The North Wales Times

JttB — OUR SUPPLEMENT. | With this issue we preserr- our subscri- ] bers free with a cop? of toe NORTH: WALES TIMES POCKET RAILWAY GUTDI for Feb raary, containing a good deal of informa- tion as to Railway Trains and Fares, Postal! Intelligence, Tide Tables, Fairs, a Lighting ZD Up Table for Cyclists and other-, and a io ri. lot of other useful information.

Next week we tope to be in r. position to present our readers with the promised portrait of the late Mr. GEE

BIRTHS. 73, JONES—January 29th, at 3, Graig Terrace, Denbigh, the wife of Mr. David Jones, blacksmith at sheGrarg Quarry, of a son. JONEs-January 23rd, the wife of Mr. W. ,Tor.e-», Bryn- field, Ruabon, of a son. P.ETEBS—January 29th, at the Chapel Kovu-o, Bhiw, Ruthin, the wife of Mr. Ellis Peters, of a sou-firt, born. PHILLIES—January 29th, the wife of Mr. R. W. Phillips, Mold (soa of Mr. John Phillips, grocer, :1 Henllaa), of a daughter. iiOBERTS—January 30th, the wife cf Mr. Daniel Roberts, Plaspower Lodge, Eersham, Wrexham, of a son. WILLIAMS—January 26th, at Smithy House.. Trefnant, the wife of Mr. Richard T. (..Williams, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. LLOYD Jú":>¡UNFORD-f..b 2ad, atCit-ySoad Wes- leyan ohip-ei, Chester, by tue Rev. E. Jones, Denbigh, assisted by the Rev. E. T. Davies, Rhyl, Thomas, youngest son of H. Lloyd-Jones, Esq., j.p of Moid, to Catherine Harrison (Cassie), eldest daughter of the lata Mr. Thomas Bunford, Llanidloes PlUNCE-WILLIAMS — January 18th, at Wrexham Parish Church, Mr. C. Prince, assistant clerk at Mr. Dennis's Office, Ruabon, to Miss Edith Williams, daughter of the late Mr. Williams, grocer, Brynteg, near Wrexham. WILLIAMS-LLOYD-January 18th, at Bryn Mawr chapel, Bettwsycoed, by the Revs. W. Benjamin, Caerwya, and John Owen, Bettwsycoed, Mr. John Williams, Ffrith, Caerwys, to Miss Katie Lloyd, Pennohs, Caerwys, youngest daughter of Mr. Daniel Lloyd, Bodgwynedd, Bettwsycoed. DEATHS. DAVIES—January 27th, at Carrog Afon, Carrog, Elizabeth Anne, daughter of the late Mr. R. Davies, Bonwm, Corwen, and sister to the Rev. E. O. Davies, Bala, aged 27 years. DAVIES—February 1st, Mr. John Davies, Bwlch-y- garnedd, Rhewl, Llantysilio, son of Mr. John Davies, Rhewl, aged 27 years. HuGHFS-January 27th, Frances, the beloved wife of Mr. W. H. Hughes, Foundry House, Acerfair, Ruabon, aged 63 years. JONES—January 26th, Mr. Thomas Jones, Siamber Wen, Glyndyfrdwy, aged 77 years. JONEs-January 25th, Sarah, wife of Mr. Humphrey Jones, cowkeeper, Church Street, Llangollen, aged 88 years. PARRY-January 26th. at Ty Du Cottages, Llan. gollen, Mr. Joseph P>.rrv, joiner, aged 64 years. ROBERTs-January 31st, Ruth, th. beloved daughter of Mr. W. Roberts, Ty Ucb, Nvuty Glynceiriog, aged 30 years. WILLIAMs-January 26th, Mrs. Anne Williams, Stag Inn, Bagiilt, aged 66 years.

