The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

ST. DAVID'S DAY. CHESTER WELSH SOCIETY'S DINNER. The anniversary of the patron saint of Wales was celebrated at Chester on Monday evening by the customary dinner under the auspices of the Chester Welsh Society. The function took place in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, and was most enjoyable and successful, the gathering being probably a. record one numerically. The Mayor (Dr. John Roberts) presided, and was accompanied by the Mayoress (Miss Roberts), the attendance including the Sheriff (Mr. Henry Dodd) and Mrs. Dodd, Mr. Robert Yerburgh, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Roberts, Mr. J. J. Cunnah, Mr. R. J. Davies (president of the society), Dr. Emrys Jones {Manchester), Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Dickson, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Churton, Dr. and Mrs. Stolterfoth, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Brown, Mr. J. G. Holmes and the Misses Holmes, Dr. and Mrs. Taylor, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Williams, Colonel Evans-Lloyd, the Rev. R. A. Thomas (vice-principal of the Chester Diocesan Training College), the Rev. H. Ivor Jones, the Rev. D. Gwynfryn Jones, Dr. Harrison, Dr. Duff, Dr. Lloyd Roberts, Messrs. John Griffiths, R. B. L. Johnston, F. F. Brown, Henry Jones, J. H. Dickson (Deputy Town Clerk), W. Peers. W. Sinclair Jones, Morris Parry, J. H. Laybourne, R. J. Williams, F. J. Warmsley, C. Cooper, W. H. Davies, F. Skipwith, J. Fenna, R. A. Jones, Lawrence Booth, R. T. Morgan, W. G. Williams, R. P. Bradbury, H. G. Allan Davies (hon. secretary), and Evan Williams (hon. treasurer). Letters explaining absence were received from tho Bishop of Chester, his Honour Judge Bowen Rowlands, the Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. Henry Taylor and Dr. Hamilton (president of the Chester Caledonian Association). The pro- gramme cover was artistically designed by Mr. T. Alfred Williams. Messrs. R. Bolland and Sons served the banquet in their usual recherche fctyle. The toast of The King having been pledged with musical honours, The Mayor, in submitting that of Queen Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family," said they were all pleased to hear that their Royal Highnesses had arranged to visit" Chester on the 3rd of May, and he was sure they would receive a welcome at the hands of the citizens worthy of the loyal traditions of the city. The Welsh were indebted to the Prince of Wales for consenting to act as Chancellor of the University—a uni- versity the establishment of which they had been looking forward to for many years. They were glad to see that Welshmen were at last in pos- session of a university, of which the Prince of Wales was Chancellor and the King the Protector. Mr. John Griffiths, in proposing "Our Imperial Forces," said they in common with most people in the country welcomed the naval reorganisation scheme which had recently bn carried out. That scheme had been received with the utmost cor- diality, except, perhaps, by one or two of the elder members of the Navy, who had not yet realised that Lord Nelson was dead, and that masts and yards were things of the past. (Hear, hear.) It was surely time to recognise that the Warship was now a purely mechanical contrivance. Speaking of the Army, Mr. Griffiths said they all recognised the magnificent services it had ren- dered. He coupled with the toast the name of Mr. H. T. Brown, who had rendered great service to the local auxiliary forces in the past. (Applause.) Colonel H. T. Brown, in responding, said he thought there never was a time when the Imperial Forces of this country had been so close to the hearts of the people as at the present time. We had during the recent war seen every branch of the Imperial service fighting shoulder to shoulder. Alluding to our soldiers' humane treatment of the Boers in South Africa, Colonel Brown said the way in which war was now con- ducted, sad as the circumstances were and always must be, reflected the greatest credit upon the people of the present day. Within a few weeks of the declaration of peace the generals who had been fighting against 113 were found in our midst, and were warmly received, and were able to move among our people without fear of insult. Moreover, one of our leading statesmen had paid a visit to the country that was until recently an enemy's country. That was surely great testimony to the Christianity and the civilisation of the present day. (Applause.) Dr. Emrys Jones, in submitting the toast of the evening—"The Immortal Memory of St. David" —after addressing a few words in the Cymric tongue, said he was delighted to be present if it were only for the pleasure of being under the presidency of Dr. Roberts. (Applause.) There was a time in the history of Chester when Welsh- men had a very bad time of it. (Laughter.) Very bloody deeds were done, but that night they had soen the tables turned, and they were delighted to welcome their good friend, Dr. Roberts, as the chief magistrate of the city, and to see that he entered so cordially into the feeling of gathering round him his English friends to partake with the Welsh in the pleasure of the solemnization of what they considered one of the most sacred feasts of the year—the feast of their patron saint. Under the spell of St. David's spiritual force, Welshmen of all religious creeds and political colours met that nignt to consider what they owed to their own country and what'they ought to do for it in order to further its best interests. The Mayor was an exemplification of the fact that a man who was true to his native country and to his patriotism was not a less worthy citizen of the town in which ho dwelt. He appealed to young Welshmen never to forget the duties they owed to their own country, but at the same time they should do their best for the city in which they lived. Though he tried to be a good Welshman, he honestly tried to be a good citizen where he had the honour to reside, and he was proud to think how kindly and generously their English friends had acted to them if they had tried to do their best. He had felt no disad- vantage in being a Welshman, but on the other hand he had always received a cordial welcome wherever he had gone. He had always tried to instil the enthusiasm which was the privilege of the Welshman among the sometimes ooid-hearted nature of an Englishman. (Laughter and near, near.) A clergyman at Cardiff on St. David s Day made. a somewhat acrimonious allusion to the difference between Conformists and Nonconformists. If the holy spirit of St. David should do anything, it ought to unite all who called themselves Christians, not to fight with one another, but to fight with all the misery, sin and sorrow that surrounded them. (Hear, hoar.) He felt that if the Welshman was to be any force in the making of Greater Britain, he must be the cu.tivator of the ideal-the spiritual and the higher life. If he was not that he was nothing. He should never forget the history of his country, for the history of regenerated Wales was the history of the work of such great and moving spirits as Powell, Howell Harris, Pritchard and Daniel Rowlands. It was those great spiritual forces that had made Wales what it was to-day, and he hoped they would never forget, wherever they were, that serious, solemn view of life which had made every nation a great nation. They must not forget that it was not wealth, enterprise or energy that could make a great nation, but only men and women who had the fear of Gcd and the best and highest princi- ple of He at their command. (Hear, hear.) That was the message which the immortal memory of St. David brought to them. His memory had lived, not, as some people supposed, because of his scientific achievements. If the scientific Worker was to be of any good at all, he must be a humble worker feeling that whatever he accom- plished was only to remove a little of the rubbish from the great and immutable forces which the Almighty God had laid in this world. Welshmen ought to enter their protest against the assumption of scientists in constituting them- selves small gods to do away with what they humbly considered thework of the Almighty Hand. That was the lesson he would like to draw upon Ic the immortal memory of St. David. St. David's holy life, his high purposes and noble aims were worthy of the consideration not only of