Rhyl Record and Advertiser

I RHYL. THE COUNTY DEXTAL ASSOCIATION Limited, has removed to Heald House, 32, Watfr Street, Rhyl. Consultation and advice free. Hours of attendance, a.m. to 8 p.m. dailv (Saturdays excepted). Mr. F. Sarson, Where do you get your Bacon and Cheese ? The very top note in the scale of excellence is to be found at Roose and Co.'s, Queen Street. Rhyl, who are noted for Prime Bacon and Prize Cheshire Cheese !—Advt. We are pleased to hear that Mr. E. C. Davies, son of Mr V. Davies, Freelands, Rhyl, has successfully passed an examination admit- ting bim as a student of the Honourable Society of the Middle TemDle- A GIFTED PREACHER—The pulpit at Christ Church (Congregational) Water street, will on Sunday be occupied by the Rev. John Hugh Edwards, of Newtown, editor of "Young Wales"; a young minister who has gained great popularity as an eloquent and brilliant preacher. LEGAL SUCCESS. — We are pleased to notice that lIr. T Amos Jones, younger son of Mr. Richard Jones of Stanley Park, Rhyl. was among the successful candidates in the recent examination for the intermediate certificate of the Incorporated Law Society. Mr. Jones, who was trained for his preliminary examin- ation by Mr. Welsh, B.A., Water Street, Rhyl, is now serving his articles with Mr. J. Roberts Jones, solicitor, of this town. TEMPERANCE CONFERENCE AT RHYL.—The Executive of the Denbighshire and District Temperance Association met at Rhyl on Monday, the Ruthin, Denbigh, Rbyl, Abergele, and Colwyn Bay centres being represented. The reports showed that good work was being done in most of the localities. Colwyn Bay was fixed upon as the place for the annual meeting in November next, and arrangements were made for a temperance demonstration during Whit-week in connection with the meetings of the Grand Lodge of Wales at Denbigh. The following resolution was also passed :— 'That this meeting strongly protests against the Licensing Bill for the following reasons(1) Because it would deprive local magistrates of that salutary power of refusing the renewal of licenses which they consider not to be required for- the public advantage (2) because the bill creates a vested interest in licences, which are now granted for one year only, and places a new impediment in the way of temperance reform; and (3) because the bill is in the interests of the brewers and publicans and in utter disregard of the welfare of the public." DEATH OF THE EX-MAYORESS OF CHESTER AT RHYL —We regret to an- nounce the death which took place at the Marine Hydropathic, Rhyl, on Saturday, of Miss Maggie Roberts, second daughter of Dr. J. Roberts, Ex-Mayor of Chester. Amid touching manifestations of sorrow the funeral took place at Chester on Tuesday. Miss Roberts during her father's year of office was Mayoress of Chester, and she discharged the duties of the position with charming tact. A fact that adds to the sadness of her death was that she was to have been married this year. The first part of the service was conducted at the Welsh Presbyterian Chapel, St. John Street, where she was a regular worshipper. The Revs. J. Pryce Davies and R. Jones officiated, and the hymns sang were Peace, perfect peace and Lead kindly light." A vast concourse of mourners at the cemetery included representatives of all denominations, and the Mayor and Corporation, who attended in state. This was the first occasion within living mamory that the Mayor and Corporation of Chester attended the internment of a lady in state. The wreaths were very numerous. THE MAY MEETINGS—This week the May meetings of the different religious denom inations have been held and each has been attended by Rhyl representatives. The first session of the North East Wesleyan Synod was held at Mold on Tuesday morning, under the presidency of the Rev E. Humphreys, Rhyl. Among those excused from attendance was the Rev W. H. Evans, Rhyl. At the Liverpool Synod on Tuesday the representatives were the Rev- G Talaluu Newton and Mr. G R Lawrence, Hhyl, and Kev. Joseph Martin and Mr J. Banks, Prestatyn; whilst Mr P. Mostyn Williams attended the annual meetings of the Congregational Association, London, as the re- presentative of Christ Church (Congregational) byl. THE MERRIE MEN—The Merrie Men opeti their season with a concert at the Town Hall on Thursday evening next. Mr. E H. Williams has again been fortunate in obtaining the services of a first-class array of talent- Two of last years favourites, Charlie Drew and Rob i}m0rk \re arnon8. th6 troupe, whilst the others, both comnaedians and instrumentalists are artistes holding a foremost place in their particular line of business Mr Williams has prepared an entertaining programme for opening performance on Thursday and in addition offers a prize 0f £ 2 2s. for an interesting and novel competition. We hone he will be encouraged in his start by a crowded bouse. DEATH OF A YOUNG TRADESMAN -We regret to announce the death. after a very short illness of Mr Edward Edwards, painter and decorator. 78. West Parade, Rhyl, which took place on Tuesday, at the premature age of 36 years. With his brother he had betn concerned in building P~ tions jQ town, and he added to its architecture by the erection of some substantial houses on the parade and in the principal streets He was building up an extensive business and Was well liked by all he came into contact with for his amiable and kind disposition. He was a member ot the Welsh Baptist Church, Water Street, in which be took much interest. Deceased was a son of Mr Thomas Edwards, Ruabon House, who not many years ago lost a son in the heyday of life. Much sympathy is felt for him in this additional bereavement as well as for the widow and her young family. SPECIAL POLICE COURT—At a special Police Court on Thursday before Messrs W. Elwy Williams and J. H. Ellis, John Dempsey who was one of a trio of men who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment by the Rhyl magistrates tor being drunk and disor- derly a fortnight ago was brought up in custody charged