Cheshire Observer

WHITCHURCH LICENSING PROSECUTION. [SPECIAL TKLBGKAM.] u At Whitchurch Sessions to-day Cecil UutL&ek. licensee of the Crown Hotel, was fined jj6 and costs for selling intoxicants during prohibited hoars.

FELL UNDER THE WHEELS. FATALITY AT WREXHAM. Last night a terrible fatality occurred at Wrexham. A man named John Dawson was in charge of a timber wagon belonging to Mesers. William Thomas and Sonii, Wretch am and Cardiff, and while coming" up King's MiliA Hill be, by some moans, fell under the who& He was killed instantaneously, and his body was removed to the mortuary at the Wrexham Infirmary to await an inquest.

140 DESCENDANTS. DEATH OF THE DOWAGER DUCHESS OF ABERCORN. We regret to learn that the Dowager Duchess of Abercom died at Coates Castle, Pulborough, Sussex, at 8 o'clock this morning. Deceased was in her 93rd year and was second daughter of the sixth Duke of Bedford. She married in 1832, and had been a widow since 1385. Her Grace was the mother of the present Duke and four other distinguished sons. She had over 140 other descendants, and most of them had for years met annually to wish her many happy returns" of her birthday. A striking hint aa to the numerical strength of this family was, it may be remembered, offered some time ago by Lord George Hamilton—one of her sons-who said that he had 11 nephews at the war in South Africa.

SPORTING. LIVERPOOL MEETING. I FRIDAY. GRAND NATIONAL. KIRKLAND 1 NAPPER TANDY 2 BUCKAWAY II. 3

NESTON PETTY SESSIONS. At these session. yesterday (Friday), before C-olonel Lloyd (ohairmairj) and Mr. J. C. Qatto, the music and dancing licence connected with Keston Liberal dub was transferred frem Mr. Reginald Roper to William Bradsha.w.-Willia.m Roscoe, of Little Neston, was fin?tl 5s. for allow- ing his ass to stray in C?yton ro?d, Willaston. izer,dant had b«i &v& times pr&v'ousty con- victed of the same, offenoe.Edvrard, J.cneor;, Nes- ion. was fined 10s, and costs, or 14 days, for uaing ohscene language. in- Pyke's Weiiit on the 26th March.

THE CREWE MURDER. GEORGE DAVIES RELEASED. George Davies. who, with his brother Richard, was convicted in 1890 of the murder of their father on the highway at Hough, near Crewe, has been released from Parkhurst Prison, after fifteen years' penal servitude. Both were sentenced to death. Richard was executed at Knutsford, but the soutence on George was commuted to penal servitude fofr life, on account of his youth. He is only 32 years of age now.

BIRKENHEAD SENSATION. DEATH OF THE INJURED GIRL. By the death in the Birkenhead Borough Hospital on Thursday morning of Elizabeth Mary Hancock her father, who is charged with feloniously wound- ing her, is placed in an exceedingly various position. It will be remembered that on Thursday of last week William Hancock wont to hi3 home in Old Priory, and, it if alleged, had ,t quarrel with his wife over money matters. The daughter, a girl of 15, intervened, and it is alleged Hancock stabbed her in the head and arm. The girl was seen to rush from tho house covered with blood, followed immediately afterwards by her father, who made his way to tiic river, whence he was rescued, and charged both with feloniously wounding his daughter and with attempted puicide.

DRINKING NEAT WHISKY. SCENE AT CREWE. At Crewe, on Wednesday, Thomuw Clarke and David Cameron. discharged' soldiers, and Wn-. Thos. riitchln, engineer, were- charged with hav- ing been drunk and incapable" in Crewe-road early that morning. A oonstable stated that he found the defendants helplessly drunk at Crewe Green. Clarkeo was lying across the footpath, and the ethers were leaning against .sotiio railings, He tad1 to convey them, to the police station in a cab.—Inspector Lees said that Clarke's condition was so alarming that a doctor had to be called to attend him. He had to ha^e hot flannels and trugs applied. The men had purchased three bottles of whisky and consumed two bottles neat. The soldiers were on their WJ.f to Scotland, and one had a large sum of money — Defendants were fined 2a. 6d. each and cost-i, a.1d Clarke was crdered to pay the doctor's fee- At the same court Wm. Snlhvan and Fredk. Nelson, seamen, travelling from Cardiff to Liver- pool. were charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Crewe Station.—Detective Oliver, of the Railway Police, said that wh-n the express from Bristol to the North arrived at Crewe just before midnight his attention vris called to a carriage in which the. prisoners wr. with another eailor. The two men had been figiting, and the carnage looked lii;: e, a slaughter-house, the seat and. floors being- r,rrlotheored w;h biood. The window was smashed, and also cho photo frames. The prisoners were very vioIdaL There, wad a broken bottle which had oouta,a--i whisky, and another empty one. Sullivan bakt over £8 in cash on him.—Prisoners were fi vjd 10s. eaoh and the damage and OO¡;ta.

ALLEGE D THEFTS 0 F FLO W ERS SERIOUS CHARGE Mr. John M. Fooet. sitting at an occasional court at Mr. Churton's office on Thursday moni- ing, had before him Walter Jauies Pearoe, a young married man residing in Hacniltoa-strret. Hoole. The charge against huu was that on March 28th he stote- a quantity of cut lfowers, value 2s. 6d., the property c-f Messrs. Dick.w. Limited. Mr. E. Braasey, who pro»f'C on behalf of Messrs. Dicksons. said prisone-* occupied a superior position. It was Hie, duty wh^>i ;*eople ordered rowers. to go and gather tnem and record the fact in the office, so that the bill* could be du17 "cont. in to the customer; For some period he had 4been in the habit of cut-ting ftowe-ti and •jondin"- f:em to Walter Jones, florist. Frodsham-street! prisoner was arrested a number of thinge belonging to Mei?;r«. Dick.%on>, ouch aa matting, ^hosepipes, watering cans, etc ware found there. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the officer, and (Mr. jRrassey) would caii only forma: -oviJenoe. William Hoole. detective inspector, slat, or. at Newton, said that on Wednevis afternoon lie received iiiformatkx. from Me Trevor Di:kon tl-ab lfowers had been taken or stolen from the furMfy. Ho interviewed prisono- in the preuonce I of Mr. Tcevor Dickson, and a™kcd him if Uo had sent any doners that woek to OhrAlw" Fi,¡, of e,ll he denied it. and -afterwards naid Yes I have." He said he had had no j-rder for them, neither had he entered them in books. He Jiaa sent lfowers to Chester on ainac three other Occasions to Walter Jones. Bo: .:>K F^dsham-street, and the firm had o knowlcdsjo- of ( he transaction. IV nen witness ohargod hire.. frisonar said he was guiitv. I Prisoner was titer., rem ir.tVd Chester C'astle Petty Sessions, to-day (Sat v. Bail was allowed prisoner, himself in £ 20 and another surety of £ 20. On the aopJication of Mr. P.?-, a summons was granted arainat Walter florist, for reoeiving stolen goods.

