Rhyl Record and Advertiser

ABERGELB URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. The Monthly Meeting of th3 Abergele Urban Council was held at the 'Council Offices on Monday. There w-ts present Dr. Wolstenholme, J.P. (chair- man), Mr Thomas Williams (vice-chairman), Messrs Isaac Roberts, Pearce Davies, J. Coppins, Thomas Ev-rs, George Perkins, J. Hannah, J. Pierce, B. S. Rogers, E. Williams, with the clerk (Mr E. A. Crabbe). THE IMPROVEMENT SCHFME. The Finirce Committee reported having en- gaged llr George Bell, of Rhyl, to advise the Council with respect to the scheme of projected improvements in Abergele, and to attend the Local Government Inquiry for an inclusive fee of £ 21. SiX ITATION OF TITE 3IAGI3TEATFS BOC;X.-IX. TRAOBDENABY ALLEGATIOX. The Clerk read correspondence that bad taken place between Col. Lloyd Williams, the Denbigh- shire County Surveyer, with reference to a complaint as to the insanitary condition of the Masisrr.ites' Room, and the retiring room. The County Surveyor had reported to his committee that he bid found out that the smell complained of was mot objectionable when the wind blew from the north and north-east. There was no ventilation of any kuid of the main sewer running in the road passing the courthouse, and this being the highest part of the system the accumulation of sewer gas must be tremendous. The Abergele District Council nhould provide better ventilation for their tewers, and then the County Council could consider what was necessary for their own protection. To this D-. Lloyd Roberts, Medical Officer of Health for Abergele, had written that Colonel Lloyd Wii Hams' reply was characteristic. The drainage of Abergele had been passed 2.5 years ago after a comcai-sion held by an engineer of the Local Government Board, who Approved of the pians. It ws curious that all the sewer gasses in the town should nave concentrated at this point. Mr J. Copping said that at the last Council meeting be had ventured to make a suggestion as to the cau-e of the stench at the courthouse. Since then Mr Isaac Roberts bad been engaged in over- haulin the drainage of the Police Station, and if Col. Lloyd Williams had paid the place a visit, he would find his answer. The sewage was actually taken through a stone culvert underneath the ourthouse, and discharged into a cesspool which was lower than the drains where a deposit and an accumulation of stagnant sewage naturally occurred, and it was this that was responsible for the stench. Mr E. Williams said he could endorse every word that Mr Coppinjar had said. The place was in a most disgraceful state. After seeing that cesspool he marvelled how the Inspector and his fanrilv had escaped serious illness. lie thought that they could not be too severe on the County Surveyor for the way that he bad tried to run down their drainage system. He proposed that the clbtL suould write to the County Council calling attention to the drainage of the room. Mr John Edwards seconded, and it was carried. OVERFLOWIN-A OF THE GELE. Mr Thomas Evans called attention to the flooding of a cellar in Water Street, through the Gele over- flowing its banks in consequence of the lowering of the tan-yard dam, and which had done considerable damage to seme goods scored there. He thought they should take some action to prevent this state of things. This was caused through the extra height put en the dam. The Clerk said he had seen the managing director of the tan-yard, who said that the flooding had taken place in consequence of the men not carrying out his instructions that the dam should be raised every night. The flooding in question had taken place in consequence of the omission to raise the dam. It was a private matter between property owners. If any owner or occupier were aggrieved in consequence of the action of another property owner, he bad his remedy at law, and it was not for the Council to interfere in such disputes. The matter then dropped, Mr Evans remarking that Le had done his duty in calling attention to the matter. THE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. Mr George Bell appeared before the Board and said he bad been making a survey of the district preparatory to making plans of the several im- provements projected. He asked the Council to appoint a Committee with whom he might confer on the ground in order :bat he might give effect to the views of the Council. It was resolved to appoint a committee of the whole Council. KORE LIGHT WASTED IN PENSABY. Mr John Edwards proposed that three additional lamps be fixed at the back of the South Parade. There was not a light of any kind there. He sug- gested that one should be placed by Merion, one by Pron Park, and one by the new Schoolroom. Mr Thomas Evans seconded and also suggested that the lamplighter should commence lighting at Pensa'n one night, and Abergtle the next instead of starting at Abergele Dightly as at present. Mr J. Copping said there were several places requiring new lamps, and he proposed as an amend- ment that the Sub-Committee should go round to see where new lamps were required, so that the whole might be ordered at the same time instead of getting two or three lamps at the time. Mr J. Fierce seconded the amendment. Mr