The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

THE EAST DENBIGHSHIRE ELECTION. *+ UNIONIST MEETING AT RUABON. Mr. KENYON'S SERVICES TO WALES. On Tuesday Mr. Kenyon addressed an enthusiastic gathering of Ruabon Unionists in the National Schools. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn who presided, said it had been asked why he had not come forward himself during this vacancy. He could not argue that night with those who made that remark, but he had Very good reasons, the chief of which was that he had not time to attend to the calls of parliamentary life with the large estates that he had to look after and with the other calls Upon his time and attention. Therefore he decided not to become the Unionist candidate, but to heartily support his friend, Mr. Kenyon, whom he had great pleasure in introducing to a fiuabon audience, and whom he did his utmost to persuade to become the candidate. Mr. Kenyon very ably represented the Denbigh Boroughs for ten years, and he hoped that before many weeks he would be the representa- tive for East Denbighshire. (Loud applause.) j^heir candidate was not afraid of speaking in -^rliament when speaking was necessary; on he other hand he was not one of those wind- 80gs who thought they must speak on every object and take up and waste so much of the Ule of the House of Commons. do r. KENYON was glad to say that he had ne something in the past to advance the in- resta of the district which he was now seek- S to represent, and he recalled in this J^nQection his advocacy of the railway for f6xhaiu and Ellesmere, which had been con- ''Ueted, and of the railway from Rhos to )*rexham, about which he still thought it was a. well-conceived line which, had it been carried out, would have proved of very great benefit to he people of the district. (Hear, hear.) He had long taken a great interest in education. •^8 to the primary branch, he had been con- nected with several schools for years, and there had never been the slightest difficulty or the semblance of what was. called the religious grievance. (Applause.) His own belief was that this religious grievance was enormously exaggerated. The religion which Non- conformists and Churchmen practised was similar in its main characteristics, and to the Untutored mind of a child, no one would desire or. a moment to emphasise the differences ^hich existed between these branches of the hristian community. They should rather try i teach the children the value of a godly and o Y life; and he believed Churchmen and OQconformista could work together in the atter of education, preserving their own Vofity and self-respect. As to the Act to help *Untary schools he thought it was just and °derate. Turning to intermediate education, claimed some personal share in effecting the j, e8eut satisfactory position. In 1885, when ° entered Parliament, the subject had been uch talked about, but there was no prospect Bill being carried through in any amount of time. It seemed to him lih ct uPon which Conservatives and Wh'6.^8 well unite, and he framed a Bill WouM did not go as far as some, Ped Place the Principality upon a "Of as compared with the rest but > United Kingdom. It did not pass, Pleas WaS wel* received and it was a great BUaH f°r him to be able subsequently to per- pag8 W. Hart Dyke and Lord Salisbury to jeot measure which was the law on the sub- tbey i vAppiause.) In carrying out the Act pari had the cordial assistance of the Liberal torr He also endeavoured to impress upon the granbrook when he was Lord President of chart ouncil the desirability of granting a !lobl er for the Welsh University, but that 8u»u. did not see his way to accept the uettlon. The Liberal Government subse- ^obert granted the charter. When Mr. Bryn in 8 Proposed a motion against the charter aetv House of Commons and several Con- that i»lVe Members were inclined to support of th tion> be (Mr. Kenyon) spoke in favour ^barter, with the result that Mr. Balfour ^Ppeal leading Conservatives yielded to his firm and the charter was unanimously con- one f by the House. He considered that was fe* si greatest triumphs ever achieved by a IVliai?^w words from a man of very little »Vbate ntary influence, (Loud applause.) °f politVer migbt be the result of the election or of tu4' Warfare, he would ever esteem it as *U c0nf greatest honours that he had a hand ^°Untr^Pring these advantages upon his fellow- Yen. (Applause.) The candidate then Cltn8 lth agriculture, and replying to criti- ld th to his own knowledge of the subject, j acres at he had himself farmed 350 was quite willing to produce his Pi"actjc i ^r. Moss, who was said to be a (La^i farmer, would do the same. itb g;er.) He was also ready to compete &0v ^tr. Moss at the next meeting of the th/ Society as to who could shew best pound of home-made butter, 4 the best fruit crops. (Laughter and jTPlause.) The only conditions was pay and (Laughter.) Mr. Konyon then repeated ^Promises at Wrexham as to legislation for qu61Cvltare> and als° again dealt with labour dj8 J°ns» incidentally alluding to the Penrhyn 8etfiU^e» which might, he thought, have been U»aat Jaontbs before, had the men and the to j>er been better advised. If he was returned fllrth laUlnt, .1:.e would ..8:ke. the matter of 8tu(jver legislation on conciliation his serious | wlh a view to produce, if possible, some ingS which might tend to mitigate the suffer- too « be working classes which trade disputes occasioned. (Applause.) He adher <F Mr. Moss to Bay whether or not he Act bis statement that the Compensation h8 °De ^be worst measures that could ^Uultif 6jn Passed. That was not the opinion of l^ittn 8 emPioyed in this country. He ft- ^at be was a convert on the Eight BIll, but he had arrived at his present be c after careful study of the question, and goiuc assure them that there would be no Let the electors shew during this ^cti0ll that independence of judgment and bio^^h he had endeavoured to preserve åa.l1eq bf. and look not at what men were tbat H? wbat men did, and they would *tea^y Unionists party was the party .te8ol'uKrad.Ual progress. (Loud applause.) wh^6^' on a1 iQ support of the candidate was tati 48 ATL M°*'I01:1 ARNOLD, M.P., cOn Vt of Player of labour and the represen- the 8 ItUency a Yorkshire manufacturing his warm approval of 'be lcy i° legislation and administra- Pp68ent Government. rowdyism at RHOS. LYON'S MEETING BROKEN UP *tP KENYON ASSAULTED. i Purr, Howell, M.P., he attended for i?4iencePwh?'k hal1. was Packed by an ftlectora ° J w°uld contain a small minority ;f tbe .s td a great maj°rity of the youth ft all IB rlet, some of them but children, ense < on enjoying themselves at the ° tlle Unionist candidate. The i^Udav ^as early—six o'clock; but as Woj.18 Play-day' with the miners, the doo!