Cheshire Observer

AX INSPECTOR'SPOPULARITY. I PRESENTATION BY RAILWAYMEN. On Saturday evening a number of the employes at the Cheshire Lines Northgate Railway Station met in one of the offices to bid farewell to Inspector Lynn and to present him with a token of their esceem. Inspector Lynn, who is ex- tremely popular both with the travelling public and the station officials, has been promoted to the post of chief inspector at the important Godiey Junction. The Station ir., aster (Mr. Mitchell) said they had met together to perform a very pleasing- ceremony, namely, to present their old colleague, Inspector Lynn, With a token of their esteem and regret at his departure and in recognition of his long and valuable services at the iNorthgate Station. He. had been employed by the company for about 28 years, and nearly the whole of that time he had spent at the Northgate Station. Ho had worked himself up from the bottom of the ladder, and by his umiorm kindness and courtesy he had made himself very popular with the travelling public. During the time he had been there he had been very willing and obliging, and had always taken a. great interest in the welfare of the ocmpany. He (Mr. Mitchell) was very sorry personally for him to go, but he did not believe in standing in the way of any man's pro- motion. He trusted the step would lead to higher positions. He had much pleasure in pre- senting to Inspector Lynn on behalf of the staff wi-th a purse of gold i with a purse of gold as a- mark of their apprecia- tion. He wished Inspector Lynn long life, and happiness. (Hear, hear and applause.) Mr. T. Bradburn, formerly stationmaster, said Inspector Lynn was under him, with the exception of two or three years, during the whole of the 28 years he had been in the company's service. Ho came to him as a boy, and had risen to 00 inspector, and he (Mr. Bradburn) was pleased to say that no man ever had a better inspector under him than he had had. He had always the greatest confidence in Inspector Lynn in every- thing he took in hand. He had always done his work in a masterly fashion, such as railwaymen in the full sense of the term should do. It was not very pleasing news to hear of his removal from Chester. He (the speaker) thought at the time that, as Mr. Mitchell had only just come to Chester, it would be an almost irreparable kss. It would also be the loss of an old and esteemed friend of the speaker 's own. As he was remaining in his native city and Inspector Lynn was being taken away, he should not be in touch with him to talk over old railway affairs together. He felt certain that the Cheshire Lines Railway Com- pany would still further appreciate his grand abilities as a railwayman, for, if he was capable of judging, he did not believe there was a finer railway inspector in the kingdom than In pector Lynn. (Applause.) He (Mr. Bradburn), had in his life-time of railway work oome in contact with some grand inspectors, but he had never seen one better than In-peetor Lynn. He would be very pleased to hear of his further promotion. Mr. Lynn would never get on too rapidly or too high, and he hoped he would not forget his old friends. Inspector Lynn had still the flower of his life to go through, and it was for him to try and make headway and rise in the railway world. No one would be more PIeased than he (the speaker WOU|j be to hear of his promotion. In addition to knowing Inspector Lynn as a railwayman he had known his family all his life, so that he was somewhat deeply interested in his welfare. He wished him long life, happiness, prosperity and everything that would conduce to make this life as pleasant as possible for him. Inspector Lynn returned his sincere thanks for the kind present made to h:m. He did n.ct know how to thank them sufficiently for it. During- the time he had been in the service he had done his best to work for the advantage of the company, and also of his fellow employes. (Hear, hear.) He was heartily obliged to all of them. He was sorry he had to go from his old native place He was sorry to leave so many old faces and workers. He again thanked them. Some of those present added their testimony to the worth of Inspector Lynn. Inspector Price, of Hyde, has been appointed to succeed Inspector Lynn at Chester.

A LIVERPOOL INCIDENT. -OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO CHESTER PEOPLE. I fie following statement by a Liverpool resident is of more uan u!ual, '"??? to Chester people — "Although my husband and I had been sufferers fekl £ ne?^oubleJ?.r a long, weary time. Dean's D.1_- _L rL"une f?ianey PiUS cured us both This was back in July of 1899. yet ever ?nee that time  have kept in splendid health, so thorough was the cure which :110 famous old Quaker remedy effected, I am sure -hat other paople who are suffering from kidney trouble, and who, hke w; have fbtmZS other kind, 'o? f meoicmes without obtaining anv lasting benefit. will be to b"ar that Doan's PJJs have withlstood such a long test- thirty-two months--and that we an* both as well io-day as ever we were."  ????cmg statement is made by a Tox teth ParL- f,LT:;er?K)o!) 1 woman-Mrs. Mary Tay- Jar, of 167, Beaufort street. Her statement is o? of many similar proofs of the lading nature of cur,3 by Doan s Backache Kidnev Pills, the wo'-Il d- renowned specific for all a,! meats of the k?y and bladder, and attendant iik. Mrs. Taylor goes on to say:My husband is employed at Worth- ington's Brewery Stores here (Toxteth Park). In the course of his work he has a lot of heavy lifting to dr,, and we put this down as the cause of his trouble. He used to get dreadful pains in Irs back, which even the night's rest did not. clear awav— indeed, oftentimes he was moro tirr-d when h. CTnt up in the morning than he had been on going to bed the night before. There were other distinct symptoms of kidney trouble. The only medicine which ever did him any good was Doan's Back ache Kidney Pills. "Respecting my case, I think this was brought on by a chill. The pains across the man of my back used to be dreadful, and annoved me very much, especially when I had occasion to stoop. They were worse every time I caught a slight cold. Doan's Backache Kidney Pills cured me also, as I have already said, and the good they did me has lasted right up to to-day. Doan's Pills have proved to my satisfaction that they are the finest medicine in the world for kidney troubles." If you are ill. write and tell us your symptoms. We shall b9 pleased to give you the best advice in our power, free of charge. Your letter will be treated in strictest confidence.. Doan's Backache Kidney Pills are two shillings and ninepence a box (six boxes for thirteen shillings and ninepence). Of all chemists and drug stores, or post free on receipt of price by the proprietors-Foater- MeClellan Co., 8, Weils-street, Oxford-street, Lon don, W.

