The Chester Courant and Advertiser for North Wales

DIARY OF COMING ENGAGEMENTS. Jan. 2, etc.-Pantomime" Little Red Riding Hood at Royalty Theatre. 2-Adjourned Quarter Sessions at Knutsford. 2-Chester Town Council (special meeting). 3-Chester Cattle Fair. 3-City Quarter Sessions. 3-Winter Assembly Ball. » 4-Hatvarden Board of Guardians. 5-Ches-ter District Council. 5-Tarvin Board of Guardians, i, 7-Cheshire Education Committee. •, 8-Chester Board of Guardians.

GREED OF POWER. Ever since their unexpected triumph at the polls last January, the Radicals have been complaining of the paucity of their numbers on the magisterial benches, and certain of their mouthpieces have been proclaiming from the housetops that the day was not far distant when the local benches of magistrates would be flooded with Radicals. The people who talked and wrote in that reckless style, however, reckoned without their host, or without the Lord Chancellor, at all events. A band of eighty-eight Radical and Labour members headed by Sir John Brunner, sent a memorial to the Lord Chancellor on the subject of the appointment of magistrates, and the result has been something to astonish and chasten these ardent spirits- They set forth with the declaration that the present system of appointment is wrong) and that they would welcome a proposal of the Government which would put it upon an entirely non-political basis." Then, with amusing contradiction, they proceeded to elaborate a case whereby the "disparity in the numbers of Conservative and Liberal justices" might be remedied- They complained grievously of the accept- ance of the nominations of the Lords Lieutenant—" such nominations being frequently made by them without due inquiry-in preference to those of Liberal members also of the absence of consulta- tion with Liberal members interested of the absence of information as to the reason of the refusal of members' nominations and of the frequent refusal of the nomination "of the more active Liberal and Labour politicians, although otherwise qualified to be magistrates." The memorial further urged the importance of making the county benches more truly representative both of political opinion and of the different social classes of the community." The Lord Chancellor, in a courageous reply, administered a snub to those eighty- eight political wire-pullers which they will not soon forget. He acquiesced in their ex- pression of the pious opinion thatthe appoint- ment of justices of the peace should be non- political, but confessed himself unable to reconcile it with the remainder of the docu- ment. The sum and substance of the memorial was a plea for making the appointment of magistrates non political and at the same time of giving the Radical and Labour parties a larger share of repre- sentation. Of the contention for making the bench a reward of political activity the Lord Chancellor falls foul. He explicitly refuses to allow an office which places in men's hands the liberty and reputation of I their humblest neighbours to become the subject of political traffic." The fact that a man happens to be a strong party man, Ou one side or another, in the Lord Chan- cellor's view, should be no objection to his elevation to the bench, but he enters a protest against the idea that a defect in the necessary qualifications for the bench may be made good by political services. This was rather a nasty slap on the face to the political busybodies who had promoted the memorial. But it was by no means the only rebuff contained in Lord Loreburn's straightforward reply. Many of the newly- made Radical members of Parliament have been vapouring as to the influence they will exert to get their political supporters placed on the magisterial bench. In reply to the de- mand that the Lord Chancellor should consult the local member, before accepting names nominated, his lordship points out that the responsibility and blame for this difficult and delicate duty, if any mistake be made, rest on himself alone, and therefore, I must exercise my own discretion as to whom I may consult in any particular case." Another facer for the memorialists is con- tained in the following sentences: "And I certainly am not prepared to render an account to anyone of my reasons for choos- ing one man or omitting another. To make appointments on such a footing would be fatal." By way of emphasising his disagree- ment with the whole tenour of the memorial, the Lord Chancellor penned a vindication of the action of the maligned Lords Lieu- tenant, who, he said, with rare exceptions, had "acted and advised impartially and had taken much pains." He also exonerated the Lords Lieutenant