COL. COTTON-JODRELL AND EDDISBURY. —— +- SPEECHES AT CHOLMONDELEY. I STRIKING ARGUMENTS. Col. Cotton-Jodrell, OB.. the prospective Unionist candidate for the Eddisbury Division, hAs now visited nearly all parts of the constitu- ency which his oousm, Mr. Henry Toliemache, represents in Parliament, and so cordially has be been received everywhere that should he consent at the proper time to beoome the adopted candi- date, there can ba no doubt as to his onoo more resuming the duties ot Parliamentary member- ship this time aa hon. member for Eddisbury. A right hearty choor greeted his appearanoe on the political platform at Cholmondeley on Wed- nesday evening. Here Col. Cotton-Jodrell came among o'd friends and neighbours, people who know and have long known him as a practical agri- culturist and a gentleman bent on promoting the welfare of thoea engaged in the greatest Cheshire industry, whether from inside or outside the Legis- lative Chamber. The meeting was held in the achools, and thj, room was full from platform to door. There was no mistaking the oomplete sym- pathy which existed; between speakers and audi- enoe. and altogether it was one,-for there have bem m&ny—of most heartily encouraging meetings the Co4oriel has had the pleasure of I addressing. Mr. St John Charlton presided, and delivered a raoy speech,, in which he exposed Radical tricks and fallacies. The Marchioness of Cholmondeley graced the platform with her pre- sence. and the chairman and the prospective candidate were also supported by Major Holford, D.S.O.. the Rev. E. F. Gorst (vicar), and Mr. John Hemp sail (Maaucheater). Among a typically agricultural audience were Messrs. Evan Langley (Bickley), W. D. Haswell (Bickerton), Norman Brasacy (Cholmondeley). Edw. Bird (Bickerton), W. Harria (Biokley), Barnett (Bulkeley). A. Shono (Larkton), J. Shone (Larkton) W. Thomasson (Biokley), J. Windsor (Chorley). W. Windsor (Chorley), T. LangLey (Bickley), J. Speed (Chor- ley), T. T. Wileon (Bickley), C. Flack (Cholmon- deley), G. Perry (Cholmondeley), Furnival (Ohol- moodoley) A. Robinson (Egerton), C. F. Priohard (TJnio»iS>s.agont), T. J. Lanoeley (Cholmondeley), G. BulkieLoy. G. Shenton, J. Hopley (Bickley), G. Hopley (Choimonde-iey), R, J. Swift (Cholmon- deley), Edgar Shaw (Norbury). E. Tong (Cholmon- deley), Holland (Norbury), E. Allman (Cholmon- deley), R W. CJartwright (Cholmondeley), R. W. Cboper 'Bickerton), Pugh, W. Perry (Cholmon- deley), Smith (BickLey), and Hewitt (Biokley). The Chairman, who was received with applause, said it was some time since they had had a political meeting in Cholmondeley, and he re- gretted that ciroumstancee should have arisen which made, it necessary to hold one there. It was oaused by the fact that their old friend, Mr. Henry Tollamaohe, was to retire at the general eleotion from the representation of that division, for which 00 had. been the member for more than twenty years. During the whole of that time the most friendly andl cordial relations had existed between Mr. Toliemache and his constituency. tHear. hea.r) It was. therefore, with great regret that they wem going to part with him. Mr. Tollemaaha meant to retire, and to live not far from them at hia home, and he would carry with him all their very best wishes. It was an ex- feremedy saitisfactory thing to the party in general, and, he thought, to those who were not actually bound to the party, to know that they had in their prospective candidate. Col. Cotton-Jodrell, a man who would very ably and properly, and success- fully, he bofevod, fill the place of Mr, Henry Toilemaahe. (Applause,) In Col. Cotton-Jodreil they had a n&ighbour a. Cheshire man, a land- owner, one who had a large interest in the welfare of the oounfcy, and a man who for a great number of yøaffi-Got from sudden inspiration be- cause he was to be their candidate in the future- had taken a steady interest in and given a most enMistent support to agricultural matters. (Ap- plause.) That was a very important point to oon- sidor when they were selecting a member to repre- sent them ion Parliament—that they had a man whose views on agricultural matters were such that they could give him their implicit confidence. (Hoar. hear.) it--I should not say more, because it was not neoeseary for him to dilate upon Col. Ootton-Jodreil'a qualifications for that particular oonstituenoy. (Hear, hear.) It was a groat thing to have a man who had a knowledge of agricul- ture, and had tJ: t& interest of farmers ac heart, instead of what he iiad seen there—a man coming down whose oniy fttake in the oounty was the car- pet hag he earned, and whoae only knowledge he had of agrioubure was that possibly he might know the difference between a mangold-wursel and a cabbago (Loud laughter.) That. was not the oaee with th""jr friend, Col Cotton-Jodrell, who would giwi the best advice and too best assistance in ail matters that appertained to agri- culture. Turning to general politics and the present position of the Government, the Chairman said the party govern merit of the country had been not inaptly likened to I A GAME OF CRICKET. We oertainly had tho ins and we had the outs, and of ootirso the outs were always trying to get the ins out, That IV,}. quite clear, and we must thore- fore make a certain amount of allowance for the attacks made upon the Government. As in cricket, so in po-Lties. there wera certain rules by which the gairio feuoula be played fairly. They all know at Cholmondeley what a good game of crioket was. Thoy tried- to bowl out the hateman with a fast bali, and sometimes thay tried a lob or very slow bail to give some of th? field a catch. Them wer? legitimate ways of playing cricket, and so Ghero were legitimate ways of playing politics. It was quite fair and square of the Opposition OJ court division and challenge the Government on any subject they thought right, but if i. waa done, it should be done by an official member of the Opposition, either by tho Leader himself or by some influential member of his party. We saw at the present moment that the question which was likely to agitate the country very ma+eriaily in the future, the Fiscal question, vvaa being brought forward once or twice a weak by different irresponsible members, and made tlie opportunity of delaying the time of the Government; and of blocking the services which should be given to the dbunfcry. (Hear, hear.) The hid been that the Government. feeling that was an uncalled-for way of carrying on the opposition, had on several occa- sions. and he believed again on the previous night, adopted the. tactio of going away and not voting at ail. This iia-d given extwmco umbrage to the other party; b:!t after all it was a policy which had been adopted by the Radicals themselves in times past under Mr. Gladstone, and one which com- mended itself to the country-that of putting. if possible, a stop bo the'waste of time that is talcing place. (Hear, hear.) To return to the comparison with cricket lw who played the game fairly and squarely was liked by everybody, but if the people out became rather impatient and began to throw the ball at tho batsman's head it was not quite fair. (Laughte.- arid hear, hear.) That really was what political!" was b0ing done at lh. present imo; The taor,;c3 against, the Government were, ho ?'riough.?, i-a dlbttuI policy. The. Opposi- tion started gio-i subjects aa I CHINESE LABOUR for the purpose of damaging the Government. The question did nof arL>e with the Opposition whether or not the employment of Chinese waa beneficial to the country-, or whether or not it was abso- lutely necessary for the improvement of South Africa. The Radicals seized this opportunity be- cause they though: it would! give them a good cry to go to tine country with, and they raised the cry of slavery, which they knew was one which was hated by every Englishman. (Applause.) In 1904 there. were working at the mines 74,233 per- sons, against 78,000 at the end of 1903, and im- mediately before the war 111.000. As they saw, the number had fallen off very materially. People wondered why after the war was over the Kaffir natives did not return to the mines in such quantities as they had before. That could be easily explained. A great deal of money found its way into tho country after the war, and the Kaffirs absorbed a great deal of ready money, having been employed in different ways during the war. When a. Kaffir got, together a certain amount of money the first thing he did was to obtain two or S/iree wives and having bought tiiese wives he set them to work, and they worked for him whii-i he enjoyed ease and dignity. (Laughter.) He did not think that was a system which at present, at any rate, would find its way to Cheshire (Laughter.) That was the reason vho Kaffin d.id not become as numer- OU3 in the-ir applications for work as was expected when the war was over. It became nec^iry to fill up a very large gap of labourers, and it was calculated that they might do with altogeoiier something like 150,000 em- ployed upon the mines. How was it possible to get that large number? The only way to do it was to get Chinese labour. It was discussed and approved in South Africa, and it was discussed in the Houses of Parliament ad nauseam.and carried by substantial majorities. The Chinese had been imported into country in considerable num- bers, and thowere now 50,000 Chinamen at work in the mir.e-. and they were doing remark- ably well. They were living in compounds, and were extreme!? contented an d very industrious. They were earning a great deal of money, and altogether the employment of Chinese labour had been a most marked success. (Hear, hear.) In a. report that wn made a fortnight ago, a gentle- man who had just; been out there visiting the mines reckoned that on a moderate estimate thro were now 50.0C?) Chinamen employed upon th& minc<. ?nmD'n? an expenditure wages of abo?,it '1'; per annum, about three- quarters of whic.n would be paid out locally. It was not a question of taking those men away from their own country against their will and sub- jecting them to slavery. The Chinese came there of their own tri3e will and were remarkably w:,lJ paid, and were assisting the co-onv to place itself agahi into a flourishing condition, which it other- wise could not have attained. If the Chinese labour had not b.en supplied to 4outli Africa he doubted very much whether it would ever have recovered from the shock that the war gave. (Applause.) That was the sort. of thing invented by the Opposition, and he really thought it was one of the mont tricky and dishonest political manoeuvres that he could recollect in hw lifetime. (Hear, hear.) It was easy when the story had been^started to rnske it spread. A friend of his (Mr. "Cha.rtton' haji told him that while can- vassing in one of the divisions of London one of the greatest difficulties he had to contend with was the Chinese labour calumny. That was in tOO earlier atagsw. and the truth was beginning to be found out now. Hia friend told him they threw it at him at the meetings, placarded it aboat the place, and even went 90 far as to say that if the Chineae were allowed to go to South I Atrica they would be brought to work in London. (Laughter.) People in the district pointed out chat there was and had been a laundry 1Il the district which was worked by Chinamen. The existence of bhat laundry was pointed ouc as clear proof that the Chinese would come there in legions and take away the money from the working-man, and that therefore the Chinese labour question was ORe which affected the workmen of that con- stituency. (Loud laughter.) A "LION" STORY. I That reminded him (Mr. Charlton) of a story he saw the other day. It was of a forest country in the south-west of England, and the story was not of a Chinaman but of a much worse animal in the shape of a lion, who was in the forest. Great excitement prevailed in the district, and they were all very much frightened at the idea. In a short time different people heard the lion roar there, generally at night. Others saw the lion by moonlight, and then there was a man found dead, and they came to the conclusion that he must have been killed by the lion. Further in- quiries rovealed that there was a lion in the forest, but it was the sign of tho" Red Lion" public-house, which had been taken off by some boys in the neighbourhood and thrown into the bushes of the forest, and was then described as a lion that had been lost in the forest, and the rest followed. (Loud laughter.) The way in which the Chinese labour question had been started was very much like the story of the lion in the forest. (Hear, hear.) Alluding to the Fiscal question, the Chairman discussed its rise to prominence. He was, he said, talking to a lady a little while ago. She was not a keen politician. She said "I do not undertand what it means. Has it anything to do with fishes?" (Loud laughter.) He (Mr. Charlton) replied that he did not think it bad anything to do with fishes. Seeing that she was not very strong in political matters, he thought he had better let the matter drop. (Laughter.) Twenty years ago or more the revenue required from this country to carry on its concerns was something like £ 85,000,000. At the present moment it was over £ 140,000,000. Of oourse the Radicals immediately said, Oh, but that ia because the Government is so extrava- gant. The fact of the matter was that was not so. It was because the House of Commons was ex- travagant. It was because every body, almost every Council, required more money—every County Council and every District Council. He would not say every Parish Council—(laughter)—because he knew the Parish Council of Cholmondeley was a most extraordinarily economical body. (Laugh- ter.) It was true that Council never had any work to do. (Laughter.) Still it did not follow that it should not spend money. There were lots of people who spent a great deal of money without any work to shew for it. We could easily see that if the revenue of the country was to be brought to one-third or more than it used to be we must do one of two things. We must either press those taxes which existed very hardly, or we must enlargo our taxable area and draw our revenue from a greater number of sources. (Hear, hear.) Take tea, for instance. We could not do without tea, which was taxed to the extent of eightpence in the pound. That was almost a prohibitive tax when we considered that it could be grown, as he was informed by people who had a knowledge of the cultivation of tea in India, at under sixpence a pound. It was surely a very unfair tax to put upon that article. It was proposed in the new Fiscal policy adopted by Mr. Balfour and his party that there should be reciprocity oonnected with all Fiscal arrangements. That was to say if any particular article from this country was taxed very highly in some foreign country, we should say that if the high tax was continued we should put a tax on some article that country sent to us. (Hear, hear.) Did they not think that was fair and reasonable and likely to lead to the prosperity of the oountry? (Hear, hear.) Take our trade with America as an illustration. Twelve years ago wo imported to this country from America E97,000,000 worth of goods, and we sold to America 232,000,000 worth. After the MoKinley tariff was passed we bought from America E141,000,000 worth, and sent to America only 218,000,000 worth. That was because the McKinley tariff made it impossible in some cases, and almost im- possible in others, that we could reach the American markets. That was what Radicals called Free Trade. Did they see anything free about it? It might be free imports into this country so far as America was concerned, but it was a MOST GROSS CARICATURE to call it Free Trade so far as we were con- cerned. He merely mentioned America, but the case was true of the other countries of Europe. He noticed that when the Radicals spoke of these matters they referred to Russia, and said if we adopted protective duties England would become a second Russia. Why did not they say a second America? Why did not they say a second Germany, or a seoond France? Why take the only country in the world that was at this particuar moment under a cloud? (Hear. hear.) That wa« the Radical policy. He (the chairman) knew quite well that the Fiscal question was likely to divide the country. The so-called Free Traders, or F ree> Fooders," as some of them called them- selves nowadays, thought to appeal to the old feeling that existed before he (the chairman) was born, he thought. It was a case of Protection and heavy duties on flour in those days. Nobody in thair senses, no person unless a mad- man would propose for a moment that such duties should be put upon any article the people wanted to consume, except in the smallest and most infinite-?imal manner. Mr. Chamberlain had shewn us that we might put a two-shilling duty on wheat without affecting very much or hardly at all the prioe of bread. When Mr. Ritchie in his budget—alt-hough he was a Conservative, he thought Mr. Ritchie ought never to have been Chanoellor of the Exchequer—took off the. shilling duty on corn, he overheard a conversation the next day between two gentlemen engaged in the corn trade. One -iid to the other "How do you like the budget?" I should think I do like the budget." replied the other. "Why. it will make a great difference to your firm?" "Thound" a I year." "You don't mean to say that?" Yc,,i, and I never expected it. "What effect will it have on the price of bread?" It won't affect the price of bread. It is too small for that." What becarn-t- (oontinued the chairman) of that 2 £ millions that belonged to the people of the country? By perfect stupidity, by crass ignor- anoe, thqfc was thrown away and wasted, when it might have been a source of continued revenue toO the country. (Applause.) His argument was that a i-.hilhng wa? so infinitesimal that it could not be measured, and that the two shillings pro- posed by Mr. Cham!:>er!ain could not be so very terrible as the Radicals made out. The price of wheat went up and down, 2s. or 3s. per quarter, according to circumstances, and yet there was no variation in the price of bread. (Applause.) If wo put a small tax 011 a thing it would not of necessity beoome a very great one. We had always g'ot a remedy for rhat. The House of Commons need not pav; it. On everyone of these a vote had to be taker, .seriatim every year, and if a vote was proposed to injure the food of the people did they think their members of Parliament would allow ;t to pa^s? No. The Radicals were par3din ?r tho same old story of the Tory loaf and the Radical loaf. They had it there in the time of Mr. Irwell. (Laughter.) He (the speaker) recollected t:0,(")" loaves perfectly well. and was sure thev would airree with him that they were v"ry stale. (Lvisrhter.) Here they were acain. Thero was no Fiscal question then, and if there was a Fiscal .on now the same old arguments were brought, out. They did duty before, and they did duty now. (Laughter.) He hoped they would look into the Fiscal question for themselves and sift it welL In conclusion, he expressed the hope that they would rally round the Unionist candidate the party would select when the election came. (Loud applause.) AIR. STANLEY CORRECTED. I Col. Cotton-JodreLl. who had a very kindly re- ception. after heartily associating himself with tho ohairmari's remarks aa to the loss the division suffered through the retirement of Mr. Henry Toliemache., said he wished to answer a state- ment by Mr. Stanley, and in doing so he hoped they would remember that Mr. Stanley and he wero mutually agreed to oonduot the campaign fro3 irom. any personalities whatever. Hear, hear.) Mr. Stanley and he had not had a very iong acquaintance, but they were very good personal friends, and he hoped they would so re- ma, n. (Hoar, liear ) In his speech at Aldford Mr. Stan!oj>" was reported to have said "he would answer Coionel Cotton-Jodrell or Mr. Henry Toilernache. who said that he proposed legislation to deal with the land question which, as they had good landlords :n Cheshire, would be of no avail to the Cheshire farmer." Ho did not know that Mr. Tollomjohe had said anything about it. but ho (the ppealv^r: mo rely wished to correct Mr. Stanley. Ho had instanced lemarks made at one of Mr. Stanley's meetings, where two gentlemen at the end of tho meeting, one of them Mr. Stan- ley's chairman, got up and said they were satis- fied with the- relations between landlord and tenant this county. He had never quoted Mr. Stanley 3. saying -TO. Ho had given Mr. Stanley cretlit for being -xtreanelv reasonable in his views on land tenure. He (the Colonel) thoroughly en- dotaed the opinion a.s to the good conditions be- tween landlord and tenant in Cheshire, and nearly (■very Learnt farmer would agree. It was a most in itself, but he (the Colonel) nad distinctly said that in any proposed legislation we must take into the case other parts of tho opuntry. There were bad landlords just as thero weir- bad tenants, and we had to legislate for otia and other, irrespective of the good re- lations existing betwoon landlord* and tenants in this particular part of England. (Hear, hear.) 1\.1. Stanley was also reported to have said that a tax of 10: 0:1 foreign cheese would result in a general rise in the price of cheese. Mr. Stanley did not say oil how much. He supposed he moant a 10s. duty per cwt. A 10s duty per cwt. on foreign cheese would be enormous. We imported at the present time two and a half million cwt. of cheese from, abroad from all sources, and the avoiage. pnev- of that was 50s. per cwt. Therefore a 10s. diitr would mean twenty per cent. That was far aljov anything anyoneo ever contemplated on any a;rfcici 1 of food at all. Mr. Chamberlain i-i daii-v produce a sniall duty. He was doiigutrtvi be able to tell them that over fwo-il.d.j oi our imported ch eese came from our G:>Jvn;.(\N:1:Ç:¡ was let into tho country entirely I, froe. arid Wince, neither Mr. Chamberlain nor anyone eLii proposed to put. a sixpenny duty on nt all. (Hear, Considering the amount of cheese manufactured in this country—it was said that in this county of Chester t here were 400.000 cwr. rfl-mufociurad in a year—and adding the 000 wryth which came from our Colonies, we got a small proportion indeed from fcoro sfn oo'nihrio? which would be subject to the small tax. Mr. Stanley had a'.so said "a protec- tive wo-i'ul brinz miserv to the very poorest; Ihk- mv'Hf.ie'r-T, the landlord, the farmer, the n-i-ohanie, all would lose by a protective tax." That wan a very pious opi riion. The worst of Free Traders and Free Fooders was that. they did not argue out the point. If all these things were going to happen fo our people because we put on a proboh" tax, would thoy not have happened in tho protective countries of America, Germany, I France, and so on? (Applause.) DEAR LOAF BOGEY. I Adverting to Mr. Stanley a statement as to a duty on foreign cheese leading to a general rise in the price ot cheese, he wouid give Iliem the only analogy which we oould have at the present, and that was what had happened in the case of bread, flour and corn. At a meeting he attended at Aud- lem there was a discussion as to the price of bread at that time and in the previous year. Eventually it was decided that the price of the 41b. loaf in Audlem at the present time is fivepenoe, whereas in the preceding twelve months it had been four- penoe halfpenny. Ho (the Colonel) was able at a later period of the meeting to make a few com- ments on that statement, and to shew that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer took the shilling duty off corn the price of bread at Audiem ap- peared to be 4!d. At the end of twelve months, when tho tax was not on at all, the price rose to fivepenoe. How did they explain that? (Laugh- ter.) The fact of the matter was. the price of bread in this country was continually fluctuating. During the last fourteen years the price of wheat per quarter had ranged from 23s. to 37s., and yet during the whole of that period the price of the 41b. loaf had only varied by ona penny. That shewed there were many other causes beyond the imposition of a slight duty on wheat which would operate and affect the price of bread. (Hear, bear.) It was ascertained without doubt that on a certain day the prioe of bread in different parts of the United Kingdom varied from fourpenc-eo to fivepenoe halfpenny. Therefore it was impossible that the price of bread oould be materially altered by a small duty placed upon flour from foreign countries. The same argument, by analogy. applied to the- question of cheese which affected them so much in Cheshire. (Hear, hear.) The complaint was that we were very much handi- capped in our trade by foreign competition. We certainly were a very wealthy country; but while __1- -=_L _no"1"C many people were very ricn nipu very there was an uncertainty about labour. Working- men wore not in steady employment, and there were some grounds for the lamentable fact set forth by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, that a third of the population of the United Kingdom was in an underfed or semi-starved condition. Foreign competition had a great deal to answer for that. (Hear, hear.) Supposing a manu- facturer with a capital of £100,000 set up a mill in a village and employed 500 hands, and owing to foreign oompetition-and this part of his illustra- tion was no fable-he was unable to carry on his business and had to discharge his 500 hands. Let them suppose that then a millionaire came to the village, renting a shooting or hunting-box, and employed fifty men. To all appearanoes the village was £ 900,000 the richer. That was one side of the question. The other was that there were now only fifty men employed instead of the 500 originally. Where were the remaining 450 gone to? Some might have found employ- ment elsewhere, but the bulk had probably gone to swell the ranks of the unemployed. We were told that in this Free Trade country of England every one man in forty was a pauper, contrasted with one in 160 in the protective country of France "groaning under Protection"; or one in 250 in the United States, another Protectionist oountry. (Hear, hear.) About eight years ago he was in Japan, and took a gteat deal of interest not only in their military customs, but also in their social methods. He was there informed by a gentleman of authority in the Government that in the whole of Japan, which had almost exactly the same number of population as ourselves, there were only two workhouses, and they were sufficient. (Hear, hear.) I LOOKING INTO THE GLASS. By way of further illustrating the injurious effect of free imports, the Colonel told them that on Sunday he was talking to a friend who was en- gaged in some big electrical works at Newcastle- on-Tyne, where searchlights are made. The con- versation turned on a family whom both knew. His friend said, Oh, those are the people who used to supply us with all the glass for the search- lights we make. They have given up making them for some years, and we get the whole of our searchlight glass from France." He (the colonel) asked what was the difference in price, and his friend told him that they paid to-day jMO for the same glass they used to give the English firm £100 for. Would it not be fair, he asked, to tax this French glass, which came into this country free, with some toll at all events-(hear. hear)— 80 that the considerable amount of English labour which made this searchlight glass should not be displaced in the way it was now. (Applause.) The exports of glass in 1903 were worth just over a million of money, and our imports of glass were 3A, millions. We ought to protect ourselves against the importing of these cheap goods. At this moment Colonel Cotton-Jodrell carefully un- wrapped a wine glass, remarking with a smile, You will think I am going to shew you a con- juring trick. (Laughter.) I assure you there is no deception '—(laughter)—and that is the only point in which I am going to resemble the con- jurer." He then explained that he could not get an equivalent to that glass in London. He would make the frank confession that that glass came from Austria. He was quite sure the price would be 20s. per dozen at least if it could be got in England. He got it at Vienna, and it was landed here and delivered at his own house for a fraction over twelve shillings per dozen. Mr. Chamber- lain proposed to put a duty on foreign manufac- tur-ed articles not exceeding an average of ten per cent. (Hear, hear.) He would ask them in the name of everything fiscal and everything reasonable what possible harm could be done to any soul in this country if we were to charge that glass with a duty of 30 per cent., and make the price Is. 3d. It might do two good things. It would ensure that threepence was paid for the privilege of that glass's coming into this country, and that would go to our revenue; and, if pur- chasers thought the duty a prohibitive one, they woul d be obliged to buy English glass made by English workmen. (Hear, hear.) Our Colonies were coming to us with outstretched hands, say- ing Come along. Join hands with us. We are reajdy to help you." (Applause." He trusted Mr1, Chamberlain most emphatically. (Cheers.) He was giving himself up to the policy of not only binding our Colonies closer to the Mother Country, but also to securing that a due and proper share of the wealth of this country, by steadiness of employment and by good wages, should if we could possibly secure it, be the inheritance of every working-man of England. (Loud applause.) Mr. Evan Langley moved a resolution of hearty thanks to Mr. Henry Tollemache for his lono- and faithful services, and of continued confidence in the present Unionist Government, also expressing the opinion that the time has arrived for a re- consideration of the Fiscal policy of the United Kingdom. Mr. Langley said not only his friends but those who politically differed from him re- gretted Mr. Tollemache's impending retirement. Personally he had what was akin to a feeling of affection for Mr. Toliemache. (Hear, hear.) Not only in political life but also in military life he had known a great deal of Mr. Tollemache, and could safely say that there never beat a kinder heart in any man. (Applause.) It was rather late in the day, but he might be permitted, to hope that Mr. Tollemache would have many years of happiness in his changed condition of life. (Applause.) The Chairman had fully gone into the qualifications of Colonel Cotton-Jodrell but he might be allowed to add as a tenant farmer what he knew of him. He knew that he took a deep interest in and had done a good work for agriculture in Cheshire. (Applause.) Few gen- tlemen in the position of Colonel Cotton-Jodrell knew the wants and wishes of farmers better, or tried to do more to help them. (Hear, hear.) THE COLONEL'S POLITICAL HISTORY. He recalled the time wh.en the Colonel was second candidate for the old division of West Cheshire, one of the sitting members having ex- pressed his intenticn of retiring. The latter gentleman was none other than the late kind- hearted nobleman and generous landlord, Lord Toliemache. (Hear, hear.) After that a re- distribution of seats took place, and Colonel Cotton-Jodrell turned his affections to Wirral, which constituency he wooed and won, d'efeating his Radical cousin, Mr. James Tomkinson. His majority was so large that it practically gave him (the Colonel) security of tenure in that divi- sion for on two subsequent occasions he was re- turned unopposed, and on the next occasion his majority was nearly doubled. (Applause.) Cpl. Cotton-Jodrell had told them he was a believer in and would be a supporter of (when the time came) Mr. Chamberlain's Fiscal policy. That he (Mr. Langley) was very pleased to hear. He had long thought a change was necessary in our tariff. What was good for the country 60 years ago was not suitable to our modern conditions; and he believed th.e result of the inquiry of those able business men who formed the Fiscal Committee, would prove that our manufacturing centres, our great national industries were suffering and were likely to suffer more from unrestricted free imports of manufactured goods from foreign countries, and from the prohibitive tariffs of foreign coun- tries on our own goods; so much so that the workman had not sufficient work and his pur- chasing power was so lessened that he could not buy the productions of the farmer. (Hear. hear.) It was stated that there was brought into this country last year manufactured work to the ex- tent of £ 135,000,000. If that were spent in British labour it would probably have given em- ployment to nearly every man. woman, and child unemployed in the United Kingdom. A very good farmer friend of his said at one of Mr. Stanley's meetings that the rise in the price of sugar was due to the sugar duties, and he also predicted that if Mr. Chamberlain's policy was carried into law it would have similar effect upon otner articles 01 consumption. Did lids friend forget that there was such a thing as supply and demand. He believed one of the greatest causes of tue rise of sugar was th? short- ness of crops, the less supply- with equal if not greater demand. Let them take also the case of cotton. His farmer friend was a cheesemaker like himself, and knew that cheese sent to the Man- chester markets did not make satisfactory prices last year. Why? Because there was not a full supply of cotton, and many mills were standing, while many others worked half-time, and there was not so much money to buy Cheshire cheese as there otherwise would have been. (Hear, hear.) We were often warned as to accepting political premises. He took very little notice of them; he looked at performances. The perform- ances of the Unionist party had been of the Greatest benefit to agriculturists. (Hear, hear.) He cnild give them nnmerous irstancps. and he would give them one-the A?ridultirral Rates Act. (Applause.) The burden of fates was almost more than we could bear, and the Unionist Government knowing this, arid that land bore more than its fa;r share, had oassed this Act. which the Radical party opposed tooth and nail. It was passed in the first instance for five years and then renewed for two years, and it was to be further continued.HL, quoted two hypothetical cases clearly illustrating the advantages of the Act to agriculturists, and concluded by expressin.L- the coinion that the Unionist. Government and the Unionist party were the beat legislators for tho greatest number. Their policy, both foreign and Colonial, gave confidence to capital, and with confidence to capital came stimulus to tradie. Their intention was to do what they possibly could to bring into closer bonds of union the Colonies with the Mother Country, so that the Empire might be one grand Imperial whole, under one flag and throne. (Loud applause.) Major Holford seconded, and prophesied that if a Radical Government were returned we should rue it every day it lasted. He defied any man to say what would be the Radical policy if they were returned to office. They did not know them- selves the only thing they agreed about was that every other man is a fool. (Laughter.) He also told them that by the Agricultural Rates Act Cheshire got about £ 35,000 a year, which would come to an end in 1906; and he was perfectly sure that if the Radicals were in power they would not renew it. (Applause.) Within the next few weeks, or months, there would be peace between Japan and Russia. Which was the right man to represent England when peace terms were dis- cussed? Was it not the man who had the sense a few years ago to make a treaty with Japan when they all said Japan was not worth worrying about and that Japan was "a nasty little yellow nation"? Japan at the present was the greatest military nation and England the greatest naval nation, and the laugh was against the Radicals who said Lord Lansdowne was making a fool of himself in making a treaty. Alluding to Colonial preference, he said if we bound England to her Colonies we should have an Empire such as the world never saw before, and which would almost bring the milennium. and peace would be all over the world. (Applause.) Mr. Hempshall supported, and in an able speech dealt with some interesting points of the Fiscal question.—The resolution was heartily carried. The Rev. E. F. Gorst proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. W. D. Haswell and unanimously accorded. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