EDUCATION ACT IN WALES. ♦ I MEETING AT CHESTER. I THE ST. ASAPH PROPOSALS. I COUNTY COUNCILS' COMMITTEE S REPLY A DEADLOCK. On Tuesday an important meeting of the St. Asaph Diocesan Board of Education and St. I Asaph Diocesan Association of Schools was held at the Queen Hotel, Chester, with reference to the much-discussed concordat regarding the ad minis- I tration of the Education Act in waies. xu« uniivy of St. Asaph presided, and the majority of the clerical and lay members of the two authorities were present, including Lord Mostyn, the Hon. George Kenyon, M.P., Sir Robert Csnlilfe, the Hen. Lawrence Brodrick, the Hon. Charles Wynn. the Dean of St. Asaph, Archdeacon Wynne Jones, the Rev. Stephen E. Gladstone (rector of Hawarden), Mr. P. P. Pennant, Chancellor Trevor Parkins, Mr. T. Bate (Kelsterton), Colonel Mesham, Canon Fletcher, Colonel Sand bach, Mr. J. Watkinson, Mr. Mason, Mr. Carverley, etc. The appended interesting correspondence was under consideration:— The Bishop of St. Asaph on April 14 wrote as follows:—"To the Representatives of the Welsh County Councils.—Gentlemen,—I have the honour to send you the enclosed proposals from repre- sentatives of the National Schools in the Diocese of St. Asaph, and in doing so I am desired as chairman to state that before any agreement is finally come to an assurance would be required that no unfriendly or hostile action would be taken, during the period of experiment, towards the Voluntary schools in the other three Welsh dioceses.— Your obedient servant, A. G. ASAPH." The proposals, which were as I Ilows, were submitted for the purpose of an experiment for three years, and on condition that satisfactory guarantees could be given:- (1) In any arrangement made it shall be a con- dition that each Voluntary school shall remain a non-provided school. (2) That a syllabus of religious instruction—on the lines of the London School Board syllabus- be taught in provided schools from 9 to 9.45 a.m. on four days in the week, and that on one day facilities be given for unrestricted religious teach- ing to the children of those parents who desire it. (3) That a syllabus of religious instruction'—on the lines of the London School Board syllabus- be taught in non-provided schools from 9 to 9.45 a.m. on three days in the week, and that on two days facilities be given for unrestricted religious teaching. (4) That the incumbent of the parish and persons nominated by the trustees be allowed to say prayers and take part in the religious instruc- tion daily in every non-provided school. (5) That there be an annual examination in the religious syllabus adopted in every school, the arrangements for such an examination to be made by a board consisting of. six members nominated by the local education authority and six by the Diocesan Association of Schools, and that a de- tailed report of the examination be published. (6) That in non-provided schools an examiner appointed by the Diocesan Association may examine the unrestricted religious instruction. (7) That the teachers may, if willing, give the unrestricted religious instruction in provided as well as in non-provided schools. (8) That the head teachers in non-provided schools be appointed by a joint board consisting of six members nominated by the local education authority and six by the Diocesan Association of Schools. (9) That the appointment of managers be left to the local education authority, on condition that the local education authority be responsible for all repairs during the period of experiment and hand over at the end of such period the schools without any monetary claim upon the trustees. j EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES' REPLY. Mr. Frank Edwards, M.P., chairman of the committee, replied as follows on April 23 My Lord Bishop,-The committee representative of the educational authorities of Wales and Mon- mouthshire met to-day, and the proposals con- tained in your communication of the 14th instant were carefully considered. I am asked to suggest that, in view of the substantial progress already made and the difficulty of dealing with compli- cated points by letter, it is expedient that there should be another joint conference, where the representatives, if possible, should be invested with powers to effect a settlement, subject, of course, to the ultimate sanction of their respective constituencies. With regard to the proposals submitted by your lordship, you will see by the enclosed memorandum that, whilst the majority of the conditions asked for are conceded, there are others which, though not acceptable in the form in which they are presented, yet might by modifi- cations of the substitution of alternative sugges- tions secure the' ends in view without involving any sacrifice of principle on either side. These are precisely the points which might advantageously be discussed at a joint con- ference, but which in the judgment of the com- mittee can hardly be conclusively decided by independent gatherings. In order to make it clear how far the com- mittee are prepared to recommend the Councils _to go towards meeting the views of the Voluntary schools' managers, it might ba well to summarise the terms they are prepared to accent. 1. They would advocate the complete and unqualified acceptance of the proposals made in the St. Asaph memorandum as to the provision to be made (a) for religious instruction in all schools, (b) for securing that such religious in- struction shall be regular and effective, and (c) for special facilities for Church children. On the other hand, they cannot see their way to recom- mend the acceptance by the Councils of any pro- posals which would confer special privileges upon the ministers of any one denomination in schools maintained out of funds contributed to by persons of all denominations. "2. They consider no arrangement would be satisfactory or permanent which would not secure to the ratepayers the real control of the schools they maintain in all matters essential to their administration. This would necessarily include the appointment of the staff. But they are prepared to consult the Church trustees before making appointments of head teachers in non- provided schools, and they are also willing to introduce such special arrangements for the pro- tect-ion of the present teachers as are rendered necessary by the provisional and experimental character of the agreement, and to stipulate that all new appointments shall be ipso facto deter- mined at the expiration of the agreement. "3. In order to protect the trustees against the suggested possibility of burdensome demands being suddenly made upon them for structural alterations, the committee propose (seeing that the managers would under the agreement repre- sent the interests of the local education authority) that the requisition should be made upon the trtiztees and ,that an appeal should lie from them to the Board of Education. It is further sug- gested that the trustees should, if they so desire, be empowered to call upon the local education authority to undertake these alterations, and that at the i end of the term the amount disbursed should be repaid to the local education authority in easy instalments, the trustees getting full ad- vantage of the low rate of interest at which the Councils can borrow. These suggestions are made purely to meet the provisional character of the agreement. "4. Alternatively the committee are prepared to a d vise the to advise the Councils to consider any scheme submitted to them for renting the school build- ings either cut and out or during school hours. In regard to the proposals made in your l) ordships covering letter, I am asked to state that in the opinion of this committee the negotia- tions have not yet reached a stage justifying them in consulting the education authorities respecting the rnatter.-I am, my Lord Bishop, £ EDR>WW AA RDDnt S, l3 faith/uI servant, FRANK EDWARDS, Chairman. Then followed the answers to the proposals, given seriatim. First paragraph.—This is agreed to. The Com- mittec, fully realise that guarantees satisfactory to the representatives of the Voluntary schools for the faithful carrying out of the agreement must be given. The nature of these guarantees could be discussed at a conference between the repre- sentatives of the two parties. 1. Tho committee agree to this if it is leeallv l? Tlio commi:tt(?e agree to this if it is legally 2 and 3. These are agreed to. 4. The committee consider it would be incon- sistpnt with the whole purport of the arrangement if special privileges were given during school hours to the ministers of any one denomination, but during the hours allocated for special facilities the incumbent of the par:sh or any other nominees of the trustees would be allowed either to conduct tue service or to take part in the religious in- struction. 5. While regarding the suggested proportions on th, Board of Examiners as unfair to the local edueahon authority, more c-pccially in respect of the provided schools, the committee are prepared to accept this proposal. 6. This is agreed to. 7 The committee regard this as undesirable and likely to lead to friction, but they are prepared to make the experiment. 8. The committee regard control over the ap- pointment of teachers by the local education autho- ritv as essential, but they are prepared to agree (1) to consult the trustees during the three years a- to all new appointments in non-provided schools (2) to undertake that no teachers in Church schools shall bs disturbed during the three years except for such causes as would justify dis- rriissal under the Education Act. 1902. and even in that case they are will;nt that there ohould be an appeal to th" Bmrø of Educa.tion: (3) that ail new appontments should automatically end with the expiration of the period of experiment. 9. It is not clear to the committee whether it is intended that this clause should cover structural repairs. If it is confined fo repairs otherwise than structural, they are prepared to recommend its acceptance; but if it refers to structural altera- tions, these must bo subject to the usual conditions for reimbursement at the end of the trm. as laid down by the Board of Education. The commit- tee. however, in order to meet the trustees, sug- gnst: (a) That where a requisition is made by the Board of Education or the local education autho- rity for structural alterations, the local education authority shall address their requisition to the trustees and not to the managers, and that the trustees should have the same right of appeal to the Board of Education against such requisitions as is now conferred upon the managers. (b) That the trustees shall have the right to elect whether they will undertake those alterations themselves or call upon the local education autho- rity to do so. I (c.) In the event of the agreement not being re- 1 newed, the trustees shall have the option of re- funding the sum so expended immediately on the expiration of the agreement or by instalments ex- tending over the period for which the local educa- tion has borrowed the money. 10. The committee strongly urge the desirability of a further conference between the parties as to the proposals and counter proposals made before any decision is arrived at. The committee are prepared to advise the county councils to consider any schemes submitted to them for the renting of the schools either out-and-out or durins school hours. IMPORTANT DECISION. After a full and lengthy discussion, tne lonowms 1 resolution was moved by Mr. P. P. Pennant, seconded by Sir Robert Cunliffe, and passed:- "That having carefully considered the answers given by the representatives of the educational authorities of Wales and Monmouthshire to our resolutions on their proposals, we desire to express our appreciation of the courtesy and the concilia- tory tone of that reply, but regret extremely that the modifications suggested in the reply preclude the hope of arriving at a satisfactory solution of the various points at issue, and that therefore we cannot recommend a further joint conference." This resolution was ordered to be sent to Mr. Frank Edwards M.P., chairman of the committee of the Welsh County Count us. It was moved by Mr. Stanley Weyman, seconded bvth? De?n of St. A?aph, and carried unani- ??y?hat this meeting cannot separate without putting in evidence their opinion that the ?w?r?emp?e clause is. and while it remains on the statute book must be, a most serious obstacle !n the wa? of any final settlement of the religious difficulty." ?rch?'oon Wynn Jones moved, the Hon. Geo. xr « "AT T5 seconded, and it was carried unani-  mcotmg pledge, > cord.al ?op?ation?ith' the ?w author? in securing the education of the children on the lines of the Act.