WELSH MARKETS. DENBIGH, February 1st.—There was a fairly large attendance at market, and the prices of butter firmer. Quotations: — Wheat, from 9s Od to 9s 3d; barley, 9s Od to 9s 3d; oats, 5s 6d per hobbet. Fresh butter, from la4d to Is 4d per lbi small tubs, Is lAd; and large ditto, lid per lb- Eggs, 13 for a Is. Fowlp, from 2s to 3s 6d per couple Potatoes, from 5s Od to fh Od per hobbet. Oatmeal, 2d per lb. LLANGEFNI, January 26th.-Oats, from 13s. -3d. to 14s. 6d. per quarter; potatoes, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per cwt; fresh butter, Is 3d per lb; wool, 7d to 7d per lb fowls, 3s 3d to 3s 9d per couple; ducks, 4s Od to 4s 6d per couple. Eggs, 12 to 14 for a Is. Young pigs, 12s to 16s each; fat pigs, from 3d to :1 i per lb. RUTHIN, January 30th. Prices were as follow:— Viheat, from 9s Od to 9s 6d per hobbet barley, 8s Od to 10s Od; oats, 5s Od to 68 Od. Fresh butter, from 18 2d to Is 4d per Th; salt butter, Od to Os Od per Th fowls, 33 to 4s Od per couple. Ducks, 4s Cd to 5. 01. Eggs, from 12 to 14 for a Is. Bacon pigs, 3d per lb; porkers, 3Jd stores, 3Ji and sows, 2;f:d per lb.

R E •SUN Insurance Office. O* Sam Insured in 1897— £ 425,000,000. For particulars, apply to the following Agents- Bala—Mr. R. L. Jones, Mount Pleasant. Bangor—Mr. James Smith. Mr. Richard Hall. Barmouth—Mr. R. F. Anderson. Keaumaris—Mr. Frederick Geary. Carnarvon—Mr. William Hugh Owen. Conway-JUl'. C- Droyer, Deganwy, Llandudno. Denbigh—Mr. J. H. Jones. Dolgelley—Mr. T. P. Jones Parry. Holyhead-Mr. Owen Hughes. Holy well—Mr. Robert Thomas. Llat!t"!flno-lVIr. Edgar W. Riches. Ela,i., :!n—Mr. Wiliiam A. Pughe. Llan. s—Mr.BeDnettRowIanda. Liang, i —Mr. William Thomas. LlangûLvu-Messrs. Minshull & Parry Jones. Llanrwat-Mr. E. Jones Owen. Mold—Messrs. Kelly, Keen & Co. Portmadog-Mr. J. Tobias, Solicitor. Rhos-on-Sea-blr. P. J. Kent. ¡ St. Asaph—Mr. Llewelyn Lloyd. Welshpool-Mr. D. Wall. Wrexham—Mr. Trevor G. Boscawen.

-==':='=- THE REFORM OF THE MARRIAGE LAWS. TKE Manx Bill, legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister, which was passed the other day by the House of Keys, gives an interesting phase to a vexod and long con tested question. That such marriages should be valid in the fsle of Man, and not I recognised ou ihe mainland, will add yet another incongruity to an already singular anomalous state of things. We have one marriage law in England ahd Wales, an- other in Scotland, and another in Ireland, and vet again a different law in regard to the colonies and dependencies. It is, of course, impossible that there can be these local distinctions in the matrimonial law, without giving rise to grave social diffi- culties. That people should be married in one part of the Queer's dominions, and not married in another, is, in itself, an ab- surdity which urgently calls for reform. This is the most glaring injustice, yet all attempts to alter the law, with regard to marriages with a deceased wife's sister, have so far failed in this country. Such mar- riages are illegal in the United Kingdom by virtue of an Act passed about sixty years ago. This was done under the guidance of Lord Lyndhurst, who was the Lord Chancellor in Sir Robert Peel's two ministries. It was a rather scandalous pro- ceeding, seeing that it was undertaken in no small degree for the express and avowed object of affording relief to our aristocratic families. The bishops allowed the bill to pass, on condition that all future marriages with a sister-in-law were made invalid, instead of being merely voidable at the instance of interested parties as they had been before. Every session some attempt or other is made in Parliament to reverse the law, but they have always been defeated in the House of Lords, mainly under Epis copal influence. Last year the subject was indirectly raised by the Colonial Marriages Bill, introduced in the Upper House by Lord Strathcona On this occasion it met with a much more favourable reception in the House of Lords. The second reading of the bill was carried by 129 to 46, or a majority of 83, but this was in July-late in the session-and it made no further headway. The object of the bill was not to alter the law in this country, except to render marriages lawfully contracted with a deceased wife's sister in the British Co- lonies, valid in the United Kingdom. These marriages are legal in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Cape Colony, Mauritius, Ceylon, Barbadoes, and Jersey. This may not be an inclusive list, but in every instance these enactments must have received the assent of the Secretary of State. The Home Government by acquiescing in these statutes has practically acknowledged again and again, that there is no objection against them, and it is a simple matter of justice that the children of these marriages should have the same status, and the same rights of inheritance in this country, as they have in the Colonies under a duly autbo rised and constitutional law. There is really no room for discussion as to the fair and reasonable nature of such a demand. The only surprising thirg is) that such a manifest injustice should have been so long I permitted. It. is scarcely possible that this can continue after the decisive vote given in the House of Lords last year. It may \¡ indeed be doubted whether the movement in favour of validating marriages with a deceased life's sister can be much longer resisted. The bishops have fought against it as if the whole foundations of society were in jeopardy, but public opinion does not condemn these unions, and in the end it must prevail. The subject will again come up this session, and it will derive additional encouragement from the almost unanimous vote in the Manx House of Keys in favour of this reform. The com. mon sense of the nation has long since recognised its expediency, and the argu- ments in favour of one marriage law throughout the Christian portions of the British Empire are practically unanswer- able. What is Deeded, however, is for the Government to deal with the" question, either by official legislation, or, if it is deemed necessary, by the appointment of a commission to consider the whole condi- tion of the marriage law as it affects the United Kingdom and the Colonies. '0

