The North Wales Weekly News

CONWAY STILL IMPROVING. THERE IS NOT, we are informed, a single house of blower rental than £ 50 empty at Conway at the present time; in fact, the supply of houses falls considerably short of the demand. This State of affairs must be very encouraging to the owners of existing house properties, and should stimulate the owners of building estates who have so far refrained from placing their land in the market. Things have not always looked so rosy at Conway, and we cannot help feeling that the public are under a deep debt of gratitude to those progressive members of the Corporation who, a few years ago, determined upon a reorganisation of the Town Councils affairs and entered upon, the Herculean task 01 clearing away the heavy debt which weighed upon the town and obstructed its advancement. By now the new policy has completely justified itself; but we venture, to say that it would not have produced such satisfactory results were it not for the, wisdom, shown, by the authorities in their choice of a Borough Accountant. Mr. Hugh Parry is largely responsible, owing to the thoroughness and efficiency) with which he has carried out his responsible duties, for the great change for the better which has taken place in the financial situation of the borough. In a period of a few years he has wrought a trans- formation which means all the difference be- tween depression and prosperity, with the result that Conway has now before it a bright and encouraging future. The storry of Conway's gradual rise is eloquently told in the series of eight annual re- ports issued by Mr. Hugh Parry, which show that while in 1902 the Corporation were over- drawn at the bank in respect of current a-ccoun to the extent of £ 7,43they have by now not only paid off that. deficit, but also have a sub- stantial surplus. By the way, is. it not advisable that neighbouring authorities, even those of z, rn^Tno^Corporation^ should adopt vear's transactions, in the same way as is done &t Conway? Such a book is a mine of facts and figures, and enables the ratepayers, iii,a wiay which, nothing else can do, to follow the Coun- cil's proceedings and pronounce a considered judgment on each and every transaction. Not only are these books valuable records of the past, but they are even more valuable as guides for the present and the future. It is true that these books cost money, but the expenditure is nothing compared with the public money wasted for the want of them. Besides, they contain in- formation which the ratepayers require and are entitled to receive. "Who will take the matter up? We have before us the Conway Abstract of Accounts for the year ended 3ast March, 1909, and are not surprised.. to find that the Borough Auditors, Messrs. Warmsley Jones and Co., of Chester, again expressing satisfaction as to the excellent manner 4n which the accounts con- tinue to be. kept, and as to the care and atten- tion bestowed on the Annual Report and Ab- stract of Accounts." Undoubtedly, the accounts of every public authority .should be kept on the model of those of the Borough Accountant of Conway. The year's net revenue from the Bridge, which is slightly less than that of last year, amounted :to £ *1,275' 6s. 8d. This, brings the amount in- vested in Consols at 2# per cent. to £ 7,390, which is considerably short of the £ 10,000 re- serve which must be accumulated before the Bridge can be freed." The Harbour account shows a deficiency of £ 121 9s. gd., which is rather more than the deficiency for the previous year. On the face of it, the Corporation should ,give more attention than hitherto to the suc- cessful working of this portion of their, estate. The revenue under the heading of Borough 'Fund," including a Borough Rate of 5d. and a Library Rate of id., amounted to £ 3,086 8s. 2d., and the expenditure to £2,805 17s. 5d., showing a surplus of £ 280 ros. gdl., which compares very favourably with the previous year's surplus of £ 1113 8s. 6d. The surplus of £ 280 10s. gd. the Borough Accountant remarks, has been applied in reducing the deficit balance of £ 714 5s. 6d. on this account at the beginning of the year, thereby reducing it to £ 433 r49- gd. at the close of the year." The wonderful advance made in a few yards of hard work is. sufficiently indicated by the fact that at 31st March, 1902, the deficiency stood at £ 4,098 19s. 5d., that there has been a progressive reduction of this de- ficiency in each succeeding year, and that now the adverse balance is represented by the com- paratively small sum of Z433 14s. 9d., which we may expect to. see converted into. a surplus before another twelve months have passed. During the year £ 1,069 18s. 7d. was expended in connection with the Morfa Protection Scheme, this making, with £r,437 us. id., the amount expended at the end of last year, £ 2,507 gs. 8d. expended to date. Of this sum £ 2,500 is charged to capital, for which a loan was negotiated last year, and £ 7 9?. 