The North Wales Weekly News

THURSDAY FOR FRIDAY. PRICE ONE PENNY M tbt north Wales Wecklp RttDS And series of 12 Popular Weekly Newspapers. The Colwyn Bay Weekly News. The Conway Weekly News. The Penmaenmawr Weekly News. The Llanfairfechan Weekly News. The Bangor Weekly News. The Llandudno Weekly News. The Llanrwst Weekly News. The Bettws-y-Coed Weekly News. The Vale of Conway Weekly News. The Abergele Weekly News. The Vale of Clwyd Weekly News. The North Wales Weekly News (General Edition), SPECIAL NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements appear in the whole of the above News, 'apers at ONE INCLUSIVE CHARGE, and at a price usually sfeed for insertion in one newspaper only. Scale of Charges will be forwarded on application. SPECIAL PREPAID ADVERTISING SCALE, H For SITUATIONS VACANT AND WANTED, ARTICLES FOR SALE APARTMENTS AND HOUSES To LET, MISCELLANEOUS, &C. One Three Six Thirteen Insertion. Insertions. Insertions. Insertions 16 Words s. d. is. od. is. 9'1. 3s. od. a4 os. gd. is. 6d. as. 6d. 4s. 6d. H ja tj is. od. as. od. 3s. 6d. 6s. 6d 40 is. 3d. 2S. 6d. 4s. 6d. 8s. od 48 is. 6d. 3s. od. 5s. 6d. 10s. od H 56 |( s. gd. 3s. 6d. 6s. 6d. lIS. od, H 64 2S. od. 4S. od. 7s. 6d. 13s. od. H It booked, double these rates will be charged. ■ RELIGIOUS SERVICES, &c. SPECIAL PREPAID SCALE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS RELATING TO RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND PREACHERS. CHARITIES, ENTERTAINMENTS, &C. H J week 2 weeks. 4 weeks. ■ 20 Words is. ad. IS. 6d. 2S. 6d. 30 is. 6d. as. 6d. 4s. od. 40 2s. od. 3s. 6d. 6s. od. 50 2s. 6d. 4s. od. 7s. od. And 6d per insertion for every additional 10 Words. Half-penny stamps accepte in payment of all sums under 5S The charge for Births and Deaths is is. each. In Memoriam Notices, zs. 6d. Marriages, sss. 6d. An extra charge is made ■ for booking. The amnouticements of Births, Marriages, and Deaths must be authenticated by the name and address of the sender. Thursday morning's post is the latest time for receiving Advertisements. Address- ■ Head Offi.ce)-R. E. JONES & BROS. (Proprietors), "The Weekly News" Office, Conway Telephones- ■ No. 31—Editorial and Publishing Offices, Station Road Colwyn Bay. H No. 12—3, Rose Hill Street, Conway. H No. 12a-Printing Works, The Quay, Conway H Telegrams—"Weekly News," Conwav.

I TIDE TABLE FOR THE NORTH WALES ■ COAST.* I NOVEMBER. I Date. Morn. Even. height. H 19 2 5 2 30 14 9 ■ 20 2 57 3 29 13 9 ■ 21 4 4" 4 47 « "3 0 ■ 22 5 33 6 19 12 9 ■ 23 6 57 7 29 v 13 o ■ 24 7 56 8 21 150 ■ 25 8 46 99 17 o ■ 26 9 32 9 54 18 6 ■ Conwav 10 minutes later.