THE POLITICAL PARTIES. THE present and future state of the Liberal party,, seems to give more concern to its opponents than to his friends Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain find it easier to offer their advice to the party, than to make any substantial contribution towards the solu- tion of the problems which are for the go- vernment of the day. Both ministers have lately been electioneering in their consti- tuencies, and the professed anxiety for a strong and united Opposition is, of course, the merest fooling. When, at the outset of its career, the Liberal party forced the Government to abandon its Voluntary Schools Bill, and to modify the Rating Act, ministers were the first to go howling up and down the country about the obstruc- tion, and the scandalous behaviour of the Opposition. So they will find that they have all they want when the voice of the Liberal party once more corresponds in Parliament with something like its strength I in the country. Its present plight isiowing to the divisions at headquarters, and to the want of energy and enthusiasm in the party machinery. But though its adherents may be baffled and vexed, they still remain Liberals, and constitute very nearly half of the whole electorate. The Tories need not fear that these natural forces will not firid their proper sphere in the destiny of the country. Meanwhile, in the noisy brag- gadocia of Mr. Chamberlain, and the < philosophic melancholy of Mr. Balfour, we have every sign of a, weak and wobbling Government, without coherence in either foreign or domestic affairs, Mr. Dham- berlain looks out on the world, and sees only Fa 3 hoc a. He thinks if other nations bad made such wonderful achievements as ¡ we have in the past few years, they would not be able to contain themselves, Mr. Balfour, on tha other hand, told his con- stituents at Manchester, that up to a few months ago, the great powers took it for granted that this country would meekly put up with anything short of a direct affront. It was precisely this estimate of Lord Salisbury that led to the outburst against any surrender at Fasboda. But the result is nothing to brag about, least of all by ministers who owe their success to out- side support. It will be time enough to talk about achievements when there is a real and final settlement of African ques I tions with France. There is China, too, of which Mr,, Chamberlain says not a word; but Lord Charles Beresford is coming home and we shall then hear something more of another story, The Colonial Secretary is not overburdened with modesty. He was quite as ready to run the Jubilee celebra- tions for the benefit of the Unionist Go- vernment as he is now to claim all the credit for the present great commercial and industrial activity in the country. He glories in what he calls the disappearance of the Manchester School; but it is wholly to this political faction that the country owes the wonderful increase of its material prosperity in the last fifty years. If we have loyal and prosperous Colonies, it is not due to a cheap and trashy imperialism, but to the school which Mr. Chamberlain now regards a fit subject for gibes and jeers. His first object is always to catch the popular breeze. When the Zollverein scheme droops, up goes Old Age Pensions, or anything else that will serve its purpose for a time. With Mr. Balfour it is different. He bad nothing more attractive for his Manchester audience than an irrevelant theory that the Liberal party must become more and more pledged to Home Rule, and to the Disestablishment of the English Church. He sees in this, grist for the Unionist mill; but Mr. Balfour does not read the papers and he would almost seem to be without any other sources of popular information. His statement that the whole country looked to Lord Beaconsfield's foreign policy as the ideal, or practically so, is ludicrous in the face of Lord Salis- bury's admission that it was simply back- ing the wrong horse, and of Mr. Balfour's former declaration that it was a policy long since dead, and done with. Then with re- gard to the crisis in the Church, while Mr. Balfour was trying to manufacture confusion for the Liberals, whilst it is his own party that stands in deadly peril of being wrecked in the coming storm. If Mr. Balfour did not know this before he went to Manches- ter, he knows now. He, of course, depre- cates further legislation. The object of the Government is the same as that of the bishops, which is to temporise—to let the storm blow over, when everything will go on as before. Most of the bishops are more or less in active sympathy with the Ritual istic practices and to look to them for any eftectual reform is but to lean on a broken reed. The Church, so long as it remains Established by law, is subject to the juris- diction of Parliament; and it is for the Government to say what is to be done to put down the lawlessness of the Romanising movement. When pressed upon this point, Mr. Balfour says he thinks the bishops should have a little more time to see what they can do and it would be impossible for him to make any suggestion more utter- ly puerile and indefinite. This is not a party-question, as Mr. Balfour would wish to believe, in his desire to evade responsi- bility. It divides the Unionists far more than it does the Liberals; but tbe; e is, at the same time, a difference between the views of the two parties, which stood cut in sharp contrast over the Benefices Bill last year. That Act specifies certain Lew reasons why a bishop may refuse institu- tion. The Opposition tried to include, among those reasons, the practice of illegal ritual. The Government resisted, and de- feated this endeavour and herein lies the fundamental difference between the two political parties on the Ritualistic contro- versy.