from any blame for having allowed the names of nominees to become known and canvassed in political circles. In fact, continues his lordship, without their (the Lords Lieutenant) help it would have been impracticable to transact the business, and they have often warned against and so prevented most un- desirable appointments." This testimony from a Radical Lord Chancellor is the best answer that could be given to those who rail at the system under which the Lord Lieutenant of a county is consulted over the filling up of vacancies on the bench. As a parting shot to the memorialists the Lord Chancellor politely declined to receive a deputation of the signatories who had offered to attend for a personal interview. On a survey of the whole situation every one who desires to see the magistraterial bench maintained at its present high standard of impartiality and integrity will rejoice at the sturdy independence of the Lord Chancellor's attitude. That the county bench generally shews a majority of the Unionist party is a result of circumstances) not of politics. One of the first desiderata in a magistrate is independence, and it so happens that the majority of men in an independent position belong to the Unionist party, just as that party claim the majority of the men of education and culture. It would be a bad day for England if the selection of magistrates were made the shuttlecock of party politics. If the prayer of the memorialists were granted for the creation of benches "more truly repre- sentative both of political opinion and of the different social classes of the community," there would be a strange medley on every petty sessions and quarter sessions bench. If every class of the community is to be represented by a seat on the 'bench, the unemployed, who are a larger section unfortunately of the community to-day, would need to have their share of representa- tion. The paupers are another considerable class of the community. Then again, the teetotallers, the anti-vaccinists, the anti- ritualists, the anti-vivisectionists, the passive resisters, the women suffragists, the trade- unionists, the free-labourists and a hundred and one other classes of the community would be clamouring rightly for their place on the bench. The property qualification which has been removed in recent years was a questionable improvement. It was imposed for the wise purpose of making sure that magistrates should be men of such a stamp that could not readily be bought or sold, but be men of substance. If the necessity for that safeguard has ceased to exist, it is a happy sign of progress, but in any case it always will be necessary to have acting as j ustices of the peace men who can afford to give a decision in accordance with their consciences, without fear or favour. We do not arrogate to the upper ranks of society a monopoly of a sense of justice and integrity. The sense of British fair-play lives and moves as thoroughly among the working classes of this country as it does among the aristocracy. Our Empire never would have achieved its greatness were it otherwise. But it is one thing to be able to arrive at an impartial and just judgment and quite another to give effect to it. The man who sits in judgment on his fellow-men is bound to tramp on somebody's corns, and it is not every one among us who is so happily placed that he can afford to express his opinion candidly without fear or favour. For that reason, therefore, the man who is in a position of comparative independence is the best man to be entrusted with the administration of justice in our courts of summary jurisdiction. 6

A correspondent enthusiastic over Esperanto sends llsa paragraph shewing how tho new lan- gua.ge is useful even in helping the Cheshire cheese trade. A Oestrian corresponding with a Frenchman through the common medium of Esperanto, was asked by his Gallic friend why Cheshire is famous for its cheese, because "the Cheshire cheese he buys in France is hard and bitter, and he cannot understand how Cheshire people can eat it." The Chester Esper&ntist sent a sample of genuine Cheshire to his for- eign friend, and we have no doubt that tooth- some piece of genuine cheese will explain even more eloquently than the new language how it is that Cheshire* is famous as "the place where the ohecsc comes from." Frenchmen may also be taught thus to distinguish between Cheshire cheese and American. A

