Wrexham and Denbighshire Advertiser and Cheshire Shropshire and North Wales Register

I Round and About. At the B:tngor School Board election, which takes place to-day (Saturday). there are five Church and six Nonconformist candidates. The CiLrnarvon School Board have decided to erect a, new school for girls and infants at an esti- mated cost of between t5,000 and £ 6,000. The Rhyl District Council on Tuesday, decided by the casting vote of the chairman, not to allow the Salvation Army the use of the Town Hall for religious services. A schoolboy, while playing in some old houses at Llanidloes on Tuesday, fell through a hole in the floor and dislocated his neck, death, of course, being instantaneous. Professor Rhys, the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford has been formally received as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, to which honour he was elected a short time ago. The late Alderman Rathbone, in his will just proved (showing the gross value of his estate to be under £ 105,595), has bequeathed eight pictures to the Corporation of Liverpool. The three men, O'Neill, O'Brien, and Kearsley, sentenced to death at the recent Liverpool Assizes, have been reprieved. The case of Elijah Winstaniev is still under consideration. At the Welshpool County Court on Wednesday, judgment was given against the Cambrian Railways Company for X25, the value of a horse belonging to a farmer which strayed on the line and wa.s killed. Mr Samuel Smith, M.P., opened the Primitive Methodist bazaar in Prince's-avenue, Liverpool, on Tuesday. A large company was present. Mr Smith, I in the course of his address, referred to the Armenian question. At Rhyl on Monday Mr E. B. Morris, Cook-street, Liverpool, charged three persons with taking posses- j sion of a log of pitchpine on the Rhyl shore without giving information to the receiver of wrecks. They were each fined. At Rhyl, at the instance of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, William Bird and his wife, of Victoria-road, were charged with cruelty to their six children by neglecting them. The evidence showed a shocking state of things, the children being neglected, covered with vermin, dirty, and having little food and clothing. At Llandudno on Saturday a respectably-dressed woman, named Catherine Williams, described as a laundryniaid, was found by a pier employe, named Meredydd, sitting on a stone on the shingle near the pier, the tide being out at the time. She informed Meredydd that she had come to the spot with the in- tention of throwing herself into the water. She was brought before the magistrates and reproved. On Friday, the Rhyl police were informed that a young man named Howel Lewis, residing with his widowed mother in High-street, had hanged himself. The deceased was waiting to go out with a com- panion when he suddenly said he would go upstairs, and refused to allow his companion to accompany him. As he was a long time away his brother made a search, and found him hanging from a beam in his bedroom. He was at once cut down, but was dead. The White Star liner Germanic, outward bound for New York, came into collision in the Crosby Channel at four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon with the inward bound Glasgow steamer Cumbrae. All the Eassengers and crew of the latter vessel were got on board the Germanic, and the Cumbrae soon afterwards foundered. The Germanic put back to Liverpool damaged, and her passengers were landed and accommodated in various hotels to await another steamer. The Chester District Council, who have taken the initiative in advocating the imposition of a bicycle tax, have received a number of favourable replies from similar authorities. At Saturday's meeting the chairman said they had lost nothing by delay. Within the past fortnight the Chancellor of Exche- quer had made a statement which certainly encour- aged them to continue their agitation. It was was decided to approach the County Council at an early date, with a recommendation that the proceeds of the tax should be devoted to the relief of local county taxation. On Monday at Rhyl Alfred Harris, tobacconist, High-street, was charged by Inspector Williams with a breach of the Lord's Day Observance Act, by selling a pipe and tobacco, the proceedings being taken nnder the 1st and 2nd section. For the defence, Mr Edward Roberts pointed out that the Act, under which the proceedings were taken, was about 200 years old, and before the Jews, to whom the defendant belonged, were represented in the House of Commons. Since Inspector Williams had come to Rbyl he had not only tried to keep the peace. but he had tried to convert the Jews, who closed their shops on Saturday, and respected the Christian Sabbath by closing until after church hours. The bench fined defendant 2s 6d and 18s 6d costs. The semi-official announcements of the Christmas programme at Olvmpia contain the intelligence that M. Riviere will return, says the Daily Xtws, from his long self-banishment at Llanduduo. and organise promenade concerts in the Winter Garden Annexe at West Kensington. Since his first settle- ment in London at the Adelphi Theatre in 1865, he has held a prominent position in the musical world. He was the first orchestral conductor at the Alham- bra, when it was turned into a great Theatre of Varieties, and he remained when it was compelled to become a theatre. He returned to the same post for a short time after the house was rebuilt after the fire, having in the meantime distinguished himself at Coveut Garden in connection with the spectacle of Babil and Bijou. His promenade concerts at Covent Garden where he discovered Madame Antoinette Sterling—and his legal contest with ILIrs Weldon, are matters of musical and theatrical history. Considerable alarm was caused in Liverpool, on Saturday, by the report that a pilot boat had been in collision and that sixteen pilots had lost their lives. Fortunately the latter part of the report proved to be incorrect. It appears that pilot boat No. 5 was at her station off Port Lynas, on Saturday morning, and placed a pilot on board the incoming steamer, Cambroman. Owing to the heavy sea prevailing the Oambroman drifted towards the pilot boat, and col- lided violently with her. The pilots, manv of whom were in bed at the time, rushed on deck, fearing that their boat was sinking. Three of them scrambled on board the steamer, and sixteen jumped into the boat's punt, which was alongside. The punt drifted away, and the steamer, after cruising about in search of the missing men, gave them up for lost and carried the information to Liverpool. The pilots appear to have had a terrible experience on board the punt, having lost two of their four oars. They drifted about in a heavy sea and in imminent peril for seven hours, when they were picked up by an in- coming steamer and landed at Liverpool. The injured pilot boat was later towed into Liverpool by a tug. A meeting of the Welsh National Federation was held on Thursday week at Llanelly, when the prin- cipal speakers were Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., and Mr W. Jones, M.P. During the day conferences were held by the Federation and Women's Liberal Association. The Chairman having explained that the object of the meeting was to establish a branch of the Federation at Llanelly, Mr Herbert Lewis, M.P., said Wales had been neglected because she was the junior partuer of the empire, whereas Eng- land could have everything she wanted because she the predominant partner. The Welsh battle-cries for many years were in favour of civilisation and and religious equality, and victory had been won again and again, but without avail, and the people's voice had been unheeded. In the next Liberal Administration the Welsh members should raise the question of their reforms at every possible oppor- tunity, regardless of the convenience of the Govern- ment, which had declared that it would pay no at- tention to the demands of Wales; and if their voice was again ignored then they should take such course as was within the limit of the constitution to meet the injustice. Mr W. Jones, M.P., followed, dealing with the advantages of united action, and said the Welsh people, so Radical in principle, were entitled to better treatment from the party which they served.