CURRENT TOPICS. A Veteran Public Man. MR. J. ALLANSON PICTON, J.P. who is hon- oared throughout North Wales for his broad and progressive views and his long and distinguished public career, has decided to, resign his position as a co-opted member of tihe Carnarvonshire Education Authority. Tfate step regretted .and all the more so because the rea- sX for it is the state of Mr. Picton's health. z VSN A r&csX saw 'rendered 6great service to the nation as writer on historical and other subjects he Ws made invaluable contributions lure, his work on Oliver Cromwell being a ma, c^rnp voars piaisisiecL since, on terip-i-ece. borne yearb ra.mip to re £ c reliremcnt55 from public life, J side at has interesting house at A)wygviy!cin a. TJL threw himself with I into the service of his Welsh nai^hbou w MR. PICTON, like other distinguished English- men^who iSve come to our midst, soon became passionately attached to North Wales, with its wealth of historical and legendary associations S hL has proved his love by labouring hard th^ people of the district at a time m his career when he might well be excused for bv ng rSet and reposeful life. As a member of the Cotrwav Board of Guardians and of the Pen- SSwr District Council he • vice, which has only been e^M by ^^vork a member of the Carnarvonshire Education Authority and Chairman of the Governors of Hhte County School. lette.«.MrE R Davies, in which he announces his resagna Son is typical of the man, and we must all of us feel touched by his magnificent tribute to the Welsh scheme of secondary education Amateur Opera. COIWYN BAY has come into line with some of the leading towns of the Kingdom by forming an Amiteur Operatic Society, to Whose eff.arts we wSh every success. The town and district pos- sesses a rich vein of amateur talent which can aS should be worked, and from whatever poom of view regarded: the new movement has excel- lent possibilities before it. If conducted on the toes now contemplated, the Society will be pro- ductive of much good in at least three impo ant directions. It will foster local will augment the heavily-taxed funds of the; local charities • and it will do, good work in a much- needed direction by providing entertain,menite at & time of year when they are so greatly required. For these and many other reasons we welcome the new Society and wish it a prosperous career. Welcome Light. i AT A TIME when the prospects in industrial circles throughout the country are none too bright a welcome light has, come to relieve the icrioom in North Wales. As will be seen from an article in another column, there is e^ry reason to believe that operations will soon be re^u™ in connection with the aluminium works at Do- giarrog, in- the Vale of Conway. If, as lsanto rpated, this happy consummation about, employment will, be provided for a siderable number of men, and the money tihu.s putl into circulation will have a most beneficial effect upon trade in the district. In addition there is the good news about the formation of tlhe Bettws Ganmon Iron Ore and Smelting Company, who propose to work the minerals on the Ystrad Estate, near Carnarvon, and that « another company has secured the option over a number of rich veins of coal recently' covered on both sides of the Menai Straits. Perhaps a too rosy picture has been drawn of the industrial millenium which is about to dawn in North Wales. At the same time, there can be no doubt but that a brighter era its abouit to commence. » A Warning. BOARD:NG-HOUSE proprietors in North Wales will read with interest our account of a case heard by the Llandudno Bendh on Monday, wherein hea-ry fines were inflicted for the sale of intoxicants to a visitor at an unlicensed apart- ment-htouse. We hope that the warning will produce the intended effect.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL. The Duchess of Roxbulr gh, is staying with Lady Alexandra Paget at Plas Newydd, Anglesey. Mr F. H. Hawkiims, of Wirexham, left on Saturday for China Colonel Henry Piatt, C.B., left Gorddikuog for London. on Thursday. > The Very Rev. Dean Ratcliffe, of Llandudno, has been, appointed Provost of the Roman Cath- oioic Diooese of Menevia. The Lady Mayoress of Liverpool (Mrs Wil- liams) is a daughter of Mrs Morris, Wilton House, Eliesmere-road, Colwyn Bay. Mr T. H. Parry has been gazetted Second Lieutenant in the 5th (Flintshire) Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Miss Assheton, Smith has accepted the posi- tion. of lady patroness of the Anglesey Hunt for next year, and Mr. Claude Lloyd Edwards, Nanhoron, the deputy comptrollership. it The widow and family of the late Major Webbe, Chief Constable of Flintshire, are about to place a memorial brass tablet in Mold Parish Church. Included in the shooting party at BrYili Eis- teddfod, as the guests. of Mr and Mrs C. B. Jones-Mortimer, last week, were Lord Cochrane, Major Phillips, Colonel the Hon. H. Lloyd Mos- tyn, Mai G. Bovil, and Mr Norton. Mr. J. W. Summers, who is the first name on the list of High Sheriffs for Flintshire, is also the adopted Liberal candidate for Flint Bor- oughs. A native of Stalybhdge, he is a leading member of the firm which owns the ironworks at Hawarden Bridge. In succession to the Rev. Bulkeley Jones, who recently resigned the wardenship of Ruthin, the Rev. L. H. O. Pryoe, Vicar of Bistre, has been appointed to fill the: vacancy. Mr Pryce is a son of the Dean of St. Asaph, and commenced his clerical career as Curate of Lampeter. He was afterwards appointed Curate at St. John's, Brecon, and Vicar of St. Mark's, Wrexham. The Rev. Robert Roberts, ex-president of the Congregational| U-nioin, of Wales, and pastor of Bethlehem, Rhois, near Ruabon, one of the larg- est Congreigiaitianial churches: in North Wales, preached his farewell sermon on Sunday night. Mr Roberts, who is retiring from the regular ministry, is 71 years of age, and has had a re- markably successful ministry of twenty-nine years at Rhos. Much reigret has been caused at Caerwys by the news of the death of Gomerydd-Mr John Rowland Jones-a, well-known bard and littera- teur in the vernacular, and for about twenty years headmaster of Caerwys National School, a position he resigned some years, back. He had latterly resided at Delbury, Craven, Arms, where, from the results of injuries sustained by a fall, he has just died. Gomeirydd was a leading spirit in Eisteddfodic and musical circles for faany years, and took a prominent part n the revival of the Caerwys Eisteddfod on the lines of that held when Oueen Elizabeth granted her charter.

