Wrexham Guardian

A FATAL FIRE AND ITS LESSONS. A fire is reported from Birmingham of the most deplorable character. A conflagration broke out in a confectioner's establishment, on Monday night, which murdered the occupants-four in number. So lamentable a loss of life, under such circumstances, has not been recorded for some time, and it is the more deplorable because it was caused through the insufficiency of tho fire brigade arrangements. The fire was observed at hplf-past teD, when the inmates had retired to rest. With some difficulty they were aroused, information being in the meantime despatched to the town fire brigade office. According to the report- it was fully ten minutes-a long time when life is in peril-before the engine started, and half an hour elapsed before it was on the spot. In these anxious moments the flames had attracted a mass of people, who, as is usual in the absence of order and system, improvised a series of schemes for the rescue of the imprisoned victims. The police seem to have bad a very inadequate idea of their duties, and the whole thing was in perfect chaos, Mobocracy ruled, and the sufferers were thereby placed in great jeopardy, and ultimately had to succumb to a most lingering and painful death. Only within a quarter of a mile was the fire engine depot, where there was a -fire-escape, a steam fire engine, five manual engines, a hose reel, and other appliances, which are always supposed to be ready for immediate use. As we have said, quite thirty minutes were wasted before the appearance of the fire engine, and then there were vain endeavours to get up steam. The firemen assert that they bad neither sufficient water nor a proper hose. The mob seized the fire-escape, which appears to have been composed of most inflammable materials, including tar ropes and a canvass sheet, and was too short to reach the roof. The reports state that the whole family rushed to the window shrieking for help. They saw a dense crowd gradually assuming larger proportions, and the number of people and the presence of police and fire brigade officials for a time reassured them. Mr Dennison, the husband, imagining the danger to be far less than it really was, thought of his personal property, and filled his pockets with the contents of a cash box which was kept in the bed- room. The delay in the arrival of help rekindled their alarm, and when at length the ladders were brought and were found to be too short, he and his wife were half frenzied with terror the heat and smoke became almost unendurable, and it was evident they must risk something if they did not wish to perish where they stood. Accordiugly, when the longest ladder was projected towards the window, Mrs Dennison said to her husband, "Jump first, and I will follow." Acting on the impulse of the moment, he jumped, and saved himself. She was induced to throw her child to a man on the ladder, who could not, however, maintain it, and so it fell to the pave- ment, receiving fatal injuries. It was only now that the iliumping-sheet" was thought of but alas J' it was too late the crowd-the anxious, yet obtrusive crowd-had trampled upon it, and its good services were sought too late. Mrs Dennison had first succumbed at the window to the flames and smoke, and had fallen to the street a corpse. The other two occupants were subsequently found victims to the conflagration. Such are the painful incidents of the catastrophe. They would not have been so sad bad the fire brigade been efficient in its duties, and their appliances been equal to the occasion. Blundering there certainly has been somewhere. There was an evident want of direc- tion of the men, and the police seem to have.had no notion of their duties. Thus four precious lives were lost. The tale is a simple one, though of a mournful character it might easily be repeated in our own district. We had occasion sometime since to point out the unsatisfactory police organisation in case of fires in Wrexham, and we are not aware that the heads of the force have issued any specific instructions to guide the men in Lhese unforeseen eventualities. Where a block of 1 buildings is in imminent danger of total destruc- i1 tion, and lives are in serious jeopardy, it is most inopportune to discuss the relative privileges and duties of the firemen and police. A contretemps then is calamitou?. Previous arrangements should be made to dislodge crowds, and to place firemen in supreme command of the situation. Then again, the brigade appliances should be equal to all emergencies. It seems that at the Birmingham fire the hose in use got burnt, and there was no reserve one at hand to continue operations. It will perhaps astonish our Wrexham readers to learn that the hose now in use by the local fire brigade is not only inadequate as regards length, but old and infirm." The corporation refuse to grant a new one, and an occasion might occur, any day, when the good services of the brigade would be nullified by the lack of these appliances, which would bring to a standstill the combative contest of water against fire. If the townsmen are to repose confidence in the capabilities of the brigade the local authority should at once see to this matter.

