Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald and North and South Wales Independent

DENBIGHSHIRE JOINT PQLIUE COMMITTEE. THE quarterly meeting of the Standing Joint Committee of the Denbighshire County Council was held at the County Buildings, Wrexham, on Friday. There were present: Captain Griilith- Boscawen (chairman), Alderman Thomas Gee (chairman of the County Couacil), Sir R. E. Egerton, Colonel Barnes, Captain Cole, Sir IVil- liam Grenville Williams, Bart.. Mr James Sparrow, Mr Edward Roberts, Bryinbo; Mr Edward Hooson, lihos; Mr Owen Slaney Wynne, Air Simon Jones, Mr W. D. W. Griffith, Mr A. 0, Walker, Dr Tumour, Mr J. Coster Edwards, Mr R. H. Marstoo, Mr W. G. Dodd, Llangollen; Mr 0. Isgoed Jones, Mr E. Windsor Davies, Mr Owen Williams, Bodfari; Mr John Parry, Llauarmon Alderman James Turner, Mr Ll. Adams (clerk), Major Leadbetter (chief- constable), and Mr Lloyd Williams (county surveyor). CUIKF-CONSTABI.E'8 REPORT, &C. The Chief-constable presented an estimate for the pay of the police and other charges for May June, and July, amounting to £1:357, and this was agreed to.—The tenders of Messrs Reynolds and Co., London, for the supply at clothing for the police, and of Mr Walter Palmer, Wrexham, for the supply of leggings, were accepted, on the motion of Mr Alderman Gee.—The Chief-con- stable presented his quarterly report, ending March 31st, showing the number of indictable offences to have been 16, in connection with which seven persons had been apprehended and committed for trial; 457 persons were pro- ceeded against summarily. 335 of whom were. r fined, three bound in recognisances, one sent to an industrial school, one whipped, two delivered to the army, 2:3 otherwise punished, and 31 committed to gaol. Drunkenness and offences under the Elementary Education Act showed an increase, as compared with last year; and, as I. compared with the corresponding quarter of last year, crime and offences all round showed an inc-ease of two in indictable offences, end 112 in offences determined summarily.—The report was offences determined summarily.—The report was adopted, and the following members were I pensionedSergeant John Lewis, aged 53, of Abergele, who had served in the force for 27 yenrs Police-constable Henry Rowlands, riged 59, of Llandegla, with 32 years' service; and Police-constxble William Evans, aged 59, of Llarisantffraid-glan-Coaway, with 2i) years' service. THE C • CON'STABLH AND HIS SALARY. The Chiet-conslable applied for an increase of £100 in his salary. Sir William Grenville Williams, Bart., said Major Leadbetter had served the cjunty well for 13 years, and during that time he had never made any application for an increase of salary. The county had tad the full benefit of his services for 13 years, and he should be very giad to propose that his pay be increased by £;')\1 a year. ] Mr Owen Slaney Wynne seconded the resolu- tion, which was supported by Mr James Spirro v, who said the one man connected with the tithe disturbances who came out of the affair < with perfectly cleau hands was Mujor Leid- < btftter; and if what he had recommended had 1 been done they would have avoided considerable £ trouble. snd the county would ht-ve been saved « expense. If the mAn who collected the tithe in iho iirst place had listened to what y>or Leadbetter had told him lie would have ( acted with a great deal more discretion than lie showed. Major Leadbetter acted throughout with the greatest p>ssible forbearance, and did ( all that a man could possibly do to preserve the p-ifice of the county, and he failed to see that he whs in any way to blame for the calling out of thy military. lie therefore hoped that. the com- uiittee would grant the increase of £ 50 unani- mously (hear, hear). Mr llooson moved, as an amendment, in view i of the fact that the committee would terminate < its term of office at the end of the present ye"r, 1 t!;e chief-constable's application be not enter- I tained. 1 Mr Owen Williams (of Ohm Ciwyd, near Bodfari) seconded the amendment, which was] supported by Mr Edward Roberts, Mr Dodd, and < Mr Alderman Gee, who thought that the police force of the county might be reduced by four or five men. They had too many policemen at i present, and their appearance showed that they 1 did not have too much work. A little harder < work would dethom good, and make them more f active. 1 The Chairman said he did not see from what district they could take any policeman, as the j county contained a very large aud increasing population, especially in the Wrexham district. < He believed that the happy condition of the 1 county—its immunity from crime—was in a 1 great measure due to the efficiency of the police. In reply to questions, the Chairman stated that half the proposed increase would be paid by I the Government. The chief-constable had no power to reduce the force. That was a question | for the Home Secretary. 5 On going to the vote there were nine for the amendment and thirteen against. The chiof- constable's salary was accordingly increased by 1 £.50. ] It WAS then proposed that the increased salary should be paid as from Aprillst.-Alderman Gee < objected, and proposed that the increase should not be paid until the next quarter. Mr Edward Rohe'.ts seconded. — The Chairman assed whether it was worth while to haggle about so small A matter.—It was suggested that the increased salary should be paid from that day (April 17ih).—Mr Gee said he did not object to that, and it was resolved accordingly.—In reply to Mr Gee, the Chief-constable stated that the Government inspector informed him that 11 the county was under-policed, considering that they had such large colliery districts. MISCELLANEOUS. The tender of Mr John Morris, for the sum of £fl;-¡;), for the erection of a new police station at. Ruthin, was accepted, and it was also resolved to purchase land at Rhosllanerchrugog, near G utter Hill, for the purpose of building a house for a police officer. Mr W. D. W. Griffith proposed that a return be prepared showing all moneys paid out ot the county or police rates in connection with the anti-tithe disturbances from the commence- ment of those disturbances in the county down to the date of the return and that such return be printed as soon as ready, and seut to each mem- ber of tha Standing Joint Committee.—This was seconded and agreed to.