with being on the L. & N. W. Railway Co.'s premises for an unlawful purpose. Frank Taylor, ticket collector, said that about 12-30 that morning he heard someone walking to the platform from the direction of the Goods yard and he subsequently found the defendant lying on one of the platforms. He tried to make witness believe that he was an escsped lunatic. As he failed to give a satisfactory account of himself he had him taken to the police station Defendant said he was not in the station for any unlawful purpose. He had just been liberated out of prison and meant to walk direct to Colwyn Bay but found himself in Rhyl. He went to the station in the expecta- tion that there would be a tram in the direction of Colwyn Bay. As there was no evidence of any felonious intent the, magistrates discharged prisoner on his promising to leave the district. MAY.DAY FINAUES. As we briefly announced last week the takings at the Palace on May-day amounted to £102 10s with £36 subscribed and other receipts the total it brought to and it is expected that after paying all expenses there will be a balance in hand of about £30. RHYL'S FREE LIBRARY. — LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD INQUIRY—On Wednesday, Mr R. K. North, one of the Inspectors of the Local Government Board visited Rhyl for the purpose of holding an inquiry into the application of the Rhyl Urban District Council for sanction to utilise a portion of the old Town Hall and the site of the old police station for the purpose of a building for the Rhyl Free Library. The Inspector was met by the General Purposes Committee of the Council, there being present:—Messrs J. W. Jones (chairman), J. H. Ellis, H A Tilby, J. Frimston, A. Lewis Jones, and John Hughes, with the Clerk (Mr Arthur Rowlands) and the Town burveyor (Mr A. A. Goodall). Mr Rowlands said it was well known in that town and to all interested in a question of a Free Library for Rhyl, that Mr Carnegie had made them an offer of £3000 to establish a-Free Library under the Public Libraries Act. Under that act the local authority, which in this case was the Rhyl Urban District Counci, had power to use any lands or buildings which were vested in them for the erection thereon of a building suitable for that purpose, but they could not do that without first obtaining the consent of the Local Government Board. They thought they could afford to utilise a certain portion of the Town Hall, and also the site of the old police station which they bought from the County Authority in 1887 f jr a sum of £ 650 They bought that building purposely for extending their Town Hall and public i! offices, but they had from that day to this done nothing more than purchase the property. But now through the generosity of Mr Carnegie they had an opportunity of taking action They could provide a very nice building for the Free Library and also make some little addition to the accommodotion of their Town Hall. Under the Rhyl Improvement Act of 18/2 they were enabled to do all this without applying to the Local Government Board at all, as that Act gave them absolute power to utilise any portion of their property for the purpose of a Free Library But it was one of the conditions of Mr Carnegie's offer that the Free Libraries Act should be put in force, and that bound them not to spend more than a penny rate in one year, and as they were pro- ceeding under that Act with regard to the rate they thought it was only right to proceed under it with regard to obtaining the sanction of the Local Government Board as to the site. Mr Rowlands then supplied the Inspector with particulars of outstanding loans on Town and Market Halls, and Mr Goodall explained the plans of the proposed buildings The Inspector having visited the site, said he should report without delay. UNITED SUNDAY SCHOOL TRIP.—The second annual trip of the Rhyl United Sunday Schools took place on Thursday, Bala beine the scene of this year's outing. All the Welsh Sunday Schools joined in the excursion, but the English Sunday Schools preferred to make their own arrangements. A special excursion tra: n left Rhyl at 7 30 a.m., and the total number who booked was 755. The excursionists were favoured with delightful weather, and found the charming scenery around Bala looking at its best. arious places and objects of interest in Bala and the vicinity were visited, the Tom Ellis Memorial coming in for special attention, as also the memorial to Charles of Bala and Mary Jones of Bible Society fame. The ar- rangements were most satisfactorily carried. out by Messrs. W. Parry (Chairman), and D. J. Price and T. H. Whitley, hon. secretaries. Everything passed off in the most agreeable manner, and not a single incident occurred to mar a very pleasant day's outing. CLOSE OF THE WINTER SEASON AT THE QUEEN'S PALACE.—What was termed the closing night of the winter season at the Queen's Palace took place on Thursday night, when there was a great attendance of spectators and dancers. The dancing went off with great zest and gaiety, and a battle of confetti helped to add to the animation of the scene. Prizes were awarded for skipping rope and dancing competitions, and special pictures were shown by means of the Palace Cinematograph. The Queen's Palace opens for the summer on Mon- day evening next, and particulars of the attractions will be found in another column. THE members of the Rhyl and District Rifle Club, recently formed, of whom II. R. Hughes, Esq., Lord Lieutenant of l-'lintshire, is presi- dent, are having their opening shoot on the Koryd Range on Tuesday, the 17th inst., when a good meeting is anticipated. ANOTHER COTTON WALK TO RHYL.— The Chairman of the Rhyl Urban District Council (Mr. A. L. Clews) has received a letter from Mr. W. Moss Molyneaux, hon. sec- retary, saying that it has been unanimously decided to hold another walk on Friday, May 27th, and the Committee have again decided on Rhyl as the goal. They would be glad if the Council would be kind enough to make the same arrangements as before.

