Prestatyn Weekly

Billiards. At the Liberal Club a billiard handicap is now being played, in which a considerable amount of interest is being evinced by the members. The club seems to have taken a new lease of life, and it is at present the rendezvous of a considerable number of young men.

Fire Brigade. Mr W. Thomas (Surveyor) has presented a medal as 1st prize, and Messrs T. H. Jones and Co have promised second and third prizes, to the winners of a one-man drill competition by members of the local fire brigade. The prizes have to be won three times, and it is probable that the first competition will take place on the north side of the town on Satur- day afternoon.

NEW BUILDINGS. Spurt Amongst Prestatyn Builders. Extensive building operations are being carried out in the vicinity of Sandy Lane and Victoria Road, and the district is becoming quite a populous one. Mr Thomas Jones, J.P. (Chairman of the Council) is baving a new street formed leading from Sandy Lane in the direction of Victoria Road and which will be known as Gorphwysfa Avenue. Already four houses are being erected on the land, two of which are almost completed, and are already let. A little further in Sandy Lane Mr Cornelius Roberts is erecting a very neat bungalow for Mr Parkin, of Liverpool, while at the extreme end of the lane the same contractor has commenced to erect four more bungalows, the plans for which were placed before the last committee meeting of the Council. Further on in the same district 8 or 10 0 bungalows are being built for Mr Burt, these I being in Meliden parish.

Our Local Parliament BY A RATEPAYER. The Council are to be congratulated upon the stand they took in regard to the claims by a private owner for possession of the pin- fold, and the success which attended their decision. As trustees for the ratepayers and inhabitants, it is their duty to protect the property of the town. In this case they have succeeded in their contention, and it is under- stood that the whole of the costs have been paid by the plaintiff, consequently the rates will not suffer, and the plot of land will remain the property of the inhabitants, and the title to it will be enhanced as a result of the abortive proceedings in the County Court. The attendance of the present members of the Council at Committee and Council Meetings is highly commendable, at each meeting nearly all the members being present. In years gone by it was often difficult to get a quorum, but now the work goes on like clockwork. The councillors not only attend regularily, but they attend promptly, so that a minute or two only elapses, after the time fixed, before the business commences. It may be true that at some meetings there is more talk than needed, but still the minutes show that a substantial amount of business is got through. It can hardly be said that there is too much speech-making at the public Council Meetings for the reporters go away with a very meagre budget of news, and this is nearly all gathered from the minutes of the Committee Meetings read by the clerk, and confirmed by the Council without discussion. Evidently the members are not ambitious to shine in public, for they as a rule say all they have to say in private. The public are inclined to think this a disadvantage as they wish to know the views of their representatives. This absence of public discussion is due to the plan adopted during the past two years of placing all the members of the Council on all committees. This system may have the effect of carrying on the work more expeditiously, but is the means of keeping the ratepayers in the dark. They see what the result is but are sometimes disinclined to agree with it, while had they been acquainted with the arguements used they might have taken a favourable view.

TEMPERANCE MEETING. There was a good attendance at the monthly meeting of the local branch of the Church of England Temperance Society in the Church Room on Monday night. The Vicar presided, and after a few in- troductory remarks, Mr Booth Blain, of Meliden, read a short paper on temperance work. Mr E. T. Williams then gave a very in- structive and interesting lecture on alcohol. He proved very conclusively the deteriorating effect alcohol has on the system, diagrams being shewn depicting the various organs of a temperate man, and also those of a man addieted to alcohol. The lecturer dealt with his subject from a scientific point of view, and was able to place before his audience facts relating to the ravages caused by alcohol which had probably not previously been realised by many present. Experiments were conducted which proved that alcohol was entirely opposite in its effect to water. Statistics were also given which shewed how unfavourably beer, port, and brandy compared with eggs, bread, and milk as bone and flesh-forming and heat pro- ducing foods. At the conclusion Mr Williams was heartily thanked for his very able lecture.