JOTTINGS OF THE WEEK. Lady JBalfour, a sister of the Dute of Argyll, during the week-end spoke at Llandudno and Rhyl in favour of votes for women. The Bishop of St. Asaph is a convert to the women's movement, and at the Rhyl meeting de- clared] there is logically no case against "votes for women." The Home Mission of the, Calvinistic Method- ist Connexion are making arrangements with the Rev. John Jones, of Bwlan, with a view to. his taking charge of the cause on Bardsey Island for a certain period. !He will be in the unique posi- tion of being the: only pastor of the only church and only denomination on me Island whose in- habitants have the pleasant privilege of being exempted from paying rates and taxes. With- the observance of a curious custom the Anglesey Hunt, one of the, most fashionable re- unions in North Wales, came to a close on Thursday. After the procession had returned to \h,q Williams-Bulkeley Arms Hotel, Beaumaris, Ve headquarters of the hunt, the lady patroness (Viss Wiliiams-Bulkeley) proceeded to the bal- dly and threw a quantity of hot coppers ■an\Dni°!st the children in the street below, and mu,,j1°arniUsement was occasioned.

SAYINGS OF THE WEEK. DR. \yORE. ^ei§\lx)urliness extends far beyond those whom \0 can see with our eyes.—At Hockley. ;y JUDGE SMITH. Money 3n be used for much better: purposes than extra, nt -funerals.—At Walsall, "•o it MR. A. v FERGUSON. It is a st^n„e thing that songs for women are nearly ailwa^ —At Ardingy College. MR. W. H. HAD DOW. The most s\oe,ssf,ul teacher is the one who is most capable eeing the pupil's point of view. —At South Shi^ds_ A MR. L. G. CIS,ozZA MONEY, M.P. The essential f'\Mlrs of the prosperity of any country 1. include he people themselves.—At Cuekfield. DEAN OF NIO,R ci-i. DEAN OF NOR\CIl. From1 the point «f\. w of moral character 90 per cent, of the ^joiyted, are fit to walk out with a dean or a bishc^ __At. St. James's Hall. MR. POWELL BP-.E There is a time '.witt^ boys, when, putting aside sentiment, one^mti^ infhct some personal chastisement upon, tihein. Shoreham. R. GiRAHAME BAI.L.|.y yF. A bov who, cannot stand n.eVjer deserves a sound thrashing isn't woK caliing a boy at all.—In the Planet." PRESIDENT TAFT. The greatest victory in lifel „ajned in the little things that make up h^Fresno, Cal. „ X. At- -X- MRS. WINIFRED HALLAM. As a rulle, those women who lv haVe not ,energy enough to take more than 1 Da9gjwg in- terest in their own hOThSleholds.-At \a.SitOl. it \1J;1 MRS. GEOIRGE CADBUiRY. The need of good cookery is founq at only in the houses: of the poorer class, h Igo in N also, those of the better class.—At Coventryi a BISHOP OF DURHAM. So much of life is liived in public n<\ s that there is very little room left for th& 1k. vation of the home.—At the Church Congi, LIEUTENANT SHACKLETON. Mark Twain was once asked where the lish were mentioned; in the Bible, and he r:ep\ that it was in that passage wherein it sai^ "The meek shall inherit the earth."—At Ma^ Chester.