*f COnsidered convenient. As soon as f 6,1 8» Were opened a great crowd of young *°Ht armed in and took possession of the -beif pjea^8» and many of them at once lit l^rest^8' anc* 8ettled down to shew a lively >?cal Sj. 111 the proceedings. Meanwhile the h ^yonV6r band had gone down to meet Mr. c an<i through the streets a band of h tln^ri^ an supposed to represent Q,l0?ist candidate, but it would have tKecWl as well for his opponent. The w grQ6 Was viewed with amusement by men» women, and children who ^ate'a fche street corners to witness the can- Hialrrival- Inside the hall an endeavour ,0 to keep a clear space behind the a tho Lab.lo f°r several ladies who ventured buildings but before any of the th^ sPeaker8 put in an appearance, the al n th 8 teserved became more circumscribed. i^fe was a rush on the left, followed ffi*11' on .iately by another forward move- 1,1 were J8 r^bt, and both sides of the plat- an? ^UtQan f\?en. Possession of by young men, a am ii "sing higher and higher until open space was left round the 'Of? le. General conversation was to te animated; calls, loudly re- for \TWe-T? frequently made for « Three Sr BtvJJi °88>' an(i it was evident that, ^i^^oua (j ne°U8ly or otherwise, the almost ^lit^ adetermination was to prevent any- VJs by <I,.8CUs8ion or even an exposition of Mtv/To i 8Peakers. Shortly after six Si I u' Tanyclawdd, took the chair, on hi8 j otham on his right and Mr. a.«6I ^heir entrance being greeted cheers for Mr. Moss. Mr. Taylor, amid a Babel of noise, in which he most ineffectually raised his voice, called upon Mr. Sidebotham, M.P., to address the meeting pending the arrival of Mr. Kenyon. (Loud shouts of Silence,' groans, laughter, and general confusion, in which one or two men in the body of the hall appealed for a fair hearing for the speakers.) Mr. SIDEBOTHAM, who rose amid continued confusion, said he had come among them to say a few words for Mr. Kenyon, a statement which was received with a great deal of groaning. Several persons got up and appealed in Welsh to the audience to give the speaker la hearing. Mr. Sidebotham was then able to proceed for a few moments in silence, in the course of which he said he would not detain them long if they would listen to him. He was afraid he had not understood all that had taken place because he was ignorant of the Welsh language, but those gentlemen who had been speaking to them had been endeavouring, with some success, to restore order in the meeting. In the part of the world where he came from they were very punctual people, and on the stroke of six o'clock he was naturally anxious to get to work. (A Voice: What time do you knock off ?' and laughter.) He came among them almost as a neighbour, as it were. He represented, and had repre- sented for over 11 years, one of the divisions of the neighbouring county of Cheshire. It was a division which very much resembled the division in which he was then speaking. In his consti- tuency he had representatives of both town and country, he had farmers and agricultural labourers and working classes, and a con- siderable number of others, so he claimed that he know something about a con- stituency such as theirs, and he thought he might say a word or two which might be of interest to them. A great uproar here took place in the back part of the hall, and when comparative silence had again been restored Mr. Sidebotham remarked that he knew something about a constituency such as theirs, and he knew something more. He knew some- thing of the gentleman who was appearing before them at the present time as the Con- servative candidate. Mr. Kenyon and he sat together in the House of Commons—(groans)— first when their party was in power, and after- wards when their party was in opposition. At this point several ladies came on to the plat- form and were heartily groaned at, and general confusion again reigned for some time, in the course of which cheers were called and given for Mr. Samuel Moss. Mr. Sidebotham proceeded —Gentlemen, I was saying—(groans)—when I sat in the House of Commons—(cheers for Mr. Moss)—for a considerable number of years— (groans)—that the gentleman—(confusion)— who now appears as the Unionist candidate- (general confusion, especially at the rear of the hall, culminating in Three cheers for Samuel Moss.") Gentlemen, I have no doubt- (confusion)—though you aie opposed to the party to which I belong—(groans)—you will listen (groans) to argument. (" Samuel Moss for ever.") Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon and Sir Watkin Williams Wynn now appeared on the platform, and were received with slight cheers and loud groans and cheers for Mr. Moss, followed by more catcalls and groans. The hall-keeper in vain appealed for order. Mr. Jenkins, Johnstown, who had a seat in front, appealing in Welsh to the audience amid the awful din, said As a member of the Rhos Liberal Association, I beg you will please welcome- (Cries of Silence,' Order,' and Platform.') Going on to the platform, Mr. Jenkins continued: Our cause is good, we are sure to win, giv4 them a hearing. (Hear, hear.) A Voice: We have suffered too much from the Tory party. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Jenkins: Listen to the speeches, and then ask questions when they have done. (Applause.) In the name of Rhos I ask you to give them a hearing. (" Three cheers for Moss," and yells and whistling.) Sir Watkin had taken his place as chairman, and had for half an hour been standing- waiting till the din ceased. A momentary lull occurring, The Chairman: My friends—(groans)—is the Rhos—(confusion)—going to give fair play —(hooting)—or is it to alter its traditions? (Another confused and prolonged roar, amid which were cries of I Silence' and 'Order.') Look here, my man (pointing to a person half- way down the hall), come here. I am not afraid of anybody in the least. (Groans and uproar.) Thomas Jones, lamplighter, then came up to the platform, amid cheers and laughter, and shook hands with the chairman, who then, amid the uproar, managed to make this heard by the front rows Half-a-minute." Silence re- stored. Sir Watkin proceeded: Now look here, I have treated you perfectly fairly. (Hear, hear.) This gentleman was saying something there; I called him here. (Cheers.) Fairplay is a jewel every- where. (Hear, hear.) Whenever I have come to the Rhos I have had fairplay, and I believe I am going to have it to-night. (Cheers and laughter, and renewed groans.) If you want us to shout, I can shout with any lad who comes here. (Cheers, and groans, and cries of Silence' and Order.') But if we have come here to-night to hear politics, then let us have them. (Confusion.) Well, if you want to have a jolly good row let us have it. (Laughter and uproar.) Mr. Edwin Jones, a miner, in his working garb, came forward and took his place beside the chairman who heartily welcomed him. The assistant-Chairman then shouted Silence' and Order.' He asked if the meeting wished him to speak in English or Welsh, and the latter being preferred be urged :-Let the man speak. Do you consider yourselves men P (Uproar and shouts of I Yes.') Then let the man speak. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman, the turbulence having momen- tarily subsided, said :—Gentlemen—(uproar)— are we going to have a meeting—(confusion)— or are we going to play the fool. (More shout- ing.) Are we to play the fool ? If you wish— (uproar)—1 am quite ready to take anybody here at any game. (Cheers, laughter, and renewed turbulence.) The lamplighter once more essayed to be peacemaker. Let them have ten minutes," he pleaded in the vernacular. They know that Kenyon won't get in." The appeal, however, was lost, attention being diverted to one of the upper windows, at which appeared a man who had climbed on an adjoin- ing roof, but he speedily disappeared. The Chairman again essayed to speak. Now lads, look here, try and be quiet for a quarter of an hour. (Some uproar.) I won't waste your time—(' cheers for Moss')—you shall hear Mr. Kenyon instead of me. (Hear, hear.) You know me, you know where I come from. (Cheers.) Some of you come to me when you are in trouble. (Hear, hear.) I never turn a deaf ear to any friend who comes to me in real trouble. (Cheers.) I come here to the Rhos to-night to renew old friendships—(hear, hear) ,-and not to fight or quarrel with anybody. (Cheers and slight disturbance.) Are we te cease being friends P Am I to understand that in the six years since I last addressed an audience here, Rhos has altered. (" No.") No, I cannot believe it. (Cheers.) I have always been accorded a fair hearing, and I ask you as men, not as children, to give fairplay. You can vote as you like on the polling day. (Cheers.) No one can interfere with your vote. (Cheers.) I ask you —(cries of Order," and slight uproar)—simply to give us a fair hearing, just as you would give an opponent fairplay if a football team came to Rhos. (Cheers and renewed uproar.) Do you want it said that no stranger can come into the Rhos ? ("No.") Well then, lads, fairplay. We may not agree, but that is no reason why we should not be friends. (Hear, hear.) Let us have a few moments and give a quiet hearing to Mr. Kenyon—(renewed disorder)—just as Ruabon, Wrexham, or any other place will listen to Mr. Moss if he goes there. (Cheers.) My friends-for I do call you friends—(" Of course and laughter)—you may stop the meet- ing here, but I tell you I can stop a meeting somewhere else. (Uproar.) We all have our chance, some here, some there; but we don't want to quarrel with anybody. (Hear, hear.) Isn't it better to be friends all round ? (Uproar, "Silence," "Order," and "Three cheers for Moss.") Be quite quiet. Sit down, lads, and be as quiet as possible. (Uproar.) A voice trom the rear of the hall: Where can you stop any meeting ? The Chairman Never mind where. (Dis- order.) Don't you dare anybody. ("No," Shame," and a general hubbub.) Another voice One question-Are you Lord Salisbury's follower ? The Chairman: I most decidedly am. (Up- roar.) .„ The voice: Then we will not have you. (Loud cheers and groans, continued for several I must say this, then, and I, am sorry to say it-if the Rhos does not wish to have me, then I will never help the Rhos. (Hear, hear, and uproar.) The Rev. Robt. Jones, a Calvinistic Metho- dist minister in Rhos, then came to the platform and offered to get a hearing for the Unionists. He seemed greatly distressed at the scene. The Chairman concluded amid continued uproar: I honour you for saying straight out you disagree with us and won't have our man, but you ought to give him a hearing, and not try to get rid of him in this way. The Rev. Robt. Jones, speaking amid great interruption, principally from the back of the hall: Dear friends and fellow-electors, remember the honour of the neighbourhood—(uproar) —give me a hearing of two minutes—(con- fusion)—I am one of you—(more disturbance, in the course of which the rev. gentleman sat down, being unable to complete his appeal for silence.) Mr. Thomas Jones, the lamplighter, also made another unsuccessful appeal on behalf of the promoters of the meeting. Mr. Daniel Davies then ascended the plat- form, and amid a great uproar said Let's treat them respectfully—(uproar),—we respect everybody, but we don't respect everybody's policy. (Confusion.) I should like every man to speak to-night, and to have perfect fair play. (Cheers and uproar.) Sir Watkin That is all we ask for. Mr. Kenyon, rising amid a perfect storm of groans, said People of Rhos, Sir Watkin is a bad man to follow when he gets on a good horse. (Laughter and uproar.) He, cannot help giving one a gallop, and he has given me a gallop to-night. I am going to briefly tell you why I think you had better vote for me- (groans)—first of all, as one who lives near you, cares for you, has watched over you in years past, and who is prepared to do his best for you in the future. (Uproar and interrup- tion.) When you wanted the Rhos railway- (confusion)-who was the man who came to your assistance ? (Groans.) Was it Mr. Samuel Moss ? ("Yes," laughter, and confusion.) Who was it then? ("Osborne Morgan," and more confusion.) Who was it that came to your assistance ? Who went to that meeting at Wrexham and pleaded your cause? Who took up your case in the House of Commons ? (" Osborne Morgan," and uproar.) Who did his best—(great confusion). Why it was I who did it—(interruption),—and if Sir Osborne Morgan had been alive now he would have told you the same thing. (More interruption.) He and I stopped there upon the floor of the House of Commons. the only two Welsh members who dared to do it, to advocate the claims of the Rhos to have that Railway. (Great confusion.) We were opposed by all sorts of people, the Great Western Railway and various other people- (uproar)—but we did our best for you, and if you still want the railway I will try to do it again for you. (Cheers and uproar.) Now, another point is, do you care for good schools ? Who was the person who got these good schools for you in this immediate district ? Great con- fusion followed, in the course of which a large section of the audience commenced to sing a Radical electioneering song to the tune Tramp, tramp, the boys are marching.' Mr. Kenyon: Johnny comes marching home. (Laughter, ironical cheers, and a continuance of the uproar.) When you have quite done with that music I will go on again. (Renewed dis- turbance.) Have you not got a good school down at Ruabon ? Have you not got a good school down at Llangollen ? Have you not got a good school down at Wrexham ? Who was it that got these intermediate schools for you ? (Uproar.) Who was it worked tooth and nail to get them for you ? (Continued confusion.) Why, it was 1. (Ironical cheers.) You cannot deny that, however much you try—(uproar)— you can look in the records of the House of Commons; you can ask any Liberal member-I don't care which-who it was that got that measure passed through the House of Commons, and they will all tell you it was I. (Cheers and counter- cheers and general confusion.) There is a bit of a record for you, but perhaps you want something more? (Laughter and uproar.) How about the eight hours' day in mines ? How about old age pensions, and better dwellings for the working-classes ? Where are you going to get those from ? (A Voice: "Off Samuel Moss," laughter and interruption.) Are you going to the Liberal party, which is in a minority, to try and get these measures, or to a Conservative Government, which has the large majority of 140, and which can carry them if they choose ? Whatever you may do at this election won't make the Liberal minority into a majority. ( Voice "Keep your hair on," and great uproar.) If you want these measures passed—an eight hours' day for miners, old age pensions, and artisans' dwellings-you must support the Conservative Government which is in power now by ireturning me. (Laughter, cheers, and counter-cheers.) Some of you will say you want disestablishment. (Loud cries of Yes.") I am coming to that. Are you going to put disestablishment in the balance- ("Yes")—against the Eight Hours' Bill and the other Bills I have mentioned ? (Uproar and resumption of singing.) A very appropriate song, but that does not answer the argument. (More interruption and singing.) You can't get disestablishment for a very long time to come, however much you may wish it. Very well, put that on one side. (Confusion.) Then look on the other side for a moment, and return the man for those other measures I have told you of, and which are of so much importance to you-more so than disestablishment. (Great uproar.) Now, one other word. What have you got to-day ? What is the latest news to-day ? That Lord Salisbury has concluded terms of peace between Turkey and Greece. (Confusion and whistling, which was indulged in with great vigour.) Mr. Kenyon tried for several minutes to con- tinue his speech, but his remarks were utterly inaudible owing to the din and confusion. When his observations next caught on the ears of the pressmen he was saying :—What I have said you can verify for yourselves. If you have read this morning's papers you will see that what I have said is perfectly true. (More uproar followed, which rendered it absolutely impossible to hear any but most disjointed remarks.) Now put that in your pipes and smoke it. (Laughter and confusion.)' People say that I have changed my mind upon this. (Interruption.) What do I care what they say ? There is not a man in this room who has not changed his mind 150 times over on some subject or the other. If a man changes his mind for good and sufficient reasons you ought to esteem that man and honour him. (Another scene of confusion followed and entirely drowned the candidate's voice.) Mr. Kenyon, however, pluckily endeavoured to make himself heard, but with very little success, and he con- cluded amid a terrible uproar by asking them to use their judgment as sensible men, and to vute on the day of election according to their convictions. Mr. Kenyon then resumed his seat, but almost immediately afterwards came to the front of the platform again, and in stentorian tones, which could be heard all over the hall, not- withstanding the confusion, inquired if anybody would like to ask him any questions, but none were put. Mr. Daniel Davies, collier, then ascended the platform and essayed to speak, but the audience refused to listen to him. Mr. Kenyon once more rose, and, remarking that he had had his say, thanked his audience for the kindly bearing they had given him." A general movement, which threatened to overwhelm the Press table, then occurred in the direction of the platform; while upon it, in close proximity to the candidate, one man vigorously elbowed for room) and the crowd with whom he was dealing, swayed ominously to and fro. Mr. Kenyon was then understood to ask for thanks to the chairman, but none heeded the request, for the crowd pressed on, their pace being accelerated as they noticed the speakers leaving by the platform door. STREET RUFFIANISM. Some had a frightful struggle to get out of the hall, only to find themselves in a long narrow passage, where the pressure was renewed. It is believed that several were knocked down and trampled upon,. but it was impossible to gain any particulars. A few extra police had been brought to the place in view of distur- bances, but they could do little or nothing beyond escort Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon to their carriage amid a shower of stones. Mr. Fincham, the Primrose League secretary for North Wales, was struck over the head with a stick, the blow cutting, the crown of his felt hat; Mr. Boydell, a Conserva- tive, from Rossett, was struck in the eye with a rotten apple, and also on the right of the f6re- head with a stone. A police officer endeavoured to protect Mrs. Kenyon, and got a blow fromf-a stone between the shoulders, while several 1 others including a pressman, were also caught by the missiles. After Mt's. Kenyon had-,reach-ed the brake which was to convey her husband and herself to another meeting, she was hit on the shoulder with a stone, but fortunately the blow was not very heavy, and she made light of the affair. Hooting in the most excited manner, and occasionally cheering for Mr. Moss, these were the good-nights' of the Rhos Radicals to their visitors. MR. KENYON ON HIS RECEPTION. A Unionist meeting was afterwards held at Rhostyllen, a village about two miles from Wrexham. Mr. P. Yorke presided, and on the platform were Mr. Griffith-Boscawen, M.P., and Colonel Eyre, C.B. Mr. Kenyon said they had just come from a very musical meeting. (Laughter.) The Rhos people, whatever other qualities they had, were extremely fond of music, especially that of the sound of their own voice. (Laughter.) He had no objection to that. It was small blame for anyone with a good tenor voice to shout Moss for ever' or I Kenyon for ever.' The only diffi- culty was that it also made the candidate shout. (Laughter.) Mr. Kenyon then proceeded to place his views before the meeting, and in deal- ing with the eight hours question said that his opinions were changed by reading carefully about two years ago Mr. Lecky's book on Democracy and Liberty.' He then felt that if he ever again became a candidate for Parlia— ment-which at that time seemed very im- probable-he would be obliged to announce his conversion to the principle of the eight hours measure. He had done so. (Applause.) He had been held up to ridicule for that fact, but he would have been far more worthy of ridicule had he refused to have given expression and effect to his more matured judgment on the subject. A vote of confidence was passed in the candidate. ISSUE OF THE WRIT. The High Sheriff of Denbighshire on Friday received the Speaker's writ for filling up the East Denbigh vacancy, and has fixed the nomination for Friday next, and the polling for Tuesday, the 28th inst. The campaign will now proceed vigorously.

CHESTER GRACES. Sir,—The Ratepayer who has been writing to your contemporary criticising the manage- ment of the Chester Race Meeting, has made the astounding discovery that the exclusive right of the sale of the race cards at Doncaster is sold by the Doncaster Corporation to one man for 700 guineas. What a comment," exclaims this nameless financier (one amongst many items) is this on our race profits and manage- ment, as far as the ratepayers are concerned!" As the writer of this comment is evidently ignorant of how our local race meeting is really managed, it may be useful to inform him that the Chester Race Company make a handsome profit out of the sale of the race cards-quiteai; much as the Doncaster people do, when the relative importance of the two meetings is taken into consideration.—Yours &c., Chester, September, 1897. TURFITIC.

