The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

-+- MR. GLADSTONE AND WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT. Mr. Gladstone, writing to Mr. Carvel Williams, of the Liberation Society, says he gladly recognises the self-restraint and forbearance shewn during the long pressure of the present session by the friends of disestablishment in Wales, and not by them alone. "Undoubtedly," continues the right hon. gentleman, when we come to the consideration of the choice and order of measures for the next ses- sion, the question must be taken into view whether a second suspensory bill would be satisfactory, and whether a complete measure ought in preference to be introduced; but I think you will see that at present we have no remission of the singularly severe labours of the last three months in particu- lar. Allow me to add that it would be most hazardous to dispose of the next session by piece- meal anticipations. All great claims must be considered in their relation to one another."

♦ NORTH WALES LIBERALS AND THE GOVERNMENT. A specially convened meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Wales Liberal Federation was held at the Westminster Hotel, Chester, on Saturday. Mr. A. C. Humphreys Owen presided and the attendance included Sir George Osborne Morgan, Bart., M.P., Messrs. J. W. Lumley, Ruthin; Samuel Hughes, Amlwch; D. Isgoed Jones, Llan. rwst; R. Bromley, Holywell; D. Owen, Oswestry; G. W. Dodd, Llangollen; Henry Lewi P. Bangor; J. Powell, Wrexham; J. Parry, Llauanuon; J. B. Evans, Carnarvon; W. E. Williams, Rhyl; Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Caergwrle; Rev. A. J. Parry, Cefn Mawr; and Mr. F. Llewellyn Jones, Denbigh, secretary. Letters of apology for absence were sent from Messrs. Stuart Rendel, M.P., J. Her. bert Lewis, M.P., C. R. Jones, Llanfyllin, J. L. Muspratt, Rhyl; Thomas. Gee, Denbigh; R. W. Roberts, Menai Bridge; Simon Jones, Wrexham; and J. Parker Davies, Pensarn.—It was proposed by Mr. Henry Jones, seconded by Mr. J. W. Lumley, and resolved :— That this meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Wales Liberal Federation, specially con- vened to consider the recent correspondence be- tween Mr. Gladstone and the Welsh Parliamentary party, cordially endorses the resolution passed by that party on Friday, the 1st September, and begs respectfully to assure Mr. Gladstone and the Gov- ernment that nothing short of the course indicated by that resolution will satisfy the Welsh people; and that copies of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and the other members of the Cabinet Council. The subject of the charter of the Welsh Univer- sity was afterwards discussed, and Mr. J. E. Powell moved:— That this meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Wales Liberal Federation entirely ap- proves of the charter of the Welsh University as laid upon the table of both Houses of Parliament and strongly deprecates the resolution passed in the House ot Lords on Tuesday, the 29th August, wIth reference to the charter; and that copies of the above resolution be sent to each member of the Committee of the Privy Council who had charge of the dratt ot the charter. This was seconded by Sir G. Osborne Morgan, and unanimously carrled.-The question of the annual meeting was afterwards considered, and the Rev. A. J. Parry proposed that a public convention of the North Wales counties should be convened to consider the position of the Welsh Disestablishment question, ihis was seconded by Mr. O. J. Jones and agreed to, and the secretary was instructed to communicate with the secretary of the South Wales Liberal Federation, pointing out what steps have been taken by the North Wales Federation, and inviting the South Wales Federation to send repre- sentatives to the North Wales convention. It was further resolved that the convention and the annual meeting should be held on the same dav at Carnar- von, and the details of the convention were left in the hands of the General Purposes Committee.

FORBIDDING THE BANNS. Holy Trinity Church, Bordesley, was the scene ot an unusual occurrence on Sunday morning, an objection being lodged against the publication of marriage banns. At the usual period the Rev. Mr. Seeley, one of the officiating priests, proceeded to publish the banns of maraiage. The names of several couples were called out, as the second or third time of asking, and then two names were read tor the first time. No sooner had the clergyman read these than an elderly man, who sat in company with his wife, in the middle of the church, stood up and exclaimed "I object to that marriage." He « once directed by the vicar (the Rev. H. Sutton) to attend in the vestry at the conclusion of the service, and then to state the nature of his objection. Accordingly, when the congregation ^'eye dlsmissed, the man went into the vestry and stated that his name was Taylor, and that he was the tather of the youn°- man mentioned in the banns to which he took"exception. Asked as to the grounds of his objection, he replied that his son J™? under age, being only 18, and that in his (the tather s) opinion he had not sufficient means to support himself and a wife. At the vicar's request the father wrote and signed his objection in the banns register, and the names were struck out by the vicar. A large congregation was present, and the incident, which was interesting from the rarity of its occurrence, caused considerable excitement and curiosity as to the nature of the objection to be raised. The average speed of trains in America is not equal to that in England. The journey from New York to Boston, a distance of 234 miles, is got over in eight hours, and that from New York to Niagara, a distance of 444 miles miles, in sixteen hours, while the trip from New York to San Fran- cisco, the longest railway journey in the world, takes eight days, the distance traversed being about 3,400 miles.

