Prestatyn Weekly

Telephone No. 3y3. Telegrams, "Jewell, Prestatyn." FRANK JEWELL & Co., Auctioneers, E S T A T E AGENTS AND V A L U E R S Collectors of Income Tax. Sales by Auction of all 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, Chymists to the Queen), DISPENSING AND FAMILY CHYMIST. THE PHARMACY, PRESTATYN. Prescriptions carefully compounded under the per- sonal supervision of the Pnncil d, Telephone No. 3yl. For Home-made N"M*& ff=swf& BREAD THAT WILL PLEASE THE MOST CRITICAL PALATE, GO TO WJWHHams THE STORES. A. E. WILLIAMS, Pastry Cook and Confectioner, HIGH STREET, PRESTATYN. Wedding & Christening Cakes made to order. Tea Rooms. Luncheon Rooms. Pic-Nic Parties catered for. T. parru Williams & Co Painters, Decorators, and Glaziers. -0- Plain and Fancy Window Glass always in Stock. 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. JIIORRIS DOWELL, DECORATOR, PAINTER, PAPERHANGER. GLAZIER, &c., HIGH STREET, PRESTATYN. Estimates Free and Satisfaction Guaranteed. Telephone 4x2 I. Errington, GLASS AND CHINA DEALER, TOBACCONIST, etc., IVY HOUSE, HIGH ST., PRESTATYN. High-class Chocolates. SS&YAOTB' !I€iSf&f\ HUGHES & WILLIAMS, Sewer & Road Contractors STAFFORD HOUSE, FRBSTATYH. Estimates Free. W. WILLIAMS & SON, Monumental El General Masons, High Street. Prestatyn. RESIDENCE 2, CAIRNS TERRACE.

Record of Coming Events. .Jan. 24th.—Christ Church Concert at Town Hall. With this issue the Prestatyn Weekly commences the third year of its existence as a record of local events, and as a medium for the interchange of ideas on current topics. During the past year the number of our readers in the district has steadily increased, and one of the effects of the circulation of this paper has been to bring the neighbouring villages into closer touch with Prestatyn itself. This is bound to be mutually beneficial. The motor railway, the idea of which originated in these columns, has been a great success, and a Newmarket extension is probable. It will be admitted that since the advent of this paper Prestatynitos know more of the sayings and doings of the people of the countryside than previously. This shall continue to have our attention. Wishing our readers a 0 VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Inaccessibility of Newmarket. Speaking of Newmarket it is certain that our means of communication would be greatly improved were a road with moderate gradients constructed between Prestatyn and New- market. Motor traffic by road is rapidly growing in favour, and the present means of getting from Prestatyn to the interior is both roundabout and difficult, the choice lying between Allt-y-Graig, past Dyserth Castle, and the road beyond upper Gronant—each of these roads being exceedingly steep. The miles of country lying between have no road worthy of the name. Our hillside at present is without form and void," and the praise- worthy efforts of private individuals to give some kind of shape to the landscape have not hitherto met with much success. Perhaps during the year we are now entering some project may be forthcoming for laying out our hillside in a picturesque manner, and at the same time forming a road which will be possible for vehicular traffic.

RAINFALL AT PRESTATYN. Local Record for 1906. We are indebted to Mr T. J. Scott, J.P., the respected chairman of the Prestatyn Council, for particulars of his record of the rainfall of the district during last year. January 5th must have been more than slightly damp, for twenty days of such rain as fell on that day would have been equal in quantity to the rainfall of the whole twelve months. July was the driest and January the wettest month. We talk of April showers, but there were ouiy four days in that month on which rain of any consequence fell—almost the least of any. Smiling May" was rather tearful last year, for rain (more or less) fell on two-thirds of the days of the flowery month. In this respect she was equalled only by October. August, as usual, contributed its full quota towards the year's total, rain having fallen on seventeen out of the thirty-one days, and in quantity more than June and July together. This, with a similar experience in previous years, should be an argument in favour of earlier summer holidays. The following table shews the rainfall for 0 each month, and other interesting particulars N umber of Total Greatest Fall Days with Month. Depth, in 24 hours. '01 or more Inches. Inches. Date. recorded. January 4-30 1-23 5th 15 February 1-98 -43 .19th 14 March 2-27 -60 .12th 10 April -76 -36 .22rd 4 May 2-94 -57 .8th 21 June 1-21 '56 .26th 9 July -61 -18 .13th 9 August 2-23 -39 .1st 17 September 1'08 *43 .13th 7 October 3-94 -83 .17th 21 November l'U3.ö5 .19th 13 December 2-50 -42 .15th 18 Total. 25-75 1-58

