Cheshire Observer

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. I T. D. JAMES. On the occasion of his departure from Chester after about four years' ministry as chaplain of St. Martin's Welsh Church, the Rev. T. D. James was made the recipient of a handsome presentation by the committee and friends of St. Martin's on Monday evening. Mr. James com- menced his new duties at Llanerfyl a fortnight ago, and he has been succeeded at Chester by the Rev. Alban Thomas, curate of Llanrhaidr- yn-Mochnant, who is not altogether a stranger to the local Welsh Church community, as his brother, the Rev. R. A. Thomas, is vice-principal of Chester Training College. The interesting function took place in St. Martin's School room in the presence of a crowded audience. The presentation oere- mony was preceded by a tea, at which about one hundred parishioners were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. James.—Archdeacon Barber (rector), who presided, referred with regret to the absence ■of an old friend of St. Martin's, who followed so worthily in the steps of his father, who restored the church—Mr. B. C. Roberts. It was hoped also that the Mayor, who, from his connection with Wales, took a deep and warm interest in St. Martin's, would have been able to take Mr. Roberts's place, but that had been impossible. air. Fluitt also regretted very much, as a member of the committee, that he could not be present. They were met to testify to their retiring chaplain their warm appreciation of the woriz :he had done here for the past four years. Perhaps, in one sense, he (Archdeacon Barber) was as fitting a person as any to occupy the chair on that occasion from the close connection which must naturally exist between the rector of St. Bridget's and the congregation who worshipped at St. Martin's. As they knew, the chaplain who -at -At. I ministered to them had, as a legal proceeding, to be licensed by him as the rector of St. Bridget's as curate. He had enjoyed the warmest and most cordial relations with Mr. James, and he therefore imagined that the chaplain's rela- tions to his congregation must have been even warmer and more cordial. The way in which the affairs of St. Martin's had prospered, the growing and increasing congregations, afforded abundant testimony to Mr. James's valuable ministry. He (the chairman) would have been glad if Mr. James had received his preferment from the Bishop of St. Asaph instead of the Lord Chancellor, because he thought there ought to be a connection between Welsh chaplaincies on the borders of Wales and the dioceses in Wales itself, and that those who ministered in the Welsh languages in these chaplaincies in England ought not to be considered at it were outside the dioceses of Wales. They ought to be looked upon as persons occupying frontier positions, and they should not therefore be out of considera- tion when preferment was made. Mr. James would be succeeded by one whose name was not unfamiliar to them, because his brother was the secretary of their Welsh Church Committee. If the Rev. Alban Thomas was at all like his brothers, one of whom was the principal of the Home and Colonial College in London and the other the vice-principal of the Training College I in Chester, he certainly would minister to the satisfaction of the congregation. (Applause.)- The Chairman then made the presentation, which consisted of a typewriter and a purse of gold. The gifts were accompanied by an address in the following terms To the Rev. T. D. James.— On the occasion of your departure from St. Martin's W elsh Church after a faithful ministry of about four years, the committee of yomr friends and well-wishers consider it a pleasure as well as a duty to offer you some mark of their regard. We deeply feel that your high moral character, your kindly disposition, and the zeal and ability which you have shewn in the discharge of your important duties fully entitle you to the warmest expressions of our admiration and esteem, and as a small token of this we beg your acceptance of the accompanying typewriter and purse of gold. We congratulate you on your preferment, while at the same time expressing our regret at your departure for Llanerfyl, and we earnestly pray that both Mrs. James and yourself may be long spared to carry on your good work and that the blessing of God may continue to attend your ministry.—Signed on behalf of the committee and friends of St. Martin's, Edward Barber (chairman), William C. Roberts (treasurer), John Southard (secretary)."— Mr. James, in acknowledgment, remarked that some people thought that Welsh churches in English towns should be absolutely free, and be made an incumbency. He did not advocate that theory for a moment, and if he was again called upon to take a similar charge to that in Chester he could prefer nothing better than the present system. It was his sincere conviction that they could not put the Welsh Church upon a better basis than that upon which it stood at present, particularly as long as the Ven. Arch- deacon Barber continued to be rector of St. Bridget's. (Appiause.) He left Chester with a very warm and high regard for the English clergy whom he had the pleasure of meeting during his sojourn in Chester, and he had received every possible courtesy, kindness and help from the clergy in Chester. (Hear, hear.) He had also to pay a tribute to the generosity and help he had received from the laity generally; not only the Welsh laity, but a great many people who were Welsh m sympathy. He believed from his heart that the Welsh Church in Chester was worth keeping on. The Bishop of Chester raid words from their pulpit two years ago which were very true. He said that the Welsh Church was one of the links which connected the two nations. Those links, he was sorry to say, were rather few, but the Church of which they were members was a living, vital link between the nations. He thanked his Chester friends from his heart for their gifts, and assured them they could always count upon any service it was in his power to render in the future on their behalf. (Applause.)—During the evening songs were given by Miss F. Edwards, Mr. S. Sprang, Miss Lloyd and Mr. J. R. Jones, the accompaniments being shared by Mr. R. Williams and Mr. J. Edwards.

A HALF-PINT LEMON JELLY FREE. We do not know when we have been bo pleased with a table delicacy as we have been; with Eiffel Tower Table Jellies." They are simply delicious, beautifully clear, exquisitely flavoured, and the colour a delight to the eye A pint packet can be obtained of Grocers fo; J;d. We understand that Messrs. Foster Clark and Co. (makers of the well-known Eiffel Tower Lemonade) are so desirous that everybody should become acquainted with the exceptional value of their jellies that they are sending a: half-pint Lemon Jelly free on receipt of a post- [ card. Do not miss this opportanity. but send post-card at once to Foster Clark and Co, 3578, j Eiffel Tower Faetory, Maidstone. I

ARCHAEOLOGISTS AT THE I CATHEDRAL. The members of the Chester Archaeological Society paid their second visit to the Cathedral on Monday, when some further beauties of the ancient building were pointed out to them by Archdeacon Barber. On the previous visit certain Norman work was inspected, and on Monday the party directed their attention to some examples of early English work. A commencement was made with the Chapter House, which the Archdeacon explained, was one of the most interesting portions of early English work in the Cathedral, though not the earliest. The canon's chapel was probably the earliest instance they had in the Cathedral of the work of the builders of that date. Sir Gilbert Scott put the Chapter House down at about the year 1240, earlier than other parts of the Cathedral they would see, earlier than the Refectory. The Archdeacon en- larged on the exquisite architecture of the Chapter House, and its vestibule. The party next examined the Canon's Vestry, or St. Erasmus Chapel, and thence proceeded to the beautiful Lady Chapel. This part of the Cathedral was restored before the rest of the building principally by the late Mrs. Hamilton, of Hoole, in memory of deceased members of her family. The Arch- deacon considered that we might be positively certain that this restoration was exactly as the early English builders made the church. The chapel was generally attributed to Simon de Whitchurch, and the date was from 1265 to 1289. It was evident that the builders of the chapel had their own ideas as to tracery, for they intro- duced a very beautiful bit of tracery in the piscina. The Archdeacon drew attention to the moulding round the top, which pointed to the early nature of the work. The Shrine of St. Werburgh was generally admired, though its beauty could not be fully appreciated in the dim light. The I party were next conducted to the Fratery, which is now used for the storage of coke, and everyone agreed with the Archdeacon's wish that it could be used for a better purpose. Going further on the party peeped in at the door leading to the monks' dormitory, and one or two bolder spirits ascended the steps, now crumbling with age, up which one could in fancy picture the weary monks retiring to rest. Another dark spot was the passage that led to the monks' kitchens. The last place visited was the Refectory. The feature of this room is, of course, the reader's pulpit, whence the reader read from some work or manuscript to the assembled monks as they took their meals below. The wish was expressed by several members of the party that some monied person would come forward and restore this handsome room. Archdeacon Barber's explanation of the various architectural features was most interesting, and it is hoped that the society will arrange for the inspection of other portions of our stately old Cathedral. a.