8d. is charged to Revenue. The Morfa Sewer Scheme, to meet the requirements of the Military Authorities, was carried out during the year at a total cost of £ 604 7s. 5d. The Local Government Board's sanction to borrow £ 600 for this work was obtained, and a loan was negotiated for the amount. The Military Authorities have agreed to refund annually the amount of instal- ments of loan and interest required to pay off this loan during the next ten years, provided the ground is used by them for camping purposes. A scheme for adapting the Old Post Office, conveyed under a deed of gift to the Borough by Albert Wood, Esq, J.P., D.L., was adopted during the year, and sanctions to borrow £ 950 and _f igo respectively were obtained from the Local Government Board. Loans of three amounts were obtained, and £ 68 IOS. 4d. was expended during the year. A long-standing dispute relating to easements of light, etc., at the Town Hall was settled in the course of the year, and a sum of £ 114 lis. 3d. was paid in satisfaction of claim, interest, and costs." Very interesting are the Accountant's remarks on the Castle, regarded as a financial asset. The following statement gives the number of admissions to the Castle from 1902 £ s. d. 1902-3 33.093 296 12 6 1903—4 32,198 380 13 7 I9°4 5 33.383 398 1 3 1905—6 37.123 437 16 8 1906-7 40,586 486 13 1 1907—8 34.445 408 9 4 1q08-9 30,637 366 ii II It was, we believe, Mr. Hugh Parry who initiated the advertising of Conway and Deganwy as visiting and residential resort. The scheme of advertising the Borough was continued during the year, and a great number of the Official Guide sent to appli- cants. c25 was contributed from Castle receipts towards the scheme, and the total receipts amounted to £ 56 14s., and the expenditure to £ 4635. id., leaving a surplus of £ 10 10s. lid. Under the heading of Public Libraries Account we find that the income amounted to £ 161 16s. 6d., and included Library Rate of id.; sale of old newspapers, etc., £ 12 8s. 6d.; fourth instalment of repayment from the Borough Fund of the payments made by the Library Fund in previous years on account of principal and interest on loans and capital ex- penditure, £26 15s., and donation by the Conway Temperance Association 13s. The expenditure in maintaining the two libraries for the year amounted £ 153 2s. 8d. £ 98 was in respect of Conway Library, and £ 50 2S. 8d. in respect of Deganwy Branch Library and Reading Room, and the Secretary's salary £ 5, leaving a surplus on the years' working of £ 8 13s. iod. The credit balance of £ 16 4s. 8d. at commencement of the year is therefore increased to £ 24 18s. 6d. Next we come to the General District Fund. The income for the year amounted to c5,282 4S. nd.; f,4,137 12S. iod. of this amount was the proceeds of the rate levied at 3s. iod., as against £4,094 10s 1 id. at 4s. in the previous year. At the com- mencement of the year zc357 17s. nd. stood to the credit of the Fund, and in providing the years' expenditure this amount was taken into account to provide for the anticipated deficiency resulting from a deduction of 2d in the £ in the rate levied. The deficit of £ 284 9s. id. reduces the amount to the credit of the Fund at the close of the year to £ 73 9s. iod. The various accounts show normal expenditure, excepting water account, which shows an increase of £ 91 13s. gd. in the Joint Water Board's precept, street improvement loan charges an increase of £ 42 15s. od. and sewerage account an extraordinary expenditure of £ 217 19s. 5d. in settlement of a long standing claim for compensation, interest, and costs relating to the laying of Gyffin main sewer through private land. On Capital Accounts £ 532 15s. was expended on water main extensions, and £ 51 15s. 6d. for the provision of public lamps. Sanctions to borrow £ 460 and C140 for water purposes were obtained during the year, and a sanction to borrow £ 500 for publiclighting purposes has since been obtained. In these controversial times everybody seems to be interested in the topic of gas, and we therefore quote in full the Borough Accountant's observa- tions on the gas undertaking. The expenditure on revenue accounts amounted to £2,948 4s. 4d., as against £2,909 12s. 8d., the income to lf4,152 5s. iod., as against £ 3,738 35. 8d., and the gross profit to £ 1,204 is. 6d., as against £ 828 IIS. iod. in the previous year, or an increase of £ 375 lOS. 6d. The gross profit has been carried to net revenue account, and this, together with the balance of credit at the commencement of the year, makes a total of £ 1,284 17s. iid. After charging the account with £ 540 2S. id., interest on loans c939 12s. 5d., repayment of loans, and £ 89 12s. income tax, the balance of £ 32483. 7d. at the close of the year is carried forward to next year's account. It will be observed that the gross profits have increased by L375 10s. 6d., and that the net revenue charges have increased by £ 75 4s. 8d.; £ 42 6s. is in respect of income tax, and the balance of £ 32 18s. 8d. is in respect of loan charges. Owing to the pressure in collecting by the income tax authorities, two years' income tax charges were debited to this year's account. During the year one and a half miles of new mains were laid on at a cost of £ 1,302 6s. id., and £ 91 8s. 7d. was expended in the purchase of metres. Sanction to borrow for main extensions was obtained in 1906, and loans negotiated in previous years. The further expenditure on mains and meters is provided for in the Conway Gas Act of 1909, which gives extensive new powers in connection with the undertaking. The make and sale of gas have greatly increased the make shows an increase of 1,293,000 cubic feet, and the sales an increase of 1,446,800 cubic feet. The unaccounted quantity of gas has decreased by 100,300, or 1-15 per cent. on make. The year has shown a great improvement in the results of the undertaking. The make and sales of gas, as already stated, have increased the sales of residuals have also realised £136 gs. more than last year, the number of con- sumers