-010- Opening of the Season at the Queen's Palace. The Queen's Palace will open for the season on x I Monday next, and a glance at the bookings con- vinces us that Mr. P. J. Ashfield, the managing director, is to be congratu'ated on having secured the services of some exceptionally fine talent. He has, during the winter, paid personal visits to all the leading music halls and has thus been enabled to fix upon turns which are popular and attractive An effort has been made to introduce as much novelty as possible so as to secure sufficient variety and freshness in the entertainment Too often a change of artistes in music hall entertainments does not necessarily mean a change in the character ol the programme, and there is a monotonous sameness about it which at length palls upon one. Mr. Ashfield, we think, has been able to guard against this by employing a variety of turns, so that the patrons of the Palace may depend upon seeing somethirfg fresh and some- thing new every week. Another feature of next eason's programme will be the number of spectacular items, and what is known in music hall parlance as "Dumb Shows In a large hall like the Palace, where dancing intersperses the stage turns, and people are constantly walking about, the average vocalist or comedian scarcely receives fair play and his contributions to the programme are not appreciated as they ought and deserve to be. The singing and g eaking artiste will not be by any means overlooked next year, but he will not appear quite so often or monopolise such a large share of the evening as formerly. Mons. Bosanquet has again been engaged as musical director, and he will wield the baton over as efficient an orchestra as rendeied such excellent service last year. But the feature of the season will be the special nights which Mr. Ashfield hopes to organise. Last season these were most successful; and the idea will be developed and elaborated on an additional scale this year, and with tl e possibilities for spectacular effect which the Palace affords, one can look forward with confidence to many bright and gay scenes. Additions are being made to the attractions of the Tower and Venice and to the other agencies for amusement associated with the Palace. The season opens on Monday with the 5 Bon Bons, Baby Violet Macfarlane, Bert Woodward, Jtm Hegarty,, and the 4 Magnets, a magnificent array 2 talent. Other bookings include Hill Barry and _a^g» Haud Burg and Wise, Adelina and Hal Pe ler' Bessell, the celebrated clay modeller, Wil°r Victor's dogs, Marie Reeve, Barney Stuart, Mave 9}Urchill> the 4 Dagmar Wonders, Percy Prince* the world's greatest whistler, auHne, Barney Vox, the ventriloquist; the Kloet iTSi! Prince Ishmael, Will Hebden, Madame Madame pfr great electric panel act; Valdo Bros nnas WnnHanr°ra' tlle Spanish gymnast, the Ariz- Mirtell M Children Acrobats, Bennett and Merson th^ me ^erica's dogs, Keith and vfmniki'ns • T t* acrobatlc comedians Haydee's T mipre t'h « '°yd» the singiDg collier, Madam r r Rose dancer> Stanley and Vandyke! nnic thJ"1? Cfa,S> tbe astounding acrobats, ^a £ .C Ri'iou p, ct"c wonders, Austin and Cowan, a JemPert> the handcuff king, "Walter Munroe, the Zaracs and Ladderites, and 2 real Chinese Princesses, besides other good turns which will no doubt prove acceptable.

0S0 Mostyn. THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION of the GWyn- edd Ladies' Art Society, of which Lady Augus. ta Mostyn is the president, is this year to be held in the Art Gallery on the Pier at Llandudno -ftol-

Trefnant. DEATH OF MR. HUGH R-OBERTS.-Th, death occurred late on Eriday night, at the a<*e of 59, ^r' "uoh Roberts, of Trefnant, near Denbigh, very well known in North Wales, Lan- cashire, an<^ Midlands a.s a cattle salesman Mr. Roberts was a zealous Nonconformist and a strenous supporter of the Sunday School, though he did not always see eye to eye with the officii lexers of his denomination, the Calvinistic Methodists. In politics he was generally wlth the .Conservative party, espec- Tally on fiscal questions.

Prestatyn. VISIT OF THE REV. SETH JOqAH.- On Monday the Rev. Seih Josuah commenced a nine days mission at the English Presbyterian Church, Prestatyn. He has. laitraoted" Barge congregations nightly by his moving and forcible addresses and on Thusdav evening he gave the interesting story of his life, under the chairman- ship of the Rev. Lewis Ellis, Rhyl. CONGRATI LATIONS.—Prestatyn was sue. cessful in London in escaping inclusion in the North Wales Electric Power Bill. It appears that through some mistake Prestatyn was not properly shown on the plan as being within the area of supply, PRESTATYN SCHOOL BOARD. — The monthly meeting of the Prestatyn School Board was held en Friday night, when there were pre- sent Mr. G. O. Jones (Chairman), the Rev. F. Jewell (Vice-Chairman), the Rev. O. J. Davies (\icar), Mr. Peter Ellis, and the Clerk (Mr. John Hughes). The Chairman referr d to the critic- isms which had been passed upon the action of the Board in allocating a sum of money for the teaching of gardening. He said they had been most fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Kelly, who they all knew was a practical expert, and had had considerable experience as in- structor under the code. So much for "extra, vagance.' Now as to the necessity.' Their last Government report was their authority. H.M. Inspector strongly recommended their making use of the school garden, and all who have had the privilege of coming in contact with Mr. L. J. Roberts as an official know that he is first and foremost a thorough-going edu- cationist and no faddist. Whenever and what- ever he recommends he is always prepared 'o give a sound reason for it. He did so in that instance. He says that this instruction will not only have practical value, but also educa- tional value.' That was quite in harmony with Sir John Gorst's axiom—• that if the physical aspect of education is neglected, the intellectual must suffer.' A very ordinary being will read- ily admit the practical value of teaching a boy how to handle a spade, but it does not occur to everybody that to train the hand also m ans developing the brain. In days gone by it was thought that nothing more was needed in the elementary school than a mechanical acquain. tance with the three R's but under the nc dispensation another capital letter had become equally prominent, and rightly too. They could not hope to bring up the schools to the required standard of efficient nowadays without looking well not only after the three R's, but also the three D s-—Drilling, Drawing, and Delving, and this thev were attempting to do and very successfully. The daily exercises m drilling are carried out in the most thorough manner. The drawing and brushwork done bv the children, he was told on good authority, wqkuld do credit to any elementary school in North W ales, and now they had -gone in for garden work, which they had every reason to believe will also bring forth good fruit. He trusted when the new authority takes matters in hand that they should see introduced into u the curriculum of the schools such subjects as hygiene, culinary and laundry work, with a view of early training our girls (in those abso- lutely necessary little things) to make good housewives. It is surprising the ignorance that maintains regarding simple every-day things in domestic economy. A teacher in a large school where there were a great number of schools told him that not long since, as an experiment, she gave a dozen of her pupils a piece of flannel each to take home with them to wash, and that only one brought the task back properlv done. He questionea whether one out of every ten women in the whole of Flintshire knew how to properly wash and dry a flannel garment, and as to cooking, a French la-dy, who had spent considerable time in this country, wrote not long ago to a society paper that there was a terrible waste of food here-that a French housewife could prepare an appetising meal from materials which an English dame would throv, into the pigwash. But the poor School Board was about to retire, and he hoped that in the near I future that out of its dust and ashes such, an educational system would be established that would secure to every child in the land a broad, well-balanced training, THE B\ E-LLECTlON.