I RUTHIN BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The fortnightly meeting was held on Monday. Mr E. T. Jones, Derwen, presided over the following members :—Mrs Edward Roberts, Mrs J. W. Lumley, the Rev. J. F. Reece, the Rev. W. Richards, Messrs. G. Roberts, H. Williams, E. R. Evans, J. Roberts, Isaac Wynne J. J. Bancroft, W. G. Rigby, E. P. Jones, J. T. Lloyd, T. P. Roberts, J. H. Simon, and J. Williams.—The Ladies' Committee reported that they visited the wards on December 7th, and found the iumates comfortable and well cared for.—The Clerk said the North Wales Lunatic Asylum visitors were applying for an Act of Parliament to construct a reservoir at Nantglyn, and to carry water through pipes to the asylum along the roads controlled by the Rural District Council.—The Master reported that the inmates numbered seventy-nine, as against seventy-six this time last year. The vagrants relieved during the fortnight were sixty-eight in number, showing a decrease of forty-one on the corresponding period of last year.—Mr Gomer Roberts moved that the usual Christmas dinner, costing not more than iE5, be given to the inmates on Christmas Day.—This was seconded.—Mr E. P. Jones then moved that a glass of beer be given on Christmas Day to each inmate who desired it.—Mr Graham Rigby seconded, remarking that he saw no reason why what would be regarded as a reasonable luxury by many of the inmates should be denied them.—Mr Henry Williams, speaking in Welsh, said that it would be a pity to give beer to those who had been weaned off it, especially as it was very likely many of the inmates had been driven bv drink into the houses.—Mr T. P. Roberts said, as an abstainer, he did not desire to be a bigot, and he did not feel justified in refusing the poor fellows in the House a glass of beer on Christmas Day.—Four votes were given for the amendment, which was lost by a large majority.—Mr Rigby then moved that he be allowed to send half a cask of beer into the House. He did not believe in intemperance any more than anyone else, but if a glass uf beer were given to the inmates at Christmas, they not possibly come to any harm.—Mr E. P. Jones seconded.—Mr John Roberts said he could recollect the time when fifteen years ago there was some bother in the House owing to the Christmas beer. It was not well that anyone should take beer into such an institution as that.—Mr Rigby said he had no wish to cause any bother, but that was a mere matter of re.-alation.-The matter was re- jected.

The Home Secretary was engaged last week, and will be engaged agtin during the present week, in considering the mass of evidence submitted to him bv the friends of Mrs Maybrick for the purpose of establishing her innocence. X THE POSITIVE CORN CURE. X Ensures destruction as certain as the day dawns. lOd per pbial. la per post. J. F. EDISBURY THE NORTH WALES PHARMACY. WBEXHAJI 808

Colonial and Foreign News. j According to a telegram from Christiana, the wife of Dr Nansen, who is living there, has received favourable news of her husband, a brief message having been brought south by a carrier pigeon. The expedition is stated to be doing well. Mr Higginson, a wealthy Boston banker, has set a new precedent by cabling 100,000 dollars to his young and pretty wife, who recently eloped to Genoa with an admirer. He explains his curious liberality by saying he does not wish his wife to starve. At the close of the sitting of the French Chamber, Ion Friday, when most of the deputies had left, a man in the public gallery fired a, shot from a revolver in the direction of the diplomatic tribune. He was arrested and taken to the Questor's office, where his replies tended to show that be was demented. The Empire State expre3s train on the New York Central Railroad, running under the new schedule, succeeded in completing the distance between New York and Buffalo in 495 minutes, being an average speed of 63-33 miles per hour. It is intended to con- .1- ,n'n. n.ln .11 .ol'tn.a tlllUC bUia SCJ. YJ'C, ,un. CALVCU9 au t'.LçY.l.vu.a AVWVlUkJj daily. During the debate on the Agricultural Estimates in the Chamber of Deputies the Abbe Lemire demanded the suppression of the pari mutuel system of betting on racecourses as immoral. The Minister of Agriculture replied that a portion of the profits of this system was devoted to philanthropic insti- tutions. The Abbe's proposal was rejected by 382 to 99 votes. A number of provincial governors invited to St. Petersburg will =y confer together on the mea- sure depriving the village courts in Russia of the power to inflict corporal punishment, and on the best means of combating the enormous increase of drunkenness among the lower orders. It is believed that the young Empress is deeply interested in temperance reform in Russia. The spectacle of an Englishman gone stark mad in Paris is rare enough to be worth narrating. On Fri- day the passers-by were amazed to see a well but oddly dressed man walking round the Vendome Column ringing a. large bell and singing British patriotic ditties. The police took him to the Com- missary, where it was discovered that the lunatic was a Mr Samuel Green, aged fifty-five, who announced that he was the new British Ambassador. A sensational case is at present occupying the attention of the Antwerp police. An elderly mer- chant became enamoured of a girl in a humble rank of life, and on the eve of his marriage, died suddenly, after making over to his fiancee the bulk of his worldly belongings. The cause of death was stated to be apoplexy. An anonymous letter has recently reached the Public Prosecutor stating that the deceased had been poisoned and this, in connection with other facts which have since come to light, has induced the authorities to issue an order for the exhumation of the body. Strenuous efforts are being made to maintain Herr von Roller, the Prussian Minister of Justice, in his position. In ordering the suppression of the Anti- Socialist Committee, the Minister is reported to have acted with the full knowledge of the Emperor, who has not yet accepted his resignation. It is stated that should he determine not to do so, Prince von Hohenlohe, the Chancellor, will himself resign, and the whole Cabinet with him. Her von Roller has resigned, and the Emperor has awarded him exceptional honours. Amid mnch corruption it is refreshing to find a statesman who quietly steps down from power to positive penury. M. Hanotaux, when he gave up his portfolio of Foreign Affairs, was reduced to the position of full private." For three years, it is true —unless he be made an Ambassador—he will receive a small indemnity as Minister Plenipotentiary. But from the pa!a,^ial apartments of the Quai d'Orsay he has retired to his little third floor apartment in the Boulevard St. Germain, where he will write for reviews, and continue his loving and erudite study of Richelieu. M. Spuller, another ex-Foreign Minister, lives just in the same fashion in something of a garret in the Kue r avart. Renter's agency understands that the dispatch of the British Government in response to the repre- sentations of the United States with regard to Vene- zuela, discusses at length the history of the question during the past forty years, and intimates that Great Britain does not depart from iier determination to regard the Schomberg line as the boundary of the minimum of territory which she possesses in those regions. A telegram from Caracas states that the British Government has demanded from Venezuela an indemnity of E12,000, which will be refused. It is understood that the United States Government has advised Venezuela to deal in a conciliatory manner with Great Britain's demands. Early in this year an attempt was made to give practical effect to a modification of Mr Chamberlain's idea of securing Colonial trade for British producers. Mr Cecil Rhodes and the Premier of Canada, finding themselves in London together, had an interview, at which proposals were discussed for an interchange on special terms of commodities produced by the two Colonies. Canada was to admit Cape wines within its territory at specially favoured Customs rates, Cape Colony, in return, undertaking to establish preferential rates for Canadian wood. The progress of the bargaining was interrupted by the sudden death of the Canadian Premier. But it is not prob- able that Mr Rhodes has finally lost sight of a scheme to which he looked for substantial benefits accruing to both Colonies. The Italian forces in Abyssinia seem to have met with a severe check at the hands of the Emperor Menelik. A native corps under Major Toselli, which occupied an exposed position, was surprised and overwhelmed by a large force, and it is to be feared that the gallant officer and the greater part of his detachment have fallen, General Arimondi, who was on his way to join Toselli, when the disaster occurred, gathered the fugitives together into a strong position, and the Commander-in-Chief was also advancing rapidly to meet the Shoan armry. In the Italian Chamber on Monday the War Minister said the reverse was serious, but it could easily be retrieved. The House expressed unanimous and even enthusiastic confidence in the army. THE ASHANTEE EXPEDITION. The special service corps for Ashanti, before leaving Aldershot on Saturday morning to embark on board the Coromandel, was inspected by the Duke of Connaught, who addressed the men in a brief speech. Princess Henry of Battenberg was present to bid good-bye to her husband, who goes with the expedi- tion. At the Royal Albert Docks the men were asain inspected by Lord Wolseley, Commander-in- Chief, and the Coromandel also underwent close in- spection. The steamer sailed on Sunday morning. The Angola, with the head of the Ashanti column oa board, arrived at Cape Coast Castle on Saturday. Rumours have reached the town from the interior that Prempeh has been deposed, and that the Queen Mother has been installed in his place. The Governor has heard nothing confirmatory of the re- port that the King was willing to make his sub- mission. Telegraphing from Cape Coast Gastle on Monday, the Ashanti expedition correspondent describe the departure of 4,000 carries with supplies for the Ashanti expedition. The eighty miles to Praheu are to be covered in four days. TURKEY AND THE POWERS. A Constantinople correspondent stated on Friday, that the Sultan has been unofficially informed of the possibility of the passage through the Dardanelles being forced, in the event of his continued opposition in the question of the guardships. Said Pasha, who had been requested by the Sultan to remain at Yildiz Kiosque has refused, and sought the hospitality of the British Embassy, where he now is. A Constantinople correspondent, telegraphing on Saturday, states that Said Pacha remains a guest at the British Embassy. It is believed, however, that as a result of the negotiations which have passed be- tween him and the Sultan's messengers, he is likely to leave voluntarily, although it may be only under the guarantee of all the Powers. The correspondent learns that the immediate cause of Said's flight was a request on the part of the Sultan that he should re- move his wife and child to the Palace, the intention being, it is believed, that they should be detained as hostages for his own conduct. Since Wednesday the Embassy has been closely watched by spies, and the British gunboats Cockatrice and Imogene were throughout Thursday night surrounded by small boats the object of these measures, against which Sir Philip Currie has lodged a protest at the Porte, being presumably to prevent the secret departure and embarkation of the fugitive ex-minister. M. Nelidoff, the Russian Ambassador, has had an audience of the Sultan, at which he delivered to him a message from the Czar. It is now stated that further steps on the part of the Powers in the ques- tion of the guardships have been delayed, owing to the hesitation of Russia, and that the effect of this Imperial message will appear in the prompt solution of the difficulty. The Governor of Hadjin, who was removed from his post through the representations of the United States Minister, has been made Governor of Tarsus, the change being generally re- garded as a promotion. The Sultan has given way to the demands of the Powers on the question of the admission of additional guardships, and the necessary permission for the passage of the Straits, for which Europe has been waiting so long, has been given. Simultaneously with this news comes detailed accounts of the frightful massacres at Bitlis and the neighbourhood, where the Turkish Nana Sahab are committing atrocities which rival if they do not surpass the horrors of Cawnpore and Delhi. One of the reporters sums up the situa. tion in these words Everywhere massacre, pillage, and famine, fire, and rigours of winter are exter- minating the population." Said Pasha, the ex-Grand Vizier, left the British Embassy at Constantinople on Monday evening, and returned to his residence. The situation otherwise remains unchanged. News from Constantinople, on Wednesday, was to the effect that H.M.S. Dryad, the second guardship for whose "passage through the Dardanelles authority has been given by the Sultan, arrived there on Thursday, and that the gunboats of each of the Powers will enter the Bosphorou3 at different times in order to avoid the semblance of a demonstra- ion.