CHLOItO-LTXSEED Cough Lozenges, post-free 7d. Of < hemists. MAGAZINES OF ALL SORTS AND SIZES are bound neat y and economically at the lleral<\ Office, Caiarvon

jj SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST CAPTAIN VftRNEY, M.P. CAPTAIN VERNEY, U.N., M.P., arrived at 1 Chanrig-cross, London, at six o'clock on Satur- day morning by the mail train, and was arrested 1 { by two officers from Bow-street Police Station, whither he was conveyed in a cab. At liaif-past 10, on that morning, before Sir John Bridge, who sat specially in the Extradi- tion Court to hear the case, Edmund Hope Veniey, described as a retired captain in her Mnjeats's Navy and a member of Parliament, was charged on a warrant issued by thac magis- trate, and dated March t'ith, 1891, for conspiring with Eugenie Rouillier to procure one Nellie Muude Biis.kett, a girl under 21, for an immoral purpose. The charge was made by Inspector Henry Moore, of the Criminal Investigation Department. Captain Verney had been arrested at Charing-cross Station, and taken to Bow- street by Inspector Tildesley, E Division. The defendant, who formerly wore full side whiskers, with a cl^an shaven upper lip and chin, now had a moustache and full beard cut to a point- Mr Horace Avory, instructed by the Hon. II. Cuffe and Mr Framing, of the Treasury, prose- cuted; Mr St. John Wontner appeared' for the defence. Sir Augustus Stephenson was present on the bench during part of the proceedings. Mr Avory said that in this case that he appeared on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions to support a charge against the defendant, uncier section 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, and with conspiring with Rouillier. Sir John Bridge: As being guilty with Rouillier? Mr Avory said." Yes." as under the present law all persons concerned were liable. Sir John wùuld probably remember that a woman named Eugenie Rouillier, alias Florent. was brought up before him ir. the autumn of last year, charged with an offence similar to that before the court, and afterwards convicted at the Central Criminal Court. She was discharged from prison on the 23rd of March last, and he might at once say that, although every endeavour had been made to trace her since then, she hac not, up to the present, been found. Upon the hearing of the charge against Rouillier it was proved that the person engaged with her in committing the offence was named Wilson. In September last Rouillier, then under the name of Florent, put herself in communication with a registry-office for governesses, asking for a girl of 17 or 18 to go abroad with a lady, a country 1 girl preferred. Through the registry-office 11 Rouillier got into communication with Miss Basketc, who was at that time seeking a situa- tion as governess or companion. After negotia- tions. Miss Baskett met her at the office on Monday, September 15th, and Koui-llier engaged ( her to go abroad for a month or so at a salary. 1 She arranged to meet her on the following Wednesday at some lodgings near Victoria 1 Station, and from these lodgings they went to Victoria Station, and thence on to Paris. Before starting Rouillier Bent off a telegram addressed [ to Wilson, Rue Lafitte, Paris, saying "We leave at 3 o'clock." They went to Paris by way of f Newhavea and Dieppe. Rouillier and Miss J Baskett went to the Hotel de l'Union Nationale, < where Rouillier took one bedroom, with one bed in it. The next day Rouillier went out, saying she was going to see her banker or her man of f business, and brought back to. the hotel a person who was called Mr Wilson. Without going into] details of what passed at Paris it would be, he t thought, made evident that Rouillier and Wilson f did all they could to persuade the girl to go out t with Wilson, and that Rouillier shewed their s real object by telling her that she might earn 1 £ 5 or £6. Miss Baskett refused to stay, and t left for London. After her return home F. Rouillier wrote her several letters persuading her to come back to Antwerp or Brussels, and t putting before her, various temptations. Letters s were written in reply by Miss Baskett under ø the guidance of the police wich a view of obtain- a iug information of the object Rouillier had in I view, and on her return to this country she was f arrested and brought up at that court, as stated. s On her arrest there was found in her possession £ a letter, obviously from Wilson, written from Paris on the Sunday evening, September 14th, s some days after Rouillier had opened negotia- c tions with Miss Baskett, addressing her (ftouillier) by her Christian name. It stated t that as soon as he heard she had got the girl and I her box and clothes, so that she could not give 1 her the slip, the writer would send money and I instructions, and recommending her to travel by s the night route by Newhaven as it was the cheapest and would save money, and they would ( be less likely to be observed by it. In addition s to that letter found in Rouillier's possession, and clearly showing the conspiracy, there was also found the draft of a letter afterwards written by 1 Rouillier to the gisl suggesting'that she should I come over to Antwerp. It was difficult to say whether the letter was drafted by Rouillier and t settled by Wilson or how, but it was altered and 1 sent in an amended form. On the part of the o prosecution it was suggested that Captain o Verney was this Mr Wilson. In the first place he was identified by Miss Baskett, who said that f to the best of her belief he was the man, though ? his appearance was altered by his having grown s hair upon his chin. There was also this extra- b ordinary coincidence. It would be proved by a a witness named Russell, who served under Capt. e Verney in two or three ships, that he, at the j v request of Captain Verney, used, to receive for him letters addressed under various names, a which he used to forward ou to his club and J other places, and that during the latter part of last year he received letters for him under the 11 m.ni0 of Wilson, which he forwarded to Captain Verney at the Travellers' Club and other t addresses. Russell said he had not seen him s since September or October last, and the learned o counsel believed that he had not been in this country. There was also the question of hand- ii writing, and without going into detail it was s sumc-ientfor him to band the magistrate two v envelopes in the handwriting of Captain Verney. h One was that of b letter written by Captain Verney to this man Russell, and the other that t of the letter to Rouillier from Wilsou. Although v an expert rfiiyht point out differences there was 11 nothing to prevent one from coming to the con- u elusion that it was the Siime handwriting c purposely disguised. These were the main facts. The real case was that the defendant, 8 Captain Verney, was the man Wilson. The piosecution said that he was identified by a v wotuan who had the best opportunities of b judging his appearance. Next there was the u coincidence that when this conspiracy was going on he was using the name of Wilson; and, c thirdly, the handwriting. Captain Verney would