Cheshire Observer

1 1 IN A' tPTTMJSHED BY SPBCIAL ARRANGEMENT. ] M E%c* DEID CERTAINTY,) BY NAT GOULD, Author of "The Gentleman Rider," "The Pace That Kills," "Racecourse and Battleneld," "The Dark Horse," "The Double Event," &c., &c. [COPYRIGHT.] I — CHAPTERS I SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS, tg CHAPTERS 1. N H.—A young auu uauuaumc lU, Patricia Royston, commonly called "Pat," is in charge of a friend of her mother's. Miss Helen WoodruS. They are staying at Bettws-y-Coed, where "Pat" makes the acquaintance of Mr. Arthur Dunbar, a Yorkshire squire of sporting proclivities, whilst salmon Rshing. Dunbar tesolves to improve the acquaintance. CHATTERS 111. & IV.—Pat and her companion visit Llandudno, and are followed by Dunbar. They there meet Maud Bexley and her brother Hector. Maud has had some ac- quaintance with Dunbar, and still loves him, though on his part it was only a Qirtation. Maud resolves to win him at all coats, and asks her brother to help her in her task. Hector is a gambler, and Maud helps him to money. In the meantime Dunbar is summoned to return to hisl country house in Yorkshire on the report tbatj his horses, especially one Whirlwind, a favouritei racehorse, are "coughing." CHAPTERS V. & VI.—Dunbar nnda that his jj favourite horse is not hopelessly ill, and the report is that he will recover for the Spring. Dunbar meets an old companion. Harry Haw&nch,! who goes to stay with him at his Yorkshire*) house, Glen Royal. CHAPTERS VII. & VIII.—Mr. Henry Roystom," a Sydney racehorse owner, and father to Pat,' though shady with his horses, comes to England,, leaving a number of his Australian horses at Mar-; seillea. He forms the acquaintance of Dunbar, i and decides to make the latter's aSection for hia daughter an excuse for getting some of his horses into Dunbar's stable. 8 CHAPTER IX.-HOW ROYSTON'S PLAN WORKED. After his visitors had been at Glen Royal about & week, during which time Arthur Dunbar made ample use of the many opportunities he bad of ingratiating himself in Pat's favour, he accom- panied Henry Royston to Middleham. ? This was Royston's nrst visit to England, and although the time of the year was all against the beauty of the landscape be formed a correct idea of what it was like under more favourable climatic conditions. 1 Middleham he could not imagine to be a great training centre, and like many other visitors there for the first time he was disappointed, j The country looked barren and bleak and the stone walls did not give it a cheerful appearance, t "Looks a rum place to train horses." was the comment Henry Royston passed as they drove over the moors. j' Arthur Dunbar laughed as be replied: "It does not usually impress a stranger favour- ably. but experience causes a quick change of opinion. I know no place in England I would sooner have horses trained on than Middlehatn Moors—not excepting Newmarket." "I am giad to hear it," said Royston, and then asked, "What kind of man is your trainer? I know smne of them are touchy, and I want to keep in his good books." Arthur Dunbar wondered why but merely sai. d, "Gilbert Honey ia not very touchy, but you must be-ar in mind one thing, be thinks Middle- ham the- on'iy place in England worth living in." "Having iived here all his life that is only natural," said Royston.. When they arrived at the Glen Stables, Gilbert Honey eyed Henry Royston keenly, as he gener- ally did when he met a man for the nrst time. "I have brought a gentleman from Australia to Me you," said Arthur. "He owns several horses, a.id he has some in the South of France now that he brought over from the Colonies.' Gilbert Honey was not a believer in Australian horses despite the fact that recently several of them had shewn good form and won big handi- caps. Like many trainers, he was prejudiced against ;-uch horses, and did not believe they were as good as those bred in England. He overlooked the important point that these Colonial horses had the same blue biood in their veins as those foaled in England, and that they had been reared in a more congenial climate, "I'm pleased to see you," said the trainer. "Are you remaining in England long?" "It all depends how I am treated, said Roy-. ston. "If I can win a few races it will encourage' me to remain." m "I promised to shew Mr. Royston the Glen stables," said Arthur, "and another day I may have the pleasure of bringing two ladies to see; the horses. One of them is Miss Royaton, andj the other her companion. The weather was hot favourable for them to come with us. Gilbert Honey did not care to have ladies about; the stables, but be said he would be very pleased' to conduct them round. After refreshment, which they needed after, their dri,e in the sharp air, Arthur Dunbar and I Henry Royston went round the stables with the trainer. The horses had wintered well so far, and were rapidly recovering from their ailments. "We have had a good deal of aieknesa in the stable," said Arthur, "and some of the horses have not quite got over it." "They look well so far," said Henry Royston, "not much the matter with them now I 9houl< think. By Jove. he's a good one," he exclaimed as they entered Whirlwind's box. Gilbert Honey looked quickly at the speaker and thought, He knows a good horse when he sees one. That is Whirlwind; and he is a great favourite of mine. I had hopes of winning the Cesarewitc with him last year, but unfortunately he fell sick, and at one time we thought he would never ge over it," said Arthur. "I never saw a horse pick up so quickly as he has," said the trainer. "The mild weather helped him along wonderfully, and I think he will be as good as ever he was in the spring." "I mean to win a big race with him yet," said Arthur, and would probably have said more but a glance at his trainer's face stopped him. The whote of the horses were inspected and Henry Royston knew they were a very even lot, but he thought The Rake fit and well would beat the best of them. This opinion, however, he kept to himself. It was one of the secrets of his success on the turf that he seldom took anyone into his confidence, and when he bad a "good thing" he got the best of the spoil and the cream of the market. When Arthur Dunbar and his companion left the Glen, Gilbert Honey thought a good deal over their visit. He was a shrewd man, this Middleham trainer, and accustomed to look we)I ahead. During the many years he had been training horses he had come in contact with all sorts of people, and ha( acquired a pretty accurate knowledge of human nature. There was something about Henry Royston he did not like. Royston had been careful not to say anything against Middleham. on the contrary he had praised it; but Gilbert Honey felt the praise was hardly genuine, and he would have been better pleased bad Henry Royston spoken his thoughts freely. "He doesn't strike me as a man to be trusted," thought Gilbert. "I don't like that Australian business with The Rake he told us about. Where there's smoke there's nre; and when stewards hold an inquiry into a horse's running they generally have good grounds for doing so, no matter whether anything comes of it or not. "He seems pretty free with Mr. Dunbar, bu perhaps that is merely his manner. Anyhow, I hope there. will not be a strong friendship between them, i' only for Mr. Dunbar's sake." In the evening the trainer was unusually silent, and at last Mrs. Honey said, "What is the matter, Gilbert? You have not spoken for half an hour." "I am thinking," be replied, "about the gentle- man who came with Mr. Dunbar to-day—Mr. Royston." "Oh!" The exclamation was expressive, and the traine looked at his wife and smiled. "Then you did not like him?" he asked. "No, I cannot say I did. But 1 have no cause to dislike him. He may be all right for all we know, but he did not seem quite Up to the usuai standard of Mr. Dunbar's friends. "You've just hit the mark, Jenny," said Gilbert Honey. "You express my sentiments entirely. He does not seem up to the mark." <*We often agree about such things," she said. "Y ou are a good judge," he replied. "And so are you, Gilbert-an excellent judge of men and horses." 'Don't leave the ladies out," he said. smiling. "Y ou know very little about my sex." she an- swered. I knew enough about ladies to pick out the best wife in all broad Yorkshire," he said. Mrs. Honey smiled complacently. Her hus- band was not given to indiscriminate praise, and she appreciated his remark at its full worth. "Then vou have not changed your opinion in all these years?" she asked. "No, and I never shal.l, and then ha si. gh, ed,. Mrs. Honey looked troubled. She knew the meaning of that sigh. Her husband would have dearly loved to have had & son-a lad he could have trained after his own heart and handed over the Glen stables to when he was old and not up to the work. She went over to where he sat, and putting her hands on his shoulders, and bendin over him, said: "The old trouble, Gilbert? Make the beat of it, husband. What's ordered is for our good, and it cannot be changed." "You are right, wife," he said, "and we hav been so happy and contented it is wrong to grumble at our tot. Maybe if we had a son he would not take after his father, and that would be a sore trouble to me. We are spared all anxiety on that score at any rate." He was quickly cheerful again, and shortly after- wards went round the stables to see if the horses were all right for the night. He never neglected this dutv, and when sway from home, and unable to go the usual round, he always became Hdgetty and uneasy towards night. When he went into Whirlwind's box he looked the horse well over and seamed satia6e<i with his ?You'll be al! right by C h ester Cup? tune, he "Y be an right by Chester Cup t.im.e," he, thought, "and I'H send you some good rousing gallops when the ground has the frost out of it and the going is good. "To win a