"The great damning fact stands out that the richest and most powerful railway company in the world has thrown a hundred of its old servants on the scrap heap." Thus our Radical con- temporary, on the discharge of railwayman at Ctewe. It is, of course, criminaJ conduct in a railway company to discharge old hands, but when tho most powerful Government in modern times throw somo hundreds or thousands of tlheir workmen at Woolwich "on the scrap heap" nothing is said of the "damning fact" by Radi- cal speakers or writers. The discharge of men from the Government dockyards and arsenals and the disbandment of whole battalions of our soldiers are doubly "damning." They throw out of work on enormous number of men, in order to effect some so-oalled economies in arma- I ments. so that, the Government may have more to spend on stupid fads; and they constitute a real peril to the Empire, because they thus weaken the national defences. The point, how- erver, is that what is wrong in a zailway company is righteousness in a Radical Government,

LOCAL NEWS. Is The Hon. A. Stanley, M.P., who is laid up with influenza at Alderley Hall, Chelford, is steadily regaining strength. Earl and Countess Beauohamp are to entertain a New Year party at Madresfield Court, and several of their guests have already left town. The Duchess of Westminster is to re-open the Church Army's Winter Labour Relief Depot in Artillery-row, S.W., at three p.m. on Friday next. It, and two others, were established last year by a gift from the Duke of Westminster, to give work to deserving unemployed married men with families. The Director of Education for the County (Mr. R. P. Ward) returned from Boston, U.S.A., on Christmas day, in the s.s. Numidian (Allan Line) to Glasgow, having been away two months visiting schools in Canada and the United States. A committee has been formed at Abergele to arrange for the celebration of the coming-of-age of Lord Cochrane, eldest son and heir of the Earl and Countess of Dundonald, of Gwrych Castle, which occurs in February next. Gwrych Castle is a fanciful castellated structure on the slope of a hill, and is a prominent landmark to travellers on the Chester and Holyhead line. In a narrow pass close to the Castle entrance, called Tan-yr-ogo, the unfortunate Richard II. was, on his journey from Conway Castle, met by a band who inveigled him to Flint Castle, where he was betrayed by the Earl of Bolingbroke. INFIRMARY BALL.-The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Chester begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following donations to the Infirmary Ball Fund :—Miss Richardson, £1. Is. Mrs. H. J. Birch, Cl. Is.; Mrs. Duff Assheton Smith, ;E2. 2s.; Mrs. G. H. Reynolds, £1. la. Mrs. Elliott, £1. Is.; Mrs. Ambrose Roberts, JE1. Is. DENBIGHSHIRE LICENSING COM- MITTEE.—At the Denbighshire Epiphany Quarter Sessions, to be held at Ruthin on Friday, the County Licensing Committee will present their annual report. It appears that the licence of one house was refused, viz., the Corn Ex- change, High-street, Wrexham, and compensa- tion of £1,500 was paid. The balance in hand on the compensation fund account stands at present at £ 4,484. THE SOUP KITCHEN.—Owing to the rapid change in the weather it has been decided not to open the Soup Kitchen for the present. It had been intended to do so yesterday (Tuesday) morning, and all arrangements had been made. It will now be kept in a state of readiness for the rest of the winter, so that it can be opened any time at the least notice. This institution depends entirely on voluntary subscriptions and when it is open, it costs about £ 10 per day. TRAM RETURNS-The. returns for the week ending Decvmbcr 29th shew that the total number of passengers carried on the city section was 40,995. while the reccipis taken amounted to £ 166. 19s. llgd. Compared with tho corre- sponding week last year this shews a. decrease of 1,355 passengers and of E7. 15s. 5d. in the receipts. The. returns on the Boughton route are. still highly satisfactory. Last week 15,655 passengero availed themselves of the cars and paid £58. lis. lid. in receipts. CITY-ROAD WESLEYAN P.S.A.—A further snowstorm interfered with the attendance on. Sunday. The president, as chairman, urged the members to feelings of thankfulness for the blessings of the past year and of hopefulness upon entering the new year. An address bear- ing on the creation and fall of man was delivered by Mr. W. Gibbs. Mr. W. Davies sang the solo "The Village Blacksmith." The lesson was read by Mr. D. Dickinson, Mi*. B. Meadows being the prayer leader. Messrs. R. Butteir- worth and G. Jones acted as organist and choir- master respectively. MR. HOWSON'S VALEDICTORY.