Errs's COCOA.—GRATEFUL AXD COMFORTING.—"By a thorough knowledge of the natural iaws which gov ern the operation of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well- selected COCOA, Mr Epps has provided for our break- fast and supper a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitu- tion may be gradually built up until strong enoqgh to resist every tendancy to disease. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fortified with pure blood and a properly nourished frame. Civil Service Ga.ctte.VLade simply with boiling water or milk.—Sold only in packets, by Grocers, label] ecl-"JA'NfF S "Epps & Co., Homoeopathic Chem- ists, London."—Also makers of Epps's Cocoaine or Cocoa-Nib Extract: A thin beverage of full flavour, now with many beneficially taking the place of tea. Its active principal being a gentle nerve stimulant supplies the needed energy without unduly exciting tke systMi. 729

I Capital and Labour. The Daily News says :-The time for renewing the longer class of coal contract is fast approaching, and every day a stronger disinclination is manifested on the part of colliery owners to enter into contracts of longer duration than six months. The Conciliation Board agreement expires in the spring, and there now seems every prospect of a demand for increased wages from the miners. This constitutes the uncer- tain element of the situation, and it is no doubt the reason for the curtailment of the usual yearly con- tracts. In any case it is understood the prices are sure to be increased. Trade is steadily improving on every hand, and the demand for coke is in excess of supply. Prices are also proportionately rising. There being instances of advances of 2s 6d on coke, no intelligence of concerted action on the part of coal owners in regard to prices or contracts is to hand, but important developments are expected next week. A Koubaix correspondent of the JJaily Ne/os makes the following remarks on the possibilities of creating industries in the rural districts :-The rise of many small industries in the French and Swiss Jura, such as pill boxes, clock cases, wooden pipes, spectacles, paste diamonds, and fine files, was due a few generations ago the necessity of the mountaineers to establish some industry, or emigrate (at a time when emigration was neither easy or popular), in a region destitute of coal and almost of roads, all these trades being established, because the soil of itself could not support the population. Can this be said of England? In striking contrast to the wholesale desertion of the land here, we may note, in glancing at Switzerland, that about 1706 clock and watch-making was first introduced into La Chenit, one of the three com- munes of La Vallee, the population then being 160. Now it is something like 7,000, and one of the most prosperous in Switzerland. The rise of the ribbon trade in Basle, now an ex- tremely large one, dates back only from 1850. This correspondent is of opinion that the tendency to shorten hours in this country has inspired more apprehension than is necessary, an excellent national characteristic, he says, not having been sufficiently taken into account: While long hours and low wages prevail abroad, the action of the trade unionists of Great Britain for shortening the hours of labour, would, at first sight, seem to be placing us at a great disadvantage. But," writes our correspondent, I have that faith in my countrymen that it would not prove so, and if our manufactures were not handi- capped in other ways, we should not have much to fear on that score. The Frenchman's aptitude for seizing new ideas has been admitted. But in his ordinary daily occupation-say at the loom-he pur- sues his task with tolerable vigour for the first hour or two, then slackens his pace, and towards the end of the day falls into a snail's pace. The Englishman. on the other hand, will pursue his job continuously and indomitably at the same pace all the day long, till it closes. We have had ample proof of this in the heavy work necessary to be. done in the construction of railways abroad, where labour was to be had cheaply enough, bmt could not vie with the highly- paid work performed by the navvies exported from Great Britain, whom the railway contractors found it cheaper to hire and send from England rather than avail themselves of the abundant native labour at hand. Even an agricultural labourer in England would get through as much work in a day-tli.sduto hard work-as four of the small cultivators of France compass, who mostly endeavour to saddle their women folk with the most laborious and disagreeable work of the field, such as spreading manure, &c. English masters in seasons of difficulty, in manv instances, only resort to the vulgar expedient of lowering the wages of their workmen, instead of aim- ing at a higher standard of production to get out of an unprofitable I rut.' Anything fresh, new or superior always commands a full price. The hoine market is always ready to take up anything new, and it is in this direction that we must look in the future for supremacy in manufactures—at all events in the textile trades." I SHIPBUILDING DISPUTE. I A conference was held in Glasgow, on Tuesday, between Special Committees representing the em- ployers and men involved in the Belfast and Clyde shipbuilding dispute. Lord James of Hereford pre- sided, and with him were Sir James Bell, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and Sir William M'Cammond, ex-Lord Mayer of Belfast. The conference was held in private, and was adjourned to Wednesday. As a result of the two days' conference of the representatives of employers and men concerned in the shipbuilding strike, held in Glasgow, under the chairmanship of Lord James of Hereford, an official report was issued on Wednesday, which gives parti- culars of terms offered on behalf of the masters and operatives respectively, in regard to which the two sides were unable to arrive at any definite agree- ment; but the men's delegates consented to submit the employers' offers to a decision by ballot of the operatives of the Clyde and Belfast respectively. The conference was therefore adjourned to enable the ballot to be taken.

