The North Wales Express

THEFT BY NAVAL MEN AT HOLYHEAD. SEQUEL TO A RAILWAY ROBBERY. At the Holyhead Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, Detective-Inspector Thomp- son charged William Mackensie and Charles Wood, able seamen belonging to H.M.S. "Camperdown," stationed in Lough Swilly, Ireland, with the theft of 184 articles, consisting of jewellery and clothing, the property of a Nurse Perry, who was travelling fiom Leicester to her home in Dublin. She arrived at Holyhead by the 9.30 p.m. train, and her luggage was removed to the parcel office, in order it might be takevi on board the outgoing steamer next morning. Thinking that, the trunk was on board the express boat for Dublin, she did not concern herself respecting it until she reached Dublin. She then discovered that it was missing, and made inquiries. A boy named Bit- lington informed ;> Mrs Brewster, living in Foundry street, that a trunk was in her garden, and she saw that it had been broken into. She at once reported the matter to Constable Evan Williams, who discovered that the box had been ran- sacked. Ho took charge of it, and re- ported the matter to his superior officers and the railway company. Suspicion fell upon the prisoners, and on their personal luggage being searched several of the mis- I sing articles were found. The prisoners claimed the bundles as their property, and finally admitted having removed the box to where it was found at midnight, and ransacked it, removing several articles therefrom. A gipsy ring valued at £ 0 had been sold to nn outgoing passenger for Dublin for five shillings, and a. jacket was given to a. resident in the town. The two prisoners were sent to prison for three months, with hard labour.

A "BLACK LISTER" IMPRISONED. Morgan Ellis, an Army Reservist, livi-,i, at Carnarvon, was brought before Mr Henry Lewis and the Mayor (Mr W. P. Matthews) at Bangor, on Wednesday, upon a charge of being drunk and disorderly ir High street on the previous evening i P.C. 91 stated that he received n- om- plaint about the defendant creating a dis- turbance in High street, and he found bur- close to the Pendref Chapel. Subsequent- ly he was found surrounded by a crowd near the Cathedral. — Corroborative evi- dence was tendered by P.C. 73 and Ser- geant Jones (9), to whom the defendant stated that he obtained flour at Trebortb, and sold it for 9d, which lie spent n drink.—Robert H. Llewelyn Roberts stat >.1 that the defendant was singing and shout- ing.—The defendant pleaded not guilty. — Sergeant Owen (Carnarvon) said that li- had known Ellis for many years, and re* ported that he had been convicted sixteen or seventeen times. He had twice be ).'i brought up on charges of attempted suicide. On Thursday last, at Carnarvon, he was declared by the Bench to be a habitual drunkard, and was placed on th." "black list." On Tuesday evening notices regarding him were distributed among the licensed victuallers.—D.C.C. Harris ap- plied that the defendant should be treated under section 2 of the New Act, and com- mitted to an inebriates' home.—Answering the Chairman, the defendant stated that he lived at Caeatliraw, near Carnarvon, and that he was an Army Reservist, receiving Is a day as pension.—Mr H. Lewis: Yo I were placed on the "black list" at ^ar narvon. What did they say? That I should not have drink in Carnarvon for three years.—The Chairman: Nor in Ban- I gor? I didn't know that. — The Cha r- man: Yes, and because of that we are go- J ing to deal leniently with you. We are in a position to send you to an inebriates' home for three years—half prison and half workhouse. Notices have been sent out tc I prevent you getting drink, and you won't get drink anywhere, and you will bring anybody who supplies you with drink nto trouble. You must go to Carnarvon prison for fourteen days,

POLICE AFFAIRS AT BETHESDA. The sub-committee's report (which ap- peared in our last issue) was discussed at ire at length by the Joint Police Com- mittee ond Thursday, and it was decided that a special meeting should be held on February 12, and that in the meantime the whole of the evidence should be printed and circulated among the members.

MR. LLOYD GEORFSE AND HIS I BANKING ACCOUNT. Though not an heir to a millionaire, Though hating speculation, I sent my naive to the Bank of Fame With a liule hesitation. To swell ray 'c-oant. I've had the help Of many a local squire fnr John came down in '92 To send my balance higher. I wliipped the clergy hard and fought The "Landlords' Compensation." And thus, they say. increased my 'count At the Bank of Reputation. The balance grew, but then the War Took hist a trifle off it; kld how could T withstand a loss When Joe took all the profit? TPVP off vn-ir tints for now I'm rich With Balfour's fire donation. He said. "Cone. Oeorre. accept this cheque For your fight for Education. "And. t.lwirrV I soon mllst leave the House To save it fro- disorder, John -p"tll. some rhv. will brjnlZ the cash If you'll just take this order." Lord he "nied this hanking game, And cried with consternation, "Whv. CrorTe, you-'ll brea.k the Bank of Fame With such n big donation. "I'll doff mv i^nt. r»rd V»nd the knee (I'm fond of ^inflection]. F"" a*- thp hank vo"'ll topple me Before the next Election." GILBERT.