have the full benefit of the fact that he sur- a rendered to answer this charge, hut they would a see whether that surrender was not due to the h report? in the public press that a warrant was out against him. The prosecution had made d every attempt to find the womat^Iouillier, but, n unfortunately, the defendant waflpnly brought up after she had been discharged m>m prison on Y the 23rd of March, and although she had gone once to Scotland Yard to claim the property V found on her she could not now be found or she Ii would have been called as a material witness. He now purposed calling Miss Baskett, and then V it might be convenient to adjourn the case. Mr St. John Wontner observed that it would L certainly be convenient for him for the case to be adjourned, as he had only expected a remand upon the information. p Miss Nellie Maude Baskett was then called. She was dressed in deep mourning and wore a V large pair of coloured spectacles, which she re- moved on entering the witness-box. In answer b to Mr Avory, she said that she would rather not -> say where she was living now. She was living p with her mother. She was U) on July 30th last. In consequence of au advertisement in a news- h puper, she applied to Mrs Clayton at a governess's t1 registry in Ebury-street. On Friday, September 12th, she saw Mrs Clayton, and wrote a letter n (produced) to Mrs Florent at Kelly's Library, h Vigo-Btreet. She had a reply, aDd on Monday, September 15th, went to Ebury-street, where s she met the woman Florent. Her mother was s present at the interview. She now knew Florent v by the name of Eugenie Rouillier. Mrs Fiorent s told her that she wanted her to go to Paris with her to cheer her spirits up ftnd do neelljwoik t for her. Shesnidshewouidwantherfora s month. She agreed to give her £ 2 10s. for the month, but witness was to say nothing about the v extra 10s., or she would have to pay extra com- t mission to Mra Clayton. On the Wednesday h mormng.the nth.she received a letter (produced) I from Kouillier. She weut; the same day to 22, t Palace-street, Buckingham-gate, and there met a Rou'ilksr. From there they went to Victoria i' Station. At. Victoria Station Rouillier sent a telegram. To the best of witness's belief the c telegram produced was in Rouillier's hand- s writing. e (The telegram was addressed to Wilson, Rue Lthtte, Paris, and ran We leave at 3 o'clock. j Witness, continuing, said that they started the same Wednesday for Paris, via Newhaven s and Dieppe. At Dieppe Mouillier received a s telegram. On the way to Paris she said— Mr Wontner, interposing, observed that at this ) stage of the case what Rouillier said was not « evidence. c Witness, continuing, said that they arrived at Paris, on Thursday, and went to the Hotel de l'Union Nationale, Passage Tivoli. Rouillier engaged one room, a bedroom with one bed in it. On Friday, the 19th, she went out in the middle of the day, saying that she was going to see her <- friend the banker. When she returned she said that he was coming ir. evening tr> take them I out to dinner mnd to the theatre, and that he f often used to take her (Rouillier) out. RouiJIiei said that she bad told him that witness was feet cousin, Miss Brown, and that she was not tc contradict this. At six o'clock in the evening a man came, who w.s introduced to witness as Mr Wilson, and she was introduced to him fit, Miss Brown. •Mr Avory; Who is thia Mr Wilson? Have you seen him since ? Witness: I saw him once af> three o'clock in Bridge-street, Westminster, about a week a'>r I ciime home, aud 1 believe him to be the defendant. Continuing.—He asked them to go out. to dinner, and they all went. They had dinner :md went into some park or garden. Rouillier left them there for about five minutes, and he asked whether witness would not go out with him alone, He said that he could not go out with a mce English girl every day, but could always see Mrs Florent, After that they all went together to a theatre, and came home in a. cab. In the cab he put )us arm round witness's waist. Before he left he said he should come agai I the next, morning. l'hat Same night Rouillier sliid that he had been very good to her, and had lent her money which she had not paid back. By Sir John Bridge: We got home about eleven o'clock. By Mr Avory The next morning Rouillier went out by herself. The defendant came about hali-an-bour after she returned. He came to their room, and asked whether witness would go with him to the fiilfel Tower. At first she said she would go if Mrs Florent would go, but she said 1,.11e was tired and had letters to write, and that witness should £ 0.' She went with defen- dant to the Eiffel Tower. On the way they stopped at a linendraper's, and he bought her a pair of gloves. He said that she had a pretty little hand and well-made thumbs, and that, she held herself very well and had a neat little figure. He asked her if she was fond of dress, and wanted to know whether she would go out with him. She said "No." and that she would rather go out with Mrs Florent, as she did not like going out with gentlemen. They went round the Eiffel Tower, and he made her hold his arm. Thev returned to the hotel in a cab together. Rouillier was waiting outside the hotel door. They had heen out from a little after 11 till two o'clock. Defendant ClIme again at six that evening, and wanted to knew whether witness would go to the theatre with him. She said she was too tired, and Rouillier and he went out together. Witness went to bed before Rouillier returned, snd was asleep before she ccme home. She was awakened by hearing Rouillier crying. She asked her what was the matter, and she said that Mr Wilson thought witness was offended with him, because he had done everything he could to please her and she had not responded. She said, "You will not help me in my business, and I want someone who will." She said she could not force witness to go out with him, but that if she would not sll,) must go home the next day. She would give her till the next morning to think over it. The next morning, Sunday, she asked whether she would go out with him, and, as she replied "No," said that she must go home that evening. Rouillier went out by herself that (Sunday) morning, aid when she came buck said that she expected Wilson to come and see her. He came in the afternoon to their room, and asked if wituess would mind Mrs Florent going downstairs with him, as he wanted to speak to her on business. She came back and asked witness whether she would not like to earn £!5 or £G by going out with Wilson, and she replied, "No." Rouillier told her that Wilson had several girls and was very good to them, giving them money and presents. She said that there was a young girl, an improver, whom he had taken a great fancy to and had taken her out. She was going to be married soon, but her husband would know nothing about it. Witness did not know what to say, and .only answered, "Yes" and No." She left Paris the same evening. Rouillier gave her 1;2 for her salary and paid for her ticket, and said she might see her (witness) again in London. She wrote a letter for her to give to her