The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1880-01-30 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

WEEKLY GOSSIP.  A man named Haild has been apprehended at Plymouth on the charge of perjury for the purpose of getting an assisted passage to Australia. He is suspected of being implicated in the murder of the unfortunate girl Roberts at Manchester, but has not yet been formally charged with that heinous crime. If the perpetrator of that foul deed should escape it will be another notable instance of the faultiness of the Manchester police force, in tracking out great criminals.  Tondu is about to follow the example of Treherbert, Taibach, and other places in obtaining a Workman's-hall. In places where a large body of men are employed, such an institution is necessary, and the determination of the Tondu folks in this direction seems to imply that there is a desire to advance the interests of the working man. A coffee-house in connection with the hall is another feature of interest.  The zeal of the temperance party is not likely to be checked by the statement of Mr. Childers that " legislative measures to stay the excessive drinking which now took place were impossible." They are not to be retarded by the indifference with which the Legislature seems to treat the question, and if a man may not be made sober by Act of Parliament, Bands of Hope may do much to train up the rising generation in temperance lines. Adult temperance societies are useful in an exemplary way, and must obtain additional recruits to their ranks from time to time. The Society of Friends have long taken a deep interest in the temperance cause, and it is said that they are I about to co-operate with the United Kingdom Alliance in the cause of "local option." Hitherto the society have taken no corporate action in the matter, but it is asserted that they will give the question speedy and earnest attention.  It is not easy to understand the grounds of opposition offered by Alderman David to the application for an additional loan for an extension of the gas works at Aberavon. An enquiry was held before a Government official last week, when Alderman David posed as a never) economist. In taking up that position, he not only showed that he had been lax in his action in the council chamber, if he had valid grounds for opposing the application ; but also that he did not comprehend that an extension of the gasworks meant a furthering of the commercial interests of the borough. We hope that by the aid of additional illuminating power to traders, the worthy alderman will be able to perceive that he may on a future election have to seek the suffrages of an extended constituency, and that his seat may be imperilled if he refuses to listen to the claims of a district which, at no distant date, may be included within the ' borough basidaries.  It is intended to place an article of utility in a prominent position in "ye ancient boro,' —to wit: a public clock. Some years ago Alderman Daniel, during his mayoralty, foreshadowed this provision, and put it in a tangi_ ble form by apportioning his salary to a fund for the purpose during his triple mayoralty. Succeeding occupants of the civic chair have added increment in a like way, and probably before the present mayor vacates his office, he will let the Aberavonites know the time of (lay.  ''‘. While Bridgend complains of the dullness of trade, its well-wishers do not appear to be making any effort to take a share of the benefits arising from a revival of commercial activity. We hear from various portions of the district that individual capitalists are pushing forth new ventures, or reviving stagnant works ; still Bridgend makes no sign of its earnestness to obtain that which could be secured to its own benefit if only an effort were made. Who will act as pioneer?  Frequent appeals have been made to the public for books, newspapers, and literary pamphlets for the use of convalescents in hospitals. Bright picture books are of much service in these institutions, and help greatly to revive drooping spirits. It is strange that so little provision is made for the culture of the inmates of the Cottage Homes by means of literature, and: at the recent Christmas festival quite an exception was made by the placing of moral and scriptural maxims on the bare walls of the homes. The educational influence, which is to produce such a wonderful effect, is surely not supported to the extent it might be.