Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

SMILERS. I Never interfere with a man who is sneezing. When so engaged he requires to devote his whole attention to the business. A young man who was admitted to the bar three years ago has just secured his first case. He has sued his washer-woman. who won't return his linen because lie owes an old bill. No matter how interested a man may be in a news- paper. he will throw it down with a spiteful gesture the moment he discovers it is yesterday's issue. Man is a curious critter. A clergyman who preached in a prison a Sunday or two since, began his discourse in the traditional way, thus "I am glad, my friends, to see so many of you here this morning." These are hard times." said the young debt collector. Everyplace I went to to-day I was re- quested to call again, hut one, and that was when I dropped in to see my girl." '■ My dear," said a sentimental wife, home, you know, is the dearest spot on earth." Well, yes," said the practical husband, it does cost about twice as much any other spot." In the current issue of a newspaper is an article entitled How to Pack a Trunk." The proper way to pack a trunk is to sit down in an easy chair and watch your wife do it. A short time since a Mr Knott was tried for a violation of law. The verdict of the jury was: 41 We find the defendant Knott guilty." The judge was at a loss whether to sentence or not. When sitting by two fascinating young ladies, your hat between your knees, holding your coffee-cup in your left hand and in your right the toast, you all at once, 011, horror! feci that you must sneeze". My Lord, I desire to be excused from jury service." N%'Iiv ? asked the court. Because I can only hear with one ear." '■ Oh you'll do," said the judge. We only hear one side of the case at a time. The proprietor of a forge, not remarkable for cor- rectness of language, but who by honest industry bad realised a comfortable independence, being called on at a social meeting for a toast, gave, Success to forgery." Rev. Mr Timmid (who has accepted an invitation to take a lift on the road) Hy the way, my friend, this road is very rough. Is your load heavy ? Accommodating driver Not so very. I'm carting dynamite for granite blasting. Did you hear about the catastrophe down at the Smiths' last night :J" '• No what happened" Why, Mrs Smith gave the baby a bottle to play with, and while she was in the kitchen it fell out of the cradle and broke its neck." '• What, the babv?" "No, the bottle." Stranger (to country shopkeeper) Can you tell me where I can find James Iiolt, who wrote this re- commendation for Coffin's consumption cure ? He lives here, I believe." Merchant: He did before-" Stranger: Before what Merchant: "Before he died of consumption." The noble red men who have already gathered at Niagara Falls this season, to engage in the sale of Indian relics, are said to take a great interest in the Irish Home Rule movement. One of them was recently heard to remark, Begorra, Misther Glad- stone's a moighty foine mon." First Editor What are you writing on, George ? Second Editor Mistakes of Financiers;" and I wish I was through with it. You've finished your article. I see. Yes, mine was on a simple subject, The Way to Wealth.' By the WC' Coorgt, lonvl me a slwpreign?" Haven't a penny to bless myself with." Ethelberta: I want a pair of slippers for pa. Num- ber ten, please—and squeaky. Genial Shoemaker Squeaky, Miss ? I'm afraid we haven't any of that kind. Ethelberta I am so sorry. Couldn't you make him a squeaky pair V There is a certain young gentleman who visits me frequently, and—and it would be very convenient for him to know just when pa is coming. A fashionable lady and her daughter have returned from a foreign tour. A friend of the family called, and the following conversation took place Were you in Italy ? Oil. yes, we spent some time in Italv." And how did you like Rome ? Rome? Let me see" (turning to her daughter): "I say, Emily, wasn't Rome the town where we had to pay so much for them gloves that didn't last no time ? A class in mental arithmetic was questioned con- cerning the number of men required to perform a certain piece of work in a specified time. The answer given was Twelve men and two-thirds." A bright lad, perceiving the oddity of two-thirds of a man, amended instantly. Twelve men and a boy fourteen years old "—fourteen, he explained, being two-thirds of twenty-one. the legal age of manhood. We know of nothing that will kick up an excitement with more promptness than ó, a mad bull. We saw- one the other dav rush up the street, followed by all the dirty boys within a circuit of two miles, the whole led oil by a brindle bull-dog, two Methodist ministers, eighteen butchers, and a live alderman. Whenhrst seen, these were chasing the quadruped when last seen, the quadruped was chasing them. How it ter- minated we have not learned. A clergyman, having mentioned the word liyperbole in the course of his sermon, and fearing lest the term might not be generally understood, stopped short to give the needful explanation. The hyperbole, quoth he, is a figure of speech which either magnifies or diminishes things beyond their true proportions. For instance, were I to say the whole of this congregation is soundly asleep, that would be an hyperbole, for I do not think more than haif of those present are asleep." And he resumed the thread of his discourse. Your estate," the trustee of a bankrupt observed to the person who was being wound up," cannot posssibly pay more than 5s 6d in the £ to your creditors." It must be made to pay 5s. replied the gentleman in difficulties, doggedly. "I never pay less than 5s." I tell you," insisted the trustee, 11 that when every available asset has been realised it will be utterly impossible for us to declare a largcr dividend than 35 6d in the S." Now, I'll just tell you what it is," exclaimed, nothing daunted, the just and upright I)nlll, -tipt this estate's got to pav 5s, and not a penny h-s. Yes. sir. Sooner than offer such a mean dividend I'd pay the balance out of my own pocket." The horned rattlesnake is endowed with the power of moving forward, backward, or sideways with equal facility. It is related that a German naturalist went to Arizona, and one day came across a horned rattle- snake sunning himself on the top of a prairie dog s burrow. The natuiali-'t had no slick, but was frantically eager to secure the snake, which was rc- treating down the hole, so lie pulled luni out bv the tail, and then sprang back to avoid unpleasant con- sequences. The snake star ted down, and again was dragged out by the tail. This time the snake cocked one eye at tIle naturalist, worked Ins under law in a significant manner, ana went down tail first. The naturalist went home. Engel, the manage r of Kroll's Summer Theatre (a favorite resort of the Berlincrs, where refreshments were provided during the intervals), once announced the ilroplict for the following evening, and one of the critics present asked him how he would manage the coronation profession on so small a stage and with his limited staff of pc. formers. Leave that to me," was the reply I have P. little id, a of my own. When the procession was about to start. the curtain dropped, the orchestra began playing the coronation march, and during the last heats the curtain rose ag;iin, revealing to the audience a couple of white- robed choristers bearing censers and purporting to brill"- up the iear of the procession. The delight of the spectators at this cunning device can be imagined. The Board School liar is rapidly taking ran1-; with the purveyor of fish stories, and the retailer of dog yarns. A Cardiff artist is responsible for the follow- int" which is said to he the genuine essay of a boy in one of the schools of that t-wn King Henry VIII. was the greatest widower that ever lived. He was born at Anne Do nino in the year 1066. He had 510 wives, besides children. The first was beheaded and afterwards executed. The second was revoked. She never smiled again. But she said the word C-ilais would be found on her heart after her death. The greatest man in ibis reign was Lord Sir Garret Wolsey. He was sir named the Boy Bachelor. He was born at the age of fifteen unmarried Henry VIII. was succeeded on the throne by his m-eat grandmother, the beautiful and accomplished Mary Queen of Scots, sometimes known as the Lady of the Lake, or the Lady of the Last Minstrel. She never smiled It has Jon? .been f-onsidercd that a person c?n .be .noePoht?? insulted in Paris ?-" in -?   the world. A gent!c?nwho ???.?/??h in public there rccntly ('xpressd ¡muself in such STSSSJ^ 'unable to him. He ,tS lcdul'inf! UP'111 1 geographical subject, and of a map about three feet square had been generally Presently. one of the audience rolJcd up his 111ap in the form of a yery toli- illsertcd thc small end in I'ii-i  and tlU'1!Ct1 the otLer end to the speaker. It was rather a ludicrous parform:mce, but not a htngh was heard among the polite assemblage. In two minutes, however every map in the house was turned into an ear trumpet, and the speaker saw 11lmc1f confronted with a Bort of mamJlloth porcnpme, SsMSis almost touched his lectern. He at once spoke louder.

