The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

CONWAY. 8.0 a.m. Celebration of the Holy Communion. 9.45 a.m. Welsh service. 11.15 a.m. English service. 6.0 p.m. Welsh service. 10.30 a.m. daily, Matins. St. Agnes 6.0 p.m. English service. Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.-(English Services).— Next Sunday: Morning 11.0, evening 6.30, Mr Marshall, Conway. A GOOD PLACE FOR BOOTS.-For the best and cheapest of all classes of Boots and Shoes go to Joseph Jones, Berry Street, Conway. Best Shop for repairing. adv. loq- MR. H. CLARENCE WHAITE, R.W.S., P.R.C.A. -On Tuesday, February 18th, Mr H. Clarence Whaite occupied the presidential chair at the annual meeting of the Manchester Academy, and was re-elected President. FOOTBALL AT LLANDNDNO JUNCTION. On Wednesday afternoon, February 12th, the Llan- dudno Junction United Reserves defeated the Conway Boys' School football team, by two goals to one and, on the following Saturday, the Llandudno Junction United Club scored a victory over the Holywell St Winifred's, by seven goals to one. Both games were contested at Llandudno Junction. ST. JOHN'S ENGLISH WESLEYAN CHAPEL, CONWAY.- The friends at the above-named place- of-worship have been having a few more in their midst. The preparatory prayer-meetings have been well attended, and the Special Services have begun in good earnest. Many encouraging signs are already noticeable. The congregations are increasing, and outsiders are being brought in, and it is hoped that a flourishing little Church will be the outcome of these special efforts. HEALEY v DAVIES.—In the Queen's Bench Division, on February 17th and 18th, Lord Jus- tice A. L. Smith and a special jury, heard the above action. The plaintiff, Mr William Bernard Healey, sued Mr Ffrangcon Davies, the baritone singer, to recover damages for alleged breach of contract and Lig for commission earned. The defendant denied that he had committed any breach of the contract said that the plaintiff had himself broken it by not using his best endeavours to carry it out by pushing the defendant forward; and that the plaintiff had himself repudiated it. The defendant counterclaimed for damages for the plaintiff's alleged breach of contract, and the amount of commission was disputed. The jury found a verdict for the defendant on claim and counterclaim (with no damages on the latter), and Ir judgment was given accordingly. THE CHURCHMEN'S GUILD.-On Monday, Feb- ruary 17th, a capital impromptu lecture on his Tour in Switzerland," was delivered by the President of the Guild (Rev. J. P. Lewis), who, in his happiest vein, discoursed on the lovely sights and rugged grandeur of the Swiss Alps. Each point of interest had its due share of the lecturer's attention, even the journey en route claiming a few words of passing notice. Familiar names that have now become household-words, such as Grindelwald (of Conference fame), Interlaken, Zermatt, Jungfrau, Matterhorn, and a score of other horns,' all came under the survey of the Vicar, who very successfully sustained a racy descriptive narrative. Heidelberg with its Uni- versity of some hundreds of scarred Students, who prefer being marked for life in order to satisfy points-of-honour (so-called honour) was briefly noticed so was Chillon, which has been immortalized by Lord Byron. A pleasant and enjoyable evening was brought to a close in the usual manner, by according to the lecturer a vote of thanks. THE MERSEY BRIGADE TO ENCAMP AT CONWAY. —It is now practically decided that the Mersey Brigade of Volunteers are to encamp on Conway Morfa this summer. The following further item appears in the Liverpool Mercury "Volunteer Notes (February 18th, 1896) We have heard it said, and we repeat the statement without in any way vouching for its accuracy, that there is a probability that after all the 2nd Liverpool will not be seen in camp with the Mersey Brigade at Conway, but will once again proceed to Aldershot. We fail to see how the oracle can be worked, and simply give the statement for what it is worth." CONWAY LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.