CITY POLICE COURT. I MONDAY.—Before the Mayor (Mr. R. Lamb), Dr. Stolterfoth, Mr. James G. Frost and Mr. F. Roberts. SATISFACTORY.—Inspector F. Hayward, N.S.P.C.C., asked permission to withdraw the case against Thomas Lawson, of Lower Yard, Crook- street, of neglecting his five children. The In- spector said that since the adjournment of the case there had been good improvement in the conduct of the defendant.—The case was withdrawn. UNQUESTIONABLY IRISH. -ThomasLyons, a powerfully-built man, was charged with being drunk in Princess-street on Saturday. He pleaded guilty. A constable said he locked prisoner up for his (prisoner's) own safety. Prisoner said he had come into Chester from Great Sutton to buy some cheap things for the week.—The Mayor What are you ?—Prisoner I am an Irishman.—The Mayor: I can hear that.—Detective Hughes said prisoner was working on the sewerage at Great Sutton.— Prisoner was let off on payment of the costs. YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).—Before Dr. Stolter- foth, Mr. Thomas Smith and Mr. F. E. Roberts. DRUNK IN COURT—A man named Thomas Worrall was fined 2s. 6d. and costs for being drunk and disorderly en the Canal-side on Satur- day. When he came to ask for time to pay his fine, the Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. G. Davison). noticing his conduct, taxed him with having been drinking that marri;ng.-Worrall: Of course I have. I do so every morning. (Laughter.)—The Magistrates' Clerk ordered an officer to remove the man be-low, and this was done. A NOTED CHARACTER.—Elizabeth Benison, who, according to the Chief Constable, had 52 previous convictions, was charged with disorderly conduct on Thursday.—The Chief Constable said she was sentenced to three months' imprisonment on Dec. 31st, and had been released only on Thursday.—Prisoner, who appeared to be ill, was ordered to be sent to the workhouse.