Edwards withdrew his proposition in favour of Mr Copping's amendment which was carried. THZ PENSAEN ROADS. Mr John Edwards called attention to the bad state of the roads in Pensarn. In some cases the roads were actually lowpr in the centre than at, the sides, causing in wet weather pools of water to form in the middle of the roads. The roads ought to be covered with proper gravel instead of gnvel from the river, such as had been used upon them in previous years. There were also several roads in Abergele that required attention and he instanced the elas Newydd Road. Mr Copping said the Council had nothing to do with private roads. Mr Pierce Da\ ô> said a resolution had been passed some 12 months at><L. tiling upon the owners to put their back roads in -)er repair in Pensarn. The Clerk said it was le^-ho'd property abutting on these roads and the leases shortly would fall in, so that it would be a great hardship on these leasbolders to call upon them to do this work. He. however, felt that they had no power to compel them to do so, seeing that the Council had lighted the roads, scavenged them and even repaired some of them. The proper thing was for the Council to adopt the roads and repair them at the public expense. Mr Pierce Davies supported the Clerk's suggestion, and hoped they would take the matter in hand at once so that they could carry out the works simultaneously with the improvement scheme. Mr Rogers said it was nonsense for the Council to say that Station Road was a private road. Since be had been in Abergele the road had been lighted cleaned, repaired and watered by the Council, and it was the most important road in Pensarn. It was suggested that the Railway Company should bear the cost of Keeping this road in repair. Why should they do so seeing that the Company were large ratepayers in Abergele. He advised the Council not to approach the Company with respect to this road. If they did so the probability was that the Company would close the road, which would be a very serious thing for Abergele. He proposed that both Station Road and Chapel Street be adopted by the Council as highways repairable by the public. Mr J. Edwards se~ied, and the motion was carried nem con. THE FJRYD BnIDGE. Mr Thomas Evans had given notice of his intention to propose that the Council petition the Denbighshire County Council to take steps in conjunction with the F.int^hire County Council to buy the Foryd TSridge and throw it open free for traffic. H said that something had happened since he gave notice of motion, which made it desirable that he should postpone his motion until the next Councie ■meeting. 1 BANGCB COLLEGE. The Chairman was appointed to represent the Council in the Board cf Governors of the North Wales University College. INSPECT02 OF HTTISAHCES. Mr J. Copping sail ns they were bound to appoint an Inspector of Nuisance, and as there were only four months to pass, he proposed that Mr Jarmyn, the Rate Collector, be appointed to discharge the duties until the end of the year, and he promised to render him all the assistance he could. Mr Thomas Williams said there was no doubt that they should also have to appoint a Surveyor, and he thought th0y ought at an early date consider the question of the collector, Surveyor, and Inspector of Nuisances.

T!l" UL ■• j v.. 1. Slip!rml itvt, boon s*jhi ttt ;o, £1,),:1). Tho i ing New !)orn of tiitJU'diMite tor cul- ture, i, ballet dancing. At Joh'i 'i i wyrku»« in tl:n Corporation yard, where h- Clllpk::ell iv* foreman, when he dropped down den a. On August 17th last, Thomas Anderson. Honry And;, i* >:i. and J. Co&ey were kike*! kj |iei riiigco;i (ToliLevy. The relatives in each case i.i\u received £ ^00. vaylei' the new CoiiiptUii-i'tioii Act

We do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed by our Correspondents. ,r"

ST. ASAPH PARISH COUNCIL. A meeting of the St. Asaph Parish Council was held on Monday evening. In the absence of Mr T. 4owes Roberts (chairman), the chair was taken by Dr. Easterbv (vice-chairman). The following Councillors were also present Dr. H. Lloyd, Messrs H. A. Cleaver, Robert Jones, J. P. Jones, John Jones, Chas. Mansbridge, J. Simon, and T. F. Roberts (Clerk.) absentees. Letters of apology for non-attendance were re- ceived from Mr T. Howes Roberts, and Mr J. C. B. Luxmoore. THE NtTISAXCES ON THE COMMON. It was reported that a special meeting of the committee appointed to deal with the condition of the common had been held at which it was recommend- ed that funds oe raised by means of a bazaar for obtaining a Provisional Order to secure control over the Common. Mr Robert Jones explained that he wished the public of St. Asaph to clearly understand that the Parish Council had done all they possibly could to secure control of the common without resorting to the expense of obtaining a Provisional Order, but up to the present they had found it impossible to do anything. He made that statement as there were people in the city who had the idea that certain things were left undone. It was laid down under certain Acts that where the public bad used an open space as a village green for games and exercises that no one could take it from them. He had written to the -Local Government Board and to