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NOMINATION OF HIGH SHERIFFS…

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CORRESPONDENCE.

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CORRESPONDENCE. THE WRECK OF FORMER SPLENDOUR. To the Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. Sir,—There is nothing so soothing to the mind of an old man, bordering on his dotage, as to institute a compa- rison between the past and present-to compare the man- ners and customs prevailing at the period of his youth, with those which predominate in his old age, the latter always suffering when contrasted with the former, a? candle li?ht when brought side by side with gas light. Young men think we are improving-old men—invariably main- taiii that we are degenerating. The opinion that we are degenerating is powerfully borne out by the aspect present- ed by the races of Monday last, which no more resembled the races of the olden time, thau the present race of pig- mies resemble the giants who walked the earth in the ante- deluvian period of the history of our globe. I speak from my own knowlege, having been a frequenter of the races for above fifty years, and with the exception of two season3 have attended every meeting. I will take the subject of stands. I remember when onr leading builders thought it worth their while to speculate in the erection of two immense stands for the occasion- one situate between ths Turf Tavern and the garden, and the other somewhere about the site of the present unsight- ly stand the other side of the Turf Tavern. In those days the takings paid for erecting. taking down, damage to tim- ber, carriage of same, and left a handsome profit in the bargain. This year oue stand proved a loss without any of the drawbacks, I have adverted to. While they have de- generated to this extent in the number of frequenters they have done so in a ten-fold degree, in the character of thoso who come to witness the good old sport. Formerly, the stands were filled with the aristocracy of the neighbour- hood for tweuty miles round. This year there was hardly one of the upper ten thousand on the ground. Our local hoarding schools then occupied a considerable space on the stands; now a three cornered cap is a sight not to be met with. In the brilliant days I refer to, fonr-in-hand was the othodox style of driving to the races, and the carriages on the course extended from Plas Goch field nearly to the extremity of the railings in the Crispin Lane. Equestrians were prancing about the course on their proud steedsl turning the ground into a second Rotten Row Beautifu ladies graced the proceedings with their presence, and many of the clergy of the neighbourhood were to be seen amongst the spectators. The whole affair was respectable, credita- ble, fasli ionable, -everybody subscribed, and everybody went. Mechanics made it their annual holiday, and maid- ens regarded it as their gicat match making opportunity. It was a time to see and be seen, and nobody objected to them, there was no canting cry got up against them. AN OCTOGENARIAN. THE TRUCK SYSTEM. I To the Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. I Sir,—It is much to be regretted that the. parish of I Ruabon is disgraced by a daily violation of the Truck Act, and it is still more to be regretted that no effort is made on the part of the police nor magistrates to release the sufferers by applying the remedy afforded by the laws of the country for its removal. Who are injured by Truck shops ? 1st—The propneters of Works in connection with such shops. 2nd—The purchasers of tho Track shop goods. 3rd—The ratepayers of the parish in which such works are carried on. 4th—The land and house proprietors of the neighbour- hood. 5th—The revenue of the country. 6th—Civilization and general advancement and pro- gress of Education; How can you prove that the proprietors of works in connection with'Truck shops are injured ? The mode of payment has a deal of inflnence on the spirit of the men,, and any attempt to reduce th value of their labour by offering them anything of less value than their due is disheartening. It ia allowed that the Truck shops make enormous profits by their secured sales and high prices, but the result is—while the shop department make profit the working departments are loosing generally. Have you any other reasons why are the works loos- ing by Truck shops ? The agent and servants of the company generally are under an impression that an or- der for goods is not so valuable as a direct cash payment, and the workman receiving a piece of paper for his la- bour is not so satisfactory as if he received cash. Have you any other reason ? Yes; neither the agents nor the masters are so powerful over their men, and will, as a matter of expedience, avoid litigation in their own defence to prevent being disgraced before the public. Heve you any other reason ? Yes; when a company has a shaft to sink or a yard to drive, &c., the tenders are made always by poor workmen who are not worth a week's provision, and yet engaged to accomplish great works, and in no instance are tenders made by men of ca- pital. But how does the above apply as to the profit and loss of the works ? It applies in this way when a lot of men are employed by a company they come forward every week and make a draw on the shop and thus maintained weekly, whether the drafts have a reference the supposed contract or not, and the position of the workman is such that he cannot move without being kept and his family, and they generally