The North Wales Times

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL. An ordinary meeting of this council was held m Wednesday evening, under the presidency of Mr. Robert Davies, J.P. (chairman). Messrs i John Pritchard, John Jones (Sefton), Goronwy O. Jones, Thomas Williams, Dr. Griffith, and Mr. John Hughes (clerk), and R. E. Hughes (surveyor) were also present. INDISPOSED MEMBERS. Letters of apology for non-attendance on account of ill health were read from Mr. Coward (vice chairman), and Dr. Townshend. The chairman also mentioned that the vicar was still indisposed and consequently unable to attend. PASSENGER TRAINS ON THE DYSERTH RAILWAY. A letter dated January 28th, was read from the London and North Western Railway Com- pany, in reply to the suggestion of the Council that passenger trains be run on the Dyserth Branch line during the summer months. The general manager stated that this subject of running passenger trains on the branch in question had been under the consideration of the Railway Company on several occasions for years. But they were prepared to act on the suggestion of tlie Council to the extent of again considering whether circumstances had developed to a sufficient extent to warrant the running of passenger trains on the Dyserth branch. THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE. Notice was read from the London and North Western Railway Company of their intention to make an application to uhe justices at Pres- tatyn, on Febuary 16th, for a certificate to close up the present level crossing, and divert the road in accordance with the provisions of their special Act. A committee was appointed to visit the new bridge and its approaches, with the surveyor, to see that the Act of Parliament had been complied with. MODEL BYE LAWS. A set of Model Bye Laws had been received from the Local Government Board, and re- ferred to the Sanitary, and Road Committees for consideration with a view to adoption. THE FIRST IMPROVEMENT RATE. The common seal of the council was ordered by resolution to be applied to the new rate of Is. 6d. in the pound for the half year ending March 25th next.

PARISH COUNCIL. A meeting of this Parish Council was held at a quarter to eight on Monday night. The members present were Mr. Conwy Bell (chair- man), Rev. B. Evans (vice chairman), Messrs. R. C. Enyon, John Roberts, Edward Evans, S. Corey, Robert Evans, W. Roach, and William Jones (acting clerk). The agenda included an item in which more than ordinary local public interest is centred—the appointment of assis- tant overseer, inasmuch as the officer to be superseded has set up a claim for compensation. Consequent upon the interest taken in this particular matter, there was a full representa tion of the local and district press, despite the lateness of the hour of meeting, the distance from headquarters, and the inclemency of the .L weather. But the Council, in its superior wis- dom, resolved upon dealing with the subject in committee, and the reporters perforce had to be content with a very common-place pro- ceeding. THE GLANFFYDDION FOOTPATH. The Clerk read abetter from Mr. Charles Grimsley, clerk to the Rural District Council of St. Asaph, intimating that a Committee had been appointed to inspect and report on Glan- ffyddion footpath. Mr. R. C. Enyon said that he, the Vice- chairman, and the Clerk met the committee of the District Council on the locus in quo. They walked over the path, and the visiting commit- tee agreed that it was in a very disgraceful state. Full notes were taken, and a promise to report to the next District Council meeting made. TANYREGLWYS STILE.-SOMETHING BETTER THAN A 'KNIFE AND FORK GATE' WANTED. A sub-committee appointed with power to act to consider the state of the Tanyreglwys stile, at their first meeting, recommended that the present stile be taken down, and an oak gate with three oak posts in the form of kitch catch' be substituted. Tenders were invited for the erection of the gate, but none were forthcoming. Another meeting of the commit- tee was held on the 23rd of January, when it was resolved that tenders be invited for a gate on the same specification as those previously adopted, with the exception that a curved wall six inches wide should be substituted for the three oak posts. The Clerk said that he had in accordance with instructions invited Mr. William Parry to tender for the work, but up to then he had not received any reply. The Chairman said they must have the per- mission of the landlord to erect a wall. Mr. John Roberts thought that that was all settled. There was a public footway at Tanyr- eglwys. The Chairman: There is a right of way it is true. But a right of way is a very different thing to monopolising a piece of land and build- ing on it. Mr. Robert Evans suggested that permission be asked for, and if they get it, the committee should ask for power to do the work. The Clerk said that power to act had been given to the committee. What they wanted was more money, and not more power. He did not think the work could be'done for fifty shillings, the sum the Committee had been tied down to, and that he thought was the reason why no tenders were forthcoming. The Chairman thought fifty shillings a very fair sum for the work. What price did they put on the gate for a start? Mr. Edward Evans: Twelve shilling, without the irons. 