GENERAL AND DISTRICT NEWS. da^ Gladstone left London for Biarritz, on Tues- day. Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones had an enthusiastic torch- light reception at Welshpool, on Monday night. Joseph Mellor was executed at Strangewavs Pris°o!n  oTdSr on Tuesday, for the —At <* M. wife At Milon Lead Mine, Holywell, on Saturday the T" chain broke and fell on two men, killing them on the spot. fo?n??? ?'loi?y opened a bazaar in Sea- forth in aid of the chancel fund of the Parish Church of St. Thomas. tJhc ^onie Secretary has refued to interfere with the de^h p?sed upon Thomas Edwards for the murder of Mary Connolly at Abcrg?-enny. lin lL X-lC'Ur '1'darer has been executed by electricity in LNew v The execution is said to h?-e been the mosV t successful of the kind that has hitherto taken place. Joseph Wiiliam Bates, a bricklayer, at Walsall, cut his wife s throat with a razor on Sunday night, and then cut his own. Both died a few minutes after the infliction of the wounds. illr J.Liiies Pilliiig, a well-known Bolton tra-desman and a Sunday school teacher in connection with the narish church, has committed suicide. Ho had of late suffered from depression of spirits. Lady Egerton, of Tatton, who had resided for some time past at Eastbourne, owing to ill-health, died there on Saturday. Her ladyship leaves one daughter, head is marned to Viscount Bury, M.P., for Birken- head. At the Old Bailey, Francis Charles Scott-Sanders, thirty-two, a surgeon, who last sessions pleaded Kunty to forging bills of exchange in connection with the Lyric was sentenced to six years' penal servitude. ^h Vice-President of the Council (Mr Acland, ?MT.i .), owing to his departmental duties, has resigned the chairmanship of the Joint Education Committee of the Carnarvon County Council. He is still an alderman of that. body. At the Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham, in an action for breach of promise of marriage against Charles H. Savage, Ellen Pullen v. as awarded £ 100 damages. In a second case damages to the amount of zEl25 were given to Amy Maria Davies against John Alfred Harrop. At Swindon, on Saturday morning, Frank Franklin, aged eighteen, committed suicide by placing himself in front of a goods train on the Great Western Rail- way. In his pocket was found a written confession that he murdered a child, named Katie Reeves, at Kingstown, eighteen months ago. He gave evidence at the inquest on the child. On Monday morning Mr Robert Chesters, a clerk committed suicide at Nantwich by strangling himself with a cord. Chesters was recently discharged from his employment, and this and other matters made him depressed. He was treasurer to a local lodge of Odd- fellows. and was summoned to appear before the lodge on Saturday, but failed to do so. At Llandudno on Monday, J. H. Mulholland was charged with being in Captain Langshaw's house at Deganway for an unlawful purpose. The defendant was found at two o'clock on Sunday morning walking out of the prosecutor s house and carrying a lamp. The defendant, who said he was muddled with drink and knew nothing of the occurence, was fined 5s and costs. The miners on strike in Lincolnshire on Monday presented themselves at the various pits and applied for work, but were informed that they could only be taken on as non-unionists. The men subsequently held a meeting, and resolved to resist to the utmost what they considered an attempt on the Eart of the employers to destroy the right of com- ination. The Rev. R. Temple, of Llwynygroes, Llany. iiiyiiecli, one of her Majesty's inspectors of schools for a district in North Wales and Shropshire, is about to retire from that post, which he has held for many years, and has, it is understood, be n appointed to a living in Kent, the gift of the Lord Chancellor. Mi- Temple is a Liberal in politics, and assisted in the return of Mr Stuart Rendel for Montgomeryshire at the last general election. 0 At Glamorganshire Assizes on Monday, before Mr Justice Lawrance. Evan Lewis, thirty-five, laborer, was indicted for a criminal assault oil Sarah Hev- ward, aged six years and three months, at Llanwit Yardre. The prisoner was found guilty, and sen- tenced to two years' hard labor.—William Jones was found guilty of a criminal offence against his daughter, aged sixteen, at Llanharran, and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude. jigUpon the case against the publisher of Pick-Me- Up," for having carried on a missing word competi- tion, being again brought up at Bow-street Police Court, London, on Tuesday, the defendant intimated acquiescence in the judgment previously pronounced against him. In the Chancery Court. Mr Justice Stirling directed that the £ 24,000 contributed by com- petitors in the missing word competition in Pear- son's Weekly" be paid into Court. The Duke and Duchess of Teck, the Princess May, and Prince Adolplius, concluded their visit to the Duke and Duchess of Westminster on Saturday. They drove to the Chester General Railway Station in order to catch the Irish mail for town. There was a COllsidpTO hi# on ui. Ulti distinguished party was accompanied from Eaton Hall ov Lord Arthur Grosvenor. A special saloon was attached to the mail train for their convenience. At a special meeting of the Swansea. Harbour Trust, Sir H. Hussey Vivian, M.P., presiding, the question of landing the Canadian mails at Swansea was con- sidered, and after protracted deliberation, an influen- tial deputation was appointed to wait upon the representatives of the Canadian Government with a view to the scheme being carried out. It is contended that by landing the mails at Swansea, at least twenty- four hours will be saved in reaching London and other parts of England. At Chester, on Monday, Morris Collins, who sur- rendered to the police on the previous evening, stating that he threw his wife down a chalk-pit, near Bradford, in 1878, appeared before the bench. In a written statement the prisoner said his wife threatened to commit suicide when he enlisted in the army, and had not been seen since. In answer to the bench, the prisoner said he was drunk when he made the first statement. He had not injured his wife at all, but he gave himself into custody for the purpose of finding her. He was remanded. At Nantwicli on Monday, William Vickers, carter, was charged with endangering the health of five children by neglecting them. An inspector of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, found the youngest child swarming with vermin and lying upon a bed of fifth. The milk bottle from which it was suckled was corroded with dirt, and the milk itself was sour, and unfit for consumption. The other children were in a similar deplorable condition, and were very emaciated. The society pressed the case against the prisoner, who was accused of having neglected his children through his habitual drinking, and the magistrates sentenced him to six weeks' hard labor. Police-sergeant YaUand in passing through Herbert-street, Cardiff, on Monday morning, observed flames coming through the lower windows of No. 34. He knocked, and not receiving any answer he burst open the door, and found the lower portion of the place filled with smoke. With difficulty he made his way upstairs, where he found nineteen persons sleep- ing soundly apparently, but partly suffocated. Assistance arrived, and after some delay all were re- moved into the street, where the fresh air revived them. The neighbours were aroused, and the fire extinguished. The building is an Irish lodging- house. On Monday evening at a Liberal soiree, at Chester, a presentation was made to Baron Halkett, the defeated Liberal candidate at the last general elec- tion. Baron Halkett was unavoidably absent, through illness, but Baroness Halkett was present, and received an illuminated address on his behalf, and also a handsome fan, subscribed for her by the women of that citv. Mr Ilorbcrt Gladstone, M.P., wrote apologisin for his absence, and said that the Govern- ment now in office would show that while imperial interests were safe in Liberal handi, great and vital home questions would receive thorough and sym- pathetic treatment. On Monday, in tlie Quecfn's Bench Division, before Mr Baron Pollock Mid Mr Justice Charles, sitting as a Divisional Court. Mr Yaughan Ha wkins, mentioned the case of the Attorney-General v. Bostock, which appeared in the list. The learned counsel stated that the matter had reference to mines in Wales, and the action was to establish the right of the Crown with respect to them. The (.,3e had now been arranged on the two first claiv -that the title was admitted, and that the injur .i was agreed to. Mr Trevor White appeared fr tiie other side, and their lordships were now ask; i to sanction the arrange- ment. The Court tlsscntcd. On Tuesday, the Rev. D. W- Davies, M.A., was the recipient of a' valuable testimonial on his leaving the curacy of Mostyn to enter upon his new duties as vicar choral of St. Asaph. The gifts, which were subscribed for by the parishioners generally, con- sisted of a writing cabinet and desk, a study chair and reading lamp, a gold pen, and a valuable gold watch. The presentation v,as made at the National Schools by Lord Mostyn, who, with other speakers, referred in high terms to Mr Davies' clerical work in Mostyn. He will be succeeded in the curacy by the iiev. W. Williams, B.A., a distinguished scholar of St. David's College, Lampeter, and Jesus College, Oxford. The Liverpool City Coroner on Tuesday resumed the inquiry relative to the death of Elias Hughes in Edgehill tunnel. Deceased was rate collector to the Colwyn Bay Local Board, hut was suspended pend- ing an inquiry into a deficiency in his accounts. In the carriage in which lie was travelling at the time the explosion took place was found a bag containing several erains of sporting gunpowder and powder of a rather coarser grain, and the medical evidence on I Tuesday went to show that the explosion was caused bv gunpowder. that traces of strychnine were found in the stomach, and that the shock and strychnine combined had caused death. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. Sir Edward Reed, on Tuesday night, attended a meeting of the Cardiff Liberal 1.000, and, explaining his recent manifesto on Home Hule, contended that there was no ground for the suggestion that he was wavering on that question. The letter was published with the object of condemning the attitude adopted by the Redmondite party. He believed that Mr Gladstone would produce a moderate Home Rule Bill, and that the manifesto would tend towards making such a measure practicable. A lively dis- cussion followed, in the course of which a resolution was proposed expressing want of confidencc in Sir Edward. This was followed by an amendment declaring his explanation to have been satisfactory, and accepting as undoubted his loyalty to lr Glad- stone and to Home Rule. The mover of the resolu- tion promised to withdraw it if Sir Edward would give an emphatic declaration in support of the Home Rule measure but the honorable member declined, saying that such a pledge would imply a doubt which 1 was not justified. Ultimately the amendment was tarried by a large majority, amid cheers.