Welsh people, but were worthy of their calling their English friends to join with them in perpetuating the memory of one whom they considered one of the finest and noblest saints in the calendar. (Applause.) Mr. R. A. Jones proposed The Mayor, Sheriff, and Corporation of Chester." Dr. Roberts, he said, had been a generous supporter not only of the Cymdeithas Cymry Caer, but of all the Welsh institutions in the city, and he did not think anyone would charge him with having forgotten his country. (Hear, hear.) In his mayoral capacity he was not exactly new to public life, having occupied the position of chairman of the Public Health Committee for a considerable time. The social duties of Mayor were consider- able and exacting, but Dr. Roberts had received great help in their discharge from their charming Mayoress. By her unaffected ways and the sympathetic manner in which she had dispensed hospitality, she had endeared herself to the hearts of all the citizens. (Applause.) Fortunately, in this law-abiding community there was no occasion for the sheriff to put into' execution some of his more gruesome duties—(laughter)—but he thought that Mr. Dodd had fulfilled that honourable office with credit to himself and the city. (Hear, hear.) Reviewing the city improve- ments of the last few years, Mr. Jones reminded his hearers of a remark once made by the late Mr. Charles Brown, that if they wanted an attractive city they must be prepared to pay the piper. Within the last twelve months there had sprung into existence two associations whose object was to get value for the money that was spent on the ratepayers' behalf. The Corpora- tion neoed have no fear of those bodies, because » they ought to prove rather a help than a I' hindrance to them. Alluding to the new Educa- tion Act, Mr. Jones said he trusted that the Corporation, in formulating their scheme, would so arrange that an efficient elementary education would be given to every child in Chester, and that a secondary education, with the possibility of a university training, should be open to any child who had the ability and the brains to warrant the expenditure of money. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor and Sheriff acknowledged th>e toast. Mr. Yerburgh, M.P., in proposing "Wales," said he had had the honour for almost more years than he could recollect of representing this ancient and historic city in Parliament. Chester had been identified with the history of Wale? through the ages past; it had been regarded as the capital of North Wales; it had a large Welsh population, many members of which had dis- tinguished themselves in its social and civic life. It therefore followed that he, having the honour to represent the city, must oome in contact to a It therefore followed that he, having the honour to represent the city, must come in contact to a large extent with Welsh thought and Welsh sentiment. To some degree, therefore, he thought he could claim a knowledge of the feel- ings and thoughts that animated Welshmen. At the present time he had the honour of represent- ing a great association which he believed was going to relieve our distressed agriculturist. That association was taken up largely in Wales with all the enthusiasm that the Welsh were capable of. He had attended meetings in Wales and England, and his experience was that if they wanted to be encouraged they must go to Wales, and if they wanted to be discouraged go to England. (Laughter and hear, hear.) One ob- jection he had, however, to his Welsh audiences, a-o far as they represented the farming industry, was that they were such terrible Tories. (Laughter.) They clung to the old traditions of their fathers with a fidelity worthy of the most pronounced Tory who ever lived. (Laughter.) Sti 1, they had hopes of them. They hoped that the young Welsh party, fired by enthusiasm, would infuse life into the dry agricultural bones of the Welsh farmer. The one thing that struck him as an observer of the current of Welsh thought in the city was that there had come into existence an intense desire to promote the nationality of Wales. (Hear, hear.) Wherever they met Welshmen the same feeling was, to his mind, predominant—that the Welsh now felt that they had a country of which they might be proud, that they were not forgetful of their old ideas to develop the national poetry and litera- ture for the benefit of the country they were proud to belong to. He was one of those who held that that feeling was altogether admirable. True, it might be pushed to extremes, but if they found a Welshman so ill advised as to forget that he was one of the inheritors of a great Empire and that Wales formed part of a great force which had operated for the good of the world, then that man would be behind the times, and his Welsh nationality would be a nightmare. The Welshman was all the better citizen bccau:e he was a good Welshman. It was a very good say- ing that the better Welshman a Welshman was, the better citizen of the Empire he proved. (Hear, hear.) He would ask them whether Wales, while she had developed that intense national feeling, had shewn any desire to confine herself to parochial politics or pursuits. She had not. If they searched the pages of British history they found Welshmen of whom they were proud in all branches of national life. Wherever the cause of the Empire was to be fought they would find that the Welsh played an immense part in the struggle. He did not think the Welshman would turn his back upon the great deeds done by his fathers in the Empire. The national awakening in Wales made for the strengthening of the Empire. (Applause.) Mr. Morris Parry, in responding, said he was glad that in these days they could speak of Wales without being guilty of any bad taste, because, although they were Welshmen, they were oosmopolitans enough to look from the point of view of a student of the world's progress. It was in the individuality which Wales had maintained throughout the ages that the study of it became so absorbing and interesting. Encompassed as it had been by the greatest foreign influences, and merged politically with the greatest Empire the world had known, it yet remained true to its old and deeper self. And throughout its long and chequered career it had retained the same old characteristics—its love of freedom, its patriotism, its fondness for mental pleasures, and its religious instincts—and they knew that it clung to its old language with a tenacity that was astonishing. It sought to establish its standard of excellence in a blend of present day development and its own past history. It had been held as true that- men might rise on the stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things, but. he thought that it was far better to rise, a; Wales was doing, on the foundation of a past from which the vital spark had never departed. Wales might have been somnolent, but it had never been dead, and the last decade or two had witnessed an awakening probably unequalled in any other part of Europe. They saw with the greatest pride the increased interest taken in their literature by scholars of other nations and the influence the Welsh literature exercised on theirs. To his mind the most promi- nent feature of all in their present dav outlook cf literature was that blending of thoughts and ideas found at the plough, in the coal mine and quarry, by mountain stream and in the humble cottage, with that greater culture and larger out- look now enjoyed by their young men, not only in their colleges, but at the university of England and the Continent. (Applause.) The remaining toasts were "Our Guests," pro- posed by the Rev. Gwynfryn Jones and responded to by Dr. Taylor, Dr. Stolterfoth and Alderman W. H. Churton; "Cymdeithas Cymry Caer," proposed by Mr. C. Cooper and acknowledged by Mr. R. J. Davips (president of the society); The Chairman," proposed by Colonel Evans- Lloyd; "Colonel Evans-Lloyd," proposed by the Mayor; and "The Ladies," proposed by Alderman J. J. Cunnah. During the evening an enjoyable vocal and instrumental programme was contributed to bv the Brython Quartette, Miss Edith Roberts, Mis's Ruth Ground, Mr. C. James, Mr. Loui Parry, and Mr. R. Roberts, Miss R. A. Evans acting as accompanist. A particularly enjoyable feature was Miss Edith Roberts's rendering of favourite Welsh airs, each of which was warmlv encored. The proceedings terminated vvitli the singing of lien wlad fy Nhadau."