mother. The letter (produced) explained that she was sending her back, but not because she was displeased with her. Witness, continuing, said that she returned home to her mother's house. Whilst in Paris, Florent had behaved indecently in the bedroom. A day or two after her return home witness saw her family doctor, an old friend, and made a statement to him about this affair. The same week she told her mother what had happened. On her airival, before she spoke to the doctor, she wrote a letter to Rouillier. Copy of the letter produced and identified by witness, it being explained that the original had been mislaid during the trial of the woman Rouillier. Witness said she wrote this letter on Monday, the 23rd, because she Kiel said nothing as yet to her mother, who was not well, as to what had occurred. In reply she received two letters in one envelope on the Wednesday. The letters were produced. One was merely formal; the other stated that. it occurred to the writer that perhaps "dear Nellie" was a little sorry she had left her. It stated that those in business had to study those who employed them, ind suggested that she should put herself entirely in the writer's hands to do all she wanted her to do. There was a further sugges- tion that t'he should put some of her prejudices iway, as each country had different ways, and join the writer at Antwerp. Witness added that before she replied to this letter she had been put into communication with the police, and r eplied under their direc- tion on Saturday, the 27th. On Tuesday.the 30th, she received two more letters in one envelope, ane being in pencil. The letters were produced: One stated that if Miss Baskett decided on coming she must ;tart at once. The other said that she knew what the writer's business was, and that the iatfer would do her best to get her on in it. Witness replied, by the direction of the police, hat she had shown the letters to her mother, who said she did not wish her to go unless the lature of the business," which she did not understand, was more fully explained. She re- ceived an answer from Antwerp. This letter, produced, stated that Rouillier ;flW most of her employers there, amongst them • three head bankers," and that if witness tvanted a place in one of the firms she had setter come. Tiiey never engaged any one mless they knew they could trust, them. The ivriter would not overwork her, and would take 3are of her herself. Witness said that up to the time of her arrival it Dieppe Rouillier had not said a word about my business at all, and there were no signs of ler being engaged in business in Paris. Mr Wontner: Did you see the defendant downstairs amongst a number of men this norning ? Yes. Did you say there was no one you recognised ? ifes. By Mr Avory: She said that in the room. When she came out of the room she spoke to Inspector Moore about what she had seen again. What do you say about the defendant being Wilson now ? To the best of my belief it. is he. Do you see any alteration in his appearance? tie has grown a beard. Before swearing an information at this court were you shown some pictures of different persons? Yes. Did you identify one of these as that of the Mr Wilson of whom you have spoken ? Yes. The photographs were handed up and identified jy witness, who. in answer to a question from Mr Avory, said that when she picked out the photograph there was no writing over it. Sir John Bridge: Was the way of wearing the lair when you saw Mr Wilson identical with :hat of the photograph ? Yes. Have you any doubt that the picture of the man shown now is the picture of Mr Wilson ? I lave not. Re-examined by Mr Avory, witness said that she was suffering with her eyes, but was not suffering with them when she went to Paris and when shg identified the picture and when she saw the man in Bridge-street, Westminster. In reply to Sir John Bridge, she said that on that occasion lie half-turned round, but did not speak. She was with her mother. Mr Wontner said thst, in applying for bail, it was to be remembered that, with every oppor- tunity to remain abroad, the defendant came liome on receipt of a telegram from his brother. [t was perfectly clear under the circumstances that he had no intention of evading the inquiry, ind to keep him in custudy would be a useless inconvenience. Sir John Bridge observed that there were two jonsiderations—firstly, as to fear of escape and secondly, the keeping in custody till the evidence was completed. Mr Avory said he had no information to justify his offering ar.y objection. Sir John Bridge said he would want two sureties of £ 1000 each, and the defendant him- self in £;")000. Mr Robert, Smith, banker, of Dover-street, and Mr Frederick Verney, brother to the defendant, a barrister and secretary to the Siamese Legation, of Onslow-gardens, tendered themselves and were accepted as sureties. The case was then adjourned, ALLEGED REMOVAL OF "CORRES- PONDENCE." A London correspondent says:—" A lady went down to the House of Commons this afternoon ( [ hearing an authorisation from'Captain Vernev to clear his locker. Members of Parwvi.ei-.t are i-i: s provided v.ta a loaned box in zu« corridors in which L, kiep their papers some even keep their coats and hats there with a view tourist in eluding the vigilance of the party whips who guard the orthodox exits and exact pledges before permitting their men' to leave. The lady, in addition to a written authorisation, pro- duced Captain Verney s key, and as she added thal.be was the hon. member's wife, permission accordingly given to her to clear the locker. It cor-tained a rntiss of correspondence, which she carried away."

BARMOUTII LOCAL BOARD BILL- PASSING COMMITTEE, Tlfp, Police and Sanitary Regulations Com- mittee of the House of Commons concluded their inquiry on Tuesday into the bill promoted by the Barmouth Local Board. Two claims were brought up by the promoters and approved of by the committee. The first was, "The local board may, from time to time, make bye-laws to provide for the licensing of persons owning or in charge of bathing machines let for hire within the district, and for the registration of such bathing machines as after inspection by the local board, or some person duly appointed on their behalf, shall be, in the opinion of the local I board, fit for use. Such bye-laws may provide for the payment of fees for such licences and certificates of registration for the duration, inspection, and revocation of such licenc and certificates, for affixing notice of registration to such battling machines, for the regulation of the conduct of persons in charge of the bathing machines, and for fixing the charges to be made for the use of such machines." The second clause gave power to inflict a penalty, not exceeding 203 for each offence," upon any person owning or in charge of any bathing machine allowing it to be used without the words Registered bathing machine' being painted on or affixed to it, or permitting to be used any unregistered bathing machine with those words painted on it or affixed to it." The bill then passed the committee, and was ordered to be reported to the House.

