The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

WIRRAL BOARD OF GUARDIANS. 0 Mr. W. Knowles presided over the fortnightly meeting of the Wirral Board of Guardians, at Clatterbridge Workhouse, on Wednesday. THE LATE ALDERMAN WILLMER. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman referred to the death of Alderman Willmer, saying that for a number of years they had been acquainted with him. It would be about 15 years since Birkenhead reporters came to that Board, and they remembered that when they made mistakes they were reminded by the Press, and that when they had done their work satisfactorily they had also received recognition in the newspapers. Alderman Willmer well merited the position he held in Birkenhead. He had lived beyond the alloted time of three score years and ten, and he (the chairman) believed that until a few months before his death he had been as energetic and had taken as deep an interest in matters pertaining to Birkenhead and the neighbourhood as he had ever done. He moved that a vote of condolence be forwarded to the deceased's family.—Captain Congreve seconded, remarking that Alderman Willmer had been very useful on the Birkenhead and County Joint Board.—It was unanimously decided to carry out the chairman's proposition. A CHECKED CHEQUE. THE STORT OF A LONG UNPAID BILL. This matter arose in connection with a cheque for JE7 13s. 3d., money owed by the board to the late Mr. W. H. Bleakley. In consequence of Mr. Bleakley's death the account was not sent in to the Guardians within the specified time, and consequently the Board could not pay it. They therefore sent the account to the Local Government Board, who lost it, and replied 12 months later granting permission for the pay- ment of the money.—The Clerk (Mr. J. E. S. Ollive) then communicated with the solicitor to the deceased's estate, and forwarded a cheque. The solicitor replied that the trustee had been discharged, and that if the Guardians would make out a cheque to him it could go through the Board of Chancery.—After some discussion it was decided to write to the solicitor declining to make the cheque in his favour.—The Clerk stated that the account had appeared in the last quarter's book, and had been closed. MISCELLANEOUS. It was reported that the number of inmates was 132 for the fortnight, against 139 for the corresponding period last year, and the number of vagrants 65 relieved against 52. These figures included 16 males and 20 females in the Infirmar;y .The cheques passed amounted to 9294 12s., including Y,100 to Messrs. Maclachlan and Batkin, builders, and R,75 for outdoor relief. —It was said by Mr. Lloyd that the work of building the chapel was progressing very slowly.—Mr. Latham said there was a great difficulty in getting bricksetters to come out to Clatterbridge te work.—The architect, on being called into the room, said that bricklayers would not come out as there was plenty of work in Birkenhead. The chapel, however, would be quite ready by Christmas.

TEN MILLION TONS OF ORE! A company will shortly be brought out for public subscription for the purpose of acquiring and working as an industrial business, a body of gold bearing ore, which is said to be the largest in the known world-undoubtedly the largest owned by one company. Probably no other company has ever come before the public with a property containing so large a quantity of the raw material developed and ready for crushing, and it will readily be seen that the undertaking is quite an industrial business, and very different from ordinary mining in which the quantity of ore obtainable has too often to be ascertained after the formation of the com- pany. In fact there is no mining,' in the sense of seeking for ore, to be done the object being to erect machinery and crush the enormous supply of oar which is already available, and which the company will acquire. The property was secured several years ago, on behalf of English purchasers, and over six years have been spent upon development work in order to thoroughly prove its value and resources before issuing the shares for public subscription. Since the completion of the development work the property has been personally examined by well-known London and other engineers, who compute the available quantity of ore at up- wards of ten million tons! The ore is on the slope of a high mountain, and the vast quantity rises to an elevation of two thousand feet above the battery site; it is thus obtainable for crushing without the usual expense of either sinking, hoisting, or pumping. It is proposed to work with a battery of 250 stamps, and the quantity of ore is sufficient to keep this large number of stamps at work day and night for fifty to one hundred years! A perpetual water power, with a vertical fall of 400 feet upon the battery site, has been constructed, and belongs to the property; this supplies sufficient power to drive all the machinery practically without cost. Many hundreds of tests prove the value of the ore on a working basis to be about zEl 12s. per ton throughout the entire mass, and with the extraordinary facilities for working, the operat- ing expenses are found to be well covered at 5s°6d. per ton. Upon a very moderate basis as to profits-much lower than the above figures would indicate-the dividends on the shares are estimated at a minimum of 30 per cent. per annum. This for a period of fifty to one hundred years constitutes an investment which is eagerly sought for, and the shares will un- doubtedly be largely over-subscribed when issued. The directory of the company is an exceptionally strong one.-The Mining Journal, London.