—The bye-election to fill the vacancy on the Prestatyn Urban District Council caused by the resignation of Ir. J. E. L. Jones took place on Saturdav. There was not much excitement durina the dav, the polling be- mg very slow until the evening The candidates were Mr. Henry Wright (L) and Mr. J. R. lickle (C.). The polling took place at the lown Hall, Mr. John Hughes acting as pre- siding returning officer, and Mr. Joseph Parry as poll clerk. The personating agents were lr. P. Evans (for Mr. Wright) and Mr. E. Will- iams (for Ir. Tickle). About half-past eight Mr. Hughes gave the figures as follows: Wright 143 Tickle 118 AlaioritN, for Wright. 25 1 The total number of votes polled was 263, and there were two spoilt votes. On making his appearance at the door of the Town Hall, Ir. Wright was cheered by the crowd. He said that he was proud of the victory gained that day. He thanked them, one and all, for, hav- ing elected him. He was glad to think that his conduct during the time that he had resided at 1 restatyn had been deemed satisfactory by the electors. He was on the right side (laughter). He had certainly been tickled '—(laughter)— but while he was being tickled they were deal- ing hard blows on his behalf. Xow that he had been elected, he would do his best for the benefit of the town.. He proposed a vote of thanks to the returning Officer.-Alr. J. R. Tickle, who was also received with cheers, said ) that he desired to thank the 118 who had voted for him. He only wished that he had 'tickled' the ratepayers a bit more (laughter). Perhaps he would succeed the next time. He seconded the vote of thanks to the returning officer.-Th-e Rev. F. Jewell called for three cheers for Ir. Tickle, which were readily given and said that be had never known a fight to be carried on so good-naturedly. They had joked with one an- other, but no harm had been done. They had 'Wright' on their side (laughter and cheers). He should like to see Mr. Tickle on the Coun- cil, if one of his colour had to get in, but they would do their level best to keep him out (laughter and che.ers).-Ir. Wright, accompan- led by some of his supporters, then proceeded to the Liberal Club, where an informal meeting, presided over by Mr. T. Jones, J.P. (Chairman of the Council), was held.—The Chairman saia fhat he was very glad that Mr. Wright had been victorious. The result had ben doubtful to some of them, but he, with a few others, did not have any doubt as to it. Ir. Gorojfcwy Jones and he had made, before the result was known, a calculation and had put Ir. Wright in (cheers). They had only made a nj^stake in one figure. They had given Ir. Wright a majority of 26. whereas his majority was 25. He would be glad to welcome Ir. "Wright to the Council, as he was a hard and straightfor- ward worker. It was true that the election had been fought on political lines, but the other party was to be blamed for that, as they intro- duced party colour into everything—Mr. Wright said that he felt proud of the victory, and °he thanked all who had worked for him'. They had toiled hard, and success had attended their efforts (cheers). It had been said that he was an avowed Liberal. He was one, and he meant to be one. He would much rather be out of the Council as a Liberal than in as a Conservative (cheers). He hoped that the Association would prosper, and that-ihey would take care that every person entitled to vote was placed on the register.—Speeches were delivered by several members of the Club. A I'RESTATYN GROCek'S FAILURE.— At the Bankruptcy Court at Bangor on Thursday. before Mr Registrar Glyn Jones, John Edward Lewis Jones (trading as Jones Bros.) Liverpool House, Prestatyn, grocer appeared for his public examination. The statement showed liabilities expected to rank as 124, with estimated assets of £ 708, leaving a deficiency of £ 416. The debtor attributed his failure to bad trade, illness of himself and family, and bad debts. He had commenced business in May, 1899, with only ^25 capital. This was at the Wellington Stores, Rhyl. Four years later he opened a branch shop at Prestatvn, purchas- ing the freehold with fixtures and smnll stock for 300. He obtained £200 on mortgage, and another £200 on a promisory note. In 1896 he surrendered the business at Rhyl, extending his Prestatyn prem'ses at an expenditure of between ^300 and £400, which he obtained on mortgage. The premises were now subject to mortgages amounting to £9bo, with interest. There was a bank overdraft of £395. the security therefore being estimated at 125. In 1903 the debtor made a deed of assignment in favour of his creditors, Mr Ellis Owen, Bethesda, a creditor for £ 115 was trustee. The debtor was allowed to remaiu in possession of the estate and carried on business until February last, when he assigned the estate to Mr Robert Jones, accountant, Liverpool, who was acting on behalf of some of the itor. creditors, the bankrupt being againleft in possession of the estate, with the result that at the date of the receiving order, (25th March, 1904) the stock was considerably reduced in value. The examination, after a long hearing, was adjourned. j

The Bishop of St. Asaph Intro- duces his Education Bill. CHURCH TEACHING IN BOARD AND BRITISH SCHOOLS. 11 ths House of Lords on M< niay evening, the Bishop of St. Asaph, in presenting a bill relating to education, said he alone was responsible for the measure. He had not sought the advice or counsel of those leaders or organisations with whom it might be naturally supposed he had put himself in communication. The bill was brought forward on its own merits, aad compromised no one except its author. The circumstances which suggested it occurred in Wales, but the problems with which it attempted to deal were in no sense limited to the Principality. The passing of the Education Act in 1902 aroused in Wales and England slumbering antipathies, and the outbreak in character and extent appeared to resemble closely what happened after the passing of the Act of 1870. The concordat suggested in Wales last year failed, not from any misgiving as to the sincerity or bona hdes of those who offered compromise but in the insuperable objection that it lacked legal sanction and legal security. Had it been carried out and its loyal and permanent fulfilment secured there would have been not only peace but religious instruction in every elementary school in the area. He felt sure that by m deration and conciliation a solution could be found for the difficulties which now troubled our schools, and he therefore presented this bill. In its main principles this bill was merely an