-The Rev. J. F. Howson, who to-day (Wednesday) is to be inducted to the living of Guiseley, York- shire, bade farewell to his Christ Church parishoners as a congregation on Sunday evening. The church was filled to overflowing, and con- stituted a striking tribute to the rev. gentleman's popularity in Newtown. where he has laboured with so much self-sacrifice, enthusiasm and success for 17 years. The Vicar read both the lessons and occupied tho pulpit, whence he addressed his last words of counsel to "his beloved Christ Church people." It was a touch- ing address, and when he concluded the entire congregation was deeply moved, and many of them could not restrain tears. Special hymns, including one which was a petition for the parish, were sung, and a service which will leave its impressions on all present concluded with the blessing, pronounced by the Vicar. ROYALTY THEATRE.—The pantomime, "Little Red Riding Hood," at the Royalty Theatre has entered upon the second week of its run, and continues to attract crowded and delighted audiences. Mr. George Brydon- Phillips' company is one of all-round excellence, the principals acquitting themselves in a manner that makes the performance go with a capital swing, unmarred by a moment's real tameness. Miss Mamie Iris enhances her reputation in the title role, and makes an exceedingly dainty Red Riding Hood, her 'vocalism being distinctly popular. Miss Kitty Malone is a vivacious principal boy, and makes a good impression with her songs. Mr. Maitland Marler (the old lady) and Mr. Fred Maple (the wicked squire) bring to bear upon their parts an inexhaustible fund of spontaneous wit, their efforts being ably seconded by Messrs. H. de Solla, Billy Taylor and Dennis Curzon. The speciality turns by Mdlle. Onra, the Alhambra Trio and the Maples go to fill up an attractive bill of fare. A TRIBUTE TO GLADSTONE'S MEMORY. Saturday was the anniversary of the birth of the late Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, and as a tribute to the memory of their late leader several Liberal associations had the statue in the Strand, London, florally decorated. Among a number of wreaths on the plinth were three very large ones on the front. One of white lilies bore the inscrip- tion, "In memory of the G.O.M., from the North Lambeth Liberal and Radical Association. Never forgotten." To a wreath of holly was attached a yellow shield, inscribed. "A tribute of respect to our late revered leader, from the Haggerston L. and R. Association." The third wreath was a very large one of moss and white flowers, with an inscription, "To the memory of one who, born to eminence. laboured for his country and won the hearts of his people, this tribute is devoted by the League of Young Liberals." There were a number of other large wreaths of holly and evergreens hung round the statue. It is interesting to learn that the beautiful pall used at his funeral in Westminster Abbey was hung up at the entrance of the Memorial Chapel, and will remain there over Mrs. Gladstone's birthday on January 6. THE LATE MISS E. M. FROST.-The funeral of the late Miss E. M. Frost took place at Chester Cemetery on Thursday afternoon. The body was brought by road from West Kirby on Wednesday, and remained in St. John's Church over night. It was Miss Frost's wish that she should rest in the church, in which she and her father had worshipped, and the east window of which was given by her father. A choral service was held in St. John's CKurch, where the Rev. Canon Cooper Scott, assisted by the Rev. John Rowlands (Aberdovey), brother- in-law of deceased, officiated. The choir chanted the opening sentences, without accompaniment, as they marched to their places. The 39th Psalm and the hymns "Nearer, my God to Thee" and "Peace, perfect peace" were sung. The Nunc Dimittis ended this portion of the service. As the mourners left the church the organist played the "Dead March" in Saul. The same clergy- men took the service at the graveside. The mourners included Mr. and Mrs. Meadows Frost (West Kirby), Mr. and Mrs. James Frost, Mr. T. Gibbons Frost, Mr. T. H. Wood, Mrs. Cooper Scott, Mrs. J. E. Haswell. the Rev. Rowlands, junr., &c. A number of floral tributes were sent by friends and relatives. The funeral arrange- ments were carried out by Messrs. J. Smith and Son. BRUERA PARISH CHURCH.—Henceforth the parishioners are to have their own parish magazine, and, judging by the first number, it will prove a useful rrwans of communication, and an interesting record of parish work. In the current issue the Vicar (the Rev. H. W. Trott) acknowledges the kind and hearty welcome he and Mrs Trott have received. It is mentioned that the proceeds of the entertainment in Novem- ber have enabled several improvements to be provided, including two hanging lamps, cur- tain with rod and standards for the vestry com- municants' knee.'ers; and oil stove; houselling tables. For these, thanks are expressed to the Misses Boden and their friends A now stained window has been inserted in the south window of the sanctuary, in memory of the late Miss Alice* Denton, of Newbold. by her relatives. It represents the meeting of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary with our Lord after his resur- rection (St. Matt. 28, 1). The window is a good specimen of Mr. Kempe's work, and, being pale I in tone, does not materially diminish the light of the already rather dim church. It was dedi- cated last month by the Vicax-

BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS t A GREAT ENGLISHWOMAN. We deeply regret to announce the death of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, which took place on Sunday morning, at half-past ten o'clock, at 1, Strait ton-street, Piecadiliy; where she, had re- sided with her husband, Mr. Burdett-Coutts, M P. Her illness had extended over about two months, and for six weeks she had not been able to leave her roorm Its origin was a cold, which developed into acute bronchitis. About a month ago Lady Burdett-Coutts had a relapse, but her wonderful vitality, which had carried her through several illnesses in recent years, en- couraged hope of her ultimate recovery. This was enteitained even so late at last Friday, when she rallied somewhat. The improvement was, however, illusive. On Saturday, at noon, her medical attendants, Sir Thomas Barlow and Dr. Comer ford, met in consultation, and pro- nounced her condition to be weaker. As the day advanced she visibly sank, but was still able to recognise the older members of her house- hold, each of whom she took by the hand. From late on Saturday night until her last moments Mr. Burdett-Coutts never ldt her bedsiele, and she was conscious almost to the end. About five o'clock on Sunday morning it was thought that the end had come, but the aged baroness partially rallied again and again before she finalJy sank pe-acefully to rest at the time stated. Besides Mr. Burdett-Coutts, Dr. Comerford was with her to the last. Mr. Burdett-Coutts has received the follow- ing telegram from Lord Knoliys at Sandiing- oom :-1 am commanded by the King and Queen to express their great regret to hear of the death of Lady Burdett-Coutts. They sincerely sympathise with you in your Joss. On Saturday telegrams and messages of inquiry and sympathy were constantly arriving at the house. The Queen and the Princess of Wales were among those who sent- communica- tions, her Majesty's telegram containing a -ti gracious personal message to the baroness, who was abLe to understand and appreciate it. The Lord Mayor sent the following message to Mr, Burdett-Coutts: Very sorry. Deeply sympathise with you. The Oity of London has lost one of noblest and best-beloved honorary freemen." BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. This distinguished and philanthropic lady was the youngest daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, who was for many year6 Liberal M.P. for West- minster. She was born in St. James's-place in the month of April, 1814. Her mother was Sophia daughter of Mr. Thomas Coutts, the eminent and wealthy banker in the Strand. In the year 1837 she succeeded to her grandfather's great wealth through the will of his second wife and widow, the once fascinating actress Miss Harriet Mellon, who after the death of Mr. Coutts married as her eocond husband the ninth Duke of St. Albans. On inheriting this fortune Miss Angela Georgina Burdett assumed the additional name of Coutts by Royal licence, and from that day forth she conceived and carried out the idea of using her wealth in such a way as to promote the good of her fellow-creatures, a term which we use here in its widest sense, for she stopped not in doing good to the souls and bodies of her countrymen and country- women, but extended her sympathy also to animals. In addition to subscribing largely to the charitable institutions of the Metropolis, she started and worked out on fresh lines many useful projects of her own which for the most part shewed by the success which attended them that they had been well and carefully considered, An attached and zealous member of the Church of England, she soon made her munificence truly historical by the foundation of three Colonial Bishoprics—British Columbia, Capetown, and Adelaide—and also by building two handsome churches, the one at Carlisle (St. Stephen's) and the other (also dedicated to the same saint) in a i densely inhabited part of Westminster with which her father's name had been so long associated as its representative in Parliament. Her