SLINGS AND ARROWS. "°, 'J''¿-/ 'j- [BY A YEOMAN OF THE GUARD], If any man ever hud a plain hint how to j proceed, it is the present Rector of Naot- glyn, the hint' emanating from the Edu- cation Department. I have nothing to say against the Rector. He is new to the ¡ parish, and it id possible, although not very probable, that he does not as yet under- stand the merits of the dispute between the School Board of JSTantglyn and the mana- gers, or trustees of the Nantglyn school buildings. Before alluding further to the hint,' it would be just as well to recapitu- late as shortly as possible, the history of the dispute. The School Board of Nant- gl-n whicii has been in existence and doing good work for many years-rent the school buildings on a lease from the mana- gers of the National School, whose school was held in the buildings, previous to the formation of the Board. Recently, the period for which the lease was granted expired, and when the Board asked for a renewal, the then Rector-at present the Rector of Llanynys-coolly intimated to the Board the desirability of their ceasing to exist. If the Board consented to commit suicide, he promised that he would have a Voluntary School in the building, on the Board of Management of which, the rate. payers would have three members, which were to be balanced, and more than balanced by three members elected by the Rector, together with himself making a fourth, thus ensuring a majority. Even to such a Board as this, the Rector would not give absolute control, but vested the right of appointing teachers in himself. v • e The School Board as might be expected, refused the Rector's ridiculous terms. Therepon he gave them notice to quit. Upon receiving this notice, the Board after iue consideration, decided to build a new school, and land was secured, and an archi- tect engaged. The Education Department did not at once sanction the plans, hub advised the Board to try to come to an arrangement with tha Rector. This the Board did, but without success, except that tha Rector offered to withdraw his notice, and to allow the School Board to continue as yearly tenants. Just than the Rector was promoted to another parish. The Board then approached his successor, and stated that they wanted a ten years' lease, and the use of the building on week nights. The new Rector refused to budge, and told the Board that he could only follow the policy of his predecessor. After further consideration, the Board consented to with draw their demand for the use of the school building on week nights, and offered to take them on three nights of the week only, the Rector to have them on the three other nights, and on Sundays, Good Fridays, an i Christmas days. But the Rector would not treat even on these terms, and the Board finally decided to go in for a new school c. « And now comes the 'plain hint 'to which I have referred. The Rector receives a letter from 'My Lords' of the Education Department. In stately language, the De partment tells the Rector that'My lords regard the contention of the Board; that a lease for not less than ten years certain is desirable in order to give sufficient per- manence to the arrangement, as not unrea- sonableIf it is not uureasonable, it is reasonable, and therefore,' my lords hope that on further consideration, the managers will see their way to conceding this point, which they understand is the only one still remaining at issue.' But as my lords 7 have had experience that 'reasonable' requests are not always received as they should be, by the Rectors of Nantglyn, the letter contains a further most significant bint If the reasonableness of the demand is again not sufficient, my I lords' state that should the managers decline to effect a transfer on these terms, they (' my lords') would not withhold their sanction from the Board's alternative proposal of building a new Board School, and in that case the existing school could not be continued on their Lordship's Grant list, as a Voluntary School' w w o a It is impossible not to notice the signifi- cance of this statement. Divested of their official garb, the words of the Department to the Rector are, if you will not give a ten years' (or longer) lease to the Board, the Board will be allowed to build a new school; and when they do that, and if you attempt to keep up an opposition school, you will not receive one penny grant!' • • • • What is the answer of the Rector to all this? When the clerk of the Board asked him if he was now willing to grant the re- quired lease, he curtly replies your Boatd having appealed to the Education Depart- ment, must now await the issue of my cor- respondence with that Department l' Such a reply is neither courteous, nor worthy of the position held by the Rector of Nant- glyn, after the very plain words addressed to him by the Department. I shall be rather curious to know the issue he now refers to. « 9 • 9 I am glad that the Denbigh Town Coun cil are in earnest about the need for im proving the railway station. The commit- tee which was appointed to take the matter up met last Tuesday, and I am informed that a very determined tone prevailed. The members of the Council, and the members from outside the Council, were unanimous as to the urgent need of enlarging the station; and tha tales of woe' that were unfolded were many and various. Whether the railway company will take any heed of the complaints remains to be seen. I am afraid that whilst the company is allowed to have a monopoly in the Vale of Clwyd, they will not care much what the gene- ral public suffer. Could not a case of this sort be brought in some way before the Railway Commissioners? The accommoda- tion now provided is so utterly inadequate that I question veryoniuch whether such a state of things would be allowed. 'lIT

