The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

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CHBISTMAS DECORATIONS. POPULARITY OF "EMPIRE" EFFECTS. Amid the modern rush and hurry of Christmas pre- parations, the old-fashioned custom of brightening our houses with greenery is falling into disuse. True, some of us make an attempt to get a little of the old epirit of Christmas into our decorations. We lay in a stock of appropriate foliage, and then wonder how on earth to arrange it. Holly is stiff, unless worked up with a little patience and skill, and is generally lamentably lacking in the red berries of the poetry books. This stiffness can be partially done away with if box with worked in with tire holly, and art supplements Nature by providing berries at a few pence. "Empire" wreaths of holly and box hung round the walls to form a frieze form an up-to-date decoration for a hall or dining-room. This may sound somewhat of an undertaking, but the idea is really easily carried out. The green stuff is broken up into small sprigs, and then wired on to box cord to give a width of about three inches. Red berries are inserted where necessary. The green rope is then festooned, forming a shape like that of an "Empire wreath." On the top, where one wreath meets the other, streamers of bright crimson ribbon axe tied to complete the "Em. pire" effect—cotton backed sash ribbon at a penny or so a yard does admirably for thia This scheme looks well in any sized hall, and has even been known to add dignity and prettinfsw to the narrow dark passage which sometimes goes by that name. THE MISTLETOE BELL. The traditional bunch of mistletoe hanging above the door can easily be improved upon. Buy a small wire or cane-shape in the form of a bell (these can be got quite cheaply). Line the inside of "the tell with ivy leaves, and cover the outside with sprigs of mistletoe. Make the tongue 01 the bell of scarlet berries, ail hang the bell up to the lintel by scarlet ribbon steamers. Several of these might be made and hung under the lamps or chandeliers. Stars are appropriate to the season. Cut out shapes to the re- quired size in stiff cardboard, and cover them with ivy or any other evergreen you have to spare. Then down the centre of each arm of the star put a line of crimson "everlasting" flowers these are procurable from any florist and are easily wired on. THE CRIPPLES' FLOWERS. The artificial flowers made bv the crippled and blind children, in whom Sir William Trelol1.r is so interested, are just the thing for Christmas decorations, and there is also the additional satisfaction of feeling that one is helping these poor little .girls and boys. Strings of white and gold artificial chrysanthemums look lovely hung from the chandelier to the corners of the room, and various other kinds of flowers and foliage can be got to twine round gas and electric light fittings. FOR THE CHRISTMAS DINNER TABLE. A beautiful Christmas lamp-shade can be made by covering an Empire-shaped wire frame with scarlet geraniums (artificial, of course) and edging the shade with sprigs of imitation mistletoe or holly leaves. Candle shades can be made to match, and are very dainty edged with red holly berries. Crimson felt paper makes a very cheery table centre for a efiristma.9 dinner. The edge is hidden by sprigs of holly and lines of green run from corner to corner. The candle shades mentioned above should be used with this centre piece, and a circle of geraniums and green leaves might be made to surround the plate of each guest. A sprig of mistletoe or holly must adorn each plate. It is well known that colouring affects people's moods, so it is worth while to have some- thing bright. With so much cheerful crimson in the decorations, the Christmas dinner cannot fail to be a gay one.

CONWAY GIHLt)' SCHOOL. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. An interesting function took place at the Conway Girls' School on Monday evening, when prizes were distributed for the year's attendance. Tiie Vicar (Hev. J. W. Roberts) presided over a good attendance. The room had been taste- fully decorated by the scholars for the occasion, and during the evening an interesting programme was presented by the children. The Vicar said that the teachers ought to be allowed to present prizes for merit as well as attendance, but the regulations of the Education Committee would not allow this. He impressed upon them that by attending regularly the chil- dren got the spirit of faithfulness instilled in them. The Mayor (Dr. R. Arthur Prichard), in dis- tributing the prizes, expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present, and referred to the school oonoerts which used to be held annually in the Town Hall, expressing the hope that they might be re-instated (applause). THE PRIZE-WINNERS. Miss Alice Nevitt, of Llandudno Junction, was awarded first prize for six years' full attend- ance. and the following received prizes in the first class: Sarah Nevitt, Maggie Bithel, Mary Eliz. Hughes, Mary Jones3 Jane Ellen Hughea and Mary Griffith. TIrtJ following obtained prizes In the second class:—Agnes Roberts, Claris a Bithel. Jennie Hughes, Lily J. Polin, Elizabeth Jones, Mamie Martin, Elizabeth A. Jones. Carrie Ellis, Mar- garet E. Jones, Gwendolen Williams, Florence Hughes, Matilda L. Eva-ne, Esther Roberts, Susannah Williams, Maggie Lloyd Hannaby, Elizabeth A. Da vies, Annie E. Willfams. Miss Jones, headmistress, in the course of a neat speech, said that amongst the girls attend- ing her school many were perfect liltie herolne-5. They wauld oftea attend when they really were not fit to be out of doors, in order she could give them their marks. After all, health was more important than a paltry prize, but, on the other hand. she knew that some children were often absent without excuse. Education meant not only teaching them to read, write, etc., but also training them up to be good women. Edu- cation inculcated them with ideas, and those ideas developed into habits. It therefore behoved parents to be careful what kind of ideas were contributed to their children. In proposing a vote of thanks to the Mayor, the Vicar remarked that he did not think there was another schoolmistress in the Diocese of Bangor he would like to exchange for Miss Jones. The Rev. John Davies seconded the vote of thanks to the Mayor. On the proposal of the Vicar, a vote of thanks was accorded the ohildren, who had entertained them during the evening, and on the proposal of the Mayor a vote of thanks was also accorded the headmistress. Miss Jones, and her staff.

A Pittsburg baby boy has been ,christened Roosevelt Connaught Edward Czar Ansono Welhelm M'Naughton.