CHESTER WHIST LEAGUE. ST. WERBURGH'S v. OLD ST. MARY'S INSTITUTE. Played at St. Werburgh's. Score:— ST. WERBURGH'S. OLD ST. MART'S. T. Heaney 1 91 J. Sconce \17 Jas. Beatty ? A. Killick T. Dolan J. Moulton \91 Jno. Beatty I Pte. Bayliss J J. McDermott ? ? S. Catherall K J. P. Gallagher J ? E. Lowe J. Flynn \01 J. Underhill E. Evans ? H. Dempsey J T. Feeey \01 T. Davies II W QUInn J. Edwards j? A. Quinn \01 E. Sconce .? Q J. Clunan 1_ W. Catherall a 120 98 Majority for St. Werburgh's, 22. HANDBRIDGE v. CHURCH CLUB.—Played at Handbridge. Score :— HANDBKIDGE. CHURCH CLUB. H. Hand 21 F. Weston .} 15 J. Ronson J F. Argyle J J. Buckley \91 T. I)empsey  G. Garratt jZL M. Mead J? G. Gerrard ■, fi S. Webster J| Z011 I R. G. Gerrard W. Youd /? E. Palin J. Allshorn ) G. Grice ? E. Dutton  S. Blake 1 A. Caldwell > W. Blake & H. Brown  W. Sconce 16 B. Bradford }21 L. Whipp I- W. McCartney J 102 107 Majority for Church Club, 5. CHESTER WHIST LEAGUE. 'I RESULTS UP TO DATE. Played. Won. L't. D'n. For. Agst. Pts. *St. Francis's 15.13. 2. 0 1677 1333.26 St. Barnabas's .15.11. 4. 0.1669.1369.22 St. Werburgh's .15. 9. 6. 0.1548.1473.18 Handbridge .16. 9. 7. 0.1599.1587.18 Old St. M tiry's C.C. 16. V. 7. 0.1649.1644.18 Campbell Mem Halll5 5. 9.. 1.1487.1569.11 St. John's .16. tChes. Bearer Co.16. 5 .11. 0 ..1423 .1722. 9 fOldSt. Mary's 16. 3..12. 1.1480.1705. 6 Winners, Season 1903-1904. t One point deducted for breach of rules.

