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HERE AND THERE.

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HERE AND THERE. BY UBIQUE. Thanks to the pertinacity of Mr R. Pughe-Jones, who keeps his claims to be considered the most fitting candidate for the representation of South Carnarvonshire prominently before the constitu- ency, local imperial politics are kept well to the front, and much discussion is going on as to his claims and chances of finding a scat at St. Stephen's. Twelve months is a long time to look ahead-for in the ordinary course of events the electors of the newly constituted district are not likely to have the opportunity of exercising their suffrages in favour of Mr Pughe-Jones, or any other aspirant after parliamentary honours, until January, 1886- but, already both his chances and claims are being liberally discounted, and his prospect of success is regardeil as extremely leinote. What pressure, if any, has been brought t) bear upon Mr Jones- Parry to retain possession of the Borough repre- sentation in preference to again becoming a county member, has not publicly transpired. It is certain that both Mr Jones-Parry and Mr Pughe-Jones will have a very bad quarter of an hour should they honour with their presence the annual meet- ings of the Carnarvonshire County and Boroughs Liberal Association, which will be held in the county town early in the new year. Despite the protestations of Mr Pughe-Jones, who, it may be presumed, writes with authority, that nothing will induce Mr Jones-Parry to go in for the South, a very strong opinion prevails amongst those who should know best, that the present determination of the Member for the Boroughs will be shaken when he comes to under- stand the true feeling and opinions of the consti- tuency on the vexed question of the selection of a candidate. There seems a general consensus of opinion that Mr Jones-Parry must and will be the Liberal candidate for the South, and that in the event of another being selected, Mr Nanney's return is safe. This, of course, means the poli- tical neutralisation of Mr Rath bone, who is certain to he selected and returned for the Northern Division, and thus the exertions which the Liberals have made in the past to maintain a county repre- presentation which shall be truly representative of the vast bulk of the const t eucy will have been but labour in vain. The very uk\i of Mr Morgan Lloyd's candidature is scouted on all sides. It is, perhaps, not very generally known that Mr Pughe-Jones has not always cast in his lot with the law. He was originally brought up for tie Church, and some sixteen years back he held the curacy of Beaumaris. He never got into priests' orders, but re- linquished his connection with the Church after a very brief acquaintance, and next figured as a mem- ber—and a well nigh briefless one—of the Chester and North Wales circuit. lie has not been seen on circuit for nine or ten years, enjoying an extensive chamber practice, which he finds more profitable than travelling about with her Majesty's Judge of Assize. What line will the division of the county follow is a query which naturally evokes much discussion. The Commissioner who is to fix it is not expected to hold his inquiry before the beginning of February, although, seeing the unexpected rapidity withwhich the divisions are being got through m other counties it is not at all improbable that his visit may be earlier. The agents of both parties are, it is said, agreed as to the division, and in some instances it has been discussed by the local Liberal committees. It may be taken for granted that Pwllheli will be the chief town for the South, and that Carnarvon and Bangor will be the rivals for the place of honour in the North. Then as to the boundary. The two quarries of Llanberis and Bethesda, which ire important factors in every county election, will probably be separated, Llanberis with Nantlle going to the Southern, and Bethesda into the Northern division. In what division Carnarvon is to be seems to be a moot point. *#* There is another suggestion, which has not yet taken tangible form, but which is worthy of con- sideration-that the boroughs should be merged into the county, so as to allow the formation" of three county divisions returning one member each, their area being almost co-ternunous with the three poor-law uuions of Carnarvon. Bangor, and Pwll- heli, that portion of the Conway Union situate in the county of Carnarvon, being tacked on to Bangor. Such a suggestion had been mooted, but whether it be a practicable one requires further consideration, and fuller detail than many people at present care to enter into. Anglesey bears the extinction of her Boroughs without much murmuring, and Carnar- vonshire might not consider herself hardly used if she possessed a third divisional County member in lieu of a Borough representative. But has Mr Jones-Parry, after all, a safe seat in the boroughs? A great many persons to whom this query is propounded shake their heads doubtfully, whilst others answer in the negative, and say that if a strong independent candidate presented himself the chances of Mr Jones-Parry retaining the representation would be greatly- jeopardised. True, he has been most constant m his attendance at the House of Commons, his name has been rarely absent from any division ist, and he has always voted straight. Still. there is a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed at his prolonged absence from the county and the indifference he is manifesting in matters interesting the constituency locally. Too many months have elapsed since his appearance on a public platform in Carnarvonshire, one or two of the boroughs have not been honoured with his presence since his election, and the electors are naturally desirous of enjoying a little more per- sonal acquaintance with their representative. Turning to other constituencies, Mr Rd. Davies seems certain of a quiet walk over for the county of Anglesey. There is not the smallest indica- tion of any Tory opponent coming into the field. Colonel Piatt declines to lead a forlorn hope Sir Richard Bulkeley has no present inclination tor political strife and Captain Pritchard- uiyner has bidden a last farewell to the