BAHMOUTH LOCAL BOARD. FRIDAY.—Present: Mr M. J. Morris (chairman pro tem.), Messrs John Evans, Manchester House; B. J. AlJsop, Owen Edwards, J. J. Griffith, Hugh Owen, John Evans, Glanymor House; David Davies, Morfin-terrace; and Owen Owens, builder G. W. Pybus (clerk), J. Evans (assistant clerk), and Hugh Jones (surveyor). ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr Allsop proposed the re-election of Mr J. J. Griffith, and Mr Owen Edwards seconded.—IiTr Hugh Owen thought a change was desirable occasionally, and proposed that Mr Allsop be elected.—lie, however, found no seconder, and the original motion was carried unanimously. COMMITTICKS. The following committees were appointed: — Finance, Messrs David Davies, Owen Owens, Hugh Owen, and M. J. Morris. Plans, Messrs Owen Owens, John Evans, Man- chester Housa; John Evans, Gianymor; and Owen Edwards. Watching, Messrs B. J. Allsop, j John Evans, Manchester House; Hugh Owen, and M. J. Morris. The chairman was elected to preside over all the committees. "MONSTROUSLY UNFAia." In reply to Mr Allsop, the Clerk said that 52 meetings had been held during the past year. —Mr Allsop How do you make that out ?—The Clerk I make it out from the minute book. I put the ordinary, special, and adjourned meetings all together in that 52.—Mr Allsop Well, it is monstrously unfair that is all I can say. There must have been some meetings of which I never had any notice at all; and, besides, they ought to have been classified showing how many ordinary, adjourned, and special meetings each member attended. — The Clerk explained that every member of the board always had a notice, although admitted that sometimes the notice would be very short—Mr Allsop: Yes; ten minutes, very often, and what sense was there in expecting a man to attend meetings at a ten minutes notice ? It was all very well for people who had nothing else to do, but a business man could never be expected to do it.—The Clerk said he could not help it.—It was eventually agreed that the attendances should be classified. TUF: MKPICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. The Clerk read the report of the medical officer of the board (Dr Hughes), which stated that the health of the district had been fairly good. Altogether, there have been 40 deaths and 53 births, making an average rate of 20'25 per 1000. and the birth rate 26"8 per 1000. More than half the persons who died were under the age of one year and over 70 years. There are also a number of visitors who probably came here as invalids. During this year the Infectious Diseases Act had come into force in the district, and HI) cases were reported, being, with one exception, nil cases of measles. During this year also few bye-laws had been framed which enable nuisances such as pig-styes, &c., to be removed from amongst the houses in the town. There was a great improvement in the general cleanliness of the district. The water supply was good but not sufficient in quantity to meet the requirements of the place. A constant and ample supply should if possible be immediately obtained.—The board considered the report was very favourable, and it was unanimously adopted. PIG-STYES. Dr Hughes having reported that the pig-styes which were ordered to be removed in accordance with the present bye-laws were still in existence, it was resolved to take proceedings against offenders. THE CAMPAIGN COMMENCED. Mr David Davies wanted to know why the board engaged Mr Thomas Roberts to look through the plans. He thought the surveyor was the proper person to do it; and, further, according to the bye-laws it W3.'J, illegal to appoint Mr Roberts—Mr Allsop believed Mr Thomas Roberts was nppointed, because when the bye-iaws c"lme into operation they were rather complicated, and the board considered a little help was desirable. As the question of legality bad been challenged he would like to have the opinion of the clerk.—The Clerk It is legal enough. The hoard bad the power. The engineer was the proper person to examine the plans.—Mr David Davies Your bye-Jaws say the surveyor is the right man. How could the surveyor superintend the works unless he had seen the plans before they were passed and re- turned to the builders.—Mr Hugh Owen With regard to the bye-laws, it is the duty of the surveyor and not the engineer to inspect plans. It has always been my contention.—Mr Owen Owens concurred.—Mr M. J. Morris said the enginetr had now been appointed for twelve months, and it would not be judicious to interfere at the present moment.—Mr D. Davies: And we ¡ pay Mr Hugh Jones, the surveyor, for doing the same work. You employ one man to do a cer- tain work aad pay another man for doing it also.—Mr Hugh Owen Mr Hugh Jones is quite capable to inspect the plans.—The Clerk then read the following resolution passed at the com- mencement of this year:—" Proposed that the question of instructing Mr Thomas Roberts, C.E., to examine and report on plans submitted to the board be deferred till April." But an amendment was carried to the effect "that be be appointed to-day at a fee of .£5 a year."—Mr Hugh Owen I believe that that resolution is not in accord- ance with the regulations of the board.—Mr David Davies: Is Mr Hugh Jones incapable?— Mr M. J. Merris: We do not discuss that.—Mr David Davies: You are throwing money away. —Mr Hugh Owen It is very inconvenient to the town to be compelled to send plans to 70rt- madoc. Sometimes it entails a loss to builders, for they may be detained a week or a fortnight from proceeding with their work. Is it not a fact thnt. according to the bye-laws, plans hnve to be deposited for one month before a builder can proceed with any work ?—The Chairman: It is so.— Mr Owen Owens proposed that the bye- laws be adhered to, and that plans bedepooted with the board for one month, and this was agreed to. MR K. M. JOXES'S PLANS. Mr Jones submitted plans to the board which were directed to be sent to the engineer for his report the! on. The board considered that Mr E. M. Jones did not comply with their regulations —The Clerk remarked that he had written him thirteen letters on the subject of his plans, and asked if he might read them to the board.—Mr Allsop: We never had a meeting of the board yet without reading them. I can very nearly repeat them (laughter).

A CARD.—A Clergyman will send, free of charge, a prescription for the cure of all those who suffers from the' errors and indiscretions of youth, nervous debility, physical exhaustion, and early decay. ThIs great remedy was discovered by a missionary in. Old Mexico; it saved him from a miserable existence and an early grave. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to RKv JOSEPH HOLMES, Bloomsbury Mansions, Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C. Men- ion this paper. SAPO-LINI," containing Linseed Jelly, is a per- fumed Emulsive Toilet Soap..Of Chemi3ts, &c.