TILSTON PUBLICAN'S FAILURE I The first meeting of the creditors of Thomas Evans, of the Cape of Good Hope, Tilston, near Malpas, publican and cattle dealer, was held at the offices of the Official Receiver, Crypt Chambers, Chester, on Wednesday forenoon, The summary of debtor's statement of affairs shewec. that the liabilities were expected to rank at C550 9s 4d., at which amount fifteen unsecured creditors were scheduled. The assets were esti- mated by the debtor to produce £ 365 16s. 6d., leaving a deficiency of £184 12s. lOd. The Official Receiver's observations include the following. The receiving order was made upon a creditor ^s petition, the act of bankruptcy committed by the 1 f'1' _1- .1r> debtor being seizure and sale 01 ms goi?u?5  a warrant of execution on the 2nd January, 1903. The debtor has since been adjudged bankrupt upen my application. The bankrupt, who states he has been a eattle dealer all his hie commenced business as a publican at the Cape of kood Hope Inn, Tilston, about ten years ago with about £500 capital in stock and cash. He has kept no books of account, so that it is impossible to in- vestigate his dealings in cattle, or otherwise, but in the deficiency account which he has filed it is. stated that the nect profit from carrying on business during the two years precedmg 1 the bankruptcy was only 6100, while the household expenses amounted t-o- E208. The freehold land soheduled by the bankrupt comprises about 5 acres at Horton, and was devised to him under bis father's will, subject, however, to a life estate in favour of his mother, who is now over 80 years of age. It appears that the bankrupt. executed mortgages cf this land on the 1st of January, 1903, in favour of his wife, Mrs. Louisa Evans, for L119, and his brother-in-law, Mr. William Goff, for JB256. The bankrupt has, however, scheduled these two creditors as unsecured, but it will be necessary to apply to the court to have the two mortgages set aside as fraudulent pre- ferences if the mortgagees will not agree to sur- render their securities without resort to proceed- ings. At the dace of the receiving order the whole of the live stock upon the premises occu- pied by the bankrupt oomprised two oows, and these are claimed by Mr. William Goff as sub- stitutes for two cows which he bought at the execution sale on January 2nd, 1903, and after- wards hired to the bankrupt, who kept them in return for Lhe use of their milk and subsequently exchanged them for the two now on the premises. The secured creditors scheduled are the National Provincial Bank. Whitchurch, who hold a mort- -of certain land at Tilston belonging to the bankrupt and bought by him in January last for -0380. rl ftcen unsecured creditors have been scheduled, and of these seven have claims amount- ing to £10 and upwards. The whole of the furni- ture and household effects now upon the bank- rupt's premises are claimed by his wife, the bank- runt's effects having been sold under the execu- tion warrant on 2nd January. 1903." Mr. Daniel Williams, the Assistant Official Receiver, presided at the meeting, which was attended by Messrs. W. R. Jones, Chadwick, H. D. McAusland (Liverpool) and F. Bettley Cooke (solicitor, Whitchurch). Mr. W. R. Jones, who held proxies admitted at 2196 18s. 2d., thought an independent trustee of the estate should be appointed. He proposed Mr. D. McAusland. Mr. Chadwick, the only other creditor present. was in favour of the Official Receiver being the trustee. He had every confidence in the ^Official Receiver, who always made a thorough investiga- tion. After some discussion it was found that Mr. Jones had not sufficient admitted voting power to carry his proposition, and the estate was left in the hands of the Official Receiver. The Deputy Oclal Receiver ment;oned that a sum of £ 14 19s. which figured in the schedule of assets as cash in hand had been paid by Mrs. Evans, after debtor had denied having the money. The public ex- amination of debtor is fixed for Thursday the L4th May.

"MAYOR'S" SUNDAY AT HOOLE ■ THE BISHOP ON THE EDUCATION ACT. in accordance with a custom which has been ob- i served for some years in recognition of the d'gnity of their office, the "Mayor and Corporation" of Hoole. otherwise the chairman and members of the Hoo!e Urban Council, accompanied by their officials and members of the Fire Brigade, attended. divine service "in state" at All Saints' Church on Sunday morning. Assembling at the offices of, the Council, together with a number of prominent residents of the district, they walked in procession to the church, where seats wer.e reserved for their accommodation. The chairman (Mr. William Wil- liams) was accompanied by the following coun- cillors:-Mr. A. Watts (vic e-chairman), Dr. Lewis Williams, Messrs. T. B. Richardson. A. L. Wil- hams, G. Dobson, E Mealing, T. Wool lam, j R. Pinnington, J. T. Ball, and W. J. Croydon, and the clerk (Mr. A. E. Caldecutt). Among those who accompanied the Council were Messrs. A. C. Lockwoac1, C. Cooper, C. Corson, W. j W. Tasker. T. W. Chalton, H. Thomp- son, S. Coppack, S. Reading, J. Poyer. F. Covenev, B. Prince, C. J. Knott. Hutchinson, E. Andrews, J. Elliott, J. C. Belton, H. Anderson. H. Ell's, and Crasp. The Fire Brigade, who were under the command of Capt. R. Cecil Davies, Lieut. Atkin and Surg.- Lieut. Butt. presented a smart appear- ance in full dress and burnished licl- mets. lhe service was conducted by the vicar (the Rev. F. Anderson), and there was a crowded congregation. A feature of the service was the i anthem. "Behold! How good and joyful a thing it is," of which the choir gave a beautiful render- ing, the solo being taken by Mr. H. Wright. The offertory was in aid of the organ fund, and real sed £ 10 12s. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Chester. Taking for his text the words, "I am the good Shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep," his lordship shewed in what a variety of way; the application of the allegory of the shepherd cam? home to us, notably in the ministry of Christ's Church and the ministry of literature. Was there not also, he said, the minis- try which belonged to those who were set over us as kings and princes. Parliament and our vari- ous local authorities? Surely that. was shewn to us by the recent Education Act. There we saw a very important part, a very vital pirt of the shep- herd and the young flock entrusted to our local authorities to work. That was a profound respon- sibility, was it not? And we had the fullest con- naence tnat tnose to whom that power had been entrusted would be worthy of their great responsi- bility, and would live up to *jnd conscientiously discharge th.at great trust. There was the respon- sibility of feeding the young. They would remem- ber how our Lord made it a test of love to Him that the lamb s and the sheep of thj,, flock should be fed and tended. Now. in the course of Provi- dence and under the guidance of God. who moved in a wonderful way. the local authorities of our land, under the central education authority, were called upon to feed Christ's lambs, to take care that they had the best physical, moral and spiritual life that could be given them, that they had mental rfe. and that they were developed not only for the life of this world, but with the object of keep- ing in view the fuller and eternal life of the world beyond. Was not that a great trust, and was it not literally true that our Lord, in the course of His providence, had delegated to our local autho- rities that most beautiful and weighty trust? They were shepherds in a very real sense, and he felt sure that they would ent"r on their respon- sib'lities and opportunities with increasing awo and des;m to carry them out as fully as lay in their power. Alluding to the object of the offer- tory, his lordship said he was sure they all appre- ciated the help which the choir and organ gave to their devotions. God had given us the wonderful gift of music, and it was certain that the power of music in interpreting the words of the psalms and hymns and in feeding our souls with heavenly emotions was a great gift. We were grateful to those who acted in that respect as shepherds and feeders of the congregation by leading the flock in an appropriate and helpful way. At the close of the service a merry peal was rung on the church bells.

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A BICYCLE MAKER'S CASE. I Diabetes is one of the worst forms of kidney disease. It is cured, time after time, by Dodd's Kidney Pills. Kidney disease sets up many troubles, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Lumbago, Backache being some of the painful but less serious manifes- tations of disordered kidneys Dodd's Kidney Pills constantly cure the worst forms of kidney troubles, and in the painful but less serious uric acid troubles they are certain. Mr. William Foulkes, of Shawbury, near Shrews- bury, a bicycle manufacturer, was cured of diabetes by Dodd's Kidney Pills, a year ago, and is now as well as ever. He was certified by the doctor as suffering from diabetes and had all the symptoms- Weakness, loss of flesh, great thirst, drowsiness, etc. He has none of the symptoms to-day, and is steadily gaining weight. His improvement dated from the time he began to take Dodd's Kidnev Pills. This wonderful medicine cures. Dodd's Kidney Pills will cure you. Fortunately dread diabetes does not strike everyone, but the kidneys set up illness continually. If Dodd's Kidney Pills will cure the worst form of trouble, they are certain in their effects in less serious kidney ailments.