Chester Cup early in the year will give Mi. Dunbar something to go on with and it ? must have cost him a good many thousands last i ''Bad luck. nothing else. That's what it was. The horses were good enough, but the luck was dead against us. In racing, as in most other things, to succeed a man must have a slice of luck with him." wi-A, t Glen Royal Pat was indignant because sh e iad not accompanied them to Middleham. "What do I care about the weather?" she said. l "I like cold weather. It was merely an excuse te keep me at home; and you promised to shew me round the stables." "And so I will," said Arthur. "But really it was not the sort of weather for you to undertake such a journey." "Well, if you promise to take me to Middleham the next time you go you may consider yourself forgiven this time," said Pat, smiling. During her visit to Glen Royal she had com- menced to feel she liked Arthur Dunbar very much indeed, and that it would be a wrench to her to think she was not to see him again. She was not actually in love with him, but she was rapidly being borne in that direction. As for Arthur Dunbar, the slightest encourage- ment on Pat Royston's part would have drawn him into an engagement. This encouragement, how- lever, she had not yet given him. Before leaving ?Glen Royal, Henry Royston had a long conversa i tion with Arthur Dunbar about racing prospects for the coming season. "I have four good horses," said Royston, "anc } fdo not mind buying one or two more; but the ?dimeu!ty ia to know where to train them? and to ? ?whom to hand them over to be trained." "There ought not to be much dimculty abou ?that." said Arthur. "I am sure there are severa ?good men who wou!d be only too glad of the ?ch&nce. § "Probably," replied Royston; "but I wish to ?get into a good stab)e. It would help me along Sin the racing world if I did." ? "It is a diScutt matter." said Arthur. "Owners g fight shy of a stranger's horse coming into a S? stable. and you can hardly wonder at it" R' "but lit is bard ?i, "Perhaps not," said Royston, "but it is har< p lines on the stranger all the same. I had an idea, "'but I am almost afraid to mention it, after what Eyou have said. "I wonder what he is driving at," thought Arthur, who bad not the remotest idea. <% "Mention anything you please to me," said r Arthur. "I shall be glad to hear what you have to f say." @ "I have bepn wondering since our visit to Mid- ? d'eham whether you would kindly allow Gilber Honey to train my horses with your own; that is ? (provided he were willing to take them," said Rovston. ?' Arthur Dunbar was taken aback, not to say l ?i ? staggered at this request. Here was a man he had only known for a few days, who was a perfecti stranger to him, calmly asking to be allowed to place his horses with Gilbert Honey. At nrst he i t felt inclined to be angry and decline in an un-, mistakabte manner: but then he thought "He isj Fat's father, and I must try and not offend him. ) "I am afraid the Glen Stables are full," he re- spited; "and my trainer has quite as much as he i can do comfortablv," I "In plain words you mean you do not like the idea of having my horses In your stables," said t Rovston. I t, The tone in which be spoke roused Arthur Dun- ? bar. I "You have expressed my thoughts exactly, he replied. e, "I am sorry," said Royston. "I think it would, If be to our mutual advantage to have my horses. Strained at Middleham." I ? "They can be trained at Middleham if you soj desire," said Arthur. "I can cud you stabling for them. ? "If Gilbert Honey does not take them in hand I "shall send them to Newmarket," replied RoystonJ i "Perhaps that would be the better plan," said 't:' Arth nr. I "If you will think over what I have said," re- .t plied Royston, "you may come to the conclusion it will after all be as well for my horses to be in your stable. There are so many things hanging to such Jan arrangement." ? He hesitated a few moments to give point to the last sentence, and then said "For instance, my horse The Rake is a thorough ?sta3-er and up to carrying a big weight. I am sure he will hold his own here, from what other i A1.lstralian horses have done. That being so it (, will be far better for us not to clash, as The Rake -1; no doubt would do in some race with Whirlwind. ? Do give the matter your earnest consideration, ??? Mr. Dunbar, and I think in the end you will agree ?with me it wi[l be better for us to work together. ? Arthur Dunbar did think over what Henry ?Royston had said, and at nrst considered it a ? piece of impertinence for him to ask such a .§favour. ? "Gilbert Honey would not like it," said Arthur ?to himself; "in fact I doubt if he would consent .d to the arrangement under any circumstances.' <aWhat did he mean when he said, 'There are so ?fmany things hanging to such an arrangement?' B Surety he cou!d not have alluded to Pat—Miss ? Royston. And yet it seemed a broad hint in that B direction. I wonder how she feels towards me. ? She is the only girt I have seen I should like to jj call my wife. How utterly unlike her father she eg is. If she loves me she will not be influenced by i ? her father, who appears to have sadly neglected Sther in her younger days. g "Ft! put him off for a week or two by saying I will consult Honey in the matter and see if it can be managed. That will give me time to see how the land lies in Pat's direction." S CHAPTER X.-UNPLEASANT FOR PAT. Pat, I wish you would do something for me," said her father. "Up to now you have had pretty much your own way! I have given you an ample supply of pocket money and not interfered with you. The least you can do is to assist me in my plans." "Now what Is coming?" thought Pat, with a strange tightening around her heart, and a dread of something, she knew not what. "Perhaps he is going to propose I accompany him back to Australia; and if so I shall insist upon taking Woody with me." What is it you wish me to do?" she asked quietly, Not very much," be replied, and easily ac-I complished." i Pat felt relieved and looked it; and her father. went on. ) You know I brought some racehorses over with me. I wish to get them into a good stable; because it will be to my advantage, and give me & good introduction on the turf here. I should: very much like to place them in Mr. Dunbar's stable, and I feel sure if you expressed to him your desire that my horses should be trained by Gilbert Honey, Mr. Dunbar would accede to your request." Pat Sushed angrily. Her father had no right to consider Mr. Dunbar would grant her such a favour. Why should be do so? Her father assumed what he had no right to-that the relations be-, tween them were of a confidential character. "Why do you not ask him yourself?" she an-I swered I have asked him." "And did he refuse?" Not exactly. He promised to consider thel matter. I may as well be candid with you, and tell you I think he will refuse unless you ask him to do as I desire." said her father. Why should he do it for me if not for you?" she asked. Henry Royston smiled as he replied, If you do not know why I cannot enlighten i you; but I am certain he wnuld go out of his way, even consent to anything he did not like, toj please you." All the more reason I ought not to ask him," l she said. Henry Royston was growing Impatient. He I was not accustomed to being thwarted, or having obstacles thrown in the way of his plans. I wish you to ask him to allow my horses to be trained in his stable," said her father, "it can i do no possible harm, and it may be the means of doing much good." do'i Pt do not like the idea," said Pat. More especially as he refused your request:" He did not refuse he said he would consider the matter." "But you think he will refuse?" Not If you ask him." Why are you so anxious to get your horses trained in Mr. Dunbar's stable? Would not some i other good stable do as well?" a Probably; but this is my best chance, and I wish to take it," he replied. I Pat knew something of her father's ways, and she doubted whether it would be to Arthur Dunbar's advantage for the horses to be in his stable. She shrank from asking such a favour, or any favour from him. "Wel! said her father, "will you do as I ask ?" I had rather not." But you must." Pa. hesitated. She knew her father was deter- mined, and also capable of making her life un- pleasant. After all, what harm could It do to ask Mr. Dunbar? He would not think it an impertinence, as the request was made for her father. If you insist I will do as you wish," she said. That's a good girl. Pat," said her father, putting his hand into his coat pocket and drawing out a small leather note-case. Taking out a crisp new note, he handed it to his daughter, saying, sa There's a little present for you. It will do to buy some——" Pat snatched it out of his hand, and crumpling it up, threw it on the floor at his feet. I will do as you wish," she said angrily, but r will not be bribed for doing tt. How dare you insult me." Her father looked at her, then stooped and picked up the note. He smoothed it out and put it In the case again. You evidently do not know the value of money," he said, without the least display of temper. "I know the value of self-respect," she an- swered, and I should lose it if I accepted what ou oSered. It shall not occur again, I assure you," he replied. "I had no idea you had such a temper." I have an excellent temper," said Pat, "but you have tried it sorely." Please take the nrst opportunity of consulting our worthy host. And, Pat, you need not men- tion our conversation on the subject. Lead him up to the point. He'll broach the subject, and. then it will be all plain sailing for you." Pat Royston was disgusted with the task she iad undertaken, angry with herself for accepting it, still more angry with her father for placing her in such a situation. The opportunity for furthering her father's plan came sooner than she expected. She