I LITERARY NOTICES & REVIEWS. I TIlE MiLnox AXD TIT BITS.—The Christmas numbers of thc=e papers are really good, as our readers, no doubt know. They are absolutely with- out dulness. TIlE STRAND MAGAZINE.—The Christmas number of this popular magazine is particularly good. oherlock Holmes begins his stories, and the first is very clever. It relates to the strange disappearance of a race horse, and the way the clues are followed are done as only Dr. Canon Doyle can do. The studies which the Queen is making in Hindustani form the subject of an article which her Majesty has been pleased to read in proof, while two specimens of the Royal Diary, written by our Sovereign Lady in the newly acquired language are given, having been specially copied for the purpose by the Queen. The interview with Dr. Russell is very interesting; indeed the whole number is as good as it can possibly be. The colored plate, which accompanies it, is very clever and amusing. UIIITISXMAS .PUBLICATIONS.—Among the firms who have made excellent artistic provision for the season's requirements in regard to Christmas and New Year's greeting cards, booklets, and calendars arc Messrs Hildesheimer and Faulkner, 41, Jewin-street, E.C., whose productions have at all events the advantage of having been designed in England. The flat, fold- ing. and shaped cards are all marked with excellences of their own. and embrace some very pretty and droll designs executed in the most effective style of print- ing. Their booklets comprise some very attractive ones of varied size, and include When every month is May and A-hunting we will go the subject in each case being delightfully pictured in colours. The turn-over calenders are also very artistic, especially Stolen Moments and "Loving Hearts," while the perpetual calendars, with loose cards show- ing month, date, and weekday, are very neat and useful. Altogether, the artistic productions of this house arc sure to meet with wide appreciation.

DINNER AT WYNNSTAY COLLIERY. On Saturday evening the officials of the Wynnstay and Plaskynaston Collieries dined together in the carpenter's shop at the former colliery. The room was conveniently arranged, and the recent amalga- mation of the two works made the occasion of in- terest. The chair was occupied by Mr Wyndhani M. Boyd, who represented his brother, Mr A. C. Boyd, chairman of the Company, who was unable to be present. There were also present:—Mr N. 15. Grffith, Mr Isaac Jones, manager Mr J. A. Harris, Mr E. Lloyd Jones, Mr Mayes, Duckinfield Mr Joseph Halliday, under manager Mr Richard Humphreys, deputy manager Mr Taylor, under manager, Plaskynaston Colliery Mr Geo. Evans, deputy manager, Plaskynaston Messrs. O'Neil, Jno. Jones, Evan Davies, Daniel Williams, Benj. Jones, R. Brayne. Oswestry J. Cheeseman, Oswestry; Jackson, Ruabon Hunt, Bishop, Sumnall, &c. Mr Doxey, owing to illness in his family, was unable to be present. During the dinner the Roberts Brothers, of Newtown, played selections on the violin and harp. —After dinner the Chairman proposed the loyal toasts, which were duly honored.—Mr Hunt proposed The Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces," and Sergt. Sumnal, whose name was coupled with the toast, re- turned thanks.—Mr N. R. Griffith, in proposing the health of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. Bart., said the worthy baronet had done his best for the people amongst whom he lived, and always strove to promote the interests of his neighbours. (Cheers.) He was doing all he could to keep up the traditions of his family, and was a very good friend to those who lived around him. (Cheers.) He begged to couple with the toast the name of Mr Edward Lloyd Jones. Sir Watkin's mineral agent. (Cheers.)—The toast was received with musical honors, and Mr Lloyd Jones. in acknowledging it, said that had Sir Watkin been present, he would have been much gratified at the way in which his health had been drunk. As one of his many agents, he could tell them that Sir Watkin's instructions were that he was to do right between lessor and lessee, between landlord and tenant; and if in the course of events some of them did not feel satisfied, he would ask them to put it down to him, and not to Sir Watkin. (Laughter and cheers.) He was very pleased indeed to be amongst them, and hoped the new company would prove as good as the old one. (Cheers.) He felt certain the new company meant to do business, and to do it well, because they had obtained the services of some of the finest repre- sentative commercial men in the neighbourhood. The first chairman, the late Sir Evan Morris, whose death they all lamented, and whose memory they all revered-(hear, hear)—had been succeeded by Mr A. C. Boyd. (Cheers.) A better man could not have been selected than Mr Griffith as director general of the mine, and Mr lsa,ac Jones's good qualities and excellent business capacities were too well known to need repetition. (Cheers.) Then there were Mr Harris, and Mr Halliday, excellent business men. (Cheers.) Before resuming his seat he begged to propose Prosperity to the Company," and to couple with it the name of the Chairman. (Cheers.) Mr Boyd was possessed of great experience, and was thoroughly posted up in all matters connected with mines. (Cheers).—The toast having been honored. the Chairman said that before responding, he wished to read the following letter December 16tli, 1892, 8, Aldford-street, Park Lane. W. Dear Sir,—I regret very much that 1 find 1 shall be un"hJo to bewitl, you to-morrow at the dinner, but I find it will be impos- sible. It is most desirable that the officials of both collieries should feel that they now form part of one large concern which can only be carried on success- fully by each department being carefully attended to by the persons placed in charge of it. (Hear, hear.) There is no doubt that a friendly feeling is best created and maintained by a friendly gathering to spend a pleasant evening, as I have no doubt to- morrow evening will be. Although the coal trade is now as bad as it can be, we must all put our shoulders to the wheel, and by keeping down the cost of production, enable our Company to exist through the bad times, without, I hope, incurring serious losses. The company will provide all necessary means and appliances for raising the coal, but we depend upon our officials to see that the appliances are properly used. (Loud cheers.) Wishing you all a pleasant evening, and the best wishes of the season, I remain, yours truly, A. C. IIOYD." (Cheers.) He (the Chairman) believed from the individuals lie saw before him that success would be attained in the immediate future, and that the colliery would be very effectively worked. He thanked them in the name of Mr A. C. Boyd, and in his own name, for the hearty and pleasant manner in which they had drunk his health.—Mr Hunt proposed the health of the manager, Mr Isaac Jones, and the health of Mr Harris, both of whom briefly responded. —The Press was proposed by the Chairman, and responded to.—Mr Lloyd Jones proposed The Trade of the District," to which Mr Hunt and Mr Griffiths responded, and the remaining toasts were the Visitors," proposed by Mr Isaac Jones, and responded to by Mr Sumnal, and The Medical Profession," proposed by the Chairman, and res- ponded to by Dr. McDonald. The arrangements for the dinner were made by Mr Isaac Jones.

V HOPE WHISPERS. The sexton has been appointed deputy-parish clerk at Hope Church. We believe that there has not been such an appointment for many years. Our churchwardens do good by stealth at any rate, they distributed those charity tickets when the sun went down." If the elementary school is closed, should not the Sunday school follow suit ? What a difference in the two railway stations at Hope Exchange. A large flock of seagulls might have been seen last week on the fields between Padeswood and Llong. Our county councillors are sponsors for applicants from the district of Hope for the benefit of the Agricultural Holdings Act. These would seem to be the first received by the Flintshire County Council, and it is to be hoped thit the acceptance of the Act and its responsibilities will ultimately prove the benefit and blessing intended by the frauiers. If all the collecting books in connection with the Hope ploughing match were sent in, the auditor could verify the accounts. The Buckley Engineers (1st Flint) are gratified to know that their popular captain (Honorary Major John M. Gibson) will receive the Queen's Volunteer oiffcers' decoration. Our Alderman is nothing, if not cautious. But then, in the language of a well-known gentleman in this neighbourhood, he is fairly entitled to say Allow me to know." If things go on as they are doing, our blacksmith at the Talwrn will go in for boat building quite a broad stream rushes past his house, tearing away the road, a high-road too. Last Sunday evening, he sat listening to the im- pious iln autgfiue t;f,,? of church goera, who stepped into the river in the dark. Still another victory for the Hope footballers, but let not their ambition soar too high. The Volunteers will regret to hear of the departure of Sergeant W. Nickless. who is leaving for Wolver- hampton. The Ffrwdd Colliery has been making full time this last month. The Hawarden Volunteers desire to express their sense of appreciation of the way in which Mr Darby- shire catered on their behalf at the Glynne Arms. The churchwardens are asking for subscriptions towards the furnishing of a large curtain, as a sort of screen to prevent the draught in Hope Church.