CHESTER PAXTON SOCIETY—Attention is 'drawn to the announcement in our advertising columns as to the exhibition of spring flowers, which is to be held in the Town Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11th and 12th April. We under- stand that this exhibition, which has in past years been held in the Grosvenor Museum, promises to be the most extensive of its kind ever held in Chester, so that a real treat to all lovers of .flowers may be reasonably anticipated. Her Grace Katharine Duchess of Westminster has very kindly promised to open the exhibition on the first named dlY. VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION OF CON- SU,NIPTION.-Voluntary notlfication of phthisis is a failure according to Dr. Gars tang, medical officer to Knntsford, Winsford, Middlewich, and Blddulph Urban and Bucklow Rural authorities. He had issued circulars inviting the voluntary notification of pulmonary tuberculosis. In four years only 50 Bad been received, and in almost every instance the cases were in the last stages, death following within a few days or weeks. Dur- ing the same period there had been 139 deaths from phthisis, leaving 39 unnotified even up to death, and there were probably about 200 surviving cases in the districts named. If the notifications could not be obtained voluntanly a demand for com- pulsory notification would be the natural sequel. CHESTER GLEE CLUB.—On Tuesday even- ing the annual dinner of this society took place at the Bull and Stirrup Hotel, and a good com- pany assembled. The proceedings throughout wei'o most enjoyablo, and the dinner was an ex- cellent prelud-e- to the concert which followed. After dinner the president (Mr. H. R. Thomas) oocup ed the chair, being supported by the vice- piipsi dent, Mr. W. A. Hopton. After the usual loval and other toasts the following contributed to the evening's enjoymcnt:-Me&,irs. Armstrong (violin) and Mr. Rogers (oastinots), a.nd Messrs. Proctor, Snelson, Hopton. Nob let, Robinson, Loui Parry, Kent-Smith. Mr. Butt.erworth pIloted, the concert. Tho proceedings terminated with "Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. MATTHEW ARNOLD'S POETRY.—A crowded audience Of the Chester Natural Science Society (literature section), at the Museum on Thursday evening, heard an interesting lecture by the Rev. Richard Jones on "The Poetry of Matthew Arnold. The RQV. A. H. Fish pre- sided. The lecturer said that Arnold must be ranked with tho greatest of the Victorian poets. Ho had a message to utterr, and he knew how to utbcvr it in sustained and stately phrase. I-lis poetry was the union of glorious thought with beauty of form and of strength with elegance. He was a poet of the intellect, and his poetry was the poetry cf ideas, the outcome of his thinking. His craving for sincerity and reality, his lucidity and restrained defmiteness were his characteristics. The leoturer spoke of his exquisite elegiao poems, and illustrated his lecturo by copious extracts from his works. "FOB THE BLOOD IS THR LIJE."—Clarke's world- famed Blood Mixture is warranted to cleanse the blood from all impurities, from whatever cause arising. For Scrofula, Scurvy, Eczema, Skin and Blood Diseases, and Sores of all kinds, its effects are marvellous. Thousands of testimonials. In bottles, 2/9 and 11/- each. of all Chemists. Prib. prietors, Lincoln and Midland Counties Drag Company, Lincoln. Ask for Clarke's Blood Mixture and do not be persuaded to take an imitation.