MEN WHO COUNT. MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND POSSI- BILITIES. Under the title of "Men who count" Mr. Arthur Hawkes^writes in the "Daily Dispatch of Jan. 20th of Mr. Lloyd George as a political force. The article 1 te' 1 (' ar IC e is characterised throughout bv a sanity and cool judgment that adds considerably to its value. The writer, far from being: as enthusiastic as the average Radical confesses that he is no unqualified admirer of Mr. George or his methods, and his conclusions therefore have all the more weight. Then and Now. The most striking fact in recent poli- tical history is the startling rise into 3 position of power of one who but a short time was denounced as a traitor. Eighteen months ago to announce Mr. Lloyd George as a speaker at an English political meeting was to provoke a breach of the peace. His presence in Birmingham caused a disgraceful riot, and the police charged the crowd of infuriated British citizens in a fashion which scandalised public feeling throughout the country. A creat deal has happened since then. While he was execrated by the Press and de- nounced on a score of platforms for his anti-national views, this small Welsh country solicitor was making his calling and election sure as one of the strongest political forces in the nation. Five weeks ago the Prime Minister hailed him in the House of Commons as an eminent Parliamentarian, and yes- terday the Times said Mr. Lloyd George's abilities entitle him to a share in the general direction of the party which would surely offer greater scope than the most complete dictatorship of a little knot of Welsh members." So it woud seem that Mr. Lloyd George's danger now is not that he will be delivered over to the uncovenanted mercies of excited patriots, but that he will suffer under the patronage of the high priests of political and social re- spectability. I am no unqualified admirer of Mr. Lloyd George or of his methods, but his rise into the front rank of politicians is so remarkable that only a stupid crea- ture can fail to recognise it. He shares with Mr. Chamberlain, his great an- tagonist, the distinction of having made a place of co much potentiality with scarcely a single social influence to bless him. The intense Nonconformity in which he was bred is to some people's thinking too often apparent in his political deeds. When lie was first elected to the House of Commons and brought there a singular reputation as the result of a bye-election campaign, some of the sunercilious dandies who sit on the other side playfully alluded to him as a "two- penny-half-penny country attorney," and now no man on the Liberal side is a, capable of filling empty benches when he rises to speak as this same twopenny- halfpenny country attorney." George versus Joseph. Possibly nothing has endeared Mr Lloyd George to his numerous following more than the successful war he continually wages against the power of Birmingham. Radicals have viewed with apprehension the growth of Mr. Chamberlain as a poli- tical force, and have long recognised in him the most potent modern menace to the interests of true democracy. Joined to rhis has been the apprehension that no force of eaual aggressiveness was to be found on the opposition front bench, and that Birmingham would be absolute. So it is hardlv surprising that the party, finding in Mr. Lloyd George the daring spirit, that, not fearing, but decidedly exulting in. a passage of arms with the dragon of the Colonial Office, should hail him as a veritable St. George. Thus Mr. Hawkes on the point "He is the only Liberal who is absolutely fearless of Mr. Chamberlain. He at- tacks the Colonial Secretary with weapons very similar to the Colonial Secretary's own. Compared with him, I the Opposition front bench is a slumber- ing, inert, unenthusiastio, dampening mass of fusty tradition, and a collection I of masters of halting, invertebrate speech. Lloyd George: Demagogue. The taunt that has been thrown against the name and game of the member for the Carnarvon boroughs since he first be- came a political "somebody" thirteen years ago has been that he is essentially a politician, a mere ranting demagogue. iNcw his bitterest enemies do not care to deny to him a sincerity of purpose and strength of conviction hardly equalled in modern politics. Still, outsiders have their ywint of view, and we give the opin- ion of the writer of the "Despatch" ar- ticle for what it is worth. There is just a slice of the demagogue in Mr. Lloyd George. Now a spice of demagogv is absolutely essential to the most striding political success. If you think Mr. Chamberlain, the most powerful man in the empire to-day, has no touch of demagogue in his make-up you are woefully mistaken. Mr Glad- stone had some of it, Disraeli had a good deal. Mr Lloyd George has got enough of it to soften a few of the more vigorous manifestations of