The Rhos Herald

In one of his speeches Mr Lloyd George said I have seen many a country, but have never seen one so beautiful, and no country as good to live in and die for as Wales.

THE CLAIMS OF WALES. I FROM A RHOS-AMERICAN CORRESPONENT. j Writing from Cambridge Mass, Mr T T Jones, says. There must have been hot times in the old town during the bye- election. Tories seem to be as scarce in Rhos now, as they were when I was a boy The name of Sir Foster Cunliffe took me back to the time when I was a young shaver, and Sir Robert Cunliffe was the Liberal candidate for the Denbigh Bor- roughs. I derived a great deal of plea- sure from reading the plain words of Mr Clement Edwards M. P. I agree with him entirely. Being a Rhosite, it almost goes without saying that in British politics I am a Liberal, but I am first of all a Welsh- man and if the Liberal party is trim- j ing the Welsh party, the plain duty of the latter is to trim the former. The claims of Wales are the first consideration of all true Welshmen. The fact—and I have no doubt that, it is a fact-that that clog in the wheel of British progress, the House of Lords, will defeat reformatory measures, is no excuse for the represent- ative body. The American way of deal- ing with the hereditary body would be to send the measures up to the Upper House so that the people could not help realizing that the obnoxious body is worse than useless-that it is a menace to progress and good Government. Then the coun- try would be willing to return to power any party pledged to reform or abolish an institution composed of men whose claims to a place in the council's of the nation is that that they are the sons of their fathers If Great Britain wants to continue to grow in power and influence, it will have to deal vigorously with the House of Lords and take some steps along the line of pen- sions to those whom the government is supporting in affluence, because of noble service rendered by some ancestor hun- dreds of years ago. For instance I under- stand that the Duke of Marlborough draws a pension because of what General John Churchill did some three centuries ago These are but a few of the causes of the white man's burden," in the United. Kingdom, and are more vital in their issues than the hysterical agitation about the laying down of powerful battle ships. THOS. T. JONES.

Welsh Disestablishment Bill. At the annual meeting of the Council of the Council of the Liberation Society, held in London. Dr Clifford presiding, Sir George White, M.P., proposed, and Mr Ellis Griffiths, M. P., seconded, are.. solution expressing satisfaction at the in- droduction of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill, and assuring the Government of cordial and enthusiastic support. The mover of the resolution said there was a sort of belief that the, Governrnerlt did not mean business, but he did not think there wasthe slightest basis for that suggestion. The resolution was carried.

We understand that the contract for the completion of the work at the new Alex- andra Schools, Wrexham, has been let to Mr W H Thomas, Oswestry, for.,C,3-700,