A QUEEN'S FERRY ACCIDENT. ————- 0 ———— ACTIONS FOR DAMAGES. I At Chester County Court, on Thursday, his Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd concluded the hearing of two actions brought against Joseph Formaii and Jacob Griffiths, brewers, Shotton, to recover damages on account of their alleged neg- ligence. The plaintiffs respectively were Thomas Rowland Haygarth, of Garsdale, Yorks., who claimed £ 100, and Robert John Roberts, cycle agent, 1, Bridge-street, Shotton, who claimed £10. There was a counter-claim, against the plaintiff Roberts for £ 4. Mr. T. W. Hughes (Flint) ap- peared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. W. H. Churton for defendants. The case for the plaintiffs, as lieard at a previous sitting of the court, was that the damages sus- tained were consequent upon the negligent driving of a horse and cart by the defendants at Queen's Ferry. On the 23rd of Dec. last the plaintiffs were travelling by a motor-cycle and trailer at- tached from Queen's Ferry to Shotton, Roberts being on the cycle and Haygarth in the trailer. It was dark and, foggy at the time, and they were travelling, it was alleged, at a rate of only six or se-von miles an hour. After passing the oross-roads at Queen's Ferry they were run into by defend- ant's float, with serious results. The trailer was completely smashed, and Haygarth was seriously hurt, sustaining a broken jaw. It was contended that the accident was attributable entirely to the fact, that defendants' cart carried no lights, and that it waa going at a fast rate. Mr. Churton, for the defence, urged that from the inj ury done to the axle of the float, the cycle must have been going at a tremendous pace. Roberts'3 admission that he was on the wrong side of the road shewed contributory negligence. The evidence for the defendants shewed that their cart had a light, and that it was thrown from the cart either by the jolting of the vehicle on the grass or by the collision. At all events, the lamp was afterwards found lying on the road. Evidence on behalf of the defendants was given by a number of witnesses. Jacob Griffiths, one of the defendants, stated that he was driving the cart, and there, were several others with him They carried a lamp, and on account of the fog they were going very slowly-almost at walking pace. The road was perfectly straight between Shotton and Queen's Ferry. Having proceeded for about 200 yards in the direction, of Queen's Ferry, ho heard a sound like that of a motor horn. and saw a light about 25 yards ahead He shouted, "Get on your right side, and drew the cart on the grass, leaving the off-wheel fifteen inches on the road. Then fol- lowed a crash, and he was thrown on to the road. It was like a. shot out of a gun, and the impact knocked the axle of his cart clean off. Joseph Fennah, the other defendant, in cor- roborating, said the motor-cycle was travelling "like lightning," and it nearly lifted the float over. Tom Rugman, Shotton, deposed to seeing the plaintiff Roberts driving the motor-cycle on the afternoon in question in the direction of Queen's Ferry. In view of the thickness of the fog be was of opinion that he wa& driving too fast. Further evidence was given by William Thomas, joiner, Connah's Quay; James Cooper, Shotton; Wm. Williams, collier. Hawarden; Wm. Jones, foreman at gandyeroft, Foundry; Edward Henry Hughes, commercial traveller,' Great Saughall; John Barker; Thomas Fennah; and Frank Jones, grocor, Hawarden. The latter witness estimated that the motor-cycle was travelling at a speed of twenty miles an hour as it passed his shop. His Honour, in giving judgment, pointed out that the only allegation of negligence against the defendants was that at the time the accident hap- pened they carried no light. Their cart was on its proper side, and was not going beyond a reason- able pace. There was very strong evidence that when the cart started on its journey the lamp was lighted, and at the time of the impact. it was out. The question was when it went out. He was not satisfied that the light was there immediately be- fore the aooident; the evidence justified him in coming to the conclusion that it had gone out some little time before. That, prima facie, would be ja. case of negligence against the defendants. On the other hand, the plaintiffs were going too fast, and this negligence on their pa.rt contributed very materially to the accident. He had come to the conclusion that both parties were negligent, and that the accident might, with reasonable care on both sides, have been avoided. He gave judg- ment for the defendants in both actions, but each party must pay their own costs.

WAIFS' AND STRAYS' SOCIETY I THE DElN ANR PARENTAL DUTIES. The annual meeting of the Church of England Waifs' and Strays' Society (the Chester Diocesan branch) was held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday afternoon. In the ab- scenoe of the Mayor (Alderman R. Lamb), the Dean of Chester presided over a large attendance, including the Sheriff (Dr. Mann), the Archdeaoon of Chester, the Rev. E. de M, Rudolph, the Rev. Canon Scott, the Rev. P. Rees, the Rev. C. C. Atkinson, the Rev. E. R. Tarbuck, the Rev. F. E. Hicks, Mr. H. A. Jenner, Mr. Hubert Winstan- ley (hon. diocesan secretary), etc. The general report of the branch recorded the fact that the adverse balance with which the past year commenced had disappeared, and the present year had been started with a substantial balance on the right side. That satisfactory result had arisen partly by special efforts and individual acts of self-deniál, and by decreased expenditure in the homes, but not by increased subscriptions or offertories, which had remained almost stationary. Annual subscriptions had amounted to JB570 lis. 3d., as against £ 577. 14s. lOd. in 1903; while the church offertories came to £ 361. 18s. 2d., as against JB559. 13s. 7d. On the expenditure side there had been a decrease from £254. 1&. 4d. to JE221. lls. 3d. in the Rock Ferry Home; and of from £ 576. 14s. 9d. to JE551. Os. 3d. in the New Brighton Home. The cost of the Tattenhall Home had increased from JE726 Is. 9d. to £ 738. 12s. 3d., on account of higher rent and a larger number of boys in the Home. The notfc result was that after beginning tho year with too adverse balance of J6105. 15s. 7d., they had finished with the grand balance of £ 251. 19s. 6d. on the right side. The Dean of Chester moved the adoption of the report. He said he trusted no one would think it was in any sense luke-warmness on his part if bo threw cut the caution, which he believed was nooessa' ry, not only in the work of the Waifs' and Strays Society, but in any work of a kindred nature. They knew that in this world it was ex- tremely difficult to do good without at the same time running the risk of creating some evil; but he WM confident from inquiries he had made in the case of dJù Societies for Waifs and Strays he knew that sufficient care was ta.ken in the admission of those children for whom they ca.red, in order to guard as far as possible fiom the abuse of any society such as that. It was a grievous thing to say, but the truth had better be told, because they had to be on their guard against possible abuse. Instances in this city had come under his own notice where parents not only were careless because they thought somebody else would under- take the responsibility which ought to lie upon them, but he had known three oases, when he was a parochial clergyman here,, in which the parents undoubtedly incited their children to behave I wrongly in order that they might be consigned to the care of the Industrial School. Now they must be careful to guard as far as they could against diminishing the sense of parental responsibility. (Hoar, hear.) If they did not do that they might be quite sure that they were undermining one of the greatest safeguards for the stability of society, and ultimately the nation. If parents at largo shirked their duty. neglected their children, and made homes no homes, they were really in a very serious manner weakening the ties which ought to bind men and women, children and parents, to- gether, and nothing could be more certainly the source of a nation's weakness than that. Thev had only to look back and read the pages of history to see that the downfall of nations was always pre- ceded by the weakening of family ties a.nd the dereliction of parental duties. Having looked into the case of the Waifs' and Strays' Society, he was thankful to know that the committee did investi- gate the oases with great care, and so far as pos- sibly could they guarded against anything like imposition. The Dean proceeded to refer to the work of those engaged under the poor law, and while not wishing to disparage, he said he thought there was something wrong in the sj-stem whioh hindered the appointment of chaplains to work- houses. There was a lamentable want of spiritual help in all our workhouses, but he was glad to say that was not. the case in their Homes at Tat- tenhall. Rock Ferry and New Brighton. There the children were well cared for and well educa- too, and there they had that supremo help of their minds being directed to the Unseen and the Eter- nal. The decreased expenditure in the Homes had not been at the cost of the health of the boys. Th-Me was an old Latin proverb which said that to have a sound mind one must have a sound body. Why did Mr. Gladstone cut down trees? In order that his brain might be healthy and vigorous, and muscular exercise and good feeding were necessary for the full development of the brain and for good brain work. The; Archdeacon of Chester seconde-doand the motion was carried. The Rev. C. C. Atkinson' moved the election of the officers and members of committees. The Sheriff, in seconding, said tl'-e time had come when England seemed to be awakening and rising to the fact that in the coming generation we had tho greatest national' asset-, and in the care we spent upon the children of to-day depended the future of our nation. The work that society was doing among the children would strongly ap- peal to and be greatly recognised by all who had at heart the future of our lace and Empire. (Ap- plause.) The motion was carried. On the motion of the Rev. E. de- M. Rudolf, seconded by the Rew. P. Rees, the officers of the society were thanked! for their services. The meeting closed with a. vobe of fhanks to the Mayor few the 1190 of the room. proposed bv the Rev. E. R. Tarbuck. seoon d'edby Mrv H. A. ,Jenner.

A fmet and a wild rabbit, firm friends, live together in a oatre at the farm bf Mr. Bradley at Skittj*m, Out Raiwcliffe. 'rhe rabbit WM taken from a nest when young, n vwr ago, hy a farm hoy and given to the ferret. The ferret, instead of eat- ing it, made friends. and the two have snuggled together during the cold winter nights. DON'T LOOK OLD. With advancing years greyness increases. Stop this with LOOKTKR'S SULPHUR HAIR RESTORER, which darkens to the former colour and preserves l the appearance. Lockyer's keeps off ravages of time, by darkening the prey streaks, also causing I growth of Hair. Large cheap bottles.

DEE SALMON FISHERY. I GOOD PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON. The season of the Dee salmon fishery opens to-day (Saturday), and the great improvement which has been experienced during the past two seasons encourages the hope that the fishermen may this year find their occupation to be fairly remunerative. The prospects are, we are in- formed, most favourable, the spawning season having been very satisfactory. The fish were rather late in getting to the spawning beds, owing to the scarcity of water at the commence- ment of the spawning season, but in December there was a splendid run of heavy salmon, which stocked all the salmon beds with spawning fish. Sinoe then there have been convenient floods, which have given the old fish every opportunity to migrate to the sea and clean themselves. There should be a good number in the river, even at this early stage of the season. The Dee has never been an early river for fishing purposes, few fish ever having been caught before May. During the last year or two, how- ever, the river has improved greatly in this respect, the fishermen last year having exceptionally good catches during the early spring; and there is every reason, from the pros- pects now in view, to hope that we may have a repetition of the same good luck. The heavy waters in the river during the last month have taken a lot of new fish up, and we are pleased to learn that most of the salmon casts below Llan- gollen are well stocked with new fish, and that as soon as the water gets in order we may expect to hear of some good sport with the rod and line.