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AT WREXHAM. There are now hopeful signs of some long-desired public improvements being carried out in Wrex- ham. The purchase of the two fields has, of itself, entailed a burden upon the town, but there is a prospect that this very fact will prove an in. centive to the corporate authority to carry out highly necessary reforms. The minute book of the Council records many resolutions that have proved but shadowy promises: the brook was to be covered, and Pentrefelin was to be made a little paradise. But, hitherto, no effect has been given to this wise resolve. Alderman Lloyd has now initiated a scheme that seems to meet with popular favor, and the Corporation have so far concurred with him as to agree to memorialise the Local Government Board to send down a Com- missioner, who will hold an inquiry, take evidence on the merits of the conflicting road schemes, and ultimately decide what money should be borrowed to effect the improvements. This is a wise step, and promises to lead to a good issue.

THE EPISCOPACY. With the rapidly increasing number of Churches and congregations, a reform of the episcopal dis- tricts is just as necessary as a redistribution of seats after an extension of the franchise. No one will deny, not even those who love Liberation principles, that the duties of the bishops are not too onirous, and ttat as a body they are over- taxed by having to supervise too extended dioceses. The Act which has come into force meets, to some extent, the wants of the Establishment. It provides for the creation of four new sees in England- Liverpool, Newcastle, Southwell, and Wakefield. Power is vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to receive public contributions for the endowment of any of the new bishoprics, and whenever they certify to her Majesty that the annual value of the endowment fund, with the sum to be derived from a contributory bishopric, is not less than £ 3,500 a year, or £ 3,000 with contributions to raise it within five years to X3,500, then her Majesty by Order in Council may found the new bishopric. But although there will be an increase in the number of bishops, there is to be none in the lords spiritual," for in these days a rather noisy faction has set itself against a larger bench of prelates in Parliament. The Act provides that where there is no dean and chapter of the new sees her Majesty may appoint the bishop by letters patent. The new bishops of Liverpool, Newcastle, and Wakefield are to be subject to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Archbishop of York, and that of Southwell to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Quite a warm discussion has been created in Liverpool as to whether the good old town is to be henceforth a city," and this has ended in the announcement that the higher designation must come by an addi- tional royal favour. But all this is a paltry matter compared with the great benefits the important districts affected will derive from the new arrange- ment, and the rectification of diocesan frontiers. It is to be hoped the money will be immediately subscribed, that the sees may be founded without delay.

INCREASE OF LUNACY. The lamentable incident which closes the public career of M" Justice Keogh will probably lead the public to bestow more attention upon the fact that lunacy is constantly upon the increase in Great Britain, and the savage and unnatural delight which a numerous class of Irishmen have evinced since their distinguished countryman's malady became known precludes the hope that any check to this annual increase can for the present be expected in that quarter. But the inerease of lunacy is a very serious, if not alarming, fact. It may be that to some extent it is owing to a more general recourse to public and private asylums than was had formerly. But there is too much reason to appre- hend that, either owing to the constantly increasing pressure of daily life—the killing pace which now- a-days seems necessary for success in business, in politics, and in other departments of life,—weak minds sooner give way, and even strong mind's are more sorely tried, than formerly. The number of registered lunatics, idiots, and persons of unsound mind in England and Wales on the 1st January last was 68,538, being an increase of 1,902 on those returned for the 1st January, 1877. One of the distinguishing features of the statistics for last year, we are informed, has been the large increase of pauper patients in county and borough asylums, and their diminished number in licensed housss. That in itself is chiefly an unsatisfactory feature, inasmuch as it indicates that many lunatics who would have been maintained in private asylums F are now maintained in part at the expense of the ratepayers. At the same time it manifests confi- dence in the management of public asylums, which indeed have been utilised in several instances to the full extent of their capacity. An unsatisfactory feature is the decrease in the rate of recoveries; but this, it is said, may be accounted for to a great extent by the large proportion of chronic cases admitted by transfer from one asylum to another, and included in the total admissions. There is, however, an actual accumulation of chronic cases both in the county and borough asylums, but a further possible explanation is forthcoming in the t fact that the operation of the Parliamentary grant of four shillings per head per week to the guardians towards the expenses of pauper lunatics maintained in asylums, has a tendency to induce boards of guardians to send to a public asylum cases which would otherwise, for economical reasons, have to be detained in the workhouse. Notwithstanding all these explanations, there is still, it is to be feared, a steady increase of lunacy, the significance of which cannot be concealed. Much of this arises from excessive drinking, some of it from over work- ing. Other causes also operate. The subject cannot be regarded complacently until there is an absolute and decided decrease in the number of unatics, and of that there seems to be, for the present, no prospect.