Ei'PfI'" COCOA.-GUATEFUI, AND COMPORTING.— By n- thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by n. careful o.pplication of the fine properties of a -ell- selected CoroA, Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage whic.i save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judi- cious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradually built up until strong enough to re >ist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft bv keeping ourselves well fortified witli pure blood and a properly noiirisiied f ranie. Serrirc Gazette.—Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in packets, by Grocers, labelled- "JAMES El PPS &- Co., Homccapat.hic Chemist.s, London." Also Makers of Epps's Cocoaine or Nib-Extract. Tea-like. 195

At a meeting of the executive committee of the local committee of the Royal Agricultural Show, lieid at Chester on Saturday, it was announced that the local subscription list now amounted to nearly £ 7,000. AGRICULTURAL SEED TRADE, LONDON, Wednesday.— Messrs. John Shaw and Sons, seed merchants, of Great Maze Pond, London, SóE., report this week's markets as quite of a holiday character. The values generally, in the absence of transactions, exhibit considerable firmness. Alsikes and whites, however, are rather lower. Grasses unchanged. Koenigsberg tares, notwithstanding their cheapness, are neglected. More money is asked for rapeseed. Mustard con- tinues scarce and dear. Hemp and canaryseed, like all other articles just now, are inactive. CHESTER FARMERS' CLt;n.-At the annual meeting of the club, on Saturday, Mr T. Davies, the junior vice-president, was proposed to succeed the president, who declined to serve another year. Mr W. Knowles was, however, appointed to the position by a majority of four votes, whereupon Mr Davies and several other members left the room, the former stating that for some time Dast the club had been going against the landlords, but that in future he should advocate their rights as well as those of the tenants. GRASS EXPERIMENTS.—At a public meeting held in the schoolroom, Aber, a large number of farmers and others interested attended to hear a lecture by Mr D. A. Gilchrist, B.Sc., on the results of the experiments that have been carried out during the past two years near Aber. The chair was taken by the Rev. Pierce Jones, the rector of Aber. The lecturer explained that thirty-four plots had been sown with different pasture plants, and that while a few of them had failed, most of them were now in a healthy con- dition. He stated that of the more important grasses perennial rye-grass, Italian rye-grass, Cooksfoot, and Timothy had made the most rapid progress. He also explained that twenty-one plots had been sown with different mixtures of grasses and clover seeds, and that next summer it would be possible to compare the results on these plots.

FARMING AND THE CORN TRADE. I The .1/(7/7, Lane Express of Monday says :—Mild and pleasant weather has marked the past week, but field work is practically suspended, the autumn sowing on friable soil being completed, while the heavy lands remain unworkable. Threshings have been fairly good of barley, but small of wheat and oats. With regard to trade, English wheat in London has advanced 5d per quarter on the week, but this is due to the comparatively good prices offered by London millers. The price c)t good prices has fallen 6d per quarter on the week, and an even more serious decline has only been checked by the firmness of New York. The markets for spring corn have been weak; out of 30 leading exchanges 18 have been cheaper for barley. 15 for oats, 13 for pulse. and 18 for maize. The London average for English barley has fallen Is Id on the week, damp feeding grain having been pressed on sale at almost any price. The price of linseed has been fairly well sustained, but rapeseed is Is lower on the week. Cottonseed is firm atE5 12s 6d per ton for the new Egyptian crop.

SERIOUS FARM FIRE IN CHESHIRE. I CATTLE ROASTED ALIVE. I About one o'clock on Sunday morning a fire oc- curred at a farm at Doddington, six miles from Nant- wich, in the occupation of Mr Charles Edwards, on the estate of Sir Delves Broughton. The outbreak originated in a cowhouse about seventy yards long, and was discovered by a cowman employed on the farm. The fire spread with amazing rapidity, and before the strong wind which blew soon assumed the proportions of a conflagration, the illumination being seen for miles round, and attracting many neighbour- ing farmers to the scene. Of the live stock on the farm, there were thirty cows tied up in the building for the night, and of these no fewer than nineteen were literally roasted alive. The struggles of the beasts to escape the flames were terrible to behold, and their cries and groans were heartrending to the crowd of country people who awaited, helplessly, the arrival of the fire brigade from Nantwich. The animals which escaped were released by the cowman, who only desisted from his work of rescue when his life was endangered. By the time the Nantwich Local Board and Volunteer Fire Brigades arrived the buildings were one burning mass, and it was only by their promptitude that nine large hay and straw stacks in the vicinity, upon which the flying sparks were blown by the strong wind, were saved from destruction. After nearly five hours' hard battling the fire was extinguished, but the cowhouse and a number of smaller buildings adjoining were reduced to a skeleton, the walls alone remaining. Several tons of hay and straw in the building were consumed, and the woodwork was reduced to tinder. Unfor- tunately the stock overtaken by the fire was of noted breed. The damage done amounted to nearly XI.000, but the loss is covered by insurance. The origin of the fire is unknown.

GOVERNMENT INQUIRY AT MOLD. I THE PROPOSED DRAINAGE. I On Tuesday an inquiry was held into the proposal of the Mold Local Board for powers to borrow X4,500 for the purpose of constructing a new sewerage scheme for the town. There was considerable in- terest manifested, and a. fairly good number present, the inquiry being held in the ante-room of the Town Hall, before Major-General Crozier, inspector in the Local Government Board Department. Among those present were :—Messrs. Thos. Bellis, chairman of the Mold Local Board G. E. T. Roper. clerk Thomas Parry, J. Corbett, T. T. Kelly, D. Williams, Bromfield Hall H. Lloyd Jones, E. Wlieldon, W. P. Jones, G. H. Adams, Daniel Owen, J. D. Rowlands, W. Jannion Jones, I. Jones, surveyor S. Smith, town clerk of Chester Dr. Kenyon, medical officer of Chester I. M. Jones, surveyor of Chester Mr Radford, of Nottingham, engineer to the proposed scheme, Ac. On the Inspector taking his seat, Mr ROPEr. entered into a statement of the circumstances which led the Local Board to suggest and adopt the scheme now submitted for inquiry. He said that so long as twenty-five or twenty-eight years ago the drainage of the town had occupied the attention of the town, and at that time a tentative scheme was adopted, which provided, however, only for the sewage of a portion of the town, and for its discharge into an open brook, which in the dry summer months was only an open ditch, partly dry. This scheme, while only partially clearing the town, did not so dispose of the sewage collected as to prevent it becoming a nuisance to plnces below on the stream, and to contaminate the stream itself. This was their great difficulty, and for a great number of years they had been receiving letters from Chester complaining of the nuisance, and threatening proceedings unless the evil was grappled with. Ten or twelve years ago. Mr J. Bellis. a local engineer, since dead, prepared a scheme, but the expenses so frightened them that they dare not grapple with the difficulty, and the sewage was then diverted from the brook in Gas-lane on to a grass field, where a tank was made to receive it, and whence it was distributed over the surface in the hope that it would be absorbed. But the scheme only answered for a short time, and the water lodged on the surface, becoming a new soiuce of difficulty. Hence the Local Board was driven to the present scheme but, seeing their area was but small, and their population not large-only some 4,500-an effort had been made to enlarge both by a proposal to make the boundaries of the Urban Authority conterminous with those of the shaiing borough by the inclusion of the Maesydderwen dis- trict. This, however, had not been successful, and after every attempt had been made to meet their responsibilities in another way, the Local Board had been thrown back on the scheme now submitted. General CROZIKR then asked what evidence it was proposed to submit, when Mr RADFORD produced the plans of his scheme by which the drainage of the town is completed, and that of Maesydre, Alyn-terrace, Miliord-street, Bridge-street, and Ponterwyl is con- veyed on a point near the railway crossing at the bottom of Gas-lane, and then taken alongside of the railway on the land proposed to be utilised for sewage, which is situate between the London and Nortn- Western Railway to Chester and the branch railway to Leeswood, and of the extent of about six acres, having a right of way to the Wrexham road at a point just below the bridge carrying the Lecswood Railway across that road. In answer to questions put by the Inspector, he proceeded to explain the details of his scheme, and how it dovetailed with the old drains already existing, some of which it appeared were square stone drains, others brick, and some of them pipes. The Inspector advised that all the stone drains should be replaced by piped ones, in order to prevent contamination by filth andsettlings. Milford-streetwasproposed tobeleft practically undrained, with the exception of a portion, and the whole of the surface water to go into the ditch now crossing the meadows on the other side of the railway. It was proposed to take the drainage of Cilccn-road across to Maesydre, thence across to Alun-torrace, the bottom of Milford-street, and the Lead Mills, thence along Bridge-street to Ponterwyl, and to the junction with the main drain at the bottom of Gas-lane. The distance was 2,440 yards, and the cost, with nine inch pipes, estimated at XI,490 10s. The inspector thought the pipes too small, and strongly advised that twelve inch pipes should be placed instead, the additional cost of which he estimated would not be more than £1000. The plans of the out-flush were then inspected, and herein the Chester representatives appeared to be much interested, asking that the outflow would be raised. Mr RADFORD said that to do the work pro- posed, it would be necessary to have pumping stations, which involve on extra cost of S150. Mr SMITH, con- I tinuing to insist, Mr ROPER said they would easily raise the water, provided the Chester people would raise the wind." (General laughter.)—Mr RADFORD said it would be necessary to clear the ditches and the outlets into the river from the land proposed to be taken, which would lower the water level on the the witer level on the land about three feet six inches, sufficient, except in times of flood, which were not very frequent With regard to the mode of taking the drain along Bridge-street, Mr ISHMAEL JONES wanted it taken along the backs of the houses, rather than alone the street, wherein he was supported by the INSPFCTOH —Mr RADFORD said he had no obiection whiter Mr D W n-mAMS spoke in support of the scheme, saying tnat all lie wished was to see it carried out in the most efficient as well as economic iiitnuer.- Other gentlemen having spoken in the same sense, the inquiry ended, and General Crozier went along the course of the proposed drains and outflow together with Mr Radford and several members of the Local Board.