lVEEK BY WEEK. A visitor to Llanrwst, seeing the extraordin- ary number of telescopes in use, might jump to the conclusion that the whole population had given themselves over to the study of astronomy. This is not the case. The explanation is that, in the wirds of a Councillor, it is impossible to see the time by the Town Hall clock without the aid of a telescope; A Scotch minister recognised one of his female parishioners sitting by the roadside a little fuddled1. "J ust help Jne up with ma bundle, !gude mon," said she. "Fie, fie, Janet," said the pastor, to see the like of you in sic a plight; do you kinew where all drunkards go?" Ay, sure," said Janet, they just go where a drap of gude drink is to be got." The Chancellor of the Exchequer has created quite a record in the number of his private sec- retaries. At the present time Mr Lloyd George has no fewer than seven such Parliamentary and political assistants, and, in addition to this, there is quite an army of per,maneillt adviser 10 the Treasury as well as the special experts who have been called in at various times to advise the (Chancellor on the Finance Bill. The Prime Minister discharges his manifold duties with the assistance of four secretaries; Sir Edward Grey, at the Foreign Office, has three, in addition to a prceis writer Mr Gladstone, Lord Morley, and Mr Churchill have a similar number, and Mr John Burns has two. These assistants are, of course, in addition to. the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. There ought to be a law (says the "Western Mail ") Ito compel new knights and baronets to use their best known Christian name, in connec- tion with the title. Imagine anybody referring to Sir Marchant Williams as Sir Thomas. Many tried it at the beginning but 'the attempt died, as it ought ito have done. Unfortunately, the gentleman we all knew as Mr Frank Edwards has become Sir Francis, to the bewilderment of not a few; everybody knows Dr. Robertson Nicoll, but we hope we shall not have tOl get used to calling him 'Sir William: Niooll; then there is Mr Vincent Evans, who, will, we hope, discour- age his friends from calling him Sir Evan. It is too often the case that the distinctive middle nmle goes when a title comes along, and we hope the new knights will follow the example: of Siir Marohant Williams, and retain the best of the old name. A .fine old Welshman, the R,ev. Evan Edwards, of Torquay, formerly pastor of tthe Upton Vale Baptist Chapel there, recently preached his 7,908th sermon. From his old pulpit he spoke vigorously for forty minutes without a single nolte Mr Edwards, who: is 94 years of age, was born, at Nantmel, Radnorshire. By addressing cottage congregations in the Welslh hills he be- came known, as the boy preacher." He was appointed pastor at Torquay ini 1868, and has remained there ever since—for seventeen as pas- tor and for 214 years in semi-retireiment. Mr Edwards is stil wonderfully vigorous in mind and body. I attribute my good health," he said in an interview, mainly to total abstin- ence, my quiet life, and the fact that I have always avoided excitement and sensationalism. I do not smoke. I get up at eight O''cloc,k and am. in bed by half-past ten. Breakfast and mid- day dinner are practically my only meals." A writer on the Local Government Board bears high testimony to the services of the late Sir Hugh Owen, who seemed to know more of inspecting than most inspectors, more of law than most lawyers, muchmore) of the principles of administration than the Ministers under whom he served. Bold, we are told, was the President who ventured t0' disagree with him. According to official tradition, 'this happened, only once. Thont tlhe Petrimianenit Secretary, quoting an old statute which no body had heard of, demolished his chief, who significantly wrote Peccavi proceed as proposed by Mr Owen." When po- pular government of the counties, was being es- tablished in ISSS the same official was right- hand man to Mr Ritchie. During the six or eight months that it took to pass1 the measure through Parliament Sir Hugh Owen and a con- siderable number of his subordinates worked, by day and night, sometimes all night. The amend- ments proposed numbered nearly two thousand, and Ritchie woiuld have been, hopelessly swamped if the permanent staff of his depart- ment had not had both the ability and the will to sacrifice themselves utterly for the sake of their chief." A monument to Sir Hugh Owen stands at Carnarvon. On Thursday night Mr Lloyd George was pre- sent at the Savoy Theatre for the express pur- pose of hearing Mr C. H. Workman sing his Budget songs, new verses, to which were intro- duced into The Mountaineers." No one ap- preciates a joke against mmself better than the Chancellor—who has not heard him tell the equality story of the Nonconformist parson and the Bishop of St. Asaph?—and he has gone out of hi way during the past few months to visit different theatres where he has been parodied in, song and verse. At the Coliseum, where a Bud- get. song is ingrleat request, Mr Fragson con- cludes a very witty denunciation amidst tre- mendous applause by declaiming — We can't afford to liive, We can't afford to die Heaven bless Lloyd George! Mr Workman, in The Mountaineers sings as follows: I would put a tax, I think, Upon alcoholic drink- (I have always been teetotal, by the way) And upon tobacco, too, I should like to put the screw— {I am limited, to one cigar a day). Then Fd levy cent, per cent. On all unearned increment- (My own is hardly earned and rather small). ,So< I'd fill the treasure chest With a lot of interest:—■ (Tho' I haven't any principle at all!) A little later he sings the following verses, writ- ten by Mr Arthur Wimperis,:—, There's a clever politician who is busily engaged In making bloated C'arvital disgorge, And though his liberality with labour is alloyed, He's a very clever Minister—by George He's got his party leader in the hollow of his fist, In politics he's playing Box and Cox; For though within the Cabinet "I the goods are Socialist, 1:1 He keeps the Liberal label on the box. No doubt, these ideas will be extensively utilised during thei forthcoming pantomimes.