- A very serious crisis having arisen through the poor attendance at the Society's meetings since the beginning of the New year, it has been decided that at 7.30 p.m. next Tuesday, February 25th, at the Guild Hall, the President, two Vice- Presidents, and Hon. Sec., shall sign each copy of the printed notices the Executive Committee have ordered to be sent to each and every member, convening a special and extraordinary meeting of the Society, to be holden at 8.15 p.m. on March 3rd, for the purpose of deciding matters gravely affecting the welfare and constitution (and pos- sibly the very existence) of the Society, which, having funds in hand, is not suffering from any embarassment of a monetary nature. The Exe- cutive Committee, at their meeting, expressed a hope that should the Society be continued after the meeting of March 3rd, the clergy, ministers, and other influential citizens who have for some years largely stood aloof from the Society's ordi- nary work of mutual improvement, will, by their presence as often as convenient, help to elevate and improve still further an unsectarian institu- tion which (in its more palmy days, at least) has done much for the mental and moral improvement of its members. TABERNACLE (WELSH WESLEYAN) MUTUAL IM- PROVEMENT SOCIETY.-At the above-named Society's meeting, on Monday, February 17th, under the presidency (in the absence of the Rev O. Evans) of the Rev J. Wesley Hughes, the members were treated to an able address by the Rev T. C. Roberts, of Colwyn Bay. The addrss took the form of a retrospect of the religious history of this country, and we feel sure that all present were greatly benefitted thereby. The following members also spoke:- Alderman H. Hughes, Messrs R. Jones, J. Jones, and O. Davies. On the motion of Mr T. W. Hughes, seconded by Mr J. Madoc Jones, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Roberts, a similar vote being accorded the chairman, on the motion of Alderman Hughes, seconded by the Rev T. C. Roberts. THE MAYORIAL BALL. The Mayor and Mayoress of Conway (Council- lor and Mrs Humphrey Lewis) issued between 100 and 200 invitations to a semi-public Ball held on St Valentine's Day at Plas Mawr, the decorations for the previous Tuesday's Fancy Dress Ball having been left intact. The new gallery pre- sented a cosy appearance, and each of the numerous guests (not so numerous, however, as to overcrowd the Ball-room) received a cordial welcome from the Mayor and Mayoress, the former (attired in evening dress) wearing the badge-of-office suspended by a broad black silk ribbon. Councillor and Mrs Lewis had indeed made the most complete and satisfactory arrange- ments for the comfort of their guests. This was the first Mayoral Ball ever held in Conway, and, as the Mayor and Mayoress were an ideal host and hostess, only two regrets could be expressed towards the close of the evening's proceedings,— that the hours of the enjoyable function had pas- sed away all too soon, and a fear lest the attain- ment of such unruffled success in the first Conway Mayoral Ball might discourage future attempts to rival the excellence attained in the first Mayoralty of Councillor Mr Humphrey Lewis. As a lady was heard to aptly observe, Mr and Mrs Hum- phrey Lewis are the first Mayor and Mayoress of Conway who have provided hours of social enjoy- ment for the ladies as well as for gentlemen." Dancing commenced at eight o'clock, to de- lightful music supplied by the Band of Mrs Haselden (of Rhyl), the first violin being played by Mr Thompson (of Liverpool), and the duties of M.C.'s were admirably carried out by Messrs James Porter and T. B. Farrington, the Stewards being Messrs Owen Rowland and Jordan Jones and Councillor Dr R. Arthur-Prichard. The programme of dance music was as follows Extra, Moonlight on the Rhine" extra, "Whisper and I shall hear"; extra, Linger longer, Loo extra, Eldorado lancers, "Carmen"; waltz, "Reverie"; polka, "Cross Patch"; waltz, "Santiago"; pas de quatre, "Charman"; lancers, "Tableaux Vivants"; supper extras, "In Days Gone By", Dans tes yeux "Etincelles", For Old Sake's Sake and Her Golden Hair (barn dance) waltz, "Beauty's Eyes"; polka, "Merry Eyes"; waltz, Lustige Bruder" lancers, Jolly Good Fellows"; waltz, "Trilby"; pas de quatre, Iola"; waltz, "Vision"; lancers, "Shop Girl waltz, "Louisiana Lou"; polka, "Tin Gee Gee"; lancers, "His Excellency"; waltz, "Acclamations" extra, "John Peel" (gallop). The following is the most complete list obtainable of those to whom invitations were sent. most of