WELSHPOOL TOWN COUNCIL. A meeting of the Welshpool Town Council was held on Tuesday morning at the Town Hall, the Mayor (Councillor E. O. Jones) presiding. The other members of the Council present were Aid. T. R. Morris, Councillors D. Richards, T. S. Pryce, D. Jones, T. Parry, J. H. Anderson. J. P. Jones, K L. Jones and H. Hawkesworth; Messrs. E. Jones (town clerk), G. Snook (surveyor), T. A. Basnett (collec- tor), and W. Wvatt (engineer). THE NUISANCE IN THU TOWN HALL BASEMENT. This matter, which was before the Council at the last meetings again formed the subject of discussion. Councillor J. P. JOXES said the sub-committee appointed to examine the basement where the stench complained of arose, went through the place in company with the medical officer. Besides the bad smell of cheese they found other nuisances. There was a lot of refuse left from some dinner held there and a quantity of old cabbage and other decayed vegetable matter and the stench was abominable. Councillor ANDERSON corroborated. Under the stalls, he said, they found a lot of old cheese. Alderman MORRIS thought they ought to have the place thoroughly swept out regularly. The TOWN CLERK said another letter had been received that morning complaining that the abomin- able nuisance still existed. Councillor JOXES said nearly everyone in the neighbourhood of Hall-street was complaining about the smells. He suggested that there might be something. defective with the ventilation, and the place, too, was damp. The MAYOR observed that if it were damp it was not a fit place to store cheese in. Councillor ANDERSON was of opinion that the cellar was not fit to stole cheese or anything of the kind in. Councillor J. P. JOXES: The medical officer com- plained very much of the bad ventilation of the entire building. Alderman MORRIS moved that the Surveyor report on the best means of ventilating the cellars, that the cellars be thoroughly cleansed and disin- fected every month, and that notice be given to the tenants to leave. Councillor J. P. JONES seconded this, and it was carried. SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION. The MAYOR, referring to the question of school accommodation, said it would be remembered thev received notice to provide larger accommodation in consequence of the closing of the British School. They were now awaiting the result of the negotia- tions between the British School and the owner of some property there, and if some arrangement was come British School would be carried on as usual. He thought the owner of the land was coming over this week and very likely in a short time they would hear something further. In a few days they hoped to be in a position to send to the Education Department a tangible report. Aid. MORRIS observed that if he understood aright there was ample school accommodation for the children in the town. There were figures to prove it. The MAYOR believed this was so, but figures could be contradicted. THE ASSIZE QUESTION. The MAYOR said the proposed removal of the Assizes caused a great deal of alarm, but now that it had been explained that the matter was a mis- take the alarm had disappeared. They were all glad things were to be left as they were. Aid. MORRIS thought a great deal was due to their respected Town Clerk for taking the bull by the horns and writing to the Lord Chancellor at once as he did. He moved that a vote of thanks be passed to the Town Clerk for his prompt action. The MAYOR: I have much pleasure in seconding I that. The motion was carried, and ordered to be entered on the minutes. JOINT INFECTIOUS HOSPITAL. With reference to the proposed Joint Infectious Hospital, the TOWN CLERK said the Council ap- pointed the Mayor, Aid. Rogers, and Aid. Harrison to represent the Board on the joint committee. The Town Clerk of Montgomery had written and said that there should be only one gentleman appointed from each body. Col. Harrison had been appointed by the Forden Board of Guardians, and the Mayor of Montgomery to represent that town. He wished to know the name of the gentleman ariiWnfed for Welshpool. On tho proposition of Councillor ANDERSON, seconded by Councillor D. JONES, the Mayor was appointed as th*. repref"^ ^.if Welshpool. ANOTHER ERIÓUS NUISANCE. A Ie-tter was read from the glV. Joseph Wright, of the PrimitfTTTMethodist Chapel, Brook-street, complaining of the insanitarry state of the brook in that street, and asking the Council to remedy the evil. Councillor J. P. JONES was of opinion that the brook might be arched all the way down. The MAYOR enquired whether disinfecting the stream was not all they could do under the circum- stances ? The SURVEYOR said that if they were to disinfect it they would poison all the fish in the river. The best way to abate the nuisance would be to flush the brook. After some further conversation it was resolved, on the suggestion of Councillor T. S. PRYCE, to flush the brook. He said if they dammed it by placing planks across they would get 5 or 6 feet of water in 24 hours. By loosing this it would be sufficient to flush the brook. Councillors Pryce and J. p. Jones expressed them- selves in favour of arching the brook over, but the Mayor said this would have to be given notice of, and placed on the agenda. The matter then dropped. THE DEPTH OF THE RESERVOIR.