T" DENBIGH. Other Denbigh News on pages 6 and 7. Shorthand.—Mr. W. Hughes, son of Mr. William Hughes, tailor, Broomhill Lane, has this week gained the Theory, or Inter- mediate Certificate in Pitman's Shorthand. Mr. Hughes was instructed in the art at the Technical School. The Shrievalty of Lancashire.—Major W* Charles Jones, of Llannerch Park, St. Asaph, and formerly of Plas Ciough, Denbigh, will be the next High Sheriff of Lancashire. Mr. Jones is the senior and governing director of the firm of Messrs. Jones Brothers and Co Limited, cotton spinners, manufacturers and merchants, Manchester. Natives of the Vale Abi-oad.Alr. T. Hughes, son of Mrs. Lloyd Jones, who has been absent from home on a voyage for nearly three years, was very recently in Calloa (Peru), with his vessel. Whilst there he went over to Lima, and there met Mr. Thomas Foulkes, brother of Mr. John Foulkes, Pentrefelin, who is a successful merchant, in that far off country. The two Denbighites were extremely glad to meet one another; and during his stay at Callao, Mr. Hughes was a frequent and a welcome visitor to Mr. Foulkes' family. Valuable Appointment.—Oa Wednesday last, Mr. Gwilym Parry, of this town was, out of four selected candidates, elected sec- retary of the Welsh National Council, at a salary of 1150 a year, and travelling ex- penses. Mr Parry's appointment has given great satisfaction, not only to his political friends, but also to those who are opposed to him in politics, because, one and all feel that the right man has been appointed to the right place. We understand that Mr. Parry will not be called upon to relinguish the offices he holds at present, and he may continue to reside in Denbigh. We wish Mr. Parry every success in this new and important sphere. The Philarmonic Society's Concert.- We have pleasure in calling attention to the forthcoming performance of 'Elijah by the members of the above society, which will take place at the Drill Hall; next Tuesday evening. The society has secured the services of four excellent artistes, viz. Madame Mary Owen, who is well known in

UNFERMENTED TT7TNES, for Sacramental use.—Sold by W A. ANDREWS, Wine Merchant, Denbigh.

LOVE LANE SCHOOL. On Fndary evening, the prizes and cer- I tificates won by the pupils of these schools were presented by Mr. J. Harrison Jones, J. P., the Chairman of the School Board. To enliven the proceedings, Mr. E. J. Ro- berts, the Head Master, gave an interesting exhibition of lantern views, descriptive of a journey from Liverpool to Niagara, and the Rocky Mountains. Mr. Roberts also exhibited some excellent local views, prin- cipally connected with the May-Day fes- tivities. The prizes were principally, for drawing, and were as follows :— John Hooson 1st Class Model, 1st Class I Freehand, Inkstand. William Haydn Evans, 2nd, writing case. Edward P. Hughes, 2nd „ Edward Evan Davies, 2nd Richard Henry Roberts, 1st Class Light and Shade. John Edward Hughes, Ist Out of 10 second grade papers, 7 were awarded 1st classes and three 2nd classes. Cards of merit were also presented to the following for successfully passing with credit in Freehand, Model, and Practical Geome try John Robert Jones, Thomas John Cart- wright, John Parry, Jesse Meyrig Jones, Herbert Ev-ai),, Robert Owen Knowles, "WiL liam Humphrey Jones, Owen Edwards, Wil- liam Edward Batten, David H. Williams, Edward Roberts, John Bartley, Edward John Williams, Randle Maddocks, Aneurin Wynne Roberts, John Price. At the Pupil Teachers' Government Ex- amination held at Uhyllast October, Richard Henry Roberts, has passed 'well' gaining the highest grant of X3, and John Edward Hughes passed fairly well gaining the second grant of S2.