A CHESTER ARBITRATION. LADY'S UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIM. An interesting arbitration case was heard before the Hon. Cecil T. Parker. acting as umpire, at Chester Castle on the 13th inst., in which Miss Buxton, of Boughton, claimed from the Chester Rural District Council a sum of 283. 6s. 9d. as compensation in respect of damage alleged to have been done to a piece of land then belonging to her at Great Boughton by a sewer which had been carried through it in connection with the Great Boughton sewerage scheme. Mr. Ralph Bankes, barrister, instructed by Messrs. Barker and Rogerson. solicitors, Chester, appeared for the claimant; and Mr. W. H. Churton on behalf ot the JJistrict UOuncil.—It appeared that the original claim sent in by Miss Buxton was for 9100. The Council's engineer at the time as- sessed the damages at' £ 10, which he considered to be ample. This sum the claimant refused to acoept, and the District Council subsequently offered without prejudice to settle the matter by a payment of J650. This offer being also refused, the dispute was referred to arbitration, Mr. Swetenham being appointed by Messrs. Barker and Rogerson on behalf of the claimant, and Mr. R. Cecil Davies on behalf of the Council. The arbitrators, however, failed to come to an agree- ment, and called, in the Hon. Cecil Parker to act as umpire. The umpire has now communicated his decision, that Miss Buxton is not entitled to any compensation, and he directed each party to pay its own costs.

BOGUS "TEMPERANCE" HOTEL. SENSATIONAL CHESTER CASE. Yesterday (Friday) morning, at the City Police Court, before Dr. Stolterfoth, Mr. Thomas Smith, and Mr. Frank E. Roberts, Elizabeth Teamant, proprietress of the "Bowden" Temperance Hotel, 114, Brook-street, was summoned for keeping a disorderly house. Defendant did not appear and the case was dealt with in her absence. The Chief Constable (Mr. J. H. Layboume) said that in consequence of a complaint two officers were sent to watch the premises, and their evidence would be brought before the Bench. He had also three girls present, who had been in the habit for a considerable perod of takng men to the house. The proprietress charged a certain price for a bedroom for a portion of the day and another price for a bedrcom for the night. He asked their worships if they believed the evidence to deal with defendant in a very severe manner. The carrying on of such business under the guise of a temperance hotel was a very serious matter. Mary Taylor, a smart-looking young woman, said she had known defendant about four years. About three weeks ago she went to live at the hotel paying 6s. a week and helping with the house work. Gentlemen had accompanied her to the house and had visited her there. A stylishly-dressed young woman, giving the name of Winnie Wilson, gave similar evidence. Detlective Hughes said that in company with Detective Crewe he was instructed to watch the house on Tuesday. He entered the house by a 'D.ck door and found three men there. The land- lady was under the influence of drink.—By the Chairman: Although it was a "Temperance" Hctel he saw a good deal of beer, and bottles of beer and other things about. The Chairman intimated that the Bench had decided to convict. The Chief Constble said that in investigating that matter he had ascertained that for a period of at least four years those women had been carrying on in that manner. It had been done very quietly until he received certain information. He could bring a witness now who took gentle- men to the house four years ago. He hoped the punishment would- not be a fine only because it would mean the thing being carried on again. The Chairman said people who, under the cloak of a temperance hotel, carried on in that way, were doing harm to everyone and to the city. The Bench had come to the conclusion that they would give defendant, without the option of a fine, three months' imprisonment, which was the maximum term.

UPTON. PARISH COUNCIL-A meeting was held in the schoolroom on Monday, Mr. John M. Frost presiding. The secretary (Mr. J. Prince) sub- mitted the bills, which were passed.

WERVIN. DEATH.—Great sympa.thy is felt in this district for Mrs. and Miss Jackson, owing to the death on Wednesday of their respected brother, Mr. Jno. Jackson. Only recently tho family buried a brotoer, and now so shortly another of the family has been called away.

HA WARD KN. PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.-At the Parish Council meeting held at Hawarden on Wednesday the representatives of Shotton raised the question of the excessive speed at which motor-cars and motor-bicycles were driven on the main road at Shotton. It was pointed out that owing to the large increase in the population during the last few years, which lies mainly along the high road, it was a serious danger to the community at large. and especially to the children coming out of school. There have been several cases of excessive driving quite recently in which a serious accident was only narrowly averted.—The Council resolved that the Clerk be instructed to write to the Chief Constable asking that the police should exercise more stringent control in the matter.

FRODSHAM LORDSHIP. I KAiU'AYMto MEETING—The annual meeting was held in the Endowed School, Over- ton, on Monday evening, Mr. H. Tilev presiding. —A recommendation, was made that' the. Parish Council bo asked to extend tlio public gas lamps to Five Ciooses also that the Frodsham- Parochial Committee to approached with regard! to the use of tho fire appliances.—A vote, of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings—At a meet- ing of the Pa-rish, Council there were several ap- plications for the position of parish councillor caused by the resignation of Mr. Joseph Berring- ton, and on tho matter coming to the vote Mr. Thomas Fletcher, of Wood'hou." was elocted- The clerk was dirooted to communicate with Miss I erryn with regard to putting down two boundary stones to denote the ancient division between the Iownship and Lordship of Frodsham.—An allow- ance was made of £ 2. 2a. to the clerk for extra services in connection with the footpaths of the district.

DODLESTON. f PRESENTATION.-On Wednesday an inter- J esting mwtmg was held in the waiting-room- at Balderton Station. G. W.R., for the purpose of pre- senting Mr. J. R. Martin, sfcationmaster, who has been promoted to the stationmastership of Aud- lem, with a gold watch, inscribed "Presented to Mr. J. R. Martin, on his leaving Balderton bv his friends, March. 1905." Mrs. Martin was also presented with a. case of carvers, subscribed for by the general public and station staff. The presentation was made by Mr. Rowe Morris, who spoke of the coanteous manner in which MT. Mar- tin had carried! out his duties during the nearly four years he had been aJ Balderton He ex- pressed regret at his removal, and wished' him success in hk* new sphere. Mr. JMorns's remarks were fully emforsed by Mr. T. B. Shaw, of Dodles- fon. Mr. jVSsrtin returned thanks.—Mr. T. B. Shaw proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Morris, who had talien a keen interest in the matter.—This was seconded by Mr. J 08; Thomas. Balderton.

FARNDON. I LANTERN ENTERTAINMENT.—Tho third of a series of lantern ontortainmonts to. the sohooi children was given Thursday evening, Tho subjects chosen bear upon some portion ot tho curricwium of the sdrool, and are thus ari aid in the development of the child. The meetings are held under the guidance, of Mr. Pennington, the schoolmaster,' who is a firm believer in ocula-r demonstration wr.iting upon theoretical instruction. The subject on Thursday was the "Wonders of the World," and the pictures included views of remarkable mountains, geologic deposits, natural curiosities, ancient and mode-rn buildings. etc. The value of the meeting was further enhanced by the lecturer first asking the children to say I what seemed! to them tho most striking object in tho pictures. Some of the answers were fearful and wonderful, but on the whole they reflected ■ crodit on tha n?tur?l bbserv&tioQ powers of the I juveut'es?

ALVANLEY PARISH COUNCIL.-A Parlsh Council meet- ing was held on Wednesday evening, Mr. Thomas Wright pre sidi ag.-Ref-e-renoe was made to the fact that the local rates during the last year had risen something like 7d. in the £.-Mr. W. S. Britland and Mr. Arthur Greenway were ap- pointed overseers for the ensuing year.

SALTNEY FERHY. ENTERTAINMENT —A miscellaneous meet- ing was held at the Schools, Saitney Ferry, in connection with the English Presbyterian Church, on Friday evening. The following was the pro- gramme:—Pianoforte duot, "Salome," Misses Ada Edwards and Annio Morris; dialogue, "A Fore- gone Conclusion," Misses Catherine Ratcliffe and Louie Lear; pianoforte soio, "Ma.den's Prayer, 1 Miss Louie Jones; recitation, "Give and Take," Miss Mabel Pugh; song, "Work, work away," D ri l l, by little Misa Lizzie Jones; action song, "Drill" by little girls; pianoforte solo, "Fairy Wedding Waltz. Master Willie Jones; dialogue "The Thrifty Group," by 3 girls and 3 boys; song, "The Mouse Tiap, Miss Gertrude Jones; recitation, "The In- fant Orator," Master Harry Brown; pianoforte solo, "Favourite Reel," Miss Pohie Taylor; action song, "Needle Drill," by 8 girls; recitation, "My Old-fashioned Hat," Master Ben Morris; dia- logue, "Invalid," by 6 girls; pianoforte duet, "May-pole," Master Willie and Miss Louie Jones musical dialogue, by 6 girls and 1 boy; piano- forte solo, "Winter Ryde," Miss Louie Lear; reoitation. "The Sin of Omission," Miss Louie Jones; song, "Farmyard Chorus," Miss Eva. Brown; action song, "Dolls," by 5 little girls; pianoforte solo, "You and I," Miss Annie Morris lecitation, 'The Atheist," Miss Annie Hewitt; song, "Daddy." Master Willie Jones; pianoforte solo, "Summer Ryde." Miss Morris; action song, "Streamlets," by 10 girls; recitation, "If no one ever marries me," Miss Jessie Brown; pianoforte solo, "Mountain Belle," Miss Ada. Edwards song, "Christian Martyr," Miss Brown; duet, "Lost and Found," Misses H. J. and Gertrude Jones; dialogue, "Crotchety Customers," by 6 girls. and 1 boy; recitation. "Epilogue," Miss Pollie Taylor. The chair was taken by Mr. R. G. Roberts. The children were trained by Miss Rowlands. The proceeds were in aid of the chapel building fund.