—THE ENGINEER'S KXPLANATION. The ENGINEER (Mr. W. Wvatt) said the Com- mittee that was appointed to go up to the reservoir had been and made their measurement of the depth. The first he heard about this matter was that he was putting the new water level 3 ft. 7 inches above the old one next it was stated in that room that he was putting it 4 ft., and also that he was putting it 4 ft. 1 inch, and last of all 4 ft. 3 inches. The actual measurement it was ascertained was 4 ft. 4, and it appeared that the lowering of the stone should not have been done. But it did not at all affect the height of the earthwork. Both the earthwjrkl and the stonework were raised to the intended height and when completed the earthwork would be right. Then came the question of the mode of raising this over- flow. He was told the other dav that their men had had before now to rush up there to knock out the planks which were used for backing the water up to the raised level, and that something might occur again. For this reason he suggested that the raising should be done by means of movable planks which they could knock out at any time. The lay- ing of pipes had gone on as far as it could go at present. The work could be taken no further without waste of water, and this could not be allowed. When there was sufficient water coming down to keep them going then would be the time to go on with the pipes. The completion of the road might go on at any time except at the lower In reply to COUNCILLOR ANDERSON, the SURVEYOR said he was present when the measurement was taken and the difference in the height between the Jate overflow and the present was virtually 4 ft. 3. .The MAYOR took it that the Council had to deal with the condition of the present overflow, and whether it would be raised to the proper limits of the specification, or whether they would adopt the rn oil /ystem" There were occasions when the rusn ot water was so strong that if they raised the overflow to 5 feet it was a question whether the water could pass through the little culvert. Planks appeared the most suitable to regulate the floods. 1 WNCILLOR ANDERSON said the dam which should be 5 feet was only 4 feet 3 inches. He should say this could be remedied at very little expense—say £2. vihf, Mayor At the previous meeting Mr. Wvatt aia this could be raised, and he would do it at his own expense. COUNCILLOR ANDERSON It is not a matter of omg at his own expense, it is a matter of being correct. MR. WYATT said that as far as expense went it pattered little which system they adopted. He id not think there would be five shillings difference In raising the stones or putting in the planks, but under the circumstances he thought it would be far better and wiser to put in the planks which they could remove in case of floods. It would eventually be safer. THE MAYOR said it was entirely a question for the Council which system they would adopt. The only thing was that when they had plans and specifications presented to them and adopted they expected them carried out.—(voices Certainly,") and there was no doubt a mistake had been made. st "T^ERMAN MORRIS Does the engineer doubt the height? °f tlie C*am *S ^Ut UP to the required MR. WYATT: The way I look at it is this. If the ttguial dam was in danger the present one would be in danger. If planks were necessary in the case of the old dam it would be equally necessary to have them for the new dam. I must say the over- flow is two feet longer than the old overflow. The latter was 16 feet, but the new one is 18 feet, but it does not come up to anything like the require- ments of the Local Government Board. For all these reasons I think it most advisable to do the raising by means of the planks. Councillor D. JONES thought it was most un- fortunate that the Engineer did not come before them and tell them what he intended to do. He could not congratulate him nor the Surveyor on the way in which this work had been carried out. The Council had employed, as he understood, the best talent they could get, and