his Noncon- formist conscience. Democrat and Liberalism. Mr. Hawkes has some weighty remarks on the state of affairs politically, of the seeming eternal split between democracy and Liberalism, and of Mr. George's possi- bilities and limitations. On Wednesday night I was present at the debate in the National Liberal Club on "Democracy and Liberalism." What took place there could not be counter- parted in anv first-class Unionist club in London. I heard in one hour as much abuse of the Liberal party and the Liberal leaders as would satisfy .m or- dinary politician for a year. Possible Amalgamation. Democracv clearlv is not in love with the Liberal party, however sincere its re- sard I mav be for Liberalism. Lord Roseherv ha, declared his belief that the prospects of the Liberals' return to p-cwer in the next ten years are-very small. A deca.de is long enough for many revolutions in the attitude of parties and groups to one another. Advertise Mr. Lloyd George as a sneaker in any town of the United Kingdom, and von mav be certain with- out anv organisation of filling the larg- est building in the place. You could not honestly sav that, I think, of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman or Lord Spencer, the official leaders of the Par- liamentary Opposition. You certamlv could not sav it of any other Lihe-'il Parliamentarian who was not in Lor Rosebery's Government. e,,Ren i ed Democracy, as far as it is represented by Liberalism. Socialism, or Labourism, is in rather a fluid state". The future is to that giant for whom everybody is --=- ¡ calling, whom nobody recognises as yet, and who is bold enough to enforce a mas- tery over all. Mr. Lloyd George is a convinced Radical. His honesty has had as much to do with his advance as his ability. His ambition is not a, thing of small expectations. He is plentifully endowed with the genius of leadership, but under present conditions he knows that he cannot hope to lead the Liberal party. He has no exalted family connections, and so far as I know he has no longing to make a great coup on the Stock Ex- change which might give him a social prestige denied to worthy sons of the people who set their affections upon things above stocks and shares and com- pany promotions. A Chief Secretary for Ireland. The following extract will undoubtedly be of interest to the electors of the Car- narvon Boroughs, and especially to the good people of Criccieth. But what would happen, for instance, if he became Chief Secretary for Ire- land? He would be in a social icebox at Dublin Castle. It is true that the Castle was a cool place for the last Liberal Viceroy, who is now Lord Rose- bery's son-in-law Mr. Morley climbed to fame and political power on no family tree, but before he went to Dublin he was recognised as one of the foremost men of letters of the time, and he had acquired an influence very different in its subtler components from that which now belongs to Mr. Lloyd George. There is a certain aloofness about Mr. Morley which gives him a peculiarly ari-tocratic air. You could not imagine him sitting at a small table in a big club smoke-room chatting familiarly with undistinguished people. He is not of the multitude. But Mr. Lloyd George is cf the multi- tude. Hear him speaking Welsh and English in a Nonconformist chapel in Carnarvon and you recognise how differ- ent he is from Mr. Morley. If no Liberal Prime Minister would send him to Ireland lie would be even more impos- hible (if that is not a contradiction of terms) at the Foreign Office even sup- posing lie had the linguistic and other attainments necessary for that tre- mendous department. Our ways are not French ways, and no one knows better than Mr. Lloyd George the social barriers that are bo- tween him and the front place which he might otherwise expect to occupy. Still, it is the unexpected that happens. The mere notion that the succession of Mr. George to these high offices of State is being seriously considered speaks vol- umes for the tremendous advance made by the much-derided country attorney." More significant still is the conclusion that no limitations, except those purely sicial ones (that it will be the business of democracy to remove), prevent him from takino his rightful place in the van of the next Liberal Government. Lloyd George: Leader. What the future holds, according to Mr. Hawkes, may be gathered from his con- cluding paragraph: — No other man on the democratic side has shown half the resource or a third of the oratorical capacity of this Car- narvon solicitor, who. though he was born in Manchester only 39 years ago, is packed with Celtic fire and staying power, and has done enough to show that it is possible for him yet to do for the old-fashjoned Liberal party what Hugh Price Hughes did for Methodism that seemed as likely twenty years ago to become a," stagnant as Campbell- Bannermanism is to-day.