constitu- ency. In Merionethshire, MrW. R. M. Wynne is engaged in a Quixotic endeavour to regain the seat for the Conservatives, and to prevent the return of Mr Robertson. Mr Charles Wynn is occupied in the like hopeless task in seeking to oust Mr Stuart Rendel from Mont- gomeryshire Mr John Roberts and Lord Richard Gi osvenor are not likely to regard as serious the opposition wliicli is being offered to their re-elec- tlon j11 Flintshire by Mr Henry Moatyn and Mr Ap Hugh Williams, although the Mostyn influence will, for the first time on record, be arrayed, con- ti-ary to its ancient traditions, on the Tory side; in Denbigh Boroughs little is now heard of the can- didature of that often rejected suitor—the Hon. George Kenyou, and the county representation is con^inue unopposed in the hands of Sir Watkin and Mr Osborne Morgan. There is, how- ever, a rumour afloat that Sir Watkin may not seek re-election. In such an event the Liberals will try for both seats, and endeavour to give Mr Osborne Morgan a colleague in the person of Major Cornwallis West. ##* Beaumaris seems to -lie at last awakening UP> and, as more than one councillor has told the world, she is determined not to remain passive and with folded hands and closed mouth quietly allow neighbouring towns one after another to filch away her treasured and ancient associations. But what a long start she has given Llangefni in the agitation for the removal of the quarter Sessions. In these columns she has been re- peatedly urged to bestir litjrself and not look on with quiet indifference at the action of her neighbours. At the eleventh hour the Council have considered it advisable to prepare a protest for submission to the County Bench against the selfishness of Llangefni. If the preparation of the protest occupies as many months as it has taken the Beaumaris Town Council to think over the matter ere determining that the change should not be effected without their having some Toice in the matter, the whole affair will be settled without their interposition. The business usually transacted in the Beaumaris Council Chamber is not so engrossing or important that a question of such serious gravity to the in- habitants should have been disregarded. The protest, or petition, should have been prepared long ago, local public interest should have been aroused, and a counter-agitation, in which -a, Menai Bridge would doubtless have gladly assisted, should have been organsed against the agitators of Llangefni who meet in the Ship Inn." L ™ • Wild with its Custom House labelled "to let, removed to Garth-road, Bangor," Beaumaris is adopting retaliatory measures, and the Bangor City Council must be on its guard and not be caught napping, as the Beaumarisians, who have now learned it to their cost, have too frequently been in the past. Beaumaris is selfishly at- tempting to deprive Bangor of un of its ancient institutions, for it covets the coastguard station. which is one of the ornaments of Garth. Councillor Watkins thinks the members of the coastguard might be more profitably employed at the lifeboat station at Penmon, instead of pro- menading the outlook at Garth, and. spyglass to eye, taking an occasional glance at Beaumaris or Puffin Island. What remarkable energy appears to have suddenly possessed the Beau- maris Town Council. Let it be hoped it is not merely transitory or evanescent. Sir Richard Bulkeley, by the way, seems to be returning with but scant courtesy the compliment paid him by the municipality of Beaumaris in selecting him, a veritable tyro in municipal affairs, for the mayoralty. There is the important question of the drainage of the borough under dicussion another matter of vital importance to Beaumaris is to be settled at the coming Quarter Sessions, when every individual vote will be of consequence; and where is the Mayor ? Gone for a lengthened cruise to the West Indies. Had he made his arrangements prior to his election, he should have taken the council into his confidence and have waited a year or two before accepting an office which carries with it responsibility and a,discharge of duty, and is not merely honorary or orna- mental. Councillor W. A. Dew has at last succeeded in gaining his point, and the Mayor has consented to call a town's meeting to discuss the proposal to change the market day at Bangor from Friday to Saturday. The proposal requires most careful consideration, should not be lightly discussed, or hastily determined. At present, Bangor clashes only with Conway, whose market, also on a Friday. is a very small affair. A change to Saturday would mean collision with Carnarvon, Beaumaris, Bethesda, and Holyhead, and in a competition with the first-named town Bangor would meet with an opponent in which she would certainly come off second best. There will, however, be no harm in ventilating the proposal, and no doubt Mr W. A. Dew will be prepared with cogent reasons for its support. A good many Bango- rians will bear in mind what attended the change in the date of holding the fairs, and will take warning thereby, for the alteration did not tend to improve the fairs it had precisely the reverse effect. If Mr Dew's proposition does not meet with favour, let him try his hand on the resusci- tation of the fairs. The cheque tendered by Alderman Albert Wood as the fine for the resignation of the mayoralty of Conway has not been accepted. Its acceptance would have been a very ungracious act on the part of the Council, who seem to be still in a dilemma about the water supply. The Chairman of the Water Committee cannot have a very good memory, or he would not have rushed so hastily into print in correction of a certain statement made in these columns anent the supply of that very necessary adjunct to health and cleanliness, for the dispensation of which he and his colleigues are responsible. Mr Squires refers to the Morfa as a camping ground, and aids that they have never had any complaints made from the volunteers quartered there." What, never, Mr Squires Recall the experience and complaints of a Cheshire regiment of volunteers, who, during the mayoralty of Alderman W. Jones, encamped on the Morfa. On the Saturday afternoon when the bulk of the men were expected, there was such an abundant