them being present :—Alderman the Hon. H. Lloyd-Mostyn, and the Hon. Mrs. H. Lloyd- Mostyn, Alderman and Mrs Hugh Hughes, Alderman and Mrs Hugh Jones, Alderman Wil- liam Hughes, Councillor C. J. Wallace and Miss Wallace, Councillor Dr R. Arthur-Prichard and Mrs Prichard, Councillor Dr M. J. Morgan and Miss Morgan, Councillor and Mrs J. W. Tosde- vine, Councillor and Mrs Edward Roberts, Coun- cillor and Mrs John Williams, Councillor and Mrs Arthur Netherwood, Councillor and Mrs Hugh Jones, Councillor A. W. Jones, Councillor John Hughes, Councillor Owen Jones, Mr Allard (Llanrwst), Miss Alldridge (Castle Bromwich). Mr Amphlett, Mr and Mrs Bremner (Colwyn Bay), Dr Bicknall(Liverpool), Mr and Mrs J. E. Conway- Jones, Mr John Cornwall, Mr and Mrs A. R. Cross (Blundellsands), Mr and Mrs Dalton (Glyn) and Miss Dalton, Mr and Mrs Daniells (Conway College), The Misses Davies (3) (High-street, Conway), Mr J. Roger Dawson (Llandudno), Mr F. A. Dew (Colwyn Bay), Mr and Mrs Dobson (Chester), Miss Dorrington. Miss Dutton (Con- way), Mr and Mrs T. Dutton (Trefriw) and Miss Daisy Dutton, Rev W. Edwards, Rev and Mrs Owen Evans, the Borough Surveyor and Mrs T. B. Farrington and the Misses Farrington and Mr C. Farrington, Mr and Mrs J. E. Fincham, Mr and Mrs J. R. Furness, Miss Gaskell (Glancon- way), Dr Griffiths (Deganwy), Mr and Mrs Felix Hadley and Miss Hadley, Mr and Mrs Hague, Rev J. Harreis, Dr Herbert (Denbigh), Mr and Mrs Hignett (Colwyn Bay), Mrs Houlgrave, Mrs Hughes (Brynhyfryd, Conway) and the Misses Hughes and Mrs Float, Miss Johnson (Penmaen- mawr), the Chairman of the Llandudno District Council and Mrs John Jones and Miss Jones and Mr G. Arthur Jones, Mr Jordan Jones, Rev T. D. Jones, the Borough Collector and Mrs T. M. Jones, Mrs C. Keeling (Castle Bromwich) and Mr H. Keeling, Dr T. L. Kenrick-Davies (Llan- dudno), Mr and Mrs Henry Kneeshaw, Mr and Mrs Joseph Knight and Miss Knight, Mr and Mrs Paul Knight, Mr Knox (Liscard), Mr and Mrs Lees (Cartref Melus) and the Misses Lees (3), Mr and Mrs C. M. Lees, the Vicar of Conway (Rev J. P. Lewis), Miss Meta Lewis (Llanrwst), Miss Ethel Lloyd, Miss Lloyd-Price (Holywell), Rev Dr and Mrs Llugwy-Owen, Mr J. G. Long, Mr and Mrs Meyer, Miss Naylor (Keithley), the Town Clerk and Mrs T. E. Parry and Miss Parry and Mr Isaac LI. Parry, Mr and Mrs Pen- fold (Leeds), Rev and Mrs P. R. Phillips, Mr and Mrs Pilkington, Mr and Mrs Pollitt, Mr and Mrs James Porter, Mr and Mrs Porter (Pwllycrochan) and the Misses Porter and Mr F. Porter, Mr and Mrs J. W. Post, Mr Harold Rathbone (Birken- head), the Misses Richards (Welshpool), the Vicar of Caerhun and Mrs Roberts, the Rev and Mrs T. Gwynedd Roberts, the Borough Treasurer (Mr Owen Rowland, J.P.), Mr and Mrs J. C. Salmon and Miss Maud Salmon, Captain and Mrs Sarson, Mrs Sever (The Mount) and Mr Cornelius Sever, Mr and Mrs W. M. Sever (Fern Bank), Mr and Mrs Sidlev, Mr and Mrs Slater, Miss Smith (Oldham), Mr and Mrs Stott (Ravenscrag) and Miss Stott, Mrs and Miss Trit- ton, Mr and Mrs Turner (Deganwy), Mrs Walker (Morfa) and the Misses Walker, Mr F. Vincent Walker (Llandudno), the Misses Webb (Melton Ross, Lincolnshire), Mr and Mrs H. Clarence Whaite and Miss YVhaite, Mr T. Williams (Caer- wys), Major and Mrs Ephraim Wood (Pabo Hall), Mr and Mrs Swinford Wood (Bodlondeb) and Mr A. S. Wood, Mr and Mrs W. Wood (Morfa), &c., &c. Supper was served in the Lantern Room, and Mr A. Sumner (Grosvenor Restaurant, Llan- dudno), deserves to be unreservedly congratu- lated on the splendid catering and really excellent service of waiters,—compliments which we wish could always be as justly paid after ball-suppers. The menu left nothing to be desired, and the boar'«-head attracted general admiration (its de- sign included a "mad bull after Watson," and another device entitled "taking the lead"). The Ball-room was adequately lighted, the gas- installation having been made by Messrs Stott (of Oldham and Conway). Dancing was carried on with spirit till half-past three, when three resound- ing cheers for the Mayor and Mayoress nearly shook the rafters down, and the general verdLt on departing was that the Conway Mayoral Ball was the best of all Balls that could be called to mind." The police arrangements were admirably carried out under the personal supervision of P.C. E. Watkin Parry (20), of Conway.