increased by 48, and the number of cookers let out by 62, the total number of consumers now being 738, and the total number of cookers let out 359. I pointed out in my last year's report an anticipated increase in the consumption of gas and an improvement in the general returns of the undertaking. This is borne out by the results, which constitute a record for the undertaking. If the results for the current year are maintained I anticipate an early profit on the undertaking, not- withstanding that the net price for gas is 3S. 4d. per 1,000 cubic feet. On the other hand, to meet extraordinary or unexpected expenditure it may be still advisable, as I pointed out last year, to make a temporary increase in the price, and I would respectfully suggest that this matter be taken into consideration by the Gas Committee. The Gas Undertaking Reserve Fund has increased during the year by £ 7 7s. lid. interest, and amounted at the close of the year to ZC292 4s. 5d. The whole of this sum is invested, and represents £ 338 5s. IICi. Two-and-a-half per cent. Consolid- ated Stock." With regard to the Gas Cookers Account, Mr. Parry adds:—During the year 62 cookers were let out on the hire purchase system. The expenditure amounted to £ 286 16s. 6d., and the income to £ 300 15s. 5d., including £ 12 3s. credit balance at the commencement of the year, leaving a net surplus on this account at the close of the year of C13 16s. nd. This the seventh year since you commenced placing out cookers, and during this period 359 cookers have been fixed at an inclusive cost to you of £1,579 9s. 4d., for which the purchasers have been charged £ 1,57865. 3d.. and services account, £ 15. At the close of the year instalments amounting to £ 964 18s. 8d. had been paid, leaving £ 613 7s. 7d. outstanding. The capital expenditure of the various depart- ments during the year amounted to £ 3,709. The loans actually borrowed totalled £ 3,340. At the commencement of the year the balance of the out- standing loans amounted to £ 34,833 17s. 6d., and the addition of £ 3,340 brought the gross total to £ 38,173 17s. 6d. During the year there was repaid the sum of £2,571 16s. 8d., leaving a loan debt of £ 35>6°2 os. iod. Mr. Parry, reviewing the accounts as a whole, says The total expenditure of the Corporation for all purposes amounted to £ T 8,090 6s. 7d, and the income, including loans, to £ I8,559 I3s. 4d." The Abstract of Accounts, which has been so prepared that anyone can understand it, gives a vast amount of detail, and we again congratulate the Corporation and the officials upon the facts disclosed.

CURRENT TOPICS. Shop Hours. WE COMMEND to public notice the very sensible and practical letter of a Colwyn Bay shop-keeper which appears in .another column. He contends that because the grocers and provision dealers can adopt an earlier closing system, which will come into force next week, it should be and is possible for most other traders to close at the same time; that the traders who did so. would benefit financially, physically, and in even more important directions; and that the shopping public would not be inconvenieced in the slightest degree. We endorse each one of these contentions. They are old and thoroughly tested arguments, and our wonder is, not that they are put forward, but that it is necessary to repeat them in this enlightened age. Let the trades- people of Colwyn Bay unite in this matter for their own individual and collective benefit, and at the same time show a wise example to the country at large. Motor Speed Limits. COMMON SENSE and a spirit of sweet reason- ableness, when allowed to prevail, can work wonders. A splendid example of this truth was afforded at the public inquiry held by Mr F. J. Willis, on behalf of the Local Government Board, at Bettws-y-Coed'. on Monday. The in- quiry was with regard to, the proposed speed limit for motor cars for portions of the main road, and not nr.naturally the motorists de- cided to oppose, and sent representatives to the meeting to safeguard their interests. Before any evide ice was taken, oolwever, the suggestion was thrown out that the representatives of the two sides-the County and District Councils on the one hand and the Automobile Clubs on the other-should first of all visit the portions of the road concerned. This suggestion was adopted, with the result that the representatives were able, on their return, to announce that they had arrived at a satisfactory agreement. Each side having shown a conciliatory spirit, the parties were able to agree that the speed limit should apply to c-ertiain lengths of roadway and not to others, and thus the interests of both the motorists and the public were duly pro- tected. It is very gratifying to learn that motorists will not be prevented by the new re- strictions from visiting Bettws-y-Coed in the future as in the past. Conway Town Walls. THE VISIT of the Abergele Antiquarian Society to Conway on Saturday was the means of rais- ing an important question, upon which the Cor- poration will no doubt receive the advice of the Welsh Monuments Commission. That question is whether .the ivy which adds grace and beauty to the Town Walls is in fact a source of danger to the masonry, and, if so, can it be removed without robbing the "Walls of their picturesque appearance. The Town Walls of Conway are such a unique feature that their preservation is most earnestly to be desired, but at the same time the greatest care must be taken to guard t!hem from the rash hand of the Philistine.