CAMBRIDGE CLASS LISTS. —. LOCAL SUCCESSES. The list of successes in the Cambridge Local Examinations held in December has just reached us. We append a list of the successful Local students:- BOYS. SENIOR DIVISION. Student under 19 years of age who has obtained honours: Class II., H. T. Moore, Arnold House School, Chester. JUNIOR DIVISION. Students under 16 years of age who have obtained honours: — Class I.-First division, L. Smith, King's School, Chester (distinguished in religious know- ledge, Eng'lish, Latin and French). Seoond division, E. N. Lovell, King's School, Chester. Class II.-J. K. Best (distinguished in Latin and mathematics) and A. K. Hamilton, Arnold House School, Chester. Class III.—C. M. D. Belton, H. A. Davison and G. Dutton, King's School, Chester; and J. D. Cawley (distinguished in French), J. H. Davies and H. S. Roberts, Arnold House School, Chester. Students under 16 years of age who have satisfied examiners, but are not included in the foregoing classes:—A. Cope, Grammar School, Nantwich: R. S. Davies, J. S. Davies, E. Ford, T. E. Miln, Arnold House School; J. K. Parke, and R. Robinson, King's School. Students not under sixteen years of age who have passed the examination as juniors:—T. E. Aliwood and K. Parsonage, Grammar School, Nantwich E. W. Clarke, W. J. G. Chantrv and D. Okell, Arnold House School. PRELIMINARY DIVISION. Students under 14 years of age who have obtained honours: — Class I.—J. H. Asdell (distinguished in arith- metic); H. J. Davies (distinguished in arith- metic and algebra), G. G. Milii (distinguished, in Latin and algebra), King's School, Chester. Student under 14 years of age who has satisfied the examiners, but who is not included in the foregoing ciasses:-C. W. Cockrill, King's School, Chester. GIRLS. SENIOR DIVISION. Students under 19 years of age who have satisfied the examiners:—A. L. Baker, R. V. Baker, P. C. Nevitt-Bennett, A. Finchett, H. B. Spencer, Queen's School, Chester; M. H. Beckett, W. E. Davies, A. M. Siddall, Upper Northgate-stroet (Miss M. Birch); D. Gray, The Elms, Hawarden (Miss Evans). JUNIOR DIVISION. Class III.—A. Alvey, Queen's School, Chester. Students under 16 years of age who have satisfied the examiners:—G. B. Breffit, E. R. Gardner, D. G. Holland, S. Hornby, Queen's School, Che-ter; M. Beamish, Old Mostyn House Schrol, Parkgate; V. G. Cooper, K. S. Jones, The Elms, Hawarden (Miss Evans); B. C. Cecil Davies, D. Parry, H. E. Vincent (distin- guished in music), Upper Northgate-street, Chester (Miss M. Birch); A. Moseley, Utkinton School. Students not under"16 years of age who have passed the examination as juniors:—C. Delany, Convent F.C.J., Chester; P. M. Walley, C." Williams, Upper Northgate-street, Chester (Miss M. Birch). PRELIMINARY DIVISION. Student under 14 years of age. who has obtained honours:—Class III., F. A. Parry, Upper Northgate-street, Chester (distinguished in English). Students under 14 years of age who have satisfied the examiners: W. Davies, Upper Northgate-street, Chester; H. F. Ledsham, M. Welsford, The Elms, Flookersbrook, Chester (Miss K. Neville); M. Toft (distinguished in algebra), Convent F.C.J., Chester; A. M. W. Lewis, private tuition.

HALKYN MINING COMPANY, LIMITED. + Mr. Thomas Smith (chairman) presided over the twenty-first annual general meeting of the Halkyn Mining Company, Limited, held at the office of the secretary, Mr. F. J. Warmsley, Eastgate-row (N.), Chester, on Monday. The directors in their report shewed that the decline in the metal market, referred to in the last report, had continued throne/b- out the year. They were, however, of opinion that the outlook at the present time was more promising. The value of pig- lead for the present month had had an upward tendency, while spelter, which shewed a perceptible improvement during the last quarter of the year, was very firm. Owing to the' depression the directors in September last decided to suspend operations at the Park Mine, Minera. They had much pleasure in stating that the lease from the Duke of Westminster, comprising a much larger area than hitherto, had been renewed for a term of twenty-one years, with an option of a further renewal for a like period. The agreement with the Drainage Co. terminated on the 31st December last. New terms were being negotiated whereby a lower royalty than hitherto would be paid, when the price of lead was below j39 10s. per ton but in consideration of this con- cession on low prices, the Drainage Co. required, when higher prices prevailed, an increase of royalty, bevond even the maximum fixed by the Act of Parliament. The balance on profit and account was £ 4,291 12s. 4d., to which was added the interest on Chester Corporation Stock JE70 making a total of P,4,362 Is. 8d., which after deduct- ing the debit balance on net revenue account brought forward, namely, J6717 Os. 4d., left £3 (>45 Is. 4d. Out of this a dividend of 15 per cent, free of income tax for the year was recommended, which would absorb £ 1,500. leaving a balance of £ 2,145 18. 4d. to be carried forward to next account. The report was adopted a dividend as recom- mended was declared, and the retiring directors (Mr. Thomas Smith and Mr. J. J. Cunnah! were re-elected, while the auditor (Mr. Walter Conway) was re-appointed.