11 Mr. Bell: You are considerably above the mark. Mr. Evans: We don't want I k-nif e and fork' gates like you get from Cwm. We want a gate I that people can look at as well as go through. Mr. Bell: I dont know. The knife and fork' gates as you call them last us for 30 years. But if you want a swagger' gate you must pay accordingly. Eight shillings'^ is plenty for any wicket gate. Mr. E. Evans thought the trouble of the committee had been in vain. Why were they not told at first that the permission of the landlord was necessary before they could carry out the work. Mr. Bell said there was no talk of building a wall at that time. He did not think permission would be refused. What he wanted was to proceed on legal basis to avoid any trouble in the future. Mr. Roach: If the landlord will put a gate up there we will be satisfied. The Chairman: Yon ought to be (laughter). Mr. Roach It is strange that the permission w of the landlord should be wanted to remove a style that is in such a bad state. Eventually, it was resolved to ask the land- lord for permission to build the wall, and to allow the Council to expend £ 3 on the work in the event of permission being granted. The Council then resolved itself into com- mittee to consider the appointment of assistant overseer. '?'-=:

England has one member of Parliament for every 10,200 electors, Ireland one for every 7,177, Scotland one for every 8,974, and Wales one for every 9,613. The body ol a waterman named Andrew Smith (65) was found in the river Blyth. Deceased was last seen alive on Monday when he rowed a pilot ashore. In the case of the man Hamlyn, who failed to appear at the Central Criminal Court in I connection with the missing word competitions, the Recorder has issued a warrant for his ar- I rest.

SPEECHES BY MR. T. ELLIS AND MR. LLOYD-GEORGE. A well attended meeting of the Welsh liter- ary societies of London was held at the Welsh Methodisb Chapel, Charing Cross Road, last Friday night, with the Rev. Abraham Roberts in the chair. The Rev. Machreth Rees pro- posed, Mr. Owen Philipps (the late Liberal candidate for the Montgomery Boroughs), sec- onded, and Mr. W. George, of Criccieth, sup- ported a vote of sympathy with the Bethesda quarrvmen. Mr. I). Lloyd-George, speaking in Welsh and English to the resolution, said thai; the sym- pathy and help of all classes were never more needed than now after Thursday's debate in the House of Commons. That debate bad at all events cleared the issue. It had shown that Lord Penrhyn did not care a fig for the Board of Trade (hear, hear). Lord Penrhyn had for the first time to state his case to the public, subject to the correction of men who knew the facts, and for the first time it had been made abundantly clear how weak was his defence, how little was Lord Penrhyn able to urge in his own defence, and how much the men could urge for themselves (loud cheers). What were the effects of the debate ? It had shown that Lord Penrhyn would not recognise the Con ciliation Bill which had been passed by his own Government (cheers). The Conciliation Bill had been passed by common consent. The only objection that was raised to it was by a Tory lawyer from Lancashire who complained it did not go far enough (laughter). Where was Mr. Bromley Davenport when the bill passed through the Commons? Where was Lord Penrhyn when it passed through the House of Lords (loud cheers). The truth was that the Tories wanted to get the credit of passing social legislation, but they were the first to resist its practical application (cheers). MivT. E. Ellis, who was enthusiastically re- ceived, said one lesson which the House of Com- mons debate brought to the mind of English- men was the value and the depth of the popular culture which was the proud inheritance of the common people of Wales (hear, hear). Half the strength of the case which was so well pre- sented by Mr. William Jones lay in the fact that he brought before the house the case of a splendid body of citizens, as intelligent, as humane, as cultured as any class of people in the land (hear, hear). No case was ever more fairly, more soberly, more convincingly stated in the House (hear, hear). Many statements and arguments and appeals had been made, but no fair-minded man who had either heard the debate or perused the report in the papers would say that the Welsh members had not, if anything, understated their case (applause). The debate formed, if not a turning point, at all events a landmark in the history of one of the greatest industrial controversies that had ever taken place in Wales. He felt a deep con- cern for the future of the controversy, and for the fortunes of the men who had made Lord Penrhyn a peer (loud cheers). For his lord- ship was not a peer by intellectual right, but by right of the position to which his men's labour had raised him. The Board of Trade had done their best to bring about a settlement but so strongly was Lord Penrhyn entrenched in his position by industrial and agrarian laws that he had not been shaken. In the speeches of Mr. Bromley-Davenport and Mr. Lowther, and even in that of the leader of the House, there was too evident a desire, while paying lip service to combination, to starve the men into submission (loud cheers). The effect of the debate would be to strengthen the men in their determination to cling together and to arouse the interest and to intensify the sym- pathy and support of the English people (cheers). Mr. Ellis concluded by a stirring appeal in Welsh for immediate and generous support.