THE SCURRILOUS ATTACK ON THE MAYOR. ♦ INDIGNATION AT BOUGHTON. EMPHATIC PROTESTS. An enthusiastic meeting was held on Thurs- day night in St. Paul's School, Boughton, in support of the candidature of Messrs. J. W. Carter and John M. Frost, the retiring repre- sentatives in the Town Council of Boughton Ward. Alderman W. H. Churton presided, and the attendance included, in addition to the candidates, Alderman George Dickson, Dr. Archer, Messrs. T. Gibbons Frost, R. Cecil Davies, R. P. Bradbury, J. G. Haswell, S. W. Lee, S. Rycroft, J. Vickers, W. Johnson, J. Minna, T. Mills, H. W. Lorett, &c. The two candidates gave an admirable ex- position of their views on municipal affairs, alluding with pardonable pride to the many improvements effected in Boughton during their term of office, and they both urged the rate- payers to split their votes on Monday next between them. Mr. FROST, proceeding, referred to the UNGRACIOUS AND FALSE ATTACKS made upon our worthy Mayor—(loud applause) —by the Chester Radical newspaper. Un- doubtedly and unfortunately our rates were higher this year than last, but it was entirely wrong to attribute that to the Mayor. The accounts were passed by the whole Council- (hear, hear)—and the Council was to blame; if they wanted to blame any one man he was as much guilty as the Mayor or anybody else. (A voice: Certainly," and applause.) Certainly our borough rate was 9d. more this year than last, and he would tell them why-it was owing to the unfortunate Sluices Bill. He for one was an opponent of that scheme, and he spoke against it and voted against it, but for all that they would have to stand by the vote of the Council and see the bill paid. (Hear, hear.) Fortu- nately for the citizens the poor rate this year was 5d. less, and that made a practical increase on the year's rate of 4d, the total being now 4s. 8d. against 4s. 4d. last year. The division on the Sluices Bill was strictly on non-party lines, and that immaculate paper, the Chroniale, warmly supported the Bill, and yet it accused them of it. He called it a most unmanly, cowardly attack on the part of the editor. (Applause.) Next year we should undoubtedly have a very considerable reduction in our rates, and he hoped we might yet derive some benefit from the Sluices Bill. With regard to the proposed extension of the boundaries, that was purely a question of £ s. d., and if we were to pay handsomely for the privilege of the outside districts receiving the benefits of the town, he should most strenuously oppose the proposal. (Applause.) ..t.IFla"aQn AVADAD I'\T.n_ AIUCIUIAU A/LUAOUN, 1LI IUUVLUG CK TUWJ of confidence in the candidates, alluded to the attack on Mr. B. C. Roberts. He bad had a great deal to do with the Mayor, politically and otherwise, and he was glad to have that public opportunity of saying that the statements that appeared in a certain paper in Chester were UNTRUTHFUL, VERY UNJUST, AND VINDICTIVE. (Loud applause.) What encouragement was there to Mr. B. C. Roberts and other busy men like him to take the high office of Mayor if they were to be attacked with such audacity and meanness ? (Applause.) If the man who wrote those statements believed them to be true he was the most ignorant man in the city of Chester. (Renewed applause.) He (the speaker) hoped he did not write them knowing them to be untrue, when it was his duty to ascertain if the statements were correct before printing them. Such conduct ought to be met with something more drastic than they were able to meet it with that night. (A voice: With scorn.") There had never been a Mayor in Chester so generous as Mr. B. C. Roberts—(loud applause)—and he had discharged the duties most efficiently. From what he had seen of Mr. Roberts, he said that a more straight- forward English gentleman did not exist. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the proposed extension of the boundaries, he complained of the grabbing and aggressive spirit of the Town Council, asking why the Council should not have tried to approach the other authorities in a friendly way. With regard to the two candi- dates, they had both been excellent councillors, and it was generally reported in the city that Mr. Carter was the handsomest man in the Council. (Laughter and applause.) Mr. THOMAS BURROWS seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. Dr. ARCHER, in proposing a vote of thanks to Alderman Churton for presiding, endorsed what had been said about the GROSSLY SCURRILOUS ATTACK ON THE MAYOR. (Applause.) Alderman Dickson had quite expressed his opinions, and what the opinions of any honest, upright citizen ought to be. For a local paper to produce such articles for party purposes, in order to secure a few votes at a municipal election was abominable, and it must in the future redound to the paper's eternal discredit. What encouragement was there to men to place their money and time at the service of the citizens as Mr. B. C. Roberts had done, in order that the city might benefit, if they were to be treated as their worthy Mayor had been ? (Applause.) He felt very strongly on the subject. Mr. Benjamin Roberts had been the chairman of one of the most important committees that had ever sat in the Town Hall-the Electric Light Committee-and if it had not been for his industry and perseverance, the light would not have been in Chester for years. Under a Radical chairman slow progress was made with the scheme, but when Mr. Roberts was elected chairman the thing went ahead at once. The consequence had been that the price of gas had been reduced from 3a. 4d. a thousand some eight or ten years ago to 2s. lld., a saving of 5d. per thousand. The elec- tric light was the property of the citizens- (applause)—and if Mr. Ben. Roberts had never done anything more than what he had done in that connection, he had done sufficient to war- rant their eternal thanks. He had taken the monopoly of the lighting of Chester out of the hands of a private company, and had given the citizens the management of it in their own hands. (Applause.) Alluding, in conclusion, to Mr. Churton, he said they might almost describe him as the John Bright of the Chester Corporation. The CHAIRMAN introduced to the meeting Mr. R. P. Bradbury, who he said had behaved mag- nanimously in allowing Mr. William Brown to be returned unopposed in St. John's Ward. It was felt that having regard to Mr. Brown's age and his services to the city we ought to SET AN EXAMPLE TO THE OTHER SIDE, and not attack him. Mr. Bradbury, they hoped, would soon become a member of the Council. (Applause.) Mr. BRADBURY briefly seconded the vote of thanks, which was warmly accorded. Alderman CHURTON replied in a racy speech. He had always been friendly with Mr. Coppack, and while he thought they should abstain from personalities, they had a right, as ratepayers, to exercise a little gentle criticism if a man came out as a public servant. They did not think Mr. Coppack quite the man to represent them in the Council. (Applause.) He was a member for Boughton for some years, and then he ran away and said he would never serve the ward again. After that, however, he came out as a political candidate against Mr. John Frost. He (Mr. Churton) had always felt that Mr. Coppack had NOT THAT SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE they wanted in a Town Councillor. In 1894 there was an aldermanic vacancy, for which he and Mr. John Smith, a very respectable