exceed their bargain and incur a con- siderablo debt, an I as it is an illegal debt it is never re- covered, and work of s ime kind is put down to balance the debt; but should the bargain turn out profitable, these poor men can and will claim all the profit, but can loose nothing, as thoy have nothing to loose; therefore there is no contract in reality but a chance to g3t a good bargain. Would this be remedied by a direct cash payment? Yes; it would cause men of skill and capital to offer their tenders for sinking and opening their works, that might loose as well as gain, but such men, no doubt, would pay their underhands in cash in order to get out of them, what could be got by prompt and cash pay- ment. How will you prove that the purchasers and dealers in the Truck shop are losers by dealing in such shops ? Firstly Their prices arc higher 5 to 10 per cent gene- rally than other shops. Secondly Their customers are deprived of a choice. They receive for their labour a weekly draft (cheque) to go to the shop for which goods are supplied, and as it is understood that the full amount of the cheque is to be had out in that particular shop, they have therefore no choice but take what there is however unpleasing the goods may be. Thirdly Their customers arc inconvenienced. All the truck shop cus- tomers are obliged to attend a certain day, only, how- ever, their wants may be, they can not get their goods when they want them. They must borrow one from 1 another until the shop day comes. Fourthly: As the division of labour in the truck shops arrange that such a pit or department of the works come at certain days only. it is often that one member of a family is working in No. 1 pit to be served say on Monday, another mem- ber of the same family is working in No. 2 pit which is to be served at the shop on say Tuesday, and another member of the same family is working in another col- liery several miles off and that pit is .to attend at that truck shop on Wednesday, therefore, there is three days for a person to wait for one week's earning of three per- sons. Fifthly: They are dangerously inconvenienced at home, in the absence of the mother generally while attending these shops. How does the mother, of a young child do when she has to attend a shop day ? She either takes her baby with her or leaves it in the charge of some neigh- bour, or often locked up in the house and often some ac- cidents happen in the interval. How do they get their goods when they attend at t\1e!le shops ? They are served in a very rough way and in a great hurry, and are thus deprived of a choice. They must take them or leave them by stating-we can't do, better for you. How do they manage when these shops have not, such goods as they want ? They take something they don't want to make up their amount, and make an exchange with their neighbours at home, and often at the ahpp, at ?sacrifice of a penny in each article,.  ea, Have these custoQ1en to go far to these shops ? ,YI miles; some seven or eight miles. They must follow the work wherever it is. Cpuld all these inconvenienees be remedied by a direct cash payment? Yes; The housekeeper could, fix upon: the nearest shop and get her goods as she wanted, them, instead of being three or four days a week in the shop. She. plight do all in an hour and avoid all the dangers and family inconveniences. It has been, observed that the trouble of receiving wages is as great as earning it. Have they to wait long for the goods in these shops ? Yes; they start from home early in the morning so as to be in readiness when their turn comes on, and often have to wait as late as four or five o'clock in the evening. How do they do for their dinner while waiting in these .shops? They generally take something with them to eat, and many often faint in the crowded shop and are carried out some drugs or cold water is given to them to revive, and they resume their task. How do you prove the ratepayers, especially farmers, are injured by truck shops ? They are injured by heavier rates than in parishes where no works are kept. Works cause collection of people where they become chargeable to the parish, and the farmer in such a parish can claim no higher price for his farming pro- duce in the public market. Have you any other reason how ratepayers are injured by the Truck shops ? Yes; in the works many are killed and crippled for life, and their families necessarily be- come a burden on the parish, also the lives of the men are much shorter in the works. They are incapable of working much beyond the age of 50 and many earlier. But how do you apply these to prove that the truck shops are any cause of it. The truck shops don't col- lect people together, nor kill, cripple and shorten the lives ofthe men,? They are applied in this way: when truck shops are kept the money is confined to few hands and not" circulated in the neighbourhood where these people live, therefore keep the better sort of people away, and thus Ecep improvement away, as it is totally useless for useful tradesmen to Venture to commence business, con- sequently the population are poor, of necessity, they have no relatives better off than themselves, and the least ill- ness'or stoppage they have no other means to live except on the parish. How do truck shops injure farmers in particular? Be- cause people have no money to buy their goods, such as. milk, butter, and cheese. How do they get these farming goods ?: Through the shops generally, and by taking shop goods to the farmer for them at a less price than cost. How do truck