MR LLOYD GEORGE SPEECH ON THE EDUCATION QUESTION. IMPORTANT ADDITIONS TO THE CARDIFF POLICY. On Thursday a conversazione in honour of Mr Lloyd George was held at the Pa- I vilion, Carnarvon, and was largely atteid- ed. Dr. Parry presided. A congratulatory address was presented to Mr George on be- half of his constituents by Alderman Ed- ward Hughes, and a diamond pendant to Mrs George by Mrs Nathaniel Roberts. Mr Lloyd George, in acknowledging. again dealt at considerable length with the Education Act. He said he had learnt his Liberalism in Church schools and Chum Catechisms, and was glad to repay that debt (laughter). His personal experience of the injustice the. measure was intended to perpetuate had inspired his opposit ou in the House of Commons (applause). The question now was what was Wales going to do with the Act. The battle was not ov-ir. It had only just begun. For his part he had no hesitation in saying that if thly carried out the policy embodied in the Car- diff resolutions firmly, without faltering, they would break down the denominat ion:, system absolutely • in Wales. The "Timns newspaper charged him with advising Welsh County Councils to pursue a. eours" of defiance to the law. He recommended

NO DEFIANCF. THE LAW, but that the councils should temper the severities and the law to the shorn rata payer (laughter). Their opponents spoke as though nothing of the kind now recom mended had ever been done by a political party before, but he reminded them that the Church party, acting under the advice of Lord Salisbury, endeavoured to capture school boards, not with the object of faciii tating the working of the Education Act of 1870, but to frustrate it, and to make its provisions nugatory. He now simply ad- vised Liberals to apply Lord Salisbury's principles to the present situation and to capture the school authorities, utilising their opportunities to develop, strengthen, and extend the popular system of educ 1- tion which gave fairplay to all without dis- tinction of sect. This was no defiance of the law, but a recommendation to make a good use instead of a bad one of the "aw. As to one recommendation that had be >:> criticised, not only in the "Times" but in other quarters, in regard to the non- levying of rates, the "Times" said that ;f the recommendation was carried out t) e Government would find means to compd the Welsh county councils. Would the "Times" point how? The auditor would step in, they said. They would send down another Mr Cockerton to audit the accounts of the County Council. What, could the auditors do:" If the county councils de- clined to pav money of the public funds u hich they "raised,-how was the auditor go- Ing to compel them to do it ? It was true that they could

RESORT TO A MANDAMUS. Let them do so. Wales would play up to the mandamus. These things would come JllSt at the time when the Governme-ir, ^ould be appealing to the country for a Renewal of confidence. If they went m I «i mandamus Jill h6 said was that their Electioneering right hand had lost its CUlming. In gv ry conflict of this char- .l. t actcr between the central authorities and the municipalities, whenever it had be?> I started, it had invariably ended in the al- teration of the law which was sought to be enforced. He predicted that the only re- I sult of mandamising would be that the law would be changed in the course of aver; few sessions of Parliament, and that was what he wanted. He would supplement the Cardiff policy by three other practical methods competent for the councils to adopt. In the first place let all school staffs be taught to recognise the councils and not the parsons as their masters. Teachers knowing who their paj-maste. ■; were would soon become sufficiently stroll" to consult the interest of the school and the children rather than the wishes of th-- clerical manager. Secondly, he wanted the councils to take

THE SCHOOL TIME-TABLES into their own hands. Don't let the man- agers draft it, but let the councils them- selves so draft it as to permit a short in- terval to elapse before the school proceeded to the religious instruction. Let all th.i children go out for a few minutes. Then let those who preferred Catechism to play return for the religious instruction wliilo their fellows would he free to continue their play. He contended that the child- ren should be given perfect freedom, sub ject to their parents' consent, to choose which they would prefer — learning the Apostles' creed and the parson' Catechis 11 or their own play. Finally, let coune themselves select school books. It wav the council's duty to see that the books were such as would teach children the truth about the history of their councry. He did not wish to introduce books which would abuse the Church or anybody else, but to give facts as they really were. Let them carry out the policy he had indicated, and the parsops would begin to wonder why they kept sehoo1 at all, and would ultimately say to the councils, "Take the schools," and the councils would say "Thank you." After the proceedings were over, Mr and Mrs Lloyd George were escorted by a crowd numbering many hundreds to Ty Newydd, where they were the guests of Dr. Parry and Mrs Parry. The address presented to Mr Lloy 1 George was beautifully illuminated < n hand-made paper, in album form, aid bound in white kid, with silver corners The pendant presented to Mrs Llor.1 George was of gold, heart-shaped, with a leek in centre, surrounded by diamonds. Both the address and pendant were sub I scribed for by Mr and Mrs Lloyd Georg 's friends and admirers in Carnarvon.