RHOS. On Thursday and Friday evenings of fiext week the children of Rhos National School will give a school concert. These concerts are becoming very popular, and an excellent programme has been arrang- L, 21 ed by Mr Elias Jones tor next week. A peforaiance ot Sterndale Bennett's poppas c ntata, 14 The May Queen" is at-it)oun, e < to take place at Chirk Parish Hall on M nday evening- next. It will be J performed by the Chirk and District Cho- ral Society under the conductorship of Mr 1 G. W. Hughes, G. & L., and it will be noticed from the advertisement in another column that two of the artistes are Rhos- ites. MRS HEMMERDE—OF A DAUGHTER.— Mrs Hemmerde, wife of Mr Hemmerde, K.C., M.P., gave birth to a daughter cn Tuesday last, at 23, Cadogan Gardens, y 1> London. It is said that a Welsh name will be chosen for the little lady. In send- ing his congratulations to Mr and Mrs Hemmerde, one' Rhosite suggested the names Owen, Gwenfron, Ceridvven, Cran- ogwen, Gwyneth, or Maelorwen. TENNI.i.- rii.- Rhos tennis Club opened the season on Saturday last at Johnstown in lovely weather. The new pavilion is a greai acquisition, and the members are looking forward to a successful season. PERSONAL.—We are glad to learn that Mr Arthur Edwards, the Stores, John- stown, is gradually recovering after his long and protracted illness. Tixl-iNs.-Last week, the wife of Mr J. D. Jones, Brynydd, Ponkey, gave birth to twins. NEW OFFICERS.—-The ne>v officers of the local Salvation Army, are Ensign Shepherd, and Lieutenant Lazzen, of the Staff Lodge, London. PICNIC —The teachers of the Ponkey Girls Schoel, held an enjoyable picnic in the open, at Eglwyseg, on Monday last. SERMONS ON GATEPOSTS.—Those who walked up the fields on Sunday la.t, will have noticed that miniat He sermons were written in chalk on all tiie stile-s ard glte3 about. RHOS HOMING SOCETY.- This Society held their annual meeting at the White Lion Hotel. It was decided that the first race of the season should take place on Saturday from Craven Arms. The Rhos -Society is this SeaSY1 incorporated with the Federation of North Wales and Ches- hire. WAGON WORKS.—All the men recent- ly employed at the Wagon Works, John- stown, have now left. A number have Started business on their own account, and others have fonnd employment in neighboring nr ANGLINGTH.I members of ilie, Rhos Angling Socrety i-e beginning to look up their tackle for th sens) 1, Several en- thusiasts on Saturday vii ted the Dee at Llangollen and Overton, and were re- < warded with fair sport. OPEN RACE—On Mon hv afternoon, an open pigeon race w s -ir. ,Uigi'd by the proprietor of the Railvay LHI. Smith st. The flight was from Church Srretfon to Rhos and about sixt hird. were entered for the race. The fi t p. i w I won by i Jones and Jones, dope >t eer, and the second by Jones Bto iers, Pentredwr, LOCAL PRICES — compared with the prices of this time I ft e ir, br-e id. bacon, tobacco, and parafflil oil are dearer in the locality. and bacon is dearer be- cause of the whe tt corner natural I shortage, and scarcity of pigs. Tobicco has risen in price in c msequeoce of the Budget, and oil is k pt up to summer prices, because of the petrol tax. CHURCH PARADE AT CAPEL MAWR.— The Rhos Compa y of Tel rilarials will attend church parade at Capel Mawr, on Whitsunday, May 30th. The special sermon will bi preached at 10-30 a.m. by the Rev R. E. Mo, ris, M.A., Wrexham. General L!?/d, commanding the Welsh Division of the Territorial Force, is ex- pected to attend. The Territorial band from Wrexham he idquarters, will head the parade "G" "COMPANY. —Op^n-air drill hasr commenced by 4 G Company. The Co is larger and sira iger th in ever, and the recruits recent'y ed,. are rapidly be- coming efficient. On Tuesday evening the Company wis visited by Captn-Ad- jutant France-H ivst, Wrexham, who witnessed the ski inishing of the men un- der Captain Davies and Sergt-Inst Mor- ris. At,the close-the visiting officer ex- pressed hi ms.il £ pteased with the appear- ance"atid \v«ork of the Company. RHOS "|;LVER BAND.—The practices of Rh Slver Band in the Nag's Head ydrd, a'tract a large number of listeners' on Monday and Saturday nights. It was ^suggested by one listener thl t if the Com- mittee erected a bandstand on Ponkev banks; "ild held their practices there, a large number df people would be willing to contribute a small sum for the pleasure of listening. The band are preparing to compete at several forthcoming contests, and it is confidently e'xpected thafr it will give a gqod account of itself. hIPROVIET.¡- The work of putting Stryt Las into a proper state of repair has at last been satisfactorily accomplish- ed. The road has been widened, straight- ened, and made possible for traffic. A layer of stones has made solid the quag- inires that used to abound there, and it is now possible to walk alorvj it without sinking ankle deep in wet earth. The colliers coming home from Vauxhall have also found it a shorter way home than the old route. It is expected that the im- provement will in the near future, open out building prospects there. THE WATERING CART.—The question of a watering cart for Rhos came up for discussion last night at a meeting of the Parish Council, which is fully reported in our Welsh columns. A long discussion ensued as to the best way to obtain one. It seems that the only way is to apply to the Local Government Board for special urban powers to purchase a watering cart only, Eventually it was decided to in- quire into the cost before proceeding fur- ther into the matter. AN INGENIOUS PONKEYTTE. --During the last few sunny afternoons, a novel method of signalling has been devised by a Pon- key man, living in Walker's Lane. He has succeeded in signalling a companion living at Brynhyfryd Terrace, by means of flashes produced by the manipulation of an ordinary looking glass that girls look in. The glass is held aslant to catch the rays of the sun, and the gleam is flashed after the manner of a hielio- graph. By his method the signaller can I Z, flash any message he wills, and the re- deiver by a similar arrangement can flash his answers back. RUNAWAY.—On Wednesday afternoon, a cart and two horses belonging to Mr William Roberts, Rhos Farm, bolted from near the Great Western Railway. In its mad career down School street, it nar- rowly missed knocking down several; small children playing in the street. Sev- eral men tried to stop the frightened ani- mal in Hall street, but the horse continued its progress unchecked until it was stop- ped near Shop Rad. Two men working on a ladder in Market street, had a nar- row escape, and a little boy, the son of Mr Alec Williams, Pentrefelin, was knocked down and had his foot badly crushed. It was fortunate that School street was de- serted at the moment the horses bolted. Had it occurred a little earlier, when the children were on their way to school, the consequences might have been very ser- ious indeed.