CHRIST CHURCH. CHESTER. I UNAUTHORISED DEVIATIONS. I CHANCELLOR'S STRONG REMARKS. I MEMORIAL TABLETS. I At the Chester Consistory Court on Wednes- day, Chancellor Espin presiding, the enlarge- ment and improvements of Christ Church, Chester, were further alluded to. It will be remembered that at the last Court the Rev. J. F. Howson (vicar) made application for the con- firmation of additional works which had been entailed in the re-building of the church. It was then stated that it had been found necessary to deviate considerably from the original scheme of enlargement. It was intended to erect a baptistry, and an oil-painting representing The Preparation for the Entombment" had been fixed on the wall near the south door, and a memorial tablet to the late Duke of Westminster (the donor of the painting) had been erected in close prox- imity to the painting. Permission was asked for the placing of the painting and for stained glass to be placed in the windows of the south aisle, etc. The Chancellor decided to adjourn the case until the next Court in order that the church might be inspected. At Wednesday's Court the Chancellor said the original faculty was granted in 1896 for the pur- pose of making important improvements and en- largements in Christ Church. It appeared that in the course of the work the Vicar-and, he sup- posed, the churchwardens-had made very serious deviations from the faculty; also they had made very serious additions to what they were authorised to do. His (the Chancellor's) attention had been called to them, of course, by the application of the Vicar and churchwardens to confirm what had been irregularly done. He had inspected the church that morning, and had noted what the deviations and additions were. Referring to the most important altera- tions, the Chancellor mentioned the baptistry which it was proposed to erect on the north side of the nave. The new faculty would, of course, authorise the erection of the baptistry. He noticed also that the choir vestry as it appeared in the new plan was vastly larger than the original choir vestry which was authorised by the faculty of 1896; in fact it was double the size. That, of course, was another very important deviation. There were various other minor matters upon which he did not think it necessary to dwell. The side chapel was not properly separated from the body of the church by a screen, so that the Vicar was directed to fix up a screen there so as to make the side chapel a separate division of the church. That was what was always required when they authorised side chapels. There were certain things which the Vicar informed him he desired authority to insert in the faculty. The Rev. J. F. Howson then presented a list of what he wished included in the faculty. The list included a tablet to the Queen, a tablet to the late Mr. S. W. Ramsden, formerly editor of the "Chester Courant," and in whose memory the stained glass south aisle window had been placed; a tablet to William Archer, killed at Magers- fontein; another to Frank Smith, killed in a skirmish in the Orange Free State; a tablet to the late Sarah Crowder; a list of vicars of Christ Church; a list of churchwardens of Christ Church; and a tablet telling the story of the building of the side chapel. The Chancellor said that before making the decree he must make some remarks upon the pro- cedure which—no doubt with the best intentions —had been adopted by the Vicar and church- wardens in this case. It was a serious matter when a faculty was taken out to deviate from it or to add anything to it without previously coming to the Court for approval. They had no desire to be over-punctilious in that matter, and in the case of small deviations they endorsed the faculty already issued so as to give sanction to them. But these were very important additions and alterations, and the only proper course was that adopted by the Vicar—to obtain another faculty to sanction them. He must say that nothing could be more irregular and im- proper than for a vicar and churchwardens to treat a church as if it were private property with which they could deal at pleasure. It was not so. The church was sacred and was subject to ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Nothing ought to be done in the shape of making alterations or additions without authority being previously ob- tained. That authority was not given until the parishioners had had an opportunity of expressing their views about it and was not given except in open court, when any parishioner could express his or her views. They had had many cases in that court in which parishioners had come for- ward and expressed their views. It was most desirable that parishioners should realise that the church was really theirs for their use and benefit, and that they should interest themselves in it and all that concerned it. He might say that an incumbent who allowed such things to take place as in Christ Church placed himself in a position of great peril. If there was any maliciously disposed person in the parish, he might commence an action in that court against the Vicar and churchwardens for effecting those alterations without authority, and even if the Court thoroughly approved of everything that had been done, it would still be his duty to censure the Vicar and churchwardens for pro- ceeding as they had done and breaking the laws, and they would certainly be compelled to pay the costs, and perhaps heavy costs. And it had hap- pened in more oases than one, when alterations had been made without authority,those responsible for making them had been ordered to restore the church to its original condition as well as pay the costs. It was not well for an incumbent to place himself at the mercy of any one person in the parish who might be disposed to vex or molest him. Happily there was no such person in the Parish of Christ Church so far as they knew. They all knew the great care and labour the Vicar had bestowed upon the church, and he (the Chancellor) should be exceedingly sorry to interfere with works so good and conducted on such sound principles as they appeared to be. The faculty was decreed in the terms of the citation.

w BRADLEY'S sell All-ftir Elastic FELT HATS, at 3/9, in any shape as comfortable as a cap, really 4/6 gooaa.-Foregate-street (corner of Seller-street, and 70, Brook-e+riet. CLAY NOT A MINERAL. — In the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, on Satur- day, before Mr. Justice Buckley, the case of the Great Western Railway Com- I pany v. Blades, was beard. This was a case of great importance to railway companies, involving the question as to whether common or subsoil clay is a mineral within the meaning of the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845. Minerals are by this statute excppted from a conveyance to a railway company, and the owners of lands taken by the companies are therefore entitled to work them, subject to giving previous notice to the companies when they are about to work within a certain distance from the line, in which case the company must either purchase the minerals or allow the land- owner to work them. In this case an injunction was asked to stop the defendants from working the clay, which the defendants contended was a mineral. His lordship gave judgment for the Plaintiffs. After pointing out the importance! of the question involved, and referring to the decisions on the subject, he beld that the clay was not a mineral within the Act. and granted an injunction to restrain tbo defendants from working it near the line.