had lot left him long before Arthur Dunbar joined her. and they walked round the grounds together. They were beautiful, well-kept gardens at Glen Royal. and Arthur Dunbar took a pride and delight in them. Pat waa passionately fond of overs, and the head gardener had supplied her wants freely, and with pleasure, knowing his; efforts were appreciated. "When will you look over the stables?" acstlkced I Arthur, after they had conversed for some time ? on the beauties of their surroundings. Whenever it Is convenient to you," said Pat. Your father wished me to take his horses Into the Glen stables," said Arthur, "but I do not see low it can be arranged. Gilbert Honey has so much to do now I am afraid he would object to making more horses." I wish you could arrange it," said Pat, avert- ing her head as she spoke. It would please me immensely if my father's horses were in your stables." ''Would It?" said Arthur, "then that settles t. I'll try and fix it with Gilbert Honey some- how. He'll raise objections, he often does; but he generally gives in to me at the finish." Pat was startled at his sudden acquiescence to her wish, and her heart beast fast with a pleasant sensation of power. She knew it was not a light favour he had granted her at a mere wish expressed. She couldj not resist the temptation of asking him: ? Does it give you pleasure to accede to my ? wish?" E Yes," said Arthur, eagerly. Your wish is? iaw to me. Pat," he went on, "'cannot you see, ? don't you understand?" S? Understand what?" she asked In a low voice. tg That I love you-have loved you ever since'? we 6rst met In Wales. Perhaps I ought not toj have spoken now," he went on. "I seem a?f stranger to you, and you have not given me any'} encouragement to speak as I am doing. I love ? you dearly. Pat. Can you, do you love me? Will? you be my wife?" g? Pat felt a thrill all through her body. She?? knew, now she heard his words of love, that ? Arthur Dunbar was very dear to her. But she ? could not accept him at this time, just when she ? had deceived him at her father's bidding; for she t regarded It as deception In not telling him It was her father who had prompted her to express the ? wish. ? Poor Pat. She would have liked to throw her- ? self into his arms In her usual Impetuous manner, and tell him how much she knew she loved him now. It had come upon her as a revelation, but l there was no mistaking it. She was happy and Bmiserable; happy because be had asked her to .be his wife, miserable because she felt she ought & to resist the dictates of her heart and refuse him. ? Bt She did love him; she could not bear the thought of accepting him now, so soon after doing I her father's distasteful bidding. ? B Answer me, Pat," be said, or have I been too sudden? If so, take time for consideration, g love. I ought not to have blurted It out In this trough way, but my feelings overcame me. Pardon amy abruptness and forgive me," he asked plead- ? Ningly. ? g There is nothing to forgive, she said. "You l ? honour me by asking me to be your wife." Nf 9 Then you accept me, Pat?" he asked eagerly,? ?and looking her In the eyes he felt sure of her ? from what he learned there. ? ? "Not now, not now," she said quickly. "DoJ not think me unkind or Insensible of your faith ? in me. I was not prepared for it. We have-! ? known each other such a short time, and you have such a slight knowledge of me. It will be better for us to wait for a time-a year or so." ? at It will seem an age to me," he said reproach-" fully. If you love me, Pat, as I believe you do, ? why not accept me? Life Is not so long that we ? ?can aSord to dally with happiness." ? ? Yes. Arthur," she replied. It was the nrst i ?time she bad called him by his Christian name. ? j ? Yes, Arthur, I do love you, and It Is because I ?' ?love you I ask you to wait. I am not like other? girls. I have lived a half-wild life, and my edu-"j ? cation has not been such as the mistress of Glen?? sBRoyal ought to have." ?a  ge*ture, and .6?  h eV hand gently upon his arm and said: it M "Nay, but It Is so, and I wish you to thoroughlyi understand it. If you wish me to be your wife at ? ?the end of twelve months I will accept your offer, ? and do my best to make you happy. There must. Kbc no engagement between us: I leave you free, a entirely free, and If during that time you change ?r your mind I shall not complain." "I shall never change my mind," he said "t earnestly. "Why place such a tedious delay to our happiness In the way?" Because It Is far the best, believe me, It is," 4 she answered. I cannot accept your offer now ? please do not ask me." -a ? And yet you love me?" he said reproachfully. ? "Yes, I love you." S }B She held out her hand and he clasped it. feverishly. He could not doubt she spoke the ? jjatruth. Every look In her face and tone of her 1 voice told him she loved him. Then what did she mean by "not now"? Why did she not*' eg accept him at once? Surely there was no'' obstacle In the way. No, that could not be. He i would not doubt her, he would trust her. !} I believe you," he said, and as you wish It I J jjjjwin wait twelve months. Be sure I shall claim ?? you then, Pat." aB She smiled. Twelve months was a long time, g and there was no telling what might happen, she thought, as she remembered her father. ft You will not mention what has passed be-y tween us," she said, not even to my father or Miss WoodruS." n "I will not, as you desire it," he said, "but< why all this secrecy, Pat?" ? ? "Do not ask me. I have an excellent reason? gfor the course I have taken. Some day I may ? ijjtell you why I made you wait," she said with &J bright smile. g m With this he had to remain contented, much against his Inclination, and he puzzled his brains ? to think why Pat desired such a long delay. He arrived at no satisfactory solution. ?jt Pat saw her father soon after her interview with Arthur Dunbar. S "Any news?" he asked. Have you seen him?" m Yes, I have seen him." Well?" N "Well!" ? Hang It all. tell me what he said. Don't beat about the bush." ? You had better wait and hear what Mr. ? Dunbar has to say," she answered, ? "Will he have my horses In his stable?" g it "I think you can safely rely upon that, and I almost bate you for forcing me to ask him." N She looked at him with such contempt that he actually felt somewhat ashamed of himself. This g feeling, however, was strange to him and quickly ? passed. a; "Don't make yourself ridiculous," he said; ? "you have no cause to hate me, besides, it Is ? unnatural. Anyhow you have done as I asked, and I shall not forget it. Once I get a footing ing the Glen stables I shall know how to &ct." ? ? "What do you mean?" she asked. <a "Never mind what I mean. You would not j understand If I told you," he answered. 3 ? You have not a particularly good character j on Australian racecourses," she said. ? ? Henry Royston looked as though he would have ? liked to knock Pat down, but she never quailed before his savage glance. ? ga "I have more strength than my mother," she i said calmly, "and you cannot frighten or bully g gme." m "But I can make you feel, I can make you suffer," he said sneerlngly. ? For a moment she looked at him In alarm, but quickly recovered herself. ?t How?" she asked, wishing to know the worst. Be Through Arthur Dunbar," he answered. g Pat went a shade paler, and felt faint. gt He Is nothing to me," she said In a low voice. Henry Royston laughed as he answered: Njat J "Nothing to you! Do you think I am blind? You love him; and If you do as I wish you shall ? marry him. It will be a good match for you. But If you thwart my plans I will make you j sufferi and through him." You are a coward," she said. "And I am sorry you are my father. ?S That does not alter the fact that I am your father," he replied, and It Is the duty of a child .< j ? to obey Its father." g "Not when that father Is unworthy o obedience," she answered, m B You can go your way and I will go mine, but j ? remember, whatever you hear, if you interfere in any of my affairs it will be the worse for you," he ? ) said. ? Soon after this the Roystons left Glen Royal, !N and Arthur said he would write and let Henry ? Royston know when his horses could come to the ? Glen. He knew he had an unenviable task g before him In persuading Gilbert Honey to under- take the charge of Henry Royston's horses. He;, did not like th Idea of these horses being in his stable, for he disliked Royston, and could not help git, although he tried hard to overcome the feeling, ??B because he was Pat's father. S Then there was Martin Mill to propitiate, and Arthur knew well enough the commissioner would praise strenuous objections to the plan, land have jig the best of the argument on his side. HJ But Pat Royston Tiad expressed a wish that her father's horses should be trained at the Glen, ? and he was determined to gratify that wish in ? spite of everything. a He would not have wronged the woman hej<!Ej< loved by entertaining a bare suspicion that her j a father had urged her on to this end, and that she j ? had acted accordingly. He had too much faith ? in Pat for that. M a Neverthelesa he had forebodlng'a of a not alto- gether pleasant nature that the Introduction of t Henry Royston's horses into the Glen stables t 9 would not be conducive to & continuance of the a! g peace and harmony that bad existed between ? himself and his trainer. j{ In order to get the matter settled as speedily 6 as possible, he wired to Martin Mill to meet him j at the Glen on important business. He thought he might as well tackle the trainer and the commissioner at the same time, and thus get rid 1 of an unpleasant task with as little trouble as ?j?jt! possible, (To be continved.) ?

I DEATH Of A FAMOUS COMPOSES. SigBOM Verdi, the famous operatic compose! died earlyM on Sonday morniosr ? Milan, after a brieylfl iiillness. He was in his 88t,h year. t!