SIR COURTENAY BOYLE AND LORD PENRHYN. THINKING that Sir Courteney Boyle might perhaps give a mors deta-ilad. answer to the charges broagh against him in the House 0f Commons on Thursday night for his official part as Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade in the Penrhyn quarry dispute, a repre- sentative of the 'Westminster Gazette' called at the Board of Trade on Friday morning :— 'On the personal aspect of the question,' said Sir Courtenay, I have nothing to say. Mr. Bromley Davenport had a perfect right to make what statements he thought fit As to the specfic charge on my official character in withholding part of the correspondence between the man and the Board of Trade from Lord Penrhyn, I am quite willing to add a few words, in defence of my official character, to what Mr. Ritchie said last night in the House. I may state, in the first place, that the full text of all the important letters touching the dispute in question which passed between the Board of Trade and the men were sent to Lord Penrhyn, and in every case the substance of the letter, when it was not of sufficient importance to be sent in full, was communicated to Lord Pen- rhyn. 4 But did not Lord Penrhyn ask to see the entire correspondence ?' 'Not until very late in the day. We re- ceived no request from Lord Penrhyn that the correspondence betveen the Board and the men should be forwarded to him until we had his letter of December 28th, in which he attached importance to the fact that lu had not been furnished with a copy of the correspon- dence between the Board and the men. I then wrote to Lord Penrhyn, and told him that as far as I knew no communication had passed between the Board and the men the substance of which had not been communicated to him. And I asked him to specify which letter he had in his mind.' 'But, Sir Courtenay, I do not see how Lord Penrhyn could do that.' W hy not!' answered Sir Courtenay. I His Lordship had the substance of every letter which I had received from the men in his pos- session, and he could also refer to the press, local and otherwise, where the correspondence was for the most part published. So that ib was not impossible for him to specify which letter he desired to see its full text. But when he objected to my suggestion, and expressed a desire to see the entire correspondence, I com- plied with his request as soon as possible, and a few days later Lord Penrhyn received the correspondence in full.' One more point, Sir Courten-,ty-vili.at about that Labour correspondent.' For myself, I received one letter from him, which was of no value. The existence of these secretaries, as Mr. Ritchie pointed out, is nec- essary, but not in the least relevant to the present question. Finally, I may add that he Board of Trade does not wish to form or express any opinion as to the merits of the case, but their only object is to bring the unhappy dispute to an amicable settlement.'

PROPOSED NEW CHURCH AT COLWYN. On Saturday a public meeting was held at the Assembly Rooms, Colwyn, the Rev. J. Griffiths (vicar) in the chair, to decide what shall be done to provide further church ac- commodation for the parish. The Bishop of St. Asaph was expected, but telegraphed from London regretting he could not attend. The Rural Dean, the Rev. Canon Walton- Evans, and several others addressed the meeting. It was acknowledged on all hands that, owing to the bilingual difficulty, another church must be provided. It was mentioned, amidst applause, that Mrs. Charles Frost, Minydon,had generously offered a site for a new church near the vicarage, and also to subscribe to the build- ing fund the handsome some of £200. The Chairman also stated that Mr. C. F. Woodall bad generously offered to give C500 when the foundation stone was laid, and Mr. Wm. Jones, the senior churchwarden, £200. The following were chosen as a Building Committee, with power to add to their number:-The Revs. J. Griffith and Mere- dith Hughes, Messrs. William Jones, J. Eden, C. F. Woodall, George Sanderson, and Dr. Price Morris. Votes of thanks were passed to Mrs. Frost and the other subscribers. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and it was resolved to make a special effort to erect the church in commemoration of the Queen's diamond jubilee.