SALT USED IN INDIA. Sir,-At a time when the minds of most English men are engrossed in the one topic, the so- called sedition' in India, and the English papers are full of extremely silly articles on it with which they bore their readers from day to day and from week to week, it is, indeed, a pleasant relief to turn to the journals issued by the well-known Cheshire and North Wales Newspaper Company, which, like their con- temporaries, no doubt also dedicate their columns from time to time to discussions of Indian subjects-but subjects, which, if care- fully studied and properly sifted and enquired into, promise, at no distant date to revolutionise the import trade of our Presidency. In the Chester Courant of the 12th May last there appeared a letter over the signature of the Hon. H. Holbrook, dealing with the evaporated salt used in the Bombay Presidency, wherein the honourable gentleman took occasion to remark that it was worth while instituting full en- quiries, with a view to ascertaining whether or not the impurities of the salt used on our side of India were not, to a certain extent, responsible for the outbreak of the bubonic plague here. To this I sent a rejoinder, and I am very much obliged to the editor of that journal for pub- lishing it in a later issue. I received a few days ago a copy of the Cheshire Observer, dated the 31st July, and I am not a little gratified to see that it contains another letter from the pen of the Hon. H. Holbrook, in which he treats of the introduction of Liverpool salt into China. The whole con- tribution, however, is intermingled with sentences sufficient to convince one that the hon. gentleman is keen upon introducing Liverpool salt into the Bombay market. Great honour to him for giving the subject so much attention, and bringing it so prominently before the Cestrian public, and my sincere wish is that he may live to see his expectations realised, and the Liverpool salt obtain a firm footing in the Bombay market. I confess that my knowledge of the salt trade of China is rather deficient, and it would be, I consider, extremely impolitic on my part to discuss that portion of the hon. gentleman's letter which bears on this subject. But there is enough matter in the letter upon which, without posing myself as an expert or an authority on matters connected with salt or the salt trade, I shall venture to make a few obser- vations. The subject of the removal of the Salt Union headquarters from London to Liverpool, to which the Hon. Mr. Holbrook refers in his letter, was prominently placed before the ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Union, held in London on the 26th February last, by Mr. W. S. McDowell, and after a heated discusnion, in which Messrs. Keene, Jeffries, and, Turner, and Dr. McDougall took part, it was decided to let things remain in statu quo. If, however, at any time it should be found that a change, as suggested by Mr. McDowell, would be a change for the better, there is nothing to prevent the shareholders from adopting the same. "You will recollect," said the Hon. Lionel Ashly, who presided at the meeting above referred to, that I told you last year that we had sent a Special Commissioner to China as well as to India, Japan, and British Columbia, with the object of developing our trade. We have endeavoured to shew to the authorities in China that the revenue of that country might be improved, and the salt tax more easily col- lected, by the admission of salt at a reasonable rate of duty. We have not yet succeeded in obtaining a change of policy, but we keep on in the endeavour to convert those who ultimately control these matters." The Hon. H. Holbrook does not trust in Special Commissioners' being sent out from England indeed, he con- siders it rather childish to do so, and is inclined to the opinion that, if anything can be done, and if there is a way of doing it, it is with the aid of 'some plain Liverpool merchants, who generally take the lead in mercantile affairs.* The hon. gentleman has perhaps not overdrawn an estimate of his Liverpool confreres, but however that may be, I am quite at one with him that there is no practical good to be derived by sending out meir from England to foreign countries to develop trade. It has- become a hobby with a large number of firms in England to do so, but I think-and no doubt there are many others who are of the same opinion as myself-that this mode of introducing English goods or manufactures into foreign countries invariably proves a failure. By so saying, I do not for a single moment wish to allege that the persons generally sent out are worthless men, far from it, a good many of them are very clever and intelligent, and often men with a good deal of experience in trade, but their modus operandi, which no doubt is laid down for them by the managers in England, is such that it cannot but end in failure. First and foremost their stay at each)-town is limited to a very short period, which barely gives them sufficient time to interview anybody. Now, it will be agreed by all that he always succeeds in securing a large business who knows the country well, and is well conversant with bhe habits and customs, the susceptibilities and tastes of the people among whom he is leputed to canvass for business, and the manner in which our friends, the Japs, care- fully study the tastes and requirements of the people among whom their manufactures are intended for sale, and adapt them accord- ingly, only confirms the truth of my assertion. If there is one thing more than another which those interested in the introduction of Liverpool salt into the Bombay market will have to do, it is to organise themselves into a strong and influential body. The Hon. H. Holbrook will find it next to impossible to do anything single-handed, and if he cannot find other gentlemen as liberal-minded as himself to interest themselves in the matter, it had better be left alone. In his most interesting and valuable work, Dictionary of the Economic Products of India,' Dr. George Watt, the learned author, traces the importa- tion of Liverpool salt into Bengal to as far back as 1818-19, but trade in that article does not seem to have attained any large pro- portions until 1835 36. For the information of your numerous readers, I will here extract a paragraph from Dr. Watt's work, which serves not a little to throw light on the circumstances which proved so favourable and helped con- siderably the introduction of Liverpool salt into Bengal, on a large scale. "In 1835-36," says the learned author, the excise manufac- ture of salt was first commenced by private individuals, but the continuance of the system was subsequently negatived by the Court of Directors in 1840. In 1847 the manufacture of salt under certain excise rules was again permitted, but the quantity produced now is very small, and is limited to Orissa, the total quantities produced in the three years ending 1889 having been:-1887, 103,795 maunds; 1888, 244,507 maunds; 1889, 70,293 maunds. And the learned author ascribes the decline in local manufacture of salt to twofold reasons. In Northern Orissa," he says, the salt locally produced can no longer compete with Liverpool salt, which is cheaply brought to the province by steamers and sailing vessels to Balasore. Liverpool salt is vastly superior in quality to the locally-made article, and the conditions of manufacture in Orissa are so in- efficient and costly that, even if the salt were not of much better quality, it could not compete with imported salt. The-manufacture was gradually declining when it became apparent to Government that its continued existence could be due only to evasion of the revenue, which was easy in the circum- stances. Proper control implied enormous expenditure, and it was therefore determined to suppress the manufacture of Panga salt (salt made by artificial heat). This having been done, the only manufacture left is that of Kurkutch salt (salt made by solar heat, in Southern Orissa, the conditions of such manu- facture rendering control comparatively easy." I should be indeed sorry to trespass upon the patience of your amiable readers at any further length, and will therefore conclude, reserving further observations on the subject for another letter, but, before closing, I must say that though trade in Liverpool salt in Bengal is considerably large, it might have been much larger still, had it not been for the competition of salt from Germany, Aden, Arabia, and Persia.—Yours very truly, C. D. LIMA. Bombay, 1st September, 1897.