SIR HARHY REICHEL AND THE ^VELdH IXTERM^DlAiE EDUCATlOISl SYSTEM. UNDu £ 1ó.t"MA"I OF EXAMiNAl Iwiva. OBJECT OF THE « nAi. viaiH BOARD. Sir Harry Reichei, speaking at the prize distribution at the YViCxliaiu \;Oulll) BouvKil tor unis, on caLUI<1ay, said the vveisa intermediate system nail been wittun the last few days suojeciea on tile one nana to slasiuug criticism, anj on tue ouier excollcu 10 witnin measur- abw reach of periectiun. tie must own that tie could identify iiiuiieii witn neither view. The Bishop of St. Asapli hau uecn ever a rignter, and one niigut be pardunc-u ioi- thinking that for tiie moment lie had allowed the ardour an (lust of contact to obscure from his view an educational principle which must be familiar to one WHO immeriy occupied a con- spicuous position in education. He meant the principle that nu [ebb of eaucuujn was more misleading and les8 vaiuab.e to an tne tost oi external exairinaltun- the msuits-teist," a,2i, by a question-beggmg phrase, it was usually termed. The whole trend of contemporary educational thought was, it not DJ aboiish, at least to reduce it within the narrowest limns. The main object of establisuing the Central Weisii board was w get rid of such tests, which its founders new would be destructive of oil real education. The certificate of tho central Welsh Board was accepted by the Board of Education in lieu of a pass in the King s scholarship examination, as it was by ollter public bodies having enirance examinations of their own. He was told that their intermediate schools did, in certain cases, prepare pupils directly for the King's Scuolarship examination, but it was not their proper business; it interfered with their true work, and it was earnestly to be hoped that the system would soon be brought to an end, as ho understood it would be in mat county within the next two years (hear, hear). It must be admitted that in the existence of this system, the Bishop had put his linger on a blot. It was a reasonable conten- tion that tuey could much improve the Welsh Becon. dary system by encouraging diiferentiation among their schools; but it would be nothing short of a national calamity if their county schools came to regard the scholarships of the old universities as the touchstone of their efficiency and the goal of tneir ambition (hear, hear). But if he could not share the Bishop's pessimism, the giowing optimism ot the Chairman of the Central Welsh Board seemed to h:1ll hardly more convincing. Far from thinking that it only needed harder work on the part of the pupils to make their secondary education the best in the world, he had grave doubts whether they and their teachers were not suffering seriously from over-pres- sure-doubts which he had reason to know were shared by the headmasters and headmistresses of several 01 their most important and successful schools. Side by side with this was the tendency to lay more and more stress on examination results. The public was taught to look at the number of certificates gained, and the position of picked pupils in the medal competition as the measure of efficiency. The reputa- tion of the individual school and the professional position of its staif was coming more and more to be regarded as depending oil the number of certifi- cates gained. It more and more dominated their secondary schools," which thus found themselves by a strange piece of educational topsy-turvydom handed over to a ruthless system of examinational results at the very time when the elementary schools had just been freed from a similar tyranny (hear, hear). The undue emphasis of examinations tended to lead the teacher to regard the young mind as a vessel in which knowledge was to be noured from without rather than as a growing organism whose native powers should be encouraged to unfold themselves from within. But it did more than this. It led directly to the neglect of the ordinary pupil by tempting the teacher to concentrate his efforts cn the small number of clever boys and girls who might be expected to win credit for the school in competi- tive examinations. This was a noint which he would commend to the serious attention of parents and governors. The real test of a school or college was not the certificates or degrees gained, but the men and women it turned out (hear, hear). Originally it was intended that in their Welsh system inspection and examination should go hand in hand, and have equal influence, but for years past inspection had tended more hnd more to recede into the background, leaving examina- tion to monopolise the public gaze. It was hardly an exaggeration to sav that the main, if not the sole, function of inspection was now considered to be the satisfying of the T easury that the school was carried on in accordance with the provisions of its scheme, and that to ascertain its educational efficiency b.>th the Board and the public more and more turned to the certificate list. It had grown up without the fault of anyone in particular, and he thought it might be fairly asked whether it would not be wise to cell a halt and take stock of their educational position, and to see whether some reversion to the original conception of school administration might not be possible (hear, hear).

THE BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH AND HIS CRITICS. The Bishop of St. Asaph, writing to the Manchester Guardian," says :— I sanl (.see Manchester Guardian," December 7th, 1907): "The totai sum expended by We education authorities In tnese S,X-tilI1L 1; isorth Wales—coun- ties Oil mgner uuucau->n amounts to £40,11\1\1." inly authority is tHe uiuo-Dook V. 1). J,ö.1io). Again I said: "Taiiiiig our own county of Flint, I tind that Under "tile litauaig 01 Income Account' the total payments in itfoo amounted to £ i t>4 for tHe live schools of jtiawu-ruen, noiyweli, Moid, Knyl, tst. Asaph." My friend Air £ <vans, oi Abergele, questions this iigure. My authority lor tHe figure is the report of une Flint- shire .Education O,lllUllèlt.:C, dated July Zfitti, i9od, pp. óU-59. Xtie payments lor eacn school are as follows, viz. Hiiwarden, X-L,o,93; uoiyweli, Moid, ±1,400; iviiyl, St. Asapn, .1.(jJ, making a total of i-7,jij4. Tho figures relating to the King's Scholarships are not disputed, and therefore need not be referred t-o further. I said that at the Ruthin Girls' School, with about one hundred pupils, a statf of eleven teachers, including the technical teacher and sewing mistress, were paid salaries amounting to £009. My authority for tuis statement is the abstract of accounts-dated March Hist, l9<j7, published by the Ruthin County School Governing body, page 2. I stated further that on an average every scholar in the Welsh secondary schools cost the public nearly £::0 a year. Including capital charges, the average cost for each scholar works out at something between £]7 and £20. In one small school the cost works out at nearly £30 a nead. I mentioned the case Of a boy elected to a scholarship at Ruthin Grammar School whose parents were forthwith offered a bursary of larger amount by the master of one of the rate- fed schools. How have my critics faced these facts? They call me hard names, such as "slashing," "a lighter," "splendidly inaccurate)" (a vulgar translation of splen- dide mendax). Why do not they address themselves to the bare facts and leave personalities alone? I give my authorities for my facts? tf those authorities are wrong, let it be proved. Sir Harry Itcichel in his speech at Wrexham re- minds me in his attitude to the secondary schools of the landlord in "Silas M-ii-iit,-r." "Come, come," said the landlord, "tho truth lies atween you you're both right and both wrong, as I allays says." Sir Harry Rcichcl states that schools like Brecon and Llandovery are confined for the most part to the sons of the comparatively well-to-do, that the stalls are better paid, and that the curricuiuin is that of the English public school, and that the fees are beyond the great bulk of the pupils in the county schools. Certainly at Llandovery and Ruthin there are a number of pupils who can hardly be said to be sons of the comparatively well-to-do. With regard to the payment of the masters, Llandovery has a paltry endowment of something like £ 500 a year, and Ruthin less. I believe the fixed salary of the head- master of Llandovery is £135 a year. But the aolid fact is this. Not one of these schools receives a 1a¡1hing from public funds, and whatever payments they make are made out of their own earnings. No doubt the curriculum is broader than that of the county schools, and therefore educationally more in- clusive and therefore much more valuable. The tuition fees at 'Llandovery are £8 8s (eight guineas) a year, and at the Welsh county schools, I believe, £1> a year, and I do not think that the boarding fees are very much higher than those in the county schools —fo. example, the Wrexham County School. Sir Harry Reichei deprecates the comparison of re- sults. May I ask by what other fruits Sir Harry Reichei desires to test our Welsh schools, now that lie finds ttio examination test so unsatisfactory? I a. quite prepared to submit the work of the schools I quoted to any other reasonable test. Let me add that criticism is not condemnation, and that I have as great an interest as any other Welshman in all cur Welsh schools. This discussion has revealed again one other absurdi&y. Apparently speakers in Wales are prohibited bv a canon of unknown origin to speak of education on a school platform or 01 Christian morality oil a Bible society platform.