DENBIGHSHIRE INFIRMARY. ANNUAL MEETING OF GOVERNORS. The annual meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Denbighshire Infirmary was held at the institution on Thursday, when the following gentlemen attended:— Col. Mesharn, Col. Heaton, Col. Lloyd Wil- liams, the Mayor (Mr. E. A. Turnout), Messrs. J obn Davies, solicitor j T. Williams, Llewesog; T. Gold Edwards, A. Foulkes- Roberts, T. J. Williams, William Parry, Clwvd Villa; John Jones, Love Lane J. P, Lewis, J. Parry Jones, town clerk; J. F. Preston, Trefnant; The rector of Denbigh (Rev. D. Davies), Dr. J. R. Hughes, Dr. Griffith Williams Roberts, and Dr. J. Lloyd Roberts. The secretary (Mr. W. Vaughan Jones), was unable to be present on account of in- disposition. THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN. Mr, T. Gold Edwards proposed that Col. Mesham should be voted to the chair in the unavoidable absence of the president of the year, Mr. E. S. Wiring, of Bryn Morfydd. Col. Lloyd Williams seconded, and the motion was unanimously agreed to. The Chairman said he was extremely sorry that the president was absent. The notice convening the meeting, and which was intended for the president, had been mislaid in thes ecretary's office. The;s8cre tary had been very seriously ill lately, and Mr. Waring's notice was not sent until it was too late for him to make arrangements to attend the meeting, on account of another engagement in London. Be (the chairman) was sure they all regretted the president's absence. A letter of apology was also read from Mr. J. Harrison Jones. I The Committee beg to present their ninty first annual report. The number of in-patients during the year has been 170, as against 174 in 1897. The number of out patients has been 2,013, as against 1,870 in 1897. The total receipts from all sources nave been £ 1,231 13s. 3d., as against £ 2,187 9s. 7d. in 1897 (but this included special donations for the jubilee year, which amounted to £ 1,058 lis. 5d.). The receipts in 1896 were £1,623 18s. Id.; and in 1895, £ 1,100 18s. 3d. The expenditure shows a marked increase over that of the previous year of nearly 9175, of which X69. 9s. 6d. is accounted for under the head of repairs and furniture. Butchers meat &c., absorbs £4;6 18s. 6d. more than last year milk is £15 17s. 3d.; butter, £ 5 13s. 9d.;

UNFERMENTED TTTINES, for Sacramental use.—Sold by VV A. ANDRKWS, Wine Merchant, Denbigh. 1

UNFERMENTED TTTINES, for Sacramenta use..Sold by W A. ANDREWS, F Merchant, Denbigh. i I