» THE SALT UNION. Sir,—You did me the favour to publish in your valuable paper letters on the above subject and an answer from Bombay, also notice of the re-copy in the Calcutta Englishman of 14th June. I asked that an analysis should be made of the salt evaporated from sea water in Bombay to see if the using of such, unmixed with Liverpool salt, was not the cause of the great sickness in Bombay, I maintain the small particles of gold in such salt is very injurious, as well as the earthy and impure matters. The salt tax in India is 121b. per head, and if the population is taken at 300,000,000 you will get the consumption. Again, in China the tax is 71b., therefore the population gives a consumption of 2! million tons. My contention is to get a part of this trade. I have already shewn Russia is importing large quantities ofaline earth by camel transport in the north, also that the trade is generally managed in China by the great companies. Now, if we had a stock of, say, 10,000 tons at Hong Kong, these companies could be supplied, who would take it in the interior. I am aware at present there are difficulties, except in their hands, as Liverpool salt is only used for confectionery purposes. We shew a sad want of enterprise, and the directors of the Salt Union are much to blame. They appear to be asleep, and are so full of their own importance and the idea of keeping the head office in London, that I am afraid not much ean be done until some practical merchants take hold. The unfortunate holders of ordinary shares are the sufferers. All losses have been put on their shoulders, and the 910 shares that were issued to the extent of two million pounds sterling are quoted at 2J, shewing a loss of If million pounds sterling. I consider it very unfair that the interest on the preference and debentures have not been reduced, and for all shares to bear the losses together, instead of being favoured by these directors, who are stated to have such enormous influence. If such was the case, why do they not come forward now the Hooley- Jameson loan is in the market for China ? The salt dues are one of the securities, therefore if they have any influence, let them shew it, and get Liverpool salt introduced in China, and so benefit their shareholders, give work to the operative population at Winsford and North- wich, and also give health to the Chinese population. As regards Bombay, an agreement has to be made with the Indian Government, so as to give an advantage to English or Liverpool salt against the sea-evaporated native impure salt. These two markets, if opened, will give relief to all, and take with the Calcutta market, to which we ship all the salt England can give. I have received letters marked private and confidential' from parties connected with the Salt Union, but, of course, I can make no use of the information they contain. I have no secrecy in my writing, and my only object is to benefit the ordinary shareholders in the Salt Union. I know nothing about stock-jobbing and one class of interests trying to freeze out the other. I want to benefit all, and I hope some younger and more talented party may take up my ideas, and we (the ordinary share- holders) get only a portion of the losses, and that the preference and debenture holders bear their proportion, that the directors will rouse up from their apparent sleep, and shew if they have the influence they boast of, by getting salt an entry into China by the Hooley-Jameson loan security, and keeping a stock of never less than 10,000 tons for the Chinese Companies supply at Hong Kong. My health will not allow me to attend meetings in London, so I ask some younger and more talented party to take up the subject at the next general meeting, and so get the directors into practical business work. If not, let the shareholders appoint those who will. It is not a matter of favouritism. What is wanted is plain business work and fair play. The word 'preference' on these shares, I maintain, should only mean a preference in any profits when such exist, that is, a share with the ordinary equal when the profits exist, but not that they should have all and perhaps a share of the extra issue, which I consider ought never to have been made if any part of it is taken to pay divi- dends on these preference and debenture shares. I cannot see how it was wanted to increase capital when the trade was falling off. An explanation is wanted, and whether the directors are in any way liable for these great dividends they have been paying preference and debenture shares. And I again repeat the ordinary share- holders want fair play, and a younger advocate than myself who can attend the meetings in London, and have our claims threshed out, and relief given.—Yours truly, HBNRY HOLBROOK. Parkgate, 18th Sept., 1897.

RADICALISM, DISSENT, AND DISENDOW- MENT. ] Sir,—Speaking of it as an institution, Non- conformists assert that the Church of England 1 is public property, and accordingly can be dealt ] with as to money value by the public. They ] are further of opinion that their own chapels, as public places of worship, are quite distinct J from such view as to being public property, that, indeed, all such chapels are private, 1 and, therefore, must not, and cannot be, dealt 1 with in the same manner as the churches belonging to the Church of England. This, of course, is applied by Nonconformists 1 generally (there are honourable exceptions < among them) to endowments, funds, and moneys held by the Church of England as a public institution distinct from those who ] have thought well to leave it-or the Non* conformists. 'Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing that he dwelleth securely by tbee: would seem very appropriate in such a case for those who dissented from the Church of England. Having so left it of their own tree will, why seek its disestablishment and disendowment, for are not Nonconformists in the eyes of all publicly established and en- dowed also ? I am of opinion that a Nonconformist chapel is as much a place for public worship as its neighbour church of the Church of Eng- land also that such chapel is not the property of any one individual, seeing that its erection has been brought about by funds obtained indiscriminately from among the community at large, in which are found mem- bers of the Church of England. And, accord- ingly, uch chapels have not been hitherto, and are not even now, built solely from funds or money of Nonconformists. Besides this, it is a fact that innumerable instances are forth- coming to shew that the very land upon which Nonconformist chapels have been built has been the gift of a member of the Church of England. Further, many of those Dissenters who are so fond of speaking unkindly and unfavourably as to money matters and endowments possessed by the Church of England must not overlook the startling fact, which I challenge them to deny, that they (the Nonconformists who so much dislike endowments when in the hands of the Church of England), have been themselves endowed, and by the State, too, since the year 1690, to an amount approaching closely upon three millions of money. I maintain also that such Nonconformist chapels are further endowed, and by that I mean the money value of the erection in brick and mortar. And if in no other manner the building is of itself tangible proof of endow- ment according to its assessed value, represent- ing in its erection moneys contributed and obtained indiscriminately from among the public community. Therefore it is impossible, seeing the public character of both church and chapel, to discriminate, as to confiscation and distribution of the property of the one, while leaving the other scathless and entirely free and intact-to say nothing of the difficulty there would be in handing back to the givers their respective offerings and donations. To treat the matter differently would be nothing if not robbery. The Churches of England and Nonconformist chapels are clearly buildings set apart for the use of all who choose to avail themselves of the services, which in both instances-Church and chapel-are distinctly public, and