IN SCOTLAND. Mr. Lloyd Gorge, speaking at Glasgow City Hall, on Tuesday night, said that the Liberal Unionist alliance had made for political reaction. The old Tory party had changed its name, but it had not changed its principles. The legislation cf the last few years was sufficient evidence of this. The Tories had been called the stupid party: If that were true they had a good deal of that craftiness which was not inconsistent with intellectual de- ficiency. He eulogised the Scotisli system of education, and said that it gave Scotch- men that intellectual discipline which enabled them to handle the problems of life effectively. Speaking at a great Liberal demonstra- tion in Dundee on Wednesday, Mr. Lloyd George said that they were getting glow- ing accounts of Mr. Chamberlain's visit to Africa, but they had to face facts. African news was not always reliable. Dealing with the English Aducation Act he said that it was simply a great attempt on the part of the episcopacy, supported by the Government, to get dominion over the consciences of the children. It was a confederacy between parsimony and priest- craft for the jmrposo of starving and en- slaving the souls of the children of the people. If thev wanted religious educa- tion let the Bible be given, and the priests cleared out. )

_4> BANGOR SCHOOL BOARD, The monthly meeting was hfld at the I Rechabite Hall on Wednesday, the chair- man ("Principal John Price, M.A.), presid- ing. THE LOG BOOK CONTROVERSY. The Rev. W. Edwards asked the Clerk if he had deleted the entry in the log book of St. Paul's Mixed School, in accordance with the resolution of the Board. The Clerk replied that, owing to the illness of Mr. T. J. Williams, headmaster, he had not been able to do so.—The Rev. W. Edwards moved: "That Mr. T. J. Wil- Edwards moved: "That Mr. T. J. Wil- I liams be ordered himself, as the master in charge, to hand over to the Clerk at the School Board office, the St. Pauls' log book ¡ with, its key, by 4 o'clock on Friday after- I noon, Feb. Cth, 1903, so as to enable the Clerk to carry out the instructions of the Board in erasing the minute of July 29th, 1P02, and that he return the book to Mr. Williams or the master in charge of St. Paul's, bv 9.30 a.m. on Monday morning, February 9th, 1903.—Seconded by Dr R. Jones, the motion was carried.