then it came out a month ago that the dam was not correct. He (the speaker) was prepared to stake anything on Mr. Wyatt's correctness when he came and told them that the measurement of the dam was 4ft. lOin. There had been remarks about town that the depth was 4ft. 9in, 4ft. 3in., and other measurements were freely mentioned, and he (the speaker) had been twitted about the matter. He could not understand a gentleman of Mr. Wyatt's experience making an error in such a simple measurement, and he was additionally sorry the mistake had occurred for it had caused a great deal of laughter about the town. Alderman MORRIS said that if he was informed rightly the engineer did not arrive at those figures himself, but they were the measurements of his clerks. Mr. WYATT: They were all taken by my assis- tant. Alderman MORRIS And you have been misled by them. Mr. WYATT In this case. Councillor D. JONES Well, lie should have ex- plained that. The MAYOR It is evident there has been a mis- take made, and the only thing to do is to correct it. It was moved and seconded that the original plan as appearing in the specifications be carried out. Councillor PRYCE shared the opinion that all contracts should be carried out to the letter, but in the present case it was well it had not been. If the stone was raised to 4ft. llin. there would be no possibility of letting off the water in flood times. Under the circumstances he thought it would be best to deviate from the original specification and use the planking. He moved as an amendment that they adopt the planking. Councillor J. P. JOXES: If the work is carried out on the original plan who is to bear the cost P The MAYOR: Mr. Wyatt has stated it would only cost about £2, and that would bear the cost of it. Councillor J. P. JOXES said he felt very much annoyed at this matter. They had been telling the public that they were putting the embankment to a certain height to give them an increase of water, and now they were much lower than they expected. He thought Mr. Wyatt told them they would be there in about a fortnight, but it seemed from the look of it as though they would not be there until Christmas. The MAYOR said Councillor Jones should take into consideration the state of the reservoir and the exceptional weather. It was perfectly well known that the scheme would have been completed long ago had not this exceptional weather occurred. They could not afford to risk the loss of a single ounce of water. Councillor J. P. JOXES differed entirely. The MAYOR: You may differ as you like, but you cannot do impossibilities, nor risk the people's supply of water. It is impossible for us to touch the water under the present circumstances, and it is rather remarkable, I dare say, that the town has been as well supplied as it has. It has been a matter of surprise to some of us how it has been done. If the present weather lasts it wil be very serious indeed. The resolution was carried, only two voting for the amendment. SURVEYOR'S REPORT. The Surveyor reported that the stone-breaking and cartage upon the district roads was nearly completed. A memorial had been received from the inhabitants of Wallop and the neighbourhood asking the Board to repair a road over Henby's hill and lying between Hope road and the Welsh Harp. The farmers in the district would do the haulage, and the outlay for labour would not amount to a very large sum. An alleged encroach- ment by William Davies, blacksmith, of Trewern, had been reported, by building a workshop for shoeing horses, and which appeared to project at one end of the building about 3 feet. He was willing to alter this, but beyond this there was some doubt as to any further encroachment. One block of pig pens had been painted in a mixture of gas tar, &c.. and he believed it would answer the requirements very well. Any further work of this kind should be done forthwith, during fine weather. The piping connections would be completed by Wednesday. With regard to the other portion of the work, they could not proceed very much further until they had a sufficient supply of water that would enable them to run the middle reser- voir low enough to construct the forebay and finish laying the pipes. The cost of laying the surface drain at the Angel lane, and one leading to Norfolk row he estimated at 65s. Councillor D. JONES moved, and Councillor D. RICHARDS seconded, that instructions be given to the surveyor to carry out the necessary work on the road between Hope road and the Welsh Harp at once. With reference to the alleged encroachment at Trewern, it was resolved that the Highway Com- mittee inspect the place and report. 0 This concluded the business.