Watch-night Services. The watch-night service held at Trinity Church in the closing hours of the old year was very well attended, and short, suitable addresses were delivered by Mr Bowran, Revs W. Yeoman, F. Jewell, and Dr. Town- send. The meeting concluded a few minutes after midnight. A similar service was also held at St. John's Wesleyan Chapel.

Our Local Parliament BY A RATEPAYER. A short time ago a deputation was appoin- ted by the Council to wait upon Mr Home, the superintendent of the railway, to press for certain alterations and improvements in the passenger service, and it is understood that, without exactly pledging himself to anything, Mr Horne held out good hopes that one or two express trains would be added to the list of those already stopping at Prestatyn. One good point the deputation made was to supply Mr Horne with a list of those living in Pres- tatyn who take contract tickets. Inasmuch as nearly all these tickets are taken to Rhyl, it is possible that the company were not fully aware of the great number of those who every day travel from Prestatyn station and return in the evening. This list would pro- bably surprise the officials and, we may hope, will have a good effect. Owing to the liberality of Mr Burt in carrying out improvements suggested to him, the contamination of the stream from Meliden parish has now been stopped. This will prevent further irritation of certain members of the Rural District Council of St. Asaph. Some of the remarks made at a recent meet- ing of that body were not quite of the friendly tone which might have been expected, eman- ating as they did from a neighbouring body. For instance, one member asserted that Pres- tatyn Council wished to annex the Towyn portion of Meliden parish, and another eaid they (the Council) were getting in the thin end of the wedge. Both those members ignored the fact that two or three years ago the Local Government Board practically asked the Urban Council to take Towyn in, but a resolution was passed by that body declining to entertain the proposal.

Social at the Town Hall. Promoted by the committee of the Christ Church Literary Society, the New Year's Social was held at the Town Hall on Thurs- day, and a very largo company spent a highly enjoyable evening. Thanks to a number of energetic ladies and gentlemen, the room was very cosily set out, and the stage looked exceedingly pretty. The Vicar presided over the entertainment, the proceedings commen- cing with a pianoforte solo by Miss Mabel Hughes (Rhyl), followed with a song by Miss C. Selkirk. The next item was a reproduction of the farce" The Doctor's Patients," in which Miss Miller, Miss Linn ell, and Messrs Profitt, Watts, and Freeman, admirably sus- tained the various parts. Miss Gladys Selkirk obliged with a recitation, and Miss Evelyn Coward gave a solo. Following this refreshments were served, after which the remainder of the evening was given up to dancing, for which Miss Mabel Hughes sup plied the music, and Mr Tickle acted as master of ceremonies. The catering arrangements were in the hands of a ladies' committee (with Mrs Tickle at the head) to whom a hearty vote of thanks was passed at the conclusion, and praise was also given to all the others who had assisted in ensuring the success of the evening, the feeling of the meeting being voiced by the Vicar, and responded to by Mr Inglefield.