Jlcntioit' eomsponirttwe. I understand that Mr. John Burnett and Mr* oreoffrey Drage will be Joint Secretaries of the Labour Commission. Mr. Drage is a practising barrister who has qualified iiimseii as on avoctit in several foreign countries. The first meeting of the Cammission will be held next week, but no day has vet been fixed. Despite the unfavourable summing up of the judge the verdict in the Hurlbort case is what was expected by public opinion. But it is generally f.;lt that the case is not done with. The order to impound documents suggests that proceeding's may 1 e taken which will compel a disclaimer of the identity of the mysterious "Wilfred Murray." Inquiry on this part is already warm. A name that is well known has been mentioned, but of course I could not accept the responsibility of repeating it. In answer to a question put to him Mr. Raikes ¡. has stated that the additional loss to the Indian and solonial postage rates from 2i-d. to Id. would be only £75,000. There is some reason to believe that even this estimate is excessive. However this may be, when it is remembered that the net revenue derived from the postal service was £:>,346,087 in the last year for which the accounts have been published, and that this revenue is a constantly increasing one, the case for a penny postage for every part of the Empire is seen, I think, at once to be irresistible. » A subway from the Metropolitan Station at King's Cross to the Great Northern terminus is to be forth- with constructed. Mr. T. Firbank has the contract. At such a crowded and dangerous junction of thoroughfares as there is at King's Cross the need of a. subway has long been felt, especially by passen- gers who have burdens to carry from one station to the other, and this obvious improvement has not been too soon undertaken. There are other danger- ous crossings in London where, even although they are not near railway stations, subways are hardly less urgent. It is to be hoped that the King's Cross subway will suggest the construction cf many others. -:Ió Rumours of a new crop of scandals affecting the charaeter of members of Parliament are in circula- tion at Westminster. Although the details of the unsavory business put in circulation are of a definite character, and even go to the extent of naming the supposed offenders, there is a general disposition to regard the stories as either untrue or grossly exag- gerated. Nothing is easier than to start malicious gossip of this kind, and just now the public mind is so peculiarly respective of such pabulum that there is every incentive to the gobemouches to ply their unclean trade. This fact, would be quite sufficient to account for all that is told of the Paris orgies and more besides. At all events every right-tbinking man will decline to believe the infamous tales that are flying about until they are properly sub- stantiated. 3.- Sir James Fitzjames Stephen's baronetcy seems a small reward for his enormous services. His legal work in India is immortal. Were it not for ob- struction, his criminal code for England would have been carried by Sir Henry Holker, or later by Sir Henry James and Sir William Harcourt. His judicial work until very lately has been of the! highest order. Lesser men have been taken to the House of Lords to assist there in the highest court of appeal. It was perchance thought inadvisable to lay any judicial burdens upon. Sir James's shoul- ders, considering all the circumstances which led.) up to his resignation. lie will have his baronetcy j and his full pension. After a long rest he will pro- bably devote himself to literary work. But I cannot I help expressing the hope that his recovery will be ] rapid and complete, and that it will then be found possible to utilise him as a member of the House oi Lords. One of the most remarkable instances of rapíd, census-taking on record is probably that just fur- nished by India. Within a little over a month of the issuing of the census forms Mr. Bames, the Cen- sus Commissioner, was able to publish the results to the world, in what will probably prove to be a fairly accurate form. How remarkable this feat is may be gathered from Mr. Barnes' figures them- selves. The population of Bullish India he now fixes at 220,490,000, against 19S.655,000 at the last cen- sus. To this has to be added the population of the Feudatory States, which is about 65,000,000 against 57,000,000 at the last census, so that in round figures the population of the Indian Empire may be stated to-day at 285,000,000. The total increase I which these figures represent is 12-30, the increase! being greatest in the Feudatory States, whose 11 population has grown 14 per cent. in the last decade. The subject of the Indian opium revenue is to be dropped. Sir Joseph Pease has obtained a. moral i victory, which has placed the Government in an! awkward dilemma, but he does not wish to push them over the precipice. If the opium traffic is to be abolished, six millions of Indian revenue will! have to be obtained from somewhere, but from where neither Sir Joseph Pease nor Sir John Gorst nor the Government of India can suggest. Meantime i nothing will be done. Tne responsibility, so Mr. W. II. Smith told the House of Commons for the! financial arrangements of India, rests with the In- dian Government—the responsibility, in fact, doing; nothing. Ministers cannot find a day for the fur- ther discussion of the question. Sir Joseph Pease! docs not ask for a day. The matter for the time: is set at rest by a promise that the policy of reducing I the quantity 01 land placed under poppy cultivation j will be continued. ii ). A lady has been down to the House of Commons,! bearing an authorisation from Captain Verney to, ■ clear Lis locker. Members of Parliament are each.1 provided with a locked box in the corridor in which!1 to ltccp their papers. Some even keep their coats: and hats there, with a view to assist in eludin"- the! vigilance of the party whips, who guard the ortho-I. dox exists, and exact pledges before permitting "their men" to leave. The lady, in addition to at written authorisation, produced Captain Verney's i key, and as she added that she was the hon. mem- ber's wife permission was accordingly given to her i to clear the locker. It contained a mass of corre- ■' spondence, which she carried away. And, by the' bye, writing of Captain Vemey, this very curious incident may be mentioned. The prosecution against!1 the woman who was convicted of conspiracy to ab-; duct the girl Baskett was oi-iginally^instituted hy: the Vigilance Society. Of the committee oi this society, Captain Verney is, or was, a member. i! i1 r' !i The Government intend to put off the adjourn- i( mLijt the Whitsuntide holidays as late as pos- j s' hie, in order to make sure of getting the Land Purchase liiil through beforehand. T'ney intend, 1. if nothing unforeseen occurs, to include tiie Derby Day in tue holiday. The