated to pay the last tribute of respect to the deceased. Mr Hughes was fifty years of age.

13 December 1872

TALIESIN. Clothing Club.

The annual distribution of clothing took place on Wednesday December 4th at the Board Schools. This club, which is supported wholely by Mrs Holford, of Bitheswell House, is in a flourishing condition, the number of members being sixty-eight. There is also a boot club which is carried on by the same lady. Mrs Holford's kindness towards the poor of this district has made here deservedly beloved, and the members of the club wish to convey their most heartfelt thanks to her for her many acts of charity and benevolence. Mrs Jones, of Erglodd, acted as secretary and treasurer, and did her part in an admirable manner. Mr L O Davies, Aberystwyth, and Mr W Jones, Taliesin, supplied the members with the various articles they required, and appeared to give general satisfaction. We heartily wish success to the club in the future.

TRE'RDDOL PETTY SESSIONS Dec 5th

Larceny George Brookes, lately a footman at Gogerddan, was charged with having stolen two shirts and two pocket handkerchiefs, of the value of 16s. the property of G Crow and J Studds, his fellow servants. There were two separate charges. Prisoner was sentenced to two calendar months imprisonment on the first charge and fourteen days imprisonment, with hard labour, on the second.

Drunk Morgan Evans, labourer, Taliesin, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in his own house on the night of Nov 27th. P.S.Morgan proved the case. Fined 10s., including costs. - Owen Morgan, Tretaliesin, was charged with having been drunk on the highway at Tre'rddol, on Nov 16th. Defendant did not appear and was fined 10s., and costs, or fourteen days imprisonment.