publican, were candidates, and Mr. Coppack who was always supposed to be a very strong advocate of temperance and who had over and over again expressed a desire that he (Mr. Churton) should be an alder- man voted against him, and he missed getting the dignity through that vote. Mr. Coppack had a right to vote as he liked, but on that occa- sion he voted against his conscience, wishes, and desires, and shewed a lack of independence. How could they expect him to be independent in the future ? Messrs. Carter and John Frost had, on the other hand, voted independently in the Council, as, for instance, in the case of the Sluices Bill, which Mr. Carter voted for, and Mr. Frost against. That shewed they exercised their own brains, and were not the mere tools of any political party. He urged them to SPLIT BETWEEN CARTER AND FROST, and not do as Mr. Coppack was asking them, split between him and one of their candidates. Alluding to the proposed extension of the boundaries Alderman Churton said because he mi^ht be personally interested in the question he could not speak on it in the Town Council, but he would say now that there was only one man in the Council who cared twopence about the scheme, and that was Alderman Charles Brown. He prepared the bullets, and Alderman Henry Thomas Brown fired them. (Laughter.) Mr. Chas. Brown lived in Newton, and was very anxious to have Newton in the city, because he did not get on very well with the local authorities there. (Laughter.) Entering fully into the question, Mr. Churton contended that it would be very costly, and the city would be the losers by the proposed extension. They had much better, in his opinion, try to develop the city within its boundaries. They were being asked to BUY A PIG IN A POKE and to shut their eyes and open their mouth and see what God would send them. (Laugh- ter.) With regard to the Mayor, he was sure his Worship was so very well known as one of our most generous, kind- hearted citizens, that it was absolutely unnecessary to say anything in defence of him. Anything more RIDICULOUS, PUERILE, AND CHILDISH than the attacks made upon him could not well be imagined. (Applause.) There was not a foundation of truth in them, and one would have thought that when a man bad served the city faithfully for two years, the commonest decency would have forbidden such downright ungenerous attacks being made upon him. One of the principal charges made against the Mayor was that he was responsible for borrowing a sum of money at four per cent. from Parr's Banking Company. It was news to him, having occupied the position of Mayor, that the Mayor was to carry the whole of the Corporation on his shoulders. (Laughter.) We had what was called a Chancellor of the Exchequer, the chairman of the Finance Committee (Alder- man Gilbert), to whom everybody looked in financial matters, but did we find the Chronicle attacking Alderman Gilbert ? Not one single word did they say against him. If anyone was to be made responsible for anything wrong in the finances Alderman Gilbert was the man. He did not say there was any blame attaching to anyone, for the whole thing was practically a farce, and had only been brought forward for the 1st November. (Applause.) There were two phases of borrowing from a bank-one unpardonable and the other pardonable. He had always held that it was wrong for the Council to have no balance to work upon, and he had brought the matter before the Council more than once, but had always been beaten, and by the Radical party, who for many years were in a majority in the Council. By keeping a certain sum in hand they would avoid the necessity of going to the bank for money, for which they had to pay, but there were occasions when it was necessary to go to the bank, and if there ever was an occasion when that was so it was when they borrowed THIS &;&4,UUU FOR THE ELECTRIC LIGHT. (Applause.) The electric light was being paid for with money borrowed from the Government at the rate of 2i per cent. interest, and with the sum we paid back per annum we paid about 5 per cent. altogether, principal and interest. Of course, we should have a profit from the electric light, and he thought there would be sufficient to pay back our principal and interest. These Government offices, however, were rather slow in their movements, and the Corporation could not afford to wait until all the red tapeism was carried out before proceeding with their works, so they set to work determin- ing to put up their plant, and carry out the works. As the money had not come from Government they had to go to the bank, as a temporary expedient, and pay four per cent. As the money was only borrowed temporarily he did not think the rate of interest was excessive, being only li more than if they borrowed from the Local Government Board. He saw the Chronicle said that because the Mayor signed the minutes he was responsible for the Corporation's actions, but if the Council approved of the minutes as being a correct record of what they had done the Mayor was legally bound to sign them. (Applause.) It was impossible to believe that the story put forward should have credence with any old woman in Chester, let alone the ratepayers. The Chronicle spoke of Mr. Roberts' slip-shod and extravagant methods of business,' but he (Mr. Churton) had never found Mr. Roberts slip-shod or extravagant, and then the paper went on to mention the following rates levied in Chester during the last few years, in order to shew the extravagance of the Unionist party :— lByi, 23. Yd.; inn, zs. lid.; 1893, 3s. 3d.; 1894, 3s. Id.; 1895, 2s. 10d.; 1896, 2s. 9d.; 1897, 2s. lid.; 1897-8, 3s. 8d. He wanted them to observe that the Unionist party came into power in 1895, and Ehat the UNIONISTS REDUCED THE RATES as soon as they came into office. (Applause.) To say that the Unionists had put the city to expense was an abso- lute lihel, as untrue as it was unjust. The Radical paper said the Tories had raised the rates this year, but if a man kept back half the truth, it was as bad as telling an absolute and deliberate lie. It was an absolute fabri- cation to say that about the Tories. The rates were raised, and he was not going to shirk it. owing to the Sluices Bill. That was entirely a non-party question, and the expenditure was incurred by the whole Council. He (Mr. Churton) was considerable responsible for that Bill, and one of his strongest supporters was the editor of the Chronicle, who knew, he (the speaker) did not hesitate to say, that the addition to the rates arose entirely and absolutely out of having to pay for the Sluices Bill, and yet the editor was silent en the subject because he knew it was the very Bill he had supported. (Applause.) If Chester people were going to be GULLED BY SUCH TRASH as had appeared in that paper, there was an end to all honest and fair criticism. He said "Support your party as you can, but do not let the party be supported at the expense of truth, honour, and justice." (Applause.) That was what the Chronicle had been doing the last three or four weeks, because it had been found that the Radical party was nearly extinct, and something must be done to stir it up, or else it would go to pieces altogether. (Laugh- ter.) He only hoped such conduct would meet with its own reward, and that the ratepayers would shew their sense of it by returning Mr. Carter and Mr. Frost at the head of the poll. (Prolonged applause.)