PONKEY CLAIMS. -'IS" Jonathan Davies, of Ponkey, claimed compensation at the rate ot 12S 2d per I week from the Ruabon Coal and Coke Co in respect of an accident which occurred on January 23rd 1908, at the Hafod Colliery. Mr Downes Powell, who represented the applicant, said that he had been paid compensation at the rate of 12s 2d per week from the date of the accident down to February 5th 1906. He now claimed 12s 2d until compensation was ended or diminished in amount. Applicant whilst erfJployed as a byeman at the Hafod. was struck on the back by some timber, with the result that his right arm, shoulder, and back were injured. He could not dre-s himself.11 His Honour, after hearing the applicant and the medical evidence on both sides, said the'sole issue was whether the man could work or not. He tound that the applicant was partially incapacitated as a result of the accident, but that he was able to do light work. There1 would be judgement for the applicant for 9s per week during the incapacity as from March 3 tst and from February 5th.to March 3.1st

Samuel Jones, miner, of School lane, Ponkey and formerly of Fen iant road claimed 14s 4d. per week compensation for an accident which he alleged he sustain- ed, at the Hafod Colliery on January 9th 1908 by which he strained his back whilst u»ing a crow bar. He had been paid compensation up till October 22nd, 1908. Respondents, represented by Mr Allen, admitted liability to the extent of 5s 4d as from October 22nd. Mr Powell said that the applicant had tried light work and failed. After hearing the medical evidence, His Honour said he thought that the applicant ought "0 try and do some light work. How far he was incapacitated it was very difficult to say. From October 22nd to May 13th during incapacity 5s 4d per week. —;

Cambridge Welshmen. A large number of young Welshmen at Cambridge continue to assemble on Sunday afternoons for service in their mother tongue. This movement was in- stituted last term, and the success follow- ing- it is unsurpassed. Last Sunday the services were taken by Mr T. Huws- Davies, of London. Among those pres- ent was Mr J. Herbert Lewis, M.P., J un- ior Lord of the Treasury. At the close of the service he delivered an address in Welsh. He had been specially invited, he said, to King's College Chapel, but af- ter giving the matter a thougut he was convinced that the Welsh singing would give him that which the best talent at the King's singing could not. He spoke on Welsh hymnology. The secretary of the movement is Mr Richard Lloyd-George, the eldest son ot the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