CRIME IN CHESTER. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. The Chief Constable (Mr. J. H. Layfcourne), in his fifth annual report, says:—"The authorised strength of the police for: e is 50 the number in each rank being—Chief Constable one, chief cJ, rk one, inspectors two, sergeants (including one. de- tective) six. constables forty; total 50. T:J present proportionate cost is: Per constable £ 90 lis. 7d. per inhabitant. 2s. 4!d. During the yea.r Sergt. Lloyd and Police-cons table Gallagher weie pensioned, two constables resigned, and one was certified medically unfit for further service. The general conduct of the force has been good, The following is the cost of the establish- ment during the past five years: -18::8 strength 50, cost of establishment L4,766 18s. 10d.; 1899, 50, £ 4,469 2s.; 1900. 50, E4 470 Os. Id. 1901, 50, C4,451 9s. 9d.; 19(;2, 50, £4,529 2s. 8d.. The number of indictable offences committed during the. year was as follows: Offences against the person, nil; offences against. property, with violence five, oithout violence 85; other offences, five; total, 95, being 10 more tha.n in 1901. For these offences 32 persons were pro- ceeded against, 47 being summarily convicted 12 committed for trial at assize or sessions, and 23 dis- charged or the charge withdrawn. The number of persons apprehended or summoned for noa- indictable offences and dealt with by the magis- trates was 1,360, against 1,557 in 1901. Of this number 376 males and 109 females were appie- hended. and 686 males and 189 females were sum- moned. Comparing certain groups of offences for the past year, it will be seen that there is a decrease of 28 in the number of assaults, an increase of' 04 for drunkenness, a decrease of 42 under the Vagrant Act, and a decrease of 74 in other offences; in comparison with the average for five years, this is a fair decrease, viz., 913 against an average of 962.8. The number of persons dealt with for drunken- ness and drunk and disorderly was 407 (this ;s a large increase and only a record of illegal drunken- ness). Of this number 196 had no fixed abode or were non-resident in the- city. The number of arrests for drunkenness during the year was 326, the number for each day in the week being as follows: —Sunday (of these 21 were arrested be- fore 3 a.m.) 39, Monday 46, Tuesday 40, Wednesday I 33, Tliursdav 39, Friday 36, Saturday 93. total 326. The ages of the persons were as follows: -Und,r 16 years of age, nil; aged from 16 to 21 years 8; 21 to 30, 76; 30 to 40, 95; 40 to 50, 88; 50 to 60, 34; above 60 years, 25; total 326. The number of licensed premises in the city is—Licensed victual- lers 153, beer retailers 57, retailers of ''Sweets," wines and spirits in bottles. 13; total, 223. One publican was prosecuted during the year, and fined 20s. and costs. There were 43 persons dealt with for obscene and abusive language, and 79 for insulting behaviour (jostling, eto.) in the streets. Of the 1,423 persons charged before the magis- trates. 1.156 were convicted, 246 discharged or cases withdrawn, and 21 handed to naval or military escort. Appended is a summary of warrants issued and orders ma.der: -To apprehend, 40; to commit, 1.018 (the actual number lodged in prison was 422, the rest paid the penalties, except in a few I ca.,see in which the defendants left the city); to eject, 27; to distrain, 62; orders, 43; total, 1190. The amount received by the chief clerk on war- rants and paid to the magistrates' clerk was £ 326 lis. Id. and the amount received for reformatory and industrial school fees was £ 76 18s. 6d. This amount was forwarded to H.M. ^inspector of Re- foi-matorv and Industrial Schools. The number of inquests held by the city coroner was 46, as against 52 in the previous vear. One of the cases occurred out of Chester, the death taking place m the Chester Infirmary.. The number of hackney carriages licensed to piy for hire within the city is 137. The. number of pleasure boats lioensed to ply for hire on the river Dee is 575, viz., seven steamers, six electric launches, and 562 rowing boats and barges. The number of common lodging-houses registered is 15. to accommodate 333 persons. Ninety pedlars' certificates were granted to pedlars. The fees received and paid to the city accountant amounted to JS22 10s. Th2 number of lost children found and restored to their parents was 72. The number of houses, shops, etc., found open or insecure at night was 480. During the year the occupants of 267 houses gave notice that they were going away from home, to which the police paid special atten- tion. lhirtv-six persons were iouna 111, mjurtu 01 destitute in the streets, and were removed—to their own homes 12, to the Infirmary 18, to the Workhouse 6. The Hon. C. G. Legge, H.M. In- spector of Constabulary, made his annual inspec- tion of the force on 6th August. I beg to thank the chairman and members of the Watch commit- tee for thc..I r continued kindness and consideration; and the Town Clerk and officials of the various Corporation departments for their courtesy and kind assistance during the year."

AUCTION SALES. FAT STOCK AT CHESTER SMITHFIELD. On Tuesday Messrs. Cunnah and Roberts offered a capital k>t of fat stock for sale, >n_ eluding 137 fat cattle, 345 ripe fat sheep, 153 calves. Fat cattle met with a sharp clearance, the best quality making fully Jd^ per lb.; twelve of the best fat beasts averaged £ 21 2s. 6d., thiee from one farm maJdng £ 66 10s. There was a grand lot of sheep forward, making quite lOd. per lb. Cheviot wethers made up to 51-s. each, crossbreds up to 53s. each. Fat calves soid re- markably weil, up to £ 5 5s. each. Rearing oa.\e» were also keenly sought after. Heifer calves sold particularly well. FARMING STOCK AT OSCROFT HALL. Messrs. Cunnah and Roberts conducted one of the most important farm sales in the district, by order of Mr. George Lea, on Thursday, when six of his cows averaged JB22 2s. 6Q. each, and the best twelve averaged J620 15s. The top individual price was 224 15s., Mr. F. Dodd, cf Rushton, being the purchaser. These figures must be very gratifying -to, Mr.' Lea, as the beasts were mostly lying off to calve the end of March. The best pair of two-year-old calving heifers made JB55 17s. 6d. The rearing heifers met with a quick sale, making up to L12 the pair. Four barren stirks averaged £10 2s. 6d. A yearling bull made £ 16 15s., and a fat bullock E21. Four late calving two-year-old heifers made E49 10s. A cart mare, eight years old, by Kelsterton, realised 40 £ gs., Mr. Minshuil, of Mollington, being the purchaser. A sow and eight followers were sold for £10 2s. 6d. There was active com- petition for the implements, etc. The lurry made B18 2s.; cheese presses made E7 12s. 6d. A chee-e-making apparatus for 30 cows was sold for 96 10s. The cheese vats sold remarkably well, making up to 4s. 9d. each. The potato sets also met with a very ready sale. Mr. and Mrs. Lea, assisted by a hcst of friends, generously entertained a company of about 300 to a capital luncheon.