division of opinion in the • House in regard to the Derby holiday shows signs, of becoming more equal, and the opponents of the i Cvistoiii believe that they will sooner or later induee the House to adopt their views. Several of the present occupants of the Treasury bench are: known to b? personally opposed to the holiday, and the discussion on the question is one which the Government would as body not be sorry to avoid. If1! the House is not to meet again until the 28th of May it is safe to assume that the adjournment will!! not be taken before Thursday the 11th. Even this;, willaltow a very liberal vacation—muenmore liberali, than appears consistent with Mr. Smith's original j' expectation as to the date at which the session ] would teimin^ie. Mr. Chaplin, who had intended going to Li.er-:t pool this week, to inspect some cattle-ships, in con- i uecticn with the enquiry which is now proceeding- in regard to the Atlantic cattle transit, haa been 1 compelled to forego the visit owing to the funeral of t Lady Alexandra Levesou Gower, daughter of th.) I Duke of Sutherland, and sister of his laui wife, Ladv1 Florence Chaplin. The circumstances of her deceasa < were peculiarly sad, in that having devoted herself f to the work of a nurse in a Loudon hospital, her con- ( etitution broke down under the strain, and she passed s away only a few days after passing her twenty-first 1 year. For the same reason Mr. Chaplin, who will shortly go to Deptford to t,ee some cattle-ships there, l« was not able to accept the invitation to be present t at the farewell dinner to Lord Randolph Churchilll t at the Amphitryon Club. ITe is recorded in some of i the newspapers to have been there, but so, and with c like correctness., was Mr. Chamberlain, to whom. t indeed by certain Sunday journals a speech was t assigned. 8

Mr. Herbert Gardner,M.P..having recovered ironj his recent illness, was able to reappear in the House c of Commons on Monday. !t On Monday Mary Ann Reeder, widow, of 30, i Hartley Street,Halifax, was fouud dead in her bouse.. She had cut her throat with a razor, which was found near her. The woman, who lived alone, had been in depressed spirits for some time, A long absent but familiar figure reappeared in i i the Lobby the other night. Mr. Frank Hugh,' O'Donnell, who was member for Dungarvan, looked in, and was gladly received by his old friends. Tne Bishop of Winchester on Saturday fulfilled the last of his engagements as Bishop of Rochester,! by consecrating the new chancel ot Christ Church,; Southwark. There was a large gathering of boutii- wark London clergy. A landslip has taken place on the estuary length! of the Manchester Ship Caual, at a pomt where the! bed of an old stream crossed the canal. A tem- porarylineof rails was buried, but no delay IS f anticipated. A fire occurred at the Blue Anchor public-house, j Mile End Road, London, on Saturday, and the premises were almost gutted. There was much: excitement in the locality, some of the inmates being rescued.

û J ifan»rt ,E "VEGETABLE GAE:-r:r.—Tot oil' vein:i.nl.'o marrows ,j.^md ridge cucumbers. There L; yet time to sow if £ more plants are required. It is better io sow as late ie a? this than to do so too early, and have drawn-up, loS weakly plants. Tomatoes for outdoor juianting should jbe potted off and grown near the glass to get sturdy. IV cry rich soil in a close, stuffy garden often lOlds to lC disease. I am in favour of an open, sunny, breezy IS situation, where tcmatoes have not hitherto been y grown. Of course, south walls or fences are always •0 suitable, and in such positions manure is neccssary, y though I would rather use it as a mulch than place fe much near the roots. Sow the main crop of carrots, if not already done. It is full early yet to sow the e principal crop r£ beet, as if sown before the end of >f the month the rcots get too large and coarse but in If order to have beet i :>r early use sow a few rows of the Egyptian tnmip-ix ^tea variety, as it turns in sooner than the long-rooted kinds. A few seeds of >s the long-rooted varieties may i. sown in a box under d glass, and planted out when laigc enough. Beets y transplant well, and soon get e^tab*i bed. Small a salading, such as mustard and cress, yea onions, 5, and radishes, will still be raised under gla-c, 'sough sowings may be made now in the open to ccme on in succession, as we must soon have genial weather. [ Thin horn carrots raised on gentle hot-beds to one > inch apart. Sow French beans and scariet runners e in boxes to get them on for planting outside when. the weather is settled next month. Tho foot of a south wall is a good position for such things, as they 's are easily sheltered, if necessary. A few ever- green branches stuck into the ground in front of the TOW is generally sufficient. Sow turnips in small ,f! quantities for the present. If there is a bed at ,f j liberty, with a small amount of heat in it, a sowing may be made under glass but the lights should be 0 idrawn oil when the plants come up,—E. IIOBPAT, in Gardening Illustrated. FELIX GAIIDEN.—Get all grafting done as scon p-jas possible. The time for planting fruit-trees is y j past now unless under peculiar circumstances. I s | have, says a correspondent, lately been trausplant- y jing some apple and other trees that were lifted and !slightly root-pruned last November twelve months, |and having splendid masses of roots they .íll feel no a icheck but, in a general way, the middle of April is jtoo planting. How very full of blossom-buds e (trees of pitmasoo duchess, doyenne du gjcomice, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and Williams' e [boil chretien pears are upon the quince 1 In the ) district from which I am writing there is a wonder- jful show of blossom-buds. All that is required is a s genial spring time. See to the training of young s ■peach-trees under glass. Instead of pinching in egross shoots I prefer letting them run out, laying r In enough laterals to fill in the groundwork of the ttrees, as there is plenty of time to ripen the wood i under glass, and the laterals will make r good fruiting wood. Disbud freely where s the, shoots are too thick. The young shoots of stone fruits in pots must bo thinned suifi- !ciently to let the sunshine through them. Not one tenth part of the shoots which start are required to j, fill in the tree. Pinch in plums when five leaves 1 have been made but do not be in a hurry to pinch iin peaches. If pinched too early the back eyes 31 will break, and we want to keep these dormant for r; fruiting next year. Make new plantations of 31 strawberries now. Plant firmly, and soak with 3 j water if the weather continues dry. Trees on south. 