I t the town, and who has reached the front rank of vocalists. Mr. Ivor Foster, the renowned baritone, was in Denbigh so recently as Boxing Day, where he was most enthusiastically received. Miss Annie Parry, and Mr. Barlow, have both appeared on previous occasions before Denbigh audiences, and are well known. A strong orchestra has also been engaged, and a satisfactory per- formance may with confidencebeanfcicipated. We understand that the tickets are selling well, and those who would secure seats, should do so immediately. The Workingi-nerts Free Reading Boom.—■ The annual meeting of the subscribers of the above well known institution will be held on Monday evening, at 7 30 The report and statement of accounts are to be presented for adoption. The public are cordially invited to attend the meeting. The Drill Hall—On Friday evening, the Cariyon and Charlton Dramatic company, occupied the boards at the Drili Hall. The play was entitled In the Ranks.' The hall was v eil filled, and the company had a splendid reception from an enthusiastic audience. On Monday and Tuesday even- ing, Mr. T. R Nugents pantomime company, gave a rendering of 'The Forty Thieves.' Skating Accidents.-During the hard frost last week, many people went to skate on Gwaenynog Pool, and on Friday last a boy named R. W. D; vies, fell into the water. On Saturday when there were about 200 people on the pool, five persons were immersed viz., four men, and a lady. Two went in first, and the others shared a like fate in trying to rescue them. All were, however, got out safely with no worse results than a bath of an icy nature. Rainfall During January.-The rain gauge at Pantymaen, situated 1,320 feet above the sea, recorded a rainfall of 9'37 inches for January, which equals 9,300 tons of water per acre. At Llyn Bran, 1,420 feet above sea level, a depth of 10'09 inches was recorded, equal to 10,000 tons per acre. This is the heaviest fall since October 1892, when the gauge recorded a fall of 12 inches, but this was spread over a larger number of days during the month than this year It will therefore be seen that the fall during the last few weeks has been phenomenally heavy. Capel Mawr Literary Society.—Mr. D. H. Davies, B.A. B.Sc., headmaster of the Coun- ty School, delivered a lecture at a meeting of the above society on Thursday evening, on 'Fermentation.' The Rev. Evan Jones, presided. The lecturer dealt in a masterful manner with his subject and the lecture throughout proved highly interesting and instructive. At the con- clusion of the meeting Mr. Gwilym Parry was heartily congratulated by the Chairman, Mr. Robert Owen, and the Rev. Robert Griffiths, on his appointment as Clerk of the Welsh National Council