DR. DALLINGER IN CHESTER. A lecture on such an uncommon subject as Spiders,' given by the world-famous scientist Dr. Dallinger, was a quite sufficient cause for the assembly of the large audience in the Music Hall on Thursday night. Dr. Stolterfoth took the chair, and, in introducing the lecturer, said he thought there was no higher authority on microscopic subjects than Dr. Dallinger. After touching upon the feeling of repulsion with which the spider is generally regarded, the class to which it belongs and the groups into which the species is divided, the lecturer went on to deal chiefly with the insect's construction so far as affected the manufacture of its web, its en- gineering skill and general reasoning power. He explained, with the aid of magnificent lantern illustrations, how the spider makes its web, the beautiful construction of which has always been the admiration of intelligent people, his remarks being characterised by an attractiveness and lucidity which made his points clear and interesting to all his audience. He admitted that the spider preyed upon other insects, but he had come to the conclusion that, practically, there was no animal that did not maintain its own life by means of direct or in- direct depredation upon the lives of others. He had seen men and women of intelligence who on seeing a spider take possession of a well-conditioned fly would, by looks and sneers, say What a cruel thing to do and he had observed those same people go into a restaurant and dining room and sit down to devour a barndoor fowl or a pretty little rabbit. (Laughter.) The spider must not be placed among that group of beings who simply lived to eat, for those who studied the spider care- fully would find that it ate that it might spin-and there were plenty ot men who did not do that. The Very Rev. the DEAN moved a vote of thanks to Dr. Dallinger for his brilliant lecture. This was carried with acclamation, and Dr. DALLINGER suitably returned thanks.

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CYCLING CLUB DINNER. « About sixty members and a few friends of the Chester Cycling Club rode to victory over a good dinner at the Coach and Horses, on Wednesday night. It was the annual gathering, and was presided over by Councillor John Jones (Boughton), president of the club, others present being, Messrs. A. Vernon, vice-presi- dent; J. Griffith and G. Boaz, secretaries; R. Jerome, treasurer; and C. H. J. Hankinson, captain. The first toast, given by the Chair- man, was The Queen and Royal family.' This, owing to the unexpected death of the Duchess of Teck, was drunk in silence. Then came the toast of the evening, I The Chester Cycling Club.' In giving it, Mr. G. S. N. Hull said they could not help but appreciate the admirable way in which the club was carried on. It was greatly to the credit of the officers and mem- bers generally that the club was in such a flourishing condition. In the matter of comradeship they all knew what a I jolly good lot' the Chester Cycling Club had been. Besides their other pursuits they had found time to help his (the speaker's) comrades, the Hospital Saturday Committee, with the result that in four years they had been able to hand over to the Infirmary the sum of £400. (Hear, hear.) That alone would be something for the Cycling Club to be proud of. He was at the club dinner some years ago, when Mr. Yerburgh was in the chair, and it was suggested that a cycle track and general athletic ground should be estab- lished for the city. They had not yet got that athletic ground-it was still coming, but if he were to believe the whispers he heard, it was not so far off as was generally anticipated. He was sure that if the hand was held out, the Chester Club would be found to be staunch supporters and good friends.—The Chairman, in responding, said that Mr. Yerburgh had told him that if they could find a suitable site for an athletic ground, he would do his part. He was sure Mr. Yerburgh would do his part-(hear, hear) and there was no one in Chester who would more like to see the people have a proper ground that he (the chairman). No cycling club ever had better officers than the Chester Cycling Club. Everything was conducted straightforwardly, and that was the principle on which all clubs should be worked. Men who did not work straightforwardly in all their undertakings would never do much. In the Chester Cycling Club they had a splendid, respectable lot of young fellows, and the assembly that night was one which perhaps no town of a similar size could shew under the same conditions.—Mr. A. Vernon, who also responded, said the real success of the club was that everything connected with it was fair and above board. ThAV had a ornnd nrARirlAnt.