Cheshire Observer

TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements intended to appear in the CHESHIRE OBSERVER must reach the OBSERVER Office, not later than 12 o'clock (noon) each Friday. Under no circumstances whatever can we insert I in the First Edition Advertisements received after that hour.

I JOHN BARLEYCORN. u_1 John Barleycorn, the" hero bold, upon wnosw unquenchable vitality the poet Burns founded his clever balad, is still very much on his trial. He was arraigned before a mock tribunal at Saltney, on Monday night, and honourably acquitted, and he has been greatly in evidence during the week, at meetings of agricultural bodies and others interested in the Pure Beer" movement. At the meeting held under the auspices of the Chester Farmers' Club, on Tuesday, Mr. Henry Tollemache struck the right note when he said that the question is not nearly such an easy one as some people seem to imagine. Everybody, we take it, is desirous of seeing the purity of the beer brewed and con- sumed in this country as high above suspicion as Calphurnia. The consumer certainly is animated by that wish, and so, too, is the brewer, for a continuance of the reproach which has been laid at the door of English beer within the past few weeks would spell ruin to many of those who are concerned in the brewing indus- try. The difficulty begins, as Mr. Tollemache observed, when it is sought to apply what is considered the best remedy. In view of the serious amount of sicknesB, much of it unfortunately fatal, which has attended the consumption of beer contain- ing arsenic, the public are justified in their demand that forthwith every conceivable precaution shall be taken to prevent a recurrence of this scandal and to ensure the unimpeachable purity of ale and stout for the future. It is, however, worth while pausing for a moment to consider whether the promoters of the Pure Beer movement are justified in rushing to the extreme of prohibiting or penalising the use of sugar in the brewing of beer, because the present epidemic has been traced to arsenical glucose. The same deadly poison, it will be remembered, was discovered in samples of jam and sweets in the manufacture of which arsenicated sugar had been employed. But no one, we presume, will on that account start a crusade with the avowed object of prohibiting the use of sugar in the manufacture of jam and sweets. The obvieus remedy is to purify the sugar, not to prohibit it. There are one or two points of great strength in favour of the existing free mash-tun." The first is that the use of sugar in the brewing of stout was legalised so far back as 1811, and that its general use in the brewing of beer has been permitted since 1847. Yet John Bull has been drinking his beer all these years without any hint of poison, and it was only the other day that the presence of the dreaded arsenic was suspected and discovered. The detection of arsenic in any substance is, according to the evidence of analysts, a comparatively simple matter, and there is no ground for the belief that arsenicated sugar has been employed by the brewers for half a century without dis- covery. By all manner of means let every known expedient and precaution be adopted for assuring the purity of the in- gredients required for the production of a good palatable beer, ;and if the existing law is not sufficiently strong to ensure this end, let more drastic legislation be at once summoned for the protection of the public health. This method of dealing with the difficulty will doubtless commend itself to the consumer, but it is vastly different with the farmer, who hopes, and legitimately hopes, out of the present agitation to derive seme benefit for our solely- pressed national agriculture. From the bottom of our hearts we wish we could see some prospect of the realisation of these hopes, and then we should back up the farmers in their demand for a Pure Beer Bill. History is, unfortunately, I against the theory. The cone ession of the free mash-tun by the Government in 1880 is regarded by thebrewers as their charter. For years prior to that date the agricultural community had)been clamouring for a repeal of the malt tax and the substitution of a beer tax. It was with the cordial and general approval of British agriculturists that Mr. Gladstone brought in his Bill in 1880 for the repeal of the malt tax and the concession of the free mash, tun," and the passing of the measure was hailed as a boon to agriculture. The fear that the free admission of all materials into the brewing process might act disastrously upon the farmer was apparently present to some minds long before that date, but it seems to have been dismissed as groundless by the agriculturists themselves. During the investi- gations made by the Select Committee on the Malt Tax in 1867, we find a member of the Committee, Mr. Goschen, put three pertinent questions to the first agricultural' witness examined, namely Mr. C. Randall. The ques- tions and answers are instructive —" Q. 1116 Mr. Goschen: Would you be afraid that if the malt tax were repealed, other substitutes might be found which would compete with barley in brewing ? A: No. I should not.—Q 1117: As a grower of barley, you would not be afraid of a substitute if all restrictions were removed ? A I No. Q 1118: Is not Indian corn very much adapted for brewing ? A: I am not aware whether it could be used. "The other agri- cultural witnesses almost to a man scouted as chimerical the suggestion of the possible flood, ing of the English:market with foreign barleys Farmers do not require to be reminded how cruelly deceptive have been their hopes of relief through the agency of the free mash- tun," and the point therefore need not be laboured. Instead of advancing, the price of English barley has declined since 1880. So, also, sad to relate, has the price of English wheat and oats. Foreign barley has been largely used by the brewers in the past, and it is asserted with every show of truth that the prohibition of the use of sugar in brewing will to a certainty result in a very large resort to foreign barley in brewing, and that far less English barley will be used than heretofore. The only safe plan for ensuring a larger employment of home-grown barley for brewing purposes and a consequent enhancement in its price would be the imposition of a heavy import duty on foreign barley. Much as we should desire to see the preference for English barley encouraged by the State, it is open to grave question whether in the present temper of the people any suggestion of a protective duty would be seriously entertained. Then, again, any upsetting of the settlement of 1880 would entitle the brewers as a matter of common justice to a revisal of the beer tax, for it must be remembered that the brewers I admittedly paid something like X-300,000 or I £ 400,000 for the privilege of the" free- mash-tun." That, however, is a matter which the brewing interest can be safely entrusted to look after on its own account. Our chief interest rests with the consumer and the farmer. From what we have been able to gather, the latter is not likely to be benefited by the exclusion of sugar in brew- ing unless by some great fiscal upheaval which it is scarcely possible to anticipate. There is in connection with this subject one popular fallacy which ought to be dipelled. Nine persons out of ten would say off-hand that sugar is used by the brewer in pre- ference to malt, because it is a cheaper material. If we can rely upon the evidence before us, quite the contrary is the fact. According to the Liberty Review for December, "invert sugar at 27s. a quarter (2241b.), giving 701b. per barrel extract, is dearer than malt at 33s. giving 88lb. per barrel extract; and many a brewer in an agricultural district can make good, serviceable malt at an average price of 33s. per quarter. Extract for extract, the sugar would cost the brewer nearly one shilling per quarter more than the male." Why then," asks the writer, does a country brewer frequently use the dearer material ? The reason is evident: the admixture of the sugar with the malt produces a better beer. Deprive the brewer of the power to use sugar, and he will have recourse to the use of more than an equivalent amount of foreign malt." The problem is truly beset with a multitude of conflicting considerations, and the only safe and clear way out of the complication seems to lie in insisting beyond a shadow of a doubt upon an absolute guarantee that all the compounds used in the brewery shall be certified to be pure and free from adulteration. This standard of purity is attained by means of statutory safeguards in other trades and manufactures, and there is no reason why a similar guarantee should not be possible in the case of brewing.