munificence, as we have said, was not limited to her native land, and she provided the necessary funds for carrying out the late Sir Henry James's topographical survey. of Jerusalem; and she also offered to restore at her own cost the ancient aqueducts of King- Solomon; but this last-named proposal fell through. She also obtained from various sources in the East sundry valuable Greek manuscripts in order to assist learned scholars at home and on the Continent in the elucidation and interpretation of Holy Scriptures. From very early days she acted as the pioneer of charitable agencies on behalf of the poor and unfortunate of her own sex. Another and larger sphere of hey charitable labours was the unpromising and almost hope- less district of Spitallields, where overcrowding and destitution prevailed to an appalling ex- tent. Here she opened a sewing school, in which grown-up women were taught to sew and were also provided with food a.nd work, so as to enable them to undertake Govotlln (,nt con- tracts. From the headquarters of t.h-i.s school nurses are sent out among the sick poor, -whi'e outfits of olothing are distributed among sev. vants out of situations and deserving women of the poorer classes, In the same neighbourhood Miss Burdett-Coutts bought up a Considerable area of dilapidated buildings, knoitn for the most pait as Nova Scotia-gardens, a.nd crected in their place a large block of model lodging- houses, now called Columbia-square, consisting of separate tenements let at low weekly rentals to some three hundred different families. Not far off is the Columbia Market, which the same. generous lady bought and rebuilt a%] gave as a free gift to the Corporation of the, City of London in order that it might become the cen- tre of a cheap and wholesome supply of food, and especially of fish, for the poor of North-F-tst London. SCHEMES OF EMIGRATIO. In dealing with the problem of reliving con- gested districts by the encouragement of schemes of emigration, Miss Burdett-Coutts took an ac- tive part, as the inhabitants of several districts in Scotland and Ireland can gratefully testify; and she allied herself with Sir Samuel Cunard in helping many poor families to find new and more prosperous homes in Canada and Australia. When a cry of distress arose some yeaig ago in the town of Girvan, in Scotland, she tdvanced large sums to enable the destitute families to emigrate to Australia. The services which she rendered to the Irish fishermen of Cape Clear can hardly be overestimated. She established, with the aid of a patriotic priest, Father Davis, a fishing station near Baltimore and Skibber- een, where the young people are taught how to make nets and the fishermen provided with suitable boats for the pursuit- of their Arduous calling. It may also be stated here that she afforded Sir James Brooke assistance in im- proving the condition of the Dyaks of Sarawak in Borneo, where she established and supported a model farm, in which the natives arc instruc- ted in improved methods of agriculture. In 1877, when accounts reached this country of the sufferings of the Turkish peasants flying from their homes before the Russion invasion, Lady Burdett-Coutts instituted the Turkish Compassionate Fund, by means of which a large from of money was raised and entrusted to the British Ambassador at Constantinople for dis- tribution among the needy. In recognition of this important, service the Order of the Medji- dieh was conferred on her. She contributed very largely for many yea.rs towards other schemes of a private nature. She was a liberal patron of art., and her hospitality was as great and wide-spreading as her charity, and this she extended not only to her own friends, but to hundreds, even thousands, of our Volunteer forces and to the school children of her neigh- bourhood. In the summer of 1871 Mks Burdett-Coutts was raised to the peerage, as some recognition of her services to the public, on the recommenda- tion of Mr. Gladstone, as "Baroness Burdott- Ooutts, of Holly Lodge, Highg-ate, in the County of Middlesex." Lady Burdeftt-Coutts was admitted to the freedom of the city of Lon- don on July 11, 1372, a.nd to the freedom of the city of Edinburgh on ialluayy 15. loo-i4. On November 1, 1880, the Haberdashers' Company publicly conferred on her their freedom and livery in "recognition of her judicious and extensive benevolence and hor ii:,iiniaccent- sup- port of educational, charitable and religious in- stitutions throughout the country.' She subsc quontly became a member of the Turners Com- pany. The Baroness had also taken a leading part in promoting and supporting the Ciiiildien's Protection