C.M. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. District Meeting at Prestatyn. The, bi-monthly meeting of the C.M. Sunday Schools in the Rhuddlan District (comprising Prestatyn, Rhyl, Rhuddlan, Cefn, Waen, St. Asaph, Meliden, Cwm, Dyserth, etc.) was held at "Rehoboth" on Sunday, all the meetings being well-attended. Mr T. D. Jones, C.C., Rbyl, was president, Rev R. P. Hughes, Dyserth, catechist, and the secretarial duties had been carried out by Mr J. T. Davies, Tan-y-doii, Prestatyn. At 9 a.m. there was a meeting of delegates, 0 when Sunday School work in general was discussed. A public meeting was afterwards held, when verses were recited by several classes, the children being catechised by the Rev. R. P. Hughes. Papers on how to encourage Bible-reading were read by Mr W. J. Roberts, Rhuddlan, and Mr T. J. Hughes, Rhyl, Mr David Hughes, St. Asaph, also speaking on the subject. A similar meeting was held in the evening, the elder people taking part.

Mr W. H. Coward, J.P., who is one of the oldest and highly-respected members of the Prestatyn Council is, we regret to say, at present lying dangerously ill.

Chairs for the Church. When the new aisle at Christ Church was nearing completion, the Vicar made an appeal in the Parish Magazine for 150 new chairs for the aisle. In this month's issue it is announced that all the chairs have now been given. No one was personally asked for a single chair, the gifts being entirely spon- taneous. This speaks well for the generosity of the Churchpeople.

Joint Conference. On Wednesday evening a joint conference of the Welsh Wesleyan Methodist churches in Prestatyn was held at Horeb, when there was a full attendance. Among the matters under discussion were the relation of the young people to the churches, the weekly attendance at religious meetings, and various items in connection with pastoral visitation. The speakers dealt with their subjects in a practical and pointed manner.

Horeb Tea and Concert. The above is announced to take place on New Year's Day, and this annual event is usually well patronised. An enjoyable tea is promised, and arrangements are being made to promote a successful concert.

Advent Church Services. During Advent special services are being held in Christ Church, in English on Wednes- days, and Welsh on Thursdays. Special preachers are announced for all the services, and this week the pulpit was occupied by the Rev T. H. Vaughan, B.A., Vicar of Glyudyfr- dwy. at the English service, and Rev J. L. Williams, B.A., Dyserth, at tlieWelsh service. Some six years ago the Rev Mr Vaughau was one of the curates in Rhyl, at the same time as the present Vicar of Prestatyn held a similar appointment.

"REHOBOTH" TEA AND CONCERT. The annual tea and concert held by the members attending Rehoboth" is ack- nowledged to be one of the most successful events of its kind held in Prestatyn, and this year's gathering, which took place on Thurs- day, fully upheld its past reputation. In fact the attendance on this occasion is believed to have beaten previous records. The tea was held in the schoolroom, and the number of guests was so large that they had to be accommodated in sections. The tables were very tastefully laid out, and the com- pany sat down to a most generous "spread." Space will not permit us to mention all responsible for the success of the gathering, for a considerable number of ladies had done excellent work: selling tickets, collecting "trays," providing goods, etc., and others again were most attentive to the needs of the guests we merely give, therefore, the names of the four ladies who presided at the tables Mrs Ezra Jones, Mrs Lloyd Ellis, Mrs Lewis (Garfield House), and Mrs R. Williams (Rosslyn Terrace). The concert held later on in the evening consisted principally of the performance of Dr Stainer's cantata The Daughter of Jairus by a choir of about fifty voices, amongst whom were many prominent local vocalists, the solo parts being sustained by Miss Florence Jones (soprano), Mr R. E. Williams (tenor), and the Rev W. Lewys Davies (bass). The organist was Mr G. W. Jones, under whose able leadership the cantata was most effectively rendered. In his address the chairman said he consi- dered it would be an unwarrantable infliction if he asked them to listen to any speech of his after the beautiful music they had been treated to that evening. He felt sure that he was expressing the feeling of all present when he said that they had had a musical treat of a very high order. The Rev Ezra Jones announced that a gentleman from Rhyl who was unable to be present had sent a guinea towards the funds. The rev. gentleman then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to all who had done their share in bringing the gathering to such a successful issue, including the chairman, and spoke of the sacred concert as being one of the best given in Prestatyn during the past 30 years. Mr H. R. Hughes seconded the Rev Ezra 0 Jones' remarks, and the vote was carried. Several miscellaneous items were then given Miss F. Jones contributing a solo There is a green hill and a violin piece Largo. Mr T H Jones' solo" Gwnewch i mi feddrod" was well rendered, as also was Jerusalem by Mr J. Williams, the Rev W. Lewys Davies giving also the bass solo Nazareth." An organ piece by Mr G. W. Jones completed the programme, and the audience dispersed after singing the doxology. The secretarial work connected with the tea and concert was undertaken by Messrs. T. H. Jones and J. T. Davies.