extension of the Education Act, 1902 It gave to the local education authority created by that Act a power which would facilitate adjustment and adaptation of the Act to meet the special needs of the locality. Under the Act of 1002 the question of the provision of a new school was largely to be decided by the wishes of the parents. Upon the same principle he proposed to give the parents the incontrovertable right to state the character of the religious instruction to be given to the children. The Bill would give local education authorities and the Association of Volun- tary Schools power to make terms for the transfer of those Voluntary schools. He believed that freedom of contract could easily be entrusted to those bodies. The Bill would give to both sides a free hand as to the appointment ot teachers, the religious instruction to be given, the renting, leasing, and repai.ing of the school buildings, and it would give an opportunity of securing religious instruction in every Board school At the conference between the representatives of the Voluntary schools in the Welsh dioceses and the Committee of the county councils, the first condition asked for and granted was that the Voluntary schools should'remain during the period of experiment non- provided schools. It was agreed that a syllabus of religious instruction, on the lines of the London school boards, should be taught from 9 to 9 45 on four days a week in provided schools and on three days a week in non-provided schools, that there should be facilities for unrestricted religious instruc- tion on one day a week for those children whose parents desired it in provided schools, and on two days in a week there should be the same facilities in non-provided schools. It was agreed that there should be an annual examination in every school in the area in religious knowledge, and that this was only to be an experiment. It was also agreed that teachers, if willing, should be allowed to give definite religious instruction in provided as well as in non- provided schools. These were the terms agreed to in regard to what he thought the very centre of the difficulty. These terms seemed to offer an except ional oppor unity for securing substantial and systematic religious instruction in every board school. But the concordat failed, as he said, because it lacked legal sanction and legal security. He thought a solution could be found on these lines, he therefore made bold to present this bill. At present in the great majority of the Welsh Board Schools undenom- inational teaching meant the reading of the Bib e without comment. Briefly put, only one in four of the children under education in Wales was being taught in a Church School. The Welsh board school supplied the type of that undenominational instruction which Mr Gladstone called at one time The popular imposture" and at another time Iae monster." This undenominational teaching was a local and unauthoritative interpretation of gloss which had been put on the Cowper-Temple clause. The practical point then, was this-Ought they not as Churchmen to take every opportunity of securing in the Board schools of the country the full freedom and liberty of religious instruction allowed, and contemplated by the Cowper-Temple clause. In Wales they were invited to consider facilities upon the colonial plan The Education Act of 1880 passed by the Legislature of New South Wales was an admirable illustration of how inside facilities might be provided. On the ground of justice he could not see how the State could refuse the claim of the parents to have their own children taught their faith, at the cost of their own denomination, in the public elemen- tary schools of the country. No doubt their might be Ipractidal difficulties in providing facilities in some remote country parishs, where there was only a provided school. In London where it might be calculated there were 300.000 Church children in Board schools, it might be difficult at a days notice to provide a permanent adequate, and efficient organisation for so vast a work. It might be said that his proposals were founded too exclusively on Welsh experience. Perhaps the symptoms of Wales were more pro. nounced and easier of diagnosis, but the trouble in England and Wales were really the same. Th' measure was entirely permissive. He could not explain why the Principality suggested itself as a fitting subject when the Free Church Council had said, Experimentum fiat," but he did not complain of this. He did not complain of the tropical eloquence in which eriticism of the Education Act luxuriated. But it was an open secret that some protagonists were in favour of a purely secular system. Let them say so clearly. This was a case where uprightness demanded downrig'htness. He knew in (any leading Nonconformists who would not support a policy for secular schools, but to him the danger ahead appeared to be that while men were wrangling about the form of instruction to be given, the secularists would steal the key of the school. He believed the 131,11 would do something to avert that evil, and in that belief he now ventured to present the measure for their Lordships' consideration. Earl Spencer perdicte-d that with regard to certain portions of the Bill there would be very strong opposition, notably the clauses dealing with provided schools. He understood the bill would give a locus standi to different denomina- tional people to teach their denominational tenets within school hours. If such was the case he might warn the Bishop he might expect very strong opposition. T,he Bishop of St. Davids sal(I he was one of those who, in common with the Bishops of Llan. daff and Bangor did not see his way to co-operate with the mover of this bill in the negotiations to which he had alluded. There was something to be said for and against the bill. Without committing himself at this stage he hoped the House would agree to the first reading, and give the measure a very serious consideration, as an attempt to solve a very difficult problem. Earl Cawdor, while favouring the first reading urged upon the Government the necessity of pushing on vigorously with the bill they had introduced in the House of Commons. It was the first duty of the Government, he said, to vindicate the law, as the violation by individuals and by local authorities of any particular law was a very serious matter, and must inevitably lead to defiance and contempt for law in general (Hear, hear) The Archbishop of Canterbury confessed to a little disappointment at the reception of this bill by Lord Spencer. He had hoped that the leader of the opposition in the House would have admitted that this was an attempt to bring about a solution of the existing difficulties, instead of pointing out that certain provisions would meet with strong opposition. The one principle from which they on the episcopal bench were not prepared to depart was that religious education should be given and that it should be given bv those qualified to give it. The Marquis of Londonderry promised that the bill should receive from the Government every consideration. He aould \not express either I approval or disapproval of the measure at present, or pledge the Government in any way. He assured the House that the Government were equally anxious with others to arrive at some solution of the difficult problems they bad to confront in regard to educational administra- tion. The bill was then presented and read a first time.