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A CHANGE AT LAST. It is sincerely to be hoped that with the change to a milder atmosphere and what may be termed the first spring rain" on Tuesday last, we have seen the last of the winter and all its attendant disagree- ablenesses, mild comparatively though it has been on the whole. We have now entered on what by a figure of speech is termed the Queen month" of the year it must not be forgotten, too, that we are gradually approaching within measurable distance of Midsummer day, and all know what that means. Up till within the last week or ten days the icily cold winds and frosts have not only kept much vegetation severely in check and played havoc with the promise of fruit, but pastures which in ordinary seasons ought by this time to be full of grass have scarcely put off their wintry aspect. Under the altered circumstances, how- ever, an improvement in this respect may shortly be anticipated. One feature, however, affording a ray of hope in respect to the fruit crop has been the dry atmosphere. Little rain fell, at least in these parts, during April, and where the foliage had sufficiently advanced to form protection to the blossoms, as well in sheltered situations, it may be that some will be saved even yet. Time alone must prove this, and the next few weeks will give an opportunity of judging. Under any circumstances there can scarcely be but the ghost of a crop of stone fruit or early pears. With apples, which are mainly later in blossoming, the case may be different, and a good crop of apples would go far towards redeeming the situation but the advent of milder weather must not be much longer delayed, or even this will fail. The growing crops of wheat, spring corn, and oats where they have sufficiently advanced, are reported as generally healthy, as are garden beans, notwithstanding the severe ordeal through which they have been passing. With early potatoes the case is far different. All above ground have been mercilessly cut down, and if they come to good the result will be a lot of small tubers such as no self- respecting grower cares to deal with. In the best, of seasons it is well to be on guard against May frosts, which are almost inevitable up to the middle of the month, and for that reason early sets are best kept out of the ground till the middle of April, except it be a few for a chance crQp. Some progress has been made in preparing the land for mangels, but the time for sowing is not yet in our latitude, even if the soil were in condition, which it is not; but some little progress in this direction is reported from the southern counties. Dairy cattle, allowed out in the intervals of sunshine find a fair bite of grass, but have to be housed at night. I n. FRAUDULENT MEAT. W hen some years since it was sought to compel butchers and other caterers to distinguish between home and foreign meat to their customers, the difficulties in the way seemed insuperable, and the subject was dropped as to all appearance impracti- cable. But the too common practice, very much in evidence lately, of dressing yearling mutton as lamb, and passing it off to the consumer as such, amounting to a downright fraud, has again emphasised the agitation, and in all probability we shall not be long without more pointed and decisi ve legislation which may prove effective towards putting down this imposition. It is admitted that much foreign and Colonial mutton is of good quality—equal as honest tradesmen put it to lamb, and no fault can be found when it is sold as such at reasonable prices but when it comes to charging, fourpence or more a pound ati(I pztliiiiii- it off on the unsuspecting householder as cli of course it is not, then it amounts to a swindle, and should be dealt with according to law. We have the Merchandise Marks Act. under which a large variety of frauds are dealt with effi-ciently where it is put in operation and not allowed to bo- come a dead letter, as is too often the case and this should be sufficient for the fraudulent butcher. The late Mr. Hanbury (alas that we should have to write of him in the past tense) had intimated his intention of proceeding against the butcher who practises selling foreign or colonial meat as home- fed" or home-grown," and it is to be hoped that his successor, whoever he may be at the Board of Agriculture, will take up the cue with wholesome effect against the evil-doers. But we are bound to admit that almost all the old difficulties present themselves as in the former attempt at legislation yet it ought not to take an expert to discover a fraud that must be patent to the most unsophisti- cated in the particular matter of dressing and selling mutton as lamb. Beef does not readily lend itself to such fraudulent dealing, but even in that respect there is plenty of scope for reformative action. CARRIAGE OF MILK BY RAILWAY. oome suggestions unanimously passed at a, recent meeting of the Council of the Gloucestershire and Somersetshire Dairy Farmers' Society, to the Great- Western Railway Company, as to the carriage of milk, would appear to form a reliable basis for other Associations of dairy farmers throughout the Kingdom. These suggestions are the inception of Sir Edward Strachey, Bart., M.P., and are as followsMilk at owners' risk. (1) The Great- Western Railway Company to revert to their former practice of considering claims for milk lost in transit, and not to refuse compensation. (2) The Company to pay full compensation for milk churns lost or damaged while under their control. (3) The Company to compensate for loss incurred owing to milk churns being put out at the wrong station. The Council also unanimously expressed regret at the great loss sustained through damage done by the careless handling of milk churns during railway transit. The subject of the carriage of milk, it may be added, will shortly be brought before the notice of the House of Commons. THE FORTHCOMING DAIRY .CONFERENCE. According to the preliminary pT-ogramme for the visit of the British Dairy Farmers' Association to Normandy next month, the company will leave Newhaven at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16th, for Dieppe, en route to Rouen, where will be the headquarters till the following Wednesday morn ing. On Monday and Tuesday visits are to be paid to some representative farms in the districts of Goumay and Vernon, to Gournay market and an old chateau, and on Wednesday a special steamer will convey the party from Rouen to Honfleur, whence the journey will bo continued by rail to Caon. Caen will be the headquarters until the following Monday, and during that time the programme will include visits to the great butter-making centre of Isigny and a number of farms in the neighbourhood of Bayeaux. The only conference will be held at Caen on Friday, when papers will be forthcoming on the butter and soft cheese industries of France by French experts. It is intended to conduct the entire pro- ceedings in both French and English by tho aid of an interpreter. On Monday. May 25th, the party wJI visit a cheese farm on its way back to Rouen, and the return to England will be made tho following day. The complete set of travelling and hotel coupons are expected to amount to about £10. THE LAMBING SEASON. Now that lambing is over an opportunity is afforded of forming an approximate estimate of its general effects; and from reports received from various parts of the country it would appear that, notwithstanding the vicissitudes of weather ex- perienced in the early part of the season, especially in the south, the outcome is not so bad after all. If anything, the northern half of the kingdom 1 appears to have been more favoured during the latter and drier part of the season as against the southern flocks, which had a large measure of miserably wot and cold weather to contend against. Couples and triplets have been of com- mon occurrence, and we read of such instances, in one flock, of 360 pairs and 120 singles, of fifty-four ewes bringing eighty-five lambs; of 186 living lambs from 115 ewes; of 143 ewes having brought 229 lamb,; of 60 ewes with 96 living iambs; forty- six with 76 lambs, and many others of a like kind; while the mortality among both ewes and lambs: has been comparatively light. Owing, however. to the continued cold, the lambs have not come on so fast as could be wished so as to be fit for market. A regrettable feature of the reports is the number of instances of loss through the ewes having been chased by stray dogs. THE LONDON FARMERS' CLUB. This club is in process of removal from Salis- bury Square to No. 2, Whitehall Court, and. all being well, the next meeting, at which Mr. Rew will read his promised paper on "Recent Changes in the Number of Cattle and Sheep in Great; Britain" will be held in the new premises on May j 4th next at 4 p.m.