BERSHAM SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting of this board was convened for Thursday, but as there was no quorum, no business was transacted. MR KENTON'S NEW MANSION.—We omitted in our paragraph description of Mr Kenyon's new residence, to mention that Mr Douglas, of Chester, was the architect, MR WHALLEY, M.P.—We regret to state that Mr G. H. Whalley, M.P., lies in a precarious state of health at the Tower, Llangollen. His medical at- tendants have informed him that he must not again attend to parliamentary and other public duties. GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—There will be no alterations in the times of the passenger trains on the Great Western Railway for the month of September, and the present issue of the time bills will remain in force. FOOTBALL.—The annual general meeting of the Wrexham Football Club will be held at the Lion Hotel, on Monday next. the 2ad September, at 7.30 p.m., to select officers, &c., for the ensuing season, when all members are earnestly requested to attend. STANSTY SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting of this board was held on Thursday, when several parents were ordered to be summoned, and the clerk was directed to obtain a return from the teachers in the Board Schools as to whether the religious instruc- tions were carried out, as decided by a return called for by the House of Commons. WINTER ASSIZES.—Several Orders in Council, issued pursuant to the Winter Assizes Acts, 1876 and 1877, are published in Friday night's London Gazette. One of them directs that the counties of Montgomery, Merioneth, Carnarvon, Anglesea, Flint, and Denbigh, shall, for the purpose of the next Winter Assize, be united together as Winter. Assize County No. 14, the assizes being held at Ruthin. CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.-On Monday afternoon list a carriage accident took place in Yorke-street, J but fortunately, however, no one was hurt. The horse and waggonette of Mr Haycock, of St. Mark's-terrace, who keep3 a cab stand in High- street, was standing at the door of the Black Horse Inn, when from some cause or other it bolted. At the start it broke the shafts and one of the wheels. The horse was thrown but un- hurt. NEW STAMPING APPARATUS.—It is thought that printing had almost arrived at such perfection that ingenuity could not invent anything hew, but india rubber-faced letters are the latest out." Mr George Scotcher has an agency for stamps, composed of fixed india-rubber type joined to a. solid surface on an handle. The letters art. remarkably clear, and suitable for marking linen. One advantage is the cheapness and another the durability. THE WREXHAM FLOWER SHow.-The third show of the Wrexham Floral Society takes place on Wednesday next, in a field adjoining Grosvenor Roacl. It promises to be a great success the entries, 900 in number, exceeding those of previous years. Subscribers are to be admitted from 1.30 to 3 o'clock, and at 4.45 Lady Williams Wynn will distribute the prizes. The splendid band of the 96th Regiment will be in attendance. The secretary request us to state that the committee will be glad to have the exhibits as early as possible to 11 a rrange for the judges. THE MINERS' PERMANINT RELIEF SOCIETY FOR NORTH WALES.—The first general meeting of the North Wales Miners' Permanent Relief Society was held on Monday, at Chester. Mr Henry Hall, her Majesty's Government Inspector of Mines, presided. There was a large attendance of coal proprietors, and miners representing a total of 4,000 work- people. It was resolved that Mr Hall be the first president of the society, and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to him for his efforts in forming the society. Mr George Thomson and Mr Towns- hend were chosen vice-presidents, and a board of management of 14-8 workmen and 6 employers— was appointed. BRYMBO SCHOOL BOARD.—A meeting of the members of this board took place at the offices of the clerk, Mr John Jones, on Tuesday. There were present: Mr W. H. Darby (in the chair), the Rev W. Jones, and Mr Williams.—It was resolved, on looking through 19 applications for the post of assistant mistress of the Badchgwyn Schools, that Miss Mary Jones, of the Amlwch British School be elected. It was further decided to summons George Edward Green and Mrs Nuttal for not ensuring the attendance of their children at school. A large number of accounts were to be settled, and this was the whole of the business. MEETING OF THE GASWORKS SHAREHOLDERS.