Death of Sir H. M. Stanley, the Explorer. THE STORY OF A ST. ASAPH WORK- HOUSE BOY. The death took place on Monday at his resi- dence, Richmond Terrace, London, of Sir H. M. Stanley, the great explorer. Interest 'n the great explorer's career has always been evinced locally. His mother was well known to many of the inhabitants of this town, and was familiar to thousands of visitors as the genial hostess of the Cross I oxes, Glascoed, where she was never tired of showing some of the curios which her illustrious son had presented her. HIS EARLY LIFE AT ST. ASAI'H. It may be doubted if any life history is more remarkable than that of the boy who was born of humble parents at Denbigh on the 28th of January, 1841. Had Henry Morton Stanley been less famous, the obscurity of his origin might have stimulated no curious inquiry. But there are penalties in celebritv though in the case of the intrepid explorer these investiga- tions have only served to make his career appear still more extraordinary. Stanley began life under almost every disadvantage. Mr. H. Little, in his life of him, says the cottage in which lived the parents of the subject of his memoir at the date given was situate within the precincts of the ruined castle whdeh, rising with desolate stateliness above the houses of Denbigh, forms one of the most interesting ob- jects of the Yale of Clwyd. Stanley's natal name, as all the world probably knows bv this time, was John Rowlands. At the age of three he had the misfortune to lose his father, a poor labourer and there was no other asylum for the orphan lad but the poorhouse at St. Asaph. In more than one account of the explorer's carreer this institution is dignified into a Eree school.' There is really no need for any such sacrifice to prejudice. The fault of being brought up and educated at the charge of the Denbighshire ratepayers was none of the boy's, nor does it appear to involve any accusation against his family. It was evidently pure mis fortune, for it is safe to say that no man who was by nature or breeding a pauper could have found Livingstone." Those who delight to think that the child is the father to the man will be interested to know that the youthful Rowlands. like the youthful Alexander, gave some early indications of the stuff he was made of. There is a story that on one occasion when the boys of the school were invited to receive their annual prizes at the house of the vener- able prelate who then occupied the See of St. Asaph, the bishop picked out Tohn Rowlands. who had earned the prize of a Bible, as a clever boy, and prophesied, doubtless with greate accuracy than the right rev. gentleman himself ever anticipated, that he would make his mark.' Such is the brief record which serves for the first sixteen years or so of Stanley's life. With evident truth, considered in the light of later events, we are told that he had a marked liking for knowledge, and did not shirk the labour of acquiring it. Mathematics, drawing, and. of course, geography are mentioned as branches of study in which he showed particular aptitude. On this account he accepted, at the age of six- teen, a post as assistant teacher in the parish school at Mold. But the drudgery of the position was distasteful. It failed to chime in with his aspirations, notwithstanding that he fulfilled his duties satisfactorily and well. At the same time, he was an attentive reader, and another anecdote records his being found dur. ing playtime on one occasion engaged in the perusal of Rasselas.' He was quite evidently not cast in an ordinary mould. A nature ad- venturous and sensitive was combined with a strong will and a sturdy frame. He appears, finally, to have left the parish school at Mold at almost as short notice as Xickleby quitted Dotheboys, though not for like reason, and it turned out, though nobody knew it until he himself reappeared years later, that he had set out on tramp to Liverpool, resolved to go abroad. He trudged into Birkenhead footsore and friendless, but, crossing to the Liverpool side, found a barque bound for New Orleans, whose captain accepted his proffered services as cabin boy. At New Orleans he landed after a voyage of two months, but with money in his pocket and in good heart. He was not success, ful in obtaining employment quite at once, but he was fortunate on the whole, securing a situa. tion as clerk in one of the warehouses near the Mississippi with an employer who seems to have been kindly and just. Stanley, or Row- lands, proved a valuable employee and. accor- ding to the generally accepted version of the matter, was adopted by his employer as his son. The employer, a well-to-do business man, died. however. His affairs were taken over by his relatives, and the clerk found himself once more on the streets, but this time, in a sense. firm on his feet. It was at this period that he adopted his late employer's name—Henry Mor- ton Stanley, in place of his more homely patronymic, Rowlands. From New Orleans he went West to Arkansas, and was there two years. Then the Civil War broke out, and, like a born adventurer, Stanley forthwith joined the Confederate forces. He saw nearly a year's service, which ended in April, 1862. at the battle of Pittsburg, an engagement in which he was taken prisoner. He escaped by swim- ming the river at night, though fired upon by the sentries. After this he recrossed the Atlan- tic, stayed some months in Liverpool, and paid a brief visit to his mother, then living at Bodel- wyddan. North Wales, and it is stated that he entertained the inmates of the St. Asaph Work. house, and spoke of the benefits of the institu- tion. On this occasion, attired in the uniform of an ensign in the American Navy, he appeared before a meeting of the St. Asaph Board of Guardians, and acknowledged to the members the debt of gratitude he owed for the education and training which he received in the Work- house. iLi Lnc, close or tz)e ( ivii tVar young Stanley entered upon that connection with American journalism which became the stepping-stone to his subsequent career. Sent as correspondent of the Afie York Herald to Turkey, he represented that journal in Lord Napier's expedition of 1868 into Abyssinia. That over, he was launched by the Herald upon that great enterprise for the finding of Livingstone which at once established HIS FAME AXD HIS FORTUNE upon a solid basis. Early in 1871 he left Zanzibar with a large party and plunged into the continent; succeeded in his quest the same year, and spending some months with the great missionary in exploring Lake Tanganyika. That expedition may be said to have constituted Stanley's introduction to the real and enduring work of his life—the opening up of the Dark Continent, the marking out and laying down of its broad political boundaries, such as they are likely to remain on the maps of the world for a long time to come, and the healing of its open sore of slave raiding, which his pen has described in burn- ing language. His stupendous undertaking to cross Africa on foot from east to west was the greatest event of the seventies. It took something like four years to accomplish, resulted in adding greatly to the world's knowledge of the great African lakes, and, by revealing the vast capabilities of the Congo as a navigable river stretching practi- cally across the entire continent, may be said to have directly originated the project which ulti- I mately bore fruit in the partition of the Congo and I Cameroons region between France, Germany, and Belgium. For several years, in