The New Prime Minister. At the age of 69 Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman becomes Prime Minister of England. There was no hesitation on the part of the King or Country in singling him out as the man for the position. From the time he assumed the leadeisliip of the Liberal Party, on the retirement of Sir William Harcourt, he has rapidly risen in the estimation of his party, and, I may safely say, in the estimation of the country generally, and his appointment in unchallenged. The period of his leadership in opposition has been a trying one, but it has proved him to be a man of courage, of high principle, and of prudence. The prophets have been busy allocating the great offices of state to their favourites, and it is satisfactory to find that the choice, in almost every case, falls upon the same set of men Sir Edward Grey, Mr Asquith. Mr John Morley, Sir Robert Reid, Mr Lloyd George, Mr Herbert Gladstone, Mr Bryce, and Lord Tweedmoutli, it is confidently pre- dicted will be among those who will be offered a seat in the Cabinet. Welshmen are glad to find that the rumour of Mr Lloyd George's demise was "greatly exaggerated."

Lord Rosebery. It is to be regretted that Lord Rosebery will not be a member of the new government, and that he will still plough his lonely furrow. His proud nature must feel keenly that his manifesto to C.-B. was so little heeded. He has often of late spoken of the necessity for reforming the House of Lords in order to make it more representative of the feeling and the wishes of the nation at large. I wonder whether the government can count upon his stipport in the House of Lords ? It looks to-day as if he had cut himself adrift from again holding office in a Liberal 0 9 government.

Prime Minister's Precedence. The "Gazette" this week intimates that the King has now laid it down that the Prime Minister shall have place and pre- cedence next after the Archbishop of York.

The Welshman's Humility. The other day I was, aDd not for the first time, struck by the airs an Englishman assumed in speaking to a very respectable Welshman who happened to be little less versed than himself in the English language, and I was still further surprised at the great forbearance of the Welshman.

Dyserth Waterfalls. Many are surprised that there is no sign- board yet in Prestatyn Station intimating the position of the platform for the Prestatyn- Dyseith Railway, and especially drawing at- tention to the fact that it is the railway leading to the Dyserth W at erf alls. I believe the Railway Company, if approached, would place such a board there, or allow the Council to do so.

Evan Roberts. A revival meeting was held at Pwllheli on Tuesday night, at which Evan Roberts was present. The meeting lasted five hours. The people assembled were very excited, and gave vent to their feelings. The genuine remorse of the real convert could, however, we are informed, only be detected in a few instances. Mr Evan Roberts sat through this meeting without uttering a word.

THE FUTURE OF TALACRE SCHOOLS. To the Editor of the "Prestatyn Weekly." DEAR SIR,- Will you kindly correct the wording of a sentence respecting the trust deed of Talacre Schools, in the letter which appeared last week, and which should read as follows :—" Lady Mostyn was obliged when in London to refuse for Sir Pyers the Flint- shire County Council as tenants of Talacre Schools, on account of certain clauses in the original trust deed." At the urgent request of Sir Pyers' tenants he hopes to open the upper boys' school as soon as the negociations for a master are com- pleted. The name of Mr Watkin Williams, brother of Mr T. Parry Williams, district councillor of Prestatyn, is mentioned in con- nection with the post of schoolmaster, whose charge will be the upper standards, to be taught separately in the higher room. After 20th January, Miss Wood will take the present girls' school for the Catholic scholars. Cookery lessons and needlework will be features of Talacre Schools in the future, which will retain ample accommodation for the 100 children to be found on the Gwespyr hills, the schools being open to the public, although the £ s d is to be privately found. Yours faithfully, A. M. MOSTYN.