ABERGELE DISASTER RECALLED. The announcement of the death of Mrs Ghinnery Haldane is a reminder of the terrible petroleum ex- plosion in the Irish Mail train at Abergele on August 20th, 1868, when her father, the Rev. Sir Nicholas Ohinnery, her mother, Lord and Lady Farnham, and tweaty-eight other unfortunate people lost their lives4

LLANDUDNO & COLWYN BAY LiGfff JttAlLVVAY. ANIMATED DEBATE AT THE COLWYN BAY COUNCIL. THE MERITS OF TAR AND WOOD PAVEMENTS. A special meetin.g off th C-olwyn Bay Coun- cil was held on Tuesday afternoon, to cousiu-er tile question of tho light railway, and tho lore- snore letu/i'gs. Mr John Wilaa-ms (chairman) presided, and there were a.lso present: Mr D. O. Williams (vice-chairman), the Rev. W. l £ ug:hets, Mces-re Geo. Bevan, Hugh Hughes, E. H. Davies, liiifQ Hill, D. Gamble, J. Dicker, Hugh Davies, T. Hoskine, Ghas. Reynolds, Ed. Alien, W. Horton, Wm. Davies, T. H. Morgan, .John Jones, and O. B. Lowe, with the clerk (Mr Ja.mes Amphiett), the deputy-clerk (Mr Joe. H. Roberts), inc. engineer (Mr William Jonee), and the other officials. At a previous meeting, the Council decided to allow feeder cables tor the tramway to be laid between the raite, of the track, but the com- pany objected to thia on the ground that tho best tramway praotice was now against laying cables in such a position. They asked that tho cables should be laid alorug the footpath. Then the Council decided to insiet upon Jarra-h wood- paving between the rails, whnst the company desired that it be tar maoadfekm. Mr Hugh Hughes now moved that all these be ro<?ciri<k<d. He ooinaidered the tar raving was muoh superior from a sanitary point of view than wood blocks. Mr Bliss Hill seconded the proposition. The Rev. W. Hughos said they had had six weekis to settle the matter, but they had failed. The Council could not afford to go before the Board of Trade, and if they did go, he was perfectly certain they would lose. He did not thin.k that tlio Council should be led by gentle- men who were ironmakers and not really engin- oem. They all had confidence in Mr William Jones as their engineer, as well as in Mr Green, the latter of whom ihad had experience in laying down tar ma.oad.am, granite eette, and wood blooks. He himself quite agreed that tar pave- meoit was better than wood blocks, ard it was true it was more eanitary. He did not want the Light Railway Company to spend money in vain, and the Council wanted to force them to put down a line of wood blocks which would ooet 22000, whereas tar macadam only meant an expenditure of £8{)O. If the Council wag going to lay a tramway of their own, he was certain they would never think of putting down wood blocks. It would 'be wise to allow the company to put down tar macadam, and the cable under the footpath. It was now quito against the cus- tom to put a ca-ble under the road. "NOT SUFFICIENTLY STRJCT WITH SYNDICATED." Mr W. Daviee complained of the loss which the town had sustained or undergone in con- sequence of the Council not having been suffici- ently strict with syndicates. For instance, the Public Hall, there were eight or nine interested in that, and what did they do? That hall was bulging out before the slates were put OIl the roof —— Mr Lowe: Is- this in order? We are not dis- cussing the Public Hall. The Chairman: It us a pLX>po;al to rescind a resolution that we have beifore us. Mr Davies said he was cortain he was in order. He was trying to show the dinger of syndi- cates, There was tho Gas Company in 18S6 (interruption). The ocnsequence was that they got to Parliament without opposition, a.nd had made the Bill so detrimental that they did not know who was who. Now, again, the Pier Com- pany Mr Lowe: I am not going to listen to this any longer. It is ridiculous. The Chairman advked Mr Davies to keep to the point. Mr Davies: I will not sit down. I have done with you, Mr Chairman. I am simply showing you what ryndicatct, are. Continuing, Mr Da- vies said this was another syndicate, and they were going to do a paltry job the same as they had done at Llandudno. How mally times had they repaired the Llandudno road alreody ? Some yea,rs ago the roads were torn up at every point, from the gasworks to Colwyn, and who had to pay Mr Bevan: The Gas Company. Mr Davies said that was not so. He did not fiee where the inEanitation of the wood blocks comes in considering that they were used in ad the large cities of England. Mr Wm. Hughes had just said that they must not listen to iron- makers. What about him with the pier? He enjoyed the privilege- of having tho pier in the summer time Mr Hughes: I am not a shareholder, Mr Da- vies. Mr Davies: But there is something better than .a shareholder. The Chairman: Don't let us have personali- tics. A LIVELY SGEiNE. Mr Davies (excitedly): He has been like a dog in a fair, calling at every house and telling lies. Mr Hughes: Am I a liar? Will you withdraw, Mr Davies? Mr Davies: No, I won't. I will make in- quiries before I withdraw it. As far as I have been told Air Hughee: I appeal to you, gentlemen, to stop this sort of thing. Don't aJrow this, Mr Cliainman. I have been called a liar. Mr Davies: I appeal to you to mind your own business, and not refer to ilno. Mr Hughes: I won't have it. Withdraw. p lease. Mr Gamlble: I must ask for that remark to be withdrawn. Tho Chairman: And it is only iriglit he should do so. Mr Davies: I want to be fair. As long as Mr Hughes denies it so genuinely, I will withdraw it until I make inquiry. I don't want