- 0" r- captain, and treasurer, and good secretaries, and they all did their work well. They had a com- mittee which did not work for self-interest. (Hear, hear.) Years ago, when they were culculating the balance-sheet, they anxiously debated as to whether it would shew a balance on the wrong side. Some- times it was half-a-sovereign against them, on other occasions it would be about that much for them. This year they had 930 to the good. (Applause.) To a great extent the club was indebted to outsiders, without whose aid in supporting the races, they would not have been able to give the £ 35 worth of prizes away. He had heard someone say that a race contested by the members of the Chester Cycling Club was better to witness than a race of professionals, as they knew the local men rode to win. They had great hopes of a cycle track, and if they obtained it there would be plenty of competitors. They could not do much on grass.—Mr. W. Pleavin submitted fhe Officers and Com- mittee," to which Mr. R. Jerome replied. The next event was the distribution of the prizes, the chairman officiating in an able manner. The prize-winners were:—First race meeting-One mile handicap: 1, T. Smith; 2, C. Huskisson; 3, J. S. Mercer and J. R. Hughes. Two miles handicap: 1, J. S. Mercer; 2, C. A, Cowie; 3, W. H. Gwynn. Second race meeting —One mile handicap: 1, T. Smith; 2, J. S. Mercer; 3, J. R. Hughes. Three miles handi- cap: 1, C. A. Cowie; 2, J. S. Mercer; 3, W. Blackwell. Horticultural fete races-One mile handicap 1, C. A. Cowie 2, H. Barlow 3, J. S, Mercer. Two miles handicap: 1, F. Lythgoe; 2, J. S. Mercer; 3, C. A. Cowie. One mile open _I 1 P TT .*LI T -_u_ 1 n T N UIoC\1: ±, n. xia-mutou, iiverpooi z, J. o. Mercer; 3, C. A. Cowie. Championship meet- ing-One mile: 1, J. R. Hughes; 2, C. H. Hus- kisson; 3, W. H. Gwynn. Twenty-five miles championship: 1 (medal and Yerburgh Challenge Bowl), C. A. Cowie; 2, T. Smith; 3, J. S. Mercer; special lap prize, R. A. Rolt.—After the ceremony, Mr. W. J. Coppack proposed 'The racers and priz-winners: Messrs. C. A. Cowie and J. S. Mercer responded. They were naturally overcome by modesty and mirth, and their few remarks were much enjoyed.—Mr. Taylor acknowledged the toast of 'The Visitors,' given by Mr. J. H. Price, the remaining toasts being The Chairman,' and The Host,' Proceedings terminated late, and were altogether much enjoyed, additional zest having been infused through the vocal contributions of Messrs. J. Phillips, C. Rowley, H. Gandy, R. Denson, and G. Moore, the latter reciting. All the gentlemen named were in fine voice, and deserved the high praise they received. Mr. H. Stone acted as accompanist.

SERIOUS CYCLING ACCIDENT IN WIRRAL. A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. Shortly before eleven o'clock on Saturday night, Mr. Thomas Robb was picked up in an unconscious condition some distance from his residence at Barnston, with a terrible bruise on the right side of his head. His bicycle, quite uninjured, was found near the spot. The unfortunate gentleman was carried by two men to a neigh- bouring cottage, and he was afterwards removed home in a dog cart. Shortly before the accident Mr. Geo. Robb, brother of the injured gentleman, and a friend, who were driving home in a trap, passed half a dozen men near Barnston, but up to the present no explanation of the mystery can be offered. Before starting on his journey home, Mr. Robb remarked to a friend I never go at any speed in the dark," which discourages the idea that he may have been guilty of reckless riding. Our correspondent, who visited the scene, states that the road is in excellent order at this point, and those who examined the track of the bicycle early on Sunday morning state that it led without a swerve to the point where it was found. A low stone wall takes the place of the fence opposite, but those who made the examination while the tracks were fresh state that the cycle had not left the road. In an interview with our correspondent, William Joinson, one of the two men who first called attention to Mr. Robb's condition, has given his version of what he knows of the matter. Joinson, who is employed with Mr. Owen, farmer, Barnston, states that on Saturday night he was returning from Heswall Slack, and while upon the road, he got into company with Mr. Forshaw, the local black- smith, a man known as Sam the joiner,' a man named Morris, and Ralph Robinson. The men finally turned off to their own homes, with the exception of Robinson, who accom- panied him alone. They were walking on opposite sides of the road, and Robinson was about fifty yard in advance, when he (Joinson) heard a crash, and found that Mr. Robb and his bicycle were lying in the road between him and Robinson. He does not remember having noticed any light on Mr. Robb's cycle. They rendered all the assistance in their power, and summoned help from Mr. Taylor's farm adjoining. Dr. Mitchell-Banks, who has been called in consultation with Dr. Blunden, fully concurred in the opinion expressed by the latter, to the effect that the symptoms are now favourable, and that Mr. Robb will eventually recover. On Thursday there was a slight return of consciousness, and he was able to recognise those about him, but he had not recovered to such an extent as to be able to give any account of what caused his injuries. On making personal inquiry at Border Farm, Barnston, on Friday morning, our correspondent was informed that Mr. Robb was progressing as favourably as could be expected.