8I8C PERSONAL AND SOCIAL. The Rev. E. L. Owen, B.A., Curate of Taly- sarn, has been appointed to a living at New- castle. He is succeeded at Talysarn by Mr Owen, of Sarn, Meillteyrn, South Carnarvon- shire. -1(0 The Rev. John Owen, B.A., pastor of the Bowydd Calvinistic Methodist Church, Blaenau Festiniog, has been invited to become the pas- tor of the Engedi Calvinisitic Methodist Church, Carnarvon. At a meeting of the Agricultural Committee of the University College of North Wales at Carnarvon on Friday, it was decided to award the Carnarvon County Council Agricultural Ex- hibition to Mr W. Martin Williams, Tan'rallt. Abererch, South Carnarvonshire. The Rev. William Ambrose Roberts, who for the last five years has been pastor of the Taly- sarn Congregational Church, Carnarvonshire, has just accepted an invitation to become the pastor of the Free Church of the Welsh at Bir- kenhead. This is one of the churches established in connection with the Free Church of the Welsh at Liverpool by the Rev. William Owen Jones, B.A. Mr Roberts, in accepting this in- vitation. severs his connection with the Welsh Congregationalists.* The Rev. Thomas Williams, who for the long period of thirty-five years was Vicar of St. Mark's Church, Connah's Quay, and recently resigned owing to advancing years, was on Monday night publicly presented with an illum- inated address bearing 350 signatures of sub- scribers, together with a cheque for £ 104, in recognition, of his services and as a token of the esteem in which he and his sister were held by the parishioners. The testimonial was sub- scribed to extensively by Nonconformists, Roman Catholics, and Church people alike. On Sunday the ordination to the. full work of the ministry took place of Mr J. Vernon Lewis, B.A., B.D., a student of Mansfield College, Ox- ford, at the Park-road Welsh Congregational Church, Liverpool. The officiating ministers were the Revs. Dr. G. Buchanan Gray, Oxford; Principal Thomas Rees, M.A., Bangor; Profes,. sor Joseph Jones, M.A., Bangor; J. M. Davies, Bangor G. Penar Griffiths (Pentre Estyll), Wil- liam James, Swansea; and J. T. Davies, B.A., Oxford. Mr Vernon Lewis succeeds the late Rev. O. Rhys Owen, Glandwr, as pastor of the Park-road church.

O88IC- SAYINGS OF THE WEEK. MR. JOHN H. GIRDNOER. No one is fit to. run a Marathon race.—In Munsey's Magazine." MR. PLOWDEN. It is not reasonable to expect a woman to keep a promise.—At Maryleibone. MR. H. J. SAYER. For a man to be good enough for his post he must be too good.—At Birmingham. MfR. HERBERT JACKSON BAFGOOD. Honesty is the quality wihiitih makes a man work without watching the clock.—In Mo-diem Business." MR. WILLIAM BARRY. The plague of unclean books, and especially of diangenausi fiction, is iragling on every side.- In the Bookman." MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. The fact that so many untrained boys are found in the labour market proves that our sys- tem has failed.—At the House of Lords. M'R. FREDERIC W. WALKER. British: women are in, the main conscription- istE they believe it the duty of every man to serve his co,untry.-lin "Casseira Magazine." « MR. RIDER HAGGARD. 'Certainly half, probably three-quarters, of the people who are cast aside as wreckage, oould, if properly handled, be nestored to an even higher status than before their trouble overtook tli,-m.-At Dfehiinigham. MR. FORBES-RO-BIERTSON. In Shakespeare's day people went to the theatme not only for entertainment, but to hear something about the' times in which they lived*; now we read newspapers.—At Sheffield.