CAKES AND PUDDINGS.—1N0. 2. Last week we gave a rec-ipe for a Currant Cake. We now give the recipe and method for making a CURRANT PUDDING. I packet of Cakeoma. 4 to 6 ozs. Fine Chopped Suet. I pinch of Salt. i or 2 Eggs. 7f lb. Currant. 2 ozs. IGandied Peel. A third to half a glass of Milk. (This enough for a large family, and half the quantities is enough for 4 or 5 persons.) METHOD. Empty the CAKEOMA into a large basin or mixing bowl and rulb in the Suet and Salt. Then add the Cunants, Peel, and the Eggs (well beaten), and the Milk, and mix thoroughly. Put into a welLgreased basin and steam or boil for 3 hours, and serve hot with sweet sauce. Madeira Cake recipe next week. J iCakeoma is sold only in 3d. packets by Grocers and Stores everywhere.

From SEASON 1909 10 ~^ii Maker RICH FURS. —=— Middle W. CREAMER & CO., MANUFACTURING FURRIERS AND SKIN MERCHANTS' HOLD AN ENORMOUS SELECTION OF THE MOST RELIABLE FUR COATS, FUR STOLES, FUR MUFFS. Factories for Fur ^CREAMERS Manufacture and Guarantee every Best Results at the article they sell. Lowest Prices for the Alterations. Best and Finest. Lowest Prices. I CREAMERS, PRACTICAL FURRIERS AND SKIN MERCHANTS, I 56, BOLD STREET, LIVERPOOL. 1344 1 L r Ii m 1I- }¡[.F" 14: i: tf l .I"

GolwynBayGas & Electric Light Undertakings. (BY AN EXPERT.) Since the, publication of the financial results of the gas and electricity department far the year ended 31st March last, many statements have been made, and, in many cases it would appear they have been made without a full .Y knowledge of all the facts relating thereto. The ,general drift has been to prove, or rather attempt to prove, that these two trading concerns are hopelessly insolvent, and, in the absence of any authoritative contradictioin., such has come to be regarded as an undeniable fact. Whether the statements are true or not, the effect is most damaging to the welfare of Colwyn Bay; but if not true, then I think the time has come when the true facts should be presented in such a manner as may, easily be understood. I wish to say, first of all, that these statements are groundless in fact, and instead of being hopelessly insolvent, these concerns constitute the most valuable assets of the Council, as I hope to. shew from the following statement, and the remarks thereon — Gas. Electric. i. Income 14,660 4,320 2. Expenditure (excluding Principal and Interest 10.757 •• 2'§t'' 3. Trade Protit •• 3'9°3 •• I> 4. Capital Outlay 93,819 32.S&0 5. Rate of protit per cent. on the Capital Outlay 4'16.. 5'53 6. Profits capitalised on a 3 per cent. iOij-joSo • 48,080 7. Mortgage Debt 86,7 3 -9,436 8. Surplus. Capitalised profits in excess of Mortgage Debt 17,367 18,644 It will be seen from the above figures that the profits of these trading concerns, if capitalised at 3 per cent., are sufficient to pay off, not only the whole of the loan debt, but also to create the substantial surpluses shewn against item No.. 8, amounting to ^36,011. I do not suggest that these capitallsed, profits are intended to represent, the true sale value of the undertakings (though even that is a debat- able point), but rather to indicate the extent to which the Council has been justified, from a fin- ancial standpoint, in carrying on the works. Much has been said, from time to time against the growing debt of Municipalities as a result of Municipal trading, and this statement is de- signed to slhew on, the one hand what the debt on the Colwyn Bay undertakings is, and on the other hand the working value to Oolwyn Bay or the works and properties represented by the out- law. To my mind, the most logical method of arriv- ing at this value is suggested by the fact-that upon the capital monies which the Council have had to borrow to inaugurate, or acquire, and de- velope these undertakings, an average rate of interest of 34 per cent. is being paid. It is clear, therefore, that any capital investment which (after making proper provision for depre- ciation) has yielded a profit of 3% per cent., has enabled the concern to pay its way. If, how- ever, greater profits than 3 per cent. are made, a greater amount of capital must necessarily be taken in order to bring the percentage of profit to the 3 per cent. level, and the amounts shewn as capitalised trade profits are the amounts which, if sunk, would produce profits of exactly 3 per cent. For instance, the electric undertaking, with a capital outlay of ^'32,56^, yielded a trade profit of £ 1,803, or 5.53 per cent., whereas a profit of 3^ per cent. on this capital would amount to only £ 1,2.21, and consequently the amount of capital of which: £ 1,803 would represent 3M per ceinit. is. £ 48,080. The sale value of Municipal undertakings