to hit .below the belt. The Chairman: We are not to quibble over Eorsonalitiee. I will not have if. Stick to the ueiness. Mr Davies: A personality was used about Mr Heenan, and I am defending him. It was made this minute, in this room. Mr Hughes said I was supported by an irommaker. Lot us be fair. Mr Hughee: I will stick to every word I said. Mr Hugh Hughes: Mr Heenan is quite able to look after his own interests without Mr Wm. Davies doing so. Mr Davies: Oh, Mr Heenan has his opinion aibout you (laughter). The Chairman: We have como here to do business, I hope. Mr aivies: If there was lees interruption, I would hr-ve finked long ago, but you are ób- structing me all the while. A vote was then taken when nine voted for rescinding thettoolution, and nix against 1. "SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE." The Chairman, according to notico then moved tfurat the Council offer to EplitJ the dif- ference with the Light Railway Company by allowing them to put the cables under the foot- path on condition that they put wood paving on the track fotr tho length of one mile, to be ecilectied by tihe Cfoumeil, and tar maeadatr with wood blocks aiong rails only fotr the remain- der. This was seconded- llho Rev. W. Hug-hes said he would be glad if they could get wood blocks- He did not think it was worth risking- the delay Tor 12 months fay goirig befotno tiie Board of lirad*. He mored an amendment that tlhev adiiere to previous resolutions regarding the feeder cables and tte track construction on condition that tftie pro- meters commeneed work of laying the line fanm Colwyn Bay to Rhea at once. Mr E- H- Daviets asked on whose behalf Mr Hushes was requested to got all this iliorma- tinai from the Liglit Railway Company. Had the Council appointed an von e ? The Rev. W. Huighes replied that aiil he had done was to visit Mr Horton, as a ratepayer. Mr Horton was aa anxious as anybody to get the matter settled. His amendment took them back to the very same place as when they met Mr Sellon in November- Mr Bliss Hill', in seconding tihe amendment, saad lie was rather surprised at Air E. H. Davies suiggesting it wals not right to make in- quiries ictf the Council. Everybody was justi- 4eid in getting at tihe root of these matters. The Chairman: I think Mr Davies' remark was out of order- Mr Davies: Did Mr Bevan tell you that (lausg-Lter )- Mr Bliss Hill said that tihe object of every- one present was to get the wot .is done as quick- ly aa possible, and before the visitors arrived, and considering that toero were men work, it was tne duty of chfC Council not to put an obstacle in the way of tiie Company. If tar paving was good einought for Llandudno, it was good enough for Colwy n Bay. He iusLly believed that if Mr Ilugibea' amendment was passed, they would seo the men on the job in a few dlays. Mr E. H. Davies submitted it was not busi- nesslike to approa.cn anybody interested in the oorieorn witihoirt the sanction of the Council- Mr Lick On said he did not know wSuero the information had been got tha4; wood blooks were insanitary- He liardlv thought they would put insanitary paving in the estireefs of London "Nlj--Po the traffic was a tihousand tirncs greater than Colwyn Bay. This weis the fourth otr fiftih time that tlno matter had been before the Council, and he was beginning to tihimk that tihey were fighting a losing oaae. The Council were giving their oase away completely to tne Tram Company by their changeable attitude. If the Council were onsiy unanimous and told too Company they won'ci' have a ceTtain thing or nothing, they woisld have it at once- Un- doubtedly, in his opinion, the wood' blocks would be the best- Mr Bevan said he would agree with Mr W. Hughes' amendment if it was in tihe fol- lowing terms: "Tnat tilo Council agree to the Ligiit Railway track being made over 6ft. widd* wito a ioiitndatioui cf six inch concrete to be approved by the surveyor, and completed with a top layer of fivo or six inclh,(' of tar mac- adam, tile quality to be approved' by the suT- veyor, with one row of wood blocks along the sides of each rail, and we aliLoiw the Company to lay cables in tne .ootpath near the cuirba on condition that they commence forthwith." Tho Rev- W. Hughes said that was exaotily tihe same and he would accept it. Mr Chas- Reynolds sllipportedthe amendment. Mr John Jones iioped tiie Council would deal with the matter thoroughly. He was only told^ that day that if ihe iiad any respect for his life, the Council better sethie tiie question that d'ay (laughter). Mr T- H. Morgan advecated wood blooks, and the Chairman remarked that the rate- payers We-re get-ting very anxious about uhe matter. and he had been told that if they did not set-tile that day, they would come down upon the Council in a bod v. Mr E- H. Davieh: Tiiey can't come past Cayley Arms until they get Combermere Lodge A Member: I think that is rxraotioally settled- Mr W. Davies: It was not settled a few c'ava ago. We have not settled with the landowners on the road yet. I glxo notice of motion that a publie meeting of ratepayere be called to settle tihdlq matter. I On being put to the niftting, nine voted for Mr Hughes' amendment, which had been al- tered to the effect that the work must be car- ried out by Easihetr, and seven against. Mr D. 0- Williams proposed a further amendment that tihey should go in for tlaee quarters of a milo length of wood blocks, which was praotioalJy offered by Mr SeJlon, This was seconded1, but was defeated,