LOCAL AND GENERAL NOTES. Cheshire folk will read with pride the account of the brave conduct of a small detachment of Cheshire Mounted Infantry, who, with some of the Berkshires, successfully held an over- whelmingly superior force of Boers at bay at Kaalfontein. The little garrison was under the command of Lieut. Williams-Freeman, and he deserves every credit for his splendid defence of the position. For over six hours the Cheshires were subjected to a terrific bombard- ment, but fortunately not a man was hit- Of the gallant act of Trooper Park, of the Cheshires, it is impossible to speak too highly. At the commencement of the attack he rode through the Boers under a heavy fire with a despatch conveying news of the affray to a neighbouring British force. The brilliant defence of this station will live in the glorious annals of the Cheshire Regiment. An incident at the meeting held this week in the Town Hall to consider the Beer question gave rise to considerable comment. Mr. J. R- Rae (District representative of the National Trade Defence Association) rose to speak on a resolution which had been proposed, when he was unceremoniously called to order by Mr. M. Kennedy. Dr. Stolterfoth was, as a matter of fact, the chairman of the meeting, but Mr. Kennedy evidently thought that he was the chairman, or that the worthy Doctor was not capable of performing the duties. At any rate he told the chairman that he should put the resolution, and peremptorily insisted that Mr. Rae had no right to speak. Mr. Kennedy was, of course, entirely in the wrong, and Mr. Rae, as might be expected, had his way. We are not at all disappointed to learn that there is a prospect of a good, stand-up fight in St. John's Ward. Mr. C. G. Haswell has now been before the electors for nearly a week, and the Radicals have taken all that time to find a candidate willing to break a lance with him. The opposition is represented by Mr. J. D. Siddall, a gentleman not unknown hitherto in municipal politics. Mr. Siddall will be remembered as having been elected for St. John's Ward on the 5th June, 1891, in place of the late Mr. T. Q. Roberts, who was then made an alderman. Mr. Siddall's term of office expired in November, 1893, when he was rejected by the ratepayers, and has not until now again appeared in the electoral arena. On his first appearance Mr. Siddall was chaffed as a man of one idea," that idea being his avowed intention of gaining a seat in the Town Council for the sole purpose of securing better wages for the scavengers. His crusade was a disastrous failure. Mr. Siddall, it seems, still adheres to his principle of fighting an election upon a programme of one plank, but he has made an alteration in the timber this time. He is going to the poll on the present occasion, not for the sake of the scavengers but for the sake of the Museum, in order, as he informs us, that the Grosvenor Museum may have a good representative on the Council. We yield to no one in our respect for the Museum and in our admiration of the excellent educational work that is being carried on in the schools there, but that admission does not imply the necessity for a special representative of that body upon the Corporation. Even were the point conceded, the Museum is already admirably represented on the Town Council by Alderman Stolterfoth, not to mention other Councillors deeply interested in the welfare of the institution in Grosvenor-street. Does it not also appear a little far-fetched on Mr. Siddall's part to attempt to drag in the Museum question into a St. John's election, seeing that the Museum is not even in St. John's ward, but in St. Mary's ? Apart from all these objections, every one of which is fatal to Mr. Siddall's claims, does not this mode of conducting an election betray a singularly illiberal and narrow-minded view as to the duties and responsibilities of a Town Councillor? Once admit the principle for which Mr. Siddall con- tends, and you are driven logically to elect men to the Council to represent all the public institutions of the city. We should then have a member for the Savings Bank, another for the Free Library, another for the Infirmary, another for the Fire Brigade, another for the Oddfellows' Hall, another for the Handbridge Institute, and so forth. But would the city, would even these particu- lar institutions be the better for such special representation ? Is there not a danger of doing an injury to the organisations it is sought to benefit by making them a shuttlecock of political animosity ? Mr. Siddall may pro- fess to come out as the champion of the Museum pure and simple, but it is desirable for the electors to bear in mind that, if he is elected, he will be an equally zealous advocate of another institution, not quite so popular, in Watergate-street, and will be at the beck and call of the Radical Caucus, whenever the occasion for his services arises. It is in the last degree undesirable to introduce political partizanship in connection with a strictly non- sectarian, non-political agency like the Museum. The question of the fair wage clause in relation to the Police Clothing Contract was revived in the Town Council on Wednesday by Mr. Carr. The Watch Committee recommended that the tender of a London firm which had previously successfully tendered for the work be accepted, but Mr. Carr suggested that the firm did not conform to the fair wage clause. Mr. B. C. Roberts and Mr. W. Vernon.went up to London a few years ago to make enquiries in the matter, and they presented a report to the effect that the firm were observing the clause. They also found that the firm supplied clothing to the Government and the London County Council, both of which bodies insert in their contracts, or estimates, the fair wage clause, and most of the members of the Council were then satisfied as to the bona-fides of the firm. Mr. Carr may have excellent reasons for his complaint, but if he expects any support he should place the Council in possession of them. It seems that Mr. Vernon went up to London a fortnight after he and Mr. Roberts had been there, and interviewed an employe of the firm, with the result that he came to the conclusion that they were not carrying out the fair wage clause. This, however, cannot be seriously taken as evidence against the:contractors. The Town Council are pledged to the fair wage clause, and are, we take it, genuinely anxious that it should be observed, but they would not be considering the ratepayers' interests if, on the uncorroborated statements of Messrs. Vernon and Carr, they rejected the contract of people who tender the lowest and have done good work for the Council. We hold no brief for the firm in question; all we say is that the charge against them has not been proved. It is regrettable that friction should arise between two public bodies like the Chester Guardians and the General Infirmary, and we trust that the discussion at Tuesday's meeting of the former authority will have the effect of removing all causes of unpleasantness. The Rev. Mr. Lowndes did a wise and politic act in bringing forward his proposal for appointing the Chairman of the Guardians a governor of the Infirmary, and so paving the way for his election on the Board of Management at the annnal meeting of the Infirmary. It is to be trusted the governors of the Infirmary will readily accede to this reasonable request. According to the rules of the institution no guardian, as such, is eligible for appointment to the Board of Management of the Infirmary unless he is already a governor of the insti- tution, but by the action taken at Tuesday's meeting Mr. Pover will now be eligible for that position. On all grounds this seems the best way out of the difficulty. and will in all probability tend to make the two institutions work more in harmony than has been the case recently. Though the conference of the Cheshire Poor Law Guardians at Crewe on the subject of providing a home, apart from any workhouse, for the accommodation of sane epileptics was not so unanimous as might have been desired, it undoubtedly took a step in the right direction. The conference affirmed the principle of the desirability of