-1 CRXWFORD9S "LOTHIAN" .I SHORTBREAD. I

IIOOLE LiiBAN. MR. PHiJLLxi o AN.U iiih PARK. felOKIui ScENEs. A meeting oi tne Hooiti urban District Council was hoia üjj. ivioiiuay <j\eaingl under tire presi- uency 01 Air. i. b. iuciittiason. lino iojlo»ving ui.inoers were pn.e.IL; -S1'& W. Williams, oJ. 1. Ball, VI. fil A. L. Williams, A. atX.8, J. Cioyuon, E- Phillips, E. Mealing, with the clerk ^Aa\ A. E. CaiaeeuU), Mr. Hewnt \-3Uivc-yor), and Air. C. Åtkrh ^collector). iisi1 ii.Ui ivj L & jjiSEAiSi; £ >. The Clerk ue v. cajl-1% lo tay mat there had been during tü i.ioau, tute or two vases or d.pntnbrm..md one Of u%u o. bcarict fever, ine gaueuts nau jjceu leuiovea to tHe hospital, The premises wtrts 111 a siiiiitaiy suite, and there was no way III vviu«-li tüc. oauji, <vk oouid be ac- counted tor.—Air. J. 1 iiuii Notn.iig serious, Mr. Uhaiiman. MAKi-V^c Tliii i'Aliiv: A feCENE. The next Du^ntss OIL Uie agenoa- was the follow- ing notice oi motiou. bj in. »v. iv — "ixiat this Council -LL-auci me eieiK. to at once advert.se 101 piaas Wiu ujutract pi;ees tor me piiurung and iajing out oi the plot oi land known as tne .Public ir'ark or .Pleasure caound, so that the whole iiuty uo completed and handed over to the pubhc tor tneir Uee use ana -enjoyment on the liith May, Old lVlay JJay. The Chairman sa.:d lie nad ue-tn asked by the Parks Uommiiiee. to say taut tuc-y were rather em-prised mat mat motion ihouid come forward, lo show that tUcrv had buett no ncgieec, he was asked to state what Looii place on Friday week, ihe matter of planting was then Uiorougnly dis- cussed, and the. consulting am veyor told them that there was not sufficient tunc to allow or the trees' being planted dtu-mg Hie spring, the committee were very anxious that uie iuauer snouid be vakeii in hand as quickly as possible. When they got the tenders for the fencing lound they coma not be completed lor so Hl..u: we.ks, ana their sur- veyor told them it was utterly impossible to enclose the ground in sufiicient time to plant the trees; therefoie they had to dcier the matter until autumn. Mr. Piiiinps was pieseiit at that meeting, and approved oi it. lid mrpiessioa was that tne motion was brought under u. 111,applcheu:ion. Mr. Phillips seamed to think mat eonniuuee was not a Parks Committee, lucre was no neglect- on their part, as the attendances would snew. iiiey were very anxious indeed to ha\e the trees planted and the grounds laid out as quickly as possible; but that. was utterly impo^aiue unless wle grounds were enclosed. Mr. Phillips (interrupting): Nothing- to do with it at all. Tne Chairman: You wdi veiy soon have the things pulied up if the grounds are not enclosed. it is to explain Mr. J T. Bail: While agreeing with you m tne main, I think you should deier your remarks until we heax Mr. Phillips. i The Chairman: i think, under the circum- stances, the motion is totally unnecessary. Mr. E. Mealing gave notice oi motion that at the llextmootldg they should have a nnane-al statement as to hOW the money had been spent Oil those works, so that the Council migiil know if they were going beyond the means we Local Government Board had allowed them. The Chairman informed Mr. Mealing that the surveyor had b-cii asked to prepare su-h a state- ment. He asked Air. Phillips to reconsider the question. Air. Phillips said he did not quite agree with all the chairman had said, iiiere was no necessity for the enclosure at all. it could be done simultane- ously with the work oi planting. There were plenty of people to looi alter it. He teit very stiongly over the matter, as he had been asked about it by hundreds of pe-epic, and taunted by them that the Council were not doing their duty to the public. It had ben under eonsiderat-on, and the Council had been pz,, iii,, rent lor the land for some time, lnere was no dithculty in the matter, and he thought it best to move his resolu- tion, and then the Council could make mincemeat of it afterwards. (Laugnter.) He did not want to be invidious. He did not want to be dicta- torial; but he felt it iii-3 bounded duty to urgs the completion at the eailiest possible, moment of that work, which had been so long delayed. His long experience in connection with horticulture and agricultural matters prompted him to say that had be been on the Council when the park was purchased, he should certainly have purchased the small close of land, 60 yards by 60 yards. The Chairman: Order, order, Mr. Phillips; that is not relevant. Mr. Pluil.ps: It is relevant. The Chairman: I don't see it at all. Mr. PhiiLps: I beg your pardon, it is relevant. Continuing, he said that having purchased that land, lie would give the park a front door to Hoole- rcad. To spoil a big ship like that for a hap'orth of tar was very bad policy. The Chairman: You must keep to the point. Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips: I am keeping to the point. Pro- ceeding, he said that the arrangements for the laying out of the park and the specifications should have been in the hands of the clerk of the works at the time, so that the whole work might have gone on simultaneously. Th Chairman: I cannot understand you, as a member of the Parks Committee. Air. Phillips: Excuse me, I was not at that time. I was not here when the park was bought. They had, he said, talked about a whita elephant, and they were getting into their third year with the park, and people taunted him about it. Mr. Bali: I object to Mr. Phillips saying "third vear." Air. Phillips: I object to the park s being called a white elephant, but. gentlemen, every one of you will be classed as white elephants if you go on HKS this. (Laughter.) Now he was coming to the point. He left the entire question in their hands. He would keep his humble self free from the discussion. He did not want a finger in the pie. There was no difficulty, and there was plenty of time. If they agreed to his proposition they would please every one of the ratepayers, and hand over to them the property winch belonged to thcn, and which they ought to have enjoyed long, long ago. Air. Nightingale asked if there was any provision for th3 purchasing of trees, and the Clerk answered in the affiri-iative. Mr. Nightingale agreed with Mr. Phillips in many respects. He did not see that the planting could not go on simultaneously with the other work. (Mr. Phillips: Hear, hear.) Most of the material woujd be obtained from the sewers, and tha.t would do as a subsoil. He had much pleasure in seconding. The Surveyor said that not an ounce of soil was being wasted in levelling the land. mr. Jrniiiips said there was no necessity for the land to be level. There must be undulations if it Wa3 to be picturesque. Then followed a wild scene. The Surveyor stated that there was some pItching that had been tem- porarily placed there. Mr. Phillips interrupted with the remark that there were only a few barrow loads. The Surveyor said there were some cart loads, and held fast to his assertion. Mr. Phillips shouted out contradictions, and told the surveyor he was no judge, while the Chairman vainly tried to keep order by knocking the de-sk and calling "Order." The Chairman: Order, order. Mr. Phillips I beg your pardon. How dare you call me-& member of this Council—to order on such a point? The Chairman: I have allowed you to speak. Air. Phillips: I allowed you to speak. Tho Chairman: And you must allow other people to speak. Then you can speak. Mr. Ball: Mr. Phillips ought to speak when Mr. Hewitt is off his feet. The Surveyor: I may be no judge of barrow loads. but it will cost J310 to move the pitching off the land. Mr. E. Nfeal ng was afrkid there would be no money left. It was best to wait until they saw the statement of accounts before thc-y did anything. He was afraid they would not have sufficient money, and then the Council would have to make a special application, and the ratepayers would pull a long face if they spent more money, iney should leave matters alone. and get one tiling ended first. Mr. Ball, as one of -tha members of the Parks Committee, thought, after what had passed, the Council should pass a vote of confidence in the committee. Mr. Phillips was also a member of that committee, and so lie was censuring himself in censuring the committee. He (Mr. Phillips) had been a member ever since it was formed, and he had said—ho had told it all over the world-that if anything went wrong, if the Council went over their paltry L4 500, he had had nothing to do with it. He (Mr. Ball) stated deliberately that Mr. Phillips had got to do with it, and "'don't let him forget it." If they spent over what they ought to have done, they were satisfied to .take the bur- den. Air. Phillips: I rise to a point of order. He is all wrong, all wrong. Our clerk has told me that the money was provided. Mr. Ball: Mr. Phillips has no right to bring such a proposition before the Board. I move an amend- ment that we defer the matter until autumn. Mr. Croydon seconded. Mr. W. Williams thought Mr. Phillips had, some- how, forgotten the proper mode of procedure. He was, as a matter of fact, one of the committee ann knevv all the inner workings, and the proposition seemed to be a bit of distrust, a little vote Oi cen- sure in a quiet way, because the coinmittee had not got on quicker with the worfc lie v^r- liams) could tell the Council himselt that the Par s Committee had worked zealously and ene. ge 1 y, and had spared no time. He thought that any one who saw tho park would say that the work iumi been carried on in a thoroughly businesslike way. So far as the planting was concerned, proper economy was necessary. He believed the sum of money set aside for that purpose could be more judiciously spent in the autumn than now. It was not an opportune moment now, and he thought the proper time to begin was when the. park was fenced in. As regarded the action of tho Parks Committee, they were going to invite tenders and designs for the laying out of the park, and when they had seen those designs they would make a recommendation to the Council, and ask them to approve of one of them. That was the proper way to do. Mr. Phillips had somehow allowed his zeal to over-run the bounds of prudence, but, however, he (Mr. Wiliiams) would forgive him. The proper way was to defer the matter until autumn. Mr. Phillips said what he did he did under a mis- apprehension, and he was still of the same opinion that the whole of that Council was a Parks Com- mittee. (Mr. Ball: "Oh! sit down! sit down." Laughter). The committee was only a sub- committee appointed to caj-ry out the two contracts for the stone wail and the road. He believed still that, that done, the committee came to an end. When it was formed it was stated that every mem- ber wns on tire Parks Committee. That was why he proposed his motion. He did not do rt out of disrespect to his committee, as he considered they were only a sub-committee. He still believed that he proposed his motion. He did not do it out of disrespect to his committee, as he considered they were only a sub-committee. He still believed that when they came to lay out. the park it must be voted on first by the whole Council; then they must appoint a committee. Air. J. T. Ball I still say it is not so. Mr. W. Williams: Would it not be as well to satisfy Mr. Phillips. The Chairman: He is the only one of that opinion. Both the. clerk and myself tried to ox- plain it to him before the meeting. The Clerk: It has been explained to Mr. Phillips. Mr. Ball: Then he must be thick-headed. (Laughter.) The question was then put to the vote, which re- sulted in favour of the amendment by six votes to two. OVERSEERS. Messrs. T. W Chalton and A. E. Watts were re- elected overseers for 1903-4. ANNUAL ELECTION. The Clerk announced that the animal election was fixed for April 4th. The following members would go out of office on April 16th :—East Ward, Messrs. J. Taylor and T. Woollam West Ward. Messrs. W. H Nightingale and Wm. WTilliams. FLOOKERSBROOK RAILWAY BRIDGE, A letter was received from the Joint Railway Companies stating that- they were not prepared to take further steps. If the bridge was widened on the lines suggested it would cost £ 15,000. The Clerk thought that sum was a considerable amount particularly when it was remembered that it was not altogether for the public benefit. It was the fault of tne local authorities in existence when the companies obtained their powers for not seeing further into the future as to what would be the requirements of an increasing district. Only twelve yards of the bridge lay in Iloole. As for the rest, haJi was in the county and half in Chester. He suggested that he should see the Town Clerk of Chester with a view to arranging another conference.. Mr. W. Williams thought the scheme, in the first instance, was a little more than was required, and a modified scliem2 would be better. It had been proposed to make two 10ft. footpaths and a 40ft. roadway—practically making the bridge as wide again. If they only got it nine feet wider it would make a vast difference. i Mr. Phillios endorsed Mr. Williams's remarks. He proposed that, the clerk take steps with a view to another conference's being held. Mr. W. Williams seconded. Air Nightingale called attention to the way carts were drawn over the bridge. They were all over th° road, and on the wrong side all the time. Mr. Ball moved an amendment that no further i-ateps be taken until the bigger authorities move. Mr. W. Williams: There is no greater authority than the district chiefly affected. Mr. Ball: I may tell Mr. W rlliams that might rs right, and we must submit to it.. No seconder was found for the amendment, and the original motion was carried. INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. The Clerk read an invitation from the Royal Institute of Public Health inviting delegates to their annual congress.—Air. Ball: I propose that Mr. Phillips goes, and that we pay for his ticket. [Laughter.)—No appointment was made. MORE CONFERENCES.. The chairman and vice-chairman were appointed to attend the conference with the County Counci re the Education Act, and also any for en ce that might be called re the. North- Western Electricity and Power Gas BIll.