MEMORIALS TO GLADSTONE. NEW CHURCH CHANCEL AT BUCKLEY. BISHOP OF ST. ASAPH'S TRIBUTE. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.] Wednesday was a memorable day in the Church life of Buckley, for it witnessed three im- portant functions. The first was the dedication of a lych gate, erected by the parishioners in commemoration of the passing of the century; the second was the commemoration of a chancel to the memory of Mr. Gladstone, and the third was the re-opening of the Lane End School, after its enlargement. Unfortunately rain fell heavily throughout the day, but that did not materially affect the attendance, and the greatest interest was manifested in the proceedings. Over 500 families in the parish and about 300 children have contributed to the lych gate, which has cost;6127. The structure is a handsome one, having been designed by Messrs. Doaglas and Minshull, and built by Messrs. Parker Bros. Mr. Gladstone took a deep interest in all that affected the welfare of the people of Buckley, and the Rev. Harry Drew, the zealous vicar of the parish, informed our representative that the great statesman before his last visit to the Continent expressed a hope that the church would be renovated, giving X100 towards the purpose. Subsequently Mrs. Gladstone followed this example by subscribing R50. The chancel has been erected by Mrs. Drew and Miss Helen Gladstone as a memorial of their father. The fabric has cost £1,100, exclusive of the fittings, which will amount to X800. The chancel con- tains three windows. The centre one is to the memory of the late Archdeacon H. B. Ffoulkes, who was curate-in- charge at Buckley from 1840 to 1857, while the two side windows are memorials to Mr. Gladstone, one being given by Mrs. Drew, and the other by Mr. and Mrs. Holiday, the artists. The expense of the fittings of the chancel has been defrayed by members of the family and by friends who were very much attached to Mr. Gladstone. A handsome lectern Bible has been given by Mr. Henry Frowde, of the Oxford University Press, a friend of Mr. Gladstone's, and the publisher of his great work Bishop Butler's Analogy." It contains a touching Latin inscription to the memory of Mr. Gladstone, written by Sir Arthur Godley, who at 01te time was the Grand Old Man's private secretary. The altar frontal is really the gift of Mrs. Gladstone, and is the work of Miss Duckworth, of Chester, a relative of Mr. Gladstone, and it was designed by Messrs. Douglas and Minshull, while the making of the altar ornaments, copper work, and hangings has been carried out under the supervision of Mr. Hilton, of Chester. The oak altar rails and the bishop's chair were also designed by the same firm of architects, and carried out by Mr. Herbert Read, of Exeter. Though so much has been done, the Vicar and his churchwardens are not yet satisfied, and they intend as soon as possible to take the tower in hand. A new porch will be built outside, and a baptistry will be constructed as a memorial to Mrs. Gladstone, while a font will be placed in it in memory of the late Mr. Tyson, a much- esteemed schoolmaster of Buckley. The former will be the loving work of Mrs. Drew, and Mr. Tyson's old schoolboys will be responsible for the latter. Shortly after eleven o'clock the clergy and choir assembled at St. Matthew's Schools and walked to the lych gate, on the right side of which the .school children were formed up. Psalm xc. was sung, and the Bishop of St. Asaph after uttering the usual prayers received the key from the churchwardens and formally opened the gate. The hymn, Almighty Father, everlasting God," was next sung, and after further prayers, the congrega- tion entered the church, the choir, clergy and Bishop following, after a pause, and singing All people that on earth do dwell." All the time rain had been falling heavily, but the service was most impressive. The pas- toral staff was carried by the Rev. J. P. Poole Hughes, vicar of Mold, and the Rev. T. Cave, Hawarden, bore the Benson cross from Hawarden Church. The presence of the latter was most appropriate for the mother church of Hawarden was originally responsible for the erection of St. Matthew's Church, which was formerly a chapel of ease to St. Deiniol's. The large body of clergy who participated in the service included the Rev. Harry Drew, the Dean of Lincoln (Dr. Wickham), the Rev. Stephen Gladstone, Canon Fletcher (Wrexham), the Rev. W. T. Owen (Rural Dean of Mold), the Rev. the Hon. A. V. Lyttelton (nephew of Mr. Gladstone), the Revs. A. Ogle (assistant librarian of St. Deiniol's), T. E. Jones (Hope), W. T. Williams (St. Asaph), &c. The church was filled to overflowing, the congregation including Mrs. Stephen Gladstone, Mrs. Wick- ham, Mrs. Drew, Miss Helen Gladstone, the Countess Grosvenor, Lady Frederick Cavendish, Lady Olivia Fitzpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Mayhew, &c. The chancel was consecrated in the usual way by the Bishop, and afterwards the Registrar (Mr. W. A. Cleaver) read aloud the Sentence of Conse- cration, which the Bishop signed- and delivered to the registrar to be enrolled and preserved in the registry of the diocese. The hymn "We love the place 0 God" was then sung. The Bishop preached from 1. Corinthians x., 31, "Do all to the glory of God." In the course of his sermon he said:-Eighty years ago, when the foundation- stone of this church was laid, the work of church building and church extension was beginning in this diocese—I might almost say was begun here. All this represented a novel and needed impulse in the Church of England. The very fashion of this Church and the rapidity, if not the haste, with which it was completed vividly reminds us of the period when it was built and of the disabilities attaching to that period. At the same time these reflections bring out all the more clearly the zeal and the foresight of those who first built this house to the glory of God in what was then a wild and little-provided-for hamlet in the great parish of Hawarden. It is easy to-day, in the light of a larger knowledge, to note defects in the plan and structure but no better token of our thankfulness to the founder of this church can be given than by this zealous effort to make it worthy, to the best of our knowledge and abilities, of the work for which it was designed. This work of renovation is being carried out in well-considered portions. There are already funds in hand for converting the present tower base into a baptistry, with a good open arch into the church. This will be a memorial to Mrs. Gladstone, and the parishioners have decided to place a new font in it, in memory of one who was the devoted headmaster of the boys' school in this parish, and who died a few months ago, after 30 years of strenuous labour among and for the children of this parish. The central window in the chancel is in memory of a former vicar of this parish and archdeacon in this diocese (Archdeacon Ffoulkes), whose work and character are held in reverence by all who knew him. Built to the glory of God, built that all those who join here in eucharistic worship may have the added help of reverence, beauty and dignity in their surroundings-may we not thus describe the purpose of the new chancel which has been consecrated to-day? This offering is further hallowed by the filial piety that has wedded it with a great memory-great, indeed, wherever the English language is spoken. To-day we are not thinking so much of the statesman. This were a theme upon which it would be presumption for me to enter, but we linger around memories that come close home to us. We think of the great man who, under the weight of public responsib- ilities, could still give time and thought to pro- moting the welfare of those in and around his own neighbourhood. Churchmen in this diocese will not soon forget that only a short time before his death he spoke—and I believe it was one of the last speeches he delivered in public—on behalf of the Clergy Sustentation Fund, and the measure of success which that .movement has attained, not only in this diocese but in the whole Church of England, is largely, I believe mainly, due to his advocacy. And as a frequent worshipper in this church he was the first to start and subscribe to the work of its renovation. I do not mention these things for eulogy-that would indeed be' sadly out of place—but in order that these memories may be for us an inspiring example. These voices that come to its from the past bid us labour with patience and zeal for the moral and religious wel- fare of our fellow-men, content to do in our own day and generation to the utmost of our abilitv that fraction of God's work which he has assigned to us; conteut, too, to leave in His hands the issue. Lord who for Thy thousand years dost wait To work the thousandth part of Thy vast plan, For us create with zeal a patient heart. While the hymn "Ten thousand times" was sung a collection was made. and subsequently there was a celebration of the Holy Communion. I NONCONFORMISTS AND VOLUNTARY I SCHOOLS. I IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE BISHOP. I In the afternoon the Bishop of St. Asaph re- opened the Lane End Schools, which have been enlarged and considerably improved. The Rev. Harry Drew presided, and in calling upon the Bishop said that was an extremely in- I teresting occasion to Buckley people. Tho Lane End School was the oldest existing school in Buckley, having been founded by the late rector of Hawarden, the Rey.. Henry Glynn. Four years ago they began a most tremendous task in Buck- ley in the enlargement and renewal of the equip- ment of their schools, and it was a matter of sur- prise to him that they had come to the end of the task In all they had spent close on C2,500 on the schools of the parish in the last four year, the schools of the paris h in the last four year?- and that was a thing the people of Buckley might heartily congratulate themselves on, because^ all the money had been practically provided. They wore greatly indebted to Miss Hayes, the head- mistress, the staff and the parents of the scholars in that part of the parish. W ithout- any spurring I on on the part of the managers they began to raise funds for the building of that class-room, and they raised between £ 70 and E30 in small sums. jj (Applause.) The Bishop, in declaring the schools to be re- opened, said it was only two years ago that some- thing like E2,000 was spent on the main schools, aad now they had added that infant schoolroom and cloak-room. He added his own thanks to Miss Hayes for the part she had taken in bringing the work to so successful an issue. The reoord of what had been done in the parish of Buckley for the education of the people was a. very remarkable one from the beginning-more remarkable perhaps since they had had their present vicar than at any other tima in the his- tory of the parish. He gathered from the notes of Bishop Short, on a visit to Buckley in 1859, that the number of children in the schools at that time was 150. There were to-day in that branch school as many children as there were in the whole parish in 1859. That shewed how much the work had progressed, and how the Church had shewn her- self equal to the demands of education in that parish. One other fact in regard to Buckley was interesting far beyond that parish or that diocese. When the Buckley urban district was formed it was formed with Buckley and a slice of Bistre. The Bistre slice was in the Mold School Board district, and the authorities, when that district was formed, said that Buckley must be included in the Mold School Board district. It seemed perfectly hopeless to pro- test against that, but a friend came to their aid, and Buckley owed the fact that it was not pressed into the Mold School Board district entirely to the interposition of Mr. Gladstone. (Applause.) He had always thought it most significant that Mr. Gladstone took that action, and so let it be known that he felt it to be not fair that a parish should be compelled to accept the school board system when it was perfectly satisfied with the Voluntary system already in existence, which had proved itself in that parish to be thoroughly equal to meet all the demands. (Applause.) The general question of Church schools was deeply interesting in that diocese, because they had more Voluntary schools or Church schools, in proportion to population, than any other diocese in the Provinces of Canterbury or York, and they had added to the number during the last few years. (Applause.) This fact proved that Churchmen in the diocese appreciated the value of their schools, and were ready to make great sacrifices to provide them with all that was required. (Applause.) With regard to the aid grant, he had always felt that it was a most unsatisfactory arrangement altogether. It gave them money which tided them over a time of crisis, and for that reason they were glad of it, but the conditions were so rigid, so in- elastic, that it was very difficult to use the money in the best possible way, and the grant could only be regarded as a temporary expedi- ent, because it was not at all a statesmanlike measure. The whole question would have to be dealt with on a very much more broad and permanent basis than the aid grant. One heard of the creation of a new local education authority. Personally he rejoiced that that step was going to be taken, because the real danger for the Church schools at the present time was that for the lack of one policy on the part of the Church of England-pressed with all the influence of the Church, unitedly and determinedly—they were m danger of losing 1 their schools, one by one. It might be called a campaign of attrition; they were being worn out in isolated places; and he hoped next year's Education Bill might do something for the Voluntary schools in this respect. He should rejoice to see repre- sentatives of all who were interested in educa- tion in a parish elected on the board of management. (Applause.) He did not see that there could be the slightest objection to a certain number of Nonconformists being on the management of the National schools. Noncon- formists sent their children to these schools; why should they not be allowed to have repre- sentation in the management? (Hear, hear, and applause.) It would increase interest in the schools, and strengthen each school in the affections of its parish. (Applause). Two points, however, must be contended for. They must not allow any arrangement to be made which would endanger their title to school buildings. The National school buidings were a solid piece of property which Churchmen must hold tight by, come what might. (Hear, hear.) If any authority íwere allowed to add to existing buildings, or. to improve them in any way, Churchmen would find it an extremely difficult matter to take possession of those buildings again, or even to have the covenants for their use in non-school hours carried out. He ventured, therefore, to, warn Churchmen that they could not be too careful about any proposals which might endanger their title to school buildings. And the appointment of the master was a matter, he felt, that they must be firm upon. More depended on the master than on anything in the school, and therefore that point must be kept in the very first rank of importance. (Hear, hear.) Of course the great efforts that were being made by Church- men for the National schools were for the sake of the religious teaching given in the schools. The more he travelled about the country, the more precious he felt that teaching to be. He hoped that the example of Buckley would inspire Churchmen throughout his diocese, and that no expense would be considered too great for the proper maintenance of Voluntary schools. (Applause.) On the call of the Vicar a hearty vote of thanks was given the Bishop.