providing a home of this kind, and it was evident that there was a strong feeling in favour of the adoption of the Tarvin Workhouse for the purpose. This building is' now practically empty, but of course the staff has to be kept up, and the con- sequent expense to the ratepayers is large. Looking at the matter broadly the suggestion that the Tarvin Guardians should board out their inmates, and allow the workhouse to be converted into an institution.for the reception of epileptics seems an excellent one. Difficulties might arise regarding the manage- ment of the institution, but these should not be insuperable. Unfortunately for the success of the scheme it was evident at the conference that the representatives of several Unions attached more importance to the provision of a home for imbeciles, and one speaker suggested that a central institution should be built with accommodation on one side for imbeciles and the other for epileptics. This, however, would entail an enormous expenditure, and an ex- penditure that would be partly unnecessary, for the imbeciles can be sent to the asylums. It would seem a far better plan to make use of the Tarvin Workhouse, that is provided the building is suitable for the purpose. la doing this the various Unions would be committing themselves to a small expense, and if the idea did not work satisfactorily they could revert to the present system, without incurring any loss. —————— 0 ——————

LOCAL NEWS. I Lord and Lady Crewe left London on Tues- day for Crewe Hall. The house party at Chatsworth this week included Mr. and Mrs. Cornwallis-West. The will of the late Mr. John Robert Burton, Minera Hall, Wrexham, has been proved, the amount being X20,520 16s. 7d. Earl Egerton of Tatton and the Duchess of Buckingham returned to St. James's-square on Wednesday from Tatton Park, Knutsford. Among those who have notified their wish to associate themselves with the committee to promote the purity of beer is the Hon. Alan de Tatton Egerton, M.P. Major-General Swaine accompanied the Duke of Connaught, the Queen's representative at the festivities in connection with the 200h anniversary of the birth of the Prussian king- dom, who arrived at Berlin on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon, at the Church of the Annunciation, Bryanston-street, London, the marriage took place of Mr. William Douglas Watson Smyth, J.P., of Wadhurst Castle, Sussex, and Edwin's-hall, near Chelmsford, and Miss Annora Margaret Williams-Wynn, third daughter of the late Mr. Charles Watkin and Lady Annora Williams-Wynn, and niece of Earl Manvers. Second-Lieutenant Harry Vernon Venables Kyrke, of the 1st Royal Welch Fusiliers, when he went out to South Africa in September, 1899, had the distinction of being the youngest officer in the British Army on active service. He was barely nineteen at the time. He has been twice wounded, but is now on detachment duty with Lord Methuen. The "Sportsman" of Thursday announces that the Duke of Westminster has registered his colours under both Rules of Racing and National Hunt Rules as yellow, black cap"- colours that were borne with such distinction for his grandfather the late Duke by Bend Or, Ormonde, Orme, and Flying Fox. The state- ment in last week's official 11 Calendar that he had registered black, yellow cap," under National Hunt Rules was made in error. The electors of the Tonbridge Division of Kent on Thursday evening had an opportunity of judging the versatility of their member. Captain A. G. Boscawen, M.P. He appeared on the boards as an actor at the Southborough Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. Captain Boscawen was strikingly successful in the part of Louis VII. (King of Arcacia) in A Royal Family," and Mrs. Boscawen made a graceful Margaret. CHRISTMAS TREAT AT SAIGHTOlq.-On Tuesday evening the children attending the Saighton School had their annual Christmas Treat, which was provided by His Grace the Duke of Westminster. The schoolroom was laid for the children's tea at one end, while the other was occupied by a large and beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. An imposing array of gifts for the children was placed on tables near the tree. After a bountiful tea, enlivened by a varied selection of songs and music on a gramaphone, provided and operated by Mrs. Schiff, of Newbold, the children advanced to the tables, where each child had the pleasure of choosing his or lher own present. Oranges, apples, sweets, bonbons, and buns were distributed during the evening. Among those present were the Duke of Westminster, Lady Lettice Grosvenor, Mrs. and Miss Cornwallis. West, Mrs. Schiff, the Hon. O. Molyneux, Col. LLoyd, Mr. Wake, the Rev. J. C. Berkeley, Sister Minna, Mr. R. and the Misses Boden, Mrs. J. Dutton, &c. At the close of the evening the Rev. J. C. Berkeley, addressing the parents and children, spoke of the kindness of the Duke in providing such a grand treat. He expressed regret at the absence of Lady Grosvenor, who had always been present at this treat before, and had taken the greatest interest in it, and thanked all those who had been at such pains to make the evening enjoyable. The children gave hearty cheers for His Grace before departing for home. Mr. Percy Q. Brown, Ash Grove, who served his apprenticeship to Messrs. Cheers and Hopley, has recently been successful in the qualifying examination of the Pharmaceutical Society. The Duchess of Westminster and other ladies have consented to take stalls and assist at a bazaar which is to be held on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Ascot, in connection with the West End Auxiliary and the London Lifeboat Saturday Fund. The Duke of Westminster and Lady Lettice Grosvenor have staying with them at Saighton Towers Mrs. Cornwallis-West, Miss Cornwallis- West, Captain Hughes, and Mr. Wake. The Hon. Osbert and Lady Molyneux left Saighton on Tuesday. On Monday the Duke and party shot over the Balderton drive, and experienced excellent sport. UMBRELLAS RE-COVERED and REFINISHED equal to new. Ladies' or Gent's, with the noted B E M Silk, 3/6 each, and at all prices from 1/11 to 12/6.— BRADLEY'S Foregate-street, Chester. The Marquis of Londonderry, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, will entertain Mr. Geo. Wyndham at luncheon in the city to-day (Saturday), and at a house dinner in the Ulster Reform Club on the 24th inst., the principal guest will be Mr. H. 0. Arnold-Forster, M.P., Secretary to the Ad- miralty. Lord Crewe, who celebrated his forty-third birthday on Saturday, is, says the Daily Express," certainly one of fortune's favourites. Early in life, however, he sustained severe bereavements in the death of his wife (who was the beautiful daughter of Sir Frederick and Lady Hermione Graham of Netherby) and his only son. As Lord Houghton Lord Crewe was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and was before that secretary to Lord Granville during his term at the Foreign Office, and was also Lord- in-Waiting to the Queen. He is in politics a Liberal and in his tastes a mixture of a sports- man and littérateur; is a member of the Jockey Club and much interested in racing, but also wields a cultivated and graceful pen and is a judicious book-collector. A great part of his fine library was collected by his father, the late Lord Houghton, a writer and politician who summed up his social ambitions thus: To be asked everywhere and to go nowhere Lord Crewe succeeded to the estates and title of his kinsman, the aged Lord Crewe, and married, as his second wife, Lady Margaret Primrose, the daughter of his political leader, Lord Rosebery. Since his marriage Lord Crewe has lived chiefly on his estates in Staffordshire. There is at present no heir to the title. NORTH WALES HORSE RBPOSIIORY, WREXHAM. —Messrs. Frank Lloyd and Sons' opening sales for the twentieth century take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next with an entry of 700 horses. CLERGY PENSIONS HANDSOME DONATION. —Mr. Frederick J. Harrison, of Maer Hall, Staffs., has forwarded to the treasurer of the Chester Diocesan Clergy Pensions Fund a cheque for X500 as a special donation to the fund. THE LATE SAM HAGUE.