for the use of the public without let or hindrance.' There- fore, as to disendowment, it is nothing if not confiscation or robbery, and cannot be applied in any one-sided way-both Church and chapel must stand or fall together. Both are public, and for the use of the public. Then the same rule of disendowment will apply to both or not at all. If the principle of disendowment be admitted, i.e., disbursement of funds belonging to a public institution, in what sense may funds also belonging to the public in a bank or any other corporation be exempt ? And why should not the same principle of disendowment, or dis- bursement, equally apply ? Who is to be the judge, and where is the line to be drawn ? Nonconformists may say that the Church possesses funds which they do not. I take it that Nonconformists form as much a part of the Church, being Christians, as do members of the Church of England themselves, and as a community are not satisfied that the endowments of the Church of England should be held by that particular Church. In such an event, and the fact of equality (as members of the Christian community), being admitted, by what pretext can Nonconformists claim special, separate, and isolated exemption under a confiscatory Bill having for its object the plunder of their neighbour Church only as a part and to be considered totally and entirely distinct from them- selves. It is impossible, and would be robbery pure and simple under an admission of equality as members of Christ's Church to legislate in any one-sided manner, such as Nonconformists desire. They will not see that while we willingly grant them equality as members of the community meeting publicly for the worship of the one recognised God, yet deny their right, and their claim to be separately dealt with, when it comes to the hard and fast logic of pounds, shillings, and pence. I take it that great objection in Wales has been made to payment of tithe, but only in comparatively recent years. The principal reason given was the dislike of the payee, farmer, or holder of the land that such payment or money should be made to a clergyman repre- senting a religious denomination in whose minis- trations were unsought or not desired by such payee, who would, I presume in numerous instances, be a Nonconformist. Therefore, what amazes me is the apparent want of true sincerity and sterling honesty on the part of any individual, who while in the first place consenting and agreeing to take a farm holding, or land, having such tithe charge upon it, should afterwards, years it may be, turn round and seek to avoid such payment. Would not such individual enter into and upon an agreement of the kind with his eyes fully open ? I maintain that he would. Then why turn round and seek shelter in non-carrying out its terms ? Is that what Nonconformists would have people generally to believe as being a true definition of honest practice? Non- conformity having, as already named, thought well to separate itself from the Mother Church. It would now appear as if the degradation of such parent in this grand old historic Church of England were sought and gloried in, that a scramble if possible might follow for loaves and fishes which Dissenters are unable otherwise to obtain. Truly the grapes are sour. And what a nice example such Dissenters place before mankind in the carrying out of the divine command expressed in the New Testament, viz.: to avoid envyings, strifes, bitterness, jealousies, heartburnings, &c. I assure you I many times marvel as to the authority for the above animosity shewn by many Nonconformists towards the Church of England. The Divine Saviour certainly left no such command, but the great reverse. Will Dissenters and Repudiators of tithe deny this ? Chester, Sept., 1897. A. CESTBIAN.

0.- THE NEW INQUISITION. Sir,—I see by a report of the proceedings of the Hoole District Council, at a recent meeting, the life of a well-known official-a much respected citizen of Chester-was seriously threatened! It seems to me that some of our local governors deserve a similar fate to that in store for the doomed official' at Hoole. As a publican, I have been asked in the most inquisitorial manner to give information about my business, the amount of my takings, the quantity of beer I sell, and a lot of similar questions by those who represent the rating authorities. Such a demand is-as I am told in a circular which I received this morning- not only illegal, but impertinent, and I sin- cerely hope that all my fellow traders will refuse to recognise any right on the part of those who ask it to the information in question. —Yours truly, A PUBLICAN.

FLINTSHIRE AND CARNARVONSHIRE RIFLES. INTERESTING CONTROVERSY. Sir,-A Mr. H. R. Hughes, Lord-Lieutenant of Flintshire, has referred Lieut.-Col. Rees' cor- respondence with him on the subject of. the Flint, Carnarvon, and Anglesea Counties' Rifle Association to me, and as that officer seems to think that the Lord-Lieutenant is under a misapprehension as to the facts,' and wishes some steps to be taken to remove the insinua- tion which casts such an unfavourable reflection upon him,' I consider the best manner of doing justice to Lieut.-Colonel Rees (and others con- cerned) is to ask you to publish the enclosed correspondence, which I trust will enable the public to understand the merits of the dispute (and how a most useful and prosperous associa- tion, established by myself over 20 years ago, has been destroyed), and also be, as the Lord- Lieutenant hopes, satisfactory to Lieut.-Col. Bees. I must, however, take exception to cne statement made by that officer, viz., that the whole of the cups competed for were presented by Carnarvon and Anglesea gentlemen, and won by Flintshire men (and why not, if they were the best men ?). This is, to use a mild berm, inaccurate. The magnificent 50 guinea cup, which, together with 950 cash, was presented by Lord and Lady Pen- rbyn, in honour of the visit of their Royal Highnesses the, Prince and Princess of Wales to Penrbyn Castle—when the Hawarden Com- pany of the Regiment encamped at the Castle as a. guard of honour, being specially selected as cowing from the birth-place and old home of Lady Pfearhyn—the cup and cash were in the first plintended for the Hawarden Company alone. B&8 on my representation that so valuable a prize should be shot for by the whole battalion and not by one Flintshire Company,' Lord and Lady Penrbyn with their usual courtesy and kindness consented to my proposal (I have the correspondence), and that such was the case was well known in the regiment. I am glad to say the Hawarden Company won it three years in succession, and keep it, or I have no doubt Lieutenant-Colonel Rees would claim it as he has done the two other cups presented by Anglesea gentlemen to the 2nd V.B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. As to the meeting in March I endorse Lieutenant- Colonel Roberts' recollections.—I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, B. G. DAVIES-COOKE, Colonel, A.D.C., Late Colonel-Commandant 2nd V.B. R.W.F. Colomendy, Mold, 16th Sept., 1897. Carnarvon, Sept. 8,1897. Dear sir,—I notice in a paragraph in the Liverpool Courier of yesterday that it publishes a copy of a letter which you have widely circulated, soliciting subscriptions to a new Flintshire Rifle Association. In that letter you say that the Flint, Carnarvon, and Anglesey County Rifle Association has been suddenly dissolved by the unforseen and unex- pected action of Lieut.