— The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Wrexham Gasworks Company was held at their offices on Tuesday last, Mr Overton in the chair. There were also present—Messrs A. W. Edwards, J. Milligan, J. Davenport, E. Jones, J. Allmand, C. Payne, J. Stant, E. Rowland, R. Parry, Good- fellow, J. Bury, &c. The Chairman stated that the works were in efficient working order, but owing to the dulness of trade there was but a slight increase in the consumption of gas. The illuminating power of the gas had been kept above the standard fixed by the act. The report was adopted, and it was agreed to pay a dividend of ten per cent. on the consolidated stock shares, and seven per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares. Messrs W. Overton and Edwards were re-elected directors, and it was agreed not to elect one in the place of Mr Jackson, whose death was deplored, so that in future they will number seven instead of eight. BOWLING MATCH.—The return match between the Chester and Wynnstay Arms bowlmg clubs took place on the ground of the latter, on Tuesday last. The Cestrians mustered a strong team, so that the home players had to provide some sub- stitutes. The score was as follows— Wr«xham. Chester. Mr Bunn, aab. (Woodrow) 8 agst Mr John Roberts 11 MrLoxham 2 „ Mr Barker Jones 11 Mr C. Murless. 7 „ Mr Ferguson, 11 Mr Snape 10 ATr Wiiley 11 Mr W. Wilde 11 Mr Cooke 6 Mr Benson 8 Mr Ssephenaou 11 Mr J. B. Murless, junr. 11 Mr Davies 2 Mr lug-ham 11 Mr Dunn 3 Mr Knight. 6 Mr Bess 11 11 Mr Strachan. 11 Mr Crawford 7 Mr Woodrow 7 Mr Heppel 11 Mr Weaver 11 Mr Lookwood. 7 Mr Smith, sub. (Benson) 11 „ Mr G. Kdwards 8 Mr Jaokson, sub (Ingham) 11 Mr R. Smith. 5 Mr H. Price. 9 Mr Evan Jouos 11 Mr W. R. Roberts. 11 3jr Dutton 3 MrJ. B. Murless 1 Mr Leeming m. 11 Mr E. Rowland 11 Mr Bate 7 Mr W. H. Jones 11 Mr Darlington t 168 J62 At the conclusion of the game all the playeis sat down to a substantial spread, provided at the hotel by Mr Murless. Mr Snape filled the chair, and numerous toasts were proposed and honoured. The deciding game on neutral ground is to be played at Oswestry on Wednesday week. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY COM- pA.NY.-At the meeting of the proprietors of the London and North-Western Rililway Company on Saturday, the chairman, Mr Moon, stated that the resignalling of the line had been more difficult, and perhaps more costly, than any other improvement undertaken by the directors. The interlocking system HAD been extended to 2,750 places, and the directors hoped soon to have the work completed. One subject on which he congratulated the meeting was the diminution in the number of accidents. There had not been a single fatal accident to a passenger during the past six months, and this was attributed to the modern improvements adopted in the working of the railway. Though they could not hope to be altogether free from accidents he believed that they would become fewer, especially owing to the doubling of the main lines. The directors, the chairman said, would sp ire no trouble or expense to minimise the number of accidents, and for this they win receivo the gratitude of all travellers over their linee. A NEW ROUTE TO FRANCE.—As previously noticed 1 in the Guardian the Great Western Railway Com- pany have for some time been engaged in arranging a new route to Fiance via Weymouth. Yesterday the first excursion was run from this district, though the NEW line of cmmunication has be?n established for three weeks. The steamers leave Weymouth at 2.15 every afternoon, and the average duration of the passage is about six bourse while from Cher- bourg to Paris the railway journey occupies seven hours and a half. It is evident, therefore, that people who can get to Weymouth by rail from the western counties in three or four hours will find this route shorter in point of time than any of the routes which start from London, and it is in view of this fact that the Great Western Railway has made its arrangements more for provincial than for metropolitan traffic. A train also runs every Monday from Liverpool, by way of Birmingham and Bristol, in connection with the Weymouth boat, to enable visitors to visit Cherbourg, Caen, and Paris, and return the following week, the fares charged being very much lower than by any of the pre-existing routes. An attempt will also be made to secure some of the American traffic from Qaeenstown, as a boat and train service between Cork, Milford Haven, Bristol, and Weymouth can easily be organised in such a manner that passengers will reach Paris as quickly and at less cost than by Kingston, Holy- head, Dover, and Calais. This attempt will not, however, be made just yet, for the present service is merely a tentative one. When the new landing- place is rea.dy, the Gieat Western intend to run their boats not from Weymouth but from Portland, and the vessels, which will be of the same type as those which ply between Kingstown and Holyhead, ought to cover the distance (seventy miles) in four hours and a half. WREXHAM WATERWORKS COMPANY.