THE NORTH WALES SLATE TRADE. INAUGURATION OF AN IMPORTANT SCHEME. Some 4,000 people assembled on Saturday to witness the inauguration of work which is likely to have far-reaching effects upon the slate industry in Nantlle Vale, Carnarvonshire. This consisted of the cutting of the first sod of a scheme for widening and deepening of the river Llyfni and so relieving the pressure of water on several quarries, two or three of which have been flooded for many years and consequently brought to a standstill. The close proximity of the Nantlle Lakes and the low level of the river have been a perpetual manace to the adjacent quarries, and some notion of the damage wrought by the invasion of the water may be had from the fact that some six years ago it cost the company of the Dorothea (the principal quarry in the vale) something like £30,000 to pump the water from the works and to barricade against further invasion. The undertaking now to be carried out will, it is expected, result in the re-starting of the quarries referred and the opening of minor quarries on both sides of the vale. In brief, the scheme comprises the laying out of a new river bed for a distance of nearly two miles and the erection of several iron bridges. The engineer is Mr. Moorsom, Manchester, and the contract has been let to Messrs. Winnard and Braddock, Wigan, who estimate the total expense at £10,000. The movement has been in the hands of a most energetic committee for the past two years, consisting of tradesmen, ministers of the various denominations, quarrymen, and others, the chairman being Mr. W. Herbert Jones, and the secretary Mr. T. W. Williams t(Penygroes). Towards the expense of the scheme the following contributions have been made by the landowners and quarryowners named :—Mr. Gwynne Hughes, £4,500: and land Mr. J. A. A. Williams and Company of the Dorothea Quarry, £2 250 and land; Cloddfa'r Glai Company, £600; Mrs. Jones (Coedmadoc), £450 and land; Mr. Hawkins, (South Dorothea), £400 and land; the Rev. Hugh Thomas, £250 and land; Cloddfa'r Coed, £100; while Mr. Assheton Smith subscribed £100 towards the initial expenses and valuable concessions were made by Mr. Ellis Nanney and other landowners. The sod-cutting ceremony took place within a short distance of the river at a point midway between the villages of Pengroes and Talysarn. From both of these villages processions, preceded by the Nantlle Vale Silver Band and the band of the H Company Rifle Volunteers, arrived shortly after three o'clock, when a meeting took place under the presidency of the chairman of the com- mittee (Mr. Herbert Jones.) In the course of his address the Chairman expressed the hope that this scheme would be the means of securing the return of some hundreds of the 1,400 men who had left the vale during the past few years owing to the depression in the slate industry The secretary having submitted a detailed statement as to the progress of the scheme, Mrs. Wynn Williams (Bodwyn), on behalf of the quarryowners and sub- scribers, and Mrs. T. W. Williams (wife of the secretary), on behalf of the committee and the public, cut with silver spades two sods amid ring- ing cheers, which were accompanied by the firing of artillery on the surrounding heights. Speeches followed by the Vicar (the Rev T Edwards), Messrs. Owen Jones (Talysarn), Charles A. Jones (Carnarvon), O. T. Owen (Dorothea), Wynn Williams, and Mr. Winnard, the last named gentle- man explaining, to the great satisfaction of the meeting, that it was his intention to employ local hands only, to whom fair wages would be paid. Thanks were returned to the committee, the sub- scribers, and the ladies who had performed the inaugural ceremony.

OUTRAGES BY IRISH CATHOLICS. A mob of Roman Catholics, numbering about forty, marched through the Banbridge district early on Sunday morning and perpetrated a series of outrages direct against the Orange population. The chief scene of their operations was Clare town- land, a short distance from Banbridge, where they attacked and wrecked the house of Jas. Cairns and Valentine Turpington. The inmates fortunately escaped unhurt. The molt was chiefly coin posed of members of a Nationalist flute band, and after committing the outrages at Clare Townland the mob proceeded to the band's quarters, where the bandsmen left their instruments. The mob then marched to Banbridge, first attacking the Orange- hall, which they partly wrecked. The next objects of attack were the houses of several Protestants named Hen"vFlanigan, Charlotte Denny (a widow), E. Watson, James Deake, and Margaret Greenway, a helpless invalid considerable damage being done to these dwellings, the mob yelling the while and singing God save Ireland." The constabulary had just retired from duty when the raids were made. Later in the day District Inspector Clayton and Head-constable Magaffery visited the scene, but no arrests were made.

— 0 A BIG WET AT THE NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB. The potency of alcohol in Radical politics has long since being recognised, despite the efforts of Sir Wilfrid Lawson to cloak this weakness with the mantle of temperance. Not a great while back the National Liberal Club was credited with the con- sumption of an enormous amount of whisky in honour of the cause," and the impeachment was not contradicted. Now it seems there has been another exceptionally big wet at the same club, and again in honour of the cause espoused by Sir W. Lawson. These orgies recall a rhyming epi- gram which the authori of "Hudibras" wrote more than two centuries a-o The jolly members of a toping club, Like pipe staves, are best hoop'd into a tub, And in a close confederacy link For nothing else but only to hold drink. According to the London correspondent of the Dublin Express," the latest extraordinary orgie at the National Liberal Club took place on Satur- day morning, the excuse for the big drink being the passing of the Home Rule Bill by the majority of 34. One toast was, Here's to the three trait- ors-Bolton, Wallace, and Saunders, and God bless 'em," while another was, Here's to the Rathbone rat." It is said that both sentiments were sub- mitted. by an Irish member in the smokeroom, and another Irish member declares that the howls of execration were heard on the other side of the river. Many of the revellers passed what remained of the night sleeping the sleep of the just on the floor, and even on the stairs. The indignation against Mr. Bolton is stated to be so great that he is to be requested to resign the membership of the club. But is it not possible that the whisky satu- ration may in some cases be due to an effort to mentally obliterate the stains of the Pamellite juice.Licei-pool Courier.