the early eighties, Stanley acted as representative of the King of the I Belgians in organising the resources of the then newly-formed Congo State. It now seemed that the explorer's work in the rougher field of opening up unknown lands was over, but fate had ordained otherwise. The up- heaval of Mahdism in the Egyptian Soudan had spread southwards to the Bahr-el-Gazal, and during 1885 and 1886 the attention of Europe became arrested by rumours as to THE FATE OF IEMIN PASHA, its governor, and his staff. To elucidate this mystery, to rescue, if possible, Emin and his com- panions, and to strike a final blow at the slave raiders in their last stronghold, Stanley once more threw himself into the regions of the unknown. Leaving this country in 1887, he became for nearly three years so completely loEt that the gravest fears began to be entertained for the safety of his ex- pedition. This was due to his having deliberately refused to proceed by the comparatively known eastern route through Uganda to the Nyanza, in ) order that he might explore the hitherto entirely 1 unknown regions on the west. The incredible hard- ships entailed by this daring resolve, the months of marching through trackless forests almost roofed in from the sun, the new pigmy and other races met with, the hostilities overcome, and finally the triumphant homeward march through Uganda to Zanzibar, constitute as thrilling a story of adven- ture as ever was imagined in romance, and im- pressed the name of Stanley as firmly upon the nineties as his march across Africa, and his dis- covery of Livingstone bad stamped it upon the two preceding decades. On Stanley's return to England in the spring of 1890 he was made the hero of the hour. The Queen commanded him to attend at Windsor to give a personal account of his travels; he was entertained at the Guildhall banquets and receptions were given to him and the European officers of the expedition; Edinburgh University conferred upon him the houorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Oxford honorary degree of D.C.L., and Cambridge that I f LL.D. and he was honoured with the freedom •troral .,it; Ár .'¡;.t'n.1 was rivet fa mm ny tne announcement or his engagement w Miss Dorothy Tennant. The marriag-e took place in July, in Westminster Abbey, in the presence of a brilliant company. Later in the year the BATiTTKLOT-STANLEY CONTROVERSY arose, the family of Major Bartrelot taking excep- tion to certain statements Mr. Stanley had made about the conduct of the rear-column. Accusations and counter-accusations of a very serious and pain- ful character were made; but the controversy was, however, not to Mr. Stanley's advantage, itbein,(f,.Ittli,-itlie had made the initial blunder by bringing- accusations against a dead man. While the public mind was excited by these charges and counter-charges. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley went to America, wht-re the explorer made a lecturing tour; going thence to Australia. On his return in 1892 tie took out a certificate of naturalisation, can- celling his American eitiipnsltip, and stood as Unionist- candidate for North-West Lambeth against Mr. Coldwells. He was defeated but at the next ejection was successful. In the House of Commons he has spoken but seldom, and then only on African topics-chipfly in support of the railway project from the East Coast to Uganda. In 1897. at he invitation ot Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Stanley visited Bulu- wayo on the occasion of the opening of the railway to that town. In the list of the Queer.'s Birthday Honours in 1899 Stanley was included, being created a Knicht Grand Cross of the Bath. In 1900 he -tired from public life.

Flintshire Standing Joint Committee. MAGISTRATES PLEAD FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP. MR. R. LLEWELYN JONES RE-ELECTED. The annual meeting of the Flintshire Stand- L ing Joint Police Committee was held at the Council Chamber, Mold, on Thursday. All the members were present, viz., twelve repre- sentatives of the Court of Quarter Sessions, and the twelve appointed by the Flintshire County Council. The Clerk of the Peace -Mr. R. Bromlev) announced that the first business was to elect a Chairman for the ensuing year. Mr. P. P. Pennant said the Committee was composed half of representatives appointed by the County Council and half of magistrates ap- pointed by the Quarter Sessions, and it seem ? i a reasonable arrangement that the Chairman. should be appointed from time to time irom both classes of representatives. He hoped that they would appoint someone from among the Quarter Sessions representatives. Mr. J. Prince. Connah's Quay» proposed that they re-elect Mr. R. Llewelyn Jones, who had in the past given entire satisfaction to both parties. Mr. S. Jones, Holywell. seconded, saying that Mr. Llewelyn Jones was the right m&n in the right place. Mr. Robert Howard thought it was scarcely fair that they should have political feeling in that Committee (hear, hear). It seemed rather a reflection that they could not conduct tne business unless they had a Chairman of a par- ticular political colour. He thought a magis- t I trate should be appointed. He named Colonel Mesham, but he declined. Mr. Howard pro- posed Mr. Pennant, and Mr. C. Davison se- conded. Mr. Prince said that when the recent appoint- ments were made Mr. James Reney was uncere- moniously ousted from his position as a mem- ber of that Committee in order to make room for a representative of the licensing trade. Thev knew what Mr. Reney's principles were, and that they were in favour of temperance. He did not say anyone present was responsible for the ousting of Mr. Reney he rather thought it was someone who was not present. Mr. C. Davison I protest against those re- marks. Mr. Prince said this treatment of Mr. Reney had put up the backs of many Liberals, and he hoped thev would reappoint Mr. Ll. Jones. Dr. Williams said it was believed that Mr. Reney had been ousted because he was a con- sistent temperance advocate. He gave reasons why a Liberal should occupy the chair, mention- ing that the Liberal party really represented two-thirds of the population. Mr. Pennant explained that he voted for lr. Renev. Mr. C. P. Morgan also disclaimed any share in the ousting of Mr. Reney. Dr. Williams said they knew that was so. and thev were much obliged to Mr. Pennant for what he did. Mr. R. LI. Jones was sorry his friends had not thought proper fo nominate someone else. But as they had named him, he was prepared to accept nomination, and seeing that there was likely to be a division he asked whether Mr. Pennant intended to vote. He suggested that neither of them should do s(f but leave the decision to the rest of the members. It had been said it was customary to change the Chair- manship in other counties, but he pointed out that this was not so. In Denbighshire Captain Griffith Boscawen had been, with a slight in- terval. Chairman of the Standing Joint Com- mittee from the commencement, as also had Captain Mytton been in Montgomeryshire, and both these gentlemen were magisterial repre- sentatives. Mr. Pennant said they ought to recogpise oc- casionally that a magistrate was competent to preside over that Committee. He would be willing to allow his name to be withdrawn, and I to vote in favour of the re-appointment of Mr. Jones for another year, firstly as a mark of respect to Mr. Jones for his able services in the past as Chairman, and secondly in the hope that this sort of semi-rivalry between quarter