Wbitbread's. or Ind-Coope's, A] -id Stout, i: pint bottles, can be had in sin; dozens fror, H. Martin & Co., Foregate-street, C i33tsr When you put him in his FIRST SUIT, BKADLKY'S can find you one as smart and reasonable as any one in the country.—Foregate-street corner of Sailer-street,. THE" OBSERVER'S NEW TALE.—Next week we purpose commencing a n«w serial tale entitled Lady Lorimer's Maid," by Gertrude Warden. It is a love romance of absorbing interest. DR. MORLEY DEAD.—Dr. Edward Sword Morley, the elder and only brother of John Morley, M.P., died on Sunday afternoon at his residence in Blackburn atter a long illness at the advanced age of 71. Dr. Morley was a great supporter of all branches of athletics, and in his early days was himself a great swimmer. For some 20 years he was chairman of the Blackburn Rovers F.C., and in 1886 was olected senior vice-president of the Football Association. CHESTER SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND .åRT.- The following additional results of examinations have come to band :—Art: Modelling from the antique, James A. Stevenson, 2nd class. Science Physiography (elem.), Margaret K. Gregg, Charlotte Major, Gladys L. Gregson, May I Powell, Frances A. Wainwright, Winifred M. Tallon, 1st class; Bertha M. Proud, Elvyn Harrison, Elizabeth Evans, 2ad class. Board cf Education prizes awarded, 1901 Gertrude Margaret Siddall, Still Life," bronze medal. "FOP. THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE, .Clarke's world-famed Blood Mixture is warranted to cleanse the blood from all impurities, from what- eve-r cause arising. For Scrofula, Scurvy. Eczema, skin and blood diseases, and sores of all kinds, its effects are marvellous. Thousands of testimonials. In bottles, 2s. 9d. and lis. each, of all Chemists. Proprietors, Lincoln and Mid- land Counties Drug Company, Lincoln. Ask for Clarke's Blood Mixture, and do not be persuaded to take an imitation.

CHESHIRE MASONIC CHARITIES I JOINT FESTIVAL AT KNUTSFORD. t A joint festival of the Cheshire Masonio Educa- tional and Benevolent Institutions was held on Saturday in the Town Hall, < at Knutsford. The Hon. Alan do Tatton Egerton, M.P., R.W. Pro- vincial Grand Master, president of the two insti- tutions, acted as chairman over the banquet and subsequent proceedings. In spite of the great heat there was a large gathering, betokening a great interest in the charities. Knutsford is an attrac- tive summer resort ordinarily, and Earl Egerton of Tatton, the former Provincial Grand Master, with characteristic kindness threw open his gardens at Tatton for inspection by the brethren and their lady friends during the afternoon. Within the Town Hall the seats at the tables were all filled, and some of the stewards and the guests had to be accommodated in another room of the building. After dinner Mr. R. Newhouse, the Provincial Grand Secretary, read a list of contributions total- ling up to £2,063, although in two or three cases the lodges had not yet sent in their returns, and this sum will in the end be exceeded. Mr. F. Broadsmith, in proposing the health of the Provincial Grand Master, said the Cheshire Masonic Elucational Institution had been formed many years. The Benevolent Institution came into existence within the last 15 years, and was formed to meet a growing desire that there should be a provision for old and indigent Masons and widows of Masons pending their being placed on the foundation of the London Institution. The Pro- vincial Grand Master, by virtue of his office in the province, but still more by reason of his own per- sonal inclination, had become the president of both Cheshire institutions, in order to further the in- terests of Masonic charity in the province, and to enlist the sympathies of the brethren on behalf of the fatherless and widows and the distressed. The Benevolent Institution was the offspring of the Provincial Grand Master's immediate predecessor in office, Earl Egerton of Tatton, who rightly con- ceived that there was something to be done far away beyond the education of children, in pro- viding for the needy old men and old women con- nected with the Order in the province. The Provincial Grand Master responded. He said he had little to say on the subject of their charities, seeing that he had so recently taken the position of Provincial Grand Master. But after the many long years of work that his brother, Earl Egerton, had given to the province, and the record that his lordship had made, he should do his level best to live up to it. (Cheers.) That festival was the second which had been held in the province. It was instituted practically at Lord Egerton's instance, in order to make it possible t t fitt. nstance, in o that fitting objects of their charity might be helped at once, instead of having to wait even the short time that was necessary to secure for them the benefits of their London Masonic charities. With regard to this matter, he could only say that he should follow in the footsteps of his predecessor to the very best of his power. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Egerton afterwards proposed the toast "Success to the Masonic Charitable Institutions of the Province," coupling with it the name of Mr. Henry Jackson, chairman of the committee, to whose energy and organising ability, he said, the success of the gathering was in his opinion due. The handsome sum which had been recorded had been contributed by the brethren as a result of the work of the committee, with Brother Jackson at its head. (Applause.) Mr. H. Jackson, who was cordially received, said the sum raised by the lodges and the stewards was very gratifying, particularly when they re- membered that the province of Cheshire, which was but a small province in point of numbers as compared with some of its neighbours, had during the past two years spent something like 10,000 guineas upon the various Masonic charities in the country. (Hear, hear.) Their Cheshire Educa- tional Institution was educating upwards of 60 boys and girls who had been left fatherless. Their Benevolent Institution was paying annuities to 12 or 14 annuitants, as a stepping stone to the re- cipients being placed upon the London charities. With regard to their educational organisation, they had with them its veteran hon. secretary, Bro. F. K. Stevenson, who had devoted himself to its interests for over 30 years. A large number of brethren had determined to shew their apprecia- tion of Bro. Stevenson's efforts, and in their behalf he asked him to accept a purse of something over 90 guineas. (Applause.) Mr. F. K. Stevenson expressed thanks for this token of regard. Among subsequent speakers were Dr. Napier, Mr. J. Fred. May, and Mr. George Ibeson.