THE TALK OF ST. HELENS! DOCTORS PAIL, VENO SUCCEEDS. A MARVELLOUS CURE OF CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA. BY VETO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CUBE. Mr. Tooi.z S. Wal"1'in!lo.n New Road, St. Helens, rites Sept. 20th :—The Veno Dm? Co. Gentlemen,— I have greal. pleasure in adding my testimony to the onderful eiteot of! ouo's Lightning Cough Cure. I had been sutfenng from a bad cougb and more bhan tw) years. I have tried doctors and many diSeremt medicines. I have ien in the hospital three times. and went to one doctor for 18 months, but he did me no good. It coat me 38. 6d. per week for medicine. I have not en to my work for two years, but I am glad to say I am etarting agaiu next week My fellow workmen and friends are quite Mfprieed to aee such a chMge in Tay health in <T'ch a short time. I have atept more this taat tortnight than I have done for nearly two yeMa, all throajfh takmg your Lightning Cough Cure. You may make what use you like of this. VENO'a LiamTM'a CoraB Cn&E cures the worst and most despera.te caaea of coughs, bronchitis asthma. induenzø..uü whooping cough. It is us<'d and tndo'-M!d by it i3 far superior to <trdinM-y coulfb mixtures or any of the emulsions. Price. Hd ;a.nd2s.9d. S Sold by BOOT9 T TO., CHEERS and HOPLEY. PB i and RARTON and all Chemists. 1

AGRICULTURE. I SEASON NOTES, t Winter is marching on apace, but as yet we have had little of real wintry weather. The con- tinued mildness is exceptional, and although I acceptable in many ways, is somewhat disappoint- ing in regard to several matters connected with farming. A drying wind now and then has given promise of a finer time for moving on the land, [but expectations have as suddenly been dashed iby a return of the rain. Those 'agriculturists who took advantage of the ilittle spurt of frosty weather a week or two since to ply the manure cart may consider them- selves fortunate, but it is to be feared that they !were few in number, the inclination on such occasions being to wait in the expectation of something better turning up. The mild weather has brought on the wheat, which at present looks healthy and in good plant. Accounts from the early lambing districts agree that, although much inconvenience has been experienced through the wet weather and consequent discomfort to the yeaning ewes, there has been a fair fall of lambs. Twins have not been so numerous as might be hoped for. The mothers themselves have done fairly well, however, and, owing to the mild weather and pretty abundant keep, they are full of milk, and few deaths are reported, while the lambs are coming strong and healthy. Writing on this subject in the "Agricultural Gazette." Professor J. Wrightson says.—Last year, follow- ing a barren summer and autumn, the predomi- nance of single lambs was not regarded with surprise, the result, indeed, being in accord with expectations; but this year there was reason to anticipate larger numbers. The summer of 1900 was a good one for grass, and the ewes were generally reported in good condition in the autumn, so that a small crop must be looked upon as discounting in some degree the popular opinion regarding the influence of these matters upon the number of Iambs born. In other respects the lambing reports are of a highly satis- factory tone. Reports from the several cheese markets vary considerably this week. The official report repre- sents English as being in moderate demand at unchanged prices. Canadian quiet but steady, finest 55s. to 54s., occasionally 55s.; fine 48a. to 52s. New Zealand, which has now begun to arrive more regularly, and the season for which jmay be said to be fairly opened, is selling at 50s. ,to 54s. At Liverpool the market was dragging, but holders were still Srm, while at Manchester 'a fair business was passing at unchanged values. THE CEREAL CROPS OF 1900. I As the threshings proceed the fact stands pretty Swell revealed that the yield of last season's 'corn crops is disappointing. The late Sir J. B. I Lawea' estimates, based on the Rothamsted experiments, judged the aggregate yield of wheat at 271 bushels per acre; but from experience of the threshings it appears that, taking a moderate estimate, it is evident that the general cut-turn falls short of this by at least twenty per cent. As li was remarked at the time of harvest, the ears were short and 'ight, and many of the kernals 'never Riled. The consequence is that much of the! I grain is poor in quality and short in quantity, being very weak and small. Almost the same remarks hold good in regard to barley and oats, reDort': Mmnin5 tu t,h(? eff-t that. these crops only amount to about two-thirds of an average, one well-informed correspondent states his con- viction that on hundreds of acres of well-farmed tiand in his district the yield has only amounted to 20 bushels per acre. The cause of this failure ?is the extraordinarily variable character of the ?season. Under such circumstances it does not hequire much foresight to prognosticate that the ? shrinkage in the area sown with corn this year ?will be in all likelihood more apparent than ever jin the agricultural returns of the future, and the ?consequence will be that the land of this country ?will be devoted more and more to stock-feeding gand dairying. S MILK FROM INFECTED COWS. g "Merlin" writes In "The Field's—At the ?present time it may be interesting to the owners .of cattle in those districts which are affected by 'foot-and-mouth disease to learn that a German ?experimenter, Schmidt, has been conducting ex ?perimental work in which ten in-calf cows were ?fed with milk which was cooked, but which bad ?been produced by animals suffering from foot-and- rmouth disease. Not one of the cows contracted the ?disease, although it is stated that they werel thoroughly exposed to infection. They received ?nearly two quarts of the milk daily after it bad ?been boiled for a quarter of an hour. The ex- perimenter has recommended his method to i, German farmers as one which he believes pro? educes immunity against foot-and-mouth disease- He observed that where calves and pigs were fed ?with the cooked milk they were rendered immune- ?It would be well if, after a thorough Investigif ?tion of those experiments, an attempt wa? made jtto conSrm them in this country if the details ?were such as warranted the trouble and expense. ?They can be found in the "Landwirtshaft ?Zeitschrift" of Hesse. A similar account is ClA.supplied in the "Veterinary Journal" of Berlin. I IMPORTS OF DAIRY PRODUCE. I Last year the imports of dairy produce into the United Kingdom attained a larger total than ever before, and exceeded 7,000,000 cwt. The total comprised 3,378,516 cwt. of butter, 920,416 cwt. of margarine, and 2,711,805 cwt. of cheese, and the aggregate of 7,010,737 cwt. was 283,642 owt. in excess of that of 1899. Margarine, though not strictly a dairy product, is legitimately included under this head as a butter substitute, fraudulent or otherwise. Their combined value last year represented the unprecedented sum of! ;C26,763,588, or 31 millions more than the cost of ,the whole of the wheat grain which we imported ¡ in 1900. This is the largest amount on record. t Compared with the preceding year it shews an ex ?cess of no less than JEl.502,592, whilst compared !with only &ve years previously the excess is repre.! sented by a sum exceeding ?65,000,000 sterling. JIn the brief space of nve years, indeed, our outlay upon imported butter, margarine and cheese has' increased by fully 20 per cent., and no answer .seems yet to be forthcoming to the question as to when a. limit wilr be reached to this steadily increasing drain upon the resources of the a country. S BARLEY AFTER ROOTS. a ihe records of the Brewers' Exhibition disclose! a somewhat singular fact, inasmuch as it is found that most of the prize-winning samples have been igrown after wheat, after clover, or as the second barley crop after roots. Nevertheless, it is prob-I able that more barley is grown immediately after swedes or turnips consumed upon the land, than in any other fashion, and under such circumstances tthe prudent agriculturist will endeavour to neutralise, the effect of the excess of nitrogen and potash almost inevitably present. Experiments at the Wye Agricultural College shew that when barley immediately follows roots a dressing of 'salt is detrimental, while sulphate of potash, tthough increasing the starch content of the grain, t does not give any commercial return. On the other hand, a dressing of 3cwt. of superphosphate per acre is decidedly profitable, and can be recom- Unended as producing a slight increase in yield and [a marked improvement in quality. I OAT-GROWING EXPERIMENTS. I t Last year Professor Wright, of the West of Scotland Agricultural College, carried out a set of experiments in oat-growing, which have been 'productive of considerable useful information. tThese experiments—seventeen in number-were Iconducted on plota on as many different farms in 'six counties of Scotland, with the result, it is .stated, that of the old varieties the potato oat, 'Longhoughton and Black Tartarian were about the best for grain production, while the Tarn Fin- lay, the Sandy and the Hamilton gave the weightiest returns in straw. More than ordinary tinterest attaches to the behaviour of the various ¡new varieties tried-three raised by the Messrs. Carton and six introduced from Canada. The Garton varieties scarcely fulnlled expectations. The Tartar King came with a great reputation, ut except that it was ripe about a week before any of the other sorts it did not distinguish itself. The Pioneer, a black variety, was easily beaten by the black Tartarian. Of the Canadian samples the Banner proved the best, with the Golden Giant second, and American Beauty, Abundance and Siberian giving fair promises of success. The Banner achieved a remarkable triumph, having in the general results surpassed all its sixteen ¡rival varieties. Regarding this oat Professor fWright remarks: "In the introduction of this oat from Canada we seem to have found an oat of greater value than any in general cultivation in Scotland at the present time. It is evidently per- fectly adapted to the conditions of climate of the South of Scotland, and is capable, more especially on the better class of soils, of producing a more valuable crop than the potato oat, consisting generally of less straw but more grain, of which a small percentage is light and a larger percentage marketable than in the case of potato oat." AMERICAN AND CANADIAN CATTLE ANDI FRESH MEAT IMPORTS, The arrivals of cattle at Liverpool during the past week from the various North and South American and Canadian ports were larger than in the preceding week, but of sheep, sheep carcases &nd fresh beef smaller. The twelve conveying steamers were as follow: —The Hippomenes, with 12,350 sheep carcases and 1,500 quarters of beef; the Campania, with 1,550 quarters of beef; the Shenandoah, with 357 cattle; the Rapidan, with MO cattle; the Cestrian, with 801 cattle e.nd 3,591 quarters of beef; the Roman, with 700 cattle, 1,151 sheep and 1,639 quarters of beef; the In dore, with 740 cattle, 1,612 sheep and 3,958 quar- ters of beef; the Teutonic, with 1,940 quarters o1 [)eef; the Sagamore, with 401 cattle, 1,075 sheep md 3.015 quarters of beef; the Georgian, with i74 cattle and 4,050 quarters of beef; the Ultonia, xrith 546 cattle and 1,754 quarters of beef; and :he Orcadian, with 395 cattle—making a iota! of t,9l4 cattle, 3,838 sheep, 12,330 sheep, carcases, md 2.895 quarters of beef. Compared with the mporta of the previous week, these ngures shew m increase of 176 cattle and a decrease of 1,430 ¡heep, 45,197 sheep carcases, and 10,181 quarters )f beef. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES TO COM-BINE.1 I, Mr. Victor Cavendish, M.P., the president oi !the North Lonsdale Agricultural Society, has!aid 'before the members a proposal to extend the oper- ations of the society. He proposes to open the cattle and sheep classes to all England, and make the show, as was originally intended, the leading one in the North of England. Mr. Cavendish has to much conSdfaoe in the scheme as to raise his annual subscription to JE100 per annum. The scheme involves the merging of Barrow, Lowick, Broughton, Hawkshead and other local shows in the North Lonsdale show, and Mr. Cavendish asks for help from members of these societies. The project has caused a good deal of discussion locally. CANADIAN FRUIT FOR ENGLAND. S! The Toronto correspondent of the "Daily Ma.i!"aj telegraphs that a big meeting of the fruit-growers i of Ontario baa been held in Toronto, to petitioaw lthe G ?=ment for a weekly shipment of fruit to England. It was felt necessary to keep a con- ?i ou, stream of fruit pouring into England to ostch the British eye. The Minister of Agricul-1 ture promised to do aJl in his power to develop? 11 this traSe. J

tCHESEMRE CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE.} t ANNUAL MEETING, t j [By OUR OWN REPORTER, j t The annual meeting of the members of the Cheshire Chamber of Agriculture was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel, Crewe, on Monday, the chair- man (Col. Cotton-Jodrell) presiding over a good attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Henry Tollemache, M.P., Mr. George Barbour, Mr. R. 0. Orton, Mr. Harry Barnston, Mr. Alee F. Douglass and Mr. A. M. R. Legh (Adiington Hall). The Secretary (Mr C. B. Daviea) presented the following t ANNUAL REPORT: M. t Your council, in submitting the 32nd annual ? j report of proceedings, beg to call the attention a? of members to the following matters that haveaa Ibeen considered by the Chamber during the year? that ia passed — M M I FOOT AND MOUTH DISKASE. j Several alarming outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease haW occurred in England and Wales during the year, some even in counties bordering on Cheshire, and much anxiety has been caused to the county authorities through the fear of the disease invading the stocks in Cheshire. In February this Chamber, in conjunction with other bodies, made representation to the Board of agriculture as to the importance of using every-) endeavour to stamp out the disease in Its earlient stages, and in July following it again ailed the attention of the Board to he practice of throwing overboard car- cases of diseased animals from cattle vessels and the risk there was of thus spreading infection in counties along the seaboard, and asking that every precaution be taken by the Board's authori- ties to prevent infection from such carcases when washed ashore. M CLTOP,, FIRED BY RAILWAY ENGINES, t The damage to crops, farm buildings, wood fences, plantations, etc., by nrea caused by spares from railway engines has engaged the attention of the Chamber, and the support of the local members of Parliament has been solicited to a measure that was expected to be introduced with a view of making railway companies liable for compensation for damage thus caused. In June last the Central Chamber requested each Associated Chamber to collect infortion as to the frequency of nres caused by sparks from locomotives in the different counties, and this Chamber issued a circular to i each member asking for authentic information as to recent cases of damage and loss arising through railway nres along lines in Cheshire, and in response a list of more than fifty nres was col- lected and forwarded to the Central Chamber, and by them communicated, along with similar reports from other Chambers, to the Board of Agriculture, which it is trusted will convince the Government that a real cause of grievance exists and the necessity for a taw so as to make railway companies liable for damages, and it is hoped that ear.y legislation will result. M AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS ACT, 1900. Your council have to report that the amend- ments to the Agricultural Holdings Act of 1835 have now become law. The measure occupied? the attention of Parliament to a considerable extent in the session of last year, and the recom-j ole?dations of the Central and Associated Cham-1 ber were many of them embodied in the clausesi of .he Bill when it was nrst introduced in March las'?. It is nevertheless disappointing to agricul- tunsts that several of the recommendations to whch the Associated Chambers attached patamount importance were subsequently deleted! fro:n the Bill. Your council would point out that! on two occasions this Chamber expressed itself as dissatisfied with the rules of procedure that were incorporated in the Bill, the Chambers deiire being to secure the appointment only of, arbitrators and umpires who were known toi possess local knowledge of the agricultural i cmtoms and practices in the particular county ini, wlich they are called upon to act. Although) thee views were supported by the Central, your! comcil regret they were not adopted by the' Government. They would nevertheless point out that the schedule in the new Act includes sorie additional improvements for which com- peisation can be claimed which were not in the ordinal Act, and the limitation of penal rents to the actual damage sustained, the additional cla.m for fixtures "acquired," the simplification of the law as to notice of claims, and the several ways in which the new procedure laid down for ascertaining compensation under the Act are likely to expedite and cheapen the proceedings, should your council think, if approached by land- owners and tenants, as they trust cases will be I in this county, in a friendly and conciliatory spuit, tend to the mutual advantage of both. M WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION. i ih& Chamber in March last passed & resolution I approving a Bill then before Parliament to extend tie provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act to agriculf.l .un1 -Y.Ur councli IS pl&Mea to report that the measure was duly parsed and comes into force In July next. The B(ard of Agriculture has published a leaflet ex- pLining the provisions of the new Act and the Utility of employers under it, and the Chamber, wth a view to disseminating information upon th* subject, has addressed a copy of this leaflet to each member of the Chamber. Your council w'uld call especial attention to this leanet, and wuld impress upon agriculturists who are em- pfyers of labour the advisability of safeguarding tbmselves against claims for compensation by inuring in some of the leading insurance l o&ces, as recommended in the leaflet in question. 1 N SWfNE FEVER. < The closing of all auction saleyards in the c'unty against pigs during the greater part of tie year caused serious loss and incon- venience to dairy farmers, and brought promi- iiintly under notice the inemoacy of the existing regulations to stamp out the disease. This Uamber considered the matter in public meeting, ad concluded that one grave risk of infection 1? in the lack of power to inspect and to enforce t? cleansing and disinfecting of pig dealers' pre- sses, through which such large numbers of pigs a continually passing, and expressed the opinion t4t these premises should be placed under the ssne regulations as to cleansing and disinfection a)are auction yards and railway cattle trucks at th present time. This view has since been e<lorsed by the Central Chamber and by many otthe Associated Chambers, and resolutions trans- ited to the Board of Agriculture, and it is h,ped that the views expressed by so many repre- satative bodies may InBuence the Board In seek- if{ to acquire the necessary powers to remove t7?. serious cause of infection and prevent the dtease in future from attaining such pro- pttions as to necessitate the closing of auction ytds and the inconveniences to farmers arising tbrefrom. M SEED TESTING STATIONS. N Lt the instance of the Central Chamber some Nin?rmation was 'collected by this Chamber as te Mth views of Cheshire farmers on the desirability m?stabhshmg a Seed Control station in the county fo the purpose of testing the quality of gras ?. 1 IeJs, etc., and duly transmitted to the Central M STRENGTHENING OF BRIDGICR. t lS it is being found that the use of steam traction- eDmes for agricultural and general traction pur- P'%s is bemg seriously interfered with through th inability of some canal and railway bridges toustam such weight, the Chamber in April last IP,t,d a resolution that the time had arrivad when raway and canal companies should be coMpelled too strengthen their bridgea and to improve the Broaches thereto as to make them safe for agri- cuural locomotive tramc, and a copy of this retlution was sent to the Local Government BCrd, local members of Parliament, the Associ- ate Chambers and to the Traction Engine Oers' and Users' Association, London. M BDUCATION. t { July last Professor Wallace, of the Edinburgh U?ersity, read a paper on the educational wor caied on by the County Council in the agri- cuural institutions at Holmes Chapel and Worles- ? and upon the bearing of the new code from a.ngricuJturat point of view in rural schools. Mr. R- P. Ward has also read a paper beire the Chamber on some recen "I axtriments made at Worleston in the maufacture of cheese and butter, and the oo?arative results nnanciaHy as against selling tn? Both these papers gave rise to interesting dtStssions, and the Chamber resolved to have thel printed and circulated among the members an<others. t AGRICULTURAL MEMORIAL FUND. J.e Chamber have during the year formu- lae a scheme which has since been adopted for adtnistering this fund, and members will be as at the annual meeting for the nrst time to vot contributions from the interest earned by theund to candidates, whose cases will be sub- mi\d to the Chamber by the council. QneraHy, your council consider that a year's uBetI work has been accomplished; the practice ad<t?d a year ago of calling the Chamber to- ?r monthly during the session of the Central Ug P???! and thus giving the members an oppor- ltu 7 of discussing in advance the subjects se ,ov, fo?rconsideration by the Central, has again I ?followed this year. Your council are pleased ?o jar E.Practice is becoming more general in othi counties, as by this means the views o agriIlturists in varied and distant localities, some ot?m