HOLT. THE BIRKENHEAD MURDER.-Mr. Edwin Bellis was instrumental in eecmring a petition signed by 2,500 of the inhabitants of Marciiwiel, Holt and Farndon, which partiady led to the re- prieve of the Birkenhead murderer. The accused was well known in the district, and had been regularly employed by Messrs. Bellis for a num- ber of yoaa-a. The Hon. G. T. Kenyon also inter- ested himself in the matter. BRAVO! THE LADIES.—On Saturday even- ing a team of men was picked to meeit a team of tha Ladies' Rifle Club. Whether the men had had their spirits broken by tha match on the previous evening, or whether they let the ladies win from chivalrous feelings, or whether they were out- classed, is not exactly known, but the fact re- mains that the ladies won by five points. These various reasons have their own adherents, but gallantry compels the outsider to accept the third. RIFLE SHOOTING.—The Bangor Isycoed and Holt Rifle Clube met for the return match on Friday avening- when the Bangor team proved winners by 24 points. The scores of the Holt team were as follow:—H. Huseley 45 G. Tilston 47, G. Green 44. J. C. Pedrope 43, W. Lewis 39, R. Woodman 43, H. Jonee 49, J. Parker 48, W. Chaloweff 46, O. Bollia 41, G. Thomas 49, T. Lowe 47, total 541. Owing to somewhat poor organisa- tion, the match lost much of its interest, for it wae very difficult to know which team was firing, or to know how the shooting was totalling. It will add' considerably to the interest of spectators. and most materially to the comfort of the com- petitors, if the Kenyon Hall Committee will on future occasions insist on more method and better organisation. Holt were beaten by 22 points at the Morris tube and by two points with the Win- chester.

 HESWALL. WESLEY GUILD SOCIAL—The Wesley Guild concluded a successful season on Monday night, when a social evening was spent, a large number of members putting in an appearance. After the usual tea a capital entertainment was submitted, to the delight of all, thife programme being made up by the foli win-Songs, Misses Ironsides and Winnie Rawlinson; violin selec- tions. Miss G. Brad-ford; pianoforte solos, Misses C. Bradford and Row bottom; and instrumental sc loct.ons by Mr. H. Barlow and friends. Mr. J. Bailey, of Birkenhead, was in the chair. C L.B. FEAT.—Aa will be seen from a report set out in another column, the Hcswall Company of the Church Lads' Brigade has been successful in winning the Blanchette challenge snield. The H-eswall Co. compiled the splendid score of 243 out of a possib,e 280, the. individual scores being: Corpi. Davies 33, Private W. H. Moore 33, Sergt. R. Tarbuck 32, Private W. Smith 32, Pri- vate J. A. Moore 31, Soigt. E. Barlow 29. Private A. Tarbuck 28, Private J. Caldow 25. Heswall is extremely proud of this feat, aild, rightly so. COMING SEASON'S PASTIMES.-With the approaoii of longer days, preparations are boing made by the various bodies for indulging in sum- mer pastimes. The ground of the local Quoiting Club has been enlarged, and a successful season is being looked forward to in the competition held under the auspices of the English Amateur Quoit- ing Association, in which competition the Heswall Club finished second last year. Bowling enthusi- ast-s are also busy, and the second season of too Glegg Arms Club commences on Monday with, a. captain and sub-captain match. The officers and committee for the ensuing season were elected on Friday night thus: President, Mr. A. E. Ellis; vice-px-asidents, Messrs. J. W. Shaw, C. Roddy, lil. Kitchen, J. Timmiswood, F. Berry. H. Martin and W., E. Rowlands; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. W. ifollis; hon. secretary Mr. T. C. Gwillam; cap- tain, Mr. J. Hughes; sub-captain, Mr. F. Noras.; committee, Messrs. R. Hill, W. Cooper, F. Kitohen, J. Caldow, T. Cottrell, T. Barlow and F. K. Patchett.

TO MOTHERS, — Mnl. Winslow's Seething Syrup has been wed r ov^r litfty years by aoiihona of moth ws for their children while teethiag, with perfect success. It will relieve the poos suffere* immediately. It is pleasant to taste; i\ PlOOUCes. natiiial quiet sleep, by relieving the child from para, and the little churub wakes up "as bright tn button." Ot all nheraiHia. Ltt. lid. per bottle -+ Printed sad published toi, and on "behalf of the and N'or Hi Wales Newspaper Company, Limittd. by JAMES ALBERT BIRGIIALL, at the Cheshire Observer Office, S. Bridge-street, in the City of Cheater,—SAXUK^AT, Al)til 1, 1%5.

LATEsT MARKETS & FAIRS. (See also Page 3.) LIVERPOOL CORN, FRIDAY. Wheat market well attended, only quiet trade resulting at generally £ d. per cental decline since Tuesday. Flour steady trade, unchanged prices. Maize-, slow trade, steady prices; mixed American, 4s. W. to 48. 5d. Plate, 5s. Id. per cental. Beans strong, Is. per quarter advance owing to scarcity. Peas very tirm. Barley scarce, rather dearer. Oatmeal steady, LONDON CORN, FRIDAY. -.Nloderate,, attend- dance at Mark Lane tnis afternoon. Under the I influence of heavy arrivals of wheat, the market is inactive, and prices nominally, unchanged. Flour quiet. MaIze, Plate, held, 258.. landed; mixed American, sold, 20s. 9d. Ship bariey main- tained; Odessa, 19s. Quay oats qJlioQ at late rate. CHESTER CATTLE, THURSDAY.-At this fair there was a large and useful show of 4xttle, and a good attendance of buyers. The tnavket opened with good demand for store stock, and large sales were effected. Subsequently the enquiry slackened considerably, and at the close of the market numerous lots were still unsaid. These was only a slow trade in dairy cattle throughout. Prices :— Milch cows, B17 to 1:22; calvers, Sift to R19. 10a. barrens, B10 to £ 13; heifeta, JM to £ 14; stirks, £6- to £ 9 bulls, j29 to E14. WHITCHURCH CHEESE, WEDNESDAY:. —There was only a moderate supply of 29 tons, the- quality on the whole being better tian usual for tba, time of the year. The trade was. well represented, and business, was soon transacted. Best Jots I cleared at wcll up to iast weetk's quotations, 6. to 69s. per cwt. medium and- lower grades 54s. tCOs.

TARVIN. (See alto page 7.) THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.-In tho recent Cambridge Local Examinations held at Chester, certificate in the preliminary division have been gained by Arthur H. Edwards and Alfred A. Reeoo, each of whom satisfied the examiners in Scripture knowledge, Englsh geography and mathematics. The latter also passed in drawing.

FRODSHAM. (See alto page 7.) PIGEON SHOOTING SWEEPSTAKES.—A couple of pigeon Shooting sweepstakes were shot on Wednesday. The first event was a J65 sweep- stake, which was divided between J. Hall,, of Stockport, and Baker, of Frodsham. at the end of the fourth round. The chief event was for a gun, value 14gs. The conditions were to shoot at five birds each. Gun Club rules, handicapped from 24 to 29 yards' rise. At the end of the fourteenth round the only shooters left in were Rowlands, of Tarporley, Steele, of Aston, near Crewe, and R. Smith, of Manchester, and they agreed to divide the value of the gun.

CONNAH'S QUAY. I (See alto page 7.) I SMOKING CONCERT—On Wednesday even- ing an excellent smoking concert took place, in the Drill Hall, in aid of the funds of the Coainah's Quay Football Club. The president of the club (Mr. W. G. McNaught) occupied the chair. The following was the programme: -Rocitat,ion, Mr. H. Groon; song, Mr. Parry Roberts; cornet solo, Mr. J. Griffiths; song, Mr. J. A. Vinoent; song, Mr. W. J. Williams; duet., Messrs Parry Roberts and EVan Ferguson; euphonium solo, Mr. B. Fen- wick; song, Mr. W. Bla.ne; duet, Messrs. Blane and Harris; etc. During the evening the Quay Silver Pnze Band gave several pleasing selections.

I NESTON.. I no -(Bee also page 7.1 x.vV.C.A. MEETING.-Tlie annual meeting in connection with the Neston branch of the Y. W.C.A. was held in the Presbyterian Lecture Room on Wednesday evening. There was a largo attendance, and the gathering was in every re- spect successful The. branch already numbers over a hundred members, and the speakers during the evening urged those present to make a special effort to add to their numbers and to assist the society in its beneficial work. A oapital tea was served by the ladies' committee, and a miscel- laneous programme followed, Miss Prescott being the principal speaker. This lady, who acts- as referee for the association, gave many interesting details of its work, and stated that this being the jubilee year of the Y.W.C.A. a special thanks- giving service would be held on May 27th, in which the members of Birkenhead, Egremont, New Brighton and other outlying districts would take part. A vote of thanks to the speaker was heartily carried. Miss Muriel Jones gave a capital rendering of "The Flight of Ages" and "The Chil- dren's Home." Miss J. Jones accompanying. Other special vocalists were Miss Ethel Birch, who sweetly sang "Looking for me," and Miss Maggie Briscoe, who effectively contributed "The bird with the broken wing," Mr. G. Turner next gave a capital phonograph recital.—In proposing a vote of thanks to the artists the Rev. J. Towert spoke of the excellent- voices which were being developed among the local community, and which were a direct answer to those who insinuated that Nestonians lacked musical taste. They were pleased to welcome among them Mr. Turner, who had done so much for their entertainment during the evening. Much regret was expressed at the unavoidable absence of Mrs. Nelson, of Parkgate, one of the most active workers of the branch, and a vote of sympathy was passed with Miss Matthews, the devoted worker of the Colliery Mission, who was absent through domestic afflic- tion. The proceedings afterwards closed with a hymn Miss Norman (West View) acted as ac- companist during the evening.