BUCKLEY'S RETURNED PATRIOTS. INTERESTING PRESENTATION. On Thursday evening the inhabitants of Buck- ley and district assembled in order to accord a welcome home to four men of the district who have been on active service in South Africa; also to present them with a suitable gift to com- memorate their patriotism. The first part of the proceedings was a procession, which was formed at the 1st Flint Engineer Volunteer headquarters in Mill-lane at 7 p.m. as follows:—Members of the 1st Flint Engineer Volunteers, headed by their band, Major Lamb in command; four returned heroes in a wagonette; members of the Buckley Urban District Council in a brake; Royal Buck- ley Town Old Prize Band; and the committee who arranged the demonstration. The procession marched from the headquarters up Mill-lane and Main-street to the Square, down Lane-end via Brunswick-road, and on the Common via the Church-road and the Bull's Foot. On the Com- mon a platform had been erected, and was decor- ated with flags and streamers. The presentation was here made by Major Gibson, V.D., who was accompanied on the platform by Messrs. G. A. Parry (chairman Urban District Council), Major Lamb, the Rev. Frank Edwards (chaplain to the Welsh Brigade in South Africa), Mr. Thomas Jones, Board Schools (chairman of the reception committee), Major Lamb, Quartermaster-Sergeant Gregory (hon. secretary to reception committee) and others. There was a very large attendance of the general public, all anxious to shew their ap- preciation of the services of the returned warriors. pr!?aior Gibson, in making the presentation, commented upon the patriotism which had been displayed by all ranks during the war. Address- ing the four men, he said:—"This war has been really defensive. It was undertaken to repel invasion, to protect our kith and kin, to maintain their rights and to preserve their persons and lives. You came forward to do your share, and have nobly done it. I hope that the recolleotions of your ready exertions on our behalf will never die within our hearts. I hope it will be long and gratefully remembered to your honour that in a time of trouble you, aye, and many thousands more from all parts of the dominion of our Sovereign, came willingly forward to fight the battle of our country. Your own reflections on what you have gone through as soldiers will indeed be very pleasant to you, for the fruits of conscious rectitude and thoughts of duty well done are always their own reward. Your names will be held in great respect by others proportionately to your manly exertions for their good, and w h en the mingled and strange events ot this trying period shall hereafter become the subjects of the historic pages, your posterity will no doubt deem it one of their proudest records to be able to say My ancestor stood, cheerfully forth when his Sovereign and his country called upon him.' For this we now here assembled do most sincerely and publicly thank you." Major Gibson then handed to eaoh of the men a handsome silver watch, engraved as follows:—"Presented by the in- habitants of Buckley and district to on his returning from active service with the forces in South Africa. July, 1901." Each recipient was loudly cheered. In his concluding remarks, Major Gibson gave the young men some good advice as to taking advantage of their valuable experience in South Africa. Mr. G. A. Parry also spoke of the way in which the district felt indebted to these men and how proud they all were of them for so nobly doing their duty. Sapper Hooson, in acknowledging on behalf of himself and his three comrades the kind way in which they had been welcomed and treated, said that it almost made it a pleasure to have gone through what they had when they came home and found how very appreciative the people of Buckley were of their services. (Cheers.) Major Lamb moved, and Mr. Thomas Jones (Board Schools) seconded a vote of thanks to Major Gibson for being present to make the presentation, and this was carried with acclama- tion. The proceedings concluded with the sing- ing of the National Anthem, after which those taking part in the procession marched to the Volunteer headquarters, w here they dispersed. The four recipients of the watches were Sapper Joseph Hooson, Royal Engineer Reserves; Private Edward Parry, Flintshire and Denbigh- shire Militia; Private Edward Jones, 1st Volun- teer Battalion Derbyshire Regiment; Private Evan Evans, Flintshire and Denbighshire Militia. All these men have seen a great deal of active service, but it will not be invidious to specially mention that Sapper Hooson was with Buller's forces throughout the campaign which ended in the relief of Ladysmith. He was also with Warren at Spion Kop.

BATHING FATALITIES. Five bathing fatalities were reported on Friday even- ing. A lad named Simmons was drowned at Amberley, and a man named Wiggins at Marlow. J. Pitman, a prominent member of the Maiden- head Cycling Club, was drowned while bathing at Hurley, Marlow. Percy Townsend, a sapper of the Royal Monmouth Engineers Militia, was drowned while bathing in the river Minnow at Monmouth. A young man named Richard Hayes, aged 22, re- siding with hia parents in Riskell-square, Flint, was drowned while bathing near Flint Castle. He had only just come home on furlough from the Beaumaris Militia. At the inq uest on the body of Hayes on Saturday, it transpired that Dr. W. B. Marston, who is an expert swimmer, came on the scene shortly after deceased was seen to be sinking. He swam about for half-an-hour and dived several times in trying to rescue him. Ultimately he j succeeded in recovering the body. The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, and highly complimented Dr. Marston upon his plucky efforts to save the deceased. They recommended that his conduct should be reported to the Royal Humane Society. FLORI LINE !-FOR THE TEKTH AND BREATH.— Thoroughly cleanses the teeth frem all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, and gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly whiteness and a delightful fragance to the breath. Price 2s. 6d. for the liquid, or Is. per jai for the Floriline Powder,' of all Chemists and Perfumers.