CHESHIRE CHAMBER OF AGRI- CULTURE. I ("BY Our. Owx RKPORTKR.1 ) A general meeting of the Cheshire Chamber of Agriculture was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel, Crewe, on Monday afternoon. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell, C.B., presided, and there were present Colonel Dixon, the Rev. Canon Armit- stead, Mr. C. E. Thornycroft. Mr. G. B. Baker- Wilbraham, Mr. A. F. Douglass, Mr. A. M. R. Lcgh. etc. Mr. Henry Tollemache, M.P., Mr. Harry Barnston and Mr. George Barbour wrote that they were unable to attend. ILLNESS OF MR. HANBURY. I The Chairman said he was sure every member of the Chamber was sorry to hear of the serious illness of Mr. Hanbury, the President of the Board of Agriculture. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hanbury's actions had been constantly viewed with favour by that Chamber. Mr. C. E. Thornycroft mentioned that Mr. Hanbury had proposed to attend the annual meet- ing of Worleston Agricultural School, and said he (Mr. Thornycroft) had told him that he thought it would be a representative meeting of Cheshire farmers. Mr. Hanbury was anxious to meet all the farmers of Cheshire and talk over things with them. They all hoped Mr. Hanbury would be well cnough to fulfil the engagement. (Hear, hear.) I Mr. Thomas Parton moved that the society write to Mr. Hanbury expre"Sing the Chamber's sympathy with him in his serious illness and the hope that he would soon recover. Mr. Thornycroft seconded. THE DEATH OF MR. T. DUTTON. The Chairman said they had lost a very old and valued member of that Chamber, and a gentleman whose name was well known among agriculturists throughout the county. Mr. Dutton, of Faddiley, had died at a ripe old age. He moved that the Chamber had heard with the deepest regret of the death of Mr. Dutton, a member of the Chamber and their auditor, and desired to place on record his services to the county; al so that the secretary convey the Chamber's sincere sympathy with Mrs. Dutton and the members of the family. The Rev. Canon Armitstead seconded, and it I SHEEP SCAB BILL. The Secretary (Mr. C. B. Davies) said this Bill provided that local authorities should have power &0 to the compulsory dipping of sheep within their areas. It, however, left it optional for local authorities to put the power into operation. Local authorities could provide facilities for sheep- dipping. The Bill was a decided improvement upon any previous measure dealing with the question. Mr. Beeoroft did not think the Bill went far enough. As one of the delegates to the Central Chamber of Agriculture, he fought very hard for the measure to be made oompulsory. Dipping should be done under supervision. Sheep scab was not always reported by farmers who had it on their holdings, and if the dipping was not done thoroughly it might as well not be done at all. He hoped they would support other chambers and ask for oompulsory and not permissive powers. The regulations should be as stringent as possible, as it was a most dreadful disease, but could be eradicated if taken in hand seriously. (Hear, hear.) It was to the advantage of farmers that they should support as strongly as possible a compulsory measure. If sheep scab existed on a farm it would not disappear with the removal of the flock. Gate posts and fences should be d'sinfected, or the disease would appear in the new flock. In framing any resolution on the question they should ask the Government to give more stringent powers, requiring railway com- panies to see that sheep trucks were thoroughly cleansed before the loading and re-loading of sheep. He had seen trucks oome into Scottish markets and be re-loaded before being- properly cleaned out. Once the disease appeared on a farm it was not known when the farmer would be rid of it. (Hear, hear.) He moved: "That this Chamber approve of the measure and ask that it be made compuls-cry instead of permissive, also that it be made compulsory for the whole of the United Kingdom." The Rev. Canon Armitstead seconded. He was sure it was in the interests of farmers, and it was most important that it should be com- pulsory. The dipping should be done under proper superintendence to stamp out the disease. If the disease once appeared on a farm it was a very troublesome thing. Mr. Beecroft, speaking of the advisability of making the application of the measure as wide as possible, said that Wales was the greatest hot- bed of sheep scab. Tile motion was carried. It was further decided that the resolution should be sent to the President of tho Board of Agriculture, the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and the members of Parliament for the county. The next business was to con-iaer "the pro- posals of the Budget so far as they affect agricul- ture." The Secretary said the corn tax that was complained of by some farmers, especially dairy farmers, who had to buy rather than sell corn, had been omitted. In addition there was a re- mission of 4d. in the £ on the income tax. He believed farmers never got any income, so it did not matter to them. (Laughter.) Another item on the agenda was" financial assistance from Government for putting the Education Act into operation." Colonel Dixon (chairman of the County Council) did not thiipk anything more could be done in this matter. The Secretary said that Mr. Baker-Wilbraham had explained that the Government had agreed to pay earlier during the first year than in future years in order to facilitate the putting of the Act into working order. The Chairman said possibly the Central Chamber might arrive at some conclusion which this Chamber could subsequently approve. It was accordingly agreed to postpone further con- sideration of the matter. TO CHECK TRESPASS. DRASTIC PROPOSAL. An interesting di cussion took place on the question of the boundary fences and the law of trespass. Mr. Thornycroft: What is the law now? (Laughter.) The Chairman I think you have to administer the law just as I have. (Laughter.) The Secretary thought the existing law re- quired every farmer to fence his stock in. The Rev. Canon Armitstead said if that was so there was obligation on the part of a, farmer TO keep up his boundary fence if his land was in tillage, and the neighbour who had his land in grass was answerable for any damage. That was the County Court law, but he did not know that it had been confirmed in a court above. Mr. Bcecroft thought they as farmers should ask for an amended Bill requiring occupiers of land to keep their fences in a fair state of repair. As regarded trespass, farmers wanted some pro- tection against the great amount of trespass many were suffering from at present. He could not for the life of him see why a farmer should be in the position of allowing people to go rarnbling over his farm gathering mushrooms, etc., and leaving gates open. In the present state of the law an action could not be entered against trespassers unless damage was proved. That to his mind was radically wrong. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Baker-Wilbraham said the law of trespass was a very old law, and to ask for an alteration was something very near impossible. The case of the boundary fence was very different. They might very well ask for a final decision of Parlia- inent about the law of boundary fences, or pos- sibly some alteration in the present law. The Rev. Canon Armitstead said what was wanted was a short Act defining the rc-sponsi- bility regarding boundary fences. He thought they might send a memorial representing the great injury farmers sustained in the unsettled scate of the present law, and asking for a Bill to define the point. The Chairman said the jnterpretation of the Act by county court judges was very elastic indeed. It was extremely difficult to cover all the cases that might occur in any Act of Parfia- ment. County court judges were not infallible, and perhaps they did not know sometimes as much as owners and occupiers, who had to settle whose duty it was to repair. Mr. Baker Wilbra- ham was quite right in differentiating. The law of trespass was old, but that was no reason that they should not have it amended. (Hear, hear.) He recalled a case at Nantwich Petty Sessions. A farmer had had a considerable amount of damage done by mushroomers. It was the year in which there was a very prolific quantity of In wli ch t h ere, was a i, mushrooms growing in standing crops. The farmer brought an action for taking mushrooms out of standing crops. The defendant had done great damage, but all they (the magistrates) could do was to inflict a nominal penalty. The farmer proved sixpennyworth of damage, but it did not stop there, and it was impossible for the Bench to assess the damage, or for the farmer himself to adequately assess the damage done by tramping about in standing crops. The question of footpaths across a farm was very intimately connected with trespass. (Hear, hear.) In any remodelling of the law it might be possible to do something with regard to footpaths. When he was on the Assessment Committee they over and over again had the plea from some farmer that his assessment should be reduced because there was a footpath across his farm. It was not on the footpath where the damage was done; it was the wholesale way in which people deviated from the footpath. (Hear, hear.) He had instances of this over and over again on his own farm. That was a serious point for the farmer to consider, and in any dealing with the question of trespass the whole thing ought to taken into considera- tion. Mr. J. Furber moved: "That this Chamber are of opinion that the owner of a boundary fence should be compelled to maintain it in a reasonable state of repair." The reasonable state of repair, Mr. Furber said, would have to be determined by circumstances. Mr. George Lewis seconded. Mr. Shaw thought it right to put the responsi- i bility on the owner. It was not on large estates where boundary fences were neglected. The greatest delinquents were the yeomen farmers. Mr. Laithwood moved that the word "occupier" jj be substituted for "owner." Mr. William Davies seconded. Mr. A. M. R. Legh said they must be careful not to interfere with contracts between tenants and landlords. In Ross-shire, he instanced, the fences, which were largely of posts and wire, belonged to the tenant. The Secretary suggested for the approval of the movers of the original motion and the amsnd- ment that the Chamber should express the opinion "that the person re-ponsible for the maintenance of a boundary fence should be com- pelled to maintain it in a reasonable state of repair." Mr. Furber and Mr. Laithwood, how- ever, "tuck to their respective motions. Mr. Beecroft quoted a case shewing that the tenant and not the landlord was the person to ask about the cutting of trees. That was the law. The Chairman I have some succession duty to pay on some timber now, and I think I shall ask my tenant to pay. (Laughter.) If what you say is the law my proposal seems to be logical. (Laughter.) The amendment requiring the occupier to keep the fences in repair was carried. Mr. Thornhill. speaking with reference to tres- pass, said that, notwithstanding that he had pro- vided a footpath which in some places was nine feet wide, the trespass on his farm was continued. He let some land for golfing, and on the previous day he found some young fellows playing football there. When he told them it was not a football ground they were most insolent. They could not fence the footpaths. He remembered a clergy- man and a lady were once passing along a certain footpath which was fenced with barbed wire; the lady's dress caught in the wire and was tern, and she got damage-. Mr. Laith wood The law is in a most ridiculous condition. The Chairman suggested the following motion That the law of trespass requires amendment, especially as regards encroachments and damages incurred through persons deviating fi-cm the authorised footpaths crossing a farm." Mr. J. Sadler thought they wanted a stronger motion than that. Mr. B. S. Bostock said it was a serious ques- tion, particularly in the neighbourhood of large towns. Eventually the following motion was agreed to:—"That the law relating to trespass is most unsatisfactory and requires auiendrneiit that pro- vision should be made in any amüulinp; Act whereby any person found deviating from any authorised footpath on any pretext whatever shall be liable. to prosecution and penalty; and that it should be the business of the police to prosecute." I A REMOUNTS SUGGESTION. Mr. Sadler said the Chamber had had under consideration on several occasions the question oi remounts for the Army, and while no doubt some- thing very useful had been set on foot. it did not appear that any very definite beneficial result had yet accrued to farmers who brc-d A few days ago Mr. Brad.shaw, of Nantwich, had' given him the excellent suggestion that the Wa> Office should br- asked to consider the advisability of sending their buyers to the annual trainings of Yeomanry. On these occasions some 700 or 800 horses were brought together, and out of these the War Office might select quite a number of eligible horses for the purpose- for which they required them. ((Hear, hear.) It was decided to make representations on the subject to the War Office. Mr. Joseph Houlbrooke, Peckforton, was elected a member of the Chamber.

"Can't you guess?" A handsome lithographic reproduction of this oil painting sent post free to buttermakers sending us the addresses of at least three other buttermakers not using a cream separator. Thousands of buttermakers still continue to employ old-fashioned methods, and thereby lose at least 1 lb of butter in every 6. The Melotte turns one-third easier than other separators, has the largest sa-e in the United Kingdom, has beaten all others in com- petition, and is sent on free trial for 14 days by the Melotte Separator Sales Co., Ltd., Bristol. It pays to sell a cow and buy a Melotte the same quantity of butter will be made, and the cow's feed and the necessity of milking and attending to it will be saved. THE PRICE OF MILK.—At the annual meeting of the Crewe and District Milk Producers' Association it was unanimously decided to continue the present prices of milk. The reasons which were given for this decision were the dearness of good dairy cows, the high price of artificial feeding stuffs, and the upward tendency of the milk market generally Members of the Association stated that cheese was now selling well, and was likely to make a good price for some time, and this circumstance would tend to regulate the supply of milk for the market and to keep prices for milk at their present level.