RHOS TOWN TALK. It is said That notwithstanding the advance a half-penny an ounce in tobacco, the pub- lic pay up smilingly. That owing to the scarcity of farthing pieces, the half-ounce packages of tobac- co have been nearly done away with. That one man last week tried to evade the tobacco duty by smoking tea. That potato planting in the district is now in full swing. On Monday last a large number of men, women, and chil- dren, spent a long busy day in the plant- ing fields. That it is to be hoped the results of this years planting will be more success- ful than last season. A blight ruined a considerable number of the 08 crop. That on Tuesday last a swarm of min- ers coming home from Vauxhall Colliery, perched themselves on a passing traction engine, for a free ride home. That during the fine sunny afternoons of last week, the tops of the electric cars have been crowded with people out for the benefit of their health. That it is calculated that a motor car passes through Johnstown every few min- utes on Sundays. One side of the road is a thick layer of dust every Sunday night. That the Rev Charles Jones, Llanfyllin, has sustained an injury through a fall off his bicycle. That the local members of the Denbigh- shire Cavalry Company left Rhos for Salisbury Plain, on Saturday last. That Mr Robert Sauvage, Wrexham, has purchased Roseneath Hall, Bwlch- gwyn. That the building trade" which has been so slack for the last few months, has grown brisk again. t, That the annual preaching meetings in connection with Penuel Chapel, were held on Sunday and Monday last. That an interesting comparison was to be seen in connection with the preacMjBfe services at Penuel. One of the preach^Jp waa an able exponent of the old theology, and the other a brilliant greacher of the new evangel. That the sum of ^37 3 gi was collect- ed in Rhos during the year, towards the funds of the Bible Society. That buckets and hose pipes were very much in evidence during the week, in laying down the dust on Rhos streets. That His Honour Judge Moss has ar- ranged to exchange circuits with Sir G. S. Baker, of Lincolnshire, for the month of June. That an Eisteddfod club has recently been formed in order to provide the ne- cessary. funds to attend the National Eis- teddfod in London next month. That it has -taken the tradesmen of Rhos half their time this week, in keeping the dust off their goods. That Master W. W. Wynn has re- turned to Wynnstay, after an absence from home of eight months. The young squire has been on a visit to Australia and Japan. That Stryt-y-plasis fast becoming the Hyde Park of Rhos. That there is under one grave-stone in Rhos churchyard, four persons, buried whose aggregate age is 380 years-an average of 95 years for each one.

Welsh Territorials Prosecuted At Wrexham, on Monday, six members of the 4th Battalion troyal Welsh Fusi- tiers were summoned for failing to make themselves efficient by attending musketry drills. Major Keene, secretary of the Denbighshire Territorial Association, stat- ed that the defendants had failed to per- form their musketry drill, and he explain- ed the penalties attached to such neglect This prosecution was not in any sense vindictive, but was merely intended to impress the members of the force with the importance of carrying out their instruct- ions. All the drills last year were excus- ed except the musketry instruction. The Mayor announced that one of the defendants would be fined JOS. and costs, and the charges against the others dis- missed on various grounds. He impress- ed upon members of the Territorial force the duty of making themselves efficient.

Ever since the late Mr Tom Ellis. M.P., took the keenest interest in the subject, the question of afforestation has always been more or less to the front in Wales. To thoroughly realise, however, the full bearing of the question of afforestion up- on the vexing problem of unemployment, which during each winter becomes more acute in certain p trts of the Principality, it is necessary to consider first of all the extent of the land in Wales suitable for afforestation and roughly speaking the amount of land in Wales suitable for afforestation below the 1,500 feet elevation j has been calculated for each county as follows Anglesey .10, 168 seres Brecon 131,675 Cardiga/i Carmarthen 57,681 Carnarvon 85,774 Denbigh .61,913 Flint 11,237 Glarmorgan 117,058 Merioneth 117,474 11 Montgomery 123,505 Pembroke 41,553 Radnor 101,445 The total for Wales, therefore, works out at 983,674 acres, but in addition there are 681,855 acres of common lands suita- ble, but whether these are available or not-is a question which, owing to a com- plexity of rights, cannot be settled off hand. I I Dealing with the question of small holdings in Wales, Mr Ffrith, the agent to the Quinta Estate, near Ruabon, gave evidence before the Commission to the effect that in establishing the Denbigh- shire Forest Demonstration area, near Chirk, some of the men employed were, small holders and that they were g lad. ot the work thus afforded them. Thanks to the generous offer of Mr J. Mahler, of Chit k, of 50 acres of lard an experimental plantation made to the Denbighshire County Council, and, thanks to the pluck of that authority in accepting the offer, the suitability of Wales for afforestation purposes has passed beyond experiment.