Will HAL RURAL. The usual monthly meeting of the Wirrai Rural District Council was held on Monday at birken- head, Mr. T. Davies in the chair. ANALYSES OF WATER.. The Clerk (Mr. J. E. S. Ollive) read an analysis by Air. Campbell Browne, analyst, Liverpool, of a sampe of water from the mains cf the W est Cheshire Water Company. It stated that the amount of solid matter in solution was 35.6. The amount of ammonia was .002, and of organic matter .001. The permanent hardness was 15.7 and the total amount of hardness 16.3. Mr. Browne stated that the sample was excellent, wholesome water, but owing to the hardness it would on boiling scale the boilers with carbonite of hme and block hot-water pipes. Another analvsis was received from Mr. A. Smetham, analyst, Liverpool, who stated that the total amount of solid matter was 26.04, the total hard- ness 20.1, permanent hardness 5.7, and carbonate of time 7.06. The san.ple was exceptionally free from organic impurities, but it was decided.y hard, and it deposited carbonate of lime on boil- ing. In that respect it was decidedly objection- fttMr. Newell, Hooton, wrote that the effect of the water upon health was largely a question of medical opinion. He could bring forward instances where the use of the water had had a bad effect upon the health of persons. The proper body to have control of the water supply was not a private company, but the District Council. It was the first duty of the people's representatives to see that the district was served in the best and most efficient manner in every- thing that pertained fc the welfare of the district. The Chairman said that if they did not get a sufficient and proper supply from the West Cheshire Water Company the Council could take the matter in hand and supply themselves; but they must first go to arbitration and shew that the present supply was inadequate and alunfit for human consumption. Dr. Kenyon said that though the water was hard, the company had performed a wonderful feat in the way they had turned tho water all over Wirral.. The Chairman said that if the old Sanitary Authority had taken the matter up in years gone by the Council would have had it in their own 1 haacls now. < Dr. Kenyon said only half of the supply waS affected—that pumped from the Hooton well. The Clerk said that- going to arbitration was an expensive process. The three months' notice the Council had given the company was nearly up, and he asked the Council what they were going to do. The -question that would go to arbitration was Were the company able or willing to give a sufficient and proper supply? He thought that whether the Council proved the water to be injurious to health or not, they would have no difficulty in proving that it was not a proper supply. Dr. Kenyon thought the best way was to ap- point a committee to go into the matter. The Chairman suggested that the clerk should write to the Higher Bebington, Lower Bebing- ton, Brcmborough, Ellesmere Port and Whitby, and the Chester Rural Councils, asking if they would join the Wirral Council in trying to obtain a better supply, and one more fit for human cou- sumption. On the motion of Air. John Price, seconded by Air. W. Burkey, a resolution embodying the chairman's suggestion was passed. GREAT SUTTON SEWERAGE SCHEME. The Great Sutton Parish Council forwarded the following resolution which they had passed "That the Council request the Wirrai Council to appoint Air. C. J. Lomax as a joint engineer to Mr. F. E. Priest for the carrying out of the sewerage scheme, for which Messrs. G. Clark and Son's (of Hulme, Alanehester) tender for £2,498 3s. lid. had been received."—The Council decided that while retaining the services of Mr. Priest, their own engineer, they would not object to the Parish Council's appointing anyone they liked. LITTLE SUTTON SEWER EXTENSION. I The Little Sutton Parish Council wrote ap- proving of the extension of the sewer in New- road at a cost of £ 91 16s., on condition that the three houses, acoording to the plans, were erected by Mr. Hardy and that he also paid the JB20 promised.—The Clerk said Mr. Hardy had already begun to build.—Tenders were submitted to the Council, and Messrs. J. Lea and Sons' (Bebington) was accepted. THE HEALTH OF THE DISTRICT. Dr. Kenyon, medical officer of health, pre- sented his annual report- The births numbered 380, being at the rate of 26.2 per 1,000 persons. 380, being at the rate of 26.2 per 1,000 persons. This was the average birth-rate of the county. The number of deaths was 168, giving a rate of 11.6 per 1,000 persons. The percentage of deaths under one year of age to births registered was 7.9. The death-rate and rate of infantile mor- tality were very low. The birth and death-rates were lower than the average for the district for the previous nine years. Under the Notification Act 41 infectious cases were reported, and 13 were removed to the hospital.—The report was ordered to be printed. HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE. The Highways Committee met in the afternoon, and Mr. T Davies again presided. The Surveyor's account shewed payments amounting to £lïO. and a balance in hand of £91 10s. 6d. while the Treasurer's account shewed a balance of £59 16s. 2d. —A resolution was read from the Little Sutton Parish Council, asking the Council to take over the Red Lion-lane and put it in good order, charging the owners of property with the expense. -The surveyor (Mr. Davies) was instructed at once to get out the specifications and estimates for making the road.— The clerk (Mr. W. H. Churton) reported that the proceedings with reference to the making of Rocky- lane, Heswall, had been adjudicated on by the court on Friday, when the justices declined to make any alteration in the specification as prepared by the Council's surveyor.—The Committee authorised the Clerk to write to the Local Government Board for permission to borrow the amount required for making the road.