farming under and beset with dtmculties ulilbwn perhaps in other districts, may be oo?ed in the Central, and the joint consideration f lose difficulties by the larger representative bok must result in greater benefit to all. !'l1r council regret that a somewhat unfavour- ab'einancial report has to be presented this year. trky, however, be explained by the fact thai 'h< eprints of lectures and the expenditure in p6bg necessitated by the extra work the ?buber has had in hand during the last two ?aa* together with a somewhat reduced sub- acrpion list (which, however, it is trusted is oa? temporary), has resulted in reducing the )aM;e in hand. The Chamber has sustained os uring the year through the death of Mr. 3 bu';s Sherwm, Mr. John Edwards and Mr. C. W.tutton, all well-known members, and gentle- met whose opinioM had much weight In agri- oabual questions. (nthe proposition of the Clii&irinati, seconded )y&l-. Thomas Baxter, the report was adopted. I ELECTION OF OFFICERS, t Co?mel Dixon (Chelford Hall) moved the re- electi)o of Colonel Cotton-Jodrel! as president of the tssocittion. They were much indebted to (JaImel Cd>ton-Jodrell for the time and attention t.e gtve to the Chamber. There was no doubt that that genJeman was the right man in the rght place; be was a landowner, and one who tlior6Ughly undel;toeyJ, -t--ulture. He was sorry to say that Colons Cotton-J trlrell was not a mem- be!' of Parliament now, but henew the ropes, and I would be of great assistance to them in anything that affected Parliamentary affairs. Mr. Whittaker (Sandbach) seconded, and the proposition was carried with acclamation. The President, in returning thanks, said so far as his recollection served him he thought he was present at every meeting of the Chamber last year —(hear, hear)—and he should endeavour, all being we! to have a similar record this year. He ;wished for the continued prosperity of the Chamber, and that it might always keep on doing I good work by talking over practical subjects in a practical and businesslike way. (Hear, hear.) On the proposition of Mr. G. B. Baker- Witbraham (Rode Hall), seconded by Mr. T. Baxter, the vice-presidents, the Earl of Crewe and Mr. Henry Tollemache, M.P., were re-elected. The Council were re-elected as follows: Mt. H. E. Wilbrahsm (Delamere House) proposing the landowners, and Mr. T. Parton (Weaton Hall) the tenant farmers: —Landowners: Canon Armit- stead, Earl Egerton of Tatton. Colonel France- Hayhurst and Mr. G. B. Baker-Wilbraham. Ten- ant farmers and members directly interested in agriculture: Messrs. Thoa. Baxter, James Bosley, Thomas Guest, Geo. Lewis, William McCracken, Joseph Millington, Charles ThornhiII, T. C. Toler Etnd J. L. Whittaker. Mr. J. Moreton (PIekmere) and Mr. S. Jackson (Wistaston) were appointed members of the Council in the places of Messrs. C. Sherwin and John Edwards, while Mr. Stanley Wood was re-elected treasurer, and Messrs. R. 0. Orton and W. J. Dutton auditors. On the proposition of Mr. C. MinsbuM, seconded by Mr. T. Baxter, Mr. C. B. Davies was re-elected secretary, the President referring in eulogistic terms to his zeal and devotion. Lord Newton, Mr. Frederick Finlow and Mr. Thomas Oooke (Clayley Hall) were elected mem- bers of the Chamber. BENEVOLENT FUND. B A DESERVING CANDIDATE. M The President reminded the Chamber that some time ago they decided that a sum of money they had in hand should be invested, and the proceeds given to eligible persons. The money was handed over to three trustees—Mr. Tollemache, Mr.Davies and himself-and in December they purchased L350 worth of India three per cent. stock. The .secretary had carried out the scheme for the administration of the Cheshire Agricultural Memorial Benevolent Fund, and he had had four applications. The Council bad had those applica- tions before them, and they had decided that only one of them was eligible. They therefore recom- mended that the whole of the money available, about J68 10s., should be given to this person, who was a widow. The number of acres she had farmed had been 33, for which she paid JB100 a year. She farmed that acreage for 50 years. The causes of her destitution were the illness of her husband and his death. She now lived In a cot- tage. She had two sons—one of them suffered from cancer, and the other had recently been sold up. (7n the proposition of Mr. George Cooke (Clayley Hall), seconded by Mr. Bosley, it was decided to make the grant as recommended. I THE PURE BEER AGITATION, t The Secretary explained that the Parliamentary Committee of the Central Chamber had passed the following resolutions with reference to legislation to prevent the adulteration of beer, and had sent them down for the consideration of the Chamber "That in view of the recent serious epidemic attributed to poison in beer, this meeting desires to urge strongly upon his Majesty's Government the necessity for passing, at the earliest practic- able date, a Bill to secure purity in beer and the legal definition of beer as the product of barley malt, hops, water and yeast. This meeting also desires to urge strongly upon his Majesty's Government that, in the interests of the public health, brewers of fermented liquors intended to imitate beer, as above denned, should not be allowed to use more than a fixed percentage of malt-substitutes, and that those substitutes should be defined by law; And, further, that the Com- missioners of his Majesty's Inland Revenue should be requested to direct forthwith that (in addition to malt and substitutes for mait now entered) en- tries be made by all brewers of the quantities of hops and hop-substitutes used, and that in the return relating to brewers' licences the name of each and every brewer for sale be given, together with the materials used of every class and the quantity of beer produced by him, and that these particulars be published quarterly." Mr. T. Prescott (Wimboldsey) moved the adop- tion of the resolutions. Although the question of the growing of barley did not affect them much in Cheshire, it affected their neighbours n Shrop- shire, and they ought to consider their interests. Mr. Whittaker seconded, remarking that if they were to have beer they ought to have it good. The Chairman pointed out that there was a cer- jtain amount of difference of opinion with regard to the last resolution, and possibly some members would like to have time to consider it. Mr. George Cooke (Clayley Hall) did not think the resolutions went very much further than they ought to be prepared to go at once. As an ab- stainer he had for a long while believed that beei was poisonous—(laughter)—and the discoveries that had been made had not been a very great revelation to him, but to many people they had been a revelation. The matter had Msumed a very serious phase in the county oi Chester, a- vo"y lo-igf percentage of the samples of beer that had been taken havjng been found to be tainted with arsenic. Hf; thought they would be quite right in supporting resolutions which had been carefully considered by the Central Chamber. The resolutions were unanimously adopted. I RAILWAY ENGINE SPARKS, t THE DAMAGE TO CROPS, -I Mr. J. L. Whittaker proposed: "That thif Chamber is of opinion that railway compare!' should be made liable for damage done by:fire arising from sparks from railway locomotives to fences, agricultural crops, produce, plantations and farm buildings, and that the Central Chamber be requested to arrange for a Bill in Parliament to bring about this law, and that the local mem- bers of Parliament be asked to support it." He pointed out that under ordinary circumstances they could insure produce at 7s. 6d. per cent., but when it was near a railway they had to pay 22s. 6d. per cent. If railways would allow for the damage done by sparks from their engines they would have to pay only at ordinary rates. Mr. C. Thornhill seconded. Mr. Prescott, as a great sufferer in this respect, supported the resolution. The London and North- Western Railway ran through his farm for prac- tically a mile, and last year he suffered consider- ably through fires from the engine sparks. This queshoawasagreat nuisance, a, great incon- venience and a great loss to farmers. Mr. Hewitt (Wimboldsey) had some six or seven nres from this cause last year. He had thought whether the railway companies would use more care if their attention were drawn to the matter. Mr. T. Parton thought these 6res were mainly attributable to the way the engines were con- structed. The compound engines, with very long boilers, created such a. draught that sparks were freely emitted. The corridor trains were the most dangerous, because they were the heaviest. Mr. Prescott, on consideration, thought it would be better to confine themselves to growing crops. He moved as an amendment that they omit the words relating to produce. Mr. J. Davies seconded. The amendment was defeated by fourteen votes to eleven, and the original proposition declared carried. AGRICULTURAL RATES ACT. I RENEWAL STRONGLY DEMANDED. l A resolution was received from the East Cheshire and North Derbyshire Farmer?' Association, ex- l pressing the opinion that the Agricultural Rating Act, 1896, was a legitimate and just one, and as bhe Act would lapse on March 31st next, if not renewed, urging Government to use its best en- deavours during the coming session of Parliament to place it on the statute book as a permanent measure. Mr. W. J. Dutton (Nantwich) proposed: "That this meeting is of opinion that pending a thorough revision of the entire incidence of local taxation, which in consequence of the altered relative positions of real and personal property has now become urgently needed, the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, should be renewed as a minimum of what is equitably due to occupiers of land, and ,hat copies of this resolution be forwarded to the central Chamber, the Board of Agriculture and the members of Parliament for the county." He remarked that they were hoping that the delay in the issue of the Royal Commission's report on !!oca! taxation justified them in the belief that there was very shortly to be an entire revision in that very delicate and important matter. Rea) property and personal property did not now hold the same relations in the incidence of taxation as they did 50 years ago, and if large grants of money had not been repeatedly contributed by the national exchequer to the local authorities the present system wouid long smce have become un- bearable. They were not satisfied that justice wa? done to the agricultural world by simply com- muting the rates on one haJf their ratable value. They bad accepted it as a measure of justice, &nc as a sincere intention on the part of a responsible Government to do justice to the agricultural world, but they believed that the only practica solution was to make the same basis for local taxation as already existed for Imperial taxation, or a smaller one. Mr. Millington (Middlewich) seconded, and the oroposition was carried, it being resolved, on the proposition of the Chairman, to also send a copy of it to the First Lord of the Treasury (Mr. Arthur Balfour).