THE GHAMUPHONE AND TE TRAZZINI. THE GREAT SINGER MAKES RECORDS FOR THE PUBLIC. To the list of distingu ished vocalists wiho have poured their omgo into the recording in- Surumerits ot the Gramophone Company, tie ntuna of Madame Teurazzini has now been add- ed. On Monday afternoon the famoiw prima donna, wiboise vcoai equipmi&nifc and ability have earned for tiier the homage OL the London musi- cal puwc, proceeded to toe Gramophone (bm- s preirweeB in the City-road, wlnere &be mktdo records tnat wi&i carry tier lame into ali the corners ot -D..e earoii- lVia-uame ietu azzmi .ilû.S pr-juiuckxi to put torch ntr Uoe;:>t eiuJaavoufS in uiuH-pieijng ten eeeiuus auct ,or uie en.. jojiiiicm oi the UtKnieaauJi ot cutting o Uufcuiioptione Company- iior selections <x/iupAses "Aii! fars' e lui," irom "La UaravJiui-a," "le eon ■liiama," trein Ambroise 'iuomiiws s "lVllguùn," "011*1 irwn "ftnauow Bong, tiroan ijinoraiio" (Javai-iina from uizet'e Les Becii- ouir.5 de Perijes," Mad bcene Lrom "Lucia di i-janiimarniooi-, "Ca.ro Isiotiue," irixn "Kigolet to, "Legen.de des C.ooheuev tram Lewoes's La-kme, "I)WA.R,I b.v.jJog irom "JUI Sonna-m- bukt." and 10 bapettiC, from Cav^rni Rustic ana. Cf .our 01 these p.eoes success- ful records ware obtained on .onday afternoon a ,luo js-t-ting, Madame ietirozzim Inavmg the supp-unfc o. an oro.ieetra Mr IVc-y^ pItt,. mst,ruw:oma'i*sle' conducted by Making records is by no means an easy mat- ter, elthecr for the principal peirioJmer, or for kicea who pdjay liur aoootn-panmients- Tne singeir is placed less than a .o,t away from the ii.3iru.inem, wihicth captures her tomes, but she has to remember to move back some seven or elpot 'nc'"ics wffl employing tiigh notes, ofaher- wiee tihe reoord suffers. Then, pernaps wnen she has almost completed a pa^i%T m ner most engaging manner, tim orchestra, misunaetr etanding directions, makes a slip, with tie re eult tJiiat tho song nas to be gone through aeain Artijsts aro credited witlti exceptionally ner- vous temperaments, and, under suexi reaidv toying circumstances, might reasonably be Har- dened if they displayed annoyance and became lrri'tablle. But although Madame Tetrazzmi, tinromgn no .fault of her own, was called upoll to repeat certain portions of her songs-some 0: her loveliest notes being, ro to apeak, scrao- petf-she remained perssterativ ctaeerfuj bhroutrh- aut the two hours' ardeaJ. Her first song was Caro l\oune, from "Rigoietifeo," in her ren dering of which she omitted t-.je customary trill at the close- An admirable record was obtain- brilSf-r!^ VI arti^ sanS- Wlth uniUkciiicy, the Polacca ^roan 4tMkrnon,?' th** bedninique being ikAg.nfui, and the shakes per favourite "Ik-J(l Song" from Lakme, and again dnew attention to the DU- "ty a' brightness o. her tones. Finally alio expended muoh pains over obtaining a factory rcco«rd» of "Ah! f<W e lui," and ,mZ over, succeeded in her efforts "ScMa ,i8it, to *• roaming excerpts from opera*. Sx re"

WHY ENDURE SOKE THROAT? Peps are an Ideal Throat Tonic. Are you one of trose unfortunate people who Baii>r from -x»ro throat wnen ever you cateh cold or wuijiever bad weatner serB ill! That is because you have had a. snarp attack of sore throat, some tune or otner. which was never radically cured. IL has left-a weakness behuid- your tnr!Ja,t is "touchy;" the delicate membrane is thickened a trlfb; your vcice is not quite so clear and vigorous. Perhaps It. is not so bad as that, but you suffer frcm a slight huskiness every time the weather changes, or your throat feels weak and relaxed. The best possible treatment ie a prompt course of Peps, the wonderful medicine compressed into handy tablet form. Peps are a true throat tonic- •00 thing, invigorating, antiseptic, and germ- destroying. They are totally different to cheap lozenges and drug-laden cough-mixtures. Mr C. Ellis. 19, Lime Grove, Bideford. a member. of the 4th V.B. Devon Regimental Band, whites:—"I suffered greatly with a sore and inflamed throat, for which I tried many remedies, but nothing did me any good until I tried Peps, which quickly cured me. A friend who has long be-an troubled with asthma and had caught a bad oold on it, took Peps at my recommendation, and he says that they are the only thing that haa given him any real relief. I have recommended Pepe to all my chums." Make sure you get the genuine article by seeing the short distinctive title—Peps—on the wrapper, on the box, and on every tablet. Sold on!v in handy metal box at Is lid and 2s Gel. of all ohemista

§3 Wken Ref>tying to Aivertw* 1 j§ ments, J>leut mention Ij I "THE PIONEER." § Tbe houvre .01. FOB Smart Millinery. Trimmed Hats & Bonnets ALWAYS IN STOCK. MODERATE PRICES. ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, LACES & MILLINERY TRIMMING. OUR Annual Clearance Sale COMMENCES THURSDAY, JANUARY 2nd, 1908, AND WILL CONTINUE FOR 14 DAYS. STOCK TO BE CLEARED REGARDLESS OF COST. THE LOUVRE, ABERGELE ROAD, COLWYN BAY.