—The funeral of the late Sam Hague, founder of the celebrated minstrel troupe, took place at Liverpool on Friday, the chief mourners including Mr. Tom Hague (brother) and Mrs. Tom Hague (sister- in-law), late of Chester. WIRRAL AND BIRKENHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.-At a meeting of the executive committee of this society on Tuesday, it was unanimously resolved to hold the next show at Birkenhead on Wednesday and Thursday, 4th and 5th September. DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CHESHIRE LADY.— Mrs. Sylvanus Reynolds, widow of the late Capt. Reynolds, of Raddon Court, Latchford, died at her residence, Wistaston Hall, Crewe, on January 7th. The funeral took place on Friday morning at Grappenhall Churchyard. DEATH OF MRS. REDDISH.—Many citizens, including the local travelling public, will regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Annie Reddish, the wife of Mr. J. T. Reddish, the popular station- master of the General Railway Station. Mrs. Reddish, who succumbed on Sunday, was 57 years of age. HEALTH LECTURES.—Under the auspices of the Chester branch of the National Health Society, the first of a series of lectures on Food and its Adulteration" was given by Miss Curwen (lecturer and gold medallist) on Tuesday afternoon in St. Martin's schoolroom. On Tuesday evening Miss Curwen gave the first of a course of lectures on hygiene. ALERT POLICEMEN REWARDED.—It is always gratifying to find merit rewarded. The Chester Watch Committee have resolved, on the recommendation of the Chief Constable, that P.C. John Hewitt, No. 18 be granted the sum of 20s. for stopping a run- away horse, and that P.C.'s James Griffith, No. 27, and James Dryland, No. 22, be granted the sum of 10s. each for their exertions in a poach- ing case. QUEEN-STREET P.S.A.—The Rev. D. Wynne Evans presided over a large meeting, and referred to the origin of the New Year Day Free Will Offering, which amounted to £ 48 3s. lid. The president made sympathetic reference to the loss sustained through the death of Bro. Sergt. Tincler of the Volunteer Band, who had frequently contributed to the musical pro- grammes of these meetings. Mr. C. Cooper Bowles was the speaker, and Miss Ellis sang Two Little Orphans," and The Better Life." Messrs. 1. C. Kendal and Downey also took part part in the services, and Mr. Jones presided at the organ. CHESTER VOCALISTS AT RHYL.—Three Chester vocalists were recently billed for engagement at the Grand Pavilion, Rhyl. One of them, Miss May Cartwright, was un- fortunately taken suddenly ill in the afternoon, and was unable, to fill her engagement. The others were Miss Edith Lowe and Miss Tyson Piercy. Miss Piercy met with an encouraging reception, and sang her two songs with evident acceptance. Miss Edith Lowe, a contralto of considerable power, contributed Kathleen Mavourneen and Her Majesty with much taste and success, an encore being demanded for the last item. VOLUNTEER LONG SERVICE MEDALS. On Tuesday the Commander-in-Chief issued a list of officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Volunteer Force to whom the silver medal for 20 years' continuous service has been awarded. In all 329 medals have been awarded, including the following in this district:—1st Cheshire and Carnarvonshire Volunteer Artil- lery, Company Sergeant-Major T. Galway; 2nd V.B. Cheshire Regiment, Corporal J. Fraser, Sergt. J. Kendall, Lance-Corporal G. Pritchard, and Colour-Sergeant J. Williamson; 3rd V.B. Cheshire Regiment, Sergeant J. T. Ashton 4th V.B. Cheshire Regiment, Private C. Fos- brook, Sergeant G. Selby, Sergeant R. Lawton, and Sergeant C. Paterson; 5th V.B. Cheshire Regiment, Sergeant W. T. Dale; 1st V.B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Lance-Sergeant R. M'Gill. THE DOGS' HOME A NuisANcic.-At a recent meeting of the Chester Watch Committee a letter was read from Messrs. Sharpe, Davison and Sharpe complaining of the nuisance and annoyance caused by the yelping and barking at night of the dogs in the Dogs' Home, Little St. John-street, and stating that the tenant of the house, No. 21, St. John-street, has given them notice to quit-it being impossible for the inmates to sleep at night-and suggesting the early removal of the home into the country, or at any rate from its present position. A letter from Mr. E. Brassey on the subject was also read. It was resolved :that Miss Robin be informed that the committee, while quite pre- pared to sanction a home in a suitable situation, are not prepared to sanction the present home — it appearing to be a nuisance and annoyance to the neighbours. HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND.-The honorary treasurer of the Chester Hospital Saturday Committee (Mr. J. C. H. Hankinson) begs to acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of the following collections on behalf of the fund:—Employes of Messrs. J. Summers and Son, Hawarden, £ 25 Amalgamated Society of Tailors, JE3 3s.; Messrs. W. T. Davies and Sons, tobacconists, £ 4 2s. 8d.; Messrs. Williams and Co., X3 14s.; Chester Steam Laundry Co., 96; Messrs. F. A. Frost and Sons, JE1 2s. 5d.; Messrs. Williams Bros. and Co., 97 18s. lid.; Messrs. Bostock and Heeley, £2 18s. Ilid.; the London and North Western Carriage Department, per Mr. Warren, 11 7s. 9d.; Messrs. Laycock & Son, 91 7s. lOd. Employes at General Station, per Mr. Reddish, 91 10s.; Messrs. S. and A. Clemence, 91 Os. lid.; Mr. T. Mayers, Christleton, 91 is. Buckley Brick and Tile Co., JE1 Is.; Buckley Brick and Tile Co. (Employes), jE2 2s. Messrs. Spencers, £ 4 11s. 9d. FLINT TOWN COUNCIL THE CLERK'S RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN.—At the monthly meeting on Monday night, the following letter from the Town Clerk (Mr. H. Taylor) was read by the Mayor:—Dear Mr. Mayor,—After the unanimous vote of confidence so kindly accorded to me by the Town Council last night, I entirely withdraw my letter to you of the 10th inst. Now that all your meetings, both in Council and committee, are held at seven and eight in the evening, I must, however, ask for some relief in respect of my attendance at them. The wear and tear of night work is really too much for me after a hard day's work. May I venture ;to suggest that the Council should leave it to your worship to come to some arrange- ment with me on the subject that will be satisfactory and convenient to all.—Yours faithfully, HENRY TAYLOR. The Mayor sug- gested that Mr. Taylor should be relieved of the necessity to attend committee meetings, and it was ultimately decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Mayor and the Town Clerk to arrange and report to the next Council meeting. —Councillor Ryan brought forward a motion asking the Council to affix the borough seal to a petition from a large number of workmen employed at the Shotton Ironworks, Connah's Quay, and from the tradespeople of Flint, to the London and North-Western Railway Com- pany, asking them to provide a platform for workmen travelling by the workmen's trains between Flint and Sandycroft, to alight and entrain in close proximity to the Hawarden Bridge. There ar< ver -,r.Inen from Flint employed at tl.iron#. s, and under present arrangement* the nearws station is Connah's Quay, which nearly two miloij from the works.—Alderman T W. 'Liu og supported the motion, and said .ai grar- i it would be a great boon to tht, workiuen, t: a very sub stantial beneift to tt tr.wa. The xuotkwaj carried unanimously Stark's Great Rem nt S,.Itt; i/vj -,t) j. Dlv, Saturday next, Januu .'S.-Sturk bvi and qV Foregate-street, Ches' > BRADLEY'S sell All-fuv Elastic FELT RA .t 3/9, in any shape; as omfortabl m a -.p, r.113 4/6 goods.-Foregate- at (corue- ScU-.r-street and 70, Brook-street. ROYAL AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT INSTITU- TION.