THE SALARIES OF THE CERTIFI- CATED ASSISTANTS: A SCENE. The minutes of a meeting of the sub- committee appointed to consider the scale of salaries of the certificated assist- ants were presented. At the meeting a petition was read signed by all the cer- tificated assistants under the Board ap- pealing for re-consideration of the scale of salaries paid to them. It was decided to recommend the Board to adopt the follow- ing scale of salaries: 1. Trained certifi- cated assistant teachers in 1, 1st and 2nd division 2nd year's papers and its equiva- lent and untrained certificated teachers who had passed in the first division in both parts in the 2nd certificated examina- tion (a) males, minium £80, rising £ 5 per annum to £ 120; (b) females, minimum £ 70, rising £ 0 per annum to £ 110. (2) Trained certificated assistant teachers 3rd division and untrained certificated assist- ants not above provided for: (a) males, minimum £ 70, rising £ 5 per annum to £ 110; (b) females, minimum £ 60, rising I zC5 per annum to RIJO. In the case of the teachers in the employ of the Board on the l«t April next the additional increase should commence as from that date so that all such teachers would obtain an increase cf £ 5 or a part thereof for that year with- ¡ out regard to length of previous service. That note 4 to the Board's scale of salaries referring to ex-pupil teachers who had not taken the scholarship examination, having only passed the pupil teachers ex- amination for the idl yar under former codes, be eliminated. That Miss E. C. Williams, of the St. Paul's Infant School, be paid £ 55 a year as per scale of salaries for ox-pupil teachers (class 2).-The [ Chairman regarded the demands of the teachers as moderate, and they were quite justified in putting them forward. The commitee therefore granted their de- mands. — The Rev. W. Edwards remarked that it would be just as well to make com- parisons with the salaries paid by other Boards, but it was not right to make com- parisons with such large boards as Merthyr 4 r Tydfil, where the assistants had the full number of pupils. Their own teachers did not teach such large classes as teachers in large schools did. If they increased the salaries of their teachers they should also make it a condition that between 00 also make it a condition that between 00 to 60 children should be assigned to each certificated teacher. The increase in the salaries was large and certainly not com- mensurate with the numbers in the school. — The Chairman said that he could scarcely agree with the Vicar in that respect. The teachers would no doubt be prepared to take sixty children each, but such a course would disorganise the whole school. In order to have 60 children of the same qualification the organisation of the school would be destroyed and would lead to deterioration. — The Rev. W. Edwards You cannot justify the increase. -—Mr. H. O. Hughes, speaking in favour of the report, commented upon the very sorry list of applicants which the Board invariably received for posts. He moved the adoption of the report, the Chairman seconding.—The Rev. W. Edwards said that it was a well-known fact and one that should be published, and the inspectors said so, that the teachers in the Bangor schools were practically treading upon each others toes.The Chairman made a remark regarding the report, whereupon the Rev. W. Edwards said I know as much about the business as you do, and I will not he dictated to.—The Chairman: You are very insulting.—The Rev. W. Edwards You are trying to influence the members of the committee, who don't un- derstand these technical things, in behalf J of extravagance.—Mr. H. 6. Hughes: What members of the committee are you t referring to F—The Rev. W. Edwards: The Board I mean. You play dodges in the committee.—The Chairman I shall have to vacate this chair unless you be- have yourself.—The Rev. W. Edwards I made that remark before, and Professor l Phillips agreed with me. and said that I had better mention it in the Board.—The report. of the committee was adopted, though only two voted in its favour.—The Rev. W. Edwards moved a rider to the effect that fifty or sixty children should be assigned to each certificated teacher under the Board.— Seconded by Dr. R. Jones, the rider was adopted.—The Chairman It will be unworkable. THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER'S j SALARY. 1 On the motion of the Rev W. Edwards, the salary of Mi* W. C. Jones, the attend- ance officer, was increased to £ 90—a JM rise. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: } Miss Evans, Cliorley, as assistant mistress [ of the Glai'.adda Infants' School; Messrs David W illiains and H. Aldrich, Ruthin, as ex-P.T.'s of the Glanadda Mixed School; Miss Joynson, Port Penrhyn, as assistant mistress at the Garth Infants' School Mr T. O. Jones, New Cross, Lon- don, as assistant master at the Garth Mixed School; Mr W. 0. Ellis, as assist- ant master of the Glanadda Mixed School; [ and Mr Cledwyn O. Jones, at present at Burnley, as assistant master at the St. Paul's Mixed School. THE PUPIL TEACHER'S CENTRE. Mr Roberts, H.M.I., reported that. the work in the Bangor Pupil Teachers' Centre C hisses was carefully prepared and well organised, and the teaching throughout was intelligent, thorough, and effective. Excel Tent order prevailed, and the pupils manifested an unmistakeable desire to excel and to utilise to the utmost the opportunities for self-improvement which the centre provided. The,class-room was small, ill-lighted and ventilated, and should not be used for teaching purposes, and its use must be discontinued, and adequate cloak-room and lavatory accom- modation provided if the male pupil teachers continued to receive instruction on the premises. The Inspector also pointed out that the time available for private studv, preparation of home-work, and recreation was quite inadequate.—The report was referred to the managers.

R/S/a^TRATES AND PRO- FANE LANGUAGE. [ At the Carnarvon County Petty Sessions I' on Saturday, before Dr. Taylor Moivan and other magistrates, three young men named Evan Hughes and John Hughes, Grugan Arms, Groeslon, and John Lew j Gadlys Fawr, Llanwnda, were summoned for using profane language at Bontnewydd. Mr Richard Roberts appeared for Evan Hughes and John Lewis, and J. Hughes was represented by Mr H. G. Davies, I Penvgroes. — The cases were taken separately, but the evidence adduced was practically the same in each case. — P C t Roberts (22), stationed at Bontnewydd, said that, he met the defendants, wittl three other men, on the Bontnewydd roao late at night. They used bad language. A man named Hugh Jones, who was with the defendants, gave evidence in support of the charges.-Five witnesses were called for the defence, and it was stated that he man who used profane language was HugM Jones, who gave evidence on behalf of th ? police.—Mr H. G. Davies also addressed the Bench..—-Mr R. Roberts said that the men were singing Welsh songs, and did not use bad language. They were respectab'e men, and were members of a chapel. Th»v were not used to swearing.—Mr Menzies: Do you mean to tell me that people who ga to chapels don't swear ?—Mr Koberts: I do, sir if they swear they are not allowe 1 to be members of chapels, and I assert tha members of Nonconformist churches do not swear nor use profane language. — Mr Menzies That is not my experience.—Mr Roberts: I was not speaking of the Es- tablished Church, sir (laughter). Afte- hearing the evidence, the court preferred to believe the evidence of the prosecution. —Mr Richard Roberts strongly protested against what he, described as the uncorro- borated evidence of a policeman being e- lieved before that of five respectable wit- nesses. Were they going to make it a rule in that court that a policeman's word was better than the oaths of others. If so, no man would be safe. They knew that police- men were not infallible, and he maintained that this was a charge brought against these men- because two of them had com plained to the Chief Constable about an- other officer. When a man did that be w..s a marked man. Why were three men orilv summoned, when there were six together -1 ■—The Bench fined Evan Hughes and ^ohn Lewis £1 and costs, and John Hughes 5s and costs.