THROAT AFFECTIONS AND HOARSENESS.—BEOWKV BRON- CHIAL TROCHES, which have proved so successful in America for the cure of Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh, or any irritation or soreness of the throat, are now imported and sold in this country at Is. 1J. per box. Put up in the form of a lozenge, it is the most convenient, pleasant, safe, and sure remedy for clearing and strengthening the voice in the world. No family should be without them. The genuine have the words BROWN'S BRONCHIAL TROCHES on the Govern, meut stamp around each box.—London Depot, 33, Far. ringdon-road, and of all fatent Medicine Vendors.

PRODSHAM PETTY SESSIONS. » WZDNESDAY.-Before Messrs. A. Thomas (pre- siding) and W. Mortimer. RATSS.—The overseers of the following town- ships applied for, and were empowered t. levy the undermentioned rates—Alvanley, lOd. in the JE., estimated to realise X69 63. 7d.; Helsby, Is. in the X., X376 7a. 4d.; Frodsham, 9604 3s.; Newton, Is. 3d., L56 8a. lOd. A CARTER DRUNK.—James Ainsworth, carter, Frodsham, was fined 10s., including costs, for being drunk on the highway in charge of a horse and cart at Frodsham on the 6th Oct. Sergt. Clays proved the case. SELLING COAL WITHOUT WEIGHT.—Ellen Clayes, Frodsham, was summoned for selling coal without using a correct weighing instru- ment.—W. J. Hallard, inspector of weights and measures, said he saw defendant's coal cart on the 7th inst., and intended to weigh the bags, when defendant's son told him there was no weighing machine. Witness noticed that the bags that were filled with coal were not labelled. He had cautioned defendant pre- viously for not taking thejnachine out with the cart when selling coal.—Fined la. and costs (8s. 6d.). KILLING A PIGEON.—Albert Pover was charged with shooting a pigeon, value 2s. 6d., the property of John Austin, Frodsham, on the 5th October.—Prosecutor said he heard the report of a gun in his garden close to the house, and his son, who was in the garden at the time, saw a bird drop on the ground, and afterwards saw defendant, who had a gun under his arm, with another man in the garden. Prosecutor, when informed of the occurrence, went in search of the men and found defendant in the Queen's Head Hotel, with the gun in his possession. He asked him if he had shot the pigeon, and defendant said he had not.- Defendant now admitted to the Bench that he shot the bird, but pleaded that he thought it was a stray pigeon.—The Bench ordered him to pay the value of the bird, and also the costs of the case. OBSTRUCTION IN MUN-STREBT. David Ainsworth and William Brereton, labourers, Frodsham, were summoned for obstructing the passage in Main-street by allowing a lurry with two horses to stand an unreasonable time on the 15th October.—P.C. Needham proved the case, and said defendants were inside a public- house the worse for drink, and had been staying there three-quarters of an hour. During the whole of this time the cart was standing out- side.—Defendants were each fined 5s. and costs. NIGHT POACHING.—Samuel Hoose, James Whitby, and Abraham Burkhill, labourers, Frodsham, were summoned on suspicion of having been trespassing in pursuit of game on the 17ch inst.-P.C. Alfred Price said that early on Sunday morning when on duty with another officer in Five Crosses he saw defendants coming from the direction of the golf ground, and, suspecting them of poaching, he concealed himself in a shed by the road, and waited till the men came past. They walked past, and witness and his companion rushed at them. Whitby managed to escape, but the others were secured. Whitby, when making his escape, dropped a bag on the road, and witness found in it three rabbits, some cord, and a bludgeon. The other defendants were in possession of game, nets, and rabbits.—P.C. Needham, who was in company with the last witness, cor- roborated.—Another constable deposed that on the previous night he saw the three defendants going towards the country. He suspected them of poaching, and accordingly instructed the other constables to watch them.—Each defen- dant was fined 10s. and costs, or in default 14 days.

NESTON PETTY SESSIONS. À FRIDAY.—Before Mr. R. Bushell, Col. Lloyd, T. Brocklebank, and T. Clarke. BREAKING THE FISHERY BYE-LAWS.—Richard Peters, Lemuel Mellor, and Joseph Mellor, were charged with taking mussels from a bed in the Dee by means of a rake, when there was less than four feet of water on the bed. Mr. Jolliffe prosecuted, and Bailiff Quirk gave evidence. Defendants, who denied the offence and stated that they picked the mussels by hand, were fined 5s. each. In reply to Mr Brocklebank, Mr. Jolliffe stated that persons were allowed to pick mussels by hand if the mussels were of the proper size. ALLOWING CATTLE TO STRAY.—The following persons were fined various small amounts for allowing horses, donkeys, or cattle to stray, viz: Mary Williams, Willaston; Andrew Gibbons, Raby-road, Neston; Joseph Bartley, Chester- road, Neston; James Elliott Tyson, Raby Mere. PROFANE LANGUAGE.—James Evans, sum- moned by Sergeant Wilson for this offence, was fined 2s. 6d.; Mary Smith, summoned by Constable Dawson, fined 5s.; William Carmen and Thomas Green (Raby), summoned by Con- stable Lewsley, fined 5s. and costs each. HUSBAND AND WrFic.-Mary Phillips sum- moned her husband, James Phillips, for a separation order. Mr. R. Swift, solicitor, stated that the parties were married in 1883, and lived happily together for two years, after which defendant treated his wife very badly. The evidence given was of a very painful description. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Ann Lawley was charged with being drunk in Mellock-lane, Little Neston. There was a second charge against defendant of being drunk and dis- orderly on another occasion. Constable Bostock proved the case, and defendant was ordered to pay 5s. for the two offences.—Mary Peers, for a similar offence in Pyke's Weint, was fined 5s., including costs. Constable Dawson gave evidence.