Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

MERIONETH QUARTER SESSIONS. The Quarter Sessions for the county were held on Tuesday at Dolgelley before Mr W R M Wynne, (lord lieutenant), Rev Gwynoro Davies, Messrs W J Morris, C E Munro Edwards, Wynne Williams, Edward Griffiths, R Jones Morris, E M Roberts, L J Davies, R Williams, R R Roberts, C E J Owen, J Leigh Taylor, R S Wayne, Dr Lloyd, and Col Scott. THE GRAND JURY. The following were sworn on the Grand Jury William AFen, grocer, Dolgelley Robert Davies, Criterion, Dolgelley; William Jones Davies, dealer, Dolgelley; Hugh Evans, farmer, Gwanas; John Evans, farmer, Llwyn; E W Evans, Frondinon, Dolgelley William Evans, Aelybryn, Llanelltyd Griffith Edwards Foelisa, farmer, Llanelltyd J Edwards, Cellfachreth Robert Edwards, Dolfawr; G Antony Griffith, Gwerngawr; J Griffith, Gallistra, Robert.Hughes, Felinnewydd D H Jones, Lawn House, Dolgelley; J Jones, Bridge street, Dolgelley; John Jones, Llwyncynfal, Llanfachreth R Jones, Yaner; James Lewis, Glyndwr street; William Owen, farmer, Bwlan; John Pryce, Ftonolau, Brithdir; and John Roberts, farmer, Henblas. THE CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The Chairman, addressing the grand jury, said 'he had hoped that there would have been no persons ifor trial before the year closed, but there were two .cases, one of unlawful wounding. He did not think that it was important enough to bring before ,the Quarter Sessions, but could easily have been dealt with by the local magistrates. It appeared to be the result of ill-feeling amongst two labourers in a turnip field, one of whom had struck the other with a bill hook inflicting a wound which, however, the doctor would tell them was not very serious. The other case was more important as it dealt with the tbeft of a parcel by an employe in the Dolgelley Post Office. Looking back over the past year they had to regret the death of their deeply lamented Queen Victoria, who was now peacefully resting irom ber labours willingly and loyally given for see the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII. who, they trusted, would follow in the of his illustrious mother and loyally oo sepb work, aa he had stated his doing. The report of the Head- mtention c • K0 crime in the county was eminently eons a e as thecounty enjoyed great immunity from the°aame "o.ld W co„. TA TS„ « T,I?ITRR S- American Embassy Londfon W'bankwg he Sessions for its emr **i<3il of 8ymPatby w,th the v duly forwarded to Mrs the message would be « T.r tt. i R mu v u T ftteo cranked them for McKinJey. The Bjmbass} ,7; A, o w &Dd hoped that the the expressions ot good w 1 cordial feeling which now e. "°°1U lou« ™n: tinue. A communication ha> 80 n e,en from the North Western Rail. 008 solicitors office from Mr C H Mason, one c < the executors of the late Mr Samuel Pope, expres. for the letter of condolence. Hew '),Ûd hke to state now, as he was absent at the last Se, lsp ee^ regret and sympathy with the family 0' r °PJ who was always to him a warm per. ° Although they widely differed in politics jifti did not in the slightest degree affect th feeling of friendship which existed betwee a ern» In conclusion he wished them the complinu >t3 s of the season and a prosperous New Year. CHARGE Of UNLAWFUL WOUNDING. Robert Jones, farm labourer, was charged with unlawfully wounded John Thomas, labourer, on t.10 20th of October labt, by striking him in the cours e of a quarrel in the parish of Llandanwg with a bill hook, and causing a serious wound. Prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was represented by Mr W m George, Portmadoc, who said that the case was quite clear, and that the accused was a young man of un- blemished character and a steady workman, who had evidently lost his temper in a quarrel aroused bv ill feeling which had existed for some time. He had the instrument in his hand at the time, and in this sudden fit of temper, had struck Thomas, but he had gone so far to show his soirow for what he had done, as to give Thomas a large sum uf money for medical fees, even after proceedings had been taken against him. The defendant was very sorry for what had occurred, and Mr George pleaded that it was a case for the First Offender's Act.-The Chairman said that they had decided to take a lenient view of the case, although it was quite evident that the prisoner had committed himself seriously by striking Thomas with this sharp in- strument, but it was also evident that more serious injury would have been caused if the quarrel had been prolonged. Priscner would be bound over in vthe sum of X5 to come up for jadgment within six -months it called upon. THE POSTAL ROBBERY CASE. Francis Vaughan Morris was chaiged with having stolen a package, the property of the Post- master General, on the 14th December, which he was conveying to Penmaenpool for Mrs Scott.