EDDISBURY PETTY SESSIONS. MOKDA Y.-Before Messrs. H. Lyle-Smvth (pre- siding), H. E. Wilbraham, H. C. Burder, J. B. Littkdale and Colonel Lascelles. T T"'1\.C:T:'IP t-AU11t).N.hIJ.-An application was made for the transfer of the licence of the Wheat Sheaf (alehouse), Weaverham, from R chcl. Hickson to Wm. Henry Spruce—Supt. Nield, while offering no objection to the application, said he thought a word of caution from the Bench to the applicant would do no harm, as a number of people who did not behave in a perfectly orderly manner were in the habit of driving to that house from Northwich on Sunday afternoons, and being supplied with liquor there. No doubt they were bona-fide travellers, but they perhaps got more drink than was good for. them. He had been in- fornied that morning that some ladies were in- sulted on the road the previous evening by some men in a conveyance. If the Bench warned the licensee, this disorderly behaviour on the part of Sunday travellers would cease to be the frequent occurrence that it was.—Applicant- assured the magistrates that he would be careful as to the serving of that class of Sunday travellers, and the Bench, in granting the appl cation, pointed out that if he served his customers indiscriminately he would jeopardise his licence.—Applicant said he did not think that the disorderly travellers from Northwich came to his house.—Supt. Nield repled that evidence could be produced, if necessary, to prove that they d-d. LICENSING.—The Bench granted transfers of the following liccnces:—Raven alehouse, Darn- hall. from Alfred Jepson to Thomas Cookson; Red Lion alehouse. Wharton, from Frank Goldsmith to Thomas Ridehough Red Lion alehouse. Over, from Elizabeth Louisa Williams to Thomas CI egg, of Oldham; an off-beer house at Frodsham, to Annie McWaters. widow and trustee of the will of Henry McWaters; and the Jolly Sailor beerhouse. Wharton, from Samuel Rowe to George Young. CRUELTY TO HORSES.—Joseph Southam, ear proprietor, Crewe, was summoned for working two horses while in an unfit state at. Tarporlcy. on April lS.Inspector Blake Jones, of the R.S.P.C.A., who proved the case, said defendant had driven a wagonette containing eighteen per- sons from Crewe, which was drawn by the most. infirm team of horses that he (witness) had seen for a long time. Two of them were incurably lame. and quite unfit for work.—A fine of 40s. and costs was imposed. SHARP" AT TARPORLEY RACES — George Sharp, who gave an address in Man- chester, was charged on remand with unlawfully frequenting- Tarporley Racecourse with intent to commit a felony. 113 pleaded gu-ltv.-P.S. W. Pierce (Altiincharn) said while on duty on Tar- porley Racecourse he saw the prisoner behaving suspiciously in company with two or three men. Witness watched him for some time, and saw him approach several persons and feel their pockets A complaint was received from a man named Jackson that his purse.. containing £ 6 10s., had been stolen, and that the prisoner had been near him. On noticing that he was watched, prisoner crossed the course, but was followed and arrested, a sum of 16s. being found in his possession. He gave an address in Manchester, which was found to be incorroct.Prisonrr. who was said to have been previously convicted, was sentenced to three months' hard labour. SHOCKING FAMILY NEGLECT.—Frank Smith and Helen Smith, husband and wife, living at Quarry-lane, Delamere. were summoned at the instance of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for cruelly neglecting their three children, aged 12, 8 and 4 respectively.— Mr. W. A. V. Churton, Chester, for the prosecu- tion. described the case as a revolting one. Smith, who was sixty years old and a parted cripple, was sum?oned because he was indirectly responsible for the conduct of the household and the neglect of the children. The wife was only thirty years of age, and was strong and earned eight or n:lw shillings a week Defendants had been repeatedly warned about the filthy co'Hition of the house and tho neglected state of the chil- dren. They were visited on the 16th April by Inspector Nicol of Chester, in company with P.C. Waite and Dr. Datrule, of Kclsaill and the house was found to be indescribably filthy, the bedroom being worse than a pigsty The children were in a disgusting state,* and it was a wonder how they had endured the suffering through neglect to which they must have been subjected. The male do- fendant was in receipt of poor relief, and his wife, who earned money, was at home almost all day; the case was therefore one of criminal iiegle,-t. Evidence in support of the case was given by In- spector Nicol, P.C. Waite and Dr. Dattulc. The former witness said the case was one of the worst that had come under his observation for a long time, the defendants appearing to have no re- deeming features whatever.—The Chairman said it was a most horrible case. The magistrates thought th- female defendant was principally to blame, and she would be sent to- gaol for two months. The case against the hu-band would be adjourned, and if he went to the workhouse he would hear nothing more about it. They ordered the children to bo sent to the workhouse.

MALPAS. THE LATE MR. GEORGE LEWIS.—The funeral of the late Mr. George Lewis, The Bank, Malpas, took place on Friday after- noon at 1.30 p.m. The first portion of the solemn service was held in Malpas Parish Church, where the deceased gentleman had worshipped so long. The officiating clergy were the rector, tho Rev. the Hon. A. R. Parker, and the Rev. L. Armitstead, the last-named taking the service in the church and the former at the graveside. There was a large attendance in the church of sorrowing relatives, friends and sympathisers, the service throughout being of an impressive character. The "Dead March" in "Saul" was played by Mr. H. Edwaraes while the cortege was leaving the church. The procession of mourners was a large one. and was preceded by a deputation of twelve members of the Malpas Rose Club, headed by Mr. Danily and Mr. Blantern; a deputation from the Joint Burial Committee, consisting of Messrs. F. Battarbee and J. W. VVycherley; Messrs. G. S. Morgan and J. Tomlinson. representing the Malpas Rural Dis- trict Council; a deputation from the Whitchurch Board of Guardians, consisting of Colonel F. Barnston and Mr. E. Langley; and Mr. S. H. Sand bach (late co-churchwarden with the deceased). The bearers were Messrs. Ellis Davies, Alfred Davies. George Cavenagh, Joseph Brook- held, Joseph Cotton and William Hull. In the first coach were Mr. Percy Lewis. Mr. Jos. Lewis, Mr. Geo. Lewis and Mr. Stafford Lewis in the second coach were Mr. Lawrence Lewis, Mr. Martin Lewis, Mr. Jas. Whitehead, Mr. Richd. Fearnall; and in the third coach were Mr. R. Dawson and Mr. H. Bevin. Private carriages were sent by Mr. S. H. Sandbach, Mr. R. L. Greenshields, and Mr. G. C. Dobell. Among those present were Dr. C. Jordison, Dr. J. E. Phillips, Mr. N. Davies (Whitchurch), Mr. J. H. Billington (Tarporley), Mr. Noel Humphreys (Chester), Mr. R. Fearnall (Aldford), Mr. G. C. "VVycherley (Whitchurch), Mr. E. Goulborne (Bur- leydani), Mr. W. Shepherd (Sealand). Mr. W. ,Min- shull (Poulton), Mr. Jos. Nield (Bulkclev). Mr. H. C. Nield (Bebingtou), Mr. A. V. Nield (Aud. 1 cm). Mr. Thos. Huxley and Mr. G. T. Huxley (Malpas), Mr. T. Mullock (Cuddington), Mr. H C. Parry (Cuddington), Mr. Jos. Huxley (Cudding- ton), Mr. J. Latham (Chorlton), Mr. J. Jones (Wychaugh), Mr. W. Kay (Manchester), Mr. J. O. Davies (Stockton Hall), Mr. W. Parker (Rodens Ilall), Mr. T. R. Probert (Bretton Hall). Mr. H. Mercer (Malpas), Mr. R. Richards (Oldcastle), Mr. S. Timmis (Cuddington), Mr. J. McIntyre (Mal- pas), Mr. J. Davies (Pulford), Mr. Ckirnforth (Ma!pas). Shutters were put. up on the whole of the shops in Malpas during the funeral, and busi- ness was suspended. The coffin was covered with wreaths and floral emblems, sent by Miss Lewis (sister.) Mrs. Lewis, Crouch End, Lon- don, Mrs. Whitehead and Miss Lewis, London (nieces), Messrs. P. J., R. S. L., and M. Lewis (nephews), Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lewis, London (nephew), Mr. and Mrs. Fearnall (Aldford). Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd (Sealand), Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Dawson (The Bank), Mr. and Mrs. Atkin (Broughton), Mrs. H. Bevin (Edge), Mr. and Mrs. Mercer (Malpas), Mr. and Mrs. Salt (Malpas), Mr. and Mrs. W. Min-hull (Poulton). Mr. A. Y. Nield (Aud I em). Mr. Maurice Few (London), Martha Cotton (servant at The Bank), Fanny, Bertha and Martha (servants), Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Haal (London), Mrs. R. Mullock and family (Cud^ ding- ton), Mr. aud Mrs. Frank Lloyd and family N Rea d C,,ipt-LI n an d (Eyton). Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Read, Captain and Mrs. R. W. Ethelston (Malpas), Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Greenshields (Malpas), Mr. and Mrs. J. Latham (Chorlton), Lady Margaret Ormbsy.Gore, "Rowland and Amy," "From the managing direc- tor and the staff of Messrs J. H. Billington. Ltd., Mr. G. H. A ing: worth, "From Billy aftd Elsie:" The inscription on the coffin was "George Lewis, died April 21 st, 19.03, aged 60 years. Following the interment of the late Mr. George Lewis, The Bank, feeling references were made to deceased, in the pulpit of the parish church on Sunday morning by the rector, and in the evening- by the Rev. L. Armit- stead. During the day muflled peals were rung on the bells. (The above article apoearetl in our last Saturday Evening Edition.)