the Board of Agriculture on the subject and had pointed out that the Common bad become a public nuisance, also that the inhabitants had for years and years been in the habit of using the place for the playing of games and for exercise. As the Council were anxious to ba clothed with authority for taking charge of the Common the Local Gov- ernment Board were asked whether the Council; would under the circumstances be justified in taking charge of it. In reply the Local Government Board said that they could not undertake to advise the Council on the subject. No reply had been received from the Board of Agriculture, and he suggested that the Council had better adjourn the question, until it was received. He had also written to a gentleman who had had great experience in the question of Commons, and had fully explained the whole matter. In reply that gentleman did not think that the Council could do anything but pro. ceed by a Provisional Order as the Common at St. Asaph was not open land. The land had also been alloted under the Parish Award, but not as an open space for recreation, games and exercise. He did not think that the Parish Council could take charge of the Common without further authority than they at present possessed. He (Mr Robert Jones) had to point out that the Parish Award did not go far enough. It stipulated that gravel was to be taken by certain parties for building and roadmaking, but it did not say who was to control the taking of it. He was advised that the Board of Agriculture could amend the Award but that would be as expensive as securing a Provisional Order. Mr Mansbridge thought that the management of the quarry would be vested in the Lord of the manor. Mr Robert Jones replied thtt there was no authority saying so. Mr Mansbridge said he thought that the Bishops of St. Asaph had something to do with it. Mr Robei t Jones said that they had only authority as part proprietors. Their power was the same as the others who had a right at the Common. Ac- cording to the old Act of St. Asaph the common was open to freeholders who could take gravel for building and road making, but for nothing else. Dr. Lloyd thought that it would be a good thing if people would take the gravel from the bed of the river, as it would tend to deepen the channel. Mr R. Jones observed that that would be all right, but people would not take the gravel from where they were required to take it. It was decided to defer the matter until the reply had been leceived from the Board of Agriculture. HYDBANTS WANTED FOB THB CITY. Mr Robert Jones explained that he had also written to the Local Government Board on the sub- ject of the Parish Council providing hydrants for the city, the question having been raised as to whether they could include the cost in the annual lighting rate. Already they possessed powers under the Parish Councils' Fire Engine Act of 1898 to join with another parish in the use of a fire engine. The Chairman suggested that the matter had better stand over until January when the Council would hold its annual lighting and watching meet- ing. Dr. Lloyd considered it a question which should not be lost sight of. The Chairman observed that the Council was very much obliged to Mr Robert Jones for the trouble he took in, the matter, and they hoped that they would soon be able to do something for the Common, which was in a disgraceful state. THE LIGHTING OF THE CITY. Mr H. A. Cleaver hoped that the Council would pay their gas bill, as he understood there was an account due. It was decided to deal with the matter at the next Lighting and Watching meeting. THE REPAIR OF FOOTPATHS. Attention was again called to the condition of the footpaths on the bridge crossing the Elwy, and it was stated that people preferred to walk in the roadway than to pass along the pebbled footway, which was dangerous and out of repair. Mr Robert Jones remarked that the County Council could spend money on the Queen's Ferry Bridge, and talk of buying the Foryd Bridge, but they would not look after their own bridges. It was decided to ask the County Council to repair the footways, and to invite Col. Howard to take up the matter. The Council then rose.

For all kinds of School Books, Exercises General and Commercial Stationery, go to Amos Brothers, 13 Sussex Street, and 6, Wellington Chambers,

Splendid Book ot Views of Rbyl and District to be had of Amos Brothers, 13, Sus r Street, and 6, Wellington Chambers. \i":J = ■ v. •. v .iipsfvmaniae who has oeeu »;ouvi*jir.t than 1.0:)) times for be- ing tiranl: and disorderly, was sentenced to a month s hard liiWuv as the Thames Police Court 1-he other day for .similar oifeuees. His last con- viction was at Peterborough. Dr. vonSilek, whose deatl?, in his eightieth year, is announced from Triesto, acted" as private physician to the lat.e Emperor Maxcnilian during his fatal expedition to Mexico. He was afterwards principal medieaJ officer of the Austrian navy, aud wrote a valuable treatise on hydrography. Alderman John Hopkinson, the members of his family, and near relatives, have offeved to the wens Collage, in memory of the late Dr. Jok-a r>f°K--Yv0*1' a grft of £ 1,6<?0., to cover the expense dynamo-hou3e connected with the new physical laboratory.