can- not, of course, be guaged by the profits actually made. Councils do not exist for the purpose of making profits out of their undertakings, but rather to use those undertakings to the general advantage of the ratepayers. Charges for pro- ducts or cornimiodities are. often cut down as low as the cost of production will allow, and the profits are necessarily much smaller than would be made by a company working solely for the benefit of shareholders. Supposing, for a moment, that these concerns were in the hands of private companies. The Council would, of course, be compelled to con- tract with them for the public lighting of the streets and promenades. The public lighting and maintenance charges for the past year amount to £ I,549 (gas, ^878; electric, £671); but these are based on the ridiculously low figures of 2S. per 1,000 cubic feet for gas, and 2d. per unit for electricity, whereas ordinary consumers are charged 3s. 4d. and 5d. respec- tively. Of course the first-mentioned rates are much below the actual cost price, and it is certain) that a company would increase these charges very materially and I suggest that, under such cir- cumstances, public lighting charges, would easily reach the sum of ZiSoo, the equivalent of a 6d. rate; and moreover, the ratepayers would then be compelled to pay this amount by means of the District Rate. This is a point I wish to make very clear, as I am afraid it is not generally understood. For the past four years the rate- payers have not been called upon to contribute a single penny towards the cost of Lighting the town. The gas and electric concerns have borne all these charges out of their profits, profits which could, and might have been well utilised in de- veloping the concern, instead of raising new loans (with the resultant loan repayments) for that purpose, and during the four years referred to, the amount thus- borne by the concerns is no less a sum than £4,767 (gas, £ 2,929; electric, -f 1,838) In addition to this, a sum of £ 2,100 (gas, 6850 electric, £ 1,2.50) has been trans- ferred from the funds of the concerns to the general district fundi, making a grand total of £ 6,867 in direct relief of rates, which represents, on ,the present assessable value of the town, a rate of I s. nd. in the Z. Surely, in view of these facts, it must' be ad- mitted, even by the most critical, that the con- cerns have behaved towards the ratepayers in a magnanimous manner, and I am confident it oniliy noeds thajt these: facts be made fully known in order that they _may be fully appreciated. During the past few years uolwyn, Bay has ,passed through probably the most critical period of its existence,, and it has only been by the 'valuable aid which these concerns have been able to afford, thait the rates have been kept fairly normal, as a result of which, we as a town are enjoying a measure of prosperity, which otherwise would not have been ours.

North Wales Electricity Concerns. The weekly technical journal, "Electricity," in its last issue, contains the following comments, which are of great local interest: — ARE WE DOWNHEARTED? A perusal of the electrical news of the week concerning the North Wales coast towns prompts me to self-congratulatioin on the fact that I am not a municipal electrical engineer in the land of mountain and flood. Such newspaper;. head- lines as Rhyls Electric Lighting, The Town Hard Hit," and Colwyn Bay Electricity Con- cern, Mr. Hill's Report, The Engineer's Crush- ing Reply," speaks volumes for at least two har- assed members of the electrical profession, do- ing their l'mel, best in the interests, of an unre- sponsive and unappreciative community, and, 'knowing the ways, of councillors, my sympathy ir goes out to these gentlemen in their off-season campaign against the powers that be, but are of little understanding in matters electrical. Tak- ing the above-mentioned town in the order 'named, I find that a Local Government Board inquiry has been held at Rhyl into the Coun- cil's application to borrow £ 5,000 for purposes of electric lighting. The history of the Rhyl undertaking from its inception has been an un- happy one. The scheme, as originally carried out, cost £ 27,000, and included provision for an electric tramway system which has never materialised. This naturally meant that the plant, at the outset, was a good deal in advance of the dis- trict's immediate requirements, and that the capital charges were, in consequence, out of all proportion to the revenue. Since be took over the management, Mr. W righi, the present engin- eer, has experienced a good deal of trouble with the mains, which are now, however, in good con- dition. It is urged that the existing plant, in