—The following is a list of the harvest and other church collections which have been forwarded to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution between the 1st January and the 31st December, 1900:—The Rev. J. C. Berkeley, Bruera, Xl ls.; the Rev. H. J. Blackburne, St. Michael and All Angels, Crewe Green, Crewe, S4 5s. 6d.; the Rev. A. Charlesworth, Thur- staston, Birkenhead, R5; the Rev. W. E. Cole- grove, Alvanley, X3; the Very Rev. Dean Darby, Chester Cathedral, 910 5s. 9d.; the Rev. Canon Feilden, Bebington Parish Church, £5 3s. 6d. the Rev. T. H. May, Heswall Parish Church, X3 3s. 6d.; the Rev. F. C. Royds, Coddington, E5 7s. 9d.; the Rev. Charles A. Sladen, Burton, Neston, £4 4s. 6d.; the Rev. Arthur Symonds, Over Tabley, Knutsford, f5 10s.; the Rev. W. H. F. Wayne, St. Mary's I Chapel, High Legh, Knutsford, 94 Os. c)d. Wirral and Birkenhead Agricultural Society, per A. E. Edwardson, X4 10s.; the Rev. C. Wray, St. Peter's, Aston-by-Sutton, War- rington, 78. 6d. A CHESTER MYSTERY. Early on Saturday morning P.C. Smith, of the City Police Force, discovered the dead body of an unknown man in the canal near Cow-lane bridge. The following is the police description of the man :—Length, 5ft. 6in.; full face, stout build; small sandy moustache; bad in his possession 3s. 10d., silver Waltham watch, purse and keys; wore a dark serge jacket, plaid vest, fawn plaid trousers, light laced-up boots, stitched; red cotton shirt, white collar and front, green and black tie, woollen singlet and stockings. It is believed, from certain letters found on a piece of tape in his possession, that he was a Roman Catholic. The appear- ance of the body indicated that it had been in the water about a fortnight.—Mr. E. Brassey (city coroner) held an inquiry at the Bull and Stirrup Hotel, on Saturday evening. Dr. George Harrison, who gave evidence, said he found no external marks of violence upon the body of deceased, whese aere would be about thirty years.—No evidence of identification was given, and the coroner decided to adjourn the inquest until Monday next. Until yesterday (Friday) the enquiries of the police had failed to afford any clue to the identification of the body. MASONIC INSTALLATION AT CHESTER.—On Monday-the Festival of St. John-at the Masonic Hall, Foregate-street, Bro. David L. Hewitt was installed as Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Independence, No. 721. in succes- sion to Bro. William Vernon. There was the large attendance of upwards of 80 members. The visitors included not only members of the follow- ing Chester lodges :—Cestrian, 425 Clarence, 2386; Travellers', 2609; but also members of the Connah's Quay (St. Mark's), Mold (Sir Watkin), Wrexham (Square and Compass), and other lodges. The installation ceremony was impressively performed by Brothers C. Polking- horne, E. H. Thomas. T. Knowles, and W. Peers. The W.M. appointed the following officers Bros. William Vernon, I.P.M.; Frank Coveney, S.W.; John Appleton, J.W.; W. Peers, P.M., P.P.G.T., Treas.; T. Knowles, P.M., P.P.G.A.D.C., Sec.; George Richards, S.D.; George Day, J.D.; Wm. Leah, I.G. H. Stonely, P.M., D.C.; E. H. Thomas, P.M., Charity Repr.; R. Butterworth, Organist; J. H. Lay bourne, Almoner; Alex. Hornby, S.; R. Butterworth, S. and J. H. Doughty, Tyler. The banquet was supplied by Messrs. R. Bolland and Sons. Enjoyable songs were contributed by Bros. T. Knowles, E. Robinson, A. M. Proctor, Loui Parry, A. Mill- ward, J. H. Laybourne, S. P. Davies, and Frank Coveney. Bro. R. Butterworth acted as musical director. WILL OF MR. G. R. CLOVER, OF CLAUGHTON. —Probate was granted at Chester on Monday of the will of the late George Robert Clover, shipbuilder, of Ramie, Manor Hill, Claughton. By his will, which is dated 30th November, 1891, the testator appointed Mr. J. C. Gamble, chemical manufacturer, St. Helens; Mr. E. A. Beasley, shipowner, Shrewsbury-road, Oxton, and (when they should become of age) his sons, George Robert Clovar and Guy Sanderson Clover, executors. He bequeaths to his wife, Emily, absolutely all the plate, linen, china; glass, books, pictures, &c., and also EI,000, and tolhis son, George Robert Clover, his freehold dwelling-house, Lingdale, Claughton. He directs his trustees to realise his personal estate, invest the proceeds, and pay the income to his widow during her lite, the investments and income at her demise to be divided among the family and relatives as she may by will direct. He empowers his trustees to dispose of or carry on at their discretion his business of shipbuilder and ship repairer. In a codicil dated 28th November, 1896, the testator revoked the appointment of the executors under the will, and appoints George Robert Clover, Guy Sanderson Clover, and Austin Leslie Clover executors, when the latter should have attained their majority, but in all other respects he con- firmed the previous will. Under the will small bequests are made to deceased's children's nurse, his gardener, and other servants. The gross personalty has been sworn at £ 202,438. NATIONAL HEALTH SOCIETY.—A lecture was delivered on Monday at the Newgate-street Assembly Room, by Miss Curwen, lecturer and medallist of the N.H.S., and Assoc. San. Institute, upon Our hidden foes." Dr. Stolter- foth was in the chair, and among those present were the Mayoress (Mrs. H. T. Brown), Mrs. Stolterfoth, Mrs. Dutton, Mrs. Mann, Miss Marsden, the Rev. F. T. Stonex, the Rev. T. D. and Mrs. James, Miss Carson, Mrs. Laybourne, &e. In introducing the lecturer, the chairman said a letter bad been received by Miss Williams, the bon. secretary, from Lady Lettice Grosvenor, saying though much occupied just now she hoped to be able to attend some of the lectures this session. Miss Curwen then proceeded with the lecture, speaking of the universal presence of bacteria, which, she said must, notwithstanding the title of Our hidden foes," be often con- sidered Our hidden friends." She touched upon their importance as scavengers, and on their service in various industries, and passing on to pathogenic germs she spoke of the mode in which they attacked the organism and of the means adopted by the body to repel their invasion. A series of interesting slides from the Sanitary Institute, illustrative of the subject, was shewn in the course of the lecture by Mr. Siddall.-In proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Rev. F. T. Stonex said thanks were doubly due to Dr. Stolterfoth for giving the support of his distinguished professional position to this good work in its infancy. While our city fathers attended to our sanitary condition from a legal point of view, the work of this society was educational. The vote was seconded by the Rev. T. D. James, and acknowledged by the Chairman. — —

HORRIBLE NEGLECT OF CHILDREN. I EXEMPLARY SENTENCE. Before Mr. J. R. Thomson and other magis- trates, at the City Police Court, on Thursday morning, a labourer named Albert Bailey, of 17, Park's-court, off Love- street, Chester, and his wife, Dora Bailey, were charged with neglecting their four children, whose ages range from three to ten years, in a way likely to cause them unnecessary suffering and injury to health. Mr. E. Brassey prosecuted on behalf of the N.S.P.C.C.—Dr. Geo. Harrison said he visited the house in Park's-court in Decem- ber. He found defendants had gone away, and the children were running about the house in a most filthy and neglected state. They were poorly nourished and scantily clothed, while the three elderly children were suffering from ophthalmia, which was caused by dirt and neglect. The youngest child was worse than the other three.— Inspector Nicol gave corroborative evidence, and said the parents were much addicted to drink, which was really the cause of their neglect.—The Chief Constable remarked that he had seldom been in the vicinity of Park's-court without meet- ing the female defendant with a jug of beer in her hand. The parents were very drunken people, and the children were allowed to go begging in the streets. Mrs. Bailey had appeared at the court seven times previously on various charges, while the husband had been summoned twice for poaching, which alone shewed that he was an able-bodied man.— The Bench sentenced both defendants to two months' imprisonment, and ordered the children to be taken care of in the Chester Workhouse. The two elder children, it was stated, would be removed to the Industrial School when suitable arrangements could be made, and when defendants were in a position to con- tribute towards their maintenance.