MR D. LLOYD GEORGE, M.P., ON THE WELSH BISHOPS. SCATHING REMARKS, THE BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH AND HIS CLERGY. Speaking at the first conference promoted by the North Wales Federation of Free Churches, at Bangor, on Wednesday, the 23rd instant, Mr Lloyd George, who was cordially received, referred to the reported resignation of the Bishop of Bangor, and said he deeply regretted the cir- cumstances which had caused him to take that step (hear, hear.) He (Mr Lloyd-Geerge) had said strong things from time to time about bishops, but he could not recall a single vjastance in which he had said a harsh thing'about BishopJLlovd, and he would tell ^tbem wby. Tho Bishop of Bangor had always shown that he possessed the conscience of a true shepherd (hear, hear.) He' at any^rate, did not harry his flock like a mad doar (laughter^ He was moreover a real patriot. Wales had a%-warm corner in her heart for all those in bigti places who cherished her ancient tongue, (hear, hear.) Bishop Lloyd was the first prelate of the Anglican Church for the last two centuries who had edited a Welsh book (applahse.) He was the first bishop for two centuries to promote a clergyman purely for services to Welsh literature. Unfortunately, the traditions of the Established Church in Wales had been in this, as in all other respects, anti-national. No one could rob Bishop Lloyd of the distinction of being the first member of the Episcopal Beach in Wales who in recent times departed from that fatuous policy. For all the good which he did, which he had episcopal precedent for despising for all the evil he did not which hn had equally exalted sanct- ion for perpetrating (laughter), he was and would be, honoured amongst all ranks and creeds of his countrymen (applause.) And now that he was stricken down in the prime of his years, the esteem, good wishes, and the blessings of mtn of every church, Free and Established, throughout biti diocese would follow him into his retirement to assuage his sufferings and to mel!ow his affliction (applause.) Since the announcement of the Bishops probable retirement a war of suceession had been going on (laughter.) They knew how emch wars generally commenced, An unscrupulous and ambitious potentate wishing to annex the vacated dominion to his Empire, knowing that be could not very well occupy the throne himself, endeavoured to thrust one of his own creatures into possession of it, in order to rule through him. These wars had always been fierce and prolonged, and the contest for the See of Bangor had in this respect the characteristics of every conflict of its kind in history It had accomplished at any rate one good object, it had shown that there was a deep rooted dissatis- faction amongst the best men of the Church with the present state of things (hear, hear.) There was an uneasy sense that the Episcopal bench did not now, and bad not for some time, represent the finest characteristics of the nation, and they knew full well that if it was to maintain its position as the National Church that state of things could not be allowed t3 continue. Look at the present occupants of the Bench They bad all a right to criticise them (laughte.) They assumed to be the national leaders of religion, and they bad therefore a right to canvass their merits and demerits. They would expect them at any rate, having reilard to the religious traditions of the Welsh pulpit, to be great preachers. Take the great preachers Wales had produced during the last century and a half. Their story had yet to be written for the ootside world. When it was written and published, he believed it would be acknowledged that no nation of the same size had produced so many orators of the first rank during so comparatively short a period. Surely men who aspired to be religious heads of such a nation ought to have amongst them at least one representative worthy of taking rank amongst those brilliant ones. But what was the actual state of things ? Was there a single, he would not say great preacher, but good preacher amongst their bishops ? (Laughter.) Rad they heard them ? (Laughter.) He did not believe the Calvinistie Methodists would ask one of them a second time to preach at their cyfarfod misol" (laughter.) Came to the men in the Free Churches of Wales contemporary with the present bishops and they would have a different story to tell. The heart of every Welshman throbbed with pride when he contemplated the oratotical triumphs of such men as Dr. Uwen Thomas, Dr. Herber Evans, John Evans (Eglwysbach), and Dr. Charles Edwards (applause.) And in England the brilliant orators reared in Free Churches of Wales were everywhere adding to that national reputation which was part of the stcck in trade of every young Welshman (applause.) Wherever they went in the great cities and towns across the border they would find English- men thronging to listen to these eloquent men of the Welsh race. The Chairman of the Wesleyan Conference was a Welshman the chairmen of the Congregational Union for the last three years had all been Welshmen. He asked Churchmen whether they could honestly say that a single Welsh bishop would add in the slightest degree to the oratorical reputation of his country's pulpit. And when they came to consider other attributes essential for that great post, did matters improve ? If they looked at the English bishops they were all men who had distinguished themselves in some way or another. They might be great administrators, statesmen, men who represented in a high degree the virile p intelligence of the English race, like the present Archbishop of Canterbuy, brilliant orators like the Bishop of Ripon, great historians like