CATTLB DISEASE IN SUFFOLK.—Owing to tbp L.= of a case of foot-and-mouth disease onn1 a farm in Ipswich aM the stock on the holding, I comprising a fine herd of nearly forty cows, was slaughtered on Tuesday. Ipswich cattle market, one of th6 largest in East AngUa, was closed, and the restriction applies also to the markets at Had- leigh and Woodbridge. —————— .——————

I When you put him in his FiBST SUIT, BRADMY's oan 6nd you one aa smart and reasonable !M any- one in the countrv.-Foregate-street corner of Seller-street). To MOTHERS.—Mra. Winalow's Soothing Syrup hM been nBed ever nfty years by miUient of motheM for their children while teething witb p<Mieot Mooeaa. It will relieve the poor sufferer tmrnediately. It is pleitaant to taste; it produces aatuKtI quiet eleep, by relieving the child from pa,ill, <md the little ohemb wakea up aa brifrht ae a button." Of aH ChMnitttB. Ie. l%d. o0v bottle OLD FALSE TEETH BOUGHT. I Many ladies and gentlemen have by them old ? or disused false teeth, which might as well be t turned into money. Messrs. R. D. & J. B. Fraser.w of Princea.street, Ipswich (established since ? 1833), buy old false teeth. If you send your teeth M to them they will remit you by return post the utmost value; or, if preferred, they wi]l make g you the best oSer. and bold the teeth over for ? your reply. If reference necessary, app?y to ??' Messrs. Bacon & Co., Bankers, Ipswich.

11 ILI- CANON KINCSLEY. i, —— N ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH. B At a meeting of the Zoological section of the Chester Natural Science Society, on Thursday evening, the President (Mr. J. D. Siddall) said ? the present week was of all the weeks in the year the most memorable to the Chester Society of § Natural Science. Wednesday was the 26th anni- ? versary of the death of their founder. Charles t Kingsley. He was intimately associated, as most ? of them knew, with the present King. He was ? tutor of the Prince of Wales, and he was chaplain g to her Majesty the Queen. It was at the sug-tH gestion of the Prince of Wales when he viaitedg Oxford that Canon Kingsley's name was proposed ? as a recipient of the honorary degree of D.C.L.a At that time the Canon was in the heyday of that struggle he continued so long in favour of whatig he conceived to be liberty and right for all men, ? and because of the recent appearance of his novel et "Hypatia" that to-day received the commendation of nearly all men, the University declined to gran him the degree of D.C.L. Afterwards it was sug-M rested to him that he might possibly receive it the following year, but his own language in reference to that was that he thought men should ? be just as thankful for what God did not see fit toj N grant to them as for what he did see fit to gran ,o them. Therefore he would not have the degree. ? He (Mr. Siddall) received a letter the previous day from Miss Rose Kingsley, who wrote: "I have ? been trying to find a moment in which to thank g you and to tell you how greatly your faithful andj! devoted friendship touches my father's cbildr&n. ? To-morrow, 26 years ago, he went from us, and in these sad days when all the world is waiting and ? watching beside the beloved Queen's death-bed, I seem to be living over again those January days ? at Eversley when her letters and messages gavo g us help and strength and comfort in our own ? watching and sorrow." In the latter part of herg letter Miss Kingsley referred to her nephew who came over from America last year, and is "a brilliantly clever lad of 22, distinguishing bimseIfN greatly m literature and philosophy at Yale." j r. Siddall added that he was sure they rejoiced ? to hear that kindly greeting from Miss Kingsley.g who had taken the deepest interest in that society of which her father was the founder. M A meeting of the Geological section next week a having been declared postponed, the proceedingsa terminated. H

DEATH OF MK.T. T.KELLY.E j NOTED FLINTSHIRE LAWYER. B It is with deep regret that we this week chronicle the death of Mr. Thomas Thelwell Kelly (solicitor), Clerk of the Peace for Flintshire, clerk of the Flintshire County Council, Under-Sheriff, clerk to the Flintshire Lieutenancy, and joint clerk to the Justices for the Petty Sessional Divisions of Mold, Hope, Hawarden and Northop, which occurred at his residence, Bryn Cech, near Mold, on Saturday afternoon, at the age of 71 years. Though not unex- pected, the death of Mr. Kelly has cast a gloom throughout an area not restricted within the con- Smes of Flintshire, and it is an untoward event which has brought to a termination a prominent and honourable connection with the administrative a.nd judicial affairs of the county extending over a period of nearly half a century. Mr. Kelly en- joyed robust health until April, 1885. On the 15th of that month he returned home seriously indisposed, after a brief stay in the Metropolis, a.nd business knew him no more until late in the following autumn, when he re-appeared in his accustomed walks of life a changed personality, and aged almost beyond recognition. The inter- val had been occupied by a life-and-death struggle with a severe attack of typhoid fever, followed by visits during tardy convalescence to Capel Curig, Rhyl and Buxton. From that period Mr. Kelly never fully regained his former vigour, and as time advanced friends and relatives watched with anxious forebodings what was unmistakably a very gradual breaking up of the constitution. The nrst ominous symptom of impending dissolu- tion—and practically the beginning of the end- was a seizure which prostrated the deceased while (in July last) he visited friencb at Carnarvon. The patient was in October sumciently improved to bE> allowed to return home, and he even visited iTtis place of business on two or three occasions. Early in the present year, however, it became apparent that the close of life's pilgrimage was at hand, and, as above stated, Saturday last witnessed the end of the earthly career o: one who, beloved by many, was esteemed and respected by the legions with whom he was associ- ated. Mr. Kelly, who was born in Chester, and was devotedly attached to the beautiful old city and its traditions, was a son of the late Mr. Robert Stewart Kelly, one time of the staff of the "Chester Chronicle." He occupied a position in the omce of the Clerk of the Peace for Cheshire, which in the year 1850 he relinquished and came to Mold, where he entered the service of Mr. Arthur Troughton Roberts (solicitor and Clerk of th", Poaoo for Rlint.&hire) in the capacity of managing clerk. In 1861 Mr. Kelly qua.il6ed M a solicitor, and thereafter was formed the firm of Roberts, Kelly and Keene, which was destined to become one of the best-known and most influ- ntial legal partnerships in North Wales, and was afterwards known as Kelly, Keene and Roper, Kelly and Keene, and is now designated Kelly, Keene and Co. In the year 1868 Mr. Kelly was appointee Deputy-Clerk of the Peace, but for many years after the severance from the firm of Mr. Roberts ?e discharged the duties of Clerk of t ?oyb s without receiving the emoluments of that ofnce, gaining the entire conndenoe and respect of all those interested in the affairs of the county. At the April Quarter Sessions, 1888, by a resolution expressing in laudatory terms appreciation of the marked ability Mr. Kelly had displayed in the discharge of his duties as a county omcial, he was unanimously appointed Clerk of the Peace in the room of Mr. Arthur Trougbton Roberts, resigned, and upon the passing of the Local Government Act, 1888, he was appointed clerk of the Flintshire County Council. To retrace our steps with re- gard to the domestic life of the deceased: After some years' residence in Moid Mr. Kelly marriec a Miss Edwards, a lady nurtured amid the picturesque surroundings of the far- famed "Loggerheads," and they resided nrst at Rhydgaled, afterwards at Penyffordd, and finally removed to Bryn Coch. Mrs. Kelly died in the year 1870. or thereabouts, and there was no issue of the marriage. On the 16th August, 1874, Mr. Kelly espoused Margaret Agnes, a daughter of the late Dr. Jones, of Carnarvon, and, among numerous presents, the happy couple were the recipients of valuable pieces of plate, the gifts of the Flintshire magistracy. Of the second mar- riage there was a numerous family, and for the widow and nine children who survive the deceased and who bewail the loss of an aSec- tionate and devoted husband and an 'ever indulgent father universal com- miseration is expressed. If anything could tend to assuage the grief of the bereaved widow, it is to be hoped that consolation may be derived from the knowledge of the widespread sympathy expressed for her in her sorrow, aided by the remembrance of a life devoted to assiduously ministering to the departed both in sicknesa and in health. The eldest son, Mr. Robert Stewart Kelly, is a partner in his father's 6rm, and was recently appointed Deputy Clerk of the Peace. i The fourth son, Mr. Kenneth William Kelly, sailed on the Goth on the 16th inst., having been enrolled in the Cape Mounted Police, while four days later the third son, Mr. Charles Edward Kelly (a qualified solicitor) embarked on the Canada for South Africa to join General Baden- Powell's Police. Few of those best acquainted with the deceased gentleman would clatm that he was endowed with ability or intellectual gifts to an extraordinary degree; rather was he the possessor of infinite tact, and it was undoubtedly this feature, added to a capacity for taking pains, and business probity and uprightness of the highest order, that combined to raise him to the exalted positions which he adorned. It