A COLWYN BAY SLANDER CASE. JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT WITH COSTS. AT the Chester Assizes, on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice Lawrence, and a Jury, Mr. John Porter, chairman of the Directors of the Colwyn Bay Gas Company, the Rev. W. Venables Williams, an- other director, and vicar of Llandrillo yn Khos, and others, sued Mr. William Davies, builder, a member of the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn Urban District Council, for damages for slander. Mr. E. H. Lloyd (instructed by Messrs Cun- liffe and Davenport, Conway), appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr, Samuel Moss and Mr. Trevor Lloyd (instructed by Messrs. D. Jones & Roberts, Llarirwst), defended. The defendant denied uttering .the words com- plained of, or, if he did, pleaded it was a privi leged occasion, and he uttered them without malice, and in the honest belief that th?v were true. Mr. E. H. Lloyd, in his opening, said the case arose out of some breezy scenes at the meetings of the Colwyn Bay District Council, of which both the plaintiffs and fche defendant were members. The defendant hacf, taken, apparently, a violent dislike to the Gits Company and its directors, which had been of some years' standing. As long ago as 1890, when he had some property connected with the gas mains, he was dissatisfied with the way in which' the work was carried out by the company's plumber, complained bitterly about what he called the outrageous charges, and even- tually rushed into a newspaper correspondence. From that time he seemed to have entertained a feeling antagouistic to the Ga.s Company, and showed it by having, on every possible oceanic; a shot at the directors who happened to be members of the District Council. On the 10th Deofcinbc-r, 1895, he made a great scene at a Council meeting, speaking of the directors who were present as gae- mongers and blood suckers. He further declared that the directors attended the meeting as spies, and that they had tasted the bread and butter of many a widow of Colwyn Bay in their dividend. Upon that occasion his language was such that the chairman asked him to refrain from making objectionable personal remarks, but he repeated that the directors were bloodsuckers and turning round to the gentlemen of the press raid:- I Now put that down.' At another meeting of ,-the Council, on January 14th, 1896, the defendant again attacked the directors right and left, finish- ing up by saying You can ,ee the directors- how they are diluting the meeting.' The defen- dant was not very familiar with the English lan- guage; and what he meant was evidently 'delud- ing the rneetitig. At a special meeting, on the 21st oi January, the Council discussed the advisa- bility of purchasing the Gasworks, the Gas Company being willing to refer the matter to arbitration. The defendant strongly opposed the proposal; and said in the presence of the reporters that the Directors of the Gas Company had issued 'fallecious' (meaning fallacious) reports. This statement created a sensation, and the business of the meeting was for a time suspend ad. Subse- quently, on receiving a letter from Messrs. Cun- liffe and Davenport, asking for a withdrawal and apology, the defendant' denied using the words complained of; but declared that n thyeat of the Gas Company would prevent him from doing his duty to the ratepayers so long as he had their confidence. It was a 'vile lie and only malice and spite.' Mr. John Porter, in his evidence, said the public attended the District Council meetings in good numbers when a breese was expected (loud laughter). In cross-examination, he admitted that they had breezes perhaps too often. When Mr. Davies' proposal as to gas testers was intro- duced, some amount of chaff was indulged in. The Rev. W. Venables Williams moved that Mr. Davies should be appointed gas tester till the 1st of April; and the defendant fin reply, said he would hold it till the 1st of April, and then give it up to Mr. Venables Williams (laughter). Re thought the price of gas had been reduced since the defendant became a member of the Council. The present price was 4s. 2d. for illaminatin-^ purposes, and 8s. 41. for heating. Immediately after the discussion as to the purchase of the gas- works Mr. Blood, who opposed the proposal, was returned by the ratepayers at the head of the poll, with Mr. Daviea next. John Humphreys and Ernest Winter, two re- porters, gave evidence as to the defendant's utte- rance of the alleged libellous statements. On one occasion the defendant remarked, 'You have tout ing reporters on vour aide.' Evidence having also been given by George Bevan,fa member of the District Council, and H. J. Linekar, secretary to the Gas Company. Mr. Samuel Moss, for the defence, submitted 0" that the occasion was privileged, and that there was no evidence as to malice. The fact that in 1891, the defendant was angry with company's plumber, and complained that he was being over- charged—with the result that the charge was re- duced could not be construed into proof of malice. Tiie -defendant was than called, and