Bishops Stubbs aud Creighton, great theologians like Bishop Ellicott, and all of them great scholars. But what about the Welsh bishops? Were they distinguished for scholarship? The Bishop of St. David's took a second olass at Oxford, and he was the beat of the lot (laughter.) The Bishop of St. Asaph came off with a third; the Bishop of Llandaff with a fourth. Thia was not because Wales had produced no scholars. The Welsh pulpit could boast of men who had taken first class in the English Universities— men like Principal Edwards, Principal Roberts, Principal Prys, Professor Lloyd, 0, M. Evans, Young.Evans, Puleston Jones, and others whom he might name. But they were all Free Churchmen. But in the Anglican Church they had Mr Hartwell Jones, who had twice been jockeyed out of the Principalship of Lampeter College because he was too good a Welshman for the post. Were the Welsh bishops successful administrators ? Just look at the condition of the diocese of St. Asaph at the present moment. There they would find an answer to that question. The Bishop, having quarrelled his beat preacher out of the diocese, was now engaged in blackthorning his own clergy. No wonder the Bangor memoralists objected to having a school- master for a bishop (laughter.) The cane got into their nervous system (laughter.) The clergy of St. Asaph were in revolt—the meekest, mildest, and most submissive set of men that ever applauded a bishop |(laughter.) The man who drove such a clergy into rebellion would have excited an insur- rection in a herd of shorthorns (much laughter.) Were they theologians? No doubt they passed their examinations, but that was all that was known of their qualifications in that respect. Now they could not make a first-rate bishop out of a third-rate scholar, a fifth-rate preacher, a no-rate theo- logian and an irate priest (laughter.) But the difficulty was that the appointment of a successor to Bishop Lloyd, of Bangor, was entierly in the hands of a person who knew very little of Wales and its requirements. The clergy and the laity of the Church in the diocese had absolutely no voice in the matter. Lord Salisbury was sole arbiter in the situation, and, however well-intentioned he might be, he had no time to study the question. He was too busy with the affairs of the world at large to devote much time to an ecclesiastical appointment in a remote corner of the Principality of Wales. No doubt he could tell you every palm grove from Dongola to Sobat (laughter). He had thought of very little else for the last two or three months, but what did tie know about all the complexities of the situation at Bangor ? The result would be that he would in all probability appoint another bishop of the St. u Asaph brand, possessing none of the qualities which history had repeatedly proved to be the only passports to the Welsh heart. And the reason why was not far to seek. The temporal exigencies of the Church were supreme. She was placed in an anomalous and indetensible position. She claimed to be the National Church, and as such to enjoy national possessions, and that in spite of the repeated and emphatic protest4 of the overwhelming majority of the people of that nation. They must, therefore, get a man fit to cope with the position of chronic strife which such false pretensions involved. Tnus they did not want a preacher, they did not want what the memorialists described as a spiritual man what was needed was a man who fulfilled the description which St. Paul regarded as a positive disqualification for the sacred office of bishop- namely, a striker (laughter and applause). The Chairman afterwards paid a tribute to the memory of the late Mr Thomas Gee, who was chairman of the Federation, dwelling upon his great service to Wales in every department of national life and pro- gress.

An outrage lias Dcen cx-irrmixrwr at -nt. Matthew's Church, Oakley Square, London. Fcom marks on the exterior of the building it is evident that a burglar or burglars obtained an entrance to the building by forcing a window. Z, Having obtained admission the collection boxes were broken open and rifled of their contents. Some valuable altar vases wore also stoJ.en. The water fer the baptismal font was emptied on to the Moor, and a number of articies were scattered a.beut, o arrest has jet been made. I •

THE LLANGERNIEW TRAGEDY. CHARGE OF WILFUL MURDER. On Monday at Llanrwst Ifclice Court, before Dr. Thomas Jones (chairman) and other justices, David Davies, Bryn Tirion, Llangerneiw, was charged with the wilful murder of his wife, Catherine Davies, on the 29th ult. Superintendent Jarvis, prosecuted, and Mr David Jones appeared for the rrisoner. Public interest in the case seemed to have greatly increased since the inquest on Friday, and the court was crowded. The first witness was W. Owen, Gerddi Gle;son. Llangerniew, who stated that on the 28th ult., at 3-30 p.m., he baw the prisoner's wife. She came to his yard. H r head was covered with blood. He took her into his- house, and laid her on the settle He then went to find David Davies, and met him on the road- He asked Davies how he was, and he 1Itplied "All right." He asked the prisoner why his-wife's bead was covered with blood. The pris. ouBt^replied, It was me that killed her." Reply- ing to further questions, the prisoner said he did it with the blnnt end of a hatchet. The witness then sent for a doctor and Police Constable Ellis. The prisoner went with the witness to his house; and, speaking to his wife, said, "I have told you, Catherine, many times not to interfere with me The wife made no reply. Police Constable W. Ellis, stationed at Llangerneiw, stated that he went to Gerddi Gleison at six o'clock on