WEEK BY WEEK. A ten minutes' prayer is enough to kill any religious meeting," was a cryptic expression at 0 the P.S.A. conference at Cardiff. The foundation stone of Telford's suspension bridge across the Menai Straits was laid ninety years ago. It was opened in 1826. The record benefit for any football player was received by W. L. Jones, of Manchester City, the sum handed over, less expenses, being £ 835. A curious incident happened a day or two ago at an Oswestry wedding. A widower and a widow got married, and the bride was given away by a son of the bridegroom Mr Thomas Lloyd (Crych Elen), the composer of that once popular song Yn y bwthyn bach to gwellt (" In the little thatched cottage "), has died at Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 67. The death is announced from the Cape, at the age of 83, of Mr William Griffith Jones. He was a grandson of Colonel Griffith, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and claimed descent from Prince Llewelyn. Above the entrance door of a Monmouthshire Nonconformist chapel there is a cross, and in another Monmouthshire Nonconformist chapel there is a large stained glass window descriptive of a religious subject. A fox is credited with an antiquarian dis- covery in Anglesea, viz., the burial-place of the old Lloyd family of Lligwy. One day when the hunt was on Reynard took refuge in a hole, where he was discovered and followed-to the door of the vault. Dr. Johnson had a higher opinion of Welsh- men than he had of the Principality. Writing to Mrs Thrale about Boswell, the doctor said, "He wants to see Wales But except the woods of Baoh-y-Graig, what is there in Wales?" Which shows that even Johnson was not omnis- cient. A couple of years ago a London surgeon re- ceived an urgent telegram describing an acci- dent received in the hunting field by fa lady in Wales. A special train awaited him at Euston,; he was at the bedside in six hours, and a skilful operation saved the lady's life. The special train alone cost £ 70 to charter. Liverpool wants the Welsh National Eistedd- fod in 11912; and ,the executive committee of the Liverpool Welsh .National Society is taking steps to make the necessary invitation to the Gorsedd and the Eisteddfod Association. It is niji-e years since the Eisteddfod was last held in Liverpool —that being the second visit after a lapse of sixteen years. The Rector of Llanallgo, in Anglesea, is ap- pealing for funds for the repair of his church yard, in connection with the forthcoming fiftieth anniversary of the wreck of the Royal Char- ter," which took place on the coast near by. One hundred and forty of the wrecked people lie in the churchyard. The wreck is graphically described by Dickens in his Uncommercial Traveller." It appears that the Rev. T. C. Williams, of M-enai Bridge, Calvinistic minister and Terri- torial Chaplain, had a kind of triumphal march through the West from Kansas to San Francis- co. He was taken, according to a newspaper correspondent, for a Roman Catholic Bishop, and the accompanying preacher as his chaplain. The black porters were extremely attentive, tne Irish; policemen in 'Frisco saluting incessantly, whilst an, Irish chemist refused pay for a dose of medicine! He was feted at the Argonaut Hotel,, where the printed menu was in Welsh, and the Rev. J. S. Thomas acted as toastmaster. A good story is told-with authority—of Mr LlQyd George's recent yachting tour with Sir Thomas Lipton. One evening, when the yacht was anchored off Dartmouth the Chancellor and his hosit landed, to find a fair in full swing in the little town. Trusting that no one would recognise them, both gentlemen visited every side-show in the place and enjoyed all the fun of the fair, no one suspecting their identity. At last there was nothing left to do but to. shy at cocoa-nuts, and this they proceeded to. do wrth energy, the Chancellor's aim being particularly good. To his horror, however, just as he was making ready to throw at a partIcularly big and tempting nut, a hand fell on his shoulder, and someone said, I'l tell your electors what you are doing!" Mr Lloyd George turned, and found that one of the largest landowners in Car- narvonshire, who had also landed from his yacht, had been watching the author of the Bud- get with great amusement and, perhaps, with some satisfaction that something was catching it besides land and landowners. Is the law of gravitation in danger? A pam- phlet of some seveiity pages, entitled No Gravitation," has just been published at Car- narvon, and the author, Mr D. R. Williams, has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that no such thing as gravitation exists. He premises his work with propositions that matter has no genesis; that the weight of matter is absolutely constant, and indestructible and that force is due to weight, and its sum total in the universe is simply the weight of all matter. Mr Wil- liams's arguments are highly technical, and must be judged by the scientists whom he challenges, but they evidently satisfy himself. He denounces the idea that the earth pulls with nothing to pull with," and concludes thus —" We can understand the attraction between a man and his home and his fireside, the attrac- tion between a man and his pipe or his news- paper, but what attraction can there be between two pipes, between two newspapers? In short, we repeat that we stouting deny the existence of the thing that Sir Isaac Newton called gravi- tation, that there is nothing in the universe vary- ing inversely as the square of the distance, and we humbly invite astronomers and other men of science to consider it."