MOLD SCHOOL BOARD. I The last meeting of the old Board took place on Monday, when there were present Messrs H. Llovd Jones, in the chair R. Prince, J. Peters, C. P. Morgan, and the Rev. E. M. Roderick. The Cierk prepared the triennial report, a resume of which appears below. It was decided to refer it to the new Board, which is to meet on Monday.—The Vice- Chairman, Mr Lloyd Jones, then said that as that was their last meeting they ought not to let the op- portunity pass without passing a vote of thanks to their chairman, Mr Catherall. He had served for twenty-one years uninterrnptedly-twelve years as vice-chairman, and then on the death of the Rev. Roger Edwards, for nine years as chairman. He had always taken much interest in the work of the Board, and conducted the business with invariable courtesy. He was unable to be present with them that day owing to an inflamed eye, r-nd the least they could do was to acknowledge his long and devoted services.—Mr Prince seconded the resolu- tion, saying they would much miss his genial face at the new Board, and his general suavity.—The vote was then agreed to.—The Vice-Chairman then pro- posed that a vote of thanks should be passed to the retiring members of the Board—Messrs Ll. Eaton, J. Peters, C. P. Morgan, and J. Howard, which was seconded by the Vicar.—Mr Morgan, in responding, said he had served on the Board for twelve years, and left it with regret, but as the meetings were held at an hour when he could not attend, he felt himself compelled to retire.—Mr Peters said they were two parties, but in practice he never saw but one, all of them being equally anxious to perform their work with efficiency. He thanked th"!m for the vote, as well as for the courtesy, which had always character- ised their dealings. Hehoped the business of the future Board would be conducted as amicably and as agree- ably as theirs had been don e.-The Vice-Chairmitll then moved a vote of thanks to the Clerk, as an acknowledgement of the highly efficient manner in which he had performed the duties, which was seconded by Mr Morgan, and agreed to.-A vote of thanks to the Vice-chairman, and seconded by Mr Peters, brought the business to at end. The report, to which reference was made above, stated that the accommodation the three Board Schools is 1,381', and at the seven voluntary schools 1,562, a total of 2,943. The figures were taken from the Blue Book of the Department, which showed an increase of accommodation for three in the Board Schools, and of fifty-five in the voluntary schools, as compared with three years ago. The clerk had com- puted that there were 2,580 children of school age in the parish, while the attendance was 2,391, sixty-five of whom came from other parishes, while 224 children from that parish attended schools in other parishes. Many also attended private schools. The average attendance was given by the Blue Book as 81"29— 3'57 better than three years ago. In October last the average attendance at the several schools were Mold Board: On books 511, attendance 367, per- centage 71'83; Buckley Board: 427, average attend- ance 315, percentage 73'79; Leeswood 183, average attendance 148, percentnge 80-87, or a total of 1,121, average attendance 830, percentage 7430. In the voluntary schools the figures for the same period were 1,261, average attendance 984, percentage78 03. This showed that the average attendance was still below the general standard, and showed there was much work to do, and the facts compelled him to state that the attendance committees at Mold, Buckley and Leeswood were very badly attended, some of the members never coming at all, while out of thirteen on the Mold committee, which had twenty-four attendances during the three years, not one had reached ten attendances. At Buckley, with twenty- seven meetings, Mr Peters headed the list with fifteen attendances, Mr Catherall coming next with twelve. At Leedswood, twelve meetings had been held, of which Mr Thomas Jones attended eleven times, and Mr W. Rogers ten times, other members very poor. During the three years he had not signed a single certificate for a half-timer, and had only signed one during the last nine years. With regard to the cost of education, Mr Roberts said that in December, 1892, the gross cost of maintenance in the Mold School wast829 19s; in December, 1893,.f939 6s4d; in December, 1894, X996 7s Oid. In 1892. the gros, cost of Buckley School was iE739 12s 8d; in 1893s iES51 17s lld; in 1894, iC790 3s 8d. Leeswood School in 1892, t395 lis 8id in 1893, .£396 10s 9d in 1894, JE514 13s 3d. Another and most striking way was to shew the cost of each child attending, from rates during the same period :-Mold, in the year 1892, 14s 9d per head in 1893, 19s Oid per head in 1894, 25s Hd per head. Buckley, in 1892, 22s 8d per head in 1893, 28s 4d per bead in 1894, 19s 7d per head. In Leeswood School in 1892, 26s 5d per head in 1893, 25s 7d per head in 1893, 38s 2d per head. During the same period, the cost per head from rates in Board Schools in England and Wales had been 18s 4Jd. In Mold it was 23s 2d, an excess of 4s 9N. In Wales only during the same period, the cost out of rates had been 14s 3id, a difference against Mold of 8s Ilid per head. But that at the same time, each child in the Mold Board Schools earned lid less in grants. During the same time, the gross cost had increased in Mold schools 3s 2d in Buckley school, 5s 6d in Leeswood school, 5s Bid, Mr Roberts goes on to speak of the causes of the increase, among which the salaries of teachers was from zCl,515 Is lid to XI,697 6s 3d, an increase of JE182 4s 4d. Also even- ing continuation schools costing about S25 out of the rates. The last item in the report was the attendance made by the members, when it was seen that Mr Lloyd Jones had made 60 ont of 72 possible, Mr Prince 59 out of 70, Mr Corbett (dead) 49 out of 54, Mr Catherall 41 out of 59, Mr Eaton 42 out of 72, Mr Peters 38 out of 55. Mr Morgan 22 out of 59, Mr Howard 15 out of 54, Mr Roderick 13 out of 15, and Mr Williams (dead) 12 out of 20.