CORRESPONDENCE. The Etiitor is not responsible for the opinions of bis correspond* Se. An letters must be autbeuticated by Uie -buer's name and addresB, not necessarily for publication. Correspondents are particularly requested to vyile onl.N on one side of the paper.

THE TITLE OF BARONET. TO THE BDIT0B. Sir,—In the Chester Courant" of Oct, 4, 1899, you were so good aa to insert a letter of iruae con- cerning an inscription on the Brereton chancel in Malpas Church, put up by Sic Ralph Brereton in his lifetime, and dated 1522, in which he styles him- self Knight Baronet. I remarked that the title baronet was generally said to have been first instituted by James 1. in Lt;ll,, aaid I asked for any authority for the use of baronet as an English title earlier than A D. 1522.. Mr. Edward Massie lias-called my attention to an old Baronetage, edited and published by Thomas Wotton, in 1741, in which, (vol. iv., page 280) I find an inquiry into the antiquity of the title baronet. It seems to have been in. use at least an early as the time of Edward IL WaJLsmgham, in his History of Edward II., written, about A.D. *14-10, speaking of the battle of Strivelin (that is Stirling, meaning the battle of Bahnockburc* near Stirling), says There were made prisoners twenty-two barons and baronets." The poet, Spenses, writing in 1594i, says the title of baronet, that is lesser baron," was given to the barons by writ, who were summoned to Parliament by Edward IIL about A.D. 1370 This statement was fully noticed in my former letter. Also in a statute of. Richard II., every Archbishop, &c Duke, Earl, Baron, Baronet, Knight of a Shire, was ordered to appear in Parliament under pain of a fine. Under Henry VI. it is recorded that a jury- man challenged himself, because his ancestors had been baronets. Also in a patent passed in the reign of Edward VI. Sir Ralph Fane is called Baronettus. Froui these and other passages it is evident that the wcrd baronet, meaning something less than a baron, was in use as a title in England more than two centuries before the reign of James I., though the hereditary status of these baronets or barons by writ and their relation to knights banneret are obscure. See Hallam's "Middle Ages," chapter viii., part 3, where the subject is discussed.—Your obedient servant, C. WOLLEY-DOD. Edge Hall, Malpas.