Society, of which she was at once r asked to become president on the death of the Earl of Shaftesbury. In 1881 she married Mr. W. L Ashmead Bart- liett, who thereupon took by Royal licence her name of "Burdstt-Contts, and who has con- tinued to represent the city of Westminster in Parliament in the Conservative interest since 1885. In the Baroness Burdett-Coutts we have had one of the most conspicuous examples of a great fortune nobly and consistently employ i both in works of pure benevolence and of ptac- tical usefulness. Her title, not having been conferred with any special remainder, has Le. come extinct with her deceaso. '4T BURIAL IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Tho late Baroness Burdett-Coutts will be buried in Westminster Abbey at noon on Satur- day. Tho offer was made to Mr. Buidett-Cbutta late on Monday afternoon by the Dean, ¡:fict eonsuliation with his colleagues in the Chapter. For tho sake of many who cannot take part in tho Abbey service, the body will lie in Stiatton- street oil Thursday, and the public will be ad- mitted without restriction, except such as is necessarily imposed by considerations of space and time.

ALLECXE]) FRAUI) AT A MANAGER SENT FOR TRIAL. I William Thompson, a young man residing in Bifch-grove, Liscard, was charged at Wal- lasey, on Monday, on remand, with embezzling £ 4. 5s. 6d., £ 13, and £ 4. 14a., the moneys of the Ellesmere and Bridgewatcr Collieries Company. Mr. J. Furniss, who prosecuted, explained that the defendant had been manager at New Brighton and Seacombe depots. Some time ago the receipts shewed a decrease, and inquiries were made, with the result that it was found that the moneys had been received by the de- fendant and not accounted for. Evidence was given by Henry Wateon. coal dealer, St. Paul's-road, Seacombe, and Frank Harvey, of Florence-road. They produced receipts signed by the defendant. Police-constable Lowndes gave evidence of arreë. and said that, in answer to the charges, defendant stated that the money had been spent for the company's benefit, and had not gone into his own pocket. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty, was sent for trial at the Quarter Sessions which commence in April. Bail was allowed.

THE LATE MR. S. SMITH. (See also page 3.) 4 A TRIBUTE FROM WALES. A Flintshire correspondent write. :-A pro- found feeling of grief has been caused in Flint- shire by the news of the death cf Mr. Samuel Smith, who represented the county in Parlia- ment for a period of twenty years. Mr. Smith was at Lucknow when he was selected as the Liberal candidate for Flintshire and he tele- graphed his election address from that city. He was elected, and shortly afterwards returned home and made a tour of his new constituency, with which he speedily became thoroughly in touch. His was a type of character of sturdy Nonconformity which appealed peculiarly to the Welsh ideals, and Mr. Smith speedily be- came to be looked upon &s a thoroughly repre- sentative Welsh member, both in the Princi- pality and among the Welsh Parliamentary party. Mr. Smith was always a liberal supporter of every good cause in his constituency. At one time he gave £ 1,000 towards liquidating the debt., on some of the weaker and struggling chapels in the county, and upon the passing of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act ho gave £ 1,000 towards the Flint-hire scheme. Moreover, he afterwards subscribed liberally towards the various echools which were erected in the county under the provisions of that Act. Mr. Smith w: s a lover of the valleys and moun- tains of Wales, and in his autobiography. "My Life Work," he records some of the week-end journeys which he used to make as a young man from Liverpool to the Carnarvonshire dis- trict. It may be recalle-d as an interesting fact that tho late Mr. Gladstone was one of Mr. Smith's constituents, and when he happened to be ad- dreeing his constituents at Hawarden Mr. Smith was usually invited to dine at the castla with Mr. Gladstone. INDIAN SYMPATHY. The following cable was on Monday received by Mr. James Smith: -"Congres; mournfully records its ficnse of great loss India has sus- tained by sudden death your brother, who was devoted friend of Indians, and earnest, in- fluential supporter in Parliament,-Naoroji, President." Messrs. Smith, Edwarde and Co., Rumford- place, received the following cable :—"All India Temperance Conference deepest sympathy." REPRESENTATIVE FUNERAL." Messrs. Smith, Edwards and Co. also received en Monday the following from Calcutta:—"Mr. Samuel Smith buried at his own desire Scotch Cemetery, Calcutta. Striking funeral; ali classes represented."