—The annual meeting of this company was held at the Wyunstay Arms Hotel, on Wednesday, Mr W. Overton in the chair, there being also present Messrs Peter Walker, James Davenport, W. Low, J. Lindop, John Lewis, A. W. Edwards, W. Eddowes (Birken- head), Dr Davies, and the Rev T. Kirk. The report and statement of accounts were taken as read. The report showed that there had been an ex- penditure on capital account amounting to .£10,752 "Is 3d, but this had been used chiefly in the con- struction of the reservoir at Cae Llwyn and the extension of the company's service so as to meet public requirements. The water account for the year showed an increase upon last year of .£315 2s 9d. The directors were enabled to declare a dividend of 5 per cent., which would leave .£250 to be carried to the reserve fund. During the year 280 houses had had the water laid on, making a total of 2,677. The C:1e Llwyn reservior was com- pleted so as to meet the pressing wants of the public. The Chairman said they felt great relief in hearing that the reservoir had been completed, because in the construction of such places there was a good deal of risk and this had not been an exception. It was gratifying that the various land claims were amicably settled. With regard to the number of places that had been connected, nearly all of them were remunerative, and the quality of their water was good, it being remarkably soft. HE (the chairman) therefore moved that the dividend of 5 per cent. be paid on the 2ad of September. Mr John Lewis seconded this, remark- ing that Mr Walker was one of the seven gentlemen who fifteen years ago started that institution. He also moved the re-election of Messrs Peter Walker and Win. Low as directors. This was seconded by Mr Lindop and carried. THE RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE.— The sadden resignation of Captain Augustus Price, chief constable of the county, which was first made known to the public by a telegram in last week's Guardian, caused the greatest possible surprise. Captain Price had been on a visit at the residence of one of the county magistrates near Abergele, from whence he returned to town on Thursday morning, and soon afterwards left town for good. The strangest rumours are afloat professing to ex- plain the cause of this sudden departure and resignation, but we may say that it is in no way due to the performance of his duties, which were carried out satisfactorily, as the recent report of the Government inspector testifies. As will be seen from an advertisement in this week's Guardian, the household effects at the residence in Park-street are about to be sold by auction for the benefit of creditors. The office of chief constable is worth .£350 yearly, including, we believe, an allowance for horse. To this office Captain Price was elected by the magistrates assembled in quarter sessions, January, 1877. At that time there were 63 appli- cants for the office, who were reduced to seven, namely, Captain A. Price, Major J. J. Leadbeater, Mr G. L. Fenwick, chief constable of Chester, Captain James, Abergavenny; Capt W. J. Berthon, Monmouth Capt. J. Colquhoun, Carmarthen and Captain J. L. Lovekin, Robertson-street, London. The discussion was in private, and the first three names were tho only ones brought forward, and the voting which was open, resulted as follows— Captain Price, 39; Major Leadbeater, 22; Mr Fen- wick, 7; .total votes recorded, 68. Thus Captain Price received a clear majority of the whole of the magistrates present. His intimate connection with the county may have induced in some measure to this result, he being the second son of the late Mr Price, of Llanrhaiadr Hall, near Denbigh. We are not aware whether the magistrates will have a special meeting to elect a successor, but we pre- sume they will do so, as the next ordinary court 'of quarter sessions does not take place until October, when it will be held at Wrexham. There are already many applicants for the appointment; the address of one gentleman being published as early as Monday last, only two days after the resignation was an- nounced in our columns.