COLWYN BAY COUNCIL AND THE PIER COMPANY. OBJECTION TO A SUPERVISING COMMITTEE. AWAITING DEFINITE REPLY FROM PIER DIRECTORS6 At a spx-ial meeting of the Colwyn Bay Ur- ban District Council, on Tuesday, the qucstic.11 of k-thng plots on t!H: feresiiore for entertain- ment during 'he coming season was considered. Mr Hugh Hughes proposed, and Mr T. H. Mor. gan socondt o, that tne tenders be left to the General Purposes .Committee. Tiie Rev. W. Hugr.es, as an amendment, pro- pooeJ. tnat they be let to the Town Advertising Association ior &3U less ihan last year. Af+er a short discussion it was, however, de- tided to deal with them at that meeting. Before opening the lenders, the Clerk read the folloviine i-nfr dated December ]6tii, from Mr W. A. Pryce-Ddvis, secretary of the Victoria Pier a.nd Pavilion Co., Ltd :— "I am instructed by my directors to ack- nowledge, and thank you, for your esteemed communication of the 11th inst In reference to thJ proposal your Council are good enough to male3 in leference to the discontinuance of the entertainments o.n the promenade in th-3 evenings 'after 7.30, I am requested to ex:p"ss my Directors' great appreciation of thii concession, but, unfortunately, for ob- vious reasons, they cannot accept the pro- posal of a committee of the Council to re- gulate the business of the company. On the other hand, my Directors will welcome any suggestions the Council, or a committee thereof, may offer them in reference to the concerts, and will gladly meet every reason- able wish. My Directors accept and agree to all the other conditions, and they, therefore, trust that you will &ee your way to meet their wishes by deleting the proposed 'Com- mittee of Supervision' from the arrangement. Immediate arrangements will have to be made to secure an orchestra and conductor of standing, and your Council's prompt reply will, therefore, be much esteemed." Mr T. II. Morgan said that having heard the letter, he felt that the demands of the Pier Co. were utterly unreasonable. They not only bluffed the Council, but now they said the,y would not accept the concessions the Council granted them. They had refund to have a committee appointed by the Council who might make suggestions to them as to what sort of entertainment they should give. He moved that as they had not complied with the conditions made, the matter be left, and that they proceed at the General Purposes Committee to open the tenders for the foreshore lettings. Mr Bevan said the Directors never intended that the Council should manage the Pier Com- pany.. Mr Gamble: The Council never suggested it. Mr Bevan: Yes, they have. They take your resolution to mean that all they propose to do in the pavilion must bo submitted to a committee for their approval. That is how it reads ("No, no"). The Clerk here read the letter which ho had sent to the Pier Directors. The Rev. W. Hughes proposed that the clerk should reply that the Council did not intend to convey that meaning to their letter. Mr Bevan said that the directors felt on read- ing the letter that before they could start a programme they must submit it to the Council. Mr Gamble said that was absurd. Mr Bevan said he was sure the directors had misunderstood the letter. Tne directors were abso- lutely glad to have the advice and assistance of the Council, and would do all they could to meet them. Mr W. Davies said it was very evident to him that the directors did not mean to come to an agreement with the Council. He felt it was not worth troubling further in the matter. Mr Gamble said the resolution never meant to interfere with the business of the Council. Uai- der the circumstances, he moved that no further proceedings be taken until they had a decided answer from the Pier directors. The whole thing was a piece of bluff. Mr Edward Allensownded. The Rev. W. Hughes supported, on condition that t;.Iie clerk wrote and explained his letter to the Company. "NU COMPULSORY STANDARD." Mr Bevan said the directors could .not have the committee coming there with a standard of the concerts, and stating that they must conform with that standard whether they could or not. The directors had seven years' experience, and perhaps the members of the committee would have no experience. Mr Dicken; That might be better still (laugh- tor). Mr Bevan: Wo will take any assistance, but they will not have a compulsory standard. The Chairman said that the whole discussion was out of order. They had not accepted the Council's terms, and that was an end of it. Mr Dicken considered that the Council had made a great concession-and a great mistake too. It was most suicidal to shut out the Pro- menade after 7.30. But that had been dealt with. The resolution passed at the last Coun- cil meeting was quite plain, and any child could understand it. r The Clerk said that on the possible chance of their misunderstanding the meaning of the reso- ,or. lution, he would certainly ask to be allowed to write them again, so that he could get a reply before the next meeting of the General Purposes Committee.. Mr W. Davies considered it unfair to open the tanders at all if they intended closing the Pro- menade. A suggestion had been thrown out that a oommitteo should meet the directors. Ho hoped that would not be done as he wanted every- thing in black and white. They had had deal- ings with the company before. They promised i this and that, and the Council allowed them to put their girders on the Promenade wall (inter- ruptioll). Mr Morgan considered that the directors wanted something that would not bind them in any way. It was simply an excuse for not giving a plain answer to a plain question. If uiey were going to rescind the resolution again he would vote against it. Let the minstrels and the pierrots occupy the Promenade. Mr Bovan: They don't care two pins about carrying on the concerts, I ca.n assure you. The motion of Mr Gamble that no further proceedings be taken until the Council bad a decided answer from the company was then On the motion of tho Rev. Wm. Hughes, it was decided by a majority of one that Messrs Gamble, Hugh Hughes and John Jones should meet, the directors, and report, to the next meet- ing of the General Purposes Committee.

I If ABERGELE CHRISTMAS SHOW AND SALE- On Wednesday Met week Moserjs Wilson Jonee and Morgan hold their annual fat etvc1 elbow and sale at Abergele. The entry was :mt as good ae was expected, but witit was lacking in numbnrB was made up in quality. Some ex- cellent cattle u,od sheep were «ho<v.n and read- ^Mir Daviesi Prestatyn, and! Mr John Lewis Cwm, Moirat.. officiated as judges, and awarded the prises aa foikxws: —Bast two fut bullockt.: Mr R. Hugwes. HenUys; 2. Mr J. Jonee, Pant Idda. Beet ten wethers: 1. Mr J OwED. Hen- dtdecch; 2, Mr J- Owen. HenMire'a.wr Best ten fat ewee: 1, Mr D- Davies, Dolwon; 2, Mr W Owen. Uanfair. Best two fat pigs: 1, Mr J. Owen. Bend-re-erdh; 2. Mr Rowlands, Liairfairtalihaiam- Beat five porkers: 1, Mr ¡ E. Williams. Abergolo. Best beast in the sale (epccioi prize given by Mr WillianWjBarp Hotel) Mr Hughsp, Henllyi Best two pige wder 15 score (special prize given by Mr F. Capper, Macciesfietld): Mr Rowlandb. CatrtJe made up to M 5s, WeLlvzs to 42s. bacon pigs to 26 5s, and porters to 3B8 apiece. The principal buyers were Mr John Lewis, Binmn^tham; Messrs Morris. Afoorgele; Mr Vaiighasn and Mr Owen, Abergele; Mr Lyne, Llandudno; and Mr Thomas and MT Morris, Goiw-yn Bay; and U:- Roberts, Trefnant- The auctioneers are to be congratulated on the success of this sfoow and ale. and should be better supported bi fenrasB and loeai buy- ers in tibe futiufe-