addition to being too large for the township's requirements, is also out of date, and the some- what novel suggestion has been made of sub- stituting a smaller plant, and thus reducing the works cost. The inspector, Mr. H. R. Hooper, whilst fully realising that Rhyl has so far been unfortunate in its municipal enterprise, urged that the proper course to adopt was not so much to reduce the works cost as to develop the under- taking and secure additional consumers, a sug- gestion which, having regard to the temporar- ily debilitating influence of the metal-filament lamp, is rather rough of the electrical staff. I was present at the official opening of the Rhyl generating station, and should be sorry to see the scheme fail utterly for lack of the necessary officials.anction to any suggestion making for its advancement and ultimate financial success. COLWYN BAY. The state of affairs at Colwyn Bay, though more promising than at Rhyl, inasmuch as the undertakiiiig has at one time been able to show a respectable profit on its trading, is neverthe- less a trying one for"Mr. Tudman, the engineer, more particularly as his most captious critic is himself an inhabitant of Rhyl, and is given to bringing the affairs of that town's electricity scheme into his criticisms of the Colwyn Bay venture. According to this gentleman's report on the management of the Colwyn Bay elec- tricity works, the chief engineer is grossly over- paid, and) does not exercise sufficient personal supervision over the undertaking to warrant a re- arrangement of the duties of his assistant. Mr. Tudman's reply to a detailed criticism of his methods was terse and. to. the point. He is to be commended for his plain speaking in re- gard to his subordinates, who, on his own show- ing, are old servants and have done good work for the department in the past. It was, he said, open for the Committee to save a few shillings in getting other men to replace them at a cheaper rate, but this was an unwise policy where valuable machinery was concerned. He was open to contradiction if he had not one of the beat kept plants in the king- dom, and its: life depended upon the care be- stowed on it by competent men. There was, he urged, more to be done to the olant than keep- ing it in motion. Incidentally, it transpired that current is supplied to the publi clamps., free library, convenience, fire station, and Council offices, at a reduced charge of zd. per unit, whereas the actual cost of generation is 2.35d. per unit. This, is an, all too common practice in municipal undertakings, the effect of which, upon the ultimate balance-sheet, is apt to be overlooked when the times comes for criticism. With regard to the assistant engineer, Mr. Tudman also drew attention to the fact that it was a courtesy title pure and simple in that this gentleman was called upon to perform all kinds of duties, had given his services free of salary for three years, and was even at the present time not paid a sum commensurate with his title as assistant engineer, in spite of the fact that his qualifications would warrant his being granted a testimonial in that capacity in the event of his seeking employment elsewhere. Taken altogether, the Colwyn Bay electric light inquiry is another proof of the risks run by a competent professional man in taking service under a municipality. Municipal, control is all very well so long as the yearly balance-sheet shows a profit, however small, but the represen- tatives of the ratepayers in most districts have a happy knock of ignoring the far-reaching effects of bad trade, or such revolutionary innovations as metal-filament lamps, and are apt to credit their employees with the powers of the phil- osopher's stone, with an utter disregard of the purely business aspect of the undertaking which they control.

School Children's Behaviour in Trains. To THE EDITOR OF THE Weekly News. Sir,—'Referring to. your paragraph on the above subject, I should just like to; say that I hold no brief for the children, but, having travelled on the train they travel on between Colwyn Bay and Chester for the past ten years several, morn- ings a week, I have had an, opportunity of know- ing their conduct from time to time. The com- plaint lodged against them is untrue and unfair. They are not rude, and their conduct is not mischievous. Boys will be boys and girls will be girls, and rightly so. Their lively spirit be- gins and ends in innocent laughter and fun, and rightly so when no principle is involved. I happened to ask one girt who she thought had made the complaint and she replied, Some old fogey, I expect." I really think myself it came from a grumpy bachelor or a maiden aunt.— Yours, &c., LIFE.