Metropolitan Bank. ANNUAL MEETING. The thirteenth annual meeting of the share- holders of the Metropolitan Bank of England and Wales was held on Thursday, January 30th, at the Great Western Hotel, Birmingham. Sir Thomas Lea, Bart., M.P., occupied the chair, ai.d there was a very large attendance of shareholders. The report showed a profit upon the year's trade of £ 60,630 14s 8d.. and recommended the payment of a dividend of 12! per cent. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that it opened with the statement that the general business of the bank, except for the low value of money, had been satisfactory and progressive. The power of the bank had never been better there had been an increase of over 1000 new accounts during the year, and though the turnover on the old accounts until the autumn still showed signs of contraction an alteration took place during the last few months, and for the first time for some years most of their accounts exhibited an increase of business. This was confirmatory of the improved state of trade. He would also refer then to the figures in the balance- sheet, which showed an increase of L300,000 in money entrusted to them. They thus saw that they had the continued confidence of the public. They would ask how it was that, with so satisfactory a general business, they had a much less profit and proposed a lessened dividend. Thers were many reasons of a special character to account for this state of things, the first being the low value of money. When he was elected to the chair about nine years ago their cash amounted to £ 633,000. Two years ago it was L852,000, and this year £ 1,490,000. Not only had the rate been low for their surplus balances, but they had had much more money lying in London at merely nominal rates. It was doubtful if they had had an average of 1 per cent. for the money, and as the custom in the country had been to give 2 or 2! per cent, for deposits, it had been a positive loss. Had they employed the money or the surplus over LI,490,000 in their own business it would have yielded quite £ 15,000 or L20,000 more than it had done. It might be said that all banks were affected by the low rate, but in the case of their bank it had been aggravated by one special reason. During the past year they had been expecting the liquidator of the National Bank of Wales would make a call on the unpaid capital of that bank, and although it ought not to affect them, and they had no serious apprehension that it would, they decided to consult safety at the expense of profits, and make themselves so strong that if any local trouble should arise they could meet any calls at a moment's notice. Proceeding, the Chairman dealt in considerable detail with the bank's position in connexion with the purchase and liquidation of the National Bank of Wales (upon each of whose shares the liquidator proposed calling up a further £ 2 ios. out of the £ 10 liability). In conclusion, he thought that the National Bank had not proved to be a desirable acquisition, but it would yield them £ 20,000 a year profit yet, for which, with the expenses he had indicated, they would have paid £ 200,000. Mr Satchell Hopkins (Deputy-Chairman) secon- ded the resolution. He said The first figure shows that the amount due by the bank on current deposit and other accounts is £ 313,000 larger than it was this time last year. Now that shows the confidence of the public End our customers in the bank itself-a confidence which the board are determined, as far as in them lies, to deserve and to maintain. Then on the assets side it is a very favourable feature that our cash balances—the cash in hand, at call, and at notice is £ 150,000 more than it was this time last year, and that our invested reserve is £ 100,000 more also, making, if we take the two together, the bank stronger by about a quarter of a million of money— £ 250,000— than it was this time last year. Our bills of exchange, as you see, are rather less they are L92,000 less. The accounts due to the bank on current and other accounts are £7,000 less, and this notwithstanding that the number of our customers has very greatly increased. We