BOROUGH BREWSTER SESSIONS, MONDAY.—Before the Mayor (Alderman J. C. Owen), C. Hughes, Esq., T. C. Jones, Esq., T. Painter, and E. Williams, Esq. FRAUDULENT ENLISTMENT. John Halfpenny, labourer, Wrexham, was brought up in custody charged by Sergeant Northam, of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers with having fraudulently enlisted in that regiment the previous week.—Prosecutor said that the prisoner came to him and expressed his wish to join the army. The usual questions wero put to him, and he said that he had never been iu the service previously. He accepted the shilling usually tendered. Surgeon Smithers, of the Army Hospital Corps, and stationed at Wrexham, detected the prisoner as having been discharged from the Second 8th Regiment for ignominy.—In answer to the bench prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sent to gaol for a. month with hard labour. THE DOGS AGAIN. Edward McCale, William Broad, Charles Pantin, and Thomas Edwin Preene were charged by Mr Murta with keeping dogs without licenses. Ail the defendants are residents of Wrexham, and each were ordered to pay a fine of 25s, including costs. THE RENEWAL AND TRANSFER OF LICENSES. This was the annual licensing day. No cotn- plaints were made against any publicans for keeping disorderly houses, so that all were renewed. The license of the vaults occupied by the late Mr Edwards, in Hope-street, was transferred to Messrs Summers and Fitch. That of the Black Horse, Mount-street, was transferred from Mr Charles Cotton to Mr Smith. The license of the Alexandra Vaults was also transferred to Mr Edwin Harrison. Mr Ward, of Tuttle-street, who has a license to PELL off the premises, applied for a full license, also to sell on Sunday. The application was granted. THE WOMEN AGAIN. Eleanor Lloyd charged Eleanor. Trainer with using abusive language to her on the 17th inst., and a cross summons had been taken out by Eleanor Trainer against the woman Lloyd for a similar offence. This case lasted some time in hearing. It a.ppea.rs that a quarrel arose between the parties, which led to cross words. The case of Mrs Lloyd against Mrs Trainer was dismissed, but in the other case there seemed to benodonbt, so defendant was fined 23 61 and oosts. Harriett Smallwood was charged with assault- ing Mary Purcell on the previous Saturday week. The parties were in a public-house, and thev quarrelled over another quarrel between their friends, two men. The result was that the defendant struck complainant, and hemce the change.—Fined Is and costs. THE THEFT OF A WATCH. Susannah Morgan, charged by Mr Fraser with the above offence, was again brought up. She was suffering from intense hysteria.—Mr Wilde said the owner of the watch, Mr Jones, of Cefn, had not been found, there being a large number of persons of that name. Consequently the case was allowed to stand over for a week, THEFT BY A SERVANT. Dinah Williams, a respectable looking domestic servant, living at Bwlchgwyn, was charged by Mrs Catherine Curlett with stealing a woollen shawl of the value of.£1. Prisoner seemed to feel her position acutely.—In October of last year Mrs Curlett took the prisoner into her employ with an indefinite character, and one morning she got up early, lighted the fire, and absconded with the shawl aud other articles, which have TIOT been found.—Prisoner's mother was called and said she SOUID not speak English. On interpretation she said she dragged it off her daughter and sent it- home by a carrier, thinking her girl would be for- given.—Prisoner was sent to gaol for a month.— Prosecutor appeared much excited and walked out of court exclaiming that she would make the family J, present of the shawl with the other things they had. The mother, she added, could speak English as well as her. NO NAME ON CARTS. David Stephens, Edward Stephens, and John Stephens appeared in answer to summonses charg- ing them with having no proper name on their carts.—Edward Stephens was at first charged by Police Inspector Lindsay with the offence, but he denied his connection with it. Consequently a, remand was obtained.—Inspector Lindsay now said that he recognised John and David, but not Edward. As it was proved that the cart belonged to John, David and Edward were dismissed and the other brother was fined the mitigated penalty of 2s 6d and costs.—John Stephens was further charged with drunkenness as far back as 1873. He admitted the offence, and also that he absconded.