—Joseph Mellor, summoned by Sergt. Wilson for a similar offence, was fined 5s., including costs. OFFENCES AGAINST THE LICENSING LAWS.— Joseph Mellor and John Ollerhead were summoned by Constable Dutton for being drunk on licensed premises, viz., the Brown Horse Inn. The officer and the landlord of the Brown Horse Inn (Thomas Wilkin) having given evidence, defendants were fined 2s. 6d. each or three days.—George Fewtrell, the younger, was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the Coach and Horses Inn on October 5th. John Kemp, the landlord, gave evidence, and defendant, who pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay 10s. and costs. THE NEW BYE-LAW IN REFERENCE TO CARRYING LIGHTS ON VEHICLES.—Esther Little- more, cockle gatherer, was summoned for driving a vehicle without a light between the hours of seven and eight p.m. — Constable Dutton gave evidence, and for the defence it was stated that the glasses of the lantern fell out, and the light thus became extinguished.— As this was the first case of the kind here, it was dismissed with a caution. £'1.11' WDr1'D ny,1 Vmn.T.y.rt nn"'TY?'TK"'T""T'I"IIInn_- vnAcvura KJJB a ao> ax 11. x i cr i/nunaAnriAoo, John Wood, landlord of the Red Lion Hotel, Parkgate, was charged with permitting drunken- ness on his licensed premises on the 13th October.—Mr. Pugh, barrister, Liverpool, defended.—P.C. Dutton deposed to visiting the house in company with P.C. Dawson, and finding a man named Brierley in the kitchen, with the landlord, his wife and two sons. Brier- ley was drunk, and the landlord, on having his attention called to him told him to go out. He had to steady himself against the doorposts and counter as he went out. When he got outside Brierley said, Are you going to take me to the doctor ?" Witness replied that that was not his duty, but he could go himself if he liked, and the man went in the direction of home. The landlord then asked if he would be summoned, and witness told him he should be obliged to report him.- Richard Luxton, groundsman to Mr. Grenfell, Mostyn House, said he saw the two constables speaking to Wood and Brierley at a quarter to ten on the night in question, and the two latter were both drunk. He had seen Wood in the afternoon, and he was then drunk.—Mr. Pugh called evidence for the defence, from the de- fendant himself, Edward Brown, Lee Wood, John Wood, John Brierley, and Bessie Brierley, who all testified that Brierley was sober, and the case was ultimately dismissed.—The charge of drunkenness against Brierley was also dis- missed. A PARKGATE SCANDAL.-Ilenry H. Bulley, organist of the Neston Parish Church, was sum- moned by Stephen Scarratt, secretary to the Wirral Colliery Company, for assault. There was a second summons against Mr. Bulley, and a cross-summons for assault. Mr. Brassey appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Bulley conducted his own defence. The case excited much local interest. Mr. Brassey said there bad been some friction between the two families for some time, and there had been previous summonses. On September 7th his client, who lived at Parkgate, went down the Parade in company with Mr. J. Parry, a local tradesman, and stopped talking to him on the roadway near the Union Hotel. Mr. Bulley and his daughter were observed by a witness following in the same direction, and from what this witness heard there was no doubt the defendant was organising an attack upon his client. On reaching the latter defendant gave him a vielent butting, and spat in his face, saying his wife was a lady, but complainant's was not. Defendant had made his client's life a burden to him. Scarratt stated that he lived on thev Parade, Parkgate, and on the 7th September he was in conversation with Mr. Parry near the Union Hotel. There was plenty of room for anyone to pass them, a space of fully four or five yards. While witness was talking to Mr. Parry defendant came up and pushed against him, saying Your Welsh dwarfs have been at it again," and repeated the language mentioned by Mr. Brassey. By the words Welsh dwarfs defendant was referring to witness' children. Witness took hold of defendant by the arm saying "Mr. Bulley, you are in drink." The latter raised his stick, exclaiming Hands off, you pup." Witness after- wards engaged Mr. Roberts, solicitor, to write to defendant for a public apology, but the apology was not made.—John Norman stated that on the evening in question he saw de- fendant passing along the Parade with defendant's daughter. He heard defendant say, Now we've got him, and we'll give it to him." His daughter asked him for his stick, and he said, No, it will come in." Witness afterwards saw Mr. Bulley push against Mr. Scarratt. Mr. Bulley rejoined his daughter by Mr. Carter's house, and remarked, I gave it to him this time."—Jos. Parry corroborated Mr. Scarratt's evidence with the exception of the spitting which he heard but did not see.—Defendant indignantly denied that he had spat at de- fendant, or assaulted him. He had had great provocation, and Mr. Scarratt had made very libellous remarks about his wife in the presence of his daughter, and had threatened to get him ousted from the position of parish organist. He admitted telling prosecutor to keep his wife in order,' and also admitted using the language about her which had been given in evidence.—Beatrice Amy Bulley, who stated that she was only a yard or two away from the parties, denied that her father had been guilty of the conduct attributed to him by the wit- nesses, or that she asked him for his stick.— Defendant stated that he had removed his family thirteen miles from the Scarratt's owing to the unpleasantness which had been going on.—Mr. T. Brocklebank, a magistrate, said it was a very disgusting case. It was a scandalous thing that a gentleman in Mr. Bulley's position should have used such disgusting language, and that he should be summoned twice over in con- nection with such cases. He would be fined 10s. and costs.