PROTECTION OF BIRDS. TO THB EDITOR. Sy"»"~I have read your last weeks paragraph headed Indiscriminate Protection of Birds.'1 Will you kindly insert the following urgent protest for the Protection of all Birds all the vear round?'" That bii-d life is necessary to mail's life is beyond question. Iney killed a 11 small uud", ill France and other countries. Wrhat is the con.equenoe ? Famine, diseased vines, overwhelming nuiui-era of insects, destructive alike to fruit ami vegetation of all useful kinds and vegetables. Not long ago I Rpoke to the head gardener of magniqeent Uuear gardens, for the owner was a Duke and taid, "1 hope you. do not kni the birds m these gardens." "Kill them >o, on no account, they are the greatest possible helpers. We protect tiieni all, ''—and; with that he shewed me as tile greatest treasure a. chaffinch s nest carefully protected ui a fruit tree, trained against a wali. I have for hours and days watched ulackbirds, thrushes, sparrows, fincnes, toin-trts and other: birds in a fruit, vegetable, ami fluwer garden. They eat the insects, snails, and haruiinl seeds which otherwise would entirely oesui-<_>_) ootn fruit and all other vegetation. Ihe garden was full always of, exquisite fruit, flowers and vegetables I quote fiom a reliable authority who says ir. Bradley in his' General Treatise on Husbandry and Garden- ing shews a pair of sparrows dunrig the time they have their young (which is three tini s in the year) destroy on an average 3,3o0 caterpillars a week. This calculation is founded on actual observation. He dis- covered that the two parent brrus earned to the nest 40 caterpillars in an hour. He supposed the sparrows to enter the nest during 12 hours each day which would cause a eonsuinptron of 4bj caterpillars extir- pated weekly, but the utility of these oirds is not limited to this circumstance only fyj* they teed their young with butterflies and other winged creaturesv each of which if not destroyed in this manner would be the parent of hundreds of caterpillars And sa. of all other birds. If blackbirds, do eat a little fruit, they eat more worms, grubs and insects which, would destroy both fruit and vegetation. The workmen (which birds are) are worthy of iheir hire "-i am, sir, very truly, &c X,. Rhyl, North Wales, Alarch 2, 1903. P.6 -if birds are destroyed man thereby destroys, his life-preservers and friends, not foes, CH.iEF CONSTABLE AND GROCEES' LICENCES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—I notice from a report in the Liverpool papers ti" the Cmef Constab.e of Chester 113 of opinion that grocers' licences should die out, thougil he was considerate enough to say that his opinion regarding grocers ÙenOO6 did not agree W.ti1 tne views of the late Chief Constable of Liver- P201-. vvih you aliow me to point out that the Chief Constable might also have said that his opinion diet not agree with that of his predecessor as Chief Constable of Chester, Mr. G. L. Fenwick, who, in giving evidence befQre the Lords' Com- mittee oil In temper an oe, expressed very strongly the op-nion that in his experience muoh that was tdeged gainst grocers' »ioenoe« was exaggerated, and lie was unable to join in any oond--uinat,on of the sj stem ? The n:-su.t of the Lords' Committee on Intemperance go this point was weJ 6UIlY mansed by the statecnent made by the .ate Lord, Kimberlcy, reported in the "Times" of July 6th, 1894, as f" -Iowa:- "Then as to grocers' lioencee. Some people, seem, to think that these licences lead to a. spsciai form of drunkenness; but the Committee- which formerly sat on the subject found, after oareful investigation, that grocers' lioenoes were not any special eouroe of drunkenness. That, being so, what is the argument in favour of abo ishmg them? It is extremely hard that any- one wiio wants a bottie of beer or spirits should be compelled to go to a public-house in order to procure it, or to purchase a number of bottles from a wine merchant. People who frequent public-houses are more open to fall into temptar tion. The matter must be looked at as a whole; and on the whole I am convinced tnap grocers* lioances are not prejudicial to temperance, and Parliament oou'd not. make a more fata, mistake than to abolish them by this Bill." I would a.so point out that the majority report of the Royal Commission on the liquor licensing laws recommended that no change should be made except as to the discretion of the licensing autho. rity, and it is on this report that the recent Act has been passed. I should like also to add that it has been a constant assertion on the part of oppoij- gnte of ^pooers' licences grocers were tn tie habit of supplying liquors Ui WHOeu and entering them as groceries under various heaas from to time. When this assertion has been challenged no proof has been given, but from its constant iteration many peopie were led to believe in the existence of the practice. At the request of the. Organisation of Off-lioenoo Holders, a clause was introduced into the late Act, providing that proof of any such action would be a ground for the with- drawal of the licence, and it is hoped that we have heard the last of suoh unsupported and unfounded assertions. I contend, sir, that the evils of over-indulgence in intoxicating liquor are being amply provided against in the Licensing Act now in operation. If a man or woman desires to indulge to excess in strong liquors, it is not necessary to go to the grocer, whose business is carried on in a perfectly open manner. If you -w-1sh to abo ish all facilities for getting liquor you must make it illegal for any ordere for liquors to be transmitted by post, tele- phone or telegraph, and all these courses are open to anyone wishing to procure liquor, either from the wine merchant, hotel, public-house or grocer. If you abolish the grocers' lioenoe you wiH not diminish by one iota the possibility of the abuse of alcohol. Doctors and chief constables will tell you that if a man or woman desires it they will get the article, if not from one source then from another. There are moderate drinkers who find the grocers' facilities a great convenience, and it is for such the grocer's licence was called into existence—and it is hoped will continue to exist.—Yours faithfully, H. B. DUTTON. 26th Feb., 1903.

LIGHTING-UP TABLE. + All cycles and other vehicles in the Chest* i district must be lighted up as stated in the following, tabfc;— I.U. Wednesday, March 4 6.53 Thursday, March 5 6.54 Friday, March 6 6.56 Saturday, March 7 6.58 Sunday, March 8 7.0 Monday, March 9 7.1 Tuesday, March 10 7.3

CHESTER INFIRMARY. WDKLY STATE, ENDED SATURDAY LAST. In-patients are admitted on Tuesday mornings at 11 o'clock. In-patiente Pi9c^arg«d la-patienta. Cured 7 f Admitted £ 6 Relieved 6 Remain in the House 91 Made Out-Patients 1 Unrelieved. 0 Irregularity 0 Dead 4 OUT-PATIENTS. Medical cases are seen on Monday. Wednesday, and Saturday mornings at Eleven o'clock. Surgical cases are seen on Thursday mornings at Eleven o'clock. Ophthalmic cases are seen on Friday mornings at Eleven o'clock. Dental cases are seen on Tuesday and Saturday mornings bt. Ten o'clock. Out-patients admitted since Saturday last

CHESTER DISTRICT NURSING ASSOCIATION. 9, WATER TOWKK-STREET. WEEKLY REPORT. Old cases 71 Removed 2 New cases 1" Deaths 2 Cured 19 On books Relieved o Visits 497 E, BATESON, Lady Superintendent. February 28, 1903.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES & DEATHS Brains, MARUASKS, and DEATHS are charged at the rate of 20 words for la (prepaid). If not prepaid, the eharge will be 2s. 6d. The anuouncement must 1 e authenticated by the Sitmature and Address of the Sender. BIRTHS. EVANs-February 25, at Vrondeg, Bronwylfa, Wrexham, the wife of Arthur E Evans, of a daughter. HIOSKTT—February 27, at 4, Shrewsbury-road; Dublin, the wife of Arthur Holland Hignett, of a son (stillborn). WILLIAMS—February M at The Hey, Darmonds-grees, West Kirby, the wife of J. Williams, jun., of a son. DEATHS. ELDIUDog-February 22., at Moreton Hall, Congleton, Henry Eldridge, aged 55 years. HODGKINSON-February 20, at Dane-street, Congleton, Ellen, widow of John Hod^kinson, aged 6i years. HOLLINGDALig-Febr-aary 25, at High-street, Whitchurch, Louisa Eliza Holliugdale, aged 64 years. STEPHEN-February Û, at Brighton-street, Seaconibe, John Stephen, beloved husband of Elizabeth Ann Stephen. TAYLOR-February 23, at Slatey-road, daughton Birken- head, Jane Ainsworth, widqw of the late Dr. J. Oliver Taylor, of Evertoc, in her 74th year. VRSABLHS—February 28, very suddenly, at her residence, 58 St. Domingo Vale, Liverpool, Mary, the dearly-beloved wife of Thomas Drummond Venables, and eldest daughter of the late Henry Shufflebotham-Shawfield, Stapleford, Cheshire. WILSON—February 25, at Tarporley, John Wilson 64, Hisrh- street, a^red 41 years. Interred at St Helen's Church on February 23th. [No cards,]

If EMOR1 A L S AT ALL PRICES, IN MARBLE, GRANITE, STONE & ALABASTER. On View, a.nd to order. W. HASWELL & SON. MASONS, KALEYARDS, CHESTEF. and DMtyru JVof on oppkootio*. Tvlvpbo110 No. 161A..