have a very much larger clientele than we had a year ago our accounts are always being added to. We have large and important accounts brought to us constantly, and yet we have about on the whole £7,000 less on this account, which comes to practically the same amount. The other item —the bank premises and furniture in London and at Birmingham &c., has increased by £ 14,000. The sum of L298,443 represents freehold and leasehold premises at upwards of ninety branches in large and small towns in the best situations, and are of constantly but gradually increasing value. The only other item upon the balance- sheet that I need refer-to is the guarantee fund. We have already, as you have been told, written off £ 120,000 from the guarantee fund, but, notwith- standing that, our guarantee fund stands in a very | favourable position as compared with other banks. f I have had taken out for me the guarantee funds of the twelve principal joint stock banks, and I find that whilst the average of these twelve banks —the principal joint stock banks—the average of the guarantee fund is a little under 60 per cent, of their paid-up capital, onrs is over 74 per cent. It is exactly 74-21 per cent. of our paid-up capital, so that we are still greatly in excess of the average, and there are only two banks, I think. out of the twelve that exceed our percentage of 741 upon their paid-up capital. These same banks taken together pay an average of 12; per cent. profit. That is exactly what we are paying to-day, and on the whole I cannot help thinking that as times go 1 2 per cent. for a bank is a very 2 fair and satisfactory dividend. The report was carried unanimously. Messrs W. E. Warden and C. II. Williams (Wales) were re-elected directors, and Messrs Turquand, Youngs, and Co., auditors. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and directors and officials concluded the business of the meeting.

The Level Crossing at Llandudno Junction. At the meeting of the Carnarvonshire County Council held on Thursday, February 6th, the report of the Surveyor's Committee had reference to the proposed alterations of the L. and N. W. Railway Company'ssystem at Llandudno Junction. The Chairman of the Surveyor's Committee, Mr C. H. Darbishire, reported that the proposal to purchase a steam-roller had been negatived by the Committee. After a long discussion, in which Messrs D. P. Williams, R. Arthur-Prichard, W. J. Parry, Issard Davies, W. A. Darbishire. and Davies (Portmadoc) took part, it was agreed to refer the subject back to the Committee. It was further reported that, unless the London and North Western Railway Company made certain modifications with respect to the proposed alter- ations in the roadway at Llandudno Junction, the Ic sub-Committee was of opinion that the Parliament- ary powers sought by the Company should be opposed, if thought fit. Mr W. J. Parry was opposed to incurring expense in the matter, and moved that a small Committee be appointed to approach the Com- pany. He would be sorry to see the Council blunder in the same way as the Conway Corpor- ation had done. Mr C. H. Darbishire explained that the recommendation to oppose was in no way hostile to the Company, but merely a matter of form. Mr Elias Jones held that the Company should be pressed to construct a bridge over the Junction level-crossing, which was a cause of great delay to vehicular traffic between Llandudno, Conway, and Penmaenmawr, and added that he thought the question of a bridge a hundred times more important than any objections there could be t.) the deviation of the highway, for on this level- crossing the traffic was blocked by gates across the road at least a hundred times a day. Some day a serious accident might occur, and then the Council would awaken to its responsibility. He hoped, and the Llandudno District Council hoped, that the County Council would press this matter on the Railway Company, as it is of great importance. By a large majority, the proposal of Mr W. J. Parry was adopted, the Committee to report to the next meeting. The plans of the proposed police-houses to be erected at Craigydon, Llandudno, were approved of.