Is Socialism Godless? To 1HE EDITOR OF THE Weekly News. Sir,—In. a recent issue appeared a summar- ised report of the speech made by the Rev. Peter Jones, of Colwyn Bay, at the Baptist Union at freorohy. It is greatly to my sorrow that I find it necessary to poinit out a very, grave in.accuracy in the said speech, which is all the more un- fortunate; because of the high local standing of the speaker. I refer to. the statement; that Socialism is a religion without God." The appalling contrast between senseless luxury and grinding poverty, betivee-ki the waste of wealth in inordinate display and the waste of human (bodies: and souls through uttermost destitution, are known to all. The misery, de. gradation, and death involved by our present competitivei system have driven mankind to find some kind of a remedy for our social ills. Accordingly, we have at the present moment Conservatism with and without, Tariff Reform, Liberalism of the older type and of a newer type, of which Mr. Lloyd George isj the spokes- man, and Socialism, stated to be without God." The economics of Socialism certainly do not mention religious matters, neither do the econ- omics of Liberalism or Tariff Reform. On economic grounds, -therefore, all, systems alike leave out God," and if this is the ground they are to be judiged upon, it would be well for the Rev. Peter Jones to make no invidious distin- tions, for such a missile thrown at a Socialist glass-house will not fail on, its speedy return to demolish his own. If, however, it was on moral and religious grounds that the statement was based, then the speaker was wrong, and was very far indeed from the truth. Giving due precedence to facts before theories, therefore, I state that there is a very considerable literature in existeniQe affirm- ing the closest relationship between Socialism and Christianity, and that the former is the economic setting in which alone the latter nationally can thrive. I am prepared to name a few of the books and their authors. Again, there are a great and increasing number of ministers of all denominations boldly avowing themselves Socialists, and: if MT. Jones requires a few names, I shall be pleased to supply them. A recent manifesto, which declared that the signatories believed that Socialism was required of them by their Christian faith, was signed by over one hundred ministers, including several who are a power in the land Mr. Jones' asser- tion, in the light of this, has but a pale and sickly countenance; Landlordism, usury, exploitation of the poor, and oppression of the weak find in Socialism the only political creed which is intent upon their destruction. Against them the Old Testament prophets thundered their sternest denunciation, and the author of the fifteenth Psalm excluded such evil-doers from the holy hill of God. All the Mammon-worship of the present day was for- bidden by the Master Himself, who spent His short career upon earth in unceasing warfare against disease, destitution, and premature death. Who more than the Socialists carry on that warfare now, and who have the only pos- sible basis of international brotherhood if they have it not? I carry the appeal to the most inspiring and heart-searching passage to be found in the Scriptures, that descriptive of the final judg- ment to be pronounced upon the actual deeds of men, given in -the 25th chapter of Mat,thew. The Judge makes no enquirv into theological beliefs, if any, but into the part each individual has taken in the strife with hunger, nakedness, des- titution, sickness, and all other human miseries. Happy and blessed are they who wrought, to de- liver mankind from these evils, for although they knew it not, they served their God in their fellow-men. 'Socialism is a national campaign, against all preventible human suffering and misery, and there is ino other. Mr., Jones- puts forward the Church of God as more capable of abolishing social evils than Socialism, and I respectfully request him to explain a point of the very 're greatest importance, namely, in whaL respects will the economic proposals differ from those of Socialism, which are that the ownership and administration of all the means of life shall be vested in the nation, and applied to .satisfy national needs and to promote the welfare of all?—Yrours, &c., E. DOWNS.

Buried Alive, To THE EDITOR OF THE Weekly News. Sir,—Will you kindly permit me to call the attention, of the numerous readers of the Weekly News to a highly important, though sadly neglected, subject? I refer to the danger, under our present lax and unscientific laws and customs, admitted by the Medical Times," Uiat one of the various counterfeits of death may be mistaken for actual decease, and the unfor- tunate victim of erroneous diagnosis, or of death certificate carelessly given without personal medical examination of the body be buried alive. The discrimination between apparent and real death, which Winslow, Hufeland, Hartmann, Brouardel, Icard, the late Sir B. W. Richardson M.D., F.R.S., Colonel E. P. Vollum, M.D., Oscar Jennings, M.D., Professor Alex. Wilder, ie M.D., and other recognised authorities have shown to be not easy, forms no. part of the cur. riculum of study at the schools of medicine, and but few medical practitioners have paid any special attention, to the question. The great un- certainty of the so-called signs of death relied on by doctors and undertakers to denote the de- parture of life, and the reality of the dangers of premature burial (which are not, as many sup- pose, restricted, to warm climates) have recently received startling proofs, not only in these islands, but from countries where stringent measures are taken by the State for the preven- tion of live burial. When, it may be asked, will the public arouse from their amazing ap- athy and indifference concerning this serious peril, which threatens everyone—there being no safeguard whatever against it in, this countrv- and earnestly support those who with great diffi- culty are trying to obtain legislative precautions in order to prevent any possibility of such hor- rifying tragedies happening, as from the narrow escape it is to be feared they do more frequently than is generally supposed ? Over and over again, perscms have been medi- cally certified as dead, prepared for interment, and have survived for years afterwards, yet people seldom reffect that in their own case some form of suspended animation may overtake them which, undetected, might result in all the horrors of living burial. I should be pleased to send literature on burial alive and its prevention, to any reader who forwards me a stamped ad- dressed envelope. Thanking you for your kind- ness,-Y,Durs, &c., JAS. R. WILLIAMSON. 100, Chelintgon-road, Upper Edmondson.