- Mr Guthrie Jones, who defended said he intended calling several witnesses who would give the accused an excellent character up to the time of the offence, and his father had only recently been pensioned from the Dolgelly Post Office, after 34 vears' work. He would like to draw attention to the youth of the prisoner who was only sixteen vears of age. It was the foolish act of a foolish boy, who did not realise the gravity of the offence. He tad already undeigone severe punishment, he thought, by being imprisoned to await his trial. It was undoubtedlv a case for the First Offender's Act. -The Rev R G Roberts, Bapl ist minister, Dolgelley gave evidence as lo the good character of prisoner before the offence.—The Chairman said that it was a very serious offence. He thought that more care should be taken in appointing these boys as extra messengers when the staff were unable to cope with the work. There should be either better pay or the authorities should be very careful as to the characters of applicants for the posts. He could not imagine that the prisoner intended any theft and taking into consideration his youth and t(}e excellent character which he had previously borne they would deal leniently with him under the First Offenders Act. He would be bound over to come up or judgment within six months if called upon, his father in the sum £ 10 and himself fa £ i

The Lord Gieat Chamberlain states that Peeresses will not be expected to wear mourning on the occasion of the opening of Parliament on January the 16th ensuing. -t. ■'■utf g

MERIONETH POLICE COMMITTEE. The quarterly meeting of the above was held at the County Hall. Dolgelley, on Tuesday afternoon, when there were present Mr 0 Slaney Wynne, presiding, Messrs R S Wayne, C E Munro Edwards, R M Wynne, Wm Hughes, Dr Jno Jones, J Davies, C E J Owen, with Mr Robert Jones (Clerk of the Peace), Major Best (Chief Constable), and Mr J M Jones (County Surveyor). GROCERS' LICENCES. A letter was received from the Northampton Standing Joint Committee with reference to a resolution passed by them, to the effect that grocers' licences should be under the control of the existing authorities. — Dr Jno Jones moved that the Committee should petition Parliament that the power to suppress or refuse grocers' licences at their own discretion as in the case of other licences. He was of opinion that grocers' licences had caused a lot of harm in the country, and he considered that the increase of drunkenness in the county was mainly due to them. It was unfair that they should be exempted from the same regulations as applied to public-house keepers.- Mr C E J Owen seconded.—Mr W R M Wynne in supporting said it would have been better to ask the Government to do away with them altogether. He thoroughly agreed with the motion.-Dr Jones remarked that be was quite open to have the proposition amended, but Mr Wynne said that he thought it would be just as well to leave it as proposed. — The resolution was then carried unanimously. THE CHIEF CONSTABLE 8 REPORT. This report stated that the total number of vagrants relieved during the last quarters was 750, as against 554 in the corresponding period of last quarter, which was an increase of 196. 39 had been proceeded against 31 in the corresponding period of last quarter. The number of people who had been prosecuted for drunkenness was 59 as against 63. Three publicans were proceeded against for breaches of the Lincensing Act and wore convicted as against the same number.— In reply to a quoo. fy,c Airmail as to how he accouted for the increase in the number oi vagrants, the Chief-constable replied that there were no common lodging houses in the town of Dolgelley and every vagrant who passed through had to spend the evening at the Workhouse. The largest increase was at Corwen where they passed through on their way to get work at the light railways, which were being constructed in the adjoining county of Montgemery.—The Chairman remarked that he did not remember ever having seen such a dangerous looking lot, as passed through the county at present.— Major Best replied that the number of convicts, where however much the same. THE SURVEYOR'S REPORT. This report states that there was a small wood which belonged to the Dolgelley Council which required thining, and the Surveyor considered it would be advisable to sell the land, which was now rented, as the tenant was willing to buy it.—A committee was appointbd to look into the matter. DYFFRYN POLICE STATION. The Surveyor recommended that repairs which were advised by Mr John Davies should be carried out, and this was accordingly ordered. THE COUNTY BUILDINGS. This question had been referred to a committee who had received replies from other places showing how the matter was being dealt with there, but they had received very little light upon the subject. There did not appear to be any general rule on the matter of letting these halls, and they thought it was a matter for the County Council.—The Clerk explained that the matter was vested in the County Council, who had the right to hold their meetings t bere.-Major Best said that at present the District Council used the room and did not pay for gas or coatI. — The Chairman thought that perhaps Dr Jones would bring it to the notice of the County Council at the next meeting.- Dr Jones promised to do ao.—Tbia closed the meeting.