DEE FISHERY BOARD. I A quarterly meeting of the Conservators of the River Dee Fishery District was held at Chester Town Hall on Saturday. Mr. John Thompson presided, and there were present the Rev. C. Wolley-Dod, the Hon. H. Holbrook, Messrs. W. Congreve, James Prince, W. H. Lloyd, Charles H. B. Williams, J. Gooddie Holmes, Walter Y. Hargreaves, C. H. C. Calverley, E. Lloyd Edwards, C. MorralL Horatio E. Walker, J. O. Pugh, John Hewitt, John Jones, Edward Bithell, J. J. Cunnab, H. E. Taylor, R. F. Graesser, F. F. Brown, T. W. Hughes, Major Leadbetter (hon. secretary), Mr. Jolliffe (solicitor), and Mr. Simpson (superintendent). I COMPLAINT AGAINST LANCASHIRE. I The Chairman, referring to the new bye-laws of the Lancashire Sea Fisheries Committee, said the present position of this question, which had exercised the minds of the committee to a con- siderable extent, was that a deputation from the Board attended a meeting of the committee of the Western Sea Fisheries Association, an d made their representations. They were listened to with patience by the chairman and several members, and with great impatience by some others. They were told that their representa- tions would be considered. The chairman went so far as to say that if the committee would retire for a few minutes he would tell them the result, but he was summarily pulled up by a member, who objected to that being done. But they were told they were to receive a letter from the committee dealing with the matters brought before them. At the very time that they were discussing this question with the Western Sea Fisheries Com- mittee the latter knew, although they did not tell them, that the bye-laws had been advertised, that step being a preliminary to their being con- sidered by the Board of Trade. He did not think it was quite the thing that they should have kept that to themselves, but, however, they did. and although they promised that that Board should hear from them they had never taken any further notice. This was simply the way in which the Western Sea Fisheries had treated the Dee Fishery Board from the start, and it was the way they would treat them until that Board brought them to their bearings. They would have an opportunity of bringing them to their bearings when the question of these bye-laws was heard before the officials of the Board of Trade. They should then be represented, and try to get their view of the case adopted. He might for the in- formation of the Board inform them that a requisition for one-sixteenth of a penny in the pound was being sent to the Cheshire County Council, and that brought into the Western Board a matter ot E7UU odd. That was besides the ijem which was paid to that Board. He moved that they appear at the inquiry in opposition to the proposed bye-laws. The Hon. H. Holbrook seconded. Mr. Hargreaves: Are the Cheshire County Council going to oppose? The Chairman: Cheshire County Council, Flintshire County Council, and Chester Town Council. The proposition was carried. WEST KIRBY SEWAGE SCHEME. I The Chairman said a letter had been written to the Board of Trade stating that if the West Kirby sewage was treated bacterially, that Board would have no objection to the scheme. To this they had the reply that inasmuch as the present scheme only extended the old pipes further into the river, and that the new pipes would deliver the sewage about a mile or a mile and three- quarters from the nearest mussel beds, they did not see that it was incumbent upon them to move. The Chairman added that that Board had done all they could to make the sewage innocuous, and if any harm was done to the mussel beds the onus would not be on them. OUR FISH SUPPLY. I GOVERNMENT'S SUPERVISION ADVOCATED. I Major Leadbetter, in presenting a report on the recent meeting in London of representatives of authorities under the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act, 1888, pointed out that if it were not for steam and ice our fish supply would be quite in- adequate to the demands of these islands. The enormous increase of our population and wealth had caused a terrible strain on our sea fisheries, which had only been kept up by modern appli- ances, the result being a very serious depletion of our fish, and instead of getting them near to our coasts our trawlers went hundreds of miles. He quoted figures shewing that the quantity of fish landed in this country in 1900 was 127,576 tons more than in 1891. It was idle to say that nature was inexhaustible, and the sooner the Government took into its own hands, with certain local assistance, the question of our fish food supply the better. This generation might not suffer, but it was their duty to future generations to see that they should have cheap nsh. Our fresh water fisheries were also failing, principally from the pollution of the gravel beds in which salmonidaa spawned. Therefore there was the more reason why such matters should be con- sidered. He failed to see why maritime counties were burdened with the maintenance of fisheries, while inland towns and counties paid nothing. He contended that the fish food supply ought to be supported by the nation, and that the fisheries should be taken over by the Government, as it was impossible to manage them properly other- wise. Referring to the question of immature fish or a close time for certain kinds and places, he said it was impossible to do anything without an agreement with our neighbours across the water. It was no good our framing rules without an understanding that foreign Powers would do the same, for it would be unfair to our fishermen if we had limits as to size, or other restrictions, while our Continental neighbours had none. The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Major Leadbetter for attending the conference and for the pains he had taken. The Hon. H. Holbrook, in seconding, said he thought Major Leadbetter had taken the right view of the matter. He had seen the benefit in his Canadian experience of the Government having control of the fisheries. Tho proposition was carried. THE DROUGHT AND POLLUTION. SERIOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS. CHARGE AGAINST THE CANAL COMPANY. The Hou. Secretary said that during the present dry weather very few salmon were being caught by the net fishermen. Supt. Simpson reported that salmon had been exceptionally scarce in the Chester district during the last three or four weeks. No doubt the long continuance of the drought and the low ebb of fresh water in the river had much to do with the present scarcity of fish in the river. There was a fair show of salmon in Dawpool, but very few came higher up the river where they could be fished for with nets owing to the low ebb of fresh water and the polluted state of the river, which at present was killing the fish. Three and four fish were daily being found dead on the river bank between Crane Bank and the Higher Ferry. Major Leadbetter added that Superintendent Simpson told him that about 100 fish had been killed during the dry weather that he knew of. Major Lead- better continued to read the superintendent's report, as follows:—I understand that the Shrop- shire Union Canal Company have to return all the water they take out of the Dee at the source of the canal above Llangollen into the river again at Chester, but I am certain this is not being done, and if it were possible to have this carried out it would increase the quantity of fresh water in the river below Chester consider- ably, and would help the fishing in droughts such as we are having at present. Mr. Enfield Taylor said he would like to know if Simpson had any data to shew that the state- ment was correct as regarded the Shropshire Union Canal Company, because it was a very important matter for the fishermen and the river generally. They were going through the worst summer he had known of, and he wished it were possible for them to hold out some encouragement to the fishermen. Could not the Board do some- thing to encourage people or to force people to take some steps to prevent this horrible pollution ? (Hear, hear.) If they began at Bala, the very place where the salmon wanted to get fresh water, they found pollution. They all knew there was pollution at Llangollen, and it was the same all the way down to Chester. He had seen three dead fish himself. In reply to a question, the Solicitor said a prosecution against any of these authorities would cost a lot of money. Mr. Calverley: It is a question of money? Mr. J? ffe replied in the affirmative. The Chairman said Mr. Taylor in his capacity as engineer to the Dee Conservancy Board had made long enquiries as to the powers of the Shropshire Union Canal Company, and he knew perfectly well that they were practically power- less. He was sorry to say so. To tackle the Shropshire Union Canal Company would mean something like £ 3,000 or £ 4,000. Mr. Taylor had no doubt from investigations he had made that the Canal Company were not complying with the agreement. He intended to follow this thing up. He had no doubt that for the last four months the Canal Company had not been returning to the Dee one Quarter of the water they ought to do. He foughW this question in the law courts, and they obtained substantial awards. The Chester Corporation were now getting the benefit of his labours some years ago, and now got the money that came to the pro- prietors of the mills. The Chairman explained that the amount paid for licences this year was £ 415, against L370 last year. The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod suggested that the authorities at Bala and Llangollen should be writ- ten to with regard to pollution. Tho Chairman said the Board had to prove that the effluent was deleterious to the fish, and he sup- posed the answer of the authorities would be that the bulk of the fish were caught below the weir in the Chester district. Mr. J. Prince (Connah's Quay) said there were neither live nor dead fish at Connah's Quay. The Chairman thought a good flood was wanted. Mr. J. Gooddie Holmes: The less the water the worse the pollution. Nothing was done in the matter. APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE I The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod having declined to act as representative on the Lancashire Sea Fisheries Committee, the Board elected Mr. W. H. Lloyd (Connah's Quay) to fill the position.—The Hon. H. Holbrook was warmly thanked for the valuable service he bad rendered the Board in this capacity. (A portion of the above appeared in our last Saturday Evening Edition).