FATAL FALL DOWNSTAIRS. LUNATIC WHO ESCAPED FROM UPTON. IDENTIFICATION DIFFICULTY. Mr. J. C. Bate, the West Cheshire coroner, held an inquest at Nantwich on Thursday even- ing, concerning the death of James Pimley (53). a boilermaker. It appeared from the evidence that the deceased lodged at Massey's lodging- house, Nantwioh, and that at about ten o'clock on Christmas night a fellow-lodger took him Deceased, finding that he had to sleep with another man, raised an objection, and proceeded to go downstairs again. At the top of tho staircase a portion of the handrail was missing, and the staircase being unlighted, the deceased stumbled and fell down nine steps He was picked up from the landing with his hand doubled underneath him. It was found that he was in a dying condition, and he was carried into the kitchen, where he expired in about a quarter of an hour. There was some difficulty as to the identifica- tion of the deoeased. Goo. Pimley, a Crewo boilermaker, came on Wednesday and denied that it was the body of his brother James. De- ceased, however, was recognised by several people, among whom were Wm. John Mason, of ttho Red Lion Inn, Nantwich. He stated that he knew the deceased forty years ago, and ho last saw him in Na.ntwich three yeara back. Mason also stated that a man who gave the name of Pimley called at his house some time on Christmas Day and enquired for him. He was also identified by Josiah Ratoliffe, an inmate of the lodging-house, who shared his supper with Pimley. He told Pimley that he recognised his features, and Pimley then told him who he was. A curious turn was given to the inquiry by the evidence of Alfred Bates. This witness is a charge attendant at Upton Asylum, and he identified the body as that. of James Pimley, of whom he had charge up to July 28th last. At that time Pimley escaped from the Asylum* and witness had not seen him again until that day. Deceased came to Upton from the Bath Asylum in 1925. Sergt. Piercey, questioned by the Coroner, said he was afraid thait deceased's brother did not want to identify him. This brother, George Pimley, was then c&iled, and he now stated that the deceased's profile resembled that of his brother, but he was not absolutely certain that it was he. The Coroner said theje seemed to be no doubt that the identification was established. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death. and recommended the Nantwioh Urban Council to insist on the stairs being placed in a safe condition before they renewed the liocnca of the lodging-house.

THE SHORTEST DAY.-A correspondent writing to the Morning Post says :l he shortest day being the 21st of December leads to many remarks which shew want ot edge as to the actual sun rise and sun setting. The shortest day is the 21st of December, JU > the shortest afternoon is the 13th of Decern >ei, and the shortest morning January -Jty. Jience^ we often hear people say that it is curious the auer- noons seem to lengthen when tbe ^ist ot December is past. but the mornings pet riucb darker. They little realise that the sun rise.s on Januard 3rd at 8.8 and on December 21st at 8. J.