RESTORATION OF MACCLESFIELD CHURCH. The work of the restoration of Macclesfield Parish Church is practically complete, and at a meeting of the restoration committee on Friday it was mentioned that the opening will take place on Wednesday, April 24th. The Bishop of Chester will conduct the opening and con- secration ceremony, after which there will be a luncheon, and it is hoped that a noble and distinguished Cheshire churchman will preside. In the evening a sermon will be preached by the Bishop of Ripon, and on the following Sunday the pulpit will be occupied by Dr. Ryle, the new Bishop of Exeter, and son of the late Bishop Ryle, of Liverpool, who is a Maccles- field man, and preached the last sermon in the church prior to its restoration. The work has been carried out upon plans by the late Sir £ 2(H)00 BS?eld' A-f A Vand has cost over ?m,ooo. This ? has been "?- except E2,000, and an anonymous offer of £ 1000 has been made if the church is free from debt at the date of the opening. At Friday's meeting the committee accepted the gift of a Byrne Jones window for the Savage Chapel by Sir Thomas Wardle, whose father was at one time a silk dyer in Macclesfield.

Stark's Great Remnant Sale, for one day only, Saturday next, January 26.—Stark, 93 and 95, regate-street, Chester.

I CHESTER LAMWAYS. I THE RECENT POL_L DISCUSSION BY THE CO» T^TCIL. THE MAYOR'S EXPLANATION. I PESSIMISM v. OPTIMISM. A special meeting of Chester Town Council s held on Wednesday afternoon, under the presi- dency of the Mayor (Alderman H. T. Brown), to consider the Chester Corporation Tramways Bill. The Mayor, after formally announcing the, re- sult of the poll on the question of the tramways, moved the confirmation of the resolution passed at the meeting of the Council, held on the 28th of November last, determining that application be made to Parliament for a Bill "to confer powers on the Corporation of Chester to re-construct the existing tramways in and adjacent to the city, to work tramways, and for other purposes," and that the costs and expenses of and attending the pro- motion of such Bill be charged on the borough fund. He did not feel it was necessary for him to enter into any disquisition upon the principle of the Bill or upon its provisions, as they were fully gone into on the last occasion. He wished, how- ever, to make what was to some extent a per- sonal explanation, for he was afraid there was still considerable misapprehension on the part of the public with regard to the Bill, and the inten- tions of the Council in respect to it. There was also an impression that he had been somewhat an advocate of that measure, and that he was an advocate of a particular system of tramways. He would remind the public through the Council that so far as he was concerned his connection with the Bill had been entirely administrative. He, of course, had his opinion about the purchase of the tramways and about the Bill, and had expressed his opinions from time to time. But he hoped he had never in that Council or elsewhere attempted to force his opinions upon the public. He wished also to remind the public that he, as Mayor, had had two duties devolving upon him. The Council referred the question of the tramways to a com- mittee of which he was chairman. From time to time it had been his duty as chairman of that com- mittee to submit to the Council the resolutions which had been arrived at by that committee. Though he had from time to time expressed his own opinions, he had never attempted to force them upon the Council, irrespective of the reso- lutions which had been made. As Mayor of the city, the duty devolved upon him to preside at the public meeting, and he did not remember that on that occasion one word fell from him except what was absolutely necessary to place the meeting in a position to debate the subject. He made those few remarks because he heard it was said that the purchase of the tramways and the scheme of the Bill was a scheme of the Mayor's. (Laughter.) In order that he might not be misunderstood he would say, as a member of the Council, that he was entirely in favour of the step which the Council had taken in purchasing the tramways. (Hear, hear.) He was entirely in accord with the Council in the step which they had taken in pro- ceeding to Parliament to obtain all the necessary powers to enable them to deal with the tram- ways, of which they !had become the purchasers. As there had been a good deal of opposition to the Bill through the misapprehension of the pub- lic, he would remind the public that every mem- ber of the Council was perfectly free, after the Act of Parliament was obtained, to exercise his own judgment as to the way in which the powers were to be carried out. (Hear, hear.) He had never expressed any personal opinion as to what traction should be adopted. It was an absolute fact that the Council had never passed any reso- lution which bound them in any way to adopt any particular system of traction. That was a matter to be decided when the question came to be fully discussed by the Council. He hoped his explanation would relieve the minds of some people who were still under the impression that they were pledged to some particular course of action when they got their Act, and were going to make an enormous expenditure to carry out pre- conceived ideas. Nothing was further from the fact, and he considered the councillors were en- tirely at liberty to take any steps they might think prudent and in the interests of the public in carrying out the wide powers the Bill proposed to confer upon them. Alderman George Dutton seconded the resolu- tion. Dr. Archer said he did not intend to propose an amendment, but he could not help expressing his regret at the way in which this matter had been put before the ratepayers of Chester. At the ratepayers' meeting in December the ques- tion was discussed, he believed, on the under- standing that Chester was going to have electric trams or nothing. That was the trend of the speeches on the occasion, and he noticed that the Mayor did not try to stop the discussion as to the development under the electrical scheme. They had tried to ascertain from the responsible authorities of the Corporation what would be the approximate cost of an electric tramway system, but the question was pushed aside, and red herrings were strewn across the path. Upon a, little pressure, however, it was announced that the approximate cost would be about £ 10,000 per mile. He had it on the best possible authority that the approximate cost would be nearly R20,000 per mile. He could not conceive, as a responsible representative of a large portion of the ratepayers, why on an occasion like this, when so many of the interests of th& public were in- volved, the real expenses, which must have been known to some of the Corporation at the time, were not put before the meeting. A ratepayer used the expression to him that the poll was very misleading, and he (Dr. Archer) could not do any- thing but believe it was misleading. He mentioned that the ratepayers at the pøll had not the proper issue placed before them. They were asked to vote for electric tramways, Or nothing—(cries of "No, no")—and they were' kept entirely in the dark as to what would be fven the approximate expenditure. He thought it was unfair, and they ought to take the ratepayers more into their con- fidence on an important question like this. The term ''misapprehension" used by the Mayor was, he thought, properly applied to the feelings of the ratepayers on the question of the ex- penses of the trams. At the cost electric tramways would involve in Chester they could never pay with the population. The trams would not be much benefit to the working- classes when it was considered that about half of them lived in Newtown, within five minutes' walk of the centre of the city. Another objection was that the streets of Chester, in his opinion, were not adapted for overhead wires for electric trams, which would spoil the characteristic fea- tures of the old city, and make it an eyesore. The cost of the system would become an intoler- able burden to the ratepayers, and he was very sorry the subject had not been placed before the ratepayers in a plainer manner. The Mayor reminded the Council that the ques- tion of electric tramways was not before them in any way whatever at the present moment. He did not wish to stop Dr. Archer, but that was not a question for discussion at that meeting. Dr. Archer: I must bow to your ruling. I only argued that the question before the city was sup- posed to be electric trams. Mr. Carr asked whether in case the Corporation had permission to run the trams, they would be compelled by Act of Parliament to adopt any par- ticular system. The Mayor replied that the terms of the Bill distinctly provided they would not. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes asked whether the Bill gave the Corporation power to lease- The Town Clerk replied they already possessed that power. Mr. Holmes drew attention to a clause in the Bill that between the kerbstone and the line of railway there should be a space of 9ft. 6in. He did not know how they were going to provide that space in the streets of Chester. Mr. S. Moss, M.P.: That only refers to a double line. Mr. Holmes: I understand a double line is to go all through. The Mayor: Oh, no, onlv in places. Mr. Egerton Gilbert asked whether the time limit of seven years, in which the powers of the Bill were to be exercised, was sufficient. The Mayor pointed out that they had asked for the utmost that Parliament gave. Mr. Moss said he voted for the Bill at. the last Council meeting, and had all along been in favour of the Corporation taking over the tramways. But he quite agreed with the High Sheriff, who stated that the tramways would probably not be a pay- ing concern. He thought it was very possible that the trams they were taking over might not be, from a revenue point of view, an actually pay- ing concern. He did not support the Bill on that ground, but only on the principle that the-eneans of locomotion in the city should be under the control of the Corporation, and be for the benefit of the poor citizens. He hoped it would be made clear that if the Bill became law they would have an opportunity of saying what system should be adopted. For his part, he would most strongly oppose the making of tramway No.1. tramway No. 2, or tramway No. 3, set out in clause 4 of the Bill. He thought the ratepayers had a pledge from the Council that they were not committing themselves to an expenditure of £ 150,000, but that they would, if the Bill was passed, proceed with the scheme tentatively, starting with the Boughton and the Saltney extensions. That might or might not pay, but he felt sure that if the tramways were taken into the parts of the city where the population was less sparse, the loss of revenue would be very serious. On the ques- tion of motor power, he did not know whether the committee had decided. Alderman Churton thought they wanted a little pluck in the Council on the question of trams. He wondered if the members of the Council were polled that day anybody would be such an idiot as to oppose electric trams. The tramway system must be of a first-class description, or they would never pay. It was no use blinding their eyes with the idea they were going in for anything but electric trams. Electricity was unmistakably the traction of the future, and the only question to his mind was as to what extent the traction was to be applied. He did not want the public to be under the impression that the Council had not practically made up their minds as to the mode of traction. If the tramways in Chester were to be made a success the traction must be electrical. The Corporation did not intend to make the extensions wholesale until they found how they would pay. but it was rather dis- couraging to find that out of the six lines of tramway extensions suggested three would be opposed by Mr. Moss unless he found the others were a great success. Supposing the proposed tramway extensions were not desirable, and it was found desirable to take the tramways in another direction, the Bill did not give them power to do so. He thought they should have a general power to place tramways in the city wherever they might think desirable in the interests of the public. Any additional ex- tensions of the system would necessitate a future application to Parliament. He also regretted they were limited to seven years to exercise their powers, for he thought the longer they talked about the matter the better act. Tramways were being esSbIishe? a? ? over a?L country at th? present time and they might profit by the ex?nence .n?'f???  towns. If Mr. he would find it prov?ed, for the pT urpose if Con" st rue ting a tramwav in W stre»t p tJOn mIght increase the vr?,4th of the road by re- ducing the width of the f«>tW on either side' £ e hfnS £ 'k h °Wever' they would ? slow indeed ♦ f ,In g to decrease the width" of the foot- way, 4& for every person who went in a tram 200 /uuf used the footways. It was verv d?btf? wneiner tney could get power to ;¡; T8 ^dependently of the tramways, and he therefore thought they ought to have exclusive right to run omniS independently. Clause 49 simply confined their ppootwter rtto ouusJinng ^hbuses in connection with the Savo he rUggest(,dlnthe To- Clerk'should clause ur to t his suggestion inserted in the clause. Mr. J. R. Rae agreed that electric traction was the only possible one to make tramways ply But he could not agree with b"Mr rh? • criticising the Bill &ich had n SCVm for the last two or three months Alderman Churton said he had not an oppor- tunity of perusing the Bill until three davs ago Mr. Rae: That is Mr. Churton's own fault. ubeen public property for the last Atw, o months at least. Dr. Archer doubted whether the Bill had been T,.?.Property that length of time. Mr. Rae said he was in agreement with Mr Moss and was sure the Council were fully pre- pared to carry out the scheme as it had been sanctioned by the ratepayers. The details of the Bill had been fully published in the local news- papers, and what more did they want, Why should they not respect the deliberate determina- tion of the ratepayers, and proceed with the Bill as it stood? Mr. Churton asked them to take most extraordinary powers in practically running the whole carnage traffic of the city. It would be absurd to ask Parliament for exclusive power to run motor Abuses and omnibuses. Thev were simply quibbling about details of the Bill, and he thought it was a waste of time to go into the matter any further at that meeting. As to the traction, everybody ought to know that the Cor- poration were committed to nothing, anrl it. ->I" perfectly in their power to settle their tapped6 in the next few years before the powers lapsed. Mr. John Jones (Boughton) thought, if pos- sible, they ought to include Handbnage in the scheme. The difficulties which had been men- tioned might be overcome. The Mayor said that was quite impossible Dr. Archer contended that the Bill had not been before the ratepayers. He knew nothing about it until about a week ago. Mr. B. C. Roberts May I ask if the Bill was deposited as usual before the 30th of November ? The Town Clerk said it was deposited on the 21st December. The Mayor: The notices were of course in the papers in November. Mr. B. C. Roberts: Well, the notices contained the provisions of the Bill. The Mayor It was practically public property in November. Mr. Vernon asked a question as to the powers of the Council to run 'buses, motor cars. etc. The Town Clerk replied that they would have power to work motor cars and 'buses in connection with the existing tramways and in lieu of the extensions, but not in lieu of the existing tram- ways. In reply to Mr. Churton, the Town Clerk said they would do their best to carry out his sug- gestions. He pointed out that seven years was the period within which the Corporation must decide to make the proposed extensions, and not the period the end of which the powers of the Bill would lapse. In other words, the Corpora- tion would have to deal with the extensions within seven years. The Corporation must not be allowed to cumber the ground for a long period. If they were not prepared to exercise the powers, other people might be, and therefore Parliament would not give unlimited power, and seven years, he thought, was the longest period they had any chance of getting. With respect to Mr. Jones's suggestion as to Bridge- street and Handbridge, it was too late to make any alteration in that respect, but if it ever proved to be feasible to carry out that extension, it being entirely within the borough, they would not have to go to Parliament for powers to make it. They would simply have to obtain the consent of the Board of Trade. The resolution was then voted upon, and was carried unanimously. The Council then formally passed a resolution authorising the Mayor to affix the corporate seal to the print of the Bill.