— j RELIGIOUS SERVICES. LLYSFAEN PARISH CHURCH. ENGLISH SERVICES. MORNING, 11-15 a.mi. I Seats Free 18428 3

SOCIAL GATHERING AT COLWYN BaY. IN A!D OF THE MISSION CHURCH. On Monday a sociat gathering and evening concert were held m the Cnurcu ltixjui, Cviwyn li-iy, for the purpose oi wiping oil a debt of A;60 resting on the Mission Ofaurca. fiicre wa.s a very large attendance wlieli the opening ceremony was performed. Mr H. Simian presided, and was assisted by the Revs. Camm Egberts uud J. 11. Hope, Mr E. It. Uibbun, Mr Wilis, .1' J. i>rocik and Miss OrutOieid. The Ufiairmun extended a warm weieoine to all pre- sent, and tnanked tllcm for tiie interest they had taiien JI1 the sale of work, for though smulj the proceedings were of importance. During the last year or two the Mission Church had lost several sup- porters, and he asked for thou very generous licip to try and make up the loss sustained and thus keep the iittie Ouurch tree of debt.. The Vicar, in introducing Miss Crosfield to those assembled, remarked that Mrs Chas. Reynolds should have performed the opening ceremony, but was sure they would be sorry to hear that that lady confined to her bed. He was pleased to say that she wa.s however prugressing lavourabiv. and he was sure they all hoped that she would be able to be by her husband's side, downstairs, at Christinas (hear, near). Under the circumstances, Miss Crosfield, who waa a niece of Mrs Reynolds, had kindly come forward to take her aunt's place, and they were very glad to welcome her amongst them. As they had heard from the Chairman they wanted £60. He was glad to say that Mrs Hope had already received about AM in donations (applause). Miss Crosfield said that on behalf of her uneie a.nd aunt, she wished to thank the Vicar for the kind references lie had made to them. Mrs Reynolds was exceedingly sorry she could not be present, and if the movement was a success there would be none moro pleased than that lady. She (the speaker) was sure that the work in hand deserved their warm support, and she hoped that the sale would result in the debt being wiped off. She had very great pleasure in de- claring the gale of work open. The Rev. J. H. Hone proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Crosfield, who, he said, had left London early that morning in order to be present. Mr E. R. Gibbon seconded, and the motion was car- ried. A large and varied assortment of useful articles were off--red for sale, and during the afternoon tea was served. STALLHOLDERS. The stallholders were. :-jars Bond, Miss Hooper, Miss Shepherd,Misses Bond, Mrs Brook, Miss Robin. SOB. Miss Hoilinstead and Mrs Byrne. The following ladies took charge of the tea tables:- Mrs MuiKin, Miss Sinikin, Mrs Dunning, Mrs Davie, Aiiss Dunning, Miss buckiey, Miss Hoyies, Mrs Wilson) Miss Uos?, Mrs Alien, Mrs Rowlands, Miss Pickmere, Misses fihephtrd, aiiss Roberts, Miss Gwen Roberts) Mrs Whitettouse, Mrs Gibbon, Mrs Lloyd Roberts, lira Hoyies. Mrs Klpps, Mrs Hollinshead, Miss Morgan Mrs Kilbourn, Miss Williams, Airs Powisun, Mrs uil- iingiiam, Miss BUiingham, Mrs Lawton, Miss Williams. t tjwers were onered for sale by Miss Dolly Hope and Miss S. Simkin, whilst the "bran dip" was in the charge of Misses Mary Gibbon and ttuthie Bond, the last mentioned two being dressed in Japanese cos- tumes. THE CONCERT. In the evening the Church Room wae crowded with an enthusiastic audience. Mr David Gamble, J.P., occupied the chair, and was accompanied on the stage by Mrs and Miss Gamble nun Ruberts, Rev. J. H. Hope, and Dr Mariette. me following was the programme presented Piano- lorte solo, Miss Mobley; song (selected), Rev. J. h. Hope; song, "A Garden of Luve" Mrs Harding; song, The Old Gray Fox" (Valerie Wbyte), Dr Mariette; yrohn solo (a) •'Reverie" (Vieuxtenspg), (b) "Bolero" m 0Uve Brookes; song> "Sunshine and Rain (Binmenthai), Mrs James Porter duet, "Albion'' (L rah am), Air A. J. Fleet and Rev. J. H. Hope; son* (selectod), Rev. j. Griffiths; song, "Love's parting" (Nicholte)> Mrs Hope; song, "I'il sing tbe songs of 6r ,s /T' V', A- J- Fleet; song, "Green Isle of fcnn (RoecAel). Miss H. Hollinshead; duet, "The sailor sighs as sinks his native shore," Miss Mariorie Th»nung iiV' J- H" H°PC: duet in D (DiabeJli), The Misses Mobley and Mountford; song, "Tiie Fairy's Luila-by Lulaby (Need I! ami, Miss Robinson; song, "Three for Jack (Squire), Dr Mariette; song, "The Silver Ring," don) Mr n ti'e tide flows b> (Gor- don), Mr W. (J. Mobley; song, "My Violet"' (Thomp- son), Mrs James^ Porter; duet, "Boatman," Miss M Dunning and Rev. J. Griffiths; song, "Beloved it i» morn" (Aylward), Mi,s Pryce J^'nes; recltatton? Hanging a picture (Jerome), Mrs E. R Gibbons- song (selected) Dr W M. Venable* Williams; scnV, Atiia Gitana (Newton), Mr W. G. Moblev Fleet° accompaniBtE were Miss Mobley and' Mr Ernest