shops injure house and land property? It injures house property by the difficulty in getting rents, which are generally paid in shop goods. How does it injure land property ? By the short circu- lation of money, which keep tradesmen aliay otherwise. would cause a higher rent for land as, accommodation lend for butchers and shopkeepers, &c, &c, » How do you prove the truck shops injure the Revenue of the country ? As truck shops sell dearer than other shops, the customers must first have provisions, consequently eco nomise in excised goods, and as stated under farmer ques- tions, prevent increase of business by non circulation of the money. How do you prove that truck shops are injurious to civilisation and progress of education ? First: The people are deprived of the means of maintaining a school, it is known for some to offer goods to an institution in the ab- sence of money. Secondly The mode of receiving their pay, affords no inducement to economy, as they take it from the shop as they earn it. Thirdly A large majority of the people are working under poor aud reckless charter masters, and their under hands or their workmen, for their own security, obtain their pay week!y in goods from these shops, and are thus kept for life in the dark as to what is do- ing in any market except the turck shop, and thus reduced to slavery. Fourthly: Their collecting together in large numbers into these truck shops to wait for many hours a day for their turn to be served—Irish, Welsh, and Eng- lish together, causes most shameful shouts, uproars, and sometimes fights and scenes of no ordinary character, and too disgraceful to be named or published. Who are the gainers by a truck shop ? Firstly Such shops that are not connected with the works, and sell to works on commission where the shop has a secured sale, and not controlled as to prices. Secondly The public- house and beer-shops-who barter and will take truck shop goods in exchange for beer, and there is a very large trade going on in this way. Who carries on truck shops or violates the truck act. Firstly The proprietors of works that pay these men in goods. Secondly Charter masters that employ men un- der such proprietors as contractors, and direct their under hands to their shops. Thirdly Charter masters contrac- ting under a company who have no shops of their own, but send their under hands to a shop which pays a commis- sion on their sale. Why do not the people resist and refuse to deal in this way, and leave their money in the works until the pay, which is generally every mouth ? The people, after a long and careful trial, found it best to suffer all that is stated in these foregoing remarks'than make the least attempt to object to it, as the majority of works keep a truck shop. It is useless to leave one place if you have no better place to go to, and if any person of a bolder character than others attempts it, such men would soon be known and kept away from the works. and every effort made to starve them and their families.—Is it not time that something effectual should be done to remove this disgraceful traffic and to as. sist the poor sufferers ? Let, therefore, the magistrates who have power to assist in their discussion, where cases are brought before themi also the judges of County and other courts, schoolmasters, aud ministers of the gospel, farmers, shopkeepers, shoemakers, and all tradesmen who suffer, also the ladies who cannot but feel for their sex, who are so abused and inconvenienced under their posi- tion of life, nod are so disgraced before the world in a coantry like Wales. In the next a list will be given as to the parties aDd works that carry on this illegal and disgraceful business. with a list of those that are paying cash to their men, and in such a way as is convenient for a weekly market. KHOSVHEDRE. THE FORLORN HOPE AT BRYMBO—THE RE- I CENT CHURCH RATE MEETING.—THE LATEST AND THE LAS f. To the Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. 1 Sir,—Among the. tnctdents of the Indian rebelliou, is the remarkable fact of the Sepoys loogafterthe mass was crash- ed breaking out into mutiny in email isolated-districts Aithp out .apparent motive or object. In like manner, long after the church rate question has been settled by majorities, def- eats, illegalities, and the endless stumbling blocks to the levy of a rate—the desire to levy one. aprings up here and there in Wales* and here it is at Brymbo. The fact hM given me unalloyed pleasure. Olle feels like Cromwell on the field of Duubar, If the lovers of Episcopacy as an t a. tablishment would keep in their fortified cimp and not come down to give us battle, all would be well for them, but they will be thrashed. The most. sensible speech I ever read in my life, is that of the rev. chairman, who told the meeting they knew what they came there for, better than he could explain to them. Great is the virtue of silence, and wisdom is often the best part of valor. Permit me to say as an old and successful enemy of church-rates, that Mr Clayton who asked for the rate, was entirely wrong in his law. The estimate for the coming year is a sina qua non of the rate. But passing over the ar- guments of Mr Darby, which were as good and fresh as any can be on an impost which has been argued upon, till it is threadbare, let me point out the difference between his speech and the whole tone and tenor of Mr Clayton's. I think that on a question actually settled in the House of Commons and certain to have its coup de grace in the next session there is no excuse even in