stated that he had been a member of the Council since 1S94. When he brought forward the question of gas testers, Mr. Porter called him across the table a scamp; arid he was so interrupted that he became annoyed"and used rather strong language. The witness had. also had occasion to complain of the Gas Company cutting up the roads to lay their pipes and leaving them to be repaired at the ratp. payers' expense. He denied using the words • fallacious reports,' and said he had no malice against the directors of the Gas Company; in fact, the late chairman, Mr. Frost, had thanked him several times for the way in which he bad opened their eyes. In cross-examination, the witness said be got annoyed because the reporters were making a laughing-stock of him all 'over the country. By bloodsuckers he meant that the directors were bleeding the place—over-charging the people. Did you say there were 'touting reporters' there? I did one time. Hrid vou lost your temper then ? No; I knew them pretty well by then. Do you mean they do not report fairly what you say ? Not they. Everybody in Colwyn Bay knows that (laughter). Thomas Parry, chairman of the District Coun. cil, and an alderman of the Denbighshire County Council, said he did not hear the defendant use the words fallacious reports' and they had occa- sionally to complain of the inaccuracy of the re- porters. Cross-examined The witness had many times had to call the defendant to order for using lan- guage he did not approve of. On one occasion he turned round to the Rev. W. Venables Williams, snapped his fingers, and said, Is that your Oh ristianhy 7) (laughter). The Judge; He is excitable, like a good many Weighmen 7 The Witness Yes, la re examination the witness said he had also had to call the Be v. W. Venables Williams to order when be was joking about April Fool's Day (laughter). Before the close of the defendant's case the jury intimated that they had heard enough. They found that there was some doubt whether the de- fondant used the word ^fallacious,' and that he was not actuated by malice. The Judgre I dare say you agree with me that if-the case is to be tried at all it should be tried in the country where it arose. Why you Cheshire gentlemen should be troubled with a case that comes from Colwyn Bay I don't know. Mr. Samuel MOBS: That is what we wanted, my Lord, but we were not allowed- Judgment was then given for the defendant, with costs.

CARNARVONSHIRE POLICE COMMITTEE. THE ESCAPE OF A DEFAULTING COLLECTOR. A quarterly meeting was held on Thursday at Carnarvon, Mr. Jones-Morris (chairman) presiding. The Mayor of Carnarvon (Mr. E. Hughes) and Dr. Parry attended as a deputa- tion from the town council of the borough to ask that the grand jury room might be used as a court for judicial business, Mr. J. R. Prit- chard, as a borough justice, remarking that the Guildhall Court was most unsuitable for sittings. It was agreed that the application should be considered at the next meeting. The chief constable (Colonel Ruck), in his quarterly report, stated that 56 crimes had been committed, being a decrease of seven upon the previous three months for the whole year the crimes reported were 220, against 223 for the previous year. For non-indictable offences there were 316 convictions. The number of tramps relieved was 623, against 781 for the corresponding quarter last year, and seven were convicted. The value of property stolen was E675 12s 3d., including £ 594 embezzled. Seven publicans were proceeded against for breaches of the Licensing Act", four being con- victed. He advised that owing to the change in the upper ranks through the retirement of Deputy Chief Constable Davies, the superin- tendent of the Conway Division should be re- moved to Llandudno. This recommendation was deferred. The appointment of Superintendent Harris as deputy chief constable was approved and, on the motion of Mr- G. Brymer, a resolution was moved expressing the opinion that as Bangor was now the most important division of the county it was highly desirable that such an officer should be place in charge of such division. A resolution to the same effect was received from the Bangor Town Council. The Chief Constable differed from the view The Chief Constable differed from the view that the deputy chief constable should be resi- dent in Bangor, as Carnarvon was the head- quarters of the police force. He was sending an efficient officer to Baagor in the person of Inspector Rees, lately stationed at Llan- dudno. Mr. T. C. Lewis and Mr. Robert Hughes (Llanfairfechan) supported the motion, which was onposed by Mr. Kneeshaw, Mr. Menzies, Mr. W. A. Darbishire, and the Hon. T. J. Wynn, and lost, only five voting for it. Mr. C. H. Darbishire called attention to the escape of J. D. Davies, the Penmaenmawr defaulting rate collector, and moved the fol- lowing resolution:— That the chief constable be requested in the That the chief constable be requested in the interest of the efficiency and prestige of the force, to make a thorough investigation of the case, and report fully to this committee. This was agreed to, and a sub-committee ap- pointed.