— ) If Coffee Connoisseurs would use PHILLIPS' CLIOICF. BLENDED COFFEES they would be delighted. Phillips ?ndCo. believe themselves to be the only firm #* ur I in  ?a?. u scientifically Blend and Ro?t \tlhe»iwr PCor%ffJeZes ar on their own premises. All their Coffees are sold pure, at 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, P. nd nOper pound.- PHILLIPS and Co,, Tea and Coffee Men, Wrexham. 2254

j A LLANGOLLEN PROBATE SUIT. In the Probate, Divorce, and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, on Friday, before the President (Sir Francis Jeune) the case of Lawford and others v. Allen and Harris was heard. This was an action with reference to the testamentary disposi- tions of Miss Jane Isaac, who had resided at Llan- gollen, and died on 11th April, 1392. The plaintiffs were Mr Martin Benson Lawford, solicitor, Oswestry; Mr Alfred Forrester Whittaker, residing at Warring- ton; and Mr Samuel Frank Whittaker, of Shrews- bury, who, as executors, propounded a will, dated 11th March, 1892. The defendants, Mr Godfrey Tamlin Allen, of Llangollen, and Mrs Mary Harris, wife of Mr Frank Harris, of King's Norton, near Birming- ham, as next of kin, opposed probate, alleging undue execution, and unsound mind on the part of the testatrix, but gitve notice that they only intended to cross-examine the witnesses. Mr Hargrave Deane appeared for petitioner, and Mr Spearman for respondent. Miss Jane Hughes and Mrs Sarah Hughes were called, and gave evidence to the effect that they had attested the will in Question. Miss Hughes said that the testatrix was in bed at the time, and was ill. She asked for her spectacles, and then signed the will. She afterwards lay down rather ex- hausted. She was of perfectly sound mind. Cross- examined, witness said that Mr Lawford handed her the will, and spoke to her. She was an old woman of eighty-one years.—Mrs Sarah Hughes also said that testatrix was perfectly sane. Miss Isaac was living with Mrs Whittaker at Bridge End Hotel. Llangollen. AA-hen Mr Lawford handed the will to testatrix he asked if it was according to her wishes, and she said Yes." Witness did not hear the will read to her. Cross-examined as to whether testatrix drank whisky sometimes to the extent of three or four glasses a day, witness said she did when she was not well. Mr Spearman submitted that the instructions for the will must be proved, but his Lordship said that in the absence of evidence to contradict the two attesting witnesses he must infer that instructions had been given. Mr Spearman submitted that as one of the persons who propounded the will was the solicitor who drew it and benefited under the will he ought to be called. but the President held that this was unnecessary. In the course of some discussion, it transpired that testatrix had left legacies to the Royal Lifeboat Institution and other charitable institutions, as well as personal legacies. In the result, the President granted probate of the will. He declined to grant defendants costs out of the estate.

♦ BROUGHTON HALL BOARD OF GUARDIANS. THE BOARD AND THE CLERK. At the meeting, on Friday, there were nresent: The Rev. John Davies (presiding), Messrs -Wilcox, Dunn, Cawley, Alletson, Smallwood, Williams, W. Jones, E. Price, CUI wen, and the Clerk (Mr Joseph Rigby).—Adverting to the correspondence which had taken place with reference to the clerkship, the Assistant Secretary of the Local Government Board wrote, enclosing, for the information of the guardians, a letter received from Mr Rigby on the subject. The Board, before coming to a decision, wished to be informed whether the guardians desired to offer any observations on the enclosed communication, which ran :—" Hefening to the resolution of the guardians, a copy of which I enclosed in my letter of the 23rd instant, I beg to say that the difficulties which have arisen at my Board, in consequence of my failing eyesight. will in future be obviated by the course I propose to adopt. There has never been any complaint as to the manner in which I have, for nearly forty years, kept the books and con- ducted the correspondence of the Union, but my eyesight is not so good as formerly. I therefore propose to avail myself of the assistance at the meet- ings of the Board, &c., of my son, Mr J. H. Rigby, assistant clerk of the Ashbourne Union, and to at once engage the services of an efficient clerk, and make such other arrangements as will enable me to carry on the business of the Board in a thoroughly efficient manner."—Mr WILCOX pointed out that the Guardians had resolved in previous resolutions, first, not to accept an assistant appointed by the Clerk him- self, and then, in order to bring the difficulty to an end. to ask the Local Government Board to cancel Mr Rigby's appointment, "as he was not capable of doing his work in an efficient manner." He thought that was a sufficient reply to the present communica- tion. —Mr CURWKN said when it was first understood that it was illegal to superannuate the Clerk they ought at once to have taken the hull by the horns, and cancelled his appointment. For nearly twenty years Mr Rigby had been receiving a large remunera- tion, independent of the Board, and that was quite as much as any man in his positionJ could expect.— Eventually Mr WILCOX proposed, and Mr CAWLEY seconded, That the Local Government Board be requested to give effect to the resolution passed bv the Board this day month, and that the Clerk's sug- gestions are impracticable, according to what has been passed previously. "—The resolution was carried without opposition, but Messrs Dunn and Alletson did not vote. I