If you use lelkma (Skeoma you will have nicer cakes and puddings ) than you ever had —and at much less I cost and trouble. 8 /■w rrTWmr~5'V All the dry ingredients are AsSjjgsSSL w mixed ready for use—a —— "Hi great saving of time to the busy housewife. BMany recipes in each 3 £ d. From grocers and stores LATHAM & CO. LTD., ev er ywhere. LATHAM & CO. LTD., J °°4 UVERP0°L' 9 J

Booming North Wales. DELEGATES' MEETING AT COLWYN BAY. An adjourned meeting, convened by Mr. L. A. I'. Warner, District Superintendent of the London and North-Western Railway Company, the representatives of the various seaside and inland health resorts of North Wales, was held on Tuesday morning at the Council Chamber, Colwyn Bay. Mr. Warner was voted to the chair, and the following representatives were present: —Canon C. F. Roberts (Llanddulas), Messrs. T. Cyprus .Roberts (Penmaenmawr), J. J. Marks (Llandud- no), Robert Roberts (Llandudno), A. J. Oldman (Deganwy), P. H. McClement (Penmaenmawr), R. Gwyneddon Davies (Carnarvon), Charles A. Jones (Carnarvon), James G. Bacon (Menai Bridge), T. J. Jones (Beaumaris), John Griffith (Bangor), David Gamble (Colwyn Bay), W. Watkin (Criccieth), J. R. Pritchard (Portmadoc> and Bor-thygest), J. Owain Hughes (Portmadoc), Dr. E. Shelton Jones (Pwllheli), William H. Worrall (Bangor), Owen Owen (Bangor), C. Adamson (Trefriw), H. J. Hughes (Amlwcnj, George Perkins (Abergele), John Edwards (Aber- gele), B. H. Pullan and Robert Parry (Bettws- y-Coed), Samuel Perks and Edward K. Miller (Rhyl), W. Inglefield, and T. Parry Williams (Prestatyn), T. Gowen (Llanfairfechan), Edward Allen, James Amphlett, and H. J. Edwards (Colwyn Bay). WILLING TO ASSIST. The Chairman referred to the previous meet- ing they had had in that room some short time ago with the view of having the towns combine together for the purpose of advertising North Wales as a whole. It was then suggested that each town subscribe according to population to a fund. He had sent out notices asking each town how much th-ey would be willing to sub- scribed. He had not received many replies. Llanducùno had stated that it would be willing to subscribe 1:100 if such a scheme was on foot. He would like to know how much subscriptions the various towns could contribute to the fund. He took it that they all had held meetings in their various districts and considered what they were able to give. Mr. Warner then waited for replies. Mr. George Perkins (Abergele) said that the Ratepayers' Association, that he represented were willing to subscribe. A Bangor representative said he wos sorry he could not give the amount the Bangor Council would give. They were quite in sympathy with the idea of a combine, but the Council would have to decide the amount of subscription. Mr. Warner: I quite thought this matter would have been gone into by now. Mr. T. J. Jones (Beaumaris) was explaining what had been. done in that town. Mr. Warner: How much can you give? Mr. Jones: I can't say. (Laughter.) Mr. Pullan (Bettws-y-Coed) said that .owing to shortness of time they were not able to take out a subscription list, but they would do all they could to help. In reply to a question, as to how the funds were to be raised, Mr. Warner said that was a matter for the towns to decide, and not for him. Mr. Edward Jones (Conway) said they had not had their meeting yet. (Laughter.) Mr. Warner Somebody must begin. Mr. Marks (Llandudno) Llandudno has begun. Mr. McClement (Penmaenmawr) said that it had been decided to contribute pro rata to Llan- dudno the sum of £25. Mr. D. Gamble (Colwyn Bay) said he had no authority to say so, but he thought the Council would guarantee £ 50. A Carnarvon representative stated he thought that town would subscribe £25. After further discussion, Mr. Warner again stated that he thought the whole thing would have been ready, and that was the day for hearing the decisions. RAILWAY COMPANY'S ENTERPRISE, Mr. S. Perks (Rhyl) said that the notice of the previous meeting did not get into proper hands. He complimented the Railway Company on what they had done for North Wales. He felt that the Rhyl Council would be able to do something towards the fund'. He would like know how it was intended to allocate the funds. Mr. Warner replied that the intention was to form a small committee amongst themselves, with an organising secretary. Mr. Perks: What is to be done with the money ? Mr. Warner: You all settle that amongst yourselves. Mx. Gamble said he was of thej opinion that the money would be handed over to the Com- pany Mr. Viarner No. Dr. Shelton Jones (Pwllheli) said they hoped in that town to do as well as Llandudno. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Pritchard (Portmadoc) said they had gone thoroughly into the matter, and had many meet- ings, and could vote a sum of money, and they would help the Railway Company if the Rail- way Company would help them. Mr. Warner: Tell me how much you will subscribe. Mr. Pritchard The money would be in ratio to the population. Mr. W. Watkin (Criccieth) said they were pre- pared to dot their share-, and the hat had been round. Mr. W. Inglefield (Prestatyn) said they would give £20. They had more faith than many pre- sent in the scheme, and they hoped to make their place fit to receive people when they came. It was only a small place. Mr. Warner said that he could take it that every town represented agreed with the idea. It was unfortunate that they did not know what could be subscribed, for then they could move and go on. As it was, it made the thing rather difficult. Mr. Inglefield asked if the delegates present could not 'say what they would give pro. rata. Mr. Warner sounded some of the representa- tives again. Mr. Marks suggested that Bangor should sub- scribe Z120 on the population. The Bangor representative of the 'Council re- torted that, there was no comparison as to the advantages Colwyn Bay and Llandudno re- ceived from advertising to that of Bangor. If the first two town did not advertise they would get no visitors, and then they would be bank- rupt. -(Laughter.) Another Bangor delegate representing the Bangor Traders' Association said though he could not give a pledge, he thought between £ 40 and ZSo might be got from that source. Mr. T. Gowen (Llanfairfechan) said the mat- ter had not yet been before that Council. Mr. John Edwards (Abergele) intimated that the Abergele Council would subscribe pro rata. Mr. McClement proposed that tihe basis of the subscription be the rateable value. They had an industrial population in Penmaenmawr, and it would not be right to ask those to sub- scribe, when they did not concern themselves whether they had visitors or not. Mr. Edward Jones (Conway) seconded. Mr. Pritchard proposed an amendment, and jt was seconded, that they go home and place the matter before their respective bodies. A TIMELY REBUKE. Mr. Robert Roberts pointed out that Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, and Llandudno had spent much money in advertising North Wales, and he did not like the idea of some representatives con- sidering what was the lowest amount they could give. Mr. Warner quite agreed that advertising done by halves would dd_ no. good. Mr. R. Roberts was of opinion that they had come there that day to push the matter on. Dr. Shelton Jones Look at the good Llan- dudno is doing Pwllheli by running motor char-a-banc to the latter town. They should be more in unison, and not consider their own par- ticular spot too much. FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE. Mr. Warner -said he had a suggestion to make that they that day elect a secretary. A man should be appointed that knew something about raising money and getting the advertising done. What about Mr. Oldman? Mr. Oldman said he would like to propose the following resolution: That a Committee be appointed to prepare a scheme, submit same to each authority for the meeting of delegates to be afterwards -convened, and to suggest that such Committee should take into consideratd-o-n the combination of both bases of the rateable value and population." Mr. Marks suggested that a committee of half a dozen members do. something and have it in black and white. Mr. Warner suggested that the last part of Ir. Oldman's resolution be deleted, and after further discussion, in which Mr. Inglewood said there was a lot of hair-splitting, Mr. Oldman's resolution was passed with the suggested dele- tion and the (inclusion of the words after con- sideration, the best means for raising funds for the purpose." Upon the suggestion of Mr Gwyneddon Davies th& Committee was composed as follows: — Messrs. C. A. Jones (Carnarvon), D. Gamble (Colwyn Bay), R. Roberts (Llandudno), O. Owen (Bangor), Dr. Shelton Jones (Pwllheli), J. T. Jones (Beaumaris), and Edward K. Miller (Rhyl). Mr. Feiron was also added to the Com- mittee as representing the, Railway Company. Votes of thanks to the Colwyn Bay Urban District Council and to Mr. Warner concluded the proceedings, and a meeting of the Com- mittee was held afterwards. NORTH WALES AS A WINTER RESORT. Mr Amphlett, Colwyn Bay, suggested that the scheme should be brought into operation as quickly as possible in order that North Wales should be advertised as a winter resort. It was especially important that there should be adver- tising done in the spring. The Chairman replied that the Railway Com- pany were going to advertise North Wales themselves 'very extensively tihis winter, and they thought that this particular scheme would work better if it was arranged for next summer. (Applause.) Mr James Marks, as Chairman of the Llan- dudno Improvement Association, said he was asked to bring before the Railway Company the advisability of their offering some inducement for visitors to come down at Christmas and New Year time. Already a large number of people spent their Christmas and New Year holidays at the seaside, parties being arranged at the hotels, boarding-houses and hydros, and if the Company would issue tickets available for p a week or ten days or a fortnight that would help to make the Christmas and New Year holi- days at the seaside more attractive. CASTLE PAGEANTS SUGGESTED. The Chairman said he would see what could b,el done to meet the suggestion. (Applause.) He went on to say that .a very good means of popularising North Wales would be to arrange for a week of historical pageant in June or Sep- tember when more people were wanted at the resorts. It would be possible to arrange with some good theatrical company to come round and give a sort of pageant performance in the North Wales castles, such as Rhuddlan, Car- narvon, Conway, Beaumaris, and Criccieth. (Applause.)