is easily conceived that a man so thoroughly engrossec in' business affairs as was Mr. Kelly would be afforded few opportunities of participating in the pleasures of social life, but when able temporarily to cast aside the omcial and professional shackles of the "daily round" he was ever a welcome and entertaining guest. He was of Hibernian origin, and to this fact may probably be traced two o the most charming traits in his character, viz., a keen sense of humour and a highly sympathetic nature. Of the former characteristic it may be said that as a smoke-room raconteur or in the role of after dinner speaker he was found in his happiest vein. The outcome of the second trait we have Indicated was an unbounded liberality: tale of sorrow always affected him deeply, and iis apparently stern and impassive exterior was not infrequently unmasked by emotion at a recital of the misfortunes of others or the loss by death of a beloved friend. Mr. Kelly was in religion a staunch Churchman of the evangelical school, and was a generous subscriber to Church fu4d??. In politics he was a Conservative, and on several occasions at Borough elections he did admirable work as chief election agent in the Conservative interest. He was a manager of the rational Schools at Mold and Gwernymynydd, a .trustee of the Mold Savings Bank (of which insti- tution he was formerly actuary), and also a Free- mason, although for some years he did not identify himself prominently with the craft. As shewing a versatility which his business engage- ments of later years afforded few op- portunities of turning to account, it may be mentioned that upon the inauguration of the Volunteer movement in 1863 Mr. Kelly was one of the group of influential personages who took an? active interest in the formation of a carps in Mold. He served as a private, his contemporaries in the ranks being the late Mr. J. Scott Bankes (SoughtonHalI), Mr. George Bellis, C.E., and others. This point recalls an interesting fact as to the origin of the Mold Company. The forma- tion of the corps was taken up with such avidity that Mold was the first Flintshire town to apply to the Lord Lieutenant to form a Volunteer corps under the provisions of the Volunteer Act, 1865, with the result that the company earned the title and was originally known as the 1st I Flintshire Rifle Volunteers. MAGISTERIAL REFERENCE. I I d Presiding at the Mold Petty Sessions, on Mon- day, Mr. E. H. Wain alluded to the death of Mr. KeHy. The county of Flint had suffered a great loss, and he was sure he was voicing the feelings of the Bench in expressing sympathy with the G. Ro b erts, as bereaved family.—Mr. Hugh G. Roberta, as senior advocate present, said the members of the [egal profession desired to associate themselves with what the chairman had said. Mr. Kelly had been at the head of the profession in the district for a large number of years, during which time he 'had always placed his abilities at the disposal of the county. They had lost a leader in their pro- fession. He had left a noble example of one who? was industrious when in health, and patient when,- in sickness. That example they should always en-0 deavour to follow- ?

iIItJiIL I ipi m EARLY FLINTSHIRE MINERS. IMPORTED FROM THE HIGH PEAK. Mr. Henry Taylor, of Curzon Park, favours us with the following communication:— When in London last October I turned into the Public Record OBice, to make a search in connec- tion with Flintshire history, when I came across the following entry on the Patent Roll of 7 Edward III.:— b 1280. July 10th (Westminster), writ of aid biI8108f Privy Seal, for one year for Ralph Ie Leche and Ralph Ie Baystowe, appointed to take two miners and three other suitable workmen in the Peak of the County of Derby, bring them to Flint, and put them on the lead works there; with full power to im- prison the disobedient." This curious entry interested me much. From the days of the Romans lead from the Halkyn Mountains has been brought down to the river l?side to be smelted, and afterwards conveyed away by water. The early smelting heartha were at Pentre and-Flint. Were these miners to be em- ployed in smelting the lead at Flint, or in mining the ore at Halkyn? But what was the connection between Derby- shire and Flintshire? True, both are lead pro- ducing districts, but there was another reason. In the year 1131 the Cistercian Abbey of Basing- werk was founded, the ruins of which stand hard by Holywell Railway Station, and I trust will )e carefully preserved. In 1157 King Henry II. being engaged on a military expedition in these parts, stayed at the Abbey, and in return for the attention bestowed by the Monks upon him he igranted to them the domain and church of GIossop, in the Peak, which formed part of the possessions granted by William the Conqueror to his natural son William Peveril-Peveril, of the Peak, whose descendant. Henry, had recently disinherited for having procured the death of the Earl of Chester as some legends say by poison and others by "sorcerie and witchcrafte." The charter conveying the transfer was witnessed amongst others by the great martyred Thomas a'Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, but this fact did not prevent BluN King Hal from seizing it with other lands in 1526, and conferring it upon the Earl of Shrewsbury, from whom it passed by way of exchange to the family of its present pos- sessors, the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk. The Abbey itself was conveyed to Harry ap Harry, whose only daughter Anne by her marriage passed it to the Talacre family, the present owners. Not only did Henry II. stay with the Monks, but during the building of Flint Castle and at other times King Edward I. also made Basingwerk his headquarters. This latter monarch and his immediate successors encouraged English emigration into Wales, especially to places near to the coast, and thus we find that the Knightly Derbyshire family of Leche found their way into Flintshire, as well as to Cheshire. This ancient family not only had rights in the Peak, but were the former owners of Chatsworth, the princely seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, and to this day on the eastern side of the porch of Edensor Church, at Chatsworth, on a corbel stone can be seen an angel delicately carved hold- ing a shield bearing the arms of Leche, while in heraldic language are Ermine on a chief dancettee gules, three ducal coronets, or-that is to say, on a neld of Ermine is placed at the top a red Indented plate, on which are three golden ducal crowns. Dr. Cox, in his learned work "The History of the Churches of Derbyshire," says: In the reign of Edward III. John Leche was surgeon (or leech as surgeons were called), to the King." On the Cheshire Rolls I find the follow- ing:—" 1381, 2 January, 17 grant to John Leche, the King's Surgeon by the King [Richard II.] of an annuity of J610 to be received out of the issues of the Mills of the Dee, in lieu of a like annuity granted to him by Edward, Prince of Wales, to be received at the Exchequer at Chester. 1384, August 12. Pardon to John Leche, by the King, in consideration of his good services 'per continuam moram suam In hospicio nostro.' From these same Cheshire Rolls also we find that on the 17th October, 1407, Sir Roger Ie Leche, Knt. steward of Henry, Prince of Wales, was appointed Constable of Flint Castle, on the death of Sir Nicholas Hawberk, Knt. Sir Roger was one of the Royal Commissioners appointed Receivers of Combermere Abbey, and is described as Constable of Flint Castle, In the warrant. The Topographer of 1790 gives the Leche pedigree thus:—Leche of Chatsworth was the father of Sir William Leohe, who had issue, Duncan Leche, father of Philip, father of Duncan, who had issue. 1. Sir Roger Leche. who is described as of Beaureper, Knt., and was Lord High Treasurer of England, 8 Henry V., 1416. II. Sir Philip Leche, Treasurer of the Wars of Franco, who in 6 Hen. V. kept the hill next the Abbey at the siege of Rouen, and was captain of Monceaux and Newcastle, and 8 Hen. V. was sent together with the Earls Marshall &c., into the country of Mayne, &c. The Chatsworth family became extinct in the reign of Edward VI., but about the time of the reign of Henry IV. John Leche, who was probably a son of John Leche, the King's Surgeon, mentioned In the Cheshire Rolls, married Eleanor. one of the co- heiresses of the old house of Cawarden, or Garden, in Cheshire, a.n4 that branch of the family has been settled there ever since. Mr. John Hurleston Leche, the worthy squire of Carden, who is at present head of the family, tells me with reference to the arms of Leche that the tradition of their origin is that his ancestor attended the Black Prince when he waited upon his three Royal prisoners in London, and in order to commemorate the occasion the three crowna were ordered to be placed upon the Leche escutcheon. That there was a close connection between the Leches and the Black Prince I think the entries on the Cheshire Rolls before referred to clearly prove, and the tradition Is probably true. I cannot ascertain exactly who Ralph Leche, named in the writ, was, but probably he was either a brother or son of the King's Surgeon, named by Mr. Cox. I have no Information about Ralph Baystowe. I thought this entry on the Edwardian Patent Roll might possibly interest some of the many who are engaged in the lead industry in the county, as shewing that in bygone times there was probably some connection between Flintshire and the High Peak. which latter, although a long distance away, yet at times can clearly be seen from Halkyn Mountain, and hence this- letter. o