FANCY DRESS BALL AT DENBIGH. The fancy dress ball in connection with the Vale of Clwyd Lawn Tennis and Cricket Clubs was held on Friday night. Dancing, to the excellent music of Mr Haselden's String Band, commenced at ten o'clock. Arriving in the famous old ball room, the floor of which had been well prepared by Mr and Mrs Dew, a curious array of the serious and comic in costume appeared. The Clown and the Puritan, the Cavalier and the Roundhead became partners. The hall had been carefully and extensively adorned with flowers. Mrs Fox had charge of the refreshments, and the tables were laden with masterpieces of the con- fectioner's art. Mr James Hughes, architect, per- formed the arduous duties of hon. secretary in his usual kind and obliging manner. The cloak rooms I ivere under the care of Mr and Mrs Dew. The following is a list of those present :—Mrs Fred. Heaton, Miss Marie Heaton, as Summer Mr A. F. Heaton, Mr R. de Heaton Dr. Tumour, Gentle- man 19th Century Miss Turncur Beatrice (" Much Ado About Nothing ") Mr E. A. Tumour, Benedict; Miss Dora Townsliend, Spanish Lady; Miss Atcherlev, Dresden China. Ystrad Party Colonel Hughes, Hunt Coat Mrs Hnglies, Evening Dress Miss K. C. Hughes, Poudre Mr Denton, Court Dress Mrs Denton, Lady of the 16th Century Mr Hugh Cooke, Cowboy Miss Helena Cooke, Elsie Maynard Miss Gwendoline Cooke, Grace Darling Mr J. P. Lewis, Original Private Secretary Mrs J. P. Lewis, Lady Betty; Mrs Gregg, Mrs Bellcristie. Plas Pigot party Miss Griffith, Marie Stuart Dress Mrs Wynne Griffith, Spanish Lady Miss Fanny Griffith, Carmen. Castle House party Mr TI. R. Marsden, Naval Officer Mrs Marsden, Mary Queen of Scots Miss Wynne, Doctor of Music Mr John Davies, Hunt Dress. Garn party Mrs Griffith, Lady of the 18th century Miss Griffith. Gold Miss Mansfield, Night Mr J. D. W. Griffith, Romeo Mr H. LI. Chambers, Zouave; Mr George Hugh Jones, French Cook Mr Bucknill, French Cook Capt. Wynne Edwards, Uniform Mrs Wynne Edwards, Lady of 1800; Capt. Coster Edwards, Charles Surface Miss Coster Edwards Mr B. Bremner, Plough Boy Major Gregson Ellis, F. and D.H. Uniform Capt. Gregson Ellis, F. and D.H. Uniform Miss Gregson Ellis, Christmas Cracker Mr Charles Owen, Deputy-Lieut. Uniform; Mrs Charles Owen, Night Capt. Everitt. Uniform Mr Eris Piatt, Hunt Uniform Capt. Griffith, Uniform of Comptroller of the Anglesey Hunt; Miss Maud Mayhew, Carmen up to data Mr J. H. Bibby. Even- ingDress; Mrs Bibby, Greek Lady Mr W. Bibbv, Evening Dress Miss Bibby, Folly Miss E. Bibbv, Gipsy Mr Pilkington, Advertisements. Llysmeirchion party Captain Cole, first dress, Deputy-Lieutenant, second dress, Esprit de Corps Mrs Cole, Ciociara. Peasant; Miss Violet Cole, Winter's Tale Miss Boscawen, The Bohemian Girl; Mr Dawson Greene, first dress, M. Fraudin, second dress, Such a nice Young Man too Mr G. Blezard, first dress. Uniform, second, Mr Wells, of Monte Carlo the Hon. Mrs Blezard, a Duchess of Devonshire Captain Sandbach, first dress, Uniform Roval Horse Artillery, second dress, Paul without Virginia Mr Phillips, first dress, Bolland of Chester, second dress. The Boxing Kangaroo. Berth party Mr E. O. Y. Lloyd, Deputy-Lieutenant Uniform Mr Hugo FitzPatrick Miss Sandbach, 1770;" Miss S. Sandbach, Roman Peasant Mr T. O. Osborneyale. Bronwylfa party: Mrs Watts, Miss Watts, P udrc Miss Goginn, Poudre Mr T. O. Watts, Black and White Mr W. A. Watts, Louis XIII. Temps. Pentrc Mawr party Mrs Foabery, Miss Fosbery, Watteau Shepherdess Miss Georgina Fosbery, Summer Mrs A. E. Gerrard, Witch Mr A. E. Gerrard. United Hunt; Mr Mario Wilson, Lieutenant 1st V.B. West Yorkshire Dr. Cox, Uniform Mr T. Ilassal, Gentleman of the Eighteenth Century Mrs T. Hassal, Dresden China; Miss Gold Edwards, Night. Bodgwilym party Lieut.-Col. Lloyd Wil- liams, Uniform Mrs Lloyd Williams, Miss Lloyd Williams, Poudre Mr J. C. Lloyd Williams, Cherry Ripe Mr B. Lloyd Williams, Directoire; Mr E. Francis, 2nd V.B. Gloucester Regiment Mrs E. Francis, Pondre Mr Guy Francis, Mr Hugh Melby, Lva,; Mr Basil Phillips, Turk Miss Basil Phillips, Incrovable Mr Henry Hughes, 14th King's Hnssars Hon. Mary Hughes, Kinmel Mr J. Parry Jones, Mrs J. Pa.rry Jones, Lobster Salad Mr Swayne, Uniform Mr Trevor Jones, Pierrot. ♦ —————

In an inquest on the body of Richard Jones, quarryman, held at Llanddulas, the jury after an absence of two hours returned a verdict of accidental death, that there was mismanagement at the quarries, and that the attention of the Home Office be drawn to the necessity for a more efficient inspec- tion of limestone quarries. Mr Herbert Roberts, M.P., attended a meeting of the executive of the West Denbighshire Liberal Association, held at Denbigh on Friday, to make arrangements as to registration and for maintaining the political organisation in the division in an efficient condition. The result of the past year's registration, which were declared to be distinctly favorable to the Liberal party, were discussed. Mr Herbert Roberts afterwards attended a conference, convened to consider the position of the farmers in view of the inquiry of the Welsh land commission. I AMUSEMENT ON THE RAILWAY. I On & long or short journey, the time slips away in trying to puzzle out the meaning of the mystic letters on the Lanterns advertising Hudson's Soap. Here is an explanation of some of them M.L.C. Much Longer Clean. ? -0 Anything washed with Hudson s boap is thoroughly washed, therefore remains Much Longer Clean. Q.A.S. Quick and Safe. Hudson's Soap is a rapid washer, and will not injure the most delicate fabric. L.N.S. Leaves No Smell. A distinct advantage over all other Soaps. Hudson's Leaves No Smell. H.S.H. Home, Sweet Home. The Sweetest Homes are those where Hudson's Soap is in daily use. 989