3 [walls may, in some instances, require water to en- josure a good set, as the rainfall is much under the 31average. Look sharply after black and green-fly Ion peaches on walls. They are generally more 1 j troublesome during a time of cold, east winds. r | Tobacco-powder is the best thing to use till the [iiowers fall. Melons growing freely, with the bot- t toni-heat lively, will require a good deal of moisture. Lt is better to leave the plants without shade from l J the first, as we never have too much sun for the melons. OureooE GAEOTIX.—Iceland poppies, says another correspondent, that have been wintered in cold [I frames should now be planted out in groups in the border. There is no occasion to protect these in any I way, as they are perfectly hardy. My stock plants have been standing out fully exposed, ana aro not In > -he least injured. I think everybody should grow t these, as they are so useful for cutting. Liliana j auratuia bulbs that have been plunged in pots and matched with cocoa-nut fibre may now be transferred, j to tli-3 position they are intended to oct-upy. A very suitable one is round the margins of the xhododen- i Iron find azalea beds. Those who are planting t groups of rhododendrons and other American shrubs [ should not neglect the azalea poutiea it is so sweet j when m blossom. The hardy heaths are charming j tilings to plant round the margins of the groups cf ) i amoriean shrubs. Andromedas, again, are worth 5! .attention for similar positions, and gauithcria shall on t makes a good specimen on the rockery. The persieiiyas and cetonea,stars make charming1 masses for plantiug on banks. This is a » -.eason to make up a bed for alpine or I j cionior auriculas. They should have a ehadv t lposit.au. A stock can very easily be raised from L [seeds. Sow in a pan and place in the hot-bed till 'germinated; then harden "ll and rrickcut in a [ j shady border. Plants raised this spring-will flower inext year if well attended to. Plant ou., clematises j | which have been sheltered uudsr glass. I think this lis the best season for planting they have a better [chance of getting established than if planted in 3 [autumn. They are charming thing's to plant against itree-stumpa or to cover arches. Give half a bushel »jof good soil to each plant at starting. Now that [ |the wind has got round to the south transplant »[evergreens of ail kinds. I dislike moving delicate > things during the prevalence of dry, parching -winds..Better results follow when the weather is ^bright and genial, but not too bright. Plant the jgrcuudwork of carpet-beds with hardy things. It ,is much cheaper, and quite as effective, and there i is not such a long waiting time with naked beds. |Finish pruning Roses. Trap wircworms in car- L:nation-beds, and mulch with old manure. Top- L [dress the rockery with leaf mould and sand. Con- i tinue the sowing of annuals and biennials as they i 'will be useful presently. I SOWING CAESOTS.—In many instances if the seed • is got in much before the third or fourth week in April, either patchy rows of plants are the result, cp 'else the longer period of growth accorded ends in the "root" becoming far too coarse to be of any use in the [kitchen. Not only are large roots the least economi- teal, but a great percentage of them crack badly 'before they can be lifted and stored, and not many j 'gardeners can afford to grow carrots for horses and cattle to eat. If, then, from any cause there in a likelihood of a thin plant resulting it will bo no loss, but rather a gain to hoe these over and re-sow, this ( time,perhaps, giving' more preference to the superior jstunip-roGted forms. It is to be hoped none of cur [readers have dug much solid manure into the ground [intended for carrots, as the tape-roots of these ■ought not to come into contact wiLh anything liable to cause them to either fork badly or to attain a great size. In some seasons it has'been an im- possibility to get the ground into a sufficiently finely divided state, in which case the drills after the seed is sown are filled with sifted light sandy soil. Wood ashes, wherd available, ought always to be freely sprinkled along the seed drills, this being considered the best preventive of cclery-maggot. We consider frequent sowing's of seed also necessary where either the maggot is very troublesome or the roots ireep badly from other causes, and also most desirable in Jail cases where a regular supply of tender young roots is appreciated. By frequent sowings, we mean •j&fc intervals of about one month from now to August, •ithei latest being made either on a warm border where '•they can be covered by frames, or elso on bods already 'covered byframca. Late sown carrots are very hardy, [andcoutinuc to increase in size whenever the weather "is not iiosty, but they are much preyed upon by [small slugs. But for such pests they would be [available till the earliest forced are ready to pull. Supposing the rows of the horn varieties are about 10 inches apart, and the seed sown rather thinly, 1 Oilnee of seed being sufficient for one or several rows eqiml to a length of 60 feet, little or no early thinning out is needed, this being delayed till tho most forward roots are large enough to cook. A very noticeable point in favour of born carrots is the fiiet that quito small roots that have been over- grown by others will start swelling to a great size dirpctJy sufficient room is given them. If goul shied loots are required for storing, then ought the plants to be thinned out to about 4 inches apart. The vows of the larger varieties may be 12 inches 'apart,the plants finally thinned out to '3 inches aptrrt, this being ample space, unless extra large roots are desired. Carrots do not transplant well, and if there are any blanks in the rows sew more seed* 'directly they are observed, first, however, watering the drills if the ground is at all ury. Milch the cleanest and wet roots are obtained from light [saucy sells. =~~ J =

The Chines:) use painted and varnished fish-chins ,cs oreainenfal lanterns. In Japan WAX ie made from Itiie skins and intestines of fish. Mere that fifty mcrsageg, at 10 francs for three minutes' conversation, are now transmitted daily by the Paris-London telephone. In Glasgow higher grade school-. have been ertnb- lished by the School Deard,with higher fees than arc paid in the elementary schools. "General" Booth and Sir William Mclv'imon were amongst the passengers who have arrived iroai [Calais, and proceeded to London. The naval pension of £G5 a year for commanders, 'rendered vacant by the death of Captain Jasnea j Bull, has been awarded to Captain John C. Pitman, I R.N. I The Duke of Portland is about to resign tho j honorary colonelcy of the Lanarkshire Artillery • j Volunteers, the largest brigade in the service, v tneii line has held since 1S84. j Mr.Iludyard Kipling has just received a crowning h'uour. Lord Tennyson has sent him a letter com- [plimeuting him very highly on his poem "The j English Hag." The Eighty Club now consists of over fivo hundred members. It began with thirty-seven. During the last year its members addressed over six hundred and eighty political meetings.