groceries, nearly £ 6 extract of meat nearly £ 10 and drugs almost £ 40, in ex-:es.» or the same items in 1897. While on the other fcaad, there is a saving ia 1893 of ab»ut £ 5 in bread, in mineral waters of L6, ix Of £ 5 15a., and in s tUries a:id wages of £ 30. The Church and Chapel collections cama to £ 84 Is. 9 ?. (viz., Church, £ 76 16s. lOti, and ,z,, Cliurell, 161. Chapel, £ 7 4s. lid.), as compared with E-d5 35. lid. in 1897, and £ 78 93. in 189&, a gratifying in' crease whicti the Committee gratefully acknoW" ledge. The receipts from ¡tllnna! subscriptions amounted to f319 15s. lid., being nearly identical with those of 1897, whien were E318 4s. 6d, The receipts fror-i the bail war ,è tIO5 19s. 8d. Legacies bequeathed,by Mr. Edward Lloyd, ot Trefnant ( £ 100), and by Miss Annie W iiiams( of .Portland ..Place, Deri bigh ( £ 10 10s.), have been received, and are included in fcue present account. A mortgage which the Infirmary had held for many years has been paid up, and the amount ( £ 600) is Ht present; on deposit at-the N. and S. Wales Bank at Denbigh. Th, Committee have decided that, for the present, the sum of £ 500 shall be the amount, required to endow a free bed. The bequest of 950t) for t free bed by the late Mrs. Harrison, of Denbigh, has been invested in the 3 pH cent stock of the Lancashire and Yorkslnre Rail- way Company. During the year Mrs. Frank Wynne, .of Ysfcrad Cottage, Denbigh, has en- dowed a free bed with the sum of f502 is., to be called the Frank Wynne free bed,' and has generously intimated her in, eation to continue herannuaIsubscriptioaoffS as before. The wards have been supplied during the year with new mattresses ■•uid pillows, which were urgently needed, and the men's uay roonl has recently been much improved by a parquet floor, and a dado, while ,ome members of the Committee have given some new chairs, to make it more comfortable for the inmates. In compliance with a former resolution, the necessary steps have been taken to register the Infirmary under the Companies' Act, in order to vest property in the Institution as a cor- porate body, and thus dispense with the ap- pointment of new Trustees trom time to time. The draft memorandum and articles of Associa- tion for the registration of the Inifrmary are now submitted to the annual meeting for sanc- tion and approval. The Committee have pleasure in commending the services of the house surgeon, Dr. Bowen Davies, and the management of Miss Griffith the lady superintendent, while the staff of nurses and probationers have performed their duties to the entire satisfaction of the medical officers and the committees. The Committee regret that the secretary (Mr. Vaughan Jones), is still suffering from the effects of an accident and trust that he may speedily recover his usual health. In conclusion, the Committee thought that while it is their duty to see. that no undue expenditure is "incurred in the management of this useful Institution, it is, at the same time, necessary for them to point out that every effort should be made to obtain new subscriberl in order to prevent the Institution from relap- sing into the critical financial position which was for some ye trs a source of continued and grave anxiety. In reply to Mr. Thomas Williams, the Chair- man said\hat the annual subscriptions showed an increase of X274 19s. 6d., as compared with the year 1896. Mr. Thomas Williams said that this was very gratifying. An extra effort had been made during the jubilee year, and it might have been supposed that the subscriptions would have shown a decrease this year but as he said before, it was very gratifying to find thatthe increase had been mentioned. The Chairman said that the expenditure showed considerable increase in certain items. Mr. Thomas Williams remarked that if be | remembered rightly that the expenditure I 1897, showed a decrease, and they were 301 aware that it was rather difficult to keep the expenditure always at the -same figure, as the stock of medicine might be larger at the end of one year than the other. The Chairman then said that there were cer- tain items under the head of expenditure to which the committee were awaitingan tion. An increasebf £ 46 18s., for instance,had taken place on the item for butchers' meat- With regard to the increase in the milk account, a satisfactory explanation had been given to the committee. The item 'extract of meat' also showed an increase of 916. Mr. Thomas Williams said that if his memory served him right, their expenditure on I in 1897 was much less than the average; and i* 1 there Lad been an increase this year, it. wa,s I only what they would have expected. I. A member present having asked whotbe' J the expenditure for last year exceeded the in' ■; come, 1 The Chairman said it was very hard to say j from the accounts. The balance "irl hand nt, the |! beginning of the year was X34 5s. 3d. Their expenditure, as a rule, was in excess of their income, and that was how they get into diilicid' ties. It was very desirable that they should' j not only keep up the number of subscriberS, but get fresh ones also. Mr. Thomas Williams said that, as f¡ r lOS they could see, the receipts during the yeM amounted to £ 1,231, and the expenditure £ 1,438, so th%,t there was stid a deficiency oi | £ 200 in the receipts to meet tli e;innual expen(li* ture. | During the discussion that ensued, Dr. Lloyd Roberts remarked that the increase in the e penditure was not on account of the in -patiento but the out patients, the number of which had nearly doubled. The Chairman then moved that tha report of the committee and the accounts be adopted. Mr. Thomas Williams, in seconding, said the accounts seemed to him to be very gratifying in a good many respects, but not so favourable in others. His recollection was that the e"- penditure in 1897 was rather less than the average in previous years, and the reason oi this diminution, was that, in 1897, the Commit- tee had started the ye-ir with things in pretty good order, and it was hardly fair to compare the report of this year with that of last yel1r- j The proper way to do would be to take the > avernge ior previous years. The motion was then carried. The Mayor then proposed that the grateft" j thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Wai-ing, the president, for his efficient services during | the year, and his liberal donation of 42 guinea9' He (the Mayor) ventured to say that they were all extremely sorry that Mr. Waring wa,6 unable to be present; at the meeting; but there was one advantage 1iO be derived from th;,¡,t, viz., they could say things in his absence which they could net in his presence. On behalf oi the Committee he might say that they deeply grateful for Mr. Wariug'smost magnifi' cent gift, which would be a great assistance to them to carry on the excellent work of the in* stitution. He hoped others would follow the excellent example set by Mr. Waring. Colonel Heaton proposed, and Colonel Lloyd Williams seconded, that the grateful thanks of the meeting be given to Miss Burton, the lady patroness, for her liberal donation of £ 10, and the motion was agreed to unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Preston, seconded hy Mr. J. P. Lewis, the thanks of the meet\t>$. was also accorded to several other ladies a»" gentlemen who had given donations during the year. Mr. J. Parry Jones, in proposing a vote of thanks tc the medical officers of the institution • j said that these gentlemen devoted a great de» of time to the cause of the Infirmary. Mr. T. J. Williams seconded, and the j was unanimously agreed to. Dr. Lloyd Robert9 responding on behalf of himself and Pr' Hughes. responding on behalf of himself and vr. Hughes. }{S Mr. Thomas Williams moved that the than f of the meeting be given to the Committee ° I Management and Stewards of the Districts, th I Honorary Treasurer, and Hon. Auditor, an J that they be requested to continue their valfl 1 able services. I The motion was duly seconded, and car"el'n f Colonel Lloyd Williams proposed, Mr. Job | able services. of the meeting be given to the Committee ° I Management and Stewards of the Districts, th I Honorary Treasurer, and Hon. Auditor, an J that they be requested to continue their valfl 1 able services. I The motion was duly seconded, and car"el'n f Colonel Lloyd Williams proposed, Mr. Job | Davies seconded, and it was agreed to, thatoe ?