I CORRESPONDENCE. I CLUB DOCTORS. SIR,—I was both surprised and disgusted to hear that at a meeting of the Oak Tree Tontine Society, held recently, it was decided to make a. reduction in the allowance to the doctor. I was always of opinion that for the payment recently made proper attend- ance and medicine could not be expected, but when we find medical men prepared to accept any price, what can be thought of the profession' This is contrary to the principle which, I a:n informed, is desired by the societies forming the medical associa- tion, which, feeling that the laborer is worthy of his hire, is anxious to keep up the prices of the doctor. I would suggest to the medical association that it should look this matter full in the face, and seriously consider whether the scheme previously advocated, of providing one medical man. should not now be taken up.—I am, tfce., OAK TnEE. "RHOS EVIL PRACTICES." I ——— I SIR,—In your issue of the 17th inst. I expected the Chief Constable's reply to the letters from the 1-tlios Evil Practices Committee," which appeared in your issue of the 10th inst., but all in vain. He opened the correspondence on behalf of those under his control, and I think he ought to pursue that course openly and publicly. There are undoubtedly good men in the force, but there are others whose services might be dispensed with. I have every reason to believe that the Rhos committee will do an enormous good in the long run, if they will persevere, though they may now be despised and rejected by many who do not presently view in the same light as they do the welfare of others. Skylark seems, from the undercurrent of his letter, to be the amanuensis of the police, though he is very cautious not to divulge the secret path he is treading. He reflects discredit on other writers, and exalts him- self as being in possession of a clean house. "Self- praise is no recommendation." May I ask is the air more putrefied in 1892 than it was in 1772. when Lord Mansfield, in the Court of King's Bench, established the grand doctrine that the air of England has long been too pure for a slave, and that every man is free who breathes it," not tyrannised by a few?—I Rm, &c., AN OBSERVER. I WHY THIS CROSS? Siiit,-Your correspondent signing himself" Anglo Catholic must surely be corrected in his tirade against Protestantism, the bulwark of our liberties., When he dates Protestantism to the sixteenth cen- tury, he makes the usual error of conceiving that Christianity also begun then Protestantism is not Christianity, but merely a word to signify those who protest against the machinations of Rome, as who would not who knows anything of her erroneous teaching, which had branded her long before the Reformation times, to the dignity of Mistress of the world," The mother of Harlots," as she verily is until this day, only people have for- gotten to give her her due recognition to-day, because of deceit even creeping into the reformed Church of England, as by law established, which is so like the thing discarded once, that it would be hard to judge or detect the difference, and Anglo Catholic," whilst probably receiving the stipend of the Pro- testant Church, as by law established, is yet at heart, judging from his teaching, a Romanist in disguise, yet partaking of the emoluments due to Protestantism, and not due to Romanistic caprices and service But such is the lukewarmness shown by Protestants to-day, that they forget the blood and fire which gained the liberty they seek to dispossess themselves of, but the day of vengeance is at hand, when all such harlotry in the name of the Christian faith, as handed down to us, not by the fathers of the church, neither by tradition, but as it was in the beginning, so now to-day. The Holy Ghost teacheth me and all the people that love God, are named of Him," not by any sign or symbol," but by His spirit," whereby, all the election of grace," know Him who saith unto all, silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto you," which is the teaching of the Spirit of Life. and not death. All that know God are there- fore taught of God, and are not dependant upon their teaching to this source or to the other source, but re- ceiving their witness from on High, they make but little of any earthly fathers, who, unless these are chosen of God and not man, are but sorry lights to seek guidance from. Believe me, if a man obtains his faith and religion from men, lie is a sorry in- dividual, and will sail with any fair wind that blows so he gain earthly bliss, which, as a rule, is all he dreams of but if a man is converted to God of the grace of God, he knows from whence he is, and he needs that no man teach him. seeing that Christ lives, and He is the father of all them that put their trust in Him, and not in another. Herein is Pro- testantism secure, that it discards all fathers of the flesh, and is set down with Him at God's right hand, from whence all gain, both for this life and for that which is to come, is alone secure and ye stand fast with one mind, knowing only the religion of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, from whence there is no re- calling, for he that is dead with Christ is risen with Him also, and is ascended where He is, and knows all things and receives all things, and there is nothing that shall not be revealed unto faith and belief of the truth; but ye that seek men, and things of sense and time, shall be rewarded with blindness, even as it is n.t thia prooont, ana ve kllu", not What ye do, but know this that when He comes your idols wherein ye trust for righteous gain shall be all scattered to the moles and the bats, that your naked- ness, without these excrescences, may be judged of by Him who judges righteous judgment, and seeketh the soul of man, and not his tawdry rags and filthy garments but whose kingdom is within where Christ sits enthroned, and not on altars made of stone and hewed out of wood. But the altar of the Lord is faith, whereon is your sacrifie offered, which speaketli better things than that of Abel, seeing that faith removeth mountains, and sin is all forgiven and lost where "The Cross of Christ" is known, not in symbol or brass imagery, but in reality for Christ is real, and faith is real, and grace is true, where sin is not. He that is dead to the law is free from sin but he that is not dead in Christ, but in another, his sin remains. Herein is reality, which is better than human domination and power, for naked came I into the world, and naked do I return, and thou can'st not take sin, which is harlotry in God's sight, with you, but only separation," wherein is found no sin. And so is it Protestantism is the apponent of sin, wherein is no Christ, who saves us from sin and presents us blameless and faultless, the sons of God, in the midst of a cruel and wicked world, whose deeds are accord- ing to the prince of darkness, in whose sway these abide. But ye are saved from sin, as the Salvation Army so wisely teaches, without priest and without Sacrament, and only and alone according to the Word of God. and not man for God removes sin, and no man is able, neither in this life, neither in that which is to come. Believe on the Lord Jesns Christ, and thou slialt be saved."—I am, &-c., PROTESTANTISM. December 19th, 1892. MINING ROYALTIES. I SIR,—Owing to my being away from home, and unable to correct the" proof," a few smalt errors appear in my letter of the 5tli inst.. which you kindly inserted in your issue of the 10th. In paragraph four, This would give 9d, or say 9d per ton royalty," should be This would give 9.6d, or say 9td per ton royalty. A little further on in the same paragraph, 6d or 6Ad per ton respectively," should read 6d or 7d per ton respectively." A full stop should occur in the fifth paragraph, after the word" employed in working the mines." The word generally" would thus commence the sentence following. One or two minor errors are too obvious to mention. Mr 1. T. Williams has quoted false sta,tements and utilised then; in a letter full of inaccuracies I now call upon him to say whether he made those state- ments knowing them to be false, or whether he did so through utter ignorance." In either case any- thing he may write or say in the future must be taken by the colliers and the public with the proverbial grain of salt !I am, Lte., R. H. YI:XA:I.KS KYRKE. Nantyffrith, Wrexham, Dec. 20th. SIR,—I fa.il to see what Mr Kyrke gains by terming his first remarks a direct contradiction." He can term them whatever he may think proper, I maintain still, that inasmuch as he came out to contradict the statement which I quoted, and made a statement of his own that it was his duty to prove the inaccuracy of the one and the accuracy of the other. But, as I stated in my last letter, be did not do either, and in order to draw him out to do so and have the public enlightened upon the matter, I thought it advisable, through your permission, to ask him a few questions on Mine Rents and Royalties," and in your issue for the 10ih inst., he has kindly furnished your readers and myself with answers to the same. But I must say", with every due respect to him, that the answers are not satisfactory to me, and my reason for saying so is this, that they are not so full, ac- curate, clear, and minute, as I expected them to be from a gentleman of his position and advantages. But perhaps he considers it his duty, for the sake of himself and also the interest of the landowners, to color them as favorably as he could, being that he is a royalty agent to several of them. But, however, allow me, although utterly ignorant of matters," to make some remarks upon them, and your nume- rous readers shall judge whether everything that glitters is gold, or in other words, whether Mine Rents and Royalties" are really what he wishes the public to believe them to be. Firstly,—I will commence with the term Mine Rents." According to Mr Kyrke's definition of the term, it means a fine for not keeping a proper num- ber of men employed in working the mines." And this is not correct, but granting that it is, just for the sake of argument, I wish to ask Mr Kyrke why should 1 1 11 it be "a tine uoes anyone ouita a nouse to Keep it empty, or does any tradesman fill his shop and stores with goods, unless he intended to sell them ? With the same appropriateness I can say that no lessee or lessees would speculate thousands upon thousands of pounds to open out mines unless they intend to work them afterwards. Therefore it is absurd to say that it is a fine imposed upon the lessees in order to compel them to carry out what they are sure to do even for their own interest. And more than that, it is possible for a lessee or lessees to employ men to work coal before they reach it, which in some cases takes them ten, fifteen, and even twenty years to get at. Every one of the least com- mon sense will answer at once no. But although it is an impossibility to employ men for years to work it, they are compelled, under the existing law, to pay a certain rent yearly for the same. A large lessee in North Wales told me personally a tew montns ago that he was paying hundreds of pounds every year for coal which he had not then reached, and the colliery I had been working at the time for twelve or fifteen years. And I know another colliery in North Wales where the lessee has been paying from JE600 to E700 a year, for a period of thirteen years, to a landowner for coal before he got at it, and consequently before he had raised a lump of the same, say it was £600 a. year, paying this sum for thirteen years, including an interest of five per cent., would amount to over iEll,000, and this sum, although enormous in itself for a lessee to pay in advance, is only a small sum in comparison to the sums which are paid by several of our lessees in this respect. And 1 wish to ask Mr Kyrke is there any justice in compelling them to pay for coal in this way for years before they can get at it. Should he consider it fair and just if he was to go to a tailor or a draper to buy a suit of clothes, and f'r the tailor or draper to compel him to pay for fifteen or twenty suits before he had them, and whether he should live to wear them or notf don't think he would. But he must admit, if he will acknowledge the truth, that this is the case with the lessees, especially when they take the mineral to work from two or three adjoining landlords, therefore his definition of the term Mine rents" does not appear to me to be the correct meaning, inas.nuch itS it is an impossibility to employ men to woikcoal before they get at it. Well, what is tiie correct meaning of the term at issue? According to Mr C. M. Percy, M.E., F.G.S., Wigan, a gentlclllan who has studied carefully all his life- time, all matters affecting milling industries, and who was invited to read a paper on Mine rents and royalties" before one of the leading mine institutions of England, if not before several of them, and who also is acknowledged to be one of the most eminent authorities upon the questions, it means "A fixed or certain minimum annual rent paid by the lessee to the lessor, whether any mineral is worked or not," and this is coiisis- ent with facts which I have already proved. And further, even if the lessees were not compelled to pay for years for coal before they get at it, they meet with difficulties that they never anticipated, and which no energy could counteract, such as faults, barren grounds, depression of trade, and the inability of the markets to receive the quantity of coal, which thev have bound themselves to pay for during the teriii of their leases, &c. But whatever they meet with, the fixed minimum annual rent" runs continually, and therefore hundreds of thousands of pounds have been paid in England and Waies, in respect of coal leased, what are called overpaid mine rents." Mr Percy says that he knew" one exceptionally well-managed colliery firm in Lancashire, which had alone paid over three hundred thousand pounds." And further, he says that he will *• venture to say that the actual amount now standing as overpaid mine rents is certainly hundreds of thousands. and it may be even millions of pounds, much of which is lost beyond recall." There- tore our colliery lessees are respon -ible for" certain annual rents," work or play, coal or not, inasmuch as it is paid on all minerals worked or not worked. And, again, allowances are not made for physical difficulties which they meet, and of which nothing could be known when the leases were taken. Mr Percy refers on this point to "one eminently well- managed firm paying over iE50,000 a year for dead work in crossing faults which, could they have been anticipated, the leases would never have been taken by anybody." Therefore, your readers will see plainly, from the facts already stated, that the lessees are the parties who speculate the capital, and who also run the risk of losing the same. And, indeed, a great number of them have been driven into bankruptcy in the past owing to the exhaustion of their means, and many others may soon l ave to follow. But the lessors, without speculating a penny or running any risk whatever, secure to themselves "certain minimum annual rents," whatever may be the state and risks of the trade, &c., and this is, according to the language of a late eminent M.P., a "moral fraud." Why should a lessee or lessees be compelled to pay for coal before they get it ? They don't pay for anything else in this way, and, in my opinion, it would be soon enough for them to pay for the coal when they get it out of the ground, and not before. Hut under the present law they must pay for it, whether it is worked or not. Well, what is the effect of this system upon the lessees, the miners, and the public generally I.-It is an inducement to the lessees, while seek- ing to recoup themselves for the payment of the "certain maximum annual rent," which they are bound to pay to the lessors, to pull every ton of coal they can get out of the mines with a view to their payment, and to do so as soon as they will commence to open them out, rather than work them in a work- manlike manner. The consequence of this is, there are more pillars left than there should be otherwise in order to keep up the top, and the weight which comes upon the pillars crush them severely, and when they are worked they naturally yield as much slack as they do of coal, and this is a great loss to both miners and lessees, inasmuch as both parties are paid so much less per ton for the slack than they are for the coal. 2.—It is an inducement to them to employ more men to work in the mines than are required, and they injure one another by being too numerous, because they cannot get tubs to have thoir coal out, and con- sequently they cannot earn anything like a fair day's wages. This is the cry of the men at every colliery I visit, at the present time, therefore the system is a great injury to the miners generally. 3.—The markets get overstocked and glutted with over-production, and when the production is more than the consumers' demand the prices are forced down, and no profits are realised by the lessees, and low wages are paid to the miners, and then the public suffer severely. It is very evident that the present system is injurious to everybody except the land- owners, who are reaping were they have not sown. I have more to say on this subject.—I am, lie., I. T. WILLIAMS, Miners' Agent. Copperas Hill, December 19th, 1892.