Mr. Gwilym Parry, of Denbigh, who has been secretary of the Welsh" National Liberal Council from its formation, has re- signed the office, but at the request of the General Purposes Committee has consented to retain the position until March 1. Mr. Albert Spicev, the president, has been asked mean while to make arrangements to carry on the work, especially that of or- ganising the demonstrations to be held in Wales against t"e Education Act, and at his request Mr. H. G. A. Allgood, Liberal I agent. Cardiff, has consented +0 carry on this jraneh of the work peuding the ap- pointment of a successor to Mr. Parry

I J NORTH AND SOUTH WALES BANK. We would draw the attention of our readers to the balance sheet, in another column. The report of the annual meet- ing held in Liverpool will appear in our next issue.

A STEAMER flSHIORiF OFF ANGLESEY. On Tuesday morning a report was freely circulated that an Atlantic liner had gone ashore off the Anglesey coast. Subsequent inquiries, however, revealed the fact that it was the s.s. "Bothhildre Russ." of Ham- burg, in ballast from Liverpool to Car- diff, that had been driven ashore the previous evening during a terrific gale that was raging at the time. It appears that the steamer refused to answer her helm, and went ashore, stern first, near Llan- gwyfan Church, two miles beyond Aber- ffraw, in a lonely part of the island. Huge waves soon swept her from stem to stern, and the crew were in great peril. After battling with the waves the men succeeded in scrambling ashore. The captain and chief engineer were the last to get ashore, and they had a terrible experience. The men proceeded to a neighbouring farm- house, where they were hospitably enter- tained. The vessel is fast on the rocks, and it is feared that she will become a total wreck. When our correspondent visited the spot, the officers and men were busy removing their clothing and other per- sonal effects to the shore. One of the "Jolhffe" tugs put out, and the Rhoseolyn lifeboat with the life-saving apparatus visited the scene of the disaster, but. as the crew, 17 in number, had already landed, their services were not required.' Captain R. D. Roberts. Lloyd's agent, and Mr Mcllgorm, H.M. Customs, were prompt on the spot, giving advice and assistance to the distressed officers and men.

DO YOU KNOW CARNARVON AND DISTRICT. That according to 'The Gas World' Year Book" lor bUv the make of gas at Carnarvon daring 1902 was 29,223,000 cubic n-et? That at Bangor, where there is also electric light, the annual mak ewas 44,018,000? I hat, out of twenty Welsh town, Carnar- von is the third from the bottom in regard to the make of gas" That the Marquis of Anglesey recently pre- sented a silver cup to the CUinarvon football club ? That the committee applied for the sanc- tion of the North Wales Association to hold a competition for the cup on Good Friday next; but the application was refused'! That the committee should arrange a com- petition for junior clubs, similar to the one that took place on Boxing Day 1 That the Carnarvon team do not occupy a favourable position in the League this year? That apparently they liave not taken much notice of the remarks made by Mr Parry, the president of the North Wales Association, when he presented tne League cup to them a few mouths ago? That. the borough magistrates had a private sitting on Monday night, when they had under consideration the public-houses of the town ? That the probability is that at the forth- coming licensing sessions recommendations will he made with reference to back entrances to certain licensed houses? That the method of describing the "black lister" is regarded as unsatisfactory by licen- sees ? Tnut the licence holders would find it diffi- cult to detect a "black lister" by the descrip- tion given? That the sensible way would be to supply each public-house with a photograph of the obnoxious individual? That a. naval and military Kill will shortly be held at Carnarvon in aid of the Cottage Hospital? That the hon. secretary is Mr Davidson? That Mr H. Lloyd Carter's reminiscences of Carnarvon at the Church Guild on Monday evening were very interesting? That the children's fancy dress ball held re- cently at tJw Guild Hall has yielded a surplus of £50, which has been handed over to the District Nurses' Fund? That Mr Charles A Jones (Chairman of the County Council) on Sunday distributed books to the scholars who had attended most regular- ly the St. David's Sunday School, the ener- getic superintendent of which is Mr David Evans, butcher?