CADBURY'S COCOA.—Cadbury's Cocoa. contains in a condensed and increased form all the nourishing pre- perties of the Cocoa Bean, the proportion of flesh forming ingredients being 21—as compared with 13— n natural Cocoa (Cocoa-nibs) and the meagre pre- portion of 16 in the ordinary Cocoas of Commerce- prepared with added Starch and Sugar. Cadbury's Cocoa is absolutely Pare and always alike in ^quality -The Analyst. 1546

Notes on the Arts. THF. WINDSOR MAGAZIKE CHRISTMAS NUMBER has about 150 octavo pages of capitally illustrated and very varied, interesting, and entertaining reading matter and with it is given a 64-page story by Dr. Conan Doyle in a separate book. Thus the Christ- mas number embraces altogether more than 200 attractive pages. The story by Conan Doyle is A Study in Scarlet (the first book about Sherlock Holmes), and of coarse it is replete with sensation. A feature is a Christmas carol specially composed by Mr F. H. Cowen. An article descriptive of how celebrities are photographed introduces some capital likenesses. THE LIVE STOCK JOURNAL ALMANACK for 1896 is much the largest of the series, its contents extending to about 350 pages, with numerous illustrations. The increased size has been utilised to give the publica- tion wider interest, though live stock-their breeds, management, exhibition, prices, and products-still furnish the ample bill of fare. Every important breed of horses, cattle, and sheep, has its special chronicler, an article by an expert being devoted to each of them. These summaries are all carefully and exhaustively written, and give at a glance the history of the variety for the year. They, with the breeders' tables, illustrations of prize winners, and statistics, form the permanent features of the almanac, and all that need be said concerning them is that they well maintain the high reputation of the annual. Lists of societies and fairs, &c., complete an almanac which is certainly handsome value for the shilling charged for it, considering that it is, perhaps, the bulkiest collection of high-class matter dealing with live stock that appears during the year. The publishers are Messrs Vinton and Co., Limited, 9, New Bridge-street, London, E.C. Mr Stead (says the Daily Chronicle) is about to follow up his very successful and admirable series of Penny Poets" by a series of Penny Novels." His view is that in order to wean the boy readers of penny dreadfuls" away from their appertising but exceedingly unwholesome dish, it is no use setting before them complete long novels-such as those of Scott, for instance-but they must have shorter books as spicy to good ends as those to which they are accustomed are for bad ends. Early in the New Year, therefore, a series of penny popular novels will begin with Mr Rider Haggard's She," the author and Messrs Longmans having given their consent. Dr. Edward Grieg-who is much better in health than he was a short time ago-has just produced at a concert of the Music Society of Copenhagen a new and important work for the orchestra. It is entitled Legende," and it is really a series of symphonic variations upon a Norwegian folk-song, witn which the Norwegian Ambassador to Paris furnished his distinguished compatriot. Dr. Grieg is now in winter quarters in Germany, where he proposes to remain until the spring.

RUABON PETTY SESSIONS. I FRIDAY.—Before Edmund Peel, Esq. (chairman), E. Hooson, and J. Lloyd Thomas, Esqrs. DRUNK IN HIS OWN PUBLIC HOUSE. P.S. Harvey charged James Haycocks, the land- lord of the Traveller's Rest, Jehnstown, with being drunk on his own premises.—The officer said that on November 26th he heard the defendant swearing inside the Inn. He went in and saw him sitting by the fireside. He was drunk. Witness said he was sorry to see that the defendant was drunk. The defendant replied, I know I am drunk. We all get drunk sometimes." Witness advised him to go to bed, and he got up and fell against the fire.pla.ce.- Mr Wynn Evans, who appeared for the defendant, said he must retire from the case. He had been misled by the defendant.-P.C. Reece gave corro bora- tive evidence.—The defendant said he had been for a load of hay, and was half asleep. He served several persons afterwards with drink.—The defend- ant called a man named Thomas Edge, his wife, and daughter, who said the defendant was not drunk.—Mr Wynn Evans said he had withdrawn from the case, and would say nothing about the merits of the case. The defendant had told him something, which, as a matter of fact, was untrue but he might say that the defendant had kept public houses for fourteen years, and this was the first charge against him.- The magistrates fined the defendant 103 and 12s 6d costs. UNJUST WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AT PONKEY AND I RHOS. & Mr .Noah Price, inspector of weights and measures, charged Joseph Owen, butcher, Sun Inn, Ponkey, with having in use a counter weighing machine, with a piece of iron weighing seven- teen drachms under the pan, on September 10th.— The defendant said he was not a butcher, he simply carried that business on for the sake of his son. He was perfectly ignorant of the matter. His son looked after the business, and was 18 years of age.—The magistrates fined defendant il and costs, and ordered the machine, worth El 8s, to be forfeited. -Mr Price charged Martha Jones, grocer, Bank- street, Ponkey, with having in her possession for use for trade a certain counter machine, on September 10th, and which was unjust to the extent of twenty drachms. Mr Price said he condemned this machine as long ago as February, 1894.—The defendant said she was ignorant of the offence. She left the care of the machines to her assistant.—Defendant was fined 2s 6d and 8s 6d costs, and the machine was ordered to be forfeited.—Mr Price also charged Edward Richards, provision dealer, High-street, Rhos, with having unlawfully in use a beam scale which was un- just, and had been condemned by him in March, 1895.-The defendant said his son looked after the shop, and he did not know that the machine had been condemned.—The defendant was fined 10s and costs, and the scales were forfeited. TURNIP LIFTING.—CAUGHT BY A TELESCOPE. John Hughes, farmer, living at Dolydd, Cefn Mawr. charged Margaret Jorips, lodging-house keeper, Cefn Mawr, and her two sons, John Jones and Wm. Jones, and their cousin, John Henry Jones, with stealing turnips to the value of 5d.—P!c. Wil- liams said he was in plain cloth PS and watched the defendants. The complainant told him to watch, and he concealed himself with another officer. He searched the defendants and found tnirteen turnips on them, weighing 60 lbs.-The complainant said he saw, through a telescope, a number of persons taking the turnips and putting them into a basket. He gave information to the police.—The magistrates fined Wm. Jones (who had been employed by the defen- dant), 2s 6d and costs, and the other defendants were ordered to pav the costs. SCHOOL BOARD CASES. I Mr A. A. Roberts, school attendance officer for the Rhos District, applied for an attendance order in the case of the child of James Haycocks, landlord of the Traveller's Rest, Johnstown. The defendant had been summoned three times before. Granted.—A similar application was made by Mr Benjamin Pritchard, attendance officer for the Cefn District, against Elizabeth Bowen, High-street, Cefn. and this was also granted.-A number of persons were fined 5s including costs for not sending their children to school. A LENGTHY DRUNKEN LIST. P.C. Reece charged Enoch Davies, collier, Furnace Bank, Ponkey, with being drunk and disorderly at Rhos on November 25th. Defendant anmitted the offence, and was fined Is and costs.—P.C. D. Wil- liams charged John Hughes, plasterer, Monnt Pleasant, Cefn Mawr, with being drunk and dis- orderly on November 26th. Fined 23 6d and costs.— P.C. Rees charged John Griffiths, collier, Market- street, Rhos, with being drunk and wanting to fight on November 23rd. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—The same officer charged William Valentine, collier, High-street, Cefn Mawr, with being helplessly drunk on November 11th. A previous offence was proved against the defendant, and he was fined 5s and costs. —Daniel Jones, collier, Rhos, was charged on a warrant by P C. David Jones with being drunk and disorderly at Pant on 28th of September. Defendant was fined 18s including costs.—P.C. J. O. Williams charged Allen Evans, collier. Cefn Mawr. with being drunk and disorderly on November 16th. Fined 2s 6d and costs.—P.C. Reece charged Daniel Davies, collier, Hall-street, Rhos, with being drunk on November 25th. The officer said he saw the defend- ant coming staggering out of the Grapes I?n 0 Fined Is and costs.—P.S. Harvey charged Price Jones, collier, Copperas, Penycae, with a similar offence on Sunday, November 17th. Fined Is and costs. STORY OF A GUN. -_u P.C. J. O. Williams charged William Evans, Queen-street, Cefn Mawr. with having unlawfully a loaded gun and powder flask in his possession.—The officer said that at 5.45 p.m. on November 19th he met the defendant. He suspected him and searched him. He found a gun loaded with shot and a powder flask in his pocket. The defendant was in a lane close to a cover. The defendant told him he bought the gun the other day, and that there were no shots in it.—The defendant said he only bought the gun the day before the policeman saw him. He was going to try the gun down a bye-road.—In reply to the Chairman, the defendant said he had not got a licence.—The magistrates decided to dismiss the case, the Chairman saying it was a very suspicions one, but they gave the defendant the benefit of any donbt there was in the case. A WREXHAM BICYCLIST S PERFORMANCE AT RHOS. P.C. Reece charged Bertham Millward, brick- maker, Ruabon-road, Wrexham, with riding in Rhos on December 3rd on a bicycle without a light.-The officer said he saw the defendant at 5.35 p.m. on December 3rd in Rho3. He had no light, and ran into a horse, and the defendant was knocked down. The horse took fright.—Defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs. REFUSING TO QUIT. I John Morris, landlord of the Buck Inn, Cefn Mawr, charged Edward Hughes, collier, Cefn Mawr, with refusing to quit.—The complainant said that on November 30th the defendant came to the inn drunk, and refused to go out. This was not the first time the defendant had kicked up a row.—The defendant was fined 5s and costs. AX IMPORTANT APPLICATION ADJOURNED. Mr John Lewis, the magistrates' clerk, said he wished to know whether the magistrates would make the County Hall, Wrexham, an occasional court for the division of Ruabon. He made this application because at present a Ruabon prisoner could not be sentenced at Wrexham. If a man was arrested at Wrexham, and the offence was committed in the Raabon division, the case" had to be sent there for trial. This entailed considerable hardship on the prisoners, police, and witnesses. If the magistrates granted his application it would facilitate matters considerably.—Mr Hooson suggested that the appli- cation should be made when a full bench of magi- strates were present, and this was agreed to.