PERSONAL. The marriage of Mr Chauncey Depew and Miss May Palmer was celebrated at Nice on Saturday. Lady Hely Hutchinson, wife of the Governor of Cape Colony, gave birth to a son on Friday. Both mother and child are doing well. Mr Cecil Rhodes and Dr Jameson left Cairo for London on Monday. The Kiug and Queen left London on Monday for Sandringham. It is announced that no New Year's honours list will be issued; as the last list came out so recently as November 9th, the King's birthday. Mr Sidney Cooper, the veteran R.A., is again hard at work, having fully recovered from his recent indisposition. He will be again well repre- sented at the Royal Academy exhibition of next year, when he will enter upon the 100th year of his life. Lady Helen Stewart, the only daughter of Lord Londonderry, who is to be married to Lord Stavordale, son of the Earl of Ilchester, on January 25th, at St Peter's, Eaton square, received on Mon- day night, at Wynyard Park, Stockton-on-Tees, a number of wedding presents from the tenantry and others connected with the estate. The Prince of Wales has been deputed by the King to attend the celebration of the German Emperor's birthday at Berlin on the 27th inst. The Prince and Princess of Wales will be the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth during next week. There has not been a single vacancy among the Knights of the Garter during the past year—a stagnation (says the World) for which it would be difficult to find a precedent.

— —- The King has appointed Lord Marcus Beresford, who was formerly official starter to the Jockey Club, to be manager of his thoroughbred stud and one of his extia equerries. At the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions on Tues- day a resolution in favour of the abolition of grocers' liceuces, or, in the alternative, of giving magistrates full discretion in the granting or refus- ing of them, was passed unanimously. Thirty-seven fresh cases of small-pox occurred in London on Friday. A family named Verney, of Erith, comprising father, mother, and two children have died from the epidemic within the past few days,

MARKETS WELSHPOOL GENERAL, Monday.—Wholesale price Butter, Os Od to Is 3d per lb eggs, 0 to 10 for Is fowls, 3s Od to 0a Od; chickens, 4s 6d to 5s 0 d ducks, Os Od to 5s 6d; rabbits, Is 6d per couple. NEWTOWN GENERAL, TUESDAY.—Eggs 0 to 12 for is; butter Is 3d to Os Od per Ib; fowls 3s Od to Os Od chickens Os Od to 4s 6d; ducks Oft Od to 5s Od rabbits, Is 6d per couple. LIVERPOOL CORN, TUESDAY. — Wheat, quiet trade. Boston, 6s 21d to 6s 3d; 2 Kansas, new, 6s 2 £ d to 6s 3d Red Winter, new, 6s 3d to 63 4d. Beans, Saidi, 33s 3d to 33s 6d. Peas, 6s lid, Oats, very quiet, new white, 2s lOd to 3s Id yellow, 2s 8d to 2s 9d; black, 2s 9d to 2* lOd. Maize, slow trade, new mixed, 5s 6^d; old, 5s 8Jd. Flour, unchanged. LONDON HAY AND STRAW, TUESDAY.—Prices. Good to prime hay, 1COs to 117s 6d inferioi to fair, 80s to 95& good to prime clover, 95s to 110s inferior to fair ditto, 80s Od to 90s mixture and sainfoin, 90s to 105s Od straw, 28s to 40s per load. LIVERPOOL CATTLE MARKET,MONDAY.—Numbers- Beasts, 1,234 sheep, 2,668. Quotations Best beasts, 6Jd to 6^d seconds, 5^d to 6d; thirds, 4|d to 5id; best Scotch sheep, 7 £ d to Od other sorts, 61d to 7d lambs, 61d to 7ld per Ih. The supply of cattle was larger than last week, showing an increase of 6 beasts and a decrease of 407 sheep and lambs. Demand fair for all classes at about late rates. BIRMINGHAM CATTLE, TUESDAY.