RUABON POLICE COURT. To-day, Friday, before Mr E. Lloyd Jones, (in the chair) Mr R. R. Jones, Mr C. Jones, and Mr Omrod. A licence was granted to J. J. Scott, Wrexham, for May -ist-the occasion of the annual fete on Wynnstay Park, Rua- bon. STEALING COAL. Margaret Evans, 21 Hall-street, Peny- cae, Thos Matthews and Eliz. Matthews,- 22 Hill street, Penycae, Wm Machin,. Acrefair, Ellen Lloyd, Plasbennion, E. A, Jones, Chapel street, Penycae, were charged with stealing coal from Plasyn- wern siding, Plasbennion, on April 26th,. the property of the Wynnstay Colliery Company. Mr Norman Bird, Wrexham, prosecut- ed. He said that tha practice of picking coal from the Plasynwern siding was be- coming a common one, and the Colliery Company hoped the Bench would deal severely with these cases if they fcunc,, them guilty. The coal became strewn along the rails of the siding, and was dangerous to the Company's employes working the trucks along the lines there, Edmund Walker, watchman, said thai he was on duty at Plasynwern, on Ap 26. He was watching behind a hedge, when he saw the defendants pick the coal from the siding, and place it in bags, P.C. Shone, stationed at Penycae, said he served three of the witnesses with summonses, and the three admitted they" had been to the siding, but said they' would never go there again. One of the defendants, Wm Machin, in defence said said that he had been out of work for six months, and he simply went to pick odd pieces of coal from the refuse bank. Ellen Lloyd denied that she was at Plasynwern at all that day. The rest of the defendants admitted being on the .siding. James Roberts,- Ann Richards, Kitty Bevan, Eliz Rogers, Harriet Hughes, Fanny Richards, Edward Jones and Margaret Brown, all of Cefn and Acrefair side, were charged with on May nth, Z5 stealing coal from Plas-yn-wern siding. They were each fined 1/- and costs, with the exception of the defendant Fanny Richards, who was under fifteen years and who was tried in a second court. In her case the Bench ordered her parents to look after the child properly in future, and ordered the child to come up for judgment' again if the Bench thought fit.

A Fire at Coedpoeth. A fire due to a spark falling upon some? birds' nests buiit in the roof, broke out in a house in Grosvenor-terrace, Coedpoethf occupied by Mr Robert Williams, on Sat- urday. The Coedpoeth Fire Brigade, un- der Supt W H Jones, was soon on the scene with the manual and some two hun- dred yards of hose, and found the fire burning firercely. After some effort it. was got under. The damage, which amounted to about £50, is covered by insurance.

Lloyd George, Junior. An interesting story was related the ot- her day by Lloyd George to a friend. It was about the chancellor's eldest son, who* is being educated at Cambridge, and takee* a keen interest in the Welsh religious ser- vice held there on Sundays. The deflcons;* ( of a small Baptist church a little distance from Cambridge, invited the young stud;" ent to pay them a visit, and he readily ac- cepted the invitation, believing that he' would only have to deliver a short address- When he reached the church, he was as-' tonished to see an announcement that Lloyd George, jr., was to preach. It' was too late to beat a retreat," he told hiS" father afterwards, so I did exactly what you would have done. I faced the situa- tion, ascended the pupit,ifound a text in the Epistle to the Romans, and preached' for halt an hour." The chancellor's com-' panion observed that his son was a chip' of the old block," to which he replied, He is better than the old block I could1 not do such a thing at his age."