Mr. Ben Tillett's claim against the Belgian Government for compensation for arrest and imprisonment is said to have been with- drawn. Lord and Lady Dudley have gone to the Riviera until the meeting oi Parliament, and they are staying at Cannes with Lord Rendel at the Chateau de Thorenc. On Monday night Wm. Lindsay, trainer of Millwall Football Club, died suddenly at the Purileet Hotel, where the teaiii, I is training for the match with Woolwich Arsenal. Mr. Green, bandmaster of the Duke of York's 7 School, has been appointed bandmaster to the Royal Marine Artillery, in succession to Mr. A. Williams, appointed to the Grenadier Guards.

ârÙ£nirtg. [If any reader who isin a difficulty with reference to his garden, will write directly to the ad- dress given beneath, his queries will be an- swered, free of charge, and by return of post. —EDITOR] THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. THE work of February will depend to some great extent on the weather, but we will hope that the winter is almost past. No weeds must be allowed to seed under any circumstances, though many will corns into flower during the month. Dig them in, and they will then form a useful food for succeeding crops. Sow broad beans for the main crop in well cultivated heavy soii, the longpod section being the more productive and early, while the Windsors are better for flavour and general quality. Make the rows quite three feet apart, the plants being fully six inches asunder in the rows. Beyond pinching out the tops when the beans are show- ing pienty of fioweis, practically no cultural operations are necessary. If black fly appear, pinch off and burn all affected tops. The first symptom of the infestation will be seen in the sooty appearance of the tips of the plants. As in the case of all the beans, the supply is often checked by failing to gather the pro- duce directly it is fit for use. No pods should be permitted to perfectly mature. Early sew- ings of cabbages can be made in pans or boxes in a warm frame. As soon as the seedlings are large enough, prick them out into another frame in light, good soil, and admit plenty of sir. When they begin to touch one another, plant them out, each with as large a ball of earth as possible attached to the roots, into rich ground. Such kinds as Express, Early Etampes, &c., are much to be desired for this sowing. Ff, den off frame lettuces, and plant them out wards the end of the month. Start a few se s in gentle heat, grow large enough to hant prick them out into frames of rich soil, t d finally plant them some six inches apart in the open. Every alternate plant can then be drawn for use, the remainder being left to mature at 12 inches distance apart. Perhaps the most im- portant sowing of the month is that of parsnip. Deep trenching or digging is the necessity for producing a good and profitable crop. Sow the seeds in shallow drills 15 or IS asunder, placing about three or four seeds every six inches along the rows. Hoe out weeds unremittingly from the time the young plants are visible, and thin out until the plants stand from 10 to 12 inches apart. Early peas should be sown freely now, provided that the soil be fairly dry. Personally, we prefer to grow them in rows sufficiently far apart to admit of early potatoes being raised between them. Two rows of potatoes to every one of peas is a good plan, as the latter serve to protect the young shaws when they appear above ground. Directly the young peas appear, dust them over lightly with soot, as a protec- tion from slugs; and when they are three inches high, support them with brushwood, which will serve as a protection both from wind and ex- cessive cold. Make extensive sowings of spi- nach, the round-seeded kind being preferable, in drills a foot apart, covering the seed one inch deep. February sowings should be in fairly dry ground. The only point ef great im- portance in the after-culture is early thinning out of the plants to avoid overcrowding. The first thinning should leave them six inches apart, and later on every other plant may be drawn for use. If too much be grown, it is a very simple matter to dig the surplus in as manure; and it will prove a profitable invest- ment even if this has to be done. Choose a sheltered border, well exposed to the sun, and make a sowing of some quick-growing white turnip at