— Short supplies all round, but fair demand. Prices ruled as follow :—Beef, Herefords, 6d to 6|d shorthorns, 6d to 61d bulls and cows, 4|d to 5Jd; calves, 2 2 6d to 71d wethers, 712d to 8jd ewes and rams, 5d to 6d per lb. Bacon pigs, 9s Od to 9s 3d; porkets, 10s 6d to lis 6d sows, 8s Od per score. SALKORD CATTLE, TUESDAY. — At market — Cattle, 2,635; sheep, 6,417, trade for both dull and slow at about last week's figures; calves, 166, with prices maintained. Quota-tions :—Ca.tt]e, 41(1 to 6id: calves, 6d to 7-id sheep, 6d to 8Jd per ib. I.. UoRK BUTTER, Thursday.—Trimest, —h prime -s; firsts, 105s; seconds 94s kegs, -s; thirds 81s kegs -8 fourths —p; fift hs —s choicest —g; choice —s superfine 126s kegf O.Q; fine mild 98" mild -s; choicest boxes —e choice boxes, 94s; 19 cwt of fresh butter A, 104s to 103s B, 92s tc 90s factory seconds, —. Total number of firkins 48. OSWESTRY CORN MARKET, WEDNESDAY. — The folTowing were the quotatio .-s:—White wheat (old) 4s 2d to 4s 4d white whe: (new), Os Od to Os Od per 751bs red wheat (old), 4s 2d to 4s 4d red wheat (new), Os Od to Os Od per 7blbs old oats, 15s 6d to 16s Oi new oats, 13s Od to 13s Jd pe 2001bs; mal ing barley, 17s Od to 20s Od; grinding barley, 14s Od to 1580d per 2801bs. OSY7IC8TRY GENERAL MARKET, WEDNESDAY.— Quota-zoos:— Butter, 7s2d to Is 3d pe • lb eggs, 8 to 9 for Is beef. 7^d to 8jd mutton, 8d to 9d 2 2 lamb, 8d to 9d veal, 7d to 8gd pork, 6d to 8d per lb fowls, 4s Od to 5s Od per couple ducks, 5s Od to 6s Od; rabb'fcs, °3 2d to 2s 4d per couple; geese, 8d to 81-d; turkeys, Od to Is per lb honey, Is 2 per jar potatoes, lOd to Is per score; carrots, Os to 4s pe' cwt cabbages, 2d to 4d cauli- flowers, 2d to 4d each; celery, 2d co 4d per stick; apples Is 6d to 3s per 100; pears, 5 to 10 a Id walnuts, 4d to 6d per hundred, filberts. 6d to 7d per lb; chestnms, Od to 2d per lb. OSWESTRY WEEKLY CATTLE FAIR.— The above provad a very poorly attended fair at the Smith- field on Wednesday, a very small amount of stock being offered, and this is undoubtedly accounted for by the terrible state of the roads rendering the removal of stock difficult and dangerous. The sales were small. naturally, but the prices realised were all round average ones. Messrs WhitSeld and Sons sold 26 cattle and calves, and 170 sheep Messrs Hall, Wateridge 4 Owen sold 55 fat cattle audanumber of sheep Messrs Whitfield and Rogers sold a large quantity of stock, as did a^o Mr T Wbitfie'd, Junr. Prices ruled as fo'lows :—Beef, 6Jd to 6Jd per lb; veal, 7d to 8d per lb mutton. 7d to 8d lamb, 7d to 7|d per lb pork pigs, 10s Od to lCs 6d; bacon pigs, 81 6d to 98 Od per score. ELLESMERE, TUESDAY. —Quotations as follows Wheat (new) 0s Od to 14s Od per 225 lbs malting barley, Os Od to 203 Od per 280 lbs; oats (new), 13s Od to 14s Od per 200 lbs batter, 03 Od to Is 4J per Ib; eggs, 8 to 0 for Js fowls, 4s 6d to 5s Od ducks, 5s Od to 6s Od; rabb;ts, ls8d to Os Od per couple. WHITCHURCH. FRIDAY. Wheat, 4s 2d to 4s 3d per 75 lbs; barley, 4s Od to 4 6d per 70 lbs oats, 2s 9d to 3s 3d per 50 lbs eggs, 8 to 10 for 1 s; butter Is 2d to Is 3d per J 6 oz fowls, 3s Os to 3s 6d ducks, 7s 6d to 8s Od per coup'e potatoes, 2s 6d to 3s per cwt; beef, 6d to 9d mutton, 8d to 9d lamb, 7d to 9d veal, 7d to 9d pirk, 7d to 81 per lb rabbits, 2s Od to 2s 4d pei couple apples, 2d 3d to per quarter; geese, 7Jd to lOd turkeys, Is to Is Is per lb.