THE DAYS OF CROMWELL. To the Editor of lhe "PreslatYIl FVeekly." Sir,—Your correspondent signing himself Anti-put-on," has put 011 a great number of quotations from various sources to prove, what? Not that whist drives are gambling or that they are wrong in any other way, but that gambling and other evils existed in the days of Oliver Cromwell. Prodigious Did they really I wonder is there someone anxious to deny this fact ? By the number of times he uses my cognomen it would almost seem as though he held me responsible for this state of affairs. I should not have troubled you, Mr Editor, but that your correspondent puts on to me the accusa- tion of having sneered at Dr Townsend's admiration of Cromwell. I can only ask your readers to look up my former epistle and judge whether I am not right in asserting that this is a most unfair and ungenerous view to take of my remarks. I am a sincere admirer of Cromwell, and have a great regard for Dr Townsend, and would be very sorry to write a word of dis- respect, let alone to sneer at, one of whom I hold so high an opinion. I may say that I as heartily detest gambling as any of your readers, and respect Puritan ideals. When, however, force is used to further these ideals, I do not admire such methods. Nor when innocent recreations are dubbed wicked and sinful do I coincide. The Puritans have undoubtedly done an enormous amount of good. At the same time, their narrow fanaticism frequently caused suffering to the innocent, and cruel wrongs were inflicted on many whose only offence was a difference in opinion. I think Anti-put-on proves by the bitterness of his remarks the weakness of his contentions, and it might be as well if he 0 would put on a little more charity. With best wishes for the New Y ear.- Yours sincerely, WM. INGLEFIELD.

New Year's Day was observed as a general holiday in Pres- tatyn and—with the exception of the time during which children gathered their "clenig" -the town seemed quite deserted. Many took the opportunity of visiting the Liverpool and Chester pantomimes, for which there were special trains. It is stated that a num- ber of young people missed the train home, and had to come by another which ran to Rhyl. The journey on foot back to Prestatyn was not appreciated

Magistrates in Plenty. Hitherto the cry has been regarding the scarcity of magistrates in Prestatyn. But this has now been remedied in a very decisive manner, three permanent magistrates being added to the Bench, all of whom qualified at Mold on Tuesday. Usually there is but little business to do at the Prestatyn Sessions--to the credit of the neighbourhood—and it is quite a common occurence to have more magistrates in attendance than there are cases. In future there will be no need for so many Rhyl magi- strates to attend the court.

To Encourage the Study of Welsh. For the above purpose the writer of our Welsh column, Briwsion ("Crumbs"), has hit upon the happy idea of offering a prize to children under 15 who, at the end of the year, can give the best translation of the Welsh proverbs which will appear in the Weekly." Parents who are desirous of fostering in their children a love of the Welsh language should encourage our contributor in his laudable effort.

"Redcliffe." Two pupils of the above school were suc- cessful in the examination of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, held last December Gertrude Bate (Violin, Grade III.) and Mollie Stables (Pianoforte, Grade II.)

Proposed Winter Lectures. A meeting was held a few days ago at the residence of Dr Townsend, Mr T. J. Scott, J.P., presiding, to consider the question of instituting for the benefit of Prestatyn and the villages immediately adjacent, a system of popular public lectures on scientific or literary subjects. It was felt that there was need for such a movement, in order that our community may be kept in line with the ever-growing intelligence of the times—a sentiment in which we are sure all the readers of the Prestatyn Weekly will concur. The meeting formed itself into a Prestatyn Lecture Committee, and a numerous list of names was made out of gentlemen who should be invited to act on the committee. These, no doubt, will be waited upon within a very few days. It was also resolved to commence operations by making application to the Gilchrist Educational Trust for a course of lectures during the winter of 1907-8. The result of this application will not be known for perhaps two months. If it should be unfavourable, it is probable that the Pres- tatyn Lecture Committee will seek some other means of providing intellectual stimulus and nourishment for the people.

Presbyterian Literary Society. "Should the House of Lords be abolished?" —an up-to-date question which was the sub- ject of debate at the above society's meeting on Thursday night. Mr C. Williams led off for the affirmative, and Mr C. Walmsley for the negative, both of whom very successfully dealt with the question. Mr J. Lloyd Jones presided, and in addition to the chairman others who took part in the debate included Messrs Thomas Jones, J.P., C. L. Roberts, T. Griffiths, T. Hughes, J. W. Worfolk, W. Prescott, and Morley Jones. A preponderance of speakers supported the abolition of "The Lords." At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Thos. Jones, J.P., was heartily congratulated upon 0 his elevation to the Bench, the remarks being suitably acknowledged by Mr Jones. The next meeting of the Society will be held on Thursday next, when Councillor W. Inglefield will give a paper on "The National- 0 ization of the land."