ALLEGED FALSE PRETENCES AT CHESTER. ♦ COMMITTAL TO THE ASSIZES. At Chester Castle Petty Sessions Occasional Court, on Friday, before Mr. Jos. Pover, Elizabeth Fleming, a widow, living in Chester, was charged on a warrant with obtaining a neck of mutton, and a pound of suet, value 4s. 8d., the property of Hannah Gardner, butcher, Ermine- road, Hoole. Detective-Inspector Pearson deposed to apprehending prisoner the previous day. He had ascertained that the woman went to Mrs. Gardner's shop on Saturday last, and represented that she had been sent from Mrs. Baillie, of the Nurseries, to order the meat. Mrs. Gardner told her that the order had already been given, and prisoner then said that Mrs. Baillie had more company in her house than she had expected. Mrs. Gardner then supplied her with the articles. The woman's statement had been found to be false.—She was remanded. Prisoner was brought before the magistrates at Chester Castle on Saturday. — Edmund Baillie, son of the late Mr. E. J. Baillie, living at Woodbine Cottage, Upton, said that at the time of the alleged offence the prisoner was not in his mother's service, and there was no truth in any of the statements she had made as to his mother having sent her to Mrs. Gardner for the meat.—Detective Inspector Pearson stated that on Wednesday, the 27th October, he obtained a description of the prisoner from Mrs. Gardner, and on the following day he found her at the premises of Mr. Dobbins, marine store dealer, Canal-side. After some hesitation she admitted having obtained the meat in the name of Mrs. Baillie, and said she sold part of the mutton. Mrs. Gardner subsequently identified her, and applied for a warrant, which was issued, and the woman taken into custody. She made no reply to the reading of the warrant.—Prisoner was com- mitted to the Assizes for trial, having nothing to say in her defence. Prisoner was further charged with obtaining by false pretences, on the same day, certain washing powder, soap, and candles, value Is. 4d., from Edward Robert Lewis, grocer, Ermine- road, Newton. Prisoner went to the shop between eight and nine o'clock, and made a similar false representation to the prosecutor's daughter, that she had been sent by Mrs. Baillie.- Prisoner was also committed to the Assizes on this charge.

CHESTER MEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT 0 At Northop Petty Session, on Thursday, before Mr. Charles Davison (chairman), and Messrs. J. Watkinson, Peter Jones, and J. T. Humphreys, George R. Newns, insurance agent, and Robert Newns, hairdresser, both of 4, Phillip-street, Hoole, Chester, were summoned by William George Evison, butcher, of Connah's Quay, for threats. Mr. T. W. Hughes appeared for the complainant, and Mr. J. B. Marston (instructed in court), acted for the defendants. In his opening statement Mr. Hughes called the complainant, who stated that the defendant George R. Newns, was his father-in-law, and the other defendant his brother-in law. His wife was parted from him, and now resided with the defendants. On the morning of the 25th instant, while he was getting his breakfast, the defendants burst into his house like wolves,' and wanted to fight. The younger defendant said he would do for him, and would knock his face off; he called him names. Both the defendants left the shop and commenced to abuse him verbally in the street. They both said they would do for him, and he was in bodily fear of them.—Cross-examined Com- plainant said both defendants came to fight him, and that they did not leave the shop when he asked them, and he did nothing beyond that. James Morris, complainant's assistant, gave corroborative evidence, and said that Newns, jun., had his coat off, and put his fist in complainant's face. On the same afternoon he was in Chester on business, when he met the two defendants, and they threatened violence towards the complainant. Henry Smith, assistant at a shop opposite, proved hear- ing the threats and the complainant replying that he had not married the family. Mr. Marston, for the defence, alleged cruelty by the complainant towards his wife, and urged that the defendants had merely gone to Connah's Quay to remonstrate with him as to his past conduct.—The elderly de- fendant was then called. He said he was a shoemaker at Accrington. His arm was now bad through blood-poisoning, and was in a sling, as at present, on the day in question. He went to Connah's Quay in consequence of a letter written by complainant to his wife, who was defendant's daughter. He, in cross-examina- tion, said he did not tell his son to knock com- plainant's face off. Also it was not true when he saw'Morris in Chester that he threatened complainant.—Robert Newns was then called, and stated he went down to Connah's Quay to reason with complainant on account of his cruelty to his (defendant's) sister. Some words passed, and in the heat of the moment he offered to fight the complainant, but be declined.—The Bench decided that the past conduct of the complainant would be the sub- ject of consideration in other proceedings. They had no doubt that threats bad been used, and the defendants would each be bound over in X10 to keep the peace for six months, and must pay the costs.

NEW JUDGE.—Mr. A. M. Cliannell, Q.C., has been appointed one of the Judges of High Courts of Justice, in place of Mr. Justice VaughaU Williams, appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. ADVICE TO MOTHERS !-Are you broken 1ll your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chemis and get a bottle of MRS. WINSLOW'S SOOTHING SYRUP, which has been used over 50 years by millions. of mothers for their children while teething, with perfect success. It is pleasant to taste produces natural, quiet sleep by rdieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes as bright as a button." It soothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, relieves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Sold by everywhere at la. lid. per bottle.