-Colonel Rees, commanding the 3rd V.B.R.W. Fusiliers, Carnarvon.' I cannot but infer that you have been mis- informed. Sometime before the original 2nd V.B.R.W.F. was divided on the 26th May last, it was known that the division would take place, and in the face of that knowledge, it was passed at a meeting of the F.C. and A. Association, so long ago as March last, Col. Davies-Cooke presiding, that the shooting meeting was to be carried on this year as before, notwithstanding that the battalion would be divided. I believe it was pointed out to the chairman that in the event of the battalion being divided it was unreasonable to expect that the officer, whoever he might be, appointed to the command of the 3rd V.B. would consent to a combined shooting meeting. For this reason, taking simply last year's programme and balance sheet, you will observe that the three silver cups competed for were presented by Carnarvon and Anglesey gentlemen, and won by Flintshire men. The amount of money subscribed towards the. prize fund in Carnarvonshire and Anglesey was more than double that subscribed for in Flintshire. On these facts you cannot but see that as I obtained the command of the 3rd V.B. I should not be doing what I could for the benefit of this battalion if I consented to a combination, and I think the enclosed programme will convince you that I have done wisely in declining to combine with Flintshire. It is a noteworthy fact that for the last 22 years, for which period I have held a commission in the original 2nd V.B., I do not remember that any Flintshire gentlemen ever presented a cup to be competed for by the battalion, and I only hope that the example given this year to that county by Car- narvonshire and Anglesey gentlemen will be followed by Flintshire gentlemen coming forward to answer your appeal in a generous manner. I trust you will pardon my writing at such length, but I feel sure you do not wish to remain under a misapprehension.—I remaioy yours truly, CHAS. H. REES. Lieut.-Col. O.C. 3rd V.B., Royal Welsh Fusiliers. To H. R. Hughes, Esq., Lord Lieut. of Flintshire, Kinmel, Flintshire. Carnarvon, Sept. 10th, 1897. Dear Sir,—As you forwarded my explanatory letter about the dissolving of the Flint, Carnarvon, and Anglesey County Rifle Association to Colonel Davies-Cooke, I assume by this that you are satisfied that you had been misinformed. When you stated that the Association has been suddenly dissolved by the unforeseen and unexpected action of Lieut.-Colonel Rees, commanding 3rd V.B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Carnarvon,' if I am right in my assumption, do you not think that you should take some steps to remove the insinuation which casts such an unfavourable reflection upon me, although doubtless you made the statement believing at the time the same to be true. I see a copy of your letter appears in the Standard of yesterday, so it is evident that 'a London paper publishing a letter relating to a purely local matter such as this is, has been induced to do so by a person who bears me malice. Apologising for thus again troubling you. I remain, yours faithfully, (Signed) CHAS. H. REES. To H. R. Hughes, Esq., Kinmel Park. Kinmel, September 11th, 1897. Dear Sir,—I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday's date. I have now before me two con- tradictory statements, which I am unable to reconcile. I cannot verify either of them without imputing inaccuracy to either Colonel Davies- Cooke or to yourself; but I will forward your second letter to Colonel Davies-Cooke, whose knowledge of the facts will enable him to deal with it, and I trust in a manner that will be satisfactory to yourself. I was not aware that my letter had appeared in the Standard.—Yours faithfully, (Signed) H. R. HUGHES. Lieut-Col. Rees, 3rd V. B. R. W. F. Southport, Sept. 14. 1897. Dear Colonel Davies-Cooke, -Some time in June, Captain Stubbs, as secretary of the Association, wrote to inform me he bad, at Lieut.-Colonel Rees' request, met him and Major Ashley at Conway; when Colonel Rees suggested the immediate division of the funds and assets of the Association, and requested Captain Stubbs to consult me on the matter. I replied that I did not consider it was a battalion matter, but one for the Association, and as an individual member of the Association I felt I had no more right to interfere than any one else, and that the arrangements made at the annual meeting were in the hands of a committee to carry out. and, as far as the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers were concerned, we were willing and anxious that this year's programme should be carried out, and should loyally do our part; the division of the battalion, in my opinion, need have nothing to do with the Association shooting, and I expressed the hope that Lieut.- Colonel Rees would take the same view. Nothing further was heard by me until about August, when Captain Stubbs reported am inter- view with Major Ashley, who informed him that at a meeting of the officers of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Lieutenant- Colonel Rees stated his intention of having a prize shooting for his own battalion, that the usual subscriptions from his companies would not be sent to the old Rifle Association, and that he did not wish his officers or men to take any part in the competitions. This, as Captain Stubbs remarked, meant stopping half the competitors and half the funds at his committee's disposal, so rendering it impossible to carry out this year's programme. I replied suggesting the committee should have a personal interview with Lieut.-Colonel Rees. and beg of him to reconsider his decision, and urge him to allow this year's arrangements to go on; and then later in the year if he (Colonel Rees) desired to have his own association, we could call the old one together and wind it up in a regular and friendly manner, leaving each battalion to make their own arrangements for next year. Acting upon this, Major Ashley and Capt. Stubbs went to Carnarvon, and waited upon Lieut -Colonel Rees, but much to the regret of all, failed to alter his views, as indeed circulars had then been issued (so Capt. Stubbs told me) soliciting subscriptions to the Carnarvon prize fund from the county gentry, so that it was useless the committee of the old Rifle Association issuing their usual circulars in that county there was then only one course open for us, and that was to form an association for Flintshire. Time being so short, I called a hurried meeting of our field officers and captains of companies to discuss the awkward position we were in, when we unani- mously agreed to have a Rifle Association for Flint, arranged a programme, and fixed the date for September 25th. Captain Keene was appointed secretary, and instructed to submit the whole state of affairs to the Lord Lieutenant and obtain his sanction and support to the new scheme. We were assisted most handsomely and generously, the Lord Lieutenant elected to issue his own circular, soliciting the support of the county gentry to the new Flint County Rifle Association,' and we hope there will be a liberal response to the appeal, and so place the association on a firm and lasting basis. Every effort was made by myself and the members of the old association to induce Col. Rees to co-operate with us for this year, but nothing would persuade him, consequently the old Counties Rifle Association came to an abrupt termination. These are the facts of the case, as far as I can remember, but writing away from home I have no papers at hand to refer to. There was no idea in my mind, and I think in the minds of the others present at the meeting in March last, that the possible division of the battalion would affect the shooting meeting in the least; my own and the secretary's letters bear this out. Further, my opinion is, that the remarks you made as to the probable early division of the battalion were not made at the Association meeting, but at the officers meeting held at same date later in the afternoon. Minutes of these meetings were taken by myself, and will show what took place. I would also remind you that in your remarks, you expressed the hope that the 2nd and 3rd Volunteer Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers would continue to work together in the future as in the past, with regard to the shooting meeting, camps, messing, &c., &c., and this hope we all shared, and it is a source of deep regret to all of us in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion that it has not been so. The cause is not ours. The minute book, and all letters that have passed can be sent for the Lord-Lieutenant's perusal, if desired.—I remain, yours faithfully, J. SHERIFF ROBERTS. Lieut.-Colonel Commanding 2nd V.B. R.W.F.