The British steamer Scot landed at Las Palmas on Sunday 8J head of cattle from Buenos Ay res, intended for the slaughter-house there. The animals escaped and rushed wildly through the town caus- ing great alarm. Several people were injured. Most of the animals had to be shot.

THE CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS COMPANY i- issue FIRST CLASS 1,000 and 500 MILE TICKETS, the Coupons of which enable the pur. chasers to travel between stations on the Cambrian Railways during the period for which the tickets are available, until the Coupons are exhausted. The price of each ticket is X5 5s 1,000 miles, and 2,17s 6d 500 miles, being about lid per mile. Application for the 1,000 or 500 mile tickets must be made in writing, giving the full name and address of the purchaser, and accompanied by a remittance, to Mr W. H. Gough, Traffic Superintendent, Cambrian Railways, Oswestry (cheques to be made pay- able to the Cambrian Co. or order) from whom also books containing 100 certificates for a,uthorising the use of the tickets by pur chaser's family, guests, or employes can be obtained price 6d each book, remittance to accompany order. C. S. DENNISS, General Manager

NEWS IN BRIEF. It is stated that on the occation of the opening of Parliament the King will attend is State at Westminster, and that the programme will be very much on the lines, so far as present indications go, of that observed at the opening of Parliament at the beginning of the year. The State coach will again be employed, and it is probable that the shcrt route then followed will be adhered to on the 16th prox. The funeral of the late Major General F Hammersley, who was known throughout the Army as the Father of Army Gymnastics," took place on Friday afterneen at Ash, when the whole of the members of the Aldershot Gymnastic Staff were present, with Colonel G M Fox, Inspector of Army Gymnasia. The deceased officer was for many years the head of the Army School of Gymnasia at Aldershot, and was in his 78th year. He leaves a widow, a son Major Hammersley—and two daughters. On the occasion of Old Etonians at Calcutta, under the Viceroy's presidency, on Christmas-eve, the Lord Mayor telegraphed to Lord Curzon, Floreat Etona," to which his Excellency returned the laconic reply Florebit," Official trials were made at Marseilles on Satur- day in the holds of the steamer Djemma of a new method of killing rats in ships by the use of carbonic acid in a liquid state. The trials were carried out in the presence of the chief engineer of the Messageries Maritimes Company and under the direction of two doctors belonging to the Marseilles Sanitary Service. The result was satis- factory both as regards the efficency and the simplicity of the process. The Miners employed at the Halkyn Lead Min«, in Flintshire, who have been out on strike for the past twelve weeks, have decided to accept the reduction of 10 per cent in wages proposed by the directors in consequence of the fall in the prices of lead ore, and work is to be resumed. The Mikasa, the largest battleship afloat, left Barrow on Friday for Portsmouth to undergo her steam trials. This magnificent vessel has been built by Vickers, Maxim & Co. for the JapaneEe Government. At the present moment she is probably the mest powerful fighting ship in the world. At the Denbighshire Quarter Sessions, to be held at Rutbin, the following new magistrates will qualify :—The Hon Laurence Brodrick, 7, Cadogan Gardens, London; Mr Thomas