4 SALE OF PEDIGREE WELSH CATTLE. Last week a large number of leading breeders and others flocked from all parts of North Wales to Dinarth hall farm, near Llandudno, the occasion being the disposal by the owners, Messrs. J. Jones and Son, Central buildings, Llandudno, of their magnificent stock of pure bred Welsh cattle, rams, ewes, prize cobs and ponies, &c. Messrs. J. Jones and Son are well known all over England as breeders of Welsh cattle and sheep, and the stock inspected on their farm was pronounced by com- petent judges as ranking amongst the best ever bred in the Principality. Messrs. W. Dew and Son, Bangor, conducted the sale, the bidding at which was exceedingly spirited throughout. Following the luncheon, Mr. W. A. Dew said he desired to eradicate a wrong impression which had gone abroad to the effect that Messrs. J. Jones and Son were disposing of their pedigree stock because they had been disqualified at the recent show of the Royal Agricultural Show, held at Chester. Mr. Jones entered a heifer for competition in the local class at the Royal Show, being under the impres- sion that there was nothing to prevent him from exhibiting an animal which had heen entered in the same class at previous shows. The animal, how- ever, was disqualified; but when representations were made to the council, they fully believed in Mr. Jones's bona fides, and a letter to that effect had been røroeived by him from the secretary. All that Mr. Jones had done was simply to put a wrong- construction upon one of the rules of the society. The Welsh cattle disposed of realised capital prices. A magnificent bull of the native breed, known as Sir Feirionydd," the winner of five prizes at various shows, and also the silver medal of the North Wales Black Cattle Society, was knocked down to Colonel Platt, of Gorddinog, for 36 guineas. Mr. H. Wiggin, M. P., became the pur- chaser of a prize bull calf, Y Cawr Du "-the Black Giant"—for 9 guineas. The Beauty of Cemmaes," also entered in the North Wales herd book, was bought by Mr. H. Ellis, of Tairmeibion, Bangor, for 20 guineas, and her bull calf was dis- posed of to Mr. H. Wiggin, M. P., for 5 guineas. Major Birch, Bryneurin, St. Asaph, became the owner of the Queen of Cemmaes," a magnificent pure bred cow, the price given being 23 guineas. Sian Ddu o Fon," or Black Jane of Anglesey," another pure bred cow, was sold to Mr. R. M. Greaves, of Wern, Portmadoc, for 17 guineas; whilst another Welsh cow, Y Fechan Ddu (the Little Black 'Un") was purchased by the High Sheriff of Carnarvonshire (Mr. C. Frost) for 30 guineas. Three prizes had been won by the latter animal. The same gentleman also bought Allt Ddu," a fine cow, bred by Mr. E. Humphreys, Llan- beris, together with her calf, for 22 guineas. Mr. H. Roberts, Mold, bought Ysig," a Welsh cow, bred by the same well-known agriculturist, for 18 guineas, and her heifer calf was purchased by Mr. P. P. Pratt, Brynllithrig hall, St. Asaph, for 10 guineas. A Welsh heifer, eligible for entry in the fifth volume of the North Wales herd book, together with her bull calf, were knocked down to Mr. Dug- dale, of Llanfyllin, for 19 guineas. Another Welsh heifer was purchased by Mr. Rowlands, of Mold, for 9 guineas, and Mr. H. Hughes, of Rhyl, became the owner of her calf for 4 guineas. Colonel Platt bought a splendid Welsh heifer and calf for 22 guineas, and the Beauty of Anglesey," a well- proportioned pure bred animal, was knocked down to the same gentleman for 13 guineas. In the Welsh cattle section, interest was centred in the sale of a magnificent heifer, Flysni Arfon" ("Beauty of Carnarvonshire"), bred by Messrs. J. Jones and Son, and winners of twelve first prizes, and two silver medals. This animal carried off leading honours at the Carnarvonshire and Anglesey Agricultural Show last week, and would have been awarded a champion prize had it been possible. After a spirited bidding Mr. P. P. Pratt became the purchaser at 46 guineas. A huge bullock, ready for the Birmingham and Smithfield shows, was sold to Mr. Robotham, Birmingham, for 34 guineas, and a Welsh heifer was knocked down to Major Birch for 16J guineas. Major Birch, of Bryneurin, who intends devoting greater attention to cattle of the pure native breed, disposed of a number of shorthorn heifers at prices ranging from X13 to £5 10s., calves being disposed of at £ 2 '10s. tp X2 Is. each. No fewer than 233 pure bred prize Welsh rams, ewes, and lambs, with 37 Wiltshire and 17 Shrop- shire pedigree lamb rams, were brought into the ring and disposed of for good prices. The Welsh rams were inspected with considerable interest. Brenhin y Defaid," the King of the Sheep," a fine ram bred by the owners, which has won prizes at the Chester and Liverpool Royal shows, together with nine other prizes, was sold to Mr. P. P. Pratt for eight guineas. Another Welsh ram Tywysog Arfon," the Prince of Carnarvonshire "—the win- ner of five prizes at the Royal shows held at Liver- pool and Chester, together "with other honours, was knocked down to Colonel Piatt for 13 guineas, who also became