Antiquaries at Conway. AN INTERESTING EXCURSION. ARE THE TOWN WALLS IN DANGER? The ancient town of Conway has always had charms that attract the antiquarian, and on Saturday a large party of .antiquarians invaded the town. 'The excursion had been arranged by the mem- bers of the Abergele Antiquarian Society, and the party also included a number of non-mem- bers. Amongst those present were Mr. Willoughby Gardner, who recently concluded excavations on the early British hill-fortress, of Penycorddyn, near Abergele; Mr. G. A. Humphreys, estate agent to Lord Mostyn Dr. Lloyd Roberts, Col- wyn Bay; Dr. Owen, Llanrwst; and the Secre- taries of the Abergele Society (Messrs. W. J. Evans and J. R. EllIs). In the course of the afternoon Mr. Edward Owen, London, secretary of the Welsh Monu- ments Commission, also attended. THE CASTLE. The party was under the leadership of Mr. Willoughby Gardner, and the historic Conway Castle was the first place visited. Mr. Gardner described .the castle as the finest specimen of a medaeval defensive castle in Britain. IHe directed attention to the eight towers., which commanded the skirting walls, and also to the various means of defence adopted by the foreign architect of Edward First, aided by the Eastern experience of the King himself. Mr. G. A. Humphreys explained to the party the various architectural beauties of the ban- queting hall, and the oratory on the walls of Queen Eleanor's State apartments. He added that the castle in which King Edward First and Queen Eleanor spent the Christmas of 1290 was one of a ring of castles erected by the King round Snowdonia, the others being situated at Beaumaris, Carnarvon., and Harlech. THE PARISH CHURCH. The interesting Parish Church was next visited, and Mr. Gardner gave the party a his. tory of the ancient building from the Cistercian Abbey founded by Llewelyn the Great towards the end of the twelfth century (upon which site the present church has been built), down to the present day. It was explained that the Abbey might be termed the Westminster Abbey of Wales, inasmuch as the bodies of Llewelyn and other Welsh Princes found a resting-place before the altar, the body of Llewelyn after. wards being removed to. the Abbey at Maenan. It was pointed out that the church boasts of some of the oldest registers, in existence at the present day, some of the entries dating back to the year 1541, which was only three years after the keeping of church registers had been made compulsory by the law of the land. Considerable interest was taken in the bust of John Gibson, the famous Welsh sculptor, Mr. Humphreys explaining that much of his earlier and unfinished work was to be found at Hafod- unos, the residence of the Lloyd, who were re- sponsible for the training and education of Gibson. THE TOWN WiALLS. The question, of the preservation of ancient monuments was discussed during the afternoon, and Mr. Edward Owen called attention to the danger of walls crumbling through a heavy growth of ivy. The Abergele Antiquarian Society have secured expert advice with regard to the Rhudd- lan Castle, with a view to preventing this danger without robbing the castle walls of their picturesque appearance. This question- will pro- bably engage the attention of the Welsh Monu- ments Commission at an early date. -The party made the journey between Aber- gele and Conway by brakes, and the fine weather which prevailed made the drives on both journeys a most pleasant experience.

First Catch Your Salmon! Overheard at Carnarvon Police Court:- The Magistrates' Clerk: Supposing a salmon entered your net when you were fishing for something else, what would you do? The Witness That is a matter I should have to settle when I caught the salmon, sir. (Loud laughter.)