the heat of discussion for personalities. Mr Clayton only speaks to coufess two things, first, that Episcopalians do not care for their own church euongh to pay anything but upon compulsion, and then to say that there are too many places ot worship, that one large one would be better than rnauy small ones. To secure this, he would have every one compelled to pay ac- cording to his means. In other word-, Mr Clayton thinks it desirable or possi- ble that there should be no difference of religious opinion, in a land of free thought and deed. Of all dreams this is indeed the strangest. There are indeed a few places where there is no dissent—Spain is one, Italy is another, and Rus- sia is a third. In these happy lands there are no church rate conflicts, all are in the bosom of the church, one and indi. visible. Indeed the mere fact of all men going to one church in Britain, would be an ominous sign for Protestan- tism, or even for civil freedom. How absaid for any one then to expect England, the citadel of freedom, to be dif- ferent to what she is in this respect The fact of difference of opinion on matters pertaining to salvation is one of ne- cessity. It is described in England by a word that is strangely applied-Dissent. In due time, like its partner Toleration, it will be consigned to the limbo of a dark age. I am, dear Sir, yours obediently, cr. THE RIVAL RAILWAY SCHEMES. I To the Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. Sir, Rail way extension is now universally recognised as a local, and even a national benefit, and I strongly deprecate the contention which seems to have arisen as to the lino from Ruabon to Llangollen. The question seems to be not so much who shall make it, as into what direction it shall be made, and without expressing any opini(non the subject of my own, at all events until the plans are deposited, I consider it my duty to inform your readers of the present state of the question. Mr Robertson some weeks ago called a meeting at Llangollen, and re-produced his old project of a line to the Cefn to a low point at Llangollen close to the vicar. age. M r Piercy stated that he had been engaged in pre- paring plans for a line from Ruabon Station, which, while it afforded every facility to travellers to Llangoll- en, would pasiJ through the heart of the mineral dis- trict of limestone and. coal, and would be at such a level as would admit of its extension towards Corwen. Such extension being a matter for further consideration, and to be effected either by another company or by a separate capital, as might be hereafter arran-el, and he asked for an adjournment so as to produce his plans and have the question fairly discussed, alleging th it he had received no notice of that meeting. I cannot hut think that it savoured too much of the. railway practice of old times on the part of M r Robert- son's supporters to refuse so reasonable a. request, which, if grantee might have led to results more satisfactory in the way of amalgamation than those which have subse- quently taken- place, and the good people of Llangoll- en are beginning to call to mind that the chief actors in their meeting were gentlemen, who, being like Mr. Robertson, deeply engaged in the limestone and coal trades of Brymbo, have heretofore been found very for- ,midable riv 4 s to midable rivals to the mines iiiid, quiriiei of Rqabon and Llangollen, a«*d it is èvenrènièoibered that Mr Robert- son, not very long s ince, proposed to "revive his project of a line. from Biyua bo to Ruthm and Denbigh, and most ? certain it is,'tuat l evtry ton of limestone that'passes over his Llangollen railway towards Staffordshire, iand every ton of coal that passes over it towards the Vale ofClwyd will be a loss to Mr Robertson 4Pd his partners in the lime,and coal trade of Brymbo.. Ruabon and its neigh- bourhood are especially alive to this fact from the recol- lection of some years of contention with MrJ Robertson and his brother ofifcers, in the old Shrewsbury and Chester times, when, if I remember aright!, Mr Gore resigned the chair of that Board on account of the rail- way being too much under the influence of the trad- ing interest represented by Mr. Robertson, the engineer, and Mr. Roy, the secretary. Upon these points, as be-, fore stated, I reserve my opinion, but such undoubtedly is the current observation of the district, and this might have been obviated had a little more consideration been given to those who desired full and free discussion. In the meantime, Mr Robertson has adopted, it seems, Mr. Piercy's Ruabon terminus, retaining all the other features of the low level scheme; but this, so far from having settled the question, appears to have given new strength and adherents to a project which has been quietly maturing, while Mr Robertson and Mr Piercy have been somewhat noisily settling their differences. Mr Attree is the projector of this new project, and what- ever may be the merits of his line as to which we must wait until the plans are deposited; there is no doubt that it will be free from all objection as regards incon- sistency, and as he has obviously in view no other interest than that of uniting Ruabon add Denbigh, public opinion seem gradually inclining to give his pro- ject, when fully before them a favourable consideration. FAIU PLAT. THE ELECTION OF MAYOR AND MR. D-KNIEL .I JONES. To tle Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. [ Sir,L find the part I took in the êlection. of mayor on the 9th "inst., has been much chnVasscd by my fallow-townsmen, many of whom