sessions and county councillors would b" dropped. Mr. Howard said that on the understanding- that this was for one year, and that if a magis- trate's name were put forward next yer it would not be met by the same class of opposition, he would withdraw his motion. He hoped that during the year any soreness about Mr. Reney would subside. The motion for the re-election of Mr. R. Llewelyn Jones was put, and carried unanimous- ly. INDISPOSITION OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE. A letter was read from the Chief Constable (Major Webber; stating that he had been taken ill, and was now confined to the house, ar.d was under the doctor's care. INCREASED PAY. On the recommendation of the Chief Cons- table. Superintendent Robert Jones, of Holy- w 11, was placed on the highest rate of pay of his rank. THE APPOINTMENT OF MAGISTRATES* CLERK. A letter was read from Messrs. Keene, Son, and Kelly, solicitors. Mold, stating that Mr. Thomas Mann Keene had been appointed clerk to the justices in the Petty Sessional Divisions of Mold and Hope, and that Mr. R. Stewart Kelly had been appointed to a similar capacity in the divisions of Hawarden and Northop. The late Mr. A. T. Keene acted as magistrates* clerk in all four divisions. Dr. J. H. Williams wished to know the quali- fications required for these appointments, by whom the officials were appointed, and the method of appointment, what the salary was, and by whom the salarv was paid. The Clerk explained that the salary paid be late clerk for acting in all four divisions was £ 480 per annum. The salary was paid by the county, and the appointment was made by the magistrates. The appointment was not adver- tised. A committee, as suggested by the Clerk, was appointed to confer with the magistrate's in each division regarding the apportionment of the salarv. Dr. Williams gave notice of motion calling- attention to the method of appointing clerks to justices, and asking for a return of the fees and fines in the divisions of Mold, Hope, orth. op, and Hawarden for the past four years. log

Mold. NEW MAGISTRATES' CLERK.—At a pri- vate meeting of the justices for the Mold Petty Sessions, on Monday, Mr. T. M. Keene, son of the late Mr. A. T. Keene, was appointed magis- trates clerk in succession to his father. Orr the assembling of the magistrates in Court the Chairman (Mr. Davies-Cooke). who was accom- panied by Messrs. E. H. Wain, B. f. Phillips, C. P. Morgan, Algernon Potts, T. Parry, and J. W. Williams, referred to the death of Mr. A. T. Keene, who had always been a most able and conscientious adviser. He asked the new clerk (Mr. T. M. Keene), whom they had that morning appointed, to convey the sympathy of the Bench to his mother and the other members of the family. These remarks were endorsed by Mr. C. P. Morgan, and Messrs. H. G. Ro- berts. and Mr. J. B. Marston (on behalf cf the. solicitors). Mr. Keene acknowledged the re- ferences to his father.

DEATH. EDWARDS—May 10th, at his residence, Wynn. stay, 78, West Parade, aged 36 years, Edward Edwards. Interment at the Town Cemetery to-day (Saturday) at two o'clock. For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.'—Job. 'Thy will be done.'

Rhyi is an extremely remote one, we hope that the Rhyl Authority will not incur any further expense in opposing it, it is desirable that they should vigilantly watch its future stages, for companies have a way when bringing in bills of this kind of introducing, surreptitiously, clauses which might be fraught with considerable danger to the in- terests of local authorities. The Bishop of St. Asaph introduced his long expected measure for the amendment of the Education Act, in the House of Lords on Monday night. His offspring may be described as stillborn. It received a freezing reception from the clerical party and a declaration of open hostility from the education party. We frankly confess to a feeling of keen disappointment. We were credulous enough to believe that the Bishop was genuinely desirous of producing a mea- sure which would mitigate if not entirely remove the objectionable features of the Education Act. So far from doing that it really accentuates the evil. Its object ap- pears to be to lay predatory hands upon Board, British, Nonconformist and Volun- tary Schools. Schools maintained out of local rates enjoy at the piesent time the beneficent protection of the Cowper- Temple clause. This clause renders the giving of denominational or doctrinal teach- ing during school hours prohibitive. The Bishop of St. Asaph's Bill proposes to give an option to the parents of the children at- tending any school to overthrow the Cow- per-Temple clause and to give the right of entry to all the denominations to impart special religious teaching at certain hours. As a sort of quid pro quo for giving the Parsons a right of entry into the Provided Schools, the Bill enables the managers of Voluntary Schools to lease or transfer those schools to the local education authority. To sum up the Bill briefly and concisely, it is one to extend sectarian teaching to Board or Provided schools. The Church party are to have the run of the whole of the schools in the country, while they can, if they deem fit, keep the same controlling hand over their own schools that they en- joy at the present time. With the intro- duction of this measure disappears the last hope of an amicable settlement of the Edu- cation question. The war must now be continued to the bitter end. If the measure of coercion devised by the Government is effective in compelling the Welsh County Councils to give rate aid to Church Schools, then the County Councils must take care that they only give the exact pound of flesh. They may be depended upon to exact from the managers of the County Schools the full measure of requirements which the Act entitles them to demand. In Flintshire alone the Church party will be required to spend thousands of pounds in placing their schools in a satisfactory structural and sanitary condition. This will give them as much as they can do until the advent into power of a Liberal Govern- meut, when the whole aspect ot the situation will be changed. The United Sunday Schools excursion to Bala on Thursday was a pronounced success from one point of view, but we question whether the idea of the promoters cf the movement has been quite realised. The object of a united excursion was to prevent the dislocation of school work by the action of the different Sunday Schools of the town giving their scholars their annual outing on separate days. It would be very desirable if all could unite on one day, but we hardly rhink that where so many children are concerned '.hat to fix upon one place is ex- actly practicable. It would be much better if a day were set apart by general arrange- ment and each Sunday School be allowed to select its own place of resort and of pleasure. The failure to thus unite pro- duced a somewhat singular state of things on Thursday. Some of the tradesmen acceded to the request made to them to close their establishments during the whole of the day, but others did not do so. Prac- tically all the grocers were closed, and this caused no little inconvenience to the public, for there was no notice given of their in- tention to close. It is desirable in future that there should be an understanding on this matter. We see no reason why a day cannot be appointed, as Thanksgiving day is appointed, that will be suitable to all concerned, and we trust that an effort will be made in that direction in the future.