the purchaser of a Welsh two-shear ram for eight and a half guineas. Colonel Platt, Mr. Pratt, and Mr. Conwy Bell, Bodrhyddan, were amongst the purchasers of other Welsh rams at prices ranging from thirteen guineas to four guineas. A large number of shearling rams were also dis- posed of, the prices being in some cases six and a half guineas. Welsh ewes fetched remarkably high prices, nine and a half guineas, five and a half guineas, and lesser sums being paid by Colonel Platt, Mr. Pratt, Mr. H. Ellis, and other well- known breeders. The exhibition of Wiltshire and Shropshire rams realised high prices, as did also a number of St. Kilda fancy sheep and Tamworth pigs, two of which had carried off prizes at the Royal Show at Chester. The bidding for the splendid stock horses on sale was exceedingly spirited. Altogether the sale was one of the most successful held in the dis- trict. It is said that mail matter dropped in the Post Office at Paris is delivered in Berlin in an hour and a half, and sometimes within 35 minutes. The distance between the cities is 750 miles, and the mail is sent by means of pneumatic tubes.

THE WELSH EDUCATION SCHEME. In the House of Lords on Momdav the Bishop of Chester moved that an humble address be pre- sented to her Majesty praying her to withhold her assent to certain portions of the Cardiganshire intermediate and technical education scheme. He said that this scheme affected a district containing not more than 8,000 inhabitants, and involved tittle in the way of money or status. But it involved justice, religious liberty, and respect for rights of property. The county scholarships' scheme pro- vided for no county school, for there was not one: but the county education committee, very unlike the committee of Carmarthenshire, had determined that the boys winning these scholarships shcufd not be allowed to attend the school attached to St. David's College, Lampeter, but should have to gu to distant schools. Nobody could doubt the efficiency of this school, which had the confidence alike of Churchmen and Nonconformists. The Town' Council, the School Board, and the Board of Guardians of Lampeter had all petitioned against this scheme prepared by the Charity Commis- sioners. He did think there need be any delay in the scheme coming into effect even if his motion was adopted, and further consideration was given, to the method in which the scholarships were to be used. Lord Kimberley said that this scheme followed the precedent in cases where, like this, there was no county school, by providing that the scholar- ships should be held elsewhere. But the scheme partly met the case raised by the right rev. prelate, because it contained a discretionary power to be exercised by the school managers on the desire of the parents, wheredy a holder of a scholarship could go to a particular school. Their Lordships divided, and carried the motion by 33 votes to 23. The Bishop of Chester moved a similar motion with regard to the Merionethshire intermediate and technical education scheme, on the ground that it. introduced undenominatipnalism even into board- ing-houses or hostels connected with schools which are to participate in the benefits of the scheme. He held that the scheme went beyond the Act of Parliament dealing with this matter, and that therefore it was not in itself legitimate, but even if it were it had in its details some serious awkward- nesses, to say the least. A change of this nature ought not to be made by a side wind. If they were to deal with family worship and religious instruction in boarding-houses on these lines, it ought to be done in the cleanest and most direct way. Lord Kimberley said that the Charity Com- missioners were distinctly of opinion that what they had done was in no respect ultra yires. With respect to the policy involved, a scheme passed this year, after discussion, for Carnarvon- shire contained a similar clause, and it would create confusion in the whole system of education if they now adopted a different proposal. He thought that, looking to all the circumstances of the case, it was highly undesirable that they should allow denominational teaching in houses connected with educational schemes. The Marquis of Salisbury said they were making a very large and vital change which had never been made before in a small clause of a small scheme-a change which would excite, when its scope and effect were known, bitterest feelings on the part of a very considerable number of Christians in this country. Whether the Government were right or wrong, whether their view ought to pre- vail or not, he did not contend. If Parliament determined that what was called undenominational education was to prevail, and if Parliament suc- ceeded in defining what that education was, he would not raise any further objection on that point, but he demurred most strongly to a change of this great extent—which would excite the whole feel- ings of religious educationalists in this country— being introduced on a scheme for a Welsh county. In all the battles thev had had on