Telephone No. 3y3. Telegrams, "Jewell, Prestatyn." FRANK JEWELL & Co., Auctioneers, ESTATE AGE N T S AND VALUERS, Collectors of Income Tax. Sales by Auction of-,tll classes of Property. Valua- tions made for Probate, Mortgage, Transfer of Tenancy, and other purposes. Rents Collected and Properties Managed. Insurances effected in all the principal offices. Auction and Estate Office- HIGH STREET, PRESTATYN. J. LLOYD JONES. (From Clay and Abraham, Liverpool. Chvmists to the Queen). DISPENSING AND FAMILY CHYMIST. THE PHARMACY, PRESTATYN. Prescriptions carefully compounded under the per- sonal supervision of the Principal. Telephone No. 3yl. HOW DELICIOUS IT IS Is the delighted opinion ex- pressed or implied by all who try our Famous TELYJM TEA (REGISTERED) at 1/6, 18, and 2 per lb. SOLE AGENT W. J. Williams, The Stores. T. parru Williams & Go Painters. Decorators, and Glaziers. —o— Plain and Faasy Window Glass always in .Stock. i-i -D BRISTOL HOUSE, Prestatyn. FOR HIGH-CLASS Grocery & Provisions, Bread & Confectionery GO TO PROVINCIAL STORES (Corner of Nant Hall Road), Telephone 5x. PRESTATYN VAN DELIVERIES DAILY. A. W. JONES, Proprietor. THil CJIOFT MRS & MISS JONES Confectioners, IHGH STREET, PLLESTATYN. Boarding and Commercial House. Parties Catered for. Well-aired Beds. 'ft BULBS! BULBS 11 Large quantity Best Bulbs, true to name, at Low Prices. J. R. Tickle, CORN MERCHANT, Colomenfryn, Prestatyn, STORES PLAS BUILDINGS. HUGHES & WILLIAMS, Sewer & Road Contractors STAFFORD HOUSE, P11STJLTYH. Estimates Free. W. WILLIAMS & SON Monumental & General Masons, High Street. Prestatyn- RESIDENCE: 8, ROSLYN TERRACE.

In loving memory of my dear son, Peter Roberts, Gronant, who died December 8th, 1903, in his 24th year. Sadly missed by his father, brothers, and sisters.

REFERRING to the proposal which has lately been before the Council to arrange with the property owners of Marine Road to pay t278 towards putting the road in order, our attention has been called to the state- ment of a contributor in our issue of last week to the effect that if the above sum were forthcoming from the owners they might still be called upon to pay a further and larger amount to complete the road. We are now informed that the proposal was that if the property owners had provided the R278 the Council would have been prepared to adopt the road; which means, of course, that the owners would have had no further liability.

Recreation. The Lawn Tennis Club promoted last season by a few local enthusiasts was attended with a considerable amount of success, which shewed in a practical manner that such attractions are needed here. The courts which the club had last season will not be available for next year, it would therefore be well if those who take an interest in the matter were to begin to get their affairs in order immediately. There was a deal of talk last season regarding securing courts from Lady McLaren, but the tennis season was considerably advanced before anything was done. Those concerned should profit by this experience, and take time by the forelock. A bowling green was also spoken of, and if this can be secured it will doubtless prove a popular feature of the town.

Presbyterian Literary Society. A debate on Should Christians be non- smokers was to have taken place on Thurs- day night in connection with the above Society,-but it was decided to postpone it for a week in order not to clash with the Rehoboth meeting.

Evan Roberts. In our Welsh report of the meeting of the local Free Church Council it is announced that a deputation consisting of the Revs Ezra Jones, J. Kelly, Ben. Williams, M. F. Wynne, and Mr. Robt Jones, has been appointed to wait on Mr Evan R (berks, the evangelist, to try and secure his presence at Prestatyn.

Mr. Chamberlain. News from Birmingham this week says 'n that he will take an active part in the conting general election, but he will not address meetings outside the midlands.