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CHESTER SAVINGS BANK. QUARTERLY REPORT. The quarterly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Chester Savings Bank was held at the Bank on Monday. Dr. Stolterfoth/ presided, and there were also present Messrs. G* R. Griffith, J. G. Holmes. J. M. Frost, J. G. Frost, Wm. Haswell, W. H. Denson, and Charlefl Coppack (official auditor).—The Secretary (Mr. HoO E. Crane) submitted the quarterly statement of accounts, also a comparative statement shewiiig the progress of the bank during the quarter j- ended 20th February last. The total number of i depositors was 5,658, as againt 5,165 on Februa:"J1 20th last year, shewing an increase of 493. The number of transactions were 5,183, as againstl 4,157 last year, the increase being 1,026. Thei receipts from all sources were B14,118 14s. 6d., the figures for last year being £ 12,852 19s. 5d., au increase of £ 1.265 15s. Id. The amount due to depositors on 20th February was £ 195.361 8s. 8d.r as against £ 192,144 17s. 7d. last year, the increase being L3,216 lis. Id. The amount in the hands of the National Debt Commissioners was L194,841 10s. 3d., last year's figures being: £ 192,275 8s. Id., an increase of £2.566 2s. 2d. T: e amount of stock held for depositors was £ 18 580 15s. 4d., as against £ 17.804 18s. 8d. in- crease £ 775 16?. 8d. The committee expressed their approval at such a substantial rate of pro- g-res. The official auditor (Mr. Chas. Coppack} read his report, from which it appeared that the assets of the bank were £196,158 2s. 5d.. and the liabilities (being the amount due to depositors)1 £ 195.361 8s. 8d., leaving a cash surplus of £796 13s. 9d. over and above what would be required t-o pay off every depositor, exclusive of the estimated value of the freehold bank buildings £ (4,100). The report concluded The business of the bank continues to be highly satisfactory and the further increase in the number of de- positors most gratifying."

THE PUBLIC AND LORD DELAMERE DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE COUNCILS. At Friday's meeting of the Northwich Rural Connc'l it was reported that the Leftwich Lostock, Eddisbury, Hartford, Oakmere. Davcnham and Crowton Parish Councils had protested against any further litigation by the Rural Council with regard to the N.'w Park-road case, which was won by Lord Delamere, and urging that such litigation might have the effect of depriving the public of the priv:leges Lord Delamere, notwithstanding the verdict in his favour, was still prepared to con- cede to them. The Clerk said all the resolutions were in similar terms, and seemed to have been drafted by the same hand. He had received no intimatiort official or otherwise, of the intention which was attributed to Lord Delamere. He recommended that the Counc'l should instruct the solicitor to communicate with Lord Delamcre's solicitor. and ask if there was any intention to open the road 364 days out of the year, as had been repeatedly stated. Mr Done (Hartford) protested against the matter being taken in committee, and urged that the public should be placed in full possession of the Council's attitude, the steps they were taking, and the name of the private gentleman who, it was s, d. was bearing the cost of the appeal. The Clerk retorted that the Council could be- under no, misapprehension. He had read counsel 9 opinion advising in the strongest terms that a new trial should be applied for, and on that opinion: thev had decided to proceed with a motion for a new trial. That would cost the Council nothing whatever.. It was decided that the sol citor should inquire from Lord Delamere's solicitor whether he was prepared to grant the concession attributed to him.

COMPENSATION FOR LICENCES. BILL READ A SECOND TIME. In the House of Commons on Friday Mr. Butcher moved the second reading of a Bill to provide compensation for licensed victuallers dis- possessed for reasons other than misconduct. The measure proposed to supply an annual fund of half a. million, to be raised either entirely from, the trade," or partly from this source, and partly from the direct taxation of liquor, which- ever the House might prefer, and laid it down that in no year should the reductions of peimits exceed the indemnifying powers of that sum.- The rejection of the Bill was moved by Mr. Whittaker, and seconded by Mr. Cameroll Corbett.—Sir Wilfrid Lawson described the scheme as "a howling fraud."—Dr. Hutchinson found himself in a quandary, for everyone was agreed that recompense should be at tha same time he could not support the- fantastic terms proposed.—Mr. Long said that, though the measure might need alteration in committee, it carried with it the recognition of the principle of compensation, and it would therefore be impossible for the Government to recommend the House not to support it. Mr. Asquith argued that there should be no qualifica- tion of the discretion of the magistrates, and that the amount 01 compensation paid should depend on the extent of the fund. In the Bill, he com- plained, it was the other way about.—The Prune Minister contended that unless a limited sum was available, it wa, absolutely necessary to place some restrictions on the activities of the justices. —Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman endorsed the views of Mr. Asquith.—Mr. Chamberlain re- minded the House that on a second reading it was usual to consider the main principle and lioc the details of a Bill.—The amendment was re- jected by 266 to 133 votes, and the measure was read a second time.

COUNTY POLICE COURT. SATURDAY.—Before Mr. Horace D. Trelawny (chairniaii), Mr. R. T. Richardson, Colonel Evans-Lloyd, and Mr. J. Pover. NEW MAGISTRATE.—Mr. Wm. Williams, the newly-elected chairman of the lloole Urban Council, took the formal oath of allegiance, and afterwards sat upon the Bench. PESTERED BY BOUGHTON BOYS.— Wallace Jones, aged 10, Lees-terracc-, Tarviii- road, Chester, was summoned for assaulting Charlotte Harris, at Great Boughton, on the 15tii April. Defendant was accompanied by his motner, and through her pleaded not guilty.— Complainant said she was walking along TtrNlll- road on the date named between eleven and twelve o'clock, and defendant and another boy were standing against some railings. Directly she passed they threw stones at her. She felt the stones on her back, and turned round to see who the offender was. Defendant threw at her, and all the stones struck her. She was frequently annoyed by beys.—A little boy named Wiiliam Ankers was called. He said defendant threw a rag full of dut at the old lady. He also saw de- fendant pick up a brick, but he did not see him. throw it.—The defendant's mother gave evidence. She said she whipped the boy when the old lady made a complaint to her. She apologised and. offered to pay the costs of the summons.—A nine- year-old boy named Robert Williams was called for the defence. He saw defendant throw a rag full of dust at the old lady, but did not throw stone,P.C. Roberts said the old lady had made several complaints to him. He had actually ar- ranged with the old lady to watch when sre walked out. He did not see the boys misbehave themselves.—The defendant, giving evidence on his own behalf, said they were laughing and the complainant called him a thief and ran at h 'nl with her umbrella. He admitted throwing the rag full of dust at her. Asked what he did with the stone-. he said he had no intention of throw- ing them at her, and pitched them under a tree. —The Bench said the defendant had bad a narrow escape.—Alfred Jones, the father, was bound over in the sum of £ 2 in respect of the boy's good behaviour for three months and ordered to pay the costs (lis.). PAIR OF MARES ILL-TREATED.—Peter Phillips, Sutton, near St. Helens, was summoned for ill treating two mares by working them in an unfit state on Friday. Phillips cheerfully pleaded guilty.—Sergeant Dodd said he met defendant on Hoole-road. He was in charge of the mares, which were drawing a wagon containing some flower pots. Noticing that the mare in the chains was lame, he stopped them, and found that this mare was very lame on the near foreleg. He next examined the horse in the shafts, and found a. large raw wound underneath the saddle on the near side. Witness ordered both the animals to be put in a stable. Defendant stated he left Sutton, near St. Helens, at 8.30 o'clock on the previous morning, and put up at Mickle Trafford for the night. On the previous night defendant had noticed that the chain horse was lame. The latter animal had since been destroyed. His em- ployer, to whom the horses belonged, was a Mr. Woods, of Sutton, near St. Helens, and lie, de- fendant stated, knew nothing about it.—Inspector Blake Jones, R.S.P.C.A., was called as a witness. At the request of the Deputy Chief Constable he had examined the horses at the Ermine Hotel, Hoole. The chain horse was incurably lame, and had been destroyed. The other horse was sitffer- ing from a suppurating wound on its back. De- fendant told witness his master had not seen the horse since the previous Monday. For some reason defendant had taken the whole cf the reponsibility on himself, and that had put the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals out of court, as they could not take pro- ceedings against his employer.-Police-Scrgeallt Woodcock corroborated thp first witness' evi- deiiee,The Chairman You are fined lCs. and costs, ot-bllt I suppose your master will pay the money.—Defendant :■ Oh. he'll send it.-Tlw. Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. Churton): I thought he knew nothing about it. (Laughter.) (The above articles appeared in our last Saturday Evening Edition.)