Parry, Llys Aled, Colwyn Bay; and Mr Edward Evans, Park, Llan- rhaiadr-yn-Mochnant. Dean Bradley stated on Friday that West- minster Abbey would be closed to the nublic immediately after Easter, in order that the prepara- tions for the Coronation service shall be proceeded with. The Abbey will remain closed until the con- clusion of the ceremoaies. The Liverpool branch of the Navy League has received a donation of £10 towards the Sea training Home for Poor Boys from the Prince of Wales, who congratulates the League on the work done in training the boys for the:navy. The chairman of the Worcestershire Quarter Session* on Monday held that the use of a gummed slip round the cork of a bottle would not comply with the law prohibitihg children being served with intoxicants except in sealed vessels." A committee of the Bench was appointed to confer with a committee of the licensed trade on the question.

TERRIBLE DISASTER AT LIVERPOOL. SIX LIVES LOST. A deplorable disaster, the first accounts of the cause and details of which showed wide variation but from which has resulted the loss of several lives, occurred on the Liverpool Overhead Electric Railway on Monday evening. The railway extends for seven miles along the docks, running from Sea. forth, at the north end of the line of docks to what is known as the Dingte, 'a residential neigh- bourhood in the south, about a mile below the southernmost dock. The line, therefore, serves not only for the conveyance of workpeople to the docks, but for that of well-to-do persons living in the neighbourhood of the South parks. The Dingle Station is approached from the nearest dock—the Herculaneum -by a tunnel 800 yards long, bored through the sandstone rock, a hundred feet or so below the level of the street, which is reached by gradually sloping subways. A train of three coaches left Seaforth at five o'clock with a con. siderable number of passengers. Others joined on the route, but by the time of the arrival at Hereulaneum Dock it is believed that there were only about seven passengers in it. All went well until the train had reached the tunnel and pro- ceeded through it to within about 80 yards of the Dingle Station. Then the darkness of the tunnel was illuminated by two brilliant electric flashes in rapid succession. One of the electric motors had fused. This brought the train to a standstill, and in a few minutes flames appeared on the floors of the carriages. The whole train was rapidly enveloped, and the alarmed passengers dropped in confusion five feet down into the tunnel. Then the electric lights went out. The flames spread to a stack of sleepers soaked in creosote which were stored in the tunnel. Fanned by a strong breeze blowing through the tunnel, which had converted it into a veritable chimney, the fire grew with marvellous rapidity. The station platforms became ignited, and in a few minutes train, tunnel and underground station were blazing, while dense suffocating smoke rolled up in volumes elsewhere. Passengers and officials struggled through to the platform, many being burnt in the effort. Some were helped out more or less injured, but six were either burned to death or suffocated. The Board of Trade have appointed Lieut.-Col. H A Yorke, R.E., Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways, to hold an inquiry as to the accident. Colonel Yorke, assisted by Mr A P Trotter, the Electrical Adviser to the Board of Trade, opened his inquiry on Friday.