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ROSEBERY AND THE RADICALS. I SCATHING DENUNCIATION. I "A MEETING OF LUNATICS." I "ORGANISED HYPOCRISY." I Lord Rosebery on Friday afternoon, presiding I at a meeting of the City Liberal Club, London, I said there had been A GREAT HULLABALLOO I since he addressed the letter to them the day before yesterday. Such a noise had there been that it seemed to him some months since he addressed that communication—(laughter)—but there was one ready conviction which sprang to his mind from the fearful amount of clamour that it had excited, which was that it expressed a clear and exact truth with respect to the situation. (Hear, hear.) He regarded the clamour he had heard on this subject, accompanied by the significant fact that not one single allegation that he had made had been in the remotest particular disproved or chal- lenged, as conclusive proof that what had happened had happened before, and would happen again; but that when the naked truth was told in the political world it produced an amount of anguish, howling and misery unspeakable, which was the real test of veracity. (Cheers.) He did not in the least degree mind the clamour. He had al- ready encountered it under somewhat similar cir- cumstances before. In his first speech, when he succeeded Mr. Gladstone in his high office, he took occasion to lay down the doctrine with regard to the Irish question which was known as the doctrine of the predominant partner. The noise that was then raised exceeded a hundredfold the noise that had been made on this occasion. They would have thought that no blasphemy so serious had ever been uttered against the tenets of the Liberal party; and yet he ventured to say that there was not one sane mind, not one reasonable politician on either side of politics of any of the many shades and graduations of the Liberal party, who, in his heart of hearts, in the inner core of his con- science, did not know and believe that that repre- sented not merely the truth, but commonsense as well. (Cheers.) They would think from what they heard now that he had discovered one of the vic- tims of Jack the Ripper—(laughter)—killed, mutil- ated, and with all its horrible appearances. But this was no new discovery of his. It had been obvious and patent to every reasonable observer who had watched the course of events for the last twenty years. It was I NOT A POST-GLADSTONIAN SYMPTOM t. which he had called attention. It existed in the time of Mr. Gladstone. He, with that marvellous gift of rhetoric and the eloquence as rich as the curtain of that temple of old, veiled those things from the public. He (Lord Rosebery) was glad to see his friend Lord Tweedmouth there. The other day Lord Tweedmouth made a speech in which he said he had, in conversation with Mr. Gladstone, heard Mr. Gladstone make the striking remark, in which there was absolute truth, that he was always, as leader of the party, engaged in patching up old clothes. (Laughter.) What was that but divisions of the Liberal party? But Mr. Gladstone was a skilful patcher, unlike some of his successors, and he (Lord Rosebery) regarded him- self as one of those unskilled ones, not so deft. He mentioned this as a proof that these differences were known and patent to Mr. Gladstone, and existed in that period, the halcyon period, when he was the leader of the Liberal party. He would give another instance. Sir Algernon West, Mr. Gladstone's private secretary, published a year or two ago a kind of interview he had with Mr. Glad- stone when the latter was forming his Government in 1886. Mr. Gladstone gave two reasons for his taking office at his advanced age, one of which was that owing to his authority he hoped he might postpone THE INEVITABLE SCHISM OF THE LIBERAL I PARTY. He (Lord Rosebery) did not believe that it re- ferred to the Irish question. He would not say in the least, because of course that schism was loom- ing ahead, but it did not refer in the first and major degree to the Irish question. In his judg- ment, then, when he wrote his letter to them, the time had come to speak the truth. The meeting at the National Reform Union on June 14, fol- lowed by the Queen's Hall meeting a few days afterwards, made him feel that unless there was some clear repudiation regarding the war it was impossible that the Liberal party could continue to exist as a sound force appealing to the highest sympathies of the country. (Cheers.) To the Queen's Hall meeting he attached no importance at all. (Hear, hear.) From some of the speeches he should be inclined to think it was a meeting of lunatics—(laughter)—and from the collection of speakers that were supplied for the meeting he had some grounds for that hypothesis. (Renewed laughter.) But though the gentlemen who ad- dressed the meeting were of ability, and one or two of whom he thought would reach higher dis- tinction than they had yet achieved when they entered upon I SANER PATHS yet he did not attach the slightest importance to the meeting, because they themselves attached none either, and they took the earliest opportunity that presented itself of publicly, and in Parlia- ment, disowning the resolution at which they unanimously arrived. The National Reform Union meeting was a very different matter. It comprised the leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. It comprised the late leader of the Liberal party in the House of Commons, and it comprised an old friend of his (the speaker's) for whom he had the highest respect, who occupied a position some- where between the two. The conclusion he came to on reading the report of the speeches was that the Liberal party on those principles could not exist as it had existed, and at any rate what was said there was so wholly incompatible with the doctrine uttered by leading members of the party on the same question elsewhere that it was impossible the two sections would continue to exist under the same standard. That he begged them to under- stand was the question at issue. In his letter it was not whether the war was right or was wrong. He knew there were shades of opinion among those who thought the war was right, though he did not think there were any shades of opinion among those whe considered the war was wrong. (Hear, hear.) His point,was that in spite of the Jameson raid, in spite of South African Committees, in spite of clumsy negotiations, the army of the Boers crossed the frontier and invaded the dominions of the Queen. From that moment to this he had had no hesitation about the course he should take. (Cheers.) Though he would criticise the methods of the Government, that so often had been lamentably short of what the occasion re- quired, in the main issue to carry the war to a triumphant and rapid close they should have his warmest and most enthusiastic support. (Cheers.) Was it possible for any party that hoped to secure the attention and the allegiance of the country, and later on, perhaps, even to secure its confi- dence, to preserve an open mind on a question that STABBED THE VERY HKART of the Empire? (Hear, hear.) He should re- member the speeches at the National Reform Union long after the speakers who addressed it had forgotten them; but there was one speech which rubbed them all in, to which he called their attention. He must quote the sentence from memory. The sentence was, "We cannot doubt that after the speeches that have been delivered by the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, and by Sir William Harcourt, we now know whether the Liberal party stands in this matter." That was a clinching of the speeches which had been heard; it was laying them down as a dogma from which the Liberal party could not escape. On that point there arose a very simple question-Did the speech express, as he (Lord Rosebery) was sure the orator intended to express, the truth in regard to this meeting? Was this where the Liberal party stood in regard to this war? That it was an unjust war, carried on by methods of barbarism? (Cries of "No, no.") That was the question that ought to have been asked, because on the answer to that ques- tion, which had never been asked, and which he thought would not be. answered until it was asked, depended the attitude of, he believed, the vast mass of general opinion in this country. The Liberal party took another course. They re- frained from asking the question, and instead of that met at the Reform Club to declare a general and complimentary vote of confidence in their leader. That was evading the question—(hear, hear)—and it was that which he would not call, as Lord Beaconsfield once said of his own party in language stronger than he ventured to use, it was that which he (Lord Rosebery) might have called in the language of Lord Beaconsfield I AN ORGANISED HYPOCRISY" tnat moved him (the speaker) to write his letter to them. (Hear, hear.) He did not complain of the vote of confidence. He was glad to know of the vote that recognised the trying situation in which his old friend Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman had been placed out be did not believe that by such resolution, by any such meeting at the Reform Club,,jjy any endeavour to bury the inconvenient meeting at the National Reform Union and the Queen's Hall they could get rid of the division that existed in the Liberal party in regard to this and other cognate questions. He could understand those politicians who hated being troubled by argu- ment, or by conscience, or by any stirring appeal saying-ConId you not let us go on a little longer without making these disagreeable divisions? Could we not have had an easy life, sometimes voting one way and sometimes another (laughter) and some- times not voting at all, but going on with a little of the general, of a little sleep and little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands? (Laughter.) That was a comfortable position, but it was hardly a hilarious or vital condition of the parcy, and his reason for deter- mining to disturb the Olympian repose "on the banks of Asphodel," on which the Liberal party were reclining at ease, was that, however agree- able that position might be, it meant the paralysis of the party. In conclusion, Lord Rose- bery said he left the Liberal party because he found it impossible to lead it in the main, owing to that division to which he had referred in his letter. The Liberal party in that respect was no better now, but rather the reverse, and it would indeed be an extraordinary evolution of mind I if, after having left the Liberal party on that ground, he was to announce his intention of returning to it in its present condition. For the present I n HE MUST PROCEED ALONE. I xie must plough the furrow alone. It was his fate, agreeable or the reverse. Before he got to the end of the furrow it was possible that he might find himself not alone-(loud and pro- longed cheers)-but that was another matter. It it were not so, he should remain very contentedly I' longed cheers)—but that was another matter. If ( it were otherwise, he should wait for those cir- cumstances to arise. I (The above appeared in our last Saturday Evening Edition). r

SUICIDE OF ACTRESSES. A PATHETIC LETTER. An inquest was held on Friday in London on the bodies of Edith Kate Bowyer and Ida Florence Bowyer, the two aotresses who committed suicide at their residence in Bloomsbury, London, on Tuesday last. They were professionally known as Miss Edith and Miss Ida Yeoland. Mr. Joseph Bowyer, a silk merchant, said the deceased were his daughters. Edith was not strong and was of a very excitable disposition. They were doing' exceedingly well in their profession. Edith used- to intimate that suicidal thoughts were in her mind. Evidence was given that the women took poison, and the Coroner read a letter which Edith had addressed to her mother. In it she said:- "Ida has at last decided to go under with me. We are utterly sick of this struggle, and our health is utterly against us. Misery and misfortune seem to be our heritage, and surely the best thing we can do is to seek peace in nothingness. Don't worry; we are not worth it; and, remember, we are far better off. I am sorry to bring this trouble upon you. It is hard for you for the time, but the trouble will blow over soon, and we shall be forgotten, I hope. People will say we are cowards, brutal and mad, and countless other things, but that won't matter a bit. We each know our own troubles best after all, i and neither I nor Ida can or wish to endure our existence any longer. We have not the nerve to push. It is not fault of circumstance that has led to this-not a bit-for we should be the same under different conditions. It is in ourselves, in our own temperaments in which our unhappiness dwells, and surely life is not such a glorious thing that we must cling to it for its own sake."—The jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane.

I A MATTER OF MINUTES. t STORY OF A SUMMONS. On Friday, at Rhyl County Court, before His Honour Judge Sir Horatio Lloyd, Mr. A. Lewis Jones, solicitor, appeared in a judgment summons issued by him for JB97 against John Edward Middlehurst, chairman of the Belvoir Hotel Com- pany, Rhyl.-His Honour said he had received a latter from the defendant contending that the ser- vice of the summons was illegal, as it was made two minutes after midnight on Saturday.—Mr. Lewis Jones said that Mr. Middlehurst was served at the Rhyl railway station on alighting from a train, and he had a letter from the superintendent of the London and North-Western Railway Com- pany to say that the train arrived at Rhyl at 11.57 p.m., and he was prepared to send the signalman to give sworn evidence as to that. But he thought if his Honour heard the bailiff he would be satis- fied.-The Judge: It is too near. Even the bailiff said it was within two minutes to twelve.—Mr. Lewis Jones said Mr. Middlehurst was keeping out of the way to evade service of the summons.—The Judge: I dare say. (Laughter.)—Mr. Lewis Jones- said that under rule 19, where a debtor was keep- ing away to evade service of a summons the sum- mons might be served at any time before the hear- ing. He asked that his Honour should regard the service as effective under that section. Mr. Middlehurst admitted to him at Bangor that be was expecting the summons on the Wednesday previous, and it was clear he was keeping out of the way.—The Judge: You know the kind of gentleman you have to deal with.—Mr. Lewis Jones: Yes; we know how he put us off month after month in the Belvoir case.—The Judge: It is that I have in my mind; that is why we want to be careful.—Mr. Lewis Jones: I ask you to say that it is an effective service.-The Judge: Even on the bailiff's shewing it is too near to run any risk. I understand that the clock struck twelve- immediately after the summons was served, and the clock might be slow. I shall adjourn the mat- ter for a month for service.