once. If very severe weather follow, the seedlings must be carefully protected. It is quite time that shallots were planted in fairly good ground. The old method was to plant them on the shortest, and raise them on the longest day. Place them in the ground just deeply enough to keep them firmly in place. Rhubarb can be raised and divided now, but each planting root must have at least one good eye or crown. Deep and rich soils, well dressed with decay ed manure, are best for the crop; and the roots should be planted quite three feet apart, the eye or crown being covered two inches deep only. Do not pull from the planta- tion until the second season. Early radishes are generally more prized than those which are fit for use when many vegetables are procur- able Sewings may be made on spent hot-beds, in old frames or even in the open ground, pro- vided some protecting litter be prepared. A single check spoils the flavour of the crop, and renders the fiesh hot and rough. Just a very small quantity of potatoes may be planted un- der a warm wall, to supply the earliest dishes. Mix as much wood ashes as possible with the soil, or lay them under the sets in the drills. irlenty of mustard and cress may be obtained with the aid of a frame, and just at this time of year such salading materials are peculiarly valuable, owing to the fact that we generally eat more meat in cold than in warm weather. Sow cauliflower seeds in pans or boxes in frame on a gentle hot-bed, and prick out the seedlings very early into a rich light bed, sheltered with a frame. When large and strong enough, the plants can be put out into rich land, it being practically impossible to over-feed the crop. Broccoli seeds can also be sown now both in frames and on a warm, sheltered, south border. Towards the end of the month sow a little parsley in rich, well tilled land, in lines of a foot apart. Thin out the young plants to three, and eventually to six inches apart, a few of the strongest of the thinnings being planted nine inches asunder in kindly loam. Like shallots, garlic ought to be planted with as httle delay as possible. Place the cloves or divisions two inches deep and nine inches apart. The first sowing of tomato seed must be made in sandy loam in pots or pans in a temperature of from 60 to 65 degress. Some good fibrous loam should be prepared for the plants, which must be potted directly they are large enough to handle. E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.R.H.S., Pro TOOGOOD & SONS, The Royal Seed Establishment, Southampton.

A WELSH SCHOOL BOARD AND THE CHIEF INSPECTORSHIP. At Friday's meeting of the Northop Schoo Board, the vice chairman (Mr. J. T. Humphreys) presiding, a copy of a resolution protesting against the appointment of Mr. Legard to the Chief Inspectorship of Schools for Wales was received from the Ynyscynhaiarn School Bo^rd (Portmadoc), with a request that the Board would join in sending a similar resolu- t tion to the Minister for Education. The Chairman said this was a question that was causing a great agitation in Wales, and it was because Mr. Legard could not speak the Welsh lauguage. Mr. J. Watkinson I do not know if we want to form ourselves into a political club. Why should we go into politics ? We have nothing to do with the Welsh language. It does not affect us in any shape or form. The Clerk (Mr. Astbury) said in their schools they had nothing to do with the Welsh langu- age. Mr. D. Hughes thought they should support the protest. Inspectors often went to Welsh- speaking schools and questioned the children in English, and as they thought in Welsh in many country places they were thus placed at a disadvantage. He proposed that they protest against the appointment of Mr. Legard to the Chief Inspectorship of schools for Wales because of his inability to speak Welsh, and send a copy of the resolution to Sir. John Gorst. The Chairman seconded, adding that there were strong grounds for the protest in Wei be- speaking district. Mr. W. H. Lloyd supported it from a non- political point of view. A Welsh inspector should be Welsh-speaking. He was an English- man himself, and could speak a little Welsh, but he was con vinced that to do his duties thorough- ly an inspector should be acquainted with the Welsh tongue. The resolution was then put and carried, tha members all voting for it but one.