CARTER'S LITTLE 1 LIVER PILLS. ITTLE kFILCn BmaJIFiU. Smill DOM. 'SmaU Price. [Forty in aj vial. Purely Vege- table. Care Torpid Liver, Bile, SaHow Complexion, and Sick Headaches promptly :'? ud cure them ao as to stay i OW" Cbemixb& 11. lid. J BEAUTIFUL TEETH for all -who use daily on the tooth brush a few drops of SOZODONT, the pleasantest dentifrice in the world. Qleanses the teeth and spaces between them as nothing else will. Sound and pearly white teeth, rosy lips, and fragrant breath ensured. Ask for auZODONT. 3LCC

I Ecclesiastical. The effort to remove the debt of £30,850 on the Weslevan Methodist Missionary Society have been so successful that n. surplus of £ 370 remains towards an additional E20,000 for which an appeal is made. Recently the Rev. Dr. Thain Davidson of Ealing was nominated as Moderator of the next English Presbyterian Synod. Unfortunately his health is such that his medical adviser does not consider the reverend gentleman is equal to the labour and excite- ment of the position. A largely attended meeting, representative of all religious denominations has been held in Portsmouth for the purpose of considering a proposal to present I some suitable testimonial to- Canon Jacob, vicar of Portsea, recently appointed to the See ■>f Newcastle. Last week a daily service was begun at Trinity Congregational Church, Glasgow, by the Rev. Dr. Hunter, and it will be continued for the ensuing six months. This is the only instance in which, at present, a daily devotional service is held in any of the Evangelical Nonconformist churches in Great Britain. At a meeting of the Everton Brow English Presbyterian Church, under the presidency of the newly elected pastor, the Rev. W. Wynn Davies, occasion was taken to recognise in substantial form the services of the Rev. R. G. Jones, who, by appointment of Presbytery, had taken charge of the church for twelve months previous to Mr Davies' settlement. The following have been appointed secretaries to the Church Congress, which will meet at Shrewsbury next year, on October 6th te 9th:—Clerical: The Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Revs. T. Auden. W. H. Draper. N. Poyntz, G. Royds; lay: Messrs Alfred DarLy, E. C. Peel, J. H. Sprott, W.H. Adnitt, and R. LI. Kenyon. Archdeacon Bather will act as clerical secretary for Hereford, and the Rev. Cecil Hook for St. Asaph, both of which neighbouring dioceses, as well as that of Lichfield, are showing great interest in the meeting, although the Congress practically invited itself to Shrewsbury. Alderman G. R. Lloyd will be treasurer. The first meeting of the Llandudno Free Church Council has been held, the Rev. C. T. Astley pre- siding. The following were elected officers:- President, the Rev. J. Raymond, vice-president, the Rev. H. Barrow-Williams, treasurer, Mr W. Evans, secretaries, the Rev. G. E. Catlin, and Mr W. A. Whiston. A resolution was carried rejoicing in the action taken by the Llandudno Urban District Council to exclude carriages from the stands on the Sabbath. The Rev. J. Raymond and Mr Whiston were appointed to wait upon the Rector asking him to join in supporting this application of the District Council. Mr W. Evans called attention to the fact that the Urban District Council were considering an expenditure of Z500 to S600 of public money on the construction of a road to what was essentially a Church burial ground, and that the money ought to go towards the purchase of a new cemetery for the town. A resolution was passed appointing the Rev. G. E. Catlin to bring before the next meeting full information as to what has been done by the Council in the matter.