-— Fined Is and lis costs. THE HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Cornelius Williams, Robert Wynne, and Wm. Huxley, the lads brought up last week charged with the above offence by Phillip Cash, again appeared in answer to the charge. A young mm named John Mulligan, had also been apprehended. The prosecutor was again called, and said he waa a. I coliier, residing atRhosddu. A week last Saturday he left home and came to town, where he met a friend named John Evans in the Westminster Arcade. After walking about the town some time he went to the Overton Arcade and from thence to the Three Tuns. He was'there from about half past nine to ten or after- it might have been almost eleven. Whilst there he stood drink to the company, amongst whom were the prisouerp. When he left the house they pressed him to go for a walk, with the excuse that-it was his aimer' way home. He at last consented, and when he got to the Walks the biggest of the batch (Mulligm) knocked him down and rifled his pockets, assisted by the others. The fall on the B MA of his head hurt him.—Mulligan here said that witness was taking a false oath, and Huxley, as last week, said he was not there. This w. ø corroborated by the other prisoners.—Isaac Li /oerl E also of Rhosddu, said that he met the prisoners, who asked him for matches. Mulligan asked him to change hats. He jumped over the wall. After this bricks were thrown, and they had to keep under the wall. He went and got assistance.— George Jones, of Island Green, said he saw the lads throwing bricks. He did not know about the little one, Huxley, but the rest were there.—Mis Meredith, housekeeper to Mr Midgelev, of the Three Tuns, said the lad Huxley was at her house at about the time of the affair, and a boy named Jamts Burke said, though out with Huxley part of the night they ran away from the other prisoners before the affair of either robbing the gardens or the robbery from the person.—This was considered suffioioat to prove an alibi, and Huxley was cautioned against bad company, and told that he had had a narrow escape. He was then dismissed.—Mulligan aid iVyune both having been sent to gaol for gambling, were committed for six months' imprisonm-jn: with hard labour, whilst Williams, on account of his youth, was sent for five months' hard labour. This was the whole of the business.

WREXHAM TOWN COUNCIL. The quarterly meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday at the Guildhall, the Mayor in the chair. There were also present Aldermen J. Beale, E. Smith, and R. Lloyd, and Councillors SAOAE, J. O. Bury, Richard Jones, Dr Eyton-Jones, George Bradley, S. T. Baugh, J. F. Edisbury, T. Koberts, Waiter Jones, and J. M. Jones. The FJII wing1 officers were also in the room—Mr John J.imes, towu clerk, Mr J. W. M. Smith, Dr Ll. Williams, and Mr Higgins. THE SECOND PURCHASE. In the reading of the minutes reference was 11.. e to the question of pegging out the property known, as the second purchase. A letter was read from Canon Hilton, stating that he HAD received a com munication from the town clerk, and the matter would be placed in the hands of the proper pirties to give the subject consideration. Dr Eyton-Jones thought that they bYLht the land with the distinct understanding that nad a right to peg out the line. Alderman Beale thought the trustees of the Roman Catholic property were under the impres- sion that they (the Corporation) had no right to it at all! How should they maintain their position Kind their rights ? After some other unimportant discussion, it "<1.3 decided to let the matter over till further communications had been made. A REDUCTION IN THE RATE. The next business on the agenda was that of making and levying a general district rate of Is 6d in the pound for houses, &c., and Hi for land which has been prepared under the orders of the board, and to seal the same with their common seal. There was no discussion on the subject, Alder- man Beale moving the adoption of the rate, remark- ing that he was 'very pleased to see the rate lower than it had been for several years. Mr Baugh seconded the motion, which was put and at once carried without dissent. APPORTIONM The Surveyor reported that he had apportioned the expenses of levelling, channelling, kerbing,. metalling, and making good Albert-street, Bury- street, Stanley-street, Derby-road, and Greco Bank and it was ordered that such apportionments be adopted without any alteration. Mr Richard Jones asked who was going to make good the money they seem to havcløst-it WAS some- where about £200. The Clerk: .£230. Mr Richard Jones said he thought that no, but who was ordered to make alterations in the streets? Mr Baugh put a stop to the questioning by pro- posing that the apportionments be made. ALLEGED LAZYNESS.—ADOPTION OF STREETS. The next item was to receive the report of the Surveyor and of the general purposes committee that the following streets, viz., Albert street, Bary-street, Stanley-street, Derby-road, Green Bank, not being highways repairable by the inhabitants at large, or some or one cf them, have been respectively levelled, paved, sewered, flagged, metalled, channelled, and made good to the satisfaction of the Urban Sanitary Authority; and to order that the said streets or some or one of them be declared to be highways and that the notices required by law be put up in the said several street". Alderman Lloyd said a committee waa appointed to inspect, but, really, he could not get them further than 100 yards from that room (laughter). Mr Baugh thought that was very bad—large com mittees were no committees. 