the 2Sth ult. The woman was lying on a settle, and the prisoner sitting opposite her. He apprehended the prisoner. He did not charge him at the time, because he thought it would arouse excitement in the house. On searching the prisoner's house he found an axe and a cloth saturated with blood. There was a pool of blood on tbo floor in the kitchen, and the axe was lyinsr CD a chair. In the outhouse some flags near the fireplace had been removed, and soil had also been removal. Dr. Robert Jones, assistant to Drf Parry, Llan- rwst, said he saw Mrs Davies on the evening of the 28th October. She was suffering from a shock and prostration from extreme loss of blood. On examin- ing her, he found that there was a lacerated wound about an inch above the right eye, and inch and a half in length. The bone was exposed, but he could not detect a fracture of the vault. There was also a wound on the back of the head an inch in length and quite superficial, There were no other injuries. The wound on the head must have been caused by some blunt instrument, like the hatchet produced. He saw the axe at the prisoner's house, but did not notice any blood on it. The wound on the back of the head was probably caused by falling backwards. He believed death resulted from the blow on the head. Mrs. Davies made a statement to the witness in the presenoe of the prisoner. He could not say whether the prisoner heard what was said, but he was only a yard away at the time. Mrs 7. Davies said that her husbai^had gone out to fetch something for her. He brought the things back, threw them down and said heawas going to kill her. She said whatever is the matter with thg man ? Then he went out into the outhouse, and she went after him. She saw him there with an axe in his hand, and he repeated thatNhe woul$kill her. She asked him to spare her. He tbei^seized her by the throat, and then threatened to kill her. She got hold of the axe, and asked him in the Al- mighty's name to spare her. He told her to let go the axe or he would strike her. He then struck her on the head and she fell down. Wtien she regained consciousness she found herself on the floor bleeding from the head. She got up, and made her way as well as she could to Gerddi Gleison, falling down several times.-By the Chairman It would not take much force to cause the wound, because the hatchet was heavy. Colonel Higson Did the deceased ever say she was in fear of her life ?—Ne. She made a state- ment to the effect that her husband was peculiar in his manner. For anything you know, this was the first time he over attempt her life ?—Yes. The Chairman Did you think they were poor and in want ?—Yes. Colonel Higson Was the wound such a wound aa would have caused death in a person in ordinary health ? No. The wound healed well. Did you notice the prisoner's manner at all ? Yes; he was very quiet, and did not take any notice of anything. Was his condition such as you would expect in a sane man ?—His condition was callous in the extreme. He did not realise the position he was in ?—No neither his nor the woman's. Superintendent Jarvis gave evidence, as to charg. ing the prisoner, who said, I did it with the axe." That morning he told the prisoner his wife was dead. The prisoner commenced wringing his hands, and saying Oh, oh." When charged in the usual way, the prisoner only said Oh, oh, dear, dear." About three weeks prior to the tragedy the prisoner was brought to Llanrwst lock-up by Police Con- stable Jones. The witness asked what he wanted. He replied, I want to give myself up for receiving a shilling too much wages from my master." The witness, not having received any information from the Llangerniew policeman, told the prisoner to go home. Dr. W. H. Parry said he saw the woman on the 31st October. Her dying deposition was about to be produced when Mr D. Jones submitted that this could not be put in. Written notice should have been given to the prisoner and his ounsel, and the justice should have stated his reason for taking it. Dr. Parry, proceeding with his evidence, said ha saw the woman on November 4, late at night. As she was rapidly becoming comatose he sent for Col- onel Sandbacb, a justice, who lived near. There was no time to give anybody notice at Llanrwst. He gave her to understand there was no hope of her recovery. A note having been taken of Mr David Jones* ob- jection, Dr. Parry said that bad not her deposition been taken that uight it would have been impossible to take it. Replying to Colonel Higson, Dr. Parry said he at- tended the prisoner a year ago, and had no doubt that he suffered from insomnia and softening of the brain. He did not report to the authorities, because the prisoner was at that time quite harmless, and the witness lost sight of him until this tragedy. The witness went on to give the details of the post- mortem examination. He found that one of the small arteries of the brain had burst, and that a clot of blood pressing on the brain caused death. It was possible, but not probable, for the wound which caused death to be self-inflicted. The wife's statement was then put in. Haviag repeated the details of the tragedy, she added There had been no unpleasantness between us I W. Owen, recalled, said he had known the parties many years. They appeared to live happily to- gether. Mr D. Jones said the defence was reserved. The Bench committed the prisoner for trial at the Denbighshire Assizes. On Tuesday the prisoner, was taken to Ruthin goal by Inspector Jarvis, and as he had some time to wait at hhyl for the connection to Ruthin, he was temporarily accommodated at Rhyl Police Station. The presenoe of so unusual a visitor in the town attracted considerable curiosity.