RHOS PARISH COUNCIL. I At a meeting of this Council on Friday there were present Messrs E. Hooson (chairman), B. Williams (vice-chairman), H. D IVI-R, J. K. D. Davies, R. Pritchard, J. Bowen, J. Evans, W. Greene, W. Williams, with Messrs D. C. Owens (clerk), J. Rogers and T. Williams (overseers), and C. Wright (assistant overseer).—The Chairman drew attention to the great increase in the rttes, and said there was an increase in the total r:».tes of Is 8d in the R during the year. Is 4d or being on a rateable value of iE57,116 13s 6cl, hnnirht in £ 3.360, and 4d on a rateable value of £ 39.934 15s 81 brought in X664, making a total increase of £ 4,024. Allowing ten per cent. of the rates as the estimate of what they would probably lose, there was an increase in the contribu- tions in the previous year of £ 36 12s 6d. Mr Oswell Bury, the clerk to the guardians, had made a state- ment at the Board of Gaardians, in which he showed that the increase in the calls was JE600 odd. After the clerk had made the statement, he (the chairman) thought it was only proper that the Parish Council should have as complete a knowledge as possible of the increase in the rates. The Parish Council had now the control of the overseers, and they had the authority' to demand account of what was being done with the public money.—Mr Wright, the assis- tant overseer, said there had been considerable losses to the parish owing to the strike. There were appeals from the Wynnstay, Hafod, and Pant Collieries, and on account of Messrs Hughes and Lancaster's Works at Acrefair. There weie some losses as well on the highway rate, which brought the total losses on the rates up to 9965.-The Chairman asked why there was a balance on the right side last year ? Up to Lady Dav, 1895, there was a balance on the sanitary rate of zElOO odd in favour of the overseers, and on the poor rate of EI50. He proceeded to go through the receipts and payments up to Lady Day, 1895, which showed a balance dne to the overseers of X43 5s 6d.—Mr Wright asked where the Chairman got those figures? -The Chairman said they were the figures of the Assistant Overseer himself—the official figures presented to the guardians.—Mr Wright said they were totally wrong. He asked the Chairman to come and look at his figures as they had been audited. The figures presented were very confused. —The Chairman said he remembered Mr Wright mentioning something about the S43 5s 6d. Mr Wright accounted for JE965 which were the losses during the year, but what reason could he give for the very large increase in the rate ?—Mr Williams said there was provision f ii- a much larger sum than X965. Mr Wright said there was zEl,000 to be paid to the School Boarn.-The Chairman said Mr Wright had demanded that in the 9d rate for the School Board, but leaving out the School Board rate, the highway rate, and the Burinl Board, there was still an estimated collection of £ 3,510 5s 6d to be accounted for, when the calls were only £ 2.952.—Mr Wright said if they added 170 and £ 388 5s 6d, which were asked for for Hua.bon parish, then they had the estimated collection. It could be accounted for in this manner, that the calls were not made until late in the year. If they had had the calls in time they could have lowered the rates in Ruabon parish.—The Chairman said what he maintained was this, that the estimated collection for the whole of the parish came to £ 1.530 8s lid more than the calls for the Union rates. -Mr Wright said he had accounted for S965.-Tlie Chairman said there won'd still be a balance of 1600 nfter allowing for that.—Air Wright said there was the sum of £1.000 rlnp to the School Board, tnd S,100 to Mr Burv.—The Chairman said he did not see what that fl.003 for 11", School Board was, seeing that the enll wis £ 1,700 la't rear. The parish paid that sum. hut Q-iiie other authority got a proportion of what the School Board ought to have received. A 9d rate '.vis sufficient for the School Board last year.- He did not want it to he said that they were askimg for more than wa- dns to them last yetr.-I,lr Boxven said Mr Thomas Williams gave them figures at the lost mppting to show that the calls of the Union were S-45 less than in the previous year, so that they could not undesstind how the rates were 8d in the £ more than the previous year. Mr Wright said he had nothing to tell them on that point. They could come down and examine his books if they chose. He could not account for anybody else's figures. Mr Williams asked whether Mr Wright, in making the demand notes, had called for a sum to make up more than the X965 deficiency.—Mr Wright said in addition to the can for the School Board for XI,700, for this year they hnd to include in the estimated collection another £ 1.000, which ought to have been received by the School Board the previous year.-The Chairman I hope so. That is certainly some explan,.ition.-Ilr Wright aid during the lust vear the calls of the School Board were for £ 1,700. The overseers paid them £700, and there was still £1.000 to be made up, and Mr Bury wanted XIOO. -Itr Bowen said it was still a mvstery why the rates should be increased bv 8d in the X, while the Union calls were less hy £ 45. —The Chairman said that as far as they could gather from the books the balance due to the School Board was JE378. The £1.000 was a new thing altogether. There was a grievance which ought to be seriously considered. He did not like to use strong expressions, but it was neither just nor right that a balance due to the school, or to any other authority, should be devoted to purposes for which the ratepayers did not contribute. He did not think matters would come all right until each authority had a separate account. The present system was an expensive one for the School Board.—Mr Wright said they must have per- mission from the Local Government Board, and from the auditor, to change the present system.—The Chairman said he could not see what the Local Government Board had to do with the matter; it was merely a question of book-keeping. He thought the Local Government Board should be approached Em the matter.—Mr Bowen said the other questions were still unexplained. The rates had been increased by almost one-third, and there was no call to account for the increase.—The Chair- man suggested that Mr Wright should endeavour to get in payments earlier this year than last, and he thought June would be the best time.—It was de- cided to communicate with the Local Government Board, and the Chairman and Mr John Evans were appointed to inspect the books, and to report thereon. Messrs. R. Williams, R. Pritchard, and John Evans reported as to the committee on charities held at Ruabon. The resolutions passed by the committee were as follows :—(a) That we recommend the four Parish Councils to accept the division of the charities as agreed upon between the Vicar and representatives of the four parishes, according to the published list." (h) That the Joint Committee suggests to the Vicars and representatives of the Parish Councils in each parish should meet in the various parishes to decide upon the recipients of the parochial charities." —A discussion took place, and eventually, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr J. S. Jones, the Council passed the following resolution That the Rhos Parish Council for the present year agree to the division of the charities of Kuabon parish as proposed by the Joint Committee, but at the same time maintain thai some thorough investigation should be made with a view to classify the whole of the charities for the parish of Ruabon.It was also decided to invite the Vicar, the Rev. T. Pritchard. to attend a special meeting at the Public Hall on De- cember 13th, to select the recipients of the parochial charities.

WARNING.—When you ask for RECKITT'S I BLUE see that you get it. The manufacturers beg to caution the public against imitation square Blue, of very inferior quality. The Paris Blue in squares is sold in wrappers bearing their name and Trade Mark. Refuse all others. 1546z A neglected cold-a persistent cough—slight spitting of blood-wasting-death. This is the latter history of too many in our climate. Wear a chest protector. We h:we a large stock of these at reasonable prices. Take Cod Liver Oil. Our oil is noted for its absolute purity. It can be digested by anyone. If a cough is troubling you, take Rowlands's Marshmallows." It heals the lungs. :lI.d contains no poisonous drug.— L. ROWLAND & Co., Chemists, High-street, Wrex- ham (and Ruabon.) Oldest established chemists in Wrexham. 794e

I Our Friendly Societies. G.U.O.F.—A general meeting of the Ancient Briton's Lodge was held in the Presbyterian School- room, Cefn-y-bedd, on Friday evening, Brother Levi Cotterill presiding. There was a large attendance of members. The Chairman drew attention to the Act of Parliament that would come into force on the 1st January, 1896, which provided that no secretary should be trustee, and that no trustee should be secretary of a society. Their present secretary held the dual office of secretary and trustee, and had resolved to give up the office of secretary, but he wished to retain that of trustee. This would neces- sitate the election of a new secretary. Another imDortant mattp.r nnnM hp tVie consideration of the revised rules, these having engaged the earnest atten- tion of of Brothers T. Cotteril, H. D. Davies, and J. O. Smallwood, and the revising committee for some considerable time past. Brother H. D. Davies, rsad the alterations, Brother Cotterill gave explanations, and there was considerable discussion, but in the end the alterations were agreed to en bloc, subject to the revision of the Registrar for Friendly Societies. The chief alterations embodied the granting of funeral ?. money to children up to thirteen ye?rs of age instead of ten years. Increased benents, in pro- portion, to those who have not received sick pay for ten or twenty years. The election of a new secre- tary was conducted by ballot, Brothers A. P. Johnson, of Bridgend, and J. 0. Smailwood, of Cymmau Hall being the candidates. Brother John- son was declared elected. Much regret is expressed at the retirement of Brother Thomas Cotterill, District Master. He has been an energetic and painstaking secretary.