Corrtoponbenct. [In no case are we responsible for the opinions expressed in this column.] To the Editor of The Weekly News." COLWYN BAY AND COLWYN DISTRICT COUNCIL. SIR,-Will you allow me to correct the report in your last week's issue (in your next) in reference to my remarks on the Land Clauses Act according to your report, but the remarks were made in reference to the Gasworks Clauses Act, 1871, Clause 29. As you are well aware of the resolution that I moved in the Council some months back and the jibes and sneers and oppositions I have received since then, which you have been so good to publish in your papers, this resolution, after being knocked from pillar to post for this length j of time, on Tuesday the nth Mr Jones was » appointed the gas-tester; this is the first and only Clause passed by the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn j Local Authority, although the works have been in operation for the last 11 years, and I could not I help but saying that I was glad that they had i allowed a Clause of the Gasworks Clauses Act at | last to become operative in this District, and perhaps a certain gentleman felt a bit hurt at the remark I made on the obstructions it had met, when it was a question of such interest to the town and the people that consume gas in their houses. Another inisreport,-yoti say it was in reference to the Wood that I demanded the names down, but it was in reference to taking-over by the Council Coed Pella-road, which, in my opinion, is not in a fit state I am told that one abutting owner has never made his part at all, but three of the Councillors have property abutting on it,- they spoke in favour of taking it over, and voted, which I believe it to be illegal, and I requested that names be taken down in favour and against. I cannot make out how so many mistakes are made in your paper with reference to myself. Yours. WILLIAM DAVIES. Colwyn Bay, Feb. 18th, 1896. RE PWLLYCROCHAN WOODS. SII,-In your report of my remarks respecting I the purchase of the above Woods, an error in j figures occurs. What I said, or at least intended to say, was that the Company's price for the whole was £ 8000." I must also admit having made a miscalculation in the extent of the Woods, i and estimating them at 20 acres instead of 40. [ This accounts for my error in stating that the j Company wanted -4-400 an acre whereas really they only ask 2oo an acre, which, for forty acres, I comes to £ 8000. There is also an error in my statement as to the price at which land close by, could be purchased, LSo being put down instead of Lioo per acre.— t Yours, J. ROBERTS. A SUGGESTION. SIR,-Ill view of the suggestion to purchase the Gas Co.'s property on behalf of the rate- I payers of this District, I think the following cutting from a weekly paper of last Saturday is of i general interest, and may afford food for reflec- f tion to your readers.—Yours respectfully, Grove Park, J. OATES. Colwyn Bay, 18/2/96. WHY ARE THE WAVES WASTED ? The amount of power in the forces of Nature which daily goes to waste is incalculable. The utilisa- tion of the dynamic force of the tides is a subject ¡ which has engaged the minds of men for centu- t ries, with little or no practical result. Another attempt has been made in this direction, in America, on the Rhode Island coast. A dam has been built across the mouth of a narrow bay, in which the tidal rise and fall is considerable. By means of a second dam the bay is divided into i two great reservoirs. The water stored in these is made to turn a wheel, which it is proposed to < connect by suitable gearing to a dynamo tor the generation of electricity. The belief is held in I the best engineering circles that the problem of the commercial utilisation of tidal energy is rapidly approaching solution, and there are indications that within the next two years a gigantic and carefully worked out scheme of this nature will be made public. Should such an en- terprise prove successful, some sweeping develop- ments in the supply of light and power to coast- wise cities, and the transmission of the same to towns and villages in the neighbouring country, may be looked for." Printed and Published by R. 1< Jones & Brothers, at their Printing Works, 3, Rose Hill Street, Conway, and Published at the Central Library, Colwyn Bay. 1

was proposed by Mr John Roberts, seconded by Mr William Davies, and carried unanimously, that it be a recommendation to the Council to put the Land Clauses Act in force as to the purchase of the Woods." In reference to this, Mr William Davies remarked I am glad to see Mr John Roberts is going in for the Land Clauses Act at last. The Rev J. G. Haworth (severely): I should object to such a remark if I were the Chairman." We cordially agree with Mr Haworth, and we are glad to note that gentleman's out- spoken condemnation both of Mr Wm Davies's totally unnecessary remark and the Chairman's laxity in allowing it to pass unrebuked, and we hail it as a sign that for the future the cooler- headed and graver members of the Council will definitely dissociate themselves not only from remarks of this character, but from support of the utterances of them. It is this sort of hare- brained chatter and exuberant verbosity which is accountable for most of the loss of time and fogginess of work characteristic of the Council as well as for the discreditable ebullitions of temper too frequently manifested at its delibera- tions. We conclude our remarks upon this sec- tion of our subject, with the observation that the whole of the proceedings are a disgrace both to the members guilty of the conduct we have referred-to (who are by no means limited to those we have named) and to the Chairman whose weakness suffers such antics to proceed. Of course we use the word disgrace in respect to the manner in which they performed or failed to per- form the