MOLD PETTY SESSIONS. MONDAY—Before P. A. Lloyd, P. T. D. Cooke, S. E. Phillips,E. Lloyd, and J. Watkinson, Esqrs. H' DRUNKENNESS. Ed. Williams, Clay-lane, charged by P.C. Hill with being drunk and refusing to quit the Dolphin Hotel, on the 2nd December, WetS fined lOg and costs.—Ed. Parry, New Brighton, was charged by P.C. Manley with being drunk and disorderly at the Cross, on the afternoon of the 9th December. He was using abusive language to Mr Lloyd Jones, who complained of him to the officer. He told Mr Jones that were it not for the law he would pull him to pieces. Fined 5s and costs.—Charles Kelsall was charged by Sergt. Jones with being drunk and disorderly, at liuckley, on the 3rd December. The defendant said the road belonged to him. and what did the officer want there? They had to lock him up. but they released him on the application of his wife, who cried bitterly. Fined 5s and costs.—Peter Griffiths, junr., was charged by Sergt. Burton with being drunk and disorderly, on 17th December. Fined 2s 6d and costs. EXCISE OFFENCE. Mr Joseph Mattison was charged by Mr J. Law with having a trap without a licence on the 11th of October. He had taken out a licence last vcar, but omitted doing so this year. He admitted the offence,, and was fined 15s fine, 15s licence, and 7s 6d coits." STEALING A KEe; OF BUTTER. James McAlenrv was in custody charged with stealing a keg of butter from the goods warehouse of the London and North-Western Railway Station. Mold. It appeared that the prisoner came from Stockport, and was employed in going round the country purchasing skins, &c.. which he consigned to Stockport. On the 13th he brought a quantity of skins to the station, and in the presence of the porters enipied them on to the stage or platform. The men being busy, they left him to do other work, and leaving close to two kegs of butter. While they were away the prisoner packed his bags ready for consignment, and then left. When the porters returned they found one of the kegs miss- ing. and looked about for it. Seeing one of the prisoner's bags look suspicious they opened it, and found the missing keg. They gave information, and J. C. Wright, the company's detective from Chester, calle down, and found that the bag containing the butter was consigned to Stockport. In the mean- time the prisoner had some labels addressed and attached to the bags, which he had then left. Wright then went to the place where the goods had been consigned, and found that the prisoner had written to the consignee, saying he had enclosed a quantity of butter in one of the bags. The prisoner was followed to St. Asaph, where he was apprehended by a police-officer, brought before the chairman on Friday, and remanded to the sessions. Mr Preston now appeared, and stated the case to their worships. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr Marston appeared for the prisoner, and addressed their worships on his I)elialf.-fle was ordered to be sent to gaol for one month, with hard labor. THREATENING A CREDITOR. John Jones, collier, Buckley, was charged by Mr H. Hughes. grocer, Buckley, with threatening him at the County Court, saying I'll kill you before you leave Flint." He asked that the defendant should be bound over.—Their worships hound the defendant over in his own recognisances for £10 to keep the peace for six months, and pay the costs. STEALING A SIIIUT. Agnes Williams was chargcd by Edward Griffiths with stealing a shirt, his property; at Buckley, on the 10th November. The defendant was engaged as a charwoman, and took the shirt when doing her work, and her husband had worn it for some time. The case was proved by a woman named Ha,]!.—Sergeant Thomas Jones said when he charged the defendant with stealing the shirt she admitted it. There was a previous conviction against her for stealing coal.- She was ordered to pay 10s fine. APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES. This being an adjourned quarter sessions, the following gentlemen qualified and took their seats as magistrates for the county:—Messrs Charles H. B. Williams, Overton H. E. Peel. Brynypys, Overton W. Jones, Frondeg, Holvwell; a.ud J. Y. Strachan, N. and S. W. Bank, Rhyl. I I

At v Frid-.tv. a case which At Flint County Court, on Fridav. a case which has excited considerable interest in local shipping circles was heard before Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd, and a special jury. John Coppack, ship broker, Connah's Quay, sued William Jones, master marinov, Connah's Quay, for 137. Defendant was captain of the schooner Dora, belonging to the plaintiff, ane, he sailed with a cargo to Fishguard, the arrange ment being that he was to have two-thirds of the freight and pay all expenses, while plaintiff was to "_¡II,ve the other third, discharging the cargo, and bcm g )aid by the consignee. Defendant deserted the schooner and went on the spree. He neglected to pay the usual expenses, and to give plaintiff his share. He was arrested, and committed to the a'3sjzes but the grand jury threw out the bill. The sr ini now claimed was for expenses incurred through d? .f^pnd /ln-nt's action for money previously owed by hiw and for a share of the freight. The jury £ounl. for the plaintiff, damages £33, and disiiiissed -it counter-claim for malicious prosecution. HIMEOD'S CUUE FOR ASTIUI A.—Established nearly a quarter of a century.-Pr escribed by the Medical Faculty throughout the Wjrld. It is used as an inhalation, and without any after bad effects. Testimonials of efficacy r c'om the late Lord Benr.ona field, Miss Ennly Fa.it' afuii, Sir Morell Mackenzie, and Oliver Wendell Hr lImes. Trial samples free by post. In Tins at 4s 2,cl. British Depot-46, Holhorn Viaduct, London; r Jso of Newberv, Barclay, Lynch, Sanger, Edwards Thompson, Liverpool, and all Wholesale Housr s> 1980 POSITIVE COP WART AND BUNION CURE.—A safe and certain remedy without pain. The new prepara- tion causea the most obstinate corn to shell off in two nights, a.p d gives a free and healthy action to the skin. Piice, with brush, lOd per post, Is.—JAVEB FigHER EDISBURY, M.P.S., North Wales Pharmacy, 3, ti street, Wrexham. 808