have been uncharitable enough to assort, because I proposed and; voted for Mr John Clark, as mayor, that I am a supporter of the races. Now, those who thus wilfully misrepresent me, either forget or ignore tW fact that Mr John Clark and myself signed a memorial praying Sir Watkin to with- draw his subscription from the races, andl that we voted against them when the subject came before the Town Council last year. I'am as much againat the races as any man iri Wrexham, and entertain very decided opinions on the point. I believe they do a deal of harm in many respects. Iri the first place there is [a large amount of money collected every year from the trades- men of the town for the different stakes that are run for. This, I take it, is all carried away and expended .out of the town. Another evil which invariably marks the racing period is au unusual stagnation of. trade. For a fortnight before ami the same length of time after the races, there is always a sensible diminution in trade. The large amount of money collected and decrease of trade must, therefore, be injurious to interest gr -tug town. Then again, when I consider the number of dis- reputable characters who are attracted to the town by this ancient sport," as it is called, and the .consequent amount of vice and immorality, I feel bound to ojv080 them on moral grounds as well as financial. After this I trust no one will say I am in favour of the races. In reference to my voting against Mr. Edgworth, I wish to explain that I did so on the following grounds. Mr Edgwortb has been signally honoured by being elec- ted first mayor (if Wrexbam, an honour which cannot be conferred upon another. Others m?y be made mayors, but they cannot be made first mayor. I think, there- fore, Mr. Edgworth ought to be satisfied, and not stand in the way of others sharing the honours of the civic chair. Moreover, Mr Edgworth has had many other offices conferred upon bini-some of them lucrative ones as well as others of a more honorary character. Another objection I entertained towards Mr. Edgworth was this. In our first municipal cuntest he joined the liberal party-he was one of the candidates on the white list" —he co-operated with the liberal party in their commit- tees and in other ways. The result was that the town, as usual, proved true to itself-eight of the white list" were returned, while only four of the red," or tory list got elected. Mr Edgworth immediately afterwards turned his back on the liberal party, which threw us all into confusion. For his own social comfort, as he said him- self. he managed to make four Aldermen from the op- posite party -some of them men whom the town refused to elect, and I found him on several subsequent occasions acting in the same way. I may instance the business of the Borough Commission of the Peace. I think this was quite unnecessary, and ought not to have been pres- sed upon the Council as it was, while justice, with the assistance of Mr. Yorke, was so well administered. Had we been content to go on for one year, then elected. another mayor the second year, we should have had a bench quite sufficient for all our requirements. In regard to my proposing and voting for Mr J. Clarkr I have only to say that I did so because he is a highly respectable tradesman, and I have always been particu- larly anxious to see a tradesman elected as mayor, and not to have the office confined entirely to professional men. I see it is the custom in other towns to clect tradesmen to the office, and why not here ? And it is my determination not to rest until I get the tradesmen of Wrexham elected to that office, for I am perfectly satisfied there are many of the tradesmen of this town as competent to fill the office as the traders or profes- sional men of any other town in England, and why should they thus be deprived of the privilege r Yours &c., DANIEL JONES, MERCHANT. ST. MARK'S CHURCH. I To the Editor of the Denbighshire Advertiser. [ Mr. Editor.-I feel sure that our worthy Vicar, if appealed to through the medium of the Advertiser, will take into consideration a practical suggestion of a poor man whose good fortune it is to have become an attend- ant at St. Mark's church. I am told, and believe it is true,—that the Vicar has in-hand about &700iuexcess, over and above the outlay for the erection of the church, furnishing, &c., and that he intends to appropriate this fund in the erection of a spire, which will out-rival St. Mary's. In the meantime, and while this fund is accumula- ting and subscriptions and donations added thereto, I respectfully submit that the congregation (which, in my. opinion, forms the church), is starving, yes positively starving. For the last few Sundays it has been.bitter cold, which. the high-vaulted roof encourages. Even those of the congregation who possess good winter clothing appeared to feel the. cold very much, then what must it be to those who are but thinly elad, and cannot afford overcoats or cloaks for their wi-eei ? Still the congre- gation musters strong, and apparently will etfdtlre a ideal' before they will give up. Now, what I want the Vicar- to, do is to furnish the. building and. make it so that pople.ont catch their death.with colcL Let if be ¡pr. perly heated and, if need be, lighted with g?S. aM I?Ye; outside ornament alone for the present; in due timei, no doubt, he will get enough te build the spire, but not if the congregation are prevented from attending; the. church. I am, sir, yours, &c., A CHURCHMAN. J

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