public duty the honour of fulfilling which most of them fought tooth and nail to secure, and which was entrusted to them, by their con- stituents, not so much in the hope as in the assu- rance that they would acquit themselves in the matter with some regard to the necessities of the situation. We have left ourselves little space to deal with the second portion of our subject, namely, the matter of the proceedings at last week's Council meeting, owing to our desire to impress on the minds of the ratepayers the apparently hopeless inability of some of their present representatives of grasping even the most elementary principles of the conduct of public business. We say ap- parently hopeless inability" advisedly, for we have ourselves over and over again not only called attention to this matter, but have explained in minute detail and at wearisome length the A. B.C. of the routine of public business, and that so clearly that we are confident that any boy in the street who chanced to have read our articles on the subject, must have had a very clear con- ception of what ought to be done. Well, the second portion of our remarks is to be devoted to a consideration of the matter of the proceedings at last week's Council meeting, and we wi I con- fine ourselves to the single item of the eternal Cowlyd Water Board question. We are free to confess that it is difficult to resist the impression that there is a total inability to understand this question on the part of those who are continually bringing the matter up month after month. The agitation against the Board, has been going on now for a couple of years, and has resulted in clouds of ambiguous inuendoes against somebody. Who those somebody is (or are), the agitators have not even yet had the courage and honesty to name, while still less have they had the courage and honesty to definitely formulate a definite charge against any member or members of the Joint Board. The Chairman of the Board has replied as well as could possibly be done under the circumstance, to the flight of poisoned arrows which have been hurtling through the air, and to our minds that explanation appeared quite straight- forward. Mistakes were admitted, and the fullest Government Inquiry courted. Neverthe- less, at a meeting of ratepayers subsequently convened, the Rev Thomas Parry (the Chairman of the Council, and a member of the Cowlyd Water Board)delivered a long address bristling with inu- endoes from beginning to end. The address also contained several statements a trifle more definite than inuendoes. With these we dealt in a leading article in these columns a few weeks ago, and, in the course of that article, we invited Mr. Parry to state whether or not he (Mr Parry) voted for or against certain actions of the Joint Board, which, in the address referred-to, he seemed to imply or suggest were actions meriting the severest con- demnation of the ratepayers. Mr Parry has not replied, and our readers are quite at liberty to draw their own conclusions from that fact. Now, at the last meeting of the Colwyn Bay District Council, we find Mr. John Blud bringing the matter up again, and asking "whether the Joint Board has any explanation to give in reference to the grave and serious statements made by Alderman Parry at a town's meeting held at Colwyn Bay on December 27th." Grave and serious fiddlestick Grave and serious state- ments as applied to Mr Parry's wild and misty rhetoric on the occasion referred-to, is good. But does Mr. Blud imagine that anyone else besides himself regards Mr Parry's farrago as a grave and serious statement. ? If he does, we are of opinion that he is mistaken. By the way, it may not be inappropriate here to call attention to a little incident which occurred during the earlier portion of the last Council meeting, namely, the "grave and serious statement" made by Mr. Blud respecting the Rev. W. Venables- Williams's alleged refusal to answer letters addressed to him in reference to a site for an Infectious Diseases Hospital. With extreme gravity and seriousness, Mr Blud made a circum- cumstantial statement on this head, which after- wards turned out to have been wholly unwarranted by fact, inasmuch as the Rev. W. Venables- Williams had not been written-to on the subject. This sort of thing is what fair-minded men call hitting below the belt," and is a contemptible and cowardly abuse of the privileges of debate. Of course Mr Blud at once withdrew any remarks he had made, as soon as he was told that his statement was baseless, but the fact that a gentleman of Mr Blud's position should make such a statement (with its accompanying sneers) in open Council, without having taken the trouble to verify it, is a discreditable one. But to return to the unfortunate Cowlyd Water Board. Mr Blud now appearing in the role of challenger, and as Mr Thomas Parry has neglected to accede to our invitation to formulate definite charges against definitely named persons in this matter, we now beg to ask Mr Blud, on behalf of the ratepayers, What does he mean ? We also beg to invite Mr Blud, failing Mr Thomas Parry, to formulate in definite form any indict- ment he may conceive there is ground for in connexion with the Cowlyd Water Board. Does Mr Blud think (or does he wish to imply) anything more serious against the Board or its officials, than mistakes, errors of judgment? If so, let him make his charge and prove it, and we promise him our fullest and heartiest support. Otherwise, in the name of all that is honest and fair and square (this is plain if not elegant English), let us hear no more about it. Mr Blud, in the course of his remarks, observed that he had hoped to have seen the Chairman of the Cowlyd Board present that day, and to find whether he really had any answer to these charges." What charges? We ask Mr Blud, and our columns are open for his reply.