supply in camp that the filling of a tea kettle was the matter of an hour or so, and the adjutant and his subordinates spent some hours in hunting about the town for the town clerk the borough surveyor, also alive to the situation' had wisely taken a brief holiday, and the mayor 'him- self. The water was carted on the Morfa in barrels. When the chairman of the Water Committee writes that the water supply of Conway is not defective, nor have there been any complaints," he should explain why, after £ 2000 has been spent upon the construction of a useless reservoir, the town has to rely chiefly upon, and pay Llandudno for a water supply, and how it comes that meeting after meet- ing councillor after councillor bewails with painful iteration the defective water supply, and insists that "something must be done." Possibly, we may have the chairman of the Health Committee if such a body exist, wanting the public to believe that Conway has a perfect and complete system of drainage, secoud to none in the kingdom The two Carnarvon magistrates who signed the permit for an extension of the houi'3 of opening at a certain hotel, on the occasion of a so-called "political demonstration," acted with little discre- tion or discrimination, and it is to be hoped, will exercise some caution and forethought before again acceding to an application of such a character. The pandemonium in Castle-square at midnight baffled description, and it was clear that those who had availed themselves of the mistaken kindness of the bench had not occupied their time in discussing the merits of the address recited at the Guildhall, but had turned their attention to imbibing some- thing of a more spirited and exhilarating quality. The Liberationist campaign in North Wales is being carried on with great activity, and meetings are being held in most of the important centres in Anglesey and Carnarvonshire. Now that the question of redistribution aud the extension of the Franchise is practically settled, it is held that Disestablishment and Disendowmeut must at an early date occupy the attention of Parliament, and in North Wales constituencies every Liberal can- didate is certain to be asked to pledge himself in favour of absolute religious eqality. 11 The Libera- tionist, are not having it all their own way, for at Festiniog, Llanfairfechan, and even at Beaumaris, opposition, organised by the Church Defence Association, has been encountered. The reports which have appeared in the Conservative prints about the Liberationists being worsted at Llanfair- fechan and Beaumaris, and adverse amendments being adopted, must be accepted with considerable reserve. They do not proceed from an indepen- dent source, and are too highly coloured and partial. To read of a youthful curate at Beaunnris propounding questions which a veteran Liberation- ist such as Mr Fisher is represented as being unable to answer, provokes a smile. There must be clearly something wrong with an Establishment which permits an individual of his ability, and to occupy his time and talents in the cultivation of the spiritual soil of such an important parish as Beau- maris. There are complaints of the dearth of ability in the Church of England in Wales, and of the indifferent and inefficient staff which cumbers the cathedral establishments of Bangor and St. Asaph. The Welsh Bishops to remove such re- proach should not lose sight of the Rev. Mr Jones, the curate of Beaumaris. Way should Mr Helm be sent all the wav from London to controvert the arguments of Mr F-isiter, while Beaumaris has such a doughty aud able champion in Mr Jones, whose questions Mr Fisher cannot even attempt to answer ? ill The representatives of Church Defence and the Liberation Society-Mr Helm and Mr Fisher —are to have a public discussion at Llandudno, early in the year. Mr Helm threw down the gauntlet, and Mr Fisher, acting upon instruc- tions from headquarters, has lost no time in taking it up, and the details are now being arranged. The discuaeiott is likely to excite much interest, and recalls that which took place at Rhyl some years back, when the late D 'an Edwards, then Vicar of Carnarvon, did battle for the Church against the Rev. J".Evans (I.D.Ffraid). It is to hoped that those in charge of the arrangements at Llandudno will exhibit better taste than was displayed at Rhyl, where the hall was partitioned so that the Churchman might avoid contact with the Dissenters—the separation of the sheep from the goats." Perhaps the only one desirous of seeing such a division at Llandudno would be a certain holder of a rectory not one hundred miles from Llanfair- fechan, whose Christian charity to all who venture to differ from him on points of doctrine is proverbial. To become a modern Old Parr" join the Union and enjoy out-relief. The district reliev- ing officer of the Carnarvon Union reported at Saturday's meeting that there was at Clynnog. a centenarian pauper, and made light of the Chairman's questioning about another old lady in Anglesey, who, ninety-three years of age, regularly presented herself to receive the parish dole. Up to the last three months the Bangor Union, in point of longevity, was far ahead of Carnarvon, for Kyffin-square, a locality not con- ducive to the production of such prodigies, boasted an elderly gentleman who was re- presented to be only one hundred and six, and as hale and hearty as ever. The Mayor of Bangor is, as last year, to glad- den the hearts of a number of poor people in the borough, by a distribution of beef, and it is re- ported that lie purposes selecting the relieving officer as the medium through which his thought- ful kindness is to be dispensed. He would do wiser to follow the example of the Mayer of Liverpool and take counsel with the clergy and ministers. Charity administered by a work- house official, no matter how kind-hearted that official may be, is too often cold and thankless. The desire of the donor is defeated, for it savours rather too much of the character of out- relief.

LIVERPOOL LETTER.

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DENBIGH.

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IOHRISTMAS DISPLPAY AT BANGOR.

CONWAY.

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OUR LONDON LETTER.