education they had always drawn a very strong line between day scholars and those scholars who lived in the family, and were subject to teaching, as it were, night and day. In both the Acts of 1869 and 1889 Parlia- ment had carefully said that the exclusion of denominational education should apply to day scholars. Undoubtedly the moral meaning of such a provision was that education which was not day education should not be subject to that enactment; and now, when that provision had been in force for over twenty years, the Charity Commissioners sought by a side wind in an obscure part of the country to thrust the application of the principle to a much wider class—those scholars who were brought up in the family. Their lordships would at once see the difficulty of applying what was called undenominational education to those brought 3P_in the family. Undenominational education meant education m religion, leaving out any tenet to which any person or religious body objected. It was very painful to discuss in a concrete manner this religious question, but he felt that they could hardly deal with it justly unless they touched these questions. Undenominational education meant teaching without dogmatic statement, and there it meant not a teaching the divinity of our Lord. That was the point on which in the long run all these regulations must turn. Religious teaching was not possible in that hypothetical way. They PO could not play fast and loose with the deepest religious convictions, and they had better utterly abandon the idea of any attempt at religious educa- tion if the condition was to leave out the funda- mental doctrines on which all religious feeling and motive must ultimately depend. The notion that there was a religion from which all men differed about could be expunged, and nothing left but that on which all men could agree was the silliest, shallowest idea that ever occurred to the brains of politicians. But politicians could not do with this as they liked. Religious convictions were much too strong. They would have their way, and all that they would do by this attempt to force an im- possible neutrality upon the minds of the country would be to propagate infidelity and to provoke a bitter and angry religious re-action from which the education they were trying to promote would be the first to suffer. He entreated their lordships if they meant to undertake this crusade and to ex- terminate all religious belief from religious educa- tion, to do it in the open, with a bold general measure that could be discussed, and to which they could call the mind of the country, but not to attempt it by a side wind, by the wretched intro- duction of insidious words in a scheme passed by the Charity Commissioners. (Hear, hear.) The Lord Chancellor thought that the noble Marquis had somewhat exaggerated the effect of this scheme. The suggestion that it would, if carried into effect, be likely to destroy religious belief and promote infidelity was an absurd de- lusion which sprang from the want of an acquaint- ance with a great deal of what was caTled undenominational teaching, but which was never- theless as truly religious and as calculated to influence the heart and mind of men as what was commonly called dogmatic or special church teach- ing, and the children who received such unde- nominational education were as far removed from unbelief and infidelity as were the children issuing from Church schools. He demurred to the view that undenominational education was necessarily antagonistic either to Church teaching or to religion. In a question of this sort they had to deal with the matter practically. Their lordships divided. For the motion 39 Against 23 Majority for 16 The motion was accordingly carried.

4 REV. TUDNO JONES AND THE CHICAGO CHAIR PRIZE. Coming as it does before the event, the following communication cannot fail to create a sensation in Welsh literary circles :— Llanrwst. Sept. 2, 1893. DEAR SIR,-For reasons satisfactory to myself, I hereby withdraw my composition signed Y Cy- reniad from competition for the Chair Prize at the forthcoming Chicago Eisteddfod, and give you per- mission to make public my withdrawal and cable the same to the Eisteddfod Conimittee.Youm faithfully, T.|TUPNO JONES. Edward Thomas, Esq (Idriswyn), Hon. Sec. for Great Britain, Cardiff.

4 SPLIT AMONG THE M'CARTHYITES. A protracted and not altogether harmonious meeting of the Irish parliamentary party was held, on Monday, under the presidency of Mr. Justin M'Carthy. The proceedings, which commenced at five o'clock and did not conclude until after eight, were conducted in private. There is reason to believe that in the course of the meeting, which considered amongst other subjects that of the Paris funds, a resolution of confidence was unexpectedly moved in the committee of the party, and this led to some differences of opinion, in the course of which Mr. John Barry, member for the Southern Division of County Wexford, intimated his intention to resign his seat. He was pressed to abSndon or at least to postpone his intention.