I BORWICKs BAKINGe o noney can POWDERS She: A toad can't live with its mouth open." The Hateful Thing: How strange! And a woman can't live with hers shut." In London there is a manufactory in which every kind of rare or ancient coin ig made. Strive not with words against the cojli tentious speech is given to all; wisdom to few. He that casts shadows for others to walk in is likely to cast thein in his own path. If we would never deceive ourselves, we must also be very careful never to deceive others. Kkui'Er's correspondent who accompanied Sir Francis Scott's expedition to Coomassie, writing on his return to Capo Coast Castle, says "In my con- versation with the Ashanti king, I had g-reat difficulty in explaining to him the capacity in which I accompanied tho expedition. His final conclusion on the subject lie expressed as follows You are not a fighting man, you arJ not a carrying man-then you -must bj a bi^ fetish man, and write fetishes for the troops.' "Whereupon he insisted on my writing him a fetish. So I took out a sheat of my note-book and wrote down all I remembered of Mary had a little lamb,' and gave it to him. He ngw wears it ..<mnd his neck."

r LITERARY NOTICES. TV. E. Gladstone and his Times (W. E. Gladstone a'i Amserau.) By Thomas Gee and Son of Denbigh. This biography of the great English Statesman, compiled by one of the greatest of modern Welsh- men, is not merely the history of a man but of a century. < hough Mr Thomas Gee had reached an age at which one leasts expects high literary merit from evan an accomplished man of letters, this last work of his shows no diminution of that mar- vellous literary power, and that keen grasp of public questions which was so distinguished a characteristic of his lengthened career. By way of preface to the biography proper Mr Gee gives a compendium compressed into half a dczen pages of the stirring events which marked the early years of the century and which affected so larsrely the destinies not only of Great Britain but of the United States and France, ending with a brief list of the principal inventions of the century commencing with the invention of Gas in 1792 and closing with the invention of the Phonograph by Edison in 1869. As a biographer Mr Gee informs us at the outset thut his intention in the course of this book is to draw a word portrait of Mr Gladstone "as a man,as a statesman,as a man of letters and as a christian," not merely as a person to admire and to wonder ^re itly at, but aiso to emulate. To accomplish this task with a man who so dominated the history ot the grtater part of the contury is an effort which a younger man than Mr Gee might view with great misgivings. But reading this readable attractive biography the feeling that is inevitably roused in the miad of the reader is one of thankfulness that Mr Gee who has enriched the literature of his country with so many standard works was spared to add the finishing touches to a Welsh biography of a Statesman so revered by the people of the principality. The details of Mr Gladstone's long life are given with an exactness, and a fidelity which are all the more appreciated because of their conciseness and the personal expression of the writers' views which many of them evoke. It is but Datural that the Liberal leaders'attitude towards the Disestablishment question should receive a large share of the biographers attention. Mr Gladstone never took kindly to even the Disestablishment of the Irish Church, and much less kindly did he take to the proposal to disestablish the Welsh Church. His high Churchmanehip made it impossiblwfor him to do so. Having regard to the strong feelings Mr Gee entertained with respect, to the Church in Wales one is surprised at- the gYMbrdus. and even sympathic estimate which he forms of Mr Gladstone's attitude on this question. True he makes no attempt to suppress his opinion that Mr Gladstone's ecclecia.tislll and devoted attachment to the Establish Church detracted from his otherwise high qualities as leader of a party with the great proportion of whom Disestablishment was so vital a matter, and he attributes Mr Gladstone's ultimate acceptance of the disestablishment proposals to his strong sense of justice, or rather to the conviction that the demand, much as he disliked it, was one which he could not conscientiously resist. But this is the only respect in which Mr GeA fails to write appreciatively of the great statesman. The volume is offef6d as a memoir of Mr Gladstone i it is well printed, and illustrated with upwards of fifty ex- ellent porffcaita of the leading politicions of the century, together with brief biographical notices of a number of them. It is throughout thoroughly readable and replete with a vast amount of historical information compiled with the utmost care, and covering a wide and comprehensive range. Winiscr Magazine, Christmas Number: We have received an advance copy of the Christmas Number of this highly popular magazine. It is a mam- moth shillings' worth, not merely from the point of view of its bulk but its reading matter and general get up. Among those who contribute rlt1.dable stories and articles to its pages are Rudyard Kippling, Conan Doyle, Sir Edwin Arnold, S. R. Crockett, Bret Harte, Marie Carellie, Mrs L. T. Meade. There are also contributions from the pens of H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Armstrong. Lord Farrer, the Father of the