3 Alderman Beale coincided with the remarks made by Alderman Lloyd, and stated that a com- mittee was appointed to visit the Smitlifield on one occasion, but they dwindled down to two members on the way there, so that nothing was done. It was then moved and seconded that the roads be adopted. ALDERMAN LLOYD'S SCHEME FOR UTILISING THE CORPORATION PROPERTY. Mr Alderman Lloyd moved that the Town Clerk be instructed to suspend the sale of this land (the second purchase from Sir Watkin Williams Wynn) for the present, and that the Council decide upon the best mode of utilising the same in connection with other lands, which may be obtained on very reasonable terms." He said he had given this subject his fullest consideration, and he had felt it his duty to bring it forward for further consideration. He did this" seeing that they had purchased two fields sometime al). He was sorry to say it oost them something like £100 1)( r annum for interest for money spent on this Land This was a very serious item, and it was ONE that ought not to be overlooked. The matter h 41 been referred to the General Purposes Committee for consideration, and it was decided by that coon- mittee to recommend the Council to advertise the second purchased property for sale by private treaty. Having failed to accomplish the desired end it was to be offered in lots. It WAS not in JUe opinion, likely they would have an offer. They had no right to sell, for if they recollected aboat two years ago, when Dr Eyton Jones was Mayor the land was offered by public auction. They (the Town Council) decided they should offer a certain sum for it, which they did, and they had &0T it and paid for it. Ever since then it had beenlyine idle, and they were paying interest of money fop it. The second purchase" was bought with the express purpose of opening a road or street from Regent-street to Watery-lane and the Ruthin-road i. l0n"Z' the case, he questioned whether they had a right to sell. The Town Hill was literally blocked, and he had counted as many as 16 vehicles of different sorts from the bottom of Town-hill to the Town Hall. He thought, that was sufficient to enable them to make provision, and the sooner the better it were done. He did not WISH the Council to carry out his ideas if there •.v,S a plan, no matter who produced it, that was hotter than his. Ad HO ASKED them to do was to

THANKFUL FOR SMALL MERCIES. Drowning men snatch at straws, and the Liberals are just now allegorically in this condition. They have been in a frenzied state of excitement over Lord Beaconsiield's diplomatic triumphs, fearing that they might lead to a renewed, and perhaps long, tenure of office for which they so hanker. In four years there have been numerous elections, with no material change in the balance of parties. The reaction has thus been hope deferred, which has fairly made the Liberal heart sick. This week, however, they have observed a little- bright lining in the darkened cloud, and they are naturally jubilant. Newcastle-on-Tyne has been wrested from the wicked Tories by the aid of that discordant and discontented faction-the Home Rulers. The latter body promise to be of much mischief in large towns at future elections, and as they are aware that their strength is often just sufficient to turn this or that election, they go in for the highest bid. To win a seat, therefore, the Liberals must coquet them by promises that cannot, without endangering the State, be fulfilled. Thus the alliance will secure a few seats, and in these dark and gloomy days of Liberalism there is thankfulness for small mercies. The contest in Argyllshire, too, has given a seat to the Opposition. That they should ever have dreamt of the Duke of Argyll losing his grasp upon the constituency is a strong admission, but the significant jubilancy over the result indicates that Colonel Malcolm's assault upon the Liberal stronghold is the precursor of future success. The Times, an impartial authority, very tritely remarks that Mr Malcolm has been defeated, but he has managed to withdraw more than 1,100 electors from their old allegiance or acquiescence. The Duke of Argyll is left on his throne, but it has been shaken under him. Local treason has been scotched, but not killed. We may expect rather that it will derive fresh force from the degree of fortune that has attended on it, and that it will be nerved to new efforts which may some day be more successful than the last. The victory has been to the stronger, but it has been some- thing of a revelation to find by how little the Argyll family has been the stronger.