AMATEUR CONCERT. A successful amateur concert waf; held at the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening, which had been arranged as a benefit to Miss M. S. Jones, High St. who has suffered a long illness. Mr. W. T. Mason, Brooklands, occupied the chair, and the arrangements for the concert were car- ried out by Mr. Edwards, Steam Mills, who acted as secretary. The programme which was of a varied character was well rendered throughout by Mrs. Roberts, Miss Marie Evans, Messrs H. Bedford, H. Thomas, B. Cybi Wil- liams, W. Vaughan, and R. Roberts, assisted by a Glee Party, and Male Voice Choir con- ducted by Mr. William Jones. The accompan- ists were Mrs. Thomas, Miss Littler, and Miss A. Carty Hughes. The Rev. R. Rowlands proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman for his services, which was seconded by Mr. H. Thomas and carried. A very enjoyable evening terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

COWLYD WATER BOARD. At a meeting of Board on Friday, at Conway the Rev. W. Venable, c Williams (chairman) presiding, the engineer (Mr. T. B. Farrington) reported that he had personally measured up a considerable amount of the work, as well as he could in the absence of Mr. Moses Williams (clerk of works), whose measurements materi- ally differed from those of the contractor (Mr. T. Bugbird). Instead of the coping in connec- tion with the embankment at the lake, a dwarf wall answering better and costing less, had been substituted. The Board decided to fully consider in committee on a future day what deduction should be made from the contract, because of the substitution, and also the disputed meas- uren.ent. The chairman reported that the Local Gov- ernment Board had declined to act as arbitra- tors between the Board's three constituent authorities in the dispute as to whether the joint district or the districts beneficially inter- ested should defray the expense of the exten- sion of mains beyond Sarn Mynach, the term- inus of the Board's pipe-line as originally con- templated. Mr. John Roberts (Colwyn Bay) moved, and Councillor H. Lewis (Conway) seconded, that the Clerk (Mr. T. E. Parry) should write to the Board, asking them to grant an interview on the matter to a deputation, consisting of the four chairmen, namely, those of the Board and of the three Councils represented (Conway Town, Colwyn Bay Urban, and Conway Rural). The resolution was passed. With reference to the opening of tenders for the extension of a pipe-line beyond Sarn Mynach to Colwyn Bay and Llysfaen, the Mayor of Conway (Dr. R. Arthur Pritchard) protested that, inasmuch as the Government inquiry had not been held, nor the joint Board's responsibility determined in respect of the proposed extension, it would not be fair to open the tenders, which he therefore moved should lie on the table. Alderman Hugh Hughes (Conway) seconded. As an amendment, it was proposed that the tenders be opened, and that the cost of the extension be subject to the results of arbitra- tion. After discussion, the amendment was car- ried by six votes to five. The following tenders ried by six votes to five. The following tenders were opened:—G. Bevan, 98,940 Henry Ro- berts, Hayes, £ 9,132 15s.; Thomas Parry and Co., 911,750; Bugbird, Trefriw, £ 8,910; John Berth Jones, Colwyn Bay, £ 8,376; Jones and Son, Conway, 98,o67 17s. 6d.; Jones and Son, Colwyn Bay, £ 8,479 10s.; Ferguson, £8948; Ewart, Warrington, 99,337 10s., Jacob Biggs, £ 8,875 A. Sheffield and Evans, Rhyl, £ 8,995; Winnard and Weston, Wigan, £ 9,074; John Jowett. Southport, zES 807 15s. 3d.; John Ro- berts, Llandudno, £ 8,591 14s. 10d.; Owen Mor- ris and Co., Carnarvon, £ 9,667 George Law, Kidderminster, £ 8,179. Mr. R. Evans (Llys- faen) moved, and Mr. S. Roberts seconded, that Mr. Sheffield's tender be accepted. The motion was carried. It was decided to issue a cheque for 91,000 to Mr. Bugbird (contractor).