THE "TRADE" AND TEETOTAL MAGISTRATES. WELSH GRIEVANCES. A meeting of delegates from the retail associtions in the Cheshire, Shropshire, and North Wales Dis- trict of the National Defence Fund was held at Chester on Friday afternoon. Mr F. W. Soames, Wrexham, presided, and there was a good attend- ance. The Chairman congratulated them, as mem- bers of a very important trade, upon the result of the general election. He did not say that all the credit was due to them, but he was quite certain that on this occasion, when they were organised, as they never were before, they had a vast influence in determining very many elections. He impressed upon them the advisability of not relaxing their efforts in the future.-Mr E. Denman, Birkeubead, in presenting the district report, said he thought the balk of the electors at the last election voted as they did because they disliked the Local Veco Bill, and not because they were so much the friends of the trade. He did not think the opinion of the country had materially altered with regard to com- pensation and other vital questions, so they therefore must not relax their efforts.—Mr J. Gregson, Bangor, proposed the adoption of the report.—Mr Walmslev. Stookport, in seconding, commented on the injustice of preventing magistrates who were in the slightest degree connected with the drink traffic from adjudicating on licensing cases, and allowing rabid teetotallers to adjudicate on those cases.—Mr T. Kirk, Northwich, complained of police espionage.— The Chairman said the matter was one to be dealt with locally. They suffered very much in Wales from this sort of thing until representations were made to the proper quarter. What publicans wanted was that the Act of Parliament should be carried out in a fair and proper way.—Mr Downes said the Whitchurch police had been round to the publicans who had pianos in their houses, and had ordered them not to allow them to be played. The local committee of the fund, however, had advised the publicans to continue playing them, and let the police prosecute them. They were advised that unless the local authority had adopted the Public Health Amendment Act music licences were not necessary.—The report having been adopted, Mr J. M'Leary, Birkenhead. proposed :—" That this meet- ing is emphatically of opinion that inasmuch as justices having a pecuniary interest in the sale of intoxicating liquor are disqualified from adjudicating on licensing questions, it is just and expedient that a like disqualification should be extended to justices who are admittedly interested in the suppression of intoxicating liquor."—Mr C. Edwards, Ludlow. seconded the motion.—Mr John R. Rae (district agent), said the grievance was a genuine one. There was one favoured place in Carnarvonshire, and that was Llandudno, where the teetotallers complained that the Bench did not refuse licences as they ought to do. He hoped they would take up the question warmly. He contended that a man who subscribed to the United Kingdom Alliance had no right to adjudicate on a licensing case, because that body advocated prohibition.—The resolution was carried unanimously.—The Chairman, in acknowledging a vote of thanks, exploded the fallacy that a tied house was the same as a managed house. He had a number of tied houses, which he let out and out, and his tenants paid a fair rent. The only tie was that his tenants bought beer from him on fair terms, so long as he supplied them with good wholesome beer. With that exception the whole of the tenants of his houses, large and small, were in exactly the same position as the tenants of the Duke of Westminster or Sir Watkin Williams Wynn. His (the Chairman's) tenants put their own money into the business, took the profits and the risks, and were in every way re- sponsible people. Managed houses, the other class of tied houses, existed chiefly in large towns, and at railway stations, such as Crewe, the business at such houses being under deputed management, and it could safely be said that the great majority of such establishments were admirably conducted and of great public convenience and utility. ————— A .—————

MOLD URBAN COUNCIL. The council met on Friday, when the following were present :—Messrs J. E. Davies (chairman), H. J. Roberts, W. Wright, F. OUiver, T. Parry, J. T. Morgans. J. B. Marston, R. Morris, G. H. Simon, and G. H. Bradley (clerk).—Councillor Oliver was elected to fill the vacancy on the Burials Committee, caused by the death of Mr Daniel Owen.—The Sanitary Committee recommended the re-appoint- ments of Dr. Edward Williams as medical officer to the council, at a salary of 125 per annum, and Mr Isaac Jones as inspector of nuisances, at an annual salary of S 2 5. Mr Marston, who reported, was pleased to say that there had been an absence of zymotic disease in the town during the past month.— The Clerk stated that in consequence of a complaint received, he wrote to Mr Thomas Jones, who had replied to the effect that slaughtering near the Catholic Schools had been done without his sanction. The Medical Officer had visited the place, and had reported that there were a few things that required to be done there before the licence could be granted. It was decided by the committee to grant the licence for one year only, but before that could be done it required the adoption of portions of the Public Health Act, 1892, so the matter would have to be deferred till the 19th December.—The Clerk reported his attendance at the inquiry at Buckley. He had objected to the Buckley proposals to transfer a por- tion of the Mold parish from the Holywell to the Hawardeu Union, or that if a portion would be trans- ferred that the whole should be. The opposition, however, was so great that he did not think it would be granted.—Councillor Thomas Parry said he would move at a later date that the Holywell Union be divided into two districts, oue for the Mold district, and the other for Holywell. He certainly thought that they should at all events give the matter their serious consideration. If they could not get trans- ferred to the Hawarden Union, sureiy the Holywell Union ought to be divided as he had suggested. It was scandalous, for instance, for people from Nerquis to travel all the way to Holywell.—Councillor Morris proposed that the matter be left in the hands of the Finance Committee, with the addition thereto of Councillors Marston and Eaton.—The Chairman said the question had more than one aspect. There was a question of finance, and also that of boundaries. Then again it was a terrible nuisance for people to have to go to Holywell when they wanted to appeal against their rates. The Mold people knew more about Mold property than the Holywell people did, and it should be the Mold people that ought to settle the Mold disputes. He had been informed by the overseers that whenever they raised an assessment, the Assessment Committee confirmed it, but the Holywell people did not support any lowering. Holy- well would not act according to the Mold overseers at all.—Mr Morris's proposition was agreed to.—The Chairman said he believed that a great number of people on Thursday afternoons availed themselves of a cheap train to Chester. In Chester the shops were all open, and there was no doubt that the people from Mold spent a lot of money there. That was right enough as far as it went, but he thought the Council should have its eyes open, and do something to get a corresponding advantage for the town. He suggested that representations be made to the Rail- way Company for cheap tickets to be issued to Mold, and also that the Council should get photographs of the district printed and advertised.—Councillor Roberts called the attention of the Council to the desirability of procuring a signboard, and placing it in a prominent position at the entrance of the Bailey Hill, to let people know that the grounds were open to the public. He knew for a fact that strangers coming into the town went up to the hill and turned back thinking it was a private place.—Councillor Wright supported the suggestions of the Chairman. He wanted to get people into the town, and did not care what day they came. (Laughter.)—Councillor Parry supported, and the matter was left in the hands of the clerk and the chairman.—Councillor Marston on behalf of the Mold Cosmopolitan Society, asked for the free use of the Town Hall should it be re- quired on Boxing Day. The idea was to give the poor people and the poor children of the town a dinner.—Councillor Roberts proposed that the appli- cation be granted.—Councillor Parry seconding, said that the hall could not be .better utilised. (Hear. hear.)—The application was unanimously agreed to-

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