THE LATE SAMUEL SMITH. For 20 Years M.P. for Flintshire. Reuter's correspondent at Calcutta reports the sudden death of Mr Samuel Smith, of Liverpool, late M.P. for Flintshire. About a month ago, in company with Mr Leif Jones, M.P., Mr Smith left Liverpool for India, ostensibly to attend the Indian Congress, though doubtless prompted also by a desire to escape the rigours of an English winter. His death is attributed tolheart failure. Mr Samuel Smith was born at Borgue, Kirkcudbright, in 1836. He was the eldest son of James Smith, a farmer in that district. His grandfather:was:a!Pl'esbyterian minister, and it was intended that he should follow the same calling. To this end, he went to Edinburgh University. However, he aban- doned the idea|of entering the ministry and was sent to Liverpool to serve an apprentice- ship to cotton brokers of that town. He proved himself remarkably efficient, and became a capable judge of cotton texture, a good financier, and generally a shrewd man of business. Commencing business on his own account, 0 his undertakings were speedily successful, and as he was a man of frugal habits he amassed considerable wealth. Keen in business and careful in spending, Mr Smith was nevertheless a man'of large benevolence, and gave liberallv" and often lavishly to objects of public and private charity which appealed to his sympathies. All his life he was deeply interested in religious and mis- sionary work. When a young man he was an active helper in the ragged schools in Liverpool, and later such movements as the Y.M.C.A., the Society for the Prevention "of Cruelty to Children, and the crusade against vivisection commanded his energetic support. He showed especial interest in social reform and on questions of temperance and education was regarded as!til authority. In politics a Liberal, he entered Parliament in 1882 as one of the members for Liverpool. Sustaining defeat at the general election of 1885, he visited India, and during his absence (March 1886) was elected for Flintshire—a constituency which he continued to represent until immediately before the last general election. Mr Samuel Smith (writes the Parliamentary cor- respondent of Manchester Guaadian) of late years had been compelled to relinquish much of his social and political work, but few men have held a more remarkable position in the popular Chamber than Mr Samuel Smith. His was a success of moral courage pure and simple. Externally, perhaps, he possessed few of the qualifications that go to make a good Parliamentarian. His long beard, his expres- sion of demure austerity, his thin, high-pitched Scottish accent, his absence of humour or geniality -all contributed to the picture of such an elder of the Scottish Kirk as pops up from behind the wall in the last scene of The Little Minister." But per- sistence and earnestness told. Mr Samuel Smith cared nothing for the frowns of the world or the laughter of the young Tory bloods. Mr Samuel Smith would raise subjects from which every other member of the Honse would turn away. The cry of faddist had no terrors for him. The opium traffic, the condition of India, the purity of the stage, the vice of the streets, the spread of obscene literature—these are all things from which the average member turns away with a not altogether inexplicable distaste. But he forced the House of Commons to face the facts, and by force of sheer persistence and industry he often won opinion over to his side.

Social at Horeb." This annual event was most enjoyably spent (in connection with" Horeb and "Bethel" Chapels), on New Year's Day, there being a fair attendance. Mr Robt. Jones (Llys Eirian), presided. The catering arrangements were ably carried out by Mrs Jones (Hawarden House) and Mrs Ellis (Nant Mill), and those presiding at the tables were Mrs Pennant Williams, Mrs Williams (Stores), Miss G. C. Roberts, and Mrs Till, the latter presenting the Church with an urn. After tea bad been partaken of, an excellent pro- gramme was gone through, which included the following The Children's choir (Horeb), conductor Mr Lewis, gave a rendition solos by Misses Gladys Williams (Nant Terrace), Dorothy Roberts and Daisy Williams; recitations by Misses E. C. Jones and Gwen Lewis, Master T. E. Parry, and Mr P. J. Williams; dialogue by Misses A. F. Williams and Lily Griffiths. Mr Lewis and party of eight favoured the audience with two selections. Mr Ed. Davies proposed, and Mr G. Jones seconded, a vote of thanks to all who had helped to make the gathering a success. The singing of "Hen Wlad fy Nhulau" termi- nated the meeting.