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HAMPTON PUBLICAN SUMMONED.) CHARGE OF PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS I At xSroxton Petty Sessions on Tuesday, before Mr. R. Howard and other magistrates, Charles Howarth Kirk, licensee of the New Inn, Hampton, near Malpas, was summoned for per- mitting drunkenness on his premises on the 14th April. Mr. S. Moss, M.P., appeared for tke defen- dant, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. W. H. Churton, for the prosecution, said defendant's house was visited at seven o'clock in the evening by P.C Saml. Kennerley. There were 10 I persons in the tap-room, and the officer at once noticed without the slightest difficulty that two of them were drunk, one being in a helpless con- dition. IN either of these two men, whose names were Jones and Moore, had any drink on the table before them at the time, and the licensee was not in the room just then. As soon as the licensee came in, the constable drew his attention to Jones and said What are you doing with this man here he was only a short time ago turned out of the Blue Cap and refused drink." The licensee replied, I have ordered both these men out, but they will not go," and he then asked .Tones and Moore to leave the house. They, however, did not move, and the constable after ejecting Jones, asked Moore to go Moore was in a perfectly helpless condition, and had to be lifted on his feet. In the middle of the room he fell down and upset a glass of beer on the table The officer had to carry him out of the house, and placed his hack against the wall to prop him up. The licensee then came out and assisted him across the road and propped him against the hedge, but as soon as defendant loosened his hold of him, he fell headlong in the ditch. Eventually Moore had to be conveyed in a trap to the police station where he was locked up all night. The next morning be .vas brought before the mtgistrges and convicted. The constable paid another visit to the house the same evening, in company with Sergt. Howard, and the landlord told the sergt. that.Moore had been in the house at half-past five. His wife, however, said he came in about six •'clock, and had not been served, adding that he had been ordered out of the house that morning. Whether the man had been insidJ an hour or more was immaterial, he (Mr. Churton) suggested that it was an extremely bad Cc se. If it was not permitting drunkenness to allow a helplessly drunken man to stay in a house for an hour, it would be difficult to say what was. It was not necessary to prove that the man had been served, and the law had been so altered under the new Licensing Act that the onus rested upon the publican of proving that he took reasonable means of preventing drunkenness. Evidence was then called.-P.C. Kennerley, stationed at Noman's Heath, said he visited the house at seven o'clock and found ten persons in the taproom. Mr. Kirk. the licensee, was present. He noticf'd two men, one of whom (John Jones) was drunk. and witness had seen him turned out of the Blue Cap Inn at a. quarter to seven the same night. The other man, Thos. Moore, was sitting on a seat under the window. He was also drunk. K;rk left the room without speaking to witness, and went into the bar. Witne?s followed him into the bar and said "There's a man here who has no business here, Mr. K;rk," and he re- plied. "I have ordered him out; both of them, in fact Witness returned to the taproom, followed by Kirk, who said to Jones, "Now, then, get off." but he did not. go. Witness then a?kpd Jones to go, but he refused, and witness got hold of him and put. him out by the front door. Witness had great difficulty in removing Moore, because he was helplessly drunk. He lifted him up and got h:m in the middle of the room. but he fell backwards on the floor on his back, knocking the table over and upsetting a glass of beer. Mr. Moss I think I can shorten the proceedii,s by admitting that Moore was drunk. Mr. Churton: I think we had better prove the facts. J Witness, proceeding said he had to carry Moore out of the house, and the man had to hold himself un by tho raiK Kirk followed them out and, taking hold of Moore's arm, sa;d "Now. Tommy, you are not that l ad." and took him across the road. When within two yards of the hedge K;rk looked h's arm and Moore fell in the ditch on his face. Witness sent for a horse and trap and con- veyed him to the police station. In company with Sergt. Howard witness revisited the New Inn at n,Ti- o'clock the same night. The sergeant asked Kirk how lon"- Moore had been in the house, and he replied. "He came in a bout 5.30, while I was having mv tea." Mrs. Kirk stood close by and re- marked "No it was six," and Kirk said perhaps it | n-i-ir l ?r- d N ,). it a s s x micrht have been. i P S. Howard said on the day in question he was at Malpa* Police Station, when Moore was brought in in a helpless state of intoxication. He went with, K"nner[r>y to the New Inn the same night, and asked Kirk what had brome of Jones. He said Jones went away when Kenn-rlev went, and he had not seen him since. Kirk sa:d the two men mllt. have come in while he was at his tea, about lwJf-past five. whereurion his wife said it was six o'clock. Witness said Moore must have been there in hour. and ouorht not to have been allowed on e'l? premises that lrmrth of time. K'rk said he had not served him, and had ordered h m out. and asked what more could he do. Witness told him he was re:ponsible, and should get him off the pre- mises. and that if he had any difficulty he knew he could get the assistance of Kennerley, who was, at tho auction. Wm. Morgan, tailor. Malpas. said he had been in; the New Inn about an hour on the night in ques- tion. Moore was there when he went in, and did not seem drunk; in fact, he looked sober. Wit- ness stood him two drinks, and had two himself. i Moore went out before him. Witness was not drunk, but would not say he was sober. The ostler served thsm. but the landlord was in and out of the room, and could see Moore. He heard Kirk telling Moore to go out, but could not say at! lwhattime. Witness had been at the Blue Cap Inn in the afternoon, but Moore was not there then. —Cross-examined They were busy at the New Inn on the afternoon in question. Moore could walk without assistance, and did not fall down when he went out. Thomas Moore, labourer, Broxton, said he d:d not notice the constable enter the room, because he was properly "boozed" and "paiatic." (Laugh-1 ter.) He could not say how long he remained in the New Inn, but he thought about an hour and: a half or two hours. The landlord refused to; serve him when he called for drink, but witness was afterwards treated by another customer. j For the defence, Mr. Moss pointed out that the Bench could not convict a- man of permitting drunkenness unless there was knowledge, conni- vanco or carelessness on his part, though under the new Act the burden of proof to the contrary rested upon the licensee. If he proved that de-1 fondant had not sanct;oncd drunkenness, and did everything that could reasonably be expected to prevent drunkenness on his premises, he would have to be acquitted. The evidence resed en. tirely upon the testimony of the two policemen. Morgan s evidence was absolutely valueless, as he had told the Bench a very different story to that which he gave to the police on the night in question, and which was taken down in writng. The conduct of the police could not be admired, and he would have been much more pleased with their conduct if they had boldly subpoenaed the ten men who were in the taproom at the time, because they were ap- parently perfectly sober, and were men of re- spectability against whom no allegation had been made. The licensee had been summoned before and dismissed, and he thought the magis- trates would find that the officer Kennerley had been a lit le too anxious to secure a conviction against this house for some reason or other. The defendant submitted that Moore and Jones were not served in the house, that Moore was not inside longer than a quarter of an hour, that the licensee was trying to get the men out when the officer appeared on the scene, and that in short the defendant had taken all reasonable care which the law expected of a licensee. Evidence for the defence was then given at con- siderable length. Defendant said Moore was only in the house fifteen or twenty minutes, and Jones was not drunk. Thomas Mullock, labourer, Bickerton, said when he visited the house at a quarter past six that evening neither Jones nor Moore was there. They came in soon afterwards, and Kirk refused to serve them and requested them to leave. He also warned witness that if he gave the men any drink he would be responsible. Mary Mullock, wife of the last witness, said Moore and Jones would not have been in the house more than a quarter of an hour when Ken- nerley came in. The landlord refused to serve them and asked them to go. Kennerley asked witness in the house if she had seen the men served, and she told him she had not. Thomas Bennett, Hampton, said neither Moore nor Jones was in the house when he called about six o'clock. When they came in the licensee was in another room, and when he saw them he told them repeatedly to leave the house. Kirk was very busy at the time. The men asked for beer, but were not served.—Cross-examined Moore was drunk, but he thought Jones was quite sober. Herbert Mullock, a fellow-workman of last witness, said they left work at 5.30 and had a drink at the Blue Cap before going to the New Inn. There was nobody in then, and several people came in before Moore and Jones. As soon as they came in the landlord refused to serve them several times. They would not go out when requested, and they had been in about a quarter of an hour when Kennerley came in. Charles Cowap corroborated. After a few minutes' retirement of the Bench, the Chairman said there was a doubt in their minds as to whether defendant exercised reason- able care, and the charge would be dismissed.