CHESTER CASTLE PETTY SESSIONS. SATURDAY.—Before Mr. H. D. Trelawny (pre- siding), the Hon. C. T. Parker, Col. Miller, and Mr. R. T. Richardson. FAILING TO REPORT SWINE FEVER.— William Gosmore, cattle dealer, &c., residing at Tarvin Bridge, was summoned for failing to report the existence of swine fever on his premises.—P.S. Johnson stated that he visited the milk factory at Balderton, near Dodleston, on the 1st inst., and there found forty-eight pigs belonging to defendant. Four of them were ailing, and he reported the fact to the Board of Agriculture, who subsequently certi- fied that three of the four pigs were affected with swine fever. While he was on the premises a man named Roberts came to kill some of the pigs.—Mr. E. Brassey (who appeared for defend- ant) Did you know they bad swine fever ?- Witness Not at the time. I knew the pigs were ailing, and I reported it to the Board, and they made a post-mortem.—Col. Cope produced the Board's certificate shewing that swine fever existed.—Witness added that defendant told him he had killed a few pigs that week and some the previous week, and sent some of the carcases away to Liverpool and some to Chester.—Mr. Brassey, for the defence* said his client was charged with unlawfully failing to report the existence of swine fever, but it was impossible sometimes to detect such a thing except by post-mortem. If a man were to make a report every time a pig looked dull an4- heavy, or had the headache or toothache the police would be simply inundated with reports. He understood the test of swine fever was a certain ulcer appearing on the valve. They were building a staticn at Balderton where there was a milk factory, but prior to its opening the defendant entered into a contract to take the skim milk from the factory, and send pigs to consume it on the premises. Mr. Cooke's men were to attend to the pigs in the morning, and defendant's men at night. On the opening of the station on the 1st of July defendant's pigs ceased to have the right to this milk. On the 1st of June he had bought ten additional pigs, but owing to the Board of Agriculture's orders he could not remove them, or the other pigs he had, for 28 days. He had not the remotest idea that anything was the matter with the pigs, and he had no complaint. Even when the police saw the pigs, the thing had to go to London before they could find out what was the matter with them.- The defendant bore out this statement in evidence, and said that his contract to take the skim milk expired when the station was opened.. He saw the pigs on the 3rd July, but did not notice that any of them were ailing. Two of his pigs died on Tuesday, and they had not yet been buried because the regulations with which he had to comply did not permit him to bury them. He notified the police by post on Tues- day night of the deaths, and upon their instruc- tions telegraphed to the Board of Agriculture, but he had not received a reply from that authority. He did not blame the police, but the fault was that of the Board of Agriculture. —Col. Cope informed the bench that authority would be given for the pigs to be buried.—After a private conference the magistrates decided to convict the defendant, and imposed a penalty of £ 4 and costs. A WARNING TO PIG DEALERS.—James Yates, pig dealer, Christleton, was summoned for failing to hand to the police within the re- quired time a declaration authorising him to remove thirteen pigs.—Defendant, who did not appear, was represented by Mr. E. S. Giles, solicitor.—P.S. Fryer proved the case, and stated that the pigs had been removed to defendant's premises from Cambridge on the 4th of June. The declaration ought to have been given to the police within forty-eight hours. As it happened, how- ever, it was not given up until the 25th of June. Defendant had given the declaration to a neighbour named Tushingham, who was to have given it to the police.—Mr. Giles, on behalf of his client, pleaded guilty, but pointed out there was no attempt at con- cealment on defendant's part. Yates left the declaration in the bands of his neighbour to he given to the police, and went away for a holiday. In his absence from home the neighbour forgot to deliver the document.- The Chairman pointed out that defendant was liable to a penalty of X20, and it appeared this was not the first time he had been prosecuted for a similar offence. The magistrates were determined to enforce the law in cases of this description, and he thought they had been rather too lax in the imposition of fines. Defendant would have to pay a fine of 40s. and costs (8s. 6d.) A SERIOUS CHARGE. David White,, labourer, Ellesmere Port, was charged with criminally assaulting a little girl named Annie Rogers, five years of age, on Tuesday, at Whitby. The evidence, which was of a revolt- ing character, was heard in camera, and prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes. (The above articles appeared in our last Saturday Evening Edition.)

Whitbread's, or Ind-Coope's, Ale and Stout, in pint bottles, can be had in single dozens from H. Martin & Co., Foregate-street, Chester. KING AND THE MAINE.—The King on Mon- day received a deputation of American ladies representing the committee of the hospital ship. Maine, and accepted from Mrs. George Corn- wallis- West, on behalf of the committee, a gold medal, originally intended to be presented to Queen Victoria, in commemoration of the services rendered by that vessel to British sick and wounded in South Africa and China. It is understood that his Majesty, in thanking the delegates for the memento and accompany- ing address, expressed the hope that the would always remain as a lasting link of friend- ship between this country and the United States. To MOTHERS.—Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrap has been used over fifty years by millions of mothers for their children while teething with perfect success. It will relieve the poor sufferer immediately. It is pleasant to taste; it produces natural quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub wakes up as bright as a button." Of all Chemists, Is. lid. per bottle.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. The following letter appeared in Wednesday's Courant" :—Sir,—Referring to your note of last Tuesday re the school attendance question, the com- mittee of the Chester and District Teacher's Associa- tion beg to make the following remarks In the first place we have persistently kept to the question as to whether tho attendance of scholars in Chester is satisfactory or not, and have maintained that Chester's position among all the boroughs of England is not creditable. You mention one school where the teacher gives as a reason for a low percentage that there are many children under five years of age, whose irregularity makes a high percentage impossible. We admit iully that such is the case, but insist that the same state exists in all other boroughs, and yet very many of them have 301 higher percentage than Chester. Surely this point need not be referred to again. As to your remarks re the percentage of passes in the labour certificate examination, they are wide of the mark, and further, very misleading in the way you put them. This has nothing whatever to do with attendance, and consequently does not affect the question at issue. We wish, however to give fuller information on that subject. In the first place, it must be borne in mind that in the interests of the children the qualifications for a pass nave been considerably raised, so that only partially-educated children may not leave school unfitted to face the battle of life. Again, parents who appreciate the advantages of education seldom apply for labour certificates. It is found that the irregular ones and those whose services are re- quired for wage-earning—not always in necessitous cases by any means-are the applicants for labour certificates, consequently your figures only indicate the state of the weaker element of the school, and are not a correct reflex of the attendance of the whole school. As to "some children" being sent home for school fees, we think that as you give figures- definite statements—for other things, it would have been well had you stated as definitely to how many or how few this remark applies. "Some" is perhaps a convenient statement, and among the "some" are the children of parents who can pay but won't, and offer "sending home for fees" as an excuse when summoned. Finally, as to the proper course for the teachers to adopt, an d the weight which would be given to communications from managers, permit us to say that the teachers have adopted the course laid down, not by themselves, but by the school at- tendance authorities. All communications, hitherto, have been carried on between the teachers as representatives of the managers, and the school attendance officers as representatives of the School Attendance Committee. We would ask if you suggest that the managers should regularly visit their schools, examine carefully the class registers, make out the list of irregulars, and forward their report to the School Attendance Committee.— Yours faithfully, H. LOCKETT, Hon. Secretary C. and D.T.A. 61, Gladstone-avenue, Chester, July 22, 1901.