House of Commons, M. Jules Verne, Dr. Newman Hall, and other celebrated living veterans on "The Secret of Long Life." Among the artists are Caton Woodville, S. E. Waller, Lucy Kemp-Welch, R. Anning Bell, A. Forestier, Luoien Davies, R. Sauber, Blanche Otfor, Wal Paget, Henry Austin, F. Richards, Lancelot Speed, Adolph Thiede, G. P. Jacomb-Hood, Cecil Aldin, L. Raven Hill, and many other prominent black and white artists. The complete novel, which is now recog- nised as the special feature of the Windsor Christmas Number," is this year, from the pen of Edwin Lester Arnold, the gifted son of Sir Edwin Arnold. It is entitled The Wonderful Adventures of Phra the Phoeniuian," and bids fair to eclipse, in popular estimation, all the exciting stosies the "Windsor" has yet published. The book is magnificently illustrated by H. M. Paget. Weldon's Ladies' Journal Chtiscmas Number is a perfect treasure-house in the way of feminine adornment. To the anxious and harrassed ones seeking for a pretty idea for an evening toilette, its fashion pages afford infinite variety ami unbounded scope in the lovely combinations and effective styles there represented. Some new ideas in winter millinery are shown and should prove very accept- able just now. The crowning glory is also well looked after in the hairdressing lesson for this month as the style of coiffure is particularly becoming and easy of arrangement. To those interested in church decoration some valuable hints are given in the article on this subject. With the menu of a Christ- mas dinner, to which the cookery department seasonably devotes some sp&ce, the complete method of preparing each comestible is fully detailed. The Boudoir Supplement contains an extremely inter- esting ghost story, and a paper pattern of a pretty costume, adaptable for either day or evening wear, is presented, together with a large coloured plate of fashions. This excellent budget is further supple- ment by two chromo plates, entitled "Divided Attention," by A. J. E'.sley, and "Sporting Pros- neects," by Fannie Moody. The Quiver-(Cassell and Co., 7s. 6d.) With the years that are passing this magazine, we are thank- ful to find, maintains its high character with the freshness that long ago made it a popular favourite. It was always good, but we are inclined to say to- day that it is as good as it can be. Quantity and quality are alike excellent. This volume has over 1,100 pages with 900 illustrations. Included in the contents are no fewer than five lengthy serial stories. But there are some forty shorter ones beside papers on travel, on the great philanthropic institutions, on the life of the people, sermons homilies, pieces of new music all add variety and value to the volume which is perhaps the best yet published. Great Thoughts (A. W. Hall, London), We are glad to call the notice of our readers to Vol. 2 of the fourth series ofl this excellent publications It may be interesting to know that this volume of Great Thoughts" contains reference to no less than 1 148 subjects, quoted from 553 different authors. In addition to this there is a Textual Index containing references to 782 passages from the Old and New Testament. There are also 120 portraits and other illustrations.

A PILLAR OF HERCULES.—TO the anCIent. Gibraltar was an object of awe and veneratior. j to the moderns for twelve hundred years it has been a bone of contention and a coveted pos- session. It has experienced fifteen memorable sieges, and its history in great measure centres round those successive conflicts-a stirring r& cord of capture and recapture, siege and countcrsiege. Gibraltar has been known since the days of the Phoenician navigators. In the primitive geography of the early Greeks and Romans it was Calpe, and formed one of the renowned pillars of Hercules, that for centuries were believed to be the western boundary of the habitual globe. The twin pillar was Abyla, a lofty eminence on the African side near Ceuta. The rock is situated at the extremity of a low, sandy peninsula, and is formed of jurassic limestone on a Silurian base. It is three miles in length, of an average breadth of three-quarters of a mile, and is about seven miles in circumference. It attains its greatest height in O'Hara's tower, fourteen hundred and eight feet above the sea. The signal station is twelve hundred and fifty-five feet in height. Outlined against the evening sun the rock as a whole presents the figure of a lion couchant with its head turned towards Spain. Nor in form alone is it the symbol of the kin" of beasts. Its teeth are those murderous batteries that bristle on every part of that giant -head, and its roar is the thunder from their thousand iron throats. We are so much accustomed to think of Gib- raltar- as a fortress that we are apt to overlook the icct that it is besides a considerable town and a flourishing seaport. It has been a free port since 1705. For the purely local business of the town there is a Board of Sanitary Commis- sioners. The whole community is, however regulated by military usage. This arises greatly from the circumstance that the gates are opened and shut precisely at gun-fire morning and evening. No wayfarer may sojourn in Gibraltar without a pass from the town major. If he desires to prolong his stay he must find a consul or householder to 'be responsible for his conduct.-Great Thoughts.

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