THE CHESHIRES AT KAALFONTEIN, JANUARY 12TH, 1900. otand fast, said Williams-Freeman, to the Cheshire lads that day, Wnile thick and fast the bursting shells were sounding in the fray; His gallant lads obeyed the call, and the foemen's onset stayed; "Stand fast," the brave lieutenant cried, with the coolness of Parade. While mid the din of lead and flame a grand V.C. was earned, For Private Park-yes! note the name-fierce danger bravely spurned; He galloped through the hail of hell, to send the wire through, To tell the Chief of peril sore of Cheshire 22. Now, Cheshire men and Cheshire maids, your plaudits give to these, Brave heroes of the sternest strife, while you may lounge at ease; The "Twenty-second" of old fame-the Cheshire Infantry, Have held your County honours true, now—- "Cheshires!—Three times three 1" W. A. BIRKETT, Ipswich.

LIGHTING-UP TABLE. All cycles and other v 3hicles in the Chestex district must be lighted up as stated in the following table:- P.M. Saturday, January 19 5.25 Sunday, January 20 5.26 Monday, January 21 5.28 Tuesday, January 22 5.30 Wednesday, January 23 5.31 Thursday, January 24 5.33 Friday, January 25. 5.34 —————— 0 ——————

CHESTER CATHEDRAL. SKBVICK LIST FOB WZZK COMMENCING JAN. 19. SATURDAY, JANUARY 19TH. Morning, S.O Matins. 10.15: Service, Nares in F; anthem, 0 taste and see (Sullivan). Evening, 4.15: Service, Nares in F; anthem, Lift up thine eyes (Goss). SUNDAY. JANUARY :'ÛTH (Second Sunday after Epiphany). —Morning. 8.0: Litany and Holy Communion. 10.30: Service, Mendelssohn in A; introit, hymn 312; Holy Communion (Harwood in A flat); preacher, the Canon in Residence. Evening, 3,30 Service, Macfarren in E Hat); anthem, 10 smg unto the Lord" (Puroell) hymn 17. 6.3o Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis to Chants processional hymn, 2J7; hymns 87, 1b9. preacher, the Bev. J. Wylde, M.A. MONDAY. JANUARY 21 sT.-Morning, 8.0: Matins. 10.15: Service in Monotone. Evening, 4.15: Service, Roberts in F; anthem, Seek ye the Lord (Roberts). TUESDAY, JANUARY 22ND.—Morning, 8 0: Matins. 10.15: Service, Armes in A; anthem, "0 praise God" (Weldon). Evening, 4.15: Service, Gadsby in F; anthem, Send out Thy light" (Gounod). WEDNESDAY. JANUARY RD.-Morning, 8.0: :Matins. 16.15: The Litany hymn 7. Evening, 4.15: Service, Hatton in E anthem, Hearken unto me (Sullivan). THURSDAY, JANUARY 24TH.-Morning, 8.0: Holy Com- munion. 10.15 Service, Croft in A; anthem, Out of the deep" (Mozart). Evening, 4.15: Service, Elvey in A; anthem, 0 for a closer walk (Foster). FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH (Conversion of St. Paul).- Morning, 8.0: Litany and Holy Communion. 10.15: Service, Garrett in E; anthem, How lovely are the icessengers (Mendelssohn). 11.15: Holy Communion. Evening, 4.15: Processional hymn, 447; Service, Garrett in E flat; anthem, Lovely appear (Gounod).

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, & DEATHS. BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, and DEATHS are charged at the rate of 20 words for Is. (prepaid). If not prepaid, the charge will be 2s. 6d. The announcement must be authenticated by the Signature and Address ot the Sender. BIRTH. BALL-January 16. at 19, Derby-place, Hoole, the wife of J. T. Ball, of a daughter. SILVER WEDDING. YATICF,-XAWDSLEY-Jauuary 15, ls76, at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Saul-street. Preston, by the Her. J. Prestwich, assisted by the Rev. J. Lawley, Edward Yates to Isabella Mawdsley, both of Preston. (o7, Foregate-street, Chester.) DEATHS. BLYTHrN-January 12, 1901, at 34, Onlton-place, Chester. George, the beloved husband of Matilda Blythin. [Hill end was peace.] CHURTOlq-January 13. at his residence. Manor House, Neston, aged 59 years, John Gaitskell Caurton. COPPAcx-January 13, at his residence, Shotton, Queen's Ferry, James Coppack, aged 83 years. Was interred at Hawarden Churchyard on January 16th. DUTTON—January 6, at his residence, Guilden Sutton, Charles William Dutton, aged 44 years. FLETCHER-January 17, at Woodbrae, Curzon Park, Chester, Philip Henry Fletcher, in his 91st year. REDDISH—January 13, at her residence, 128, Brook- street, Annie, the beloved wife of J. T. Reddish, aged 57 years. Boaz-January 15, suddenly, at Winnipeg, Edward Percy Rose, M.D., house surgeon of S. ijociface Hospital, second son of the late William Baillie Bose, of Fortroee. and stepson of the Rev. Horace Stephens, vicar of Godley, aged 2° y-. (By cable. ) BoJn:ar:j, ([ e.) rsidence. Broxton, William Roycroft, agedSS years. IN MEMORIAM. ASHToN-In loving memory of Elizabeth, the beieved daughter of William and Emma Ashton, 1, The Head- lands, Chester, who died January 16th, 1900. Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on Keep Thou my feet, I do not ask to see The distant scene, one step enough for me. JOHNS-In loving memory of Thomas Johns, tailor, of this city, died January 19, 1900. Gone not from memory or from love, But gone to a Father's home above. WILKINSON-In ever-loving memory of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of T. L. Wilkinson, who passed peacefully away on January 15, 1837.

MEMORIALS. ——— AT ALL PRICES, IN MA LE, GRANITE, STONE ALABASTER. On View, and to order. W. HASWELL & SO-N MASONS, KALEYARDS, CHESTER. Estimates and Designs Free on application. Telephone No. 161 A.