Priodas hardd yn Ngholwyn bay. WILLIAMS-JONES. Yn Nghapel y Weeieyaid, Colwyn Bay, dydd Mercher, unwyd mewn glan briodas Mr James Williams, gynt o Glan Conwy, a. Miss Sarah A. Jon&>, Mountain View. Llandduias. Gwasan- ae.nwyd a,r yr amg-yicniad gan y Parciia. Frank E. Jones (W.), Coiwyn Bay, a D. barley iJavics (W.), Liwiddulas. Daetti llu jrn ngnyd l tod yn iijgaid dystion o'r amgyichiad iiapus. Rhoddwyd y brlo--vsferch ymaitn gan ei brawd, Mr Edward Jones. Y morwynion oeddynt Misa M. F. Jones a Miss S. T. Jones (chwioryddj a Miss Jones, -Liangoim; y gweision oeddynt Mri W. H. Jones, Ooiwyn Bay; Edward Williams, Glan Conwy, a Owen Jones, Colwyn Bay. Wodi y briodas awd i Mountain View, cartref y briodaefercn, lie yr eisttdaodd llu mawr wrtn fwrdd y wiedd. Yno siaradwyd YlJ uchel am y ddeuddyn, a rhoddwyd iddynt gyng-horion gwertnfawr gtun y Parchn. F. E. Jones a D. Darley Davies. Dengyg y llu maw.* anrhegion oostus a pnry.-ferth fod iddyut ie dwfn yn nghalonau eu cyfeillion. liiiESiR O)Po ANRHEGJON. Mrs Williams (motner of bride), household linen; Miss M. Jones (sister), table silver; Miss S. Jones (sister), carver s rest and photo frames; Master D. L. Williams (brother), salt sellers; Miss Katie Williams (sister), salt and mustard spooiif; Miss Mabel Williams (sister), pho'o frames; Mr Richard Jones (brotner), cheque; Mr and Mrs E. Jones (brother), linen ;Mr E. Williams (brother of bridegroom), set of brass candlesticks and copper kettle; Mrs Lord, Colwyn Bay, dinner ser- vice; Mrs Morton, Manchester, tea service; Miss s Eyeratt and Seawell, dinner cruet; Miss Davies, St. Asaph, tea service; Miss Patty Evans, Colwyn Bay, dessert dish; Miss Brown, do., set of tumblers; Mr W. H. Jones, Coiwyn Bay. pair of lianasome pictures; Mr Owen Jones, Liverpool, timepicce; Mr and Mrs Jones, Moch- dre, copper candlesticks; Miss Nellie Jones, Colwyn Bay, kikstand; Miss Tauser. Llandduias, table cloth; Miss Roberts, Peiinington-terrace, Llandduias, towels; Mies H. Roberto, ditto, cur- tain holders; Mrs Williams, Valley View, Llan- dduias, bedroom towels; Master Gwilym Wil- liams. jug and basin (fancy); Messrs Tommy and Robert Roberts, Castle-square, table cover; Miss Jones, Pennington-terrace, Llandduias, or- naments; Miss Evaris. Tanyrogo Farm, table centre and cushion; Miss A. Jones, Llandduias, photo frames; Miss M. Williams, Llandduias, jug and basin; Miss M. Williams, Terfyn Cottage, photo frames; Mrs Isaac Jones, Clip Terfyn, pair of fancy plates; Miss Sarah Jones, ditto, glass dishes; Mrs J. Hughes. Dizey Villa, bed- room towels; Miss Thomas, Cumberland ilousa, Abergele, pickle fork; Miss Whittaker, Abergele, table cloth; Mrs Arthur Williams. Tai DuJaa, serviettes; Mrs Burton, Liverpool, table mats; Mrs R. E. Hughes, Bridge worth, silver salt sellers and spoons; Miss M. Jones., Llangefni, bedspread; Mr J. 0. Jones, Ye Olde College, Conway, counterpane; Mrs Williams, Penrhyn- side. ornaments; Miss Jones, Mill-street, orna- ments; Mr R. J. Davies, Mochdre, handsome present; Mrs J. Williams, Railway Cottage, table cloth; Mrs Davies, Salem-terraoe. Rhydyfoel, jam dish; Mr and Mrs McDonald, Abergele, fancy jug and basin; Mrs J. Thomas, Upper Colwyn Bay, picture frames; Mrs Hug ties. Old Colwyn, fancy plates; Miss M. C. Roberts, Bethesda, pillow oases; Mrs Llew. Roberts, Ehwy House, Colwyn Bay, table knives; Mr David Owen, Cey- lon Stores, Colwyn Bay, tea eorvice. Ym- ddengya y cyfarchKm barddonol yn em nesaf.- Dulas. •

H.M. torpedo boat clestrcpv- "Tartar," ui her official triale, ooroned a mile at the rate oi 37.037 knots an hour, equaj to 44 miles, ostab- lisihing a world's reoord. Flatter v hae been known to naalre brkimtit ligfctiaeaded.

of the town, assuming that due economy is ex- ercised and as few other schemes as possible are embarked upon. « I wanted to say something about the turn of events at Colwyn Bay, but the space allowed me is exhausted. I can fairly claim that the Coun- cil have como round to my view as to their dealings with the Electric Railway Company. I warned the town some weeks ago that the Coun- cil were making dema,nds "hich would delay the construction of the line. What I then said was well justified, and it is really creditable to the Council that they have now receded from a false portion and listened to reason. As to the Pier Company, their uneasiness about tho powers which the Council proposed to exercise under their resolution was, as I showed in my last letter, perfectly justified, but the debate in the Council on Tuesday put bounds to those pow- ers, in fact, if not strict bgal form, and, there- fore, I fc l that the company may with safety leave themselves in the hands of the CounocJ, in return for the concessions made. Not the least of the advantages the company will enjoy will be the right to claim that their concerts are under the patronage and oversight of tho Coun- cil. Txiis arrangement may make the pier a very fashionable centre.