PORTMADOC AND DLSTRICT. Tiiat a local solicitor told a good story sometime ago? That it was about a woman and her im- becile son ? That the woman became ill? lliat a lady saw the son and asked how his mother was11 That lie teplied that, she was very ill and cculd eat nothing? That the lady expressed her regret, as. she intended to give the old woman some bun-? That another lady saw him and asked the same question, and he said that she could not send any buns to his mother because she could not eat? That a third lady came and asked him ltow his mother was? That, he replied that she was very bad and that she could eat nothing but buns? That t.he lady sent the buns to the house, and the boy ate them? That the author of the Madoc Midget Portraits was threatened with a libel action (?) -ecause he stated that one of his subjects could not speak Welsh though he bore a Cymric name? That siD4e the appearance of that Midget Portrait the gentleman in question has been taught to sing in a. Welsh duet? That the singing in public came off last week at a concert and proved one of the best and most amusing items in the programme? That Mrs Davidson allows some of the old people whose leases have expired to live in the houses at a nominal rent? That such kindness ought to be made known and properly appreciated? That one of the best supporters of the Port- madoc Hoise and Dog Show was married last week to Miss Richards. Caerynwch? That lie was Mr Ellis Wilkin. cousin of Mr C. E. Breese, Mr David Breese. and Miss Breese ? That another wedding is shortly to take place ? liiat it will reduce the number of bachelors in the south side of the town? That a young man who went as a volun- teer to South Africa during the war fever was insured by a nobleman for £ 200? That when he returned from the war the policy was handed to him by an agent of the nobleman ? That he keeps paying the premium regu- larly? That most of the chapels were badly attended on Sunday owing tQ the prevalence of mitaenza in the tolwi ? I

mittee of the Welsh Nonconformist churches in London, and is usually a very crowded gathering. This year the officiat- ing ministers are the Revs. O. R. Owen toi: Glandwr, Pembrokeshire) and J. Price Ro- berts (of Wrexham), Congregationalist and Wesleyan respectively. The singing w ii be conducted by Mr Madoc Davies. A.R.C.M., and the organ will be in charts of Mr Merlin Morgan, R.A.M. The pros- pects of a successful and inspiring fest/va. we consequently very bright. « The Archdruid complains, and rightly so, of the inconvenience caused by the non acquaintance of the officials at the roost offices, railway stations, and banks with the Welsh language. In conversation with a correspondent he said that the present con- dition was tending to destroy many of dw beautiful old Welsh place-names and to in- i'loduce in their stead a kind of ba.star.1 substitute that no Welshman could appi 1 ciate. As an illustration of this he showee a letter which he forwarded some mon. is ago to a well-known clergyman at St. Asaph, to which town in addressing his communication he gave the Welsh name cf Llanelwy. To judge by the stamps upon the envelope, which was in the hands of the postal authorities for about a month it visited every town in North and South Wales commencing with Li a 11 without finu- !ig its destination. Then, in despair, the local authorities forwarded it to London where a Welah clerk at St. Martin's ap- pears to have solved ft he riddle; at any rate, after travelling some thousands of miles and being a. month on the journey, the letter reached St. Asaph, some twenty odd rniitW from Llangoilen, via London. I Again, at railway stations in rural Wales be says ;that passengers from secluded localities have often the greatest difficulty in making themselves known, and one ut the causes of suspicion regarding banking institutions in Welsh villages is that too often they hear nothing but English spoken there. Dean Howell was almost the only example 01 a cleric who was a "Literate" —that is, ordained without a University degree—who has attained high distinction in the Anglican Church. Yet he was never advanced to the bishopric for which he was eminently qualified, although his promotion was eagerly desired by Welsh- men of all denominations, and he was con- sidered the foremost of Welsh orators. He was passed over twelve years ago for the bishopric of St. Asaph in favour of a younger man, the reasons given being Mr Howell's advanced vears though lie was in full physical and intellectual vigour— and his lack of University education. These were, of course, mere flimsy excuses, the real reason being that he was an Evangelical who favoured Welsh Disestab- lishment. <t < Sir Lewis Morris was on Friday seventy years of age. He was born at Carmarthen, and his schools were Cowbridge and Sher- borne. He then proceeded to Jesus Col- lege, Oxford, at which University he gained the Chancellor's prize for English Essay in 185S. He was called to the Bar from Lincoln's Inn, and practised as a conveyancer from 1861 to 1881. He is rightly regarded as a pioneer of the edu- cation movement in Wales, is Deputy- Chancellor of the National University and Vice-President of University College, Aberystwyth. In 1886 Sir Lewis Morris was candidate for Pembroke Boroughs, and in 1892 Carmarthen Boroughs, but retired before the poll, ^iis poems are many, beginning in 1872 with "Songs of Two Worlds," of which three editions have been published.